Split (1)

train · 694k rows

pred_label stringclasses 2 values	pred_label_prob float64 0.5 1	wiki_prob float64 0.25 1	text stringlengths 112 978k	source stringlengths 37 43
__label__cc	0.560925	0.439075	News & Insights \| Articles Megan L. Brown mbrown@wileyrein.com Scott Weaver Senior Public Policy Advisor sweaver@wileyrein.com ECPA Updates on the Table: A Harbinger of Litigation and Legislation The law enforcement and civil liberties communities geared up for a markup on Thursday, November 29, 2012 of Sen. Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) proposals to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). The updates focus on tightening and clarifying current restrictions on U.S. governmental entities that seek electronic information, including stored emails and "geolocation information." The legislation responds to perceptions of the civil liberty community, courts and some service providers that the existing legal framework for electronic surveillance and information-gathering is woefully obsolete in the face of 21st century technology. The proposals do not appear focused on the creation of additional or different restrictions on private entities' collection, use or voluntary disclosure of appropriate information to non-governmental entities. Though these amendments are not expected to pass in this Congressional term, they are expected to be debated again in the 2013-2014 term, and seem to be gaining bipartisan support. ECPA Background The ECPA, enacted in 1986, provides standards for law enforcement access to electronic communications and associated data. It struck a balance between privacy protections for emerging technologies and the needs of law enforcement. It imposes significant compliance burdens on a wide variety of private entities, some of which have become more vocal about their cooperation with law enforcement and their views on ECPA. While much of the law enforcement community is satisfied with existing authorities, many, including the Digital Due Process Coalition, argue that because technologies have advanced dramatically since 1986, the ECPA has been outpaced and is outmoded. As one Court of Appeals observed almost a decade ago, ''the [SCA] was written prior to the advent of the internet and the world wide web. As a result, the existing statutory framework is ill-suited to address modern forms of communication. . . . Courts have struggled to analyze problems involving modern technology within the confines of this statutory framework, often with unsatisfying results.'' Konop v. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., 302 F.3d 868, 874 (9th Cir. 2002). Several courts have remarked on the rapidly changing technology landscape, consumers' expectations of privacy in now-pervasive technologies and the seeming inadequacy of the existing legal regime. The legal framework "has not been amended to keep pace with changes in technology.'' Crispin v. Christian Audigier, Inc., 717 F. Supp.2d 965, 972 (C.D.Cal. 2010). As a result, various amendments to ECPA presently are under consideration. Two of Leahy's proposals stand out: Increased protection for stored email and clarification and increased protection for location information derived from mobile devices. Stored Email Would Be Subject to Heightened Procedural Protections Civil libertarians have long bemoaned the bright lines drawn in ECPA between "stored" email communications subject to lower privacy protections and those that receive more protection from government access. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has acknowledged that many have concerns about ECPA's treatment of stored communications — in particular, the rule that the government may use lawful process short of a warrant to obtain the content of emails that are stored for more than 180 days. Civil libertarians and others argue that this distinction makes no sense in an era where users leave emails in long-term storage with service providers, and in which individuals and businesses increasingly are using cloud computing. To address some of this confusion and concern, Leahy proposes that the government be required to obtain a search warrant based on probable cause in order to obtain email content from a third-party service provider. His plan eliminates the outdated "180-day" rule that calls for different legal standards for the government to obtain email content depending upon the age of the emails in question. The government must notify an individual whose electronic communication has been disclosed, and provide that individual with a copy of the search warrant used to obtain the information within 10 business days. To address concerns that notice could compromise sensitive law enforcement investigations, however, Leahy's proposal provides that the government can seek a court order to delay notifying an individual for up to 180 days. Government Entities Would Have to Meet New Requirements to Obtain "Geological Information" Features that generate and rely on location information are built into numerous mobile devices and applications, which consumers use and enjoy. Mobile location technology is also the basis for several public safety initiatives, like the Commercial Mobile Alert System, which relies on device location and "geographic targeting" to "ensure that all Americans have the capability to receive timely and accurate" emergency alerts "irrespective of what communications technologies they use." 23 F.C.C.R. 6144, 6146 (2008). These advances generate information that is also of significant value to law enforcement. Courts have been grappling with the legal status of location information derived from mobile devices. As the DOJ explained in 2011 to Congress, "[t]he appropriate legal standard for obtaining prospective cell-site information is not entirely uniform across the country. Judges in many districts issue prospective orders for cell-site information under the combined authority of a pen/trap order under the Pen Register statute and a court order" but "[s]tarting in 2005," some judges began concluding that "the only option for compelled ongoing production of cell location information is a search warrant based on probable cause." April 6, 2011, Written Testimony of James Baker, Associate Deputy Attorney General (ADAG), before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate. These conflicting interpretations "have created uncertainty regarding the proper standard for compelled disclosure of cell-site information, and some courts' requirement of probable cause has hampered the government's ability to obtain important information in investigations of serious crimes." Id. Historical location information is relatively easy to obtain from service providers. This uncertainty will draw U.S. Supreme Court attention. The Supreme Court recently decided a GPS location case, United States v. Jones, which did not involve information from a service provider but grew out of law enforcement's surreptitious physical attachment of a GPS tracking device to a suspect's car. Because the police did not abide the terms of the warrant authorizing the attachment, the defendant made a Fourth Amendment challenge to the use against him of the information gathered. The Supreme Court concluded that that a warrant was required. Associate Justice Antonin Scalia wrote, "[i]t is beyond dispute that a vehicle is an 'effect' as that term is used in the [Fourth] Amendment. We hold that the Government's installation of a GPS device on a target's vehicle, and its use of that device to monitor the vehicle's movements, constitutes a 'search'" for which a valid warrant was required. Jones was the most high profile of several cases percolating in the federal courts concerning location information, but did not address broader questions about individuals' Fourth Amendment interests in mobile location information from cell phones. Courts across the country have been struggling to categorize location information and determine the proper legal predicate for government access to it. A recent Sixth Circuit decision illustrates the sort of questions courts confront. In United States v. Skinner, 690 F.3d 772 (6th Cir. 2012), police obtained a warrant to intercept calls, and "an order from a federal magistrate judge ... authorizing the phone company to release subscriber information, cell site information, GPS real-time location, and 'ping' data" for the mobile phone the suspect was thought to be using. Agents "pinged" the phone to get its location and used that information to secure additional, similar orders for other phones in use. The defendant claimed that the use of the GPS location information emitted from his cell phone was a warrantless search that violated the Fourth Amendment. The Sixth Circuit robustly disagreed. "There is no Fourth Amendment violation because Skinner did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the data given off by his voluntarily procured pay-as-you-go cell phone." The court reasoned that "the recent nature of cell phone location technology does not change" the common-sense notion that "[t]he law cannot be that a criminal is entitled to rely on the expected untrackability of his tools. ... If it did, then technology would help criminals but not the police." Lest the reader think this conclusion was limited to criminals, the court clarified: "On the contrary, an innocent actor would similarly lack a reasonable expectation of privacy in the inherent external locatability of a tool that he or she bought." Id. at n.1. Skinner drew a great deal of commentary both about Fourth Amendment principles and technology questions implicit in the opinion. For example, GPS location information and cell-site location information are different, though courts often elide the distinction when addressing location information. A petition for rehearing en banc was denied on September 26, 2012 and the case is a good candidate for Supreme Court review. This sort of litigation will continue until the Supreme Court or Congress resolves uncertainty about the legal status of location information. Leahy proposes amending ECPA to include a new category of "geolocation information" which would have demanding requirements for access by governmental entities. Government entities would be generally prohibited from accessing geolocation information without a warrant or court order under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), except to respond to an emergency. Under Leahy's proposal, a communications provider could be required to grant government access to a user's contemporaneous or prospective geolocation information if presented with a warrant or in order to respond to a user's call for emergency services. A communications provider could be required to grant government access to historical geolocation information if presented with a warrant, a court order under FISA, or when the government has the subscriber's consent. On their face, these proposals only address government access to geolocation information. While some commentators are uneasy about private entities' use and exploitation of location information, these proposals do not appear aimed at restricting private use of location information. That said, the immunity provisions contained in Leahy's proposal protect entities from liability for providing information to "governmental entities" pursuant to the statute. It does not rule out the possibility of creative lawsuits flowing from sharing such information with others. Current State of Play Debate over ECPA reform has been percolating for a while. Key players include the White House, DOJ, state and local law enforcement agencies, telecommunications companies, Internet Service Providers, makers and sellers of mobile telephone applications, civil liberty advocates, and privacy advocates. At the Senate Judiciary Committee Mark-Up held November 29, the committee voted in favor of Leahy's heightened procedural protection for stored email communications and geolocation information, by voice vote. Before approving the bill, the panel voted 6-11 to reject an amendment by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that would exempt the measure's warrant requirement for investigations of crimes involving child abduction. And to address certain sensitive investigations, an amendment to the proposal from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), modified the provisions requiring notice to persons whose data is accessed. The modification reduced the period in which access without notice would be permissible from 180 days to 90 days for governmental entities that are not law enforcement agencies. Despite committee approval, chances for ultimate passage are slim in this Congress. However, the committee's blessing of these changes may set the terms of debate for next year. Passage of these amendments to ECPA this year seems remote, but chatter will continue as courts and those directly impacted continue to grapple with uncertainty. The increase in attention to these proposals, coupled with support across a broad swath of interested parties, make it more likely that Congress will act in 2013. The stage has been set: Some service providers may continue to seek clarity in the law, while civil libertarians will seek additional privacy protections. Law enforcement will aim to protect its ability to efficiently and creatively investigate and prosecute crime. In 2013, this process may come to a close with enactment of significant amendments to ECPA.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10050
__label__wiki	0.850055	0.850055	UK offshore output up 46% in 2012 to 7.5TWh 28 March 2013 by Erin Gill Installed capacity jumps 63%, accounting for 19% of renewables Offshore wind farms in UK waters generated 46% more electricity in 2012 than the previous year, according to statistics released today. Total offshore wind output of 7.5TWh was achieved, compared to 5.1TWh in 2011. The dominant reason for such strong performance by the UK offshore wind sector last year was expansion in installed capacity, which rose by 63%. The country boasts the world’s largest offshore wind fleet, with installed capacity just under 3GW (2,996MW) at the end of 2012, compared to 1.8GW a year earlier. Last year was also a record-breaking year for UK renewables as a whole, with renewables off all types collectively accounting for 11.3% of total domestic electricity generation. This was an increase of two percentage points on 2011. It also means that the UK has met its 10% renewables target, as set out in the 2001 EU renewable energy directive, albeit two years late. The non-binding 10% target was supposed to be met in 2010. Growth in offshore wind was a key factor in expansion of total renewables output in the UK during 2012. By year-end offshore wind accounted for 19% of UK renewables capacity. Data released today are part of a regular energy trends statistical series issued by the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change. 'Successful auction key for curbing emissions', UK told UK launches €112m scheme to boost offshore wind supply chain 'Final and definitive decision' backs France's first offshore site Zero-emissions 'possible' in UK with cost reductions France signals increased capacity targets Policy & incentives	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10051
__label__cc	0.72032	0.27968	U.K. iPhone Fever Is Like Tulips in Amsterdam Author: Christine FinnChristine Finn The Apple iPhone launched in the UK this evening. The TV news reports centered on the usual queues outside stores, and analysis about contract cost. Early adopters were shown emerging victorious with their trophy held aloft. It was entertaining, but it left me thinking. I flew back to London from San Francisco only yesterday and could have gone to the Apple store there, bought an iPhone, and brought it back in my pocket. I would have had - until tonight - an object of value by dint of its rarity on these shores. Now, it is just another consumer commodity. It's an interesting example of 21st century trade in the exotic - not unlike the black tulips which held Amsterdam in a thrall in the 17th century. Or the blue and white ceramic imported from China in the 18th. Or the Japonica or Chinoiserie of the 19th, art and decor which made the name of the London department store, Liberty, as a specialist in goods far-travelled and rare. The fact that Apple's flagship store in London is in Regent Street, and just down the road from Liberty is, I think, pretty neat. So is the fact that the MacBook Pro I recently bought was made in China.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10054
__label__cc	0.694643	0.305357	Ruth Langsford And Eamonn Holmes: “A Good Marriage Takes Work” Nathalie Whittle 2 February 2018 7:59 pm Ruth and Eamonn Within minutes of meeting on- and off-screen duo Ruth Langsford, 56, and Eamonn Holmes, 57, it becomes clear that what you see is what you get. “I think that’s why people enjoy watching us,” Ruth tells me. “It’s because we’re real and we bicker like all couples do – and that’s not easy to hide on TV!” The pair present ITV’s This Morning every Friday and during school holidays, as well as Channel 5’s How the Other Half Lives, which returns for a Christmas special and a third series in 2017. Ruth is also a panellist on ITV’s Loose Women. They live in Weybridge, Surrey, with their son, Jack, 14, and their rescue dog, Maggie. Eamonn also has three grown-up children, Declan, Rebecca and Niall, from his first marriage. ON FIRST IMPRESSIONS… I was in a very sad place when I was first introduced to Eamonn. I was 35 and had recently come out of a long-term relationship, which left me feeling like I was never going to meet the right man. Most of my friends were in relationships and starting families – and the girlfriends who on Friday nights used to say, “Right, where are we all going, girls?” were having nights in with their partners. Although I’d be invited, who wants to be the single one? I spent a lot of Saturday nights on my own with a bottle of wine. It was Eamonn’s kindness that attracted me. I was staying with a friend who worked for GMTV and I tagged along to a dinner party she’d been invited to at Mr Motivator’s house. It was all GMTV people talking about work – ordinarily, I’d have found it very awkward sitting outside of this big conversation – but Eamonn kept bringing me into it again and again. He was a real gentleman – and he still is. I had no idea Eamonn’s marriage was in trouble back then. It was several weeks before we got the chance to meet up again and talk – and that’s when I found out he was separated and living in London during the week and going home to Belfast to see his three children on the weekends. It turned out that, like me, he was also in quite a sad place. ON BLENDED FAMILIES… I knew from the start that if Eamonn’s kids didn’t like me, it would be a problem for our relationship. The one piece of advice he gave me was, “Just be you and let them be them.” I always just hoped that as long as they could see their dad was happy, that would make them feel happy too – and I think that’s how it’s worked. They’ve never lived with us full-time, so I haven’t needed to be a disciplinarian and in any case they have their mum, Gabrielle, for that – she’s been fantastic. The biggest joy for me now is their relationship with Jack. When he was a baby, they were fascinated by him – they found it particularly funny that he didn’t have an Irish accent like they do! And now he’s a teenager and they’re in their twenties, they’re all just mates. And Jack has never called them his “half” brothers or “half” sister – to him, they’re simply his brothers and his sister. ON MARRIAGE… I never imagined getting married would change mine and Eamonn’s relationship – but it has. In fact, it’s improved it. I like being Mrs Holmes and being able to say, “That’s my husband over there.” Maybe it was the missing piece of my jigsaw puzzle. I have to admit, I don’t think Eamonn and I share any of the same hobbies. When we met, I tried to pretend I was into football because he was. But the first time Eamonn said “You don’t have to come to the matches, you know”, I thought “Phew!” Now him and Jack will leave the house at 8am and I go and have lunch with my girlfriends and get my nails painted. My dad once said to me, “A happy marriage doesn’t just happen, you have to work at it.” Now I realise he was right. It’s important to make time to reconnect every so often. Jack’s just been away on a school trip and we were like young lovers on our honeymoon; we went out for breakfast, walked along the river and held hands. You don’t need an elaborate plan – sometimes it’s just making the most of what’s right there in front of you. ON WORKING TOGETHER… Eamonn is a lot more comfortable in front of the camera than I am. He rarely gets nervous, whereas before a difficult interview I can suddenly feel that anxiety building in me. That’s when I’m grateful Eamonn and I have this partnership because if I ever get scared or run out of questions, he’ll jump in. There’s never been any competition between Eamonn and I. Of course there are times where one of us is out of work, but we don’t resent each other for it. And he’s very good around the house – if I’m at work, I know he’s not expecting me to come home, pick Jack up and sort him out. We make a good team like that. I’d love it if Eamonn and I had our own Oprah-style chat show – I think we’d be good at that. But the truth is, it doesn’t work like that. If we were brain surgeons or lawyers, I’m sure people would be coming to us to ask our advice and saying, “How do you think we should do this?” but actually, no one stops to say, “Those two might have an opinion because they’ve been doing this for a long time.” It’s a constant battle to keep yourself relevant – it’s like that for us all, isn’t it? Sometimes I wake up in cold sweats at night thinking, “What would I do if I couldn’t work in TV any more?” I’m certainly not ready to retire, but I don’t feel I’m qualified to do anything else! I love cooking, so I’ve thought about starting my own catering company. All I know for sure is that I’m not ready to give up yet! I’ve got a top secret project coming up next year – all I can tell you is that it’s for QVC and it’s very different. What’s on my wish list? I’m still desperate to do Strictly, but I’m so distraught they’ve never asked me that I can barely talk about it. And… guess what? Eamonn’s been asked to do it more than once! I love creating the magic of Christmas. I used to create Santa’s snowy footprints on the carpet and the half-eaten mince pies for Jack. We don’t do that any more, of course, but my parents always gave us stockings growing up and I’ve never let go of that tradition. EAMMON SAYS… The word I used when I first met Ruth was, “Wow!” In fact, I still have the same reaction when she walks past me in the kitchen or when I’m sitting in the car and she runs into the supermarket. I wanted to propose long before I did it – and it was important that I had the blessing of my three grown-up children. But it wasn’t until we were at the races in Cheltenham that it felt right. All these men were chatting up Ruth and I got jealous and thought “That’s my girl”. Then I realised how ridiculous I sounded saying that at 50. So I sent her six pages of texts telling her how much I love her. I kept asking: “Has anything come through on your phone?” And she said, “I’m not answering my phone, I’m enjoying this!” Then she read them on the way home and started crying – and I did too. When Ruth walked down the aisle, I remember thinking I’d never seen a woman look so beautiful. I’d assumed she’d go for a veil with a princess-like dress – well, actually, she looked more Beyoncé-like to me! She looked so “womanly”, though – and that’s what I’ve always found attractive about her. I make time for a date night every week, but Ruth often stands me up! She’ll say “Could we make it once a month?”, then when it comes to it, it’s all, “Darling, I know you mean well, but can we just get a takeaway. I’m so tired.” When she finally realises she’s been ignoring me, then she’s as romantic as anything! What we’re good at is winking at each other across a room, giving each other a little signal or even a text to say, “You’re the most wonderful person in this room tonight.” For me, that’s true romance. I’m still trying to get Ruth to be a bit more in tune with Manchester United. My biggest pet hate is when Jack and I go to a game, which turns out to be a disaster, and you think the whole world must know we’ve been beaten 5-0, the manager’s been sent off and we’ve had two penalties. But two hours after the game, we’re on the motorway coming home, and Ruth rings and says, “Well, did you win?” – Jack and I just give each other “the look” now. I never understand men who have children and then walk away. If I’ve brought someone into the world, the responsibility to look after them is with me. I have to make their lives as happy as they can be. It’s a blessing that our blended family works, but it’s a group effort – Gabrielle, Ruth, the kids and I all work at it together. I’ve always seen myself as a career broadcaster who occasionally works with his wife, but now the latter is becoming what I’m best known for! Wherever I go,the first question I get asked is, “Where’s Ruth?” – they don’t even say “Hello” or “How are you?” I should have a sign round my neck saying “Ruth is at home” or “Ruth is at the hairdressers”. All the best TV duos rehearse what they do, whether it’s Ant and Dec or Morecambe and Wise – well, Ruth doesn’t let us rehearse! I’ll say to her “You should say this and I should say that” and she says “I’m not rehearsing, Eamonn!” At times I’d prefer it to be a bit more professional, but I say to Ruth, “Okay, if you want it to be natural, then it will be.” You might be surprised to hear that when Ruth and I first met, I was the one who advised her on her clothes! She pretends she doesn’t care what I think these days, but secretly, I think she does. I’d like to think I’ll still be on TV in ten years’ time – but who knows, maybe I’ll be brewing beer! Last year, I invented a brew with my son, Declan – he came up with the recipe, I named it Gallopers and we market it together. And now that I’m no longer doing Sunrise [Sky’s breakfast show], I’m able to work on it more. It’s great fun. RUTH ON EAMONN… In a fire, he’d save… Our dog, Maggie – without question! Eamonn’s secret skill is… He can touch his nose with his tongue. The most embarrassing thing he’s done is… He once twanged a woman’s bikini straps on holiday thinking it was me! He was mortified – and so was I. His desert island essential would be… A TV, so he could watch the football. Eamonn’s best quality is… His loyalty. His most annoying habit is… Channel-hopping when we’re watching TV together. The commonest cause of our arguments… He’s late for everything and it drives me mad! EAMONN ON RUTH… In the event of a fire, she’d save… Our dog, Maggie. Ruth’s secret skill is… If i told you, i’d be arrested! Her desert island essential would be… Lip gloss – every time I look at her, she’s putting it on! I sometimes wonder if she eats the stuff. Ruth’s best quality is… Her kindness. Her most annoying habit is… Jumping to the wrong conclusions because she doesn’t listen! The commonest cause of our arguments… Driving together, going through airports together – and trying to decide on a restaurant together! How the Other Half Lives – at Christmas! Eamonn and I have our first Christmas special of How the Other Half Lives coming up – and trust me, the super-rich do Christmas very differently to most of us! Do they clamber around in the loft looking for the decorations and untangle Christmas tree lights? No! They have people do it for them – and to buy their gifts! Eamonn is the real spender in our household. He’ll come home with a jukebox or an elaborate piece of Irish art. It does have its perks, though, because he recently surprised me with a pair of diamond earrings. He put them in this little box within several bigger boxes – it was very romantic. The How the Other Half Lives Christmas special airs on Channel 5 this December. Photograph: Trevor Leighton Carole Middleton spotted on fun grandparents day out with grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte Why your summer holiday might be thrown into chaos Credit: Getty Images Duchess of Cornwall had lucky escape after she was ‘seconds away’ from head-on crash in royal helicopter Credit: Jeff Moore/PA Images ‘I owe him it all’ Eamonn Holmes reveals heartbreaking loss These are the books you should read to make you fall asleep Fans spot something hilarious after Holly Willoughby shares rare photo of her dad Princess Eugenie might choose to wait to have a baby for this heartbreaking reason This boutique hotel has been named the best in Europe You can currently get these bestselling anti-ageing retinol capsules for only £25 Credit: Barcroft Media Ruth Langsford chose affordable M&S dress for This Morning return – and it’s even cheaper now! All you need to know about Ivy Cottage, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s London home	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10055
__label__wiki	0.795867	0.795867	Quiz: Can You Guess the U.S. State When Given The States Bordering It? Can You Guess the U.S. State When Given The States Bordering It? By: J. Reinoehl There are 48 states in the continental U.S. that share at least one land border with another state. What do you know about American geography? Find out by taking this quiz. Oregon, Nevada and Arizona border which state? Idaho. Montana. Utah. “California deserves whatever it gets. Californians invented the concept of life-style. This alone warrants their doom.” ― Don DeLillo, "White Noise" Alabama and Georgia border which state? South Carolina. Louisiana. Mississippi. Florida. Many people consider Florida to be a retirement state. Retirement is one of the top drivers of the state’s economy. Not surprisingly, the state song of Florida is “Swanee River (Old Folks at Home).” Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey border which state? Delaware. Maine. Maryland. “I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York's skyline. Particularly when one can't see the details. Just the shapes.” –Ayn Rand, "The Fountainhead" Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico border which state? Colorado. The Kit Carson County Carousel in Burlington is the oldest wooden carousel in the United States. It was built in 1905 and still has its original paint. New Hampshire is the only state that borders which other state? Pennsylvania. Connecticut. Rhode Island. “My grandfather once told her if you couldn't read with cold feet, there wouldn't be a literate soul in the state of Maine.” –Marilynne Robinson, "Gilead" Which states share a land border with Washington? Idaho and Oregon. Idaho and Montana. Idaho and California. Idaho, Montana and California. Washington produces more red raspberries, pears, apples and sweet cherries than any other state. It is also one of the country’s biggest producers of plywood and lumber. Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont border which state? New Jersey. Massachusetts. “Poor dull Concord. Nothing colorful has come through here since the Redcoats.” –Louisa May Alcott Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire border which state? Ohio. Vermont. Vermont was the first state admitted to the Union after the 13 original colonies. It became a state in 1791. California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah border which state? Oklahoma. Arizona. Nebraska. “He'd always had a quickening of the heart when he crossed into Arizona and beheld the cactus country. This was as the desert should be, this was the desert of the picture books, with the land unrolled to the farthest distant horizon hills, with saguaro standing sentinel in their strange chessboard pattern, towering supinely above the fans of ocotillo and brushy mesquite.” ― Dorothy B. Hughes, The Expendable Man Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin border which state? Iowa. Kentucky. Michigan. Missouri. The Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957 and connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It took three years to complete. Which states share a land border with South Carolina? Tennessee and Georgia. Georgia and North Carolina. Georgia and Florida. Alabama and Georgia. “Do you want to go back to Vienna… Or we could go somewhere else,” said Magnus. “Anywhere you want. Thailand, South Carolina, Brazil, Peru – Oh, wait, no, I’m banned from Peru. I’d forgotten about that. It’s a long story, but amusing if you want to hear it.” ― Cassandra Clare, "City of Fallen Angels" Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah border which state? Nevada. Wyoming. New Mexico. Between 1951 and 1992, the Nevada nuclear test site (just west of Las Vegas) conducted 928 nuclear tests. The federal government owns about 86% of Nevada’s land. Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota border which state? “I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love.” –John Steinbeck, Travels With Charley: In Search of America California, Idaho, Nevada and Washington border which state? Oregon. Portland has the distinction of being the home of the only leprechaun colony this side of Ireland. WWII Veteran Dick Fagan was a journalist who took an unfilled light-post hole, planted flowers in it, and designated the invisible leprechaun, Peter O’Toole, as its curator. It was recognized as a city park in 1976 and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the smallest park, at two square feet. South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia border which state? Alabama. North Carolina. “’This isn't barbecue,’ Emily said. 'Barbecue is hot dogs and hamburgers on a grill.’ Vance laughed... ‘Ha! Blasphemy! In North Carolina, barbecue means pork, child. Hot dogs and hamburgers on a grill- that's called, “cooking out” around here,’ he explained with sudden enthusiasm.” –Sarah Addison Allen, "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" Which states share a land border with Wyoming? North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho. Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado. Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and Utah. Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and California. In 1869, Wyoming territory was the first in the United States to grant women the right to vote. They elected the first female governor in 1925, when Nellie Tayloe Ross’ husband died and she was elected to finish his term. Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina border which state? “I am not a Virginian, but an American.” –Patrick Henry Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado border which state? North Dakota. Washington. Utah is one of the few states to allow death-row prisoners to choose to die by firing squad. Its last execution by firing squad occurred in 2010. Which states share a land border with Texas? Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. “The Texan turned out to be good-natured, generous and likable. In three days no one could stand him.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama border which state? Tennessee. Tennessee is called the Volunteer State, not because of its devotion to public service, but because of the number of volunteers who fought in the War of 1812 (20,000) and the Mexican-American War (30,000). Although Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861, it was one of the first states to rejoin, in 1866. Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Delaware border which state? Georgia. “At the University of Maryland, my first year, I started off planning to major in art because I was interested in theatre design, stage design or television design. But at that particular college, the advertising, art, costume design, interior design layout—all of that stuff was part of Home Ec for some strange reason… And puppetry was a course that was given there that was also in Home Ec.” –Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska border which state? Kansas. South Dakota contains the famous Mount Rushmore and still incomplete, but ambitious, Crazy Horse Memorial (which receives no federal funds). Other famous landmarks include Badlands National Park, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead and Living Prairie, the Geographical Center of the Nation, and the Mammoth (fossil dig) Site of Hot Springs. Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas border which state? Arkansas. “Elsewhere the sky is the roof of the world; but here the earth was the floor of the sky.” ― Willa Cather, "Death Comes for the Archbishop" Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia border which state? William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania Colony, died in 1718, before the United States was formed. In 1984, the state’s namesake and his wife were given honorary U.S. citizenship in honor of their historical contributions to the United States. North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin border which state? Minnesota. “Two- to four-finger waves are commonly used between fast-moving vehicles, but the nicely executed single-finger wave is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. To me, it perfectly sums up the Minnesota character that I love so much. The finger wave from the steering wheel: when you get it right, you'll know you've arrived and you don't ever have to leave again if you don't want to.” ― Howard Mohr, How to Talk Minnesotan: A Visitor's Guide Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin border which state? The highest point in the state of Illinois is just 1,235 feet above sea level. Named “Charles Mound,” it happens to be in a family driveway. The owners set up lawn chairs and open to visitors a few weekends every year. Which states share a land border with Louisiana? Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia. Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. “One of these days, the people of Louisiana are going to get a good government—and they aren’t going to like it." –Huey Long, governor of Louisiana, 1928-1932 Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky border which state? Seven American presidents were born in Ohio: Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison, McKinley, Taft and Harding. William Henry Harrison settled in Ohio, but he was originally born in Virginia. Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan border which state? Wisconsin. “One time we played a concert in Antwerp, Belgium. At least I thought it was Antwerp, Belgium. Turns out it was a Stop-N-Shop in Wisconsin somewhere, but it was fun man.” –Slash, Guns N' Roses Which states share a land border with Rhode Island? New Hampshire, Delaware and Vermont. Connecticut and Massachusetts. New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania. New Jersey, Maryland and Connecticut. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U. S. A. Its nickname is the Ocean State because it has more than 400 miles of coastline. All Rhode Island residents live with a half-hour drive of either the Atlantic Ocean or Narragansett Bay. Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania border which state? West Virginia. “One man may shoot himself in the forehead with a .38 and wake up in the hospital. Another may shoot himself in the forehead with a .22 and wake up in hell...if there is such a place. I tend to believe it's here on earth, possibly in New Jersey." –Stephen King, "Skeleton Crew" Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont border which state? New Hampshire. The Old Man of the Mountain was a rock formation in the White Mountains that resembled a man’s profile when viewed from the north. Although conservation efforts kept the silhouette intact for almost 100 years, it finally fell on May 3, 2003. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Great Stone Face,” was inspired by the formation. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri border which state? “I never in my life seen a Kentuckian who didn’t have a gun, a pack of cards, and a jug of whiskey.” –Andrew Jackson. Spoken when 2,300 Kentucky militiamen showed up to aid him at the Battle of New Orleans (1815) and many of them were unarmed. Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida border which state? When Georgia was a part of the Confederate States, a relief sculpture of Davis, Jackson and Lee was created on Stone Mountain, similar to the carvings on Mount Rushmore. Georgia was founded by James Ogelthorpe to create a refuge for London’s indebted prisoners. Which states share a land border with Mississippi? Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. Texas, Arkansas and Alabama. “As she drove the Trace, each curve revealing a scene rich with life and as picturesque as illustrations from a children's book, Anna was struck again by the beauty of the state. Over her years as a Yankee and a Westerner, she'd heard Mississippi described many ways. Beautiful had never been one of them.” –Nevada Barr, "Deep South" Do You Know the Nicknames of All 50 US States? Can You Match the National Park to the U.S. State? How Many Can You Get Right on This British Geography Quiz? Do You Belong in The United States or Canada? Can You Identify All 50 States on a US Map? What Country in the World Best Fits Your Personality? Travel 5 Minute Quiz 5 Min Can You Pass American Geography? American Geography Quiz We'll Give You Three Cities, You Tell Us the State! Where’s That Roadside Attraction?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10056
__label__wiki	0.704601	0.704601	3rd-strike.com \| Holmes & Watson (Blu-ray) – Movie Review Follow Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Crime Director: Etan Cohen Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Holmes & Watson (Blu-ray) – Movie Review April 20, 2019 - Ibuki - No Comments Site Score Good: Overall decent execution Bad: Clearly not for those who expect a serious Sherlock Holmes story Rating: 8.0/10 (1 vote cast) The tale of Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson is one that withstood the test of time, and it still inspires new filmmakers into forging their own detective story. There is the very popular show Elementary, which is still airing as we speak, but we also had the famous movies starring Robert Downey Jr. who became an iconic face for the famous detective. While most stories revolving around the detective are of a serious nature, this time Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly make it something more casual and witty, forming a rather original take on the famous characters. While we dived in with very low expectations, we couldn’t help ourselves smiling through the silly escapades of Holmes & Watson. The formidable duo of Holmes (Will Ferrell) and Watson (John C. Reilly) is formed when Watson is tired of his life and wants to commit suicide. He ends up in Holmes’ garden, crushing Holmes’ prized vegetables, and the rest is history. Holmes is tasked by testifying at the trial of professor James Moriarty (Ralph Fiennes), but he concludes that the man on the bench is an imposter, forced to take the blame for Moriarty. This is not a favored conclusion for those in the law enforcement as they believe Holmes has it wrong. Nonetheless, soon after the release of the imposter, it seems that Moriarty is striking again, making it seems as if Holmes really isn’t all that good at solving mysteries as one would think. That being said, he is still celebrated by the nation, and even gets treated to a surprise birthday party by Queen Victoria (Pam Ferris) herself. Sadly, the party goes awry when they discover a body in Holmes’ birthday cake. He then will find himself in a race against the clock to find the murderer, especially since the killer also vowed to kill the queen. The flow is what you’d expect from a typical comedy movie, where it’s all shits and giggles until the problem presents itself. There’s the middle portion where the case develops, and then of course a very predictable scene where both leading characters have a disagreement, all coming back together for the grand finale. If this sounds like a spoiler, then you haven’t watched a comedy movie during the last two decades. Overall the spread of information and action is nicely handled and we were entertained for the biggest part of the movie. It does take some time warming up for the silly humor, but once you’re in it, it’s easy to crack a smile now and then. Those who know Will Ferrell will probably know what they can expect from his performance(s). You either like him, or you hate him, it seems there is no middle ground on this particular actor. Ferrell is accompanied by John C. Reilly and together they form a formidable comedic duo. It has to be said, when watching the outtakes, that it’s clear that these two actors are attuned to each other quite nicely, as a lot of improv is going on at all times. There are tons of different outtakes from how they handled particular scenes. There will also be small cameos by other bigger Hollywood names in the movie, but the accompanying roles are played by Rebecca Hall, Kelly Macdonald, Lauren Lapkus, Rob Brydon, Ralph Fiennes and Pam Ferris, making it clear that this isn’t a small production. The Blu-ray edition of Holmes & Watson comes with a few special features, such as deleted and extended scenes, outtakes and a few making of sequences. Other than that, there’s a tiny feature of all the men Mrs. Hudson brings home for her love escapades. The content that’s there is not that lengthy, but for a movie such as this, it are the outtakes that will make you laugh the most. This parody of the famous detective duo does take some time getting used to, but the moment you get into the slapstick humor and the overacting, you’re in for a rather witty and amusing ride. The movie itself won’t be one that will make the top charts, but you’ll get a giggle or two out of this one, and it shows that there are still somewhat original stories to be told in the movie industry, even if the source material is somewhat overused. If you’re into comedies that don’t make things overly complicated, then this movie might just provide you with a fun evening. Holmes & Watson (Blu-ray) - Movie Review, 8.0 out of 10 based on 1 rating View My Other Posts Aspiring ninja. Vikings: Season 5, Volume 1 (DVD) – Series Review Movies & Series, Reviews The Handmaid’s Tale (DVD) – Movie Review Escape Room (Blu-ray) – Movie Review Miss Bala (DVD) – Movie Review	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10060
__label__wiki	0.680711	0.680711	Number of people counted 1,415,550 people usually live in Auckland Region. This is an increase of 110,589 people, or 8.5 percent, since the 2006 Census. Its population ranks 1st in size out of the 16 regions in New Zealand. Auckland Region has 33.4 percent of New Zealand's population. Population of Auckland Region and New Zealand Sex Auckland Region New Zealand Male 687,492 2,064,015 Female 728,058 2,178,033 Total people 1,415,550 4,242,051 Source: Statistics New Zealand Māori population 142,770 Māori usually live in Auckland Region. This is an increase of 5,466 people, or 4.0 percent, since the 2006 Census. Its Māori population ranks 1st in size out of the 16 regions in New Zealand. 23.9 percent of New Zealand's Māori population usually live in Auckland Region. Māori population of Auckland Region and New Zealand Male 68,097 288,639 Female 74,673 309,966 Total people 142,770 598,602 Note: Total population figures are for the census usually resident population count. The Māori population is the Māori ethnic group usually resident population count. It includes those people who stated Māori as being either their only ethnic group or one of several ethnic groups. Number of dwellings counted There are 473,448 occupied dwellings and 33,360 unoccupied dwellings in Auckland Region. For New Zealand as a whole, there are 1,570,695 occupied dwellings and 185,448 unoccupied dwellings. There are 2,817 dwellings under construction in Auckland Region, and 9,756 under construction in New Zealand. Dwellings in Auckland Region and New Zealand Occupancy status Auckland Region New Zealand Private dwelling 472,044 1,561,956 Non-private dwelling 1,407 8,739 Total occupied dwellings 473,448 1,570,695 Unoccupied 33,360 185,448 Under construction 2,817 9,756 Total dwellings 509,625 1,765,896 Note: This time series is irregular. Because the 2011 Census was cancelled after the Canterbury earthquake on 22 February 2011, the gap between this census and the last one is seven years. The change in the data between 2006 and 2013 may be greater than in the usual five-year gap between censuses. Be careful when comparing trends. This data has been randomly rounded to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not add up to totals, and values for the same data may vary in different text, tables, and graphs. The median age (half are younger, and half older, than this age) is 35.1 years for people in Auckland Region. For New Zealand as a whole, the median age is 38.0 years. 11.5 percent of people in Auckland Region are aged 65 years and over, compared with 14.3 percent of the total New Zealand population. 20.9 percent of people are aged under 15 years in Auckland Region, compared with 20.4 percent for all of New Zealand. Age and sex of people The median age of Māori (half are younger, and half older, than this age) is 23.5 years in Auckland Region, compared with a median of 23.9 years for all Māori in New Zealand. 4.4 percent of Māori in Auckland Region are aged 65 years and over, compared with 5.4 percent of New Zealand's Māori population. 33.6 percent of Māori are aged under 15 years in Auckland Region, compared with 33.8 percent for all Māori in New Zealand. Age and sex of Māori 59.3 percent of people in Auckland Region belong to the European ethnic group, compared with 74.0 percent for New Zealand as a whole. 10.7 percent of people in Auckland Region belong to the Māori ethnic group, compared with 14.9 percent for all of New Zealand. Ethnic groups in Auckland Region and New Zealand Ethnic group(1) Auckland Region (percent) New Zealand (percent) European 59.3 74.0 Māori 10.7 14.9 Pacific peoples 14.6 7.4 Asian 23.1 11.8 Middle Eastern, Latin American, African 1.9 1.2 Other ethnicity New Zealander 1.1 1.6 Other ethnicity nec 0.1 0.0 Total other ethnicity 1.2 1.7 1. Includes all people who stated each ethnic group, whether as their only ethnic group or as one of several. Where a person reported more than one ethnic group, they have been counted in each applicable group. As a result percentages do not add up to 100. Note: nec = not elsewhere classified. 39.1 percent of people in Auckland Region were born overseas, compared with 25.2 percent for New Zealand as a whole. For people born overseas who are now living in Auckland Region, the most common birthplace was England, and England is the most common overseas birthplace for all of New Zealand. 2.1 percent of Māori in Auckland Region were born overseas, compared with 1.8 percent for New Zealand as a whole. After English, the next most common language spoken in Auckland Region is Samoan, which is spoken by 4.4 percent of people. For New Zealand as a whole, the most common language apart from English is te reo Māori, spoken by 3.7 percent of people. New Zealand Sign Language is used by less than one percent of people in Auckland Region, compared with less than one percent of people for all of New Zealand. 69.4 percent of people in Auckland Region speak only one language, compared with 79.8 percent of people for all of New Zealand. After English, the next most common language spoken by Māori in Auckland Region is te reo Māori, which is spoken by 17.9 percent of Māori. In New Zealand, the next most common language spoken by Māori is te reo Māori, which is spoken by 21.3 percent. New Zealand Sign Language is used by less than one percent of Māori in Auckland Region compared with less than one percent of Māori for all of New Zealand. 78.7 percent of Māori in Auckland Region speak only one language, compared with 76.5 percent of all Māori in New Zealand. Total population aged 15 years and over 36.3 percent of people aged 15 years and over living in Auckland Region have never married, 48.8 percent are married, and 14.9 percent are separated, divorced or widowed. 24.6 percent of people aged 15 years and over in Auckland Region who have never been married, live with a partner. Legally registered relationship status for people aged 15 years and over Auckland Region and New Zealand Māori population aged 15 years and over For Māori aged 15 years and over living in Auckland Region, 59.1 have never married, 26.3 percent are married, and 14.6 percent are separated, divorced or widowed. 27.0 percent of Māori aged 15 years and over in Auckland Region who have never been married, live with a partner. Legally registered relationship status for Māori aged 15 years and over 83.2 percent of people aged 15 years and over in Auckland Region have a formal qualification, compared with 79.1 percent of people in New Zealand. In Auckland Region, 24.7 percent of people aged 15 years and over held a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest qualification, compared with 20.0 percent for New Zealand as a whole. Highest qualification for people aged 15 years and over In Auckland Region, 69.1 percent of Māori aged 15 years and over have a formal qualification, compared with 66.7 percent for Māori in New Zealand. 11.7 percent of Māori aged 15 years and over in Auckland Region held a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest qualification, compared with 10.0 percent of New Zealand's Māori population. Highest qualification for Māori aged 15 years and over The unemployment rate in Auckland Region is 8.1 percent for people aged 15 years and over, compared with 7.1 percent for all of New Zealand. The most common occupational group in Auckland Region is 'professionals', and 'professionals' is the most common occupational group in New Zealand. Occupation for employed people aged 15 years and over The unemployment rate of Māori aged 15 years and over in Auckland Region is 16.2 percent, compared with 15.6 percent for New Zealand's Māori population. The most common occupational group for Māori in Auckland Region is 'professionals', and 'labourers' is the most common occupational group for Māori in New Zealand. Occupation for employed Māori aged 15 years and over For people aged 15 years and over, the median income (half earn more, and half earn less, than this amount), in Auckland Region is $29,600. This compares with a median of $28,500 for all of New Zealand. 39.0 percent of people aged 15 years and over in Auckland Region have an annual income of $20,000 or less, compared with 38.2 percent of people for New Zealand as a whole. In Auckland Region, 29.2 percent of people aged 15 years and over have an annual income of more than $50,000, compared with 26.7 percent of people in New Zealand. Total personal income for people aged 15 years and over For Māori aged 15 years and over, the median income (half earn more, and half less than this amount) in Auckland Region is $24,500, compared with a median of $22,500 for all Māori in New Zealand. In Auckland Region, 44.4 percent of Māori aged 15 years and over have an annual income of $20,000 or less, compared with 46.3 percent of Māori in New Zealand. 22.0 percent of Māori aged 15 years and over in Auckland Region have an annual income of more than $50,000, compared with 18.1 percent of all Māori in New Zealand. Total personal income for Māori aged 15 years and over Couples with children make up 46.5 percent of all families in Auckland Region, while couples without children make up 35.1 percent of all families. In New Zealand, couples with children make up 41.3 percent of all families, while couples without children make up 40.9 percent of all families. 18.4 percent of families in Auckland Region are one parent with children families, while one parent with children families make up 17.8 percent of families for New Zealand as a whole. Note: All figures are for families in occupied private dwellings. One-family households make up 69.8 percent of all households in Auckland Region. For New Zealand as a whole, one-family households make up 68.3 percent of all households. In Auckland Region, there are 86,547 one-person households making up 19.0 percent of all households. In New Zealand, one-person households make up 23.5 percent of all households. The average household size in Auckland Region is 3.0 people, compared with an average of 2.7 people for all of New Zealand. 81.6 percent of households in Auckland Region have access to the Internet, compared with 76.8 percent of households in New Zealand. In Auckland Region, 84.8 percent of households have access to a cellphone, compared with 83.7 percent of households for New Zealand as a whole. Access to motor vehicles 18.4 percent of households in Auckland Region have access to three or more motor vehicles, compared with 16.1 percent of all households in New Zealand. Main means of travel to work The most common means of travel to work on census day for people in Auckland Region was driving a private car, truck or van (65.4 percent of people who travelled to work used this form of transport). This was followed by driving a company car, truck or van (12.6 percent) and public bus (6.5 percent). For New Zealand as a whole, the most common means of travel to work was driving a private car, truck or van, followed by driving a company car, truck or van, and walking or jogging. Note: All figures are for the census usually resident population count. In Auckland Region, 61.5 percent of households in occupied private dwellings owned the dwelling or held it in a family trust. For New Zealand as a whole, 64.8 percent of households in occupied private dwellings owned the dwelling or held it in a family trust. For households in Auckland Region who rented the dwelling that they lived in, the median weekly rent paid was $350. This compared with $280 for New Zealand as a whole. Home ownership by household This data has been randomly rounded to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not add up to totals, and values for the same data may vary in different text, tables and graphs. Building consents Building consent data for the year ended December 2013 showed that: The total number of building consents issued for dwellings, including apartments, in Auckland Region was 6,309. The total number of building consents issued for apartments in Auckland Region was 1,380. The total value of residential building work in Auckland Region was $2,499,854,498. The total value of non-residential building work in Auckland Region was $1,372,475,305. Note: Building consent data is obtained from all accredited building consent authorities (ie territorial authorities) and is compiled if the building consent issued is valued over $5000. See data quality information on building consents. Business demographic data for the year ended February 2013 showed that: There were 163,582 business locations (geographic units) in Auckland Region compared with 507,908 for all of New Zealand. This is an increase of 5.9 percent from the year ended February 2006 for Auckland Region. There were 650,430 paid employees in Auckland Region compared with 1,941,040 for all New Zealand. This is an increase of 5.6 percent from the year ended February 2006 for Auckland Region. Top five industries in Auckland Region By employee count For year ended February 2013 Industry (ANZSIC06)(1) Auckland Region New Zealand Employee count Percent of total employee count Employee count Percent of total employee count Manufacturing 71,020 10.9 211,710 10.9 Professional, scientific and technical services 69,060 10.6 153,120 7.9 Health care and social assistance 63,500 9.8 211,350 10.9 Retail trade 62,770 9.7 195,870 10.1 Education and training 54,170 8.3 167,240 8.6 1. Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006 (ANZSIC06 V1.0). Note: Some regions, territorial authorities, and local boards may have more than one industry with the same employee count but the table has been restricted to five industries. Note: Business demographic data is sourced from a register of economically significant businesses which is maintained by Statistics New Zealand. See data quality information on business demographics. Employee count data has been randomly rounded. Individual figures may not add up to totals, and values for the same data may vary in different text, tables and graphs.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10065
__label__wiki	0.532025	0.532025	Concrete/Masonry Asphalt/Paving Septic Repair Stucco/Plaster Excavation/Grading Concrete Construction Contractor Services in Los Angeles, CA Concrete Construction in Los Angeles, CA Prieto Engineering is a Los Angeles, CA based concrete construction contractor performing concrete projects from $1,500 to $1 million. Free Bid Proposal We offer a free bid proposal and/or design consultation. Please also feel free to browse our many websites and look into the myriad of services we can provide for you. Thank you for the opportunity to earn your business. As a certified concrete construction services contractor in Los Angeles, CA, Prieto Engineering serves the following areas in Los Angeles, CA: Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Arleta, Artesia, Baldwin Hills, Bel Air, Bell Canyon, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Belmont Shore, Beverly Hills, Bixby Knolls, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Century City, Chatsworth, Cheviot Hills, City of Industry, Commerce, Culver City, Downtown Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, El Segundo, Encino, Gardena, Glassell Park, Glendale, Granada Hills, Hancock Park, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Highland Park, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Holmby Hills, Huntington Park, Koreatown, La Canada, La Crescenta, La Mirada, Little Tokyo, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Malibu, Malibu Lake, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Mission Hills, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Montrose, Mount Washington, North HIlls, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Palos Verdes Estates, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Paramout, Pasadena, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, San Fernando, Sanford, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Sepulveda, Sherman Oaks, Silverlake, South Pasadena, Studio City, Sunland, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Torrance, Tujunga, Universal City, USC, Van Nuys, Valencia, Venice, Venice Beach, Vernon, West Adams, Westchester, West Hills, West Hollywood, Westlake, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Whittier, Windsor Hills, Woodland Hills Copyright 2013. PrietoEngineering Admin. All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10069
__label__wiki	0.867651	0.867651	Sudan\ Displaying items by tag: United Nations United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273 (III). Admission of Israel to membership in the United Nations (11/05/1949) Published in United Nations A/RES/273 (III) 273 (III). Admission of Israel to membership in the United Nations Having received the report of the Security Council on the application of Israel for membership in the United Nations,1/ Noting that, in the judgment of the Security Council, Israel is a peace-loving State and is able and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter, Noting that the Security Council has recommended to the General Assembly that it admit Israel to membership in the United Nations, Noting furthermore the declaration by the State of Israel that it "unreservedly accepts the obligations of the United Nations Charter and undertakes to honour them from the day when it becomes a Member of the United Nations",2/ Recalling its resolutions of 29 November 1947 3/ and 11 December 1948 4/ and taking note of the declarations and explanationsmade by the representative of the Government of Israel 5/ before the ad hoc Political Committee in respect of the implementation of the said resolutions, The General Assembly, Acting in discharge of its functions under Article 4 of the Charter and rule 125 of its rules of procedure, 1. Decides that Israel is a peace-loving State which accepts the obligations contained in the Charter and is able and willing to carry out those obligations; 2. Decides to admit Israel to membership in the United Nations. 1/ See document A/818. 2/ See document S/1093. 3/ See Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly during its second session, pages 131-132. 4/ See Resolutions adopted by the General Assemblyduring Part I of its third session, pages 21-25. 5/ See documents A/AC.24/SR.45-48, 50 and 51. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 (III). Palestine -- Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator (11/12/1948) See also: SecCo decision of 25 October 1949 (S/PV.453) General Assembly A/RES/194 (III) 11 December 1948 194 (III). Palestine -- Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator Having considered further the situation in Palestine, 1. Expresses its deep appreciation of the progress achieved through the good offices of the late United Nations Mediator in promoting a peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine, for which cause he sacrificed his life; and Extends its thanks to the Acting Mediator and his staff for their continued efforts and devotion to duty in Palestine; 2. Establishes a Conciliation Commission consisting of three States members of the United Nations which shall have the following functions: (a) To assume, in so far as it considers necessary in existing circumstances, the functions given to the United Nations Mediator on Palestine by resolution 186 (S-2) of the General Assembly of 14 May 1948; (b) To carry out the specific functions and directives given to it by the present resolution and such additional functions and directives as may be given to it by the General Assembly or by the Security Council; (c) To undertake, upon the request of the Security Council, any of the functions now assigned to the United Nations Mediator on Palestine or to the United Nations Truce Commission by resolutions of the Security Council; upon such request to the Conciliation Commission by the Security Council with respect to all the remaining functions of the United Nations Mediator on Palestine under Security Council resolutions, the office of the Mediator shall be terminated; 3. Decides that a Committee of the Assembly, consisting of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, shall present, before the end of the first part of the present session of the General Assembly, for the approval of the Assembly, a proposal concerning the names of the three States which will constitute the Conciliation Commission; 4. Requests the Commission to begin its functions at once, with a view to the establishment of contact between the parties themselves and the Commission at the earliest possible date; 5. Calls upon the Governments and authorities concerned to extend the scope of the negotiations provided for in the Security Council's resolution of 16 November 1948 1/ and to seek agreement by negotiations conducted either with the Conciliation Commission or directly, with a view to the final settlement of all questions outstanding between them; 6. Instructs the Conciliation Commission to take steps to assist the Governments and authorities concerned to achieve a final settlement of all questions outstanding between them; 7. Resolves that the Holy Places - including Nazareth - religious buildings and sites in Palestine should be protected and free access to them assured, in accordance with existing rights and historical practice; that arrangements to this end should be under effective United Nations supervision; that the United Nations Conciliation Commission, in presenting to the fourth regular session of the General Assembly its detailed proposals for a permanent international regime for the territory of Jerusalem, should include recommendations concerning the Holy Places in that territory; that with regard to the Holy Places in the rest of Palestine the Commission should call upon the political authorities of the areas concerned to give appropriate formal guarantees as to the protection of the Holy Places and access to them; and that these undertakings should be presented to the General Assembly for approval; 8. Resolves that, in view of its association with three world religions, the Jerusalem area, including the present municipality of Jerusalem plus the surrounding villages and towns, the most eastern of which shall be Abu Dis; the most southern, Bethlehem; the most western, Ein Karim (including also the built-up area of Motsa); and the most northern, Shu'fat, should be accorded special and separate treatment from the rest of Palestine and should be placed under effective United Nations control; Requests the Security Council to take further steps to ensure the demilitarization of Jerusalem at the earliest possible date; Instructs the Conciliation Commission to present to the fourth regular session of the General Assembly detailed proposals for a permanent international regime for the Jerusalem area which will provide for the maximum local autonomy for distinctive groups consistent with the special international status of the Jerusalem area; The Conciliation Commission is authorized to appoint a United Nations representative, who shall co-operate with the local authorities with respect to the interim administration of the Jerusalem area; 9. Resolves that, pending agreement on more detailed arrangements among the Governments and authorities concerned, the freest possible access to Jerusalem by road, rail or air should be accorded to all inhabitants of Palestine; Instructs the Conciliation Commission to report immediately to the Security Council, for appropriate action by that organ, any attempt by any party to impede such access; 10. Instructs the Conciliation Commission to seek arrangements among the Governments and authorities concerned which will facilitate the economic development of the area, including arrangements for access to ports and airfields and the use of transportation and communication facilities; 11. Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible; Instructs the Conciliation Commission to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees and the payment of compensation, and to maintain close relations with the Director of the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and, through him, with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations; 12. Authorizes the Conciliation Commission to appoint such subsidiary bodies and to employ such technical experts, acting under its authority, as it may find necessary for the effective discharge of its functions and responsibilities under the present resolution; The Conciliation Commission will have its official headquarters at Jerusalem. The authorities responsible for maintaining order in Jerusalem will be responsible for taking all measures necessary to ensure the security of the Commission. The Secretary-General will provide a limited number of guards to the protection of the staff and premises of the Commission; 13. Instructs the Conciliation Commission to render progress reports periodically to the Secretary-General for transmission to the Security Council and to the Members of the United Nations; 14. Calls upon all Governments and authorities concerned to co-operate with the Conciliation Commission and to take all possible steps to assist in the implementation of the present resolution; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary staff and facilities and to make appropriate arrangements to provide the necessary funds required in carrying out the terms of the present resolution. At the 186th plenary meeting on 11 December 1948, a committee of the Assembly consisting of the five States designated in paragraph 3 of the above resolution proposed that the following three States should constitute the Conciliation Commission: France, Turkey, United States of America. The proposal of the Committee having been adopted by the General Assembly at the same meeting, the Conciliation Commission is therefore composed of the above-mentioned three States. 1/ See Official Records of the Security Council, Third Year, No. 126. NATIONS S Security Council S/PV.453 S/INF/3/Rev. 1 At its 453rd meeting, on 25 October 1949, the Council decided to postpone indefinitely the discussion of the item "Demilitarization of the Jerusalem area, with special reference to General Assembly resolution 194 (III), dated 11 December 1948". United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) - Future government of Palestine (29/11/1947) UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly A/RES/181(II) Resolution 181 (II). Future government of Palestine Having met in special session at the request of the mandatory Power to constitute and instruct a special committee to prepare for the consideration of the question of the future government of Palestine at the second regular session; Having constituted a Special Committee and instructed it to investigate all questions and issues relevant to the problem of Palestine, and to prepare proposals for the solution of the problem, and Having received and examined the report of the Special Committee (document A/364) 1/ including a number of unanimous recommendations and a plan of partition with economic union approved by the majority of the Special Committee, Considers that the present situation in Palestine is one which is likely to impair the general welfare and friendly relations among nations; Takes note of the declaration by the mandatory Power that it plans to complete its evacuation of Palestine by 1 August 1948; Recommends to the United Kingdom, as the mandatory Power for Palestine, and to all other Members of the United Nations the adoption and implementation, with regard to the future government of Palestine, of the Plan of Partition with Economic Union set out below; Requests that (a) The Security Council take the necessary measures as provided for in the plan for its implementation; (b) The Security Council consider, if circumstances during the transitional period require such consideration, whether the situation in Palestine constitutes a threat to the peace. If it decides that such a threat exists, and in order to maintain international peace and security, the Security Council should supplement the authorization of the General Assembly by taking measures, under Articles 39 and 41 of the Charter, to empower the United Nations Commission, as provided in this resolution, to exercise in Palestine the functions which are assigned to it by this resolution; (c) The Security Council determine as a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression, in accordance with Article 39 of the Charter, any attempt to alter by force the settlement envisaged by this resolution; (d) The Trusteeship Council be informed of the responsibilities envisaged for it in this plan; Calls upon the inhabitants of Palestine to take such steps as may be necessary on their part to put this plan into effect; Appeals to all Governments and all peoples to refrain from taking action which might hamper or delay the carrying out of these recommendations, and Authorizes the Secretary-General to reimburse travel and subsistence expenses of the members of the Commission referred to in Part I, Section B, paragraph 1 below, on such basis and in such form as he may determine most appropriate in the circumstances, and to provide the Commission with the necessary staff to assist in carrying out the functions assigned to the Commission by the General Assembly. B 2/ Authorizes the Secretary-General to draw from the Working Capital Fund a sum not to exceed $2,000,000 for the purposes set forth in the last paragraph of the resolution on the future government of Palestine. Hundred and twenty-eighth plenary meeting [At its hundred and twenty-eighth plenary meeting on 29 November 1947 the General Assembly, in accordance with the terms of the above resolution [181 A], elected the following members of the United Nations Commission on Palestine: Bolivia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Panama and Philippines.] PLAN OF PARTITION WITH ECONOMIC UNION Future constitution and government of Palestine A. TERMINATION OF MANDATE, PARTITION AND INDEPENDENCE 1. The Mandate for Palestine shall terminate as soon as possible but in any case not later than 1 August 1948. 2. The armed forces of the mandatory Power shall be progressively withdrawn from Palestine, the withdrawal to be completed as soon as possible but in any case not later than 1 August 1948. The mandatory Power shall advise the Commission, as far in advance as possible, of its intention to terminate the Mandate and to evacuate each area. The mandatory Power shall use its best endeavours to ensure than an area situated in the territory of the Jewish State, including a seaport and hinterland adequate to provide facilities for a substantial immigration, shall be evacuated at the earliest possible date and in any event not later than 1 February 1948. 3. Independent Arab and Jewish States and the Special International Regime for the City of Jerusalem, set forth in part III of this plan, shall come into existence in Palestine two months after the evacuation of the armed forces of the mandatory Power has been completed but in any case not later than 1 October 1948. The boundaries of the Arab State, the Jewish State, and the City of Jerusalem shall be as described in parts II and III below. 4. The period between the adoption by the General Assembly of its recommendation on the question of Palestine and the establishment of the independence of the Arab and Jewish States shall be a transitional period. B. STEPS PREPARATORY TO INDEPENDENCE 1. A Commission shall be set up consisting of one representative of each of five Member States. The Members represented on the Commission shall be elected by the General Assembly on as broad a basis, geographically and otherwise, as possible. 2. The administration of Palestine shall, as the mandatory Power withdraws its armed forces, be progressively turned over to the Commission; which shall act in conformity with the recommendations of the General Assembly, under the guidance of the Security Council. The mandatory Power shall to the fullest possible extent co-ordinate its plans for withdrawal with the plans of the Commission to take over and administer areas which have been evacuated. In the discharge of this administrative responsibility the Commission shall have authority to issue necessary regulations and take other measures as required. The mandatory Power shall not take any action to prevent, obstruct or delay the implementation by the Commission of the measures recommended by the General Assembly. 3. On its arrival in Palestine the Commission shall proceed to carry out measures for the establishment of the frontiers of the Arab and Jewish States and the City of Jerusalem in accordance with the general lines of the recommendations of the General Assembly on the partition of Palestine. Nevertheless, the boundaries as described in part II of this plan are to be modified in such a way that village areas as a rule will not be divided by state boundaries unless pressing reasons make that necessary. 4. The Commission, after consultation with the democratic parties and other public organizations of The Arab and Jewish States, shall select and establish in each State as rapidly as possible a Provisional Council of Government. The activities of both the Arab and Jewish Provisional Councils of Government shall be carried out under the general direction of the Commission. If by 1 April 1948 a Provisional Council of Government cannot be selected for either of the States, or, if selected, cannot carry out its functions, the Commission shall communicate that fact to the Security Council for such action with respect to that State as the Security Council may deem proper, and to the Secretary-General for communication to the Members of the United Nations. 5. Subject to the provisions of these recommendations, during the transitional period the Provisional Councils of Government, acting under the Commission, shall have full authority in the areas under their control, including authority over matters of immigration and land regulation. 6. The Provisional Council of Government of each State acting under the Commission, shall progressively receive from the Commission full responsibility for the administration of that State in the period between the termination of the Mandate and the establishment of the State's independence. 7. The Commission shall instruct the Provisional Councils of Government of both the Arab and Jewish States, after their formation, to proceed to the establishment of administrative organs of government, central and local. 8. The Provisional Council of Government of each State shall, within the shortest time possible, recruit an armed militia from the residents of that State, sufficient in number to maintain internal order and to prevent frontier clashes. This armed militia in each State shall, for operational purposes, be under the command of Jewish or Arab officers resident in that State, but general political and military control, including the choice of the militia's High Command, shall be exercised by the Commission. 9. The Provisional Council of Government of each State shall, not later than two months after the withdrawal of the armed forces of the mandatory Power, hold elections to the Constituent Assembly which shall be conducted on democratic lines. The election regulations in each State shall be drawn up by the Provisional Council of Government and approved by the Commission. Qualified voters for each State for this election shall be persons over eighteen years of age who are: (a) Palestinian citizens residing in that State and (b) Arabs and Jews residing in the State, although not Palestinian citizens, who, before voting, have signed a notice of intention to become citizens of such State. Arabs and Jews residing in the City of Jerusalem who have signed a notice of intention to become citizens, the Arabs of the Arab State and the Jews of the Jewish State, shall be entitled to vote in the Arab and Jewish States respectively. Women may vote and be elected to the Constituent Assemblies. During the transitional period no Jew shall be permitted to establish residence in the area of the proposed Arab State, and no Arab shall be permitted to establish residence in the area of the proposed Jewish State, except by special leave of the Commission. 10. The Constituent Assembly of each State shall draft a democratic constitution for its State and choose a provisional government to succeed the Provisional Council of Government appointed by the Commission. The constitutions of the States shall embody chapters 1 and 2 of the Declaration provided for in section C below and include inter alia provisions for: (a) Establishing in each State a legislative body elected by universal suffrage and by secret ballot on the basis of proportional representation, and an executive body responsible to the legislature; (b) Settling all international disputes in which the State may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered; (c) Accepting the obligation of the State to refrain in its international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; (d) Guaranteeing to all persons equal and non-discriminatory rights in civil, political, economic and religious matters and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion, language, speech and publication, education, assembly and association; (e) Preserving freedom of transit and visit for all residents and citizens of the other State in Palestine and the City of Jerusalem, subject to considerations of national security, provided that each State shall control residence within its borders. 11. The Commission shall appoint a preparatory economic commission of three members to make whatever arrangements are possible for economic co-operation, with a view to establishing, as soon as practicable, the Economic Union and the Joint Economic Board, as provided in section D below. 12. During the period between the adoption of the recommendations on the question of Palestine by the General Assembly and the termination of the Mandate, the mandatory Power in Palestine shall maintain full responsibility for administration in areas from which it has not withdrawn its armed forces. The Commission shall assist the mandatory Power in the carrying out of these functions. Similarly the mandatory Power shall co-operate with the Commission in the execution of its functions. 13. With a view to ensuring that there shall be continuity in the functioning of administrative services and that, on the withdrawal of the armed forces of the mandatory Power, the whole administration shall be in the charge of the Provisional Councils and the Joint Economic Board, respectively, acting under the Commission, there shall be a progressive transfer, from the mandatory Power to the Commission, of responsibility for all the functions of government, including that of maintaining law and order in the areas from which the forces of the mandatory Power have been withdrawn. 14. The Commission shall be guided in its activities by the recommendations of the General Assembly and by such instructions as the Security Council may consider necessary to issue. The measures taken by the Commission, within the recommendations of the General Assembly, shall become immediately effective unless the Commission has previously received contrary instructions from the Security Council. The Commission shall render periodic monthly progress reports, or more frequently if desirable, to the Security Council. 15. The Commission shall make its final report to the next regular session of the General Assembly and to the Security Council simultaneously. C. DECLARATION A declaration shall be made to the United Nations by the provisional government of each proposed State before independence. It shall contain inter alia the following clauses: General Provision The stipulations contained in the declaration are recognized as fundamental laws of the State and no law, regulation or official action shall conflict or interfere with these stipulations, nor shall any law, regulation or official action prevail over them. Holy Places, religious buildings and sites 1. Existing rights in respect of Holy Places and religious buildings or sites shall not be denied or impaired. 2. In so far as Holy Places are concerned, the liberty of access, visit and transit shall be guaranteed, in conformity with existing rights, to all residents and citizens of the other State and of the City of Jerusalem, as well as to aliens, without distinction as to nationality, subject to requirements of national security, public order and decorum. Similarly, freedom of worship shall be guaranteed in conformity with existing rights, subject to the maintenance of public order and decorum. 3. Holy Places and religious buildings or sites shall be preserved. No act shall be permitted which may in any way impair their sacred character. If at any time it appears to the Government that any particular Holy Place, religious building or site is in need of urgent repair, the Government may call upon the community or communities concerned to carry out such repair. The Government may carry it out itself at the expense of the community or communities concerned if no action is taken within a reasonable time. 4. No taxation shall be levied in respect of any Holy Place, religious building or site which was exempt from taxation on the date of the creation of the State. No change in the incidence of such taxation shall be made which would either discriminate between the owners or occupiers of Holy Places, religious buildings or sites, or would place such owners or occupiers in a position less favourable in relation to the general incidence of taxation than existed at the time of the adoption of the Assembly's recommendations. 5. The Governor of the City of Jerusalem shall have the right to determine whether the provisions of the Constitution of the State in relation to Holy Places, religious buildings and sites within the borders of the State and the religious rights appertaining thereto, are being properly applied and respected, and to make decisions on the basis of existing rights in cases of disputes which may arise between the different religious communities or the rites of a religious community with respect to such places, buildings and sites. He shall receive full co-operation and such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of his functions in the State. Religious and Minority Rights 1. Freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship, subject only to the maintenance of public order and morals, shall be ensured to all. 2. No discrimination of any kind shall be made between the inhabitants on the ground of race, religion, language or sex. 3. All persons within the jurisdiction of the State shall be entitled to equal protection of the laws. 4. The family law and personal status of the various minorities and their religious interests, including endowments, shall be respected. 5. Except as may be required for the maintenance of public order and good government, no measure shall be taken to obstruct or interfere with the enterprise of religious or charitable bodies of all faiths or to discriminate against any representative or member of these bodies on the ground of his religion or nationality. 6. The State shall ensure adequate primary and secondary education for the Arab and Jewish minority, respectively, in its own language and its cultural traditions. The right of each community to maintain its own schools for the education of its own members in its own language, while conforming to such educational requirements of a general nature as the State may impose, shall not be denied or impaired. Foreign educational establishments shall continue their activity on the basis of their existing rights. 7. No restriction shall be imposed on the free use by any citizen of the State of any language in private intercourse, in commerce, in religion, in the Press or in publications of any kind, or at public meetings. 8. No expropriation of land owned by an Arab in the Jewish State (by a Jew in the Arab State) shall be allowed except for public purposes. In all cases of expropriation full compensation as fixed by the Supreme Court shall be paid previous to dispossession. Citizenship, international conventions and financial obligations 1. Citizenship. Palestinian citizens residing in Palestine outside the City of Jerusalem, as well as Arabs and Jews who, not holding Palestinian citizenship, reside in Palestine outside the City of Jerusalem shall, upon the recognition of independence, become citizens of the State in which they are resident and enjoy full civil and political rights. Persons over the age of eighteen years may opt, within one year from the date of recognition of independence of the State in which they reside, for citizenship of the other State, providing that no Arab residing in the area of the proposed Arab State shall have the right to opt for citizenship in the proposed Jewish State and no Jew residing in the proposed Jewish State shall have the right to opt for citizenship in the proposed Arab State. The exercise of this right of option will be taken to include the wives and children under eighteen years of age of persons so opting. Arabs residing in the area of the proposed Jewish State and Jews residing in the area of the proposed Arab State who have signed a notice of intention to opt for citizenship of the other State shall be eligible to vote in the elections to the Constituent Assembly of that State, but not in the elections to the Constituent Assembly of the State in which they reside. 2. International conventions. (a) The State shall be bound by all the international agreements and conventions, both general and special, to which Palestine has become a party. Subject to any right of denunciation provided for therein, such agreements and conventions shall be respected by the State throughout the period for which they were concluded. (b) Any dispute about the applicability and continued validity of international conventions or treaties signed or adhered to by the mandatory Power on behalf of Palestine shall be referred to the International Court of Justice in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the Court. 3. Financial obligations. (a) The State shall respect and fulfil all financial obligations of whatever nature assumed on behalf of Palestine by the mandatory Power during the exercise of the Mandate and recognized by the State. This provision includes the right of public servants to pensions, compensation or gratuities. (b) These obligations shall be fulfilled through participation in the Joint economic Board in respect of those obligations applicable to Palestine as a whole, and individually in respect of those applicable to, and fairly apportionable between, the States. (c) A Court of Claims, affiliated with the Joint Economic Board, and composed of one member appointed by the United Nations, one representative of the United Kingdom and one representative of the State concerned, should be established. Any dispute between the United Kingdom and the State respecting claims not recognized by the latter should be referred to that Court. (d) Commercial concessions granted in respect of any part of Palestine prior to the adoption of the resolution by the General Assembly shall continue to be valid according to their terms, unless modified by agreement between the concession-holder and the State. 1. The provisions of chapters 1 and 2 of the declaration shall be under the guarantee of the United Nations, and no modifications shall be made in them without the assent of the General Assembly of the United nations. Any Member of the United Nations shall have the right to bring to the attention of the General Assembly any infraction or danger of infraction of any of these stipulations, and the General Assembly may thereupon make such recommendations as it may deem proper in the circumstances. 2. Any dispute relating to the application or the interpretation of this declaration shall be referred, at the request of either party, to the International Court of Justice, unless the parties agree to another mode of settlement. D. ECONOMIC UNION AND TRANSIT 1. The Provisional Council of Government of each State shall enter into an undertaking with respect to economic union and transit. This undertaking shall be drafted by the commission provided for in section B, paragraph 1, utilizing to the greatest possible extent the advice and co-operation of representative organizations and bodies from each of the proposed States. It shall contain provisions to establish the Economic Union of Palestine and provide for other matters of common interest. If by 1 April 1948 the Provisional Councils of Government have not entered into the undertaking, the undertaking shall be put into force by the Commission. The Economic Union of Palestine 2. The objectives of the Economic Union of Palestine shall be: (a) A customs union; (b) A joint currency system providing for a single foreign exchange rate; (c) Operation in the common interest on a non-discriminatory basis of railways; inter-State highways; postal, telephone and telegraphic services, and port and airports involved in international trade and commerce; (d) Joint economic development, especially in respect of irrigation, land reclamation and soil conservation; (e) Access for both States and for the City of Jerusalem on a non-discriminatory basis to water and power facilities. 3. There shall be established a Joint Economic Board, which shall consist of three representatives of each of the two States and three foreign members appointed by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The foreign members shall be appointed in the first instance for a term of three years; they shall serve as individuals and not as representatives of States. 4. The functions of the Joint Economic Board shall be to implement either directly or by delegation the measures necessary to realize the objectives of the Economic Union. It shall have all powers of organization and administration necessary to fulfil its functions. 5. The States shall bind themselves to put into effect the decisions of the Joint Economic Board. The Board's decisions shall be taken by a majority vote. 6. In the event of failure of a State to take the necessary action the Board may, by a vote of six members, decide to withhold an appropriate portion of that part of the customs revenue to which the State in question is entitled under the Economic Union. Should the State persist in its failure to co-operate, the Board may decide by a simple majority vote upon such further sanctions, including disposition of funds which it has withheld, as it may deem appropriate. 7. In relation to economic development, the functions of the Board shall be the planning, investigation and encouragement of joint development projects, but it shall not undertake such projects except with the assent of both States and the City of Jerusalem, in the event that Jerusalem is directly involved in the development project. 8. In regard to the joint currency system the currencies circulating in the two States and the City of Jerusalem shall be issued under the authority of the Joint Economic Board, which shall be the sole issuing authority and which shall determine the reserves to be held against such currencies. 9. So far as is consistent with paragraph 2 (b) above, each State may operate its own central bank, control its own fiscal and credit policy, its foreign exchange receipts and expenditures, the grant of import licenses, and may conduct international financial operations on its own faith and credit. During the first two years after the termination of the Mandate, the Joint Economic Board shall have the authority to take such measures as may be necessary to ensure that--to the extent that the total foreign exchange revenues of the two States from the export of goods and services permit, and provided that each State takes appropriate measures to conserve its own foreign exchange resources--each State shall have available, in any twelve months' period, foreign exchange sufficient to assure the supply of quantities of imported goods and services for consumption in its territory equivalent to the quantities of such goods and services consumed in that territory in the twelve months' period ending 31 December 1947. 10. All economic authority not specifically vested in the Joint Economic Board is reserved to each State. 11. There shall be a common customs tariff with complete freedom of trade between the States, and between the States and the City of Jerusalem. 12. The tariff schedules shall be drawn up by a Tariff Commission, consisting of representatives of each of the States in equal numbers, and shall be submitted to the Joint Economic Board for approval by a majority vote. In case of disagreement in the Tariff Commission, the Joint Economic Board shall arbitrate the points of difference. In the event that the Tariff Commission fails to draw up any schedule by a date to be fixed, the Joint Economic Board shall determine the tariff schedule. 13. The following items shall be a first charge on the customs and other common revenue of the Joint Economic Board: (a) The expenses of the customs service and of the operation of the joint services; (b) The administrative expenses of the Joint Economic Board; (c) The financial obligations of the Administration of Palestine consisting of: (i) The service of the outstanding public debt; (ii) The cost of superannuation benefits, now being paid or falling due in the future, in accordance with the rules and to the extent established by paragraph 3 of chapter 3 above. 14. After these obligations have been met in full, the surplus revenue from the customs and other common services shall be divided in the following manner: not less than 5 per cent and not more than 10 per cent to the City of Jerusalem; the residue shall be allocated to each State by the Joint Economic Board equitably, with the objective of maintaining a sufficient and suitable level of government and social services in each State, except that the share of either State shall not exceed the amount of that State's contribution to the revenues of the Economic Union by more than approximately four million pounds in any year. The amount granted may be adjusted by the Board according to the price level in relation to the prices prevailing at the time of the establishment of the Union. After five years, the principles of the distribution of the joint revenues may be revised by the Joint Economic Board on a basis of equity. 15. All international conventions and treaties affecting customs tariff rates, and those communications services under the jurisdiction of the Joint Economic Board, shall be entered into by both States. In these matters, the two States shall be bound to act in accordance with the majority vote of the Joint Economic Board. 16. The Joint Economic Board shall endeavour to secure for Palestine's export fair and equal access to world markets. 17. All enterprises operated by the Joint Economic Board shall pay fair wages on a uniform basis. Freedom of transit and visit 18. The undertaking shall contain provisions preserving freedom of transit and visit for all residents or citizens of both States and of the City of Jerusalem, subject to security considerations; provided that each state and the City shall control residence within its borders. Termination, modification and interpretation of the undertaking 19. The undertaking and any treaty issuing therefrom shall remain in force for a period of ten years. It shall continue in force until notice of termination, to take effect two years thereafter, is given by either of the parties. 20. During the initial ten-year period, the undertaking and any treaty issuing therefrom may not be modified except by consent of both parties and with the approval of the General Assembly. 21. Any dispute relating to the application or the interpretation of the undertaking and any treaty issuing therefrom shall be referred, at the request of either party, to the international Court of Justice, unless the parties agree to another mode of settlement. E. ASSETS 1. The movable assets of the Administration of Palestine shall be allocated to the Arab and Jewish States and the City of Jerusalem on an equitable basis. Allocations should be made by the United Nations Commission referred to in section B, paragraph 1, above. Immovable assets shall become the property of the government of the territory in which they are situated. 2. During the period between the appointment of the United Nations Commission and the termination of the Mandate, the mandatory Power shall, except in respect of ordinary operations, consult with the Commission on any measure which it may contemplate involving the liquidation, disposal or encumbering of the assets of the Palestine Government, such as the accumulated treasury surplus, the proceeds of Government bond issues, State lands or any other asset. F. ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED NATIONS When the independence of either the Arab or the Jewish State as envisaged in this plan has become effective and the declaration and undertaking, as envisaged in this plan, have been signed by either of them, sympathetic consideration should be given to its application for admission to membership in the United Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter of the United Nations. Boundaries5/ A. THE ARAB STATE The area of the Arab State in Western Galilee is bounded on the west by the Mediterranean and on the north by the frontier of the Lebanon from Ras en Naqura to a point north of Saliha. From there the boundary proceeds southwards, leaving the built-up area of Saliha in the Arab State, to join the southernmost point of this village. Thence it follows the western boundary line of the villages of `Alma, Rihaniya and Teitaba, thence following the northern boundary line of Meirun village to join the Acre-Safad sub-district boundary line. It follows this line to a point west of Es Sammu'i village and joins it again at the northernmost point of Farradiya. Thence it follows the sub-district boundary line to the Acre-Safad main road. From here it follows the western boundary of Kafr I'nan village until it reaches the Tiberias-Acre sub-district boundary line, passing to the west of the junction of the Acre-Safad and Lubiya-Kafr I'nan roads. From south-west corner of Kafr I'nan village the boundary line follows the western boundary of the Tiberias sub-district to a point close to the boundary line between the villages of Maghar and Eilabun, thence bulging out to the west to include as much of the eastern part of the plain of Battuf as is necessary for the reservoir proposed by the Jewish Agency for the irrigation of lands to the south and east. The boundary rejoins the Tiberias sub-district boundary at a point on the Nazareth-Tiberias road south-east of the built-up area of Tur'an; thence it runs southwards, at first following the sub-district boundary and then passing between the Kadoorie Agricultural School and Mount Tabor, to a point due south at the base of Mount Tabor. From here it runs due west, parallel to the horizontal grid line 230, to the north-east corner of the village lands of Tel Adashim. It then runs to the north-west corner of these lands, whence it turns south and west so as to include in the Arab State the sources of the Nazareth water supply in Yafa village. On reaching Ginneiger it follows the eastern, northern and western boundaries of the lands of this village to their south-west corner, whence it proceeds in a straight line to a point on the Haifa-Afula railway on the boundary between the villages of Sarid and El Mujeidil. This is the point of intersection. The south-western boundary of the area of the Arab State in Galilee takes a line from this point, passing northwards along the eastern boundaries of Sarid and Gevat to the north-eastern corner of Nahalal, proceeding thence across the land of Kefar ha Horesh to a central point on the southern boundary of the village of `Ilut, thence westwards along that village boundary to the eastern boundary of Beit Lahm, thence northwards and north-eastwards along its western boundary to the north-eastern corner of Waldheim and thence north-westwards across the village lands of Shafa 'Amr to the south-eastern corner of Ramat Yohanan'. From here it runs due north-north-east to a point on the Shafa 'Amr-Haifa road, west of its junction with the road to I'Billin. From there it proceeds north-east to a point on the southern boundary of I'Billin situated to the west of the I'Billin-Birwa road. Thence along that boundary to its westernmost point, whence it turns to the north, follows across the village land of Tamra to the north-westernmost corner and along the western boundary of Julis until it reaches the Acre-Safad road. It then runs westwards along the southern side of the Safad-Acre road to the Galilee-Haifa District boundary, from which point it follows that boundary to the sea. The boundary of the hill country of Samaria and Judea starts on the Jordan River at the Wadi Malih south-east of Beisan and runs due west to meet the Beisan-Jericho road and then follows the western side of that road in a north-westerly direction to the junction of the boundaries of the sub-districts of Beisan, Nablus, and Jenin. From that point it follows the Nablus-Jenin sub-district boundary westwards for a distance of about three kilometres and then turns north-westwards, passing to the east of the built-up areas of the villages of Jalbun and Faqqu'a, to the boundary of the sub-districts of Jenin and Beisan at a point north-east of Nuris. Thence it proceeds first north-westwards to a point due north of the built-up area of Zir'in and then westwards to the Afula-Jenin railway, thence north-westwards along the district boundary line to the point of intersection on the Hejaz railway. From here the boundary runs south-westwards, including the built-up area and some of the land of the village of Kh.Lid in the Arab State to cross the Haifa-Jenin road at a point on the district boundary between Haifa and Samaria west of El Mansi. It follows this boundary to the southernmost point of the village of El Buteimat. From here it follows the northern and eastern boundaries of the village of Ar'ara, rejoining the Haifa-Samaria district boundary at Wadi'Ara, and thence proceeding south-south-westwards in an approximately straight line joining up with the western boundary of Qaqun to a point east of the railway line on the eastern boundary of Qaqun village. From here it runs along the railway line some distance to the east of it to a point just east of the Tulkarm railway station. Thence the boundary follows a line half-way between the railway and the Tulkarm-Qalqiliya-Jaljuliya and Ras el Ein road to a point just east of Ras el Ein station, whence it proceeds along the railway some distance to the east of it to the point on the railway line south of the junction of the Haifa-Lydda and Beit Nabala lines, whence it proceeds along the southern border of Lydda airport to its south-west corner, thence in a south-westerly direction to a point just west of the built-up area of Sarafand el'Amar, whence it turns south, passing just to the west of the built-up area of Abu el Fadil to the north-east corner of the lands of Beer Ya'Aqov. (The boundary line should be so demarcated as to allow direct access from the Arab State to the airport.) Thence the boundary line follows the western and southern boundaries of Ramle village, to the north-east corner of El Na'ana village, thence in a straight line to the southernmost point of El Barriya, along the eastern boundary of that village and the southern boundary of 'Innaba village. Thence it turns north to follow the southern side of the Jaffa-Jerusalem road until El Qubab, whence it follows the road to the boundary of Abu Shusha. It runs along the eastern boundaries of Abu Shusha, Seidun, Hulda to the southernmost point of Hulda, thence westwards in a straight line to the north-eastern corner of Umm Kalkha, thence following the northern boundaries of Umm Kalkha, Qazaza and the northern and western boundaries of Mukhezin to the Gaza District boundary and thence runs across the village lands of El Mismiya, El Kabira, and Yasur to the southern point of intersection, which is midway between the built-up areas of Yasur and Batani Sharqi. From the southern point of intersection the boundary lines run north-westwards between the villages of Gan Yavne and Barqa to the sea at a point half way between Nabi Yunis and Minat el Qila, and south-eastwards to a point west of Qastina, whence it turns in a south-westerly direction, passing to the east of the built-up areas of Es Sawafir, Es Sharqiya and Ibdis. From the south-east corner of Ibdis village it runs to a point south-west of the built-up area of Beit 'Affa, crossing the Hebron-El Majdal road just to the west of the built-up area of Iraq Suweidan. Thence it proceeds southwards along the western village boundary of El Faluja to the Beersheba sub-district boundary. It then runs across the tribal lands of 'Arab el Jubarat to a point on the boundary between the sub-districts of Beersheba and Hebron north of Kh. Khuweilifa, whence it proceeds in a south-westerly direction to a point on the Beersheba-Gaza main road two kilometres to the north-west of the town. It then turns south-eastwards to reach Wadi Sab' at a point situated one kilometre to the west of it. From here it turns north-eastwards and proceeds along Wadi Sab' and along the Beersheba-Hebron road for a distance of one kilometre, whence it turns eastwards and runs in a straight line to Kh. Kuseifa to join the Beersheba-Hebron sub-district boundary. It then follows the Beersheba-Hebron boundary eastwards to a point north of Ras Ez Zuweira, only departing from it so as to cut across the base of the indentation between vertical grid lines 150 and 160. About five kilometres north-east of Ras ez Zuweira it turns north, excluding from the Arab State a strip along the coast of the Dead Sea not more than seven kilometres in depth, as far as Ein Geddi, whence it turns due east to join the Transjordan frontier in the Dead Sea. The northern boundary of the Arab section of the coastal plain runs from a point between Minat el Qila and Nabi Yunis, passing between the built-up areas of Gan Yavne and Barqa to the point of intersection. From here it turns south-westwards, running across the lands of Batani Sharqi, along the eastern boundary of the lands of Beit Daras and across the lands of Julis, leaving the built-up areas of Batani Sharqi and Julis to the westwards, as far as the north-west corner of the lands of Beit Tima. Thence it runs east of El Jiya across the village lands of El Barbara along the eastern boundaries of the villages of Beit Jirja, Deir Suneid and Dimra. From the south-east corner of Dimra the boundary passes across the lands of Beit Hanun, leaving the Jewish lands of Nir-Am to the eastwards. From the south-east corner of Dimra the boundary passes across the lands of Beit Hanun, leaving the Jewish lands of Nir-Am to the eastwards. From the south-east corner of Beit Hanun the line runs south-west to a point south of the parallel grid line 100, then turns north-west for two kilometres, turning again in a south-westerly direction and continuing in an almost straight line to the north-west corner of the village lands of Kirbet Ikhza'a. From there it follows the boundary line of this village to its southernmost point. It then runs in a southernly direction along the vertical grid line 90 to its junction with the horizontal grid line 70. It then turns south-eastwards to Kh. el Ruheiba and then proceeds in a southerly direction to a point known as El Baha, beyond which it crosses the Beersheba-El 'Auja main road to the west of Kh. el Mushrifa. From there it joins Wadi El Zaiyatin just to the west of El Subeita. From there it turns to the north-east and then to the south-east following this Wadi and passes to the east of 'Abda to join Wadi Nafkh. It then bulges to the south-west along Wadi Nafkh. It then bulges to the south-west along Wadi Nafkh, Wadi Ajrim and Wadi Lassan to the point where Wadi Lassan crosses the Egyptian frontier. The area of the Arab enclave of Jaffa consists of that part of the town-planning area of Jaffa which lies to the west of the Jewish quarters lying south of Tel-Aviv, to the west of the continuation of Herzl street up to its junction with the Jaffa-Jerusalem road, to the south-west of the section of the Jaffa-Jerusalem road lying south-east of that junction, to the west of Miqve Israel lands, to the north-west of Holon local council area, to the north of the line linking up the north-west corner of Holon with the north-east corner of Bat Yam local council area and to the north of Bat Yam local council area. The question of Karton quarter will be decided by the Boundary Commission, bearing in mind among other considerations the desirability of including the smallest possible number of its Arab inhabitants and the largest possible number of its Jewish inhabitants in the Jewish State. B. THE JEWISH STATE The north-eastern sector of the Jewish State (Eastern) Galilee) is bounded on the north and west by the Lebanese frontier and on the east by the frontiers of Syria and Transjordan. It includes the whole of the Hula Basin, Lake Tiberias, the whole of the Beisan sub-district, the boundary line being extended to the crest of the Gilboa mountains and the Wadi Malih. From there the Jewish State extends north-west, following the boundary described in respect of the Arab State. The Jewish Section of the coastal plain extends from a point between Minat et Qila and Nabi Yunis in the Gaza sub-district and includes the towns of Haifa and Tel-Aviv, leaving Jaffa as an enclave of the Arab State. The eastern frontier of the Jewish State follows the boundary described in respect of the Arab State. The Beersheba area comprises the whole of the Beersheba sub-district, including the Negeb and the eastern part of the Gaza sub-district, but excluding the town of Beersheba and those areas described in respect of the Arab State. It includes also a strip of land along the Dead Sea stretching from the Beersheba-Hebron sub-district boundary line to Ein Geddi, as described in respect of the Arab State. C. THE CITY OF JERUSALEM The boundaries of the City of Jerusalem are as defined in the recommendations on the City of Jerusalem. (See Part III, Section B, below). City of Jerusalem A. SPECIAL REGIME The City of Jerusalem shall be established as a corpus separatum under a special international regime and shall be administered by the United Nations. The Trusteeship Council shall be designated to discharge the responsibilities of the Administering Authority on behalf of the United Nations. B. BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY The City of Jerusalem shall include the present municipality of Jerusalem plus the surrounding villages and towns, the most eastern of which shall be Abu Dis; the most southern, Bethlehem; the most western, Ein Karim (including also the built-up area of Motsa); and the most northern Shu'fat, as indicated on the attached sketch-map (annex B). C. STATUTE OF THE CITY The Trusteeship Council shall, within five months of the approval of the present plan, elaborate and approve a detailed Statute of the City which shall contain inter alia the substance of the following provisions: 1. Government machinery; special objectives. The Administering Authority in discharging its administrative obligations shall pursue the following special objectives: (a) To protect and to preserve the unique spiritual and religious interests located in the city of the three great monotheistic faiths throughout the world, Christian, Jewish and Moslem; to this end to ensure that order and peace, and especially religious peace, reign in Jerusalem; (b) To foster co-operation among all the inhabitants of the city in their own interests as well as in order to encourage and support the peaceful development of the mutual relations between the two Palestinian peoples throughout the Holy Land; to promote the security, well-being and any constructive measures of development of the residents, having regard to the special circumstances and customs of the various peoples and communities. 2. Governor and administrative staff. A Governor of the City of Jerusalem shall be appointed by the Trusteeship Council and shall be responsible to it. He shall be selected on the basis of special qualifications and without regard to nationality. He shall not, however, be a citizen of either State in Palestine. The Governor shall represent the United Nations in the City and shall exercise on their behalf all powers of administration, including the conduct of external affairs. He shall be assisted by an administrative staff classed as international officers in the meaning of Article 100 of the Charter and chosen whenever practicable from the residents of the city and of the rest of Palestine on a non-discriminatory basis. A detailed plan for the organization of the administration of the city shall be submitted by the Governor to the Trusteeship Council and duly approved by it. 3. Local autonomy. (a) The existing local autonomous units in the territory of the city (villages, townships and municipalities) shall enjoy wide powers of local government and administration. (b) The Governor shall study and submit for the consideration and decision of the Trusteeship Council a plan for the establishment of a special town units consisting respectively, of the Jewish and Arab sections of new Jerusalem. The new town units shall continue to form part of the present municipality of Jerusalem. 4. Security measures. (a) The City of Jerusalem shall be demilitarized; its neutrality shall be declared and preserved, and no para-military formations, exercises or activities shall be permitted within its borders. (b) Should the administration of the City of Jerusalem be seriously obstructed or prevented by the non-co-operation or interference of one or more sections of the population, the Governor shall have authority to take such measures as may be necessary to restore the effective functioning of the administration. (c) To assist in the maintenance of internal law and order and especially for the protection of the Holy Places and religious buildings and sites in the city, the Governor shall organize a special police force of adequate strength, the members of which shall be recruited outside of Palestine. The Governor shall be empowered to direct such budgetary provision as may be necessary for the maintenance of this force. 5. Legislative organization. A Legislative Council, elected by adult residents of the city irrespective of nationality on the basis of universal and secret suffrage and proportional representation, shall have powers of legislation and taxation. No legislative measures shall, however, conflict or interfere with the provisions which will be set forth in the Statute of the City, nor shall any law, regulation, or official action prevail over them. The Statute shall grant to the Governor a right of vetoing bills inconsistent with the provisions referred to in the preceding sentence. It shall also empower him to promulgate temporary ordinances in case the council fails to adopt in time a bill deemed essential to the normal functioning of the administration. 6. Administration of justice. The Statute shall provide for the establishment of an independent judiciary system, including a court of appeal. All the inhabitants of the City shall be subject to it. 7. Economic union and economic regime. The City of Jerusalem shall be included in the Economic Union of Palestine and be bound by all stipulations of the undertaking and of any treaties issued therefrom, as well as by the decision of the Joint Economic Board. The headquarters of the Economic Board shall be established in the territory of the City. The Statute shall provide for the regulation of economic matters not falling within the regime of the Economic Union, on the basis of equal treatment and non-discrimination for all members of the United Nations and their nationals. 8. Freedom of transit and visit; control of residents. Subject to considerations of security, and of economic welfare as determined by the Governor under the directions of the Trusteeship Council, freedom of entry into, and residence within, the borders of the City shall be guaranteed for the residents or citizens of the Arab and Jewish States. Immigration into, and residence within, the borders of the city for nationals of other States shall be controlled by the Governor under the directions of the Trusteeship Council. 9. Relations with the Arab and Jewish States. Representatives of the Arab and Jewish States shall be accredited to the Governor of the City and charged with the protection of the interests of their States and nationals in connexion with the international administration of the City. 10. Official languages. Arabic and Hebrew shall be the official languages of the city. This will not preclude the adoption of one or more additional working languages, as may be required. 11. Citizenship. All the residents shall become ipso facto citizens of the City of Jerusalem unless they opt for citizenship of the State of which they have been citizens or, if Arabs or Jews, have filed notice of intention to become citizens of the Arab or Jewish State respectively, according to part I, section B, paragraph 9, of this plan. The Trusteeship Council shall make arrangements for consular protection of the citizens of the City outside its territory. 12. Freedoms of Citizens. (a) Subject only to the requirements of public order and morals, the inhabitants of the City shall be ensured the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of conscience, religion and worship, language, education, speech and press, assembly and association, and petition. (b) No discrimination of any kind shall be made between the inhabitants on the grounds of race, religion, language or sex. (c) All persons within the City shall be entitled to equal protection of the laws. (d) The family law and personal status of the various persons and communities and their religious interests, including endowments, shall be respected. (e) Except as may be required for the maintenance of public order and good government, no measure shall be taken to obstruct or interfere with the enterprise of religious or charitable bodies of all faiths or to discriminate against any representative or member of these bodies on the ground of his religion or nationality. (f) The City shall ensure adequate primary and secondary education for the Arab and Jewish communities respectively, in their own languages and in accordance with their cultural traditions. The right of each community to maintain its own schools for the education of its own members in its own language, while conforming to such educational requirements of a general nature as the City may impose, shall not be denied or impaired. Foreign educational establishments shall continue their activity on the basis of their existing rights. (g) No restriction shall be imposed on the free use by any inhabitant of the City of any language in private intercourse, in commerce, in religion, in the Press or in publications of any kind, or at public meetings. 13. Holy Places. (a) Existing rights in respect of Holy Places and religious buildings or sites shall not be denied or impaired. (b) Free access to the Holy Places and religious buildings or sites and the free exercise of worship shall be secured in conformity with existing rights and subject to the requirements of public order and decorum. (c) Holy Places and religious buildings or sites shall be preserved. No act shall be permitted which may in any way impair their sacred character. If at any time it appears to the Governor that any particular Holy Place, religious building or site is in need of urgent repair, the Governor may call upon the community or communities concerned to carry out such repair. The Governor may carry it out himself at the expense of the community or communities concerned if no action is taken within a reasonable time. (d) No taxation shall be levied in respect of any Holy Place, religious building or site which was exempt from taxation on the date of the creation of the City. No change in the incidence of such taxation shall be made which would either discriminate between the owners or occupiers of Holy Places, religious buildings or sites, or would place such owners or occupiers in a position less favourable in relation to the general incidence of taxation than existed at the time of the adoption of the Assembly's recommendations. 14. Special powers of the Governor in respect of the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites in the City and in any part of Palestine. (a) The protection of the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites located in the City of Jerusalem shall be a special concern of the Governor. (b) With relation to such places, buildings and sites in Palestine outside the city, the Governor shall determine, on the ground of powers granted to him by the Constitutions of both States, whether the provisions of the Constitutions of the Arab and Jewish States in Palestine dealing therewith and the religious rights appertaining thereto are being properly applied and respected. (c) The Governor shall also be empowered to make decisions on the basis of existing rights in cases of disputes which may arise between the different religious communities or the rites of a religious community in respect of the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites in any part of Palestine. In this task he may be assisted by a consultative council of representatives of different denominations acting in an advisory capacity. D. DURATION OF THE SPECIAL REGIME The Statute elaborated by the Trusteeship Council on the aforementioned principles shall come into force not later than 1 October 1948. It shall remain in force in the first instance for a period of ten years, unless the Trusteeship Council finds it necessary to undertake a re-examination of these provisions at an earlier date. After the expiration of this period the whole scheme shall be subject to re-examination by the Trusteeship Council in the light of the experience acquired with its functioning. The residents of the City shall be then free to express by means of a referendum their wishes as to possible modifications of the regime of the City. CAPITULATIONS States whose nationals have in the past enjoyed in Palestine the privileges and immunities of foreigners, including the benefits of consular jurisdiction and protection, as formerly enjoyed by capitulation or usage in the Ottoman Empire, are invited to renounce any right pertaining to them to the re-establishment of such privileges and immunities in the proposed Arab and Jewish States and the City of Jerusalem. 1/ See Official Records of the second session of the General Assembly, Supplement No. 11, Volumes I-IV. 2/ This resolution was adopted without reference to a Committee. 3/ The following stipulation shall be added to the declaration concerning the Jewish State: "In the Jewish State adequate facilities shall be given to Arab-speaking citizens for the use of their language, either orally or in writing, in the legislature, before the Courts and in the administration." 4/ In the declaration concerning the Arab State, the words "by an Arab in the Jewish State" should be replaced by the words "by a Jew in the Arab State". 5/ The boundary lines described in part II are indicated in Annex A. The base map used in marking and describing this boundary is "Palestine 1:250000" published by the Survey of Palestine, 1946. Boundaries Proposed By The Ad Hoc Committee On The Palestinian Question * *** * Plan of Partition with Economic Union under A/RES/181 - Map (28 February 1956) PLAN OF PARTITION WITH ECONOMIC UNION proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestinian Question [Annex A to resolution 181 (II) of the General Assembly, dated 29 November 1947] Click on map for larger picture Map No. 103.1 (b) BASE MAP: Survey of Palestine, April 1946. Modified. Jerusalem/Boundaries under A/RES/181, proposed by the Ad hoc Committee (29 November 1947) BOUNDARIES PROPOSED [Annex B to resolution 181 (II) of the General Assembly, Map No. 104 (b) UN Presentation 600 (b) Upgrading Morocco-SA ties: good for both, but no difference … The 'European' refugee crisis ISIS in Africa: Reality far different from IS propaganda Remaining and expanding: Measuring the Islamic State group’s… Expanding UN mandate in South Sudan: Militarising politics?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10070
__label__cc	0.69128	0.30872	Hillary is Not Going to Save Us I've had private conversations on this point before on whether Hillary would run again for President. I have always said she would not. After the disastrous midterm elections, people who had dismissed her in 2008 began asking if she would, perhaps finally understanding the penalties of having been so wrong before. Today, myiq2xu has a post on The Confluence citing two news articles where HRC says pretty firmly that she's done with public service after the Secretary of State gig. Nope, Hillary is not going to save us, even if we ask nicely. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has been reading her statements over the last year. She has said repeatedly that she is "old" (she had a wonderful exchange with Robert Gates in an interview where they ribbed each other about being in the Old Folks Caucus), she was not going serve a second term as Secretary of State, and that she had other things she wanted to do. One of my private observations is that with Chelsea getting married, there's going to be grandkids, and Hillary will not want to miss a second of that. Plus there's other family things like getting to spend more time with her husband and her mother. There's this big foundation attending to human needs around the globe that would greatly benefit from her energy and intelligence. And then there is the incredible freedom of getting to decide what she wants to do unfettered by the caterwauling of the CDS contingent. I am personally disappointed by the idea that HRC won't take charge if only because it means I don't get to watch Versailles' collective head explode in outrage, but I am very happy for her. It means that I have to let go of a hope that she would somehow be able to reverse the nightmare of the 2008 primaries as I watched fauxgressives let their inner misogynists out to play for the sake of a Reagan adulating opponent. Of course, Hillary herself told us this when she stopped her campaign back in June of 2008 - don't live in the past, don't dwell on what might have been, don't let yourself be consumed by resentment over a loss. I think that Hillary (and Bill) know it is time to get a newer, younger generation in to pick up the standard of the FDR Democrats. While I try to show my respect for Hillary and Bill by talking about Clinton Democrats, the fact is what they have been bringing forward is the promise of the New Deal into a world transformed since FDR's time; a dynamic, frenetic place, less equal in some ways, more equal in others, bombarding us with technologies, industries, and contradiction, where all that is solid melts into air. New Deal 2.0, if you will. It means turning away from the course the Stevensonians have set, drenched in sanctimony and cultural arrogance, and, as we have seen in all its ugly reality since the primaries of 2008, actively and aggressively opposed to the fundamental principle of the New Deal, that there is nobility and honor in all honest labor. Their unrelenting demonization of working class America is perfectly in accord with the philosophy, principles, policies and acts of their beloved, pure, perfect candidate, Obama, who has methodically enacted a domestic policy that by design eviscerates the social and economic safeguards of those who live by their labor, not by their investments, financial deals and trust funds. Let me say that again. The cultural contempt of Whole Foods Nation for the working class in America is being acted out with perfect fidelity by The Precious. He is delivering exactly what they want. The Democratic Party has been brought up brutally short by Obama and made to look at the deep division that splits most of its traditional base from the current leadership and a very vocal and dominant, though numerically minor, constituency, a group that mostly identifies as "Independent" (fearful of seeming too loyal to a party - how gauche!) and constantly threatens to bolt and protest vote. Their ideal candidate is someone who lauds Reagan and won't put "Democrat" on his campaign literature. If a primary challenge is made, it needs to be done not merely against Obama, but also against this political faction within the Democratic Party. Modern New Dealers must retake the party and make it, once more, the party of FDR. What the pair of convention speeches Hillary and Bill gave in 2008 have become is a declaration of what an FDR Democrat stands for: Fairness, Dignity, Respect. An FDR Democrat is someone whose politics rewards those who work hard and play by the rules. An FDR Democrat never stops fighting for the ordinary person, even when the media, political opponents and even your own party mock you because you aren't part of their class. She doesn't look down on you because you earnestly believe in God and can hunt for your own dinner. He isn't going to tolerate racism or misogyny, and will call you on the carpet for either. She encourages the better angels in her opponents and can always answer "And we get...?" with something constructive. He can distinguish between personal insult and political challenge, because it isn't about him and his feelings, it is about his constituents and their needs. We aren't resentful that some people are more economically successful than others - opportunity is a good motivator - but we won't accept that some classes should get all the goods while the majority scrabble for a stable life. An FDR Democrat begins each day with a single question - What will I do to make the lives of ordinary Americans better? - and ends the day by saying what he or she has accomplished towards that end. This kind of politics is not against anyone, though it is firmly against certain political actions and goals. It doesn't categorize people into the saved and the damned. It has a daunting work ethic and rewards intelligence without idolizing it. It values the simple and concrete over the grand and abstract. It does not despair or dismiss. The reason why the Clintons gained and continue to have such a hold on ordinary voters is because they are consistently able to articulate a constructive and inclusive approach to democratic politics that doesn't demean the people that the government is intended to serve. It is the part of the New Deal that the cultural Stevensonians explicitly rejected in 2008 when Donna Brazile told the party faithful to stay home, they weren't wanted anymore. And, in the midterms, we did just that. Hillary is not going to save us because she cannot. It is not within her power to do so. It never was. No candidate can do this. Her refusal to run turns us back on ourselves, not to wait for a candidate to rescue us from The Precious, but to tell a candidate what he or she is going to do to win our support. It may be that the greatest work Hillary did was to endure the 2008 primary, bringing out into the open the anti-D/democratic impulses of this faction in the party, but refusing to cripple the party by bolting or sabotaging Obama. We have been allowed to see him operate without impediment and understand in unequivocal terms just how ready the Obamacan cadre is to complete the reversal of the New Deal. Give up fantasies of political perfection and the notion that any one candidate can save us from the bad guys. New Deal 2.0 is going to be a multi-year effort in party capture and rebuilding. Labels: Abject Failure as President, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Clinton Democrats, Democratic Party, Hillary Rodham Clinton, New Deal, Obamacans, Political Power, The Precious, Whole Foods Nation Shainzona said... I want Hillary to save us. We need Hillary to save us. But I know that her work in the private sector for women and children will be wonderful and well received (and needed). There is no better voice to do this than her voice. And I am happy that she will be out of the line of fire from the disgusting treatment she has received in the past and would have received again in the future in American politics. Rise, Hillary. Rise! Joyce L. Arnold said... I agree that Hillary will not run, and I'm torn on that one -- a part of me wishes she would, but I think a bigger part hopes she goes off and does whatever the hell she wants. The FDR, New Deal 2.0 Democratic Party you describe is what I'd like to see. At this point, I'm skeptical it can / will happen without significant efforts from the outside, by way of third party or parties. I see myself as a liberal independent, and basically that means I've been without a party with which to affiliate for some time now. As I said in an earlier comment, I know the usual response to third party talk is to dismiss it as all but impossible in our system. At this point, however, perhaps there is enough "I've had it" anger, and energy, to make political space for something different. But whether from within the Dem party structure or from without, or a combination, if Obama and the Dem party DC Electeds do not feel the consequences of their choices from Dem party voters, the Stevensonian power grab becomes even more entrenched, the nation continues its shift to the right, and we're even more screwed. Just one specific example of how horrible things are -- the unemployment rate rises when expected to fall, and creates barely a blip on the DC radar, a momentary blip on msm radar. The new normal: oh yeah, lots of people can't find work. But don't worry, look at how well the financial industries are doing! LinGin said... Personally I'm disappointed although I'm glad that I won't have to go through all the agita and tsuris that I usually endure with the national Hillary mudslinging. And when both Clintons are off the US stage and things still don't improve maybe the CDS sufferers on the left and the right will finally let go of their pathology. As usual, I agree. My only addition to your argument would be the thought I have been on for awhile now about where Hillary has gotten to as an evolutionary advance for the humans. She has struggled her way to a rather unique position in American history -- not just with the potential to do good deeds as a private citizen, a la Bill, but as a political actor outside of/beyond beyond politics, in some ways. I talked about this at the end of this early post -- http://falstaff-falstaff.blogspot.com/2008/06/something-happened-look-back.html. Which isn't, of course, to say that she will 'save us.' I would like to be able to take your long view on party building but I worry that things are going to get so much worse before they get better, that it may be irreparable. Joseph said... Anglachel, I can't believe that you and I published such similar manifestos on the same day. http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-deal-manifesto.html People are going to think that you and I colluded. In fact, we have never privately corresponded. (If memory serves -- and keep in mind that my memory sometimes does not.) A new New Deal website is coming soon. If you want to write for it, we will be proud and honored to feature your words. I tried sending you an email the other day, but it got bounced back. You may have posted a comment here back during the 2008 primaries, but I think that's the extent of our correspondence. My memory has never been what it once was, of course. I'm intrigued by your post and look forward to seeing what you launch. As a matter of policy, I only post to my own blog, though I have been known to toss off a comment elsewhere now and then. CDS started as early as 1991 and is a reflection of the Democratic Party real value system. It doesn't pain Pelosi, representing one of the more progressive districts, to talk endlessly and only about the middle class which is code word for white collar. Those who support new deal 2, I call them Cesar Chavez Democrats, want the party to include everyone under the tent, that is blue and white, black, brown, yellow and white, etc. Today the Party of the liberals is as full of hate as the Tea mob. Liberals hate Clinton, Fox TV, Israel and the uneducated. I am not very optimistic, not because Hillary won’t run, but because hate is a chronic disease, that is there is no cure. Instead of waiting for Hillary to rescue us we're just going to have to do it ourselves. We don't need a leader, we need a grassroots movement. In a movement like that leaders are fungible. If we sit around waiting for a leader to rescue us we'll end up with another Obama. @myiq2xu... Hmmm. A leaderless grassroots movement? Where have we heard that before? Are we now the ones we've been waiting for? And how fungible was FDR? Or Martin Luther King, Jr.? I'd suggest that the choice between messiah and movement is a false choice -- in fact, a non-choice. They basically operate in the same ambit, two sides of the same coin. What has to happen is that the institution of the Democratic Party has to continue (yes, continue) its struggle back to governing fitness. The Clinton presidency was a step. The Dean campaign was a step. The role the Netroots played in 2006 was a step. The current Congressional separation from Obama is a step. I'm hopeful there will be more steps forward over the coming decade. (Of course, as in anything, there are steps backward, too. That same Howard Dean helped take some big ones in 2008, abetted by some of those Congresscritters who are now having a bucket-of-cold-water morning after.) Since Vietnam, the Democratic Party hasn't been fit to govern -- with the exception of the Clinton era (and then it was in spite of the rest of the Party, more than because of it). In fact, it retreated from the idea of governing. In this, it wasn't entirely an idiot - because the radical democratization launched by the Internet DID change the ground rules for governing. But the Net didn't eliminate them. Revolutions don't destroy, they repurpose. And there remains an important role for parties, for institutions, for nation states... even in a planet moving toward a global commons. In that reality -- the reality of our era -- we need a healthy Democratic Party that actually wants power and wants to use it for liberal policy ends when it gets it. And that involves leaders and institutional robustness, as well as movements. RIP Richard Holbrooke No Such Thing as an Innocent Leak Comments not getting delivered In Search of the Ordinary What Did You Think Was Going to Happen? Foreign and Domestic	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10071
__label__wiki	0.621174	0.621174	Eduardo Bessa Rodrigues Credit: www.eduardobessa.com Credit: Eduardo Bessa Rodrigues "Art is my life." This simple statement reveals the deep connection Portuguese artist Eduardo Bessa Rodrigues has with art and his creativity. Art is a fluid language for Rodrigues. The way he views the world around him and the way in which he communicates it is exhibited in his artwork. "What is really important to me is how I express myself...The emotional side of life, the love, what I suffer, what I forgot, the sex, the human body, the kiss, the motion, the nature, art, fantasy and happiness," he shares. In a world that is "machine made" and "standardized", Rodrigues' work resonates with an audience that craves to strip down life and feel its raw emotion. His work enables viewers to reconnect to life and its simple pleasures. His work is about "...Feelings, my childhood and my dreams, the monsters, the end of the world, the universe and how it all interacts. Nothing happens by chance. We are inside a space and time period." Its not just Rodrigues' work that is impressive, but also his ambition and positivity. "With few resources, I try to do my best. What I do in the future (will be more) vibrant. I feel I have a role in this world. There are people who do not have the ability to express themselves in various ways." Rodrigues encourages individuals who have the capability to articulate their emotions to "understand the world around them, and express, create, show and inspire others. I always keep (this) on my mind." Not only does Rodrigues have clarity on his feelings, but also on his goals. "My goals are big. They are not a target, but a path that I must go through. Rodrigues' works have been displayed in Belgium, London, New York and Portugal. We were excited to feature Rodrigues' work at our Los Angeles show in Venice. To learn more about Rodrigues and his work, you can check out his website, Twitter or Facebook. Newer:Nina Parys	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10072
__label__cc	0.526966	0.473034	Melanie Pullen: Beauty and the Beast of Reality Credit: Melanie Pullen The reactions that Melanie Pullen's photography renders are as intriguing as the artwork itself. The combination of beauty and violence makes viewers stop in their tracks."My work has had this strange impact on a certain audience.." Pullen shares."The more disturbed the viewer the longer they stay to look and discuss the work. I’ve had people come back to my shows seven or eight times because they don’t like the pieces and they’re so disturbed, I even had one lady sit in a gallery I was showing with from the time it opened until closing for a week straight." At Paris Photo Los Angeles, ArtCrasher viewed Pullen's series "High Fashion Crimes". This body of work consists of more than "one hundred photographs that comprise High Fashion Crime Scenes is based on vintage crime-scene images she mined from the files of the Los Angeles Police Department, the Country Coroner's Office, and other primary sources. She began re-enacting the crime scenes, outfitting the "victims" (her selected models) in current haute couture, and photographing them in her staged settings." For Pullen, her work goes much deeper than that of the average fashion editorial. "The fashion in this series is about giving the “victims” an identity while making fun of commercialism, branding, and toying with concept of feminine exploitation (something the media does endlessly). I was leaving and I passed by this body covered with the blue sheet, her toe was tagged and both feet were visible. It was the only part of her you could see… she had these beautiful toe nails painted manicured perfectly and they were this cherry red color. I happened to be wearing the same color nail polish. It was so weird and gave this woman (that I couldn’t see under the sheet) this entire identity and a weird connection to me. I never did see anything but her manicured toes but that’s always been one of the things that has stuck with me the most." As a child, Pullen didn't have to look far over her shoulder for artistic inspiration. Surrounded by multidisciplinary artists while growing up in New York City, Pullen "...didn't know people did anything else but art until I was fiften years old because that was that was it and art was all I knew." Her grandmother was part of the beat generation. Her mother was a model and painter. "Emily Glen lived in our building...Robert Dinero lived next to us on Barrow Street and I would get his son in trouble all the time and Warhol would eat at my great grandparents because my great-grandfather gave him some of his first illustrating work." It was Pullen's childhood that set the foundation for her passion for art. When she was six she was given a powerful tool; Her first camera. As a young child, she soon realized a camera gave her "this power to get adults to stop and totally listen to you - the power you’re longing for as a kid. So I just loved it. I knew I wanted to be a photographer at that point." She developed her own technics by learning "...to shoot by trial and error. I never read a book or anything really… it was just a feeling and scouring photo shows and archives and seeing trends that I wanted to avoid and finding rules to break. For me it’s always been about bending the rules of “traditional photography” figuring out how to alter what’s “right”'. Pullen's work stands out because it dares to rip the blindfold off of the viewer. It does not sugarcoat reality. Her subject matter and the way it can sink its teeth into even the most ignorant viewer makes it impossible to not look like a deer in lights while looking at her photography.It's attraction is that magnetic. At one point while viewing Pullen's work, a young woman turned to me and said "How is she able to be make such a gory subject look so...elegant? Part of me is saying I should be mortified, but I can't look away." Speaking of reality, Pullen's upcoming series "Soda Pop! So-Da-Licious!” explores a series of adventures brought on by insominq. "It kind of retelling this time in my life as a child 6-7 years old when I had insomnia (something I’ve had for my whole life).. My bedroom window looked out onto this corner and every night at exactly 12am this seven foot black transvestite with a blond wig would show up to work my corner. We became friends as I had no one else to talk to at midnight...So this series is me going out between 12am-3am (my friend's old hours) and finding these young male street walkers or just young guys wondering the streets and getting them to pose with these kind of funny bizzare old soda bottles… these bottles all have a meaning and the guys need to choose one that really means something to them or that they can relate to so you can kind of know something about them." And so, Pullen and her lens continue to share the beauty and the beast of reality. To learn more about Pullen and her photography, you can check out her website, Facebook and Instagram. Newer:Taking a Leap of FaithOlder:It's A Small, Digital, World After All.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10073
__label__wiki	0.713254	0.713254	Atlantipedia An A-Z Guide To The Search For Plato's Atlantis I have now published my new book, Joining The Dots, which offers a fresh look at the Atlantis mystery. I have addressed the critical questions of when, where and who, using Plato's own words, tempered with some critical thinking and a modicum of common sense. Dunbavin, Paul Cayce, Edgar Crystal Skull Honduras or more correctly the islands of Roatan and nearby Helene, part of the Bay Islands were claimed in 1936 by F.A. Mitchell-Hedges to have been the site of Atlantis. Specifically, he announced that on the island of Helene that “we unearthed an ancient city of considerable size.” Mitchell-Hedges and his daughter are best known for the discovery there of the most perfect crystal skull ever found. (a) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/55569660?searchTerm=Atlantis discovered&searchLimits= Tagged Atlantis, Crystal Skull, F.A. Mitchell-Hedges, Helene, Honduras, Roatan Ahnenerbe-SS Ahnenerbe-SS or to give it its full title, Ahnenerbe Forschungs und Lehrgemeinschaft (The Ancestral Heritage Research and Teaching Society), was founded by Heinrich Himmler in 1935, but did not become part of the SS until 1940. It was one of the more bizarre aspects of the Nazi regime, as it attempted to give legitimacy to the notion of German supremacy by claiming that they were direct descendants from an original perfect race, the Atlanteans. When you add this to the Nazi support for Hans Hoerbiger’s crazy cosmology, strange expeditions to Tibet, and SS agents attempting to steal Crystal Skulls in South America, you cannot help wondering how such eccentric activities could have been accepted by the higher echelons of the Nazi establishment. It is contended that the Germans maintained strong links with Tibet and it is reported that when the Russians entered Berlin in 1945 they found many Tibetan corpses in SS uniforms, apparently after committing ritual suicide. This frequently quoted account is more than suspect. The Ahnenerbe also studied the occult, a matter that has been investigated by a number of writers, including an early work[027] by Herbie Brennan, whose book is complemented by The Occult History of the Third Reich website(a). The same site reviews the place of Atlantis in Nazi thinking(g) as well as an overview of the Ahnenerbe(h). The quest for the Holy Grail was also high on the Ahnenerbe agenda, which was led by one Otto Rahn. He eventually fell from favour and as punishment was assigned to work in the SS-run Dachau concentration camp(a). The Ahnenerbe attracted many seeking to avoid military service, as its work was considered essential to the war effort. It had fifty different research branches known as ‘Institutes’ and also ran a large publishing operation. It had Institutes dealing with Celtic Studies, Musicology and Norse Gods, but its most abhorrent activities were the carrying out of experiments on live humans, mainly from the concentration camps. Anton Loibl The unbelievable ideas, including an Atlantean ancestry for the Nazis that were peddled by the Ahnenerbe are extensively covered in the recent ‘must read’ book, The Master Plan by Heather Pringle[032]. Her fascinating book includes an account of Himmler’s bizarre plan to exploit the mandatory use of bicycle reflectors to fund the activities of the Ahnenerbe! Incidentally, the reflectors was invented in 1936 by one of Hitler’s chauffeurs, Anton Loibl, who formed a limited company (Anton Loibl GmbH)(e) with the SS(b) which channelled part of the royalty income to the Ahnenerbe, to fund their expeditions around the world seeking evidence for the origins of the Aryan ‘master race’. However, Pringle also exposes the involvement of the Ahnenerbe in the plundering of museums in occupied countries and, more seriously, the painful and often fatal medical ‘experiments’ carried out on concentration camp inmates. Film clips, in German, relating to the Anenerbe are available on the Internet(c). Another site offers further insights into Nazi archaeology(d). (a) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/05/22/sv_rahn125.xml (b) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Loibl_GmbH Also See Archive 2663 (c) http://www.in.com/videos/watchvideo-hitlers-search-for-the-holy-grail-4773337.html (d) http://alfrye04.wix.com/nazi-archaeology#! (e) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Loibl_GmbH (f) http://thirdreichocculthistory.blogspot.ie/p/c0ntents.html (g) http://thirdreichocculthistory.blogspot.ie/2013/02/atlantis-und-das-dritte-reich.html (h) http://thirdreichocculthistory.blogspot.ie/2014/03/die-deutsche-ahnenerbe.html Tagged Ahnenerbe, Anton Loibl, Celtic Studies, Crystal Skull, Hans Hoerbiger, Heather Pringle, Heinrich Himmler, Holy Grail, Musicology, Norse Gods, Otto Rahn, Tibet Mitchell-Hedges, Frederick Albert Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges (1882-1959) is famous for a number of matters, including the alleged discovery of the most perfect of crystal skulls ever found and the removal without permission of three boxes of pirate booty from Roatan Island, off Honduras, and its sale in New York for $6,000,000(a). Mitchell-Hedges promoted the idea that Roatan Island or more specifically the smaller island, Helene, at its eastern end, which he described as “the highlands of a vast continent submerged by the Flood”(d) and was a remnant of Atlantis and that its original inhabitants were survivors of its destruction. His daughter Anna (1907-2007), went even further, with a claim that the crystal skull, which she owned until her death in 2007, had an extraterrestrial origin from where it was brought to Atlantis and from there to Belize where it was finally unearthed. However, it must be pointed out that the provenance of the skull is not clear-cut with claims that it was in fact purchased by Mitchell-Hedges in the 1940’s at a Sotheby’s auction in London(b). Another objective feature on the subject can also be accessed on the internet(c). Apart from all this, in 2008, an investigation led by the Smithsonian Institute concluded that all 13 life-size skulls, including the Mitchell-Hedges one, were Victorian fakes(e). (a) http://ancientlosttreasures.yuku.com/topic/4552/Mitchell-Hedges-and-the-Lost-Treasure-of-Roatan#.VpS-SssrHX4 (b) http://badassofteweek.com/hedges.html (c) http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/mitchell_hedges/index.html (d) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/55569660?searchTerm=Atlantis discovered&searchLimits= (e) https://allthatsinteresting.com/crystal-skull?utm_source=pubexchange_twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=pubx_ancient_orig Tagged Atlantis, Belize, Crystal Skull, F.A. Mitchell-Hedges, Fakes, Helene Island, Roatan Island, Smithsonian Copyright © Tony O'Connell	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10081
__label__cc	0.73616	0.26384	William Buncanus (d. 1603) on the Efficacy of Baptism Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism in The Efficacy of the Sacraments Bucanus: 1) What is Baptism? It is the first, or initiating sacrament of the new testament, or a sacred action consisting of the washing with water, & the word, whereby, according to the appointment & institution of Christ a Christian man either of riper years professing Christ, or an infant of the faithful, is drenched, washed or sprinkled in simple clear water by the minister of the Church, calling upon the name of the father, the Son, & the holy ghost. (The body washed with clean water) as we read in Act. 8:19. was done by Philip, to represent the shedding of Christ’s blood upon the cross, & to confirm truly and effectually through all our life to the believer, righteousness, or the washing away of his sins obtained by Christ his blood: to testify to his adoption into the covenant of grace, his engrafting into the church, the regeneration & renewing of his nature, or repentance unto amendment by the grace of the holy ghost procured unto him by the same blood: his communion and fellowship with Christ in all his goodness, and heavenly inheritance: & joint free denization among citizens of the visible church, & of the kingdom of heaven, to be held of the them in the number of the children of God, & and to enjoy the same privileges which they do… William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 696-697. 2) How manifold is Baptisms? Baptism in specie or kind is one. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. But seeing in baptism not the water & external action is to be considered only, but also the inward operation of God, in this respect Baptism is twofold, External, which is also called the baptism of water, wherewith the minister of the word does baptise, and Internal, which is also of the spirit, whereby Christ only does cleanse our hearts by his blood, and gives his holy spirit, and yet the one is not to be separated from the other. For the external is a testimony of the internal, that is the Baptism of water is a pledge of spiritual baptism, and of inward washing and cleansing, which is done by the blood and spirit of Christ. And therefore Christ is said 1 John 5:6. to come in water, in the spirit & in blood. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 697-698. 3) What analogy and agreement is there in the Sign with the thing signified? Very great: for even as the water does wash the body, and the filth thereof: so the blood of Christ by his merit does wash away our sins, and spiritual spots: for his spirit does sanctify us. And like as every generation consists of moist & watery matter…so our regeneration is by the holy Ghost in baptism, who is so often signified by the name of water: for even as water prepares the earth to bring forth fruit, and quenches thirst: So the holy Ghost, that same which sat upon the waters, makes us fit for good works, and quenches in us the thirsting after terrene [earthly?] things, and here good works are called the fruits of the spirit, and Christ says; “whoso thirsts, let him come to me and drink, for he that drinks shall never thirst; but this he spoke of the spirit which they that believe should receive. Secondly the sprinkling with water does plainly note the sprinkling of the blood of Christ for the remission of sins, and imputation of righteousness: but the staying under the water, though but a while, sets as it were before our eyes, the death, burial, and mortification of our natural corruption, the old Adam (by virtue of the death and burial of Christ) which is the first part of our regeneration. And the being taken out, the reviving of the new man, and newness of life, yea, and proportionately, our resurrection to come. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 709. 4) Notwithstanding for the fitness, reference, and truth of the sign, and the thing signified, and also for the promise made to those that use them rightly, there is a Sacramental and Relative copulation, by reason whereof the name and the properties boh of the sign and the thing signified are changed. Hereof baptism is called the Laver of Regeneration, and the water, the blood and spirit of Christ. Tit. 3:5. that is, not only the shadow but a most certain Testimony, that the baptized truly believes are cleansed with the blood of Christ, & regenerated by the holy Ghost. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 710. 5) Is the same man always in one instant Baptized with water and the Holy Ghost? 1. Because the promise of the spirit annexed to baptism is not absolute, but conditional, requiring faith and obedience. 2. Because that God deals not in Baptism by natural reason, as when a medicine is being taken, works with thee, whether thou sleeps or wakes, and fire warms whether thou thinks of it or no. But as God is a most free agent, sometimes the Baptism of water is without the baptism of the spirit, as the example of Simon Magus teaches, who although he had an historical faith, yet the was not regenerated, and the baptism of the spirit sometime goes before, sometimes accompanies, and sometimes follows the baptism of water: for men and women, when they believe by Philip’s preaching, the things belonging unto the kingdom of God and of Christ, as also the Eunuch , Cornelius and his friends were baptized by the Holy Ghost, before they were baptized with water, as appears by their faith and conversion; but in infants to whom the kingdom of Heaven belongs (if we respect God’s ordinance) both Baptism, and Justification, and Regeneration do concur out of the nature of that Covenant, I will be thy GOD and the God of thy seed. Gen. 17:7. but for the effect hereof is truly declared afterward in his time. For the seed of the word and Sacraments lies as it were in the earth, covered and hid, as long as the Lord sees good to defer grace. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 710-711. 6) Because though Infants have not sinned actually, as Adam, did Roms. 5:15. yet they have sinned Originally, in Adam, as included in his loins, vers. 22. and are dead in him: Secondly being conceived in sin (contrary to the Pelagians’ opinion) they are by nature children of wrath, and do daily die no less than men of riper years wherefore that they may please God and may be admitted into his kingdom, where no polluted thing enters. 1 Cor 15:30. they have needs of the spark of some regeneration, in abundance whereof they may afterward enjoy, which is sealed unto them by Baptism. And therefore it is not to be denied them, for except a man be born again of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven John 3:3, 5. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 717. 7) Because although hearing is an ordinary means of faith, yet because it is impossible that any should please God without faith. Hebr 11:6. Infants must needs have in the place of faith, the seed, or budding of faith, or the renewing of the spirit, although they are not yet endued with the knowledge of good or evil: for God holds them not for unclean, but adopts them for his children, and sanctifies them from the womb, as it is said. 1 Cor. 7:14. Your children are holy: that is to say, but an hidden operation, and enlightening of the spirit, which makes in them no motions, and new inclinations to God-ward, according to their capacity, as far as we can guess, without the word, which is the only seed of regeneration to them which are able to be taught. 1 Pet. 1:23. for the Lord gave a taste in John Baptist, whom he sanctified in his mother’s womb, what he is able to do in the rest. And yet must the secret works, and judgements of God be left unto himself, because the Church judges not of hidden things. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 716-717. 8) Because though by reason of their years, they understand not God’s word, nor can believe in action, and profess their faith and repentance (whereof Baptism is a Sacrament, as circumcision was in times past) and enter into mutual obligations betwixt God and them, which belongs only to them of discretion, notwithstanding it is unto them in stead of professing of faith: for that they are born within the Church of the people of God, are not only within the covenant, but also are presented by them which believe, and do promise and make answer for them. And therefore Saint Augustine says, “the sacrament of faith makes children faithful, though they have not yet that faith which consists in the will of believers to make them faithful. Even as they do not know that they have the holy Ghost, though it be in them, or a mind and life, though it cannot be denied that they have both. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 718. 9) What are the ends of Baptism? Fourthly, it is an instrument, whereby the plentiful effusion of the holy spirit upon us is communicated, with his gifts of faith, hope and charity. And other virtues. Tit. 3:6. by the Bath and renewing of the holy spirit which he has poured upon us plentiful: as Augustine says, “we are made by Baptism members of Christ, and of his fullness we have all received. John 1:16. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 735. For as by baptism we are born again, so (being born again) we are fed and nourished by the Supper of the Lord, and in Christ we are as it were nourished and brought up by to life in eternal. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), [pagination irregular, stated page 726, actual page 744]. 10) Why therefore are the Sacramental Signs called Exhibitions? Because the Lord does so truly exhibit and give himself, being the bread celestial, and that of eternal life to those which are his like as he gave truly to his Disciples the Holy Ghost, by the sign of the breath of his mouth, or as by the touching of his hand he gave unto many of body and mind, as , sight by clay made of spittle: as by circumcision of the flesh, the circumcision of the heart, and as by baptism, Regeneration. For they which with a true faith do communicate with the signs corporally, do receive true confirmation and increase of the communion of the body and blood of the Lord Spiritually. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), [pagination irregular, stated page 902-903, actual pages 812-813]. This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 12:32 am and is filed under The Efficacy of the Sacraments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10085
__label__cc	0.714106	0.285894	MoIT to receive dossiers for first steel review Wednesday, Jun 20, 2018 15:03 On August 21, 2017, MoIT promulgated Decision 3283/QD-BCT on imposing anti-dumping duties on H-shaped steel products imported from China with HS code of 7216.33.00, 7228.70.10 and 7228.70.90. — Photo kinhtedothi.vn Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), has started receiving dossiers for the first review of anti-dumping duties on some H-shaped steel products imported from China. The dossiers must be completed and submitted directly to the investigating agency before 5pm on August 21, 2018, at 25 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi. On August 21, 2017, the ministry promulgated Decision 3283/QD-BCT on imposing anti-dumping duties on H-shaped steel products imported from China with HS code of 7216.33.00, 7228.70.10 and 7228.70.90. According to Article 82 of Law No. 05/2017/QH14 on the management of foreign trade operations, after one year from the date of issue of the decision on imposition of anti-dumping measures, MoIT may decide to review the measures at the request of one or multiple interested parties and the evidence provided by them. Article 58 of Decree 10/2018/ND-CP stimulates that within 60 days prior to the end of one year from the date of issuance of the decision on the imposition of official anti-dumping and countervailing measures or the latest decision on the results of the review of anti-dumping and countervailing measures, the concerned parties may submit the dossiers for review, except in cases where the submission deadline is less than nine months before the time limit for MoIT to decide whether to carry out the final review of anti-dumping or countervailing measures. Therefore, concerned parties have the right to file a request for a review under the guidelines. The scope of the proposed review includes, but is not limited to, the following: scope of goods subject to anti-dumping measures, the dumping margin is applicable to one or more foreign enterprises and the injury of the domestic industry. At the end of the review period, based on the findings of the investigation, Trade Remedies Authority will propose to MoIT one of the following options: continue applying anti-dumping measures in accordance with the current regulations; adjust anti-dumping measures in line with the results of the review; or terminate the application of anti-dumping measures. The implementation of procedures related to the review process will not impede the effective application of anti-dumping measures. — VNS Tags Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam MoIT anti-dumping duties H-shaped steel products Decision 3283/QD-BCT news biz Cassava exports to Japan surge VN business climate improves Sóc Trăng investment conference pays off VSIP Quảng Ngai draws $383m S Korea enforces tighter control on imported products Made-in-Viet Nam tyres present in 128 markets Sustainable development reports for listed firms Agriculture firms struggle to get loans Hue’s cajeput oil to get geographical indication VN’s airports serve 43.3mn passengers since January 2018 New Business Incubator office inaugurated in Soc Trang Hong Kong real estate agency, European property investment firm jointly enter VN Thai Binh seeks Singaporean investment Visa vows to work with partners to prevent attacks Banks announce impressive profits in H1 2019 Kien Giang Province to organise investment promotion conference	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10092
__label__wiki	0.838601	0.838601	« Behind the Cape: Breaking Into the Comics Biz Student Writing of the Month: Ice Cream Memories » Scholastic Awards Inspire Seattle Art Movement’s Future Leaders In the early 1930s, three high school students were preparing work for a national art contest sponsored by the Scholastic magazine. Destiny would not abandon these Seattle teens to ordinary lives: they would go on to study calligraphy in China and philosophy in Japan; they would fight in the second World War, work in the fish canneries of Alaska and eventually they would become founding members of one of the Pacific Northwest’s major art movements. But first, they had Scholastic Awards to win. Morris Graves in his Leek Garden, 1973. Photo: Imogen Cunningham. Morris Graves (Scholastic Art Award, 1932), George Tsutakawa (First Prize Linocuts, 1932), and Fay Chong (Second Prize Block Prints, 1933) attended Broadway High School in Seattle and were some of the founding artists of the Northwest School of Art. The Northwest School was a regional contemporary art movement that became popular during the 1930s and 1940s. Artists in the Northwest School were inspired by Asian art and philosophy, Abstract Expressionism and their region’s environmental beauty. When these artists began producing paintings, sculptures, prints and photography, the contemporary art world took notice. From high school and through the course of their careers, these three artists’ paths crossed more than once. Read more about Morris Graves (who named all his pets Edith and went to class barefoot), George Tsutakawa (who was honored by the Emperor of Japan) and Fay Chong (who moved to China after high school). Our traveling exhibition will slowly wend its way into Seattle, Washington, where it will be on display at the Seattle Art Museum from March 12 – April 24, 2011. When visiting the Museum, be sure to keep an eye out for the work of past winners Morris Graves, George Tsutakawa and Fay Chong as well as the 2010 Scholastic Award recipients. And if our writers are feeling left out of the Scholastic Awards’ Seattle history, just check out our article on Francis Farmer, a.k.a. the Bad Girl of West Seattle High. Morris Graves (1932). George Tsutakawa noticed his classmate’s artistic talent during lunch hour. Morris Graves had drawn every fire hydrant on the neighboring streets, insisting they were all different: “Every fire hydrant has a different character, different color, different texture, and some are leaning.” But Graves left high school in Seattle and moved in with family in Beaumont, Texas, where he finished his degree and attended class barefoot. He submitted his work from Texas, but couldn’t stay away from the Seattle region for long. Many of his works were acquired by the Seattle Art Museum, which began collected Northwest School artist works. His search for knowledge and inspiration took him to far places such as Japan, Puerto Rico and Ireland. For many years he lived on an island with a series of pets (dogs, cats and birds) named Edith, after the poet Edith Sitwell. Though his work changed and evolved, one thing he never lost was his sense of individuality. "Morris Graves with two women at Seattle Art Museum," ca. 1965. University of Washington Special Collections. Photo: Art Hupy. Untitled (Altar). Morris Graves, 1937. Copyright: Morris Graves Foundation. George Tsutakawa (1932). George Tsutakawa shared a name and a birthday with George Washington, but this didn’t stop his family’s import-export business from being confiscated during World War II. George was a Japanese-American who was born in Seattle but was sent to live with his grandparents in Japan at the age of seven. He grew up taking lessons from a Zen master and learned calligraphy and pottery. He returned to the United States as a teen, and spent his summers working in Alaska’s fish canneries and his high school and college years helping with the family business. His Scholastic Award-winning piece was inspired by his summer job: in 1932, he won a $50 First Prize for a linocut showing a pile of herring on a platter. Against his father’s wishes, he decided to become an artist. Every experience – from his undergraduate education to his summer jobs to being drafted in the army – informed the development of his art. In middle age, George returned to Japan to study Japanese art and philosophy, exploring man’s relationship to nature. His public fountains and sculptures are well-known throughout Japan and Seattle, and he has received accolades from the city of Seattle and the Emperor of Japan. George Tsutakawa, ca. 1978. Photo Credit: Mary Randlett. Fountain of Wisdom, in front of the Seattle Library. By artist George Tsutakawa. Fay Chong (1933). Like George Tsutakawa, Fay Chong spent part of his formative years in Asia. Chong was born in Canton, China, and moved to Seattle when he was eight years old. He graduated from Broadway High School a year after classmates George Tsutakawa and Morris Graves. During his senior year, he also won Second Prize for Block Prints in the 1933 Scholastic Art Awards and created a Chinese Arts Club with George Tsutakawa and other artists with an interest in Asian arts. Fay Chong spent a year studying calligraphy in China shortly after high school, and his Asian heritage played a heavy influence in his watercolor paintings and prints. Fay Chong. "George Town Farm," 1939. Watercolor. Tags: Alumni, Artists, Exhibition, From The Archives, Local Stories, Museums, Northwest School of Art, Seattle, Traveling Exhibition The Alliance From Our Archives	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10094
__label__cc	0.737786	0.262214	Home / Miscelleneous / Pakistan enjoys unique position among South Asian countries Pakistan enjoys unique position among South Asian countries Shabbir H. kazmi March 26, 2018 Miscelleneous, Trade & Economy 39 Views Published on 1st Sep, Edition 35, 2014 The term South Asia commonly refers to seven countries namely: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These countries are also part of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a bloc established in 1985. Afghanistan has been included as 8th member of SAARC in 2006 and China, Iran and Myanmar are also seeking full member status of the bloc. According to various reports SAARC member countries have millions of acres of cultivable land, reasonably robust agriculture and manufacturing base, but very large percentage of population of these countries lives below the poverty line. Often South Asia is termed the poorest region in the world after Sub-Saharan Africa. While over a quarter of the world’s poor people live in Africa, half of them live in South Asia. According to a report there are more poor people in eight Indian states than in the 26 poorest African countries. According to a World Bank report released in 2007, South Asia was the least integrated region in the world. Trade among countries in the region is around 2% of the region’s combined GDP, compared to 20% in East Asia. According to some analysts due to similar climatic conditions, soil composition and mindset of ruling junta these countries still compete with each other in the global markets. Despite enjoying close proximity and often common borders, these countries have failed in complementing each other due to hostilities against each other. Three of the largest countries by population, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have elaborate agriculture and manufacturing base but hardly enjoy cordial trade relations. This virtually closes down doors for economic cooperation, particularly sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and even services. One of the reasons for the prevailing situation is ‘trust deficit’ as the hawks present in these countries try to portray that economic cooperation among the member countries will make the smaller countries subservient to the those having rather robust economy. All the countries of the region suffer from acute shortage of energy products, the lifeline of economy. A closer look at the power generation potential, installed capacities and actual output one could say without mincing words that the energy crisis looming for nearly three decade is the outcome of following inconsistent policies and gross mismanagement. Below optimum capacity utilization of power generation capacity is partly due to non-availability of fuel and partly because of inadequate maintenance of the power plants but poor cash flow is the mother of all evils. Pakistan has an aggregate installed electricity generation capacity of nearly 30,000MW but average output hovers around 15,000MW or 50 percent capacity utilization. Equally shocking is the news that India also suffers from the same contentious problem. The third largest economy of the world has an aggregate installed generation capacity of 250,000MW but actual generation hovers around 150,000MW. A point that distinguishes two countries is that while efforts are being made in India to overcome looming energy crisis, little effort is being made in Pakistan. One can just forget two of the gas pipeline projects Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI). Both the pipelines were aimed at catering to Indian gas requirement but Pakistan was to benefit in two ways: 1) getting millions of dollars transit fee and 2) also gas for meeting domestic requirements. It was believed that after easing of economic sanctions on Iran, Pakistan will succeed in completing portion of gas pipeline located in its territory. However, it seems that Government of Pakistan (GoP) does not wish to complete this project due to the US pressure. Fate of TAPI is also in doldrums as NATO forces are likely to vacate Afghanistan in 2014. Therefore, Pakistan will have to accelerate oil and gas exploration activities in the country and also complete LNG project on war footings. Pakistan is a natural corridor for energy supply because on one side are energy-rich countries and on the other side are energy-starved ones. Pakistan can also follow Singapore example and establish state-of-the art refineries on the coastal belt. In this regards help can be sought from China, Russia and other Central Asian countries. Pakistan already has a mid-country refinery and two pipelines to carry black and white oil products up to Multan. This can pave way for export of white oil products to Afghanistan and Chinese cities enjoying common border with Pakistan. Realization of all these projects can help the country in earning millions of dollars transit fee. Ironically, Gwadar port project has been put on back bumper after the departure of Pervez Musharraf. In fact the paraphernalia should have completed after transfer of management control to China. Though, India is facilitating in the construction of Chabahar port in Iran, Pakistan will continue to offer shortest and most cost effective route up to Central Asian countries passing through Afghanistan. Lately, some of the Middle Eastern countries have shown keen interest in acquiring agriculture land in Pakistan but local feudal lords have emerged to be the biggest opponents to leasing of cultivable lands to other countries. Pakistan has millions of acres of land which is not cultivated, mainly due to shortage of irrigation water. Leasing out land to other countries is not a bad proposal because it would help in improving the infrastructure i.e. construction of farm to market roads, and modern warehouses. Construction of water courses and installation of tube wells would have helped in raising sub-soil water levels in arid zones. Pakistan produces huge quantities of wheat, rice, sugar, fertilizer but a significant portion of these commodities is smuggled to neighboring countries. Plugging of porous border and formalizing trade with India, Iran and Afghanistan can increase Pakistan’s export manifold. It is estimated that nearly one million tons wheat and half a million tons rice and sugar is smuggled to the neighboring countries. The increase in lending to farmers has started yielding benefits with Pakistan joining the club of wheat exporting countries. The recent initiative of State Bank of Pakistan, Warehouse Receipt Financing and trading of these receipts at Pakistan Mercantile Exchange is likely to improve earnings of farmers, though reduction in wastages and better price discovery. It is encouraging that British Government has offered assistance equivalent to Rs240 million to complete the project at a faster pace. The key hurdle in the realization of this project is lack of modern warehouses and absence of collateral management companies. It is necessary to remind the GoP that nearly 1000 palm oil plants were grown in Sindh near the coastal line. While a large percentage of plants have died due to improper management, extracting oil is almost impossible because no crushers have been installed. Achieving self sufficiency in edible oil production can help in saving over US$2 billion currently being spent on import of palm oil. Pakistan often faces ban on export of seafood because to not abiding by international laws. While local fishermen face starvation deep sea trawlers from other countries intrude into Pakistan’s territorial waters and take away huge catch. On top of all use of banned net results in killing of smaller fish that are ultimately used in the production of chickenfeed. This practice going on for decades deprives Pakistan from earning huge foreign exchange besides ‘economic assassination’ of poor fishermen. Pakistan’s agri and industrial production has remained low due to absence of policies encouraging greater value addition. Pakistan is among the top five largest cotton producing countries but its share in the global trade of textiles and clothing is around two percent. The country needs to establish industries that can achieve higher value addition. Pakistan should export pulp rather than exporting fruits which have shorter shelf life. Pakistan has overwhelming majority of Muslims but still goods worth billions of dollars are imported which are not Halal. Ideally, Pakistan should be exporting Halal food products to other Muslim countries. The country need to focus on breeding of animals (i.e. chicken, goat, cows) and export frozen meat and dairy products. If countries like Australia, and Holland can produce Halal products what is stopping Pakistan. Another example to follow is Bangladesh, which does not produces cotton but its export of textiles and clothing is more than that of Pakistan. This is because Bangladesh has focus on achieving higher value addition and Pakistan continues to produce law quality and low prices items. This is waste of precious resource and to be honest value addition is negative. Pakistan has also not been able to benefit from being member of SAARC. It is often said that it is difficult to compete with India but has Pakistan really made any effort to achieve higher value addition? The reply is in negative and because of mindset of Pakistanis who are used to ‘easy life’. Tags Pakistan position South Asia Previous Balochistan can become center of branded fruit products Next Reasons behind Pakistan’s lower GDP Pakistan’s achievements in income, consumption, agriculture and industrial production are extremely impressive and have … Achieving its annual exports target had been a struggle for the government due to … Rising property prices push influx of slums Solar energy — an inexpensive energy of the future Fast Food industry in Pakistan undergoing an escalated boom Technology revolutionizing the financial services The ultimate fate of growing global market for halal food	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10098
__label__cc	0.72556	0.27444	Hayden’s Journey with Biliary Atresia and Liver Transplant Posted August 11, 2014 by By Heather Vanzandt, mother of Hayden My son, Hayden William Vanzandt, was born Oct. 17, 2012 in Seneca, Pennsylvania. Weighing 8 lbs., 6 oz., and ranging 23” long, he was a perfectly healthy baby boy, except for his bilirubin level. He had jaundice. I was told by doctors it should go away, but it never did. This continued on for two months. Finally, I told his doctor that I wanted blood work done, as his jaundice was getting worse. They complied, and referred us to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. What was to come I thought could only happen in nightmares. The first time I ever heard the words “liver disease” was on Dec.13, 2012. The doctors explained how Hayden’s bilirubin level was very high and it could mean he has a disease called biliary atresia. If left untreated, Hayden would not live past the age of 1 or 2. I was devastated, and didn’t know how or why this happened. He was so happy and playful; how could he have this disease? Thankfully, the amazing doctors at Children’s Hospital were able to diagnose him early and on Dec. 18, Hayden had the Kasai procedure, a procedure that is done to temporarily “fix” biliary atresia, as there is no cure at the moment. The statistics for the Kasai are not very good: Only one-third of recipients live 20 or more years with only the Kasai done, one-third live for a short while with only the Kasai before needing a liver transplant (this was Hayden), and the other one-third need a liver transplant right away, because the Kasai immediately fails. Fortunately, the Kasai procedure was able to buy Hayden some time before his transplant: 15 months to be exact. In that short time, Hayden continued to meet his developmental milestones. We took him to see family members, enjoyed the park, and went shopping. We did everything we could to make him happy and give him a normal childhood as he had been through so much already. During the summer of 2013, approximately six to seven months post-Kasai, he was hospitalized for about a week with fever and bleeding issues. Fevers became a serious matter as they could mean an infection in his liver called cholangitis. Typically, they would treat this with a peripherally inserted central catheter, or PICC line, in his arm and antibiotics for two to three weeks. Hayden had about six of these PICC lines in between the Kasai and transplant. We also found out that Hayden had portal hypertension and esophageal varices, which are quite common in kids with biliary atresia. Due to Hayden’s enlarged liver, there was a great deal of pressure on his veins and blood vessels in his belly, which caused some veins to become enlarged. These enlarged veins would occasionally burst at any given time when the pressure became too great. Due to this recent diagnosis, his chances for a transplant increased significantly. The doctors were convinced it would happen within five years. Despite all of this new information, we continued to live our lives as normally as possible, putting all our focus and attention on Hayden and making him happy. We were able to go the rest of 2013 without a single hospitalization. But when the New Year approached, the constant sickness began. Our entire household, including Hayden, was sick with the flu. On top of that, in February, Hayden had another fever and minor bleeding, which required multiple scopes over the next couple of weeks in order to treat his varices. Then, on March 20, 2014, Hayden suffered a massive bleed that required an ambulance ride to our local hospital, and he then was transported to Children’s once he was stable. Unfortunately, about 30 minutes upon arrival to the Emergency Department, Hayden had another bleed that sent him into cardiac arrest. He needed chest compressions in order to be revived. He was intubated and sedated, then moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for a week. During that week, he had several tests and it was clear that he would need a liver transplant soon. The doctors said it would be beneficial to try to find a live donor, because this would speed up the waiting process of finding a liver for him. Out of nowhere, a woman I only knew through a liver support group on Facebook messaged me saying that she was Hayden’s blood type (Type A-positive) and would like to help in any way she could, including being his living donor. I was flabbergasted! Here is a complete stranger offering to give part of her liver to save my son’s life! That Monday morning, she contacted the hospital requesting to be tested to see if she was a match for my son. Normally, the tests are done in two to three days, but she was able to have her tests completed in a day since she lives in New York and was in town during the week with her daughter, who also received a liver transplant and had an appointment at Children’s. Finally, a week later, we got the wonderful news that she was a match, and the transplant would happen the following week! I was so excited and shocked; everything had happened so fast and was such a blur, but I was so happy that my little boy was getting a second chance at life because of this amazing stranger! Transplant day finally arrived. It was April 9, 2014, Hayden’s second birthday as we will know it from this moment on. Just eight days shy of him being 1-½ years old. My family and I were a ball of nerves. I was dreading the call that something terrible had gone wrong, or that his new liver wasn’t working properly. Thankfully none of that happened, and his surgery was completed in eight hours. He even came up into the PICU extubated. Within two days, he was in a regular room on the Transplant Unit and doing great. Within a week, we were out and about, taking strolls to the cafeteria and the gift shop, and just walking the halls. Hayden’s new liver was working perfectly, and it was all thanks to his living donor who selflessly gave of herself to help someone she had never met before. We will never be able to thank her for what she did! Now that we are almost four months post-transplant, we are home and doing very well. He had a mild case of rejection at the end of May, but has been on steroids to treat it, and his numbers have been improving ever since. Hayden has grown so much and is exploring everything and enjoying life with his new liver. I am looking forward to celebrating his 2nd birthday in October and having Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family so that they can see how well he is doing. It’s hard to believe what he has been through in his short life. I still sometimes wonder why it had to happen, but it doesn’t matter anymore, because I have my baby boy with me, and I’ll always be thankful for that. thesigmunds Your story is truly inspiring! Our son also has biliary atresia! He had the kasai at 8 weeks of age and has been good ever since. He just turned 4 in June! We live in western MD and are followed at Johns Hopkins. Would love to keep in contact. Prayers to your son and your family!! Take care!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10104
__label__cc	0.638886	0.361114	Philosopher Will Be First “Atheism, Humanism, and Secular Ethics” Chair Anjan Chakravartty, currently professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame and director of the school’s John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values, will be moving to the University of Miami to be the first holder of its “Atheism, Humanism, and Secular Ethics” chair. (more…) February 20, 2018 7 2 Chair in Atheism and Secular Ethics Endowed at Miami Retired businessman Louis J. Appignani has donated $2.2 million to the University of Miami for an endowed chair in “the study of atheism, humanism and secular ethics,” reports the New York Times. It is the first position of its kind in the United States. (more…) May 23, 2016 33 5	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10105
__label__wiki	0.703191	0.703191	Cricket stadium after Sheikh Hasina’s name in 2 years 13 April, 2019 Update: 13 April, 2019 13 April, 2019 \| Update: 13 April, 2019 Photo: Collected A-A+ The formal journey of the cricket stadium named after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina began on Saturday with the first meeting of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC), who expected that the stadium will be prepared within two years once the work starts. The stadium will be a ‘state of the art’ whose capacity will be 50,000-60,000 with the facility of academy, playing field, swimming pool, gymnasium, indoors facility. The scenic beauty of the stadium will be a sight to behold, making it one of the best stadiums in the world, the BCB expected. The board has already got 37.47 acre land in Purbachal for the stadium from the Government for a symbolic price. The PIC is formed with five-member for the time being with BCB Grounds committee chairman Mahbub Anam as the convener. The other members of the committee are—media and communications committee chairman Jalal Younus, facilities committee chairman Lokman Bhuiyan, disciplinary committee chairman Sheikh Sohel and purchase committee chairman Advocate Anwar Hossain. “Today was the first meeting of project implementation. The meeting was like an introductory meeting,” Mahbub Anam said after the meeting. “We have sketched an outline to how the stadium will be prepared. We will include some outside expertise in this committee. We will take some representatives from BUET as well. Moreover, we are planning to take representatives from the auditors, lawyers,” he said. He said after starting the work, it will take two years to complete the stadium. But BCB has the plan to make it one of the best stadiums in the world, Mahbub revealed. “We are hopeful to complete the works within two years,” he said. “Honorable Prime Minister allocated this land to us from Rajuk with a symbolic price. Within this month we will start to get the possession of the field. After getting the possession we can go forward. Our goal is to protect the field and implement the other plans properly. Our desire is to convert the stadium into the most beautiful one to the whole world. Since it is a green field, we can do lot of things with this. For this, we have recruited internationally skilled people and appointed consulting firm. We are also planning to manage the tender.” The physical work of the stadium is set to start during the winter season. “The physical work of the stadiums will not start before winter season. BCB has already drawn a concept. The objective is to enlarge the drawing and detailing the other plans along with dressing rooms. BCB has already taken the decision. There will be a stadium here and an academy ground will be build. That means we will get two fields. BCB has already decided these. The length of the field is 37 acres. We have planed the probable development systems. We need to go forward according to architectural designs.” Since it will be the prime stadium of the country, Mahbub said at the same time other stadiums will be maintained properly. But he can’t make it clear whether the administrative work of the stadium will be shifted to this stadium from Mirpur.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10109
__label__wiki	0.859724	0.859724	Vaccines do work for pandemic flu, says study Written by sputniknews.com Published in Sci & Tech Vaccines are successful in preventing pandemic flu and reducing the number of patients hospitalised as a result of the illness, a study led by academics at The University of Nottingham has found. However, the research -- the most comprehensive review undertaken in this area -- also found that the effectiveness of vaccines can vary depending on the age of the patient. The work, published in the journal Vaccine, was led by Professor Jonathan Van Tam and Dr Louise Lansbury in the University's Health Protection and Influenza Research Group in collaboration with other scientists in the UK, Japan, Bosnia and the Netherlands. Professor Van Tam said: ""The 2009 swine flu pandemic was the first in human history when pandemic vaccines have been available worldwide. It's therefore really important to pull all of these data together and ask the question: did these vaccines really work? "We found that the vaccines produced against the swine flu pandemic in 2009 were very effective in both preventing influenza infection and reducing the chances of hospital admission due to flu. This is all very encouraging in case we encounter a future pandemic, perhaps one that is more severe. Of course, we recognise that it took five to six months for pandemic vaccines to be ready in large quantities; this was a separate problem. However, if we can speed up vaccine production times, we would have a very effective strategy to reduce the impact of a future flu pandemic." In early 2009, a novel influenza A(H1N1) virus appeared in humans, containing a unique combination of influenza genes which had not previously been identified in animals or people. The first cases were reported in the United States in March 2009 but the new virus spread rapidly to other countries and in June 2009 the WHO declared a pandemic caused by this strain, known as influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, or 'swine flu'. An estimated 61 million people were infected worldwide. Vaccines against the new strain were developed and rolled out across the world from September to December 2009. The majority of vaccines available contained inactivated A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus rather than live virus. Some formulations also contained an 'adjuvant' to strengthen the body's immune response to the vaccine and allow smaller doses of antigen to be used (adjuvanted vaccines). Many individual studies have looked at how effective the available vaccines were at preventing illness and hospitalisation caused by the pandemic influenza strain but up until now no-one has summarised all the available data. This systematic review and meta-analysis is the most comprehensive summary and offers insight into the relative effectiveness of both adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted vaccines in different age groups. The researchers found 38 studies published between June 2011 and April 2016 that measured the effectiveness of the inactivated pandemic influenza vaccines, covering a population of more than 7.6m people. Twenty-three of these studies reported results that were suitable for meta-analysis -- a statistical method used to combine the results from multiple individual studies that are broadly similar in terms of vaccine used and types of people in the study and which is statistically more powerful and can provide a more precise estimate of the effect of vaccination than any individual study contributing to the analysis. Overall, pandemic influenza vaccines were found to be 73 per cent effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza illness and 61 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation in the population as a whole. However, when the vaccines' effectiveness was examined in different age groups, they were shown to be less effective in adults over 18 years than in children, and effectiveness was lowest in adults over 50 years of age. Adjuvanted vaccines in particular were found to be more effective in children than in adults against laboratory confirmed illness (88 per cent in children versus 40 per cent in adults) and hospitalisation (86 per cent in children versus 48 per cent in adults). Overall the inactivated pandemic influenza vaccines used in the 2009 pandemic were effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed illness and hospitalisation. Adjuvanted vaccines tended to be more effective than non-adjuvanted vaccines but only in children. The lower effectiveness in older people may be due to them having pre-existing antibodies against A(H1N1)pdm09 from previous exposure to a similar virus, with corresponding lower incidence of the infection in this age group. The results showed that pandemic influenza vaccines produced globally during the 2009-10 pandemic were largely effective in reducing illness and hospitalisation. The results from the study could be used to help public health officials to plan a more effective response to future pandemics, such as rolling out vaccines at a much earlier time and targeting specific types of vaccines at different age groups. More in this category: « Antibiotics not effective for clinically infected eczema in children Sperm swimming technique 'all down to simple maths' »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10112
__label__cc	0.735439	0.264561	Another Word: Publishing—Jump In, the Water's Fine — by Alethea Kontis — This year marks my twentieth year in the book industry. Exactly half of my life. In 1996, I graduated from USC with a degree in Chemistry. I immediately went out and got a second job at a bookstore. (I was already assistant and promotional manager at the local movie theater.) I haven’t left the publishing industry since. From bookseller to Book Buyer, from editor to author—when it comes to the creation and distribution of stories, there are very few jobs I haven’t done. Everything I know I got from jumping in the deep end and learning from experience. I had zero formal education on the subject to guide me, but I wanted to be part of it all so much that I was fearless. Every time a new opportunity presented itself, I jumped. Well, almost every opportunity. In the past two decades, I have watched the publishing industry shift, adapt, and evolve. At times with incredible ease . . . but mostly not. Some readers have embraced this change. Some have fought it tooth and nail every step of the way. On the other side of the sales counter, corporations have had a similar struggle. A few times, publishers, printers, and wholesalers have pioneered new technology, sales, and delivery methods. But in so many ways they still desperately cling to a dying business model, and the world is changing faster than they can keep up. Some of these advances we could see coming a mile away. I never told my parents, but right after college, during my first foray to Dragon Con, I was offered an editorial position at the biggest of the Big Six publishing houses (back when there were still six), and I turned it down. Now you’re wondering just how crazy I am. This was the perfect opportunity! What book-loving geek in her right mind turns down a job like that? It’s true. I did want the gig. Second to being a published author, it was pretty much my dream job. The trouble was, I didn’t want to live in New York City. A girl fresh out of her teens doesn’t know much about herself, but I knew—deep down in my soul—that I was not a Big City Girl. I would have been miserable. I also knew, with the advent of this new-fangled contraption we were calling “the Internet,” that telecommuting an editorial position like that wouldn’t be far down the line. I was willing to wait for that. Telecommuting took longer than I thought it would to catch on—heck, most of the publishers still prefer folks to work at their offices in the city—but other aspects began to branch out. Agents didn’t need to live in New York anymore. Copyeditors and sales reps certainly didn’t. Heck, even publishers began to be more comfortable in offices beyond the reach of a subway line. But by that time I was already a published author, and my career path was on a different—and to me, a far more desirable—trajectory. I had made goals when I was in college. I wanted to be doing whatever I was meant to be doing for the rest of my life by the time I turned twenty-five, and I wanted to be published by thirty. At the end of my twenty fourth year, I secured a coveted Book Buyer position and a year later, I bought a house. By the time thirty rolled around, I had books out with both Tor and Candlewick, and a novelette in Realms of Fantasy. Everything was on track. Except, it was 2006. The economy was about to tank and technology was about to explode. Between the two, my dream career path slipped into a sideways dimension and became something I never would have imagined. Even as late as 2009, big corporations weren’t sure what to do with the Internet and the insane “social media” nonsense. Meetings were still being held to discuss publishers putting their catalogs online, and how the industry would ultimately spell the word “ebook.” (I kid you not, I was at the meeting where this monumental decision was made.) I got the impression that these corporations were terrified of the Internet. They saw it as some as-yet-undiscovered Wild West that would cease to exist if they just ignored it long enough. I was asked—as part of my goals—to investigate various social media and report back as to how our company might use it to our benefit. My reports and suggestions were summarily dismissed, unread, with a wave of the hand. That social media. Such a frivolous waste of time and certainly no use to business or marketing. Happily, none of that data was a waste to me. It did not surprise me that such a corporate behemoth would be so incredibly slow to adapt to technology . . . a funny thing, when a little publishing division called LSI was suddenly blowing up with all these “print-on-demand” book orders. What surprised me—and what surprises me still—is what’s happening with traditional publishing and self-publishing, both from the publisher and author perspective. If you had told me on the day AlphaOops came out that a decade later I would be self-publishing in a big way, I would have looked at you like you’d just called me a dirty name. I would not see it as I do today: through the eyes of an author building her fan base in the way she wants, molding her career to suit her needs and not at the whim of a committee reviewing P&L statements and filling catalogs from a windowless room in New York. It would never have occurred to me that I could make writing both a “day job” that paid me month to month, and still retain that lofty goal of being paid five-digit advances and having books printed in China by the thousands. In publishing, as in life, the only thing that is constant is change. For every success there may be a dozen setbacks. What’s amazing about the world we live in today is how many opportunities there are for authors to take those setbacks into our own hands and turn them back around. Self-publishing is a grand idea: will you publish in ebook only or print? For the cost of an ISBN and a setup fee, you can make a hardcover available to your dedicated fans. For the ebook, will you be available across all platforms, or hitch your wagon to a subscription service? Why choose? Try them out and see what works. Need some startup capital? Try a Kickstarter. Need some help launching a new part (or all) of your career? Try Patreon. Enjoy performing? Try YouTube, or Vimeo, or Facebook Live. Enjoy making memes? Try . . . anything, anywhere. So the next time you experience a setback in this industry and worry about what’s going to happen, don’t. You cannot answer the “Where do you see yourself in five years?” question. No one can. Look back at the technological advances made in the last five years. Can you even imagine what the next five years will bring? Exactly. I have faith that whatever happens in our not-too-distant future, it will be amazing. We know history, and we know how it repeats. All of that knowledge we’ve amassed—and are still amassing—none of it will be wasted. Things go dormant for a while (remember newsletters?) and come back with a vengeance. And beneath it all, content remains king. We are the content creators. This is what we do. We’ve got this. Imagining six impossible things before breakfast has become harder and harder, because so much is possible right now. The opportunities are there. We need only to be fearless. Join me in the deep end! I’ve been here so long, I’ve grown fins. And I can assure you, the water’s fine. Alethea Kontis is a princess, author, fairy godmother, and geek. Her bestselling Books of Arilland fairytale series won two Gelett Burgess Children's Book Awards (Enchanted and Tales of Arilland), and was twice nominated for the Andre Norton Award. Alethea also penned the AlphaOops picture books, The Wonderland Alphabet, Diary of a Mad Scientist Garden Gnome, Beauty & Dynamite, The Dark-Hunter Companion (w/Sherrilyn Kenyon), and a myriad of poems, essays, and short stories. Princess Alethea lives and writes on the Space Coast of Florida with her teddy bear, Charlie. www.aletheakontis.com Another Word: It's All Fun and Games by Alethea Kontis - May 2019 Another Word: Softly Dying Darlings, and How to Deal with Them by Alethea Kontis - September 2018 Another Word: Breathing Life Into Characters by Alethea Kontis - April 2018 Another Word: What Authors Owe Us by Alethea Kontis - December 2017 Another Word: Love Song for a Saturday Morning by Alethea Kontis - October 2015 Another Word: The Precious Five-Star and the Reviewers of Mount Doom by Alethea Kontis - April 2015 Another Word: The Best of All Possible Worlds by Alethea Kontis - September 2014 Another Word: I am an Endangered Species by Alethea Kontis - September 2013 Another Word: Original Sin by Alethea Kontis - March 2013 The Fairy Tale in the TV Age by Alethea Kontis - May 2012	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10117
__label__wiki	0.817292	0.817292	Fortnightly Book, July 3 This Fortnightly Book might possibly end up a three-week 'fortnight', but we will see; it's a long work, but at the same time it's not written to be read with deep study. It is Laurence Sterne's The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. As is well known, the work is an experimental novel on a massive scale, playing with every feature of what it is to be a novel. It has no beginning, middle, or end; Tristram keeps changing his mind about where the beginning of the tale should be, it does not consistently maintain any thematic, chronological, or even narrative order, and the digressions multiply faster than the narrative can make progress. It incorporates nonverbal elements as part of the narrative, taking advantage of features of books as physical objects: the black page, the blank page, the marbled page, the squiggly line, the diagram, diversity of fonts, organization of text on the page. It misplaces and loses chapters. It is crude and erudite simultaneously. It plagiarizes in such a way that the plagiarized passages take on new meaning in their context. Laurence Sterne was an Irishman who became an Anglican priest and spent much of his life in North Yorkshire. He had a fairly undistinguished career, but then, in the midst of a big dispute in ecclesial politics, he wrote a satire of the parties involved and published it, called A Political Romance. People found it hilarious. It also pretty much ended any chance of advancement in the Church and was suppressed, with most of the copies destroyed. But it was, again, hilarious. So at the age of 46, Sterne started devoting himself to writing. In fact, he essentially wrote the first volume of Tristram in three months, in early 1759; the first two volumes were published later the same year, the third and fourth volumes in 1761, the fifth and sixth volumees in 1762, the seventh and eighth volumes in 1765, and the ninth volume in 1767. The book was sometimes panned by critics, but it was highly popular -- the books were just the right size to slip into one of the big coat pockets of the time, so people could read them whenever they had a dull moment. The height of his career was perhaps his journey to France, in which he discovered to his pleasant surprise that he was a celebrity there. He was invited to give the sermon for the opening of the English embassy in France, and he gave it to a packed house with people like d'Holbach, Diderot, and David Hume (who was also visiting France on celebrity tour at that time). Sterne joked that he would convert France from deism to Shandeism; but the sermon itself, on how even our noble motives are often intermingled with baser ones and the need to interpret the motives of others charitably, is a serious one. (And I suspect an indirect attack on deistic and atheistic attempts to cast aspersions on Christian motives. Sterne was not a sterling curate, more inclined to ribald jest or outright woman-chasing than pious meditation, more inclined to dwell on frivolity than on saintliness, but he was a sincere one.) The tune "Lillibullero" plays a significant role in the work, so here it is to start it all off: Lero Lero Lillibullero Lillibullero bullen a la Lero Lero Lero Lero "Lillibullero" became popular as an anti-Catholic satire mocking the Jacobites of Ireland by parodying their own words and songs, using an Irish tune -- and it would, of course, have been sung with a mock Irish accent. (Wikipedia has the lyrics.) It became enormously popular. And it is perhaps a good fit for the novel, this Irish tune loved by the English because it was turned into a parody of the Irish by personating an Irish caricature and using fake Irish words.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10118
__label__cc	0.689591	0.310409	I feel like I start most of my posts with something along the lines of, “It’s been too long since my last post.” Well…that’s how this one is going to start as well. As you might figure, the closer we get to the beginning of the season, the progressively busier I get. There’s been a lot going on around these parts of late. Take, for instance, the last week of January. It started off with the Astros Caravan stopping in Oklahoma City for a jam-packed day. The Astros really beefed up their caravan efforts this year, increasing the amount of cities they visited from eight in 2012 to 31 in 2013. We were really fortunate to have such a great group come to OKC: Current Astros Dallas Keuchel and Max Stassi, MLB legend Roger Clemens, and Astros Owner/Chairman Jim Crane. There were a couple of events at the ballpark for season tickets holders and sponsors, but the schedule also included a visit to the pediatrics unit at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, a stop at the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum, and an autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors. I’ve shared some pictures below, but you can check out more here. Visiting the pediatrics unit at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center RedHawks President/General Manager Michael Byrnes addresses a group of team sponsors at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Chatting with the great Roger Clemens One very happy fan at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors in NW OKC I wrote something similar after last year’s caravan, but it bears repeating: I was unbelievably impressed with how enthusiastic and involved those representing the Astros were. You could tell they truly wanted to be there and enjoyed being a part of it. The very next night was the annual Warren Spahn Award Gala. It’s a wonderful event put on by Bricktown Rotary and something the RedHawks enjoy being a part of it. The award is presented to the top lefthanded pitcher in baseball, and this year’s winner was–no surprise–Clayton Kershaw. Clayton Kershaw accepts the 2013 Warren Spahn Award The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner was pretty concise with his acceptance speech, but his wife spent a lot of time talking about their charity, Kershaw’s Challenge. It’s a very admirable cause, and Bricktown Rotary presented a donation at the end of the night. Also, big shoutout to event emcee—and Washington Nationals broadcaster—Bob Carpenter. He led a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and emphatically boasted, “Root, root, for the REDHAWKS!” We definitely got a kick out of it. Members of the RedHawks front office do their best to act like actual adults It’s now less than two months from the first game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (April 11 versus those darned Zephyrs of New Orleans). As an organization we want to constantly improve the ballpark in ways both big and small. There’s a couple of projects going on at the moment, including putting in new brick facades around the elevators. No such thing as too many bricks at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Another renovation is converting the seating down the left field line from bleachers to chairbacks. These will provide more comfort, better views, and actually increase capacity by a bit. The case of the missing bleachers… Although we pride ourselves on unsurpassed customer service, we are always striving to improve that as well. The RedHawks Job Fair is coming up at the end of this month, and we’ll be looking for great people to fill roles ranging from guest relations to food and beverage. You can find all the details here. We’ll also be holding our annual National Anthem tryouts March 8 at Penn Square Mall. All of the advance registration slots filled up within a matter of days, but you can still tryout on a standby basis. If you want to see if you have what it takes to sing at a RedHawks game, click here. Spring Hopes Eternal Spring training for the Astros begins this weekend in Kissimmee, Fla. Mlb.com’s Brian McTaggart has you covered with the main storylines to watch. The Astros have 25 non-roster invitees to big league camp, which is much higher than average. It’s not surprising, though, given the fluid state of the roster. Most of these guys have either already spent a good amount of time with the RedHawks or will do so in 2014. However, I’m not quite ready to play the prediction game yet. In fact, I’ve made it known before I’m loath to do it publicly anyway. Too many things can happen between now and April 1. I will say, though, I fully expect the RedHawks to have another really good team due to high amount of talent currently in the Astros farm system. The one player I am willing to make an exception for is George Springer. I have received many questions regarding if he will begin the season in OKC. As of now, my gut says yes, although I don’t think it will be for long. Not only will it give him a chance to get further adjusted to playing every day in right field, but this article by Evan Drellich also explains why it would make sense in terms of Springer’s eventual Major League service time. By the way, if you care a modicum about the Astros, you need to make sure you are following Brian (@brianmctaggart) and Evan (@evandrellich) on Twitter, although I bet most of you reading this already are. Words on Wallace Throughout spring training the Astros, like every other team, will make a few roster moves. After signing veteran pitcher Jerome Williams last week, the Astros designated Brett Wallace for assignment. He recently cleared waivers and will be outrighted to the RedHawks for now, but he will have a chance to compete to rejoin the Astros during spring training. I was less than pleased to see what the social media-sphere had to say about Wallace after he was DFA’d. The long and short of it among Astros fans was “good riddance.” When you have a job like I do, your rooting interests shift from teams to individuals. You build relationships and want to see certain people succeed regardless of what organization they are with. I understand these relationships are able to be founded since I am fortunate to have access only a small percentage of people are allowed to have. Even though a lot of my job requires me to be objective, there are situations where personal bias is going to enter. I’m going on my seventh year of working in baseball, and I can say Brett Wallace is in the upper tier of hardest-working people I’ve encountered. He’s been asked to do so many different things regarding his approach, and every time he’s gone right to work without complaint. I had two separate conversations with folks with Astros ties shortly after the news broke. Both happened to use the same exact term to describe him: consummate professional. It’s completely accurate and appropriate. When people say less than flattering things about someone they never met, I’d like to think they wouldn’t say those things if they knew the full story. But at the same time something like this does strike a bit of a personal chord. Award Tour (If anything, I bring this up just as an excuse to make an A Tribe Called Quest reference.) Recently I received some nice news that the team, and our broadcast partner 1340 AM “The Game”, was selected as the 2013 winner of “Best Play-By-Play” by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. In a state filled with great broadcasters and broadcasting outfits, it’s nice to earn this recognition. It wouldn’t have been possible without the effort of several people. The award is a good little addition to the mantelpiece, but the work is far from complete. I tell people broadcasting a baseball season is akin to taking a test 144 times per year, and I will not be satisfied unless I get an A every single time. It’s nothing like performing surgery or making real change in the world, but it’s something that requires a lot of hard work on a daily basis. As always, thanks for reading. And remember, the battle is a lot easier when you are fighting for #teampie. Posted on February 13, 2014 at 11:06 am	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10119
__label__wiki	0.841329	0.841329	Brooklyn Fans NYC Sports BrooklynFans Of Books: Kornacki On “The Red And The Blue” Of American Politics October 11, 2018 Jason Schott Leave a comment The Red And The Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism By Steve Kornacki Ecco; hardcover, 512 pages; $29.99 The United States is divided more than ever politically, as exhibited by the recent battle over the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the upcoming midterm elections. Some would say that politics became heated when Donald Trump decided to run for President and wound up beating Hillary Clinton in a brutal campaign in 2016. In fact, politics in this country became heated long before that, about two decades ago when President Bill Clinton led the Democrats and Speaker Of The House Newt Gingrich was the leader of the Republican Revolution. In the new and exhaustive book The Red and the Blue, MSNBC correspondent Steve Kornacki looks the birth of political tribalism in the 1990s—one that brings critical new understanding to our current political landscape. Steve Kornacki. Kornacki follows the twin paths of Clinton and Gingrich, two larger-than-life politicians who exploited the weakened structure of their respective parties to attain the highest offices. For Clinton, that meant contorting himself around the various factions of the Democratic party to win the presidency. Gingrich employed a scorched-earth strategy to upend the permanent Republican minority in the House, making him Speaker. The Clinton and Gingrich battles were bare-knuckled brawls that brought about massive policy shifts and high-stakes showdowns—their collisions had far-reaching political consequences. The thing is the 1990s were not just about them. Kornacki writes about the major political moments of the decade, starting with New York Governor Mario Cuomo’s stubborn presence around Clinton’s 1992 campaign. Clinton’s political shape-shifting at that time is now viewed as a stroke of genius, and it was especially novel then, as he was expected to run to the right of Cuomo, but quickly went left when Cuomo decided not to run. Gingrich, early in his time in Congress, delivered an overnight speech to an empty House chamber against Speaker Tip O’Neill, which made headlines and forced Tip to respond. That confrontational style was not common then, and it helped elevate Gingrich to become Speaker when Republicans won big in the 1994 midterms. This is the style that has defined the Republican party ever since, and is embodied now by the tough talk of President Trump. First Lady Hillary Clinton’s star turn came during the 1998 midterms, when she was the Democrats’ most desired campaigner, during the Lewinsky scandal. she was particularly helpful to Chuck Schumer winning his Senate seat over incumbent Al D’Amato. Twenty years later, Schumer is the Minority leader in the Senate. For Hillary, it seeded the idea for her own candidacy for the other Senate seat from New York just two years later. Donald Trump made his political debut in 1999, when he flirted with a third-party run for president in 2000. He would have run on Ross Perot’s Reform Party ticket. Perot made a wild run as a third-party candidate for president in 1992 that inspired him to launch the Reform Party. Trump was drafted to run by Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, who was formerly a pro wrestler. His competition was Pat Buchanan, the conservative firebrand. Trump ran to Buchanan’s left, calling him a white nationalist and a hate-monger. Trump eventually dropped out, and said in a New York Times op-ed that he might run again in the future. Kornacki writes of Clinton’s victory in 1992 and its aftermath, “Clinton’s share of the popular vote was just 43 percent. Not even close to half the country had voted for him. You could chalk that up to the unique three-way nature of the 1992 race, but then again, hadn’t Clinton’s deficiencies been one of the sources of Perot’s strength? Even on Election Day, voters still expressed real doubts about Clinton’s integrity and his character. To read the overall result as a loud cry for change, and a repudiation of Bush, was obvious enough. But was it actually an endorsement of Clinton and Clintonism? ‘The simple reality is that a 43 percent plurality constitutes a fragile base for governing,’ David Broder wrote in the Washington Post. ‘It falls far short of the public support Clinton will need to achieve the ambitious policy changes he outlined in the campaign.’ “And what, exactly, was Clintonism anyway? Viewed from one angle, he’d made a clear break with liberal orthodoxy – support for the death penalty, a work requirement for welfare recipients, and a tax cut for the middle class. He’d separated himself from Jesse Jackson, too, although not in a way that forced him to renounce any of Jackson’s policy agenda. Then again, it was also true that he’d won the Democratic nomination by running to the left, not the center, and by rallying the traditional party base, not expanding it. Now, it would be his party’s entrenched congressional chieftains pushing him – and expecting him – to govern more as the politician he’s been in the primaries, not the general election… “The Republicans would serve as the loyal opposition, but when they looked at Clinton’s victory, they weren’t nearly as cowed. There was his unimposing plurality, along with hints that beneath the burst of goodwill that accompanied Clinton’s triumph remained nagging misgivings about his honesty, his judgment, his character. The day after the election, Bob Dole declared himself ‘a watchdog for the 57 percent’ who hadn’t voted for Clinton. ‘If Bill Clinton has a mandate,’ Dole said, ‘then so do I.’ It became a favorite Republican refrain, the ever-present reminder that Clinton hadn’t even come close to winning a majority, implying that his presidency was accidental. And it meshed with another fashionable reading of the election on the right: that Bush lost by going wobbly on conservatism and getting cozy with Democrats. “This part was key, because it positioned Gingrich as a vindicated man inside his party.” Kornacki sees the politics of a quarter century ago as setting the stage for the way our government functions – or doesn’t function – in this era. Health care, taxes, gun control, and gay rights took center stage and remain hotly debated today. Politics then was marked by obstuctionism and extreme partisanship then, as it is now more than ever. The thing about the 1990s is that it is a period in our history that is not viewed as consequentially as it should be. It is the decade that bridged the end of the Cold War and the War on Terror, so it is viewed as a happy blip between two tumultuous periods. There were not many foreign policy events, the economy was strong, and pop culture was centered on scandals, teen dramas, and boy bands. In the spirit of Rick Perlstein’s Nixonland and Chris Matthews’ various books on Tip O’Neill and John F. Kennedy, Kornacki’s narrative is told authoritatively and relevant to this political moment. With novelistic prose and a clear sense of history, Kornacki masterfully weaves together the various elements of this rambunctious and hugely impactful era in American history, whose effects set the stage for our current political landscape. The Red and the Blue is one of the finest books you will read this political season, and will help you understand this moment more than ever before. Previous PostBrooklynFans Of Books: “Presidents of War” By BeschlossNext PostSt. John’s Red Storm Tip-Off Friday Night Sports & Entertainment in NYC's Hippest Borough	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10120
__label__wiki	0.590854	0.590854	Ross M. Sparkman Head of Strategic Workforce Planning More about Ross Yuval Dvir Head of Intl. Online Scaled Partnerships, Google Cloud More about Yuval Jeffery A. Davis Executive Director of Operational Excellence More about Jeffery Rias Attar Vice President – Enterprise Project Management Office & Strategic Initiatives More about Rias Attila Dobai Head of Strategy and Innovation More about Attila Edward J. Blackman Global Leader of CI - GIS More about Edward Iassen Deenitchin Head of Global Process Management More about Iassen Nuray Gurtekin Sen Head of Global Process and Quality Siemens Corporate Technology Research in Digitalization and Automation More about Nuray Alex Goryachev Managing Director, Innovation Strategy and Programs, Cisco More about Alex Former Global Vice President of Enterprise Business Improvement & Productivity More about José Brian McDonald Vice President Strategic Planning - Finance More about Brian Minette Norman Vice President, Engineering Practice More about Minette Griselda Abousleman Vice President, Operational Excellence, Transport Solutions NA/EMEA More about Griselda Kishore Kandru Enterprise Business Architecture Leader More about Kishore Jo Murray Matron, Achieving Excellence More about Jo Matt Aguilar Operational Excellence Guru More about Matt Steve Waszak VP Operational Excellence More about Steve Ryan Leuty Operational Excellence \| Black Belt More about Ryan Phillip Murphy Headquarters CI Team Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt More about Phillip Dr. Keith Clinkscales Director Strategic Planning & Performance Management More about Dr. Peter Fritsche VP Global Operations More about Peter Kevin Duggan Shingo Award-Winning Author, Founder More about Kevin Helen Figge More about Helen Agustin Stengel VP, Way of Working More about Agustin Anu George Chief Quality and Transformation Officer More about Anu Brent Williams Director\MBB Lean Six Sigma, Corporate Functions More about Brent Brian Gallagher SVP, Operational Excellence Ira J. Perlmuter Founder/Managing Director and Chairman More about Ira Michael Greenidge IT Director, Enterprise Applications More about Michael Sarbari Basu Director - Global Talent Operations More about Sarbari David Coleman Finance Business Partner and Continuous Improvement Manager More about David More about Rob Alina Aronova Chief of Staff for the Global Product Technology More about Alina Steven Remsen Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Enterprise Process Excellence (PEx) More about Steven Kyle Mielke Position/Title: Director, Strategic Planning / Project Execution – US Commercial Operations More about Kyle Corey Rathburn Regional Value Oriented Architecture and Clinical Excellence More about Corey Holly Rogers More about Holly Robert Crotty AVP - HCA Building Capital Productivity and Strategy More about Robert Ronald Lear Director of IP Development, CMMI Products & Services Chief Architect More about Ronald Dr. Mathias Kirchmer Managing Director & Co CEO Erin Pelletier Director of Operational Excellence More about Erin Kenneth Giles Quality and Continuous Improvement Principal More about Kenneth Jeff Holmquist Business Transformation Leader More about Jeff Stefan Schmidt Associate Partner, Global Head of Operations & Lean Practice, innogy Consulting More about Stefan Matthew Krathwohl Business Transformation Manager More about Matthew Randy Shumway Chairman, Partner More about Randy Jim De Vries Founder, Managing Director More about Jim Byron Tatsumi Senior Director, Process Innovation More about Byron Marco Chmura Director of Quality & Transformation More about Marco Farrah Pepper Chief Legal Innovation Counsel More about Farrah César Bocanegra NYU Adjunct Professor and Former COO More about César Anu Pujji Associate Vice President of Enterprise Operational Excellence & Transformation Randy Bradley Vice Chairman, Trust Exchange; Former CEO - Head of Digital CoE, Broadridge Financial Padmini Nidumolu More about Padmini Leila Rao More about Leila Bilal J Muhammed Vice President, ISRM More about Bilal Erich Heneke Director of Business Integrity and Continuity More about Erich Raymond Brand Sr. Performance Improvement Engineer More about Raymond Matt Hansen Caroline Whalen Senior Business Transformation consultant More about Caroline Dan Cockerell Magic Kingdom Vice-President (Retired & Inspired) More about Dan Kristof Kovacs Program Director, Transformational Leadership Development Program More about Kristof Sandra Lechiaro More about Sandra Director of Six Sigma James Shirey More about James Jason Richards More about Jason Catherine Jaynes More about Catherine Shane Yount More about Shane Jennifer Hurst Global Performance Excellence Leader More about Jennifer Virgil Miller EVP and COO More about Virgil Matt Retterer Senior Strategy Consultant Zack Adams Senior Advisory Consultant More about Zack Kyle Koszuta Innovation Experience Designer Karen Tilstra Co- Founder More about Karen Aruna Ranganathan Director of Analytics and Automation More about Aruna Roger Watson More about Roger Till Reiter Product Lead More about Till David O'Toole Director, Strategic Program Operations Mark McGregor More about Mark James Feldman The Bright Idea Guy Jennifer Ehresman Consumer Client Services Executive Jon Gilman More about Jon Jacques Hamel More about Jacques Nash Sivaganesh Executive Director - Sys Engrg More about Nash Robert Cartia Vice President, Operational Excellence Anirudha A Joshi Director -Sys Engrg More about Anirudha Brian Barrick Director, Operational Excellence and Strategy Jeff Dalton Chief Evangelist Steve Willoughby President & Principal Consultant, LSSBB, MBOE Carolyn Gibson Strategy Execution Expert/Professional More about Carolyn Todd Weston Pex National Co-Lead More about Todd Angie Burris Director of Customer Experience More about Angie Cedro Toro More about Cedro Darren Rehrer National Practice Lead More about Darren Director of Consulting Services More about Tony Anaysha Parker More about Anaysha Jon McGraw Southard Jones Vice President of Product Marketing More about Southard Anantha Pudukkottai Market Leader – Provider and Health Systems Digital Operations More about Anantha Jan Freyburgher SVP Americas More about Jan Head of Strategic Workforce Planning, Facebook Wednesday 20th March 2019 \| 17:30 - 18:00 pm Ross is the author of the recently published book "Strategic Workforce Planning: optimized talent strategies for future growth: and is expert and thought leader in the fields of Human Capital Strategy & Talent Analytics. With over 15 years experience in Talent Analytics and Strategic Workforce Planning, he uses his background in statistics, business strategy, HR and HR technology to consult with C-Suite officers and senior leaders on strategic methodologies and frameworks for HR and corporate strategy alignment. The end goal is to provide these senior leaders with improved data and insights to make better 'people' related decisions that ultimately improve organizational performance. He is currently the Head of Strategic Workforce Planning at Facebook where his key mandate is to create workforce forecasts and to develop optimized talent strategies for Facebook's future growth. Prior to Facebook, Ross functioned as the Head of Strategic Workforce Planning & Analytics at GE Aviation, the Strategic Workforce Planning Leader at Devon Energy and as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting where he specialized in Human Capital Strategy and Workforce Planning & Analytics. Ross is a global in-demand speaker who regularly presents on the topics of Human Capital strategy and Workforce Optimization. He was recently awarded Best Practice winner by the Best Practices Institute (BPI) and has received numerous accolades for or his innovative and results driven approach to Strategic Workforce Planning. Ross Holds an MBA from Temple University’s Fox School of Business, an MA in HR from The University of Oklahoma and a MSc in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, photography and learning new things Head of Intl. Online Scaled Partnerships, Google Cloud, Google Wednesday 20th March 2019 \| 09:15 - 10:00 am A Business Transformation leader with hands-on experience on how to manage technology, people, data and products to lead real change, innovation and growth in global organizations. Yuval is experienced in building and leading high performance teams through the challenges organizations face when dealing with digital transformation, scale and innovation. By leveraging technology, human behaviour and the cultural dynamics in the workplace, his teams drive a habit and behavioural change that promotes a more holistic, data-driven, user centric and agile mindset in people, leading to a scalable and sustainable growth for the organization. Currently at Google, Yuval has previously led the business transformation at Skype and Microsoft. Yuval holds a B.S.c from the Technion - Israel's Institute of Technology and an M.B.A from INSEAD Business School in France and Singapore. Currently working towards his MSc in Neuroscience at King's College London. Executive Director of Operational Excellence, JP Morgan Chase Jeff Davis is Executive Director of Operational Excellence at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Jeff’s operational excellence career spans nearly 29 years including nearly 6 years with JPMorgan Chase, 11 years with Toyota and 12 years of external consulting to clients such as Nike, Schlumberger, Lockheed Martin, the US Department of Defense, Daimler, BMW and others. His industry experience includes automotive, textiles, healthcare, retail, defense, aerospace, law enforcement and financial services. Beginning his career at Toyota as a team member on the assembly line and progressing his way into executive leadership roles, Jeff has lived, learned and can relate operational excellence culture and tool usage from the perspective of all levels within JPMorgan Chase.. Jeff resides in Louisville, Ky. where he and his wife spend their spare time watching their three sons play sports. Vice President – Enterprise Project Management Office & Strategic Initiatives, Caesars Entertainment Rias Attar is an accomplished operational excellence and project management professional. He is recognized for his ability to help strategize business architecture, identify areas to improve processes and outcomes, turn around businesses from deficient to profitability, champion continuous improvement efforts, deliver challenging cross-functional programs while working collaboratively with diverse types of stakeholders, lead and coach winning teams, and inspire staff to deliver ambitious results. Mr. Attar has planned and executed transformational projects (Business and Technology) that contributed over $500M of combined EBITDA impact and is managing a portfolio of initiatives that adds between $200 and $300M of EBITDA annually. He established PMOs, led Lean and Six Sigma efforts, championed Change Management, ensured proper Governance while reducing Bureaucracy, and has set proper business directions while staying focused on motivating staff, inspiring trust and confidence, developing people’s skills, and generating enthusiasm. Mr. Attar worked for different companies at a variety of industries such as: Michelin (Tires), Friede Goldman Halter (Oil & Gas) , DHL Express (Courier), and General Electric/Genworth (Mortgage Insurance), and Maple Leaf Foods (Food Processing and Supply Chain). Prior to working at Caesars (Entertainment/Hospitality), he spent a few years in the consulting business working with companies such as Danone Dairy (Food Processing), Steel Tech (Steel Manufacturing/Rolling Mill), Sport Master (Clothing/Retail), and dipndip (Chocolate F&B). Mr. Attar started his professional career in Finance as an FP&A analyst then moved to project management and operational excellence about 18 years ago. During that time, he worked/lived in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, The Middle East, Toronto-Canada, and now in Las Vegas. Mr. Attar has a bachelor degree in Finance, got his MBA from University of Texas, and have a few certifications in project management such as (PMP) Project Management Professional, (ACP) Agile Certified Practitioner, and (CSM) Certified Scrum Master. He is also a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB). Outside of work, Rias is a devoted family man with a wife and 3 kids. His best time is when he spends it with his kids playing board games, riding bikes, swimming, or just watching movies. Rias loves sport, tries to work out often, practiced Jiu Jitsu and Kick Boxing for years, and enjoys lap swimming every once and a while. He also loves music and plays the classical guitar. Head of Strategy and Innovation, Avis Budget Group Attila Dobai is the Head of Strategy and Innovation for the Budget Truck Rental division of Avis Budget Group. He is passionate about applying the concepts of continuous improvement to drive business transformation, strategy execution, innovation, and data analytics. Attila has over 14 years of experience in solving complex enterprise-wide business problems in a service-based transactional Fortune 500 business. His data-driven process-centered approach to problem solving has been repeatedly proven successful at improving both process efficiency and effectiveness while impacting the bottom-line. He is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Project Management Professional (PMP) who has managed continuous improvement projects, programs, and portfolios. He strongly believes that continuous improvement is the key to bridge the gap between the boardroom and the operation. Global Leader of CI - GIS, Whirlpool As a Global leader of Continuous Improvement at Whirlpool, I am responsible for developing the CI strategy, coaching problem-solving behaviors, and transforming systems for executive leaders and their teams within Information Services. By education, I’ve earned a Masters degree in Behavioral Science, along with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Mathematics. Recently I’ve returned to obtain a doctoral degree focused on Industrial & Organizational Behavior Management. By training, I’m certified in Six Sigma Black Belt by the American Society for Quality; certified in Labor Standards by HB Maynard; a Lean (Toyota Production System) Instructor/Coach; a Kata Coach; a certified Scrum Master; and an Agile Coach. By experience, I’ve led and improved Continuous Improvement in healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and education for 18 years. In addition to my daytime career, I’ve taught courses as an Adjunct Professor in Mathematics, Psychology, and Business. Finally, I greatly value innovation. I've obtained backing with companies and invented two products through ideation programs. Head of Global Process Management, ING Business Transformation & Operational Excellence World Summit & Industry Awards (BTOES18) Thursday 15th March 2018 \| 13:50 - 14:20 pm Iassen Deenitchin is Head of Global Process Management at ING. He joined the global banking group in 2016, with the aim to support the execution of the Accelerate Think Forward strategy through a common process management and improvement practice centred around the customer. Prior to that, Iassen was Head of Lean and Process Management at Raiffeisenbank International and an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company. He holds an MSc in Financial Economics from the Norwegian School of Management and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Head of Global Process and Quality Siemens Corporate Technology Research in Digitalization and Automation, Siemens Thursday 15th March 2018 \| 08:30 - 09:00 am Nuray Gurtekin Sen has a dual role as Head of Global Quality and Process at Siemens AG Corporate Technology Digitalization and Automation organization and in US she is responsible for QM, EH&S and Sustainability at Siemens Corporation US in Corporate Technology . In the early stages of her career, Nuray worked in food and pharmaceutical packaging manufacturing industry as QA manager for 5 years. Then she worked as an external auditor and consultant in Bureau Veritas for 2 years. During this period, she became ISO 9001, ISO 4001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 22000 Lead Auditor and ISO 9001 Lead auditor trainer registered in IRCA. She audited over 200 hundred companies of BRC, GMP, HACCP and company specific management systems. After extensive process and management systems experience, Nuray joined Siemens Turkey Healthcare in 2006 as Change Manager. She led Siemens Healthcare in winning EFQM Business Excellence Award in 2007. Following that, she was promoted as Siemens Turkey Head of Business Excellence and worked on all sectors and various countries (e.g. Israel, Austria and Central Eastern Europe countries). She established Lean Six Sigma model in Siemens Turkey and acted as key expert and ambassador in CEE and Eastern Mediterranean Clusters. Nuray also executed Project Management Coordinator role for Eastern Mediterranean Cluster. In 2013, Nuray was transferred to Siemens US Corporate Technology and Research organization at Princeton to lead a big change management and organizational transformation program. End of 2013, she promoted to the Global Process and Quality Manager role at Siemens AG (Headquarters) and got selected “Corporate Core Digitalization and Automation Leadership Team”. Currently, Nuray is responsible for process excellence and quality management for the Digitalization and Automation unit in regions Germany, US, Austria, China, India and Russia. Nuray has B.S. degree in Food Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey and MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. Managing Director, Innovation Strategy and Programs, Cisco, Cisco Alex Goryachev is an entrepreneurial go-getter. He takes risks, thinks ahead, and loves making way for new innovations. Over the past 20 years, he’s made it his business to turn disruptive concepts into emerging business models. For him, it’s all about a passion to create a strategy and then drive it home to “get things done.” And as Cisco’s managing director of Innovation Strategy and Programs, he has plenty of opportunities to put this passion to the test. He sparks internal innovation by providing employees at all levels the chance to share their big ideas, many of which make their way into the company’s innovation engine. Alex also carries the torch for co-innovation across Cisco’s ecosystem. He’s especially excited about Cisco's Innovation Centers, which can be found in major cities around the world. Led by Alex, these hubs bring together customers, partners, startups, accelerators, governments, research communities, and universities in a lab setting. Their goal is to discover, develop, and implement game-changing, outcome-based solutions. He also heads up the Cisco Innovation Grand Challenges. These polished events help creative thinkers bring their technology ideas to life. And then there’s the Cisco Technology Radar, the company’s engine for identifying emerging technology transitions. Alex began his Cisco journey in 2004 with a singular focus: Innovation. He defined and operationalized several high-profile Cisco initiatives, including the company’s Country Transformation plan for Cisco in emerging markets. He also held senior roles in Development, Marketing, Finance, and Channels, providing him a 360 view of how a great company ticks. Prior to Cisco, Alex was a successful consultant with extended assignments at Napster, Liquid Audio, IBM Global Services, and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He was the “Emerging Stars” gold recipient of Brandon Hall Group’s 2016 Human Capital Management Excellence Awards Program, and his organization won golds for “Employee Engagement” and “Innovation Talent Management” programs. A sought-after keynoter and media authority on innovation, Alex has a passion for sharing knowledge, mentoring, and guiding innovation programs. Please reach out at agoryach@cisco.com Former Global Vice President of Enterprise Business Improvement & Productivity, Andeavor Corporation José Pires serves as the Global Excellence & Innovation (E&I) Leader for Andeavor Corporation, where he oversees the global identification, prioritization and execution of mission critical business improvements and innovations that add value to the company, business partners and external clients in multiple markets. Prior to his current role, Pires held Excellence and Innovation leadership positions in large, global companies in the electronics (Sony), semiconductor (Cymer-ASML), food (Nestlé) and infrastructure (Black & Veatch) industries. Throughout his career, Pires developed and refined E&I as an award winning program for innovation, leadership development, strategy execution and value creation globally. Pires is an advisory board leader and keynote speaker for several global conferences on innovation, operational excellence, leadership development, strategy execution, business transformation, customer engagement and growth acceleration. He holds a Bachelor in Engineering Physics from the University of Kansas and a Master in Business Administration focused in Investment Banking and Entrepreneurship from the University of San Diego. Vice President Strategic Planning - Finance, International Paper Brian started his career with Westvaco in Forest Operations and joined International Paper in 1987. He has held roles in the company’s manufacturing and commercial operations, including the director of the company’s Russian operations, president of IP Asia, Vice President Investor Relations, and most recently Deputy CEO of Ilim Group. Brian earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology at Brandeis University. He has a Master of Forestry degree from Duke University, and an MBA from the University of Virginia. Brian served two terms as a Board of Visitor’s member of the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University, and has served on the Board of Eisenhower Fellowships, and Carter Holt Harvey. Brian, his wife, Margaret, and their daughter, Isabel, reside in Memphis. Vice President, Engineering Practice, Autodesk, Inc. Minette Norman serves as Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk and is responsible for a collaborative culture and state-of-the-art engineering practices. Minette spearheaded “radical collaboration” – initiatives that recognize engineers who contribute to one another’s code, designs, and tests. Previously, she gained international attention by transforming Autodesk’s localization team through best-in-class automation and machine translation. Before joining Autodesk, she held a variety of technical communication and management positions at companies including Symantec and Adobe. Named in 2017 as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times and in 2018 as one of the YWCA Silicon Valley’s “Tribute to Women” Honorees, Minette is a recognized industry expert with a unique perspective. Minette has a broad approach to community service, working with local, national and international non-profit organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors of D-Rev, a non-profit devoted to developing medical technologies for impoverished and vulnerable populations worldwide. Minette also works with GirlsWhoCode and YesWeCode, national organizations that help under-represented populations succeed in the technology sector. Minette holds degrees in Drama and French from Tufts University and studied at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. Vice President, Operational Excellence, Transport Solutions NA/EMEA, Ingersol Rand In her current role, she leads the operational excellence and transformation strategies for Transport Solutions NA/EMEA and its partnering dealer network. She has led successful business transformations globally and has extensive experience in leading teams to accomplish breakthrough results. Prior to this role, she was integrated supply chain leader for Fluid Management, Material Handling and Power Tools, she drove continued improvement of the value streams and was responsible for a supply chain strategy to optimize performance in critical operational areas, including cycle time, safety, quality, delivery and productivity for three of the company’s 11 strategic business units. Griselda joined Ingersoll Rand in January 2013 as a director in operational excellence with our residential solutions business in Tyler, Texas. She was appointed in January 2014 to one of two regional operational excellence leader roles for North America and was appointed vice president, operational excellence in November 2014. Prior to Ingersoll Rand, she was with Honeywell as director, global growth; Flowserve as a multi-site leader; Volvo-Novabus as senior manufacturing engineering manager; and AlliedSignal-Honeywell as lean supervisor and global transitions leader. Griselda holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University, which includes overseas study in economics from the Pontificía Universidad Católica de Chile, and a master’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University. She has also earned her Lean Master certification from Shingijutsu and Honeywell, and is a member of Prospanica, the National Society for Hispanic MBA’s, a member of the Society of Women and Hispanic Professional Engineers, and is the current Chair for the Women in Manufacturing national association. Enterprise Business Architecture Leader, CSAA Insurance Group Kishore leads the business process architecture and automation practice for CSAA Insurance Group with 18 years of Business Architecture experience spread over high-tech, consumer electronics and insurance industries. He is passionate about bringing process perspective to every aspect of the business; from marketing, product and manufacturing to customer and service domains. Matron, Achieving Excellence, NHS Foundation Trust I have worked for the National Health Service (NHS) for 28 years, 15 of which as a Community Matron and a District Nurse, prior to that working in an acute hospital on a general medical and haematology ward. During that time I became an Independent Prescriber, gained a teaching qualification as had passion for teaching and improving management of patients with long term or terminal conditions. I was nominated by one of the Nursing Homes I supported for the Kate Granger Compassionate Care Award in 2014. I was a finalist which was such an honour and led to having a raised profile which helped secure my next post. I have four years experience in my current role as ‘Matron, Achieving Excellence (AE)’ at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Surrey. AE is an internal accreditation programme for identifiying improvements and excellence within the organisation as well as areas for improvement in both our clinical and non clinical departments. I moved into this current role to improve my career development, experienceing something new as I felt I needed to be more directly involved in improving NHS services. My role helps wards and other clinical areas to share good practice and further improve. My work involves carrying out comprehensive assessments to ensure all wards and departments within the hospital are operating efficiently and effectively within local and national Key Performance Indicators and policy. Also, promoting multidisciplinary working and responsibility for moving AE forward in their own departments, with standardised processes and sharing of evidence of learning. I enjoy that my work supports the organisation to be more open on information that is shared. This information allows others to see where there are further areas for improvement and areas of good practice to share. My work supports the organisation become more structured and coordinated, and enables me to work in areas I have not previously experienced before during my NHS nursing career. Most recently as a finalist in the National Patient Safety Awards, 2018, in the category for ‘changing culture’ - relating to supporting medical clinicians to work closely with nursing and allied health professionals in leading a clinical area and ensuring its success in continually improving and working together. Operational Excellence Guru, Becton-Dickinson Matt is a customer focused change and thought leader with expansive leadership experience in R&D, Production Operations, IT and Corporate functions within thriving industries that include Medical Device, Biotechnology, Health Care and Big Utility with Nuclear Power Generation. Strategic planning leading to transformational delivery excellence for sustainable enterprise operations has been a key theme in his career. Since his 2017 arrival to Becton-Dickinson, Matt’s program management, business process improvement, systems integration and performance measurement expertise have played a major role in driving much-needed change in Medical Management Systems (MMS). Supply Chain Operations playbook development for Plan-2-Deliver and Procure-2-Pay, Sales & Operating Process (S&OP) optimization for greater demand visibility and accurate fulfillment, and solidification of the current supplier engagement model for enhanced supplier quality performance and minimize disruption to MMS production output have been key efforts in Matt’s charter. From a strategic perspective, Matt has a unique grasp of long range Strategic Planning, Transformation Playbook Development and Balanced Scorecard Methodology for cascading of business goals and monitoring of world-class business operations. As a tactical change agent, he brings exceptional PMO operations skills and a highly polished understanding of the critical alignment between people, processes and enabling technology. Through application of rigorous project management frameworks like Agile and Lean Six Sigma, he has enjoyed distinctive success with introduction, socialization and sustained adoption of Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement business models in every functional work area (R&D, MFG, Supply Chain, IT, Finance and HR/Legal) and in support of diverse regulated corporate cultures in companies like BD, Motorola, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, SoCal Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric. Matt earned his bachelors with honors in Organizational Leadership. He is PMP and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified and is a member of the Project Management Institute, American Society for Quality and Association of Manufacturing Excellence. He is an experienced trainer for Corporate Leadership, Business Management, Operational Excellence, and Continuous Improvement. He is a Certified Toastmaster. VP Operational Excellence, Greene Group Industries Each day, Steve looks forward to meeting new people, new challenges, learning, and opportunities to bring business performance, competitiveness and growth to new levels. Steve is the Vice President of Operational Excellence for Greene Group Industries, a privately-held major supplier to leading industrial manufacturers, with locations across the USA in California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Reporting to the President, Steve works across the company’s business units and functional areas driving organizational alignment and fostering a customer focused culture to support the goal of continuously improving competitive advantage. Prior to the Greene Group, Steve spent 20 plus years working internationally, gaining experience and expertise across industries and disciplines. He has worked seven years in management consulting, seven years in operational leadership roles, five years running a high-tech start-up, and served four years in the United States Air Force, where he was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal. A firm believer in understanding fundamentals, Steve strives to make sure that all team members understand what constitutes the foundation of their organization’s competitive advantage and how each person’s role strengthens that foundation. He is focused on providing the leadership, strategies, and development needed to help enable individuals to more productively contribute to the organization’s success. Operational Excellence \| Black Belt, Country Financial Ryan Leuty is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt for COUNTRY Financial. With experience in DMAIC and Process Management, he has a track record of leading teams towards solutions that make their processes more efficient and mistake-free. Ryan partners with business areas to improve the customer experience and ensure employees can focus on value-add activities. Ryan has used Lean Six Sigma in many areas of insurance, including billing, claims, agency, commercial and farm underwriting. His passion for cultivating the knowledge of teams and making the flow of work visible is apparent in the success of Ryan’s projects and the relationships he builds along the way. Ryan also enjoys leading Yellow Belt classes and mentoring Green Belts. Previously, Ryan served as Assistant Director of IT for McLean County, IL where he oversaw day-to-day operations and led several transformational projects like VoIP, point-to-point wireless, and a website overhaul. He holds an M.B.A and a Bachelors in Systems Analysis and Design from Illinois State University. Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking and playing guitar. Headquarters CI Team Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, US Postal Service Phillip Murphy is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with the United States Postal Service. He is part of the Headquarters Continuous Improvement team and is responsible for supporting the USPS CI work across the country. His passion for Lean is evident in his support of various processes within the USPS and his diverse portfolio of work. Phil began his Lean journey in 2007 while he was a maintenance manager in a plant environment. Since then he has served in several positions at the plant, area and national levels during which times he was also serving as a coordinator for the Lean efforts within each area of responsibility. His blend of maintenance, operations and headquarters experience has provided a unique perspective which allows him to easily relate to the various project teams with which he has worked. Phil joined the USPS Continuous Improvement Office as an LSS Trainer responsible for developing and delivering the Green Belt and Black Belt curriculum to students across the country in 2014. In 2016 he transitioned to the role of Master Black Belt where he focuses on coaching leadership and working to further integrate Lean into the culture of the US Postal Service. Keeping with his passion for teaching and sharing Lean, Phil is responsible for the Lean Leader program which is used to further develop high performing Black Belts within the US Postal Service. Phil received his Master Black Belt certification through The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business and MoreSteam in 2017. He has also earned the CSSBB certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and is a graduate of the United States Postal Service Managerial Leadership and Lean Leader programs. Director Strategic Planning & Performance Management, BOCC-Palm Beach County Dr. Keith A. Clinkscale is a recognized Lean Six Sigma Black Belt & Operational Excellence Executive known for establishing best-in-class strategic performance management programs. Keith Clinkscale demonstrates a combination of broad industry experiences, performance management acumen and a history of results-oriented management consulting to drive significant improvement and cost savings. As a seasoned Industry Executive and Management Consultant, Keith built a reputation of excellence in all areas of operations. His skillset includes over 30 years of Executive Coaching, Training and Content Design, Process Improvement, Benchmarking, Total Quality Management, Balanced Scorecards, Business Process Re-engineering, Strategic Planning, and High Performance Teams. Keith’s experience and sensitivity to customer concerns has always enabled him to provide a high level of service, whether in industry or as a consultant. Keith has headed the Performance Management Office at Palm Tran. Keith’s team provided executive coaching, goal and target setting through benchmarking, established and reported balanced scorecards, developed department scorecards and held department directors accountable for addressing deficiencies. Dr. Clinkscale has been the champion of Performance Reporting, Management and Improvement at Palm Tran. Keith has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Boston University and a PH.D in Strategic Leadership from Concordia College & University. He is now the Director of Strategic Planning and Performance Management for Palm Beach County and supervises all activities related to the long-term strategic plan of Palm Beach County as well as the strategic planning of over 30 county departments. Keith is responsible for assisting the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), Executive Team, Department Directors, and staff with the development of long-term goals, objectives, strategies, and actions. VP Global Operations, Data Sciences International Peter Fritsche is Vice President, Global Operations at Data Sciences International (DSI). His responsibilities include: process engineering, supply chain leadership, manufacturing, logistics, client services, documentation, continuous improvement and technical support. Prior to DSI, Peter was Director of Global Quality at both Emerson and Honeywell. He has also worked at ADC and FSI International. Peter is a hands-on leader, driven by a passion to create value-based improvements that result in higher customer loyalty and substantial savings for his company. Throughout his career, he has performed at a very high level in many technical and managerial functions including: design, manufacturing, quality, safety, supply chain and product management. By engaging team-members, utilizing appropriate improvement tools and implementing necessary system-level changes for continued success; Peter has established a strong history of permanently solving the “unsolvable” product performance and reliability issues while shortening lead-times, reducing cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) and improving other key balance sheet metrics. Peter is a six-sigma black belt and an instructor at Manufacturers Alliance where he currently leads Six-sigma green belt certification classes. He achieved a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from UW-Madison and earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. Shingo Award-Winning Author, Founder, Institute for Operational Excellence Tuesday 13th March 2018 \| 08:30 - 10:00 am Kevin J. Duggan is a renowned expert in applying advanced lean techniques to achieve Operational Excellence and the author of four books on the subject: Design for Operational Excellence: A Breakthrough Strategy for Business Growth, Creating Mixed Model Value Streams, Operational Excellence in Your Office: A Guide to Achieving Autonomous Value Stream Flow with Lean Techniques and Beyond the Lean Office: A Novel on Progressing from Lean Tools to Operational Excellence. As the Founder of the Institute for Operational Excellence, the leading educational center on Operational Excellence, and Duggan Associates, an international training and advisory firm, Kevin has assisted many major corporations worldwide, including FMC Technologies, Chromalloy, Aetna, SpaceX, Caterpillar, Pratt & Whitney, Singapore Airlines, Sikorsky, IDEX Corporation and Parker Hannifin. A recognized expert on Operational Excellence, Kevin is a frequent keynote speaker, master of ceremonies, and panelist at international conferences, and has appeared on CNN and the Fox Business Network. Chief Strategy Officer, MedicaSoft Helen is an experienced and passionate healthcare innovator and futurist. She has expertise in partnering with c-suite executives and peers, team development, execution of strategic planning and global governance programs, building international collaborations, client loyalty programs and helping to formulate global best practice solution portfolios. She has served in three Fortune companies and non-for profit organizations such as Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Additionally, she has supported, consulted and guided several start-up health IT companies to successful next steps such as LumiraDx, HealthBox, Haven Health and Carefully, Inc among others. Helen has achieved HIMSS fellow status and secured HIMSS healthcare IT certification. Helen has served on several national committees and Boards such as HIMSS, CHIME, The Sullivan Institute for Healthcare Innovation, WEDI, State University of New York’s Global Institute for Health and Human Rights and State University of New York’s School of Public Health. Helen serves in several senior advisory roles such as for the Albany College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences President’s Council, the National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved, Inc. based in Washington, D.C., New York State’s HIMSS National Liaison and is Chair, Health 2.0 Boston. Helen has secured service and career awards, published and lectured extensively in healthcare and regularly presents and authors on healthcare technology. She holds academic appointments at University of Maryland, the Sage Colleges, New York and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Science, Boston. She holds a Baccalaureate in Science, a Doctorate of Pharmacy, an MBA in healthcare administration, completed a drug information research fellowship, is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Six Sigma Lean Sensei. Helen has been recognized by Health 2.0 as a “Ten Year Industry Leader”. For three consecutive years, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Helen has been named “Most Powerful Women in Healthcare IT” by Health Data Management. She was named in 2018 on Becker’s prestigious “Women to Know in Healthcare IT” listing. Helen is a career coach, mentor and passionate about supporting the environment. She volunteers her time and raises money for several philanthropic organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association. In her spare time, Helen mentors for organizations interested in positioning product development and go to market strategies in healthcare such as Carefully, Inc. where she serves as one of the original founders and as Chief Communications and Public Relations Officer. Helen is Chief Strategy Officer for MedicaSoft based in Arlington, Va. VP, Way of Working, Fannie Mae Responsibilities: Agustin Stengel is Fannie Mae’s Vice President – WoW (Way of Working). Agustin is responsible for instilling WoW for top executive teams, and designing the overall WoW maturity program to deepen the adoption of its principles and tools; developing team capabilities; and improving knowledge and methodologies on the maturity of the WoW program. WoW is centering the company’s culture on customer service and continuous improvement. Experience: Prior to joining Fannie Mae in April 2017, Stengel was Vice President – Continuous Improvement at Voya Financial. Before that, he was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. Education: Stengel has an industrial engineering degree from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina and a master of business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Chief Quality and Transformation Officer, Morningstar, Inc. Monday 12th March 2018 \| 08:00 - 17:00 pm Anu George is Chief Quality and Transformation Officer for Morningstar. She is responsible for providing strategic direction to Morningstar’s operational excellence & continuous improvement initiatives. She works at the intersection of operational excellence, human behavior & technology. Anu is an avid reader, and has an eclectic choice of the books she reads. She enjoys learning and experimenting with new thoughts in the world of change management, organizational behavior, operational excellence, LEAN & Agile. Anu has more than 20 years of experience in operations management and Lean Six Sigma. Before joining Morningstar in 2010, she had worked for Unilever and GE. She is a frequent speaker on topics including business process excellence and leadership. Anu holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting and a master’s degree in business administration, with a specialization in marketing, from the University of Mumbai. Director\MBB Lean Six Sigma, Corporate Functions, McKesson Brent Williams is Director of Lean Six Sigma for enterprise corporate functions and has been at McKesson six years. Brent leads a team to consult, identify and manage process improvement initiatives by advancing the Six Sigma capabilities across McKesson's corporate functions, a $1B+ shared service. The team's mission: Increase the value of Corporate Functions services back to the business by improving operational excellence and reducing costs. During his tenure, the Corporate Functions have had the highest annual Six Sigma savings since the inception of the program. Brent has 30+ years' experience launching new services and improving existing services to add value to the customer. He has had leadership roles in manufacturing, non-profit, and technology businesses with a focus on the shared services domains. He was an early adopter of Scrum agile methodology deploying it at an enterprise level in 2009 and is currently aligning Lean Six Sigma service with the SAFe framework now being used by McKesson technology. Brent holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M, a masters in biomedical engineering from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from Georgia State University. SVP, Operational Excellence, CACI Dr. Gallagher is Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence for CACI International Inc, a $4 billion information systems solutions and services company. In this role, he is responsible for CACI’s integrated program management and delivery methods, process effectiveness, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives. Prior to this position, Brian was the Director of Engineering and Mission Assurance for Northrop Grumman’s Intelligence and Cyber Divisions where he provided leadership critical to mission success involving engineering, quality assurance, process effectiveness, program execution, and supplier assurance. Previously Dr. Gallagher served as Director of Acquisition Support at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), Carnegie Mellon University, leading teams serving the Department of Defense and other government agencies. He also served in the U.S. Air Force, with assignments as Deputy Chief of Software Engineering with the Air Intelligence Agency; Chief Engineer on the Range Operations Control Center Project at Cape Canaveral in Florida; program manager on the Titan IV Program; and as an engineer with the Strategic Air Command. Dr. Gallagher earned a PhD in Systems Engineering through Colorado State University, an MS degree in Computer Science from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Technology degree from Peru State College. He is Six Sigma trained, PMP certified, and is certified as a CMMI high maturity lead appraiser for CMMI for Development and CMMI for Services. He is an associate fellow of AIAA and a member of IEEE, NDIA, PMI, AFCEA, and INCOSE, as well as a contributing author of the Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK). Dr. Gallagher is an associate professor at University of Maryland, University College where he teaches graduate course in Systems Engineering and Information Technology. Founder/Managing Director and Chairman, Ira founded T5 Equity Partners, LLC as the direct, private equity investing affiliate of a family office. He has completed nine acquisitions including several manufacturing companies, military parts businesses, oil and gas companies, and a bank. Ira serves as Chairman of five of the companies and as Chairman of the Credit and Compliance Committees of the bank. He focuses on oversight of company operations, new business development, acquisitions and joint ventures with other family offices and companies. Ira is also a Founder of the Cleantech Family Office Syndicate, and has developed a program with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency. Ira has completed over $15 billion of restructuring, turnaround and bankruptcy/distressed M&A transactions in over 50 industries, as a banker, investment banker and principal. His own financial advisory firm, Cove Capital Advisors, Inc., completed over $5.5 billion of assignments. Among the more notable engagements were appointment as Trustee of the $700 million, Daewoo International (America) Corporation bankruptcy trust and serving as exclusive financial advisor to JP Morgan Chase on two multi-billion dollar bankruptcies. IT Director, Enterprise Applications, MIT Lincoln Laboratory Michael Greenidge is the IT Director/Sector Manager of Enterprise Applications at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts. In his role, Michael provides strategic leadership and directions for developing, implementing, and supporting enterprise business applications. Since joining MIT Lincoln Laboratory in 2009, Michael has contributed to a numerous improvement initiatives. Most recently, successfully directing a major initiative to move the Laboratory’s ERP environment to a modern platform in the Cloud. In his current role, he also serves as one of the leaders for the overall Laboratory Digital Enterprise Transformation program, where he is partnering with the Business Transformation Office to simplify processes, modernize business applications, and build an integrated data architecture. Michael has nearly 30 years of experience implementing and deploying global and enterprise-wide business applications. Throughout his career, he has effectively applied his business and technical leadership to transform business application landscapes in support of an organization mission. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Rice University, a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Texas Southern University and an MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Director - Global Talent Operations, Cummins With more than 20 years’ experience in Operational functional and business HR roles Sarbari has worked in over 5 countries across multiple sectors including manufacturing, retail, distribution and services. Prior to joining Cummins Distribution in the US, Sarbari led the HR organization for Cummins in the Middle East based in Dubai in the UAE. Prior to relocating to the UAE, Sarbari led the HR team for a Greenfield venture for Reliance Industries one of the largest Petrochemical producers in India. She leads People Strategy, HR Operational and Process Excellence, Workforce Analytics in her current role for Cummins Distribution which operates in almost 90 countries and has over 16,000 employees. Her expertise covers strategic business partner roles, Talent Management, Workforce planning and strategy, HR process excellence organizational and employee development, HR metrics & reporting, succession planning, and performance management. Sarbari holds a Bachelor in English Literature and an MBA from Calcutta University. She is a candidate for the 2018 Global Fellow of Talent Management at The Wharton School. She is certified Six Sigma Green Belt and a certified SWP practitioner and is currently dabbling in Organization Design and Change Management. Finance Business Partner and Continuous Improvement Manager, Goodyear Dave Coleman is the Finance Business Partner and Continuous Improvement Manager of Goodyear Race manufacturing. His leadership career includes positions over various functions as Controller, Operations Manager, Manager of Project Management, CFO, Director of Operations and Director of Strategic Planning. Dave’s first significant business culture training was as a member of a transmission launch team that started a business from the ground up. Subsequently, he led a clutch manufacturing business through a 3-year culture transformation. He then successfully replicated his achievements in the company’s transmission business. Later, as a Director of Operations over 3 plants located in North Carolina, Canada and Singapore, Dave led his third culture transformation. His team received a Starship award for demonstrating lean manufacturing principles and world class safety. Dave has recently been on a 4-year transformation journey that turned a “broken plant” into an AME (Association of Manufacturing Excellence) award recipient. He teaches culture 101 and 201 for Race manufacturing. He is a certified Krause Bell Group safety trainer and is APICS certified. Dave’s wide community involvement has included membership in the JCs, director in Optimist club, Sunday school teacher, church board director and board member of University of Tennessee, Martin. Dave was an associate professor of business at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina. He coached youth sports for over thirty years, refereed high school wrestling, co-chaired Race for The Children and was a volunteer umpire. The community experience having the most impact on Dave’s community perspective was a church mission trip for flood relief in North Carolina. Most recently Dave has accepted a board member position for the North East Ohio Medical University student run free clinic. After living in 5 states while his father served in the military, Dave’s family settled in what he considers his home town, Carnegie, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Between the military moves and work, Dave has lived in 11 states and now resides in Hudson, Ohio, with his wife, Kim. They enjoy spending time with family and friends and activities surrounding their 5 children. With their youngest child entering college, Dave and his wife have committed to more exercise. He attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania on a wrestling scholarship and was a Division I National Qualifier. After receiving a degree in Accounting, Dave started his career working for a Big 8 public accounting firm. He has an MBA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. CEO, OpusWorks (by The Quality Group) Tuesday 13th March 2018 \| 13:00 - 14:30 pm For nearly 25 years, Rob and his team have been helping organizations “get people on the same page” for deploying Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, and Project Management. OpusWorks has pioneered the wise, and customized, application of advanced blended learning and execution technologies so customers can accelerate skill-building, propel culture change, and increase ROI. Rob began his career with IBM and he is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta. Chief of Staff for the Global Product Technology, Cengage In today’s day and age every organization seems to be in a constant state of change. Navigating these small and large transformations can be daunting, especially when many transformation efforts take longer, cost more and even fail. Companies grapple with being “reactive or ready” for change. There are many types of transformations that a business must go through including digital, organizational culture, customer experience, operational, distribution, growth, sustainability, risk management, and much more. Many experts will try and argue that each one of these changes requires you to tackle them in fundamentally different ways. But, is that really true? Throughout her career, Alina Aronova has successfully supported, led and sustained an array of business transformations in diverse functional areas, industries, and organizations. Each transformation brought its own unique needs, obstacles, challenges, and constraints. Yet, at the same time they all required innovation, adaptation and rethinking how the organization operated. Looking back at all her success, Alina asked herself “Why was I able to be an effective change agent in different industries with different challenges?” Through this questioning she uncovered her unique methods of defining, organizing and leading prosperous transformations. In this session Alina will share with you her experiences in vastly different industries, stories of her success and failures; insights on how she tackles change; and the competitive advantage that is at the heart of all her transformations. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Enterprise Process Excellence (PEx), Intel Steve Remsen is passionate about driving continuous improvement, advocating first principles thinking, and understanding how to harness and translate data-driven solutions into substantial and customer-oriented business results. As a senior internal technical consultant, he has successfully driven numerous continuous improvement projects across diverse functional areas of the Intel enterprise, ranging from designing functional materials on the nanometer scale to deploying strategic business process architecture on the global scale. An inspiring jack of all trades, Steve is currently a part-time MBA student at the University of Portland and holds a PhD in Experimental Solid State Physics from Northern Illinois University. He is also an Intel Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt candidate as well as a Prosci certified Change Management Practitioner. Position/Title: Director, Strategic Planning / Project Execution – US Commercial Operations, Cardinal Health Kyle Mielke is a Certified Black Belt at Cardinal Health a fortune 15 health care services company. He has spent the past year as part of the Medical Commercial Operations team running special projects for this group. Kyle spent the previous 4 years as part of the Operational Excellence division that has engaged more than 18,000 employees in 6,000+ projects improving processes an average of 40 to 60 percent. He was able to take his 15 years of sales experience coupled with his passion and training on Lean Six Sigma to successfully lead several different Lean Six Sigma projects with the sales and marketing teams. One project was able to free up sales reps from customer service activities to create more selling time. Another was creating an integrated selling model between two of the sales teams. He has also consulted with many different groups inside Cardinal Health helping them implement the Cardinal Health Operating Model. Regional Value Oriented Architecture and Clinical Excellence, Providence Health & Services Corey Rathburn is a seasoned Process Improvement and Operations Excellence professional with 15 years of experience driving effective and positive change in various industries spanning from Healthcare to Consumer Goods. Corey received his degree in Industrial Engineering and Logistics at Purdue University. He began his career as a project engineer with Avery Dennison where he went on to receive his Six Sigma Black Belt certification and lead record-breaking new product launches. He then joined the healthcare world leading Lean, Six Sigma, and Process Improvement projects for Quest Diagnostics and HCA (Sunrise Hospital). During his time at HCA, he led many throughput and Process Improvement initiatives in the Emergency Department and Operating Room. Then later at Sunrise, Corey worked in administration as the Chief Staffing Officer and Associate COO. In this role, Corey oversaw all aspects of labor management, focused on overall patient flow of the hospital, and had various departments he was responsible for. During this time, Corey received his MBA with a focus on Healthcare Administration. Before joining Providence St. Joseph Health, Corey was a Master Black Belt and oversaw Global Operations of the Process Improvement program at Anheuser-Busch InBev, responsible for establishing and developing a framework for the company's global Continuous Improvement Program. Corey’s first role at Providence St. Joseph was the Master Black Belt at Holy Cross Medical Center. While at Holy Cross, Corey focused on Patient Flow improvement, implementation of HRO/Learning Boards, facilitating various process work-out events, and continuing to develop the culture of improvement and empowerment at the ministry. Currently, he focuses on Clinical Excellence and Value Orientation Architecture for the Southern California region. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Farmers Insurance® Holly Rogers is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt for the Enterprise Lean and Operational Excellence division of Farmers Insurance®. As a Black Belt, Holly is part of a team that assists the organization in streamlining processes across the enterprise. In addition, she uses her strong facilitation and communication skills to lead the Yellow Belt certification program at Farmers® and trains and coaches interested employees in learning basic problem solving skills to achieve Yellow Belt certification. Holly has a 34 year history with Farmers Insurance®, with a prior background in project management and business analysis, legal work, marketing, and actuarial reporting. Holly has also been an active participant in the Women’s Inclusion Network at Farmers®, leading the Mercer Island chapter in Washington state. Holly has several industry designations such as the CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, AIRC, and FLMI and earned most of these through the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. AVP - HCA Building Capital Productivity and Strategy, HCA Healthcare Mr. Crotty is currently responsible for capital productivity and execution strategies for HCA's Design and Construction's $1.5B project portfolio. Mr. Crotty has over 30 years of experience in leading a diverse set of supply chains from check printing, automotive parts to power generation in operational excellence and transformations. He also has provided operational excellence and transformation leadership in over 40 industries to include telecomm, defense electronics and the aviation industries. Mr. Crotty joined HCA in May of 2015 to lead the embedded Building Capital team and the extended partner advocate team leading HCA’s Design and Construction transformation. Mr. Crotty has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Systems Engineering from Ohio University and an MBA from Golden Gate University. Mr. Crotty is certified Project Management Professional and Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence Lead Examiner. Director of IP Development, CMMI Products & Services Chief Architect, CMMI Insitute As the CMMI Institute’s Director of IP Development and Chief Architect of CMMI Products and Services, Ron brings over 34 years of experience with continual performance improvement, quality, and process management to supporting the development and launch of CMMI Products, including CMMI V2.0, the Medical Device Discovery Appraisal Program (MDDAP), and Cybersecurity Assessment products. Ron is a Certified High Maturity Lead Appraiser (CHMLA), certified Instructor, and experienced consultant in the CMMI Institute’s Capability Maturity Model Integration with over 300 appraisals completed to date with multiple global industries and small and large (e.g., Fortune 50/500) organizations, including aerospace, automotive (e.g., U.S. Army Tank Command, Tier 2 and 3 automotive Suppliers, BMW, Volvo), biomedical, defense, finance, healthcare, insurance, IT, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and systems and software integrators. Ron has also successfully held numerous executive and management roles for product and solution development, service delivery, and supplier management. In these roles, he has managed both small and large teams and projects delivering high-quality software, hardware, systems, and services to a wide variety of clients who are still using those products and services today. This experience also includes agile, DevOps, and CMMI High Maturity-based development and services efforts. Besides using the CMMI, Ron has extensive experience delivering solutions to clients leveraging ISO, and numerous other continual improvement and quality models and standards. Ron is an accomplished, senior quality and continual improvement executive and advisor and is an internationally recognized leader in several key organizations: CMMI V2.0 Chief Architect Former CMMI V2.0 Sponsor, Architecture Working Group representative, and advisor Senior Member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Member of the United States ISO 9000 Technical Committee (ISO/TC 176 or TAG 176) Former member of the Conference Board Quality Council Former corporate representative and liaison to the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC) and ASQ Ron is an ISO 9001 2015 Lead Auditor and is an ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE). Managing Director & Co CEO, BPM-D Dr. Kirchmer is a visionary leader, thought leader and innovator in the field of Business Process Management (BPM), combining his broad practical business experience with his extensive academic research. He has added significant value to organizations of various sizes and industries in an international environment. Most recently, Dr. Kirchmer co-founded BPM-D, a company focused on establishing and applying the BPM-Discipline for strategy execution in a digital world. BPM-D was named by CIO Review one of the 20 Enterprise Architecture solution providers to watch and by InsightsSuccess one of the 50 most valuable Tech Start-ups in the US. Before he was Accenture’s Managing Director & Global Lead for BPM and CEO of the Americas & Japan for IDS Scheer, best known for its ARIS software. Dr. Kirchmer remains involved in academia as an affiliated faculty member at University of Pennsylvania, Widener University, Philadelphia University and guest professor at the Universidad de Chile. In 2004, he received a research and teaching fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Dr. Kirchmer has published 6 books and over 120 articles. Dr. Kirchmer holds a PhD in Information Systems from Saarbrucken University, Germany, a Master in Business Informatics from Karlsruhe Technical University, Germany, as well as a Master in Economics from Paris-IX-Dauphine University, France. Director of Operational Excellence, Care New England Health System Erin Pelletier is employed at Care England, the second largest health system in Rhode Island, as the Director of Operational Excellence. Here, she has led multiple transformation projects yielding savings over $100 million. As the organization continues to improve, she is installing an integrated approach to system-wide performance improvement activities designed to drive transformational change and maximize financial results. Erin holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of New Haven, B.S. degree in Mathematics with a concentration in statistics, and is a certified Project Management Professional and Six Sigma Green belt. Erin lives in scenic Connecticut with her husband and three children. She enjoys cooking and any activity outdoors such as hiking, passing the football, or lounging on the beach. Quality and Continuous Improvement Principal, Fedex Kenneth “Ken” Giles is a Quality and Continuous Improvement Principal with FedEx Corporation. In this role, he helps FedEx develop enterprise-wide strategies for the application of their unique approach to continuous improvement known as Quality Driven Management (QDM). On a day to day basis, Ken also supports the implementation of QDM throughout the enterprise by focusing on projects and tactics that drive engagement at all levels of the organization, enhance learning & development resources and support rewards & recognition programs. Ken came to FedEx with over 20 years of experience in Quality Management, Quality Engineering, Continuous Improvement and Operations Management. He has a diverse professional background including experience with some of the world’s most well-known companies including Coca Cola Refreshments, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canon Incorporated, Delta Faucet Company and others. Ken earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Tennessee Technological University and a Masters in Business Administration from Union University. He is an American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Manager of Quality & Organizational Excellence, an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer and an ASQ Certified FedEx Quality Driven Management Expert. Focusing on the customer (internal & external), treating all people with respect and being willing to roll up his sleeves and do the work are the three vital personal characteristics that have been instrumental throughout his career. He looks forward to continuing to utilize these characteristics in the future as the science and application of Quality & Continuous Improvement methodologies continues to evolve. Business Transformation Leader , Crowe LLP Jeff Holmquist leads business transformation at Crowe to accelerate improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of the firm overall and its internal and external business units. Crowe is a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm that combines deep industry and specialized expertise with innovation. The firm consistently achieves client engagement scores far exceeding industry averages and has received numerous accolades as a great place to work, including being named to the 2018 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list. His career has focused on operational excellence, from transformation to continuous improvement; project and change management; and the application of technology, including agile product development. He has primarily worked as an internal and external consultant in a variety of industries and for companies of all sizes and stages of growth. Jeff has an MBA from the University of Chicago, and Bachelor of Science degrees in Accountancy and Organizational Behavior form the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to family involvement, he is active in his community, loves to travel, and tries to lead a healthy lifestyle. Associate Partner, Global Head of Operations & Lean Practice, innogy Consulting , innogy SE Stefan currently leads innogy Consulting’s operations & lean practice and has more than 15 years of international operational excellence and lean experience in the energy industry. He has implemented large-scale Lean and Change transformation programs in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, and eastern Europe, with the result of enabling more than 40,000 employees and training 300 experts. He has also led operational excellence and lean projects along a major utility’s entire value chain, from exploration and production to retail and cross-functions. innogy Consulting is an energy-focused management consulting firm with operations in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Its 200 consultants drive projects from performance improvement to innovation and change management to corporate finance for leading U.S. energy companies intent on fortifying their businesses for the future. Business Transformation Manager, Matthew Krathwohl is working to bring about profound change to his organization and help take it to a different level of effectiveness. Crowe is an accounting, consulting, and technology firm and 2018 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. Previously, he was Innovation Program Director at the University of Notre Dame where he sought to fully establish its Certified Innovation Mentor program as the recognized standard for innovation education across all industries. He was also Executive Director of Innovation for over a decade at Beacon Health System in South Bend, IN guiding the system’s innovation strategy while also serving as Lead Faculty for its sponsored community-based innovation center. He is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience in leading key strategic initiatives. His history of success includes: transforming organizations by introducing innovation and process improvement methodologies, building high performing teams that accomplish organizational objectives, developing strategic alliances for new forms of profitable growth, and analyzing the financial impact of key business decisions. Matthew is frequently called for presentations on building innovation competency, capability, and culture. Most recently, he helped develop and launch the aforementioned Certified Innovation Mentor program, founded by Notre Dame, Beacon Health System, and Whirlpool Corporation. His diverse background includes serving as an adjunct professor at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and Director of Business Development and later a Director of Finance at Whirlpool’s global headquarters. His professional experience also includes management consulting positions with RSM and EY. Matthew received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management with Highest Distinction and a Master of Science degree in Management from Purdue University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and a GE Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. He actively participates in civic, academic, and faith-based volunteer activities. When he isn’t enjoying his family or working, you’ll find him listening to his favorite music. Chairman, Partner, Cicero Group Randy Shumway founded the Cicero Group (www.cicerogroup.com) in 2001 with four people working out of abasement. At the beginning of 2017, when Randy stepped down as CEO, Cicero had grown to over 350 professionals with offices crossing the United States. In 2016, Randy was awarded Utah’s Lifetime Achievement award and wasnamed CEO of the Year in recognition of his professional accomplishments. Randy’s vision in founding Cicero was to deliver more than mere strategic recommendations to organizations but to actually roll-up his sleeves and help organizations effectively execute the ideas. During his more than 16 years at Cicero, Randy has led multiple transformation and change managementengagements for Fortune 1000 clients in such sectors as High Tech, Telecommunications, Life Sciences,Manufacturing, Financial Services, Consumer Products and Education.Having stepped down as CEO, Randy currently leads the Change Management and Transformation practice at Cicero,as well as the firm’s private equity subsidiary. Randy is on the corporate board of Snowhite and of Angoss Software (TSX: ANC). He serves on two state appointedboards – the state’s Economic Council and its Education Commission. Randy serves on multiple volunteer boards suchas Southern Utah University, Utah’s Employment Taskforce, Boy Scouts of America Great Salt Lake Council, and EducationFirst. He is a prolific author in the Deseret News and in Forbes regarding effective education and economicpublic policy. Prior to starting Cicero, Randy was the Executive Vice President and Managing Partner at Answerthink. He started hiscareer at Bain & Company. Randy obtained his MBA from Harvard Business School, graduating with highest academichonors (Baker Scholar). Founder, Managing Director, Enhance International Group Jim de Vries is a skilled thought leader with more than 30 years of experience helping clients achieve their desired outcomes through his ability to facilitate teams and drive improvement. His experience encompasses financial, commercial, CRM, services, IT, call centers, security, transportation, automotive, power systems, oil and gas, nuclear energy, research and development, government, and electronics industries. Senior Director, Process Innovation, Salesforce Thursday 21st March 2019 \| 15:00 - 15:30 pm Byron Tatsumi is a senior director at Salesforce and leads the company wide process innovation program. He has more than 20 years of industry and consulting experience in strategic planning, business process improvement & transformation, business operations, and strategic sourcing. He has a strong background in strategy development and business plan implementation and considerable program, project, and change management experience. Director of Quality & Transformation, Morningstar Marco Chmura is Director of Quality & Transformation at Morningstar, whose mission is to create great products that help investors reach their financial goals. Marco’s spent the past 5+ years helping Morningstar achieve that mission by developing a process mindset and client-centric culture by championing the voice of the customer and mentoring/guiding leaders as they manage LEAN Six Sigma and Agile development projects. For the past year and a half, he’s also been responsible for helping Morningstar enhance the customer experience through the adoption of emerging technologies such as Robotic Process Automation, AI, ML, Chat, etc. Chief Legal Innovation Counsel, Marsh & McLennan Companies Farrah Pepper is the Chief Legal Innovation Counsel (CLIC) at the Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC). In the newly designed CLIC role, Farrah makes things… click. Farrah leads MMC’s legal innovation initiatives to simplify the way the legal and compliance teams work and drive better outcomes, often by harnessing the power of technology. Farrah also leads the MMC legal data discovery program and team. Farrah has a long history of building and leading in-house and law firm teams to solve business challenges, create enterprise value and reduce risk. Previously, Farrah was GE’s global discovery counsel, where she served as the large, diverse conglomerate’s first dedicated legal expert on discovery strategy and policy. Farrah created and led the GE Discovery Center of Excellence and reinvented GE’s approach to global discovery and data management to drive dramatic savings, efficiencies and risk reduction. Prior to joining GE, Farrah was a litigator in the New York office of Gibson Dunn, where she was a founder and leader of the firm’s global electronic discovery practice group. Farrah has been named a Rising Star by the New York Law Journal, a three-time Top eDiscovery Counsel by First Chair, an Emerging Leader by DiversityMBA Magazine and a Hero of Simplification by GE’s CEO. Most recently, Farrah received the 4th Annual Monica Bay STEM Leadership Award. Under her leadership, Farrah’s teams received recognition such as the Analytics 50, Corporate E-Discovery Hero, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Value Champion and an LTN Innovation Award. In addition to regularly publishing and speaking on legal discovery and innovation, Farrah serves on various industry advisory boards and working groups, including the Georgetown Advanced E-Discovery Institute, SOLID (Summit on Legal Innovation and Disruption), Legaltech, Legaltech News and the Cardozo Data Law Initiative. Farrah is a double-NYU grad; she earned her B.A., summa cum laude, at New York University’s College of Arts and Sciences and her J.D. at the New York University School of Law. NYU Adjunct Professor and Former COO, DonorsChoose.org César and his team vet tens of thousands of projects per month, and then facilitate the purchase and delivery of materials to classrooms across the country. In addition to office management and several IT functions, César also manages the organization's human capital, customer relations, finance, and donor appreciation efforts. As Chief Operating Officer at DonorsChoose.org, César is responsible for leading the operations, finance, and HR teams and ensuring the operations’ workflow is fully scalable. In less than seven months, he was able to scale the organization from supporting 10,000 public schools to over 100,000 public schools while at the same time increasing customer satisfaction with a minimal increase in budget. César has significant experience building team structures, tools, systems, and processes that ensure the organization is scalable. Prior to joining DonorsChoose.org, he spent 11 years with AT&T in various capacities, including Sales, Finance, Legal, and Vendor Management. César earned his mechanical engineering degrees from Caltech (B.S.) and MIT (M.S.) and holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the Wharton School of Business. César was also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University (NYU), where he taught Social Entrepreneurship. Associate Vice President of Enterprise Operational Excellence & Transformation, Molina Healthcare Inc. Anu is an experienced and passionate healthcare executive and a change agent. She has expertise in partnering with c-suite executives and peers to drive successful execution of strategic and transformational programs, building lasting collaborations, delighting customers and establishing best practice solution portfolios for Quality-boosting initiatives. She has served in three Fortune Healthcare companies and non-for profit organizations such as WEDI (Work group for EDI) where she chaired the workgroup for Healthcare Policy guidance. Her contributions towards setting up best practices for interoperability and harmonization of Healthcare Information were published in the 2013 WEDI Report. Anu is an active contributor and champion of leading industry best practices such as developing the rule book for the ICD 10 Testing programs. She was the one of the leading members of the ”ICD-10 Testing collaborative” that promoted sharing quality best practices amongst major healthcare payers including UnitedHealth Care and Blue Shield of California. Anu holds a Baccalaureate in Science, a Masters in Organic Chemistry and has obtained Management credentials in Healthcare Administration from the Wharton School of business. She is also a Certified LEAN Six Sigma Master Black Belt. She is devoted to the cause of elevating the career goals of young women through coaching and mentoring. Her Hobbies include travel, study of period architecture and water sports. Vice Chairman, Trust Exchange; Former CEO - Head of Digital CoE, Broadridge Financial , Ames Watson Capital Former Head of Digital CoE at Broadridge Financial and eBay Enterprise Global Program Management Office Randy Bradley, joined Broadridge Financial in 2015 to lead its digital transformation by defining a multi-year roadmap, implementing new practices and championing Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) practices and cultural change management program. Randy helped lead the development of Broadridge's new Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) capabilities, helped design Product-Management-led practices, and accelerated its cloud adoption with AWS. Randy is a pro-active and results-oriented executive with proven record of success leading large complex global businesses in the design and execution of enterprise Digital and Business Agility transformations leveraging cloud based strategies. Proven ability to inspire and lead global teams to deliver on enterprise change management initiatives across Financial Services, eCommerce, Media, industry verticals. Co founder, Lean In Agile Padmini Nidumolu is the co founder of "Lean In Agile" for women movement and an Lean-Agile community leader enabling the voices of women be heard through women led events and campaigns. Her expertise and focus is in building learning organizations and delivering value by leveraging diversities as enablers leading to an enterprise culture of continuous improvement.She plays an active role in the local Agile communities through speaking, volunteering, engaging with special interest groups with Agile practitioners, Agile Thought Leaders and Agile Coaches. Padmini is an accomplished Indian classical dancer and serves as a STEM coach to the school teams. She lives in the Washington DC Metro area. Leila Rao is an enterprise consultant optimizing the ability of organizations to discover, deliver and realize value iteratively. She integrates Lean values, gained from her experiences applying Lean in the healthcare industry, with Agile principles drawn from Agile transformation expertise, to facilitate sustainable organizational change outcomes. She is now applying the same experiences to increase the value and visibility of women through self-empowerment and structural realignment as the co-founder of Lean In Agile. Vice President, ISRM, Wells Fargo By Way of Introduction; Bilal J Muhammed is a Senior Level GlobalTechnology Professional, Multifaceted Subject Matter Expert (SME)and Lecturer on IT Innovation, Transformation and Business ProcessImprovement. Raised in Newark, New Jersey; Bilal joined the United States Navy,earning the Classification as a Data Systems Technician Petty Officer(DS3-NSW) in Combat Systems & Aircraft Carrier CommunicationsSystems. Further complimented in the field of Computer Science fromHoward University, and certifications as a LEAN/Six Sigma Black Belt,AGILE Scrum Master/Coach, PMP/PMI and ITIL v3 Service Manager aswell as industry certifications from Cisco, NORTEL, Wellfleet, BayNetworks and other leaders in the Business & Technology space. Beyond Business and Technology; Mr. Muhammed has letters in Post Graduate studies from Al-AzharUniversity (Egypt) in Theology, which has served him in his past role as a Chaplain for the Department ofCorrections and his local community. And is a member of several International Interfaith DialogueCounsels and Community Grassroots Programs. Bilal currently is Vice President, ISRM at Wells Fargo Bank, with a focus on Global Products & SolutionsInformation Security Adherence Methodology Policy & Processes. He is also a member of IT IndustryForums; IEEE, IT4IT, ITSM, an active STEM Mentor/Facilitator and Past & Present Board Member of theBlack Data Processing Associates (BDPA) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Director of Business Integrity and Continuity, Mayo Clinic Erich Heneke is currently Director of Business Integrity and Continuity in Mayo Clinic’sSupply Chain Management (SCM). His financial emphasis is in Enterprise & Supplier Risk Management, Audit/Controls and Financial Planning & Analysis. Erich has workedin Mayo SCM for 11 years, focusing his efforts on sound SCM controls, fraudprevention/detection, accuracy of balance sheet accounting and other controls relatedwork, including Mayo’s voluntary Sox compliance. During his time at Mayo, Erich and his team have completed several projects addressingproper controls with Supply Chain, including: development of an award-winning creditcard risk scoring platform, completion of a segregation of duties project mappingemployees’ accesses across multiple applications, detection of several types ofoverpayments to vendors – including detection, collection and prevention of futureleakage, automated management of pharmaceutical pricing and several other initiatives. Sr. Performance Improvement Engineer, Barnes Jewish Hospital Ray Brand is the Sr. Performance Improvement Engineer at Barnes-Jewish Hospital aligned to its multiple service lines (NeuroSciences, Therapy Services, Pt Placement) and various strategic initiatives (Readmissions Prevention, Patient Progression and Volume Growth) of the BJC Health System. Maturing BJC’s development and implementation of its Operating System and creating an execution culture are the primary objectives for his current statement of work at BJC. Ray specializes in various methods of creating emotional attachment (Humble Inquiry, Unleashing Talent, 10x, etc) for front line staff and leaders in order to drive step function change in KPI Performance. In addition to his current responsibilities, Ray is leading a performance improvement collaborative, THE IMPETUS GROUP, on the BJC Academic Medical Campus which aligns PI efforts across St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. This grassroots approach to strengthening PI skillsets is intended to increase the adoption of change rate across the entire medical center. Prior to joining the BJC Health System, Ray spent 11 years in the Aerospace manufacturing sector as a lean facilitator/enterprise process integrator. He earned his B.S in Accountancy from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and an M.B.A. from Webster University – St. Louis. Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, H&R Block Matt has an infectious passion for process improvement. He’s led many projects over the last 20 years that yielded over $150 million in benefits. He’s worked in and consulted on hundreds of projects across many industries like government, insurance, transportation, telecommunications, finance, and more. He specializes as a Master Black Belt in applying Lean and Six Sigma in non-manufacturing environments. Matt is not only influential in driving process improvements, but in also teaching others how to effectively improve their processes. He developed and led training and certification programs at three different companies that helped transform their corporate culture from the subject matter expert level up to the senior executive levels. Matt founded StatStuff.com as the only free online source for complete Lean and Six Sigma training. StatStuff’s video-based content has helped thousands of people learn and get certified in Lean and Six Sigma. He published the book “Lean Six Sigma the StatStuff Way” to supplement the free training content and has received endorsements from operational excellence leaders at top companies like Apple, eBay, PepsiCo, Staples, Honeywell, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and many more. Senior Business Transformation consultant, IBM Caroline Whalen is a Senior Business Transformation consultant at IBM in their Global Business Services. Ms. Whalen is the North America Program Lead for IBM's Transformational Leadership Development Program. Her accomplishments in this role include doubling the number of NA TLDP clients over the past year as well as redefining program opportunity management and recruitment processes. Ms. Whalen has professional experience and formal training in SAP, Microsoft Project, Advanced Excel, Lean, Agile, and more. Caroline started her career with IBM in their Enterprise Applications division working on SAP implementations. Within EA, she was responsible for Customer Master configuration and data testing. Caroline also held the role of Test Lead on the largest IBM SAP project in North America. Since transferring out of SAP, she has been working on management consulting engagements, specifically related to Lean and process improvement. Most recently, Caroline served as the site lead for a Lean implementation project at a headquarter location of a Fortune 500 insurance company. Magic Kingdom Vice-President (Retired & Inspired), Walt Disney World® Resort Upon graduation from Boston University in 1991, Dan moved to Florida and participated in the Disneyland Paris Management Trainee Program. In January of 1992, three months before the opening of Disneyland Paris, he was transferred to France, where he remained for five years in various management roles. He and his wife Valerie, who was also with Disneyland Paris, were married in France and spent five years there before moving back to Orlando in 1997. Since that time they have raised three children – Jullian, Margot and Tristan. Dan has held various management and executive operations roles at the Walt Disney World Resort, both in the theme parks and resort hotels, and was the sixth executive to hold the position of Vice President, Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971. He earned his MBA in 2001 at the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College. Dan puts great value on spending time in the operation and frequently spent time in the park, assisting cast members and interacting with guests. He believes that building relationships is critical for leadership success, and his approachability in the workplace is a testament to his people-first philosophy. Program Director, Transformational Leadership Development Program, IBM Kristof Kovacs is a change agent, a transformational leader, and a developer of early career leadership talent in charge of executing on complex, organization-wide transformations. He started his corporate career in his home town of Budapest, Hungary as part of General Electric’s Financial Management Program. He transitioned from successful global financial leadership roles into management consulting and leading complex internal and client facing transformational engagements. Currently he is heading up IBM’s Continuous Improvement mission for its $17B services business, improving quality, productivity, and competitiveness. He is the founder and program director of IBM’s first of a kind Transformational Leadership Development Program, an in-house degree level program to develop change agents of the future. Most recently he has been collaborating co-creating with ESPM University of Sao Paulo, Brazil to build out and globally scale a first of a kind master’s degree in business leadership coined Master’s in Business Transformation or MBT. He is a certified Management Consultant, Lean Master, and Six Sigma MBB. He and his wife and their two children live in Southern Maine, USA. Business Transformation Manager, MIT Lincoln Laboratory Sandra Lechiaro is a Business Transformation Manager, a key leadership role responsible for introducing enterprise transformation at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, with the recent creation of a Business Transformation Office. In this new capability, Sandra is bringing leadership to strategic projects that have an enterprise impact, by improving efficiencies and effectiveness of people, process and technology, that close capability gaps, minimizing operational risk and empowering the Laboratory’s “business of research”. Sandra has spent most of her career at the Laboratory, in various key leadership roles in Business Operations and Contract Management, with her most recent role in Financial Operations focusing on business process improvement. She co-leads an Enterprise Applications Governance Board which brings strategic prioritization to IT investments, and a roadmap for long-term initiatives. With a deep understanding of the Laboratory’s unique culture, she is effective in building partnerships and cross-cutting teams across the organization to foster change management activities to minimize impacts and improve adoption. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Marketing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her MBA with a concentration in Management of Information Sciences from Western New England University. She also earned Certificate from MIT’s Leader to Leader program, and a Certificate in Government Contract Management and is a Six Sigma Green Belt. Director of Six Sigma, PowerSteering Randy Clark is PowerSteering’s Director of Six Sigma, a Black-belt trained member of the American Society of Quality, and a three-year examiner for the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award. Partner, Cicero James is the Strategy Practice Leader with Cicero Group. Prior to joining Cicero Group, he co-founded and served as CFO of the successful energy startup, Innovari, Inc. He also served for five years as Director of Corporate Initiatives Group at General Electric Corporation’s global headquarters working with all major business units to improve performance and efficiency. Prior to joining General Electric, James led numerous strategy and operations engagements for Fortune 100 companies as a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey and Company. Other prior experience includes roles at AT&T and Citibank. Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder, Innovari, Inc. Director, General Electric Corporation Senior Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, MBA Principal, Cicero Jason provides a wealth of knowledge in developing sales and business development strategies for Cicero Group's largest clients. His expertise also includes process improvement, supply chain management, customer analytics and lifecycle management, risk management among others. Prior to joining Cicero Group, Jason served as the Director of Business Development at Steelcase and then sPower as well as the Vice President of Pacific Pure Energy Capital. Vice President, Pacific Pure Energy Capital Director of Business Development and Operations, sPower Director of Business Development, Steelcase University of Utah, MBA Catherine has extensive experience in the public and social sectors in program design, implementation, and evaluation. Most recently at the George W. Bush Institute, Catherine was responsible for the development and execution of national and international programs, including Presidential Leadership Scholars. Additionally, she lead the design and implementation of robust measurement and evaluation strategies across the Institute and, previously for the US Department of Education. Chief of Staff, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Washington, DC Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Education Vanderbilt University, BS & PhD; University of Texas, M.Ed. President, Competitive Solutions, Inc. (CSI) Shane A. Yount is a nationally recognized thought leader, author, and President of CompetitiveSolutions, Inc. (CSI), an international Business Transformation consulting firm which pioneeredthe acclaimed organizational development system known as Process Based Leadership® - Abusiness transformation methodology designed to create a sustainable culture of clarity,connectivity, and consistency through the use of Non-Negotiable Business Processes. Since1991 he has led the offices of CSI in becoming one of the nation’s most recognized BusinessTransformation consulting firms, personally working with such organizations as Michelin,Genentech, Pfizer, Lockheed Martin, the Department of Defense, and many others. Global Performance Excellence Leader, Nielsen Jennifer Hurst leads Nielsen’s Performance Excellence team which comprises Business Process Improvement, Program and Change Management, Performance Metrics, and Learning in support of Global Technology & Operations. In this role, Jennifer partners closely with Nielsen’s global leadership team to drive a unified focus on critical priorities with a consistent approach to drive operational and organizational excellence. Over the past year, her team’s portfolio of projects has delivered nearly $50M USD in impact to Nielsen - either by growing revenue or reducing costs. Before joining Business Process Improvement, Jennifer led operational and technology teams for Telecommunications and Online products in addition to serving as Organizational Strategy Leader for Nielsen Engineering. Prior to working in market research, Jennifer spent nearly 10 years consulting in Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing, designing solutions for numerous Fortune 100 companies; mentored new consultants and led teams in a client leadership role. She started and ran her own consulting practice which ultimately folded into a start-up (ShareTracker LLC) and was later acquired by Telephia then Nielsen. Jennifer holds two patents for research methodologies to monitor telecommunication service subscriber activity. Jennifer graduated from Florida State University with undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Entrepreneurship; she completed a graduate program at Georgia State University, earning a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems. When not at work, Jennifer is busy keeping up with the activities of her 3 children (Tucker, age 15; Sophia & Webster, age 12), in addition to enjoying photography, wine tasting, cooking, Florida State University Football & University of Kentucky Basketball – all with Thomas, her husband of 23 years. She resides in Tampa. EVP and COO, Aflac As EVP and COO of Aflac U.S. and president of Aflac Group, Virgil is responsible for the day-to-day operating activities, performance goals and strategic initiatives of company headquarters in Columbus, Georgia, and Aflac Group in Columbia, South Carolina. He also oversees the customer experience with a team of 3,400 professionals. He first joined the company in 2004 in the Policy Service department and earned promotions to positions of increasing responsibility including second vice president of Client Services, Policy Service and the Customer Service Center, and vice president of Client Services, Customer Assurance and Aflac’s Transformation Office. In 2015, Virgil was promoted to senior vice president of Internal Operations and later named chief administrative officer, head of Aflac Group. He was promoted to his current position in January 2018 and is responsible for the strategic leadership and overall direction of operations at Aflac Group as well as operations for Aflac U.S. of increasing responsibility. Virgil served as a U.S. Marine and is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He holds a master’s degree in business management from Wesleyan College and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Georgia College. He also holds Six Sigma/PMP certifications from Villanova University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Palmetto Health Foundation, the Board of Trustees for Claflin University, the South Carolina State Chamber Board, the 2017 Group Insurance Executive Council, the Palmetto Business Forum and the Columbia Urban League. He is a former board member for the American Red Cross and the United Way Board of Trustees. Senior Strategy Consultant, IBM Matt Retterer is a Senior Strategy Consultant within IBM. He solves business challenges primarily within a clients IT and technology space. Mr. Retterer’s career began in IBM’s Federal practice in Washington D.C. where he worked as a financial analyst on massive IT implementations and helped build IBM’s book of business. He transitioned from a successful Federal implementation stint to strategy consulting with a focus on Agile, Cloud, and Lean. Matt Retterer has advised clients on Cloud implementation, operation model restructuring, cost reduction strategy, and more. Most recently, Matt guided a Fortune 500 client through a multi-site Lean implementation. Within the Transformational Leadership Development Program™ , Matt has focused on growing the program across IBM and increasing the diversity of thought and experience. In 2018, he scaled out TLDP within North America by introducing the program to IBM’s federal practice and setting up the initial structure. Future growth is focused in expanding TLDP to China, Japan, Canada, and India. Currently, he lives in New York City. Senior Advisory Consultant, IBM Zack Adams is a Senior Advisory Consultant within IBM’s Global Automation Group. Zack’s primary focus is Transformation Strategy through Process Automation. His responsibilities include: assessing client as-is processes, leading client workshops, recommending appropriate automation technologies, developing to-be processes, creating detailed business cases, managing automation deployments, and educating other consultants on IBM Automation methodologies and best practices. Mr. Adams is the lead of TLDP’s Automation Hub. Mr. Adams joined IBM as a graduate hire in the Oracle space but then moved to the Transformational Leadership Development Program & Automation group after successful engagements with multiple Fortune 500 companies. Since joining the automation group, Zack has led global automation rollouts for both internal IBM and commercial accounts. He also leads candidate process identification whorkshops globally. Mr. Adams resides in Columbia, SC. Innovation Experience Designer, Florida Hospital Innovation Lab (FHIL) Friday 22nd March 2019 \| 11:00 - 12:00 pm With more than three years experience in the field of innovation and design, Kyle has been a part of leading over 100 design thinking projects for healthcare professionals and university students and faculty. He has taught design thinking courses both nationally and internationally to people of all ages. Kyle is currently working with Dr. Karen Tilstra, to develop an innovation program at a well known Orlando company, Pioneers International. Kyle received his B.A. in Business from Rollins College in Orlando. He is also a former four year collegiate basketball player and is currently active in leading basketball camps for a national youth organization. Co- Founder, Florida Hospital Innovation Lab (FHIL) Karen holds a PhD in Innovation and Leadership and is a licensed educational psychologist. Over the past five years, Karen has co-founded several innovation labs, including the award-winning Florida Hospital Innovation Lab (FHIL) in Orlando as well as the Orlando Magic Innovation Lab. She is currently helping Pioneers International develop an innovation program. Karen has designed & facilitated over three hundred design thinking projects, which includes work with multiple top Fortune 500 companies. She has taught design thinking at the university level as well as presented her vast knowledge of the subject to both national and international audiences Karen has also helped several universities across the country become design thinking campuses and has co-designed one of the nation’s first undergraduate degrees in Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship. In addition to her extensive work with companies and universities, Karen has been a keynote speaker and has given two well-received TED talks. Director of Analytics and Automation, Mastercard Aruna Ranganathan is the Director of Analytics and Automation at Mastercard. She has business and technical knowledge in many verticals including Financial, Manufacturing, Health Care and Insurance Industries obtained through 15 years in consulting and 4+ years at Mastercard. She is currently focusing on Intelligent Automation, Data Analytics and strategic deployment of services in Mastercard’s global shared services center. She has previously worked in Data Warehouse and Big Data technologies delivering medium to large implementation of business process and systems changes. Principal, jTask, Inc. Roger Watson is the lead architect for jTask Pulse SaaS. He is also the lead instructor for jTask Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) Training course delivered to individuals and organizations. jTask is a Qualified Educational Provider (QEP) for the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP). His team leads the adoption, deployment, and support of jTask Pulse SaaS to US and Global companies. jTask Pulse SaaS accelerates Stakeholder Analysis, Change Impact Assessment and User mapping to Training & System Security, which reduces costs, increases the quality of the Change Management deliverables, and accelerates an organization’s business transformation. He began his career in banking at Lazard Brothers and Citibank. Roger is a founder of jTask, Inc. based in Palo Alto, CA. jTask, Inc., specializes in Change Management Consultancy, Software, and Training. Product Lead, Signavio Till Reiter is Product Lead at Signavio. He is responsible for understanding and representing the Operational Excellence needs of Signavio's customers and managing the delivery of high-value and innovative OpEx products to those customers. Prior to Signavio, Till co-founded an eCommerce company specializing in eLearning. He also worked as a Strategic Consultant in the Change Management and Transformation space. Till is an avid reader, product enthusiast, and self-taught coder. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Psychology focused on Business and Organisational Psychology from the University of Vienna. Director, Strategic Program Operations, World Wide Technologies David O’Toole has 20+ years taking a pragmatic approach to simplifying the complex. Whether it is process management, applying technology, or changing behaviors, finding the practical approach has proven to demystify the traditional formal nature of all three specialties and delivered the results. Ultimately the focus is Making Change Stick and realizing the full value of a company’s most valuable asset – their people. David’s career spans years of combined management experience, leading organizations through startup, change, revitalization, and turnaround. He is an accomplished executive with mastery in a broad range of business competencies including Supply Chain Management, Information Technology, Project Management, Process Management, Change Management, and Business Transformation. Outside of WWT, David enjoys actively participating in local organizations focused on strengthening the St. Louis Supply Chain community, both in academia and industry. Head of Strategy, Signavio Mark McGregor is Head of Strategy at Signavio. A former Research Director at leading IT industry analysis firm Gartner, McGregor has an extensive background in enterprise architecture, business process management and change management, having held executive positions with a number of technology companies. Widely respected for his knowledge and views on business change, he is the creator of “Next Practice” and has variously been described as a “BPM Guru”, a “Thought Leader” and a “Master of Mindset”. The Bright Idea Guy, Shift Happens James Feldman is a globally recognized business advisor, mentor, innovation Sherpa, author, speaker, and serial entrepreneur, who has guided hundreds of companies and thousands of individuals around the world towards optimum performance levels. He advises companies on building strong customer-concentric, innovative organizations that deliver transformational growth to achieve goals, overcome challenges, and think ‘inside the box’ to solve problems. The robust result of his real-world information is that attendees become more enlightened to influence their behavior and competitive differentiation. He delivers a strong, entertaining, thought-provoking presentation that will demonstrate 'shifts’ based on a series of interrelated actions with a focus on obsessive intimacy and attendee engagement. James delivers proven real-world strategies that target and transform challenges into opportunities! It’s about how to think, not what to think. Leveraging extensive experience developing and implementing effective strategies to drive business improvements for both non-and for-profit organizations, h Utilizing licensed movie and television scenes attendees will be simultaneously entertained and educated. His presentation is applicable to brand development, hospitality innovation, business transformation, leadership development, creative problem solving, new business development, B2B/B2C marketing, innovative problem solving and strategic planning. Throughout his executive career, he founded several performance improvement companies. He has been responsible for facilitating Toyota’s launch of new products, spearheading the introduction of breakfast at McDonald’s, raising $450M for the Y-ME Breast Cancer Organization, and improving Hewlett-Packards go-to-market strategies. James’ clients have included leading organizations such as AT&T, Carnival Cruise Lines, Apple, Verizon, US Department of Defense, Hyatt, Walt Disney, Ritz Carlton, Microsoft, MGM Casinos and Resorts, MGM, Walt Disney, American Dairy Association, Cremation Association of N.A. Ford, the March of Dimes, and the American Dental Association. A highly respected Thought Leader he is the author of several books. They include "D-A-T-I-N-G Your Customer®," "Shift Happens!®", “Thriving on Change in Organizations” and “Celebrate Customer Service – Insider Secrets,” and has written for publications including Adweek, Advertising Age, Investors Business Daily, and Business Travel News. Named one of the Most Innovative People in the 21st Century by Incentive Magazine. James has earned more professional certifications than almost any other speaker including Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), Certified Incentive and Travel Expert (CITE), Certified Professional of Incentive Marketing (CPIM), Certified Performance Technologist (CPT), Master Incentive Professional (MIP), Platform Certified Speaker (PCS), Certified Underwater Photography Instructor, Private Pilot, and Artisan Chocolatier. Consumer Client Services Executive, Bank of America Jennifer is the Consumer Client Services operations executive for Bank of America, responsible for providing an integrated client experience for Preferred, Retail and Small Business clients across card and deposit products through our Consumer contact centers. She also manages numerous service optimization initiatives. Her team consists of more than 8,000 client service representatives, including bank and vendor employees, across the United States. Jenn began her career with Fleet Bank and has held various leadership positions in Client Service, Sales, Operations, Vendor Management, Product Development, Revenue and Pricing, Marketing, and Quality. She played a critical leadership role in repatriating 4,000 international client service representative roles, and in managing the FleetBoston and MBNA transitions. Jenn served as executive chairman for the Card Management Development Program, which was focused on developing top talent, and she is an executive sponsor for military hiring. She has a proven track record for developing up-and-coming leaders, fostering diversity and inclusion, collaborating across the enterprise, and delivering strong employee engagement results. Jenn also served as a spokesperson for several Bank of America financial literacy programs. Jenn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College, and is Six Sigma Green Belt certified. She actively supports several nonprofit associations, and manages fundraising and tournament activities for a number of community organizations. She is also an active volunteer and a member of the advisory board for Alorica, Inc. She resides in Jamison, Pennsylvania, with her husband and two children. Founder & CEO, Clear Software Jon Gilman is the founder of Clear Software, a robotic process automation platform that fixes broken business processes to protect and extend your technology investments, actualize business potential, and rapidly achieve time to value. The Clear platform is trusted by some of the largest organizations in the world to automate core business processes such as Order to Cash and Procure to Pay. Prior to founding Clear, Jon worked and Deloitte and Accenture, where he led business transformations at large multi-national organizations. He currently lives in Indianapolis with his wife and 3 very young children. Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Trisotech Jacques Hamel CD is the Chief Digital Transformation Officer of Trisotech and an experienced executive with over 30 years of experience in leadership and business development. A retired Armoured Master Warrant Officer, he transitioned to business in 1998 developing his first start-up called Artifact Software Inc. a multimedia software developer based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He launched ModSim World Canada in 2008 with his partners CAE and Lockheed Martin to name but a few. For close to two decades, Jacques has been a driving force in learning, modeling and simulation in Canada. He has held senior positions with local business partners of both Caterpillar and Emerson in Canada. With Trisotech, he supports the Customer Success, Communications and Marketing teams. Executive Director - Sys Engrg, Verizon Nash has been with Verizon for 15+ years. As Executive Director, he leads the charge in implementing advanced technologies and immersing them into the enterprise, driving significant benefits to the business and strengthen revenue, profit, and competitive advantage. Currently, Nash focuses on Digital Transformation to modernize network system, network service fulfillment, improve productivity, and implement leading-edge mobile commerce solutions. His expertise includes 5G Network Architecture/Planning for Fixed Mobile Connectivity (FMC), Intelligent Edge Networks (IEN), SDN/NFV services, New Metro Networks, Enterprise UX, AI/Machine Learning, Chatbots, Conversational UIs, Network system rationalization, Mobile Application Development, and Cloud Migration/Deployment. Vice President, Operational Excellence, Global Container Terminals Rob serves as the Vice President- Global Operational Excellence for Global Container Terminals reporting directly to the CEO and Board of Directors. In addition, Rob is the Chief Executive Officer of Detailed Logic Group, LLC. He provides the vision and direction of the Detailed Logic Group performance improvement methodology, educational workshops, coaching and consulting services. Prior to founding Detailed Logic Group, LLC and his leadership position with Global Container Terminals, Rob held leadership roles across multiple industries within Fortune 500 companies such as: Sony, PepsiCo, Allegheny Technologies Inc., GE, and Johnson Controls International. Over two decades of experience driving Operational Excellence and Business Transformation has resulted in over one billion dollars of organizational cost savings and generated revenue. He is a subject matter expert (SME) in Lean, Critical Problem Solving, Six Sigma, Strategy Deployment, Reliability Centered Maintenance, Change Acceleration, Enterprise Operation / Business Systems and Business Operating Models. A current C-suite operational excellence executive, Rob’s primary industry background centers on manufacturing (technology) and service based environments. He has held positions including Reliability Engineer, Production Manager, Lean-Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Director- Strategy Deployment, Director- Strategy Deployment & Product Technology Leadership, and Executive Director / Interim Vice President- Global Business Operations. He was instrumental with the design, development, and implementation of new production lines and plant start-ups in both domestic and international locations. Additionally, Rob served in the United States Air Force where he was assigned globally in high-pressure assignments. Rob’s broad industry experience includes assignments in the Aerospace, Electronics, Bottling, Metals, Transportation, Energy, Automotive, and Container industries. He has delivered organizational value through an intense focus on Strategy Execution, Critical Problem Solving, Risk Reduction and Sustainment, and Change Acceleration within challenging environments. One of the Six Sigma initiatives for which Rob was responsible was requisition to platform process which facilitates company new product launches. This initiative was a critical component of the company’s process-improvement program and represented 1 of 40 big processes throughout a Fortune 5 company. Results included: 80% system reuse, 6 month reduction in cycle, and a 35% reduction in sole-source suppliers and overtime. Rob focuses on accelerating organizational speed and efficiency via partnership and key problem solving capabilities to resolve critical business challenges. He functions as a subject matter expert (SME) and strategic business partner to organizational executive leadership teams across the business value chain focused on execution of renewed business strategy. Rob is an energetic motivational speaker and is an accomplished communicator. Rob has made significant intellectual contributions in the areas of Performance Improvement, Operational Excellence, Strategy Execution, Reliability Centered Maintenance, Supply Chain Optimization, Engineering & Product Development, Enterprise Operating / Business Systems and Business Operating Models. His ability to stay ahead of the latest trends in Strategy Execution, Business Transformation and Process Innovation has Rob frequently asked to deliver keynote addresses to organizations such as NASA and the United States Air Force. Rob is a two time published author and the developer of the Machine Order of Analysis©, Cause and Effect Check Sheet©, Strategy to Execution Maturity Model, and the Four Phase Approach to Competitive Advantage. Education Rob holds a MBA with a concentration in Operations & Strategy and a MIT Sloan Executive Education certification in Strategy & Innovation. Director -Sys Engrg, Verizon Anirudha Joshi (AJ) is the Center & Experience Transformation lead at Verizon supporting Global Enterprise Network business. This entails developing transformative solutions for Verizon's Network Engineers and Provisioners across the globe to deliver best in class Network experience. AJ, joined Verizon in Y2000, has handled responsibilities of varying complexity in Voice, VoIP, Advanced Technology to Digital Media business. AJ leads the delivery of several large programs including the transformative initiative to introduce VoIP in Verizon's backbone network eventually delivering FiOS Digital Voice as the premium voice product on Verizon's FiOS network. AJ has the reputation of partnering with the business and totally solving complex business problems using biz-tech acumen. He believes in building strong teams that share similar passion and deliver with same sense of accountability. Director, Operational Excellence and Strategy, Eskenazi Health Following a 13-year stint at IU Health where he last served as an administrative director of Perioperative Services, Brian Barrick joined Eskenazi Health in November of 2016 as director of Operational Excellence and Strategy. In his role at Eskenazi Health, Brian is responsible for driving and sustaining continuous improvement for the health system. Brian completed his bachelor’s degree in organizational management and his master’s degree in health care administration at Ashford University in Minneapolis. Brian is currently pursuing a PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Brian studied under Lean Sensei, who coached him on facilitation, use of lean methods and tools that are among the most powerful and effective ways to affect culture and manage change in organizations. Brian started his career as an IT professional in the education industry. A friend who worked in human resources suggested he consider a job in healthcare IT. Once hired, Brian assisted IU Health in transitioning their medical records to an electronic medical records system. While at IU Health, Barrick held positions in system information services, patient support services, continuous improvement and administration at IU Health Methodist Hospital, University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children. Brian credits leadership at IU Health for believing in him and providing the opportunity to tackle new challenges on a regular basis. He’s thrilled to be afforded those same opportunities and more at Eskenazi Health. Brian values hard work, integrity and a commitment to excellence. He sees reminders every day that Eskenazi Health’s mission embodies those values that are important to him. Brian believes his greatest contribution during his tenure at Eskenazi Health will be developing a fully functioning team of improvement leaders that can work directly with frontline team members in daily problem solving. Brian believes the sustainability of the department and the program provide the biggest long-term value to the organization. In his spare time, Brian likes to stay active and spend time outdoors. He relaxes by playing music at home and with others. Brian and his wife Gina have two children: son Gibson, 11, who loves animals and video games, and daughter Charlie, 7, who loves to sing and dance. The family has three dogs including a recently adopted Beagle, Rex, who loves to howl while walking the neighborhood. Chief Evangelist, AgileCxO A veteran technologist and IT leader, Jeff started as a software developer and has been a CEO, Chief Technology Executive, VP of Product Development, Director of Quality and Agile Evangelist for over 30 years including time with Ernst and Young, Electronic Data Systems, Hewlett Packard, Intellicorp, Polk, Broadsword, and AgileCxO. As a consultant, teacher, CMMI lead appraiser, and leadership coach he has worked with NASA, Boeing, Accenture, Bose, L3 Communications, Fiat Chrysler Automotive, General Motors, Ford, and various federal and state agencies to help them improve performance. He is a frequent keynote speaker, Agile Performance Holarchy Assessor, blogger, and host of “The Agile Leadership Podcast,” a monthly series that interviews CIOs from State Government about the challenges of agile adoption. His latest book, “Great Big Agile: An OS for Agile Leaders” is available on Amazon, and he has written for CIO Magazine, CIO Online, Better Software Magazine, and the Cutter IT Business Journal on agile leadership in a large-scale environment. In his spare time Jeff is an instrument rated pilot and plays bass in a jazz band. President & Principal Consultant, LSSBB, MBOE, Lean-BPM Steve Willoughby has more than a decade of business process management experience. Since 2001, Steve has been focusing on lean/process improvement, process management, business analysis and Enterprise Architecture Initiatives. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Findlay, and a Masters of Business in Operational Excellence from The Ohio State University. Mr. Willoughby has leveraged his practical experience with BPM tools and techniques to support successful project implementation with a variety of clients, including some Fortune 500 companies, in Healthcare, retail, finance, automotive, government and telecommunication industries. Strategy Execution Expert/Professional, i-nexus Packing an impressive 20+ years experience as an strategy execution practitioner, Carolyn gets to the heart of your strategy. Carolyn’s early career was formed in Deloitte’s Programme Leadership Group, where she worked with leading manufacturing companies on compliance issues, with utility companies during industry transformation, and with local, national and international public sector organisations facing up to the digital transformation. More recently, as a certified Hoshin trainer and P3O practitioner, Carolyn has developed a passion for the value of strategy execution to manage and deliver change. Carolyn’s role within i-nexus is to advise client senior executives on the establishment of appropriate strategy execution capabilities that align goals, programs and KPIs. Recent clients include Nestlé, Pratt & Whitney, Axalta, Société Générale, Transat, Eroski and Westinghouse. Pex National Co-Lead, Centric Consulting Todd is a highly experienced Operational Excellence and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over 21 years of consulting experience. Mr. Weston serves as the National Director of Business Process Improvement for Centric and is a part of the Process Excellence (PEX) leadership team. Prior to joining Centric, Todd was the president and founder of Westech Consulting Group based out of Lafayette, Indiana. Over his career Todd has had the pleasure of leading dozens of COE projects for large and medium organizations. He has extensive experience in Manufacturing (automotive, food production, construction materials, and aerospace, rubber and plastic), financial services, insurance and healthcare. He has led every aspect of process improvement from assessment, planning, implementation, auditing, control procedures, crisis management, and more. Todd believes that every engagement should instill passion in every associate that is a part of the process. He works very hard to break down the tools into hands-on experiential learning elements so that the lessons will be retained for a lifetime. Director of Customer Experience, GCI Angie Burris is the Director of Customer Experience at GCI, a telecommunication provider in Alaska. GCI provides communication technology to some of the most remote and challenging locations in North America. Angie is responsible for leading cross functional teams in transformation projects. Following her participation in the 2018 launch of a billing system overhaul, she is focused on opportunities to improve the collaboration between IT and business stakeholders. Angie attended the University of Alaska Anchorage and holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration with a focus in Economics. When she’s not at work, you’ll find Angie enjoying all of the outdoor fun that Alaska has to offer. For the last 10 years Angie has volunteered as a downhill ski coach with the Alyeska Mighty Mites youth ski racing program. Founder and CEO, KPI Fire Cedro Toro has been empowering companies like Consumer Reports, IM Flash, Baptist Health, Venture, and others to achieve breakthrough results for over 20 years. Cedro is the founder and CEO of KPI Fire, the leading software platform for companies engaged in Strategic Planning, Lean Six Sigma, and Operational Excellence. Cedro holds a degree in Electrical Engineering, MBA, and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Project Management Professional. "Engage your people! They are the key to your success." - Cedro Toro National Practice Lead, Centric Consulting Darren Rehrer has over twenty-five years of experience managing people, processes and technology to deliver effective, bottom-line transformations across multiple industries. Through his consulting and industry career, he has experience Managing business process management/improvement, business and IT strategy development, system/application development, performance management and project management Leading large-scale transformations linking business process improvements to technology solutions and organizational change Director of Consulting Services, Erwin Inc. Tony Mauro is Director of Consulting Services for erwin, Inc. and an expert in enterprise architecture and business process analysis. Tony began his career working for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and then Northrop Grumman on advanced technology development activities spanning multiple levels of system, software, and process engineering. After a decade in the aeronautics industry, he moved to enterprise architecture and business process modeling company Casewise, where he served as a senior consultant and Business Process and Enterprise Architecture practice leader, working across numerous industries to help companies implement their transformation strategies and initiatives. When he’s not helping erwin customers build data-driven enterprises, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and home-remodeling projects. Anaysha Parker is a Senior Business Transformation Consultant with IBM Services, Public Service. Specializing in federal clients, she has delivered quality-tested solutions to civilian, defense, and homeland security clients as a test engineer, requirements analyst, data analyst, and release manager. She focuses on resolving mission-critical challenges which support citizen safety and access to government services. Anaysha is an Enterprise Design Thinking advocate and an IC-Agile Certified Practitioner. Most recently, she was a Test Lead in a transformational Agile environment, leading Agile practices to generate quality-tested products at the end of each sprint, which improved the speed of delivery in the first five Beta Releases of an application. Anaysha joined IBM in 2016 as an Application Development consultant in Washington, DC. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from North Carolina A&T State University and was recently nominated into the IBM Transformational Leadership Development Program (TLDP) as an inaugural member of the Public Service TLDP franchise. Principal, Vision Pursue Jon attended Kansas State University majoring in business finance and walked on the football team. He was twice selected as a First Team Academic All American. He was a second-round draft pick to the New York Jets where he played three seasons. He then played two seasons for the Detroit Lions before joining the Kansas City Chiefs for his final five seasons. Jon retired from the NFL in 2012 and received the Ed Block Courage Award. This award is presented annually to one player from each NFL team who, in the eyes of his own teammates is a source of inspiration and courage. Jon also completed NFL sponsored business management and entrepreneurship programs at Harvard Business School, Wharton Business School and the executive education in public speaking and digital communication program from the University of Southern California. Jon has been actively involved as President of the Jon McGraw Foundation which supports various charitable causes. He is now a principle partner at Vision Pursue, a performance mindset training and technology company. Vice President of Product Marketing, Celonis Southard Jones is Celonis’ VP, Product Marketing. Prior to Celonis, Southard held various executive product and marketing roles at enterprise software companies in the Business Intelligence, Analytics, and Data Science market, including Domino Data Lab, Birst, Right 90, and Siebel Analytics. He started his career as a mechanical engineer at Raytheon and at PRTM (a subsidiary of PwC) as a business process analyst. Southard holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA and MEM from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and McCormick School of Engineering. Market Leader – Provider and Health Systems Digital Operations, Cognizant Ananth has over 20 years of experience in the BPO industry, with proven track record in managing profitable business across multiple verticals. With strong experience across multiple facets in Healthcare (Payer, Provider, PBMs, Intermediaries and Medical Device manufacturers / distributors), Ananth leads Digital Operations business for Provider Health Systems unit at Cognizant. Proven experience in managing multi-geography, multi service line portfolio with strong customer relationship management, enabling process transformation in large scale engagements through process improvements, global skill-matching, technology point solutions and automation resulting in strong value. Ananth holds an Executive Certification in International Management from the Garvin School of Management - Thunderbird University, AZ, Master in Computer Applications and BS in Mathematics SVP Americas, i-nexus Energetic Consulting Executive with twenty plus years experience in business solution consulting, application sales and implementation, both on-premise and SaaS infrastructures. Proficient in creating and executing strategies that create exceptional client experiences and drive client/company value. Expertise in client needs analysis with a consultative approach to software/services sales. Successful in building domestic, global and channel partner relationships, partner sales teams and programs ensuing competitive advantage. Adept at assisting clients in identifying critical gaps in Strategy, Continuous Improvement and Business Transformation deployments/programs. Resourceful in implementing strategies, processes and change required to correct gap diversion(s). John Abel SVP & CIO More about John Priya Anant Director, Global Vendor Operations, Trust & Safety More about Priya Bobby Graves General Manager, TSSC More about Bobby Julio Urrutia Chief Process Officer, Latin America More about Julio David Feierstein Global Head of Business Transformation Office and Zero Based Budgeting Gary Peterson Executive Vice President, Supply Chain & Production More about Gary Srisu Subrahmanyam Senior Vice President, Business Transformation More about Srisu Mishu Rahman Senior Portfolio Director, Innovation & Digital Programmes More about Mishu Al Faber More about Al Ted Iverson More about Ted Sisir Padhy SVP, Business Excellence More about Sisir Bernard Borowski Vice President, Deputy Head of Global Process Excellence & Lean More about Bernard Bill Owad Sr. Vice President, Operational Excellence More about Bill Lean Transformation Leader Riad (Ray) Ardahji Sr. Director, Production Engineering, Continuous Improvement More about Riad Anil Nair Exec. Director, Global Lean, Safety and CSR More about Anil Zac Jacobson Sr. Director, Global Business Excellence & Customer Insights More about Zac Peter Evans Director of LCI Ted Revilock Director of Operational Excellence for Global Shared Services Global Continuous Improvement Leader More about Angel Mark Proffitt Innovation Enabler Jeff Hastie Global Director, Lean Enterprise Daymond Cox Engineering Excellence Coach, New Product Development More about Daymond Dave Margil Lean Enterprise Leader, Corporate Information Services Jeff Porada Operational Excellence Manager Ezra Eckhardt More about Ezra Maria Thompson Global Innovation Framework Leader More about Maria Christopher Govero Executive Director of Performance Improvement and Outpatient Services More about Christopher Best Selling Author & Co-Author of Good to Great, Built to Last, How the Mighty Fall, Great by Choice Rick Hepp Executive Director, Operational Excellence More about Rick Eric Pope Vice President Operations More about Eric Pranay Butala Associate Vice President, Continuous Improvement and Consulting More about Pranay Beth Schmidt VP, Process and Project Management More about Beth Dalton Li VP, Enterprise Lean Practices More about Dalton Nick Ruhmann More about Nick Norbert Majerus Lean Champion, Book Author and Shingo Prize Winner More about Norbert Bryan Crowell Assistant VP of Continuous Improvement More about Bryan Chuck DeBusk Vice President; Performance & Process Improvement More about Chuck Leslie Dowling Vice President Planning, Architecture, and Strategic Change Management More about Leslie Joseph Spadaford Chief Operations Strategy Officer More about Joseph Dr. Sandy Furterer Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Management, Systems & Technology Mustafa Abdulali Director of Lean Transformation More about Mustafa Donna Powers Lean Six Sigma Specialist More about Donna Stephan Blasilli Head of Corporate Initiatives More about Stephan Jean Lu Morgan Porter More about Morgan Solomon Dadebo Head of Productivity, PBC, Product Mgmt., Process Systems Eng. & Ops Excellence More about Solomon Tze Chiam, PhD Associate Director, Research Informatics More about Tze Deb Lindway Enterprise Director of Lean Six Sigma More about Deb Mamta Patel Administrative Laboratory Director More about Mamta Joel Rapowitz More about Joel David K. Robinson Director, Organization Excellence Dan Markovitz Founder/President of Markovitz Consulting, Author Felicia Linch Owner & Managing Director More about Felicia Ricardo Estok Enterprise Principle Leader, Global Manufacturing Operations & Council More about Ricardo Stuart Janzen More about Stuart Marsha Maldonado Senior Business Improvement Lead More about Marsha Founder & President, Pathways to Manufacturing Excellence LLC More about Larry Gordon Tredgold Inc. Top 100 Leadership Expert and Speaker More about Gordon Innovation Portfolio Manager More about Patrick Chantrelle Nielsen Director of Research & Strategy More about Chantrelle Stefana Saxton Business Excellence & Innovation Leader More about Stefana Zal Pezhman More about Zal Nathan Barnett More about Nathan Gary Muszynski Paul Docherty Company Founder More about Paul Hauke Schupp More about Hauke Senior Director, Operations Excellence Mark Mc Gregor Author, Performance & Business Coach Mary H. Sylvester Global Client Advisor – Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals More about Mary Geoff Ables More about Geoff Ernie Spence Former Commander, US Navy, Manager More about Ernie Stephen Wilson More about Stephen John King Continuous Improvement Chief Engineer Joel Ehle John Vance Senior Manager, Customer Experience Andrei Perumal More about Andrei Kimberlee Williams More about Kimberlee Jonathan Sapir More about Jonathan Luis Wu Cuan More about Luis Brent Miller Banking & Financial Services Manager Dan Griffith Sales Director, US & Canada Gregory Carrette Head of Operational Excellence More about Gregory Jorge Quintana More about Jorge Anthony Nazzero More about Anthony Joseph DeGennaro Jörg Starkmann More about Jörg Mike Baum Business Development & Strategy More about Mike Lee Cockerell Former EVP of Operations for Walt Disney World®. One of the public faces of the world-renowned Disney Institute, More about Lee Jean-Claude Kihn President, EMEA More about Jean-Claude Michael Hardie DIrector, Operational Excellence Daniel Abrantes More about Daniel Don Drury More about Don Lisa Norcross SVP and Head of the Center of Operational Excellence More about Lisa Zachary Surak More about Zachary Shirley Whitfield Director Global Market Planning & Launch Excellence More about Shirley Fabio Garaycochea More about Fabio Leslie Behnke Vice President of Six Sigma Germaine Watts Partner & CEO More about Germaine Dennis MacAleese More about Dennis Dr. Cindy Young Program Manager, Fleet and TYCOM Enterprise Support SVP & CIO, Ellie Mae John joined Ellie Mae in 2017 as senior vice president and Chief Information Officer. In this role he is responsible for all aspects of the company’s internal information technology and systems, and partners with business units for the planning and implementation of enterprise IT systems to align with Ellie Mae’s technology vision and business strategy in support of business operations.John has over 20 years in the IT industry. Prior to joining the company, he was senior vice president of IT at Hitachi Data Systems, where he helped drive the transformation from a hardware-selling company to enable growth in cloud-based software and solutions. Before Hitachi Data Systems, John held roles at Symantec, JDS Uniphase, KPMG Consulting, and British Nuclear Fuels plc. John holds a BS in Information Systems from Staffordshire University in England. Director, Global Vendor Operations, Trust & Safety, Google Priya leads global operations for Trust and Safety across Google. In her role, Priya works with all product teams across Google to fight spam, abuse and fraud and deliver a safe user experience. In her time at Google, Priya has streamlined global operations across multiple teams and partnered with product, operations, finance and legal teams to drive transformations. She leads the Googlewide deployment of “gLean” a program to coach Googlers about adopting lean within Google’s highly dynamic and fast paced environment. Prior to Google, Priya spent 10 years in management consulting at Bain where she advised healthcare, technology and consumer goods companies on global growth strategies and operations improvement. Before her career in consulting, Priya worked for GlaxoSmithKline and focused on global manufacturing and with Unilever on marketing and supply chain. In addition, Priya was a public accountant with Ernst & Young. Priya holds an MBA from Wharton and is also a Chartered Accountant. Priya has lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and US. When she is not at work, Priya loves spending time with her family, introducing her kids to the joys of camping, trying out new vegan recipes and searching for the elusive perfect cappuccino in the US (It is a little known fact that Australia has some of the best coffee in the world and the quest to find it in the US continues...) General Manager, TSSC, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Graves began his career with Toyota in 1987 and progressed through a series of positions in production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK) responsible for assuring overall quality within all production shops. In 1997, he was assigned to TMMK’s operations development group where he trained Toyota Production System (TPS) know-how to team members from all levels of the organization and coordinated internal TPS activities. During his 15 years at TMMK, Graves supported multiple production launches and all-new model introductions. From 2003-14, he served as manager for TEMA’s operations management development division, working closely with Toyota’s North American plants and suppliers to help streamline processes and strengthen TPS activities. In this role, he supported internal & external continuous improvement projects and training workshops. Prior to joining Toyota, Graves worked at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Louisville, Kentucky where he was an auditor for the white collar crime unit. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Operational Management from Western Kentucky University (1981) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Originally from Columbia, Kentucky, Graves still owns and maintains a family farm. Chief Process Officer, Latin America, Ricoh Julio Urrutia has been in the technology industry for more than 15 years, now as Head of Operational Excellence and CISO at Ricoh Latin America. Julio holds a Degree in Strategic Marketing Management, a Master's Degree in IT Service Management, a Master's Degree in Business Analysis plus multiple Industry Certifications. In his current position, Julio is in charge of many critical corporate initiatives. Working in a Global environment and with an extend knowledge of Latin American cultures, markets & economies. Lead and manage major expertise area programs and company-wide critical projects; responsible for the creation of methodologies and standards, measurement criteria and leading-edge initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency and organizational excellence. He is an active-global public speaker and takes part in consultations. Julio credits his success to great passion for what he does and constant learning. Manage the full range of design and development efforts from concept to implementation; communicate at all levels and hold negotiations with large-scale vendors; maintaining expertise on industry, products and technology trends through research and training. Manage and optimize working relationships; with great expertise in creating, developing and leading high-performance teams, facilitate innovation, and promote openness to and participation in change. Also accountable for creating and controlling organizational budget to accomplish desired results. Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and is able to communicate in French, Julio is in progress to obtain a Certificate of Professional Development in Strategy at Wharton - University of Pennsylvania. Global Head of Business Transformation Office and Zero Based Budgeting, NCR Corporation David Seth Feierstein joined NCR Corporation in February 2016 leading the newly formed Transformation Office and Zero-Based Budgeting initiative. From August 2013 to January 2016 David was the Global Head of Zero Based Budgeting, CAPEX and Working Capital at Kraft Heinz and was instrumental in the Kraft integration and Heinz transformation delivering over $550 million in SG&A cost savings during his tenure. From July 2011 to August 2013 David worked at Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, the private equity arm of Goldman Sachs and from July 2007 to July 2011 at J.P. Morgan’s Investment Bank in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Natural Resources groups. David continues to serve as an advisor to multiple companies including those owned by Berkshire Hathaway, Blackstone and other large private equity funds on the topic of Zero-Based Budgeting. David currently lives in Atlanta. Executive Vice President, Supply Chain & Production, O.C. Tanner Gary has worked for The O.C. Tanner Company for 29 years. His current assignment is Executive Vice President, Supply Chain & Production. Prior to working in his current roll Gary has held an impressively diverse set of jobs with the O.C. Tanner Company, including Manager of Market Research, Manufacturing Change Facilitator (where he was instrumental in moving the operation from “batch” to lean, resulting in their receiving the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing), Vice President of Manufacturing, Marketing Vice President of Award Development, and Vice President of Research and Professional Services. Gary serves on the Executive Advisory Board for the Shingo Institute, and is a Shingo Examiner. In 2015 he was inducted into the AME (Association for Manufacturing Excellence) Hall of Fame. His experience with Lean Enterprise sends him around the globe helping others improve their operations. Gary holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics from Brigham Young University. He recharges his batteries by snowboarding, playing basketball, hiking, watching his 16-year old daughter play soccer, and being with his six (soon to be seven) grandchildren. Senior Vice President, Business Transformation, KAR Auction Services Srisu Subrahmanyam is a senior operations executive who delivers significant and sustainable value through supply chain optimization, technology and organizational transformation and continuous improvement, with a relentless focus on execution. He has over 20 years in consulting and as an executive in multiple Fortune companies. Subrahmanyam has deep process experience, with proven results in manufacturing, distribution/logistics and service sectors, having served in companies in automotive, aviation, technology, logistics, distribution, maintenance, repair and overhaul, consumer goods, education, pharmaceutical, beverage and chemical industries. He is focused on improvements and optimization across the value chain and delivers competitive advantage through supply chain transformations, technology strategy and investments, organizational transformations and rigorous performance management and execution. Subrahmanyam is currently Senior Vice President of Business Transformation at KAR Auction Services, Inc (NYSE:KAR). Previously he served as Global Vice President of Engineering for Ingram Micro, a HNA Group company, recognized as world’s largest wholesale technology distributor and a global leader in IT supply-chain, mobile device lifecycle services and logistics solutions with $45B in revenue and operating in over 40 countries. In this role, he leads global functions in supply chain planning, operations and customer solution engineering, real estate, quality, continuous improvement, environmental health & safety, sustainability and overall program management. Prior to this, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for BrightPoint Americas, a business unit of Ingram Micro based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In this role, he led the supply chain operations, quality, continuous improvement, program management, advanced planning, procurement and information technology functions. Subrahmanyam held earlier roles as a consultant and in senior corporate positions including Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO) from 2008 to 2011, and as Vice President of Continuous Improvement and Business Transformation for United Airlines (NYSE:UAL) from 2006-2008. Senior Portfolio Director, Innovation & Digital Programmes, Government Mishu Rahman is a Senior Advisor at the White House Office of Management and Budget, which serves the President in budgeting and overseeing the implementation of his strategy and vision across the Executive Branch. Mishu oversees investment and performance of multiple federal agencies (e.g. Healthcare, Commerce, Treasury) and collectively manages a $80B/year portfolio. Through data-driven and risk-based quarterly strategic reviews, he partners with each Agency C-Suite to improve execution and operating discipline of government programs to save taxpayer money and align investments with the President's Management Agenda and associated corporate strategies. Moreover, he leads enterprise-wide strategy initiatives to promote innovation to deliver faster and cost-effective services to citizens and businesses with the aim of world-class experience, provide direction in the use of Internet of Things (IoT), open up government data estimated to be worth billions and to develop the critical human capital. Prior to joining the Executive Office of the President, Mishu served various C-level advisory roles in strategic planning, corporate policy & governance, data analytics, procurement, enterprise risk, and operation management. President & CEO, Baldrige Foundation On July 14th, 2014, Al Faber was named President and CEO of the Baldrige Foundation. The Mission of the Baldrige Foundation is to ensure the long-term financial growth and viability of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, and to support organizational performance excellence in the United States and throughout the world. Prior to joining the Foundation, Al served as President & CEO of The Partnership for Excellence (TPE), the premier Baldrige-based state program for the promotion of performance excellence in all sectors of the economy. TPE is a volunteer-driven, 501(c)3 non-profit member organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, promoting the interests of performance excellence throughout Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia. TPE has served more than 324 organizations that represent more than 1.7 million jobs at 1,769 work locations with revenues in excess of $139.2 billion dollars and more than 226.4 million customers. TPE Examiners have donated more than $34.6 million dollars in services to these high-performing organizations. Prior to that, Al served in federal & state government culminating in executive positions and leading more than 11,500 employees, with 65 major facilities, a 250 million dollar operating budget and real property exceeding 2.1 billion dollars. He has provided executive leadership, establishing policies, priorities and oversight of federal budgets, operations and training, personnel, logistical operations and infrastructure management to include numerous construction programs. He is driven to create winning organizational results with a deep sense of commitment to public service. Lean Expert, McKinsey & Company Ted Iverson is a Lean Expert with McKinsey & Company, in Seattle, Washington. He has a wide range of operational excellence and Lean transformation experience beginning in the late 80’s, as an internal business transformation leader first in aerospace, followed by medical equipment, and later farm equipment and food processing. He now assists large organizations to develop meaningful change and multi-generational improvement trends within multiple industries. His past clients include Shingo Prize recipients and other industry leaders. Ted holds a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah USA. He served a Baldrige examiner previously and for the past 23 years as an examiner for the Shingo Prize. He resides in eastern Oregon. SVP, Business Excellence, Verizon Sisir joined Verizon in 2011 and is the Vice President of Process Excellence and Innovation. Prior to joining Verizon, Sisir was part of the General Electric Company, where he held several leadership roles at GE Appliances, GE Transportation Systems, Pratt & Whitney, GE Corporate, and GE Aviation, in design, process excellence, e-Business, and strategic marketing. Sisir led the global P&Ls for GE Aircraft Engine and GE Smart Grid Automation businesses. He has published more than twenty papers in conferences, professional journals and books. In addition, Sisir has chaired many technical conferences and attended executive education at Wharton, Stanford and Harvard Business School. He received his masters in mechanical engineering with specialization in Artificial Intelligence and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. Vice President, Deputy Head of Global Process Excellence & Lean, Sanofi Bernard Borowski is a Vice President, Deputy Head of Global Process Excellence & Lean at Sanofi, based in NJ. Bernard is a Business Process Excellence executive with 20 years of global experience and functional expertise in finance. He led cross-functional initiatives that required reengineering processes, coordination of system overhauls and managed financial services operations. Bernard was certified as a Lean-Six-Sigma Master-Black-Belt in 2003 while on the prestigious GE Corporate Audit Staff. Prior to joining Sanofi, Bernard served as Principal, at the Boston Consulting Group in New York; Executive Director in the Finance Strategy, Operations and Technology group at Morgan Stanley in New York where he led regulatory readiness and efficiency programs. Prior to that, he held leadership roles in Quality and Financial Operations at GE for 12 years in the United States and in France, in the consumer and commercial lending businesses of GE Capital and at GE Treasury. Bernard also held Financial and Operational Auditing roles at Arthur Andersen in Paris, France and Tel-Aviv, Israel, and at Bestfoods (Unilever) in the United Kingdom. Sr. Vice President, Operational Excellence, Cardinal Health The Lean Business Transformation & Operational Excellence in Healthcare Summit (BTOESHEALTH) Thursday 17th May 2018 \| 08:45 - 09:30 am Bill Owad, senior vice president of Operational Excellence specializes in the strategies and tools that support the pursuit of a lean enterprise. Working with a team of nearly 150 Operational Excellence staff members and coaches aross Cardinal Health, Owad is responsible for developing and implementing an enterprise approach to Operational Excellence at Cardinal Health, ultimately improving the value delivered to the company’s customers. In addition to his role as senior vice president, Owad also supports the extension of Operational Excellence external to Cardinal Health as the executive sponsor for the company’s relationships with the Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI) Partner Program, the Healthcare Value Network, The Ohio State University Fisher College Center for Operational Excellence and the Conference Board Quality Council. During his tenure, Owad has held several positions within Operational Excellence and has served as the primary architect of the company’s enterprise-wide deployment of Operational Excellence, which, over eight years, yielded significant improvements in customer loyalty, employee engagement, operational performance and working capital utilization. Prior to joining Cardinal Health, Owad held several operations and administrative roles that have used the tools of Lean Six Sigma to transform health care provider organizations, supply chain and medical supply companies. These roles include corporate director of quality for ProMedica Health System, executive director for Cordelia Martin Health Center and several adjunct faculty positions with the College of Pharmacy at the University of Toledo and other nationally recognized programs. Owad is also active in the community, serving in the past as board chair for the Central Ohio American Red Cross BioMedical Services, board chair for Cordelia Martin Health Center, senior examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program, and examiner / team leader for the Ohio Award for Excellence. Currently, Owad serves as a board member for the Partnership for Excellence, Mid-Ohio Foodbank, and the ASHP Research and Education Foundation. Owad received his bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and his Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Toledo. His post-graduate work includes the achievement of Fellow status with the American College of Healthcare Executives, multiple Lean Six Sigma certifications and continued development as a Lean leader through his work with Cardinal Health and LEI. Owad has also authored several publications and presentations on quality systems and customer loyalty. Lean Transformation Leader, Intel Alex Jones is a Lean Transformation Leader at Intel. He is responsible for driving organizational and process changes that increase quality, decrease cost, and accelerate time to market across Intel's product development value streams. Jones joined Intel in 1997 as an Industrial Engineer and has held a variety of positions in manufacturing, technology development, strategic planning, platform architecture, and lean leadership. He holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Oregon. Sr. Director, Production Engineering, Continuous Improvement, Leggett & Platt Riad is the senior director of Production Engineering & Continuous Improvement at Leggett & Platt, Adjustable Bed Division. He leads the division NPI activities and works closely with the commercial team to ensure that new products or customer products are properly developed, qualified, managed, and launched into production. This role also provides guidance and experienced technical and quality support to the production engineering and quality teams on critical issues such as quality and productivity improvement He brings over 26 years of experience (over half in Japanese companies) in the areas of supply chain, asset management, production engineering, maintenance and manufacturing, including fabrication, assembly and testing. Former employers include: Zimmer Biomet, Toyota Boshoku, Leggett & Platt, Borg-Warner, Denso Corporation, Harley-Davidson/Utilimaster, and General Motors/ Saturn plant. He is a subject matter expert in Operations Excellence. He is certified in Ergonomics, Lean Manufacturing, Total Industrial Engineering, Change Management and VA/VE. He has completed a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the University of Tennessee, Center for Executive Education. Furthermore, Riad is also a Malcolm Baldrige Examiner-in-Training 2014. Riad is a frequent guest speaker at national and international conferences including Nora Corp.’s Reliable Plants. Riad has developed a new lean device named “Honky-Tonk” that is based on the TPS-Jidoka system, basically making any machine a smarter one. Riad holds a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management and a BS degree in Industrial Engineering from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Through his experience Riad has learned that different cultures learn differently. His teaching style is very diverse and most importantly, he provides a can-do attitude. Those he works with often acquire a thirst for more understanding. Exec. Director, Global Lean, Safety and CSR, Ingram Micro Anil Nair is an operational excellence executive, with expertise and experience in delivering robust and sustainable results for a balanced scorecard across the supply chain. He has over 20 years of rich and progressive leadership experience in Lean Six Sigma program design, development & deployment, Operations Management, New Venture implementation, and integrative operating system design & development covering QMS/EMS/SMS/CSR elements, deployment, certification & maintenance to ISO 9001, 14001, 18001, R2 & 26000 standards, across diverse industries, including engineering & construction, aviation, printing, education, and distribution and logistics. Anil is currently Sr. Director of Global Quality, Lean, EHS, and Corporate Social Responsibility for Ingram Micro (NYSE:IM), a Fortune 100 company, recognized as world’s largest wholesale technology distributor and a global leader in IT supply-chain, mobile device lifecycle services and logistics solutions with $46B in revenue and operating in almost 40 countries. In this role, he leads global deployment and overall program management of Quality & Lean Operating System, Safety Management System, and Corporate Social Responsibility program. Prior to this, he served as Sr. Director of Purchasing and Process Excellence at Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO), a $2B education company based in Hoffman Estates, IL, from 2009 to 2013. He led the transformation of Procure-to-Pay operations involving multiple programs and channels at 80 campuses and corporate office nationwide. This included deployment of PeopleSoft Financial e-Procurement workflows, P-card program design & deployment, ensuring SOX regulatory compliance for financial transactions, and leveraging economics of scale and process improvements. Anil lives in Chicago, IL with his son, and enjoys swimming, golf and traveling across the globe. He also enjoys volunteering as a Math tutor whenever he gets the opportunity. Sr. Director, Global Business Excellence & Customer Insights, eBay Zac is the Senior Director of Business Excellence and Customer Insights for eBay Marketplaces. In this capacity, he is responsible for the operating effectiveness of the Global Customer Experience organization which includes customer service, policy and risk management, billing and payments, and operations support service functions. His team’s mission is to create consistently excellent and efficient experiences that result in loyal customers. Zac has 20 years of global leadership experience spanning military/government, operations/manufacturing, and technology industries. He joined eBay in 2010 from the world’s largest drilling services company where he led global operations responsible for 5500 employees and the profitability, productivity, safety, and asset management of a $1.2B business. Prior to that, Zac served in a variety of leadership roles in operations; finance; strategy; and mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Zac earned a B.A. from New Mexico State University and an M.A. from the University of Phoenix. He holds certifications in Project Management, Strategic Change Management, Six Sigma Black Belt, and Lean. He is also the General Manager for eBay in Austin, Texas where he lives with his wife and three sons. CTO , AVVO Kevin Goldsmith oversees the development and IT teams at Avvo. Prior to joining Avvo, Kevin was the VP of Engineering at Spotify, the popular digital music service, where he led a team of 175 engineers for the company’s mobile, desktop and web platforms. He also served as the Director of Engineering for Adobe Systems for nearly a decade. Kevin has been an industry forerunner in the areas of GPGPU for commercial applications, leading development teams for both Adobe and Microsoft’s Virtual Worlds (later social computing). Kevin speaks around the world, on topics ranging from product development to how culture affects work productivity and morale. He earned degrees in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University. Director of LCI, LEGO Peter Evans was born in 1955. He joined the LEGO in February 2016. The early part of his career was in Finance in various industries, including Defence, Financial Services and Telecommunications. Peter worked for General Electric throughout the 90’s including spells in Manchester, Brussels, Shannon (Eire) and Connecticut. From 2000 to 2013 he worked in Telecoms in the UK, first with Vodafone, then Cable & Wireless, before finally leading Operational Excellence for Virgin Media. From 2013 to 2015 Peter led Process Excellence in Northern Europe for Maersk Line, based in Copenhagen. Since February 2016 Peter has been Director of LCI (LEGO Continuous Improvement) at LEGO with specific responsibility for Business Service Operations and is actively involved in establishing a Global Business Services Organisation for Finance. Director of Operational Excellence for Global Shared Services , The Coca-Cola Company Ted is Director of Operational Excellence for Global Shared Services at The Coca-Cola Company. He is responsible for deploying Operational Excellence across the Finance, Human Resources, Data Management, Accounts Payable, Workplace Services, Creative Business Solutions and User Experience lines of business, involving greater than 1300 employees in 7 main hub locations globally. The Operational Excellence program utilizes Lean, Six Sigma, Program Management, Business Process Management and Human Centered Design concepts and internally created methods to drive value for the business. Ted has been with The Coca-Cola Company leading implementations of OE in Shared Services, Information Technology, Human Resources, Supply Chain and Franchise Bottling partners for 10 years. Prior to The Coca-Cola Company, Ted worked in the Automotive Industry with Ford Motor Company and Tier I suppliers in product development. In total Ted has been working as a continuous improvement professional for over 20 years. Global Continuous Improvement Leader, Catalent Pharma Solutions Angel R. García is an engineer and process improvement executive with over 20 years of experience in Global Operational Excellence Programs, Global Supply Chain Management and Commercial Operations. Currently Angel holds the position of Global Continuous Improvement Leader at Catalent Pharma Solutions. Before joining Catalent in 2016, Angel was the Vice President of Operational Excellence for Univision Communications Inc. where he developed and executed the first OpEx Program at the number one Hispanic Media Broadcasting Network in the United States. In addition, Angel has held several leadership positions in Medical Devices Manufacturing, Technical Service, Global Sourcing, and Six Sigma within Covidien, Tyco Healthcare, Medtronic Diabetes and several business of the GE Company. He holds certifications in Lean Six Sigma as a Black Belt and Master Black Belt and he is a certified Project Management Professional Innovation Enabler, Predictive Innovation Mark Proffitt helps leaders solve seemingly unsolveable problems so they reliably deliver 10x more desired results with less risk using readily available resources by using Predictive Innovation® . He is a non-stop thinker, researcher, and author of Predictive Innovation® a first principles based system of thinking. Silicon Valley veteran with over 30 years experience creating new technologies including working with Apple, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Visa, & Nintendo. At age 12 saved money from mowing lawns & shoveling snow to buy a personal computer & teach himself to program. Began college at 14 & by 16 was programming professionally with a start up that developed the first software to apply Edward Deming's work in a US automotive factory by General Motors. Dropped out of a PhD in Physics at the University of Michigan when recruited by Apple Computer to make something insanely great leading to the creation of the Agile Methodology. While working to build the first online crowd funding & peer-to-peer digital media platform, suffered a brain injury requiring him to relearn how to think and in the process discovered how to teach average people how to think like a genius. Currently enjoys living as a digital nomad with a passion for creating makerspaces to give everyone access to tools and a community to create global abundance. NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS Programmed the first statistical process control system used in a US automotive factory. Contributed to creating Agile while at Apple Computer. Integrated the first use of world wide web technology at Hewlett Packard in 1994. Designed and led team to develop QuadraMed’s ClaimStar for Windows, which contributed to the companies stock increasing 500% in 3 years. Designed & developed the Virtual Reality Engine used by Spectrum HoloByte on games like Top Gun & Falcon 4. Oversaw technology for the first global dual TV & Internet video broadcast, reaching 1 billion viewers. Taught Predictive Innovation® on 4 continents including classes at MIT & University of Surabaya Indonesia. Written 2 books edited 7 others, produced a comedy DVD teaching calculus, appeared in a TV commercial with rock star Alice Cooper, & played soccer with a baby elephant Global Director, Lean Enterprise, Bose Corporation Jeff Hastie is the Global Director – Lean Enterprise at Bose Corporation. His responsibilities include leading Lean and Six Sigma programs in Manufacturing and Global Supply Chain, Sales and Marketing, Product Development, Research and Corporate Administration including IS, HR, Finance and Legal. Jeff started his career at Bose in 2001 as a senior Quality Engineer and Six Sigma Black Belt. He worked with Finance to quantify the cost of poor quality and over the next 4 years he led improvement Teams across Manufacturing to bring more value to the company. In 2005, he initiated and led the formal deployment of Lean Six Sigma at Bose Corporation. In 2007, Jeff developed and implemented a strategy to pilot and then expand the Bose Production System (the Toyota Production System) across Bose Manufacturing Plants and Distribution Centers. Today Lean Enterprise is a strategic imperative enabling the success of Bose Corporation business improvement strategies worldwide. Prior to Bose, Jeff was employed at Wyman-Gordon Company, producers of technically advanced structural and engine components for the Aerospace Industry. During his 18 years at Wyman-Gordon, he held a variety of leadership roles in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement. Jeff has over 35 years of manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience in the Wood Products, Metal Working, Aerospace Forging and Consumer Electronics Industries. He has spent the last 19 years dedicated to leading Lean & Six Sigma programs to accelerate business value. Jeff hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wood Products Engineering from the State University of New York and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Syracuse University. He is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Engineering Excellence Coach, New Product Development, Ingersoll Rand Daymond is the Engineering Excellence Coach, New Product Development at Ingersoll Rand. He is the senior coach for about 40% of Ingersoll-Rand business, coaching executives down to project managers. He is retired US Army Officer, former enlisted Air Force Staff Sargent with over 30 years’ experience in business development, healthcare, logistics, and information technology include roles in senior leadership, company startups, profit and not for profit hospitals along with extensive experience in trauma and critical care programs. Daymond is a decorated soldier with an extensive military career in both active duty and reserves. He is a senior member of ASQ (American Society for Quality) and a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Daymond holds a Master Black Belt and Lean Master Certification from the George Group/Accenture, among other Continuous Improvement certifications. Daymond has proven success as a leader in civilian and military environments. His experience includes healthcare delivery, management, logistics, operations, process redesign, and resource management. Additionally he has proven success in strategic development, program development, marketing, product line management, information technology management. Daymond works at both enterprise and frontline staff levels in developing best practice solutions including strategic process redesign utilizing Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma methodology. As part of the Lean deployment at the US Army, he was assigned for 2 years to the US Army Medical Command assigned including the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command (NARMC) based at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. D. C. He is led the deployment at NARMC…Encompassing 21 states...supporting two medical centers, four community hospitals, four other MEDDACs, dozens of health clinics, which provides medical mobilization/demobilization support to seven power projection platforms. Daymond also led the Team Leader for the NARMC, US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM), and the Army Medical Action Plan Access to Care for Warriors in Transition (AMAP) teams. As Founder and CEO of the International Society for Six Sigma Certifications, he and his team grew the consulting and training company 100% year over year for 7 years, developing a franchising system leveraging standard work and Training within Industry (TWI). He expanded from one location to 9 states, 3 continents, offering over 200 courses while assisting companies to save millions of dollars in productive costs. Daymond has an Associate of Science degree from Elizabethtown Community College/University of Kentucky, Elizabethtown, KY, a Bachelor of Science from Barry University, and a Master of Business Administration degree in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. Lean Enterprise Leader, Corporate Information Services, Bose Corporation Since 2010 Dave Margil has served as the Lean deployment leader for Bose Corporate Information Systems (CIS). He is responsible for developing the Lean Enterprise Vision and deployment roadmap in CIS and for driving Lean Six Sigma practices throughout the IT function. He leads value stream improvement activities, contributes to the internal Lean Six Sigma curriculum development, and delivers training and coaching to employees throughout Bose Corporation. Prior to this role, Dave spent several years as a Business Engagement Manager and as a Project Manager in the Bose Online Commerce Group. Before joining Bose he co-founded and spent several years as the VP of Product Development for a Cambridge, MA-based computer game company. Dave is a Bose certified Master Black Belt and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts. Operational Excellence Manager, Jabil Jeff Porada is the Operational Excellence Manager at Jabil. Jeff manages the lean deployment, plus expanding the exposure and responsibility of Jabil's Quality Systems deployment and Industrial Engineering. He is responsible for the strategically-driven transformation efforts of Jabil’s Corporate Functions and Capabilities, including: Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Supply Chain Management, and Engineering Technology Services. Jeff has 20 years of professional experience of working in various industries with the ability to successfully influence and positively impact a culture at all levels of an organization to embrace a philosophy of continual improvement. Jeff has a demonstrated track record of driving business transformations resulting in significant financial savings and operational performance. Prior to joining Jabil in 2012, Jeff was the Vice President for Operational Quality & Training for Wyndham Consumer Finance. He was responsible to develop and deploy the strategic direction of the process excellence methodology, quality assurance processes, and the career development of internal associates. Years before joining Wyndham Worldwide, Jeff worked for HSBC Mortgage Services, ICI-Paints, Solectron Technologies, and Automata International. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and is an active volunteered leader with American Society for Quality’s International Team Excellence Awards. Jeff graduated from Ohio University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the School of Engineering and Technology. He has lived in Tampa, Florida for 13 years with his two teenage children. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys riding his jet ski, traveling, and playing organized ice hockey. COO, Wave Form Systems Ezra Eckhardt is the VP/COO and a principle at Wave Form Systems, a premier provider of regional mobile medical services. Additionally, Ezra is an accredited investor serving on several private company boards of directors and small business advisory councils. Prior to his current role, Ezra was a senior executive in the financial services space serving as president and chief operating officer of Sterling Bank, chief operating officer of Sterling Financial Corporation, and executive vice president of operations and Umpqua bank. His prior experience includes general management, operations, leadership and continuous improvement work at Microsoft, Honeywell and the U.S. Army. Ezra is currently the chairman of the finance committee and member of the board of directors for the Spokane International Airport and sits on the board of directors for Gonzaga Preparatory School. Ezra has also served as adjunct professor at the Gonzaga University Graduate School of Business, appointed advisory roles for local and national elected officials, numerous chamber boards and committees, and the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He also has earned a master’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University and has advanced training in applied statistics from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Ezra has an established background in operational excellence and continuous improvement. Global Innovation Framework Leader, ITW Innovation Center Maria Thompson is a senior technology operations leader with international experience in innovation, change management, and organizational capability improvement. She facilitates teams to creatively solve problems to generate strategic patent portfolios and new product and service designs. She has introduced new processes, technology, and culture change to organizations, resulting in creativity, quality and productivity improvements. She’s an accomplished innovator and patent-holder skilled at fostering alliances with senior management, strategy, legal, research, marketing, engineering & services personnel. She’s successfully improved the innovation capability of organizations ranging from five to 5000 staff across AT&T Bell Laboratories, Motorola and now Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (ITW). Since early 2014, Maria partners with ITW business innovation leadership in a Senior Director role to accelerate organic growth with a global innovation process framework. In addition to harmonizing business stage gate processes with the Innovation Framework for continuous improvement, she facilitates innovation tool workshops, expedites cross-Segment communications and creative problem solving, and enables best innovation practice sharing with an annual global Innovation Summit. Workshop topics include: Facilitating Small Teams, Customer Interviewing, Value Proposition derivation, Go To Market Strategy and Planning, and Structured Brainstorming. She holds an M.S. in Math and Computer Science from the University of Waterloo, and B.S. Computer Science with a Statistics minor from Iowa State University. Executive Director of Performance Improvement and Outpatient Services , Hospital Sisters Health System Wednesday 16th May 2018 \| 16:45 - 17:30 pm Christopher Govero has over 15 years of Lean/Six Sigma process improvement experience in a wide range of industries, including Healthcare, Manufacturing Government, Department of Defense, Education and other service industries. He has also spent time consulting both domestically and abroad. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri Southern State University and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, he also holds an ASQ Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Chris currently works as the Executive Director of Performance Improvement and Outpatient Services at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s in Belleville, IL. His key responsibilities include leading hospital wide Lean Six Sigma efforts as well as operations in Outpatient and Revenue Cycle departments. Best Selling Author & Co-Author of Good to Great, Built to Last, How the Mighty Fall, Great by Choice, Jim Collins is a student and teacher of leadership and what makes great companies tick. Having invested a quarter century of research into the topic, he has authored or co-authored six books that have sold in total more than ten million copies worldwide. They include: GOOD TO GREAT, the #1 bestseller, which examines why some companies and leaders make the leap to superior results, along with its companion work GOOD TO GREAT AND THE SOCIAL SECTORS; the enduring classic BUILT TO LAST, which explores how some leaders build companies that remain visionary for generations; HOW THE MIGHTY FALL, which delves into how once-great companies can self-destruct; and most recently, GREAT BY CHOICE, which is about thriving in chaos – why some do, and others don't – and the leadership behaviors needed in a world beset by turbulence, disruption, uncertainty, and dramatic change. Driven by a relentless curiosity, Jim began his research and teaching career on the faculty at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1992. In 1995, he founded a management laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, where he conducts research and engages in Socratic dialogue with CEOs and senior leadership teams. In addition to his work in the business sector, Jim has passion for learning and teaching in the social sectors, including education, healthcare, government, faith-based organizations, social ventures, and cause-driven non-profits. In 2012 and 2013, he had the honor to serve a two-year appointment as the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Jim holds a bachelor's degree in mathematical sciences and an MBA from Stanford University, and honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Colorado and the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. He is an avid rock climber, with one-day ascents of the north face of Half Dome and the 3,000 foot south face of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. Executive Director, Operational Excellence, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Global Manufacturing and Supply Experiences: 12 Years – Product & Process Technology Leadership experience in Chemical and Plastics Industry (Aldrich Chemicals, General Electric Plastics); 8 Years Global Sourcing/Supply Chain Management (GE Plastics); 19 Years as Six Sigma Quality Leader in Plastics, Insurance, and Health Care Industry (GE Plastics, GE Financial Assurance, and United Health Group) with the last 10 years in BioTech (Drug & Device … Nektar Therapeutics, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, and Bristol-Myers Squibb). Education: Ph.D.-Organic Chemistry; B.A. in Chemistry/Zoology/Computer Science; Lean/Six Sigma Quality…Certified MBB, Trainer & Facilitator; Change Management Leader… Certified in GE CAP® & Facilitation; Quality Training and Certification … Lean, DMAIC, DMADOV, and Change Management; Certified “Train the Trainer”. “Rick” Hepp, PhD Executive Director, Operational Excellence - Strategy & Business Integration, Global Manufacturing & Supply, Bristol-Myers Squibb Rick.hepp@bms.com Phones: Office 732-227-6436 Mobile 650-307-2566 Vice President Operations, U.S. Synthetic Eric Pope serves as vice president of operations at US Synthetic (USS), a leading provider of diamond solutions for the energy industry. Mr. Pope joined US Synthetic in 1990 as a machine operator, with a focus on processing diamond products. He has worked as a production manager, process engineer, and R&D engineer during his time at US Synthetic. In 2001, Mr. Pope worked as an onsite USS customer engineer at Halliburton. He later became the product manger over the USS diamond rock bit and percussion product lines, in 2004. Throughout his career, Mr. Pope has been a driving force behind US Synthetic’s move from a typical batch and queue manufacturing system to a world-class, Lean manufacturing facility. As part of senior leadership team since 2006, Mr. Pope has been instrumental in implementing Lean training and techniques at every level of the organization. These efforts helped the company received the world's most prestigious award in 2011 for enterprise excellence, The Shingo Prize. Under Pope's leadership, the company maintains a strong focus on empowering employees and encouraging continuous improvement. This focus helped the company implement more than 34,000 employee-sponsored improvements in 2014. As a result, product innovation has increased and USS customers have been better served with improved delivery times, decreased inventory, and superior quality and performance. Lean improvements have allowed US Synthetic to grow at 23 percent annually since beginning the journey in 2005. Mr. Pope holds a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in mechanical engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Brigham Young University. Associate Vice President, Continuous Improvement and Consulting, Guardian Life Pranay Butala is currently AVP of Operational Excellence within Guardian Life’s Group business. His team is accountable for helping Group business in three key areas: 1) strategic consulting to help proactively identify areas of cost reduction and other efficiencies at the enterprise level, 2) program leadership through various engagements ranging from process improvement to M&A future state modeling, and 3) developing operational excellence talent organically within the business. Pranay’s previous experiences are from 20 years through consulting and the pharmaceutical industry. He was previously a partner within Cognizant’s life sciences division, accountable for AstraZeneca’s marketing and sales portfolio. Prior to Cognizant, he was a director in marketing technology at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals New York City office, as well as spending an early career at Accenture’s and Deloitte’s strategic consulting arms. Pranay has a MBA in Strategy and Operations from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Graduate Management, and a BS in Biochemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. He also ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt certified. VP, Process and Project Management, Mutual of Omaha Beth Schmidt is the Vice President of Process and Project Management at Mutual of Omaha. She has responsibility for the analysis and delivery of projects that support New Business processes. She also has a team of lean process improvement facilitators who engage in everything from major business unit transformation to project process mapping. In addition to having a passion for process efficiency, Beth is passionate about high performance cultures. She was one of the original founding members of the Omaha Culture Ambassadors, a local group of like-minded individuals that is quickly growing to other cities around the country. She is a certified facilitator of culture change for Mutual of Omaha, and a Master Culture Champion. Prior to joining Mutual of Omaha, Beth was the Director of Application Development at Farm Credit Services of America which has steadily been one of Omaha’s Best Places to work. She has 15 years experience in delivering software solutions, from programming to project management to team leadership. Beth holds a Master’s Degree in Adult Learning and Organizational Performance with a dual emphasis in Leadership, and Training and Development. VP, Enterprise Lean Practices, MassMutual Financial Dalton Li joined MassMutual in November of 2012 as Vice President, strategy and corporate development and is responsible for leading the strategy and thought leadership behind the MassMutual Way, an enterprise wide lean management system. Dalton is responsible for designing the systems and principles for the MassMutual Way to ensure a long term culture of continuous improvement with a relentless focus on the customer. Dalton is also responsible for coaching the CEO, the executive leadership team and developing change agents to role model the behaviors of lean leadership and implementing lean practices. Prior to joining MassMutual Dalton spent over six years at McKinsey as a leader in the North American operations practice. At McKinsey, Dalton deployed lean in several industries including manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, information technology and financial services. Before McKinsey, Dalton spent six years in the US Navy as a submarine officer aboard an award winning submarine and as an assistant professor of Naval Science at Fordham University and SUNY Maritime. Dalton holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering and M.S. in Operations Research Engineering from George Washington University. Director of Operational Excellence, National Flood Services - Aon Affinity Nick Ruhmann is an ongoing student of "lean thinking", the Toyota Production System, and certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt currently leading the enterprise wide deployment of an Operational Excellence culture at National Flood Services, a leading flood insurance solutions provider and division of Aon plc. From 2010 to 2012, he worked in medical device industry for BD Medical, leading Continuous Improvement within their Diabetes Care division, but spent the bulk of his career with Tenneco Inc., a major Tier I automotive supplier to nearly every OEM including Toyota. During that time, Nick’s career has offered a diverse background, including both functional and leadership positions across Research & Development, Product Engineering, Process Excellence, Operations, Process Engineering, Quality, and Supply chain. Lean Champion, Book Author and Shingo Prize Winner, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Beginning in 2005, Norbert has implemented a principles-based lean product development process at the three global innovation centers of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. For nearly a decade he has been Goodyear’s lean champion in research and development. Norbert, born and raised in Luxembourg, has a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Universitaet des Saarlandes, Saarbruecken, Germany, and has worked most of the disciplines in the Goodyear innovation centers in Luxembourg and Akron. Norbert recently published his first book “Lean-driven Innovation,” and he has spoken at many conferences in the USA and other countries Assistant VP of Continuous Improvement , Intermountain Healthcare Bryan Crowell is the AVP of Continuous Improvement at Intermountain Healthcare and former VP of manufacturing for ATK Armament Systems group and former plant manager at the highest scoring and first 2-time winner of the Shingo prize-winning Autoliv Airbag Module Plant in Ogden, Utah. He has lead multiple organization through cultural transformation. With the combination of structure, processes and leadership behaviors Bryan has demonstrated the ability to engage all team members to drive results. Employees under his leadership and processes have implemented over 500K ideas being recognized as world class throughout industry. Bryan co authored the Shingo prize winning book, Own the Gap: How to Build a Daily Kaizen Culture. He received a bachelor’s degree in physics from Weber State University and an MBA from Utah State University. Vice President; Performance & Process Improvement, Universal Health Services, Inc. Tuesday 15th May 2018 \| 08:30 - 10:00 am Chuck DeBusk is Vice President; Performance & Process Improvement for UHS of Delaware, a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. Chuck’s current role is to provide leadership to Operations and Clinical Process Improvement, Pharmacy, Surgery, Radiology and Laboratory. Chuck has over 30 years experience in healthcare and healthcare process improvement and is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and a Registered Professional Engineer. He holds an MS in industrial engineering from the University of Tennessee and a BS in industrial engineering and operations research from Virginia Tech. He can be reached at Charles.debusk@uhsinc.com. Vice President Planning, Architecture, and Strategic Change Management, USAA Leslie Dowling joined USAA in January of 2013 leading the performance consulting practice supporting 25K+ employees. Over the next 2 years, Leslie’s understanding of business process, quality, continuous improvement and change allowed her to take on the staff operations functions supporting 5 unique lines of business. During this time, Leslie and her team regularly drove 10-15% productivity improvements year over year resulting in $100M+ in expense reduction and cost avoidance to the company. Early in 2016 Leslie was asked to lead the planning, business architecture and strategic change management functions for the enterprise. The team is proud of their recent work to measure, bring awareness, and manage change saturation for 29K employees and nearly 12M members. Prior to joining the USAA team Leslie led process improvement, learning, performance, quality and change teams in large, complex organizations like UnitedHealth Group, Express Scripts, and Qwest Communications. Leslie continue to serve on multiple advisory panels and not-for-profit boards. Chief Operations Strategy Officer, ComputerShare Joe has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, primarily running large operating departments and businesses. As Chief Operations Strategy Officer he is responsible for driving operational excellence practices across all business lines and has led strategic change initiatives in the US, Canada and the UK. Before his current responsibilities, he was the firm's Chief Operating Officer of the US Equity Services business—the largest corporate stock transfer business in the US. He joined Computershare in July 2007 from AXA Equitable where he led several strategic process improvement initiatives and became the firm's first Certified Master Black Belt in Six Sigma. Prior to joining AXA, Joe was President of First Chicago Trust Company where he led the shareholder servicing group for many years, building it into a service leader among large transfer agents. His broad experience includes senior leadership positions in treasury operations, commercial lending operations and securities processing—all within the financial services industry. Joe is a CPA and has broad expertise in risk management and operational controls from serving as Audit Group head at First Chicago and Citibank. He is also a licensed Securities Principal and former President of Georgeson Securities Corporation—the US broker-dealer of Computershare. Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Management, Systems & Technology, University of Dayton Sandy Furterer is an Associate Professor at the University of Dayton, in the Department of Engineering Management, Systems and Technology. She recently came from industry as a VP of Process Transformation for Park National Bank in Columbus, Ohio. She is also a part time faculty member in the Masters of Science in Quality Assurance program at Kennesaw State University. Dr. Furterer received her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering with a specialization in Quality Engineering from the University of Central Florida in 2004. She received an MBA from Xavier University, and a Bachelor and Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University. Dr. Furterer has over 25 years of experience in business process and quality improvements. She is an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, a Certified Quality Engineer, an ASQ fellow, and a certified Master Black Belt. Dr. Furterer is an author or co-author of 4 reference textbooks on Lean Six Sigma, Design for Six Sigma and Lean Systems, including her latest book: Lean Six Sigma Case Studies in the Healthcare Enterprise by Springer publishing in 2014. Topic Title: Linking your Business' Core Processes and Process Architecture with Strategy Prior to her current position, Sandy built the process infrastructure that incorporated a process architecture map as the VP of Process Transformation at Park National Bank. In this talk she will address how to: Tie process improvement project prioritization with the core processes and strategic plan Improve processes by documenting and creating process and procedure change control for execution Expand lean six sigma projects with process infrastructure Govern a process council made up of leaders to build a process improvement network Director of Lean Transformation, NCH Healthcare System Mustafa Abdulali is the Director of Lean Transformation at NCH in Naples, FL. Mustafa is focused on engineering a culture that embraces structured problem solving using tools and techniques from process improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma. He previously worked as the Director of Performance Improvement at Main Line Health in Philadelphia, PA and had spent over a decade in the Automotive and Aerospace industries where he held a variety of positions. Mustafa has a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, an MBA from the University of Florida and is an American Society of Quality Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Lean Six Sigma Specialist, Catholic Health Services Long Island Dr. Donna Powers is the Lean Six Sigma Specialist for the Catholic Health Services of Long Island (CHSLI). With a proven track record of healthcare process improvement and organizational change, Donna joins a committed team of leaders who strive to improve patient safety and quality of care in their journey toward becoming a high reliability organization. Prior to joining CHSLI, Donna enjoyed a long career at Northwell Health (formerly North Shore –Long Island Jewish Health System) with expertise in clinical nursing, hospital administration, operations, resource management, patient throughput and quality. She held positions including Assistant Vice President Ambulatory Cancer Services and Director Program Evaluation where she used Six Sigma, Lean and Change Management methods to drive business initiatives and goals. Donna has trained hundreds of healthcare employees as a faculty instructor for the Center for Learning and Innovation (NSLIJHS) and introduced Six Sigma and Lean thinking to the Executive MBA program at Wagner College where she is employed as an adjunct professor. Dr. Powers has earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Case Western Reserve University, a Masters of Public Administration from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hunter College- Bellevue School of Nursing. She is certified as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Lean and Change Management expert. She has presented nationally and is a published author. Head of Corporate Initiatives, EDP Renewables Stephan Blasilli is an industry recognized Business Process Management (BPM) expert & Head of Corporate Initiatives for EDP Renewables in North America (one of the largest renewable energy companies worldwide). Prior to joining EDPR, he worked for various technology companies (including Bosch) on Business Process Outsourcing, Business Intelligence, and strategic planning projects. Stephan holds a graduate Business Degree from Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany. Stephan specializes in Agile BPM, a discipline that he is a pioneer in. Principal, Vanguard Jean joined Vanguard in November 2002 as a municipal bond analyst in the Fixed Income Group. Today, she leads the process excellence (PE) team for the Investment Management Group. Prior to her association with Vanguard, Jean worked as portfolio manager for Rochdale Investment Management and credit analyst at The Hartford. Jean began her career as a rating agency analyst for Moody’s Investors Service. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a M.P.P. from Harvard University. CTO, Mentis Neuro Health Morgan’s role at Mentis is to advance the company’s strength in clinical innovation through digital transformation. He also serves as the company’s compliance officer where he focuses on continuous quality improvement through microlearning and outcome analytics. Morgan joined Mentis with more than 20 years of experience helping healthcare organizations improve efficiency, quality and scalability by adopting next generation mobile, cloud and analytics technology. Head of Productivity, PBC, Product Mgmt., Process Systems Eng. & Ops Excellence, Global HyCO, Praxair, Inc. Solomon Dadebo is currently Head of Productivity, Product Management, Pipeline Business Center and Process Systems Engineering, Global HyCO, Praxair, Inc., The Woodlands, Texas. He has held positions of increasing responsibility that covers Process systems engineering, product management and Energy Management since he joined Praxair in 2000. He has a passion for operational excellence pertaining to facility-wide optimization and effective performance monitoring. Prior to joining Praxair, Solomon worked with Imperial Oil Ltd as a Lead Process Control Applications Engineer in Sarnia, ON, Canada. He holds a Doctoral Degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University at Kingston, ON, Canada and a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto, ON, Canada. He holds 4 patents. Associate Director, Research Informatics, Christiana Care Health System Tze is the Associate Director of Research Informatics in the Value Institute at Christiana Care Health System. He is the Principal Investigator of multiple research studies where he and his team utilize multi-method approach including statistical methods, computer simulation, and other techniques to solve pragmatic problems such as predicting surgical outcomes, optimizing staffing, and evaluating outcomes of large scale implementation of process interventions in the health system. He also manages the Data Analyst team and prioritizes research studies, as well as co-chairs the research forum at the Value Institute facilitating the exchange of research ideas and research progress. Prior to joining Christiana Care Health System, Tze conceptualized and developed the Business Intelligence and Research department at UMass Memorial Healthcare. This department supported initiatives ranging from corporate strategies to process improvement activities by utilizing robust data analytics and Industrial Engineering techniques. Tze has served as a reviewer for several scientific journals, a keynote speaker and an invited speaker for several national conferences. He graduated from Purdue University, where he earned his PhD in Industrial Engineering. In his free time, Tze enjoys taking dance classes, photography, and traveling. Enterprise Director of Lean Six Sigma , KeyBank Deb Lindway is the Enterprise Director of Lean Six Sigma at KeyBank in Cleveland, Ohio. In this role, Deb has built a team and program focused on deploying a Lean Six Sigma pragmatic approach to enable business transformation across core business units. This approach improves efficiencies and ratio performance with focus on both revenue growth and expense reduction priorities. Supported by alignment to the CFO, Deb and her team partners closely with business and finance leaders on strategic priorities. Improving client experience, simplifying E2E processes and achieving shared business value realization are a few of the goals achieved. The Enterprise LSS program has delivered over $50MM in financial benefit covering revenue and expense reduction in 3 years. Prior to joining KeyBank, Deb was with Bank of America in multiple senior leadership roles and functions including Consumer Channel Technology, Enterprise Operations and Business Banking. She obtained her Six Sigma certifications at GE during her 13 years in their materials business and holds MS and BS degrees in Chemical Engineering. Administrative Laboratory Director, Rockford Health System Mamta Patel, MS, MT. is Administrative Director of Laboratory Services at Rockford Health System in Rockford Illinois. Mamta has Master’s degree in Microbiology and Medical Technology. She has 20 years of experience in healthcare at various levels of clinical Laboratory leadership positions. She is in her current role at Rockford since 2009 successfully leading all areas of the laboratory including outreach laboratory. Mamta has received training and certification for Lean specialist as well as Lean-Six Sigma Black Belt. Mamta has led many cross functional teams to drive process improvement initiatives realizing significant financial savings, cycle time reduction, technology automation, culture transformation, customer satisfaction enhancement etc. Under her leadership laboratory is recognized as lean leader and have received several quality awards including True North Matrix award. Mamta has received nomination for Jack Packard Quality award. She is also recognized as innovative thinker & strong change agents. As a Recognition and Celebration team chair, she has created & implemented system wide STAR award program to create culture of appreciation, recognition and celebration. Mamta has transformed work culture to be more respectful, customer centric & team oriented. Mamta has served as board member for American Association of Clinical Chemistry for Chicago. Senior Director, Citi Retail Services Joel has been with Citibank's Retail Services credit card division since 2003 in a variety of Operational and Business roles, increasing in responsibility with each move. Citi Retail Services issues private label and co-brand credit cards on behalf of major retailers such as The Home Depot, Best Buy, Macy's, Sears and more. Citi Retail Services has over 90 Million open card member accounts as well as over 8,000 employed associates. In his current role as Senior Director, Head of Planning and Strategy (since 2014), Joel has 40 exempt employees on staff and manages many critical functions for the business including business and operational reengineering, budgeting and prioritization for all technology program expenditures, partner interfacing for business and technology solutions and an automation solutions development team. In addition, he carries key responsibilities associated with the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti Money Laundering (AML) programs. Prior to this role, Joeal was a Senior Operations Director and managed the Sears Credit Card customer service and inbound sales function (2012 - 2014). He had direct responsibility over 1,400 FTE located in four domestic plus two offshore sites. Joel was also responsible for the overall Sears partner relationship relative to credit card operational matters. Director, Organization Excellence, Kaiser Permanente David Robinson began work for Kaiser Permanente in 2006 as a program manager for information technology. In 2008 he transferred into a process improvement role where he provided expertise to the finance organization. David is currently the director of Organization Excellence in Enterprise Shared Services Buy to Pay, and also serves as an organization development consultant and process improvement expert. David has 18 years of experience implementing complex enterprise-wide programs and projects, 12 years of experience leading large cross-functional and multi-organizational teams through quality-improvement initiatives and six years of experience partnering with leaders to create strategies to improve the health and development of their organizations. David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and a Master of Science degree in organization development. He is certified in Accelerating Implementation Management (AIM), holds a Six Sigma Black Belt, and is a Project Management Professional (PMP). He is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as an airborne Spanish linguist. Founder/President of Markovitz Consulting, Author , Building the Fit Organization Dan Markovitz helps organizations become faster, stronger, and more agile though a fresh approach to the teaching and practice of lean. With a philosophy derived from his years as a teacher and a running coach, he helps companies reinvigorate their lean efforts by developing an accessible on-ramp for their lean journeys. Dan has worked with clients throughout the US and Europe. Past clients have included WL Gore, Abbott Vascular, NYU Medical Center, the New York City Department of Health, CamelBak, Clif Bar, Industrial Revolution, and Goodyear Tire. He is a faculty member at the Lean Enterprise Institute and teaches at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, the Stanford Continuing Studies Program, and the Ohio State University’s Fisher School of Business. He is an author of two books—A Factory of One and Building the Fit Organization—both of which were honored with Shingo Research Awards. He’s spoken at the Lean UK Summit, the Lean Island Conference in Reykjavik, the LEI Transformation Summit, the Shingo International Conference, and numerous AME Conferences. Markovitz lived in Japan for four years and is fluent in Japanese. He holds a BA from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Owner & Managing Director, Kitch Consulting & Coaching Felicia has facilitated strategic planning sessions, developed performance frameworks and, re-designed organisational structures, for a number of organisations including As-U-Wish, a Canadian based life-style and entertainment company, ITCC Ltd a hospital management company based in Nigeria, the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Guyana and the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency. Felicia has designed and facilitated numerous Leadership and Management Development and coaching programmes for amongst others, Deutshe Bank (U.K.), FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados), Williams Industries (Barbados) and has been an Executive Coach to business leaders within the Ansa McAL (Barbados) Ltd Group. As an executive coach she frequently speaks at conferences on performance management, culture and organisational excellence, and on the best ways to foster economic growth. Felicia also delivers masterclasses on how private sector organisations can expand their operations, enhance their leadership team’s skills, and, the performance of their people. Felicia holds an MBA from Kingston Business School (UK) and the LLB law degree from the University Of Wales College Of Cardiff (Wales). She passed the Inns of Court School of Law examination in 1992 which led to her becoming a Barrister in 1994. She is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Management Institute (U.K.), and, also a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (U.K.). Enterprise Principle Leader, Global Manufacturing Operations & Council, Johnson Controls, Inc. Ricardo Estok, has over 20 years of experience driving sustainable Operations, Commercial and Business Excellence Transformations He has multicultural and functional experience at global companies in the US and LA, including Johnson Controls, S.C. Johnson, Abbott and Pepsi. He holds a master’s of science in business from the University of Miami; a bachelor’s of science in industrial engineering, and he is master black belt. He speaks English, Hungarian and Spanish Currently, his role is as the Enterprise Principle Leader, Global Manufacturing Operations & Council at Johnson Controls Inc. Ricardo moved to Wisconsin, USA, with his wife, 10 years ago. Senior Solutions Architect, PetHealth, Inc. Stuart Janzen is Senior Solutions Architect at Pethealth Insurance, Inc. , where he was recently selected as a 2017 OPEX Week award finalist for his work in transforming a highly ineffective claims process by automating 98% of the tasks, reducing labor by 65%, elimination 100% of duplicate data entry, vastly improving customer satisfaction, and speeding the entire process up by 75%. For the last 18 years, Stuart has been creating efficient solutions within BPM framework and environments. By identifying and analyzing poor processes, Stuart has created and implemented new transformative processes in the transportation, education, health care, manufacturing, oil and gas, government, banking and insurance industries. Senior Business Improvement Lead, Turner Broadcasting System Marsha Maldonado is a Sr. Business Improvement Lead in Business Improvement at Turner. Business Improvement is a team of internal consultants who deliver high-impact management consulting and program management services to initiatives associated with enterprise-wide continuous improvement. Recent initiatives include working with senior management on organizational redesign, process transformation, technology implementation, and merger integration. Marsha’s consulting career spans 17 years. Marsha joined Turner and Business Improvement in 2004. Prior to working with Turner, she spent over 5 years in management consulting in a leadership role at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Consulting and IBM Global Services. Her project work spanned multiple industries with a focus on financial transformation, including performance management, budgeting and forecasting redesign, and cost reduction initiatives. Prior to consulting, Marsha managed an Investment Operations accounting team at Prudential Insurance Company. Marsha holds an MBA from Duke University - Fuqua School of Business. Founder & President, Pathways to Manufacturing Excellence LLC, Larry E. Fast is a veteran of 35 years in the wire and cable industry, 27 of those in senior management roles at Belden for 25 years and General Cable for 10. As Belden’s VP of Manufacturing he led a transformation of plants in the late 80s and early 90s that included cellularizing about 80% of the equipment around common products and routings (known today as value streams) and the use of what we now know as Lean and Six Sigma tools. His book, The 12 Principles of Manufacturing Excellence—A Lean Leader’s Guide to Achieving and Sustaining Excellence, 2nd. Edition, was released September, 2015 by CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, as a Productivity Press book. The original book, a best seller, was published in October, 2011. Fast holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Administration from Indiana University. In 1997 he joined General Cable Corporation (GCC), one of the world’s largest wire and cable companies. As the Senior Vice President of Operations, Fast launched a manufacturing excellence strategy in 1999 that became an enterprise-wide priority in 2001. After a 1999 acquisition he had 28 plants reporting to him as well as Corporate Sourcing, Quality, Manufacturing Systems and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. Later as plants were consolidated to less than 20, he was given expanded responsibility for the North American Supply Chain. Since the launch of the Manufacturing Excellence strategy at GCC in 1999, there have been 34 Industry Week “Best Plants Finalists including 12 “Best Plants” winners since 2001. Inc. Top 100 Leadership Expert and Speaker , Gordon Tredgold is a former business and IT transformation expert who has successfully delivered $100m programs, run $300m departments and led teams of 1000 staff for Fortune 100 companies. Now he is an International speaker, published author, executive and business coach. His mission is to help people and business deliver amazing results. Gordon has lived and worked in UK, Belgium, Holland,Czech Republic, US and Germany, and has served as CIO for Asia Pacific, CIO for USA and been Global Head of Service Delivery serving 48,000 customers world wide. He has experience of working Banking, Utilities, Telecoms, Logistics Manufacturing/CGP. Which gives him global and International experience across many sectors, and cultures all of which has helped him identify pragmatic solutions that work and improve operational performance in every environment. Check out his book FAST 4 Principles Every Business Needs To Achieve Success and Drive Results. Innovation Portfolio Manager, Kimberly-Clark Patrick Downey is currently the Innovation Portfolio Manager at Kimberly-Clark in the North America Baby and Child Care organization. He has responsibility to ensure a robust and balanced innovation pipeline exists for iconic brands such as Huggies and Pull-Ups. Patrick has worked at Kimberly Clark for 15 years in various functions including Quality Management, Safety, Process Engineering, and most recently Lean Deployment. Prior to his current role, Patrick spent the past 9 years learning, applying, developing, teaching and coaching continuous improvement initiatives in manufacturing, supply chain, and staff environments. He is well-versed in leadership capability building, kaizen facilitation, strategy deployment, cross-functional problem solving, and development and implementation of management systems. Patrick has never met a process he didn’t want to try and improve. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2001, and a Master of Science in Project Management from The George Washington University in 2008, and has worked for Kimberly-Clark his entire career. He currently resides in Neenah, Wisconsin with his wife and two children. In his spare time, Patrick likes to get out on his road bike. Director of Research & Strategy, Microsoft Workplace Analytics Chantrelle Nielsen runs product research for Workplace Analytics, a new software category built on the 70 million-person Office365 dataset. She came to Microsoft as part of the acquisition of VoloMetrix, where she led various functions as the startup scaled including Strategy, Product Management, Customer Solutions and Marketing. She has been published in the Harvard Business Review and quoted in the Wall Street Journal about this work. She holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an MLIS from the University of Washington. Business Excellence & Innovation Leader, Black & Veatch Stefana Saxton serves as a Business Excellence Innovation Leader for Business Excellence (BEx) at Black & Veatch where she works with internal and external clients to identify, prioritize, and execute mission critical business improvements and innovations that add value to the company, its business partners, and clients globally. She has worked with clients in healthcare, finance, engineering, programs, operations, information technology, manufacturing and development. Prior to her current role, Saxton held leadership positions in Department of Defense (Alliant Techsystems), aerospace (Ultrax Aerospace), Department of Energy (Honeywell FM&T), and telecommunications consulting (Akinnovate). She holds Bachelor Degrees in Electrical Engineering and Music, and a Master in Business Administration. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Project Management Professional (PMP) and has supported STEM activities as a FIRST FLL robotics coach since 2009. Vice President & General Manager, KAP IT - iObeya Digital Visual Management Zal Pezhman is Vice President & General Manager at KAP IT, creators of iObeya™ Digital Visual Management. He is responsible for the continued evolution of iObeya’s go-to-market strategy and focused on international business development beyond the French domestic market, notably in EMEA, the USA and Japan (the birthplace of oObeya). During his tenure, he has developed numerous strategic alliances with Lean Consulting organizations, and has accompanied over 80 large enterprises in their deployment of (Digital) Visual Management across over 20 countries. Although not a certified expert in Lean and Agile Management, or Continuous Improvement tools and methods, he is delighted to be participating in such a showcase event with such venerable participants and fellow speakers. His exposure to the challenges of true cross-enterprise collaboration will help shed light on the reasons for the accelerated adoption of Visual Management for many global organizations. Previous to KAP IT, Zal’s 20 years of experience in IT include diverse expertise in Sales, Marketing and Strategic Alliances internationally with market leaders like HP and SMART Technologies, as well as niche best-of-breed specialists including Orsyp and ClickSoftware. Zal is bi-lingual and earned an Bachelor of Arts in International Business Management from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the UK in 1994, followed by an MBA from ESC Grenoble in France in 1996. He lives just to the south of Paris, France with his partner and 2 young children and spends any spare time exerting unspent energy outdoors on his mountain bike, or hiking. Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft Workplace Analytics Nathan Barnett drives go-to-market activities for Workplace Analytics, where he works across Microsoft functions and with industry thought leaders to establish a new product category focused on organizational and behavioral analytics. He previously led marketing operations at VoloMetrix, a Seattle-based startup that helped Global 2000 organizations define transformation and productivity strategies by leveraging behavioral analytics. VoloMetrix was acquired by Microsoft in 2015. Founder & CEO, Orchestrating Excellence Gary Muszynski is an organizational development consultant and musician influenced by neurological research and how it can be applied to leadership, collaboration, change and creativity. He is also the founder and CEO of Orchestrating Excellence, a global team and leadership development firm that leverages the power of play for culture change and innovation. Gary and his team works with companies such as Pixar, Genentech, Kaiser, Electronic Arts, Bank of America, McKesson, HopeLab, and Xerox PARC, and has presented immersive learning programs and interactive keynotes for Fast Company, Apple University, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Executive Vice President, TBM Consulting Group Dan Sullivan serves on the TBM Board of Directors and leads the firm’s North American consulting operations. Prior to joining TBM, Dan served as Director of Body Engineering at Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation and was responsible for establishing Nissan’s shop floor improvement system and leading the launch of Nissan’s first automotive plant in North America. He is recognized for his deep experience in establishing leadership and management systems that support sustainable high performance. Dan is adept at motivating teams and has remained a trusted advisor to many executives. Most recently, Dan has worked directly with senior leaders at Pactiv Corporation, Carlisle Companies and Euramax International to implement lean business systems, drive cultural change, and align continuous improvement initiatives to key strategic objectives. Company Founder, i-nexus Paul Docherty started his career in Marconi, where he held a wide range of senior management roles covering manufacturing, IT, sales, product development, project management, Operational Excellence and corporate strategy as well as having P&L responsibility for the growth of a regional telecoms equipment business. Passionate about helping organizations to execute more effectively, Paul's deep understanding of the challenges of establishing robust strategy execution disciplines comes from his experience coaching senior management teams in over 100 global organizations. He is a regular speaker at conferences and has delivered keynote presentations at annual Operational Excellence and Process Excellence summits and at the thought leader global annual Strategy Execution conferences. Regularly averaging over 500 registrants for each of his quarterly webinars on Strategy Execution Best Practices, Paul is the architect of the Strategy Execution Maturity Model which has been used by hundreds of global organizations to benchmark their strategy execution capabilities. In addition to his role as a thought leader in the Strategy Execution space, Paul is also the founder and lead facilitator of the Strategy Execution Consortium – a group of 40+ Global 2000 companies that meet annually on both sides of the Atlantic to share and benchmark Strategy Execution Best Practices. In 2001, Paul founded i-nexus with the goal of building SaaS software that could help organizations successfully manage the complexity involved in translating their vision into reality. This software is now the "de facto" standard for large enterprises when it comes to driving execution of their strategy. Paul holds an MEng. in Computer Systems and Software Engineering from the University of York and an MBA from the University of Warwick. SVP, Operational Excellence, Ten-X Hauke joined Ten-X in November 2014 as SVP, Operational Excellence. He oversees Operational Risk, Change Management, and Project Management for the Residential Business with focus on delivering integrated customer centric solutions that make real estate transactions transparent and simple. Prior to joining, Hauke was vice president of enterprise project management at Ocwen Financial. Earlier in his career, Hauke held leadership positions with State Street Bank, Systems Evolution, Management Engineers and Bose Corporation. Hauke holds a Masters in Mechanical and Process Engineering from the TU Darmstadt, Germany and a Masters in General Management from Harvard. Senior Director, Operations Excellence, West Monroe Partners Michael Hughes is a senior director in West Monroe Partners’ Operations Excellence practice and leads our Organizational Strategy and Change Management solutions, based in Chicago. He has more than 23 years of experience navigating all facets of change to deliver technology-enabled business transformation programs across an array of industries. Michael Hughes is a highly regarded business transformation executive with expertise in the areas of strategy, leadership development, performance management, change management, organizational design/alignment, training, culture change, business planning, IT strategy, and process design/improvement. An accomplished senior consultant with a unique blend of business and technology acumen, he has substantial experience coaching and mentoring management teams and executives through business planning and through the process of leading change and transformation. Author, Performance & Business Coach , A former Research Director at leading IT industry analysis firm Gartner, Mark has an extensive background in enterprise architecture, business process management and change management, having held executive positions with a number of technology companies. Mark has authored or co-authored four books on business and process management, including “Thrive! How to Succeed in the Age of the Customer” and “In Search of BPM Excellence” and “People Centric Process Management. Widely respected for his knowledge and views on business change, he is the creator of “Next Practice” and has variously been described as a ”BPM Guru”, a “Thought Leader” and a “Master of Mindset”. Mark is passionate about the people aspects of change, he has spent much of the last ten years travelling the world, learning, teaching and researching the cultural aspects of change and how executives perceive business and process improvement In this capacity he has literally taught hundreds of people and been fortunate to interview and interact with many CEO’s . Global Client Advisor – Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals , Ricoh USA, Inc. Mary H. Sylvester, Global Client Advisor for Ricoh USA, Inc., has 25+ years of pharmaceutical and healthcare leadership experience (Merck & Co., Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim, Inc.) utilizing program, process, and change management methodologies to innovatively solve business challenges and drive transformation. She has expertise in leading large organizations through transformation to achieve organizational efficiencies, align strategic priorities and improve business process agility. Sylvester helps customers achieve information mobility through organizational change management, governance, risk, and compliance, and business process excellence. Sylvester serves on the board for Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Metro Chapter and Association of Change Management Practitioners. She was also deeply rooted in defining, designing, developing, and delivering the Certified Change Management Professional’s™ (CCMP™) Certification, as well as connecting academia and global business organizations to drive change. Sylvester holds a Doctorate in Organizational Development from Capella University, an MBA in Pharmaceutical Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and two Bachelor of Science degrees from Texas Lutheran College in Business Administration (dual majors in Marketing and Management) and Chemistry. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (CLSSMBB) from Villanova University and a Certified Change Management Professional™ (CCMP™) through the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP). Managing Partner, C5 Insight Geoff is the founder of C5 insight. Twice named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing businesses, C5 Insight is a consulting firm that helps companies plan and implement customer experience management and employee engagement projects and technologies. His speaking experience ranges from keynotes to corporate training events to workshops for events like EuroForum, Digital Summit, High Five, the Direct Marketing Association, CRMUG Summit, and LawTech. His thoughts on relationships in the digital age have been seen and heard in a number of venues including National Public Radio, USA Today, BusinessWeek and The New Zealand Direct Marketing Journal. Former Commander, US Navy, Manager , Wilson Perumal & Company, Inc Ernie served in the US Navy for 22 years as a fighter pilot and test pilot. He commanded and successfully turned around multiple F/A-18 squadrons, including the largest in the Navy, where he was responsible for leading a diverse workforce of 1300 employees and 117 aircraft to train 60% of the Navy’s fighter aircrew. In this role, he reduced Operations & Maintenance costs by 36% in just one year while simultaneously restoring to service over $3.6 billion worth of high-performance aircraft and increasing pilot production by 44%. Today, Ernie is a Manager for Wilson Perumal & Company where he leads the company’s execution practice helping organizations achieve operational excellence through proactive management of their culture and focusing on fully integrating the business strategy with the company’s management system and culture. Ernie has a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, Eisenhower School; a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado. He is also a graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School. Managing Partner , WIlson Perumal & Company Stephen is Managing Partner and co-founder of Wilson Perumal & Company. His new book, Growth in the Age of Complexity, will be published later in 2017. Stephen works with senior leadership teams in corporations and private equity, advising them on critical strategy and operations issues. Stephen has written extensively on the topics of growth strategy, cost-competitiveness, organizational development and in particular, on the issue of competing in today’s complex world. He is co-author of Waging War on Complexity Costs (McGraw-Hill, 2009). At WP&C, Stephen works closely with CEOs, COOs and other corporate leaders around the issues of optimizing the portfolio and customer offerings, simplifying and aligning a company’s operating model, and developing growth strategies that achieve scale and profitability. He works across industries, and has particular depth in Consumer Goods, Industrial Goods, Manufacturing & Retail. Stephen began his consulting career with Marakon Associates, a strategy consultancy, then spent six years with George Group Consulting, joining as a Senior Consultant and rising to election as Principal, as part of the Global Leadership Team. He was a founding member of its Operations Strategy practice, led the development of the European business and was leader of George Group's intellectual capital initiatives. Upon the acquisition of George Group by Accenture, Stephen became Partner. He left to found Wilson Perumal & Company, Inc. Stephen is a contributor to journals such as Chief Executive magazine, CNBC.com and Investors Business Daily. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School in Finance and Strategic Management and resides in Dallas. Continuous Improvement Chief Engineer , Northrop Grumman John King is a Continuous Improvement Chief Engineer for Northrop Grumman Corporation where he is responsible for Implementation of large scale transformational improvement projects and training of Continuous Improvement Techniques including Lean and 6 Sigma processes. John is an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality management in a number of industries including consumer products, automobiles, aerospace, communications, and capital equipment manufacturing. Much of this experience has been in the areas of cost reduction and process improvement. John has made several presentations of the results of his work in Process Improvement and Lead Time Management at regional, national, and International conferences. John is a 6 Sigma Master Black Belt, a licensed Professional Engineer, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland World Class Consortia. He is also a graduate of Georgia Tech (Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Mechanical Engineering) and Loyola University of Maryland (MBA). Advisory Board Member, OpusWorks (by the Quality Group) For the past 3 years, Joel has run the OpusWorks Corporate Customer Council and served as a strategic advisor to the company. Previously, Joel served as the Executive responsible for AT&T’s Quality Management System Center for Excellence (QMS-COE) where he and his team delivered over $2B in financial benefits. The ultimate mission of his organization was to drive a deeper ‘customer first’ culture across AT&T by creating a common quality management framework, providing expert guidance, and building a sustainable Quality infrastructure. Joel is a graduate of the Texas Tech University where he earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering. Senior Manager, Customer Experience, West Monroe Partners John Vance is an experienced PRINCE 2 certified program, project, and change manager whose deep experience is built upon a well-rounded career in information technology and management consulting. He has worked with a variety of organizations to design and implement successful technology-enabled business transformation solutions related to customer relationship management and marketing, business process improvement and redesign, ERP strategy and implementation, technology and shared services planning, e-commerce platform development, and many other disciplines. A native of the United Kingdom, he has worked in both Europe and the United States and completed projects across those areas as well as Asia. John’s experience spans a number of sectors, including the banking, insurance, retail, consumer products, energy, transportation, and automotive industries. Managing Partner, Wilson Perumal & Company, Inc Andrei is an advisor to senior leaders in both industry and government and an innovative thinker on complexity, strategy, and operations. He has deep business and technical expertise across a variety of disciplines, and draws from his broad base of experience to help clients solve their most critical strategic and operational issues. He is a co-founder of Wilson Perumal & Company and co-author of Waging War on Complexity Costs (McGraw-Hill). After graduating with his engineering degree from MIT, Andrei excelled in the US Navy's Nuclear Power Program. There he learned the fundamentals of managing and eliminating risk in complex systems. Following the Navy, Andrei worked at Beal Aerospace Technologies—an ambitious private rocket venture under Texas billionaire Andy Beal—where he oversaw the successful design, construction and operation of a propellant grade hydrogen peroxide concentration plant. He was also a Director of Strategic Operations for Beal Bank, one of the most profitable banks in the nation. Additional operations, leadership, and client experience comes from time at Bain Consulting and the George Group. President, Center for Strategy Realization Kimberlee Williams, President - Center for Strategy Realization, is an executive leadership consultant and coach to multinational Fortune 100 companies on how to successfully deliver on revenue growth, customer, and shareholder commitments during major transformation. Her research shows that despite effective strategic plans, scorecards, performance systems, and tracking technologies it is leader beliefs, behaviors, and capabilities during times of change that ultimately determine whether or not the company’s financial goals will be realized. Kimberlee works with global business leaders and their teams to develop the execution capabilities they must leverage to deliver on their most audacious initiatives. Her focus includes strategy execution, culture transformation, organization realignment, change leadership effectiveness, human capital/talent development, and business process redesign. Previously, she served in Merck & Company’s Strategy Office as the Global Head of Change Execution for the $46bb/90,000 employee base. She was also Executive Director - Strategy, Operational Excellence, & Change for the $4bb Global Services & Information Technology business unit and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Change Agent. Kimberlee's approach to leading transformational change has enabled more than $4.5bb in business value in 18 industries. She lives on the beautiful Hudson River waterfront across from Manhattan. CTO, Work-Relay Jon Sapir is the Founder and CTO of Work-Relay. After starting out as a system engineer for IBM South Africa some 30 years ago, Jon has built several successful software engineering firms. In 2006, Jon started SilverTree Systems, Inc. as a cloud consulting and application development company with clients that include Adobe, Joyent and Docusign. In 2014, Jon started Work-Relay. Work-Relay is a unique Business Process and Work Management product for companies with complex processes that look to leverage data stored in their Salesforce platform. Jon has written a number of books about the Salesforce platform, process management, and Shadow IT. Partner, CTI Partners Luis has more than 20 years of global operational excellence experience in multiple industries ranging from manufacturing (medical devices, industrial products) to supply chain (distribution and logistics) to financial services (banking, insurance) and renewable energy, including management consulting. Currently a partner with CTI Partners, a boutique consulting firm focusing on Strategy, Operational Excellence, and Technology. Luis began his career at GE as a Black Belt engineer leading the Six Sigma deployment in Mexico and US. He has led end-to-end business transformations at Countrywide Financial, Ingram Micro, Cardinal Health, and SunEdison leveraging continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma to improve productivity. At McKinsey & Co., he served as an Implementation Leader in the Americas to help clients design and execute performance transformations in Healthcare, Food manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Pharma, and Electronics. Banking & Financial Services Manager, West Monroe Partners Redesigned the Client Onboarding and Servicing experience for the Treasury Management and Payment Services functions of a super regional commercial and retail bank. By envisioning the new Client Journey, Brent helped the bank to redefine their guiding principles, how they deliver an exceptional experience, and streamline their operating model; ultimately gained through targeted improvements and a multi-year technology implementation, the bank will leverage standard processes to deliver a tailored experience with 50-80% reductions in manual or redundant activities. Brents is responsible for desigining and helping to build the new "LeanCX" offering that ties together Customer Experience groups with their Operations counterparts to best deliver solutions and products to the end customer in the most efficient way possible. By linking the groups, clients are able to co-invest their strategic budgets on only those projects that impact the customer and business alike. Sales Director, US & Canada, Everteam In his role as Director of North American Sales at Everteam, Dan helps his customers succeed in rapidly transforming their business through process automation. He has authored several articles on business transformation and improving customer experience and recently authored a white paper entitled “The CIO’s Guide to Business Transformation with Process Automation”. Dan resides in Greenville, SC with his wife Becky, their 3 boys (Danny, Ben, and Titus) and 1 girl (Tori), 2 dogs, a cat, fish and various other pets and enjoys coaching basketball and planning vacations. Head of Operational Excellence, Grunenthal Gregory Carrette has a track record of more than 10 years in the field of Operational Excellence. He’s primarily worked in Banking, Insurance and Pharmaceuticals within (Service) Operations, IT, supply chain, etc. both as an external consultant for e.g. McKinsey&Co and leading Operational Excellence within a mid-size pharmaceutical corporation. He gathered expertise throughout international assignments in Hong Kong, the US, Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium demonstrating a deep understanding of the cultural implications of embedding Operational Excellence in diverse corporate situations. He is passionate about developing people and achieving sustainable results. He’s a keen traveler, a foodie and a busy dad. Chief Information Officer, Labor Finders International Jorge Quintana was named Labor Finders Chief Information Officer in September 2014. As the Chief Information Officer, Jorge is responsible for the company's information systems and technology infrastructure. Jorge’s long and distinguished career with Labor Finders began in 2001 as a consultant, which quickly led to him being named Director of IT. With over 25 years of experience in the enterprise, software and consulting industries; he brings real world experience to Labor Finder's in-house technology infrastructure, assuring delivery of the highest levels of customer, partner and employee satisfaction and results. Prior to joining Labor Finders, Jorge was a Senior Consultant for Novell Inc. where he was a member of the consulting services unit providing custom software solutions to global 2000 companies. Before joining Novell, Jorge managed multiple software development teams with Cambridge Technology Partners, a leading consulting firm of the 1990s. Prior to his relocation to the United States, Jorge also had a successful career in his home country of Mexico, holding various consulting and managerial positions in Information Technology. Jorge holds a Bachelors’ Degree in computer science from Universidad Del Valle De México. Principal , CohnReznick Anthony Nazzaro is a CohnReznick LLP Principal with more than 30 years of experience working in strategy, operations and technology. He specializes in managing growth for organizations, including operations, reporting, and technology, in startup, operating, and distressed environments. He is known for employing initiatives that will transform the business, including experience with innovation in operational excellence utilizing technology as a strategy enabler and to provide flexibility to support future business strategies. New Jersey Institute of Technology: Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering University of California: Masters of Business Administration Senior Manager, CohnReznick Joseph DeGennaro is a senior manager with CohnReznick Advisory who specializes in management and technology consulting. He is an experienced business analyst and project manager with a concentration in strategic transformations and experience in information technology (IT). Joe rejoined CohnReznick following more than six years as a director at Viacom Inc. A leader in our Business Transformation Practice, Joe has extensive experience project managing a variety of fluid, complex, and multi-faceted strategic initiatives for mid-market companies as well as Fortune 500 organizations. He has experience leading operation, finance, and financial planning and analysis transformation projects in diverse industries such as publishing, commercial real estate, public sector, distribution, non-for profit, and energy. In addition to managing business transformation engagements, Joe is adept at conducting operational assessments, having led a rapid operational assessment for a quasi-public owned agency across a wide scope that included cash flow projections, insurance coverage needs, governance assessment, energy markets evaluation, and property valuations. Joe also directed strategic program designs and process redesign projects. As an experienced project manager, he has also worked on multiple technology selections and subsequent system implementations, including SAP. During his time at Viacom, Joe assumed responsibilities for the global finance transformation initiative. CEO, Schuh Complexity Management, Inc. After finishing his M.S. in Applied Mechanics at the Technische Universität Chemnitz, Germany, Joerg was enlisted in the program for future business leaders of Robert Bosch GmbH in 1994. During this program he had his first exposure to the United States on a 6-month assignment. After finishing the leadership program he worked in special machine design capacities for the packaging machinery division and the automation division of Bosch. His focus became the car electronics assembly for ABS braking, ESP, and engine management. Engineering and continually improving products and processes has been on his agenda for decades. In the late 1990’s he led the development of modular assembly lines for Robert Bosch GmbH in Germany. In 2001 he and his family relocated to Atlanta to oversee the implementation and ramp-up of multiple manufacturing lines for daily contact lenses for Ciba Vision. After completion of this assignment, Joerg started his own consulting business, which he built until 2011, when he was offered to join Schuh Complexity Management, Inc., a former client of his company. During his career he has successfully led projects in Germany, USA, Mexico, Poland, Wales, Spain and Singapore. Joerg lives with his wife Tracey and his daughter Jennifer in Atlanta, GA and follows the German Fussball Bundesliga in his spare time. Business Development & Strategy, Microsoft Workplace Analytics Mike Baum runs Business Development at Strategy within the product group of Microsoft Workplace Analytics. He is responsible for new go-to-market and partner strategies that drive value and innovation. Workplace Analytics utilizes signals from the collaboration tools that we use every day. The solution combines behavioral analytics and data science to provide actionable insights into how work gets done and how teams collaborate. Prior to joining Microsoft, Mike held business development positions at innovative technology companies and spent considerable time in strategy consulting. Former EVP of Operations for Walt Disney World®. One of the public faces of the world-renowned Disney Institute,, Friday 16th March 2018 \| 11:30 - 13:00 pm Lee developed the 12 Great Leader Strategies while at Walt Disney World® that transformed Disney’s leadership strategy and ensured that the 7000 leaders at Disney knew how to deliver employee excellence, which in turn delivered service excellence, exceptional customer loyalty, and strong business results. President, EMEA, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Jean-Claude Kihn has been President of The Goodyear & Rubber Company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa business unit since January 1, 2016. Prior to this prestigious appointment, Mr. Kihn has previously served as President of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Latin America business, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Goodyear Brazil and as as the company’s Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer. DIrector, Operational Excellence, General Motors Global Change Management, IKEA CEO, Six Sigma Management Institute Senior Leader, Self motivated, Multi-talented, Experienced process change agent. Very innovative and excellent problem resolution skills. Effective C-Suite Communicator. Refined over experience in numerous industries. Business Process Improvement Focus: - Executing (VICI) Vertically Integrated Continuous Improvement methodologies by applying the appropriate tools to gather, measure and analyze project data. - Responsible for educating and threading the VICI methodologies throughout organizations. - Intensive quality control experience, business process design, operations management, waste elimination, product quality and service delivery, increasing growth to enhance the client experience and improve the bottom line. - A C Suite translator that can filter the "Time=Money=Time" dialogue in to High Potential Value Added Solutions that drive innovative change and business process excellence. A breadth of experience in many aspects of business transformation, ranging from bottom up to the top down deployment of Continuous Improvement methodologies. Experiences that infuse Operations (Technical and General), Sales, Marketing, and Leadership to benefit organizations and delight customers. Specialties: Certified Executive Master Black Belt, Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Extensive Financial Services, Banking, Series 7, Series 63, TX General Life and Health SVP and Head of the Center of Operational Excellence, E.ON Lisa Norcross is SVP and Head of the Center of Operational Excellence for E.ON, based in Essen, Germany. Lisa is a Mechanical Engineer who has been working in operations and operational performance improvement for over 20 years across several different industries. She started her career as a Graduate Engineer at Ford Motor Company, and after completing a post-graduate qualification in Manufacturing Management, moved into the Management Consulting world, working as an Operations Expert for McKinsey and Company. Between McKinsey and E.ON, she was head of Operational Excellence for Europe and China for an aluminium manufacturer. Partner, McKinsey & Company Director Global Market Planning & Launch Excellence, AstraZeneca Shirley is Director of Launch Excellence Operations at AstraZeneca, the 7th largest Pharmaceutical company in the world. With a storied background from Wall Street - to Small Business - to Big Pharma, Shirley is dedicated to ensuring the patient’s customer experience and expectations are met with excellence by applying a ‘systems thinking’ operational strategy to complex global initiatives. Through quiet and compelling alliances, Shirley stirs up organizational complacency to support the best ideas, provide the largest ROI, and foster more flexibility to the AZ global market businesses. Associate Director, Boehringer-Ingelheim Fabio is the head of Business Process Excellence at Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit – St. Joseph, and is a certified Master Black Belt. His successes also include, Merck Co. Inc., Ford Motor Company, First National Bank, and many others. With over two decades of experience in continuous improvement implementation in more than five industries his view is radically different. Fabio helps organizations see employees as a gold mine of ideas to help improve and transform the business, establishing sustainable systems to empower employees at all levels to drive continuous improvement. Vice President of Six Sigma, CIGNA CORPORATION As Vice President of Process Improvement and Service Quality for TD Bank Group, Leslie is responsible for driving continuous process improvement through the deployment of Lean Six Sigma practices across a portfolio of business units. Prior to joining TD in August 2008, Leslie worked in Hartford, Connecticut where she was responsible for Enterprise Business Excellence for the Cigna Corporation. Before joining Cigna, Leslie spent more than 20 years with Motorola in sales, international business development, global operations, vendor management and end-to-end quality management roles. Leslie attended the Université de Bordeaux, France and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Information Science and French. She received her Lean Six Sigma accreditations at Motorola University, Schaumburg, Illinois. Leslie has been a featured speaker and contributor to numerous Global Business Excellence forums including the American Society for Quality, The Conference Board, World Conference Business Forums, Federated Press – Women in Leadership and Process Excellence Network. Leslie is the recipient of an ASQ Quality Executive of the Year Award, The Connecticut Quality Executive of the Year, The Leading Enterprise Award in Quality from the People’s Republic of China, the Motorola CEO Quality award and CEO Volunteer of the Year award. Partner & CEO, IntelOrgSys Germaine Watts is the founder of the niche consulting firm Intelligent Organizational Systems, where she advises senior leaders on the design, management, and resourcing of purpose-driven organizations. She has pioneered new organization improvement strategies using aggregate behavioral propensity data to understand workforce strengths, challenges, and performance potential. Germaine has travelled extensively as an expert lecturer on safety culture and management systems on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Prior to her international consulting career, Germaine held leadership positions in Nuclear Power and Healthcare, where she directed talent management, leadership development and performance improvement initiatives. In 2016, Germaine, and her co-author John Paciga PhD, published a book titled Process-based Management Systems for High Reliability Organizations, which incorporates these groundbreaking ideas. The handbook provides whole system organization designers and systemic change agents step-by-step guidance on how to work with and align meaning, propensities, and systems in support of high performance. With degrees in Business Administration and Industrial Relations, complemented by continuing studies in Integral Psychology and Organization Development, Germaine takes an expansive approach to her work. She is a systemic change agent focused on the intersection between personal meaning and purpose and the social systems within which people live and work. Germaine has long been captivated by “how we work inside”, how thoughts, feelings, and perceptions shape our states of being, relationships with others, and our impact and success in the world. She has had the privilege of engaging people from all over the world in thought-provoking explorations of what gives meaning and purpose to their lives. Director, Pacific Gas & Electric Dennis MacAleese is the Director of the Lean Capability Center within Gas Operations at Pacific Gas & Electric. He is leading the deployment of Lean Management across Gas Operations and Aviation Services. Prior to his current role, Dennis led the Gas Maintenance & Construction Department for the Northern California Region of PG&E’s service territory (over 500 employees, serving over 2 million customer accounts spread over 30,000 miles). He has been with PG&E for five years. Prior to PG&E, Dennis worked at several major utilities on the East Coast. He has been in the natural gas industry for 21 years and held a variety of leadership roles. Dennis and his wife, Dianna, live in El Dorado Hills, California with their two teenage children and four dogs. PG&E Gas Operations is a distributed business with 5,400 employees and 4.3 million customers over 70,000 square miles of service territory in Central and Northern California. PG&E’s network includes 42,141 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 6,438 miles of transportation pipelines. The territory stretches from Bakersfield in the South to Eureka in the North and from the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Sierra Nevada on the east. Program Manager, Fleet and TYCOM Enterprise Support, McKean Defense Dr. Cynthia J. Young, DBA, PMP, LSS MBB, is a retired U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer with 23 years of service and is a Program Manager for Fleet and TYCOM Enterprise Support and member of the Strategic Solutions Center within McKean Defense. She is also an Adjunct Professor in Business Administration at Stratford University at the Virginia Beach, VA campus, primarily teaching project management in the Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA) program. She is a past-Chair of ASQ Tidewater, Section 1128. She has also held positions on Section 1128's Section Leadership Committee as the Secretary and Vice Chair. Cindy earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Project Management from Walden University, two MBAs, one in E-Commerce and one in Advanced Management Studies from Trident University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from University of Maryland, College Park. She is also the author of The Refractive Thinker(r): Vol XI: Women in Leadership, Chapter 3: Using Leadership to Improve Firm Performance through Knowledge Management. When she is not presenting or working, she and her husband raise funds and participate in half marathons with Team in Training to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10122
__label__wiki	0.988375	0.988375	Heavy rocket GSLV Mk III undergoing launch checks for historic flight to Moon, says ISRO By: Zee News India Ahead of the launch of the much-awaited Chandrayaan 2, India's second lunar mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday said that India's heavy-lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III), carrying Chandrayaan 2, was undergoing launch checks for their historic flight to the Moon on July 15. Taking to Twitter, ISRO said that the Chandrayaan 2 will be launched from the launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 2.51 am (IST) on July 15. "#GSLVMkIII carrying #Chandrayaan2 spacecraft, undergoing launch checks at launch pad in Sriharikota. Launch is scheduled at 2:51AM IST on July 15," tweeted ISRO. Chandrayaan 2 will go to Moon's south polar region where no country has ever gone before. It is India’s first rover-based space mission. The soft landing on Moon's surface is likely to be on September 6 or September 7. One of the most complex missions attempted to date, Chandrayaan 2 weighs 3.8-tonne and consists of an orbiter with eight scientific experiments, a lander with three experiments, a rover with two experiments and an experiment from the US space agency NASA.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10124
__label__wiki	0.632918	0.632918	This pre-revolutionary tall clock becomes the focal point of this room. About Gawen Brown of Boston, Massachusetts. Gawen Brown was born in England in 1719 and died in Boston at the age of 82 in 1801. It is recorded that he came to this country sometime before 1749. It is in that year, on February 6th, that he advertised in The Boston Evening Post that he was a “…Clock and Watchmaker lately from London, Keeps his shop at Me. Johnson’s Japanner, in Brattle Street, Boston, near Mr. Copper’s Meeting House, where he makes and sells all sorts of plain, repeating and Astronomical Clocks, with cases plain, black walnut, mahogany or Japann’d or with out.” During his lifetime, much was written about his making and installing a tower clock at the Old South Church in Boston. The Old South Church was erected in 1730 without a clock. Brown installed his clock sometime between 1768 and 1770. Between the period of 1752 and 1760, Brown moved his shop and home several times. He married three times and had a total of twelve children. On April 5, 1750, Brown married Mary Flagg. Together they had six children before she died in 1760. She was only 31 years old. His second wife, Elizabeth Byles, was the daughter of Mather Byles. Mather was a famous clergyman who presided over the Hollis Street Church. Elizabeth lived only three more years and had no children. She died in 1763. In 1764, Brown married Elizabeth Hill Adams. Elizabeth was the widow of Dr. Joseph Adams who was the brother of Samuel Adams. Elizabeth bore him six more children. Based on a number of newspaper advertisements, Brown imported a number of English clocks and watches from England. During the period of 1789 through 1796, Brown is listed in the business directories as a watchmaker. Gawen Brown has been often referred to as â€œThe Tory Clockmaker.â€ This title implies that he was loyal to the King of England. In fact, an article written in magazine Antiques in January of 1929 suggests that Brown left the Colonies and returned to England during the Revolution. This simple cannot be true due to the fact that he had an extensive military career. Brown first enlisted in the Independent Company of Cadets on December 7, 1776. The Cadets were an independent organization and accordingly, it was possible for one to hold an official rank with them as well as with another military company at the same time. He served as a Corporal in the Rhode Island Expedition from April 15, 1777 to May 5, 1777. In April of this same year, he was appointed the rank of Captain in a Continental Regiment lead by Colonel Henry Jackson. He resigned form this on October 23, 1778. In 1779 he was made Brigade Major of the Penobscot Expedition. This tenure lasted from July 2, 1779 to October 8, 1779. Brown left military service in 1781. At that time, he held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Very few Clockmakers live and worked in the states during this early time period. Pre-Revolutionary clocks made in this country are quite rare and very few exist. The majority of clocks that would have been available would have been from English sources. A portrait of him is reportable owned by The A. W. Mellon Educational Charitable Trust. Reproductions of which proudly hang in the Old South Church and in the Cadet Armory.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10125
__label__wiki	0.517405	0.517405	Home Women's Marches 2017 Collection So Sorry, World! sign, Women's March on Washington, 2017-01-21 So Sorry, World! sign, Women's March on Washington, 2017-01-21 Usage Policies and Ordering Title So Sorry, World! sign, Women's March on Washington, 2017-01-21 Identifier W148_GravesK_008 Date of original 2017-01-21 Creator Graves, Kristina Description Close-up of a protester's hands holding a sign that reads "So Sorry, World! We'll fix this shit somehow." Historical note On January 21, 2017, millions of people worldwide took part in marches to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United States. The first protest, which took place in Washington, D.C., was known as the Women's March on Washington and was intended as a response to anti-woman rhetoric and beliefs that were espoused during Trump's campaign. While women's and reproductive rights were at the forefront of marchers' concerns, many also protested the racist, anti-immigrant, anti-science, and other controversial sentiments expressed by the incoming Trump administration. Subject Protest movements Presidents--Public opinion Feminism--Political aspects Subject (names) Trump, Donald, 1946- Women's March on Washington (2017) Location depicted Washington (D.C.) Collection Women's March on Washington Collection Curatorial area Archives for Research on Women and Gender LibGuide http://research.library.gsu.edu/c.php?g=620340 Citation W148_GravesK_008, Women's March on Washington Collection, Archives for Research on Women and Gender. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University. Source format digital images Format image/jp2	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10127
__label__wiki	0.961048	0.961048	"Don't let people control you": The World According To Goat Girl by Dom Gourlay October 4th, 2018 If anyone tells you 2018 hasn't been a vintage year for music they're wrong. Particularly here in the UK, there's been a resurgence in acts who've built their way up from grassroots level to secure a place in the nation's psyche, and one of the most prominent bands to make an impact this year are Goat Girl. Having already amassed a growing legion of fans thanks to a string of incendiary live shows up and down the land, the South London based four-piece can also lay claim to having released one of this year's finest debuts. Their self-titled album reads like an autobiographical document of Goat Girl's world and everything that surrounds it, whether good or bad. The four-piece - Lottie (vocals & guitar), Ellie (guitar & vocals), Naima (bass & vocals), and Rosy (drums) - only formed in 2016, but having signed to Rough Trade soon after, put out a handful of well-received singles culminating in the March release of their excellent debut.. DiS caught up with them recently at the tail end of a long summer of festivals. However, with a UK headline tour coming up later this month, there's little time to be resting on their laurels. DiS: The first time I saw Goat Girl was at Eurosonic Noorderslag in 2017 and you initially reminded me of C86 bands like The Shop Assistants and Talulah Gosh but with lo-fi, countrified twist. Were you influenced by any of those bands from the outset? Lottie: Definitely. A lot of our influences come from that era. Lots of post-punk, but then I'm also a big fan of the nineties. Naima: We all like different things. I'm more into punk. Your debut album's received a wealth of critical acclaim since it came out, not least because of the autobiographical nature of many songs on the record. 'Creep' for example. Lottie: That's a true story. I think this guy was filming my breasts. We were going through a tunnel and obviously, the windows reflect when it's dark outside which I think he completely forgot about. So I could see the reflection in the window. It was really annoying. I think women feel they can't say things a lot of the time and I don't believe they should have to put up with stuff like that. Ellie: Sometimes you think it's easier to not say anything and then it makes you feel like shit when you don't. Naima: But it can also make you feel like shit if you do say something because some people actually get a rush from that. Rosy: The best way to deal with catcalling is to say, "You want a fuck then? Come on!" Make them freak out. Lottie: They just love the power of "I own your body". If you just tell them to fuck off they love that, because then they know they've intimidated you. How did you arrive at the final tracklisting for the album? Lottie: We actually came up with it on a plane! We always had an idea of how we wanted the album to flow. We play most of the songs in the same order live. I think we worked out that was how people's emotions drop and then rise again. I get bored quite a lot, and I wouldn't want that boredom to transcend onto the audience at our gigs. So because I like to be stimulated all the time, I want them to be stimulated too. We tried to reflect that with the album as well. Ellie: It's always good to remember how you feel about something when you listen to it or see it. We did all the artwork ourselves as well. Goat Girl have quite a DIY approach compared to a lot of other bands. Do you think it's important for artists should retain as much control over their work as they possibly can? Rosy: Not really. I don't think we're that DIY at all. I think that's an insult to people who are truly DIY and literally do everything themselves. Our lives are paid for by our label. We haven't forgotten where we came from or how we grew, and it was all quite innocent, but I feel DIY just means it's a hobby or predominantly lo-fi music you're creating. That's what I think we were and we grew from. It still has that sound to it but I think that's more of a sonic thing than the whole project being DIY. We've had a lot of help. Naima: But we've had a lot of help with everything outside of the songs. All of the music and artistic elements were created by us. Everything comes from our world and in that sense it's DIY. Do you think being based in London makes a big difference for a band like yourselves to become established? Naima: Definitely. Lottie: There's a lot of attention placed on this so-called South London scene which is great but it's also bullshit. There are so many scenes existing around London right now. The South London scene is just about one venue. There are so many people making great music yet everything gets directed at this one place when there's so much happening around. Rosy: It's just lazy journalism. It's so easy to just pigeonhole everyone into one scene. But there are people from all over making great music in London at present. Lottie: I just wish it had a different name and was allowed to exist on its own terms without being commodified into one scene. None of the bands sound alike. I think we're all linked in terms of being friends - we play gigs together and help each other out. At the end of the day it's just a friendship that exists rather than a particular sound. Musically it's so diverse, and that's also the most exciting thing about it. The word "scene" suggests we're following a trend and I wouldn't say that's necessarily the case. Rosy: We're all kindred spirits. Have you started working on the follow up to your debut? Are there any new songs in the live set at the moment? Lottie: We have. It's going to be a bit different to the first album. A lot of the songs are quite old. Ellie: Lottie wrote a lot of them when she was about 13. Lottie: Maybe a bit older than that. I quite like that because it's from the age when you were most passionate about certain catastrophes that may have happened in your life. You're so much more involved with that issue. Ellie: When you were younger you have that naivety where you believe you can change the world and make a difference which I think we still have as a band. But on a personal level, I've given up on that idea. Lottie: We've just grown up a lot. Ellie: I still feel those things. It's so important to remain personal in everything you do. You don't necessarily have to go overboard with it but at the same time it's important to spread that view if you've got a platform. Rosy: Just empowering young women is enough for me. We got so many kids at our gigs who are really touched by seeing four women on stage. It's really gratifying. Do you think The PRS Foundation's Keychange initiative will achieve what it's set out to do by 2022 in terms of gender imbalance on festival bills? That we're still talking about this now is a sad indictment in itself. Lottie: It's crazy. I think we've always existed in a place where gender's never been seen as an issue. We grew up playing in safe spaces with other like-minded people. It was never a case of, "Oh you're four girls in a band." Obviously, this exists in wider areas of the music scene otherwise we wouldn't still be discussing it. Music in general is still controlled by old, white men, and I don't understand how it's still going on. I've just been finding out about these amazing female Gregorian composers from the 1800s that were overlooked at the time. They had no chance at all and yet 200 years later this kind of thing is still going on. How have people not moved past that yet? Ellie: At the same time it is nice to celebrate some of our differences. It can be difficult when the subject arises and people don't know whether to talk about us as a female band or not. Lottie: I'm not sure I enjoy that question. Ellie: I enjoy it because I have a lot to say about it. When people play us on the radio and announce us as an all-girl group, as if it's something to be surprised about. It's so patronising, and it's used as a selling point. Lottie: It's ridiculous we're still having these conversations. I'd describe you as a punk band. Nothing more, nothing less. Ellie: Really. Oh, that means a lot. Social inequality and austerity often leads to great art and creativity. Do you think that's been pivotal in underground music of late? Does the political and social climate inform a lot of what you write about? Ellie: Definitely. Artists will always want to have a say about what's going on around them. It's so important for that to exist and get a perspective from a non-political person. Lottie: We don't actually have any idea about politics. We don't know what we're talking about. I feel like you almost learn as you say it out loud. We live in a century of self and only care about our own views. So saying them out loud and discussing them with each other makes everything more understandable to ourselves to the point where I now get what I'm talking about. What I'm saying is actually valid. Learning about other people's views you might not necessarily agree with and learning where they come from then maybe getting an inkling how you can change that without hating someone. I just wished people would research things more. It's almost as if the people in power don't want us to be educated, and want us to exist like zombies. It's a way to distract people, the left and the right fighting against each other when in reality they probably have quite similar views. They all want the same things in life. Rosy: It's almost like Brexit was perfectly planned to exist at the same time as Donald Trump's brain so we can become a tax haven for people because we're not part of Europe any more. A lot of recent political happenings are just there to distract people from the root cause which is the conditioning of politics and why it's happening in the first place. Putting it all down to one person yet where did it grow from? Lottie: People that write for newspapers can just say whatever they want to. To them, freedom of speech just means they can make up whatever they want. That's the scary thing. People believe it when they read it. Ellie: But then I guess we believe what we want to as well. Good stuff about Corbyn and bad stuff about Trump. Naima: You've got to keep an open mind on both sides. Ellie: I sometimes don't understand why they both exist. What advice would you give to a new band that's just starting out? Lottie: Stick to your guns. Don't let people control you. Ellie: Don't get caught up in thinking you're the best band in the world. Naima: Don't worry about what other people think. Lottie: If you're enjoying what you're doing you won't think about the careerist perspective of it. That comes naturally if it does and if it doesn't, it doesn't. All that matters is you're enjoying making music you love. Are there any new bands or artists you'd recommend for Drowned In Sound and its readers to check out? Lottie: I like Gentle Stranger. Squid are another really great band. Ellie: Milk Disco are really good. Jockstrap too. Goat Girl is out now via Rough Trade Records. For more information about Goat Girl, including forthcoming tour dates, please visit their official website. ![105859](http://dis.resized.images.s3.amazonaws.com/540x310/105859.jpeg) "Nothing's an accident": DiS Meets Ba... Operation Notes From Underground: DiS... Life, Death and Broken Bells - DiS meets James ... The Critic Sleeps Alone Tonight... Fighting Ove... DiS meets the Manic Street Preachers Save Drowned in Sound ReDiScover: Isis DiSband #3: The Horrors Guyliners: Why Do UK Festivals Have So Few Fema... Why has the world fallen under Taylor Swift's s...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10128
__label__wiki	0.654291	0.654291	Public Holidays: Canada Today: Thursday - 18 July 2019 Uruguay: Proclamation of the First Constitution 1334 - The bishop of Florence blesses the first foundation stone for the new campanile (bell tower) of the Florence Cathedral, designed by the artist Giotto di Bondone. 1656 - Polish-Lithuanian forces clash with Sweden and its Brandenburg allies in the start of what is to be known as The Battle of Warsaw which ends in a decisive Swedish victory. 1857 - Louis Faidherbe, French governor of Senegal, arrives to relieve French forces at Kayes, effectively ending El Hajj Umar Tall's war against the French. 1862 - First ascent of Dent Blanche, one of the highest summits in the Alps. 1863 - American Civil War: Battle of Fort Wagner/Morris Island – the first formal African American military unit, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, fails in their assault on Confederate-held Battery Wagner. 1870 - The First Vatican Council decrees the dogma of papal infallibility. 1914 - The U.S. Congress forms the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, giving definite status to aircraft within the U.S. Army for the first time. 1925 - Adolf Hitler publishes his personal manifesto Mein Kampf. 1936 - In Spanish Morocco, military rebels attempt a coup d'état against the legitimacy of the Spanish government. This will lead to the Spanish Civil War. 1942 - World War II: the Germans test fly the Messerschmitt Me-262 using only its jet engines for the first time. 1944 - World War II: Hideki Tojo resigns as Prime Minister of Japan due to numerous setbacks in the war effort. 1965 - Russian satellite Zond 3 launched. 1966 - Gemini 10 launched. 1968 - The Intel Corporation is founded in Santa Clara, California 1969 - After a party on Chappaquiddick Island, Senator Ted Kennedy from Massachusetts drives an Oldsmobile off a bridge and his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, dies. 1976 - Nadia Comăneci became the first person in Olympic Games history to score a perfect 10 in gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics. 1982 - 268 campesinos ("peasants" or "country people") are slain in the Plan de Sánchez massacre in Ríos Montt's Guatemala. 1984 - McDonald's massacre in San Ysidro, California: in a fast-food restaurant, James Oliver Huberty opens fire, killing 21 people and injuring 19 others before being shot dead by police. 1984 - Beverly Lynn Burns becomes first female Boeing 747 airline captain. 1986 - A tornado is broadcast live on KARE television in Minnesota when the station's helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter. 1992 - The ten victims of the La Cantuta massacre disappear from their university in Lima. 1994 - The Amia (Jewish Communal Center) bombings occurred in Buenos Aires killing 85 people (mostly Jewish) and injuring 300. 1995 - On the Caribbean island of Montserrat, the Soufriere Hills volcano erupts. Over the course of several years, it devastates the island, destroying the capital and forcing most of the population to flee. 1996 - Storms provoke severe flooding on the Saguenay River, beginning one of Québec's costliest natural disasters ever. 1996 - Battle of Mullaitivu, Tamil Tigers carried out this attack killing over 1200 Sri Lankan Army soldiers and capturing the base, biggest single lost to Sri Lankan Army ever. 2005 - Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, first public joint statement by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then U.S. President George W. Bush. Select − − − − − − − − − − − − − − CanadaCosta RicaCubaEl SalvadorMexicoNicaraguaPanamaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesTrinidad and TobagoUnited States 1 January New Year's Day (New Year's Day, Jour de l'an) 19 April Good Friday (Good Friday, Vendredi saint) 22 April Easter Monday (Easter Monday, Pâques) Easter (Greek: Πάσχα) is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day of his crucifixion. Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday), two days after Good Friday and three days after Maundy Thursday. The chronology of his death and resurrection is variously interpreted to be between AD 26 and AD 36. Easter also refers to the season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty days from Easter Day until Ascension Day but now officially lasts for the fifty days until Pentecost. The first week of the Easter Season is known as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and penance. Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the vernal equinox. Ecclesiastically, the equinox is reckoned to be on March 21. The date of Easter therefore varies between March 22 and April 25. Eastern Christianity bases its calculations on the Julian Calendar whose March 21 corresponds, during the twenty-first century, to April 3 in the Gregorian Calendar, in which calendar their celebration of Easter therefore varies between April 4 and May 8. Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover not only for much of its symbolism but also for its position in the calendar. Relatively newer elements such as the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts have become part of the holiday's modern celebrations, and those aspects are often celebrated by many Christians and non-Christians alike. 20 May Queen's Day (Victoria Day, Fête de la Reine) Victoria Day (in French: Fête de la Reine) is a federal Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the last Monday on or before May 24, in honour of both Queen Victoria's birthday and the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday. It is sometimes informally considered as marking the beginning of the summer season in Canada. The holiday has been observed since before Canada was formed, originally falling on the sovereign's actual birthday, and continues to be celebrated in various fashions across the country on the fixed date. Royal salutes (21-gun salutes) are fired in each provincial capital and in the national capital at noon on Victoria Day. In Quebec, the same day was, since the Quiet Revolution, unofficially known as Fête de Dollard until 2003, when provincial legislation officially named the same date as Victoria Day the National Patriots' Day. 1 July Canada Day (Canada Day, Fête du Canada) Canadian Confederation (French: Confédération canadienne) was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed, officially beginning on July 1, 1867. On that date, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces. The British Province of Canada was divided into the new Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and two other British colonies, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, also became provinces of Canada. 2 September Labour Day (Labour Day, Fête du Travail) 14 October Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving Day, Action de grâce) The date and location of the first Thanksgiving celebration is a topic of modest contention. The traditional "first Thanksgiving" is the celebration that occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621. According to tradition, the Pilgrims hosted a delegation of about 90 Wampanoag led by a chieftain Massasoit. The Wampanoag are but one of a multitude of distinctive nations that at that time were already living in areas subjected to colonization that eventually became the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Although organized violence, epidemics and rampant discrimination often characterized interactions between European colonists and peoples whose ancestors arrived thousands of years earlier, the peaceful harvest festival that became the Thanksgiving prototype created a more benevolent paradigm of possibilities for cooperation; however, these possibilities were often overlooked by both sides in following centuries until the closing of the frontier in 1890. The Plymouth celebration occurred early in the history of what would become one of the original thirteen colonies that became the United States. However, there was another, more modest Thanksgiving at Berkeley Plantation, Virginia on the banks of the James River in 1619. The celebration became an important part of the American myth by the 1800s. This Thanksgiving, modeled after celebrations that were commonplace in contemporary Europe, is generally regarded as America's first. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members and friends. 11 November Remembrance Day (Remembrance Day, Jour du souvenir) Commemorates Canada's war dead. Anniversary of the armistice ending World War I in 1918. Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. In Manitoba, an "Official day of Observance", not a statutory holiday. In Nova Scotia, not a statutory holiday in that employers have the option of giving Remembrance Day or an alternate day off. Not a statutory holiday in Ontario or Quebec. 25 December Christmas (Christmas, Noël) 26 December Boxing Day (Boxing Day, Lendemain de Noël) Boxing Day is a bank and public holiday commonly occurring on the 26th of December. It is observed in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ghana, Switzerland, Germany, Greenland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Nigeria,Kenya, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. In South Africa this public holiday is now known as the Day of Goodwill. Though it is not an official holiday in the United States, the term "Boxing Day" is used by some Americans, particularly those that live near the Canada – United States border. In Canada, Boxing Day is listed in the Canada Labour Code as a holiday. It is not an official holiday in Quebec or British Columbia. The traditional recorded celebration of Boxing Day has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. The European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown and there are some claims that it goes back to the late Roman/early Christian era; metal boxes were placed outside churches used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen. In the United Kingdom it certainly became a custom of the nineteenth century Victorians for tradesmen to collect their "Christmas boxes" or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year on the day after Christmas. However, the exact etymology of the term "Boxing" is unclear, with several competing theories, none of which is definitively true. Another possibility is that the name derives from an old English tradition: in exchange for ensuring that wealthy landowners' Christmases ran smoothly, their servants were allowed to take the 26th off to visit their families. The employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses (and sometimes leftover food). In addition, around the 1800s, churches opened their alms boxes (boxes where people place monetary donations) and distributed the contents to the poor. Algeria \| Burkina Faso \| Djibouti \| Gabon \| Libya \| Uruguay \| Belize \| Haiti \| Honduras \| Mexico \| Papua New Guinea \| \| New Caledonia \| French Polynesia \| Albania \| Luxembourg \| Malta \| Malta \| Hungary \| Italy \| \| Iraq \| Japan \| Kyrgyzstan \| Turkey \| Nigeria \| Senegal \| Seychelles \| Togo \| Christmas Island Capital: Ottawa Official languages: English, French Government: Constitutional monarchy Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD) Population: 33 212 696 Area: 9 976 140 km² Religion: Catholicism (42%), Protestantism (40%) UTC -3,5 -> -8 Auto Code: CDN Internet TLD: .ca Calling code: +1 Corporate Income Tax: 11-18%(fed)/2-16% (prov.) Personal Income Tax: 0-29% (fed.)/0-24% (prov.) Value Added Tax: 5% (GST) / 0-10%(PST)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10134
__label__cc	0.681174	0.318826	Jessica Wells Candidate in Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue (Click here to download the photo in HD picture) Jessica Wells is an activist, a single mom, a businesswoman and a unionist born in the village of Témiscaming where she lives with her son. She holds a college degree in public relations and studies in comparative religion and immigration law. She’s running for the first time alongside the Green Party of Québec at the age of 35 to claim for a greater respect of the environment, higher social solidarity and better health services near the community. She chose the Green Party because of its ecosocialist program that highlights the environmental issues but also social justice issues, citizen services and a greater respect for diversity and connectedness. Locally, she argues against the proliferation of mining projects which have detrimental effects on the ecosystems. Jessica believes the region must rapidly diversify its economy in order to ensure prosperity for everyone in the future. In her free time, the candidate loves painting, gardening, sow and hike. For Jessica Wells, every vote cast on behalf of the Green Party of Quebec shows that our program resonates with the population, helps us to take a place in the public debate and contributes significantly to the financing of the Green Party. For all these reasons (and more) Jessica would be honored to have your support in the 2018 general election! Every voice counts! To reach Ms. Wells, please contact the Green Party of Quebec at 514 612 3365 or info@pvq.qc.ca. NationBuilder Support published this page in 2018 Candidates 2018-08-17 12:55:06 -0400	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10137
__label__cc	0.616385	0.383615	Water quality rankings of key cities disclosed Hou Liqiang Updated: May 8,2019 9:07 AM China Daily The top environmental watchdog made public the water quality rankings of major cities across the country for the first time on May 7, hoping to pressure local governments to redouble their efforts to improve water quality via media exposure. The country experienced a general improvement in its surface water quality in the first quarter of this year. Of the 1,940 national monitoring sections, 74.3 percent were found to have fairly good water quality — at or above Grade III in China’s five-tier water quality system, up by 8 percentage points year-on-year — according to a media release from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on May 7. It said 6 percent of the sections were found with water below Grade V, the lowest level, down by 3.6 percentage points. The major pollutants in the water were ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand. While the Yangtze River and the Pearl River basins were found to have fairly good water in general, another four of the seven major river basins in the country, including the Yellow River and Huaihe River basins, experienced mild pollution. The Liaohe River basin was the only one with medium-level pollution, it said. The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region outnumbers all other regions with 11 cities in the top 30, though Ya’an, Sichuan province, tops the list. Shanxi province has the most cities — six — in the bottom 30 cities in the ranking. Lyuliang, Shanxi, ranks last. “The main reason for publishing the rankings is to pressure local governments to intensify their efforts in water protection,” said Hu Kemei, deputy director of the ministry’s environmental monitoring, adding that publishing the rankings has proved successful in improving air quality because it tends to strengthen efforts by local governments. Disclosure of the information will also facilitate the public’s participation in supervising the government’s work and encouraging governments to fulfill their duty, she added. In addition to the water quality ranking, the ministry also published a list showing the improvement made by major cities in the past three months. While few cities from developed regions in East and South China are listed in the top 30 or bottom 30 in the regular list, many of them show up in the top 30 with regard to improvements they have made. Qingdao, Shandong province, for example, saw its water quality improve by almost 40 percent. The two rankings will be published every three months, the ministry said. The announcement of the rankings also marks a significant change in water governance. Previously, the country’s environmental watchdog mainly targeted total pollution discharge control in their water management. They will be more focused on water quality improvement from now on, Hu said. Wang Yeyao, deputy head of the National Environmental Monitoring Center, said a series of measures have been taken to root out the falsification of monitoring data. Previously, water samples were collected in the first 10 days of each month. Now samples are collected randomly to avoid interference. He also said samples will be sent for testing away from the cities where they are collected. “The labs for the tests, all of which are official, will be chosen randomly by a computer system. Meanwhile, each sample will be coded so that labs will not know where the samples came from,” Wang said. Environmental companies who are given the task of sample collection must record their work with cameras and GPS tracking, he added. China works on water with Kazakhstan China to improve its groundwater China treats polluted water in blast site with alkaline substances	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10140
__label__wiki	0.644787	0.644787	Do We Still Know How To Celebrate? Free Memory 2010 TIDF Snapshots of Religious Innovation in Asia Death penalty in the 21st century I Dance Therefore I Am Challenges for Higher Education The Legacy of Matteo Ricci Communication is Key! City and Poetry Asian Religions in Dialogue From City Halls to Cancún Corridors Bringing Home the Seeds of Indigenous Autonomy Internet as Body 238 x TW ÷ 105 = 100 The Everyman of Taiwanese Theatre A Flâneur's peek at Shanghai New Energy in Taiwan's Social Movements Beyond the Pale: Architecture in Taiwan Mapping and Unmapping the Pacific In Search of Spring Turning East, Taiwan's Pacific Frontier Bob Ronald, challenged but not disabled A Portrait of China Emerging Mental Difference Poetry and Song Living Together Religious Practices in Images Human Animals and Animal Humans Women and Nationalism The Travels of Taiwanese Manga Listening out for the Voiceless Navigating your 20s in Taiwan Exhibiting Indigeneity: Lessons from Fiji Austronesian Conference 2012 Taipei, City of Water The Joy and Pain of Learning Chinese Embrace the Pacific Rites and Rituals No Nukes = No Future? Wonders of the Solomon Islands My God? Return to Angoulême Indigenous Modernity At the Mountains and the Margins Living it down abroad: travel as vocation not vacation Teilhard and China Michel de Certeau Life Sustainability Awards Renlai Music Asian Cultures on the Move Landscapes and Skylines Beacons of Hope Image and Imagination Women in Asia Spiritual Computing Looking at the World from Other's Eye A Spiritual Treasure Map Religions at the Crossroads Daring to Take Risks Global Challenges in Local Contexts Development as Fairness Governance and its Discontents Commitment to Freedom New Ethical Challenges Building Peace in Asia Harmony and Conflict Identity and Self-Realization The Art of Peace-making How Pacific-Asia Reinvents Itself Economy and Environment Social Changes and Challenges NPOs On the Rise China, the Region and the World Renlai Issues Renlai Articles 書評（Book Reviews）影評（Film Reviews） Displaying items by tag: social awareness China: The Hidden Cost of Migration In today's China, there might be around 150 million "migrant workers', having left the place of their household registration and working in cities for varying lengths of time. The numbers remain debated and fluctuating. Migrant workers' situations vary tremendously, from stable insertion into the urban setting to utmost precariousness. Even when taking into account the great diversity that characterizes inner migrations in China, what remains undisputed is the severity of the social, affective and educational cost paid by migrant workers' children. Here, two categories of children need to be distinguished: children having migrated together with their parents, and so called 'left-behind" children. The number of migrant children in cities (the first category) is difficult to estimate. Their number has probably reached 20 million. When considering children within the compulsory education age, according to the Ministry of Education, in 2011, 12.6 million of them moved with their parents, 938 000 more than in 2010. Over 60 % of migrant workers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have their kids with them. One third of migrant children are born in their current city of residence and one third have stayed there for at least 5 years. However, they remain second-class citizens in cities, where they face institutional barriers to school and healthcare as well as social discrimination. Still, their overall situation may be progressively improving, as their fate has now been debated for years, and administrative discriminations are removed step by step, with different speed and targets from city to city. Comparatively, children "left behind" in the countryside by parents who migrate for work constitute a group that has drawn less attention, though they are more numerous. Their number was estimated to 58 million by a 2008 report authored by the All-China Women's Federation, thus accounting for 21.72 percent of rural children aged 17 or less. Administrative statistics are more conservative; according to the Ministry of Education, in 2011 there were 22 million "left-behind" children of school age - 712 000 less than the year before.. A recent study trip to Sichuan has made me more conscious of the continuing seriousness of the situation, and of the psychological costs it entails. In the rural county we visited, a very large number of young people are working in the cities, scattered all around China. Even when they work in Chengdu (a 2 to 3 hours drive away) they very rarely visit back. From a list of around sixty students considered as living in a precarious situation, we paid a home visit to seven of them, who were all aged 7 to 11. Among them, only one child lived with his foster parents. Four of them were living with both grandparents, one with her grandmother alone, and one with her grandfather. None of them, it seemed, had seen their parents for at least one year. All parents had separated, except for one case where the father had died already. In several cases, the grandparents were trying to encourage the children to phone their parents, but the children were refusing to do so. We were struck also by the dignity and resilience of the grandparents - Sichuanese peasants who had gone already through lots of hardship in their life, the most unexpected of them having probably been to lose their children because of the lure of city and money, and now all starting anew with the younger generation. The parents' generation was also obviously among the victims: the economic boom had been creating expectations to which they were not psychologically ready to respond in a sustainable way. Marital relationships had been shattered by conditions imposed upon them for staying in the urban job market. The real concern and the sound assessment of the situation expressed by the teachers who guided us was also reason for comfort. So was the development of local volunteers' associations trying to deal with the plight of rural women and children. They were one more testimony to the building-up of China's civil society. In other words, today's China is more equipped than before for dealing with the social and psychological traumas that its developmental model has engineered. However, the extent to which children are still paying the price of social imbalance needs to be more openly recognized and prioritized. The future of China lies in its children, and a very large number of them remain collateral victims of the drive to prosperity. Photo by Chialin Huang for the TRI Opinions, Dreams & Videos The Sunflower Movement Image Courtesy of AOL News Taiwan’s peaceful democracy has been wracked by protest over the last few days in response to the passage of the Service Trade Agreement with China, a follow-up agreement to the Economic Cooperation Framework agreement (ECFA) passed in 2010. The police violence surrounding the events has left many Taiwanese citizens scratching their heads, wondering how this could have happened in a country known for its friendly and peaceful society. Many wonder what has happened to the democracy in Taiwan, and what this means for its future. The protests began on Thursday, March 18 when a group of students entered the Legislative Yuan in Taipei around 8pm and occupied the chamber. The occupation began as a response to the announcement by the administration of president Ma Ying-jeou the previous day that the agreed upon line-by-line review of the Service Trade Agreement had reached its expiration and the agreement would pass through the legislature without review. By the end of the day, over 300 people had entered the building and occupied the chamber. The politics of Taiwan are divided between the Kuomintang party and the Democratic Progressive Party, respectively known as the blue and green parties. The ruling Kuomintang is the more conservative of the two, often shying away from any talk of Taiwanese independence and seen as more conciliatory to the People’s Republic of China. It is under the leadership of the Kuomintang that the first government-to-government meetings between Taiwanese ministers and their counterparts in the Chinese government occurred since the end of the Chinese civil war. Their leadership has also seen the expansion of Chinese trade and tourism in Taiwan, and a dampening of talks of a Taiwanese nation. The Service Trade agreement opens up 64 sectors of the Taiwanese economy to direct Chinese investment, a move which is seen by many of these protestors as being one step too close to integration of the two economies. In my previous article, I wrote that the much feared takeover of the Taiwanese economy by China has yet to happen, and that still seems to hold true. However, the ways in which the KMT party pushed the agreement through the legislature, by executive order rather than open debate, appears to many Taiwanese citizens to be a quite tyrannical move. One can only imagine what the Ma administration is trying to accomplish by insisting that there be no compromise and that the agreement will pass through the legislature as previously planned. The pressures on the Ma administration by the Taiwanese population may not be as strong as their suspected desire to impress Beijing enough to have a face-to-face meeting between Ma and Chinese president Xi Jinping. If indeed Ma wants to go down in the history books as the hero, he is certainly pursuing an odd course on his way to fame. Ma’s domestic approval ratings have already hovered at around 10% for most of the last year before the protests even began. Yet, despite his abysmally low popularity, Ma and Premier Jiang Yi-huah thought it a good idea to send in the riot police on the night of Sunday, March 23 to break up the protests. There were reports of over 100 injuries to unarmed students, reports, and citizens following the incidence of violence. I have heard several critiques of the protestors, that young students cannot possibly understand the complexity of these issues, and that most of the demonstrators there have little knowledge of the real stakes involved. Many people I have spoken to believe these young protestors are just there to be with their friends. While it’s true that the sunflower painting, arm band making, and constant Instagraming of selfies may seem juvenile in comparison to more violent protests going on in Crimea or Bangkok, this is an important distinction of Taiwanese culture not to be trivialized. Taiwanese society is characteristically nonviolent, the jovial events going on at these protests are a result of a Taiwanese shared consciousness that values peace and social gathering. It is these values that the Ma administration seems to be so out of touch with, and the reasons that the use of water cannons and riot police is so shocking to observers in Taiwan. At this point, it seems that the protests have become about more than just Sinophobia or concern over ECFA and the Trade Services Agreement. Other Taiwanese groups, like the strong anti-nuclear and gay marriage movements, have also joined in the protests to voice their concerns and oppose the administration. Taiwan is still a very young democracy, less than 30 years old. The protests are now about the vision Taiwan has for its self-determination and the way it wants its democracy and society to be shaped for future generations. The KMT will almost assuredly suffer severe political backlash as a result of the way the current administration has responded to the demands of the student protestors. Taiwanese politics are notoriously divided and at times raucous, especially where the issue of Taiwanese independence and Taiwan’s relationship with China is concerned. The opposition party has a chance to seize on this political capital and vindicate everything these student protestors have been saying, turning this from a fringe student movement into a mainstream political change that will drive the KMT out of office. Regardless of what happens in the halls of the government, however, the anger and hurt associated with this Sunflower movement will almost certainly continue far into the future, spelling only sadness for Taiwan’s young, fragile democracy. Governance and Its Discontents 世界需要新藍圖 Will my Friends come out Today? The old men at Huanmin Village have lived there all their life. Every day, they meet to chat about things, as old friends often do. Their peaceful existence, however, is being threatened by the plans to demolish the houses which hold so many memories for them. Focus: The Mountains and the Margins Toad Mountain Edge Effects For students of NTU, Gongguan's café hipster youth and the high density of foreigners and government officials in the surrounding area, Toad Mountain (蟾蜍山) is merely a beautiful mountain ink landscape backdrop as one walks down Roosevelt Rd, as that painted by the traditional oil paint artist He Cong (何從): The "Minuit" Sonata Photographer and journalist Hubert Kilian shares his experiences documenting the side of Taipei behind the glitz and the glamour in black and white, a side of Taipei that is often forgotten. Image and Imagination 亞洲的想像花園 In Search of Utopia As observed in the mass media and our own personal experience, the Earth's habitat is facing an unprecedented crisis. We clearly realize that the problems and disasters caused by global warming cannot be avoided by any country: one infectious disease after another quickly spreads across national borders, acid rain floats over the seas, even China's sandstorms affect Taiwan. When humankind causes an imbalance in the natural order created by other species, the retribution always ends up coming back and affecting humankind. Never in human history has humankind realised, the way we do today, just how inextricably connected all life on this planet is, forming one big symbiotic entity. Liminal Realms at the Mountains and the Margins of Taipei The Mountains and the Margins of Taipei As the second of our two-part feature on nature and the city, Shanshui Taipei, we explore Taipei's mountains. The mountains represent the natural frontier of the city, the border between the natural jungle and the urban jungle, but also the border between a standardized modus operandi of urban living and the diverse community lifestyles on the periphery, detached as they are from the daily reliance on the mainstream structures of the urban core. Universal Citizenship: A Utopian Possibility? David Flacher, Vice-President of the Organization for Universal Citizenship, talks to us about their Universal Passport, which they have issued to a group of high profile individuals (amongst them former Portuguese president Mario Soares, former French footballer Lilian Thuram and Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen) to raise awareness of their goals to bring freedom of movement and settlement to the people of the world. For more information on the movement, please click here. Commitment to Freedom 以自由之名 Yi Studies on the Move In 1995, a group of scholars, from the Yi and Han nationalities as well as from a few countries outside China, gathered at University of Washington in Seattle, at the initiative of Professor Stevan Harrell. Building communities 族群重建 In the eye of the Storm: Musings on the Danshui The stream of the Danshui river was bringing me a peaceful melody, waves were biting the shore softly, but, stream inside the stream, slightly blurring the mirror of the water, I could hear a confusing tumult, news from the world struggling in the distance to spill a shot of truth at me: "When the soldier was being interrogated, all 16 surveillance cameras stopped working. This is absolutely normal. It happens all the time in the army, the cameras are old. This is a banal accident" Focus: Taipei, Water City A Tale of Two Syrias The Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival is a biannual festival, organized by the Taiwan Association of Visual Ethnography and held in Taipei. I was very glad to attend this year’s festival, and over the five-day event I saw many interesting and inspiring films. One that immediately stood out for me was the documentary A Tale of Two Syrias. I studied Arabic in Damascus, and later returned there for work, so for me the film had a very personal appeal. Nevertheless, A Tale of Two Syrias makes interesting viewing for anyone who wants to know more about the region. The film switches between two locations and two people. In Damascus, we follow the story of Salem, an Iraqi fashion designer who fled from Baghdad during the Iraq war and hopes to seek asylum in America. In Mar Musa, a remote hillside monastery in the Syrian countryside, we follow Botrus, a Syrian monk. The film weaves between these two stories to paint an intimate portrait of a country that despite the recent media coverage, most people know very little about. By capturing the difficulties faced by ordinary Syrians in Bashar al-Assad’s Syria and also their vision of a better, freer life in the future, in some ways the film pre-empts the current conflict. However, through the beauty of Mar Musa and its inhabitants’ belief in inter-religious dialogue and mutual respect and tolerance, it also shows a vision of what that future Syria could be like. I caught up with the director, Yasmin Fedda, whom I first met in Syria during my time there, and this is what she had to say: eRenlai: It was great to see a film with a Middle East focus at the Taiwan Ethnographic Film Festival. How did it happen? Did they approach you? Did you approach them? What was the deal? YF: I had heard of the Taiwan Ethnographic Film Festival through the Visual Anthropology networks that I am connected to, so I applied to them. They accepted, which was great! eRenlai: Aside from your family links to the region, what was it that drew you to make a film about Syria? YF: At the time of filming, in 2010, there were still a very limited number of documentaries made in Syria, both by Syrians and internationals. I felt that it was important to make a film about regular- but unique- people's lives in a country that was largely misunderstood by the world's media. eRenlai: "A Tale of Two Syrias" is an intriguing title. What are the "two Syrias" you tried to capture while you were filming? YF: I wanted to reflect the 2 stories of 2 individuals, the city and the country, the official and the unofficial, the before and the after. eRenlai: Your film shows Syria through the perspective of two very different people, but nevertheless your two interviewees are both male, both Christian, and one of them is an Iraqi only recently arrived in Syria. Why did you choose these two people in particular to represent the Syria of 2010? Some people may question why you did not choose a Muslim or a female voice for example…. YF: Good question. I realised after finishing it that some audiences have assumed that Salem, the Iraqi, is Christian, but in fact he is Muslim, but not very religious. At the time of editing I decided I didn't want to spell out what religion he is because he didn't either. The only person's religion I did mention is that of Botrus. In Syria it wasn't strange for people of different religions to visit the shrines of other religions. I also think it is important to see that people’s religious beliefs and practices can be expressed in multiple ways, and being Muslim or Christian is not just done in one particular way that defines it for the rest. I also chose to have a story of an Iraqi refugee because up until 2010, up to 1 million Iraqis had gone through or settled in Syria and I wanted to humanise one of these experiences. As for a female voice, I did try to find a female story, but after several different leads the stories didn't work out for various reasons (either bureaucratic, or difficult access to their particular stories). So yes I did intend to have a female voice. But ultimately I was attracted to both Salem and Botrus’s stories as neither of them are your typical person in Syria and I think that gives an interesting perspective on life there at the time. eRenlai: It was surprising that you managed to capture so many Syrians expressing their political opinions on camera (I am referring in particular to the discussions at Deir Mar Musa). Was there any suspicion on their part? Did you have to do much persuading? While people were discussing in Mar Musa I was allowed to film, due to being accepted by the community and also because I think people felt safe to speak there, so I didn't need to do any persuading. However the two discussions I filmed there now seem to reflect not only a different time, but also the issues that are pertinent today, like what does freedom look like and how do you share that and accept others? eRenlai: Has the film ever been screened in Syria or the Middle East? If so how was the film received? What kind of comments did people have? No, I haven't screened it in Syria or the Middle East, as it is difficult to do so at the moment. But many Syrians have seen it and have given me great feedback, which has been valuable to me. eRenlai: Could you talk about your changing emotions as the revolution in Syria started, then after a few months when it became clear there was going to be no quick toppling of the regime as in Libya or Tunisia, and finally when the revolution became a bloody civil war. I was, of course, excited by the potential in Syria for change from dictatorship, and I still support this change. It became clear that this would not be easy as soon as the regime’s forces started killing people at protests and funerals, imprisoning and torturing thousands and using indiscriminate force in various parts of the country. It is very sad and distressing to see the violence and destruction occurring in Syria today, and a strong solution to end the violence is needed as soon as possible, and then a transition to a different system of governance needs to be built. Because of events in Syria today, the whole film has a sense of irony, tension and impending disaster it might not have had otherwise. Had there been no conflict in Syria as you were editing the film, would you have made your film differently? What would you have changed and why? I am sure it would have been edited completely differently, and my perspectives would have been different. It is difficult to know what would have been different as making a film is also very instinctive, and I was editing whilst the revolution was gaining ground and there was increasing repression and violence. I could not separate those things from editing. But in saying that, the Syria I filmed in was run by an authoritarian regime with much structural violence, rising poverty, crony capitalism, and many other problems. It was far from being a non-conflicted country even then. So I feel that this sense of disaster was there, even in 2010, but it wasn't clear where it was going exactly. The tension was there and I re-found it in the footage as I was editing. eRenlai: At what stage of the editing process did the revolution start? How far had you got with the film? The revolution started just as I started editing, so it was difficult to see the footage of a few months before with the current news of what was happening in Syria. It took a while for me to edit after that as I could not edit the film easily due to these changes in Syria and the effects these were having on friends and family there. I took a few months off from editing, and then returned to it, knowing that the situation there had changed dramatically. eRenlai: Before the conflict, Syria was not often talked about in the media. Now, because of the conflict, Syria and films about Syria are getting far greater public attention. As a film-maker, could you describe your feelings when faced with this reality? While there is a lot of media attention about Syria I feel that there is not enough that deals with it more deeply, as most of the work is about war, which can be quite frustrating. That being said there are more and more great films being made there and they are slowly being filtered out into the world. eRenlai: With the escalation of the conflict into a civil war between a multitude of actors, some of whom have shown themselves to be just as brutal as the regime, can we still call the conflict a "revolution"? Can we still say that all factions of the rebels in Syria are fighting for freedom? I think we can say that there is a lot happening in Syria and one of those things is a revolution. There are many other conflicts and fights going on at the same time but that does not mean we must sideline those that work non-violently or who focus on a change from dictatorship or for democracy. Silencing or ignoring them is dangerous, as is understanding the conflict in Syria in narrow terms, such as a conflict made up only of fighting factions, or of extremists, or full of brutal leaders. In reality there are many opinions and approaches. Also it is important to keep things in perspective. The regime has, and still does, have majority of control of violence. The majority of destruction has been due to the regimes shelling and attacks, as have been most tortures, arrests and killings. What is happening in Syria can also be called 'uprisings', a set of political processes that are occurring at the same time, trying to work out what they are and where they are going. Also the term 'Freedom' depends on your definition of it, so yes, many factions may be fighting for that, and the challenge is reconciling those different interpretations of the term. eRenlai: What do you think when you hear what some Syrians interviewed in the media –both in Syria and outside the country- are saying; that they preferred things as they were under Bashar al-Assad to the chaos reigning in their country today? I hear a variety of opinions coming out of Syria but I cannot say that I have heard this opinion very often at all. On the contrary, I hear the opposite much more. Many people ask for an end to the chaos and violence but recognise that the regime has been the driving force for this chaos from the start in order to win popular support and to become even more entrenched. Some people do say they prefer Bashar al Assad, and others that they support someone else or some other group, and many others still that they prefer neither of these options. I think this reflects the diversity of experiences and opinions across the country and I think this variety needs to be acknowledged and a space for it created in the future. eRenlai: Christians in Syria today- and the village of Maaloula in particular where some of your film was shot- are not being persecuted by the regime, but rather by Islamist factions of the opposition. How does this affect Christians' place in the struggle against the regime? They must be in a difficult position now... I think the premise of this question is wrong and you cannot assume that Christians as a whole are being persecuted. Many Christians have been persecuted by the regime pre and post conflict. At the same time there were individuals that were close to the regime and have favourable positions because of this. Sectarianism was used by the regime as a tool to consolidate power, both before and during the uprising against it. So this is a very complicated situation, as it is for Syrians of all backgrounds, including for Muslims, Druze, or atheists. I think it is important not to see Christians as one homogenous group of people. There are many differing opinions and experiences which affect people's decisions so I don't think it makes sense to phrase the issue as the 'Christians' place in the struggle against the regime. It is about Syrians as a whole, people all over Syria are being targeted. eRenlai: What is the best scenario for religious minorities in Syria? At the moment things do not look good either way for them... I don't believe this is a healthy way to see this issue. I think the best thing is to treat everyone as Syrians, as this is isn't a sectarian conflict, and is still one based on power struggles. By saying that religious minorities are having a hard time, you are ignoring that the fact that the 'majority ' of Syrians, many of whom are Sunni Muslims, are also having a very hard time. Everyone is affected by the conflict in deep ways and this must be recognised for everyone. It is important to point out that the regime has aimed since the start to make this a sectarian conflict, and this kind of narrative supports their aim. Sectarianism exists, but the uprising did not begin as a sectarian uprising. eRenlai: Going back to your title, “A Tale of Two Syrias”, what "two Syrias" (or more than two) can you envisage in the future when this horrible conflict has come to an end? It will take a long time to rebuild Syria but I hope it will be just one Syria after the conflict. One that is based on dignity, equality and able to accept diversity of opinion, whatever it might be. eRenlai: Will you be returning to the Middle East for another filming project soon? I am going to be working in Jordan very soon, filming a theatre production of The Trojan Women by Euripides, set in the modern Syrian conflict and made with Syrian refugees who now live there. For more information about Yasmin please visit her site, http://tellbrakfilms.com/ Women in Asia 亞洲新女性 Seeing through the haze: The truth about smoking "...but as the world grew more and more affluent, laws and restrictions multiplied, discrimination increased, and somehow we lost our freedom. Why did this happen?" Yasutaka Tsutsui, "The Last Smoker" In Japanese author Yasutaka Tsutsui's 1987 novel "The Last Smoker", he depicts a fictitious Japan in which the anti-smoking movement has become powerful, leading eventually to the extermination of smokers. Even though this piece is classified as science fiction, the descriptions found in the novel, such as the unwillingness to understand smokers, their plight of being loathed, and the general state of discrimination against them are all too present in the real world. Tweets by @erenlai benoit vermander buddhism china christianity conference documentary east asia environment exhibition interview jesuit Literature music pacific photography poetry social awareness spirituality and religion taipei taiwan tidf video 原住民台灣影像與想像影評教育文化書評生命 Join our FB Group	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10141
__label__wiki	0.534111	0.534111	Pages: 1 2 3 [All] Go Down Big Brother Canada 5 - Live Feed Discussion Week 1: Karen, HOH, to be continued... Week 1: Karen, HOH, Demetres & Mark nominated, Bruno wins veto, not used, Mark evicted 7-6 Week 2: Demetres, HOH, to be continued... Week 2: Demetres, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, to be continued... Playing in the veto are.... HOH...................Demetres Nominees............Dillon & Emily Chosen...............Dre, Karen & Neda Host...................Dallas « Last Edit: March 25, 2017, 11:55:09 PM by RealityFreakWill » Week 2: Demetres, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, Dillon wins veto, to be continued... Week 2: Demetres, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, Dillon wins veto, used on self, Dallas up, to be continued... Week 2: Demetres, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, Dillon wins veto, used on self, Dallas up, Dallas evicted 12-0 Week 3: Neda, HOH, to be continued... Week 3: Neda, HOH, Cassandra & Jackie nominated, to be continued... Playing in the veto are... HOH........................Neda Nominees................Cassandra & Jackie Chosen...................Emily, Ika & William Host.......................Kevin Week 3: Neda, HOH, Cassandra & Jackie nominated, William wins veto, to be continued... Week 3: Neda, HOH, Cassandra & Jackie nominated, William wins veto, not used, to be continued... CASSANDRA EVICTED 11-0 BACKWARD WEEK TWIST ALL HGS SECRETLY NOMINATED TWO PEOPLE DRE AND GARY NOMINATED VETO COMPETITION TO AIR ON MONDAY'S SHOW HOH COMP WILL TAKE PLACE LAST TO AIR ON WEDNESDAY'S SHOW. THE NEW HOH WILL CAST THE SOLE VOTE TO EVICT ON THE NEXT LIVE EVICTION SHOW Week 3: Neda, HOH, Cassandra & Jackie nominated, William wins veto, not used, Cassandra evicted 11-0 Week 4: Dre & Gary nominated, to be continued... Nominees.....................Dre & Gary Chosen.......................Emily, Kevin, Neda & William Host...........................Bruno Week 4: Dre & Gary nominated, Neda wins veto, to be continued... Week 4: Dre & Gary nominated, Neda wins veto, not used, to be continued... Week 4: Dre & Gary nominated, Neda wins veto, not used, Demetres, HOH, to be continued... Week 4: Dre & Gary nominated, Neda wins veto, not used, Demetres, HOH, Gary evicted Week 5: William, HOH, to be continued... Week 5: William, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, to be continued... HOH........................William Nominees.................Dillon & Emily Chosen....................Dre, Karen & Kevin Week 5: William, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, Kevin wins veto, to be continued... Week 5: William, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, Kevin wins veto, not used, to be continued... TONIGHT IS THE DOUBLE EVICTION! Week 5: William, HOH, Dillon & Emily nominated, Kevin wins veto, not used, Emily evicted 8-1 Week 5: Sindy, HOH, Dillon & Jackie nominated, Jackie wins veto, used on self, Neda up, Neda evicted 7-1 Week 6: Dillon, HOH, to be continued... Week 6: Dillon, HOH, Demetres & Jackie nominated, to be continued... HOH.................Dillon Nominees.........Demetres & Jackie Chosen............Ika, Sindy & William Host................Dre Week 6: Dillon, HOH, Demetres & Jackie nominated, Demetres wins veto, to be continued... Week 6: Dillon, HOH, Demetres & Jackie nominated, Demetres wins veto, used on self, Sindy up, to be continued... Week 6: Dillon, HOH, Demetres & Jackie nominated, Demetres wins veto, used on self, Sindy up, Sindy evicted 6-1 Week 7: Demetres, HOH, Bruno & Kevin nominated, to be continued... HOH..............................Demetres Nominees......................Bruno & Kevin Chosen.........................Dre, Ika & William Host.............................Jackie Week 7: Demetres, HOH, Bruno & Kevin nominated, William wins veto, to be continued... Week 7: Demetres, HOH, Bruno & Kevin nominated, William wins veto, not used, secret veto used on Kevin, Karen up, to be continued... For those wondering about the secret veto.... Last week before the veto ceremony, William found the secret veto. He had two weeks to use it. He didn't use it last week. He used it anonymously on Kevin at the veto ceremony today. Week 7: Demetres, HOH, Bruno & Kevin nominated, William wins veto, not used, secret veto used on Kevin, Karen up, Bruno evicted 5-1 Week 8: Kevin, HOH, to be continued... Week 8: Kevin, HOH, Demetres & Ika nominated, to be continued... HOH...............................Kevin Nominees......................Demetres & Ika Chosen.........................Dillon, Dre & Jackie Host.............................William Week 8: Kevin, HOH, Demetres & Ika nominated, Demetres wins veto, to be continued... Week 8: Kevin, HOH, Demetres & Ika nominated, Demetres wins veto, used on self, Jackie up, to be continued... IT'S TRIPLE EVICTION DAY! EIGHT TO FIVE TWO WEEKS UNTIL FINALE DAY! LIVE TRIPLE EVICTION SPOILERS Jackie evicted 4-1 Demetres is the new HOH Demetres nominated Dre, Kevin & William. Kevin won POV Dillon was the replacement nominee. Ika, Karen and Kevin all voted to save Dillon. Dre and William were evicted. Week 8: Kevin, HOH, Demetres & Ika nominated, Demetres wins veto, used on self, Jackie up, Jackie evicted 4-1 Week 8: Demetres, HOH, Dre, Kevin & William nominated, Kevin wins veto, used on self, Dillon up, Dre & William evicted Week 9: Kevin, HOH, Demetres & Ika nominated, Kevin wins veto, to be continued... Week 9: Kevin, HOH, Demetres & Ika nominated, Kevin wins veto, used on Ika, Dillon up, to be continued... Week 9: Kevin, HOH, Demetres & Ika nominated, Kevin wins veto, used on Ika, Dillon up, Dillon evicted 2-0 Week 10: Demetres, HOH, to be continued... Week 10: Demetres, HOH, Karen & Kevin nominated, to be continued... Week 10: Demetres, HOH, Karen & Kevin nominated, Kevin wins veto, to be continued... Live feeds ended last Saturday afternoon right after Arisa appeared on the TV screen announcing to the final four that in less than an hour one of them will be evicted. Kevin being the sole vote, evicted Ika Demetres won HOH part one. This Thursday is the LIVE TWO HOUR SEASON FINALE! Week 10: Demetres, HOH, Karen & Kevin nominated, Kevin wins veto, used on self, Ika up, Ika evicted 1-0 Week 11: HOH part 1 TBD... IT'S BIG BROTHER CANADA SEASON FIVE FINALE DAY! GOOD LUCK TO THE FINAL THREE KAREN, KEVIN AND DEMETRES Week 11: Demetres, HOH part 1, Kevin, HOH part 2, Kevin, HOH part 3, Demetres evicted FINALE: Karen vs Kevin, Kevin wins BBCAN5 9-0 BIG BROTHER CANADA SEASON FIVE CHAMPION JURY VOTE 9 - 0 Pages: 1 2 3 [All] Go Up	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10143
__label__cc	0.689168	0.310832	Florida Construction Law News Professional Negligence in Construction: Which Statute of Limitations Applies? by Stephen W. Stukey, Esq. It is a fairly common fact pattern in construction defect claims: A design professional, such as an architect or engineer, is contracted by a client to provide a design, and perhaps perform construction administration for, an improvement to real property. Construction is completed, and everything seems fine for four or more years until the client asserts defects and deficiencies that implicate the services of the design professional. Upon further investigation, it appears the client knew of the alleged defects and deficiencies for at least two years before filing suit for professional negligence. The question invariably arises, “are the claims barred by the statute of limitations?” There is, of course, the four-year statute of limitations set forth in Section 95.11(3)(c), Florida Statutes, which applies to actions “founded on the design, planning, or construction of an improvement to real property.” In the case of patent defects, the date of commencement of the limitations period can vary, running from the latest of the four possible trigger dates. If the defect is “latent,” however, it runs “from the time the defect is discovered or should have been discovered with the exercise of due diligence.”[1] However, Section 95.11(4)(a), Florida Statutes, contains a second, shorter statute of limitations, applicable to claims involving professionals, which Florida law defines as including architects and engineers. This two-year statute of limitations is applicable to an “action for professional malpractice, other than medical malpractice, whether founded on contract or tort,” which, runs, “from the time the cause of action is discovered or should have been discovered with the exercise of due diligence,” but is limited to actions against “persons in privity with the professional.”[2] There is no Florida case law directly addressing the potential conflict between these two statutes. The two oft-cited rules of statutory construction proffered to support application of the longer, four-year statute of limitations to design professional claims, despite contractual privity, are set forth in Dubin v. Dow Corning Corporation, 478 So. 2d 71 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985), and Baskerville-Donovan Engineers, Inc. v. Pensacola Executive House Condominium Association, 581 So. 2d 1301 (Fla. 1991), respectively. In Dubin, the issue was whether to apply the four-year statute of limitation set forth in Section 95.11(3)(c) or the five-year statute of limitations for breach of contract claims set forth in Section 95.11(2)(b). The Dubin court concluded that when the breach of contract is founded on a contract for construction of improvements to real property, Section 95.11(3)(c) applies. It based its decision on the language used by the legislature, which it construed to be inclusive of “all actions, whether in tort or contract,” and a well-established doctrine of statutory construction which provides, “a special statute of limitations which addresses itself to specific matters takes precedence over a general statute.”[3] Baskerville-Donovan, on the other hand, dealt with how broadly the term “privity” in Section 95.11(4)(a) is to be construed. The Baskerville-Donovan court held that Section 95.11(4)(a) is to be strictly construed as requiring “direct privity,” thereby excluding ““intended and known beneficiaries.”[4] The Baskerville-Donovan court referenced a second well-established principle of statutory construction which provides, “[w]here a statute of limitations shortens the existing period of time the statute is generally construed strictly, and where there is reasonable doubt as to legislative intent, the preference is to allow the longer period of time.”[5] Read together, Dubin and Baskerville-Donovan seem to suggest that, to the extent there is a conflict, a court might deem Section 95.11(3)(c) “more specific” than Section 95.11(4)(a), or find that there is reasonable doubt as to the legislature’s intent to have Section 95.11(4)(a) apply to construction defect claims where a design professional is in privity with a claimant (as opposed to actions, such as those in Baskerville-Donovan, which are not clearly “founded the design, planning, or construction of an improvement to real property”). However, at least one federal court has applied the shorter two-year statute of limitations in Section 95.11(4)(a) to an owner’s claims for construction defects against design professional with whom it was in privity. In Baker County Medical Services v. Summit Smith L.L.C., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44154 (M.D. Fla. May 29, 2008), the operator of a hospital facility filed suit against its design-build contractor for alleged HVAC design defects, three years after “contract completion.”[6] In reaching its determination that the causes of action arising from design of the HVAC system were barred by the two-year statute of limitations set forth in Section 95.11(4)(a), the Baker County court expressly rejected the argument that Section 95.11(3)(c) was “more specific” than Section 95.11(4)(a), and actually held, to the contrary, that Section 95.11(4)(a) was more specific, stating, “the two year statute of limitations for actions of professional malpractice is the more specific statute, since it applies to a very specific class of a cause of action, as opposed to Section 95.11(3), which covers actions dealing with a broad class of claims dealing generally with improvements to real property.”[7] A survey of the cases setting forth these seemingly incompatible constructions suggests that the analysis a court chooses to employ depends on whether the court is being asked to interpret the legislative intent of a statute to shorten a statute of limitations or “harmonize” two clear, but competing, statutes.[8]. In sum, for construction defect claims against design professionals, Florida law is surprisingly unsettled, and the four-year statute of limitations may not always be correct. [1] § 95.11(3)(c), Fla. Stat. [2] § 95.11(4)(a), Fla. Stat. [3] Dubin, 478 So. 2d at 72, 73. [4] Baskerville-Donovan, 581 So. 2d at 1304 (disapproving the holding in Cristich v. Allen Engineering Inc., 458 So. 2d76 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984)). [5] Id. at 1303. [6] Baker Cnty., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44154, at *45-46. [7] Id. [8] See Haney v. Holmes, 364 So. 2d 81 (Fla. 2d DCA 1978), appeal dismissed, 367 So.2d 1124 (Fla. 1979); Rebich v. Burdine’s, 417 So. 2d 284, 285 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982); Cf. Beck v. Barnett Nat’l Bank, Fla., 142 So. 2d 329 (Fla. 1st DCA 1962); Palmquist v. Johnson, 41 So. 2d 313 (Fla. 1949) (en banc); State ex rel. Ashby v. Haddock, 149 So. 2d 552 (Fla. 1962); Perry v. Reichert, 151 So. 403 (Fla. 1933); see also Grissom v. N. Am. Aviation, Inc., 326 F. Supp. 465 (M. D. Fla. 1971) (in action by astronaut’s widow against engineers for death of astronaut in “ground test”, applying two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death to shorten the twelve-year statute of limitations proscribed by the predecessor statute to section 95.11(3)(c), Florida Statutes). Alternative Dispute Resolution Arbitration Architects Bids Change Orders Civil Rights Code Enforcement Condominiums Construction Construction Contracts Construction Licensing Contractors Delays Design Professionals Design-Build Developers Duty to Defend Engineers Florida Legislation General Indemnification Insurance Coverage Lien Negligence Permits Prejudgment Interest Professional Liability Public-Private Partnerships Roofer Slavin Statute of Repose Statutes of Limitations Subcontractors Subrogation Surety Traffic Uncategorized Warranty -- Select Month -- January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 August 2014 July 2014 May 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 Construction Licensing Duty to Defend Florida Legislation Prejudgment Interest Statute of Repose Firm Brochure Copyright © 2019 Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. All Rights Reserved. Powered by TECKpert	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10146
__label__wiki	0.872611	0.872611	At Amherst-Pelham Regional High School in Massachusetts, "spreading sex gossip" is among the offenses defined as sexual harassment, punishable by "parent conference, apology to victim, detention, suspension, recommendation, or referral to police." To U.S. News & World Report columnist John Leo's question concerning what would happen if a student told a friend, "I think Marcie and Allen have something going," superintendant Gus Sayer responded, "That would qualify as sexual harassment." Santa Barbara animal activists protested the arrival of the Carson and Barnes Five-Ring Circus in nearby Carpinteria, California, claiming that "no animal can possibly learn tricks without being abused." Phillip Aguirre, 13, was one of four activists standing outside the circus' main tent, shouting, "the cruelest show on Earth" and passing out leaflets that claim circus trainers beat and mistreat their animals. Aguirre stated, "I don't think animals should be treated that way. Everyone should be treated equal. It makes people feel different about the circus." Denise Ford of Animal Emancipation, Inc. of Ventura claimed, "the bull elephants were displaying autistic behavior. They were swaying back and forth very violently. That's a sign of psychological breakdown." She also claimed that the circus animals were denied water. She added that people should not get entertainment for animals, stating "Romans used to watch Christians being thrown to the lions for enjoyment." Animal trainer Brad Jewell denied these charges, saying that positive reinforcement techniques are used, with the animals being rewarded with treats such as carrots, apples, and lettuce when they get their tricks right. Ernie Miller, an assistant manager for the circus, also denied the charges of cruelty, saying that the elephants' cages are big enough to be called "elephant condos." He added that it wouldn't make sense for the circus to mistreat these animals; denying them water would be ridiculous, and Miller asked, "why would we put a $75,000 animal in jeopardy? It would be like buying a brand new Mercedes Benz, taking it home, and putting sugar in the gas tank." Referring to Ford's charges of autism, Miller pointed out that elephants sway back and forth because it's their nature to do so. He added that the circus is expected to generate $15,000 of charitable funds for the Carpinteria library and Girls Inc. He admitted he didn't mind the protesters since "businesswise, I can't complain. They've given us a lot of publicity." New York Governor Mario Cuomo discusses the World Trade Center bombing in the Federal News Service, February 27, 1993: As far as apprehension is concerned, we all have that feeling—that feeling of being violated. It is still true that this is the safest place in the world, that you have the best law enforcement people, the best fire service people, the best public employees, the best federal investigative unit in the whole world. All of them working together. You will have now a heightened security in every way that it can be heightened. You have on the state side—I assume this will happen with other governments as well—all state officials working harder to enforce codes, working more diligently at every security measure that you can take. All of that will be done. And so, what used to be the safest place in the world will be safer still... After a Philadelphia Revenue Department employee was denied a promotion for routinely missing work to play pinball, his union filed an official grievance. The grounds: the worker was "compulsively and uncontrollably compelled to play" the game. The decision was upheld, but it took four years to exhaust the costly arbitration process. "We called the stolen car victim and told her we had some good news and some bad news," said El Cajon, California, police spokesperson Debbie Setzer. "The good news is that we recovered your car. The bad news is that we stole it." The woman had left her car parked near the police station; officers thought it was an unmarked police car and drove off in it." When Richard Osbourn of Casper, Wyoming, bought the adult video "Belle of the Ball," he expected to see the main advertised attraction, Busty Belle, who instead only made a cameo appearance. Rather than settle for a refund of the cost of the video, Osbourn filed a lawsuit against Emporium Videos, claiming that it duped him into buying the video. He is demanding reimbursement of the $29.95 he spent on the video and $55.79 in medical costs he incurred when the "stress and strain of being ripped off" brought on an asthma attack. And, as "compensation for suffering," he'd like an additional $50,000. At Eastern Oregon State University, Josh Tanner's college radio program was banned due to the explicit material it featured. Tanner ran a Christian music show, and station officials banned the music because their faculty adviser considered it "too spiritually explicit." Tanner says he was told not to say the word "Christian" on the air. The decision, later reversed under pressure from a lawyer, surprised Tanner. "The station plays the vilest things—anything under the sun that is perverted," he says. "So it was a real shock" that the music was nixed for its spirituality. The Department of Public Affairs of the U.S. Army has printed 80,000 copies of a children's coloring book called "Keeping the Earth Green," which on one page features a happy soldier helping children feed a giant tortoise, and on another page shows a tank crew trying to keep the noise down to avoid disturbing a sleeping owl. "Soldiers take care not to scare or hurt animals that live on the land," the caption reads. "It's part of an environmental stewardship campaign," says Capt. Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the Army's Department of Public Affairs. "The Army's goal is to be a national leader on the issue of the environment." Happily for taxpayers, the book only cost $6,000 to print. Buckner reveals the secret: recyclable paper. [Ed.: Capt. Bill Buckner is no relation to the bowlegged Red Sox firstbaseman.] Journalist Terry Anderson, while writing an account of his 6 1/2 years as a hostage in Lebanon, has been trying to dig up information on nine men who held him captive. But when he filed a Freedom of Information Act request, the Justice Department turned it down, explaining that it would violate the kidnappers' right to privacy. The department informed Anderson that it would need either notarized privacy waivers from each of the captors, or proof of their deaths. Czechoslovakian-born Fred Botur came to New York in 1952, a refugee from communism. In 1965, he started a five-court tennis club in a city-owned armory. A few years later, the city decided to tear down the armory and gave Botur the boot. He found a new site and opened outdoor courts, planning to add a three-story indoor tennis club. Community groups objected, and the city refused Botur a zoning variance. He had to move again. Undaunted, he leased a field under a city bridge and built another tennis club. But when Botur's seven-year lease was up, the city called for competitive bids. Someone bid higher, so the city threw Botur out. Meanwhile, on a junk property leased from the city, he had built a fourth tennis club. Everything was fine until seven years later when he was bounced for an expressway extension. Fourteen years after that, there's no highway construction on the property. Frustrated by the whims of bureaucrats, Botur bought seven debris-filled acres that he turned into 30 indoor and outdoor courts with clubhouse and art gallery. He has 900 members, employs 55 people and pays more than $1 million a year in taxes. Botur's been there 19 years, but the bureaucrats are after him again. This time, the city and state have mapped plans to build $2.3 billion worth of apartment buildings, offices and a 350-room hotel—on and around Botur's tennis club. As the New York government moves to acquire Fred Botur's hard-won enterprise, the Czech government is returning to him family property seized by communists after World War II. Dan Rather at a May 27, 1993, CBS affiliates meeting talking via satellite to President Clinton about his new on-air partnership with Connie Chung: If we could be one-hundredth as great as you and Hillary Rodham Clinton have been in the White House, we'd take it right now and walk away winners... Thank you very much and tell Mrs. Clinton we respect her and we're pulling for her. The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was killed by a gun he helped steal has sued the gun's owner for negligence in storing the weapon in an unlocked pickup truck. The mother complains that the owner "enticed" the four boys into stealing the gun because he didn't lock his truck. Naturalist Gordon Plague of the Science Center of New Hampshire has called for Americans to eat more insects, stating, "If people in this country started eating more insects then it would obviously cut down on the need for beef and for chicken and other meats. And so when that demand went down it would actually also lower the prices of those foods." Plague pointed out, "we also eat things, worse things, that are relatives of insects like lobsters and shrimp, which are also crustaceans like insects, but for some reason ... don't have that stigma." Nevertheless, Plague admitted that getting Americans to eat more insects would require a "sales job." Asked about his new personal no-junk-food policy, President Clinton clarified, "I don't necessarily consider McDonald's junk food." From an article in the Los Angeles teachers' union newsletter: More than three out of four people, 69% told the L.A. Times pollster that the February 23, 1993, strike would be justified. As keynote speaker for the "Metaphors, Models, and Measurements for Writing" seminar at the 16th conference of the City University of New York Association of Writing Supervisors, professor Ann E. Berthoff of the University of Massachusetts at Boston spoke on the need for teachers of creative writing to engage their students in nonlinear concept formation. To prove her point, she compared a student's five-paragraph essay on capital punishment to Rodney King's "Can we all get along?" statements at his press conference in Los Angeles immediately following the riots. "King's bursts of eloquence, his balance between image and topic, particular and universal, reveals a mind and heart that are engaged by their topic," said Berthoff. She went on to point out that listeners and readers are provoked "to ask how come we all cannot work it out." Berthoff urged her audience to focus on King's "interactive movement between personal and public" that should be encouraged in all students' writing. As proof of King's skills, she presented an excerpt from the speech that included: "You know, I mean we're all stuck here for a while. Let's, you know, let's try to work it out. Let's work it out." Public interest lawyer Rees Lloyd has filed a lawsuit to stop several media organizations from using the word "welsher" to describe someone who reneges or cheats, because he says it slurs Welsh-Americans. The lawsuit says terms such as welsher are "fighting words," which the Supreme Court has ruled lack constitutional protection. According to a University of Pittsburgh policy, "Public works of art and other exhibits representing creative efforts, as well as posters, and other visual materials, that are displayed in public areas of the University should, over time, represent all constituencies of this institution by including works by or about the many racial, ethnic and cultural groups that make up the University community for the purpose of documenting the history and celebrating the wealth of diversity" at the school. Provost Donald Henderson asked university deans and directors to take an inventory of artwork under their control, intended to help diversify collections. Michael Daly in a New York magazine piece, explaining why the looting that occurred during the 1977 New York blackout coincided with a Democratic presidential administration: In retrospect, the poor might simply have been a few years ahead of their time. They might have just been acting with the passions that would guide the coming decade of conspicuous consumption. Their 25-hour frenzy might only have been their own brief exercise of the principle that Greed is Good. Students who attend summer school classes at the University of California at Santa Cruz can choose classes from the "History of Consciousness" division such as "Perspectives on Mixed Race," "The Lesbian Novel," and "Feminism and Environmentalism," which puts an "emphasis on feminist and multicultural discourses of ecology, environmentalism, and 'technoscience' developed in feminist and antiracist social movements worldwide." Another course, "Masculinity in America," provides insight into "representations of masculinity and diverse 'men's movements' in American popular and political culture." If the academic content of these courses seems too daunting, students can attend courses like "Narrative Evaluation System," which is "designed to encourage students to pursue learning for its own sake, not simply to achieve grades." If that is too much, students can also get credit for "Field Studies: The Santa Cruz Mountains." President Clinton's "emergency stimulus" economic package included items such as 30 gymnasiums, 14 jogging paths, 18 parking garages, 30 bike paths, a $30,000 ice skating "warming hut," a $2.7 million movie theater, $200,000 to restore a boat house, and $2.5 million to build a restaurant and alpine slide in Puerto Rico. When security cameras were installed at the Philadelphia Civic Center, guards refused to look at the monitors. Doing so was not in their union job description, and they would check the screens only if paid overtime. In six months, the extra pay cost the city nearly $70,000. The Civic Center shut off the cameras. The Hawaii legislature passed a bill requiring stores to place warning labels on war toys on the grounds that such playthings increase "anger and violence" in children. In a rigged election in 1985, Samuel K. Doe proclaimed himself president of Liberia. In anticipation of protests in the capital city of Monrovia, the government-owned New Liberian newspaper announced that morning: "No Jubilation Allowed in the Streets." California Governor Pete Wilson issued an executive order banning smoking in a number of public places, including death row. Can an eight-year-old with Down's syndrome who has an I.Q. of 59 and a mental age of less than four, who is not toilet trained, whose speech is unintelligible, and who persists in loud behavior be appropriately educated in a regular classroom without disrupting the rest of the children? A federal court in New Jersey says yes and has ordered the Clementon School District to "mainstream" Rafael Oberti. The flight crew of a Miami cargo jet has sued the Drug Enforcement Agency over a botched drug sting. Two years earlier, DEA agents in Belize placed 48 kilograms of cocaine on a DC-8—without telling the crew. When the plane stopped in Honduras on its return to Miami, local police discovered the drugs and imprisoned and tortured the flight drew. The crew was imprisoned for two weeks before U.S. authorities finally acknowledged that they had planted the drugs. Harry Ross of Skokie, Illinois, runs a mail-order business called Soitenly Stooges, which deals in memorabilia from the comic threesome. He relocated to Highland Park and erected an eight-foot-tall sign depicting Moe, Larry, and Curly. But two Town Council members want to force him to remove the sign. They say, "The character shown on the far left of the sign [Curly Howard] is a slur to African-Americans." APA Newsletters, Fall 1992, published by the American Philosophical Association: I am a white lesbian, forty-eight years old and I have a beard. Sort of a double goatee affair that grows on either side of my chin. I have had it for about sixteen years. When I first realized I was growing a beard, not just a few chin hairs, I was shocked. I identified strongly as a feminist, but was not ready for this test of my will and resolve not to appear at least moderately feminine in this world of strict masculine/feminine dichotomies. Besides, until the beard came, I did not realize what deep recesses of desire to be "pretty" in a traditionally feminine way I harbored. The beard, if I let it grow, would certainly end the possibility of a purely feminine appearance for me. It took me over a year to stop shaving it altogether. By then I had moved to liking it a lot and putting some effort into seeing to it that it appeared neat and not unkempt by, for instance, keeping crumbs out of it when I ate croissants. A story on "Dateline NBC" that reported that GM pickup trucks were prone to fiery explosions upon impact turned out, upon close examination with slow-motion playback, to have been a hoax. The producers of the report had overfilled the gas tank, put on a cap that didn't fit, and to top it off, rigged a couple of model rocket engines on the gas tank to ignite just before impact. In a swift and unprecedented apology, NBC declared that the use of incendiary devices "was a bad idea from start to finish." "This unscientific demonstration," the apology continued, "was not representative of an actual side-impact collision." And: "We have... concluded that unscientific demonstrations should have no place in hard news stories at NBC. That's our new policy." The Washington Post assured readers, "If you've been dreaming about Bill Clinton, relax. It's perfectly normal." The Post detailed various examples of the kind of dreams that have become all too common: A 25-year-old secretary who described her vision as such: "Bill leaned over and whispered discreetly in my ear that he wanted me to be his mistress." A self-described "techno-hippie" who dreamed that Hillary "had just undergone mouth surgery and she had bloodstains all over her sequined pajamas.... Peter Jennings was there too, doing something fake." A 30-year-old filmmaker envisioned the president as a dentist. "He reaches his arms out towards me, and bends to place his lips near mine.... I think how angry Hillary would be if she found out, and how terrible I would feel—hurting her like that." One woman imagined the president giving her a neck massage. "Usually my dreams are more abstract," she said. "But my neck felt better." A Washington state transsexual was turned down in his challenge to the dress code of his employer, Boeing. Under the company's code, either gender may wear lipstick, pantyhose, earrings, foundation makeup, slacks, blouses, sweaters, flat shoes, and clear nail polish; however, the man wanted also to wear a pink pearl necklace. A handbill distributed at California State University, San Marcos: RAGE! The newest public university in the United States, announces a Call for Papers and Performances for a conference on "Rage Across the Disciplines" to be held at CSU San Marcos on Papers and performances are welcomed in all disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. The topics of AIDS or gay rage, women's rage, the rage of ethnic minorities or working class rage particularly are encouraged. As part of its efforts to identify various issues and problems, the federal government spends roughly $150 million each year to fund 700 nonstatutory federal advisory commissions. One such commission is the U.S. Board of Tea Experts, including a $68,000-a-year executive secretary position responsible for sampling cups of tea. There's also the Advisory Panel for Animal Learning and Behavior, the Advisory Panel for the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, and the Weather and Climate Coordinating Committee. A government biologist who was eligible for retirement filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and was reinstated to his position despite the fact that he was taking four months to complete tasks performed in two days by his colleagues. It was determined that his supervisors had failed to define the term "too slow" for him. Martha Sherrill in the Washington Post, May 4, 1993: It just happened, slipped out—from deep inside of her—in a quiet but stunning way. It was April and her father was dying in the hospital and Hillary Rodham Clinton was standing at a lectern in Austin: "We need a new politics of meaning," she said. People wondered what to make of this at first. Maybe they still wonder what to make of it. But there in Texas, she finally revealed the biggest piece of herself yet, just said it: In the midst of redesigning America's health care system and replacing Madonna as our leading cult figure, the new First Lady has already begun working on her next project, far more metaphysical and uplifting. "It's not going to be easy," she said. "It's not going to be easy," she said, "redefining who we are as human beings in this postmodern age."... She is both impersonal and poignant, with much more depth, intellect and spirituality than we are used to in a politician... She has goals, but they appear to be so huge and far off—grand and noble things twinkling in the distance—that it's hard to see what she sees. ...and this is Ms. Sherrill in the same publication, two days later: Way in the future, when she's old and probably legendary, Hillary Clinton wants to be able to look back and feel she led "an integrated life," she says, sitting in her West Wing office last week. She wants to have felt unified, whole. She wants her emotional life and physical life, her spiritual life and political life all to fit together, in sync, an orchestra sitting down to play the same song. Convicted serial killer Randy Kraft filed a $60 million lawsuit against Warner Books and author Dennis McDougal, arguing that their book Angel of Darkness defamed him. Kraft, who is on death row for the sexual torture-murder of 16 men, said the book is unfair in its portrayal of him as a "sick, twisted" man. Abigail Trafford in the Washington Post Health Supplement, March 3, 1993: Debbie, Diane, Janet. What do these women have in common? Answer: They all turned to doctors to help them die... But why are there so many women on the list of patients who made medical history with their dying? Where are the examples of Tom, Dick, and Harry in the debate on assisted suicide? The numbers are still too small to be statistically valid, but as JAMA editor George D. Lundberg points out: "There is a pattern that's beginning to emerge."... The apparent gender gap in physician-assisted suicides can also be explained by the differences between men and women in the methods they choose to kill themselves. "Men's methods are active and physical," says JAMA editor Lundberg, a forensic pathologist. They commit suicide by gunshot, hanging or jumping off a bridge. They also kill themselves four times more frequently than women. "Women's methods are more passive," he says. They use drugs, which usually require a doctor's prescription. But there could be other factors at work. The shortage of men on the list may reflect a more subtle and inherent form of sexism in medicine. Lundberg suggests that male patients may also ask physicians to help them die, but doctors are more comfortable writing about women who seek help because it fits the profession's stereotype of the weak, needy patient-female. Given the paternalism of the medical establishment, "men would be more likely to describe a woman requesting assistance than other men," says Lundberg. Undoubtedly there have been Daves, Dicks and Johns, but it fits cultural stereotyping to publicize Debbie, Diane and Janet. When the Stanford Irish American Student Association formed to demand a special curriculum devoted to the Irish experience in America, the issue caused a schism among editors of the Stanford Daily, resulting in unusual side-by-side editorials, each argued consistently from multicultural principles as each faction understood them. Susan Margolis in the San Francisco Chronicle, March 1, 1993: Remember, near the end of Casablanca, when Ingrid Bergman and her husband ask Humphrey Bogart to give them exit visas so they can escape to safety and keep working to defeat the Nazis? ...Right now, according to recent polls, three quarters of Americans are Ingrid Bergman and her husband. We've all got our personal fights and fortunes to consider, but Bill Clinton, our Bogart, holds everybody's exit visas—his economic plan—which could free us from dictatorship of the deficit and possibly lead to a happy ending... Maybe, just maybe, Clinton is everything he seems to be: a man disciplined and smart enough to have figured out what he thinks will work and strong enough to be able to take that plan to the people and admit that without their support, he'll fail. In other words, a man comfortable enough with his own power to share his power with the rest of us. But is he powerful enough to overcome our cynicism? It will be tempting for us to adopt Russ [sic] Limbaugh's glibness, focusing on what's wrong with him and how we don't like the way his plan will touch our lives. Or we can take that leap of faith. Remember how Casablanca ends? Bogart's power over Bergman and her husband ennobles him. He surprises everybody by deciding to send them off together. He even recommits himself to fighting the good fight. And why? Because as he says at the movie's end, otherwise, his life doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Well, we're living in the '90s and not the '40s. Clinton is Bogart, minus the cigaret and trench coat. Times have changed, styles have changed. But only one man holds the exit visas. And unless we're willing to sacrifice, his presidency won't amount to a hill of beans. At Amherst-Pelham Regional High School in Massachu... Santa Barbara animal activists protested the arriv... New York Governor Mario Cuomo discusses the World ... After a Philadelphia Revenue Department employee w... "We called the stolen car victim and told her we h... When Richard Osbourn of Casper, Wyoming, bought th... At Eastern Oregon State University, Josh Tanner's ... The Department of Public Affairs of the U.S. Army ... Journalist Terry Anderson, while writing an accoun... Czechoslovakian-born Fred Botur came to New York i... Dan Rather at a May 27, 1993, CBS affiliates meeti... The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was killed by... Naturalist Gordon Plague of the Science Center of ... Asked about his new personal no-junk-food policy, ... From an article in the Los Angeles teachers' union... As keynote speaker for the "Metaphors, Models, and... Public interest lawyer Rees Lloyd has filed a laws... According to a University of Pittsburgh policy,... Michael Daly in a New York magazine piece, explain... Students who attend summer school classes at th... President Clinton's "emergency stimulus" economic ... When security cameras were installed at the Philad... The Hawaii legislature passed a bill requiring sto... In a rigged election in 1985, Samuel K. Doe procla... California Governor Pete Wilson issued an executiv... Can an eight-year-old with Down's syndrome who has... The flight crew of a Miami cargo jet has sued t... Harry Ross of Skokie, Illinois, runs a mail-order ... APA Newsletters, Fall 1992, published by the Ameri... A story on "Dateline NBC" that reported that GM pi... The Washington Post assured readers, "If you've be... A Washington state transsexual was turned down in ... A handbill distributed at California State Univers... As part of its efforts to identify various issues ... A government biologist who was eligible for retire... Martha Sherrill in the Washington Post, May 4, 199... Convicted serial killer Randy Kraft filed a $60 mi... Abigail Trafford in the Washington Post Health Sup... When the Stanford Irish American Student Associati... Susan Margolis in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mar...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10147
__label__cc	0.52552	0.47448	Jacksonville Aviation Authority board members narrowly approved a $35,000, or 14 percent, raise for CEO Steve Grossman Monday morning. His annual salary will rise from $245,000 to $280,000. The board also approved a new contract for Grossman. He was in the second year of a five-year contract and board extended it by three years. The vote was 4-3. JAA Board member Ernie Isaac said the raise represents a vote of confidence from the board on Grossman's performance. Isaac credits Grossman with changing the atmosphere at Jacksonville International Airport in one that’s appealing and makes people “feel good.” Tenants at Cecil Airport also like him, Isaac said. “He’s doing all these things and we’re still making money,” Isaac said. Although the JAA is a governmental agency chartered by the state and authorized to issue municipal bonds, Isaac said none of the money involved is from Jacksonville taxpayers. Source: http://bit.ly/nO0jkT	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10148
__label__cc	0.725984	0.274016	Assistance Projects Therapy Projects Swiss association for search and rescue dogs Every year 3000 people go missing in Switzerland. They either lost their orientation during a walk, or suffer from dementia, or were hit by health problems during a trip to the mountains. Suddenly, they find themselves in a life-threatening situation in which their survival depends only on the action of rescue dogs. Even in case of earthquakes or explosion blowing a house off, the dogs’ noses are still the most reliable location device. The Swiss Association for Search and Rescue Dogs (REDOG) has created the Catastrophe Dog Unit and the Search Dog on Site Unit, which trains teams of rescue dogs and mantrailing. REDOG is a Rescue Organization of the Swiss Red Cross. As member of the Rescue Chain, REDOG is an organization recognized by the Swiss Federal Department of Development and Cooperation (DDC) and known for its operating experience in humanitarian interventions during catastrophes. Our units can be contacted 24/7 at the emergency contact number 0844 441 144. The search is free of charge for the relatives of the missing person. http://www.redog.ch/ http://www.redog-pate.ch/	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10150
__label__cc	0.67453	0.32547	ActiveMSers Forums > ActiveMSers.org Forums > Dave's SCT Journey Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cell therapies for patients with MS Dave @ ActiveMSers Cytotherapy Volume 21, Issue 5, Supplement, May 2019, Page S50 Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cell therapies for patients with Multiple sclerosis: a Systematic Review and Single Arm Meta-Analysis H.Yim, et al https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2019.03.409 Background & Aim Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, characterized by an aberrant activation of the immune system and combining demyelination with neurodegeneration. Studies on experimental models of MS revealed immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). However, the efficacy and safety of these treatments are not yet fully understood. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of available single-arm studies using clinical trials using MSC in MS patients. Methods, Results & Conclusion Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane database for studies of stem cell therapy in patients with MS from its inception through November, 2018. The articles included in the search were restricted to the English language, studies using MSC therapies for treating MS. Fourteen studies included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean difference in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores from baseline to follow-up points was -0.31 points (95%CI: −0.58 to −0.03, I2=53.7%) decreased and the pooled mean difference in size of gadolinium-enhancing lesions on an MRI was decreased by -0.24 (95%CI: -0.56 to 0.08, I2=0%) at 12-month follow-up. The pooled incidence rate of infection was 35.4% (95%CI, 32.9-37.8%) during 12-month follow-up. Disease stability was determined by less than a 1.0 point change in EDSS in the 12 months preceding entry into the treatment phase of the study, and lack of gadolinium-enhancing lesions on an MRI and by a stable MRI disease burden over the same period. The EDSS score changes was relatively low even it was statistically significant. The published data suggest that MSC therapy for patients with MS might not be judged as effective based on the current evidence. Transient risks remain associated with the MSC injection was relatively high. Clinical benefits of MSC for MS patients need further investigation and reevaluation to test the well-designed large clinical trials. Send a private message to ActiveMSers Visit ActiveMSers's homepage! Find all posts by ActiveMSers	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10152
__label__wiki	0.823746	0.823746	To learn about our efforts to improve the accessibility and usability of our website, please visit our Accessibility Information page. 日本語 Astros de Houston The Official Site of the Houston Astros News Video Scores Tickets Schedule Stats Roster Community Fans Minute Maid Park Apps Shop MLB.TV Fantasy Teams Minute Maid Park Javier Bracamonte #85 Javier Bracamonte Uniform #: Javier Bracamonte joined the Astros as a bullpen catcher in 2001. In his role, Bracamonte, who wears jersey number 85, travels to Spring Training and on every road trip assisting the coaching staff by catching bullpens, throwing batting practice and hitting infield practice. During his time with Houston, Bracamonte has taken part in four MLB All-Star Games, including the 2018 All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington. At the Midsummer Classic, he was the batting practice pitcher in the Home Run Derby for Alex Bregman, who finished with 15 home runs, but was eliminated by Kyle Schwarber (16) in the first round. He also took part in the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston, when caught bullpens and worked pregame activities. He would pitch batting practice in the next two All-Star Games, throwing to Andruw Jones and Jason Bay in 2005 in Detroit and to Miguel Cabrera in Pittsburgh in 2006. A former shortstop and second baseman, Bracamonte played at the New York Yankees Venezuelan Academy from 1988-90, which made him just the third Venezuelan to sign a professional contract after serving as a bat boy in the Venezuelan Winter League. He would join the Astros organization in 2001 after five years of giving private baseball lessons. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he now resides in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Katie, and his daughters, Jaelyn and Jade. His son Gustavo currently works in the Miami Marlins ticket office. Back to Coaches & Staff list »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10173
__label__cc	0.732445	0.267555	MCDOWELL MURDER — A McDowell County man was arrested following the fatal shooting of his wife Wednesday morning in the Coon Branch community near Ieager. According to West Virginia State Police troopers who responded to the scene, the suspect exited the residence when they arrived, and stated that he shot the victim. He was taken into custody without incident. Upon entering the home, officers found the body of a female victim lying on a couch with a single gunshot wound to the head. The officers also said a pistol was on the floor nearby. Investigators said there had been an apparent domestic situation between the couple, but that there was no sign of a struggle at the time of the shooting. The names of the suspect and victim have not been released.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10175
__label__wiki	0.990007	0.990007	Middle east, Murder January 30, 2018 0Views 0Comments 0Likes Yemen: At least 15 killed in a suicide car bomb HomeAll Posts...Yemen: At least 15 killed in a suicide car bomb The International Committee for the Red Cross said on Monday that at least 36 people have been killed in two days of fighting in Aden [Fawaz Salman/Reuters] At least 15 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a checkpoint in southeastern Yemenrun by local forces backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials and residents said. Residents said on Tuesday gunmen opened fire on the checkpoint after a suicide bomber drove his booby-trapped car into the checkpoint northeast of Ataq, the capital of the province of Shabwa. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led Arab coalition has called for an immediate ceasefire in the southern city of Aden, where heavy fighting has erupted between government troops and the southern separatists. “The coalition renews its call to all parties to ceasefire immediately and end all forms of armed conflict,” the coalition said in a statement cited by the Saudi SPA agency. “The coalition affirms that it will take all necessary measures to restore security and stability in Aden,” the statement said. Two days of fighting The coalition said it regretted that the warring sides did not respond to its earlier calls for restraint and calm. The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) said late on Monday that at least 36 people have been killed and 185 others wounded in two days of fighting in Aden. Fighting intensified on Monday after the warring sides began using tank and artillery firepower as the port city remained paralysed. Separatists’ forces late on Monday advanced on the presidential palace and captured two military camps near Aden international airport, security sources told AFP news agency. The fighting is taking place between troops loyal to the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, based in Riyadh, and security forces loyal to the southern separatists which are trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia and UAE are the main partners in the Arab coalition that has been waging war on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels which took over the Yemeni capital Sanaa in September 2014. SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES US air raid kills Afghan police in Helmand TEXAS SHOOTING CAUSED BY MENTAL PROBLEM – DONALD TRUMP US, Qatar sign deal to combat 'terrorism financing' Syria's Civil War : US-backed Syrian forces 'surround' ISIL in Raqqa	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10177
__label__wiki	0.968345	0.968345	Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho dies at age 70 Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho died on Monday at age 70, the group said in statement. According to the group, Cho died in the United States due to chronic disease. The group plans to announce the timeline for delivering Cho's body and his funeral will be at a later time when they are decided. The group said Cho had a disease related to his lungs. He had left for Los Angeles in December to look around the group's hotel business and stayed there until he died, according to a group spokesperson. Hanjin Group operates Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles. Cho's family members — his wife Lee Myung-hee and three children Cho Won-tae, Cho Hyun-ah, and Cho Hyun-min — were all present at the hospital in Los Angeles when Cho died, the group confirmed. As of 9:50 a.m. Hanjin Group said it had entered into an emergency managment system, adding that key decisions regarding the group will be discussed at a presidential committee made up of the heads of Hanjin affiliates, including Cho Won-tae, son of Cho Yang-ho and president of Korean Air. The Hanjin Group chairman seat lies empty for the time being. The group spokesperson said major management issues will likely be discussed after the funeral. The Korean Air chairman seat has sat empty since Cho was ousted last month. He was on trial on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust. Born in 1949 in Incheon, Cho started working for Korean Air in 1974. He was appointed as president of Korean Air in 1992 and became the chairman of the airline in 1999. In 2003, he became the chairman of Hanjin Group. Cho was the president of the Organizing Committee for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games but stepped down in 2016. Over the past several years, Cho and his family have struggled to maintain their grip on the group, especially after his oldest daughter Cho Hyun-ah sparked international outrage in 2014 when she forced a taxiing plane to return to its gate in New York, an incident that is widely known as the nut rage scandal. A string of scandals followed the incident, including accusations that his wife Lee verbally and physically abused employees and daughter Cho Hyun-min threw a beverage at employees of the airline’s advertising agency. The family has also been charged with smuggling goods into Korea and is still facing criminal investigations on some pending abuse charges. Following the news of Cho’s death, Hanjin Group shares soared up Monday, likely due to expectations that the group’s governance structure will be restructured. Shares of Hanjin Group's holding company Hanjin Kal had increased by as much as 23 percent compared to the previous trading day on the country's main bourse by around 10:15 a.m. As of 11 a.m., shares were at 29,750 won ($26.12), up 18.06 percent from the previous close. Korean Air shares also increased by 3.29 percent to 32,950 won as of 11 a.m. Monday. -1949: Born in Incheon -1974: Entered Korean Air -1992: Became president of Korean Air -1996: Became vice chairman of Hanjin Group -1999: Became chairman of Korean Air -2003: Became chairman of Hanjin Group -2014: Became chairman of Hanjin Shipping -2014: Became president of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games -2016: Resigned from his post at PyeongChang organizing committee -2019: Ousted from Korean Air board BY KIM JEE-HEE, JIM MIN-JI [kim.jeehee@joongang.co.kr]	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10178
__label__wiki	0.747476	0.747476	Jonathan Biggins Jonathan Biggins is a writer, corporate MC and speaker, performer and broadcaster. As a corporate MC and speaker, Jonathan has hosted the AFI Awards, APRA Awards (the awards night for the nation’s songwriters), The Helpmann Awards, Parramatta Riverside’s 20th Anniversary Gala, product launches, charity events, several national and three international conferences for AMP as well as many appearances for KPMG, ICI, Commonwealth Bank, ABN-AMRO and the Art Gallery of NSW. He has worked for all the state theatre companies in productions ranging from David Williamson’s Soulmates to West Side Story. 2003 saw his debut with Opera Australia in Orpheus in the Underworld – he also co-wrote a new adaptation of the libretto. He is Director of The Wharf Revue for the Sydney Theatre Company, featuring in (among others) the sell-out Sunday in Iraq With George, Stuff All Happens and Revue Sans. In 2010 Jonathan won the Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Musical for his production of Avenue Q. Jonathan has hosted the afternoon radio shift for Sydney’s 702, co-wrote and performed in Three Men and a Baby Grand for ABC TV and hosted Critical Mass, the ABC’s weekly arts programme. He has also hosted An Audience with Stephen Sondheim (nominated for a 2008 Helpmann Award for Best Special event). Jonathan has been seen on TV as a recurring guest panellist on Spicks and Specks. Jonathan has written for Fairfax’s Good Weekend magazine, Australian Wine Selector and is the author of four books, including The 700 Habits of Highly Ineffective People. Launch Website View PDF Biography	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10183
__label__cc	0.54699	0.45301	It gives me great pleasure to join with the citizens of Butler County as you celebrate your 200th anniversary. Our great Commonwealth has grown through strength and character of our communities. Throughout our proud history, groups of citizens have risen above their individual potential to create a better life for themselves and those around them. More than 300 years ago, William Penn sought to create a society in which the needs of the citizens would be met by the talents and resources found within the community. This strong belief in citizenship and community is what we, as a Commonwealth, embody in our very name. Butler County stands as a proud example of community spirit, resilience, and resolve. Throughout an enduring history, this county has continued to provide a community of family, friendship, and support its inhabitants are proud to call home. After 200 years of success and challenge, it is appropriate for the citizens of Butler County to unite in celebration of a rich history, while anticipating an even greater future. On behalf of all Pennsylvanians, I would like to offer my sincere wish for an exciting and ultimately successful Bicentennial celebration. May you continue to find happiness and good fortune in the years to come. Tom Ridge Community Profile Network, Inc. & Progressive Publishing, Inc. Copyright ©2000 Community Profile Network, Inc. Town Square Publications and Builder Profile are trademarks of Progressive Publishing, Inc. This Site is a Cyberworks Media Group Production	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10184
__label__wiki	0.824727	0.824727	Home > Vol 15, No 3 (2012) > Howarth A Hunger Strike - The Ecology of a Protest: The Case of Bahraini Activist Abdulhad al-Khawaja Anita Howarth Since December 2010 the dramatic spectacle of the spread of mass uprisings, civil unrest, and protest across North Africa and the Middle East have been chronicled daily on mainstream media and new media. Broadly speaking, the Arab Spring—as it came to be known—is challenging repressive, corrupt governments and calling for democracy and human rights. The convulsive events linked with these debates have been striking not only because of the rapid spread of historically momentous mass protests but also because of the ways in which the media “have become inextricably infused inside them” enabling the global media ecology to perform “an integral part in building and mobilizing support, co-ordinating and defining the protests within different Arab societies as well as trans-nationalizing them” (Cottle 295). Images of mass protests have been juxtaposed against those of individuals prepared to self-destruct for political ends. Video clips and photographs of the individual suffering of Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation and the Bahraini Abdulhad al-Khawaja’s emaciated body foreground, in very graphic ways, political struggles that larger events would mask or render invisible. Highlighting broad commonalties does not assume uniformity in patterns of protest and media coverage across the region. There has been considerable variation in the global media coverage and nature of the protests in North Africa and the Middle East (Cottle). In Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen uprisings overthrew regimes and leaders. In Syria it has led the country to the brink of civil war. In Bahrain, the regime and its militia violently suppressed peaceful protests. As a wave of protests spread across the Middle East and one government after another toppled in front of 24/7 global media coverage, Bahrain became the “Arab revolution that was abandoned by the Arabs, forsaken by the West … forgotten by the world,” and largely ignored by the global media (Al-Jazeera English). Per capita the protests have been among the largest of the Arab Spring (Human Rights First) and the crackdown as brutal as elsewhere. International organizations have condemned the use of military courts to trial protestors, the detaining of medical staff who had treated the injured, and the use of torture, including the torture of children (Fisher). Bahraini and international human rights organizations have been systematically chronicling these violations of human rights, and posting on Websites distressing images of tortured bodies often with warnings about the graphic depictions viewers are about to see. It was in this context of brutal suppression, global media silence, and the reluctance of the international community to intervene, that the Bahraini-Danish human rights activist Abdulhad al-Khawaja launched his “death or freedom” hunger strike. Even this radical action initially failed to interest international editors who were more focused on Egypt, Libya, and Syria, but media attention rose in response to the Bahrain Formula 1 race in April 2012. Pro-democracy activists pledged “days of rage” to coincide with the race in order to highlight continuing human rights abuses in the kingdom (Turner). As Al Khawaja’s health deteriorated the Bahraini government resisted calls for his release (Article 19) from the Danish government who requested that Al Khawaja be extradited there on “humanitarian grounds” for hospital treatment (Fisk). This article does not explore the geo-politics of the Bahraini struggle or the possible reasons why the international community—in contrast to Syria and Egypt—has been largely silent and reluctant to debate the issues. Important as they are, those remain questions for Middle Eastern specialists to address. In this article I am concerned with the overlapping and interpenetration of two ecologies. The first ecology is the ethical framing of a prison hunger strike as a corporeal-environmental act of (self) destruction intended to achieve political ends. The second ecology is the operation of global media where international inaction inadvertently foregrounds the political struggles that larger events and discourses surrounding Egypt, Libya, and Syria overshadow. What connects these two ecologies is the body of the hunger striker, turned into a spectacle and mediated via a politics of affect that invites a global public to empathise and so enter into his suffering. The connection between the two lies in the emaciated body of the hunger striker. An Ecological Humanities Approach This exploration of two ecologies draws on the ecological humanities and its central premise of connectivity. The ecological humanities critique the traditional binaries in Western thinking between nature and culture; the political and social; them and us; the collective and the individual; mind, body and emotion (Rose & Robin, Rieber). Such binaries create artificial hierarchies, divisions, and conflicts that ultimately impede the ability to respond to crises. Crises are major changes that are “out of control” driven—primarily but not exclusively—by social, political, and cultural forces that unleash “runaway systems with their own dynamics” (Rose & Robin 1). The ecological humanities response to crises is premised on the recognition of the all-inclusive connectivity of organisms, systems, and environments and an ethical commitment to action from within this entanglement. A founding premise of connectivity, first articulated by anthropologist and philosopher Gregory Bateson, is that the “unit of survival is not the individual or the species, but the organism-and-its-environment” (Rose & Robin 2). This highlights a dialectic in which an organism is shaped by and shapes the context in which it finds itself. Or, as Harries-Jones puts it, relations are recursive as “events continually enter into, become entangled with, and then re-enter the universe they describe” (3). This ensures constantly evolving ecosystems but it also means any organism that “deteriorates its environment commits suicide” (Rose & Robin 2) with implications for the others in the eco-system. Bateson’s central premise is that organisms are simultaneously independent, as separate beings, but also interdependent. Interactions are not seen purely as exchanges but as dynamic, dialectical, dialogical, and mutually constitutive. Thus, it is presumed that the destruction or protection of others has consequences for oneself. Another dimension of interactions is multi-modality, which implies that human communication cannot be reduced to a single mode such as words, actions, or images but needs to be understood in the complexity of inter-relations between these (see Rieber 16). Nor can dissemination be reduced to a single technological platform whether this is print, television, Internet, or other media (see Cottle). The final point is that interactions are “biologically grounded but not determined” in that the “cognitive, emotional and volitional processes” underpinning face-to-face or mediated communication are “essentially indivisible” and any attempt to separate them by privileging emotion at the expense of thought, or vice versa, is likely to be unhealthy (Rieber 17). This is most graphically demonstrated in a politically-motivated hunger strike where emotion and volition over-rides the survivalist instinct. The Ecology of a Prison Hunger Strike The radical nature of a hunger strike inevitably gives rise to medico-ethical debates. Hunger strikes entail the voluntary refusal of sustenance by an individual and, when prolonged, such deprivation sets off a chain reaction as the less important components in the internal body systems shut down to protect the brain until even that can no longer be protected (see Basoglu et al). This extreme form of protest—essentially an act of self-destruction—raises ethical issues over whether or not doctors or the state should intervene to save a life for humanitarian or political reasons. In 1975 and 1991, the World Medical Association (WMA) sought to negotiate this by distinguishing between, on the one hand, the mentally/psychological impaired individual who chooses a “voluntary fast” and, on the other hand, the hunger striker who chooses a form of protest action to secure an explicit political goal fully aware of fatal consequences of prolonged action (see Annas, Reyes). This binary enables the WMA to label the action of the mentally impaired suicide while claiming that to do so for political protesters would be a “misconception” because the “striker … does not want to die” but to “live better” by obtaining certain political goals for himself, his group or his country. “If necessary he is willing to sacrifice his life for his case, but the aim is certainly not suicide” (Reyes 11). In practice, the boundaries between suicide and political protest are likely to be much more blurred than this but the medico-ethical binary is important because it informs discourses about what form of intervention is ethically appropriate. In the case of the “suicidal” the WMA legitimises force-feeding by a doctor as a life-saving act. In the case of the political protestor, it is de-legitimised in discourses of an infringement of freedom of expression and an act of torture because of the pain involved (see Annas, Reyes). Philosopher Michel Foucault argued that prison is a key site where the embodied subject is explicitly governed and where the exercising of state power in the act of incarceration means the body of the imprisoned no longer solely belongs to the individual. It is also where the “body’s range of significations” is curtailed, “shaped and invested by the very forces that detain and imprison it” (Pugliese 2). Thus, prison creates the circumstances in which the incarcerated is denied the “usual forms of protest and judicial safeguards” available outside its confines. The consequence is that when presented with conditions that violate core beliefs he/she may view acts of self-destruction—such as hunger strikes or lip sewing—as one of the few “means of protesting against, or demanding attention” or achieving political ends still available to them (Reyes 11; Pugliese). The hunger strike implicates the state, which, in the act of imprisoning, has assumed a measure of power and responsibility for the body of the individual. If a protest action is labelled suicidal by medical professionals—for instance at Guantanamo—then the force-feeding of prisoners can be legitimised within the WMA guidelines (Annas). There is considerable political temptation to do so particularly when the hunger striker has become an icon of resistance to the state, the knowledge of his/her action has transcended prison confines, and the alienating conditions that prompted the action are being widely debated in the media. This poses a two-fold danger for the state. On the one hand, there is the possibility that the slow emaciation and death while imprisoned, if covered by the media, may become a spectacle able to mobilise further resistance that can destabilise the polity. On the other hand, there is the fear that in the act of dying, and the spectacle surrounding death, the hunger striker would have secured the public attention to the very cause they are championing. Central to this is whether or not the act of self-destruction is mediated. It is far from inevitable that the media will cover a hunger strike or do so in ways that enable the hunger striker’s appeal to the emotions of others. However, when it does, the international scrutiny and condemnation that follows may undermine the credibility of the state—as happened with the death of the IRA member Bobby Sands in Northern Ireland (Russell). The Media Ecology and the Bahrain Arab Spring The IRA’s use of an “ancient tactic ... to make a blunt appeal to sympathy and emotion” in the form of the Sands hunger strike was seen as “spectacularly successful in gaining worldwide publicity” (Willis 1). Media ecology has evolved dramatically since then. Over the past 20 years communication flows between the local and the global, traditional media formations (broadcast and print), and new communication media (Internet and mobile phones) have escalated. The interactions of the traditional media have historically shaped and been shaped by more “top-down” “politics of representation” in which the primary relationship is between journalists and competing public relations professionals servicing rival politicians, business or NGOs desire for media attention and framing issues in a way that is favourable or sympathetic to their cause. However, rapidly evolving new media platforms offer bottom up, user-generated content, a politics of connectivity, and mobilization of ordinary people (Cottle 31). However, this distinction has increasingly been seen as offering too rigid a binary to capture the complexity of the interactions between traditional and new media as well as the events they capture. The evolution of both meant their content increasingly overlaps and interpenetrates (see Bennett). New media technologies “add new communicative ingredients into the media ecology mix” (Cottle 31) as well as new forms of political protests and new ways of mobilizing dispersed networks of activists (Juris). Despite their pervasiveness, new media technologies are “unlikely to displace the necessity for coverage in mainstream media”; a feature noted by activist groups who have evolved their own “carnivalesque” tactics (Cottle 32) capable of creating the spectacle that meets television demands for action-driven visuals (Juris). New media provide these groups with the tools to publicise their actions pre- and post-event thereby increasing the possibility that mainstream media might cover their protests. However there is no guarantee that traditional and new media content will overlap and interpenetrate as initial coverage of the Bahrain Arab Spring highlights. Peaceful protests began in February 2011 but were violently quelled often by Saudi, Qatari and UAE militia on behalf of the Bahraini government. Mass arrests were made including that of children and medical personnel who had treated those wounded during the suppression of the protests. What followed were a long series of detentions without trial, military court rulings on civilians, and frequent use of torture in prisons (Human Rights Watch 2012). By the end of 2011, the country had the highest number of political prisoners per capita of any country in the world (Amiri) but received little coverage in the US. The Libyan uprising was afforded the most broadcast time (700 minutes) followed by Egypt (500 minutes), Syria (143), and Bahrain (34) (Lobe). Year-end round-ups of the Arab Spring on the American Broadcasting Corporation ignored Bahrain altogether or mentioned it once in a 21-page feature (Cavell). This was not due to a lack of information because a steady stream has flowed from mobile phones, Internet sites and Twitter as NGOs—Bahraini and international—chronicled in images and first-hand accounts the abuses. However, little of this coverage was picked up by the US-dominated global media. It was in this context that the Bahraini-Danish human rights activist Abdulhad Al Khawaja launched his “freedom or death” hunger strike in protest against the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations, the treatment of prisoners, and the conduct of the trials. Even this radical action failed to persuade international editors to cover the Bahrain Arab Spring or Al Khawaja’s deteriorating health despite being “one of the most important stories to emerge over the Arab Spring” (Nallu). This began to change in April 2012 as a number of things converged. Formula 1 pressed ahead with the Bahrain Grand Prix, and pro-democracy activists pledged “days of rage” over human rights abuses. As these were violently suppressed, editors on global news desks increasingly questioned the government and Formula 1 “spin” that all was well in the kingdom (see BBC; Turner). Claims by the drivers—many of who were sponsored by the Bahraini government—that this was a sports event, not a political one, were met with derision and journalists more familiar with interviewing superstars were diverted into covering protests because their political counterparts had been denied entry to the country (Fisk). This combination of media events and responses created the attention, interest, and space in which Al Khawaja’s deteriorating condition could become a media spectacle. The Mediated Spectacle of Al Khawaja’s Hunger Strike Journalists who had previously struggled to interest editors in Bahrain and Al Khawaja’s plight found that in the weeks leading up to the Grand Prix and since “his condition rapidly deteriorated”’ and there were “daily updates with stories from CNN to the Hindustan Times” (Nulla). Much of this mainstream news was derived from interviews and tweets from Al Khawaja’s family after each visit or phone call. What emerged was an unprecedented composite—a diary of witnesses to a hunger strike interspersed with the family’s struggles with the authorities to get access to him and their almost tangible fear that the Bahraini government would not relent and he would die. As these fears intensified 48 human rights NGOs called for his release from prison (Article 19) and the Danish government formally requested his extradition for hospital treatment on “humanitarian grounds”. Both were rejected. As if to provide evidence of Al Khawaja’s tenuous hold on life, his family released an image of his emaciated body onto Twitter. This graphic depiction of the corporeal-environmental act of (self) destruction was re-tweeted and posted on countless NGO and news Websites (see Al-Jazeera). It was also juxtaposed against images of multi-million dollar cars circling a race-track, funded by similarly large advertising deals and watched by millions of people around the world on satellite channels. Spectator sport had become a grotesque parody of one man’s struggle to speak of what was going on in Bahrain. In an attempt to silence the criticism the Bahraini government imposed a de facto news blackout denying all access to Al Khawaja in hospital where he had been sent after collapsing. The family’s tweets while he was held incommunicado speak of their raw pain, their desperation to find out if he was still alive, and their grief. They also provided a new source of information, and the refrain “where is alkhawaja,” reverberated on Twitter and in global news outlets (see for instance Der Spiegel, Al-Jazeera). In the days immediately after the race the Danish prime minister called for the release of Al Khawaja, saying he is in a “very critical condition” (Guardian), as did the UN’s Ban-Ki Moon (UN News and Media). The silencing of Al Khawaja had become a discourse of callousness and as global media pressure built Bahraini ministers felt compelled to challenge this on non-Arabic media, claiming Al Khawaja was “eating” and “well”. The Bahraini Prime Minister gave one of his first interviews to the Western media in years in which he denied “AlKhawaja’s health is ‘as bad’ as you say. According to the doctors attending to him on a daily basis, he takes liquids” (Der Spiegel Online). Then, after six days of silence, the family was allowed to visit. They tweeted that while incommunicado he had been restrained and force-fed against his will (Almousawi), a statement almost immediately denied by the military hospital (Lebanon Now). The discourses of silence and callousness were replaced with discourses of “torture” through force-feeding. A month later Al Khawaja’s wife announced he was ending his hunger strike because he was being force-fed by two doctors at the prison, family and friends had urged him to eat again, and he felt the strike had achieved its goal of drawing the world’s attention to Bahrain government’s response to pro-democracy protests (Ahlul Bayt News Agency). This article has sought to explore two ecologies. The first is of medico-ethical discourses which construct a prison hunger strike as a corporeal-environmental act of (self) destruction to achieve particular political ends. The second is of shifting engagement within media ecology and the struggle to facilitate interpenetration of content and discourses between mainstream news formations and new media flows of information. I have argued that what connects the two is the body of the hunger striker turned into a spectacle, mediated via a politics of affect which invites empathy and anger to mobilise behind the cause of the hunger striker. The body of the hunger striker is thereby (re)produced as a feature of the twin ecologies of the media environment and the self-environment relationship. Ahlul Bayt News Agency. “Bahrain: Abdulhadi Alkhawaja’s Statement about Ending his Hunger Strike.” (29 May 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=318439›. Al-Akhbar. “Family Concerned Al-Khawaja May Be Being Force Fed.” Al-Akhbar English. (27 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/family-concerned-al-khawaja-may-be-being-force-fed›. Al-Jazeera. “Shouting in the Dark.” Al-Jazeera English. (3 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/2011/08/201184144547798162.html› ——-. “Bahrain Says Hunger Striker in Good Health.” Al-Jazeera English. (27 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/2012425182261808.html> Almousawi, Khadija. (@Tublani 2010). “Sad cus I had to listen to dear Hadi telling me how he was drugged, restrained, force fed and kept incommunicado for five days.” (30 April 2012). 3h. Tweet. 1 June 2012. Amiri, Ranni. “Bahrain by the Numbers.” CounterPunch. (December 30-31). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/12/30/bahrain-by-the-numbers›. Annas, George. “Prison Hunger Strikes—Why the Motive Matters.” Hastings Centre Report. 12.6 (1982): 21-22. ——-. “Hunger Strikes at Guantanamo—Medical Ethics and Human Rights in a ‘Legal Black Hole.’” The New England Journal of Medicine 355 (2006): 1377-92. Article 19. “Bahrain: Forty-Eight Rights Groups Call on King to Free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Whose Life is at Risk in Prison.” Article 19. (17 March 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/2982/en/bahrain:-forty-eight-rights-groups-call-on-king-to-free-abdulhadi-al-khawaja,-whose-life-is-at-risk-in-prison›. Arsenault, Chris. “Starving for a Cause.” Al-Jazeera English. (11 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/04/2012410123154923754.html›. British Broadcasting Corporation. “Bahrain activist Khawaja ends hunger strike.” (29 May 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-18239695›. Basoglu, Mustafa.,Yesim Yetimalar, Nevin Gurgor, Secim Buyukcatalbas, and Yaprak Secil. “Neurological Complications of Prolonged Hunger Strike.” European Journal of Neurology 13 (2006): 1089-97. Bateson, Gregory. Steps to an Ecology of Mind. London: Granada Publishing, 1973 [1972]. Beresford, David. Ten Men Dead. New York: Atlantic Press, 1987. Bennett, W. Lance. News: The Politics of Illusion. New York: Longman, 2003 Blight, Gary., Sheila Pulham, and Paul Torpey. “Arab Spring: An Interactive Timeline of Middle East Protests.” Guardian. (5 January 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline›. Cavell, Colin. “Bahrain: How the US Mainstream Media Turn a Blind Eye to Washington’s Despotic Arab Ally.” Global Researcher. (8 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=30176›. CockBurn, Patrick. “Fears Grow for Bahraini Activist on Hunger Strike.” The Independent. (28 April 2012). 1 June 2012. ‹http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/fears-grow-for-bahraini-activist-on-hunger-strike-7685168.html›. Cottle, Simon, and Libby Lester. Eds. Transnational Protests and the Media. New York: Peter Lang, 2011. Der Spiegel Online. “Interview with Bahrain’s Prime Minister: The Opposition are ‘Terrorizing the Rest of the Country.’” (27 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,830045,00.html›. Fairclough, Norman. Discourse and Social Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. Fisher, Marc. “Arab Spring Yields Different Outcomes in Bahrain, Egypt and Libya.” Washington Post and Foreign Policy. (21 December 2011). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/arab-spring-yields-different-outcomes-in-bahrain-egypt-and-libya/2011/12/15/gIQAY6h57O_story.html›. Fisk, Robert. “Bahrain Grand Prix: This is Politics, Not Sport. If the Drivers Can’t See This They are the Pits.” Belfast Telegraph. (21 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/robert-fisk/bahrain-grand-prix-this-is-politics-not-sport-if-drivers-cant-see-that-they-are-the-pits-16148159.html›. Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish. Trans. Alan Sheridan. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1982. Front Line Defenders. “Bahrain: Authorities Should Provide a ‘Proof of Live’ to Confirm that Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja on Day 78 of Hunger Strike is Still Alive.” (2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/18153›. Guardian. “Denmark PM to Bahrain: Release Jailed Activist.” (11 April 2012). June 2012 ‹http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10189057›. Hammond, Andrew. “Bahrain ‘Day of Rage’ Planned for Formula One Grand Prix.” Huffington Post. (18 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/18/bahrain-day-of-rage_n_1433861.html›. Hammond, Andrew, and Al-Jawahiry, Warda. “Game of Brinkmanship in Bahrain over Hunger Strike.” (19 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/game-of-brinkmanship-in-bahrain-over-hunger-strike›. Harries-Jones, Peter. A Recursive Vision: Ecological Understanding and Gregory Bateson. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1995. Human Rights First. “Human Rights First Awards Prestigious Medal of Liberty to Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.” (26 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/04/26/human-rights-first-awards›. Juris, Jeffrey. Networking Futures. Durham DC: Duke University Press, 2008. Kerr, Simeon. “Bahrain’s Forgotten Uprising Has Not Gone Away.” Financial Times. (20 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1687bcc2-8af2-11e1-912d-00144feab49a.html#axzz1sxIjnhLi›. Lebanon Now. “Bahrain Hunger Striker Not Force-Fed, Hospital Says.” (29 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=391037›. Lobe, Jim. “‘Arab Spring’” Dominated TV Foreign News in 2011.” Nation of Change. (January 3, 2011). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.nationofchange.org/arab-spring-dominated-tv-foreign-news-2011-1325603480›. Nallu, Preethi. “How the Media Failed Abdulhadi.” Jadaliyya. (2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/5181/how-the-media-failed-abdulhadi›. Plunkett, John. “The Voice Pips Britain's Got Talent as Ratings War Takes New Twist.” Guardian. (23 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/23/the-voice-britains-got-talent›. Pugliese, Joseph. “Penal Asylum: Refugees, Ethics, Hospitality.” Borderlands. 1.1 (2002). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.borderlands.net.au/vol1no1_2002/pugliese.html›. Reuters. “Protests over Bahrain F1.” (19 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://uk.reuters.com/video/2012/04/19/protests-over-bahrain-f?videoId=233581507›. Reyes, Hernan. “Medical and Ethical Aspects of Hunger Strikes in Custody and the Issue of Torture.” Research in Legal Medicine 19.1 (1998). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/article/other/health-article-010198.htm›. Rieber, Robert. Ed. The Individual, Communication and Society: Essays in Memory of Gregory Bateson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Roberts, David. “Blame Iran: A Dangerous Response to the Bahraini Uprising.” (20 August 2011). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/20/bahraini-uprising-iran› Rose, Deborah Bird and Libby Robin. “The Ecological Humanities in Action: An Invitation.” Australian Humanities Review 31-32 (April 2004). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.australianhumanitiesreview.org/archive/Issue-April-2004/rose.html›. Russell, Sharman. Hunger: An Unnatural History. New York: Basic Books, 2005. Turner, Maran. “Bahrain’s Formula 1 is an Insult to Country’s Democratic Reformers.” CNN. (20 April 2012). 1 June 2012. ‹http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-20/opinion/opinion_bahrain-f1-hunger-strike_1_abdulhadi-al-khawaja-bahraini-government-bahrain-s-formula?_s=PM:OPINION›. United Nations News & Media. “UN Chief Calls for Respect of Human Rights of Bahraini People.” (24 April 2012). 1 June 2012 ‹http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2012/04/un-chief-calls-respect-of-human-rights-of-bahraini-people›. Willis, David. “IRA Capitalises on Hunger Strike to Gain Worldwide Attention”. Christian Science Monitor. (29 April 1981): 1. Ecology; hunger strike; Bahrain; symbolic political communication; protest Copyright (c) 2012 Anita Howarth	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10187
__label__cc	0.505522	0.494478	Franklin Pierce University Campus History: DiGregorio - Student Union DiGregorio (foreground) History of DiGregorio DiGregorio was constructed in 1965 as DiGregorio Student Services. It contained a snack bar, bookstore, post office, and recreation facilities. It was constructed of masonry with a gross area of 8,000 square feet. In October, 1965, the Pierce Arrow reported that the Student Union was "a pig stye", with tables piled high with garbage, butts all over the floor despite the numerous ashtrays, and garbage all over the floor. Students were urged to clean up after themselves or let a local farmer use the Union as a barn. In March of 1966, the Union continued to be overrun with messy students. In early March it was closed, to signal the seriousness of the garbage. "Many students were bitter about the closing of the Union. It was impossible to get change for the vending machines, have a bite to eat between classes or in the evening." (Pierce Arrow, 3/11/66) In 1967, the atmosphere of the student snack bar was improved by lowering the lights in the evening, illuminating the tables with candles, and enjoying the "cool, calm light" of the juke box and pin ball machines. The administration was reported pleased to save on the electric bill, and the students were pleased that they no longer had to see what they were eating. (Pierce Arrow, 2/6/67) By fall semester of 1967, the disgraceful litter continued, and there was a serious lack of ping pong balls. In 1969, students and administration wanted to create an area for over-21s to drink. The Twenty-One Club took residence in the lower level of the Student Union, which was named the "Raven's Nest". (Pierce Arrow, 9/1/1969). As of Dec., the Raven's Nest was proceeding slowly. Articles of incorporation had not been drawn up and a liquor license needed to be secured. However, materials had been ordered for its construction. (Pierce Arrow, 12/15/1969) By January, 1970, the club was still not open. Problems with delivery of construction materials and legal documents had slowed the process. The club, now referred to as the 21 CLUB, was to have a 3-tap bar unit, a triple compartment sink, a pool table, a color tv, and a juke box. (Pierce Arrow, 3/18/70) The club opened in October 16, 1970 as the "21 Club". It was the first of its kind on a college campus in New Hampshire. (Pierce Arrow, 10/16/70) In 1975, renovations were made to the "21 Club". Capacity was increased from 110 to 150. This was possible by moving post office boxes upstairs to the student center and knocking out the center wall. A second bar and a raised stage were created. (Pierce Arrow, 2/10/75) In 1978 the 21 Club was going strong with a new stereo system, booths, and new floor and bars. There was also a color tv over the bar. (Pierce Arrow, 10/23/78) The modernized student union renovations included a dining area which served as a carry-out restaurant by day, and transformed to a waitress-service restaurant by night. There was a nightclub atmosphere. Special items would be added to the menu, such as exotic fruit juices, cheese boards, and ice cream sundaes. Lee Dunholter and student contributed to construction of a "set". (Pierce Arrow, 3/19/80) << Previous: Marlin Fitzwater Center Next: Marcucella Hall >>	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10189
__label__cc	0.568749	0.431251	Categorized \| Reviews & Recommendations, Events & Celebrations ¡Celebren la herencia hispana! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Posted on 16 September 2013. From September 15 to October 15, the U.S. observes Hispanic Heritage Month. Coincidentally, our neighbors to the immediate south also celebrate their independence day on September 16. Come visit the library and take a look at our books on display that illustrate the richness of the history and culture of the many Spanish-speaking nations just below our own (not to mention those books that take place right here), and make sure to ask your librarians for even more recommendations. Bonus: Casti Library’s Pinterest account features a board called Trips Around the World with stories that take place in many countries all over the globe. You can take a look at it here. Visually minded readers might take a look at some of our many books about Mexican and Aztec art, including biographies and coffee table books about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. If what’s on display isn’t enough, venture into the stacks around number 759 and see what you find. In Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Naomi runs away and crosses the border to find her father, who is in Mexico. Ryan’s other popular books for middle schoolers include Esperanza Rising and Riding Freedom. Chile’s standout novelist is Isabel Allende, who grew up the cousin of Salvador Allende, who was president of Chile from 1970 to 1973. Read her books if you love magic realism and epic sagas that follow families for generations. Some of her most famous titles are The House of the Spirits and Eva Luna. And don’t forget the man famous for writing love letters to ordinary things! Poet Pablo Neruda is most famous for his odes, but he also wrote surrealist works, epic sagas, and political manifestos. The library’s collection offers titles in English and Spanish, ranging from biographies on the poet to his own work. You haven’t read magical realism if you haven’t read Gabriel García Márquez. He has won countless awards, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. The library has many of his titles in translation and also a few in the original Spanish, like Cien años de soledad (100 Years of Solitude), if you’d like to practice your language skills. Julia Alvarez is a popular author for adults, teens, and children. Her titles include Before We Were Free, How the García Girls Lost Their Accents, and Once Upon a Quinceañera. One of her books, In the Time of the Butterflies, was also adapted into a film. Read Alvarez’s work if you’re a fan of historical fiction. Alma Flor Ada, a bestselling author, has written memoirs about her childhood in Cuba and has published collections of folktales. Read her if you like true stories or if you only have time for a quick read. Some of the titles available in the library include Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba and Yes! We Are Latinos. In Marge Pellegrino’s Journey of Dreams, Tomasa’s family gets separated when a massacre happens in their village. They begin a dangerous journey north, through Mexico and up to the U.S., where they hope to find sanctuary. Though the book is fiction, it reflects the many true stories of families that had to escape Guatemala’s scorched earth campaign. If you like literary short stories or poetry, pick up something by Judith Ortiz Cofer, who has won awards as varied as the Pura Belpré (for children’s and YA fiction by Latin@ authors) and the O. Henry Prize (for short stories). Titles available in the library include An Island Like You and A Love Story Beginning in Spanish. Francisco Jimenez’s autobiographical fiction tells the story of life as a migrant worker from the perspective of a child growing into a teen. The Circuit, Breaking Through, and Reaching Out are good reads for anyone interested in history or social justice. Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe García McCall tells the story of Lupita, the oldest daughter in an immigrant family. She narrates her experiences dealing with her mother’s cancer, her younger siblings, and her desire to go to college through poems. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is a modern classic. Using the Latin American tradition of magical realism and incorporating the trope of the Mexican curandera, or healer, this novel is about the life of Antonio Marez, who grows up in New Mexico. In The House of the Scorpion, you’ll enter Opium, the nation between the United States and Mexico. This thrilling and chilling dystopian novel by Nancy Farmer incorporates the cultures, histories, and politics of the two nations that built this third country, and it’s perfect for fans of futuristic and dystopian fiction. There are far too many fantastic books to name them all! Make sure you visit us in the library all month long for new ones. Hannah Gomez - who has written 54 posts on Castilleja School Library.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10190
__label__cc	0.747576	0.252424	Release of A Field Guide to “Fake News” and Other Information Disorders (Final Version) Posted on January 8, 2018 by liliana Today sees the launch of A Field Guide to “Fake News and Other Information Disorders, a new free and open access resource to help students, journalists and researchers investigate misleading content, memes, trolling and other phenomena associated with recent debates around “fake news”. The field guide responds to an increasing demand for understanding the interplay between digital platforms, misleading information, propaganda and viral content practices, and their influence on politics and public life in democratic societies. It contains methods and recipes for tracing trolling practices, the publics and modes of circulation of viral news and memes online, and the commercial underpinnings of this content. The guide aims to be an accessible learning resource for digitally-savvy students, journalists and researchers interested in this topic. The guide is the first project of the Public Data Lab, a new interdisciplinary network to facilitate research, public engagement and debate around the future of the data society – which includes researchers from several universities in Europe, including King’s College London, Sciences Po Paris, Aalborg University in Copenhagen, Politecnico of Milano, INRIA, École Normale Supérieure of Lyon and the University of Amsterdam. It has been undertaken in collaboration with First Draft, an initiative dedicated to improving skills and standards in the reporting and sharing of information that emerges online, which is now based at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Claire Wardle who leads First Draft comments on the release: “We are so excited to support this project as it provides journalists and students with concrete computational skills to investigate and map these networks of fabricated sites and accounts. Few people fully recognize that in order to understand the online disinformation ecosystem, we need to develop these computational mechanisms for monitoring this type of manipulation online. This project provides this skills and techniques in a wonderfully accessible way.” A number of universities and media organisations have been testing, using and exploring a first sample of the guide which was released in April 2017. Earlier in the year, BuzzFeed News drew on several of the methods and datasets in the guide in order to investigate the advertising trackers used on “fake news” websites. The guide is freely available at on the project website at fakenews.publicdatalab.org, as well as on Zenodo at doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1136271. It is released under a Creative Commons Attribution license to encourage readers to freely copy, translate, redistribute and reuse the book. A translation is underway into Japanese. All the assets necessary to translate and publish the guide in other languages are available on the Public Data Lab’s GitHub page. Further details about contributing researchers, institutions and collaborators are available on the website. The project is being launched at the Digital Methods Winter School 2018 organised by the Digital Methods Initiative at the University of Amsterdam, a year after we first started working on the project at the Winter School 2017. We are also in discussion with Sage about a book drawing on this project. This entry was posted in Data journalism, Digital methods, Journalism studies, Science and technology studies, Search engines, Social media and tagged a field guide to fake news, datajournalism, Density Design, digital journalism, digital methods, digital methods initiative, Digital Methods Winter School 2018, École Normale Supérieure of Lyon, First Draft, King's College London, medialab, open access, public data lab, Sciences Po, Shorenstein Center, TANTLab, Techno-Anthropology by liliana. Bookmark the permalink.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10192
__label__cc	0.511394	0.488606	Pacific collateral from the INF Treaty collapse Clive Williams Leaving the treaty would allow the US to quickly build up regional arsenal of new nuclear weapons to challenge China. A Soviet inspector examines a ground-launched cruise missile banned under the 1988 INF treaty. (Wikipedia) Published 31 Jan 2019 06:00 0 Comments Washington intends to begin withdrawing from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty early next month. President Trump indicated late last year that the US is pulling out because “they’ve (Russia) been violating it for many years.” The concern for Australia is that demise of the treaty could foreshadow a new arms race in the Pacific. Washington would probably seek allied assistance to forward-deploy land-based intermediate range and advanced conventional weapons to contain China. The treaty banned the US and Russia from having land-based missiles with a range of 500km to 5500km, and their launchers. To comply with the treaty, both countries destroyed about 2600 land-based missiles along with their launchers. China was not party to the treaty, allowing it to gradually build up a formidable land-based arsenal of 2000 intermediate-range ballistic and cruise missiles as part of its wider military modernisation. On 4 December 2018, Washington gave Russia a 60-day deadline – which ends on 2 February – to dismantle the missiles it claims breach the agreement or the US would begin the six-month process of formally withdrawing from the treaty. On 2 February, in the absence of a Russian backdown, the US will presumably issue a formal notice of withdrawal. Both the US and Russia have alleged treaty violations by the other party. In 2008, the US accused Russia of violating the treaty by testing the SSC-8 (9M729) ground-launched cruise missile. The accusation was brought up again in 2014 and 2017. According to US officials, two Russian missile battalions equipped with the SSC-8 are deployed in violation of the treaty. Each battalion consists of four launchers; each launcher has six cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. The US claims the SSC-8’s maximum range is 2500km. On 23 January, Russian artillery chief Mikhail Matveevsky told a briefing that the 9M729's maximum range is 480km. For its part, Russia accuses the US of violating the treaty since 2016 by having launchers for the Aegis Ashore missile defence system in Romania, and in Poland from 2020. Russia claims these launchers could be used for Tomahawk cruise missiles in violation of the INF Treaty. Russia further claims that US deployment of long-range armed drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper violates the INF Treaty. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that if Washington moves to place more missiles in Europe after scrapping the deal, Russia would respond in kind, and warned that any European countries agreeing to host US missiles would be at risk of Russian attack. NATO and the EU are understandably nervous about the termination of the treaty, but President Trump seems less bothered about the possibility of a future Russian nuclear-armed intermediate-range missile threat to Europe than he is about China’s ability to threaten US hegemony in the Pacific. Russia is less concerned about China’s growing military capabilities and does not want to be the first one to walk away from a cornerstone arms agreement. It would, however, be much cheaper for Russia to build new intermediate-range missiles to counter China than build long-range bombers, which it would currently have to do under the constraints of the INF Treaty. Despite concerns expressed in the West about “the rise of Russia”, it should be remembered that Russia’s GDP is not a lot more than Australia’s and about the same as that of Texas. Russia can't afford an arms race with the US or to counter China’s growing military capabilities. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates the US spent 3.1% of GDP on defence in 2017, while for China it was 1.9% and Russia 4.3%. Nominal annual GDP for the US, China, and Russia in 2018 (in billions of US dollars) was $20,412 for the US, $14,092 for China, and $1720 for Russia. From these statistics, we can assume the US is spending about $610 billion per year on defence, China $228 billion, and Russia $66 billion. Leaving the INF Treaty would thus allow the US to comfortably outspend Beijing and quickly build up a formidable regional arsenal of new weapons to challenge China. Their deployment would undoubtedly have implications for US allies in Asia as Washington would probably seek their assistance to forward-deploy land-based intermediate range and advanced conventional weapons to contain China. Meanwhile, China will avoid entering arms limitation pacts and continue to expand its inventory of long-range ballistic missiles. In February 2018, the US and Russia agreed under the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) to a limit of 1,550 strategically-deployed nuclear warheads. (The US currently has 6550 nuclear warheads while Russia has 6850; China has only 280.) New START came into effect on 5 February 2011and was expected to be renewed in February 2021, but if President Trump wins another term with hardliner John Bolton as his national security adviser, that agreement could also fall by the wayside, leading to a new long-range nuclear weapons arms race. Australia will find it increasingly difficult to balance its relationships with the US and China – and remain on good terms with both – over the next five years. That would particularly be the case if the US sought to have some of its missiles based in Australia. Pacific links: APEC rebuke, raised eyebrows, and more Don’t “crush” Abu Sayyaf perpetrators, debrief them Sam Roggeveen 3 Feb 2017 10:19 The Trump call forces Australia to confront a big question In an environment of such unpredictability, it is more important than ever that our leaders hold fast to a sense of what ultimately matters to Australia. Daniel Hurst 14 Dec 2017 07:00 The Kyoto Protocol 20 years later: Heroes and villains Negotiators look back at a landmark agreement and the climate of exhaustion that ensued. Erin Harris 5 Apr 2018 14:30 Migration and border policy links: Israel’s UNHCR backflip, Pacific seasonal workers, more Links and updates from across the migration and border policy field.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10194
__label__wiki	0.544098	0.544098	→ Trivia What killed Mama Cass? Started by noodle , Jan 20 2019 09:44 AM Cass Elliot (born Ellen Naomi Cohen; September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974),Cass Elliot, also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and actress, best known as a member of The Mamas & The Papas. Cass Elliot, age 32, died in her sleep at the London flat where she was staying. According to forensic pathologist Keith Simpson, who conducted her autopsy, her death was due to heart failure. A drug screen that was part of the forensic autopsy revealed there were no drugs in her system. Elliot died in Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place (later Curzon Square), Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, which was on loan from singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. Four years later, The Who's drummer Keith Moon died in the same room, also aged 32 years. Elliot was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. An oft-repeated urban legend is that Elliot choked to death on a ham sándwich. The story spread soon after the discovery of her body and was based on speculation in the initial media coverage. A 2014 article in Haaretz identified the person who started the false rumor as follows: "Unfortunately, the first doctor [in London] who examined her speculated to the press about the cause of death, and that’s the version that stuck." An autopsy had not been performed when the physician was quoted, and London police told reporters that a partially eaten sandwich found in her room might have been relevant to the cause of death. The post-mortem found that Elliot had died of heart failure, and no food was present in her windpipe, yet the false story has persisted ever since #2 bmo Retired Cdn Interests:Family, Golf, Billiards and Forums Country:Canada A great Era and I liked their songs... Thank you Management & Posters of LSC for making this a wonderful place. "Global Warming - Blah... A CO2 misnomer and not man made I say!" Back to Trivia	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10195
__label__wiki	0.934701	0.934701	Utah Gov. Herbert fails to secure nomination at convention Written by AP SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Gov. Gary Herbert’s re-election bid suffered a serious setback when he failed to secure the Republican Party’s nomination on Saturday, but he’ll have one more chance to win in a summer primary election. Jonathan Johnson, chairman of the board at Overstock.com, won 55 percent of the vote in two different rounds of voting at the state party convention in Salt Lake City after attacking Herbert for adopting Common Core and for his reluctance to sue the federal government for control of public lands. “That’s a significant victory,” Johnson told reporters afterward. “Nine months ago, when we started this, I don’t think anyone gave me a chance.” But Johnson must win again in the June primary because he didn’t earn 60 percent to win the party convention outright. Even if that had happened, Herbert secured himself a place on the primary ballot by gathering signatures under a new method that allows candidates to bypass the convention. The winner will face Democrat Michael Weinholtz, a former staffing company executive who scored a resounding victory in his party’s convention with 80 percent of the vote after telling delegates he’ll fight for medical marijuana and revealing his wife is being investigated for pot possession. Thousands of delegates packed exhibition halls in Salt Lake City for the party conventions — a key step in Utah’s nomination process that in most years has resolved Republican and Democratic contests before a primary is needed. But that won’t be the case in this year’s highest-profile race — the GOP governor’s contest. The June 28 primary now looms as a high-stakes showdown that will determine if Herbert will serve another term. Herbert said after the results Saturday that he doesn’t feel betrayed by the 4,000 state Republican delegates who favored Johnson. The governor said he believes his record leading Utah and his message will resonate better with the broader base of about 600,000 GOP voters who will head to the polls this summer. Herbert delivered a fiery defense of his record before voting began at the convention — saying graduation rates and Utah’s economy have improved since he took office in 2009. Hebert repeatedly jabbed his fingers in the air as he hit his points, proclaiming at a shout that he had a good record and would stand by it. After a first round of balloting eliminated two lesser-known GOP candidates, Herbert appeared on stage again but had Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speak on his behalf. “Gary Herbert doesn’t need this, but we desperately need Gary Herbert,” Cox said. “I would run through a wall for this man.” Johnson hammered Herbert for Utah’s adoption of the Common Core educational standards, something he said he’d roll back if elected. “We should not force local school districts into a one-size-fits-all program,” Johnson said. “Parents bear the primary responsibility of educating their children.” He also criticized Herbert for using a new method that allows candidates to bypass the convention by collecting signatures to get on the primary ballot, calling it a betrayal of loyal party delegates and the GOP convention system. The new wrinkle, which adds to Utah’s already complex nomination process, was designed to increase voter participation. In other contested races, Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop easily defeated a lesser-known opponent. U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz thumped relatively unknown challenger Chia-Chi Teng at the convention, but he still faces a primary because Teng gathered signatures to compete in the primary. The rest of Utah’s all-Republican congressional delegation ran unopposed: Sen. Mike Lee and Reps. Chris Stewart and Mia Love. The buzz at the Democratic convention surrounded Weinholtz’s admission that his wife is under investigation for marijuana. He drew loud applause when he said her story puts yet another face on a problem that is forcing people to choose between getting pain relief and breaking the law. Weinholtz said his wife hasn’t been arrested, but declined to say anything else about the case. She uses it to relieve pain caused by arthritis and nerve damage, he said. He scoffed at speculation it was an election stunt, but recognized it likely helped his cause with Democratic voters. “The need for medical cannabis touches everyone: Republicans, Democrats, rich, poor, middle class, LDS and non-LDS,” Weinholtz said, using an acronym for the Mormon church. His opponent, medical company CEO Vaughn Cook, didn’t touch on medical marijuana in his address to delegates. He instead touted himself as the candidate most electable in a general election. The eventual Republican nominee will likely be favored in November because conservative Utah has not elected a Democratic governor since 1980. About 4,000 delegates were at the GOP convention and 2,500 at the Democratic convention. Both events took place inside the Salt Palace Convention Center. Associated Press writer Hallie Golden contributed to this story. Posted in Local	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10196
__label__wiki	0.805778	0.805778	'Game of Thrones' last season to have multiple endings to avoid leaks Well, the writers haven't let us down this far so let's hope they knock this one out of the park. HBO have spent the last few seasons of Game of Thrones trying to keep as much as possible about ... Radiohead and Hans Zimmer Rework 'Bloom' For BBC's 'Blue Planet II' It features new vocals from Thom Yorke alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra . Radiohead and Hans Zimmer have worked together on music for BBC One's new documentary Blue Planet ll. Yorke mentio... Selena Gomez displays courage and grace in revelation of kidney transplant Her withdrawal from the limelight a few months ago was met with confusion and disappointment by her fans, especially as they were expecting Gomez to be busy promoting her new music . Gomez on Ins... Rihanna Glams Up for Third Annual Diamond Ball! There's no way this woman gave birth to twins in the a year ago! JAY-Z looked sharp in a navy blue suit. At one point in the evening, RiRi and Bey posed for a picture together that sent Stan Twitter i... 'The LEGO Movie 2' Script To Be Rewritten By Lord & Miller You can do that in a movie like this, and still have it be a great musical with fun songs, and have action and all of the other insane things we're gonna get into with that movie. The man upstairs sai... Trump uses London incident to defend travel ban London ambulance service said they had sent multiple crews to the Parsons Green station and 18 people were hospitalized, though none had life-threatening injuries. "Loser terrorists must be dealt w... George Clooney: 'I cry four times a day with tiredness' During an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper, he showed the interviewer a snap and joked that he gets more emotional than they do because of the lack of sleep. George never thought being a fath... Paris2024 François Hollande souhaite qu'on reconnaisse son rôle dans l'attribution des JO Parmi le flot de réactions qui a accompagné l'annonce du choix de Paris, Emmanuel Macron a salué une reconnaissance de "l'image" et des "valeurs" de la France. Thomson Reuters shall not be liable for ... Le groupe de metal Decapitated accusé de viol collectif Les membres de la formation était suspectés d'avoir enlever une femme après leur concert à Spokane la veille. Elle a affirmé avoir été invitée avec une amie pour prendre un verre dans le bus du groupe... Bulgaria and Romania may join borderless Schengen area 'immediately' All members states have to support the decision on the accession of new members to the Schengen Area. Austria, Denmark, Germany , Sweden and non-EU country Norway received permission to introduce t... David Lynch on whether there could be more Twin Peaks That said, he did say he loves playing Agent Dale Cooper, and it's hard to imagine that he would say no if David Lynch asked him to return for more. Regardless, Lynch has already proven that he can wo... Heather Locklear hospitalised after crashing her Porsche into a ditch Police could not say what caused the incident, but did say no drugs or alcohol were involved. United States celebrity website TMZ says it has contacted Heather's reps for further comment. Simran movie review: Will Kangana Ranaut emerge as a Queen? Hansal Mehta directed film Simran starres Kangana Ranaut in the lead role. When the trailer was out, it had a strong resemblance to Queen . Simran is the story of a Gujarati immigrant girl... Rob Kardashian "very much resents" his former fiancée Blac Chyna The former couple had been upholding an unwritten joint custody agreement that they'd established after their December 2016 split. Another added: "She's been blessed with the Kardashian lashes". "Th... Fergie: c'est fini avec Josh Duhamel! Ils sont tombés sous le charme et se sont fréquentés durant cinq années avant d'officialiser leur histoire devant le maire et de se marier. Ensemble, ils sont parents du petit Axl , quatre ans. En ja... Spyder trailer looks top notch, Mahesh Babu's Tamil floors fans The another news here comes that new version of trailer wiil come in few minutes as the leaked one is old before release. Tomorrow, the Telugu and Tamil trailers will be released in a huge pre-release... Ariel Winter Says She Wouldn't Change Her Traumatic Childhood: Here's Why Levi Meaden walks ahead of girlfriend Ariel Winter while leaving Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday night (September 12). Ariel Winter, third from left, with her Modern F... The Latest 'South Park' Episode Hilariously Wreaked Havoc On Amazon Alexa Owners Exploring the romantic side of Cartman worked well at times last season, and so does the role reversal here as his waning interest in Heidi results in a boyfriend slowly dissociating as he looks f... Confidences " Brigitte est la la part d'humanité d'Emmanuel Macron ", selon Philippe Besson Et la part non négociable . Dans son livre, il va même jusqu'à citer Brigitte parlant d'Emmanuel comme un homme " romanesque et romantique ". P.B.: Il est très attentif et très attentionné av... ICICI Lombard General Insurance IPO opens on Friday ICICIL is joint venture between ICICI Bank Limited and Fairfax Financial Holdings. The firm is among the largest general insurance companies in India . Here's what they are saying. "RoE is a... Toffees preparing to launch January bid for Celtic youngster Anthony Ralston It was revealed on Wednesday that he had not actually snubbed the player out of spite , but because the shirt was going to a great cause. There was a contentious moment when the 18-year-old appeare... Reese Witherspoon discusses her new TV show with Jennifer Aniston We're only going to do it if we feel like it's as good as the first season. The title of the show and the network have not been revealed yet, but we're looking forward to this reunion. "I need some ... Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli's ad-shoot pictures go viral Pictures from an advertisement starring Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have gone viral all over social media after they were initially shared on Instagram by a fan account. The " Jab Harry Met Sej... Chinese Industrial Output Growth Slows in August In January-August, FAI grew 7.8 percent year on year to 39.42 trillion yuan (more than 6 trillion USA dollars), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Thursday. "The economy still stayed within ... 'Blade Runner 2049' Short Film Introduces the Backstory of Dave Bautista's Sapper With more than 30 malt and grain whiskies from some of the best distilleries in the world in its DNA, Johnnie Walker Black Label is the blueprint for this experimental blend. "Like many fans, I rememb... Frank Vincent, 'Sopranos' actor, dead at 80 While some sources cite 1939 as his birth year, The Associated Press reports that in a statement confirming his death, Vincent's family listed his age as 80. The character of Billy Batts made su... Harrison Ford Punched Ryan Gosling In the Face He did think it warranted sharing some-but not all-of his scotch with Gosling, who related this story to GQ a year ago, thereby helping to disseminate possibly the most Harrison Ford of Harrison ... Crane collapses in downtown Miami as Irma's winds spread across Florida Construction sites across Irma's potential path in Florida were locked down to remove or secure building materials, tools and debris that could be flung by Irma's winds. The cranes were thought to be ... Sampha Wins 2017 Mercury Prize Also below are performances from the award show by all the nominees, including alt-J, The xx , and Glass Animals . Skepta , 2016's victor also performed at the event whuch also featured shortlist... Sam Smith says he nearly quit writing new album after painful breakup They were incredibly supportive'. "He didn't have a problem with it, but he just really anxious about me, especially, when at 16, I used to wear a lot of make-up and dressed differently". His follow... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 Próximo →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10197
__label__wiki	0.984486	0.984486	About MIYF India-born Neel Mukherjee in Man Booker prize... Times of India, Wednesday, 10th September 2014 Neel Mukherjee, a Kolkata-born British citizen, on Tuesday emerged as the only Indian-origin writer to be named in this year's Man Booker prize longlist of authors vying for the prize in its debut as a global literary award. London-based Mukherjee has been selected for his second novel, "The Lives of Others", published in May this year. The book is based in the author's birth place of Kolkata and centres around a dysfunctional Ghosh family in the 1960s. Mukherjee, who went on to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, reviews fiction for Times and Sunday Telegraph. His first novel "A Life Apart" was a joint winner of the Vodafone-Crossword Award in India. There are six novels from Britain, five from the US, one from Australia and one from Ireland shortlisted for the prize. For the first time in its 46-year history, the 50,000 pounds prize has been opened up to writers of any nationality, writing originally in English and published in the UK. Previously, the prize was open to authors from the UK & Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland and Zimbabwe. First awarded in 1969, the prize is recognised as the touchstone for high quality literary fiction written in English. Australia's Richard Flanagan is the only non-British representative of the Commonwealth on the 13-strong list, while US novelists fill four spots. The British novels are "J" by Howard Jacobson, "The Wake" by Paul Kingsnorth, "The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell, "The Lives of Others" by Mukherjee, "Us" by David Nicholls and "How To Be Both" by Ali Smith. In the event, judges chose four Americans: Joshua Ferris, Siri Hustvedt, Karen Joy Fowler and Richard Powers. An Irish-born US resident Joseph O'Neill was also named in the list. Irishman Niall Williams made it to the list for his "History of the Rain". DOB * : Your age must be 16. In January 2011, the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council for Overseas Indians discussed the concept of engaging with the younger generation of diaspora, mainly students and young professionals, with a view to... Cultural Event, Sunday 26th February 2017, 6pm Pravasi Haryana Divas 2017(PHD) 11 January, 2017, Gurgaon Google Hangout Session for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2017 & India Develpoment Foundation of overseas Indians ( IDF-OI ) on 1 November, 2016 at 1630 hrs IST Terms & Condition \| Privacy Policy Copyright © 2019 Malaysian Indian Youth Development Program. All rights reserved. Powered by: Ardhas Technology India Private Limited.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10199
__label__wiki	0.716863	0.716863	COMMONWEALTH vs. CHARLES HAWKINS, JR. 17 Mass. App. Ct. 1041 Robert L. Sheketoff for the defendant. David P. Linsky, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth. The defendant, convicted of altering an assignment of a certificate of title (G. L. c. 90D, Section 32[a]), alleges a miscellany of errors. 1. The defendant was advised by at least three judges of his right to counsel and had the benefit of two appointed counsel (he fired each) and two appointed standby counsel. The findings of September 28, 1983, indicate that the defendant affirmatively waived counsel, asserted a wish to represent himself at trial, and affirmatively acquiesced in the arrangement for standby counsel throughout the trial. Under these circumstances the defendant bore the burden of establishing that his waiver and affirmative acquiescence were not knowing and intelligent. Maynard v. Meachum, 545 F.2d 273, 277-279 (1st Cir. 1976). That burden was not met. The defendant was represented by counsel at his nonjury trial and had continuous and comprehensive assistance of counsel up to the start of his jury trial; he had standby counsel throughout that trial; he conducted his defense with comprehension and, judging solely from the transcript, considerable familiarity with criminal trials -- an impression borne out by (but not dependent on) his lengthy prior record. These facts warrant an inference of understanding and intelligent waiver. Id. at 279. Commonwealth v. Appleby, 389 Mass. 359 , 368 (1983). Commonwealth v. Moran, ante 200, 208 (1983). 2. The modest restriction imposed by the judge for the security of exhibits in the courtroom was neither "arbitrary [n]or unreasonable", Commonwealth v. Brown, 364 Mass. 471 , 476 (1973), nor does it appear to have impaired the conduct of the defense. Contrast Commonwealth v. Stokes, 11 Mass. App. Ct. 949 , 950 (1981). 3. The defendant concedes, apparently, that the evidence warranted a finding that he had altered the date on the assignment of the certificate of title but argues that his motion for a directed verdict should have been allowed because there was no evidence that the alteration was material or was done with intent to deceive. The statute in question, G. L. c. 90D, Section 32, was added by St. 1971, c. 754, Section 1. Subsection (b) expressly requires fraudulent intent for one type of violation; subsection (a) does not. The omission was not the inadvertent result of piecemeal amendments and thus was presumably intentional. See First Natl. Bank v. Judge Baker Guidance Center, 13 Mass. App. Ct. 144 , 153 (1982). The deletion of the fraudulent intent requirement in subsection (b) by a 1975 amendment (St. 1975, c. 392, Section 14) undercuts any suggestion that such a requirement suffuses the entire section. The argument that the word "falsely" in subsection (a) should be read to apply to alterations of assignments of certificates little profits the defendant, because the jury could properly infer that the change in the date of the assignment was both false and material. 4. Massachusetts Rule of Criminal Procedure 13(d)(2)(A), 378 Mass. 873 -874 (1979), requires that "pretrial motion[s] shall be filed within seven days after the date set for the filing of the pretrial conference report . . . or at such other time as the judge . . . may allow." The record does not show that the judge erred in ruling the defendant's motion to suppress untimely. That the judge was prepared to allow the defendant to file such a motion on August 11, 1981, did not permit the defendant to file it as of right two months later, on October 9. 5. The argument by the prosecutor regarding the character of the defendant was, in the circumstances, fair argument from the testimony. Compare Commonwealth v. MacDonald (No. 1), 368 Mass. 395 , 401 (1975). The character of the defendant was in issue. Contrast Commonwealth v. Burke, 373 Mass. 569 , 575 (1977). 6. The contentions made (apparently as afterthoughts) in the defendant's reply brief are disposed of by the holdings in Commonwealth v. Pasciuti, 12 Mass. App. Ct. 833 , 835-836 (1981), and Commonwealth v. Harris, 376 Mass. 74 , 78 (1978). The findings of September 28, 1983, reconstructed the record sufficiently to show that the claim in question was without merit. Judgment affirmed.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10200
__label__wiki	0.658222	0.658222	PETITION FOR REVOCATION OF A DECREE FOR ADOPTION OF A MINOR. January 9, 1963 - April 2, 1963 Present: WILKINS, C.J., SPALDING, WHITTEMORE, SPIEGEL, & REARDON, JJ. On appeal from a decree of a Probate Court with findings of fact and a report of the evidence, this court will review the evidence, give due weight to the findings of the trial judge, which will not be reversed unless plainly wrong, find any additional facts justified, and decide the case in accordance with its own reasoning and understanding. [669] In a proceeding in the Probate Court by the mother of a child five years old for revocation of a decree entered shortly after the child's birth allowing a petition for her adoption by her maternal grandparents purportedly signed by the child's mother and her husband in "consent to the adoption," a decree vacating the decree for adoption and granting custody of the child to her mother was reversed and the petition for revocation was ordered dismissed in the circumstances where findings by the trial judge, that the mother was misled as to the nature of the adoption proceeding, that the attorney for the grandparents secured "through false allegations" a waiver of the statutory requirement of a year's residence by a child in the home of a petitioner for adoption before entry of a decree therefor, and that the "signatures of the . . . [mother] and her husband on the petition for adoption were forged," were shown by the evidence to be plainly wrong. [664-665, 670-672] PETITION filed in the Probate Court for the county of Bristol on March 29, 1961. The case was heard by Mullaney, J. Felix F. Perrone (Max F. Greenstein with him) for the respondents. William H. Lewis, Jr. (Pearl H. Mekelburg with him) for the petitioner. SPIEGEL, J. This is a petition for revocation of a decree of adoption brought by the natural mother of the minor. The petitioner also seeks custody of the child. The petition was filed on March 29, 1961. A hearing on the petition was begun on November 20, 1961. The probate judge entered a decree vacating the decree for adoption and ordered that the petitioner be given custody of the child, from which the respondents appealed. The evidence is reported, and the exhibits are before us. The judge incorporated in the decree the following findings: That "the petitioner . . . was misled at the time the adoption petition was prepared and that at no time did she consent either verbally or in writing to give up her child for adoption but believed that she was leaving the said child in the care of her parents so that if anything happened to her until she was ready to take the child, they could continue to raise the said child; and it appearing that upon requesting the child when she and her husband . . . were in a position to take the child, it was necessary for her to hire an attorney to secure the information concerning the alleged adoption; and it appearing to the Court that at all times the petitioner . . . insisted the child know that she was the mother of the child and that she asked for the child at her earliest opportunity, and it appearing further that the respondents through their attorney hastened the hearing on the adoption and secured the waiver of the year's residence period through false allegations; and . . . that the alleged signatures of the petitioner and her husband on the petition for adoption were forged . . .." On February 23, 1956, a petition for adoption and change of name was filed by the parents of the natural mother seeking the adoption of a child who was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on January 26, 1956. The petition states that the parents of the child "consent to the adoption" and the document bears two signatures purporting to be those of the parents of the child. A report of the Department of Public Welfare, dated May 11, 1956, signed by a supervisor of the department was filed in the Probate Court. This report stated, among other things, that the natural mother of the minor had said that she "signed the petition and consents" to the adoption and that her husband "signed the petition and as legal father consents to the adoption." On May 22, 1956, the same probate judge who heard the instant matter entered a decree allowing the petition for adoption and ordered the minor's name changed to that of the parents of the natural mother. The following is a condensation of the evidence as revealed from a detailed examination of the transcript of testimony and of the exhibits. Sometime in 1955, the petitioner, while attending college, became aware of the fact that she was pregnant. She did not inform her parents about her condition until she "went home in November." Her mother was educated at several colleges, holds a master's degree in Education, has thirteen credits toward a Ph.D., and is a teacher in a junior high school. She testified that her daughter told her she was pregnant and there was a conversation about the "expected birth of this child." The daughter said that "she didn't care about it, she didn't want it . . . she didn't feel it moving and . . . hoped it was dead." The petitioner's mother took her to a local physician and made arrangements for the birth of the child. The petitioner had a "private doctor," "private room" at the hospital, and "everything she wanted," provided for by her parents. The child was born on January 26, 1956. From the "very beginning" the petitioner's mother discussed the adoption of her daughter's child and said to her daughter, "it is better that your father and I adopt the baby, because it is our blood; and, of course . . . [your husband] is not our blood, and if anything should happen to you the baby will be with its blood kin." The petitioner agreed and, as a result, arrangements were made with an attorney to draft a petition for adoption. Subsequently the attorney appeared at the home of the petitioner's parents and the petitioner and her husband signed the petition consenting to the adoption. The attorney also "signed" the "paper." The natural father of the child was a married man and the last time the petitioner saw him was in May of 1955. She and her husband were married on January 20, 1956. She denied that the signature purporting to consent to the adoption was hers and her husband denied that the signature on the petition was his. The petitioner is a schoolteacher and has a son, fourteen months old. She testified that her mother had told her that she "had signed guardianship papers so that the child's real father could not come and take . . . [the child] away." She claimed that she had understood that when her husband "got out of college" and they were "financially able," they could have the child. She admitted that when she and her mother consulted the doctor he asked her "one simple question" as to whether she wanted the child and she "just said, `No.'" The husband testified to a conversation with his wife's father concerning his "feelings" for the child about to be born "since the child was not . . . [his]" and he agreed that his wife's parents would "care for the child." The petitioner and her husband each testified that they first learned the child had been adopted shortly after Christmas, in 1958, through the "investigation of a lawyer" in Connecticut whom they had retained. They subsequently retained a lawyer in Massachusetts who in turn referred them to their present attorney. A "handwriting and document expert" testified that in her opinion the petitioner and her husband did not sign the petition consenting to the adoption and that the signatures were forgeries. This opinion was based on a comparison of certain "standards" of signatures of the petitioner and her husband written sometime in 1960 with those appearing on the petition for adoption. The expert testified at some length as to the characteristics of the "genuine" signatures and the differences between those and the signatures appearing on the adoption petition. It was her opinion that the signature of the petitioner was "a slowly made drawn copy," and the signature of her husband was "a slowly drawn, carefully made, hesitatingly conceived copy of . . . [his] signature." She defined a "forged signature" as a "carefully made copy, sometimes a tracery, of a genuine signature. It is similitude of somebody's known writing." She also testified that the petitioner "signs" her middle name with one "n" in all the "standards" she had seen whereas on the adoption petition the middle name is written with a double "n." Her opinion was not based on this fact. The attorney who drafted the petition testified that he had known the parents of the petitioner "since about 1940," and that he also had known their children. He drew the petition for adoption in his office from a "birth certificate . . . furnished" him, because he wanted to be sure he was "getting the correct names." The birth certificate shows the middle name spelled with two "n's." On February 8, 1956, he visited the home of the petitioner's parents. All of the parties signed the petition in his presence. Before the petitioner signed he said to her "[h]ere is a petition for the adoption of your youngster by your mother and father. Now, you know what it is all about, don't you? Are you agreeable that they adopt the youngster?" She answered, "Yes, it is all right." The attorney also told the petitioner's husband the "substance" of the petition and where to sign it. Prior to the allowance by the probate judge of the petition for adoption there was an investigation made by the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare. The investigator testified that she had been employed as a social worker in the Division of Child Guardianship since 1946 and as such she is called upon to make investigations for the department relative to the adoption of minor children. "[S]ometime in 1956" she made an investigation regarding the petition for adoption with which we are here concerned. While testifying, she referred to her "original notes made at the time." The investigator visited the home of the petitioner's parents, and at that time the petitioner was living there. She talked to the petitioner's parents, to the petitioner, and to her husband. The petitioner gave the investigator detailed information regarding the pertinent facts. In response to questions by the investigator the petitioner and her husband said they had signed the petition consenting to the adoption of the child. A sister of the petitioner testified to a conversation in which she was told by the petitioner that her "mother and father were going to adopt the baby." The sister also testified that the handwriting on the petition for adoption was her sister's. She heard the conversation among her sister, her sister's husband and the investigator and heard the petitioner and her husband say they had signed the petition consenting to the adoption. The respondents introduced in evidence an "old" envelope, on the reverse side of which the petitioner's first and middle initials and her maiden surname in full were written by her. The respondents, in their brief, argue at considerable length that the standards used by the expert and admitted in evidence, relating to the "authenticity" of the signatures, were "duly objected to" and were inadmissible. We do not consider this contention, for the record is clear that no objection was made at the time the standards were admitted in evidence. It is our obligation to review the evidence and reach a decision in accordance with our own reasoning and understanding, giving due weight to the findings of the trial judge, which we will not reverse unless they are plainly wrong, and finding for ourselves any additional facts we believe to be justified by the evidence. Berry v. Kyes, 304 Mass. 56 , 57-58. Shattuck v. Wood Memorial Home, Inc. 319 Mass. 444 , 445. Young v. Paquette, 341 Mass. 67 , 70. Hanrihan v. Hanrihan, 342 Mass. 559 , 564. The standards were written some four years after the petition for adoption had been allowed by the probate judge and were written for the sole purpose of enabling the handwriting expert to testify in these proceedings. The "expert" displayed the signatures on the adoption petition and the standards by an enlargement approximately twice the size of the original. It is obvious to us that the standards are meticulously, deliberately, and painstakingly written. Each letter is clear and distinct and the spaces between the first and middle names and the middle names and the surnames are equally distant. It is quite apparent that the standards are not representative of the manner in which the petitioner and her husband ordinarily sign their names. More than incidental, however, is the signature of the petitioner on the back of the envelope which is in evidence. This signature is of the petitioner's maiden name and therefore, we assume, was written prior to her marriage in 1956. It appears to us that this writing bears no resemblance to the writing of the petitioner as shown on the standards used by the expert in forming her opinion. Although the expert testified that the two "n's" appearing in the middle name of the petitioner on the adoption petition did not cause her to conclude that the signature was a forgery, nevertheless she asserted "it is most unusual for an American trained person to misspell his name . . . it is most unusual to leave out a necessary letter in the middle of a word." The expert did not refer to the birth certificate which showed the middle name of the petitioner spelled with two "n's" or to the typewritten portion of the adoption petition wherein the middle name of the petitioner is also spelled with two "n's." This, in itself, may have accounted for the petitioner signing her middle name with two "n's." It should be noted, too, that in the petition for revocation filed by the petitioner the typewritten portion likewise shows the middle name spelled with two "n's." It seems reasonable to suppose that if the expert's opinion is sound to the effect that the signature of the petitioner appearing on the petition for adoption was a "copy" of the petitioner's "genuine" signature, then the middle name of the petitioner must also have been spelled with two "n's" in the "genuine" signature from which the alleged forgery was copied. The only completely objective witness who testified in the instant proceeding was the investigator employed by the Department of Public Welfare. Even though her testimony is not to be considered sacrosanct, it is difficult to conceive of a motive to prompt her to falsify her testimony. A vigorous, intense cross-examination by counsel for the petitioner in no way altered the positiveness of her statements. We believe she was telling the truth. To reach a contrary result we would have to conclude that an apparently respectable and experienced member of the bar, the investigator for the Department of Public Welfare, and the parents of the petitioner were perpetrating an outrageous fraud upon the probate judge. However, our decision does not rest solely on the above reasoning. The petitioner and her husband, if their testimony is to be believed, first learned of the adoption about Christmas of 1958. They thereupon retained an attorney, but this petition for revocation was not filed until March 29, 1961. This is of substantial significance, particularly when we consider the provisions of G. L. c. 210, Section 11, under which a parent who had no personal notice of the proceedings upon a petition for adoption before the entry of a decree may appeal to this court within one year after actual notice thereof. We also observe that, although, at the time of the hearing, the minor was almost six years of age, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the petitioner or her husband contributed anything to the support of the child. We do not underestimate the love which the mother undoubtedly has for the child. However, it was not the kind of affection which manifested itself directly after the birth of the child nor, indeed, for some time thereafter. The petitioner is not an uneducated person. She has a college degree and teaches school. It is an arduous task to reconcile her testimony that she "signed guardianship papers," with her denial of the signature on the adoption petition. We assume that the point of her testimony was that she "signed" a document consenting to guardianship of her child but not to adoption. It does not seem likely that the petitioner's mother would have needed the petitioner's signature on a guardianship petition for the purpose of having the signature copied. It is curious, too, that no questions were asked as to the disposition of the alleged guardianship petition which the petitioner admitted signing. It is difficult to conclude that she was not fully aware of the legal proceedings which resulted in her parents' adoption of the child. As for the husband of the petitioner, he seems to have had little, if any, feeling regarding the child. It is true that in the instant matter the precise legal issue does not involve the welfare of the child. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore its importance (see Adoption of a Minor, 343 Mass. 292 , 294-295), nor can we remain unmindful of the position of the grandparents. They took care of a situation, not of their making, with tact and understanding. From the day of the child's birth, they have given her the love and protection which she needed. The petitioner has at all times been able to visit with the adopted child who knows that the petitioner is her mother. This would hardly have been the situation if a couple other than the grandparents had adopted the child. From the foregoing analysis and evaluation of the testimony and our examination of the exhibits, we are constrained to find that the petitioner and her husband did sign the petition for adoption, that the attorney did not secure "the waiver of the year's residence period through false allegations," and that the judge was plainly wrong in finding to the contrary. Accordingly, the decree is reversed and a new decree is to be entered dismissing the petition.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10201
__label__cc	0.508633	0.491367	Posts from 2016-08-30 The Rediscovered Olympic Spirit: The Story of Abbey and Nikki Tuesday, 30 August 2016 21:47 0 comments Executive Director's Blog Olympics is the ultimate stage for athletes around the world. The ace athletes everywhere dream & practice long years for that moment of glory on the Olympic victor’s stand. Let alone win, it is a great privilege to be selected to represent one’s country and get a chance to compete against the top talents from other countries. Olympics is the best place of display for physical prowess in combination with mental alertness. Every millisecond counts. Every millimeter is precious. Every ounce matters. It is all about swiftness, agility, precision, strength, and stamina . The world celebrates the gold medal winner. The limelight is on the record breaker. They all come to grab the gold medal, break the world record and stand tall for their country. They want to show the world how they can run faster, jump higher and shoot sharper. They show their strength and agility in wrestling and gymnastics. Rio2016 Olympics was no different. More than 11300 athletes came together from 207 countries. As they earned the medals, emotions flowed freely: they cried, screamed, jumped, rolled or ran around the stadium. They were able to beat others and occupy the victory stand. It was all about achievement, success, fame, limelight. Yet in Rio2016, the story of Abbey D Agastinao and Nikky Kimbal stood out like no other. They were celebrated for a totally different reason. Everybody applauded them. TV and radio channels across the world heaped praises on them. Social media was teaming with positive comments. Everyone emphasized that Abbey and NIkky rediscovered the “the Olympic spirit”. Abbey and NIkki were in the heats for 5000m. They didn’t know each other. But somewhere on the way they hit each other and fell down on the track. Nothing unusual. That happens in track at times. For a moment, they were lost. Suddenly Abbey got up and instead of running to catch up on the lost moments, she looked over, reached out quickly and picked up Nikki. They started running and then Abbey had severe pain and she limped and fell down. She urged Nikki to go on and save time. But Nikki didn’t. She returned the favor this time and picked up Abbey up and they ran. They were nowhere near the timing to get into the finals. But the world was watching. Everybody was stunned by this unbelievable, spontaneous display of concern for the competitor, the outpouring of genuine care without even caring about one’s own condition. At that moment, they showed the world, that “it is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice”. They told the world that “you can be both a competitor and kind and responsive at the same time." For sometime the chatter about world records, medal tallies, and cheating stopped. Everybody was talking about the fabulous example this duo displayed so gracefully, so impulsively. When they woke up that day to compete, they never thought they would have a historic moment like this. None of us also wake up for such moments. We are all in the fast track to win, to get past others. But for each of us, such moments will present once in a while, where we can show an unrehearsed act of kindness, spur-of-the-moment thoughtfulness. It might be an occasion to open the door for somebody, or let another person jump through the queue, vacate the seat for a woman with a child. But most of us may not even recognize such an opportunity because we are all focused on our own life’s troubles and dreams. Abbey and Nikki were awarded a medal that surpassed the triple-triple of Usain Bolt and the 23 medal record of Micheal Phelps. This award, the Pierre de Coubertin medal, was only awarded 17 times in Olympic history and is reserved for athletes, volunteers or officials who are deemed to have demonstrated the Olympic spirit. Abbey and Nikki picked up the medal when they picked up each other on the tracks. Abbey had to undergo surgery and may never be able to compete in another Olympics or in fact in any competitive sports. However, for Abbey and Nikki, it was not what they accomplished in terms of faster, higher, longer measurements. The Olympics sized big heart of consideration, compassion and concern for the fellow human being is what brought them the coveted medal. Olympics is an event that happens once in four years. It is unique because this is the only event on planet Earth where the maximum number of people from all the countries come together to find out who is the best among them. They compete against each other, in the same pitch, on the same track trying to outsmart each other. But at the end of it, they are still able to shake hands with each other and retreat in grace. At a time where hundreds of armed conflict zones exist across the world where men are killing each other, Olympics spirit stands out. The athletes from enemy countries are willing embrace each other and shake hands. How good it would have been if we had Olympics games across the world every year and we celebrate each other. If that happens, this world of ours – where we are killing each other - would be progressing much more. We would be making heaven on earth!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10211
__label__cc	0.644473	0.355527	Northeast Generals name Locke as new head coach The Northeast Generals of the NA3HL are please to announce the hiring of Darryl Locke as the team’s new head coach to lead the Generals in 2017-18. Coming off their first playoff appearance in 2016-17, the Generals turn to Coach Locke to push the team even further this season. Coach Locke comes to the Northeast Generals in his first year with 26 years of coaching experience. Coach Locke has coached at every level of hockey from youth to juniors. Most recently, Coach Locke was the Varsity Assistant at Everett High School. Before that he was a coach at Winchester High School. Coach Locke has coached in such prestigious organizations as The Advantage Ice (Lovell Hockey), NY Saints, Prince Edward Island Prospects (Canada) and the South Shore Braves Jr. Team, to name a few. Coach Locke brings a wealth of experience as a player having been a two-time Catholic League All-Star and three time Hockey Night in Boston All-Star, while at Columbus High School. Coach Locke was captain of The New Preparatory School under coaches George Kozak and Ned Bunyon. Coach Locke played junior hockey for The South Shore Braves and then moved onto SUNY-Plattsburgh. “The Northeast Generals are extremely really happy to have Darryl lead the NA3HL Generals. We interviewed a ton of candidates and Darryl had both the hockey experience and work experience we were looking for,” said General Manager Bryan Erikson. “He is a retired New York Police Officer, which is amazing. He brings the core values that we want to teach each young man that comes to us. But he also has the hockey knowledge necessary to improve each player. Darryl is going to be a great addition to the Generals.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10213
__label__wiki	0.750347	0.750347	Collector’s Reference Numismatic Dictionary U.S. Coins by Type Key Date Coins U.S. Coin & Currency Production Mints and Mintmarks U.S. Mint Gold & Platinum Pricing Grid David J. Ryder Sworn in as 39th United States Mint Director Apr 12, 2018 \| News, U.S. Mint David J. Ryder, the 39th Director of the U.S. Mint WASHINGTON – Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin swore in David J. Ryder as the 39th United States Mint (Mint) Director today at the Main Treasury Building. Ryder also led the Mint as its 34th Director from September 1992 to November 1993 during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Ryder previously held the position of Global Business Development Manager and Managing Director of Currency for Honeywell Authentication Technologies. Ryder also served as CEO of Secure Products Corporation, which Honeywell acquired in 2007. In addition to his time at the Mint, Ryder’s prior government service includes appointments as Deputy Treasurer of the United States, Assistant to the Vice President, and Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President Dan Quayle. As Mint Director, Ryder will lead an organization of almost 1,700 people who are employed with responsibilities ranging from securing the assets entrusted to the Mint, to the design, manufacturing, and distribution of circulating, precious metal and collectible coins, and national medals. The Mint operates six facilities across the United States: Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; production facilities in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Denver, and West Point; and the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox. Ryder was born in Billings, Montana and raised in Boise, Idaho. He attended Boise State University and is married with two children. Get BLOG updates via email: Tweets by @CoinsBlog U.S. Mint Video: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin July 17, 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Currency Set July 16, 2019 U.S. Mint Video: American Legion Commemorative Coin July 14, 2019 ANA Awards College Scholarships to Committed Numismatists July 14, 2019 ANA Honors Distinguished Numismatists with Awards July 14, 2019 Get NEWS updates via email: Coin Collectors Blog About the Coin Collectors Blog Coin Collectors News Coin Collectors Blog and Coin Collectors News is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License by Scott Barman.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10219
__label__wiki	0.795845	0.795845	NEWS.WALES Graduation Tales: “i Never Thought I Was Good Enough For University” A mother of five from Blackwood is on her way to a dream career in Law as she graduates with a Law degree from the University of South Wales. Helen Taylor decided to go back to college when her youngest child started school – and at the age of 36, was one of the oldest in her class. But she has proved that age and background are no barrier to education, as despite leaving school with just two GCSEs, she has excelled in her studies and has gained a 2:1 degree in LLB Legal Practice (Hons). Having had her son, Jack, at the age of 21, Helen went on to have four more children – Adam, now aged 15, twins Kaitlyn and Kirstyn, aged 13, and Alysha-May, aged 9. She said: “I left home at 16 and got a place of my own, which was really difficult as I didn’t enjoy school and didn’t feel I could continue living with my parents. I didn’t take the conventional route of education – becoming a young mother was a huge learning curve, and I knew I had to provide for my son, so I started a part time job when Jack was little.” She met her partner, Chris, in 2004 and just a year later, faced the heart-breaking news that her father had cancer. He chose the names of her twin daughters, but tragically passed away two months before they were born. After having Alysha-May nearly a decade ago, Helen grew much closer to her grandmother, who provided emotional support and became like a third parent to her children. “At the time, Chris was struggling to find work and our financial problems really took a toll on us emotionally,” said Helen. “Then in 2014, when Alysha started school, I decided to take the plunge and go to college. I wanted to get a job that fitted around school hours, and start making a future for our children. I had grown up with very little and I didn’t want the same for my family.” Helen completed a course in Business and Administration, as well as a legal studies course, at Coleg y Cymoedd – and surprised herself by achieving a distinction. Her tutor, Helen Jones, encouraged her to think about university, and she then completed an Access to Higher Education course in Business at the college, alongside re-sitting her Maths and English GCSEs. She added: “That was just the push I needed, as I didn’t think I’d be good enough to go to university. I had finally found something I was really interested in, and after achieving distinctions in every module, I was given an Outstanding Student award, which helped my confidence massively.” Thankfully, Chris secured a full-time job at Groundwork Wales in 2016, and was able to support Helen to complete her studies. She enrolled at the University of South Wales to start her journey towards becoming a solicitor, making two train journeys to get to her lectures. Helen said: “It was very daunting at first, because I was one of the oldest students in the year and had no experience of writing assignments at this sort of level. However, my lecturers have been absolutely brilliant and have really helped me to enjoy this huge challenge. I’m so glad I didn’t give up on my dreams of become a lawyer.” Sadly, Helen’s grandmother passed away at the end of her first year at university, leaving her questioning whether to continue with her studies. She said: “I found it very difficult to come to terms with losing her. She was my world. But I carried on for her sake, as I know she was proud of me for going back to education.” The family went through further heartbreak when Chris’ grandfather died suddenly just a few months later, and faced problems at home when two of their teenage children were struggling with mental health issues. During her final year at USW, Helen started working at the Legal and Financial Advice Clinic, which offers free appointments to the public with supervised Law students who can offer advice and support. She has enjoyed her time at the Clinic so much that she has chosen to continue working there beyond graduation, with the aim of gaining more experience to secure a training contract with a legal firm. Helen’s son Jack has also started his degree course at USW, in Computer Forensics – a choice she avidly encouraged. “My children are so proud of me, and now I can see Jack doing really well in his studies which makes me so happy. I’m living proof that whatever your background, you can achieve what you set out to. My advice to anyone thinking about university would be to just go for it.” Report Content! What do you want to read next? Cabinet Agrees To Implement £37.4m Investment Into Education In Pontypridd Empty Homes Grant Scheme In Rct To Be Replicated Across Valleys Local Farmer Sentenced For Animal Welfare Offences Beddau Pupils Enjoy New 3g Pitch As Athletics Track Nears Completion British Transplant Games 2019 – One Week To Go! Monmouthshire Attractions Achieve International Green Flag Awards Thursday July 18th 21:56 Get In Touch / Latest... Breaking News feed via Breaking.uk Breaking News via Breaking.uk Wales Weather Wales Traffic Wales Tweets News.Wales has been built and is run from Wales for Wales! © NEWS.WALES 2019 \| News.Wales was established in 2016.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10221
__label__wiki	0.726455	0.726455	What Is It With France and Bad Officiating? 19 Nov What Is It With France and Bad Officiating? 19.11.09 \| 17 Comments I haven’t irritated OJ purists by blogging about (international) sports for a while, so I think it’s only appropriate to point out that, for the second time in two years, the French have stayed alive in a World Cup only by the grace of pathetic officiating. The most recent outrage comes courtesy of soccer (being American, I refuse to call it football), where France defeated Ireland and advanced to the 2011 World Cup because four referees missed French striker Thierry Henry’s blatant use of his hands not once but twice on the pass that led to France’s go-ahead goal. Ireland is in mourning and — rightly — calling for a replay of the match, which would have gone to a penalty shootout had all four referees not chosen an opportune time to stop watching the match. It’s bad enough that the Irish, with their lovely accents, are deprived of a chance to go to the World Cup. Even worse, referees also handed the French a victory over my beloved All Blacks, New Zealand’s national rugby team, during the 2007 World Cup. The All Blacks lost to France 20-18 because the referee, Wayne Barnes, refused to call a ridiculously obvious forward pass on the game-winning try. So hated is Barnes in New Zealand that his name has entered the Kiwi lexicon as a way to describe being unfairly screwed over: “you’ve been Barnsed.” Camille Paglia once wrote that we should ignore France’s views on international affairs until it proves it can win a war without anyone’s help. I think that’s more than a little unfair, but the corollary certainly holds true: we shouldn’t take France’s international teams seriously until they prove they can win without the help of bad referees. A few years ago one of my LLM students, a senior law counselor from a country I can’t now recall which in Africa, came to me looking for assistance because, on account of some kind of bad athletic call, her boss, the Minister of Justice, had decided to seek remedies at the ICJ. I think I did the right thing by providing some gentle discouragement? Martin Holterman The Irish justice minister has already, in his non-official capacity of course, suggested that this idea of a replay isn’t such a bad idea. As for th 2007 RWC, I’ve seen every second of the final stages of that tournament, and I can’t say that I remember the forward pass you’re talking about. As far as I can remember, the French won fair and square, just like the Wallabies did in the 2003 semis. Kevin Jon Heller Martin, If you don’t believe me, believe the IRB: its review found three serious mistakes were committed by the referees, all of which went against the ABs: Referee Wayne Barnes made at least three serious errors that went against the All Blacks late in the World Cup quarterfinal against France, an International Rugby Board (IRB) panel has found. France scored the winning try from a forward pass and committed at least two other two offences that could have been penalised, the IRB referees’ selection panel found. The All Blacks lost 18-20, for their worst finish at a World Cup. IRB referees’ manager, New Zealander Paddy O’Brien, said the panel still gave Barnes a pass mark and reiterated he did not cost the All Blacks the game. O’Brien said a review of Englishman Barnes and touch judges Jonathan Kaplan and Tony Spreadbury, found a series of wrong calls against the All Blacks. A successful penalty would have been enough to win the match for the All Blacks, but Barnes did not award one penalty against France in the second half. Barnes’ has come under close scrutiny, particularly his performance late in the match in which the All Blacks – desperate for… Read more » To make a connection to OJ, one headline I saw read: “Henry Wanted for Crimes Against Ireland” Henry and another player were also offsides, to top it off. You might also add the 2000 European Championships against Italy where the referee gave something like 13 minutes of extra time, when much less was called for, and announced. [insert here] delenda est At least one monumental blunder certainly counted against the All Blacks – they were born kiwi. Oh, wait, that only counted against a few of them… More seriously, there is not much point caring about the quality of refeering in football. As long as they don’t adopt video referees they are making it quite clear that mistakes are part of the game, whether or not paid for. Dov Jacobs Ok, I’m half-Irish, half-French, but i’ll be speaking in my French capacity today… As much as I’m ashamed to be going to the world cup after this ridiculous goal, I think this shouldn’t be blown out of proportions. If Robbie Keane hadn’t missed a golden opportunity a few minutes earlier, the Henry goal would not have mattered (and if Ireland had not screwed up twice against Italy in the group stages, they would have been directly qualified). From a legal point of view, the Irish are not “rightly” demanding a rematch. It is not an option under FIFA regulations… As for the 2007 world cup, there was indeed a forward pass. But France did outplay NZ over the match. Face it, Kevin, the All Blacks have a long history of screwing up in the final stages of a World Cup (and often against France…). As far as wars are concerned, I think pots and kettles calling each other black when you look at history… but let’s stay out of this debate… Niamh Hayes Kevin, Thanks for the empathy with the recent tragic events which have befallen Ireland. Although based on the reactions in the pub on Wednesday, most of us appear to use our ‘lovely accents’ best when hurling deeply emotional and wildly inventive compound-noun swearwords at goateed Swedish men. And Dov, right you are to be ashamed! I’ll concede that Robbie Keane should have wrapped it up with that chance in the second half, but he did score the beautiful first goal so he can’t be the villain. Thierry Henry, on the other hand, lolloping around the six-yard box with his massive cheating hands and his razor-sharp volleyball instincts, absolutely can. As I said in the pub the other night, the actual qualification outcome was the one anyone would happily have bet on when the initial draw was announced, but it was the sheer eye-watering injustice of it that has the whole country in mourning. Based on the relative quality of the squad, France should have absolutely leathered us – twice. Score 2 or 3 in both legs: grand. Beat us on penalties after a heroic Irish effort to take it to extra time: we’d have learned to cope. But there’s something… Read more » Well the world is divided into two types of people – the French who are civilized and the rest of us who are human. So there. Once you understand that, life is much easier. On to the World Cup! I think that I read somewhere that Henry’s moral model is Lance Amstrong, the American who never cheated, but admitted in an arbitration that he won 7 times the Tour de France dopped like a horse … Or was that Marion Jones he was referring to …? Oh wait, I found the quote. Henry said: “I apologize to all Americans for being so immoral. I wish I was André Agassi.” And he just added: ” I did not dislike Floyd Landis, actually” Henry’s wife, howerer, has a different opinion: “Thierry, you really should not have done that, but you are still an amateur compared to Tonya Harding” Dov, It is an option — FIFA ordered a replay of the Bahrain-Uzbekistan game in 2006 because the referee misapplied the penalty rules. Sure, you can argue that there is a difference between misapplying a rule and missing an obvious call, but such formalism seems to have no point other than to avoid replaying the Ireland-France match. (Or at least ordering a shoot-out.) FIFA has ordered a replay before; it should do so again. And something tells me it would if it was a soccer power, not a soccer “minnow,” that was on the wrong end of the score. You’re right about the ABs’ sorry World Cup history. And yes, France played very well. But the ABs were not outplayed — any fairly-called game (and don’t get me started on the ridiculous sin-binning of the AB that handed France one of its tries) would have resulted in a comfortable AB victory. 10-2 in penalties? You mean to argue they should play the game again? Where would be the justice in that?! Perhaps the result in this particular instance is bad, but all sports-rivalry based nation-hating aside, there are fundamental and principled characteristics present in this situation that would make replaying the match an egregious breach of both the legal and sporting ethics. (And by the way, American or not, the proper lingo is always, always football, pitch, match, etc.). According to pertinent official FIFA rules; the statutory authority; the binding provisions promulgated by the supreme and overarching international governing body of of Association Football, to whose jurisdiction of all parties have consented: “The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. ” “The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.” The rules are plain: The referee decided that there was no handball. He terminated the game. He can no longer change his decision. The call is… Read more » “Sportsmen’s tradition” = getting to the World Cup by using your hands and then not calling yourself on it. Got it. “Serious injustice” = requiring France to earn its place in the World Cup by winning a game, not by cheating. Check. Soccer players are indeed amazing athletes. Almost, but not quite, as amazing as those who play Aussie Rules Football, a vastly superior game. Blawg Review #239 « Human Rights in Ireland […] Liveline – here and here). Kevin Jon Heller discusses the matter with the respect it deserves here on the venerable Opinio Juris. The debacle has been treated as a priority by our political leaders. […] Kevin Jon Heller is Associate Professor of Public International Law at the University of Amsterdam and Professor of Law at the Australian National University. Twitter: @KevinJonHeller	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10223
__label__cc	0.658126	0.341874	Questions about Property Sale photo credit: sensitive noise / obvious 2 via photopin (license) As you may or may not be aware, the East Penn School district is selling the former Lower Macungie Elementary School property that is at the corner of Krocks and Lower Macungie Road. The vote was 8-0 in favor of the sale at the August 10th, 2015 board meeting. You can read the Agreement of Sale for yourself if interested (look for Exhibit #16). Incidentally, the board also discussed a policy for allowing service horses inside district buildings at that same meeting-- see what you are missing by not attending?! Last night I received an email from a fellow community member asking about the reasons for the sale and expressing concerns about the sale price. I am posting my (slightly edited) response here, as it might be of interest to others: I can't speak for the board as a whole, but I will tell you briefly why I voted for the sale. My first choice would have been to preserve Lower Macungie Elementary for possible re-opening as a school if it were needed down the road. Unfortunately, however, the school building is no longer usable by the district because the cost of making wheelchair access and other required code improvements to the building are cost prohibitive. There is no reasonable way to bring it up to code without incurring huge capital expenses that are unwarranted by the size and current condition of the building. Indeed, even maintaining the building right now is expensive-- the rent from the current tenant barely covers the district's maintenance costs. And, of course, keeping the property without using it to educate our students means the property is not on the tax rolls, putting that much more pressure on existing taxpayers in the community. Another possibility, of course, would have been to keep the property for possibly building a brand new school in the future. Unfortunately, that particular piece of land is not big enough to accommodate a modern school-- again, because of changes in the legal requirements the district has to meet for new construction. Why sell now is another reasonable question. As you may know, the district is going through a period of enormous financial strain. I would like to keep taxes as low as possible without having to cut programs like music, arts, and athletics, as they have done in places like Allentown. And I don't want to cut teachers-- we already have class sizes in many schools that are far too high. Because this is a piece of property that the district is not using, and cannot reasonably expect to use for a school in the future, it doesn't strike me as fiscally responsible to hold on to it while at the same time asking taxpayers to continue to foot higher bills to meet the current financial strain. In terms of the price, I disagree with those that have suggested the sale price is too low. The district commissioned multiple assessments of the property's value and had a professional valuation conducted. As a final check on this work, a court must certify that the district received fair market value for the property before the deal is finalized. I used all of this data in making my judgment that the $840,000 price was a good deal for the district. I don't know if this explanation will convince everyone that the sale was the right thing to do, but I hope that it at least makes it clear what reasons I had for voting for the sale. I take my responsibility as a steward of district resources extremely seriously. District resources are, after all, ultimately the community's resources. My vote in favor of the sale was not made lightly and came after a great deal of study of different options. My daughter attended kindergarten at Lower Macungie Elementary, and I will miss the school that has been standing in that spot for over 60 years. But in the end, I had to consider all possibilities, and in this case I believe the sale was the best option for our district and our community.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10224
__label__cc	0.520072	0.479928	Modern Catholic Social Teaching: The Popes Confront the Industrial Age 1740-1958 (review) Paul Misner Volume 90, Number 3, July 2004 Modern Catholic Social Teaching: The Popes Confront the Industrial Age 1740–1958 Modern Catholic Social Teaching: The Popes Confront the Industrial Age 1740–1958. By Joe Holland. (New York and Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press. 2003. Pp. xii, 404. $29.95 paperback.) This is an original and notable treatment of the modern teaching of the popes on economic and political society. It seems the time has come for retrospective syntheses on the mutual interaction of Catholicism and modern society, another example being Kirche auf dem Weg in eine veränderte Welt (Münster: Lit, 2003) by Heinz Hürten. Hürten's work examines movements of Catholics in regional and national settings, whereas Holland complements it by restricting himself to an examination of the papal encyclicals. Those wishing for a quick introduction to the view taken here could read pages 1-3 for the overall scheme of three successive strategies pursued by popes in coming to terms with modern culture. Then one would turn to pages 298-310; here the author sums up the second of the three periods, that from 1878 to 1958, dubbed "Leonine." The thesis is that the popes of this period were on the whole consistent in trying to reform (not reject in toto) "liberal" "bourgeois" society, loosening the Church's ties to the previous aristocratic ascendancy and favoring lay and labor activism in a very broadly understood "Christian democracy." In other words, papal teaching in the Leonine period took modernity as a given and with it a mitigated capitalism but not socialism. The popes set out to rechristianize society within that existing framework. Through an examination of all the pertinent encyclicals, many more than are usually cited in studies of Catholic social teaching, Holland grounds and explains his thesis persuasively. This without palliating the authoritarian tendencies that were part and parcel of the program but now seem quite inconsistent with any "liberal" democracy. The thesis must be properly understood, however, to gauge its historical validity. In my view, it is an insightful and not uncritical view of a continuity in papal teaching heretofore not elucidated in these categories. At first sight, it would seem to be a direct challenge to much European scholarship of recent decades, summed up in the title of one of Emile Poulat's books,Eglise contre bourgeoisie (1977). But it is not a throwback to the initial wave of investigations into the roots of Christian democracy after World War II, which tended to interpret the papal strategy in liberal Catholic terms. It may well contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the epochal tensions and problems that Catholicism [End Page 520] and European liberalism represented for each other. Perhaps the incompatibilities in the two accounts (Holland's and Poulat's) are less than fundamental. The organization of the book is didactically effective; a chapter on the historical context precedes a chapter on the encyclicals of one or more popes. Summaries are frequent and the style is direct and uncomplicated. Students unfamiliar with the territory may nevertheless fall into some traps. Among names misspelled are those of the famous precursor of Leo XIII, Bishop Emmanuel von Ketteler, and the editor of the papal encyclicals, Claudia Carlen (except in the listings of permissions to reprint). Only the encyclicals are analyzed, not other papal statements. In the case of Pope Pius XII, for example, the omission of any consideration of his wartime Christmas messages skews the chronology of his declarations about political democracy. On the whole, however, the insights into the papal mentality and strategy of rechristianization make up for any other historical flaws in the work. Marquette University (Emeritus)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10225
__label__cc	0.736444	0.263556	Better Understanding Students’ Self-Authorship via Self-Portraits Michele M. Welkener, Marcia B. Baxter Magolda Volume 55, Number 6, September 2014 10.1353/csd.2014.0057 Michele M. Welkener (bio) and Marcia B. Baxter Magolda (bio) Student-created self-portraits expand the possibilities for understanding how students’ complex identities, relationships, and epistemologies shape their self-authoring potential. An illustrative student self-portrait demonstrates how this method reveals the nuances of development. I like writing, but I can’t express myself the same way [as] with pictures, because it just . . . says so much more than I could even explain. Like it’s so much more intense. (Vivian) Understanding the complexity of students’ meaning making is essential for educators to foster students’ growth toward collegiate learning outcomes. An internally generated view of self, relationships, and knowledge, or the ability to “self-author,” enables students to think critically, develop intercultural maturity, and become good citizens and leaders (Baxter Magolda, 2004; Kegan & Lahey, 2009; King & Baxter Magolda, 2005; Torres, 2009). Because meaning making is shaped by both personal and environmental contexts that are difficult to draw out in interviews alone, our study explored a new avenue for garnering evidence related to self-authorship—employing self-portraiture as a data-gathering tool. The notion of thought and experience being inextricably interwoven with the esthetic dates back to the work of Dewey (1934). He claimed “the [esthetic] experience itself has a satisfying emotional quality because it possesses internal integration and fulfillment reached through ordered and organized movement” and “no intellectual activity is an integral [enduring] event . . . unless it is rounded out with this quality” (p. 38). The act of creating a self-portrait requires individuals to tap into an often underutilized and yet powerful interface between the mind, emotions, and imagination to present ideas in representational signs and symbols. As evidenced in Vivian’s quote at the start of this article, the power of such an experience may be unmatched by communications limited to words. In this article, we will situate this new approach in the self-authorship literature, share details of the method, and highlight an example portrait and the developmental insights that can be gained from it. UNDERSTANDING SELF-AUTHORSHIP Robert Kegan (1994) coined the term self-authorship to describe a meaning-making structure characterized by [End Page 580] an ideology, an internal identity, a self-authorship that can coordinate, integrate, act upon, or invent values, beliefs, convictions, generalizations, ideals, abstractions, interpersonal loyalties, and intrapersonal states. It is no longer authored by them, it authors them and thereby achieves a personal authority. (p. 185, italics in original) The self-authoring mind enables one to “step back enough from the social environment to generate an internal ‘seat of judgment’ or personal authority that evaluates and makes choices about external expectations” (Kegan & Lahey, 2009, p. 17). This way of making meaning of oneself, social relations, and the world contrasts with prior meaning-making structures in which such aspects are defined by external expectations. Baxter Magolda (2008, 2009) elaborated on the development of self-authorship by identifying three elements within it based on her 25-year study of adult meaning making. The first element, trusting the internal voice, emerged when her participants realized that although they could not control reality, they could manage their reactions to external influences. As they worked to use their internal voices to shape their reactions, they developed confidence in using their personal beliefs and values to guide their lives. In the second element, building an internal foundation, “participants consciously set about creating a philosophy or framework—an internal foundation—to guide their reactions to reality” (2009, p. 326). This involved synthesizing their identities, relationships, beliefs, and values into a coherent set of internal commitments from which to operate. Securing internal commitments, the third element, emerged when participants shifted from constructing their internal commitments to living them. Assessing self-authorship is complicated due to the constructive-developmental assumptions upon which it is based (Baxter Magolda & King, 2012; Kegan, 1994). Assessment requires understanding how people make meaning (or the structure of meaning making) instead of what they believe (or the content). These structures gradually transform from one to another and often overlap while in transition. They are further influenced by multiple personal and environmental factors, including the support people have to use...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10226
__label__wiki	0.879722	0.879722	The Life of Patriarch Ignatius by Nicetas David (review) Andrew Louth Volume 100, Number 4, Autumn 2014 The Life of Patriarch Ignatius by Nicetas David The Life of Patriarch Ignatius. By Nicetas David. Text and translation by Andrew Smithies, with notes by John M. Duffy. [Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzanti-nae, Vol. LI.] (Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. Distrib. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 2013. Pp. xxxviii, 194. $30.00. ISBN 978-0-88402-381-4.) About twenty-five years ago, Andrew Smithies submitted as a doctoral dissertation a critical text and translation of the Life of Ignatius, ascribed to Nicetas David the Paphlagonian. Since then he has pursued a career in librarianship, and his thesis has been consulted frequently, but with inevitable difficulty. This text and translation has now been published, with notes added by John M. Duffy. The Vita Ignatii is a (very partisan) account of Ignatius, who was the son of Michael II Rangabe, was originally named Nicetas, and was briefly emperor in the confused years between the death of Emperor Nicephorus (whose skull ended up, inlaid with silver, as a drinking bowl for the Bulgarian Khan Krum) and the accession of Emperor Leo V, who reintroduced iconoclasm. Later in the ninth century, Nicetas (now Ignatius, and emasculated and tonsured by Leo) succeeded Methodius, the patriarch who had overseen the end of iconoclasm. It was most likely a political appointment, and as the political climate changed, Ignatius was deposed as patriarch and replaced by Photius who, with another shift in the political landscape, found himself deposed and Ignatius reinstated. From the point of view of the supporters of Ignatius, [End Page 809] Photius was a figure of hate, and this Vita expresses their point of view eloquently. Nicetas David, the biographer, acknowledges Photius’s vast intellectual culture and wealth, with which “every book found its way into his possession” (Vita 21, p. 35); he acknowledges, too, that, once a churchman by per saltum ordination, he devoted himself to ecclesiastical learning. Nevertheless, he is presented as a man of overbearing pride, whose learning and culture became the basis for corruption and compromise with the secular authorities. The Vita Ignatii is one of the main sources for the vilification of Photius. The supporters of Ignatius called on Pope Nicholas to investigate Photius’s accession to the patriarchal throne: a strategic opportunity to exercise papal claims within the Byzantine Empire. This set in motion a sequence of events, which included Khan Boris’s attempts to play Rome off against Constantinople as he came to embrace Christianity, that led to the Photian schism in the 860s. Duffy’s clear and concise notes to the translation set the evidence provided by the Vita in the context of the other accounts we have of these events and scholarly discussion of them. The ninth century was an important and complex century for Byzantium, as the empire emerged from the troubled years of iconoclasm into a world in which the rift between East and West had become more firmly established, and both papacy and patriarchate found themselves able to develop a more defined identity. History-writing in the ninth century in Byzantium is, more than ever, an attempt to tell a story from the perspectives of various groups claiming to define the world in which they were living. Within Byzantium, these encompassed the newly confident patriarchal court and various monastic groups, most obviously the Studites. The papal court, too, was busily gathering material to support a papal view of the history of the Empire, notably in the material translated by Anastasius the Librarian. The Vita Ignatii is an important element in this bid to interpret the past with a view to the future. It is very good to have it available in an excellent critical edition and accurate translation, supported by invaluable notes. University of Durham, UK	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10227
__label__cc	0.632895	0.367105	THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART INVITES 300 ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN HISTORIC SURVEY Editor . May 30, 2019 BALTIMORE, MD – The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) today announced it is relaunching its ambitious 1937 citywide survey to find out how the museum can best serve the interests of Baltimore’s communities. Titled Make It Now, the updated survey asks 300 organizations—including schools and civic, social, and religious groups—to tell the BMA what they want from Baltimore’s largest art museum. This initiative will help in planning for future exhibitions and programs while reinforcing longstanding relationships and developing new ones throughout the city. “We are excited to build upon the precedent of community engagement established by the BMA’s leadership during the museum’s first century,” said Christopher Bedford, BMA Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director. “I have no doubt the outcome of the survey will be very enlightening and will help guide us as we work toward reinventing the museum experience for 21st-century visitors.” The BMA’s first citywide survey was launched in 1937 when the museum’s Board of Trustees President Henry E. Treide sent a letter to 225 Baltimore organizations seeking their advice as to what each group wanted the museum to do for it. The 192 organizations that responded included educational institutions and business, labor, professional, and religious groups. Each organization formed a committee and filled out a questionnaire that asked what the museum could do to serve their interests. Examples of the responses included the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company employees’ preference for paintings and antique furniture and the McCormick & Company staff’s desire for photography and labels to identify the plants in the garden. The Baltimore Canned Foods Exchange replied that they had no requests. The BMA used the collective responses and organized exhibitions titled Labor in Art, Religious Art, and Hunting and Racing, among others. The survey was also the impetus for the museum’s partnership with the Harmon Foundation, which organized the groundbreaking Contemporary Negro Art exhibition at the BMA in 1939. The BMA is reaching out to many of the same organizations that it established relationships with during the 1930s, such as the American Institute of Architects, Enoch Pratt Free Library, McCormick & Company, and Maryland Jockey Club, as well as newer organizations and those overlooked in 1937. Individuals who wish to contribute their thoughts and ideas to the survey can participate online by visiting artbma.org/now. Responses are due by Sunday, June 30. Category: Fine Art Farnsworth Art Museum Awards Photographer Paul Caponigro the 2011 Maine in America Award Kunsthalle Zurich presents Looking Back for the Future SculptureCenter presents Nairy Baghramian. RETAINER « On Land and On Sea: A Century of Women opens at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum D-Day Presentation Offers New Look at Normandy Invasion at the Museum of Flight »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10228
__label__cc	0.615081	0.384919	Home » Food recalls » English Muffins recalled in Northeast due to undeclared milk English Muffins recalled in Northeast due to undeclared milk Flowers Foods is voluntarily recalling Market Basket Fork Split 6 count Original English Muffins with the UPC code 0 49705 82137 4 and best by dates of November 27, 2014 through February 6, 2015 because they contain undeclared milk. People who have allergies to dairy products run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. No illnesses have been reported to date. Market Basket Fork Split 6 count Original English Muffins Image/FDA The recalled product was distributed through Market Basket Supermarkets in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. The recall was initiated after Flowers discovered that product containing milk was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk. Flowers has alerted Market Basket, which has removed this product from its stores. Flowers is recovering the product involved to ensure the continued safety of those consumers who may be impacted by this issue. The recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company also has reported the recall to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). Consumers who have purchased Market Basket Fork Split 6 count Original English Muffins with the UPC and dates noted are urged to return it to a Market Basket Supermarket for product replacement or refund. No other Market Basket brand products are included in this recall. Consumers with questions may call Flowers’ Consumer Relations Center at 1-866-245-8921. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Consumers also may contact the center via e-mail by visiting the Contact Us page at www.flowersfoods.com.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10235
__label__cc	0.546829	0.453171	Retrocomputing: Remembering technologies past September 17th, 2009 by Isaiah Beard Even as technology marches on, there is a slowly growing enthusiasm for looking back on the history of computing, and preserving those still-working specimens of obsolete systems and vintage hardware and software that exist. The movement is known as retrocomputing, and although it’s mostly done as a hobby, I would argue that the people who collect and preserve these older specimens are doing a bit of digital curation in their own right. It’s one thing to read about older computers in the mid to late 20th century that shaped technology as it stands today. But looking up articles on PDP minicomputers, Apple IIs, TRS-80s, Commodore 64s and the like from your modern LCD desktop or iPhone just isn’t the same as actually getting to sit in front of one of these Old Greats and using them. And so, every so often, some of these retrocomputing enthusiasts get together and allow the interested public to do just that. Recently the East Coast Vintage Computer Festival rolled into Wall Tonwship, NJ, and packed the InfoAge Science Center’s exhibit hall wall to wall with computer systems from decades past… most working well, some not so much. Even some of the much older minicomputers on display worked well for a while, until the systems consumed way too much power and blew the science center’s fuses, rendering them inoperable. But of the many old historic systems that did work, visitors could sit down and give them a spin. It was fascinating to be able make an IMSAI 8080 talk just like it did when fictional teenage hacker David Lightman used it to access military computers in the movie Wargames. Playing old cartridge games on a genuine Atari 800 was pretty neat as well. And although my BASIC programming was a little rusty, the old fascination I felt the first time I wrote a program in second grade came back, as I did it all over again. Operating old computers can be quite a loud affair, as you’ll see in this video. Here, David Gesswein demonstrates a DEC PDP-8 minicomputer, connected – as a PDP-8 likely would have been in the mid-1960s – to an electromechanical ASR-33 Teletype machine. If you think CRT monitors are old-school, consider that this type of setup had no graphics at all. You had just the equivalent of an electric typewriter, a bank of switches and indicator lights, and some reel-to-reel tape machines to interact with. My, how we’re spoiled today… Unfortunately, the clatter of Teletype and and the din of many excited geeks talking loudly drowns out the audio, but if you want to know more about the PDP-8, David Gesswein has his own website explaining its intricacies, and even lets you interact with a working PDP-8 online. A wide assortment of photos taken at the festival appear after the jump link below. Enjoy! Image Gallery: Vintage Computing Festival East 6.0 teletype	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10236
__label__cc	0.746391	0.253609	India’s evil Apartheid Why are South African Indians concerned about equal rights in this country, but seem to care little about an evil system back home? In a uniquely Indian version of Romeo and Juliette, a teenage girl and boy were publicly lynched earlier this month in rural Uttar Pradesh. The girl’s parents and hundreds of villagers watched and applauded. The crime? The girl was a Brahmin, Hinduism’s highest caste; the boy, a Jat, a somewhat lower, though still respectable, farming caste. The girl’s family had been ‘defiled’ by their daughter crossing the ‘pollution barrier’ to consort with a lower caste boy. The appropriate punishment was death. At the end of August, India, a self-professed champion of human rights, will attend the UN’s conference on racism in Durban, South Africa. While the US is frantically trying to shield its protégé, Israel, from charges of racism at Durban, India is just as frantically trying to prevent its caste system, which is often called ‘hidden apartheid,’ from being put onto the conference’s agenda. For decades, India loudly denounced discrimination against blacks in the US and South Africa. But hidden from the world’s gaze, India, according to many human rights groups, continues to practice and condone the world’s largest, most pernicious system of institutionalized racism and discrimination, the caste system. Of India’s 1 billion people, 160 million are untouchables, or ‘Dalits’(meaning: ‘broken people’). Untouchables are at the bottom of the Hindu caste system of segregation; light-skinned Brahmins at the top. In between are a myriad of castes and sub-castes. Untouchables, India’s poorest people, are forced to perform society’s most menial, degrading tasks. Untouchables are barred from sections of villages inhabited by higher caste Hindus. A Dalit’s ‘unclean’ shadow must never fall upon that of a Brahmin, lest he be defiled. Dalits may not draw water from higher caste wells, nor touch food implements of their betters. They may not enter higher caste temples, nor own land. Their children sit in the back of classrooms, or are simply denied schooling. The ancient Hindu caste system dates back to 1500 BC when fair-skinned Aryan tribes invaded northern India. The newcomers conquered India’s dark-skinned indigenous Dravidian inhabitants. Though occupation and rank originally determined caste, over centuries caste came to be associated with skin color. Even in overseas Indian communities, including Canada, caste still reigns. Marriage solicitations routinely request ‘light-skinned’ boys or girls. Fair-skinned Brahmins, 3.5% of the population, are India’s ruling elite, holding 78% of judicial positions and half parliament’s seats. In recent tests, Indian scientists discovered that high-caste Hindus, particularly Brahmins, are genetically closer to Europeans than they are to dark-skinned, Dravidian Indians. Caste became a rigid system whereby India’s fair-skinned ruling class kept lower and swarthier orders in their places – as laborers, landless peasants, and servants – exploiting them in the name of religion. The Sikh religion and Islam both reject the Hindu caste system. Millions of low caste Indians found refuge from racial oppression as Sikhs, Muslims, and, more recently, Christians. All three religions have been and remain subject to varying forms of persecution by India’s Hindu majority. Dalits are forced to clean public toilettes and remove human feces, usually with their hands. They sweep up after Indians defecate in the streets and move dead animals. According to an extensive report on caste by the respected Human Rights Watch, large numbers of Dalit women are routinely raped and forced to become sex slaves for Hindu priests and land owners. Of India’s estimated 40 million indentured laborers – a modern form of slavery – most are Dalit children, often sold into lifelong servitude by starving parents. When Dalits try to defend themselves from abuse and exploitation, they are attacked by higher-caste gangs and local police. Their shanties are burned and their women gang raped. Dalits, like Muslim Kashmiris, are frequently subjected to beatings, rape, torture and arson by India’s brutal police, says Human Rights Watch. The recent case of India’s famed Bandit Queen, a Dalit woman who killed a score of higher caste men who had raped her, is but one dramatic example of the suffering inflicted by India’s cruel caste system, which makes South Africa’s former apartheid look benign by comparison. Modern India’s father, the great Mohandas Gandhi, struggled against caste and called for liberation of Dalits. India outlawed discrimination against untouchables in the 1950′s, and has enacted affirmative action programs for Dalits in education, voting, and government jobs. Nepal just followed suit this summer. India’s president, a ceremonial post, is a Dalit, though most of its leaders, like PM Vajypee and Home Minster L.K. Advani, are high-caste, fair-skinned Hindus. “The Indian government has been very successful at manufacturing an image as the world’s largest democracy,” says Smita Narula, author of the Human Rights Watch report,…”but none of its (anti-discrimination) laws are implemented and the Constitution is not enforced.” Delhi simply winks at the widescale oppression of Dalits across India, remembering them only at election time. India appears unlikely to make a major national effort to root out the deeply ingrained caste system until worldwide outrage shames India’s elite into taking drastic action. Durban would be a good start. India won’t achieve the international respect and great power status it so craves until the evil of caste is ended for good. – Eric Margolis wrote this article before the start of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in August 2001. This conference was held under the auspices of the United Nations. Nothing much has changed since then. Author Dan RoodtPosted on March 28, 2013 Categories Features, In-depth coverageTags apartheid, Caste system, India, South Africa Previous Previous post: China, Brazil drop Dollar Next Next post: Curvy or slender?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10239
__label__wiki	0.935875	0.935875	Home / International News / St. Lucia Police Commissioner Welcomes Reward For Information On Hotelier’s Murder St. Lucia Police Commissioner Welcomes Reward For Information On Hotelier’s Murder in International News November 27, 2014 0 CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Commissioner of Police, Vernon Francois, has welcomed the reward of a quarter million Eastern Caribbean dollars being offered by the family of slain hotelier, Oliver Gobat, for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for his death. “It helps,” said Francois at a news conference on Wednesday, where he also disclosed that officers were still actively pursuing the Gobat investigation. Francois told reporters that police were looking at several persons of interest, who could become suspects in the case. The charred remains of Gobat, 38, were found in a burnt out vehicle at Cap Estate, 20 miles north of here on Friday, April 25. In addition to announcing the quarter million dollar reward, the Gobat family said they were employing their own forensic experts from Britain, who were working alongside local police. This was made possible with the help of friends and family, who all created a fund for the late Oliver Gobat. Oliver’s mother and father, Helen and Theo Gobat, along with their attorney Peter Foster, in announcing that a reward would be offered, said the untimely death of their son has caused the entire family severe emotional pain, describing it as a state of “limbo”. “I would like to see the evil people who brought this upon Olie, brought to justice for Olie’s sake, for our sake, and for the sake of Saint Lucians and everybody who visits this wonderful island,” she said. Both parents believe that Oliver was killed by more than two persons. “It is horrible to say that your son was murdered in St. Lucia,” Helen said. Asked whether they are satisfied with the work being done by the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), Helen replied to say, as a parent she would have rather having things done faster. “I think there were some basic mistakes, where the car and the body were moved and the crime scene was not cordoned off, which makes it difficult to investigate down the line,” Helen added. However, she said St. Lucia is a small country and it doesn’t have a “super efficient” police force like those in the United States and United Kingdom. She said local police lack the experience on how to deal with crime of that magnitude, and said that it is understandable, because there is not much crime like that happening here. According to her, the government has endorsed the forensic team and the RSLPF has accepted to work alongside the team in their investigations. “We are hopeful that these things turn up, it takes some time, some of the members of the team resolved crimes 25 years old in England,” she told the local media. Oliver’s father, Theo, said he thinks his son’s killers will be brought to justice, but it might take some time for this to happen. “We will never give up, we will keep on trying until we get answers,” he asserted. Asked whether they are fearful for their lives, following their son’s gruesome murder, Helen said, “to a point yes, Oliver was killed unexpectedly, unpredictably and outrageously, so how we know that the same people aren’t coming for us. It’s not the same kind of feeling in St Lucia for us.” Oliver was a citizen of St. Lucia, Britain and Australia. His body was cremated on October 27 and his ashes were scattered off Smuggler’s Cove Beach on November 17, to commemorate his 39th birthday.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10241
__label__wiki	0.530537	0.530537	Accounting for the climate-carbon feedback in emission metrics Gasser T ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4882-2647, Peters GP, Fuglestvedt JS, Collins WJ, Shindell DT, & Ciais P (2017). Accounting for the climate-carbon feedback in emission metrics. Earth System Dynamics 8 (2): 235-253. DOI:10.5194/esd-8-235-2017. esd-8-235-2017.pdf - Published Version Project: Effects of phosphorus limitations on Life, Earth system and Society (IMBALANCE-P, FP7 610028), Infrastructure for the European Network for Earth System modelling - Phase 2 (IS-ENES2 ,FP7 312979) Most emission metrics have previously been inconsistently estimated by including the climate–carbon feedback for the reference gas (i.e. CO2) but not the other species (e.g. CH4). In the fifth assessment report of the IPCC, a first attempt was made to consistently account for the climate–carbon feedback in emission metrics. This attempt was based on only one study, and therefore the IPCC concluded that more research was needed. Here, we carry out this research. First, using the simple Earth system model OSCAR v2.2, we establish a new impulse response function for the climate–carbon feedback. Second, we use this impulse response function to provide new estimates for the two most common metrics: global warming potential (GWP) and global temperature-change potential (GTP). We find that, when the climate–carbon feedback is correctly accounted for, the emission metrics of non-CO2 species increase, but in most cases not as much as initially indicated by IPCC. We also find that, when the feedback is removed for both the reference and studied species, these relative metric values only have modest changes compared to when the feedback is included (absolute metrics change more markedly). Including or excluding the climate–carbon feedback ultimately depends on the user's goal, but consistency should be ensured in either case. Ecosystems Services and Management (ESM)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10245
__label__wiki	0.731693	0.731693	New York Times bestselling author Brenda Joyce delivers her most breathtaking, suspenseful, and romantic novel yet-the story of one woman whose perfect life comes to an end when she is caught up in the chase for a brilliant and cold-blooded killer...The ChaseClaire Hayden has no idea that her world is about to be shattered. At the conclusion of her husband's fortieth birthday party, he is found murdered. He has no enemies. He has committed no crimes. He has no shady past. Or, at least that's what Claire thinks...Claire's search for information leads her to the mysterious Ian Marshall, a stranger who first appeared in her life on the night of her husband's death; a stranger who appears to be involved. Someone has been killing this way for decades. Someone who will do anything to make certain no one finds out. The mystery brings them from San Francisco, to New York, to London, and to a tangled web of secrets, family intrigue, and a jealous heir whose murderous impulses don't stop with the first killing. Is Claire unknowingly connected to the killer? Does Ian Marshall know more than he can say? And Ian proves himself to be a dangerous man: dangerous to Claire's mind, heart, and emotions. As Claire and Ian team up to track down the killer, they make a terrifying discovery: The killer may be someone very close to Claire-and Claire may be next...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10247
__label__wiki	0.578651	0.578651	Kansas Dept of Revenue Outsourcing is Self Immolating Fast and Furious Press Conference Live! Did Trump send TWA 800 signal at Montoursville? Colorado's Red Flag law Mueller Exposes Spy Chiefs Did our intel leaders have any evidence when they pushed the Russia collusion line? Big Conspiracy: Electing a New Population WHAT HAPPENED! ! Rutherford Institute Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Rein in Aggressive, Coercive, Potentially Violent Knock-and-Talk Practices by Militarized Police by Rutherford Institute WASHINGTON, D.C. — Warning of the danger to the public from the increasing use of “knock and talk” tactics by police, The Rutherford Institute has asked the United States Supreme Court to rein in aggressive “knock and talk” practices, which have become thinly veiled, warrantless attempts by which citizens are coerced and intimidated into “talking” with h The Wrap Up Smear Acid Rain - Monitoring SO2 in a Flue Gas Desulfurization Unit Figure 1. SO2 Emissions from CSAPR and ARP Sources, 1980–2016 (ARP- The Acid Rain Program; CSAPR -Cross-State Air Pollution Rule)5 The EPA reports concluded that experience with the Clean Air Act since 1970 has shown that protecting public health and building the economy can go hand in hand HOW THEY DO IT!! Creating the impression of strength in numbers for Hillary Clinton! Spectrum - a Rip off Internet Service Provider by Allen Williams I acquired Time-Warner’s Everyday Low Price internet plan about six years ago as I’m not a gamer and I don’t stream movies from NetFlix. I just enjoy reading the news and making occasional online purchases. So I didn’t feel the need to pay for Hi speed internet. Time Warner was a pretty good plan with decent service. About 5 years ago Time-Warner was bought out by AT &T who sold off the cable service to Charter Communication’s Spectrum. Right from the start I began getting calls from their representatives for me to upgrade my service, add phone, TV and what not which I declined. I have my own broadband phone installation which works fine so I didn’t need another. tag:newpatriotsblog.com,2013:/posts 2018-11-02T16:01:51Z Patriots News tag:newpatriotsblog.com,2013:Post/1339309 2018-11-02T15:57:00Z 2018-11-02T16:01:51Z by Lisa Payne-Naeger Levi Strauss & Co. has expanded their original mission beyond the manufacture of blue jeans. This “values driven company” now feels a responsibility to “the communities where we live and work” and will now engage with other gun control groups to fight for “gun violence prevention.” Chip Berg, CEO of Levi Strauss, wrote an open letter to his customers asking them not to bring firearms onto the premises of their stores, offices or other facilities. For him, it was a matter of safety. Of course, law enforcement was exempt from that request. “It boils down to this: you shouldn’t have to be concerned about your safety while shopping for clothes or trying on a pair of jeans. Simply put, firearms don’t belong in either of those settings. In the end, I believe we have an obligation to our employees and customers to ensure a safe environment and keeping firearms out of our stores and offices will get us one step closer to achieving that reality.” So, it’s clear Berg doesn’t subscribe to the theory that the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Berg took it a step farther today with an op-ed in Fortune. He explained that as a leader in business “with power in the public and political arenas” he felt the responsibility to break the silence that threatens “the very fabric of the communities where we live and work.” “So today, on top of our previous actions, Levi Strauss & Co. is lending its support for gun violence prevention in three new areas.” The company has developed a site that outlines its gun violence prevention strategy complete with mission statements and donation match programs. This coalition of like minded executives “has a critical role to play in and a moral obligation to do something about the gun violence epidemic in this country. I encourage every CEO and business leader reading this to consider the impact we could make if we stood together alongside the broad coalition of concerned parents, youth, elders, veterans, and community and faith leaders who are committed to shaping a safer path forward.” He doesn’t explain any particular plan of action for the Every Town organization other than to infer there may be some think-tank like discussions on how to end gun violence. And the third leg of the stool involves employee participation. Levi Strauss is doubling its employee donation match to any organizations aligned with its own Safer Tomorrow Fund. In addition to encouraging employee donations to their own foundation, they are offering to compensate any employee who wishes to volunteer time up to five hours a month. Not only can employees volunteer in their own foundations but political activism is also compensated as well. Levi Strauss considers this compensation an encouragement to employees “to use their time to make an impact.” Berg notes that Levi Strauss has always been on the cutting edge of progressivism ideals in company policy and some not so progressive. But he thinks this one will prove to be the right stand in history. “As a company, we have never been afraid to take an unpopular stand to support a greater good. We integrated our factories in the American South years before the Civil Rights Act was passed. We offered benefits to same-sex partners in the 1990s, long before most companies did. We pulled our financial support for the Boy Scouts of America when it banned gay troop leaders. “While each one of these stands may have been controversial at the time, history proved the company right in the long run. And I’m convinced that while some will disagree with our stand to end gun violence, history will prove this position right too.” Mr. Berg, no one disagrees with your stand to end gun violence. Gun violence is a terrible thing. We just don’t want anyone to eliminate our constitutional right to bear arms at a time when law enforcement officers can’t get to your offices, stores or factories in time to stop mass shooters who would attack innocents in a gun free zone — hypothetically of course. Has anyone ever asked these social justice warrior business leaders why they can’t coalesce around decreasing the national debt, lowering taxes, returning to state sovereignty, or any number of other things that also “threaten the very fabric of the communities where we live and work?” Lisa Payne-Naeger - Contributor, Commentary An enthusiastic grassroots Tea Party activist, Lisa Payne-Naeger has spent the better part of the last decade lobbying for educational and family issues in her state legislature, and as a keyboard warrior hoping to help along the revolution that empowers the people to retake control of their, out-of-control, government. ]]> tag:newpatriotsblog.com,2013:Post/1338852 2018-11-01T16:38:00Z 2018-11-01T16:37:47Z by Dr. Orly Taitz, ESQ On Oct 30, 2018 President Trump announced that he will issue an executive order to end birthright citizenship. He states that he can do it by executive action and he might be right. The 14th amendment states: Now, an important point in it is the fact that people, who are foreign citizens, are subject to the jurisdiction of their own nations, not US. Their children automatically inherit the citizenship of the countries of their parents, not US, and they automatically are under the jurisdiction of those foreign nations. One wrinkle is a decision of the Supreme Court over 100 year ago. A 1898 Supreme Court decision held that Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese parents residing in the United States, was a citizen because of his birth on American soil. There can be 2 rebuttals to Wong Kim Ark. 1.Wong Kim Ark’s parents were legal residents, the ruling should not be read as an affirmation of the status of children of undocumented immigrants. 2. The Supreme Court might disavow, overturn this precedent as it was done by overturning 1857 decision in Dred Scott v Sandford. Supreme Court might decide that the decision in Wong Kim Ark needs to be clarified in that a child follows the legal immigration status of his parents. If the parents are legal residents, the child gets status of a legal resident, if the parent is a foreign citizen illegally residing in the US, the child is a foreign resident illegally residing in the US. Supreme Court might decide that this clarification is needed as birthright citizenship is a magnet that led to an invasion of millions of illegal aliens with the hope of having anchor babies. According to the US government we have 12 million illegals. According to the Center for immigration studies and the former ambassador of Mexico, we have over 30 million illegals, which is an enormous burden on our welfare system and which causes wages to stagnate. By James Taylor A publication that has built a reputation for fair and non-biased reporting has lately been inserting leftist propaganda into its energy and environment coverage. Energy, environment, and climate reporting at the usually solid Washington Examiner are increasingly taking on the left’s language and agenda. Why are the Examiner’s two lead energy and climate reporters advancing leftist politics rather than straight reporting, and why is the paper allowing this to happen? In June 2017, the Examiner hired Josh Siegel to join John Siciliano covering energy, environment, and climate news. Siciliano had a solid track record of just-the-facts reporting and had worked as a reporter for The Daily Signal, the multimedia news organization of the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation. Two months after bringing Siegel on board, the Examiner launched Siegel and Siciliano’s “Daily on Energy” report, with each day’s edition containing several short write-ups of energy, environment, and climate issues. Lengthier versions of many of the short write-ups later appeared in the Examiner as stand-alone articles. Shifting Toward Politicized Language Since launching the report, Siegel and Siciliano have taken a significant turn toward the political left. Its substance, tone, word choice, and quoted sources consistently advance leftist messaging on energy, environment, and climate issues. For example, in news articles regarding the Trump administration’s proposal to enhance energy grid reliability by crediting coal and nuclear power for being on-demand power sources with on-site fuel storage, Siegel and Siciliano consistently refer to the proposal as “the coal bailout.” While anti-coal activists can make a shaky argument that assigning monetary value to electric grid security is a “bailout” for the energy sources that provide that security, the argument is exactly that–a political argument. Siegel and Siciliano refer to the proposal matter-of-factly as “the coal bailout,” as if such a label was factual and beyond dispute rather than a loaded political argument. Just as strikingly, Siegel and Siciliano never use the term “bailout” to describe wind and solar power or the many government programs, subsidies, and policies that benefit them, even though wind and solar power receive more subsidies than all conventional energy sources combined. When reporting on Sen. Marco Rubio noting that sea level rise will continue, regardless of reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, Siegel and Siciliano cite the aggressively leftist Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in an attempt to rebut Rubio. Worse yet, they present the UCS as an objective arbiter of scientific disputes. The journalists claim, in their October 15 report, “What the science says about sea level rise: The Union of Concerned Scientists last week published a report…” (emphasis in the original). Using Leftist Language To Talk About Climate Science Siegel and Siciliano also use the left’s biased and loaded language when discussing global warming. In their October 10 report, they write that President Trump “has denied climate science.” Trump has never said there is no such thing as climate science, which would be the factual definition of “denying climate science.” Trump acknowledges climate science exists; he merely sides with the many thousands of scientists who are skeptical about predictions of an imminent crisis. Moreover, the term “denier” was inserted into the global warming debate by environmental leftists who want a more loaded term than “skeptics” to vilify people who are skeptical of alarming global warming predictions. The term was reportedly chosen in an effort to equate skeptics of an imminent global warming crisis with contemptibly racist Holocaust deniers, which is historically the most common use of the term “denier” in the political context. Siegel and Siciliano are likely familiar with the history of the term and the strong objection skeptics take to being unfairly besmirched by it. Yet they still used it to describe Trump. On October 18, the two journalists released another biased and inaccurate criticism of Trump on climate issues. They wrote, “Trump on Tuesday continued to falsely assert that the science is unsettled on climate change and its causes…” Yet the causes of climate change are very unsettled. For example, a 2016 survey of more than 4,000 American Meteorological Society meteorologists reveals 33 percent believe humans are not responsible for most or all of the earth’s recent warming. Even among the 67 percent, many undoubtedly believe a warming earth will not create the climate catastrophe the the environmental left predicts. Moreover, every new publication by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) contains different predictions than the previous publication, and each report explicitly states there is a degree of uncertainty in its predictions. In fact, IPCC predictions of future climate change have dropped significantly over the years, from a prediction in its initial report, in 1990, of 0.3 degrees Celsius warming per decade, to its current prediction of 0.2 degrees per decade. Real world observations also show temperatures are rising closer to 0.15 degrees per decade, which defies the predictions in all of the IPCC reports. Yet Siegel and Siciano state that it is false to claim there is scientific uncertainty regarding global warming. In their same October 18 report, Siegel and Siciliano launched a cheap personal attack on Trump, using a false global warming narrative as a hook. They write that, during a recent media interview, Trump “claimed he has a ‘natural instinct for science’ because his uncle worked as a professor at MIT.” While Trump claimed a natural instinct for science, and noted earlier in the conversation that his uncle was a professor at MIT, Trump did not say he has a natural instinct because his uncle was a professor at MIT. Siegel and Siciliano’s inaccurate description, while subtle, tells a false narrative that clearly conveys ridicule for a person who he believes his uncle’s work at MIT automatically makes him an expert. But that is not what Trump said at all. It is difficult to believe such an error, and one that appears designed to ridicule Trump, appeared accidentally. Why So Biased? Many more examples exist. Why have Siegel and Siciliano deviated from objective reporting and taken on the left’s language and agenda? People would be forgiven for expecting that from the New York Times or the Huffington Post, but the Washington Examiner? The paper, like the Wall Street Journal, has a conservative editorial board and has historically aimed its news reporting at the middle. But this kind of reporting is not the middle. It better reflects the typical media bias towards the left that the Examiner has built a reputation contrasting with fairer reporting. Is there a hidden follow-the-money story here? Is there an editor pushing these reporters in a leftist direction? Is this an example of two reporters succumbing to the leftist ideology that is so pervasive inside the Beltway? Or is this just an example of the Washington, D.C. political swamp rearing its ugly head? I don’t know, but it is tragic and sad that the political left has subverted the energy, environment, and climate reporting of a respected newspaper. James Taylor is senior fellow for environment policy and vice president for external relations at The Heartland Institute.]]> tag:newpatriotsblog.com,2013:Post/1337813 2018-10-30T16:07:00Z 2018-10-30T16:22:25Z by Chris Campbell In putting together the upcoming book, “99 Things Every Millennial Man Should Know,” I’ve (re-)learned some important lessons. One of them, weird as it sounds, has to do with Pinocchio. And the incredibly profound messages hidden beneath the surface… one of which is how victimhood turns you into a braying jackass. But I’ll get to that in a moment. 99 Things is a compendium of powerhouse contributors imparting wisdom. The underlying theme is answering the Call to Adventure (the “call” to your life’s purpose) and how to survive and thrive through your own “Hero’s Journey” (and, no less, the awesome power of archetypes). A great explainer video on the Hero’s Journey The book, since its inception, has taken on a life of its own. In large part because of my newfound “tribe” of people who are just as excited about, and emotionally invested in, the project as I am. One contributor, Noble Brown (AKA, @Sociopathlete on Twitter), for example, who wrote an excellent piece for the book, called “Engineer the Future”, wrote this… (Yes, I’m “@StoicGoatFarmer” on Twitter — which, I have found, used wisely, is a great tool. If you “do Twitter,” let’s connect.) Two lessons here. One, the power of the ask. It’s cliche, but I think it’s easy to forget: You never know until you ask. Out of ten supremely bold asks, nine will probably say no or never respond, but that one yes will change everything. (In the ask, however, increase your chances by providing unmistakable value to them. As opposed to, “Please do this for me.” James Altucher is a master of this and has simple ways to get started.) Second, which is tied to this: Whatever you’re doing, you don’t have to go at it alone. Left unchecked, I easily fall into a wildly ineffective “Hercules Complex”… this assumption I should shoulder all of the burden of big projects, lest it lose its meaning. But working with, and building a tribe of great people in the process, is so much more satisfying. (I plan to go into more detail on this book, and how I’m putting it together, in the private Choose Yourself Publishing Circle… It’s one great part of Altucher’s self-publishing course, of which I’m leaning on to write this book. If interested in finally crossing “write a book” off your bucket list, come… join us.) Tonight, I’ll attempt another BIG ask… Jordan Peterson. I’m suiting up and seeing him speak in Cincinnati this evening. His lectures have had a remarkable effect on me, especially his Jungian analysis of… this might sound weird… Pinocchio. (Had I understood all of this earlier, as I described yesterday, I might not have been such a Hellion growing up… in a misguided pursuit of “fitting in.”) The film Pinocchio is considered by many to be Walt Disney’s greatest achievement. Superficially, the storyline is easy enough to understand. It’s about going from a puppet to an authentic individual. One who tells the truth, listens to one’s own conscience, and is capable of taking responsibility for one’s own life. Pinocchio, you might recall, was brought to life by a blue fairy (the “anima,” as described by Jungians). The fairy told him he could become a real boy if he proved himself to be “brave, truthful, and unselfish.” Blue Fairy: You must learn to choose between right and wrong. Pinocchio: Right and wrong? But how will I know? Jiminy Cricket: (watching) How’ll he know! The Blue Fairy: (to Pinocchio) Your conscience will tell you. Pinocchio: What are conscience? Jiminy Cricket: What are conscience! I’ll tell ya! A conscience is that still small voice that people won’t listen to. That’s just the trouble with the world today… Pinocchio: Are you my conscience? Jiminy Cricket: Who, me? (Spoiler Alert: The cricket, as it happens, is Pinocchio’s conscience, a good, but imperfect tramp who “bugs” him throughout the movie to do the right thing.) Going deeper, the overarching message unfolds: The best way to live your life is orient yourself toward the highest good you’re capable of imagining (represented by Geppetto, the woodcarver, wishing upon a star). Why? Because the capacity for it to come to fruition exists. Not only that, the act of aiming there will open you up to forces which can help you — ones in which wouldn’t otherwise be available to serve you. What is the highest aim? To become a fully developed, authentic human being. One who isn’t a marionette. One whose strings are not whipped around by undeveloped (evil) forces of the world. The Road to Tyranny At one point in the movie, Pinocchio is convinced by two petty criminals — the fox and the cat — that he is a mere victim of the world. That the world is his enemy. They then lead him to Pleasure Island, a place where all his desires can be fulfilled. There, boys can smoke, drink, fight, destroy stuff and act like heathens. Pinocchio and Jiminy discover, however, Pleasure Island is a trap, run by masked goons dressed in black. With enough badness under the boys’ belts (perhaps literally and figuratively), the boys lose their voices and turn into braying jackasses (donkeys), and are sold as slaves to work in the mines. The superficial lessons of the overall story are evident: 1. Peer pressure can lead you astray. 2. Growth can emerge from pain. 3. Idle hands do the Devil’s work. Going deeper, however, the underlying themes present in the book and film are awesome for a mere “children’s story”… – Telling the truth will ultimately make your life easier, and taking the seemingly easy route, by lying, has consequences (the more he lied, the more his nose grew and the more complicated his life became)… – People-pleasing does little more than turn you into a puppet, you give up your own individuality to appease them (when Pinocchio fell under the thumb of Stromboli and became an unearned celebrity he became a slave to Stromboli and the crowd)… – You have free will not to listen to your conscience (as Pinocchio doesn’t at first) and your conscience is not omnipotent, it is capable of making mistakes (as Jiminy did). The more you listen and learn from your mistakes, however, the more both of you mature and begin to understand the true difference between right and wrong. (Pinocchio and Jiminy grow stronger as the storyline progresses). And, very apropos to current times… – Be wary of those who would have you believe you are a victim. Those who claim to be solely looking out for the oppressed are often on the hunt for unearned power. (Marxist professors come to mind). – Accepting yourself as a victim, furthermore, will cause you to lose your voice and, perhaps, in the case of Pinocchio and the boys on Pleasure Island, transform you into a braying jackass. – Great forces will emerge to help you when you aim for your highest good. You don’t have to go at it alone. – Finally, one of the highest aims is to rescue the old structures from collapse, and reinvigorate them anew. To keep the torch alive and save what is worth saving. Otherwise, all will fall into chaos. Pinocchio, in the end, is said to represent Geppetto’s ego and persona (how you interact with the external world and mask you wear for it). Left undeveloped, it’ll remain a young puppet, a slave to the whims of the outside world. In the end, Geppetto comes to terms with this “inner child” (also giving a nod to the incredible importance of fatherhood — the “outer child”)… And, ultimately, they save one another. Geppetto, by giving Pinocchio form and careful attention, and Pinocchio by swimming into the ocean (unconscious) and saving him from the Belly of the Whale (the archetypal Underworld of Chaos). At the end, Geppetto, though he’s an old man, becomes young in spirit. And the old structures worth saving in himself (and the world) are given new life, salvaged from total destruction and created anew. I will tell Millennial Men this. Published under Creative commons here.]]> tag:newpatriotsblog.com,2013:Post/1336859 2018-10-29T13:00:01Z 2018-10-29T13:54:26Z Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are growing as a function of the industrialization of the world and particularly the United States. The IPCC has issued its first report: "..the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a multinational scientific body organized under the auspices of the United Nations, published its first comprehensive report on the topic... the IPCC concluded that "emissions resulting from human activities are substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of ... greenhouse gases..." Man is viewed as an 'eco-cancer' in the earth by globalists and other crackpot scientists who presume the masses are destroying the earth. Yet there is NO evidence of significant temperature increases across the globe despite CO2 releases many times larger than the earth's natural carbon dioxide content. WHY? Because plants metabolize CO2 at faster rates and more limestone is formed according to the concentration driving force governed by reaction Kinetics. The Normal Plant Animal Cycle diagram above depicts the carbon flow between plants and animals. Limestone Formation: Carbon dioxide is readily soluble in sea and fresh water forming metallic precipitates such as calcium or magnesium carbonate. The gas readily dissolves in water sources in equilibrium with its liquid concentration just as in many popular soda beverages. CO2 increases in solubility as water temperatures decrease and atmospheric pressure increases. Concentration is the driving force that causes greater amounts of CO2 to dissolve in water. In solution, CO2 reacts with metallic ions in the water to form insoluble CaCO3 precipitates like calcite. (M+) + CO2 + H2O à MCO3 Calcite is most often seen in caves as stalagmites or stalagmites. It is also the principal constituent of a sedimentary rock known as limestone. Many Invertebrate Sea animals take up calcite from seawater to construct their shells and are an important part of the animal plant environmental cycle. As carbonates are formed and settle out, more CO2 can be absorbed into the water. This helps to ensure a stable atmospheric concentration of around 0.04 percent (400 ppm) consistent with the law of conservation of mass. Plants increase their rate of growth in higher atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide. "Trees respond to CO2 fertilization(1) more strongly than do most other plants, but all plants respond to some extent...plant response to CO2 fertilization is nearly linear with respect to CO2 concentration over the range from 300 to 600 ppm.." Atmospheric reactions must occur at ambient conditions of constant temperature and pressure either spontaneously or from activation energy available from solar radiation in open atmosphere. In order for a reaction to be spontaneous, it must have a negative free energy (G) as defined by the requirements of the Gibbs free energy equation, i.e. G = H - TS. A spontaneous change is probable whenever enthalpy, H is negative or entropy, S is positive, i.e. (H - TdS) <= 0. This relationship may also be expressed in terms of the ratios of the forward and reverse rate constants for reactions k1 and k2, i.e. the equilibrium constant, K: K = k1/k2 = edS/R e-dH/RT Now, the probability of spontaneous reactions are favorable whenever K is a large positive number, i.e. K >>1. This criterion is a necessary condition for the chemical reaction(s) to proceed. So carbon monoxide and Nitrous oxide compounds oxidize over time to carbon dioxide and either Nitrogen oxide or Nitrogen dioxide. So atmospheric equilibrium is maintained and the law of Conservation of Mass is upheld. The principle objection to NO2 in the atmosphere is the formation of acid rain but it is absolutely essential for natural nitration of the soil. Calculation Basis: From Appendix C Summary of Calculations Download Appendix_C_-_Summary_of_Calculations.doc We see that the Incident Air Volume over the U.S. at 10 ft elevation is 1.056 x 1015 ft3 for our chart purposes. Since CO2 occurs naturally in the atmosphere at approximately 0.04% by volume. CO2now. org indicates the current atmospheric CO2 concentration at 400+ parts per million, normal variation within the 0.04% atmospheric concentration. So our atmospheric concentration over the mainland US per the chart is calculated as: 3,787,425 miles2 x (5,280 ft)2 / 1 mile2 x 10 ft above grade x 0.04% CO2 / ft3 of air = 4.22 x 1013 ft3 of CO2 at a 10 ft elevation in our chosen atmospheric bottle. Download Appendix_D_-_Natural_Gas_vs_Auto1.doc Appendix D shows the most significant man made sources of greenhouse gases. Note that the single largest contributor to atmospheric greenhouse gas is the industrial use of natural gas followed closely by the automobile. The war on fossil fuel has accomplished nothing more than to increase natural gas consumption. Now you know the underlying motive behind the deindustrialization of America and shipping manufacturing jobs overseas. Most importantly, note from the Human and Natural Sources of CO2 chart above that if both natural gas consumption and the automobile were totally eliminated, human breathing would be the dominant source of greenhouse gas. The real environmental problem seems to be human breathing accounting for nearly half of the natural CO2 in the atmosphere exclusive of natural gas consumption and the automobile. But combined utility consumption and people breathing is the underlying impetus for globalists to force the world's population down to around 1/2 to 1 billion people by any and all means available. ISIS Created by US & NATO Training & Recruiting Jihadists is very likely one such means Killing off vast numbers of the world's population is former science Czar John Holdren's response to climate change in the 1977 book 'Ecoscience', co-authored by Holdren and colleagues Paul and Anne Ehrlich. Natural News has noted that ".. we've already seen shocking statements from many scientists about their desire to use genetically engineered viral strains to accomplish global depopulation goals." The 'final solution' is to kill vast numbers of the population to effect a three-fold reduction in carbon dioxide because fewer people use less gasoline and natural gas which translates to less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Scientific Manipulation & Fraud Science has claimed that fat people are responsible for global warming, "warning that the increase in big eaters(2) means more food production - a major cause of CO2 gas emissions warming the planet. Overweight people are also more likely to drive, adding to environmental damage. Each fat person is said to be responsible for emitting a tonne more of climate-warming (flatulence) carbon dioxide per year than a thin one… providing extra grub for them to guzzle adds to carbon emissions that heat up the world, melting polar ice caps, raising sea levels and killing rain forests." Data collected from satellite monitoring of the earth's surface temperatures do not support the assertion of global warming. NOAA has been caught adjusting temperatures(3) upward to support warming predictions. In a shocking report, errors in a climate change paper(4)showing gains from global warming were retracted. There is disturbing evidence that atmospheric data have been manipulated by governments and educational institutions in an attempt to demonstrate ecological damage to the environment from high levels of carbon dioxide. First, the University of East Anglia was involved in a collusion to alter temperature data to support a global warming of earth theory. The Wall Street Journal reports(5) "Climategate, as readers of these pages know, concerns some of the world's leading climate scientists working in tandem to block freedom of information requests, blackball dissenting scientists, manipulate the peer-review process, and obscure, destroy or massage inconvenient temperature data—facts that were laid bare by last week's disclosure of thousands of emails from the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit, or CRU. If we cannot predict weather reliably more than several hours into the future under most circumstances, why should the predictions of a government computer model be taken seriously? Yet, Time® magazine warns that we are likely to see a 6 oF increase in global temperatures by the year 2006(6) which unsurprisingly never occurred. Neither is there data to support the warnings(7) of "Earth in the Balance. " (1) Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Arthur B. Robinson, Noah E. Robinson, and Willie Soon, http://www.oism.org/pproject/s33p36.htm (2) Fatties Cause Global Warming, The SUN, April 20, 2009, http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2387203.ece (3) NOAA Fiddles With Climate Data To Erase The 15-Year Global Warming ‘Hiatus’, Daily Caller, http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/04/noaa-fiddles-with-climate-data-to-erase-the-15-year-global-warming-hiatus/#ixzz3vdeqymrD (4) Gremlins” caused errors in climate change paper showing gains from global warming, Retraction Watch, http://retractionwatch.com/2014/05/21/gremlins-caused-errors-in-climate-change-paper-showing-gains-from-global-warming/ (5) Climategate: Follow the Money, The Wall Street Journal, Dec 1, 2009 http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703939404574566124250205490 (6) Heading for Apocalypse, Time, Vol. 146, No. 14, 1995 (7) Albert Gore Jr., Earth in the Balance, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1992 Delivered by The Daily Sheeple For those of you that claim we don’t live in a police state, I give you this recent Michigan Appeals Court ruling. In 2015, Deputy James Dawson went to Joshua Brennan’s home and knocked on his door trying to obtain a breath sample. When Brennan did not answer, Dawson spent an hour and a half knocking at his doors and windows. Officer Dawson also put crime-scene tape over Brennan’s security cameras to conceal his actions and used his siren and cruiser lights in an attempt to rouse him. When Brennan finally opened his door, officer Dawson forced him to take a breathalyzer and arrested him for a probation violation even though he blew a 0.000. All of this was done without a warrant. (Warrantless breathalyzer tests was not a condition of Brennan’s probation.) If you think, it is obvious to any reasonable person that his rights were violated. Then you don’t know how the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals interprets the Constitution. The fact that this even went to an Appeals Court, speaks volumes about our justice system but I digress. Let’s get back to the ruling; judge John Nalabandian said that officer Dawson did violate Brennan’s Fourth Amendment rights by searching him without a warrant. All is good so far, right? Not quite, Nalabandian went on to say “police actions that violate the Constitution do not lead to liability.” The court also ruled that since officer “Dawson’s implied license was not clearly established” and because of that old police standby, “deficient training” he cannot be sued. To say that the court’s reasoning is frustrating is an understatement. The court said that because “Wilson and Clare County were not on actual or constructive notice that the deputy training was deficient they could not be liable.” Does anyone really think police are held to a higher standard when they constantly use the “deficient training” excuse? If you are upset by the court’s ruling that police are not liable for violating the Constitution I warn you, it only gets worse. Citizens must prove to judges that violating out rights is unlawful According to the Sixth Circuit and this speaks volumes about our justice system “the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the right was so well settled that every reasonable official would understand that what he is doing is unlawful.” In other words, citizens must prove to a “reasonable official” [judge] that a police officer violating the Constitution is unlawful. The Sixth Circuit claimed that since the Hardesty v. Hamburg Twp. ruling did not set a limit on how long a police officer can harass people at their homes Brennan cannot sue the police. Even though they admitted that “absent a warrant a police officer has no greater license to remain on the property than a Girl Scout or trick-or-treater.” The ruling repeatedly admits that “Dawson arguably violated the Constitution.” but states for a second time that “even if a government official violated a constitutional right, that official is entitled to qualified immunity.” The Sixth Circuit refused to view the “constitutionality of the officer’s conduct or the continuing viability of Hardest and Turk.” Not only did the Appeals court rule that Brennan cannot sue the police for violating his rights but they dismissed his unlawful arrest claim as well. Only one judge, Karen Moore dissented and agreed like any “reasonable official” should, saying Brennan’s rights were violated and the officer could be sued. Why is the media silent when rulings as egregious as this are taking place across the country? Proving to “reasonable officials” that violating our rights is unlawful? America is fast on its way to becoming a police state. We encourage you to share and republish our reports, analyses, breaking news and videos (Click for details). by Jack Davis After an Ohio parent blew the whistle on a morality test given to a high school class, the Hilliard City School District sent the teacher who gave the test to time out. Students were given a 36-question test about various ethical situations in which they were asked to choose what actions were OK and which were not. But the questions, given to a 10th-grade language arts class at Hilliard Bradley High School, crossed a line as far as parent Todd Sandberg was concerned, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Sandberg said the test was graded in a way that it would tell students their “moral foundation” and their political leanings. “What does the teacher need to know that information for?” he asked. “The questions are so out of line for high school language arts.” Some questions asked about typical conflicts and dilemmas, but some were more disturbing and involved sex and violence. One question talked about a scenario in which “A man kills a baby rabbit with a knife” on a live TV show. As with all the questions, students had to grade the comment on a scale from “Not OK” to “OK.” In another instance, according to Fox News, students were asked to respond to this statement: “Using both a condom and a pill, a brother and a sister decide that they want to sleep with each other — just once, to see what it would be like.” “Sarah’s dog has four puppies,” another scenario read, according to Fox News. “She can only find a home for two of them, so she kills the other two with a stone to the head.” Sandberg pointed out the questions on a Facebook site for parents. “My job was to point it out,” Sandberg said. “It is clearly evident that it’s out there in the public. The public eye is aware of it. I knew it was going to cause a firestorm.” The teacher was placed on administrative leave while the district sorts out what to do next, WTTE reported. The school district then issued a public apology, according to WTTE. “Last night, we were made aware of a classroom activity that should never have taken place,” the district stated. “We absolutely share the outrage of our parents and community.” The statement called the test “an isolated incident, and an activity of this nature would never be considered acceptable.” Sandberg said the underlying issue is that parents need to talk with their children about what’s going on in school. “Hey, parents, be on the lookout,” he said. “I love the district. This is an isolated case.” According to the Canton Repository, documents released by the district said the teacher who gave the test is named Sarah Gillam and she has taught at the school since 2007. President Trump has stood up more firmly for sound science and climate realism than any prior president. President Donald Trump this week stood firm when subjected to a 60 Minutes interrogation on climate, making a bold pitch for climate realism. The Heartland Institute was happy to help the president in his successful efforts. 60 Minutes journalist Leslie Stahl began the interrogation by asking Trump if he thought climate change is a hoax. While declining to use the word “hoax,” Trump cast doubt on the notion that humans are creating a global warming crisis. “Something’s changing and it’ll change back again…. But I don’t know that it’s manmade,” said Trump. Trump referenced the economy-killing schemes proposed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, as well as the $100-billion-annual wealth transfers to developing nations under the Paris climate agreement. “I don’t want to give trillions and trillions of dollars. I don’t want to lose millions and millions of jobs. I don’t want to be put at a disadvantage,” Trump explained. When Stahl attempted to argue that scientists at NOAA and NASA make alarming global warming predictions, Trump immediately countered, “We have scientists that disagree with that.” Scientists affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA have joined scores of other scientists making the case for global warming skepticism at The Heartland Institute’s International Conference on Climate Change series. Thousands of other scientists have signed the Oregon Petition, expressing similar skepticism about global warming alarmism. Trump also noted that climate change has been a natural occurrence for millions of years. Trump followed up his schooling of Leslie Stahl with an interview this Tuesday with the Associated Press. Responding to a challenge about hurricanes, Trump observed the many hurricanes 50 or more years ago that were as strong or stronger as recent hurricanes. “We had worse hurricanes in 1890. We had a worse hurricane 50 years ago. We’ve gone through a period, actually, fairly recently, where we have very few,” said Trump. “What I’m not willing to do is sacrifice the economic well-being of our country for something that nobody really knows,” Trump insisted. “And you have scientists on both sides of the issue. And I agree the climate changes, but it goes back and forth, back and forth. So we’ll see.” When presented with a “scientists say” question, Trump quickly saw through the misleading generalization and corrected it. “No, no. Some say that and some say differently,” Trump noted. The Heartland Institute has been happy to help President Trump understand the truth about climate change, as well as see through the traps the media constantly tries to spring on climate realists. During the White House transition after Trump’s election in November 2016, The Heartland Institute – at the request of Trump’s top staff – put together a PowerPoint presentation on climate change for the president’s viewing. His bold and powerful messaging on the topic and citation of global warming facts closely reflects The Heartland Institute’s views and published information on the topic. President Trump has stood up more firmly for sound science and climate realism than any prior president. We look forward to helping him do more of the same throughout his presidency. by Gourav Krishna Nandi, Montana State University - Bozeman, MT {An interesting 2014 article on what might constitute personhood in a transhuman- ED} [“Data” refers to the anthropomorphized android from Star Trek] Personhood is often thought to be a characteristic possessed by those who can make decisions, have moral worth and responsibilities, and can participate in civil and political rights. Are these attributes exclusive to the naturally born and naturally maintained humans? If we, in the foreseeable future, are to adapt to the assimilation of individuals with technological enhancements in society, how should we regard the personhood of such enhanced sentient beings? In this paper, I use Hume's distinction between an idea and a belief to analyze our differences in the perception of personhood in a naturally born human and a transhuman. Using the instance of Julian Savulescu’s intelligent and independent observer and Gene Roddenberry’s android character Data, I argue that personhood is an evolving idea that does not depend on strict social constraints, but is similar to the mathematical deﬁnition of inﬁnity, an abstract approximation. This paper explores the notion of anthropocentric bias against a transhuman individual As neuro-informatics and cognitive sciences continue to ﬂourish and impact the average citizen, the analysis of new technology driven social standards is paramount. I focus on a contemporary issue concerning personhood as a set of societal beliefs that would play such a role, if we are, in the foreseeable future, to adapt to a transhuman society. At the outset, the paper analyzes the classical attributes of personhood from the lens of ideas and beliefs proposed by David Hume. Owing to the scope of this work, I limit the deﬁnition of personhood to its empirical association with the existence of the human, where personhood is an elementary entity that differentiates a human from a non-human; hence, personhood is inseparable from the human. The existence of a human implies the existence of personhood in them. The contrapositive states, if an individual does not possess personhood, they cannot be a human. Furthermore, considering the limits, I concentrate on how transhumanism ﬁts. PAGE 3: into human society. In other words, can we consider a transhuman to be a human-individual who possesses personhood? How would technology affect such an idea? In an attempt to answer this, I contrast the separation of the human and the natural, from an oriental perspective proposed by Ryuichi Ida in his essay “Should we Improve Human Nature? An Interrogation from an Asian Perspective.”4 Lastly, I examine a concrete instance of what it means to be a human by using Gene Roddenberry’s android character Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation to argue that being human and possessing personhood is an intangible idea, a mathematically and materialistically unreachable quantity, which is founded on the conceptions laid down by social constraints.5 2. Of Beliefs and Ideas: According to David Hume, the belief of a concept is a subset of the idea of the concept itself.6 Every aspect of a belief is constrained in the set of ideas. 7 Mathematically, this results in the possible existence of the certain properties of a concept in which we can conceive and not believe. Hume further hypothesizes that the notion of both our ideas and our beliefs as molded by our experiences is empirically 4. Ida, Ryuichi. Should we Improve Human Nature? An Interrogatio n from an Asian Perspective., Savulescu, Julian; Bostrom, Nick, eds. Human Enhancement. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2009: 59-70. 5. Roddenberry, Gene. Star Trek: The Next Generation. 6. “The idea of an object is an essential part of the belief of it, but not the whole.” Sec. vii Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief. A Treatise of Human Nature. 7. “We conceive many things, which we do not believe.” Sec. vii Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief. A Treatise of Human Nature. axiomatic.8 An idea of a concept is an immediate result of the sensory experiences of the world and its possible logical consequences, whereas, the belief of a certain idea is dependent on the objective laws that the world is subjected to, in accordance to our senses. Hume provides the examples of a companion proposing the events concerning the death of Caesar in his bed, and mercury being heavier than gold.9 According to the proposed conjecture, the idea of Caesar’s death on his bed is conceivable through our sensory inputs, but the experience of the world with the historical evidence suggests otherwise.10 Caesar’s death on his bed is thus merely an idea , owing to the deﬁnition of death, a bed and our acquaintance with Caesar. I dismiss it as a belief because history disproves it. To equate this characteristic to the idea of transhumanism, I perform an empirical analysis. Let us begin with an example of a conception along Hume’s distinction of relations of ideas and matters of fact.11 Ideas/ Caesar’s death on his bed Beliefs/ Caesar’s death by Brutus Where does the personhood of a Transhuman lie in this venn diagram? 8. Hume, D. Sec. vii Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief. A Treatise of Human Nature. 9. Sec. vii Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief. A Treatise of Human Nature. “more fusible, than lead, or mercury heavier than gold; it is evident, that notwithstanding my incredulity, I clearly understand his meaning, and form all the same ideas, which he forms ... is it possible for him to conceive any idea, which I cannot conceive; nor conjoin any, which I cannot conjoin.” 10. Julius Caesar (100 BCE - 44 BCE) was assassinated in the Roman senate 11. Hume, D. Sec. vii Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief. A Treatise of Human Nature. In the Enquiry (1748), Hume states that all ideas are derived from their impressions, which he maintains are the results of sensations.12 What I deduce from experience are therefore copies of my sensations. He reasons that even the basic axioms require oneself to possess knowledge which are the results of the accumulation of sense experiences, impressions, that cannot be exclusively deduced by reason.13 The idea of a green grass-blade, for an instance, consists of several components, all of which may be reduced to the senses. The perception of the color of the grass-blade is dependent on my visual senses. The visible light waves, consisting of various wavelengths reﬂect from the blade. The color that I perceive as green is the result of the absorption of all other wavelengths by the grass-blade. The shape of the blade is subjected to my touch senses. As such, the idea of a grass-blade is dependent on the conception of its various components. The existence of the grass blade in my mind is what Hume calls an idea.14 The components of the conception of the blade are constant in me as a result of previous experiences. However, the capability to stretch the idea of the grass blade in accordance to my conceptions is what I further contemplate, as the idea of personhood and its relation to the concept of transhumanism. The belief of the grass, on the other hand, includes just the possibility of the occurrence of the idea. For instance, my brain has noticed in the past, the presence of snow on a grass-blade. But, it never contemplates the existence of a white grass-blade, for it is in the domain of an idea and not a belief. The green-ness of the blade is a component of its concept, and I 12. Hume, D.An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. argue that such contemplation of notion of a white grass blade is similar to the concept of a human transhuman, an individual who is transhuman despite possessing the properties of personhood. Let us contemplate the accepted notions of being a human. Humans are born naturally; they have naturally endowed characteristics, which a transhuman does not possess. Hence, I have a socially held belief on whom to assign the “human” tag. Transhumanism underscores the idea of surpassing the natural order, in order to improve the physical and the mental faculty of the human.15 In the next chapter, I use the analogy of Hume’s empirical propositions to classify physical enhancements and broadly the notion of personhood, as an approximation.16 2.1 Ryuichi Ida’s concept review It might be assumed as an axiom, under the constraint of our technological and sociological progress, that a human becomes a transhuman only after the application of enhancements, which would not have been present without the existence of present technology. Ryuichi Ida asserts that the concept of enhancements that pertains to physical and mental enhancements are artiﬁcial; a nano-chip inserted into the brain to increase 15. I describe the natural order as is done by Ida: enhancing the individual in a way that wouldnot have been possible without the humans. 16. Approximation is equivalent to limiting value in calculus. I use the word to attribute the abilityof, say ‘n’ to reach a value ‘b’. When we state that n is an approximation to the value b, it impliesthat n limits toward the value of b, but never reaches b. Mathematically, n ~ b, but n not = b. memory and to aid in extensive learning can provide an instance in this regard.17 The existence of the humans is paramount to the existence of the nano-chip. The nano-chip needed the humans to be in the current state of technology. According to Ida, the enhancement using the nano-chip is not natural, i.e, had the humans been absent from the chain of events, the chip would never have existed. However, this stance does not afﬁrm that the existence of the humans is unnatural. Now, every mention of an improvement in the physical and mental capabilities of a human underscores an artiﬁcial enhancement. Ida asserts there is a difference between natural enhancements and artiﬁcial enhancements of an individual. He provides an objective illustration: A candidate studying every day for a demanding examination and being rewarded with the highest grade can be termed as the realization of the person using their naturally given capabilities. The mental enhancement that results from a continuous practice using the natural endowments of a person is what, according to the Ida, constitutes the oriental deﬁnition of a natural enhancement. However, he opposes the view, where an examinee uses genetic enhancement to improve their performance in the examination. Such a modiﬁcation, according to Ida, is artiﬁcial and accounts for the “control and management of nature through knowledge and technology.”18 I may conclude that Ida’s position implies that every enhancement that is possible due to the presence of the modern humans and 17. Ida, Ryuichi. Should we Improve Human Nature? An Interrogation from an Asian Perspective. Savulescu, Julian; Bostrom, Nick, eds. Human Enhancement. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2009: 59-70. their technological growth is termed as unnatural. Here, the usage of the word “modern” is important, as the enhancements caused due to pre-historic agricultural and urban settlements are considered by Ida as natural.19 3. Enhancements as beliefs and concepts Despite Ida’s perception of technology as artiﬁcial, he maintains that the humans are fundamentally natural. However, the way the humans have used the natural resources during their evolution to develop technology has separated them from nature, and is thus, unnatural. As such, transhumans can exist if only we develop artiﬁcial enhancements. Such individuals cannot be termed as natural and therefore personhood cannot be associated with a transhuman. In the Venn diagram of ideas and beliefs, Ida would place the personhood of a transhuman outside the domain of beliefs. Humans are thought to have a natural order, and the enhancements acts as a deviation from the natural to create a transhuman is unnatural. 3.1 Savulescu’s independent observer Extending Ida’s premise of the natural human, I state two possible attributes of being human: it is an attainable state of existence or it is a mathematical state of approximation.20 If the notion of personhood an intangible concept, like inﬁnity, personhood can be approximated to, but never reached physically. Whereas, if it is an 19. Ida considers agriculture, which involves the cultivation of the land and the manipulation of the natural order in the land ecosystem. His concerns begins with technology. I consider, in a later section, the deﬁnition of technology. Should any tool making be termed as technology, or is it just the modern improvements? In other words, how different is the building of a chisel to that of a computer? 20. I use the terms being human and personhood interchangeably attainable state, there is a set of clauses, obtaining which, an individual can possess personhood. Moreover, if human nature is a mathematical approximation of propositions, individuals whom I consider transhumans in the contemporary society, may be deﬁned as humans in a transhumanist society, for a change in the social paradigms would witness the growth of the set of beliefs. Here, I reason that enhancement cannot make us any more or any less human, using the view of an independent observer, a view which is against the oriental perspective as asserted by Ida.21 3.1.1 The Natural and the Artiﬁcial to the Independent Observer The differentiation of the human and the natural underscores the separation of the two. It asserts the East Asian perspective upheld by Ida, who considers living amidst nature, but excludes the human when considering natural.22 However, the differentiation of the unnatural from the natural enhancement is a propensity that is historically evident in both the Eastern and the Western traditions, where philosophers have sought to distinguish between the natural and the human. In an attempt to nullify this distinction, I consider Savulescu’s independent observer. Let us contemplate a hypothetical scenario where there exists an intelligent species on a different star system, who apparently, have developed warp drive and traveled to Earth to observe human activities. From the perspective of our visitor, 21. Savulescu, Julian. Prejudice and Moral Status of Enhanced Beings. Savulescu, Julian; Bostrom, Nick, eds. Human Enhancement. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2009: 59-70. anthropocentric values are inconsistent; their superior intelligence afﬁrms that our technological developments and the reworking of the Earth’s surface, to them, is synonymous to our view of say, the chimpanzee using tools and displaying empathy. Savulescu terms such an observer, an independent one, who is not only devoid of my anthropocentric biases, but is also able to comprehend human intelligence. Our premise examines if the independent observer would consider our creations natural. We often attribute the same characteristic of animals using tools to the chimpanzee who uses a tool and the hummingbird who builds its nest. I reason that the association of our building of a modern city and the building of the ant-hill by the army ants to the intelligent observer is coherent and logically consistent with the premise that the observer is more intelligent than both the species. To them, without the presence of the army ants on the planet, the ant colonies and the ant-hill would never have existed, as would a city of humans without the humans. The hypothesis is also a reminder to us that our creation of advanced tools and computer technology is but a better manipulation of the natural resources available to us. The army ant uses its own armor (its natural endowment) and twigs (utilization of natural resources) to dig the soil and create the ant-hill. Similarly, we use advanced iron ore, and bricks and cement (advanced utilization of natural resources) to create buildings in a city. Evidently, to the observer, the distinction between the ants and the humans is in the advancements of tool making. As such, when we invent physical enhancements to create a transhuman, the inherent nature of the device would be termed natural to such an observer. The argument bridges the gap between the human and the natural, which in the ﬁrst place existed because of our human-centric approach to the problem. The transhuman, I can reason, is a natural product, owing to the advanced use of the natural resources available to us. To return to the initial argument concerning the beliefs and the ideas of a natural and an artiﬁcial enhancement, I conclude that the enhancement as a natural process is an idea for Ida, which exists as a belief to the independent observer. So far, I have concluded that the enhancements required to create a transhuman are natural; let us now explore the personhood of a transhuman. Due to the scope of this paper, I limit myself to the attribution of personhood to the transhuman individual. I assume personhood as a natural characteristic of the human individual owing to its development in us without any unnatural process. The human tag is associated with an individual who possesses personhood, as I discussed in the introduction. To analyze the possibility of a transhuman to be perceived as a human, in the following section, I study the ﬁctional character Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation. 4. Data and Personhood Data is an android character created by Gene Roddenberry for his popular science ﬁction series. The android is anthropomorphic in its appearance and functions. Data is programmed to evolve, and his goal is to become more and more human. According to Gene Roddenberry, the character was to be the closest one can be to a human without being a human.23 Nevertheless, the quintessential requirement to be a human, as mentioned above, is the possession of personhood. Data is a transhuman; 23. Savulescu, Julian. Prejudice and Moral Status of Enhanced Beings.Savulescu, Julian; Bostrom, Nick, eds. Human Enhancement. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2009: 59-70. he has capabilities, which transcends the physical and mental capacities of the average human. He is stronger, can think faster, and though made of silicon, he is able to evolve. At the outset, I shall consider Data a life form, as urged by Roddenberry.24 Besides, according the prevalent NASA’s deﬁnition of life, Data is capable to reproducing and evolving in a Darwinian approach. However, is Data a person? To answer this question, I retreat to Hume’s ideas and beliefs to differentiate between Data’s personhood considering our social paradigms. 4.1 Beliefs and Ideas concerning transhumanism According to Ida, Data does not possess the characteristics about the ideals of personhood, owing to his artiﬁcial birth. I shall analyze Data’s status quo as a human, despite his physical differences. Ida’s foremost appeal towards a human person is arguably an attempt to nullify the idea of unnatural improvements. In the previous two sections, we have concluded that from the view of an unbiased, independent observer, the improvements are natural, even if they include an enhancement using technology. According to the Star Trek canon, given the right circumstances, Data acts like a human.25 Alan Turing pioneered the idea of a machine imitating a human in his famous experiment where the machine is able to fool the human into making him think that the machine was a human. He delved into the idea of a thinking machine. Data’s nature is similar to the dichotomy I analyzed in the ﬁrst section. Firstly, he is an android. He is made of silicon chips rather than ﬂesh and blood. He lacks the accepted deﬁnition of a human, but Roddenberry came up with the idea of an emotion chip, a device when 24. Roddenberry, Gene. “Datalore”. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount, 1987. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. 25. Roddenberry, Gene. Star Trek: The Next Generation. placed in Data’s circuits makes him “experience” human emotions.26 Often, Data is incapable of handling the emotions that he is subjected to due to their mathematical complexity, but the fact that he can experience a new emotion that is not controlled by the machine acts for the argument of assigning personhood with Data. He is able to think, to sacriﬁce, to love, to feel pain and even get confused with the emotion chip. As such, with the device implanted in Data’s body transforms the android into an individual having personhood. But should such an individual be called a human being? It can be argued that Data acts as a nonhuman with the subtraction of a certain chemical in their brain, but I reason that the lack of certain chemicals in the human brain can render a naturally born human, a non-person. As such, the criteria I discussed about Data’s personhood is consistent with humans as well; the fact that it’s an emotion chip that prevents Data from being a human is compatible logically. 4.2 Personhood as an approximation As such, I can reason that the concept of transhuman is just an idea of an extended human. It’s a trans-person, someone more capable in some respect and less capable in other aspects of an individual socially accepted as a human. This is especially true for those who claim that being human cannot be reduced to a set of speciﬁc clauses; it is an intangible property. At the beginning of the paper, I limited myself to the empirical association of personhood to being human. Every individual who is a human possesses personhood. This condition does not necessarily imply that every possessor of personhood is a human. Rather, anyone not having personhood devoid themselves off the idea of being 26. Roddenberry, Gene. “Generations”. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount, 1987. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. a human. Data, on the other hand, as I concluded, has personhood. He shows every characteristic that would tag him the notion of being a human. As such, being human has a necessary condition in personhood. Since, I have concluded that personhood is limited mostly by my acceptance of ideas into beliefs, I reason, there are no set of reducible clauses that would deﬁne the personhood of an individual. The essay began with an inspiration in popular science ﬁction, and how the ideas relating to personhood apply to Data, the anthropomorphized android from Star Trek.27 I borrow the idea of mathematical inﬁnity to reﬂect upon his goal. Inﬁnity, for all its uses in calculus, has never been deﬁned. It is the abstract notion of a number which is larger than every other number imagined by the human mind. From Hume’s empirical point of view, inﬁnity is not in the domain of a belief, for it’s incoherent with human experience. The only way I can deﬁne inﬁnity is by limiting myself to the idea. As an instance a statement in symbolic mathematics, “limn --> infinity 1/ n = 0” implies that the value of 1/ n is 0, when n tends to inﬁnity. Here, n is an integer; it never actually reaches inﬁnity for an integer is presumed to be in the domain of a belief, it has an empirical existence in the human mind. As such, despite the immensity of its value, n always represents a number, which excludes the possibility of being inﬁnite. The above expression, thus is concerned about the value that 1/n obtains, as n becomes larger, 27. The choice to include Data ahead of C3PO or other androids is based on Data’s goal throughout the Star Trek series: to become as close to being a human without becoming a human. which is 0. In other words, the statement doesn’t prove the equivalence of the value of n to inﬁnity but of the equivalence of the value of 1/n to 0. The analysis of Data’s personhood has synonymity in the deﬁnition of his goal: to become human. Ideas/ Personhood of Data Beliefs/ Accepted notion of personhood The ﬁgure points out two constraints: •to be a member of the set of beliefs, a concept has to be a set of ideas (Hume’s deﬁnition). •the set of beliefs and the set of ideas are not necessarily equal. In other words, there are ideas which may not be beliefs. Data’s personhood would be recognized by the social constraints as I learn that from an independent observer’s position, it’s our limitations that would not confer personhood on Data in the present society. I have drawn the set of beliefs in dotted lines to represent an ever changing set of the societal paradigms and our acceptance of who is a human; a notion that, in time, will broaden enough to include the personhood of Data. Personhood, as such, is alike inﬁnity which is abstract, on its own, but tends to function when applied to a physical object to which I am acquainted. As I, from an unbiased approach deﬁne the relationship of Data and the notion of being human, I observe an equivalence between Data and a human, as he evolves towards his personhood.28 Mathematically, “limData --> Personhood Data = Human” PAGE 17: REFERENCES •Hume, D. Sec. vii Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief. A Treatise of Human Nature. •Hume, D., An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. Of the Nature of the Idea or Belief. A Treatise of Human Nature .•Ida, Ryuichi. Should we Improve Human Nature? An Interrogation from an Asian Perspective. •Ida, Ryuichi. Should we Improve Human Nature? An Interrogation from an Asian Perspective. •Manzo, Silvia. "Francis Bacon: Freedom, Authority and Science." British Journal for the History of Philosophy 14.2 (2006): 245-73. ProQuest.Web. 29 Apr. 2013. •Morris, John. "Pattern Recognition in Descartes' Automata." Isis 60 (1969): 451-60. ProQuest. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. •Rozemond, Marleen. "Descartes's Case for Dualism." Journal of the History of Philosophy 33.1 (1995): 29-63. ProQuest. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. •Roddenberry, Gene. Star Trek: The Next Generation. •Savulescu, Julian. Prejudice and Moral Status of Enhanced Beings. Savulescu, Julian; Bostrom, Nick, eds. Human Enhancement. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2009: 59-70. •Roddenberry, Gene. “Datalore”. Star Trek: The Next Generation. Paramount, 1987. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. •Roddenberry, Gene. “Generations”. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount, 1987. Web. 20 Apr. 2013. •Taub, Liba. Ptolemy's Universe: The Natural Philosophical and Ethical Foundations of Ptolemy's Astronomy., 1993. ProQuest. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. •Xenophanes, Clement of Alexandria, Book V. 110. 1. I generalize the notion of a transhuman, where an individual with any form of enhancement that enables them to better their functioning, physically or mentally, is called a transhuman. Also, considering that our understanding is materialized by perception, I consider bias to be an a-priori tautology. We perceive matter, as it were, through the senses. In other words, spatial and temporal occurrences in nature trigger the stimulus that engender into (engender into?) the perceptions we undergo. What we perceive as physical objects are the result of the reactions due to events that cause the materialization of the physical objects. 2. “Personhood” is often taken to have a very special and speciﬁc meaning in philosophy —those things with personhood have moral latency; that is, they are objects of moral concern, are worthy of being cared about, have rights, have responsibilities, etc. Persons often are thought to be those things that can make decisions, or, at the very least, are things that we make decisions about legally and morally, because they are important and worthy of moral judgment. 3. Personhood => Human not (Human) => not(Personhood) [Note: Amazing -- another plunge into philosophy -- this time by a transhumanist using a modern philosopher (Hume-the-empiricist and utilitarian) and a special mathematical formula to justify Posthuman “Personhood” -- specifically, the “personhood” of Data, the Star Trek android! If ever there was an example of someone using the subject matter and method of one field (math) while trying to analyze the subject matter of a different field (philosophical anthropology, or how to define “a human being”) it is this article -- and apparently he doesn’t even know that he is violating the division and methods of the “sciences”! (Same weird phenomenon with engineers, physicists and mathematicians doing human genetics in biology!). E.g., you can’t study math with a microscope, and you don’t have a bus driver perform brain surgery! Another sizzling failure of NanoBioInfoCogno. (Whoever thought that up?!). Not to mention that all “modern” philosophies (including utilitarian bioethics) are riddled with problems that real philosophers are fully aware of, and Hume is no exception -- especially the theoretically devastating “mind/body split”. Additionally, David Hume (1711-1776): “ ... questioned common notions of personal identity, and argued that there is no permanent “self” that continues over time. He dismissed standard accounts of causality and argued that our conceptions of cause-effect relations are grounded in habits of thinking, rather than in the perception of causal forces in the external world itself. ... In the philosophy of religion, he argued that it is unreasonable to believe testimonies of alleged miraculous events, and he hints, accordingly, that we should reject religions that are founded on miracle testimonies. ... In moral theory, against the common view that God plays an important role in the creation and reinforcement of moral values, he offered one of the first purely secular moral theories, which grounded morality in the pleasing and useful consequences that result from our actions. He introduced the term “utility” into our moral vocabulary, and his theory is the immediate forerunner to the classic utilitarian views of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, at: http://www.iep.utm.edu/hume/ But this writer is apparently clueless as to the “cons” of Humean philosophy or of utilitarian bioethics which render irrelevant this writer’s wished-for conclusion below --including the “cons” of transhumanist/bioethicist student of Peter Singer, Savulescu. In a real philosophical analysis it is required to acknowledge both the “pros” and the “cons” of any particular philosophical position and respond to those “cons” before adopting that philosophical position as your own -- otherwise your opponent will gladly hurl them at you. You can’t just pick and choose bits and pieces of a particular philosophical tradition that please you and gets you where you want to go, and ignore the bits and pieces that you don’t want. And while some “personhood” standards and definitions of "a human being" are simply matters of "evolving" social constructions (such as that proposed in the following article), not all “personhood” standards are. Indeed, some are inherently empirically grounded in our objective knowledge of human beings -- whole human beings, that is. [See Irving, “Philosophical and scientific expertise: An evaluation of the arguments on ‘personhood’”, Linacre Quarterly February 1993, 60:1:18-46, at: http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/irv/irv_04person1.html; also "What is 'bioethics'?" (June 3, 2000), at: http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/irv/irv_36whatisbioethics01.html]. I do wonder what kind of “academic” organization would even want to post the following hypothetical space-alien perspective of the "independent observer" using symbolic mathematical/utilitarian philosophical/bioethical “analysis” to argue for the possible social-constructed “personhood” for posthumans based on infinity. But I’m sure NBIC and WTEC -- and Roddenberry -- will love it. PS -- if you can’t follow the “logic” of the following article, or get dizzy, it’s not you. The article first appeared here. -- DNI] In today’s world with President Trump getting hit daily I decided a little Bible Lesson might be appropriate. Remember what Jesus said: 'Goats on the left, sheep on the right' (Matthew 25:33). Jesus also told Peter that if he wanted to catch fish do it from the right side of the boat He did and filled the boat with fish. John 21:6 (NIV) ... He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." Origin of Left & Right.. I have often wondered why it is that Conservatives are called the "right" and Liberals are called the "left". By chance I stumbled upon thisverse in the Bible: Ecclesiastes10:2 (NIV) - "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." Thus saith the Lord. It surely can't get any simpler than that. Spelling Lesson: The last four letters in American......... I Can The last four letters in Republican:....... I Can The last four letters in Democrats:....... Rats End of lesson! ...Test to follow on November 6, 2018. Remember, November 2018 is to be set aside as Rodent Removal month. Please share this Bible Lesson with all your friends and email buddies to help achieve that goal. Never grow a wishbone where a backbone ought to be. by Gerald Weston We are hearing this week of a record mega-lottery here in the United States. Some people tweeted the following answers to the question, “What would you do if you won a billion dollars?” One said he would build the wall between Mexico and the U.S. Another said he would rebuild Mexico Beach on the Gulf coast, destroyed by Hurricane Michael. And another said he would give some to charity and spend the rest of his life hunting and fishing. Perhaps you dream about what you would do with a billion dollars, or a significant fraction of that amount. After all, one hundred million, or even ten million, will go a long way! Many people, when asked the question, say they would give a portion to charity. I’m sure they are sincere in saying this, but would they really build the wall or give it all to rebuild a destroyed city? Maybe, but probably not. Have you ever considered that, in principle, you have already won the lottery? Let me explain. Jesus made it plain that His message was not understandable by the majority. For example, Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44), repeating this truth to His disciples shortly afterward (v. 65). How few understand this! Consider also, why did Jesus speak in parables? It is not the reason I heard in Sunday school. Jesus’ own disciples asked Him this very question. Here was His answer: “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:11). A parallel account on this same occasion adds, “But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples” (Mark 4:34). If you understand these things you are part of a very small group of people. You understand, not because you are more intelligent or better than others, but because God has specially selected you to do His end-time Work. He opened your mind to precious truth not generally understood by billions on earth today! No, it is not a lottery based on chance. It is selection by the Creator of the universe! But as with lotteries, only a precious few win, and you have been called to win! Jesus’ parables reflect the value of knowledge you receive from Tomorrow’s World and the Living Church of God, the sponsor of Tomorrow’s World. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44–46). The Apostle Peter wrote an encouraging passage regarding the difficult and painful things we experience in life. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6–7). And Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). These passages and parables all point to one great truth: Everything physical will perish, but the choices we make in life and the faith in God that we express by our actions are of far greater value than the things for which most people crave. As John instructs us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15, 17). We do not like to think about it, but we will all come to the end of this physical existence, and the end of the trail comes sooner than we once thought. Young people may know this academically. Older folks measure the days (Psalm 39:4). What if you did win the mega-lottery? How long would it last? What would you do with it? What truly lasting value would hunting and fishing give you in the end? Now please understand. Hunting and fishing have worthy recreational value, and I personally try to take off a few days each year to go fishing, but should that be the purpose of one’s life? What happens when the end of the trail comes? Then what? The fact that you are reading this indicates you are probably one who sees more to life than another fishing trip, a game of golf, or winning the mega-lottery. Your contributions and your prayers show your love for God and your love for others (Matthew 22:35–40). Our offices around the world receive a continual stream of letters from individuals thanking us for what we give them free of charge. We also receive some not too flattering letters, but that is fine. We know that we are reaching beyond the choir! However, I want to share a few comments with you, because you make them possible and these people want to thank you. I have embolden a few words for emphasis. Here is a letter from Colorado from a reader who appreciated our booklet explaining the purpose of life. “Good Day. I just want to thank you for the Booklet: Your Ultimate Destiny! Awesome!!! Really opened my mind! Keep up the Good Work! GOD Bless You All.” If you have not read this booklet, please let us know and we will send you a free copy. It explains the very purpose of life straight from the pages of the Bible. Can there be any more valuable truth? A writer from South Africa wants you to know how much he appreciates you. “I just want to thank you for the booklet and the Bible Study Course. Thanks for all the People at Tomorrow's World. You are Highly Appreciated! GOD Bless!” A woman shared her thoughts by e-mail regarding a Tomorrow’s World article. “I read ‘Which Jesus Do You Worship,’ and it left me wondering and wanting to know more. Cause it is my heart’s desire to follow Christ Jesus. Thank you for waking me up.” You make the magazine possible, so we share her thanks with you! Earlier this year someone from Perth, Australia wrote regarding Dr. Roderick C. Meredith’s series on the Protestant Reformation. “I am in receipt of May-June 2018 T/W magazine, for which as always, I am deeply grateful. . . . May Almighty God through Christ Jesus, continue to Bless each of you in this Wonderful Work that you are doing, and [I] look forward to receiving a copy of Dr. Meredith’s brilliant work.” A subscriber from Toronto, Ontario wrote to express his appreciation. “Thank you so much for your ministry, you are helping people to understand we are living in the last days, and we have to live a life according to God’s Word. Thank you again. God Bless this Ministry.” Some of our subscribers are in prison for serious sins committed earlier in life. This man writes from Hunlock, Pennsylvania. “Thank you for your magazine, Tomorrow’s World. . . . I am a life sentence prisoner serving a life without parole sentence. I have 30 years served so far. Your magazine helps me to keep my sanity in a world with so much misinformation and injustice. Your publication keeps me aware of what’s truly important.” Another prisoner, this one from Marino, Ohio writes regarding Tomorrow’s World, “This magazine has been truly one of the most consistently read pieces of Christian literature in my 13½ years of incarceration. You guys are truly a blessing and exemplary of what a Christian today is to ‘look like’ and ‘sound like.’” There are so many more I could share with you, but I’ll give just one more. This one is from Gatundu, Kenya. “I have been transformed by your magazines. The word of God is real, [and has] become simpler and clearer each day.” Okay, I cannot resist. Here is one more, from a woman in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. “Other than the Holy Bible itself, I have been searching for a teaching program [that] teaches ‘Sound Christian doctrine.’ I applaud your ‘FREE’ teachings that other programs want to charge a lot of money for. How else would poor people be able to understand this wicked world?” Once again, thank you for your part in making it possible to reach people of all races, nationalities, economic conditions, and ages. I pray that God fully opens your minds and hearts to the very purpose of life and that you will stand before the Son of God upon His return. You are making a difference through your tithes, offerings, and heartfelt prayers! Thank you dear friends! by Randy DeSoto Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton doubled down Wednesday on a claim Sen. Kamala Harris made regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s views on birth control that multiple fact-checkers have already determined to be false. “I want to be sure we’re all clear about something that Brett Kavanaugh said in his confirmation hearings last week. He referred to birth-control pills as ‘abortion-inducing drugs,'” Clinton tweeted. “That set off a lot of alarm bells for me, and it should for you, too.” “Kavanaugh didn’t use that term because he misunderstands the basic science of birth control—the fact that birth control prevents fertilization of eggs in the first place. He used that term because it’s a dog whistle to the extreme right,” she added. Hillary Clinton‏Verified account @HillaryClinton Sep 12 I want to be sure we're all clear about something that Brett Kavanaugh said in his confirmation hearings last week. He referred to birth-control pills as "abortion-inducing drugs." That set off a lot of alarm bells for me, and it should for you, too. 20,281 replies 41,031 retweets 137,358 likes Hillary Clinton‏Verified account @HillaryClinton Kavanaugh didn't use that term because he misunderstands the basic science of birth control—the fact that birth control prevents fertilization of eggs in the first place. He used that term because it's a dog whistle to the extreme right. 6:14 AM - 12 Sep 2018 The Washington Post awarded Harris with four Pinocchios for sharing a selectively edited video about Kavanaugh while arguing that he is “going after” birth control. The California Democrat tweeted footage of an exchange Kavanaugh had with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas during the judge’s confirmation hearing last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Cruz asked Kavanaugh about his dissent in the 2014 Priests for Life case before the Washington, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals involving the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate. The nominee answered by recounting the plaintiff priests’ position in the case regarding filling out a Department of Health and Human Services form to obtain a waiver from the contraception mandate, which, if accepted by HHS, required health insurance providers to offer the coverage free of charge to those who were interested. Kavanaugh told Cruz, “They said filling out the form would make them complicit in the provision of the abortion-inducing drugs that they were, as a religious matter, objecting to.” Harris’s video omitted Kavanaugh saying, “they said,” making it appear that he was offering a statement about his views on the matter, and even birth control more broadly. Harris wrote of the exchange in a tweet on Friday. Kamala Harris‏Verified account @SenKamalaHarris Kavanaugh chooses his words very carefully, and this is a dog whistle for going after birth control. He was nominated for the purpose of taking away a woman’s constitutionally protected right to make her own health care decisions. Make no mistake - this is about punishing women. 11:45 AM - 7 Sep 2018 15,061 Retweets 8,538 replies 15,061 retweets Kamala Harris‏Verified account @SenKamalaHarris Sep 8 Here is Kavanaugh's full answer. There's no question that he uncritically used the term "abortion-inducing drugs," which is a dog whistle term used by extreme anti-choice groups to describe birth control. Kavanaugh explained to Cruz that the reason he dissented in the case was based on the Supreme Court’s Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores decision, which found business owners have the right not to provide contraception coverage to employees if it runs contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs. It should be noted that Hobby Lobby’s owners did not object to providing birth control coverage, which they were in fact doing, but did object to providing contraceptives they believe cause abortions, including “morning-after pills” and two types of intrauterine devices. There are 16 other FDA-approved contraception methods that the company did not object to, as they prevent the egg from being fertilized in the first place. However, the four methods of contraception at issue in the case “may have the effect of preventing an already fertilized egg from developing any further by inhibiting its attachment to the uterus.” Thus, the concern was that by providing these abortifacients, they would be facilitating abortion. After receiving significant criticism for her misleading tweet, Harris included Kavanaugh’s comments in context in a subsequent post, but argued, “There’s no question that he uncritically used the term ‘abortion-inducing drugs,’ which is a dog whistle term used by extreme anti-choice groups to describe birth control.” The Washington Post was not buying the senator’s explanation. “Harris’s decision to snip those crucial words (‘they said’) from her first post on the video is certainly troubling,” wrote Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler. Regarding her follow up tweet, he added, “But there was no acknowledgment by Harris that the original tweet was misleading.” Kessler concluded, “She earns Four Pinocchios — and her fellow Democrats should drop this talking point.” Politifact also found Harris’ Twitter post in error. “In Harris’ tweet, Kavanaugh appears to define contraception as abortion-inducing. But the video failed to include a crucial qualifier: ‘They said,’” Politifact reported. “In fact, he was citing the definition of the religious group Priests for Life. He has not expressed his personal view,” the fact-checker added. “We rate this statement False.” David French‏Verified account @DavidAFrench David French Retweeted Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton comes barreling back into the conversation with a timely reminder that she’s one of the more prolific liars in modern American politics. David French added, Hillary ClintonVerified account @HillaryClinton I want to be sure we're all clear about something that Brett Kavanaugh said in his confirmation hearings last week. He referred to birth-control pills as "abortion-inducing drugs." That set off a lot of alarm bells for me, and it should for you, too. 652 Retweets National Review’s David French chastised Clinton for grabbing onto Harris’ claim against Kavanaugh, which she should have known to be false. He tweeted, “Hillary Clinton comes barreling back into the conversation with a timely reminder that she’s one of the more prolific liars in modern American politics.” by H. Sterling Burnett If finalized the proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to freeze fuel-economy targets at 2020 levels through 2026 is good news for anyone concerned about consumer choice, vehicle affordability, and highway safety. Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s determination freezing fuel-economy standards would benefit the American people should surprise no one, because in April EPA announced it would revoke the Obama-era standards requiring cars and light trucks sold in the United States to achieve an average of more than 50 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2025. President Obama signed off on the 50 mpg standards just before leaving office in December 2016, two years before the previous standards were scheduled to be reviewed. Studies show the 50 mpg standard would substantially increase the price of cars, change the composition of the nation’s automobile and light truck fleet, and put lives at risk. The “Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks” is a culmination of EPA’s consultation with NHTSA to determine how fuel-economy standards can best balance consumers’ concerns about automobile affordability, vehicle safety, and fuel economy. “Our proposal aims to strike the right regulatory balance based on the most recent information and create a 50-state solution that will enable more Americans to afford newer, safer vehicles that pollute less,” Wheeler said. “There are compelling reasons for a new rulemaking on fuel economy standards for 2021-2026. More realistic standards will promote a healthy economy by bringing newer, safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles to U.S. roads and we look forward to receiving input from the public,” stated Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. EPA calculates freezing fuel-economy standards at 2020 levels through 2026 will save more than 500 billion dollars in societal costs over the next 50 years and reduce highway fatalities by 12,700 lives. Fuel standard mandates began in 1975, when Congress established Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to reduce dependence on foreign oil following the 1973–74 Arab oil embargo. The law required car manufacturers to meet mandated fuel-economy targets or else pay a hefty tax on gas-guzzling sedans. What happened? Some people bought smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Others, however, started driving trucks, and new categories of vehicles were born: SUVs and minivans. Over the years, compact cars have become less popular because of low fuel prices, underpowered engines, and lack of passenger and storage space. Most full-sized cars and trucks can seat five adults, and minivans and many SUVs can seat between seven and nine people. Numerous SUVs, trucks, and minivans offer ample cargo space and are capable of hauling a trailer or boat, which no subcompact can do safely. Ironically, the high popularity of trucks, SUVs, and minivans is at least partially a result of environmentalists’ efforts to reduce the appeal of large, powerful cars. EPA’s stringent fuel-economy standards didn’t apply to trucks, SUVs, or minivans, which didn’t then exist. So, to keep the features they liked, millions of people replaced the family sedan or station wagon with an SUV or truck. As fuel efficiency increased and driving became cheaper, people drove more miles — thereby negating the marginal gains of owning more-fuel-efficient vehicles. CAFE standards did not reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil — it would take the fracking revolution to do that — but they did have deadly unintended consequences. To meet federal fuel-economy guidelines, carmakers reduced vehicle size, weight, and power. By doing so, manufacturers compromised cars’ safety, resulting in tens of thousands of unnecessary injuries and deaths in vehicle crashes. For every 100 pounds shaved off new cars to meet CAFE standards, between 440 and 780 additional people are killed in auto accidents, amounting to 2,200 to 3,900 lives lost per year, according to researchers at Harvard University and the Brookings Institution. As a result, CAFE has resulted in more deaths than all U.S. soldiers lost in the Vietnam War and every U.S. military engagement since then. The laws of physics will never change. In a vehicle crash, larger and heavier is safer than lighter and smaller. EPA’s fuel-economy freeze will prevent unnecessary deaths while protecting consumer choice. If fuel economy is the driving force behind your purchasing decisions, nothing changes under EPA’s decision to freeze current fuel-economy standards. You are free to continue buying the electric, hybrid, or clean diesel vehicle of your choice. If, however, comfort, power, vehicle safety, and the ability to haul a boat or ferry a little league team are your goals, EPA’s CAFE freeze ensures you can continue to make that choice as well. Ain’t freedom grand! Kansas Gas Corporation is back for another rate increase in just two years, Docket No.:18-KGSG-560 RTS The last one having been approved in 2016. KGS is a subsidiary of ONE Gas. ONE Gas Inc is another large conglomerate supplying Oklahoma, Eastern Kansas and parts of Texas where guaranteed levels of income are desired regardless of overall consumption. Breitbart reports that Electric, Gas, and Water Rates Falling Due to Trump Tax Cuts “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut the corporate rate from 35% to 21%.. Utility companies are passing on the tax savings in the form of lower rates for customers,” – Americans for Tax Reform. But this phenomenon is apparently not true in Kansas where utility rates continue to rise. The ONE Gas financial report at http://investor.onegas.com/news/news-releases/news-details/2018/ONE-Gas-Announces-First-quarter-2018-Financial-Results/default.aspx shows: Net margin increased by $0.8 million compared with first quarter 2017, which primarily reflects: A $5.1 million increase from new rates primarily in Texas and Kansas; A $2.5 million increase from the impact of the weather-normalization mechanisms in Kansas and Oklahoma; A $2.5 million increase due primarily to higher transportation volumes; A $1.2 million increase attributed to net residential customer growth in Oklahoma and Texas; A $0.9 million increase due to a compressed natural gas excise tax credit that was enacted in February 2018 and retroactive to 2017; and A $0.8 million increase in rider and surcharge recoveries due to a higher ad-valorem surcharge in Kansas, which is offset with higher regulatory amortization expense; offset by A $12.3 million decrease related to the deferral of potential refund obligations from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. So KGS admits revenues are up from a combined increase in Texas and Kansas but it’s NOT enough! There appears to be no end to KGS rate and new cost factor requests, the latest being the Kansas Gas System Reliability Surcharge which now is to include Cyber attacks. Why not include impact from the stock market impact in a cost factor as well? SOURCE: http://investor.onegas.com/investors/financial-reporting/earnings-and-guidance/default.aspx “ONE Gas 2018 net income is expected to be in the range of $167 million to $178 million, or $3.15 to $3.35 per diluted share. The midpoint for ONE Gas’ 2018 net income guidance is $172 million, or $3.25 per diluted share.” Requests for Kansas utility rate increases are a revolving door chiefly to guarantee satisfactory dividends to ONE Gas investors. The current KGS request increase is a 10% rate hike to consumers when inflation currently stands at 2.3%. Is there ANYTHING the rate payer is NOT being asked to fund? Where is the promise of lower rates to get the earlier rate increase approvals? Just lies as the market for gas has improved revenues rather than diminished them. Instead rate payers are asked to pay dividends of $3.35 a share. But why stop there? Why not $5.15 or even $10 a share? General Motors a for profit corporation is paying just $0.38 cents per share as of their 1st Quarter 2018 financial report: http://quote.morningstar.com/stock-filing/Quarterly-Report/2018/3/31/t.aspx?t=:GM&ft=&d=8ba56ee4bdd422dcb28a39f579bc9cda while Kansans are forced to pay dividends in the dollar range. WHY? Extraneous surcharges mask the true price users pay for gas services and in effect are automatic rate bumpers that increase consumer bills unfairly for such things as weather, reliability etc. It is an effective hedge against conservation. These charges are designed to keep utility bills from advantaging consumers by being too low. The KGS COG delivery charge is an example. In Sept of 2018 the service charge was 0.4 MCF at a stated rate of $3.85 per 1000 ft3. This $0.41000 ft3 $3.8523/1000 ft3 = $1.54 COG So the ratio of gas consumption to the charge for providing it is $16.70/$1.54 or 10.84 nearly 11 times the cost of the gas which illustrates my point. Now KGS wants to increase the delivery service charge from $16.70 to $22.66 which is $22.66/ $1.54 or 14.7 times the cost of the gas. The result is that KGS customers will pay nearly 15 times as much for the gas to be delivered to their home as for the actual gas consumed not to mention all the other ‘hedge factors’. The rest of the bill is local taxes. When service charges exceed the cost of a product by double digits the company is gouging consumers. BreitBart continues: “Thus far, ATR has found 102 utility companies that have lowered rates or ceased rate hikes due to President Trump’s tax cuts.” Why do ONE Gas/KGS customers have to fund dividends at a higher rate than General Motors, #21 on the 2017 fortune 500 list despite a record federal tax cut? I seriously question the company’s claim that it has “experienced increases in payroll expenses and supplier costs” to justify their current rate request. These cost claims appear to be creative paper expenses towards the end of providing investor dividends. 102 other utilities have either decreased rates or ceased rate requests but not Kansas? Commission Consultants are not tantamount to citizen ratepayer oversight of a regulated monopoly The KGS rate increase is nothing short of rubber stamp legalized robbery. WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: U.S. President Donald Trump participates in the inaugural meeting of the Presidents National Council for the American Worker in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on September 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Oliver Contreras - Pool/Getty Images) President Donald Trump ordered the declassification of several documents and texts related to the FBI’s Russia investigation during the 2016 presidential election. Included among the documents are the 21 pages of the FISA court application used by the FBI to obtain a warrant to surveil Trump campaign advisor Carter Page, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement on Monday. Sanders added that the president has also directed the release of all reports by the FBI of interviews with Justice Department official Bruce Ohr in relation to the Russia investigation. Steve Herman ✔ @W7VOA FISA documents declassified by @POTUS. 9:27 PM - Sep 17, 2018 · Washington, DC 1,955 people are talking about this Trump further ordered the public release of all text messages concerning the Russia investigation, “without redaction,” from former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, former FBI agent Peter Strzok, former FBI attorney Lisa Page, and Ohr. The House Intelligence and House Oversight and Government Reform committees have both been seeking the unredacted FISA applications on Carter Page for months. Fox News reported sources familiar with the matter do not know how soon the documents will be released, but the release covered “pretty much everything that (House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes) wanted … and the text messages are a bonus.” Nunes stated on FNC on Sunday, “If the president wants the American people to really understand just how broad and invasive this investigation has been to many Americans and how unfair it has been, he has no choice but to declassify” key documents. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise praised Trump’s decision to release the FISA documents and text messages, tweeting, the president “made the right call. Americans deserve the truth about these egregious actions by government officials.” Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Mark Meadows tweeted after Trump’s announcement, “Transparency wins.” “It’s time to get the full truth on the table so the American people can decide for themselves on what happened at the highest levels of their FBI and Justice Department,” he added. House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., accused Trump of “ordering the selective disclosure of classified materials he believes helpful to his defense.” “The DOJ and FBI have previously informed me that release of some of this information would cross a ‘red line,’” he wrote. On Monday morning, Trump tweeted about a Fox News report concerning Lisa Page’s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee in July during which she stated the FBI had found no evidence of Russia collusion by May 2017, when special counsel Robert Mueller was named to take over the investigation. “Therefore, the case should never have been allowed to be brought. It is a totally illegal Witch Hunt!” wrote the president. In another tweet, he wrote, “Immediately after Comey’s firing Peter Strzok texted to his lover, Lisa Page ‘We need to Open the case we’ve been waiting on now while Andy (McCabe, also fired) is acting.” “Page answered, ‘We need to lock in (redacted). In a formal chargeable way. Soon.’ Wow, a conspiracy caught?” Trump wondered. Randy DeSoto Summary More Info Recent Posts Randy DeSoto is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money." @RandyDeSoto by Robert Oscar Lopez {An excellent 2014 article that exposes the insipidness of gay adoption: Lopez considers himself a “children’s advocate” in rejecting gay marriage and gay adoption. In the process he is also addressing one of the greatest threats to the survival of the family in recent history, especially with the global explosion of gay surrogacy and gay adoption. Some of the dark “underworld” agendas he hints at need more attention -- publicly. Read his own story at: http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/08/6065. -- DNI] S.E. Cupp is one of the latest media figures to make a pitch on gay marriage and adoption. As is often the case, she throws out so many canards in this cocktail of insipidness, one scarcely knows where to begin. I will say conservatives have got to move on gay marriage....[and] on gay adoption. If abortion is the abhorrent option – and I believe it is – then adoption by any two loving people has got to be the better option. First of all, the latest estimates indicate that somewhere between 12-15% of heterosexual couples struggle with infertility. Currently many of these viable homes, rather than adopting, are being steered to the artificial reproduction market and contributing to the 1.5% (and rising) of live American births tied to in vitro technology. The alternative to abortion is obviously to get more of these viable straight couples to avoid sperm-banking or surrogacy, and to consider adopting instead. Anyone who’s lost a birth parent to death, divorce, or a tragedy knows that a kid feels the absence of a father or mother. This is square one for adoptees, orphans, children of divorce, or children of same-sex couples – someone was there when you were born, and now he or she is not there. That person is a very real human being, tied to you by flesh and blood. A kid mourns the missing person, thinks about him, longs to reconnect with him. It hurts to be cut off from a mother or father. I was cut off from my dad because he divorced my lesbian mother; I was reared by two women. It’s not a small thing to make a kid grow up without a father because a bunch of self-centered adults can’t get their acts together. I’ve had enough of pundits like S.E. Cupp being so glib about things that are incredibly painful for people who are actually in these situations, and powerless about it to boot. If you haven’t been raised by a gay couple and you haven’t been adopted, it might be hard to understand how offensive it is to hear people on TV talk about fraught transactions like adoption and same-sex parenting with such confident nonchalance. One of the unnoticed ironies in the debate on gay adoption has to do with David Brock, the chieftain at Media Matters, whose subdivision Equality Matters has gone after me more than once for my views on a child’s right to his mother and father. Brock spent much of his 2002 memoirs, Blinded by the Right, on the pain he felt about being adopted. In fact, his adoption weighed on him and complicated his relationship with his father much more than did his gayness. You would think that Brock would understand why it’s not such a simple thing to yank kids from a birth family and toss him into a home with one or two adults unrelated to him. Ironic self-awareness is apparently lacking on the left. {And with Child Protective Services who often remove children from their true parents with out sufficient justification. - ED} The truth is that adoption in the United States is too expensive, and many heterosexual couples find the costs prohibitive, so they are priced out of the market by gay couples, who have much higher incomes and are, 100% of the time, forced to take babies from other people since they cannot conceive them on their own. In fact, gay adopters have such an insatiable desire to parlay their high incomes into cash-for-kids that they waged a war against Catholic Charities adoption centers, going as far as forcing many such agencies to shut down as punishment for not giving gay couples other people’s abandoned children. The dirty secret about gay adoption is that most often when homosexual couples adopt, one of their pair is the biological parent. Usually the child comes from a former heterosexual relationship that broke down. So when they “adopt,” they typically have to put a bunch of people through the mud fight that my dear friend Janna endured: they have to drag the opposite-sex parent to family court, strip him or her of custody, and then force the poor little kid to submit to the parental authority of a new, sometimes creepy, person who’s sleeping with a biological parent and very likely caused the breakup of that child's original family. That’s the real-life adoption story that doesn’t make for great gay headlines. Gay adoption has unfortunate but ineluctable ties to divorce. In fact, by encouraging gay adoption so much, we are encouraging a whole new generation of homewreckers – gays who want to be parents and figure out that the cheapest way to do it is to seduce someone of the same sex who is currently in a rocky marriage with children. You will hear, from time to time, about hundreds of thousands of children in foster care who can’t find families to adopt them. This is a favorite statistic for gay marriage gurus to throw out as a kind of emotional Shock and Awe, a debate-stopper of the first order, especially if you can cough up an example of special-needs children being raised by adorable lesbians in Michigan. There has never been a backlog of infants, so these holdouts are typically older children who landed in the child protective services system because of a crisis. Many of them are kids who don’t want to placed with gay couples, or kids whom gay couples don’t want, either. What people don’t tell you – because they don’t want to and don’t have to, until you push them on it – is that most of those children have living parents, or living kin networks, and the foster care system has to work on reuniting them with their struggling birth families. Otherwise, the government would merely be an oppressive police state taking people’s kids away and signing them over to rich folks in exchange for cash, as happened in dictatorships like the kind that governed Argentina in the 1970s. Most people don’t have the time to work through the nuances of foster care versus adoption. Fewer still are aware of how many people in “Adoption Land” – the community of adoptees and adoptive families – are calling for massive reform in both foster care and adoption. What gay activists are asking for, on both fronts, would actually be moving in the precisely wrong direction; gay lobbyists want agencies to speed up the process by which foster kids are cut off from their birth mothers and fathers and subordinated permanently to same-sex couples eager to acquire them. On the international adoption front, even gay adoptive father Frank Ligtvoet has faced the painful reality that adoption systems are overemphasizing the desire of wealthy childless families rather than the needs of impoverished communities that are struggling to provide for their children (in the Huffington Post, no less). It took a while for brave activists like Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy to apply the same critiques on the domestic fronts, but now, too, people are scrutinizing domestic adoptions and finding much to improve. (The film Philomena, ironically, humanizes the pain of a birth mother who is pressured to give up her infant who turns out to be gay; despite the film’s sympathy for homosexuals, the gay movement is pushing to create more Philomenas nowadays so they can build their rainbow families.) Foster care costs the public money, whereas adoption is a huge moneymaker for certain attorneys and even, in the United Kingdom and here, for social service agencies (see this article on the blowback that resulted from rewarding people too handsomely for placing foster kids in adoptive homes). So the mentality that it’s always best to get kids out of foster care and into adoption is a mixed bag. On the one hand, we have ample evidence that life in foster care is hard, and we know that many adoptive homes are great places to save suffering children from such instability. (I should confess: when I was fifteen, there were problems in my home, and my father did not want to take me in, so he drove me to a “boarding school” in Maine, where I stayed while my home situation might improve. It was very hard to feel abandoned, essentially, at the moment that my dad dropped me off at the main office with a check, but would it have made sense for some couple to adopt me at that point? In the end I returned to my mothers’ home and finished high school early, going to college as a de facto emancipated minor.) On the other hand, we have much to worry about when we envision rushing kids out of foster care into gay adoption. Gay adoptive parents have proved just as capable as straight foster parents of kidnapping, murder, abuse, rape, child pornography, and neglect involving the children they acquire. So everything that’s painful about foster care with straight people is also painful about gay adoption; the difference is that in a gay adoption, the child loses forever his chance at having a mom and dad. Whether adopters are gay or straight, it’s not a good idea to incentivize social services agencies’ power to remove children from troubled homes and transfer all parental equivalence to a new home without making a good-faith effort to repair problems with the birth family. It sounds ominous to be in the position of “aging out” of foster care without having been adopted. But it’s not necessarily as bad as it sounds. You can still maintain contact with foster parents, but once you are emancipated, it is your choice to do that (not something forced on you by law), and you also have the choice to rebuild your relationship with your birth kin network, the way I rebuilt a relationship with my father as an adult. My mother’s lesbian partner never adopted me, and that was probably the right decision. Robert Oscar Lopez edits English Manif. [See also his own “bio”: http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/08/6065/ The article first appeared here. An attorney who served as White House counsel in the Obama administration is under investigation for his role in dealings linked to the case against Paul Manafort, according to a report from CNN, citing sources “familiar with the matter.” Manafort, who briefly served as Donald Trump’s campaign manager, was the target of an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. Manafort pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice, both having to do with dealings in Ukraine that took place years before his involvement with the Trump campaign. CNN reported Friday that attorney Greg Craig, who was White House counsel from 2009 to 2010, is under scrutiny over whether he lobbied for Ukrainian leaders without registering as a foreign agent. The investigation also touches on the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where Craig was a partner at the time. Craig’s actions were taken after he left the White House, according to the report. Connections between Manafort, the firm and Craig were revealed in filings in the Manafort case. Craig’s attorney William Taylor III said his client did nothing wrong. “Greg Craig was not required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act,” Taylor said in a statement, Law.com reported. Craig himself would not comment on the investigation. This is not the first controversial case for Taylor, who represented Fusion GPS, the firm involved in the production of a dossier of discredited claims against Trump. NBC News reported that Craig was the supervisor of Alex van der Zwaan, a Skadden lawyer who has pleaded guilty to lying to prosecutors and about communications concerning the Ukrainian politician for whom Manafort was also working. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Justice Department have not yet decided if they will file charges against either Craig or the law firm, CNN reported. The law firm was paid more than $4.6 million, which Manafort sought to hide, the court filing said. Bloomberg reported that the law firm is also facing questions of conflict of interest in the issues surrounding former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Skadden lawyers, which would have included Craig, may have violated their ethical responsibilities through their actions, said Rebecca Roiphe, who provides instruction on legal ethics at New York Law School. “Skadden could face some problems with disciplinary authorities in D.C., assuming this is as bad and as baseless as described,” she said. By Owen Sullivan Derek Walters was stuck in rush hour traffic when he got the call. “Mr. Walters, this is Officer Rick Selznick of the Department of Treasury.” The voice on the other end of the line was a gravelly, pack-a-day voice. It sounded serious. “We need to have a little chat.” Rick said Derek owed the government $5,000 in back taxes. Rick said there was a warrant out for Derek’s arrest. Rick said Derek was in big trouble. Derek’s heart dropped into his stomach. His mouth went dry. He couldn’t go to jail. He had a family, two kids in school and a new job to worry about. He drove straight to the bank. He was sure there had been a mistake. But now wasn’t the time to argue. He would pay the money to get the warrant squashed and try to get the money back later. He withdrew $5,000 from his savings account and wired it to a bank account provided by Officer Selznick. All the while, never got off the phone with Rick. “Thank you very much, Mr. Walters. You did the right thing.” And just like that, Derek had fell for the biggest tax scam in American history. Wrong Number This week in Money & Crisis, we’ve been investigating a bombshell report that claims almost 50% of all phone calls in 2019 will be scam phone calls. That means that every time you pick up the phone, there’s a 50/50 chance the person on the other end of the line will try to scam you out of your money. Derek fell for one of the most prevalent scam techniques known as the “back taxes” scam. “When I was explaining it to my wife, it was obvious it was a scam,” says Derek. “I mean, of course the Treasury Department doesn’t call you up and force you to wire money to them on the spot! “But they put so much pressure on you, you don’t have time to think. It was like an action movie. ‘Do this NOW and the bomb won’t go off.’ That’s why they keep you on the phone. So you don’t have time to think.” This is a common thread in reports of phone scams. The thieves will use the fear of jail time or financial ruin to manipulate their marks. But today, their attacks and techniques have become so varied, that it’s getting harder and harder to tell scams apart from legitimate phone calls. Sometimes, even saying one word is enough to get you into heaps of trouble. Today, we’re going to delve the most common scams people fall for and some strategies for beating them. One of the most common types of scams is known as a robocaller. This is a pre-recorded message — usually that of a pleasant sounding woman — that will try to get you to fork over your credit card information. They’ll hide their scam behind the pretense of collecting money for emergency relief, local charities and even political parties. When you hear that pleasant sounding robot’s voice, hang up. WARNING: Some of these robocallers will give you the “option” to unsubscribe by hitting nine on your keypad. Don’t do it. This just tells the scammers that this is an active phone line to be targeted for more scams. The Silent Caller Some scammers have found the best moneymaking strategy is… Complete silence. They simply call you up… say nothing… and record anything you say while you’re on the line. The goal is try and get you to say “yes” or anything else that could be used as a verbal contract. They’ll try and use this recording of you saying “yes” to sign you up to expensive subscriptions services. There are variations on this strategy, where callers will ask you questions to trick you into saying yes, such as “can you hear me?” or “are you a homeowner?” If you get caught by one of these scammers, know that your “yes” isn’t a valid contract. They will try and intimidate you and manipulate you psychologically into paying up. But you don’t owe these thugs jack. Too Good to Be True As a rule, if a stranger calls you to tell you “good news” they’re after your money. Callers will make wild claims of extravagant prizes and free products. But in reality, these “awesome prizes” are nothing more than bait. Scammers are just buttering you up to get you to listen to a sales pitch or to trick you into forking over your credit card details. Common claims to watch out for are: Foreign Lotteries: The winning ticket was purchased in your name or as a gift. All we need is a “small fee” to transfer the funds. Free or Low Cost Travel Packages: These travel packages often have sky-high hidden fees. While others don’t exist at all. The scammer just takes your money and disappears. Credit and Loans: These loans might look good up front. But hidden costs and sky-high interest means you’ll end up paying back far more than you bargained for. Extended Car Warranties: Scammers will find out what car you drive and try to sell you overpriced, worthless warranties. Scam Beating Strategies Don’t answer calls you don’t recognize. If it’s important they’ll leave a message. Some scammers will leave a message. But this will give you time to think and google the phone number. Scam numbers will often be listed online. If you pick up the phone and suspect someone is impersonating a government employee or legitimate business, say you will call them back and hang up. Instead of using the number they called you from, look up their number online and ask for the person by name. If they protest, it’s a scam. Download a scam blocker app. Nomorobo catalogues all the scam numbers and blocks them from connecting to your phone. True Caller is a similar app that uses its database of 2 billion numbers to identify incoming calls. True Caller won’t actually block any calls but it will give you the information you need to screen the calls yourself. Both apps are available on Apple and Google Play. And with that, I’ll leave you with a piece of wisdom from Laissez Faire’s Editorial Director Justin Fritz. “I knew it wasn’t a scam, because they sent me a letter!” What about you? Have you had any close calls with a scam caller? What was the lie they told you? When did you realize they weren’t legit? A direct challenge to the hardcore enviros who heretofore controlled and corrupted the agency. President Donald Trump committed to fundamentally transforming the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from an agency producing politicized science to one instilling sound scientific standards for research. By doing so, Americans should expect improved environmental and health outcomes. Currently, regulatory costs top $1.9 trillion annually, which amounts to $14,842 per U.S. household. That’s nearly $15,000 less for Americans to pay for health insurance, medical bills, education expenses, groceries, gasoline, or entertainment. Because the economic and social implications of regulations are profound, the science they are built upon must be impeccable. Over the last few decades — under Republican and Democratic administrations — EPA formed a cozy relationship with radical environmental activists and liberal academic researchers. With the support of environmental lobbyists who despise capitalism (expressed by consumers’ free choices in the marketplace) EPA bureaucrats, in pursuit of more power and expanded budgets for the agency, funded researchers who, because they were largely dependent on government grants for the majority of their funding, were only too happy to produce results claiming industry was destroying the earth. Of course, the only way to prevent environmental collapse was more government control of the economy. However, these reports were produced despite the fact poverty and hunger have steadily declined and people are living longer and more productive lives than ever before. As Jay Lehr, a colleague and science director at the Heartland Institute told me once, “For decades, EPA has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the environmental left. Together, radical environmentalists and EPA bureaucrats, including the members of all their advisory panels, have used their considerable power to thwart American business at every turn.” Under Trump, EPA changed how it pursues science to pay greater fealty to the scientific method and remove temptations for scientific self-aggrandizement and corruption. Not surprisingly, researchers, environmentalists, and bureaucrats, seeing their power curtailed and their gravy train ending, are crying foul saying the Trump administration is undermining science. However, in reality this is simply not true. EPA’s scientific advisory panels are tasked with ensuring the research the agency uses to develop and justify regulations is rigorous, has integrity, and is based on the best available science. To better ensure this, EPA ceased automatically renewing the terms of board members on various panels. EPA is now filling its scientific panels and boards on a competitive basis as each board member’s term expires. This should improve the science EPA uses to inform its decisions, by expanding diversity — diversity of interests, diversity of scientific disciplines, and diversity of backgrounds — thus bringing in a wider array of viewpoints to EPA decision-making. In addition, to reduce opportunities for corruption, EPA ceased allowing members of its federal advisory committees to apply for EPA research grants and instituted policies to ensure advisory panel members and grant recipients have no other conflicts of interest. It was always a foolish practice to allow those recommending, often determining, who gets EPA grants to also be in the running for those grants. However, this was business as usual at EPA, where grant makers awarded themselves, research teams they were members of, or their friends billions of taxpayer dollars over the years. In April, then EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt declared “The era of secret science at EPA is coming to an end.” Pruitt proposed requiring the data underlying scientific studies used by EPA to craft regulations be available for public inspection, criticism, and independent verification. For years, EPA bureaucrats have used the results of studies by researchers who would not disclose the data underlying their results to be examined and retested for confirmation or falsification. Fortunately, EPA is finally ending this unjustifiable practice. Many scientists have objected to EPA’s new secret science policy because they claim the studies EPA uses have undergone “peer review.” However, the peer review process is often nothing more than other researchers, often hand-picked by the scientists whose research is being reviewed, sitting around in their ivory towers reading the reports and saying, “this looks okay or reasonable to me.” Unless the reviewers are able examine the underlying data and assumptions, and attempt to replicate the results, peer review is unable to ensure the validity of studies used to underpin regulations. Absent transparency and replicability, peer review is hollow. Another long overdue EPA regulatory reform was the decision to end exclusive use of the “Linearity No Threshold” (LNT) model when assessing the dangers of radiation, carcinogens, and other toxic substances in the environment. Going forward, EPA will incorporate uncertainty into its risk assessments using a variety of other, more realistic models. The LNT model assumes there is no safe dose of ionizing radiation or exposure to various other chemicals or toxins. Relying on flawed studies from the effect of ionizing radiation on fruit flies from the 1950s, EPA and other regulatory agencies have used LNT as a basis for regulation of environmental clean-ups, setting safety standards for nuclear plants, and limiting low dose radiation treatments for medical patients, a policy that has cost lives and billions of taxpayer dollars. Although science has progressed phenomenally since the 1950s, with copious amounts of research showing the LNT model is seriously flawed, EPA and other agencies never questioned the LNT standard. That is, until now. In fact, adverse effects from low dose exposures to radiation and most other chemicals and potential toxins are often non-existent. Indeed, substances that may be harmful in large quantities can be beneficial in small amounts, a process known as hormesis. In the commonly paraphrased words of Swiss physician and astronomer Paracelsus, “the dose makes the poison.” Vitamins, which are valuable in small quantities, and even water, which is literally necessary for life, can become deadly if too much of either is taken over a short period of time. Or consider sun exposure. While exposure to too much sunlight can contribute to skin cancer, sunlight is required to catalyze the final synthesis of Vitamin D, which strengthens the bones, helping prevent osteoporosis and rickets. There is also ample evidence sunlight can help fight depression and several skin and inflammatory ailments. Replacing reliance on the untenable LNT model with other models of exposure and response will result in better safety and health protocols, potentially saving billions of dollars and thousands of lives each year. In service of the American people and the pursuit of continued American greatness, science practices at EPA are improving under President Trump. One can only hope equivalent changes are adopted at other executive agencies so the regulations they produce are grounded in the best available science, free of political corruption and bureaucratic incentives for agency mission creep and growth. The article first appeared here.]]> tag:newpatriotsblog.com,2013:Post/1330268 2018-10-08T15:44:00Z 2018-10-08T15:44:51Z By Richard Ebeling Bad economics can bring about or grow out of bad politics. But the question is, what are bad economics and bad politics? Bad economics can bring about or grow out of bad politics. But the question is, what are bad economics and bad politics? Unless this is clearly and correctly identified, a bad situation can be made worse, and a good situation can be turned into a bad one. So sorting this out is crucial to having a free and prosperous society. British economist, Robert Skidelsky, is confident that he knows the answer. In a recent article on “Good Politics, Bad Economics,” he states that bad economics and bad politics are free markets and limited government along classical liberal lines. How does he know that such economics and politics are “bad” in their effects on the society? The financial crisis of 2008-2009, Skidelsky says, was due to unbridled financial markets combined with “hands-off” economic policies once the downturn set in, in 2009-2010. Good politics and good economics, in his view, comprise an openness and sensitivity to the concerns of many in the society for social securities and job assurances in a changing and uncertain world. Oh, Adam Smith’s invisible hand of unhampered free markets is fine enough when taking the long view, but, Skidelsky says, they are “also highly disruptive and prone to periodic breakdown,” in the shorter run. Skidelsky: Populist Demagogues as Good Economists Adhering to such Smithian free market policies opens the door to “populist” demagogues, such as Victor Orban in Hungary who has instituted illiberal political policies attempting to restrict civil liberties and personal freedom. But, on the other hand, as far as Skidelsky is concerned Orban has a highly redeemable set of good fiscal policies, based on a “sound Keynesian footing.” This echoes back to the infamous forward that John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) wrote for the German translation of his, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money (1936), that “The theory of output as a whole, which is what the following book purports to provide, is much more easily adapted to the conditions in a totalitarian state than . . . under conditions of free competition and a large measure of laissez-faire . . .” It is worth recalling that in 1936, the only remaining academic economists to whom the content of Keynes’s book could be addressed in recommending it as a guide for government economic policy were Nazi economists, since all others already had been removed from university and related positions by Hitler’s National Socialist regime. Following in the footsteps of his intellectual mentor (being the author of a highly regarded three-volume biography of Keynes), Skidelsky points out that illiberal nationalist regimes such as Orban’s find it far easier “to pursue policies of social protection.” Why? They can use the heavy hand of government control to impose such policies on society without the type of resistance or public criticism possible in a more politically open liberal system. The Bigger the Government, the Better for Keynesians The smaller the government’s fiscal presence in the economic activities within a country, the less is likely to be the impact from “activist” government spending policies, since government expenditures and taxation would be relatively small to start with. If there is, say, a $1 trillion economy, with government taxing and spending only representing one percent (or $10 billion), a 20 percent increase in government spending in the form of a budget deficit only comes to an additional $2 billion. But if, on the other hand, out of a $1 trillion economy, government taxing and spending comes to, say, 20 percent that is equal to $200 billion. If, now, the government increases it’s spending by only 5 percent through deficit financing that comes to $10 billion, or five times as much as in the first case. Keynes’s point, and Skidelsky’s, is that the greater the degree of government influence or control over the economic activities within a country to begin with, including the size of government spending as a percent of the economy as a whole, the larger the impact from any increase in spending by that government. The bigger the government, the more policy-relevant is the introduction or expansion of Keynesian-type fiscal policies. In fairness, Keynes had no sympathy for the ideology or the politics of the Nazi regime in Germany, and Robert Skidelsky is equally unsympathetic with the political and cultural policies of Orban’s government in Hungary. But Skidelsky believes that the best way to prevent or make less likely the coming to power of a populist, “right-wing” government like Orban’s is for a more liberal and democratic government to introduce “good” Keynesian and other interventionist policies before economic circumstances become so bad in a country that the citizens turn to an Orban-type of leader, due to the affects of “bad” free market policies that limit the size and scope of a government to “fix” and set things right. Bastiat and Hazlitt: Good Economists Look Beyond the Short Run Slightly modernizing the insight of the French free market economist, Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) in his famous essay, “What is Seen and What is Not Seen,” economic journalist Henry Hazlitt (1894-1993) explained the crucial difference between a “bad” and “good” economist in his classic, Economics in One Lesson (1946): “The bad economist sees only what immediately strikes the eye; the good economist also looks beyond. The bad economist sees only the direct consequences of a proposed course; the good economist looks also at the longer and indirect consequences. The bad economist sees only what the effect of a given policy has been or will be on one particular group, the good economist inquires also what the effect of the policy will be on all groups . . . “The long-run consequences of some economic policies may become evident in a few months. Others may not become evident for several years. Still others may not become evident for decades. But in every case those long-run consequences are contained in the policy as surely as the hen was in the egg., the flower in the seed . . . The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences not merely for one group but for all groups.” Now no personal or moral slight is intended by implying that Robert Skidelsky, by Bastiat’s and Hazlitt’s definition, is a “bad” economist. It simply means that it is “bad economics” if the analyst, for whatever reason, exclusively or primarily focuses on the immediate or nearer effects from a government policy while ignoring or downplaying the possible or likely impact of such policies when taking the longer-run perspective on what the consequences of a policy may be. The reason being, as the old adage says, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” It is clear from Skidelsky’s argument that he is concerned that if a “good” or well-intentioned government pursues “bad” economic policies, it may create the political conditions in which an authoritarian or populist demagogue may be able to promise “good” interventionist economics, some of which he might even successfully deliver, but at the cost of reduced or lost political and civil liberties. However, a “good” diagnosis requires a correct judgment concerning the cause and nature of the (social) ailment. Otherwise, the illness may be made worse, or at a minimum recovery may be delayed or prolonged more than otherwise might have been necessary. Short-Run Policies Created the 2008-2009 Crisis What Skidelsky interprets as the economic system prevailing in the United States and most other Western countries has little to do with how classical liberals define a “free market.” Financial markets have been and are heavily regulated by government regulatory agencies. The creation of money and credit and the rates of interest they charge to borrowers are not truly market-based. Central banks set the regulatory and loan-creating rules for the member banks within the banking systems. Governments and their central banks created the financial crisis of 2008-2009. For years the Federal Reserve had been increasing the quantity of loanable funds in the banking system, and when adjusted for price inflation as measured by the consumer price index, some real interest rates were negative. (See my article, “Interest Rates Need to Tell the Truth”.) In other words, loan money was being handed out for free in terms of real buying power that a borrower was paying back to lenders for the period of their loans. To get the central bank-created money in the banking system out the door, besides the equivalent of negative interest charges on some loans, the banks were induced to extend loans to uncredit-worthy home buyers with the promise that government agencies like Fanny Mae Freddie Mac would pick up the tab if and when the loans went bad – which many eventually did. Bad Economics and Short-Run Politics Cause Society’s Ills What had motivated these policies? In the case of the Federal Reserve, a fear in the early years of the 21st century that there might be a tendency for price deflation, which the Fed Board of Governors decided had to be prevented at all costs through counter-acting monetary expansion. The longer run consequence was an unsustainable financial and investment bubble that came crashing down in 2008-2009. (See my article, “Don’t Fear ‘Deflation,’ Unless Caused by Government”.) In the case of the housing market, pressures by members of Congress were placed on the government’s home loan guaranteed agencies – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – that not enough people were attaining the American dream of having their own home, especially among members of minority communities in the United States. So credit standards were lowered or seemingly almost waved. Banks were told not to worry; just extend home loans to those not meeting the traditional credit-worthy standards of income and work history or not enough of a usual down payment, because if things went wrong those government agencies guaranteed to cover any that went “bad.” Misplaced fears about possible price deflation and the pressures of politicians looking no further than needing votes from happy home-owning constituents; these were the short-run policy contexts that created the longer run disaster of one of the severest economic downturns of the post-World War II period. Macroeconomic Mindset Prevents Understanding of Markets Both factors reflected the bad economics of focusing on the short-run. The Keynesian mindset is to have the monetary central planners try to micro-manage every twist and turn in the financial and economic climate, and frequently turn the money-creation and interest rate dials in an attempt to keep the macro-economy on an even keel, as the defined by the Keynesian-oriented policy makers. The same applies to using government taxing and spending to try to influence investment, employment and wages in the economy as a whole. But, again, what this mindset summarizes away in the macroeconomic aggregates used as indicators and targets are the complex and interconnected microeconomic relationships in the structure of relative prices and wages, relative profitabilities of directing productions to satisfy multitudes of different consumer demands, and the need for on-going and continuous adaptations and adjustments in prices and wages, and the allocation of resources (including labor) for successful economy-wide coordination of what everyone is doing in the social system of the division of labor. (See my article, “Macro Aggregates Hide the Real Market Processes at Work”.) The Best Short and Long Run Policy: Limited Government For a market economy to succeed in this endeavor the only long run set of policies for any government needs to undertake is to protect the individual and private property rights of the citizenry, enforce all contracts and agreements peacefully and voluntarily entered into that are not fraudulent or misrepresentations, and prevent foreign aggressors from invading and plundering the people within a country. This represents the “good politics” of a (classical) liberal political order that helps secure people’s liberty and assures the economic setting most conducive to prosperity and price-guided market coordination. A stable and healthy market order such as this precludes the likelihood of the disruptions and distortions that are central to Skildelsky’s concerns. If such disruptions do arise for some external reason, it remains nonetheless the best long run and short run policy for open and competitive markets to be left free to rebalance and recoordinate in the most appropriate and timesaving ways possible. Government planners, regulators and bureaucrats can never know or acquire the needed and necessary microeconomic knowledge of time and circumstance that only the actors within the various sectors of the economy can discover and attempt to utilize in the most effective manner. Following this type of economic policy approach is most likely to preclude the emergence and attractiveness of the populist demagogues that Skidelsky fears as threats to political freedom and civil liberties. His proposed policies are far more likely to bring about the very “bad politics” about which he is rightly concerned. [Originally Published at the American Institute for Economic Research] Dr. Richard M. Ebeling is the BB&T Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Free Enterprise Leadership at The Citadel. Full Bio rebeling@citadel.edu by Rich Panessa Will it be Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? Several "protest candidates" have sprouted up which usually indicates they don’t have enough money, or they’re in it to try to upset the election results. As a former member of The Spectrum & Daily News ’ Writer’s Group for six years, I prognosticated about the country’s future under an unqualified Barack Obama. His dynamic speeches inspired the nation, but failed to ignite a fire under him. Predictably, his two terms as president doubled our debt and welfare enrollment, sent race relations back to pre-MLK, while his naive "lead-from-behind" foreign policy became a joke to our enemies, and a death knell to our allies. Nice job. As if his tenure wasn’t destructive enough, Obama highly recommended Hillary Clinton as his successor. Hillary is an unscrupulous politician who has made a fortune on the backs of the taxpayers. As Bill Clinton’s "point woman" during the scandals that plagued them in Arkansas, she skillfully managed to keep him a few steps ahead of the hangman. Her public life (and Bill’s) has been one shameful scandal after another with recent breaches in national security, "pay for play" implications between foreign governments and the State Department, while lying to Congress. Her investment outcomes have been "miraculous," while record books and sometimes "Arkansas bodies" disappeared just like in an old B-movie mystery. The difference is the Clinton who-doneit never ends ... and they’re never solved. Whitewater, File Gate, Travel Gate, Bi! ll’s impeachment and trial, a fistful of sexual assaults, Monica, Vince Foster, or why they were gifted a million-dollar New York home by none other than the current governor of Virginia. Then there’s the current FBI and IRS investigations into the Clinton Foundation. Move over Bonnie and Clyde. Donald Trump is not a politician but a businessman who turned his father’s $10 million dollar real estate company into a $10 billion empire. In his ascent, he honed his business skills alongside other powerful moguls like Helmsley, Blau, and Bloomberg, et al., not to mention savvy foreign investors from China, Russia and Japan. He has keen management skills and is a top-notch negotiator. Like him or not, Trump will re-establish America’s financial and production superiority to regain worldwide trade advantages. He’s a staunch supporter of law ! enforcement and is committed to modernize the military. He’ll allow companies with trillions offshore to repatriate that money with minimal penalties as long as the money remains in the U.S., to help pay for infrastructure investments and tax cuts across the board. His leadership and motivational skills will inspire Congress to reach impossible goals with precision, on time, and unlike before, under budget. For these reasons, regardless of his political missteps so far, I believe he’ll lead our nation from political correctness into an era of "Americanism." Most media outlets in their liberal bias criticize Trump for his gaffes and inexperience at campaigning, but admit he’s not a liar or a thief. He’s someone who will get much done, won’t speak in platitudes, and vehemently protect and defend the Constitution of United States, while never placing himself above the welfare and safety of this nation. Could you make the same claim about Hillary Cl! inton? Rich Panessa is a resident of St. George. by Bryan Chai Few things are sweeter than watching a Democratic plot blow up spectacularly in their faces. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, has been thrust into the public spotlight as a result. Look, the entire thing is murky. There is a startling lack of evidence, especially considering the assault allegedly took place over 30 years ago, so it’s unfair to paint Kavanaugh in a negative light. Not that that’s stopped far-left Democrats from trying to do so. But by that same token, Ford, and all sexual assault victims, should still be given an opportunity to be heard. Sexual assault is never okay, and any allegation is worth looking at. So let’s pump the brakes on presuming innocence or guilt, and refrain from attacking either Ford or Kavanaugh until due process plays out. You know who does deserve to be attacked? The Democrats who have weaponized an alleged sexual assault victim’s apparent trauma to attack a Supreme Court nominee whose only sin seems to be that he was nominated by President Donald Trump. It’s disgusting, reprehensible and deserves to be looked into. That’s exactly what’s going to happen, according to Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton. Appearing on CBS’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday, Cotton reamed Democrats for failing to uphold the confidentiality that Ford had requested when she first made her allegations against Kavanaugh. “They have betrayed her,” Cotton said. “She has been victimized by Democrats … on a search-and-destroy mission for Brett Kavanaugh.” Regardless of the veracity of Ford’s accusations, it’s inarguable that Democrats have opted to use her plight in an attempt to take down Kavanaugh. One of the tactics that Democrats have been accused of is supplying Ford with lawyers who were looking to serve the Democratic Party before their own client. Mitchell: Were you even told that the Senate Judiciary Committee offered to fly out to your home to meet you? Ford's attorney (who also represents Andrew McCabe): She doesn't have to answer that. — Sean Davis (@seanmdav) September 27, 2018 Remember how the Kavanaugh hearing was initially delayed because Ford didn’t want to fly from California to Washington? Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley apparently made it crystal clear that the GOP was willing to bring the hearing to her in California. Did Ford’s lawyers, supplied by Democrats, intentionally not tell her that important bit of information to drag the process into the mid-terms? I’m not saying they did, but if it smells like a duck and looks like a duck, it’s not an iguana. Cotton wasn’t about to let that type of behavior fly, however. “(Democratic leadership) pointed her to lawyers who lied to her and did not tell her that the committee staff was willing to go to California to interview her,” Cotton said on “Face The Nation.” Cotton then dropped some bad news on those lawyers. “Those lawyers are going to face a D.C. bar investigation into their misconduct,” Cotton said. Ouch. They should absolutely be investigated if they misled their client in any way, shape or form to help out the Democrats’ attempts to derail the Kavanaugh investigation. That is antithetical to everything the American justice system stands for. Everything the Democrats have done to stop Kavanaugh from being nominated has had zero repercussions. That may be about to change in massive fashion. And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of people. by Mike Adams \| Natural News Funded by foundation linked to ‘computational psychosomatics’ neuro-hijacking In another stunning bombshell about the hoax accusations against Brett Kavanaugh, we’ve now learned and confirmed that Christine Blasey Ford co-authored a science paper that involves her carrying out mass “hypnotic inductions” of psychiatric subjects as part of a mind control program that cites methods to “create artificial situations.” Internet sleuths are turning up an extraordinary collection of evidence that increasingly points to Christine Blasey Ford being involved in mind control programs at Stanford, which some claim are run by the CIA. We have confirmed that Stanford University, where Ford works, runs a “CIA undergraduate internship program” which is described in full at this Stanford.edu recruitment page for the CIA. The Stanford recruitment page for the CIA explains, “You will be given the opportunity to work with highly-skilled professionals and see first-hand the role the CIA plays in supporting US officials who make our country’s foreign policy.” We can also now confirm that Ford is listed as a co-author of a study that carried out mass hypnosis and mind control on psychiatric subjects under the banner of “psychoeducation,” covered in more detail below. A university professor named Margot Cleveland first tweeted the discovery, which is now spreading rapidly across the ‘net: BREAKING: This is HUGE (waiting for permission to h/t): One of Christine Ford Blasey's research articles in 2008 included a study in which participants were TAUGHT SELF-HYPNOSIS & noted hypnosis is used to retrieve important memories "AND CREATE ARTIFICAL SITUATIONS." pic.twitter.com/11n1JVnArM — Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) October 1, 2018 Christine Blasey Ford confirmed to be a co-author of the mind control study The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. The study title, abstract and authors can be confirmed at this link. Interestingly, the study was funded by the Mental Insight Foundation (see detailed financial records, below) and was overseen by Dr. Lisa Butler of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine. You can confirm these facts at this link. The full text of the research paper describes methods to “create artificial situations.” Here’s some of the actual language from the paper, which can be viewed in full at this link from Academia.edu. …assist in the retrieval of important memories,and create artificial situations that would permit the client to express ego-dystonic emotions in a safe manner. [Subjects] were given the Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP; H. Spiegel & Spiegel, 2004) to evaluate their level of hypnotizability and were asked to complete a baseline packet of psychosocial questionnaires assessing life events, general functioning, satisfaction with life, and aspects of mood (including symptom levels), personality, health, social support, traumatic experience, and spirituality. Therapist-led groups met once a week in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine to participate in an intervention that included either meditation and yoga exercises or group therapy with formal hypnotic inductions. From this published paper, co-authored by Christine Blasey Ford, we know she is intimately familiar with mass hypnosis, self-hypnosis and mind alteration processes, all of which are being deployed in this staged “false flag” assault on Brett Kavanaugh. Through carefully crafted leaks, cover-ups and media narratives, almost half the nation has already been mass hypnotized into believing that an innocent man is a deranged serial rapist. Such is the power of CIA mind control, deployed on a nationwide scale. (It also underscores the realization that the entire purpose of the establishment media is not to inform people but to influence minds.) The Mental Insight Foundation also funded a study on “Interoception” and “neuroimaging” to control the mind through biological intervention If you venture even deeper down this rabbit hole, you find that the same Mental Insight Foundation that funded the mass hypnosis / mind control study on which Christine Ford work also helped fund another study called “Interoception and Mental Health: A Roadmap.” This study, completed in June of this year (2018), is available at this ScienceDirect link. The abstract for this study describes the key focus of the research: Interoception refers to the process by which the nervous system senses, interprets, and integrates signals originating from within the body, providing a moment-by-moment mapping of the body’s internal landscape across conscious and unconscious levels. In essence, this research seeks to find ways to control the mind through biological interventions by exploiting the “roadmap” of biology / neuro links. When the full map of how the mind interprets internal biological is understood, it allows a kind of reverse engineering of the mind through interventions in the human subject. If this sounds familiar, recall the recent revelations about the projections of inner voices through sub-audible frequencies that can essentially “plant” voices or even emotional moods into the minds of targeted subjects. It is well known that U.S. embassy workers in Cuba were recently attacked by secret “sonic weapons” that were widely reported in the media. As The Guardian reports, the level of mind control achieved through such biological interventions can cause targeted subjects to be unable to recall specific words that would otherwise be in their vocabulary. The Guardian says: At least some of the incidents were confined to certain rooms with laser-like specificity, and some victims now have problems recalling specific words… The blaring, grinding noise jolted the American diplomat from his bed in a Havana hotel. He moved just a few feet, and there was silence. He climbed back into bed. Inexplicably, the agonizing sound hit him again. It was as if he’d walked through some invisible wall cutting straight through his room. Soon came the hearing loss, and the speech problems, symptoms both similar and altogether different from others among at least 21 US victims in an astonishing international mystery still unfolding in Cuba. Some felt vibrations, and heard sounds – loud ringing or a high-pitch chirping similar to crickets or cicadas. Other symptoms have included brain swelling, dizziness, nausea, severe headaches, balance problems and tinnitus, or prolonged ringing in the ears. Getting back to Christine Blasey Ford’s work on interoception / neuroimaging, the paper funded by the Mental Insight Foundation openly admits that the neuroimaging “roadmap” can alter decisions, behavior and even consciousness. It explains, “Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest on the topic of interoception due in part to findings highlighting its integral role in emotional experience, self-regulation, decision making, and consciousness. Importantly, interoception is not limited to conscious perception or even unique to the human species.” Some other interesting text from the study: While interoception research to date has typically focused on single organ systems, an expanded approach that assesses multiple interoceptive organ systems and/or elements is needed. Examples include targeting numerous interoceptive features simultaneously and employing different tasks that converge on the same feature (e.g., combining top-down assessments of interoceptive attention with bottom-up perturbation approaches in the same individual)… …a host of novel tools are capable of inhibiting, stimulating, or modulating the activity of interoceptive brain networks. Noninvasive methods include the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation (77), transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (78), low-intensity focused ultrasound (79), temporally interfering electric fields (80), transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (81), presentation of information during different phases of visceral rhythms (e.g., cardiac systole vs. diastole) (82), and assessment of corticocardiac signaling (83). Take a closer look at these diagrams found in the research, which details methods of “changing the world through exteroactions” and “changing the body through interoactions” in order to create “combined percept of the body in the world.” “Computational psychosomatics” The study openly discusses altering behavior and beliefs through the application of neurotechnology “inference-control loops” that “hijack” human anatomy to control minds. In essence, they are modeling the neurology of a human being in terms of firmware / software / hardware, then hacking the system to install their own desired beliefs and behaviors. They even call it “computational psychosomatics,” and they talk about using torture techniques to force the neurological maps out into the open, saying, “the degree of tolerance to being enclosed in a small dark chamber for 10 minutes might provide behavioral evidence verifying tolerance to triggers of interoceptive dysregulation.” In the language of the science authors: Eliciting surprise-minimizing (homeostasis-restoring) actions changes the bodily state and thus interosensations. This means that inference and control of bodily states form a closed loop. Inference–control loops that minimize interoceptive surprise can be cast as hierarchical Bayesian models (HBMs). Anatomically, HBMs are plausible candidates given that interoceptive circuitry is structured hierarchically 45, 94. Under general assumptions, HBMs employ a small set of computational quantities—predictions, prediction errors, and precisions 37, 95. These quantities can support surprise minimization in two ways: by adjusting beliefs (probability distributions) throughout the hierarchy [predictive coding (95)] or engaging actions that fulfill beliefs about bodily states [active inference (96)] Additional details about the Mental Insight Foundation We are not alleging any nefarious, unethical or illegal activities on the part of the Mental Insight Foundation. However, to help other internet researchers follow the many leads now uncovered in all this, we’re publishing public information about this foundation that’s readily available in online public tax documents. The Mental Insight Foundation took in a whopping $18+ million in 2015, according to tax records. Its address is 538 BROADWAY STE A, SONOMA, CA 95476-6602, which appears to be a single family house. That address is the exact same address listed by Virginia Hubbell Associates, a small firm that says it offers “consulting services for family foundations.” Its client list, found here, includes not only the Mental Insight Foundation but also: Codding Enterprises Levi Strauss Foundation McKesson Foundation Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. The Public Affairs Council Sparkletts/Alhambra Water Company Science Alliance Most of the clients appear to be genuinely helpful organizations for society, but they’re probably worth a second look from internet researchers. Notably, the Levi Strauss company recently came out in favor of destroying the Second Amendment by pushing gun control. What’s especially interesting is that Virginia Hubbell Associates was paid $341,375 in just one year for “foundation management” services, according to this form 990-PF for 2015. “Statement 11” of the document lists the officers, directors, trustees and key employees of the Mental Insight Foundation. Notably, they are all paid nothing except for the treasurer. In other words, most of the directors are paid nothing, but the management consultant is paid $341K. We are not alleging any unscrupulous activities among these individuals. They are public officers of a public foundation, listed in a public document. These individuals are: David Herskovits of Brooklyn, NY Robert P. Bunje of Foster City, CA Isabelle Kimpton of Incline Village, NV Graham Kimpton of Fairfax, CA Barry Bunshoft of San Francisco, CA Len Dell’Amico of Fairfax, CA Jennifer Catherine Egan of Brooklyn, NY Laura Kimpton of Vineburg, CA Kay Kimpton Walker of San Francisco, CA If you’re noticing a lot of “Kimpton” names in this list, that’s probably because one of the primary sources of income for the Mental Insight Foundation is the Kimpton Hotel Group, LLC, which generated $2.3 million in revenue for the foundation in 2015. There’s nothing illegal about that. It’s just an interesting note. The foundation donated money to the following groups. We’re not alleging anything nefarious in this list, by the way. Rather, these are leads for other internet researchers to follow. Many of the groups this foundation donates to appear to be related to offering support for veterans, the homeless and integrative medicine: Hoffman Institute, San Anselmo, CA Amazon Watch, San Francisco, CA Center for Mind Body Medicine, Washington, DC Institute for Integrative Health, Baltimore, MD Jericho Project, Brisbane, CA Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, CA More research under way… check back for more stories each morning and evening. Is The FBI Investigation A Set Up Of Judge Kavanaugh I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.' 'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.' Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.' I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.' 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ....' With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles. The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. Your keys found right where you left them. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED! MSNBC screen shot of Christine Blasey Ford, the Palo Alto University professor who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. (MSNBC screen shot) Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s bombshell sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have taken yet another turn after the last named witness came forward with what they knew. Based on what the witness had to say, the current narrative doesn’t bode particularly well for Ford. Leland Ingham Keyser, the last named witness, is also “a longtime friend of Ford” according to CNN. CNN had learned that Republican staffers were attempting to interview anyone who could contribute information regarding the alleged incident. Keyser, by being a named witness, was an obvious choice to ask. Keyser’s lawyer, Howard Walsh, issued a statement Saturday night addressing the allegations. TRENDING: Alert: Ted Cruz, Wife Attacked — Escape After Staff Struggle With Door “Simply put, Ms. Keyser does not know Mr. Kavanaugh and she has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where he was present, with, or without, Dr. Ford,” Walsh said. Ford’s lawyer, Debra Katz, promptly issued a response to Walsh’s statement. “It’s not surprising that Ms. Keyser has no recollection of the evening as they did not discuss it,” Katz said in a statement. “It’s also unremarkable that Ms. Keyser does not remember attending a specific gathering 30 years ago at which nothing of consequence happened to her. Dr. Ford, of course, will never forget this gathering because of what happened to her there.” Despite the explanation from Katz, this is still a notable blow against Ford’s accusations, especially considering what the other named witnesses had to say about the alleged incident. Will Democrats be successful in derailing Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court? Completing this poll entitles you to Conservative Tribune news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. First and foremost, Kavanaugh has vociferously denied the allegations. “This is a completely and totally false allegation,” Kavanaugh said when the accusations first surfaced. “I have never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone.” Besides Kavanaugh and Keyser, Mark Judge and Patrick J. Smith were also named as witnesses. Their statements reflect Keyser’s. “I have no memory of this alleged incident,” said Mark Judge in a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Smith issued an even stronger statement than his other named witnesses. RELATED: Panicking NYT Deletes Source Name, Caught Hiding Game-Changing Facts on Kavanaugh “I understand that I have been identified by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as ‘PJ’ who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post,” Smyth said in his statement. “I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh.” Smyth then went on to defend Kavanaugh. “Personally speaking, I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school and I know him to be a person of great integrity, a great friend, and I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh toward women. To safeguard my own privacy and anonymity, I respectfully request that the Committee accept this statement in response to any inquiry the Committee may have.” For the record, every named witness in Ford’s accusations has now categorically denied ever attending such a party or witnessing sexual assault. Whether your believe Ford or not, you can’t deny that these latest developments do not bode well for her claims. Charity Hospital run by the sisters of Charity in New Orleans, along with the Upjohn company developed the plasma system in the 1930's that saved so many lives in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and in the middle east now. During the Civil War most of the nurses were nuns. Even if you are not Catholic, this is eye opening: When the Catholic Church was founded, there were no schools. Today, the Catholic Church teaches 3 million students a day, in its more than 250 Catholic Colleges and Universities, in its more than 1200 Catholic High Schools and in its more than 5000 Catholic grade schools. Every day, the Catholic Church feeds, clothes, shelters and educates more people than any other organization in the world. The Obama Health Mandate could have ended all this and the tax payers would have had to make up the loss. Also, all Catholic adoption services would come to an end... a human disaster. There are more than 77 million Catholics in this country. It takes an estimated 50 million Catholic votes to elect a president. Former president Obama said, "The USA is not a Christian Nation". He is wrong – we are a Christian Nation founded on Judaeo-Christian values allowing all religions in America to worship and practice freely....something that Islam will never do. Oh, by the way, on MUSLIM HERITAGE IN America ....Have you ever been to a Muslim hospital, heard a Muslim orchestra, seen a Muslim band march in a parade, know of a Muslim charity, ever seen Muslims shaking hands with a Muslim Girl Scout, or ever seen a Muslim Candy Striper volunteering in a hospital? I am asking all of you to go to the polls in 2018 and be united in replacing all Senators and Congressional Representatives with someone who will respect the Catholic Church, all Christians, and all Religions. One more note most every church or synagogue I have ever been in in the United States, I have always seen an American flag. No mosque in the United States carries an American flag. Have you ever seen a Muslim do much of anything that contributes positively to the American way of A woman who said the 35-year-old alleged sexual misconduct incident Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh denies ever happened was all the buzz at school has deleted her tweet making that claim. On Tuesday, Christina King Miranda entered the fray over allegations that Kavanaugh acted inappropriately toward Christine Blasey Ford at a party in the 1980s. T.D. @TwitmoDenizen There's a well-established legal term of art for what Cristina King Miranda is peddling today: HEARSAY. http://archive.is/xz6AN 1:38 PM - Sep 19, 2018 “I graduated from Holton Arms, and knew both Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge. Christine Blasey Ford was a year or so behind me, I remember her. I signed this letter. The incident was spoken about for days afterwords (sic) in school. Kavanaugh should stop lying, own up to it and apologize,” she tweeted. The tweet was seized upon as corroboration of Ford’s allegation, but it raised questions because it offered details not mentioned in, or conflicting with, Ford’s version of events. For example, Lisa Banks, Ford’s lawyer, said the incident took place over the summer, NPR reported. Miranda’s now-deleted post placed the party during the school year. Also, Ford indicated in her interview with The Washington Post that she did not discuss the incident until 2012, while Miranda’s tweet indicates it was common knowledge at their school — Holton-Arms in Bethesda, Maryland — in the 1980s. The questions raised by her comment might never be answered. Miranda deleted her tweet Wednesday. “Hi all, deleted this because it served its purpose and I am now dealing with a slew of requests for interviews from The Wash Post, CNN, CBS News. Organizing how I want to proceed. Was not ready for that, not sure I am interested in pursuing. Thanks for reading,” she tweeted. Jim Treacher @jtLOL · Sep 19, 2018 Hi, @reinabori. Why did you just delete this? pic.twitter.com/9JPtsGEDmT Cristina King Miranda @reinabori Hi all, deleted this because it served its purpose and I am now dealing with a slew of requests for interviews from The Wash Post, CNN, CBS News. Organizing how I want to proceed. Was not ready for that, not sure I am interested in pursuing. Thanks for reading Miranda then followed up that tweet with another making it clear she won’t be saying anything more. “To all media, I will not be doing anymore interviews. No more circus. To clarify my post: I do not have first hand knowledge of the incident that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford mentions, and I stand by my support for Christine. That’s it. I don’t have more to say on the subject,” she tweeted. — Cristina King Miranda (@reinabori) September 19, 2018 The tweet was perceived by some as an effort to avoid dealing with a story that was full of holes. Chris Costlow @TheChrisCostlow Replying to @reinabori Well, SOMEONE'S lying. Ford said she told NO ONE about it until 2012. Seems you shot yourself in the foot with a tweet and I'm guessing your name isn't going to go away from the news cycle any time soon. You go girl! You've done more to ruin Ford's cred than the Republicans. Miranda’s actions came as Patrick J. Smyth, another high school classmate of Kavanaugh’s, denied ever seeing inappropriate conduct from Kavanaugh and said that if Ford has identified him as being at a party where the alleged incident took place, she is wrong. Politics US News Classmate Deletes Tweet That Supported Ford’s Claim Against Kavanaugh September 19, 2018 at 11:17am Share Tweet Email Print Do you believe Christina King Miranda? Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. TRENDING: Franklin Graham Calls Out ‘Socialist-Leaning Dems’ in Wake of Kavanaugh Accusations To all media, I will not be doing anymore interviews. No more circus. To clarify my post: I do not have first hand knowledge of the incident that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford mentions, and I stand by my support for Christine. That's it. I don't have more to say on the subject. “I understand that I have been identified by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as ‘PJ’ who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post,” Smyth said in a statement, CNN reported. “I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh. “Personally speaking, I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school and I know him to be a person of great integrity, a great friend, and I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh towards women.” Mark Judge, who was mentioned in Miranda’s deleted tweet, said in a letter to senators that he had “no memory of this alleged incident” and “never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes.” by Cillian Zeal According to Fox News, a newly uncovered text message chain seems to confirm that FBI lawyer Lisa Page — one of the two lovebirds whose texts have cast doubt on the objectivity of the Department of Justice’s investigations surrounding the 2016 election — claims that she interned for one of the Clintons. “Get inspired and depressing reading that article about how Obama approached the mail room,” Page said in a text to Strzok on Jan. 19, 2017 — the last full day of the Obama administration. Needless to say, it was very different when I interned there under Clinton.” The article she was discussing was a New York Times piece that described the kind of mail the outgoing president would receive. “At the beginning of his first term, President (Barack) Obama said he wanted to read his mail. He said he would like to see 10 letters a day. After that, the 10LADs, as they came to be called, were put in a purple folder and added to the back of the briefing book he took with him to the residence on the second floor of the White House each night,” the article, titled “To Obama With Love, and Hate, and Desperation,” read. “Choosing which letters made it to the president started here in the Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House, in the ‘hard-mail room,’ which had the tired, unkempt look of a college study hall during finals — paper everywhere, files stacked along walls, bundles under tables, boxes propping up computer monitors dotted with Post-its, cables hanging.” Page is 39 and graduated American University in 2000. It’s unclear which Clinton she would have interned under; President Bill Clinton was leaving office as she was graduating and Hillary Clinton was taking her role as the junior senator from New York in 2001. Page declined to comment on the latest text. While the text messages that received the most attention this week involved ones which plotted leaks to the press, the Clinton message — assuming it’s accurate and Page is telling the truth — would also present a conflict of interest. Both Page and Strzok were involved in the FBI’s Midyear Exam investigation — the codename for the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified email on a private server during her time at the State Department. That wasn’t all, though. “Strzok and Page both served on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign associates in the 2016 presidential election. Page served on the special counsel’s team on a short detail, returning back to the FBI’s Office of General Counsel in July 2017,” Fox News reported. “Page, during her time at the FBI, was a deputy of former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who was long criticized by Trump and congressional Republicans for his ties to the Democratic Party. McCabe’s wife received donations during a failed 2015 Virginia Senate run from a group tied to a Clinton ally, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe — all while the Clinton email probe was underway.” So, is this a conflict of interest? More evidence of just how much of a morass the swamp really is? Overthinking a text message? Or none of the above? Well, the simple answer is that we don’t know, inasmuch as Strzok, Page and everyone else around them have tried to denude these text messages of all context. Strzok’s appearance before Congress certainly didn’t elucidate much, although it may have inspired plenty of GIFs. However, if this is true, Page was compromised from the beginning — and that’s a serious problem for anyone trying to push this as mere Jim Garrison-esque conspiracy theorizing. Time for answers, folks. Edited by Susan Benedict and Linda Shields The ethics of nursing and midwifery, and how these were abrogated during the Nazi era. Nurses and midwives actively killed their patients, many of whom were disabled children and infants and patients with mental (and other) illnesses or intellectual disabilities. The book for the first time, explains the role of one of the world's most historically prominent midwifery leaders in the Nazi crimes... "a groundbreaking and chilling historical analysis of a medical system in which death becomes a medical cure and nursing professionals view their allegiance to the state, their superiors and society above that of individual patients." The role of physicians in the crimes of the Nazi era in Europe has been extensively studied, but nurses and midwives have been largely ignored. Many of the crimes for which doctors were charged and punished occurred in hospitals, and nurses make up the main work force in any hospital; ergo, they, too, were at least complicit in, and often primarily responsible for, many of the same crimes. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the so-called "euthanasia" programs, where people, including children, were systematically killed because they were considered "life unworthy of life" or "useless feeders". (It is worth noting here that the term "euthanasia" is a misnomer. While the word means "a good death" there was nothing good about how these people died. However, it continues to be used in the context of these crimes.) Midwives were mandated to report infants born with deformities so they could be killed, and the midwives were paid per capita to do so. Psychiatric hospitals were cleared of their patients and used for barracks to house soldiers. Killing took place in the hospitals, and often a crematorium was built on site to dispose of the dead. A telling film exists-now held by and publicly available from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum-which shows a nurse in uniform helping naked men and boys into a gas chamber. The care she takes to put a blanket around their shoulders makes us wonder how a nurse, who is educated and trained to think that caring is the platform on which her/his work is based, can regard killing as a legitimate part of that caring. This is the essence of this book. While there is a large literature about the roles of the medical profession in the Third Reich, the reason that nursing and midwifery have been largely ignored until recently is open to supposition. Two authors have been dominant in the area (apart from the contributors to this book). A German nurse, Hilde Steppe (1947-1999), first published reports of the role of German nurses in the Nazi era in the early 1980s in German and then in the 1990s in English. Historian Bronwyn McFarland- Icke published a book about psychiatric nurses in Nazi Germany in 1999. Other investigations in the area have been piecemeal, and a conference held in Limerick in Irelandin 2004 highlighted the dearth of scholarship in this area of nursing and midwifery history. Perhaps this deficit relates to the fact that females have traditionally dominated these professions, and it has been assumed that women would not commit such crimes. It could be due to the fact that people hold nursing and midwifery in high regard, and believe (as we have been told on several occasions) that "nurses would not do those things". Such unenlightened thinking inhibits full and proper examination of a dark side of the history of nursing and midwifery. Unless this is addressed, we cannot develop the professions to their full potential. This book has eleven chapters. This first introductory chapter, called "Setting the Scene", does just that, with explanations of the primary political theories of fascism and Nazism, how the Nazis came to power, the role of propaganda in influencing the lives of the German people, and a description of the "T4" programs, which were the planned and systematic killing of people with a range of illnesses and disabilities. Chapter 2 examines the role played by eugenics in the development of the racially motivated killings in which nurses were complicit. Chapter 3 discusses nursing in Nazi Germany, describing how the profession developed and was structured in that era. Chapter 4 explains how psychiatric nursing was structured in Nazi Germany, and how it was the main specialty of nursing under which the killings were done. Chapter 5 discusses the "euthanasia" programs in detail. Chapter 6 explains the actions of nurses at Meseritz-Obrawalde, one of the psychiatric hospitals that were killing centers, and, using trial transcripts, examines the nurses' justifications for their roles in murder. Chapter 7 includes more detail from another institution and testimonies of the nurses who killed. Chapter 8 describes the role of midwives Chapter 9 is a discussion on how the lessons learned from the euthanasia program can be taught to nurses and midwives today. In Chapter 10, there is a discussion of the philosophical and sociological theories that could account for the nurses' and midwives' actions, while Chapter 11 rounds off the discussion with some questions as to whether this could happen again, and some reflections on how similar things are happening in twenty-first century nursing and midwifery practice. The book is available for download on online reading here. Susan Benedict is Professor of Nursing, Director of Global Health, and CoDirector of the Campus-WideEthics Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing in Houston. Linda Shields is Professor of Nursing-Tropical Health at James Cook University, Townsville,Queensland,and Honorary Professor, School of Medicine,The University of Queensland. [Yep. All over again. I guess I am particularly sensitive to these seemingly separate issues because as a biochemistry major, and having already published research, my thesis director suggested that I so something more broadly relevant to research ethics. Bottom line, I finally did my biochemistry thesis on the Nazi medical war crimes, finally narrowing the topic to Mengele's twin (TWIN TWIN TWIN) experiments. It wasn't an "ethical" analysis, but a scientific analysis of his researcher evaluating his scientific method, procedures, data and conclusions. Spend a year and a half at the Library of Congress researching it. It has stayed with me all these years, and I finally wrote an article for people who kept wondering why I chose to do the doctoral dissertation I did: “Me and Mengele” (October 18, 2003), at: http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/irv/irv_136meandmengele.html (also attached to this email). Very worrisome. -DNI] Birth of ‘living materials’ at MIT combines synthetic biology, materials engineering by Kenrick Vezina Illustration by Yan Liang, via MIT News. A team at MIT has combined techniques from synthetic biology and materials engineering to create hybrid “living materials”: bacteria engineered to take up functional nanoparticles and grow into thin layers with usable properties, like electrical conduction or light emission. This achievement is a perfect follow-up to news from earlier this month that another group at MIT had successfully created bionic plants [Emphasis Others] (Read our Gene-ius post on the news here.) Anne Trafton, writing for MIT News, reports: These “living materials” combine the advantages of live... Items: 1 - 1 of 1459 Freedom Caucus Defies GOP Leaders, Introduces Term Limit Bill! by Joe Otto President Trump ran on a promise to impose term limits on Congress. Right after the inauguration, Ted Cruz introduced a Constitutional amendment to limit how long someone can serve in Congress. The Republican and Democrat establishments have been able to block Cruz's resolution... VeChain: One “Sleeping Beauty” Cryptocurrency to Watch by Chris Campbell A couple weeks back, I promised to share some potential “sleeping beauty” cryptocurrencies. First, as you probably know, the cryptocurrency market on the whole is getting slammed. Bitcoin is back to what it was about three months ago (for perspective). And certain... EPA’s Fuel Economy Change Will Expand Freedom and Save Lives H. Sterling Burnett On April 2, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the EPA will revoke Obama-era standards that mandate auto manufacturers achieve a fleet average of at least 50 miles per gallon on cars and light duty trucks sold in the United... American Majority American Solutions The Anti-Planner East Side Hunky Forcing Change ORBUS Terri's Fight Von Mises Institute Wall Builders Bill Barr Suggests His Life Is In Danger After Opening Investigations Into Deep State Twitter Bans User Who Claims Ocasio-Cortez Hired Boyfriend As Congressional Staffer Brian Krassenstein Admits To Getting Paid To "Cause Division" Using President Trump's Twitter	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10249
__label__cc	0.634625	0.365375	Select other Twins Adrianza, Ehire Arraez, Luis Berríos, José Castro, Jason Cave, Jake Cron, C.J. Cruz, Nelson Duffey, Tyler Garver, Mitch Gibson, Kyle Gonzalez, Marwin Harper, Ryne Kepler, Max Littell, Zack Magill, Matt May, Trevor Odorizzi, Jake Parker, Blake Pérez, Martín Pineda, Michael Polanco, Jorge Rogers, Taylor Rosario, Eddie Sanó, Miguel Schoop, Jonathan Twins Roster Martín Pérez Team: Minnesota Ht / Wt: 6-0 / 200 Position: SP Born: 4/4/1991 Birthplace: Guanare, Venezuela Bats/Throws: L/L Draft: Undrafted by Rangers (2007) July 17 2:07 PM PT3:07 PM MT4:07 PM CT5:07 PM ET17:07 ET21:07 GMT5:07 2:07 PM MST4:07 PM EST3:07 PM CST4:37 PM VEN1:07 UAE (+1)4:07 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed two runs - one earned - on five hits and one walk in 6.0 innings as the Minnesota Twins lost to the New York Mets 14-4 on Wednesday. Perez struck out four, ending the game with a 4.10 ERA and 1.35 WHIP on the season. July 6 9:30 PM PT10:30 PM MT11:30 PM CT12:30 AM ET0:30 ET4:30 GMT12:30 9:30 PM MST11:30 PM EST10:30 PM CST12:00 AM VEN8:30 UAE11:30 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 8-3, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks in 6.0 innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Texas Rangers 15-6 on Friday. Perez struck out three, ending the game with a 4.26 ERA and 1.37 WHIP on the season. June 27 4:53 PM PT5:53 PM MT6:53 PM CT7:53 PM ET19:53 ET23:53 GMT7:53 4:53 PM MST6:53 PM EST5:53 PM CST7:23 PM VEN3:53 UAE (+1)6:53 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed two runs on three hits and one walk in 7.0 innings as the Minnesota Twins lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Thursday. Perez struck out six, ending the game with a 4.15 ERA and 1.36 WHIP on the season. June 21 8:47 PM PT9:47 PM MT10:47 PM CT11:47 PM ET23:47 ET3:47 GMT11:47 8:47 PM MST10:47 PM EST9:47 PM CST11:17 PM VEN7:47 UAE (+1)10:47 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed six runs - four earned - on five hits and three walks in 5.0 innings as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-7 on Friday. Perez struck out two, ending the game with a 4.28 ERA and 1.43 WHIP on the season. June 16 3:18 PM PT4:18 PM MT5:18 PM CT6:18 PM ET18:18 ET22:18 GMT6:18 3:18 PM MST5:18 PM EST4:18 PM CST5:48 PM VEN2:18 UAE (+1)5:18 PM CT-Martin Perez fell to 7-3, allowing five runs - four earned - on six hits and one walk in 6.2 innings, as the Minnesota Twins lost to the Kansas City Royals 8-6 on Sunday. Perez struck out seven, ending the game with a 4.09 ERA and 1.42 WHIP on the season. June 11 8:18 PM PT9:18 PM MT10:18 PM CT11:18 PM ET23:18 ET3:18 GMT11:18 8:18 PM MST10:18 PM EST9:18 PM CST10:48 PM VEN7:18 UAE (+1)10:18 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in 5.0 innings as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-5 on Tuesday. Perez struck out seven, ending the game with a 3.97 ERA and 1.45 WHIP on the season. June 6 9:25 PM PT10:25 PM MT11:25 PM CT12:25 AM ET0:25 ET4:25 GMT12:25 9:25 PM MST11:25 PM EST10:25 PM CST11:55 PM VEN8:25 UAE11:25 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed five runs - two earned - on six hits and two walks in 4.2 innings as the Minnesota Twins lost to the Cleveland Indians 9-7 on Wednesday. Perez struck out one, ending the game with a 3.72 ERA and 1.42 WHIP on the season. May 30 6:57 PM PT7:57 PM MT8:57 PM CT9:57 PM ET21:57 ET1:57 GMT9:57 6:57 PM MST8:57 PM EST7:57 PM CST9:27 PM VEN5:57 UAE (+1)8:57 PM CT-Martin Perez fell to 7-2, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks in 2.2 innings, as the Minnesota Twins lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 14-3 on Thursday. Perez struck out three, ending the game with a 3.71 ERA and 1.40 WHIP on the season. May 23 4:39 PM PT5:39 PM MT6:39 PM CT7:39 PM ET19:39 ET23:39 GMT7:39 4:39 PM MST6:39 PM EST5:39 PM CST7:09 PM VEN3:39 UAE (+1)6:39 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 7-1, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks in 5.0 innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Los Angeles Angels 16-7 on Thursday. Perez struck out three, ending the game with a 2.95 ERA and 1.33 WHIP on the season. May 18 9:50 PM PT10:50 PM MT11:50 PM CT12:50 AM ET0:50 ET4:50 GMT12:50 9:50 PM MST11:50 PM EST10:50 PM CST12:20 AM VEN8:50 UAE11:50 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 6-1, allowing one run on five hits and four walks in 6.2 innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Seattle Mariners 7-1 on Friday. Perez struck out seven, ending the game with a 2.89 ERA and 1.26 WHIP on the season. May 12 2:22 PM PT3:22 PM MT4:22 PM CT5:22 PM ET17:22 ET21:22 GMT5:22 2:22 PM MST4:22 PM EST3:22 PM CST4:52 PM VEN1:22 UAE (+1)4:22 PM CT-Martin Perez exited Sunday's game against the Tigers after being hit in the left foot by a line drive. Analysis: Perez is being considered day to day but appears likely to make his next scheduled start Friday at Seattle. He fell to 5-1, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in 5.0 innings, as the Twins lost to the Tigers 5-3. Perez struck out seven, ending the game with a 3.11 ERA and 1.25 WHIP on the season. May 6 7:04 PM PT8:04 PM MT9:04 PM CT10:04 PM ET22:04 ET2:04 GMT10:04 7:04 PM MST9:04 PM EST8:04 PM CST9:34 PM VEN6:04 UAE (+1)9:04 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 5-0, allowing two hits and two walks over 7.0 scoreless innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-0 on Monday. Perez struck out nine, ending the game with a 2.83 ERA and 1.26 WHIP on the season. May 1 7:45 PM PT8:45 PM MT9:45 PM CT10:45 PM ET22:45 ET2:45 GMT10:45 7:45 PM MST9:45 PM EST8:45 PM CST10:15 PM VEN6:45 UAE (+1)9:45 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 4-0, allowing four hits and two walks over 8.0 scoreless innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Houston Astros 6-2 on Wednesday. Perez struck out seven, ending the game with a 3.41 ERA and 1.40 WHIP on the season. Apr. 26 8:23 PM PT9:23 PM MT10:23 PM CT11:23 PM ET23:23 ET3:23 GMT11:23 8:23 PM MST10:23 PM EST9:23 PM CST10:53 PM VEN7:23 UAE (+1)10:23 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 3-0, allowing one run on six hits in 6.0 innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Friday. Perez struck out four, ending the game with a 4.44 ERA and 1.59 WHIP on the season. Apr. 20 7:57 PM PT8:57 PM MT9:57 PM CT10:57 PM ET22:57 ET2:57 GMT10:57 7:57 PM MST9:57 PM EST8:57 PM CST10:27 PM VEN6:57 UAE (+1)9:57 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 2-0, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk in 6.0 innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Baltimore Orioles 16-7 on Saturday. Perez struck out two, ending the game with a 5.31 ERA and 1.77 WHIP on the season. Apr. 15 7:46 PM PT8:46 PM MT9:46 PM CT10:46 PM ET22:46 ET2:46 GMT10:46 7:46 PM MST9:46 PM EST8:46 PM CST10:16 PM VEN6:46 UAE (+1)9:46 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed one run on seven hits and two walks in 6.0 innings as the Minnesota Twins lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Monday. Perez struck out five, ending the game with a 5.02 ERA and 2.02 WHIP on the season. Apr. 10 7:29 PM PT8:29 PM MT9:29 PM CT10:29 PM ET22:29 ET2:29 GMT10:29 7:29 PM MST9:29 PM EST8:29 PM CST9:59 PM VEN6:29 UAE (+1)9:29 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in 2.0 innings as the Minnesota Twins lost to the New York Mets 9-6 on Wednesday. Perez struck out four, ending the game with a 7.56 ERA and 2.40 WHIP on the season. Apr. 5 7:40 PM PT8:40 PM MT9:40 PM CT10:40 PM ET22:40 ET2:40 GMT10:40 7:40 PM MST9:40 PM EST8:40 PM CST10:10 PM VEN6:40 UAE (+1)9:40 PM CT-Martin Perez allowed two runs - one earned - on three hits and four walks in 2.2 innings as the Minnesota Twins lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 on Friday. Perez struck out two, ending the game with a 5.68 ERA and 2.37 WHIP on the season. Mar. 31 2:03 PM PT3:03 PM MT4:03 PM CT5:03 PM ET17:03 ET21:03 GMT5:03 2:03 PM MST4:03 PM EST3:03 PM CST4:33 PM VEN1:03 UAE (+1)4:03 PM CT-Martin Perez improved to 1-0, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks in 3.2 innings, as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Cleveland Indians 9-3 on Sunday. Perez struck out six, ending the game with a 7.36 ERA and 2.18 WHIP on the season. 2012 Tex 1 4 0 - 0 12 6 0 38.0 47 26 23 3 15 1 25 1.63 5.45 2013 Tex 10 6 0 - 0 20 20 1 124.1 129 55 50 15 37 0 84 1.34 3.62 2014 Tex 4 3 0 - 0 8 8 2 51.1 50 25 25 3 19 1 35 1.34 4.38 2015 Tex 3 6 0 - 0 14 14 0 78.2 88 45 39 3 24 1 48 1.42 4.46 2016 Tex 10 11 0 - 0 33 33 0 198.2 205 110 97 18 76 0 103 1.41 4.39 2018 Tex 2 7 0 - 1 22 15 0 85.1 116 68 59 16 36 1 52 1.78 6.22 2019 Min 8 3 0 - 0 19 16 0 101.0 95 54 46 8 41 1 89 1.35 4.10 Career 51 52 0 - 1 160 144 3 862.1 951 491 438 89 311 8 551 1.46 4.57 2013 Tex 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 .000 .000 .000 2014 Tex 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 .000 .000 2019 Min 19 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 2015 Tex Total 0 1 0 - 0 1 1 0 5.0 6 4 4 0 3 1 2 7.20 Career 0 1 0 - 0 1 1 0 5.0 6 4 4 0 3 1 2 7.20 Fastball 702 97 88 94 41.91 Curveball 92 82 75 79.3 5.49 Cut Fastball 540 93 84 88.3 32.24	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10256
__label__wiki	0.551833	0.551833	father john Misty - God's Favorite Customer - sub pop Written largely in New York between Summer 2016 and Winter 2017, Josh Tillman’s fourth Father John Misty LP, God’s Favorite Customer, reflects on the experience of being caught between the vertigo of heartbreak and the manic throes of freedom. God’s Favorite Customer reveals a bittersweetness and directness in Tillman’s songwriting, without sacrificing any of his wit or taste for the absurd. From “Mr. Tillman,” where he trains his lens on his own misadventure, to the cavernous pain of estrangement in “Please Don’t Die,” Tillman plays with perspective throughout to alternatingly hilarious and devastating effect. “We’re Only People (And There’s Not Much Anyone Can Do About That)” is a meditation on our inner lives and the limitations we experience in our attempts to give and receive love. It stands in solidarity with the title track, which examines the ironic relationship between forgiveness and sin. Together, these are songs that demand to know either real love or what comes after, and as the album progresses, that entreaty leads to discovering the latter’s true stakes. God’s Favorite Customer was produced by Tillman and recorded with Jonathan Rado (Foxygen), Dave Cerminara (Jonathan Wilson, Foster the People, Conor Oberst), and Trevor Spencer (FJM). The album features contributions from Haxan Cloak, Natalie Mering of Weyes Blood, longtime collaborator Jonathan Wilson, and members of Misty’s touring band.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10257
__label__wiki	0.69743	0.69743	Kickstarter Crowdfunding Now Available in Canada – IP Issues Likely to Follow Across the Border Nathan Fan Published September 6th, 2013 Summary – Online crowdfunding platforms, such as Kickstarter, have given innovators and creators the opportunity to secure critical funding needed to get their ideas off the ground floor and avoid the need to rely on traditional forms of funding. These crowdfunding platforms have been championed as a democratization of the funding process, helping start-ups, creators, and innovators with projects that may not otherwise have found willing investors. While Kickstarter success stories are plentiful, so are the inherent risks of using an online crowdfunding platform, especially risks relating to intellectual property (“IP”) issues. With the US-based service recently opening its platform to Canadian-based projects, eager innovators and creators will find that both the successes and the risks associated with IP issues are likely to cross the border into Canada. The Kickstarter Effect. Started in 2009, Kickstarter is an online crowdfunding platform that allows project creators to create publicly accessible campaign webpages where creators make their “pitch” as to what their idea is and why the funding is needed. A project creator sets the funding target and the duration of the funding period. The public can review each creator’s pitch and decide whether to fund a given project. However, instead of providing a loan to the creator or requiring equity or ownership in the project in exchange for investment, the creator provides alternative forms of “rewards” to backers that provide funding, e.g., first run of the start-up’s product, dinner with the design team, the backer’s name in the credits of the film, etc. Project creators maintain full ownership and control of their projects, whether or not the funding goal is achieved. Previously only available in the US and the UK, Kickstarter has now opened its crowdfunding platform to Canadian-based projects. Project creators will be able to launch their projects in Canada beginning September 9, 2013. While Kickstarter is not the only online crowdfunding platform, it has become one of the most popular platforms due to its track record of success for a variety of projects, e.g., a publicly accessible space photography telescope ($1.5 million in funding); an affordable 3D printer ($2.9 million); a customizable e-paper watch ($10.2 million); the first truly immersive virtual reality headset ($2.4 million); a hoodie guaranteed to last for 10 years ($1.0 million); the Veronica Mars movie project (starring Kristen Bell) ($5.7 million); the world’s thinnest watch ($1.0 million); Zach Braff’s independent film ($3.1 million); a new video game console ($8.6 million); and the world’s first 3D printing pen ($2.3 million). In many cases, project creators are drawn to Kickstarter due to their financial constraints. Retaining legal counsel for guidance on potential IP issues before launching a Kickstarter project may not be high on the priority list. However, innovators and creators looking to draw on Kickstarter’s successes should be wary of investing time and money into launching a project on Kickstarter without first considering the various risks and pitfalls related to IP. Careful consideration of IP issues may help project creators prevent the loss of any IP rights related to their projects and may insulate them from any third party IP claims that could threaten the success of their projects. Patents: The Perks of Being a Wallflower While Unpatented. In order to create a convincing pitch, project creators must disclose enough information about their project on their Kickstarter campaign page to convince potential backers that the idea is worthy of funding. However, revealing sufficient detail about an invention to attract backers exposes a creator to risks that may jeopardize the patentability of the invention. Disqualifying Disclosures. Unlike making a pitch to traditional investors, where non-disclosure agreements (“NDA”) can prevent the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information about a project, the nature of the Kickstarter platform requires disclosure of information up front to the public without the protection of an NDA. Generally speaking, public disclosure of the patentable subject matter of an invention prior to the filing of a patent application may disqualify the invention from patent protection. However, the Canadian patent system gives inventors a one-year grace period to file a patent application if the patentable subject-matter was disclosed by, or through, the inventor not more than one year prior to the filing date of the patent application.[1] Whether the one-year grace period is triggered also depends on whether the public disclosure was an “enabling disclosure”. Canadian law requires the public disclosure to be sufficient to enable a person skilled in the art to make use of, or be able to perform or work, the invention, allowing the skilled person some room for trial and error experimentation. It is not enough for the public to merely be made aware of the invention.[2] Even where the information disclosed on the Kickstarter campaign page does not constitute an “enabling disclosure”, the inventor must also be cautious of any sales to, or use by, the public of a product embodying the invention, which may also constitute an “enabling disclosure”. Canadian case law has established that the sale to, or use by, the public of an invention amounts to an “enabling disclosure” where the public is able to discover the invention and make use of it through analysis of the product without the use or application of inventive skill, e.g., where a skilled person is capable of reverse engineering the invention embodied in the product.[3] It is common for Kickstarter project creators to offer “rewards” to backers in some form of proto-type or pre-production products embodying the invention. For example, the Kickstarter campaign for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset rewarded backers who pledged $275 with an unassembled prototype DIY kit of the headset, including parts and the instructions for assembly. Such offerings to the public may constitute an “enabling disclosure” and trigger the start of the one-year grace period. The Early Bird Gets to Patent the Worm. Canada’s patent system operates on a first-to-file basis. This means that the date of first invention is irrelevant for the purposes of establishing entitlement to patent an invention. What is relevant is the date of filing of the patent application and the date of the first enabling disclosure. Even where a project creator is careful in ensuring that its disclosure of the invention on the Kickstarter campaign page, or any rewards offered to backers, do not amount to an enabling disclosure, a competitor may come across the campaign page, take notice of the competing invention and then file its own patent application for a similar or overlapping invention before the project creator files its patent application. As the competitor would have filed an application covering the invention first, the competitor may have the right to patent the invention, irrespective of the fact that the project creator came up with the invention first. In such cases, not only might the project creator lose the rights to obtain a patent for the invention, the creator’s project may end up infringing the patent of the competitor’s similar invention. Success Breeds Success Except When You Infringe a Patent. Even with a successful Kickstarter campaign, the risks associated with IP issues can run beyond the duration of the fundraising campaign and threaten the success of the project in the long term. For example, without the assurance of first having conducted a prior art search, a successfully funded project may be subject to a third party’s patent infringement claim. For example, Formlabs’ Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a 3D printer ended on October 26, 2012 as the most successfully funded technology campaign in Kickstarter’s history, raising over $2.9 million and far surpassing its fundraising goal of $100,000. Within a month, 3D Systems brought a patent infringement lawsuit against Formlabs in the US Federal District Court seeking injunctive relief and damages for infringement of its 3D printing patents. Whether or not such infringement claims end up being successful, the costs of defending such claims alone may render the project dead out of the gate for some project creators. Other situations may also prove problematic for the project creator, especially after a successful Kickstarter campaign with onerous promises to deliver rewards to project backers. An injunction or a settlement agreement arising out of the infringement claims may prevent the project creator from producing and/or selling the product as originally pitched in the Kickstarter campaign or in fulfilling the rewards as promised. This may raise issues of the project creator’s breach of contract with the backers. Even if the product is altered to avoid patent infringement claims, a product that does not match the original Kickstarter pitch or reward may subject the project creator to claims of false or misleading representations to the public under Canada’s Competition Act[4] or other similar complaints. Kickstarter operates on an ”all-or-nothing” crowdfunding model. The project creator sets the fundraising goal and the campaign’s duration. Payment from the backers is collected only after the campaign has ended and only if the money pledged is at least as equal to the fundraising goal. If the project is not successful in meeting its fundraising goal, the project creator does not collect any money. This could prove to be a difficult situation for the project creator who provided an enabling disclosure of the invention with the intention of seeking protection of its patentable invention after receiving funding. Now, without any funding, the project creator may be rushed to find alternative funding to meet the one-year deadline to file a patent application. Copyright: Imitation is a Costly Form of Flattery. It is likely a trite point for Kickstarter project creators that the unauthorized use of copyrighted content should be avoided for fear of copyright infringement claims. However, project creators should also be vigilant in preventing even minor, inadvertent uses of copyrighted materials in their campaigns and consider avoiding projects that are unclear as to copyright ownership as Kickstarter’s copyright policy could lead to harsh consequences for their projects. Under Kickstarter’s general Terms of Use (“TOU”), the project creator agrees not to use the Kickstarter platform for any activity that infringes IP rights, including copyright, and agrees that Kickstarter may suspend or cancel a campaign for any reason, including a violation of its IP policies: Kickstarter reserves the right to reject, cancel, interrupt, remove or suspend a campaign at any time and for any reason. Kickstarter is not liable for any damages as a result of those actions. Kickstarter’s policy is not to comment on the reasons for any of those actions. Kickstarter also reserves the right to cancel a project creator’s access to the campaign “without cause or notice”. The Kickstarter Takedown. Kickstarter’s copyright policy allows copyright owners to file a complaint of copyright infringement against a Kickstarter project by using the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) takedown notice form. Once Kickstarter receives a DMCA notice about a project, the infringing material will be removed, or access to the project will be disabled, until the dispute is resolved. Kickstarter will put a notice of the infringement complaint in place of the campaign page (e.g., this project “is the subject of an intellectual property dispute and is currently unavailable”). Any backers of the project will also be informed of the infringement complaint. Project creators should be mindful of seemingly minor, inadvertent uses of copyrighted content, as this could result in a project being suspended or cancelled altogether. For example, GameStick launched a product of the same name for “the most portable TV games console ever created”. GameStick’s entire campaign was temporarily suspended due to a DMCA complaint filed with Kickstarter with respect to copyrighted images of a video game used in GameStick’s pitch video, for which it did not obtain the rights to use. With only a 30-day fundraising window for its project, GameStick was fortunately able to resolve the dispute before the campaign deadline by editing out the images of the video game from the pitch video. Fair dealing provisions do exist under the Canadian Copyright Act, which provide for “user rights” which allow for the use of copyrighted material without authorization from the copyright owner in certain circumstances, e.g., research, private study, education, parody, satire, criticism or review, and news reporting purposes[5]. While Canadian courts have given the categories of fair dealing a large and liberal interpretation, whether the use of the copyrighted material is commercial in nature or purpose is a relevant factor that goes against a finding of fair dealing.[6] As Kickstarter projects and their campaign pages are inherently commercial in nature, it may be difficult to establish that an unauthorized use of copyrighted content falls within the fair dealing provisions and thus not copyright infringement. Further, the filing of a copyright complaint may still lead to a temporary suspension of the campaign, which may have negative consequences that outweigh any benefit that the use of the copyrighted material under the fair dealing provision may have provided. Infringement Complaints may be Future Proof. It is also possible that copyright infringement claims against future endeavours might trigger a suspension of a Kickstarter campaign under the Kickstarter’s copyright policy. For example, UK illustrators Geoffrey O. Todd and Rich Berner launched a Kickstarter campaign in the UK to produce a sequel to Maurice Sendak’s popular book Where the Wild Things Are. The book, to be titled Back to the Wild, had not yet been produced and was merely a proposal with sample illustrations for the story. However, HarperCollins Publishing, publisher of Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, filed a DMCA notice on July 3, 2013 alleging: The infringing material is a proposal to create a “sequel” to WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, entitled “Back to the Wild,” using the characters, scenes and copyrightable elements of the original work. Any such unauthorized “sequel” would clearly violate the Estate’s right to create derivative works. As with the UK-based Back to the Wild project, the Kickstarter TOU for Canadian projects also refers to the DMCA takedown notice process, which suggests that Canadian projects may also be subject to American copyright laws in terms of suspending or cancelling projects. Interestingly, the UK-based creators for Back to the Wild project stated that they were “very careful not to impinge on Mr. Sendak’s copyright and have taken the necessary legal advice around this whole project”. Time is of the Essence. It should be noted that Kickstarter’s policy with respect to the receipt of DMCA infringement complaints is that if the dispute is not resolved within 30 days, Kickstarter may “cancel the project, all pledge authorizations will expire, and the project will be permanently unavailable”. For GameStick, the dispute was quickly resolved by editing the offending video, but for other project creators such as the case for the Back to the Wild project, 30 days may not be sufficient time to resolve the issues. Another consideration to keep in mind is that Kickstarter campaigns are funded on an “all-or-nothing” basis. Kickstarter’s TOU state that backers are able to reduce or cancel their pledges at any time up until the last 24 hours before the end of the campaign. As backers of a project are notified of any infringement complaints filed against the project, it is easy to see how the filing of a complaint could pose a significant risk to a project, especially where complaints are filed near the end of the fundraising campaign. Even where the complaint is proven to be illegitimate or the dispute was otherwise resolved favourably, it may prove to be too late to convince former backers to refund the project before the deadline. Originality Pays Off. Given the foregoing, project creators should strive to include only original content in their campaigns. Even where copyrighted content is being used under license (e.g., licensed stock images or content used under creative commons licenses), the project creator should at least ensure that the copyrighted content is clearly being used within the parameters of the license. For example, content that is available to the public for use under creative commons licenses may vary in terms of attribution requirements, restriction to non-commercial uses, restriction on derivative works, restrictions on further distribution, etc. There is also no guarantee that the publisher of the content is actually the copyright owner or has the right to license out the content. The creative commons license is an “as-is” offer of the content with no representations or warranties as to ownership.[7] There is no registration or vetting process for making content available under a creative commons license. Given the potential risks that copyright issues pose to a Kickstarter project, project creators need to be cognizant of the content of their projects and their fundraising campaigns in order to maximize the potential of their projects. Trade-marks: Failure to Launch a Brand. Similar to Kickstarter’s copyright policy, Kickstarter’s TOU and trade-mark policy allow trade-mark owners to file a complaint against a project for trade-mark infringement. Upon receipt of a complaint, Kickstarter may remove the infringing content or disable public access to the project until the dispute is resolved. The TOU also reserves Kickstarter’s rights to suspend or cancel the project altogether. Under Canadian law, trade-mark infringement may occur where a project creator uses a name, design or logo that is identical or confusingly similar to another party’s established trade-mark used in association with same or similar products or services.[8] Trade-mark owners are also protected from other parties “passing off” their products or services as those of a trade-mark owner and thereby misappropriating the goodwill associated with that trade-mark owner’s mark. “Passing off” also includes another party creating the pretence or misrepresentation to the public that their products or services are sponsored by, or associated with, the trade-mark owner.[9] A project creator is particularly vulnerable to trade-mark infringement claims where a chosen name, design or logo has never been used by the project creator in the marketplace prior to the launch of the Kickstarter project. Launching a Kickstarter project under a brand without first checking the Canadian Trade-Marks Register and the marketplace for the existence of similar trade-marks could lead to significant costs and setbacks in having to rebrand the project after the launch. For example, Sunstone Games launched a Kickstarter campaign for a video game titled “Kaiju Combat”. Wizards of the Coast, who own the trade-mark for KAIJUDO in association with video games, filed a trade-mark complaint with Kickstarter, alleging that use of Kaiju Combat was confusingly similar with its KAIJUDO mark for the same types of products. According to Sunstone, their Kickstarter campaign page was suspended for 3.5 months while Sunstone and Wizards of the Coast negotiated a settlement deal. Ultimately, Sunstone was forced to refer to its game as “Colossal Kaiju Combat” and was prohibited from using that name in any official game title (the project is now called “The Fall of Nemesis: Clash of the Kaijujin”). Sunstone is also prohibited from advertising the URL <kaijucombat.com> and instead must direct the public to <sunstone.co>. Although the project was ultimately successfully funded (by only $12,513 above the goal of $100,000), Sunstone was forced to expend its resources in defending against the trade-mark infringement claim. Further, the brand identity that Sunstone tried to create with its video game may now be less clear as there were multiple names being used to refer to its product. Appreciating a Depreciation of Goodwill. Canadian trade-mark law also protects registered trade-mark owners from uses of their marks by third parties that would have the likelihood of depreciating the goodwill associated with their marks.[10] For example, one party’s use of a competitor’s trade-mark in a comparison chart of hair colour products to encourage consumers to switch over to their products in manner that disparaged its competitor was considered by a Canadian court to depreciate the goodwill of the competitor’s trade-mark.[11] For project creators, using a well-known trade-mark in a Kickstarter campaign in a manner that creates some negative association with the trade-mark may also be subject to depreciation claims. Given the aforementioned risks, a project creator should, prior to developing a Kickstarter campaign, check that any names, designs or logos that the creator intends to use in association with their project, products and services do not conflict with any other trade-marks on the Trade-Marks Register or in the marketplace. A trade-mark registrability and usability search can easily be performed by a trade-mark agent prior to the development of the project, thereby possibly reducing the likelihood of scenarios such as the Kaiju Combat project where the project creator was forced to rebrand their project after already having invested significant resources in developing the project under an unusable brand identity. Conclusion – Project creators are often inevitably caught in a “catch 22” situation, where the creators lack the upfront capital to retain legal counsel for issues related to launching a Kickstarter project and engage the Kickstarter platform in order obtain the necessary capital to start the project. Project creators may also be unwilling to invest in IP protection upfront without knowing whether the necessary funding can be obtained to bring the project to market. However, the foregoing paragraphs highlight just some of the common risks and pitfalls related to IP inherent to the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform and are not exhaustive of all the potential IP issues. Ultimately, it is essential for innovators and creators to turn their minds to all the potential IP issues relating to their project before launching a Kickstarter campaign as this may help preserve their IP rights and may reduce the risk of any IP infringement claims in both the short and long term. [1] See Patent Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-4, s.28.2(1)(a) which provides that the claimed invention in a Canadian patent application cannot have been disclosed “more than one year before the filing date by the applicant, or by a person who obtained knowledge, directly or indirectly, from the applicant, in such a manner that the subject-matter became available to the public in Canada or elsewhere.” [2] Apotex Inc. v. Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc. (2008), 2008 SCC 61, [2008] S.C.J. No. 63 (S.C.C.) at paras. 23-37. [3] Baker Petrolite Corp. v. Canwell-Enviro Industries Ltd. (2001), 2002 FCA 158, [2002] F.C.J. No. 614 (F.C.A.) [4] Competition Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-34. Section 52 provides that no person shall, for the purpose of promoting, directly or indirectly, the supply of a product or for the purpose of promoting, directly or indirectly, any business interest, by any means whatever, knowingly or recklessly make a representation to the public that is false or misleading in a material respect. Section 36 provides that any person who has suffered loss or damage as a result of conduct that is contrary to section 52 (amongst other things) may sue to recover losses or damages suffered. [5] Copyright Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42, see s.29. [6] CCH Canadian Ltd. v. Law Society of Upper Canada, 2004 SCC 13, [2004] 1 SCR 339 (S.C.C.) at paras. 53-60 [7] For example, see Clause 5 of the Creative Commons License for Attribution 3.0, which states in part as follows: “Unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the parties in writing, licensor offers the work as-is and makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the work, express, implied, statutory or otherwise…” [8] For registered trade-marks, see Trade-marks Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. T-13 [“Trade-marks Act”], ss.19, 20. [9] See Trade-marks Act, s.7(c) which is a codification of the common law tort of passing off. [10] Trade-marks Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. T-13, section 22. [11] Clairol International Corp. v. Thomas Supply & Equipment Co. [1968] 2 Ex. C.R. 552. « Defendants Avoid Oily Mess in Patent... Interesting Example of the Long Shadow... »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10266
__label__cc	0.649162	0.350838	Summer of '14 - PART 1 An edited version of this piece first appeared in Pro Sound News Europe July 2014 edition. The Summer of ‘14 Doesn’t have the same ring to it as the ‘Summer of ‘69’ really - it feels like this could be something to do with World War 1, and if it rains at Glastonbury there could be some distinct similarities, but as I write this initial installment of ‘Simon’s Sonic Summer’ it’s set fair for a corking Glasto and hopefully everything that follows. My role at Somerset’s global village fete has become one of ‘overseer’ rather than full-blooded festivaleering, having recommended a change of PA system for the Pyramid Stage this year – I’m fortunate enough to be able to ask my friends to rig and operate it so I can swan in and say ‘a bit more on delay 4’, and grease a few egos at FOH. More of this later. A regular customer for me is Wales’ principal export Katherine Jenkins. Working for her is akin to being a heli-vet – gigs come in all shapes and sizes in all kinds of places. A KJ show can be anything from a vocal to track for a corporate in front of a privileged few to a full symphony orchestra in a stadium, or anything in between. I guess my summer started with a trip to Istanbul at the end of May for a ‘corporate’. It was in fact for our lovely government, who were schmoozing the Turks with all things bright and British with a view to increasing our exports. In a series of events staged by Jack Morton Worldwide under the moniker GREAT BRITAIN, the great and the good of Istanbul were treated to a display of cutting edge British technology and design, and that was just the canapés. To kick the evening off, Katherine performed three songs to track on a postage stamp of a stage that featured the Bosphorus for a backdrop – a more stunning location would be hard to find, but this one was quite hard to see, blocked as it was by two inappropriately huge stacks of Adamson that had been locally sourced just for our bit. My heart sank when I saw it, as I’m a fan of a tidy system that fits a space visually as well as sonically, but alas I have only myself to blame. Due to a slight misinterpretation of an email on my part, I ended up with the Adamson system when I could have had a much more suitably proportioned D&B Q system, and the punters would have got to see the Bosphurus, but that’s not the point. About a quarter of a century ago I used to do a great deal of work in the corporate sector, and among the good friends I made was a certain Geoff Eaton, barrow boy to the stars and extremely competent audio engineer. As is the way of these things, our careers careered off in different directions, and we didn’t see each other for ever. I go to Turkey, and who is there to look after me but Geoff, 25 years on and EXACTLY the same, whereas I am wider, greyer and altogether more ‘comfortable.’ It seems that whilst the rest of us have been growing old, Geoff has been keeping a self-portrait in the attic. It was of course a great opportunity to catch up, but that was going to take a while, as we had 25 years worth to do. Best thing? Get the gig out of the way and find a restaurant sharpish like. Three songs to track – easy – until the playback machine won’t play .wavs and my instant access software, recently installed on my shiny new Mac decided it wasn’t interested either. It was one of those situations you could never have envisaged, but I won’t bore you with the details. Needless to say the show happened, thanks to my old mate Geoff who rode to the rescue like a s***e in shining armour. KJ was of course charming, grown men swooned and after Geoff and I scarpered as quick as you like to a restaurant down on the front, where we drank Turkish beer (Efes, really good) and did some serious reminiscing whilst the young and the beautiful of Istanbul cruised pass in their Lambos, Alfas and Ferraris. We both decided that it was better in the old days….no surprises there. Now I know a thing or two about mosques, having done my time at the Baital Futuh mosque in Morden designing and installing their not insignificant systems around the complex and also for the Amaddihya community’s annual gathering in Sussex. But my concept of what comprises a mosque was totally changed by my visit to Istanbul. Due to some considerate scheduling by those nice people at Jack Morton, I had the day to myself before the show in the early evening. What’s more, they had the foresight to hire a private tour guide for the touring party, who nobody else wanted to make use of. Having realized my luck, I took full advantage of the situation and was given a guided tour of some of the most incredible architecture I have ever seen, all of it properly ancient. The Blue Mosque, and its neighbour Agia Sofia, are incredible examples of mankind’s resource, creativity and artisanal skill. I’ve decided that when we finally get the new bathroom at home, I’m going to get some old Turkish Muslims to come and tile it. In this industry, it is so often the case where we get to visit extraordinary places and never see them. I have heard so many crew members sounding off about how they have been here there and everywhere, but the truth of it is that for all they saw they could have been in Hull, and let’s face it you can get drunk almost anywhere. I have left some of the most beautiful cities in the world with a feeling of real disappointment, hoping that some day I will get the opportunity to come back and discover what all the fuss is about. Not so in Istanbul, an incredible mélange of East and West, Christianity and Islam, Asia and Europe. I am fortunate indeed. Back in Blighty and I was next due to look after KJ again for her appearance for Soccer Aid at Old Trafford, singing ‘Abide With Me’ before the kick off. We do a few of these kind of events every year – last year it was the American football at Wembley, a surreal experience if ever there was one – but this was more familiar. Football for me these days is pretty cursory – I masochistically like to watch England but I’m not about to get punchy if I miss a match – Rugby though, is a different matter altogether. However, when I was about 7 I so wanted to be George Best. I had the signature side-lace boots, my room had various Manchester United memorabilia and I had a subscription to GOAL magazine. The last time I played with any commitment was for the crew against the dancers on Lord of the Dance backstage in Brisbane in 1997 (I think we won, nobody got hurt). Old Trafford has always been a special place to me, and here I was not only being paid to go there for the first time, but also getting down to the pitch side. The show was live vocal to track, very simple, and all over in moments, but that was not what made it for me. The pre-match kick about was a chance for players and player/celebs to loosen up and get a feel for the pretty electric atmosphere of a 65,000 crowd all looking to scream at a) Robbie Williams (for mums), b) Ollie Murs (the kids) or c) somebody I didn’t recognize (who knows?), depending on their age. So there I was checking out the talent (John Bishop and Olly Murs looked pretty handy) when out of the sky came a stray football, like an inconvenient meteorite. What was a man to do under the circumstances? Duck, run, look away nonchalantly, or risk looking a total arse in front of 65,000 braying punters and hoof the thing for all it was worth? I went for it of course – Old Trafford, a capacity crowd, all those memories of centre spreads of Besty and Charlton doing what they did best. It was one for the grandchildren (trust me, it won’t be long). I let fly, connected beautifully and the ball curved gently over the heads of the assembled glitterati into the centre circle to be received by somebody like Japp Stam or Jamie Rednapp, who no doubt were left wondering why I wasn’t playing. As if that were not enough, no more than two minutes passed and the ball came thundering my way again! This certainly counted as meaningful participation surely - I trapped deftly, took aim at the nearest celeb and caught it on the half-volley to send the ball at chest height screaming across the pitch into Gordon Ramsey’s mid-riff. The crowd cheered, I bowed and tried to not to look smug. This was no dream. This was real. 48 years later than expected, this was my Old Trafford debut. If only Sir Matt had been there. It took a while to come down from that, at least the length of the journey home in the car that had been provided for me by the TV production company. Living in the far South West, I often get the feeling when I’m asked about travel expenses that I’m having a laugh – especially those who are very much London-centric in their thinking, like most TV production companies. (It’s actually no different to living in Yorkshire or the East Midlands). Endemol, bless them, provided me with a driver to drive me from Plymouth to Manchester and back again in the same day. This was great! I could do something meaningful with my time during the journey, and face the next day not feeling like my head had been minced. My man duly arrived at 9am on the Sunday morning, and off we went. He seemed sane, so I asked him where he had come from, expecting maybe Bristol, Exeter or even Plymouth – would have made sense. Essex. He had set off at 3am from Essex. He was driving me to Manchester, and back again after KJ had started the match at around 8pm, and was then returning back to Essex. I was going to die. If only I had known that when I waved to my beautiful wife it was the last time I would ever see her. All those promises never met, things left unsaid, plans unrealised, kitchens untiled, all destroyed amongst the twisted metal of a wrecked people carrier, smouldering on the central reservation of the M5. Visions of weeping children, confused friends and relatives crowded my head, and to think Gordon Ramsey would never have experienced the full force of my right foot. Somehow, we survived. I have never seen anybody consume so much Red Bull and Relentless. He himself was very red when we arrived back in Plymouth at about 1:30am, his blood sugar level beyond critical for sure. I’m sure I could see his head actually pulsating with the force of his heart struggling to cope. Whether he made it back to Essex I’ll probably never know, but I wished him well on his way and fell through my front door almost weeping with relief. A trip to Copenhagen to be drip fed Carlsberg at the expense of DPA Microphones (probably the best microphones…in the world..) was a welcome distraction before a visit to the Southbank and James Lavelle’s Meltdown Festival. The show featured the Philharmonia Orchestra playing live to Max Richter’s eclectic score for Ari Folman’s unique animated documentary film Waltz With Bashir. I have never seen anything quite like this film before – it is I think quite unique, and for an animated work is decidedly harrowing, focusing on the director’s own experiences of rediscovering his lost memories of his part in the war in Lebanon in the early 1980’s. Musically it swings from banging electronica to beautiful, melodic orchestral passages interspersed with solo piano, with some OMD and PiL thrown in to make sure everybody understood the where and when of the piece. I loved it, and enjoyed deploying SFX speakers in the Royal Festival Hall boxes and playing with the L,C,R to give maximum imaging to the dialogue against the soundtrack and orchestra. As I write, I am in the middle of a demo of Martin Audio’s remarkable MLA Mini system for an ex student of mine. His regional PA company is providing sound services for Teignmouth Folk Festival in the seaside town’s seaside theatre. It is fortunately the last event they will be staging in the Carlton Theatre, a shrine to corrugated iron sheeting and asbestos that would appear to be held together with rust and guano. The home of Muse, Teignmouth is a beautiful place to be on a hot, British summer day, and they are soon to be getting a shiny new Carlton Theatre on the same site, and not a moment too soon I would suggest. And as we are in the midst of a series of hot, British summer days I have absolutely no problem with driving across my home county to step out into blazing sunshine, stroll along the promenade and dive into a small, hot, black hovel to play with the best small format PA known to man. I just think they should move it outside. And, then, next week it’s Glastonbury, the Pyramid Stage and significantly more MLA than Teignmouth, where I shall be wearing two hats as MLA advocate for Martin Audio and the face of R G Jones, now in their seventh year as providers for the iconic venue. This is a two part diary, so once it’s done there’ll be much to say on the subject from the viewpoint of somebody who is brave enough to tell the festival that they need this system. Whether I’m right or not remains to be seen – check back next month to see if I survive…	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10267
__label__cc	0.742779	0.257221	Notre-Dame Basillica sojourner walker williams No Trip to Montreal is Complete Without a Visit to the Notre-Dame Basillica Perhaps it's the colors- vibrant sea foam green, dark cherry wood, coquettish robins egg blue and sharp accents of gold. Or the aroma, frankincense, welting max. There is a warmth all around, the energy of tranquility and peace resonate from within. Whatever it is, Montreal's famed Notre-Dame Basilica is a true refuge and a work of astounding beauty. Built in 1824, the Notre-Dame Basilica is easily one of the most impressive structures in the historic district of Old Montreal. Known in a more modern context as the place where Celine Dion got married, the Notre-Dame Basilica is home to a large collection of priceless religious art and archaeological finds. Visited by Pope John Paul II, the Notre-Dame Basilica has been host to many prominent historical events and in 1989 was assigned the designation as a National Historic Site of Canada. Despite the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Basilica, it runs as an active church. For the people, the Basilica offers a full host of religious services from mass to marriage, baptisms and funerals. A site frequented by religious pilgrims, the Basilica is also open, for a nominal fee, to tourists. I find during my travels that there are few things, more grounding and calming than visiting religious sites. I've visited mosques and temples, basilicas and shrines, each one, regardless of the religion it was attached to, resonated that special energy that comes from being in the presence of the "Divine." The Basilica is not just for Catholics or Christians. Located in the heart of Old Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica is within easy walking distance of the water, restaurants and shops. The cobblestone streets of Old Montreal are historic and unique. There's so much to do in the neighborhood, which feels like a suburb of Paris. I still don't know if it's the colors, or the aroma, the stained glass, the velvety seats, but I am called again and again to the Notre-Dame Basilica. This wasn't my first visit and I'm sure it won't be my last. Montreal, is one of the most charming and unique cities in North America! The Notre-Dame Basilica 11o Rue Notre-Dame O, Montreal, QC Tagged: Montreal, Notre-Dame Basillica	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10272
__label__wiki	0.918315	0.918315	Dalrymple On Koh-i-noor Eminent Author William Dalrymple said that Koh-i-noor has a controversial history and there are many claimants to it. Delivering Twentieth Odisha Knowledge Hub Lecture series organized here in State Secretariat on 6 April, Mr.Dalrymple said, the gem is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, weighing 105.6 carats. The term Koh-i-Noor is Persian meaning “Mountain of Light" and has been known by this name since 18th century. The gem has changed hands among various parts of Globe like Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Presently it is ceded to Queen Victoria as part of the British Crown jewels, said he. Mr.Dalrymple further mentioned Koh-i-noor is an integral part of Indian history, art and literature. “It symbolized colonial sovereignty in India,” he said while relating it to the historical reference of King Ranjit Singh presenting the jewel to Lord Shree Jagannath at Puri. He further termed Koh-i-noor as the most infamous diamond of the world because of the controversies around its ownership and the after effects of its possession. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and Development Commissioner Asit Tripathy welcomed Mr.Dalrymple and Mr.Padhi felicitated him with the OKH memento to mark his visits to the State. Introducing Mr.Dalrymple to the audience, Development Commissioner Mr.Tripathy said that William Dalrymple is a famous historian, traveller and a journalist. He is author of nine world famous books about India and Islamic world. “Because of his scholarly reflections and discoveries he has been awarded honorary doctorates of letters from the Universities of Edinburgh, St Andrews, Aberdeen, Bradford and Lucknow,” he said adding, the writer has been a visiting fellow in humanities at Princeton and Brown University. Recently Mr.Dalrymple curetted a major show of Mughal art for Asia Society in New York with the banner of Princes and Painters in Mughal Delhi ( 1707-1857) wherein the jewel of Koh-i-noor was described and related to. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi along with Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Commissioners of different departments participated in the ‘open session’ following the lecture. In view of growing popularity of the Lecture, it was extended to two other conference halls of Odisha secretariat and various district head quarters through video conferencing. The Collectors along with senior officers, students, teachers, researchers from various parts of Odisha participated in the lecture through this video conferencing.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10273
__label__cc	0.602356	0.397644	CES 2019 Comes and Goes This week was the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and there was a lot of 8K TVs being showed off. Samsung also showed off a new microLED 75" TV. The price is $50,000! Short throw Projector TVs were also popular at CES. LG's Optima is under $2,000. There were also self driving cars using artificial intelligence and LIDAR. There was also an electric helicopter and self-driving flying cars. There were also Amazon Dash Buttons, which are designed to instantly order a product at the touch of a button. Read more about CES 2019 Comes and Goes What We'll See From CES 2015 This Week CES starts this week in Las Vegas, NV. The confab, which is meant to bring together electronics manufacturers and retailers, also attracts media and tech geeks. All too often, Leo says that a lot of what we'll see at CES never gets released. But we'll see some pretty cutting edge stuff including smart thermostats, self driving cars, and the "internet of things." Read more about What We'll See From CES 2015 This Week Leo Heads to CES, Maybe for the Last Time After the show today, Leo will be flying to Las Vegas for what may be his last journey to the Consumer Electronics Show. While it's fun to see all the new gadgets, with over 150,000 dealers and press going, Leo says the bloom is definitely off the rose. In today's Internet dominated news cycle, Leo wonders why it's even necessary anymore, except for the social aspects. You'll see a lot of stuff announced at CES that ends up being vaporware since they will never see the light of a showroom floor. Read more about Leo Heads to CES, Maybe for the Last Time	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10275
__label__cc	0.679248	0.320752	Home Open Access Tracking Project (OATP) lterrat's bookmarks anthropologies: Liberating Cultural Anthropology? A Thought Experiment anthropologies: Liberating Cultural Anthropology? A Thought Experiment "In this brief post, we sketch one possible model for turning Cultural Anthropology, the journal of the Society for Cultural Anthropology, a section of the American Anthropological Association, into a gold open access journal. Open access advocates describe such a process as liberatory because it frees a publication from arrangements that constrain its capacity to fulfill a core mission: namely, the widest possible circulation of the published work, regardless of a reader’s ability to pay. This mission is a particular demand for anthropology, because anthropological publications concern communities, and are of interest to readers, in all areas of the world, many of whom do not have the resources or organizational connections to gain access to anthropological publications as they are now distributed. Anthropological publications also have great potential to reach new and diverse audiences near to home, in policy, legal, and media domains, as well as within the growing number of universities, state colleges, community colleges, and other institutions whose libraries are cutting journal subscriptions in the face of mounting budget pressures. Reaching these readers is also difficult within the current distribution model. An open access model would provide many advantages, and is both economically feasible and technically well supported at this juncture. Here, we lay out a rough process and budget, inviting feedback." http://www.anthropologiesproject.org/2012/03/liberating-cultural-anthropology.html oa.humanities oa.libarts oa.anthropology oa.business_models oa.gold oa.societies oa.discoverability oa.advocacy oa.ssh oa.journals	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10278
__label__cc	0.596384	0.403616	Home Open Access Tracking Project (OATP) abernard102@gmail.com e-Helvetica: Digital Collections of the Swiss National Library e-Helvetica: Digital Collections of the Swiss National Library Use the link above to connect to e-Helvetica providing “access to the digital collections of the Swiss National Library (NL). In addition to websites of historical importance, you will find books, periodicals, theses and official publications that have been published in electronic form. You will also find printed publications that have been scanned...” “The Swiss National Library (NL) is an institution of the Swiss Confederation. It was founded in 1895 with the legal mandate to collect, catalogue, preserve and make accessible all printed information that relates to Switzerland, the collective term for which is ‘Helvetica’. As information media have evolved, the NL’s mandate has been extended to cover electronic publications. Its collections now comprise more than five million documents.” https://www.e-helvetica.nb.admin.ch/pages/main.jsf oa.journals oa.new oa.libraries oa.books oa.digitization oa.switzerland oa.etds abernard	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10279
__label__wiki	0.987491	0.987491	Bulls Back on the Road to Face Akron on Saturday Buffalo (3-6) 7 6 0 7 20 Akron (5-4) 7 7 0 7 21 Pa: WOODSON, Thomas - 286 Ru: SANDS, Deltron - 70 Rec: CONEY, A.J. - 91 Pa: Tyree Jackson - 313 Ru: Emmanuel Reed - 116 Rec: Kamathi Holsey - 100 Buffalo (3-5, 1-3 MAC) at Akron (4-4, 3-1 MAC) InfoCision Stadium - 11:30 am Bulls on the Air Buffalo - ESPN 1520 Rochester - Fox Sports 1280 • Buffalo trails the all-time series with Akron, 10-6. • The Bulls have averaged 42 points per game in their last four meetings with Akron, including scoring 50+ points twice (55 in 2014, 51 in 2011) • Buffalo is in search of its first win at InfoCision Stadium (0-2). The Bulls last win at Akron came in 2008 at the Zips' previous home, the Rubber Bowl. • Buffalo's five losses this season are by a total of 28 points. Their three MAC losses are by a total of 14 points. • After averaging 24 pass attempts over the first five games of the season, the Bulls have averaged 45 pass attempts over the last three games. • Khalil Hodge leads the nation in tackles, averaging 14.4 tackles per game. He has had four games of 17+ tackles this season (20 at Minnesota/17 vs. FAU/18 vs. Western Michigan/19 vs. Northern Illinois). • Khalil Hodge is 10 tackles shy of UB's FBS-era record for tackles in a single season. The record of 125 was set by Justin Winters in 2008 over 14 games. • Anthony Johnson leads the MAC and ranks fourth in the nation in receiving yards with 827 on the season. • Kyle Vantrease is the first true freshman QB to start for Buffalo since Drew Willy in 2005. The University at Buffalo football team will play its second straight road game when it travels to Akron on Saturday. The Bulls are 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the MAC and are coming off a 24-14 loss at Miami (OH) last Saturday. True freshman quarterback Kyle Vantrease started for the Bulls and threw for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Akron is 4-4 overall and 3-1 in the MAC and is coming off a 48-21 loss at Toledo last Saturday. The Zips are led by quarterback Thomas Woodson who has thrown for 1,456 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. Akron leads the all-time series, 10-6. The Bulls won the last meeting, 41-20, at UB Stadium last season. Hodge Ball Khalil Hodge leads the MAC and the nation in tackles, averaging 14.4 tackles per game. Hodge is one of only two players in the nation with over 100 tackles on the season (115). He has 39 more tackles than the player ranked second in the MAC. The junior linebacker already has four games with over 17 tackles - 20 vs. Minnesota, 17 vs. FAU, 18 vs. Western Michigan and 19 vs. Northern Illinois. Against Minnesota, the junior linebacker recorded a career-high 20 tackles. It was the most tackles in a game by a UB player since Davonte Shannon had 20 against Army in 2008. Twice this season, Hodge has been named the MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week - on Sept. 4 and Oct. 16. Last season, Hodge had 123 tackles – the eighth-most in school history for a single season. He ranked seventh in the nation, averaging 10.25 tackles per game. Hodge was an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2016. QB Shuffle Injuries forced head coach Lance Leipold to start his third different quarterback at Miami (OH) last week. True freshman Kyle Vantrease made his first career start last week, becoming the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Bulls since Drew Willy in 2005. Vantrease went 12-for-41 for 202 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against the RedHawks. Tyree Jackson began the season as the Bulls' starter and threw for 733 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 227 yards and four more scores in four games before getting injured against Florida Atlantic. Drew Anderson made three starts before getting hurt during the Northern Illinois game. He threw for 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns during his time under center. You have to go back to 2004 for the last time UB started three different quarterbacks in a single season. P.J. Piskorik (5 games), Randall Secky (4 games) and Chris Moore (2 games) all started for the Bulls in 2004. Big Play Bulls Through eight games, the Bulls have recorded 13 plays of 45 or more yards. This is a stark difference from a season ago when Buffalo had only five plays of 45+ yards all year. What's more, the plays have been coming from a number of different players. The 13 45+-yard plays have come from nine different players. Junior wide receiver Anthony Johnson has played a major role in this as he has made a big play in four different games. He had a 50-yard catch at Minnesota, a 52-yard catch at Army, a 46-yard grab against Colgate, a 53-yard catch against Western Michigan and a 47-yard reception against Northern Illinois. AJ Can Play Anthony Johnson is only eight games into his career at Buffalo, but is already being mentioned in the same breath as some of UB's all-time greats. Johnson leads the Bulls with 49 catches for 827 yards and six touchdowns. His yardage total leads the MAC and ranks fourth in the nation. He has already had two 11-catch games on the season. He is just the second player in school history with multiple games of 11+ catches. Drew Haddad (1996-99) had three games with 11+ catches over his four-year career. Johnson has three games of 140+ receiving yards already this season. Off to a Good Start A season ago, the Bulls scored a total of 10 points in the first quarter of games. This year, Buffalo has gotten off to much better starts, scoring in the first quarter in all but one game so far. The Bulls have scored a total of 68 points in the first quarter of games this season. The Bulls are averaging 8.5 points in the first quarter of games this year. They have posted first-quarter points in seven of eight games this season and have scored at least 14 points in the first quarter in three of the last six games. Against Colgate, UB scored 20 points in the first quarter, the most it scored in the first quarter of a game since scoring 21 at Temple in 2007. Oh, What A Night Buffalo's game vs. Western Michigan will go down as one of the most memorable games in UB football history. The Broncos defeated the Bulls, 71-68, in seven overtimes. Here are a few numbers from that record-setting night. • Total elapsed time: 4:31 • The 139 combined points were the most in FBS history • The score was 40-37 after regulation ended and would have been the 7th-highest-scoring game in the nation, just on overtime points alone. • 19 touchdowns scored by both teams • 10 lead changes, counting overtime • Buffalo's 9 TDs were the most in school history • 683 total yards of offense were the most in school history • UB had four pass plays of 53 yards or longer • Buffalo's 68 points were the most in NCAA history by a losing team. Have A Day, Drew Drew Anderson had one of the finest games in not only school history, but ever in the Mid-American Conference. The junior signal-caller threw for a school-record 597 yards and seven touchdowns and added another touchdown on the ground in a 71-68 seven-overtime loss to Western Michigan on Oct. 7. Anderson's 597 passing yards were not only a school record, but also the most for a single game in MAC history. His seven touchdowns also tied the single-game MAC record. Anderson completed 35-of-61 pass attempts and didn't throw a single interception. The junior quarterback had four completions of 53 yards or more in the game and threw touchdown passes of 64, 8, 54, 5, 25, 4 and 27 yards. He also added a 2-yard touchdown run in the sixth overtime to extend the game. Anderson was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week, one of the Manning Award Stars of the Week and a Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award's "Great 8" performer. Offensive Line Named to Joe Moore Award Mid-Season Watch List Buffalo's offensive line has been impressive all season and has gotten better as the year has progressed. The Bulls have run 255 pass plays on the season and have only allowed 12 sacks. The o-line was one of 16 teams named to the Joe Moore Award Mid-Season Watch List. It's an award given to the nation's best offensive line unit. In addition, PFF College Football lists UB center James O'Hagan as the nation's top center when it comes not allowing a quarterback pressure. For the first time in school history the Bulls had three different players go over 100 yards receiving in the same game when they played Western Michigan on Oct. 7. Anthony Johnson had 11 catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns; Kamathi Holsey had six receptions for 143 yards and a score and K.J. Osborn had seven catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Reed All About It Emmanuel Reed is having a breakout season for the Bulls. The sophomore running had three straight 100-yard rushing performances. He rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown against Colgate; 107 yards against Florida Atlantic and 144 yards and three scores at Kent State - the latter two were as a starter. Reed was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his performance against Kent State. Chuck Harris is making the most of his first season as a starter. The junior defensive end ranks fifth on the team in tackles with 45. He has easily surpassed his season total of 18 tackles over 12 games in 2016. Harris has posted at least five tackles in seven of eight games this season. He had a career-high eight tackles at Army on Sept. 9. He has recorded a sack in two of the last four games. Roberts Named Semifinalist for Campbell Trophy Senior safety Tim Roberts has been named a semifinalist for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation announced on Sept. 27. Considered by many to be the "Academic Heisman," the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Roberts is a social science interdisciplinary major with a 3.68 grade point average. A second-year starter for the Bulls, he ranks fourth on the team in tackles with 22, including a tackle for loss. For his career, Roberts has 94 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Of the 181 semifinalists, Roberts is one of 71 from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and one of eight from the Mid-American Conference. A History of Running Backs If he can keep up his current pace, Emmanuel Reed could be the next UB running back to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season. The Bulls have featured 1,000-yard running backs in six of the last 10 seasons, including three of their last four. Prior to 2007, UB had only three 1,000-yard rushers in the history of the program. Year, Player, Yards 2007, James Starks, 1,103 2011, Branden Oliver, 1,395 2014, Anthone Taylor, 1,403 2016, Jordan Johnson, 1,040 O'Hagan Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List James O'Hagan was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List. The award is giving annually to the nation's top center. This is the second straight year UB's junior center has been named to the watch list. O'Hagan is coming off the best season of his career. He started all 12 games of 2016 and was named All-MAC Third Team. O'Hagan has been the anchor of the Bulls' offensive over the past two season, starting all 24 games. Mitch Perfect Kicker Adam Mitcheson was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Special Teams Player of the Week after a solid performance in Buffalo's win over Florida Atlantic. Mitcheson made both of his field goal attempts in the victory. The junior kicker made a 23-yarder as time expired in the first half to tie the game at 17. He then made a clutch 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. His season-long field goal extended the UB lead to 27-17 with 10:54 left in the game. Mitcheson was also a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points in the game. For the second straight season, the Bulls will play every game on artificial turf. Buffalo is one of 18 teams that will play all its games on artificial turf this season. Ohio State, Washington State, Kansas State, Wyoming, Utah State, Air Force, UNLV, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky, Charlotte, UT-San Antonio, Arkansas State, Idaho and Coastal Carolina will also play all of its games on turf. Bulls Add Grad Transfer from Cal Defensive end Kennedy Emesibe has joined the team as a graduate transfer. Emesibe joined the Bulls after spending three seasons with the Cal Bears. Emesibe was a reserve defensive end for the Bears after a standout high school career in which he was ranked the 35th best defensive end in the nation his senior season. Team Captains Named Five players were voted team captains for the 2017 season. Players voted senior wide receiver Jamarl Eiland, senior linebacker Jarrett Franklin, senior defensive end Demone Harris, junior linebacker Khalil Hodge and junior center James O'Hagan were voted captains for the upcoming season. It's All Relative The UB football team features a pair of players related to two of the top five picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. Junior wide receiver Anthony Johnson is the cousin of top pick Jadeveon Clowney. Junior linebacker Ledarius Mack is the younger brother of former UB All-American and fifth pick Khalil Mack. On The Airwaves Again this season, University at Buffalo football can be heard locally on ESPN 1520, a 50,000-watt station with one of the strongest signals in the nation. The Bulls can also be heard on 1280 AM in Rochester. Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 18th year, and 10th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson will serve as analyst after previously serving as sideline reporter. Brad Riter also returns as game host. Again this season, the UB Football postgame show will take place at Santora's on Millersport with host Bob Gaughan. Peck hosts the UB Football Insider with Lance Leipold on Monday nights at 5:30 pm. The show air on ESPN 1520 and be broadcast live from the Santora's Transit Road location.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10283
__label__wiki	0.983089	0.983089	Five Bulls Named to All-MAC Football Team CLEVELAND, OH – Following a record-breaking season for the University at Buffalo football team, five Bulls were named to the All-Mid-American Conference team, the league announced on Wednesday. Wide receiver Anthony Johnson and linebacker Khalil Hodge were named to the first team; while defensive end Demone Harris was named to the second team and center James O'Hagan and defensive end Chuck Harris were named to the third team. Johnson has been a phenom for the Bulls this season. The junior wideout has 76 catches for 1,356 and a school-record 14 touchdowns on the year. Johnson leads the MAC and ranks second in the nation in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He has six games of 140 or more receiving yards which is also tops in the country. Hodge was also named to the first team. The junior linebacker has built on his 123-tackle performance from a season ago, by posting a MAC-best 154 stops in 2017. Hodge ranks second in the nation in tackles. He has added 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. It is the second straight season he has been named All-MAC - he was named All-MAC Second Team in 2016. Demone Harris is an All-MAC selection for the first time in his career. A second-team pick, Harris leads the Bulls in tackles for loss with 9.5 and sacks with five. The Buffalo native also had 55 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles on the season. The Bulls placed two players on the All-MAC Third Team, including O'Hagan, who was also a third-team selection last year. The junior center has been the anchor of the Bulls offensive line, starting every game this season. Buffalo has run 400 pass plays on the year and have only allowed 17 sacks. Chuck Harris was also named to the third team. The junior defense end is having the best season of his career. He ranks third on the team in tackles with 73 and has added seven tackles for loss and four sacks. Click here for the entire 2017 All-MAC Football Team	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10284
__label__wiki	0.980596	0.980596	Del Bosque to stay on as Spain coach By AFP, Madrid 19th-Jul-2014 Vicente del Bosque on Thursday confirmed his intention to stay on as coach of Spain, despite their disappointing performance at the World Cup in Brazil. "I have been in contact with the Federation president (Angel Maria Villar) as well as the secretary general (Jorge Perez) and I think we are a stable Federation and the last six years as a whole have counted for more than the last two games that eliminated us from the World Cup," del Bosque said at a football school in his home city of Salamanca. Of the Federation (RFEF), he added: "They valued my work and we are going to carry on as always." Del Bosque's contract runs through to the end of the European Championship in France in 2016 and his announcement will end speculation that had been mounting since Spain were knocked out of the World Cup following back-to-back defeats against the Netherlands and Chile. After Spain bowed out of the tournament in Brazil by beating Australia 3-0, he said: "We will look for the best decision for our football, with sense and without drama." Del Bosque, 63, had previously led Spain to glory at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and at Euro 2012.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10286
__label__wiki	0.94016	0.94016	All Categories Indian TV showsAwards ShowEnglish TV ShowIndian DramasPakistani DramasPakistani ShowsStage ShowTele Drama TV Serials › Indian TV shows, Added : Dec 20, 2017 Related: TV Shows Mirchi Music Awards 2017 AD : Dec 30, 2017 Download : 54 Femina Miss India 2016 Shadi ka baad AD : May 29, 2018 TOIFA Awards 2016 Kitna Statay Ho Zee Cine Awards 2016 View : 1185 Netflix deletes suicide scene from popular youth show, '13 Reasons Why' Netflix Inc. is removing a controversial graphic scene depicting a youth suicide from its popular young adult drama “13 Reasons Why”, following advice from medical experts, the company said on its Twitter account early on Tuesday. The show, based on a book of the same name, depicts the suicide of the protagonist in the last episode of season 1, with a scene of the youth Hannah slitting her wrists in a bathtub. The company said on Twitter that on the advice of medical experts it had “decided with the creator Brian Yorkey and the producers of 13 Reasons Why to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life.” In an emailed statement early on Tuesday, a Netflix spokesperson said, “We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide.” While critically acclaimed, the show has drawn criticism from groups ... Child Marriage: Sharmeen Chinoy s' latest series Pakistani Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy tackles child marriage and released the third part from the animated series Shattering the Silence, a project aimed at creating meaningful dialogue around issues of child abuse. The third animated short film titled Child Marriage is told through the eyes of a young girl and follows the story of Mina, a child who is pulled out of school and married off at a young age. As the film progresses, we see the physical and mental toll that early marriage can have on a child bride and consequently the limited opportunities that lend themselves to women with no proper educational qualifications when marriages don't work out. Through resilience, determination and awareness, Mina is ultimately able to turn her life around when she approaches Panah - a shelter that not only takes both Mina and her daughter in but gives her vocational training. Shattering the Silence ... Veteran Pakistani actor Zaheen Tahira passes away at 70 Veteran Pakistani drama actor Zaheen Tahira passed away on Tuesday, her family confirmed, two weeks after she admitted to the intensive care unit following a major cardiac arrest on June 23. The Khuda Ki Basti actor was put on the ventilator after suffering a heart attack last month and had been in the hospital for the past two weeks. Her grandson, special effects artist Danial Shahzad Khan, told Geo News she passed away early morning, around 5AM. Tahira, who entered the entertainment industry in the mid-60s, was one of the most beloved actresses of Pakistan. The veteran star has worked in the same profession for decades in various lead roles in over 700 dramas. Following the heart attack, rumours related to her death had circulated on social media, which left her family concerned. At that time, she was in the coronary care unit (CCU). The family of Tahira, 70, was looking forward ...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10288
__label__wiki	0.517944	0.517944	the Official Blog of The fourth of UNSHINE: Part 6 The synthesizers for our 4th album. Done. This massive amount of work which has been done so far is finally coming to a goal. The guitar mixings were compiled few days ago. This time we had around 60-70 tracks of guitars (and basses) for each song. We had several micings from our Churchboat home studio (with amp isolation) and we made also few re-ampings for the rhytm guitars in the D-studio from the DI-tracks from our home studio. The next bigger thing will be the final mixing of all the tracks, this will take place as soon as we will get the time slot to do it. What comes to the synthesizers and keyboards, we have used a pretty different approach each time with our three albums. In the first album, Earth Magick, the synths were recorded (due to lack of time & money) in around 3-4 hours with presets of just one synth, Yamaha S30. However, it is actually a very good synth with few incredible sound banks the sounds and it can be adjusted in real time when recording with it. In the second album, the Enigma of Immortals, we used Yamaha again, but also Miroslav Philharmonik Orchestra from IK Multimedia trying to achieve a more symphonic sound. We think it worked very well. In, Dark Half Rising, the palette was expanded with virtual Korg M1 and Sonic Synth. The amount of keyboards was not as layered as in the previous one. And now, with this forthcoming music, there are also some new synth additions, including Roland Fantom-X7, which is a great workstation. So, in the beginning of the recordings for this album, I thought that there would be less synthesizers because there are many different types of guitars included in this one (and I thought that this would kind of a compensate them). Ah, it seems that this was not the case. More guitars meant also increase in the synths. So far, I've used all the synths in our home studio, including physical and virtual ones, most of the banks and programs within them. This time, the general idea has been to rethink the whole approach to the synths, as there are so many ways to use them and I am not talking only about different sounds. You can approach also one single sound in countless ways and try to produce something new. I think that the synth section sounds now quite unconventional for us and doing it has been great fun. The stylistic variation is probably larger than in all three first albums altogether. So, the aim has been to find music that sounds like us, not anybody else. To make music just for the music, not for radio or social media fame and attention, that is the idea behind. Of course, this does not mean that possible listeners should be alienated from it. Remember (or listen to the) the mid 1970's, which gave birth to considerable amount of classic electronic, prog and rock albums. These albums are still considered the best albums of all times and some of them are still actually the most selling albums in the world, because new fans find their way to their uniqueness of year after year. In these albums, musicians of those days used also their instruments in much more unconventional way than today. Those composers had surely some secret ingredients from the universe in their morning coffee, tea or whatever. Maybe their general concentration was also more on music itself if we compare those times to the state of music industry today. Harri / UNSHINE Posted by backwoodsman at 15:18 No comments: Enhancing song writing by jogging: Have a nice Beltaine everyone, the 4th album is progressing, synth recordings are almost done soon and the first mixing sessions will finally happen in the middle of May. In this blog text, I describe something about the progress of crafting the recording parts in studio. A whole lot of ideas were laid down for this album. I have already before examined the sources behind the whole songs including main ideas, melodies and structures. Three albums behind, you start to see your own progression in the development and in the course of your own music. Of course, within the band we’ve noticed that the musical communication and intuitive idea-swapping is much more easier year by year, record by record. On the other hand, you and the other guys tend to get also more critical towards the music we make, the way we play. I think it’s not a good idea to force songs in to a certain expected form. As an example, I’ve sometimes tried to make a song thinking that ‘this will be an easily-recognizable radio-hit when it’s ready’. What eventually turns out, is that the final version of the song is flattened by ‘supposed-to-be-great’ elements, such as overfocusing on chorus melody, or an expectable hit-song structure with 2 verses + choruses, followed by part C and the final climax of chorus repetition in transponed version with song length of 3:59. Or you to try to create a new ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in a stub-born way only to come up with a massive headache and a tedious, overlong and meaningless wandering. Sometimes that works, of course, but I think that then this has to come out in a natural and unforced way. The very first original idea is the most important one, grab that one in your pocket and never leave the most important original ideas in the bin. They are the primal creations of your unconsciousness, language from the invisible ether, spirits speaking to you. The songs and their structures will be always tested in our rehearsals. Sometimes, somebody or several band members suggest bigger changes to the original structures. As we have tested them, sometimes they change the whole context of the songs, i.e. a folk-metalish song turns in to something that resembles more like death metal. But we’ve also seen that the most usual case is that the return to the most original demo version works the best. In this album, we tried some songs, which were then changed in to really different ones – at the same time, the band wanted to keep that change, but somehow, the original spirit of the song was also lost. Those songs are now in the reserve and I think I might release them in a way or another. And I will stick to the original ideas. The recordings of this album were done in bits and pieces during around one year. This gave me lot of time to think about individual details of the music. I have re-started my old hobby, running, and this, quite surprisingly offered me a new way to examine the songs. Plus running is good for your health, also mentally. I run mainly in forested areas to connect better with nature. Now, in April 2016, I've observed the seasonal change of Finnish forest from winter to spring. Every time nature wants you to pay your attention to different things. Yesterday, I felt the forest as a whole organism, one that is getting ready for the summer. During the run, I even saw a deer and a hare - my favourite animals (must mean something). During the long running sessions I listen to my own iBrain, I think about individual parts that are under construction. These often include arrangement of melody guitars versus rhytm guitars or, for example, the progression and lifting of one melody element throughout the song. I once went over and over in my head a piece of music that was in total a 10-second instrumental part in one of the forthcoming album’s songs. I think I played the part at least 100 times in my head and then after the run, I was happy with the part and I recorded it in my home studio. Apart from your normal family life, this kind of working method spends time and it really effectively crafts the song. Or sometimes, in the rehearsals, we take few beers, connect musically really well and just hit some unplanned great things in an unintentional way. However, I do not believe anymore nowadays that hangovers boost your creativity. That’s just not true. They might boost your willingness to start doing useful things, but that’s the only thing. Still, a beer now and then does not hurt anyone. Harri/UNSHINE Hello hello from the frosty backwoods of Finland! It's the last day of 2015. Around one half of the current year has been spent with the recordings and planning of our forthcoming new music. The album has been recorded mainly in short pieces during summer and autumn. We all have had our comings and goings - and for logistical and financial reasons it has been sensible to do it this way - mostly in our own no-costs studio. The demos of the new songs were written and practiced ready in April 2015. At that point, we had a reserve of around 30 demo songs, which is A LOT for us. Very many magical and odd songs had to be left out and I do not know what to do with them now. An EP or a strange mini album or something else? The drum recordings were hammered during May at D-studio in Klaukkala, just like with the two previous albums. That session was efficient and quick. The next thing was going to take much more time. First of all, we decided to record the guitar parts again at our studio Churchboat. Last time we had made the recordings with a commercially available isolation cab. However, it was a little bit restricted method: It was not possible to change or shift the location of the mic in relation to the speaker as it was built inside the whole thing. Actually, I still do not have an idea what kind of a speaker it had inside, not to mention the mic. The sound from it was nice and decent in a way, but we really had to blend it later with the re-amped sound at D-studio in order to get the final sound. Ok. So, this time I decided to build an isolation cab by myself! This took more time (not to mention the testing days) than I thought, but in the beginning of autumn, it was more or less ready to be used. It was actually pretty easy to build the whole thing as long as I could find the proper material for it. The walls of the cab were compiled from recycled material I found from a dumping place in our village. Four black plates that used to belong someone's abandonded Ikea furniture! Internet is full of instructions on how to build iso cabs, I just tried to combine the best tips when constructing the thing and in my opinion, came up with a decent result. Well, at least the beast is huge and it does not let noise out too much! I just have to add here, that once it's now inside the studio, the only way to get it out would be to break it apart... Inside the isolation cab is the heart of the guitar voice: A customized 2x12 guitar cab by Koch. The guy from whom I bought it had changed the original speakers to two premiun 80W Celestium speakers. Inside the cab, the guitar sound is taken from the front of the speakers with Shure 58 and Sennheiser E606. The guitar amp head used for the recording is the first and original model of Koch Multitone 100. Among all the great features, it has a direct record output with cabinet simulation. So, that is the channel number 3 going in to my recording console, M-Audio Projectmix. Of course, also DI-sound is recorded simultaneously with the three other channels, in case if we have to re-amp something later. The vocals were recorded under a different setting this time. The whole recording was done again at studio Churchboat, as it is very important to have a relaxed atmosphere and there is time to re-check from time to time what has been done so far in relation to the instruments. We used again Röde mic through M-Audio Projectmix. The 48V phantom power needed for the mic broke up at the end of the vocal recordings and I had to buy a separate Stagg phantom power unit for that purpose. The mic set looks nowadays like this: The mic isolation shield by Thomann worked really well, however, as I bough it as a used equipment, there were no instructions on how to set it up! After several trials and errors, I did not manage to break the condenser microphone Röde and I managed to hang the shield properly event. With the last two albums, we had some immemorial hassles with "sounds" coming outside the studio. There is a large schoolyard next to our studio and it's very common that youngsters drive there now and then with their loud mopeds (this is obviously a very Finnish habit). It happened now and then that Susanna had recorded a perfect vocal take, while suddenly in the background you could hear the sound of an accelerating moped. Oh, we got some good laughs from that, but it was also extremely annoying sometimes. Once, even an aeroplane flew over the studio (the airport of Helsinki is 2 km's from here) and the jet sound could be heard in the backround of Susanna's track - just like with Led Zeppelin! Only that we did not decide to use it in the record, like they did... The bass was laid down also at Churchboat, like last time - and again with a different twist. The recording set-up did not include amp this time. Last time we recorded the sound of bass partly at the toilet toom with a small combo amp, lots of distortion and unrelated noise. No amp, only DI and the a little bit compressed signal through big muff with a bit of distortion. Lots of experimentation with different playing styles across the drums. The DI track will be re-amped later, most likely at D-studio. So, we are now at the point where the rhytm guitars, bass and main vocals have been recorded, also parts of the other guitars have been finished. More guitars, synthesizers, other voices and instruments coming... So, what is the album going to be like? It moves between the three worlds. There's gonna be around 11-12 songs on the album. There's going to be one cover song by another band - first one in our recording history. There is some kind of a leading theme in the album - a word/definition that is mentioned in every single song. Still, it's not going to be a theme album in the vein of 'Dark Half Rising'. Gloomy. Nordic. Finnish. Primeval. Melancholic. Individual. Awesome FEMME II 2015 Around last January, we were invited to FEMME II festival 2015 in Eindhoven. This was very nice news, as we were a bit let down at that moment, as just 1-2 months before we were forced to cancel our attendance to a big European tour with a very well-known metal band. This cancellation was due to lour own logistic reasons and impossible time schedule. On the early hours of 16th October, we flew to Amsterdam. Finnair allowed me to bring my extra guitar inside the cabin, which was pleasant. Sometimes, this is not possible and in those cases it usually means extra payment for extra luggage. From Amsterdam we took a morning train to Eindhoven through beautiful Dutch pastoral landscape. Pic 1: Where's the train? Please, look after your luggage... Because of the time difference, we arrived to the city main station very early and started looking for our accommodation.Soon, we had found our bed and breakfast place, De Xtra Mijl (is this a typical dutch name?), at the suburban Eindhoven, around 2 kilometres from the center of the city. What a treat, a couple of rooms were reserved for us at the home of a very nice and happy elder couple. We were treated like royal people with amazing breakfasts and there was also a very beautiful Rembrandt-ish park nearby. Pic 2: Autumn colours in Eindhoven. What was pretty odd in Eindhoven, was that a taxi was here much cheaper than a ticket in a public transportation vehicle. Of course, travelling with all the music gear was also very much more convenient with taxi. To our amusement, at least two taxi drivers recognized our band and we actually got one free ride by giving the driver our cd! Because our slot was put on Saturday, we could relax the Friday and enjoy the atmosphere of Effenaar, the huge concert venue. There were many interesting quality bands to check. Lacuna Coil was very impressive, for me, this was the first time to see them playing live. We had to get up pretty early on Saturday morning. There was a morning(!) soundcheck ahead, as we were the opening band on the Saturday bill. From the technical point of view, things could not have been better. The backline was great, the hall and the stage were really great and the in-house technicians were top professionals, special thanks to Miriam Gramsbergen, who was leading the production. The time ran very quickly during the day and soon we realised that it's only 20 minutes to our slot. And it was only 1 p.m.! We were lucky to share our dressing room with Karmaflow and Therion, so we could have very relaxed time with the guys before our show. Pic 2: Besides the bass in Therion, Nalle was also a professional in Finnish swear words. Soon we took the elevator down to the stage level and started killing the final minutes. Intro tape (Awen) started and we walked to the stage - the hall was filled already now, there were people even in the balconies, unbeliavable. Well, we could only give our best shot. We played the following songs: The sound at the stage was perfect and the audience was just great. We enjoyed every second of the gig, the only bad thing was that the 40 minutes at stage was over too soon! After our show, we had to ran to the merchandise area, as were kindly provided with a sales table at the main hall. It was great to meet many of the people at our show, we also sold a high number of cd's and t-shirts. The rest of the evening was superb, we could check Stream of Passion (with whom we played in the Netherlands 1 year ago), Therion, Tristania, the Gentle Storm and many other great bands. And of course we want to thank here Ton Dekkers, the festival organiser, he is the brilliant mastermind behind the whole festival. Buy him a drink, wherever you see him. Studio has been reserved! We start with the drum recordings on the 12th May. This means that we are going to have only two more full new album rehearsals at Kaapelitehdas. To increase some pressure, we decided yesterday to record also a cover song. Let's see if it will appear on the album... Things are heating up! A very laborius period of work now in the holy grove of UNSHINE. The songs for the 4th album are basically ready - they are in their final demo form now what comes to all instruments and main vocals. However, little things matter - we rehearse now a lot in order to finalise all the details in instrumentation, this way everyone of us can bring their own views and perspectives. As the main composer of the band, I sometimes get stuck on details and can't see the forest from the trees. Our drummer Stibe has a lot of work in arranging his parts. The drum demos I've done at Studio Churchboat are very basic and they are meant to give just the general idea of the percussions. It's probable that we will use two kinds of drum settings this time, one set-up for more acoustic performance and one for regular metal set-up. Winter in Finland is very colourful, at least 50 shades of grey. My guitar gear at the rehearsals. This album has been created by making various kinds of demo and practice tapes. Nothing beats, however, the most ancient demo tape method - create the tune in your own head and if it's a good one, it'll stick there as an earworm. I've used this method for ages. Plus your inner studio follows everywhere you go. From the most primeval versions to the final demos, all songs were first recorded this time with Apple's Garageband (instead of ProTools which I have used before). I have had GB as a free version in our studio mac and I actually discovered it only about two years ago - if I only could have heards about it before it would have saved some nerves in the previous albums. I think it's the most practical tool for musicians flooding with ideas and it fits well for making even very advanced demos. Before the actual recording we use lots of quickly produced rehearse tapes, like tapes with click and synth, but also tapes with demo drums and the whole band. GB is ideal for this kind of production. In fact, I've loaded most of the forthcoming songs to a secret YouTube -channel, which is public only for us in the band... It's time for the new UNSHINE album. The previous one, Dark Half Rising, the thematical record from the time of Gallic wars was our first international release and we experienced many new things with it. Thanks for the response. We were actually very satisfied especially with the work of Massacre Records, they made a huge effort to improve our visibility. We have left the misty mountains of Ardennes now, the tribes there are living a new, much more peaceful and more stable period of life. Farmers are busy with their seasonal work, children are playing in the fields and the arch druid is interpreting the secrets of nature in a remote grove. Time of Caesar is over and the smoke of the bonefires is withering into the winds. We are somewhere, in a nameless and a timeless landscape, between the worlds, observing nature's signs in the current season. It's time to travel in the otherworld. The song writing for the 4th UNSHINE album started during autumn 2013. It was all started literally from the scratch. I decided to write some riffs just off the top of my head - music that would pour out of stream of unconsiousness without any effort. Quite soon, the first song was built very quickly around the first riff that I had developed with my electric guitar. As a results of this new style of songwriting (to me), I noticed that these songs had an odd flavour of new type of gloominess in them. The first demos were very simple, but they were also pretty attractive and primitive, in some strange way. I felt that this was a very good start, it set a way how to do things this time. Some of the songs were left in their very primal state and they are resting and waiting for the light of day (which may or may not come). Some of them got somehow dragged along during the year - I had an urge to return to them from time to time (a good sign!) and they gradually ended to the final demo stage. By the end year 2014, I had finally around 25 songs more or less ready, which is most definitely, the highest amount of pre-produced songs in our history. But as said, it all starts from here. When giving a new start, you have to throw all your prejudices and expectations into the fire and see what comes out of it. backwoodsman	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10289
__label__cc	0.715004	0.284996	Dan Meneley Ph.D. (1963) - Imperial College, University of London, England Reactor Physics specialty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering DIC (1960) - Imperial College, University of London, England Nuclear Engineering diploma B.E. (1958) - University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada Civil Engineering (with Great Distinction) International Nuclear Energy Academy (Chairman 1998-2000) - 1996 to present Canadian Nuclear Society- 1978 to Present, President 2006-07 Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario- 1973 to Present Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society- 1967 to Present American Nuclear Society- 1965 to Present Currently Adjunct Professor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology Acting Dean, Faculty of Energy Systems & Nuclear Science CANDU Owners’ Group Director, CANTEACH program - January 2002 to January 2007 Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Chief Engineer - February 1995 to October 1999 Representative, Shanghai Office- September 1997 to October 1999 Senior Advisor, Marketing and Sales - October 1999 to October 2001 Engineer Emeritus - October 2001 to Present Third Explosion at Fukushima Daiichi A third explosion hit Japan's quake-ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Is the plant at risk of a meltdown? Dan talks about Fukushima on Canadian TV. 13:34 Cancun Presentation - Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference 2010 17th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference Cancun, 2010 Nuclear Energy Challenges in this Century The past fifty years have witnessed the advent of a new energy source and the beginning of yet another in the series of energy-use transitions that have marked our history since the start of our technological development. Each of these transitions has been accompanied by adaptive challenges. Each unique set of challenges has been met. Today the world faces the need for another transition. This paper outlines some of the associated challenges that lie ahead of us all, as we adapt to this new and exciting environment. The first step in defining the challenges ahead is to make some form of prediction of the future energy supply and demand during the period. Herein, the future up to 2010 is presumed to include two major events -- first, a decline in the availability and a rise in price of petroleum, and second a need to reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Both of these events are taken to be imminent. Added to these expected events is the assumption that the total of wind, solar, and other such energy sources will be able to contribute, but only in a relatively small way, to the provision of needed energy to our ever-expanding human population. Slide Show - Energy Challenges in this Century Canadian Nuclear Society Presentation Annual conference, May 24, 2010. "Nuclear Energy in this Century, A Bird in the Hand" This presentation reviews the past half-century of nuclear energy from one person’s point of view, fully recognizing likely errors in fact and perception. It also takes a look at the coming 50 years of our enterprise. The future will demand a lot from nuclear technology, given the decline in the availability of cheap fossil fuels and the expected rising need for energy. We can supply safe and reliable energy for thousands of years, if such is necessary. Uncertainty remains in the short term regarding the support of the people and of the governments who serve them. Slide show, "Is There Enough Nuclear Fuel? Running Out of Uranium? No! The ocean is the ULTIMATE closing argument against the naysayers who claim that we'll soon run out of uranium. The fact that with the IFR we can live essentially forever (God Willing) without this source is really unimportant. If the Japanese are concerned about pumping power to move seawater past their adsorbers, a fast reactor does that free gratis -- at least twice as much dissolved uranium passes through the CCW in a year as is required to keep the plant running. Screens can be placed downstream, and that is the end of the problem of energy supply to the world -- forever, Amen. Even if the recovered uranium were priced at half the price of gold, this would not change the price of electricity even by one cent per kwh if fast reactors are used. As a wrap-up, the earth's rivers continuously replenish the ocean's uranium - and the ocean bottom does the same by leaching from the rock. THE MESSAGE IS: DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ENERGY SUPPLY IN THE FUTURE. YOU ALREADY HAVE IT. Just in case our descendants do not come up with anything better (and I expect they will) this source is available as backup. Transition to Large Scale Nuclear Energy Supply D.A. Meneley, Engineer Emeritus We can expect to see the peak of world oil production very soon. Some say that we can see that peak now in our rear-view mirrors as we drive into an oil-poor future. Natural gas already is in short supply in North America. Nuclear energy must make up the lion’s share of the world’s energy deficit.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10293
__label__cc	0.73031	0.26969	“South Africa: The Gift of Truth and Reconciliation” - January 20, 2019 Forgiveness can be hard on everybody. I’m talking about real forgiveness, not only the simple type, like when you bump into someone and say, “Excuse me,” and they say, “Sure.” I’m talking about the kind where someone has either intentionally or unthinkingly done something that has harmed another person, maybe even a whole community, in a way that leaves a scar and cannot simply be undone. Jesus outlined a way to do that, and it begins with an act of courage by the person who was hurt. It doesn’t start with somebody offering an apology. It starts with someone saying, “I think you owe me an apology.” Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.” [Matthew 18:15] That takes guts. It is an act of vulnerability that exposes one of your weak points to someone who has hurt you, which means that if there is anything malicious there, you’re telling them exactly how they could hurt you again. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” You’ve heard that? Jesus’ teaching tells you to take that risk. He expects us to expect the best of others, looking for us to approach the one who has hurt us with a presumption of trust and a desire to remain in relationship. An assumption – maybe it would be better to say, “a hope” – built into the process is that a believer (since he’s speaking here of what can happen within the family of faith) will be open to the idea that he or she can go wrong and that the reproof of another believer is to be taken seriously. Not every time someone points out a fault or a failing is a personal attack. It could be an opportunity that someone is offering you or me to become a better person. That’s why it’s best to talk over anything serious face-to-face or privately and one-on-one. If you hear how hard it is for someone to tell you something, you know that it is something important, not done lightly. The sound of a voice conveys things that other forms of communication do not always get across. Sometimes, but not always, it can be useful to write a note instead, if you feel a need to choose your words, and that can help someone who might have a knee-jerk reaction of defensiveness (confession time: I’m thinking of myself here) to react right away and then to come back to it with a clearer head in five minutes or five days. Again, it’s a risk, but “If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.” [Matthew 18:15] Jesus even goes as far as to say to keep on trying if that doesn’t work, but to take back-up. “But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” [Matthew 18:16] You can sort of sense a situation that is becoming more tightly wound, where you need people to help do the listening, because there is often a point where people are so busy planning out a rebuttal in their heads that they miss an apology when it happens. It helps to have someone else there who is able to say, “I heard what you did,” but maybe also, “I think you missed the explanation.” “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” [Matthew 5:9] In one of his old Prarie Home Companion monologues, Garrison Keilor told a story about a theological split that had taken place among the believers with whom he grew up, the Sanctified Brethren. His grandfather was leader of one party, and held that the leader of the other side had reached the point where the next step needed to be invoked: “if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector,” [Matthew 18:17] which was just fine with the other man. The day came, though, when theological diplomacy brought them together to the supper table, which was a major achievement. Only, who would say grace? There was a danger that prayer might turn into preaching, and that could bring it all down. So they decided to share in silent prayer. Everyone bowed their heads and prayed. And prayed. And prayed. Who was more pious? Surely the one who spent longest with the Lord. The fervor and zeal of the silence grew. Then came the voice of Keilor’s grandmother: “Lord, we thank you, but the chicken is getting cold. Amen.” And in the laughter, the healing began. Yet not every situation is simple, and some involve so many people, patterns of injustice so deeply engrained, wrongs committed over such stretches of time, that they seem immune to Jesus’ cure. What then? One of the great gifts that comes to the world from the Christians of South Africa is an example of an entire nation at least trying – and often succeeding – to have that kind of honest assessment of the damage done by apartheid (their word; ours are slavery and segregation) and to set up a framework of one-on-one sharing where the oppressed could be heard and others could realize their own involvement in ways that could lead to true repentance and responsibility. It consciously sought to adapt Jesus’ own way on a huge scale. This overall “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” divided its work to both identify human rights violations and to determine where to go from there. According to the South African government’s mandate, “The task of the [Human Rights Violations] Committee was to investigate human rights abuses that took place between 1960 and 1994, based on statements made to the TRC. The Committee established the identity of the victims, their fate or present whereabouts, and the nature and extent of the harm they have suffered; and whether the violations were the result of deliberate planning by the state or any other organisation, group or individual. Once victims of gross human rights violations are identified, they are referred to the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee. … The enabling act empowered the [Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee] to provide victim support to ensure that the Truth Commission process restores victims' dignity; and to formulate policy proposals and recommendations on rehabilitation and healing of survivors, their families and communities at large. The envisaged overall function of all recommendations is to ensure non repetition, healing and healthy co-existence.”[1] In our setting, that kind of process needs to take a different shape, but it is still the work of Christ. Buried in a very long newsletter that appears weekly in my inbox was a notice about how United Methodists in our part of the world are going about it, and I’ll leave you with an invitation to be part of that. The announcement says: “A South District Initiative is pulling together a diverse group of laity and clergy across the district for discussions about race and racism. In response to the 2016 Call to Action, this dinner discussion group was formed during the South District’s Tools for Ministry Training in 2017. Now, on average, ten guests share a meal and accounts of unchecked racism, white privilege, and internalized oppression in intimate home settings. I enjoy the dinners. What’s most unique is that the dinners are house gatherings. We’ve been able to connect inside the privacy and comfort of someone’s home without feeling obligated to the formalities of a church meeting. It’s a healing experience- we can be open and honest. Also, we can express concern and even applaud growth. The unique set up allows for us to hear one another more clearly and love each other better. – Krystl Johnson, St. Daniel’s UMC Dinners have been hosted in West Chester, Oxford, and Schwenksville. Within the next few months, group dinners will be expanding to new locations as most guests have committed to hosting their own private dinners throughout the district. With the mission statement being Supper and Sharing: Fostering Intercultural Competence and Authentic Community One Meal at a Time and with the initiative reaching a 2-year milestone, the Dinner Discussion Group hopes to make more room at the table for all of you in the South District. So, stay tuned for further updates and announcements.” I have the phone number for the coordinator and can get you connected, if this is on your heart. Truth and reconciliation are big topics, and deep thinkers have brought their wisdom to it, all of them saying that it has to begin with people simply doing what they can and what they must. Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, delivered as the Civil War was winding up and his own assassination was weeks away, had reflected on the cost of setting great wrongs right. He knew it would be work as difficult as the war had been, but that it was part of the work of reconciliation among people that he saw as the divine call. Lincoln said, “Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether’. With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”[2] [1] http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/trccom.html [2] http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/inaug2.htm Posted by Mark Young at 2:00 PM “Canada: The Gift of Unity” - January 27, 2019 “South Africa: The Gift of Truth and Reconciliatio... “Ethiopia: The Gift of Broken Borders” - January 1... “Strangers Bringing Gifts” - January 6, 2019	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10294
__label__wiki	0.634319	0.634319	Running the town with Runbase by Olwethu Boso \| Mar 5, 2017 Braamfontein’s Runbase is not just about running but yoga, boxing and general fitness training is also on offer. RUNNING, it seems, is back in fashion. And Braamfontein outfit Runbase is taking advantage of the trend and helping the young people reach their fitness goals. Runbase is a running club which is based around the core function of running but also on offer are activities such as yoga and boxing amongst a few that are aligned with improving one’s running skills. Sponsored by activewear brand Adidas, the club has been operating in the city for over a year now, ironically located close to hang out spot Kitcheners. A second club has recently been opened in Cape Town. Adidas running ambassador, Ofentse “Daks” Dakile, 26, said that running clubs are a growing phenomenon for approximately the past four years, with one of the big running crews (Run Den) having started in London. “People have found a whole new way to look at running. Instead of running being a thing where you’re trying to compete and finish marathons, it’s now become a more social and interactive activity,” said Dakile. The members go beyond the physical and fitness ambitions of the club and have achieved a sense of community where motivating and pushing one another is part of the experience. Dakile believes Runbase is in the right place at the right time. “Having Runbase in Braamfontein meant that we could target a younger demographic and establish a running culture.” The club has an open door policy where anyone can come through and join at no cost. The running sessions happen on Mondays and Wednesday at 17:30pm as well as on Saturdays at 07:30am. Dakile said this was Adidas’ way of offering a lifestyle instead of just a business. “They’re already a profitable organisation so running a programme of this kind for free is them trying to instill a certain culture and way of life in people.” If you are wondering how safe it is to run in the inner city, then have no worries. Manager of Runbase, Taz Emeran, reiterated it is safe as they as “boosters” (ambassadors and trainers) test out the routes before they take people out on them and sticking together as a group also helps. Newcomer to the club, Palesa Takalo seemed to have had a good first day but she had not expected the running to be difficult, “the Runbase family was helpful throughout the process, this makes coming back here easier for me,” she said.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10298
__label__wiki	0.884639	0.884639	Tag: rihanna The Stars of 2017: Women Who Had an Amazing Year December 27, 2017 veumagazine Celebrities Photo from SZA Facebook Written by Aysha Chaudhry 1. Issa Rae – By now, Issa Rae’s name has become synonymous with self-made; the HBO star built her rapport on YouTube and now has every major studio knocking on her door. The second season of her hit show, Insecure, premiered this summer and has already been renewed for a third season. She’s poised to star in and produce some major productions in 2018 and we can’t wait to see what comes next for her. 2. SZA – Named the best album of 2017 by Time, SZA’s debut album, Ctrl, gave us the platinum-selling hits “The Weekend” and “Love Galore.” She has a tour with Bryson Tiller under her belt this year and has five (yes five!) nominations for the 2018 Grammy Awards. Looks like this girl is unstoppable! 3. Gal Gadot – Gal Gadot had a unique challenge set out before her when she starred as Wonder Woman. In movie category dominated by alpha-male characters (how many superheroes do we see that are actually women?), she had to not only deliver a performance strong enough to carry a movie with a $100+ million production budget, but she was automatically expected to be a role model for young women. Wonder Woman became the highest-rated superhero movie on Rotten Tomatoes and was an international commercial success. Well done, Gal. 4. Rihanna – We all know Rihanna delivers on everything she ventures into but her Fenty Beauty line, which launched this year, was groundbreaking on so many levels. After battling body shamers and naysayers who said that diverse foundation colors don’t sell, she released a 40-shade makeup line at Sephora and sold out almost immediately. It’s estimated that RiRi made $72 million from Fenty Beauty in one month. If that isn’t inspiring, I don’t know what is. How Fenty Beauty Inspired A New Makeup Trend October 8, 2017 veumagazine Beauty Rihanna’s beauty line Fenty Beauty has already caused major waves in the makeup industry with its inclusive foundation shades for women of all colors. The feedback and demand were so positive for the 40 different foundations that many other makeup lines scrambled to market their shades to women of color as well. But now the cosmetic line is setting trends in a new way. Spring 2018 fashion show makeup was all about draping, where the same color is used for the eyeshadow and highlighter and they melt into one another. These shows’ artists definitely took a page out of the Fenty x Puma fashion show, where this look was first made prominent this year. Makeup artists used Fenty products to prepare the models for the runway and were given some artistic freedom and they ended up giving draping new life in the form of bright, colorful purples, pinks and greens. Draping started in the 80s as a predecessor to modern contouring, but with the vibrancy of the colors in the Rihanna’s beauty line-up and with the impact her brand has made since launching in September, it’s safe to say that the makeup for the singer’s fashion show served as inspiration for other makeup artists in this year’s Fashion Week. Rihanna Shows Her Dedication To The Education of Girls in Malawi August 3, 2017 veumagazine Celebrities, Education Music artist Rihanna has definitely gained a reputation for being a humanitarian. In her latest partnership with Chinese bike-sharing company Ofo, the Clara Lionel Foundation, which is named after her grandparents, has created a campaign called 1 Km Action. Through this campaign, they will raise funds that will go towards scholarships to help hundreds of girls attend secondary schools in Malawi. Qualifying girls will also receive bikes to ensure they have transportation to and from school. Of the approximate 4.6 million students across Malawi, according to the foundation, only 8% of students complete secondary school due to poor transport links “I’m so happy about the Clara Lionel Foundation’s new partnership with Ofo because it will help so many young people around the world receive a quality education. “It will also help the young girls of Malawi get to school safely, cutting down those very long walks they make to and from school all alone,” Rihanna said.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10300
__label__wiki	0.657733	0.657733	WolfPack women take basketball division title Sports Feb. 10, 2015 Tayla Scott The ‘Pack claims their division’s regular season title after 14 wins in a row Thanks to a weekend win over Mount Royal University, the WolfPack women have secured first spot in their division. “Hosting a playoff spot was one of our goals and after all the work we have done to get here, it felt amazing to have won that game,” said guard Michelle Bos. The win also gave them the explorer division title since they are now unable to fall out of first place, despite there being two games of regular season play left. Team captain Jorri Duxbury scored 10 points on Friday night against Mount Royal. (TRU Athletics) Gaining the division title also gives the ‘Pack a bye into the quarter finals, which they will host for the first time in the team’s history beginning on Feb. 27 and ending on Mar. 1. After such a long winning streak, the weekend win didn’t come as a surprise, but it still took teamwork and strong offence to achieve it. The top scorers of Friday night were Bos with 25 points, Sarah Malate with 11 points and team captain Jorri Duxbury with 10 points. “The entire team added to that win. I couldn’t have scored 25 points if my team hadn’t been setting me up and making the passes,” Bos said. “That’s what I love about our team, every win is a true team effort.” The team’s ultimate goal is to make it to nationals, but they are keeping smaller goals along the way, like winning their last two regular season games, which would put them at 19 and 1. “We still have some work to do with finishing off the rest of the season. We’re not giving up on that yet. We still want to play well next week but we’re pretty excited,” said head coach Scott Reeves. “We’re just fine tuning our offence and taking care of the basketball and defending hard and rebounding.” The ‘Pack will play their last two games of the regular season on Feb. 13 and 14 against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades, a team they beat twice in November. After the regular season wraps up the ‘Pack will have a weekend to rest while they wait for the quarter-finals. MacEwan University and the University of the Fraser Valley will also move on to the playoffs, having clinched the second and third spots in the explorer division. The Universities of Alberta, Regina, Saskatchewan, Calgary, Winnipeg, Victoria and UBC will be moving onto playoffs from the Pioneer division. WolfPack Awards Banquet honours top performers WolfPack women’s rugby sevens coming to an end WolfPack men’s volleyball coach full of praise for Tim Dobbert Apr. 3, 2019 0 MSOC fundraising to provide opportunities to deserving students	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10303
__label__wiki	0.538121	0.538121	Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices) Enjoy the taste of France at Goût de France on March 21 On the occasion of Goût de France/Good France 2019, a French culinary event is set to take place in 70 restaurants in India, among 5000 worldwide on March 21. Mme Sonia Barbry, Consul General of France in Bombay and Sheetal Munshaw, Director, Atout France jointly launched a special buffet featuring signature French dishes prepared by chefs who participated at the event held recently at the Residence of France in Mumbai. This year, each restaurateur will freely interpret his own version of a French menu, using his local and seasonal produce. Each menu will showcase a more responsible cuisine, more respectful of the planet’s resources and of the diners’ health. The guests opting for the set Goût De France/ Good France menu for the evening, will also stand a chance to win a 3 night/4 day sojourn in Northern France. Czech Republic witnesses 12% growth from India in 2018 Becoming an emerging destination among Indian travellers, Indian footfall to the Czech Republic has grown by 12.5 per cent in 2018. The Central European destination welcomed 96,325 Indian visitors through the year and recorded a total number of 2, 36,145 nights spent by Indians last year, with the average length of stay being 3 .5 nights per visit. While Prague and its attractions remain popular among travellers, an increased interest has been recorded in newer experiences such as beer spa, glass–blowing and wine tasting, bringing Indian footfall to the newer parts, including the South Moravian region. Arzan Khambatta, – Head of Czech Tourist Authority, CzechTourism India said, “The theme of the Land of Stories this year is the happening cities of the Czech Republic like Prague and Brno, and cultural experiences of castles and chateaux where families can rejuvenate and relax amidst the nature.” Apart from targeting families, experiential travellers, business visitors, honeymooners and leisure travellers, one of the main focuses this year would be the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) segment. The Czech Republic has state-of-the-art infrastructure in place, with the capacity to host large corporate groups and events. Australia witnesses 18% rise in visitor arrivals from India in 2018 India once again earned the distinction of being the fastest growing inbound market for Australia, according to a report by Tourism Australia (TA). Arrivals for the year-ended November 2018 stood at 352,500 – a growth of 18 per cent over the previous year. During October 2017 to September 2018, Indian tourists spent $1.6 billion on their Australia trip, a growth of 10 per cent over the previous year. India is now on track to achieve fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in arrivals, as well as spend. Over the past few months, TA executed few marketing activities to raise Australia’s appeal and attractiveness among the Indian high value travellers: launch of #UnDiscover Australia campaign on television and digital media, showcasing unusual and unfamiliar experiences that Australia has to offer; partnership with ESPN cricinfo with television presenter and model, Shibani Dandekar, visiting five Australian states, and interacting with five Australian cricketing talents, showcased their hometowns and Australia as a holiday destination to their Indian fans and followers through a series of 22 destination videos; leveraged the popularity of our Friend of Australia — Parineeti Chopra and Harsha Bhogle, and Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, who showcased why there’s truly nothing like Australia among their followers; launched the fifth iteration of the Airline Marketplace campaign that delivered over 16,400 bookings in just 3 weeks; Strengthened relationship with the travel industry through the launch of the Premier Aussie Specialist Program, online webinars and face-to-face training initiatives. Tourism Malaysia and Kesari Tours to conduct 4-city seminar Tourism Malaysia Mumbai, in association with Kesari Tours & Travel, has announced a four-city seminar that will include product briefings. This will be held in Surat on March 11, Indore on March 13, Nasik on March 15 and Pune on March 16. The seminars aim to highlight Malaysia as a value for money destination for its various product offerings and attractive packages. An update on visa documentation will be the key feature of this seminar. Product partners of Tourism Malaysia will include Resorts World Genting, Star Cruises, Legoland and Lexis, Swiss Hotels and Ipoh, Malindo Air and Desaru Coast who will be present to showcase their offers. Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Director, Tourism Malaysia Mumbai said, “We are happy to announce our four-city product briefing seminar in Surat, Indore, Nasik and Pune. We look forward to a fruitful association with Kesari Tours & Travel to boost Indian tourist to visit Malaysia. Malaysia is a bio-diversity country with rich tradition and culture. Our natural environment surrounded with rich flora and fauna, pristine beaches, theme parks, adventure activities, nightlife are appealing to Indian tourists. Luxury enjoyed at affordable price is what Malaysia is and will be.” Israel hosts 80 agents from 18 countries for its ‘Where Else’ tourism conference In its 8th edition, ‘Where Else’ conference is the official tourism conference held annually by the Israel Ministry of Tourism for the world travel fraternity. The week-long convention from February 7-13, was attended by 80 travel agents from 18 countries. In attendance were six top travel agents from India such as Odyssey Tours and Travels, A Travel Duet – Celebrating Togetherness, Bigbreaks.com, Gainwell Enterprises, Quintessential Vacations and Swastika Holiday Solutions. The group explored the culturally rich Old City of Jerusalem, home to the world’s three largest religions with its holy sites and breath-taking biblical landscapes as well as emerging culinary, art and nightlife scenes. Furthermore, they visited the modern city of Tel Aviv, charming town of Jaffa, Dead Sea and Masada region followed by a tour of Herzliya in the central coast of Israel. In addition to this, business meetings were held between the Indian delegates and Israeli wholesalers and hoteliers. With a grand opening ceremony in Tel Aviv, senior members of the tourism industry from around the world participated in tours of key sites in Israel with support from the regional Tourism Associations, Hotels Association and the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association. The purpose of the conference was to expose attendees to the travel brands in Israel alongside the country’s recreation, entertainment and leisure choices. Speaking about the familiarization trip, Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism – India and Philippines said, “Israel is currently witnessing tremendous momentum in tourism with a record of 4.12 million tourists in 2018. Arrivals from India have also increased to 70,800 visitors last year making it the 12th source market for the destination. Bearing this in mind, it was imperative for us to … Buyer-Seller online applications open for Thailand Travel Mart 2019 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has opened online applications for buyers and sellers wishing to attend the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) to be held between 5-7 June at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Pattaya. Online applications will be open until 29 March, 2019. This is the second consecutive year that Thailand’s largest annual B2B tourism and travel trade event is being held at the marina. The event is designed largely to give the emerging generation of creative small- and medium-sized enterprises, especially those which cannot afford to attend international trade shows, an opportunity to network with international buyers. This year, the theme of the ‘New Shades of Emerging Destinations’ is designed to encourage visitors to explore the new shades of Thailand in the 55 provinces identified as emerging destinations or the ‘hidden gems’ throughout the country. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said: “Although Thailand is one country, every place has its own character. There’s more to Thailand than Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket waiting for visitors to discover. TAT is also trying to expose businesses from the emerging destinations to the international audiences in this year’s TTM+.” He said that as part of the focus on responsible tourism development and to make the TTM+ 2019 a green event, TAT will continue last year’s campaign to cut back on plastic usage. Thai sellers will also be partly selected on the basis of their environmental commitment. First organised in 2001, the TTM+ today attracts about 350 sellers, primarily from Thailand with a small number from the neighbouring GMS countries. About 300 buyers from roughly 60 countries are fully hosted, but the event is also open to those wishing to attend on … Atout France and La Vallée Village organise networking event for trade in Mumbai Atout France Tourism Development Agency and La Vallée Village organised an informal networking exchange in the form of an aperitif for key representatives of the trade at the recently-concluded second edition of the Luxury Lifestyle Weekend held at Jio Gardens in BKC Mumbai. This interaction allowed the guests an opportunity to actively engage in discussions and interact with Patrick Allais, Business Development Manager, La Vallée Village. He apprised the guests on all the latest offerings available for their clients at La Vallée Village. Inner Mongolia organises culture seminar to attract Indian tourists The Department of Culture and Tourism of Inner Mongolia, autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China organised the Inner Mongolia Culture and Tourism Festival as part of the ongoing Chinese New Year festivities. Representing the travel trade, Chitra Bhatia, General Secretary, OTOAI and Rajeev Sabharwal, EC Member, OTOAI were present at the event. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in India and the Government of Inner Mongolia, the promotional event was aimed to promote and attract tourists to the region of northern China. Briefing about the attractions in Inner Mongolia, Shi Mo, Deputy General Secretary, People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, introduced the guests while Ai Lihua, Vice Chairman, People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Zhu Xiaohong, Culural Counsellor, Chinese Embassy in India presented the welcome remarks. On the ocassion, He Zhiliang, Director of Department of Culture and Tourism, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region said, “This is the first time we have come to India to promote Inner Mongolia province. We are trying to promote the culture of Inner Mongolia by showcasing it through a art performance by ‘Anda Union’. I hope the Indian audience will like this event and visit Inner Mongolia.” During the event, a cooperation agreement was signed between Zhong Xin International Travel Co and Delhi-based Pettitts India Tours. Oman records 12.37% growth in Indian tourist arrivals in 2018 The Sultanate of Oman has recorded a 12.37 per cent growth in Indian tourist arrivals with 357,147 travellers visiting the country from January to December 2018 vis-à-vis 317,844 in 2017 making India the second highest source market for Oman. This marks a remarkable growth of 39.4% over the last five years, as per the statistics released by Oman’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The country received 1,484,063 international travelers in 2018 vis-à-vis 1,369,199 in 2017, which is significantly higher, showcasing a growth of over 8.39%. The numbers do not include regional travelers from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, who do not require a visa. Speaking about the incredible growth, Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman said “2018 has been a splendid year for the Ministry of Tourism. India represents a substantial and vast market for Oman, given the high percentage of travellers willing to travel abroad and experience new destinations. We have been observing a steady year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals to Oman from India and are extremely pleased with the consistent growth. India has been an important market for us and we are delighted to say that it has been one of the best performing countries, reaching the status of second highest source market after GCC. Several initiatives have contributed to this success, such as launch of the Electronic visa, direct flight connectivity from various cities in India and opening of the new passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport, among others. With growing number of travellers each year, we are expecting double digit growth in 2019 as well. Finland witnesses 15 per cent growth in Indian tourist arrivals in 2018 Finland witnessed a 15 per cent growth in Indian arrivals in 2018 and over 80,000 overnights, informed Jukka Holappa, Commercial Counsellor, Country Head—India and Sri Lanka, Business Finland, at VisitFinland and India Workshop 2019 held in Delhi on February 25. Speaking at the event, he said, “The numbers from India have been growing. At our roadshows in Delhi and Mumbai, we have 10 partners from Finland and are looking at a participation of about 70-80 agents in each city. Indians usually like to explore more countries in one single visit, often going to Russia and Estonia; we are hoping to get them to stay longer in Finland.” Holappa claims that the they are committed to support, educate and grow the business for their travel partners. “It’s our role to educate the travel agents on Finland but the Indian travel trade needs to educate us to manage Indian travellers as well,” he concluded. He also informed that Lapland is very popular with Indians as they love to see the Northern Lights.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10305
__label__wiki	0.633107	0.633107	Smaller Sensors To Monitor Traffic More Efficiently By Richard Manly Advancements in microelectro-mechanical systems and wireless communication have motivated the development of small and low-power sensors and radio-equipped modules which are now replacing traditional wired sensor systems. In the last decade, the landscape of wireless sensor network applications has been extending rapidly in many fields such as factory and building automation, environmental monitoring, security systems and in a wide variety of commercial and military areas. Mohammad Mozumdar, a member of the university in the Department of Electrical Engineering since 2012, has been developing a micro-wireless sensing system that will be implanted underneath the pavement of roadways to detect and “classify” vehicles. He received a $35,000 DENSO grant to equip his lab for Smart Sensing Education and Training. Moreover, he had a research grant ($34,995) from METRANS in 2015 in collaboration with the Department of Transportation and Caltrans with the goal to design a smaller, more efficient way to monitor and classify freeway and surface road traffic. Currently, many transportation agencies implant vehicle detection sensors underneath the road pavement to collect traffic data. However, these agencies are using inefficient, decades-old sensing systems, such as the inductive loop and similar technology. Due to its large physical area and bulk size, the current system technology is significantly expensive with transportation agencies spending millions of tax-payer dollars yearly to install and maintain this outdated sensing system, according to Mozumdar. The potential exists for an advanced system to be designed that could not only reduce costs dramatically but could also provide efficient real-time data. Motivated by a need to enhance and modernize the transportation system, Mozumdar and his research team have been working to develop an advance modular traffic system that would be a milestone achievement towards smart road and traffic engineering. Mozumdar explained that the inductive loop lies beneath the freeway’s pavement where it creates a magnetic field. “If metal passes over the loop, it creates a distortion in the magnetic field,” he said. “Based on that distortion, we know this indicates a car passing. The current design for an inductive loop is huge. Some are six feet by six feet and others as large as 10 feet by 10 feet.” The newest design by Mozumdar’s research group is smaller, much smaller. “What we’ve done in the Smart Sensing Education and Training Lab is to design a quarter-sized system to replace the current inductive loop,” he continued. “It will dramatically change the loop’s installation and begin a new era of technology in traffic detection. Not only does the design system created in the CSULB lab detect passing vehicles but it can tell what type of vehicle. It knows whether it has been passed by a sedan or a truck.” Another important feature is that, right now, the installation of the inductive loop is “humongous,” he said. “The loop is not only big but electricity must be provided,” said Mozumdar. “Our system is based on the battery. We are designing power-aware algorithms that enable the system to run on batteries year after year. With battery and wrapping shield, this designed system could be around four-by-four inches. Compare that to a six-foot by six-foot sensor today. Caltrans uses sensors on every street in the state and it costs millions of dollars to install and maintain them. If we can move forward with a more efficient product, it can save humongous amounts of money that could be spent for many other purposes.” The key to the sensor is a machine learning algorithm. “Our approach for vehicle classification utilizes J48 classification algorithm, an extension of decision tree machine learning ID3 approach,” he said. “The result of our experiment shows that the vehicle classification system is effective and efficient with the accuracy at nearly 100 percent.” PHOTO BY SHAYNE SCHROEDER Working on the project are (l-r) Ankit Trivedi, Kuntal Patel, assistant professor Mohammad Mozudmar, Indraneel Bavkar, Nitish Bhardwaj and Amal Francis. At first, the lab tested various types of vehicles in order to “train” the algorithm to understand from the magnetic distortion what kind of vehicle had just passed. The students later published a peer-reviewed paper about their sensor research in the 2015 IEEE Green Energy and Systems conference. Currently six students are conducting field tests on campus in cooperation with CSULB’s Parking and Transportation Services to modify their algorithm. Once the sensor is developed, statewide use could follow. “I’ve been in contact with deputy director of public works for the City of Long Beach Sean Crumby who has promised to help our students install the new sensors on Bellflower Boulevard this spring,” said Mozudmar. “Tyler Reeb, the director of research for CSULB’s Center for International Trade and Transportation, is coordinating this effort and also providing valuable input to move this research from the lab to the real world.” Mozumdar believes the potential for the new smaller sensors is great and wide reaching. “Southern California plays host to two big ports—Long Beach and Los Angeles—and it is important to keep track of the heavy truck traffic,” he said. “This technology helps the policy maker to understand how many and what kinds of vehicles are running on which highway in a 24-hour time frame. Based on that, policy can be made.” Mozumdar credits the technical sophistication of the Smart Sensing Education and Training lab for its sensor-designing success. “You need a complete set of tools to create this level of miniaturization,” he explained, pointing to the lab’s high-end milling machine and a “pick-and-place machine” used to place surface-mount devices onto a printed circuit board. “These machines were purchased by multiple grants,” he said. “The pick-and-place machine alone cost $27,000 and the milling machine cost $22,000. With this sort of advanced technology, students are able to design the kinds of systems that can be used to start their own companies.” One of main goals this research, Mozumdar said, is to lengthen the sensors’ longevity wanting to make sure the sensors can run year after year. “It is the same principle as a laptop computer’s energy saver that switches off the screen after a certain amount of time,” he said. “We need to come up with the algorithms to prolong the sensor’s lifetime.” Mozumdar also thanked College of Engineering Dean Forouzan Golshani and associate dean of Research Hamid Rahai for their generous support in this research project.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10307
__label__wiki	0.917781	0.917781	AMERICAN MUSLIMS ARE SAYING #ENOUGHISENOUGH AMERICAN MUSLIMS AGAINST TERRORISM AND EXTREMISM: NEW INITIATIVE BY MUSLIM AMERICANS TACKLES EXTREMISM ONLINE #ENOUGHISENOUGH Campaign #UNITEDASONE Campaign A Message from the Imam What Does Radicalization Look Like? Causes of Radicalization Causes of Online Radicalization Approaching Trusted Resources Additional Informational Resources Maajid Nawaz, Author Radical: My Journey From Islamist Extremism To A Democratic Awakening For more than a decade, Maajid Nawaz recruited young Muslims to an extreme Islamist group. But while serving time in an Egyptian prison, he went through a complete ideological transformation. He left the group, his friends, his marriage for a new life as a democracy advocate. He recently released a memoir, Radical: My Journey From Islamist Extremism To A Democratic Awakening. His goal now is to help Muslims work for a democratic culture that values peace and women's rights. He heads Quilliam, a think tank that engages in "counter-Islamist thought-generating." Sohail Ahmed Once on the brink of terror, former Islamic extremist looks back Sohail Ahmed, a self-described reformed Islamic extremist, talks with Rachel Maddow about his motives and mindset as he considered committing acts of terror, and how being gay deepened his radicalization. Manwar Ali Inside the mind of a former radical jihadist Manwar Ali (also known as Abu Muntasir) is one of the few scholars in the UK who has been directly involved in jihad. For around fifteen years he radicalised, recruited, fundraised and fought in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Burma. Now he draws on this experience in his work with the UK's Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service. Ali is a Muslim scholar who teaches Islam to restore balance, enhance human values and address issues of extremism through education, social projects, charitable events and open discussion. He works to foster peaceful coexistence through mutual understanding, good-neighborliness and caring engagement. Maysa The story of a radicalisation: 'I was not thinking my thoughts. I was not myself' "They told me how there was no crime and no discrimination in the Islamic State. They spoke about relations between men and women, and said that I would find a good husband, even if I would be one of several of his wives. They spoke about fighting the unbelievers and the heretics, but never mentioned any violence or executions or anything like that…Everything we spoke about or [the literature] they showed me was straight from [Isis], or that’s what they said. I just got to the point where going [to Syria] was all I wanted to do. I believed what I heard. When afterwards I saw the videos of decapitations I cried. I was totally radicalised. I was not thinking my thoughts. I was not who I am." We Spoke to a Former Jihadist About How Young People Become Radicalized "The other thing that you'll see that they don't have is a good religious upbringing. There are multiple interviews of ISIS defectors, of prisoners, of individuals who gave interviews after they had been captives who said that these people...I never saw a Qur'an, I didn't see them praying, and they're largely religiously illiterate. And it comes as no surprise because they have a deep-seated anger before the ideology kicks in. So you're already angry, you're already mad at the world and you're going to find something that gives you validation and gives you justification for your anger…The Muslim community now understands. They're realizing that, ‘Listen, we're going to lose our kids. And we're going to always have to answer every time there is an attack, we're always going to have to say 'Islam doesn't have anything to do with terrorism.’ But now what's needed is for the Muslim community to close ranks in that sense, to understand that we are at the forefront of this, we are its number one victims—from both sides—and we are the ones that can bring a better solution than anyone else." #UNITEDASONE Find Your Prayer Times & Receive Our Weekly Newsletter	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10310
__label__wiki	0.935752	0.935752	StreetGangs.com Board index Gang Culture, History and Info, Other Area Gang Questions, Info & News - Mid West - U.S.A. Milwaukee WI Gangs and Violence The Midwest for the pupose of this forum will be defined as the following States; Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin MILNATIVE Straw Weight Joined: September 6th, 2008, 12:57 am What city do you live in now?: Milwaukee Unread postby MILNATIVE » September 21st, 2008, 1:32 am Basically in the state of Wisconsin you have the City of Milwaukee and then the rest of the state is no comparison in terms of gangs, drugs, and violence. Re: Milwaukee WI Gangs and Violence Southside- Latin Kings-Latino-White-People Spanish Cobras-Latino-Folks Maniac Latin Disciples-Latino-Folks 2-1 Street-Latino-Black-White-American Indian-Folks Nasty Boys-American Indian-People Simon City Royals-White-Folks La Familia-Latino-People? Lopez Family-(La Familia Affiliated?)-Latino drug gang Mexican Gangs-Surenos Mexican Posse-13 Clantones 14 Brown Pride MSLS8 Mexican Carnalas-female MCK-Female Outlaws-WhiteMotorcycle gang Eastside- Eastside Mafioso-Puerto Rican-Folks Eastside Gangster or Buffum County or ?-Black-Folks Northside/Westside- Asian- Asian Crips Menace of Destruction-Asian Laotian Crips African American- Gangster Disciple-Brothers of the Struggle-Folks Vice Lords-1st and keefe, 2-4, and 2-6-People But alot of crews worth mentioning;-I'm not sure all their gang affiliations tho? Murda Mob Ghetto Boys Cherry Street Mob Trey 8 Mob 19th Street Nash Boys 16 Deep pr Flat Out West Cly Black Mob Bogus Boys Unread postby MILNATIVE » September 21st, 2008, 1:36 pm Violent crime up in city in 2007 FBI, police officials disagree over how much it has risen By RYAN HAGGERTY rhaggerty@journalsentinel.com Posted: Sept. 15, 2008 Violent crime increased in Milwaukee in 2007 compared with 2006, while violent crime decreased nationwide over the same period, according to data released Monday by the FBI. However, the Milwaukee Police Department disagreed with the amount of the increase reported by the FBI, citing a discrepancy in the number of forcible rapes the department reported to the state for 2006 and the number of forcible rapes reported by the FBI for that year. The FBI - using what the Police Department said was the erroneous number of forcible rapes for 2006 - reported Monday that Milwaukee's violent crime rose 4.4% from 2006 to 2007. When calculated using the much higher number of forcible rapes that the Police Department reported to the state for 2006, violent crime rose 2.8%. The Police Department told the state Office of Justice Assistance that 236 forcible rapes occurred in the city in 2006, said police Lt. John M. Hagen of the department's Crime Analysis Division. The FBI reported that 112 forcible rapes occurred that year. The discrepancy is most likely due to an error in the state's conversion of sexual assault data provided by the Police Department, Hagen said. Officials with the FBI and the Office of Justice Assistance could not be reached for comment. Police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said the department agreed with the rest of the FBI's report. According to the report, homicide was up 1.9%, and aggravated assault was up 7.6%, while robbery was down 2.2 %. Property crime decreased 0.1%, according to the report. Burglary increased 9.8% and arson increased 8.1%, while theft decreased 0.4% and auto theft decreased 6%, the report says. In July, the Police Department, citing preliminary data, reported that violent crime was down 19.4% and property crime was down 4.5% through the first six months of this year. Nationwide, violent crime fell about 0.7 % in 2007, the first drop since 2005, according to the FBI. Property crime decreased about 1.4%, dropping for the fifth consecutive year. In 2007, this city reported 8,040 violent crimes and 38,199 property crimes. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force. Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. Forcible Rape Larceny-Theft Motor Vehicle Theft Unread postby MILNATIVE » September 22nd, 2008, 1:27 am Regional News Briefs Man fixing flat shot in arm A 20-year-old man was shot in the arm and hand early Sunday while he was working on a flat tire in a north side service station parking lot, Milwaukee police said. The shooting was reported at 2:45 a.m. in the 2000 block of W. Center St., according to Police Capt. Timothy Burkee. Police are continuing to investigate the shooting. The incident came after a series of unrelated shootings Saturday, in which police said at least nine people were shot in seven incidents. In addition to those already reported, police said a 35-year-old man was shot in the hand at 1:50 a.m. Sunday while sitting in his car in the 1300 block of W. Groehling Ave.; and about 10 p.m. Saturday a 19-year-old woman was shot in the leg in the 2300 block of N. Bremen St. In that incident, police said, she and a friend were walking when they encountered two teenage boys. Words were exchanged and the shots fired. Police are continuing to investigate. From the Journal Sentinel Seven people injured in Saturday shootings Seven people, at least two of them children, were injured in shootings in Milwaukee Saturday. According to Milwaukee police: • A 12-year-old girl was shot about 2:30 p.m. while sitting on a porch near N. 5th St. and W. Vienna Ave. The girl was hit when shots were fired from a passing vehicle at another vehicle. She was taken to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa with non-life threatening injuries. • A 17-year-old boy was shot in the 3200 block of N. 29th St. about 4:45 p.m. Shots were fired from a vehicle, and the victim was wounded in the lower body. He was in good condition at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. • A 25-year-old man was shot in the 4600 block of N. 29th St. about 5:40 p.m. The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was in critical condition at a hospital. • Three people were shot in the 2100 block of W. Brown St. about 9:30 p.m. Police said they did not know the ages of the two women and one man who were shot. The victims had non-life threatening injuries and were taken to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, police said. • A 19-year-old man was shot in the leg just after 10 p.m. on the south side. The man was shot in his left calf on S. 12th St., between W. Greenfield Ave. and W. Orchard St., and ran to the 1200 block of S. 15th Place. The man called paramedics and was taken to Froedtert Hospital. The injury did not appear to be life-threatening. All the shootings remained under investigation late Unread postby MILNATIVE » September 25th, 2008, 9:20 pm Turf war sparked killings 2 of 4 people shot to death on north side street were gang members, police say By RYAN HAGGERTY-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel A shooting that left four people dead in Milwaukee was the result of an escalating gang war, sparked in part by the re-emergence of a violent group known as the Murda Mobb, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said Sunday evening. Two of the four people killed early Friday in the shooting on N. 28th St. between W. Clarke and W. Wright streets — Kendrick L. Jackson, 34, and Jacoby E. Claybrooks, 28 — were known members of the Murda Mobb, said Flynn, who called the group “the most organized, most vicious and most aggressive gang on the north side of the City of Milwaukee.” “This was not a random act,” Flynn said during a news conference in front of the District 3 station at 2333 N. 49th St. “What we have learned is that the self-styled Murda Mobb is back and aggressively trying to take over the drug trade in that area.” The return of the Murda Mobb, prompted in part by the release of one of the group’s founders from prison, has sparked a turf war with gangs that tried to take its place, Flynn said. Police believe that members of two other gangs shot at a group of more than 100 people who had gathered on N. 28th St. about 2:30 a.m. Friday in retaliation for an earlier offense committed by the Murda Mobb, said Flynn, who would not name the other gangs. Mariella Fisher, 27, and Theresa Raddle, 23, also died in the shootings. Sylvia Ware, 35, was wounded, as was a 31-year-old man whom police have not identified. Police had not made any arrests in the case as of 9 p.m. Sunday. The Murda Mobb is led by two brothers, Akilah and Antoine Crittenden, Flynn said. Akilah, 31, was recently released from prison, while Antoine, 34, is still behind bars but is expected to be released soon, Flynn said. The pair recruited new members while in prison, and the gang has been trying to re-establish itself in an area bordered by W. Center St. and W. North Ave. and N. 27th and N. 30th streets, Flynn said. The gang is responsible for about 24 homicides in Milwaukee over the past 10 years, Flynn said. Flynn said the Murda Mobb and other gangs will not be allowed to terrorize the neighborhoods they have tried to control. “Today, the Milwaukee Police Department is informing the Murda Mobb that we are taking your neighborhood away from you,” he said. “You are going to see more police officers in your neighborhood than you have seen before, and we’re shutting you down. “I was in that neighborhood on Friday morning. I saw the blood-stained streets, I saw the neatly painted houses with bars on their windows and bars on their doors, where people live in fear every single day because this gang has taken their streets from them,” Flynn said, his voice rising. “Well, this gang is about to lose those streets.” District 3 officers and the department’s Neighborhood Task Force, a unit of about 200 officers who are deployed at hot spots throughout the city, will be focusing on the area where the shootings occurred, Flynn said. Both Flynn and Mayor Tom Barrett urged people with information about the quadruple homicide to contact police. “This is gut-check time,” Barrett said. “I don’t want to see an escalation of violence in this city because of retaliation, and the way for us to cut it off right now is to cut it off at the knees by having more police in this neighborhood, but also by having the citizens of this neighborhood cooperate with the Milwaukee Police Department.” niceman Middle Weight Joined: April 19th, 2015, 10:27 pm If in the United States: Wisconsin What city do you live in now?: Wisconsin Unread postby niceman » August 1st, 2015, 3:28 am MILNATIVE wrote: Northside/Westside- Asian gangs aren't really active in Milwaukee anymore. Laotian Crips got busted with some drug charges and that was the last major thing they was heard of. MOD & AC are DL like really DL in the city now. They around but they don't shoot up each other like how they used to after the federal-indictment on the MOD. Both gangs may be still around Milwaukee but they just kickback with their own gang or maybe some new crew that aren't gang-related. I would have to say that the only Asian gang left in Milwaukee are the Crazy Hmong Boys only because they have more youngbucks that show out. But they ain't popping shit either. So to say the least, Asian gangs in Milwaukee aren't the same anymore after the FEDS kept an eye on them. The all on the DL! Miltown What city do you live in now?: Ames Ia Unread postby Miltown » October 7th, 2017, 6:38 pm MILNATIVE wrote: Basically in the state of Wisconsin you have the City of Milwaukee and then the rest of the state is no comparison in terms of gangs, drugs, and violence. You right but Racine and Beloit definetly get down for as small as they are Return to “Gang Questions, Info & News - Mid West - U.S.A.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10321
__label__cc	0.611158	0.388842	Forget the Fiduciary Rule But there still will be ways investors can require their advisers to put their interests first. So much for the fiduciary rule—a signature achievement of the Obama administration that is designed to eliminate conflicts of interest in the brokerage industry and help investors achieve higher returns. The incoming Trump administration is almost certain to scuttle the rule as part of its war on regulation. But even if the rule is killed, its mere injection into the public’s consciousness will still likely turn out to be a plus for investors. President Obama’s Department of Labor issued the rule. It would require all financial firms to act as fiduciaries when providing products and services for clients’ retirement accounts. Fiduciaries must treat each client’s account with the same care and judgment as they would treat their own investments. INTERVIEW: Vanguard's John Bogle on How Investors Pass Up Returns The rule would prohibit brokers from providing advice that lines their pockets instead of looking out for clients’ interests. Under the rule, for example, it would be difficult for a broker to justify selling a client a high-fee mutual fund when an identical or similar fund is available at a much lower price. Particularly alarming to financial services firms is that the rule would permit class action lawsuits against firms that violate its provisions. About the only question remaining is whether Republicans in Congress will kill the rule through legislation or whether the Department of Labor under Trump defangs the rule by issuing new regulations. The regulatory approach would probably be easier because it wouldn’t face a potential filibuster by the Senate’s Democratic minority. Although the rule covers only IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement accounts, these accounts are so ubiquitous that many financial services firms have been revamping their business models so that all their operations—those involving taxable accounts as well as retirement accounts—comply with the new regulations, which are scheduled to begin taking effect on April 10. The new rule would end a long-standing division in the financial services industry. Registered investment advisers, who are supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission and state regulators, have long been required to adhere to a fiduciary standard. But Finra, an industry-funded self-regulatory organization that used to be known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, supervises traditional brokers. Brokers need only provide recommendations that are “suitable” for their clients. There’s no prohibition, most importantly, on brokers recommending house-brand products or high-priced products, such as mutual funds, with stiff sales charges and high ongoing fees, when identical, lower-cost products are readily available. Consider: The American Funds—which in my view are the nation’s best actively managed funds—offers its funds in a bewildering array of share classes. The funds are all identical, except in the amount they charge investors—and compensate brokers. (The American funds recently began offering their F1 shares directly to individual investors through the Fidelity and Schwab online brokerages, but even these shares levy a 0.25% annual fee, which is used to compensate the brokerages.) Take Growth Fund of America, the nation’s largest actively managed fund, with assets totaling $144.3 billion. A broker might sell a client the Class A shares (symbol AGTHX), which carry a sales commission of 5.75% and charge annual expenses of 0.66%. The 5.75% sales charge and 0.24 percentage point of those annual expenses go to the broker and his or her firm. Alternatively, the broker could sell the Class C shares (GFACX), which carry no front-end load but charge annual expenses of 1.46%. Under that arrangement, the broker, claiming the lion’s share of the annual fees, pockets 1% of the amount invested per year. What about a registered investment adviser? As a fiduciary, the RIA would have a difficult time justifying investing client assets in anything other than Growth Fund of America’s F2 shares (GFFFX), which are available only through advisers and which charge just 0.44% annually. None of those fees would go to the adviser. Let’s be clear: No one in the investment business works for nothing. RIAs typically charge their clients a percentage of assets under management, generally 1% annually. But that fee must be disclosed and is often open to negotiation. My strong hunch: Just as the costs of investing in stocks and mutual funds have been falling, so too will the fees advisers charge. As far as I can divine, the alphabet soup of mutual fund share classes has no other purpose than to keep uninformed investors in the dark about how much they pay to whom for advice. Why else would American’s cheapest funds be the F2 shares, while many other firms charge their lowest fees on their ADV, or adviser, shares (and some charge their highest fees on adviser-class shares!)? Still other firms charge the least for their institutional-class shares. I mention these share class distinctions for a reason. If you’re an investor who employs a broker and invests in funds, you need to know how to distinguish the most expensive shares from the least expensive. And you should always know the expense ratio of a fund—and whether share classes with lower annual fees are available. Before Election Day, brokers were overhauling their businesses to comply with the fiduciary rule. Several brokerages announced that their brokers would no longer be allowed to accept commissions from mutual funds. Instead, because they were going to become fiduciaries, they would charge clients a percentage of assets annually—and fully disclose those arrangements. But with the surprising triumph for the Republicans on November 8, that’s all behind us. That’s too bad. The fiduciary rule would have been great for consumers. For brokerages, not so much. But here’s the silver lining: The fiduciary rule attracted tons of publicity during the past year. A lot of people who had no idea of the difference between a broker and an investment adviser now understand the distinction. Consequently, I believe, a lot of those people who plan to hire help with their investments will choose advisers rather than brokers. Investors don’t need a rule from Washington, they can require fiduciary responsibility as part of working with an adviser. What’s more, many brokerages, having already switched to the fiduciary standard, won’t change back. My guess is that these brokers will ultimately benefit, too. Steve Goldberg is an investment adviser in the Washington, D.C., area. SEE ALSO: How to Find a Financial Adviser You Can Trust	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10323
__label__wiki	0.843353	0.843353	Steal These Deals: Saving in Investing Smart Buying We all want to make money. See how both save and make money with these tips. Low-Cost Mutual Funds Fees are cheap, and you don’t need a lot of money to get started. Index funds are supposed to be inexpensive because they merely track a benchmark. Schwab’s index funds combine superlow fees with a rock-bottom initial minimum -- $100. The annual fee is just 0.09% for both Schwab S&P 500 Index (symbol SWPPX) and Schwab Total Stock Market Index (SWTSX), which tracks the Wilshire 5000 index. RELATED BARGAINS Steal These Deals PLUS: See Our Bargain Hunters PODCAST: Steal These Deals Covercast QUIZ: What Kind of Spender Are You? AND: 10 Things We Overpay For Among actively managed funds, a good choice is Homestead Value (HOVLX), which requires $500 to start. Over the past ten years, the fund, which invests in large and midsize companies, beat Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index by an average of three percentage points per year. Annual expenses are 0.70%. Pax World Balanced (PAXWX) is a socially screened fund that owns stocks and bonds. Its expense ratio is 0.95%, and its minimum is just $250. The fund, which invests in growth stocks, beat the S&P 500 by an average of four points per year over the past decade. Battered (But Healthy) Stocks The prospect of health-care reform has led to enticing bargains. President Obama’s promise to tame medical costs has pummeled health-care stocks. Not coincidentally, that sector is where we found three firms cheap enough to be good buys no matter what remedy Congress ultimately imposes. The first is drug giant Pfizer (PFE), which has been disappointing investors since its shares peaked at $50 in April 1999. The latest blow: The company slashed its dividend in half, ending 41 straight years of rising payouts. At $15, the shares trade for just seven times expected 2009 profits of $1.95 a share. But Pfizer has more than 100 drugs in its pipeline, $35 billion in cash and other advantages of scale that will only grow when its proposed merger with Wyeth closes later this year. With a 64-cent annual dividend, the stock still yields a healthy 4.3%. IMS Health (RX) has a database of drug-sales data on more than one million products, a valuable tool for the pharmaceutical industry. But consolidation and cost-cutting among drug companies has reduced demand for IMS's data. Still, at seven times expected earnings of $1.66 a share, we think the stock, at $12, is a bargain. Hard-pressed consumers have been cutting back on products from Weight Watchers international (WTW). But we’re pretty sure demand will return because people will always go on diets. Meanwhile, the shares trade for $27, or 11 times this year’s expected earnings of $2.57 a share. Based on a dividend of 70 cents a share, the stock yields 2.6%. A Fund at a Discount Plus, it walloped the S&P 500. Closed-end funds, which issue a set number of shares and trade like stocks, often sell at sharp discounts to their net asset value. General American Investors (GAM) is one such bargain. At its June 5 closing price of $19, the fund sold at a 17% discount to NAV. Veteran manager Spencer Davidson invests mainly in large, growing companies selling at reasonable prices. Financial, retail and energy stocks recently accounted for half of the fund's assets. Over the past ten years, the fund returned an annualized 3.9% on its assets. That beat the S&P 500 by an average of nearly six percentage points per year. A Bargain Bond We found a safe, 6.5% yield. Despite being pressured to convert to a bank holding company, Goldman Sachs has weathered the financial crisis with barely a scratch. Yet a new issue of its bonds, maturing in June 2019 and rated single-A by S&P, yielded 6.5% to maturity in early June. That’s a lot more than bonds with similar maturities issued by financial firms of similar quality. What’s more, Goldman can now turn to the Federal Reserve for funds in a pinch. Natural Gas Glut Profit from the surplus with an etf. Natural gas doesn’t get much respect. In early June, domestic gas traded at $3.74 per million cubic feet, near its six-year low. Meanwhile, traders had pushed the price of oil to $69 a barrel, up from its recent low of $33 in December. In terms of the two carbon-based commodities’ energy-equivalent prices, oil is now some three times costlier than gas. In an age of environmental awareness, that doesn’t make sense: Gas is cleaner; it has a future as a fuel for buses, cars and trucks; and its’ popular in heavy industry and for power generation. Right now, there’s a glut of gas in storage, but energy surpluses have a habit of vanishing quickly. The easiest way to bet on the price of gas is exchange-traded United States Natural Gas fund (UNG), which tracks changes in the price of gas by buying futures contracts. Note, however, that the fund is set up as a limited partnership, so you may face tax hassles. Penny-Pinching Brokers We pick firms for two kinds of investors. Best For Traders: Just2Trade If low-cost trades are what you’re after, look no further than Just2Trade (www.just2trade.com). It charges just $2.50 for stock, Exchange-traded-fund and mutual fund transactions on trades of any size. But don’t expect many frills or access to outside research -- this broker is bare-bones. You can open an account with $2,500, and you won’t pay account-maintenance or inactivity fees. The site courts market-savvy types, so it requires that new customers have at least two years’ experience using another online broker. Best For Average Investors: Fidelity Fidelity (www.fidelity.com) boasts reasonable commissions and no maintenance fees, plus a world of user-friendly extras. Stock commissions range from $8 per trade to $19.95 per transaction for up to 1,000 shares, depending on your account’s size and how often you trade. You can invest in 1,400 funds without paying sales or transaction fees, although you’ll get hit with a stiff $75 commission for straying from this list. But you also get access to stock research from 18 different firms and useful asset-allocation and retirement-planning tools.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10325
__label__wiki	0.756689	0.756689	What if AI does away with all the jobs? Jonathan Gornall A driverless delivery vehicle. (File/AFP) For a while, it seemed that universal basic income (UBI) might be the magic solution to the predicted imminent destruction of all our jobs. Great leaps forward in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are already threatening widespread human redundancy, with the first largescale cull looming for anyone who drives for a living. Companies from General Motors to Google offshoot Waymo are racing to be the first to flood the roads with completely autonomous cars. In Dubai — which is rapidly emerging as a pacemaker for technological change — the Autonomous Transportation Strategy envisages that a quarter of all journeys in the city will be automated by 2030. Transportation upheaval is just the beginning of the disruption threatened by the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution. The world is already experiencing what economists call “job polarization.” As demand for the “middle-skilled” decreases, so the demand for both highly paid and highly skilled, and poorly paid and low-skilled workers is increasing. In 2017, Tesla chief executive and futurist Elon Musk told the World Government Summit in Dubai that, in the face of looming human redundancy, some form of UBI would be inevitable. He isn’t alone among new-age disrupters in suggesting that the only way for the world to offset the social chaos they are masterminding is to give everyone a regular, unearned income. UBI has also been backed by the likes of Andrew Ng, chief scientist at the global technology company Baidu, and Ray Kurzweil, the futurist and director of engineering at Google. Kurzweil, who believes machine intelligence will be indistinguishable from the human kind before 2040, is also certain that “free money” will be commonplace by then. Adopting a basic income for all, he says, will “help society think creatively (and) develop new industries.” Work, goes the broad argument, is an outdated concept. Many economists envisage a new world economic order in which the increasingly wealthy drip-feed the rest of us with just enough to keep us in food and shoes, and off the streets. In this utopia/dystopia, the mass of humanity will be free to do what it likes: Knit hats, paint watercolors or, perhaps, learn a new skill to carry out one of the few remaining tasks for which human beings are required — or even create some new ones. But there are a couple of snags to this vision, one of which was highlighted last month in a report on a two-year Finnish experiment in UBI. Between January 2017 and December 2018, 2,000 jobless Finns received an unconditional basic income of 560 euros ($630) a month, enough to cover their basic needs and free them to look for work, training or creative inspiration. Unsurprisingly, everyone liked the free money. But they were no more likely to find work — or invent something beneficial for all humankind — than people who weren’t part of the experiment. This isn’t the end of the road for UBI. Variations on the Finnish experiment are under way and one of them might yet prove that this system, or one like it, is workable. But if UBI proves not to be the solution to impending worldwide joblessness, then what is? Locked into the status quo, nations have little choice but to continue competing, and rare is the nation in the developed world that isn’t currently scrambling to establish itself as a world leader in the new technologies As with climate change, there is clearly a need for radical thinking: Thinking that may well demand the abandonment of long-established norms, such as divisive notions of race and statehood, which promote insular self-interest. But, as with climate change, such changes are unlikely to be considered until it is far too late to pull them off. Locked into the status quo, nations have little choice but to continue competing, and rare is the nation in the developed world that isn’t currently scrambling to establish itself as a world leader in the new technologies. In the UK, the government has founded an AI Council and pledged £1 billion ($1.3 billion) to develop a technical skills base. In February, Omar Al-Olama, the UAE’s 29-year-old minister for AI, launched a “Think AI” initiative, inviting companies to use his country as “a test bed” to “help the country and (its) people... benefit from the hype of AI.” But, before the UAE or anywhere else is transformed into an experimental playground for Silicon Valley visionaries, a scheme must first be in place to deal with the potential consequences, including widespread unemployment. Last year, the EU’s Scientific Foresight Unit offered a reassuring assessment of the digital revolution’s impact on jobs. “On examining the literature,” the authors concluded, “we can be optimistic about the future.” In the past, technological innovation had always driven job creation, creating as many or more opportunities as it destroyed. But the innovations of mass production triggered by the inventions of steam power and electricity bear no comparison with the unprecedented upheaval threatened by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and hoping that, somehow, fresh jobs will be created in the process is dangerous wishful thinking. And jobs aren’t all that are at stake. While the first Industrial Revolution may have transformed the world temporarily for the better, all the problems we now face as a species — from the existential threat of climate change to the socially disruptive ramifications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution — can be attributed to the boom in human development and population it triggered. We have a narrowing window of opportunity in which to take back control of the speeding driverless car that is hurtling us toward a precipice of unconsidered consequences. At the very least, we should apply the brakes until we’ve figured out how to survive the impact. Jonathan Gornall is a British journalist, formerly with The Times, who has lived and worked in the Middle East and is now based in the UK. He specializes in health, a subject on which he writes for the British Medical Journal and others. Copyright: Syndication Bureau Gulf politics 101: The Qatar boycott for dummies	cc/2019-30/en_head_0021.json.gz/line10326

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.