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Features »
OPRO sign England star as rugby brand ambassador
by The TRU Team Tuesday 26 February 2019
England rugby star and World Cup winner, Vicky Fleetwood
©OPRO
OPRO, the world’s largest manufacturer of the most technically advanced mouthguard, today announced the signing of England star and World Cup 2014 winner, Vicky Fleetwood as one of their brand ambassadors.
OPRO have an extensive network of hundreds of schools up and down the country which, as part of the partnership, Vicky will be able to visit in an effort to inspire the next generation to take up sport. Vicky will also work alongside OPRO to help promote the importance and benefits of wearing a mouthguard and safety in sport.
OPRO have been involved with the sport of Rugby for over 21 years, which is reflected in their partnerships with over 40 professional rugby teams and associations including England Rugby, New Zealand Rugby and Australia Rugby. The partnership with Vicky further demonstrates OPRO’s dedication to engaging, educating and inspiring all those who love the game.
Vicky, who has an impressive 65 caps for England and who is also a qualified Personal Trainer, joins Great Britain Women’s Hockey Olympic gold medallist, Shona McCallin, double Taekwondo World Champion, Bianca Walkden and British Karate world champion, Jordan Thomas, as an OPRO ambassador.
“I’m really excited to be on board with OPRO”, said Vicky. “I’ve been wearing their mouthguards for years, so it really was a no brainer when the opportunity came for me to work with them in a more official capacity.
“Anyone who plays contact sport knows the importance of having a mouthguard that fits perfectly, is comfortable but also provides the very best protection. That’s what I have every time I wear my OPRO mouthguard and it’s great to be on board with them, especially during an exciting 2019 with the men’s World Cup in September which will see many of the players and teams wearing their own OPRO mouthguards!”
OPRO Chief Executive Officer David Allen said: “Vicky has been a pleasure to work with so far and we are all looking forward to growing our relationship. She is a very passionate person, particularly when it comes to sport, fitness and nutrition, which resonates with us on many levels.
“Vicky has already achieved so much in her career and we are delighted to be able to support her on her journey.”
For more information visit www.opromouthguards.com
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Kim Richey (USA): Musical traveller and ‘roots singer/subtle excavator of the human condition’
Date/Time Sun 18 Nov 2018 7:45 PM
Price Online - £12 + £1.20 booking fee On The Door - £12
Website: http://kimrichey.com/
Kim Richey is a traveller, after all. Musically, physically, emotionally. Not merely restless or rootless, it’s who she is. Willing to follow where the music leads, she’s landed in Los Angeles, Nashville, London, working with a who’s who of producers – Richard Bennett, Hugh Padgham, Bill Bottrell, Angelo, Giles Martin. She’s attracted a coterie of top-shelf genre-definers — Jason Isbell, Trisha Yearwood, Chuck Prophet, My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel, Wilco’s Pat Sansone – for her critically-lauded projects. She has also sung on records for Ryan Adams, Shawn Colvin, Isbell, and Rodney Crowell.
Part of what draws them to the dusky honey of her crystalline alto is the way she writes: to and from the soul, never flinching from the conflicts and crushing moments, yet always finding dignity and resilience. Her arc of the human heart is true. True enough that over the years, Richey’s been both Grammy nominated. Nominated for Yearwood’s truculently groove-country “Baby, I Lied,” she also co-wrote Radney Foster’s #1 “Nobody Wins.”
“Harlan Howard said – and maybe I’ve taken it too much to heart, ‘It’s always more believable if you sing it in the first person.’ And when I sit down to write, if it’s something I’m going to sing, I want it to be what I want it to be. I don’t really settle, which may make me a little hard to write with. But I have to be able to stand up and sing it night after night, and I can’t if I don’t really believe it.”
Those standards made Glimmer one of TIME’s Top Records of 1999 and Rise named People’s Best Alt-Country Record of 2002. Even when singing from the point of view of a guy working on a barge going up and down the Ohio River in “Dear John,” her aim is true. As she says of the man refusing to read the letter that ends his romance, “because if I don’t read your letter, then it’s not over. Sometimes these songs are specific and personal, but it’s also true in ways that reflect so many other people’s experience, too.”
Sometimes Richey channels profound truths. Sometimes she embraces breezy freedom. “Leavin’ Song,” a rambler’s shuffle, is more about tasting the world than exiting a bad situation. As its chorus offers, “This ain’t no leaving song, you ain’t done nothing wrong” over an elec a htric banjo and Resonator guitar, Richey finds the sweet spot in exulting for just being alive.
Once again, Richey has drawn a multitude of collaborators who rival her own singular voice. Veteran journeymen artist/writers Chuck Prophet, Maendo Sanz, Mike Henderson (Steeldrivers), Bill Deasy (the Gathering Field), Pat McLaughlin (John Prine) and Al Anderson (NRBQ), plus Aussies Jenny Queen and Harry Hokey co-sign on these musical polaroids from the going, the leaving, and the pausing.
“I’ll be doing an interview, and people will say, ‘You co-write a lot…’,” she marvels, “like it’s a bad thing. But it’s inspiring to me, and takes me in other directions, to other places. The people I write with are funny, and smart, and a blast to hang out with, but they’re also really good writers in their own right. Nobody’s pandering or chasing ‘a hit,’ we’re all just trying to get to the best possible song.”
Whether growing up, owning and relinquishing high times in the sleek “Chase Wild Horses,” echoed in the ether-lite, percussive folk “High Time,” then jettisoned on the smoky acceptance of her own flawed inability to be in a romance on the Western-tinged on “I Tried,” the woman from Ohio makes our natural selves both exotic and homey.
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Sasquatch! 2018 Line-up: Bon Iver, The National, Modest Mouse, David Byrne, Spoon, and More
Grizzly Bear, Slowdive, Neko Case, Julien Baker, and others on Memorial Day Weekend (May 25 – 28) in Quincy, Washington
Feb 05, 2018 By Christopher Roberts
The Sasquatch! Music Festival has revealed the lineup for their 2018 festival, their 17th year. Once again it will be going down Memorial Day Weekend (May 25 - 28) at the Gorge Amphitheater in Quincy, Washington. The lineup includes Bon Iver, The National, Modest Mouse, David Byrne, Spoon, Grizzly Bear, Slowdive, Neko Case, Julien Baker, TV On The Radio, Tune-Yards, Wolf Parade, Japandroids, Big Thief, Perfume Genius, Japanese Breakfast, Benjamin Clementine, Phoebe Bridgers, Algiers, Pond, and others.
Here's a fuller list of performers: Bon Iver, The National, Modest Mouse, David Byrne, Tyler, The Creator, Ray Lamontagne, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Spoon, Grizzly Bear, Explosions In The Sky, Neko Case, Vince Staples, TV On The Radio, Slowdive, Tash Sultana, Thundercat, Shakey Graves, Tune-Yards, Wolf Parade, Japandroids, Snakehips, What So Not, Jai Wolf, Perfume Genius, Noname, Lizzo, Margo Price, Petit Biscuit, Nao, Hippo Campus, Tokimonsta, Julien Baker, Pedro The Lion, Whitney, Pup, Pond, Tank & The Bangas, Jlin, Pickwick, Thunderpussy, Tyler Childers, Girlpool, Big Thief, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Japanese Breakfast, (Sandy) Alex G, Curtis Harding, Rostam, Lemaitre, Gang of Youths, Dhani Harrison, Jacob Banks, Algiers, Sango, Chastity Belt, Jeff Rosenstock, Son Little, Typhoon, Barclay Crenshaw, Benjamin Clementine, Too Many Zooz, The Garden, Oliver, The Suffers, Phoebe Bridgers, White Reaper, Alex Lahey, Escort, Charly Bliss, Taco, Giants In The Trees, The Weather Station, Aquilo, Magic Sword, Wilderado, Polyrhythmics, Mimicking Birds, CCFX, Choir! Choir! Choir!, Bread & Butter, & more! The full lineup is in the poster below and above.
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LLA42
VSM22
Select LanguageEnglishSpanish
VSM 3:
Location: The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) awarded TELPICO Block VSM-3 through Contract 16 of 2011, located between the departments of Tolima and Cundinamarca, whose extension is 42,274,114 Ha, the Exploration Drilling area VSM-3 (in (APE VSM-3) and its area of influence, are located in the department of Tolima in the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Coello, Piedras and Alvarado, with an area of 23.298,2 Ha.
The following are the main studies carried out in the VSM-3 block area: SEISMIC PERMITS GRANTED BY CORTOLIMA
• Environmental Management Measures (MMA) for Seismic Exploration Program VSM3-Doima-3D. Bioparque - TELPICO 2011.
• Studies associated with the preliminary consultation process for the 3D seismic exploration project in the VSM-3 Block. Bioparque - TELPICO 2013.
• Report of relation of material collected from the project Environmental Impact Study for the Exploration Drilling Area VSM-3 Block. Antea Group -TELPICO 2014.
• Scientific research permit in biological diversity, granted under Resolution No. 0741 of July 08, 2014.
VSM 22:
Location: Exploratory Drilling Project VSM-22 (APE VSM-22), is located within Block VSM 22, which has an area of approximately 34451.5617 ha and is located in the department of Huila, in the municipalities Yaguará, Íquira and Teruel.
The seismic VSM22 3D 2013 field work program were initiated on September 23, 2013 and ending on April 5, 2014 compliance was implemented the commitments made in the document Assessment and Environmental Management (DEMA) presented to the CAM (Corporation Of the High Magdalena).
The environmental impact (EIA) of exploratory drilling block VSM 22 was held in the year 2013 and was filed with the National Licensing Authority Environmental (ANLA) on March 4, 2014 and Resolution No. 0380 April 8, 2015 ANLA the license was granted for the execution of the project.
In the year 2015 the Environmental Management Plan (PMA) for the location Goliad was handed over to ANLA and CAM. In addition, permits were requested to execute the program of preventive archeology to the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH). INFORMATION ABOUT PMA - ICANH In August 2016, the implementation of the alignment of the road and construction of the Goliad location that is being implemented to date begins.
Block Llanos 42:
Location: The Llanos 42 Block is located in the Municipality of Arauca, Department of Arauca, in the villages Clarinetero, Bocas del Arauca, Mata de Gallina, Los Caballos, Arrecifes, Mata de Piña, La Panchera and El Vapor. Specifically, the APE has an extension of 26,546.08 ha.
The LLANOS 42 3D seismic program began on February 26, 2014 and ended on January 27, 2015. Based on the guidelines of the Colombian environmental legislation related to terrestrial seismic exploration projects and Resolution No. 500.41-13- 1194 of September 03 of 2013, issued by CORPORINOQUIA, in which it establishes environmental guidelines for seismic acquisition programs that are carried out in areas of its jurisdiction, in which the Environmental Management Measures - MMA were established.
The environmental impact study (EIA) of the Llanos 42 exploratory drilling block was carried out between the years 2014 and 2015 and was filed before the National Authority for Environmental Licenses (ANLA) on December 3, 2015 and Resolution No. 01088 of September 23, 2016 The environmental license was granted for the execution of the project. We are currently awaiting a resolution regarding the recourse filed on October 24, 2016.
Copyright 2017 Telpico, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | Admin | Privacy Policy
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Home > Vol 9, No 6 (2015) > Barber
The Evolution of Al Qaeda’s Global Network and Al Qaeda Core’s Position Within it: A Network Analysis
There has been much discussion in recent decades regarding the nature of the threat posed by terrorism. In doing so, many have cited the existence of a vast and amorphous global terrorist network, with Al Qaeda at the helm. But is that model a truly accurate one? By using social network analysis to map and track Al Qaeda’s global network from 1996 to 2013, this article seeks to determine whether the global movement is as cohesive and ideologically-driven as it has been made out to be. Ultimately, it finds that not only is that model no longer reflective of Al Qaeda’s global network, it likely never was. In the end, ideological affinity seems to give way to more worldly concerns, and globalization to regional concerns, leaving the idea of a global movement lacking.
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Your Homes Newcastle
Hodgson Sayers wins £2.4m of local work
By Robert Gibson
Building and roofing contractor Hodgson Sayers is on track for another year of growth, after securing two local contracts worth a total of £2.4m
Left to right, site manager at Hodgson Sayers, Jim Hardy, technical surveyor at Your Homes Newcastle, David Wakenshaw and contracts manager at Hodgson Sayers, Colin Howey
Building and roofing contractor, Hodgson Sayers, is on track for another year of growth, after securing two local contracts worth a total of £2.4m.
The Stanley-based business, which employs around 100 people, is taking on the task of replacing the roof coverings at Newcastle’s Cruddas Park Shopping Centre. The £1m contract is likely to see workers on site until March next year.
Meanwhile, it has also been appointed for a £1.4m flat roof replacement project that will see it supplying solar photovoltaic (pvs) panels to 142 properties and replacing the roofs on 258 properties in the west end of Newcastle. Hodgson Sayers won the job, at Elswick and West Denton, through a competitive tender with Your Homes Newcastle.
Managing Director at Hodgson Sayers, John Sayers, said: “Our Contracts Manager, Colin Howey is heading up a 14-strong team, who are working closely with Bauder, a leading manufacturer in all aspects of flat roofing to install a Bauder roof system.
“Working in partnership with Bauder, we surveyed the existing roof coverings and produced a detailed specification which would combine the roof covering and photovoltaic system under an integrated guarantee.
“This is a very eco-friendly project as the PV system uses the sun’s energy to generate electricity by means of photovoltaic modules. Flat roofing systems are ideal for this, as they are able to capture an unobstructed space that is perfectly positioned to catch the sunlight. We are really enjoying working on the project and looking forward to seeing the end result.”
Established in 1979 as Hodgson & Allon, the company - which became Hodgson Sayers in 2013 - started life as a small roofing contractor. Over the years it has developed and diversified to include building works, fencing and metalwork fabrication.
Recently, despite a nosedive in the construction industry, its turnover has grown by between 20 and 30% year on year, with the projected figure for 2013/14 being between £10m and £11m.
“Part of our success may be down to the fact that we don’t get involved in the new build sector,” Sayers said.
“I think people made the choice early in the recession to repair and refurbish rather than replace.
“But there’s no magic formula.”
Aside from contracts in the North East, Hodgson Sayers is undertaking work throughout the country, including the £250,000 refurbishment of an activity centre in North Wales. The company is also heavily involved in historic buildings work and has branched into the production of security doors and enclosures for the utilities industry.
David Wakenshaw, technical surveyor at Your Homes Newcastle, said: “We have a great relationship with the team at Hodgson Sayers and are excited to see the changes taking place. Hodgson Sayers is enabling us to play a key role at a local and regional level in improving environmental sustainability.”
A Thompson & Sons owes ex-boss's brother £1.6m
Collapsed builders' merchants A Thompson & Sons will not be able to repay a £1.6m debt to the brother of the former managing director who bought his 50% stake in the firm five years ago, an administrators' report shows
New report backs up North East construction campaign
£7.5m Newcastle student housing development gets the go-ahead
Aiming to improve industry performance and achieve an enhanced built environment, Constructing Excellence North East (CENE) was set up in 2003 to deliver business support to those working in the North East construction industry
Site manager Mark Summersgill picks up top award for second year running
Most Recent in Business
North East rural landowners encouraged to give up land for affordable homes
Business Supplements
Most Influential 2014: The Journal list of the North East's movers and shakers
Appointments: Owen Pugh appoints non-executive director
Appointments: Employment solicitor appointed to Gordon Brown Law Firm
Appointments: Wallsend Shopping Centre appoints new centre manager
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Mongolia's Fledgling Meat Industry Seeks Export Expansion
Mongolia is a country with a vast territory and a very small population in northeast Asia sandwiched between Russia and China. The country’s major economic sector is a traditional nomadic livestock industry and it has been expanding significantly over the recent years, writes Mainbayar Badarch.
The livestock herd hit a record 56 million at the end of December 2015. Mongolia now has 24.9 million sheep, 23.6 million goats, 3.8 million cattle, 3.3 million horses and 368,000 camels.
A total of 150,000 herding families take care of it, which accounts for over 20 per cent of the total family numbers.
The Government policy makers have been raising the issue of meat exports over the last few months, seeking an alternative budget revenue source due to Mongolia's economic slowdown, mainly caused by falling price of mining commodities.
Burmaa Radnaa, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, said that Mongolia has the potential to earn $1 billion from livestock meat exports, and this issue was discussed during the meeting of Prime Ministers of Mongolia and China.
Potential markets
China received a request of Mongolia to export meat worth $1 billion and issued permission to purchase raw beef, sheep and goat meat. So Chinese officials conducted a site visit to 19 meat plants covering seven provinces of Mongolia in late 2015, looking into which provinces and factories can provide meat of the required standard. They are due to provide their final decision soon.
In the meantime, the Mongolian Meat Association and Inner Mongolia Meat Association of China signed a memorandum of understanding for meat trade worth 6 billion Chinese yuan. China requested to purchase 150,000 tons of meat for that amount.
The second potential big market is Russia.
Mongolia has experience of exporting meat to Russia for many years. At the moment, Russia is not buying large amounts of meat. However, 26 meat plants were certified to export meat and meat products to 8 provinces of Russia at the end of 2015. Russia has recognised 10 provinces of Mongolia as reached its animal health standards.
Viet Nam has also expressed interest in buying goat meat in large quantities.
In May 2015, Vietnamese officials conducted reviews and examinations at several local meat companies, and a total of 8 companies received permission to export raw and processed meat of goat and sheep to Viet Nam.
Meanwhile, the Mongolian government is actively discussing potential options to export unprocessed meat to other international markets such as Japan, and some Arabian countries are interested in importing smaller quantities of sheep meat.
Foot and mouth disease of livestock is a big challenge for meat producers in Mongolia, and this has hindered meat exports for animal health reasons.
However, the Mongolian Ministry of Food and Agriculture has started resolving this issue as a result of numerous discussions and agreements with Chinese and Russian counterparts in 2015. This has resulted in a regionalised approach to disease, allowing the Chinese and Russian authorities to recognise some provinces as free from disease.
Mongolia is also working towards certifying its disease-free provinces with the World Organisation for Animal Health.
International experts used to criticise Mongolia's framework for ensuring food safety, especially the use of professional inspectors with non-related qualifications to provide certificates of animal health, instead of veterinarians.
Policy makers have been making a lot of effort towards improving this framework so that global importers can feel confident about the quality of the meat.
Minister of Food and Agriculture Burmaa Radnaa said that some additional amendments to the law have been submitted to the Parliament, which clarify who will be responsible and the measures required at each stage of the animal health framework.
Meat plant developments
At the moment, most of the meat processing industry in Mongolia is located in central urban areas.
Meat is largely processed by hand, and in few cases it is processed by factory equipment. To improve this situation, the Mongolian agriculture ministry is purchasing 12 meat processing factories from China under soft loan terms.
The location of these factories has been determined based on a study of the supply chain and related infrastructure.
Regions with good animal health will surround these factories and most of them are likely to be constructed near to the borders.
These factories aim to provide opportunities for Mongolian nomadic herders to export their meat. In this regard, the Government allocated a budget of 80 billion MNT for meat reserves and 100 billion MNT for preparing export-oriented meat and meat products.
Mongolia's agriculture ministry considers that the country's predominantly nomadic livestock industry gives it the opportunity to compete on international markets by creating a valuable brand, rather than by using price and quantity.
Mongolian herders don't use processed feeds, so the industry is considered as organic. However, there was no legal framework for registering, analysing and guaranteeing organic agricultural and food production.
So the ministry developed a draft law on organic production in accordance with the corresponding laws in the EU and related regulations of international organisations such as IFOAM. The government has supported it and accordingly parliament is expected to discuss and enact this draft law.
The objective of the law is to develop the country’s organic industry, especially by providing opportunities to organic food export.
Furthermore, it fosters ecosystem health, green development, fair market competition and social accountability of the country.
Most countries require meat to be processed by factory equipments for to meet import requirements.
Mongolia processes only 8 per cent of its total meat used for food in factories per year, so there is a pressing need to enhance capacity of meat plants. Officials also say laboratories must be constructed near the 12 new meat processing plants, for testing to ensure food safety.
Thus there are plenty of opportunities for foreign businesses to invest in this sector and benefit from rising meat exports.
Another related concern is a lack of technologies. Sergey Yushin, Head of the National Meat Association of Russia, said that Mongolian factories will require deboning capability.
Can Mongolians be ready for it? The country needs the latest modern technology and know-how to process meat and create lucrative business for international players.
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Delp tribute hits some snags
By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan
We have more than a feeling that the tribute to Brad Delp is in doubt. Tickets for the Aug. 19 show still aren't on sale, and the promoter, Live Nation, has given no indication when they might be. What's the problem? Word is that the parties involved in planning the show honoring the late lead singer of Boston can't agree on where the money should go. Originally, Live Nation said proceeds from the show at the Bank of America Pavilion would benefit the Brad Delp Foundation, but guitarist Tom Scholz has questioned whether such a foundation actually exists and what its mission is. We're told he's requested more information from Delp's ex-wife, Micki, before signing on the dotted line. During his lifetime, Delp, who committed suicide in March, gave to many of the same causes supported by Scholz, including the Sierra Club and PETA. If the concert does take place, it's still not clear whether the band's original members -- Scholz, Sib Hashian, Barry Goudreau, and Fran Sheehan -- will share the stage or for how many songs. Among those lending their pipes to the proceedings will be Starship's Mickey Thomas, Sammy Hagar, and Stryper's Michael Sweet, who confirms his participation on his website.
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Memories For A Lifetime
The national championship for junior golfers will be held in Georgia from July 23 through July 27. The 55th playing of the U.S. Junior Amateur will be conducted by the United States Golf Association at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Ga., home of The Highlands Course, where just last August, the world’s top professionals competed for the PGA Championship.
The USGA created the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1948 to determine the best junior golfer in the United States and to help junior golfers learn to realize the most from the game, winning or losing. The first U.S. Junior was won by Dean Lind, who defeated Ken Venturi, a future U.S. Open champion.
More than 4,000 entries are received each year from male amateur golfers who have not reached their 18th birthday and have a USGA handicap index not exceeding 6.4. Sectional qualifying at 36 holes of stroke play determines the field of 156 players. Sixty-six locations throughout the United States were required this year to handle the qualifying rounds.
The 156 qualifiers then play two rounds of stroke play at the Atlanta Athletic Club on July 23 and 24, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play. After five rounds, the final 18-hole match is on July 27.
The Junior Amateur is one of the most difficult of all USGA championships to win because of the age limit, as well as the tremendous number of highly-skilled young players who enter each year. Tiger Woods won the Junior Amateur in three consecutive years, beginning in 1991, and remains the youngest champion when he won at 15 years, 6 months and 28 days old. The Junior Amateur is the only USGA championship for which Jack Nicklaus was eligible that he did not win, although he qualified for the event five times.
In last year’s championship at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas, Henry Liaw, 15, (just 4 months older than Tiger Woods when Woods became the youngest champion), captured the title in his first time to qualify. He has two more years of eligibility and could tie Woods’ record of three victories.
Matthew Pierce, Jr., at 12 years, 2 months old, was the youngest player ever to compete in the championship. It is a long week for the players who advance to match play after 36 holes of stroke play and continue to be victorious in the 6 rounds of match play. Liaw played 104 holes in his 6 matches, including his second round victory at 22 holes.
The Atlanta Athletic Club has truly been a host to history in championship golf. In addition to state events and many USGA qualifiers over the years, the club has hosted at Duluth the 1976 U.S. Open; the 1990 U.S. Women’s Open; the 1981 and 2001 PGA Championship; the 1984 U.S. Mid-Amateur; the 1982 Junior World Cup; the 1996 and 1997 Men’s and Women’s Eastern Amateurs; the 1999 Hayter Cup and the 2000 Southern Amateur.
Ken Mangum, the Atlanta Athletic Club’s Director of Golf Courses and Grounds, expects The Highlands Course to be set up and play to the same exacting standards for the 2002 Junior Amateur as the 2001 PGA Championship. The yardage will be approximately 7,008 yards at par 70, with fast and firm Crenshaw bentgrass putting greens and 419 Bermuda grass rough.
An important goal of the USGA in conducting the Junior Amateur is the educational opportunity for juniors as well as a national competitive championship. This year should provide a special inspiration to the juniors who earn participation since the Atlanta Athletic Club is the home club of golf immortal, Bobby Jones. This year marks the centennial anniversary of his birth in 1902.
The U.S. Junior Amateur has been played in Georgia on only one other occasion, in 1970, at Athens Country Club. There, Gary Koch, who would go on to a winning career as a professional on the PGA Tour and now as a golf commentator for NBC-TV’s golf broadcasts, won by 8 and 6, the largest winning margin in the final match. Former Tour player, Charlie Rymer, who now lives in Athens, was the victor in 1985 at Brookfield Country Club in New York.
A Special Championship
Georgia has always enjoyed a special connection with the U.S. Junior Amateur. Henry Cobb, GSGA’s President from 1970-74, was a member of the USGA Junior Committee and arranged for the championship to be played at Athens in 1970. Walker Cup captain Danny Yates also served on the Junior Committee for many years, along with GSGA Past President John Reynolds and Joe Hamilton of Augusta.
In 1976, Madden Hatcher, III of Columbus defeated Doug Clarke, 3 and 2, at the Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colo. Then in 1979, Jack Larkin of Atlanta defeated Billy Tuten, 1 up, at Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Hatcher is now an active GSGA committeeman.
“At the Player’s Banquet, I looked around at all those players and suddenly thought, 'Somebody here is going to win this thing,'" he said. "And I didn’t even think it would be me. Bobby Clampett was the favorite along with Doug Clarke, who had just won the big Trans-Miss Amateur. I just kept thinking how fortunate I was to be there.
“In one match, I was four down to future PGA Tour winner Robert Wren after eight holes, but I managed to win that match on the 20th hole. Then I played Steve Jones, who would later be a Tour winner and the 1996 U.S. Open champion, in a semifinal match. Both of us were surprised to have made it that far, and I said to Steve, ‘Can you believe it – one of us is going to the final.'
"Then I won and had to face heavy favorite, Doug Clarke, in the final. The pressure was all on him, and I won 3 and 2. What a memory! I still keep up with all those players and with others. Some have remained my best friends. Golf has made it possible for me to meet so many wonderful people.”
Three years later, it was Larkin who triumphed. Larkin continues to play competitively and has won the GSGA’s Public Links Championship in 1996 and 2001.
“Winning the Junior was always my goal,” said Larkin. “A family friend told me about it and that became my quest from age 13 on. Every day I worked to achieve my goal, and when I practiced, it was always for the Junior."
“I hope the players today can enjoy what I have enjoyed, setting a goal, working hard, and doing everything to execute that plan. Golf is the opposite of everything coming easy to you and the reward is so great in attempting to achieve something as great as that championship. Huge parts of golf for me are the life lessons, more than just winning."
This year’s Junior Amateur will be a time for special memories, but not just for those who compete. It is surely an opportunity for other young golfers who see this special championship to think of their own goals and excitement about the game – a time for all to make memories for a lifetime.
Story written by Gene McClure. McClure is a member of the United States Golf Association’s Sectional Affairs Committee and a Past-President of the Georgia State Golf Association. Portions of this article have appeared in Golf Georgia magazine.
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STARWARS.COM TEAM WINS FIVE 2019 WEBBY AWARDS
by Mark on April 24, 2019 at 7:45 am
Via StarWars.com:
We are thrilled to announce that Lucasfilm and the StarWars.com team have once again won several Webby Awards!
The crew of The Star Wars Show, which recently returned from four uproarious days of live coverage of Star Wars Celebration Chicago, claimed both the Webby Award and the People’s Voice Award in Social: Television & Film as well as the Webby Award for Video: Variety.
Our Live From the Red Carpet of Solo: A Star Wars Story! coverage nabbed the People’s Voice Winner in Video: Events & Live streams.
And for the third year in a row, StarWars.com won the People’s Voice Award for Website in the Movie & Film category. It’s a distinct honor to receive so many People’s Voice prizes since this award is voted on by you, the fans!
The team behind StarWars.com was also humbled to be named as an honoree in the category of Websites: Best User Experience.
Over 23 years, the Webby Awards have become the leading international award honoring excellence online, with prizes chosen by a group of over 2,000 judges through the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and a second winner designated by popular vote.
Thank you to the fans who cast their votes and have shown support for StarWars.com and The Star Wars Show each and every day by visiting, viewing, reading, commenting, and sharing in the experience of being Star Wars fan right along with us.
We are honored. May the Force be with you.
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Tag: classic fiction
The Best and Bitey-ist Vampire Novels Ever!
October 26, 2018 October 25, 2018 Paul
Over 120 years after the release of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the author’s great-grandnephew has written a prequel to the Victorian vampire classic! Dacre Stoker’s novel, Dracul, is based on the original typescript of Dracula as well as associated notes and journals, and “speculates on what Bram Stoker’s early life might have been like had the creatures he later created been real.”
But Dacre Stoker isn’t the first to build upon Dracula’s story: below you’ll find a list of nine unnerving titles that have been influenced by the Transylvanian Count, from Nordic noir to alternative history to a sci-fi classic (as well as one work that pre-dates Dracula by 26 years!).
The historian: a novel / Kostova, Elizabeth
“Late one night, exploring her father’s library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to “My dear and unfortunate successor,” and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of – a labyrinth where the secrets of her father’s past and her mother’s mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history.” (Catalogue)
Let the right one in / Ajvide Lindqvist, John
“John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel, a huge bestseller in his native Sweden, is a unique and brilliant fusion of social novel and vampire legend, as well as a deeply moving fable about rejection, friendship and loyalty.” (Catalogue)
Interview with the vampire / Rice, Anne
“Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force–a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.” (Catalogue)
The passage / Cronin, Justin
“A security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment that only six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte can stop.” (Catalogue)
Anno Dracula / Newman, Kim
“It is 1888 and Dracula has married Queen Victoria and turned a large percentage of the English population into the undead. Peppered with familiar characters from Victorian history and fiction (Dr Jekyll, Oscar Wilde, Swinburne, John Jago), the novel tells the story of vampire Genevieve Dieudonne and Charles Beauregard of the Diogenes Club as they strive to solve the mystery of the Ripper murders.” (Catalogue)
Dracula: the un-dead / Stoker, Dacre
“The official sequel to Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula, written by his direct descendant and endorsed by the Stoker family, Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew joins with Dracula documentarian Holt to create a sequel based on notes the author left behind. A quarter-century has passed, and Bram Stoker is directing a play about Dracula–who seems to be making a comeback…” (Catalogue)
Dracula’s guest [electronic resource] / Stoker, Bram
“Published in 1914, several years after Bram Stoker’s death by his widow, Dracula”s Guest is one of several stories that Stoker had wished to publish as a supplement to his most famous novel. Join him as he drags the reader out into the hills beyond Munich on one of the most terrifying nights of the year–Walpurgisnacht, or The Witches Night.” (Catalogue)
I am legend / Matheson, Richard
“Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth… but he is not alone. Every other man, woman and child on Earth has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville’s blood. By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for dawn. How long can one man survive?” (Catalogue)
Carmilla / Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
“Predating Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Carmilla is the ultimate Gothic vampire tale. When a mysterious carriage crashes outside their castle home in Styria, Laura and her father agree to take in its injured passenger, a young woman named Carmilla. It’s not until Laura’s father, increasingly concerned for his daughter’s well-being, sets out on a trip to discover more about the mysterious Carmilla that the terrifying truth reveals itself.” (Catalogue)
Posted in Booklists, GeneralTagged classic fiction, contemporary fiction, fiction, halloween, horror
Golden Age of Crime
October 17, 2018 Dusty
In 1930’s Britain an eclectic group of authors banded together to form The Detection Club. Some of the participants included Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, G K Chesterton and A A Milne. The members were all known for their literary excellence and were not shy of mining the darker side of human conduct. They wrote tales of mystery that have enthralled their audience from publication to current times. Their club oath defines what would become the style of the ‘Golden Age of Crime’:
“To do and detect all crimes by fair and reasonable means; to conceal no vital clues from the reader; to honour the King’s English… and to observe the oath of secrecy in all matters communicated to me within the brotherhood of the club”
The gentle tropes perfected by the Golden Age writers has been reprised and honoured by modern authors using both style and characters. Referencing Agatha Christie’s mysterious disappearance in 1926, Andrew Wilson presents the ‘Dame of crime’ with mysteries of her own. Private detective Hercule Poirot is revived through the work of Sophie Hannah. Below are some classic titles and some new works that reference the style of the era:
Murder on the Orient Express / Christie, Agatha
“Agatha Christie’s most famous murder mystery, reissued with a striking new cover designed to appeal to the latest generation of Agatha Christie fans and book lovers. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside.” (Catalogue)
The complete Father Brown stories / Chesterton, G. K.
“Father Brown, one of the most quirkily genial and lovable characters to emerge from English detective fiction, first made his appearance in The Innocence of Father Brown in 1911. That first collection of stories established G.K. Chesterton’s kindly cleric in the front rank of eccentric sleuths. This complete collection contains all the favourite Father Brown stories, showing a quiet wit and compassion that has endeared him to many, whilst solving his mysteries by a mixture of imagination and a sympathetic worldliness in a totally believable manner.” (Catalogue)
Party girls die in pearls / Sykes, Plum
“Not rich and not glamorous, Oxford outsider Ursula Flowerbutton wants only to be left to her studies. But when she finds a classmate with her throat slashed, she’s quick to investigate. Determined to unravel the case and bag her first scoop for the famous student newspaper Cherwell Ursula enlists the help of her fellow Fresher, the glamorous American Nancy Feingold. While navigating a whirl of black-tie parties and secret dining societies, the girls discover a surfeit of suspects. From broken-hearted boyfriends to snobby Sloanes, lovelorn librarians to dishy dons, none can be presumed innocent.” (adapted from Catalogue)
A different kind of evil / Wilson, Andrew
“In January 1927 Agatha Christie sets sail on an ocean liner bound for the Canary Islands. She has been sent there by the British Secret Intelligence Service to investigate the death of one of its agents, whose partly mummified body has been found in a cave. Early one morning, on the passage to Tenerife, Agatha witnesses a woman throw herself from the ship into the sea. At first, nobody connects the murder of the young man on Tenerife with the suicide of a mentally unstable heiress. Yet, soon after she checks into the glamorous Taoro Hotel situated in the lush Orotava Valley, Agatha uncovers a series of dark secret” (Catalogue)
The mystery of three quarters : the new Hercule Poirot mystery / Hannah, Sophie
“The world’s most beloved detective, Hercule Poirot – the legendary star of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and most recently The Monogram Murders and Closed Casket-returns in a stylish, diabolically clever mystery set in 1930’s London. Returning home after lunch one day, Hercule Poirot finds an angry woman waiting outside his front door. She demands to know why Poirot has sent her a letter accusing her of the murder of Barnabas Pandy, a man she has neither heard of nor ever met.” (Catalogue)
An act of villainy / Weaver, Ashley
“A gem filled with style, banter, and twists that traditional mystery fans will positively relish. With husband Milo, Amory Ames glides through 1930s London to the dress rehearsal of a new play directed by friend Gerard Holloway. Unfortunately, Gerard has cast his mistress, Flora Bell, in the lead (Amory is friends with his wife), and he wants her to figure out who’s sending threatening letters to Flora. Curtains up for another charmer from Louisiana librarian Weaver.” (Catalogue)
Four funerals and maybe a wedding / Bowen, Rhys
“Star amateur sleuth of the 1930s-set Royal Spyness Mystery series, Lady Georgiana Rannoch is getting ready to walk down the aisle and is offered her godfather’s fully staffed country estate as a home. But the staff don’t seem very trustworthy, and the gas leak in her bedroom doesn’t seem like an accident.” (Catalogue)
Posted in Booklists, FictionTagged classic fiction, contemporary fiction, fiction mysteries, Fiction showcase
Fiction showcase: The origins of the Ripping Yarn novel
September 4, 2018 February 7, 2019 Neil
Our featured fiction showcase of books for September is called Ripping Yarns in which we have selected novels that share the common thread of being rip-roaring, adrenaline pumping tales of action and adventure, and are usually tales of daring and heroism. Today we have interpreted the term to cover a wide selection of authors, genres and writing styles.
The genre originated in the Victorian times with authors like Jules Verne, Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle and was subsequently continued by writers like H. G. Wells, Jack London, Edgar Rice Burroughs and John Buchan. Now the term is so wide it covers everything from science fiction to crime and general fiction and a whole host of sub-genres. The only linking factor is the author’s commitment to tell a rattling good adventure story. So with all that in mind, we thought we would feature a selection of the classic authors in this selection. These selections can also be found on Overdrive and in the physical library collections in the fiction section.
The mysterious island / Jules Verne ; with an introduction by R.G.A. Dolby.
Jules Verne (1828-1905) is internationally famous as the author of a distinctive series of adventure stories describing new travel technologies which opened up the world and provided means to escape from it. The collective enthusiasm of generations of readers of his ‘extraordinary voyages’ was a key factor in the rise of modern science fiction.
“In The Mysterious Island a group of men escape imprisonment during the American Civil War by stealing a balloon. Blown across the world, they are air-wrecked on a remote desert island. In a manner reminiscent of Robinson Crusoe, the men apply their scientific knowledge and technical skill to exploit the island’s bountiful resources, eventually constructing a sophisticated society in miniature. The book is also an intriguing mystery story, for the island has a secret.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)
The bottle imp : in English and Samoan / Robert Louis Stevenson ; introduced by Roger G. Swearingen ; edited by Robert Hoskins.
“Robert Louis Stevenson considered his supernatural short story ‘The Bottle Imp’ one of his best. A Faustian folktale transplanted to the Pacific, ‘The Bottle Imp’ was the only one of Stevenson’s works to be translated into a Polynesian language in his lifetime, as the Samoan O le Fagu Aitu. Featuring an extensive introduction by Stevenson scholar Roger G Swearingen, and accompanied by the original illustrations, this edition is the first to publish the English and Samoan versions together.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)
The return of Sherlock Holmes ; & His last bow / Arthur Conan Doyle ; with an afterword by David Stuart Davies.
“Three years after his supposed death at the Reichenbach Falls, Sherlock Holmes returns to 221B Baker Street, to the astonishment of Dr Watson and the delight of readers worldwide. From kidnapped heirs to murder by harpoon, Holmes and Watson have their work cut out for them in these brilliant later tales. This collection also includes His Last Bow, a series of recollections from an older Sherlock Holmes of further adventures from his life. (Adapted from Syndetics summary)
The thirty-nine steps / John Buchan ; with and introduction and notes by Sir John Keegan.
“Richard Hannay has just returned to England after years in South Africa and is thoroughly bored with his life in London. But then a murder is committed in his flat, just days after a chance encounter with an American who had told him about an assassination plot which could have dire international consequences. An obvious suspect for the police and an easy target for the killers, Hannay goes on the run in his native Scotland where he will need all his courage and ingenuity to stay one step ahead of his pursuers.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)
Tarzan of the apes / Edgar Rice Burroughs ; edited with an introduction and notes by Jason Haslam.
“Tarzan first came swinging through the jungle in the pages of a pulp-fiction magazine in 1912, and subsequently in the novel that went on to spawn numerous film and other adaptations. In its pages we find Tarzan’s origins: how he is orphaned after his parents are marooned and killed on the coast of West Africa, and is adopted by an ape-mother. He grows up to become a model of physical strength and natural prowess, and eventually leader of his tribe.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)
The time machine / H.G. Wells.
“Late in the nineteenth century, a Victorian scientist shows his disbelieving dinner guests a device he claims is a Time Machine. Respectable London scarcely has the imagination to cope with him. A week later they reconvene to find him ragged, exhausted and garrolous. The tale he tells is of the year 802,701 – of life as it is lived in exactly the same spot in what once had been London. He has visited the future of the human race and encountered beings that are elfin, beautiful, vegetarian, and leading a life of splendid idleness. But this is not the only lifeform that exists in Eden – in the tunnels beneath paradise lurks man’s darker side.” (Adapted from Syndetics summary)
Posted in Booklists, General, ListsTagged classic fiction, contemporary fiction, fiction, Fiction showcase, ripping yarns
Literature as inspiration for graphic novels
August 22, 2018 August 20, 2018 Dusty
There are many great original characters and stories and worlds built in the medium of graphic novels, and there are also some great adaptions that give literary explorers another dimension to classic works. Inspired by the recent graphic novel Sabrina being longlisted for the Man Booker, we have a list of some ‘literary’ titles for you.
Beginning with The Graphic Canon 1 and 2:
The graphic canon. Volume 1, From the epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous liaisons
The graphic canon. Volume 2, From “Kubla Khan” to the Brontë Sisters to The picture of Dorian Gray
These volumes have a wealth of content and contributors. From folk tales to classic novels; contemporary artists to historical visionaries. Volume 2 includes William Blake with his own images and words. Such an incredible overview!
Don Quixote. Volume1 / Davis, Rob
“A mixture of reality and illusion, this is the story of the besotted Don Quixote and his down-to-earth companion, the faithful Sancho Panza, who set out to right the world’s wrongs in knightly combat. The narrative moves from philosophical speculation to broad comedy.” (Catalogue)
Herman Melville’s Moby Dick / Chabouté
“In striking black-and-white illustrations, Chaboute retells the story of the Great American Novel. Captain Ahab strikes out on a voyage, obsessively seeking revenge on the great white whale that took his leg.” (Catalogue)
The rime of the modern mariner / Hayes, Nick
“This graphic novel recasts the shimmering horror of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous story into a contemporary context. A mariner appears on a park bench and begins his tale. Cursed by an albatross he slew whilst hunting whales, the mariner and his crew find themselves stranded within the North Pacific Garbage Patch: a vast, hypoxic, slow-whirling maelstrom of plastic waste; a hidden repository for the world’s litter. Along the way, he meets various characters of our current environmental tragedy: a lady made of oil, a deserted ghost-ship drilling barge, a 2-inch salp (the human race’s oceanic ancestor), a blue whale and a hermit. (Catalogue)
The Canterbury tales / Chwast, Seymour
“Accompany a band of merry medieval pilgrims as they make their way-on motorcycles, of course-to Canterbury. Meeting at the Tabard Inn, the travelers, including a battle-worn knight, a sweetly pretentious prioress, the bawdy Wife of Bath, and an emaciated scholar-clerk, come up with a plan to pass time on the journey to Thomas a Becket’s shrine by telling stories. Chwast’s illustrations relate tales of trust and treachery, of piety and bawdiness, in an engaging style that will appeal to those who have enjoyed The Canterbury Tales for years, and those for whom this is a first, delectable introduction.” (Catalogue)
The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, gentleman / Rowson, Martin
“A novel about writing a novel is the subject of this complex classic which has been described as the greatest shaggy dog story in the English language.” (Catalogue)
Howl : a graphic novel / Ginsberg, Allen
The original by Allen Ginsberg caused such a ruckus, there were arrests, an obscenity trial, censorship trials and seizure of material. Now you can decide for yourself, in colour!
Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and loathing in Las Vegas : a savage journey to the heart of the American dream / Little, Troy
“Records the experiences of a free-lance writer who embarked on a zany journey into the drug culture.” (Catalogue)
…and we finish up with an author from Aotearoa New Zealand: Sarah Laing’s memoir Mansfield and Me looks at the way literature can affect and influence our lives
Mansfield and me : a graphic memoir / Laing, Sarah
“Katherine Mansfield is a literary giant in New Zealand-but she had to leave the country to become one… She was as famous for her letters and diaries as for her short stories. Sarah Laing wanted to be a real writer, too. A writer as famous as Katherine Mansfield, but not as tortured. Mansfield and Me charts her journey towards publication and parenthood against Mansfield’s dramatic story, set in London, Paris, New York and New Zealand. Part memoir, part biography, part fantasy, it examines how our lives connect to those of our personal heroes. Sarah Laing’s gorgeous, playful drawings and self-deprecating humour lightly mask a complex meditation on writing, celebrity and the conscious construction of self. A very New Zealand coming-of-age story.” (adapted from catalogue)
Posted in Booklists, General, ListsTagged classic fiction, Comics, fiction, graphic novel, graphic novels, literature
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Dormant assets scheme expanded
Under the current scheme, banks and building societies transfer the money held in dormant accounts to a central reclaim fund. The reclaim fund is responsible for managing dormant account money, meeting reclaims and passing on surplus money to various charities for reinvestment in the community. The original account holder retains the rights to repayment upon providing satisfactory proof that the money is theirs.
The existing dormant accounts scheme came into effect in November 2008. The scheme defines a dormant bank account as an account which has been continually open for at least fifteen years during which time no transactions have been carried out by the account holder or at his or her instruction.
In June 2019, the government has announced plans to expand the dormant asset schemes to include a wider set of financial assets beyond bank and building society accounts. The government appointed four 'industry champions' to expand the dormant assets scheme. These experts represented the banking, securities, insurance and pensions, and investment and wealth management sectors.
The industry-led report was published earlier this month and has made a number of recommendations on how to broaden the current scheme. Government ministers will now consider the recommendations in more detail.
Source: HM Revenue & Customs | 10-04-2019
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Historic class-action lawsuit filed against telecommunications data collection (2008-02-29)
+++ Largest class-action lawsuit in German history +++ German Working Group on Data Retention symbolically nails theses for the defence of basic rights +++
Mandates of over 34.000 citizens willing to fight the storage of their telecommunications and movements over a period of six months ("data retention") were filed today with the German Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. The measure effective since Jan. 1st, 2008 is thus countered by the largest class-action lawsuit in German history. The complainants' mandates filling 102 folders and 12 packing cases were handed over to the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe today on behalf of Berlin attorney Meinhard Starostik.
Afterwards, on the Platz der Grundrechte (Basic Rights Square), members of privacy NGO "Arbeitskreis Vorratsdatenspeicherung" (Working Group on Data Retention) symbolically nailed 17 theses for the defence of basic rights in modern times. For several rights a thesis each was put up such as: "The sovereignty of the individual over their personal data is a prerequisite to claiming one's liberties." Other panels read contrarian statements by politicians such as the German chancellor Angela Merkel who said: "There must not be any space in which terrorists can communicate without the possibility of government access."
Comments the Working Group on Data Retention: "We demand that government and parliament initiate an independent review of all surveillance powers introduced since 1968 with regard to their effectiveness and adverse side-effects. We also demand a halt to new surveillance bills further encroaching on our basic rights. Among those plans are the surveillance of flight passengers, the central population register, biometric and electronic ID cards as well as police powers for the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office) including state spying into personal computers."
In early February the German Federal Constitutional Court sent the application for the suspension of the data retention act to the government, both chambers of parliament as well as the governments of the Länder for comment. The court asked, among others, for confirmation of a study according to which even before data retention was enacted, merely 2% of the requests made by authorities could not be served by the service providers. The Federal Constitutional Court has announced it would decide on the application for an injunction in the month of March.
A survey conducted by the Working Group on Data Retention in January revealed that many German citizens avoid using telephones, mobile phones, e-mail and Internet since the data retention act came into force at the beginning of the year - with grave consequences in sensitive areas such as journalism and medical counselling.
For more information, please refer to our press release of Dec. 31st, 2007:
http://www.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/content/view/184/79/lang,en/
Dieser Inhalt ist unter einer Creative Commons-Lizenz freigegeben.
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Category Archives: 南宁桑拿
Bush ‘failed to act’ on terrorism
10/01/2019 06:22 ⋅ admin
Richard Clarke, who has worked as the National Security Advisor for every US government since the Reagan era, said the leader virtually ignored the threat of al-Qaeda before the September 11 attacks.
Mr Clarke made the charges in his book Against All Enemies, which goes on sale later today in the US, and repeated the claims during an interview on US television.
“I found it outrageous that the president is running for re-election on the grounds that he’s done such great things about terrorism,” he said.
“He ignored it, he ignored terrorism for months, when maybe we could have done something to stop 9/11.”
Mr Clarke was Mr Bush’s top counter-terrorism expert before he resigned in February 2003.
“I think the way he has responded to al-Qaeda, both before 9/11 by doing nothing, and what he’s done after 9/11, has made us less safe,” said Mr Clarke.
He recalled the days after the attacks that brought down the World Trade Centre towers, when Mr Bush ordered him to investigate whether Saddam Hussein was linked in any way.
Despite insisting that it was most likely the work of al-Qaeda, he looked into whether any links existed, and found none.
Mr Clarke also revealed that US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wanted to bomb Iraq just one day after September 11, insisting the country had a better array of targets than Afghanistan, home to al-Qaeda’s training camps at the time.
The White House has released a point-by-point rebuttal to his accusations.
“The president sought to determine who was responsible for the 9/11 attacks,” said the document.
“Given Iraq’s past support of terror, including an attempt by Iraqi intelligence to kill a former president, it would have been irresponsible not to ask if Iraq had any involvement in the attack.”
Mr Clarke is set to testify this week before the independent commission investigating the 2001 hijacked airplane attacks in New York and Washington that killed around 3,000 people.
Posted in: 南宁桑拿
FBI releases details of seven suspects
US officials are searching for the following seven people they believe may be involved in a plot to attack the US:
Adnan G El Shukrujimah is a Saudi Arabian who used to live in South Florida, and is believed to be a possible leader of a terrorism cell or an organiser.
He may be carrying passports from Saudi Arabia, Trinidad or Canada.
FBI officials say they are particularly interested in him as he is familiar with the US, is proficient in using fake documents and is fluent in English.
Aafia Siddiqui, 32, is a Pakistani woman who was an award-winning student at MIT, and also gained a doctorate in neurological sciences at Brandeis University.
Authorities believe she is not an al-Qaeda member but think she could be a fixer who can get things done in the US for other operatives.
It is believed she is in Pakistan, where her mother said she was last seen with her three children. Her husband, Dr Amjad Mohammad Khan, is also wanted by the FBI for questioning.
Fazul Abdullah Mohammed is a native of the Comoros Republic, and is believed to be al-Qaeda’s ringleader in eastern Africa. He has been indicted in the US over the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He has a $25 million bounty on his head and is thought to be hiding in Kenya or Somalia.
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani is a Tanzanian who also goes by the names Foopie, Fupi and Ahmed the Tanzanian. He is also under indictment in the United States for the embassy attacks.
Amer El-Maati was born in Kuwait, and is wanted by the FBI for questioning about possible al-Qaeda links.
Abderraouf Jdey is a former Tunisian who gained Canadian citizenship in 1995.
He is one of five men who left videotaped suicide messages recovered in Afghanistan at the home of Mohammed Atef – reportedly Osama bin Laden’s military chief killed in a US airstrike in 2001.
Also recovered from the home was a suicide letter by Jdey from August 1999, in which he pledged to die in battle against infidels.
Jdey also goes by the names Farouq Al-Tunisi and Al Rauf bin Al Habib bin Yousef Al-Jiddi. He might have a Canadian passport. His last known address was an apartment building in Montreal.
Adam Yahiye Gadahn says he grew up on a goat ranch in California then converted to Islam in his later teenage years. The 25 year old US citizen also goes by the names Adam Pearlman and Abu Suhayb Al-Amriki.
The FBI has claimed he has attended al-Qaeda training camps and has served as an al-Qaeda translator.
Venezuela referendum rejected
At least five people have died in street violence since Friday, and dozens have been wounded.
Venezuela’s elections council said on Tuesday the opposition does not have enough signatures to force a recall referendum.
Chavez opponents say they submitted more than 3.4 million signatures; however the council claims only 1.83 million of these are valid, falling short of the minimum 2.4 million needed.
But council president Francisco Carrasquero said 876,000 signatures could be reconfirmed by the signers in a special repair period later this month.
Voters whose signatures are disputed have between March 18 and March 22 to report to voting centres to confirm they signed the petition.
But oppositionists claim the complex process is a tactic to scuttle the vote.
“There is no other way but to accept this decision,” said Mr Carrasquerro.
“If someone does not accept it, they will be acting outside the law.”
His comments come as troops firing tear gas clashed with anti-government protesters in several cities.
One demonstrator was shot dead in Valencia.
Opposition leaders defended the validity of the signatures and have rejected the repair period.
They have called on the Organisation of American States and the Atlanta-based Carter Centre, mediators in the Venezuelan turmoil, to urge electoral officers to reconsider.
“The recall process that has been under way in Venezuela remains the best constitutional option for achieving national reconciliation in Venezuela and preserving Venezuela’s status as a democratic society,” said White House spokesman Scott McLennan.
“We are increasingly concerned about the situation in Venezuela. We have some real concerns about it,” he said.
Attacks mark war anniversary
Two Iraqis were killed after being struck by one of three rockets targeting the so-called “Green Zone” hit a traffic island in the nearby Mansour neighbourhood.
A second missile landing inside the coalition compound causing no casualties.
In a separate assault, five rockets were fired at a military base near Fallujah in western Iraq killing two US soldiers were killed and wounding five more soldiers and a sailor.
The attacks came as President George W Bush faced renewed criticism for leading the war on Iraq.
Former White House adviser Richard Clarke has alleged the Bush administration wanted to topple Iraq’s ousted leader Saddam Hussein immediately following the September 11 attacks in 2001, despite evidence pointing to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda.
The claims were reinforced by comments from former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, who said Washington acted too quickly going to war based on hastily compiled evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
European Commissioner Romano Prodi has also called the White House into question over the Iraq campaign, challenging the war’s purported benefits in the fight against terrorism.
In Iraq, divisions are re-emerging with the country’s leading Shi’ite Muslim cleric pressing the UN to reject Iraq’s interim constitution, according to a letter obtained by a Reuters journalist.
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani reportedly argued the constitution’s three-person presidential council, consisting of a Sunni Muslim, a Kurd and a Shi’ite Muslim, would be unable to make unanimous decisions.
According to al-Sistani’s letter, this would open up the potential for foreign intervention to break potential deadlocks, and possibly end in the break-up of Iraq.
Sudanese peace accords signed
Three protocols were signed on Wednesday by Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army on power-sharing and the administration of three disputed regions.
It comes after two years of intense political negotiations in Kenya and leaves only technical and military aspects of a ceasefire standing in the way of a comprehensive peace accord.
Kenyan chief mediator Lazarus Sumbeiywo said both sides had pledged to deliver this by late June or mid July.
The Kenyan talks, however, did not cover the western region of Darfur, where a separate conflict that began in February 2003 has created what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, leaving hundreds of thousands of people at risk of starvation and about a million displaced.
Nevertheless, the signing which took place at a lakeside hotel near the western Kenyan town of Naivasha, prompted a cacophony of cheers from hundreds of Sudanese refugees.
“This indeed is a momentous occasion in the history of our country,” declared SPLA leader John Garang.
“We have reached the crest of the last hill in our ascent to the heights of peace… there are no other hills. I believe what remains is flat ground,” he said.
“Things will never and can never be the same in Sudan.”
His negotiating counterpart, Sudanese vice president Ali Osman Taha, said: “This is a day for Sudan, for peace, development and stability.
“It’s our duty in Sudan to put these words into action with the same degree of determination to make peace.”
The latest phase of Sudan’s long-running civil war reignited in 1983 when the south, where most observe traditional religions and Christianity, took up arms to end domination and marginalisation by the wealthier, Islamic and Arab north.
Together with recurrent famine and disease, Africa’s longest conflict has claimed at least 1.5 million lives and displaced more than four million people, mostly in the impoverished south.
Since July 2002, when the two sides struck a deal granting the south the right to a referendum after a six-year transition period, other deals have been reached on a 50-50 split of the country’s wealth – particularly revenues from oil – and on how to manage government and SPLA armies during the interim period.
The two sides have agreed to form a government of national unity with a decentralised system of government with significant devolution of power to the states.
Labor’s terror u-turn puzzles PM
The Prime Minister says Labor’s turnabout on laws letting the Government ban suspected terrorist organisations shows just how politically expedient the party really is.
Labor has been blocking the legislation in the Senate for two years but says it will now vote for the laws.
Mr Howard says, while he congratulates the Opposition on the decision, he is a little puzzled by it.
“What’s happened is Labor said it would never accept the situation where the executive government could proscribe an organisation without explicit parliamentary authority through legislation — that was their position — and they said it was wrong in principle that that power be given to the Attorney-General of the day. They’ve now accepted it.”
The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, says the legislation will give the Government the power to ban a group without recalling parliament.
“Labor has agreed that we shouldn’t be held hostage to a decision by a court or an administrative appeals tribunal in order to be able to proceed quickly to proscribe a terrorist organisation.”
But the Opposition’s spokesman on homeland security, Robert McClelland, says he feels amendments to the bill now give parliament ultimate say on the bans.
Mr McClelland says the Government must now consult with the leader of the Opposition and state and territory leaders before deciding on a group.
“There’s also built into the process a mechanism for judicial review where any individual affected or organisation affected can apply to the Federal Court of Australia for review of the decision to proscribe an organisation. So, in effect, these safeguards are far more extensive than any comparable jurisdiction in the world.”
Annan calls for Iraq UN probe
In the letter to the 15-nation council, he said the inquiry would need the council’s backing and he will send a more detailed proposal most likely next week.
The UN has already begun its own internal investigation.
The oil-for-food program was set up to allow Saddam’s regime to use money from oil sales to buy essential supplies for Iraqis to help ease the hardship caused by sanctions slapped on Baghdad before the 1991 Gulf War.
It is credited with keeping six out of 10 Iraqis alive during the last years of Saddam’s rule.
But Iraqi and US officials are now looking into allegations that bribes to foreign officials and companies were common, and that billions of dollars were skimmed off the top by regime cronies.
“These allegations, whether or not they are ultimately shown to be well-founded, must be taken seriously and addressed forthrightly, in order to bring to light the truth and prevent an erosion of the trust and hope that the international community has invested in the organisation,” said Mr Annan’s document.
“I proposed to establish an independent, high-level inquiry to investigate the allegations relating to the administration and management of the program, including allegations of fraud and corruption.”
Mr Annan said earlier on Friday that it is “highly possible” that there was widespread wrongdoing in the UN-run program, which supervised Iraqi oil sales under Saddam.
The oil-for-food program began and December 1996 and ended last November, was the UN’s largest ever aid program, and oversaw tens of billions of dollars in transactions.
Benon Sevan, the UN official who ran it, has denied any improper behaviour.
In January, an Iraqi newspaper alleged that individuals and organisations from more than 40 countries had received vouchers for cut-price oil from the Iraqi regime.
UK dismisses Iraq rift claims
While UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Tuesday the interim Iraqi government, due to take over the reins on June 30, would have the power to veto military operations, the US said its troops would reserve the right to defend themselves.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: “The final political control (over foreign troops) remains with the Iraqi government. That’s what the transfer of sovereignty means.”
But US Secretary of State Colin Powell told a news conference in Washington: “Ultimately… US forces remain under US command and will do what is necessary to protect themselves.”
The apparent difference between the allies could complicate efforts to secure UN Security Council endorsement of the handover plan.
This comes as permanent council members France, Russia and China indicated they wanted changes to the draft resolution, tabled by the UK and US on Monday outlining Iraq’s return to sovereignty.
Mr Prescott said on Wednesday the Iraqi leadership would be in charge of dealing with terrorists, but British and American troops would have the right to defend themselves if they were to come under attack from insurgents.
He said any confusion over the positions of the US and Britain show that negotiation and interpretation is already underway.
The exact position of troops in post-June 30 Iraq is potentially the key issue in the negotiations.
A leading member of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council said he wants the resolution “clarified” to make clear that multi-national troops are in the country only at the invitation of Baghdad.
Adnan Pachachi, who is being tipped as a possible leader of the caretaker authority, said operations must be conducted in consultation with the interim government.
The issue comes as diplomats from the 15 UN Security Council nations meet in New York for informal discussions on a resolution to underpin the restoration of sovereignty in Iraq.
Veterans’ pension increase announced
Prime minister John Howard has announced Cabinet has approved an increase in veterans funding of $267 million over five years.
Mr Howard says the government consulted extensively with veterans before announcing the package.
Last month, the Liberal party room rejected a draft veterans package and forced Cabinet to reconsider the deal.
Mr Howard says the right decision has been made now.
“We did take some proposals to the party room. It wanted the Cabinet to have another look at it. I don’t feel any sense of concern about that.
“Every so often, the party room is quite capable of greater wisdom than the Cabinet. The party room was right. The Cabinet did have another look. And this was the result.”
The new measures include exempting veterans’ disability pensions from means-tested income-support payments.
Pensions for totally and permanently disabled veterans will be indexed to inflation or male average weekly earnings, whichever is higher.
War widows will be given rent assistance, and funeral benefits will be almost doubled to 1,000 dollars.
Veterans’ disability benefits will be extended to groups such as veterans of the Berlin airlift.
During the airlift in 1963, when Russia blocked land access to west Berlin, Western Bloc countries flew food and other supplies into the city
There will be a one-off payment to prisoners of war from the Korean War or their widows.
Compensation will also be given to veterans who may have suffered during the British atomic testing in Australia in the 1950s.
There has been mixed reaction to the announcement.
The Returned and Services League says the package advances the veterans’ cause well, but there are still issues that need addressing.
But the RSL’s national president, Major General Bill Crews, says benefits should be extended to certain other veterans, including Commonwealth and Allied soldiers.
“We’d also like to have seen the $25,000 grant to ex-prisoners of war extended to those who were prisoners in Europe.
“We’d also liked to have seen an extension of benefits to those veterans who were from Commonwealth and Allied countries but who have now become Australian citizens.
Keelty vows to stay on
Mr Keelty has refused to comment on reports that he was close to quitting over political pressure exerted after he publicly expressed the view that involvement in the Iraq war had raised Australia’s profile as a terrorist target.
Mr Keelty, attending a meeting in Sydney of senior federal and state officials to discuss security issues, would not elaborate on the spat with the government, saying he wants to put this week behind him.
He says he remains committed to dealing with the issue of terrorism and has confidence in his fellow police commissioners.
“I think the real issue is do you have before you a group of commissioners who are professional? And I think you have, people who will be committed to being apolitical, which is important for commissioners, and people who will tell the truth.
“And I have every confidence in everyone that’s in this room that we will be doing that.”
The federal Opposition leader, Mark Latham, says Government criticism of Mick Keelty over his remarks on the terrorist threat to Australia have hurt national security.
The Australian newspaper reports the Prime Minister’s Office pressured Mr Keelty to back off his comments, and Mr Latham says that is no good.
He says the police have got to do their job without fear or favour, and political interference weakens Australia’s national security.
John Howard is not saying whether his office pressured Mr Keelty to issue a clarification of his remarks.
Mr Howard says Mr Keelty’s subsequent statement, in which he said his comments had been taken out of context, speaks for itself.
But when it was suggested people had a right to know if a political office pressured a law officer’s office, Mr Howard was quick to say nothing improper happened.
Mr Keelty’s view on Iraq has been widely supported by other security professionals including other police chiefs, terrorism experts and a senior officer of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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Category Archives: Psychedelic Pop
Rusty York’s Cincinnati Indie
Posted on November 5, 2018 by Zeroto180
Billboard, in their January 8, 1972 edition, would report this quirky news item in the Cincinnati division of their “From the Music Capitals Around the World” column:
“Rusty York, who heads up the Jewel Recording Studio[s] here, learned last week that the new ‘Smash-Up Derby’ commercial [for Cincinnati-based Kenner Products], which he created and did all the instrumental work, has been entered into the Hollywood Film Festival as an entry to select the best film commercial of the year. The commercial is currently being spotted on all three major networks.”
Kenner SSP Smash-Up Derby TV Commercial = Music by Rusty York
Rusty York’s Jewel Recording Studio – in Mt. Healthy, just north of Cincinnati – would begin releasing 45s in 1961 and would once host The Grateful Dead, believe it or not, according to Cliff Radel’s obituary for York in the Cincinnati Enquirer‘s February 4, 2014 edition.
You can survey Rusty York’s musical legacy in three ways:
Discogs‘ chronological listing of LP & 45 releases on the Jewel label
45Cat‘s corresponding listing of 45 & EP releases on the Jewel label
45 RPM Records‘ listing of 45 & LP releases on the Jewel label
Discogs also allows you to browse LP & 45 releases that were recorded at Jewel Recording Studio, including Lonnie Mack‘s Whatever’s Right 1969 LP for Elektra (engineered by Gene Lawson) and Paul Dixon‘s Paul Baby 1973 album (on which Dixon is accompanied by former King recording artist Bonnie Lou).
Two memorable song titles that can only be found on the Jewel label:
“Baby You Can Scratch My Egg” – vintage 1967 San Francisco-style psych blues – and “Don’t Munkey with the Funky Skunky” – “post 60’s garage/proto punk” from 1974 that features maniacal drumming and laughing choruses that are strategically interrupted by a softly-spoken catch phrase intended to win over the Pre-K crowd.
Jewel Records featured 45 #1
“Baby You Can Scratch My Egg” The Fabulous Fish 1967
“Don’t Munkey with the Funky Skunky” Dry Ice 1974
From Billboard‘s ‘Music Capitals of the World – Cincinnati’ column = Oct. 14, 1972 edition:
“Mike Reid, defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals [previously celebrated here], and Dee Felice [musical associate of James Brown] and his group set for early recording dates at Rusty York‘s Jewel studios. Felice recently cut two sides at Jewel. Sonny Simmons, Cleveland gospel promoter, in town recently to produce an album for the gospel-singing Monarchs at Jewel studios. Others in recently at Jewel to do gospel albums were Judy Cody of Akron; The Crossmen of Lansing, Mich.; and the Cooke Duet of Wise, Va.
Mad Lydia Wood, accompanied by Cincinnati Joe, did the warbling on six commercial spots on Wiedemann Beer for the Campbell-Mithun Agency of Minneapolis at Jewel last week. Mad Lydia and Joe have held forth at various locations here for the last several years.”
Based on Rusty York’s cameo appearance in a recent piece, no doubt you will not be surprised to learn that Albert Washington was a Jewel recording artist, as was/were Jimmie Skinner, The Russell Brothers, J.D. Jarvis, Linda Webb, and Dale Miller [let’s not forget 1969’s Sharon Lee and the Moonrockers, not to mention that same year’s The Funnie Papers, and most especially of all, Jade, whose 1970 album, recorded at Jewel, would include the jaw-dropping sonic wonder of “My Mary“).
Rusty York at Jewel = courtesy of Randy McNutt’s Home of the Hits
Click on image above for ultra-high resolution
Ω Ω Ω Ω
Rusty York/King Records Trivia From Randy McNutt’s website:
Rusty York, a former King rockabilly and country singer, bought some of King’s echo equipment and microphones for his own Jewel Recording Studios in suburban Mt. Healthy, Ohio. He even bought Nathan’s desk chair. “The Neumann tube mics cost $300 new in the early ’60s,” he said. “I just sold one for $2,800. Like King, quality doesn’t go out of style.”
Bonus Jewel 45 for steel guitar fans! 1977‘s “Rose City Chimes” by Chubby Howard
According to Linda J. York (who has the booklet Dick Clark hawked at the show), Rusty York opened the first Rock and Roll show at the Hollywood Bowl for Dick Clark!
Excerpt from Zero to 180’s Facebook Page
“Zero to 180’s latest piece pays tribute to a former King recording artist – Rusty York – whose kind and gentle nature and lack of ego may have accidentally conspired to obscure his legacy as an accomplished musician (who “could play any tune in any style“) as well as recording studio founder/engineer, whose Jewel recordings run the gamut of musical sounds and genres, not unlike King (and Fraternity and Counterpart).”
Friendly reminder: for optimal presentation do not view Zero to 180 on a smart phone!
Posted in Hard Rock, Jewel Records, Music in Advertising, Psychedelic Pop, Punk, Rusty York, Steel Guitar | Leave a reply
King’s Dalliance with Psychedelia — Keith Murphy & the Daze
Posted on June 18, 2018 by Zeroto180
Keith Murphy & the Daze would help King Records expand its popular reach into the emerging “psychedelic” rock market (following the previous year’s foray into Jamaican ska via Prince Buster). May of 1968 would find the release of King’s first “psych” 45 [as noted previously in “Rare & Unissued King“] with two sides by Keith Murphy & the Daze, “Slightly Reminiscent of Her” b/w “Dirty Ol’ Sam.”
Keith Murphy (front, right)
Left to right — Standing: Phil Fosnaugh – keyboard/organ (deceased); Jerry Asher – bass (deceased); John Asher – guitar (now Evansville IN); Sitting Bill Shearer – drums (Gas City IN), Keith Murphy – lead singer/rhythm guitar (Long Valley, NJ)
The single’s recording, however, would take place against the backdrop of (1) label founder Syd Nathan‘s passing two months prior in March, (2) followed, in April, by civil unrest in the neighborhoods adjacent to Cincinnati’s Evanston neighborhood – King’s home base – when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis.
“Slightly Reminiscent of Her” Keith Murphy & the Daze 1968
The Daze, Keith Murphy postulates, are among King’s final signings while Nathan was still actively involved:
“Louis Innis [previously celebrated here] was a wonderful man, and you can see from the letters [featured below] how nicely he treated me. No letters in 1967, then in 1968 I reapproached him with The Daze, the band of which I was lead singer. Again, the band was so sure the idea of getting a contract with King was so slim, none of the band members went with me to talk to King. As it turns out, it was just as well, for when King wanted only me as the lead singer songwriter, they did not resent my name being on the label. This was the pattern of King I thought, to just sign the lead singer/songwriter then they had one person to deal with and the most valuable property, like James Brown and the Famous Flames, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, etc. I did insist that the band name also be on the record and they were ok with that.
We recorded the record in May of 1968, but it was not released until September or October of that year. I see in their final letter, it was chaotic. Actually, Syd Nathan died in March 1968, and it was chaos then too, as I recorded about 2 months later. I suspect, but do not know, that I was one of the very last artists that was approved by Syd Nathan himself. Louis mentions that he wanted to see me alone to proceed forward, and they were releasing the record in England. I had just graduated from college, had a baby daughter, had a regular job and was too busy to attend to everything. I don’t think I ever went back. I think he mentioned something on the phone about re-recording the songs.”
The same single would find its release 6 months later in the UK on Polydor, albeit with the A and B sides flipped. Murphy would inform Zero to 180:
“I attached a picture of the exact Yellow King record [below] that was sent to England to see if Polydor was interested. As you can see, they considered ‘Dirty Ol’ Sam’ the A side there. I do know they must have shipped the tape or master there, as ‘Sam’ does not fade out in the UK version and is 7 seconds longer with a limp ending. It is a near miracle I have that record. The person who sold it worked for Polydor UK and was asked to clean out the warehouse or library. He kept the records, and confirmed it was where it came from and the markings on the record are the numbers that ended up as the Polydor number.”
This very King 45 led to the song’s issue in UK on Polydor: note ‘A’ & ‘B’ markings
The single’s UK release of 15 November, 1968, unfortunately, would be a mere 8 days or so before Starday* would sell the entire Starday-King operation to Lin Broadcasting for a mere $5 million (*see related vintage news item appended to this piece).
UK release on Polydor – with A & B sides flipped!
“Dirty Ol’ Sam” Keith Murphy & the Daze 1968
Keith Murphy & the Daze at Cincinnati’s King studios – May, 1968
Photo notes from Keith Murphy
“Here is the sole picture that was taken in the King Recording studio in May, 1968. L to R: Phil Fosnough – Keyboard; John Asher – Lead Guitar; Bill Shearer – Drums; Jerry Asher – Bass, Keith Murphy – Lead singer, songwriter. I remember two incidents during the recording session: Someone came in and said they needed to send somebody to the jail to give Hank Ballard a pack of cigarettes, he had been arrested for public intoxication. The other memory is that it was a hot day, and along side the building, the workers had the doors open and had a pressing machine partially outside to get some cooler air for the workers!”
Louis Innis & Keith Murphy:
Selected Correspondence || 1965-1968
Dec. 14, 1965: “Have [Becky Wiggins] do 3 or 4 different type songs” [see Q&A]
Dec. 21, 1965: “Please find copy of my agreements” + “5% of the retail price”
Jan. 25, 1966: “Anxious to get the sides recorded” + “what a rat race I’m in”
Feb. 17, 1966: Pardon the delay – “echo chambers have been out in the studio”
Apr. 13, 1966: “Returning your contracts so you can do something else” (!)
Sep. 16, 1968: “Record should be out pronto” + keep your chin up
Oct. 9, 1968: Final note = 45 to be issued in UK, but King “under new management”
PDF copy below of Keith Murphy’s contract with King (click on link)
Keith Murphy – Louis Innis contract (June 5, 1968)
Prior to the King 45, Murphy had actually recorded under the name Keith O’Conner as part of The Torkays, who recorded exclusively for Chicago’s Stacy Records (home of Al Casey, guitarist/bandleader behind three Lee Hazlewood A-sides in 1963 & 1964 for the label and not to be confused with The Torquays from Cincinnati’s Walnut Hills High School, located across the [future] interstate, interestingly enough, from King Records).
In that pre-Beatle era, O’Conner was part of a Mark, Don & Mel-type of arrangement (sorry, kids – that’s a Grand Funk Railroad joke) with The Torkays — Frank, Keith, and Jimmy — who would write a martial arts-themed composition, “Karate,” for their recording debut in 1963, with “I Don’t Like It (But What Can I Do)” on the flip.
Q & A with King Recording Artist, Keith O’Conner Murphy
Q: What led up to your getting signed by King?
A: I started with a side project apart from my band The Daze. They felt the chances of getting on a R&B label was such a long shot that they did not want to pursue it. I wrote a Sonny and Cher type song called “We’re Gonna Get It” for myself and a girl named Becky Wiggins. I started talking to Louis Innis of King in 1965. He was very interested, as reflected in his letter which I have shared. Sometime in 1966, Ft. Wayne native Troy Shondell, who had the big hit “This Time,” persuaded her to record for his small label 3 Rivers as Beck Holland with “I’m Going Away.” So that scuttled the King deal. In 1968, I then connected with Louis again, by myself, as the band still did not think it was worth the effort. I actually was hoping to get on the Cincinnati Fraternity label, and interviewed with Harry Carlson, the owner. He was a genuine caring person, but did not see a place in their current roster for me. I liked his artist Mouse and the Traps, and he gave me a copy of their newly released “Sometimes You Just Can’t Win” – still one of my favorites. The label was also home to Lonnie Mack, who recently passed, and my all time guitar instrumental favorite “Memphis.” My next stop was King, and Louis was ready to go once I dropped some of my bold royalty demands!
Q: Was Louis Innis Innis your main point of contact, given Syd Nathan’s death in March, 1968? Who were some of the staff – as well as artists – you encountered during your time with King?
A: I only worked with Louis Innis, a man I cannot say enough kind words for. The only other person was a King engineer who I do not know the name of. A white guy maybe in his 30’s.
Q: Where was “home base” during your time with King — and what were your impressions of Evanston, as well as Cincinnati, during your tenure with the label?
A: My home was the small country town of Sweetser, Indiana, and the other guys lived in the “big” town of Marion or the nearby Gas City. Grant County Indiana is the same small rural county that Fairmount is in — home of James Dean and Jim Davis who created Garfield.
Q: Did you live in Cincinnati for any extended period of time?
A: I never lived in Cincy. Being in the middle of Indiana, we knocked on doors in Chicago, Memphis, Nashville, and Cincy — the major cities with record companies. I love Cincy, however, the hills and the friendliness and especially the Chili!
Q: I dig the far-out backdrop used in your King promotional photo — was that photo taken at King’s art studio and who designed the cool “Daze” logo?
A: We had a booking agent, Bill Craig Jr. of Muncie, Indiana who I think partially owned a TV station there. He also managed the Chosen Few, who later were on RCA and Mercury. That photo was taken at a nightclub he owned called Halcyon Days, and he used it to get bookings. Our keyboard player who used a Hammond B3 Organ with a Leslie speaker, he made that DAZE sign which had colored lights that rotated behind it.
Q: Which make/model of electric guitars, basses & drums were plugged into the Fender amplifiers pictured in the King promo photo?
A: John played a Fender Jazzmaster, and at that time it looked like he was using Fender amps. At other times he used Sunn, and I think for a short time the rolled and pleated Custom amps. Jerry played a Fender bass, but bought a bass like Paul McCartney played sort of looked like a violin, a Hofner. He didn’t have it long when it got stolen off the stage when we played a club in Detroit called The Mummp.
Q: Where was home base originally for The Torkays, and what was the local response to your “Karate” 45 (which has a cool musical bridge, by the way, that loops back nicely to the verse)?
A: “Karate” never got off the ground except in Pittsburgh. Stacy’s biggest hit record, “Surfin’ Hootenanny” rightfully pushed everything else aside. For some reason it has been revived on YouTube with several people posting it and 6,000 total views. I wrote a song “Tiddlywink” for a German rockabilly band Black Raven, and they recorded it. They have notified me they want to record “Karate.” I am surprised at the interest in this record.
← ↑ →
“Two Kings”: A True Tale by Keith Murphy
“Chip Taylor — did not know him, but we were both on the King label. He was on King under his real name Wes Voight.
“He was doing a concert here in NJ and I called him and left a message, and said I would like to meet him afterwards, telling him I was in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Well, I was out in the yard, but fortunately he left a phone message congratulating me! I met him after the concert and brought my and his King record and had him sign it along with my copies of “Wild Thing” on both the Atco and Fontana labels by the Troggs. Reg Presley of the Troggs died around that time, and Chip had flown to England to attend the funeral, as their careers were forever bound together by that one iconic great rock song. It is the example I always give of how important arrangement is. The Troggs had the creative genius to put an ocarina and other stuff on there. Chip just was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame [also famous for 1968 smash hit, “Angel of the Morning”] this summer, and I called him and congratulated. He should have been in there a long time ago.”
“Two Kings”: Chip Taylor (a.k.a., Wes Voight) and Keith Murphy
Keith Murphy is also a voting member of the Grammys and Country Music Association
A K i n g R e c o r d s V i n t a g e H i s t o r y M o m e n t
Full text of news item from the Nov. 23, 1968 edition of Billboard
Lin Broadcasting Buys Starday-King for $5 Mil; Execs Policy Retained
NASHVILLE — Lin Broadcasting Corp., owner of communication outlets, has purchased Starday and King Records and their affiliated companies for $5 million.
Fred Gregg Jr., Lin’s chairman of the board and president, said this would mean a great expansion program here. “It will mean an additional $6 million to $8 million in gross income to the Nashville music economy,” he said.
The corporate structure of Starday-King will remain the same, with Don Pierce, president; Hal Neely, vice-president; Jim Wilson, vice-president for marketing; Johnny Miller in charge of the Cincinnati office; Henry Glover, manager of the New York office; and Harlen Dodsen, general counsel.
“Nashville will now be a complete operation in the rhythm and blues field,” Pierce said. Pierce said James Brown now would record here, and would bring in the “right musicians for the r&b sound.” Just having Brown record here, he said, would give tremendous impetus in this direction. “Now that we’re working under a huge corporate structure,” Pierce said, “we can effect economies, efficiencies, acquisitions and total expansion. We can compete for larger acts, go after great catalogs.” He made it clear, though, that the sale in no way affects the operation of the business or its past policies.
Both Gregg and Pierce said they plan new overseas music companies in England, Germany and France at first, and eventually in other nations. Pierce said the firm would expand its overseas distribution and exploit its various companies around the world.
The Starday president said he was obtaining a record club contract for King with Columbia, RCA and Capitol, the same ones with which Starday now has an arrangement. He said the club membership would include James Brown.
Pierce, one of the founders of the Country Music Association, was Billboard’s Man of the Year in 1962 and is vice-president of RIAA. Starday was founded in 1952 in Los Angeles and moved here in 1957.
Recently (Billboard, Oct. 26) Starday acquired the King Records operation. Those holdings included the record and distribution operation and masters, Lois Music and its publishing subsidiaries, the Royal Plastics Pressing operation, and the long-term contract of Brown. Starday holdings include Hollywood, Look and Nashville Records, and Starday, Tarheel and Kamar Music.
Bonus Craft Project! Make Your Own King Records stationery
Additional history on Keith Murphy in this interview from 60sGarageBands.com
Posted in "Dirty Ol' Sam", "Slightly Reminiscent of Her", Keith Murphy & the Daze, King Records, Louis Innis, Psychedelic Pop | Leave a reply
Skip Battyn + Van Dyke’s 45
Posted on April 11, 2018 by Zeroto180
Not sure how this fascinating production – written and arranged by Van Dyke Parks and sung by Skip Battyn in the magical year of 1967* – came to my attention originally.
“High Coin” Skip Battyn 1965
[*Wrong – recorded in 1965! See comments attached at the end of this history piece]
Kim Fowley and Skip Battyn would co-compose “Mr. Responsibility” for the flip side. Was this, in fact, the only release on Los Angeles-based Record Records?
High Coin: $50 paid for this 45 last Christmas
In his profile of Van Dyke Parks from this past April, Elyadeen Anbar wrote that “despite his unfavorable opinions on anglo-pop music [i.e., during Beatlemania’s first wave], Parks did become more interested in songwriting and landed a hit with his composition ‘High Coin,’ when it was recorded by San Francisco beat group The Charlatans” – i.e., on their 1969 debut album — two years after Battyn’s version.
As it turns out, “High Coin” had already been recorded by a handful of artists going back as far as 1965 with Bobby Vee, who, by the way, appears to have muscled his way in on the songwriting credits. Note that the song, however, got passed over for A-side when released in Australia.
Rick Jarrard‘s jangly version on the Los Angeles-based Chattahoochee label (recorded in November 1965 at Hollywood’s Gold Star Recording Studios, according to YouTube’s Anthony Reichardt) from 1966, followed by Harper Bizarre and the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band‘s versions (as well as Battyn’s) in 1967, and Jackie DeShannon‘s version in 1968 (on August 20, 2016 Parks would tweet
“Jackie deShannon, born August 21, sang my first written song ‘High Coin.’ I was 21, and legal tender”).
Van Dyke Parks revealed to UK’s Songwriting Magazine in 2014 the back story behind the creation of his first song, “High Coin” (a “very California musical expression,” notes William Stout in his online journal):
“Well, I was working for a group called the Brandywine Singers, playing guitar, and I was earning £3,000 a week playing at this casino in Reno, Nevada. That was a lot of money then… it’d be a lot of money now! And we had a two-week job there, and I got in a Mustang convertible with Hal Brown, the bass player – who went on to become the Supreme Court justice of Alaska – and we drove to this almost ghost town, an old wild west town with a few dozen people left living there, and we got out of the car and walked into the saloon. Hal had his double bass and I had my guitar, and in the saloon there were four guys in the corner, in a crowd of smoke that smelt funny.
“They were the house band, The Charlatans, and they all looked like Neil Young on a bad day! One of them was Dan Hicks. And we asked if we could play a song or two, and they were derisive because I looked like a little square, but I got on and I sang ‘High Coin‘ and they fell on the floor and asked if I’d mind if they recorded it. I was just delighted. They took the song, I went back to Los Angeles, and I was broke… but then I got the news that ‘High Coin‘ was on the radio in San Francisco. And that established me with the counter-culture.”
HowlinWuelf reveals that Ruthann Friedman (third female songwriter to compose an American Number One record without the help of a male cowriter) had also recorded a version of “High Coin” in 1967, with Parks himself playing his “unmistakable tack piano” that “sounds like a magnificent lost track from Song Cycle,” for her unfinished debut album (eventually issued in Europe in 2013, along with “Candy Apple Cotton Candy” as a bonus track — check out the single version recorded by Pat Shannon for Warner Brothers). Carolyn Soyars, in her April 26, 2014 review for Los Angeles Beat, in fact, affirms “High Coin” as “one of the highlights of the album.”
Battyn’s preceding single release, interestingly enough, would feature a go-go instrumental version of Chuck Barris’s “Dating Game Theme” as the B-side.
Posted in "High Coin", Psychedelic Pop, Skip Battyn, Van Dyke Parks | 2 Replies
Peppermint Trolley: Clavinet ’67
It’s always a thrill when somebody who actually served on the front lines of music history reaches out to help fill in some of the historical gaps. Just last month, Danny Faragher of the Peppermint Trolley Company chimed in on an earlier NRBQ piece that attempts to identify the earliest popular recording of a clavinet:
“I played a clavinet while recording with our group, the Peppermint Trolley Company (1967-68). We cut our hit single, ‘Baby You Come Rollin’ Across My Mind’ in November of 1967 for Acta. The record broke in May and June of 1968. I played the instrument through a Fender amp with the tremolo prominent. I used it throughout our eponymously titled LP. In the Seventies, recording with the bands, Bones, and the Faragher Brothers, I would return to the ax occasionally, playing more in the R&B style pioneered by Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.”
“Baby You Come Rollin’ Across My Mind” Peppermint Trolley Company 1967
“Baby You Come Rollin’ Across My Mind” would stay in the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for ten weeks and peak in July, 1968 just inside the Top 60. Billboard would identify this single as worthy of its “Special Merit Spotlight” (new singles “deserving special attention of programmers and dealers”) in the February 3, 1968 edition: “Smooth blend of voice, good material in an easy beat folk rock vein with much commercial appeal.”
Picture sleeve for UK 45 on EMI’s Stateside imprint
But wait a minute, why does the song title sound familiar? And Jesse Lee Kincaid, the person who penned the tune — why does that name ring a bell? That’s because Zero to 180 already featured “Baby You Come Rollin’ Across My Mind” back in December, 2014!
Faragher’s clavinet (which predates NRBQ’s “Stomp” by just over a year) can be heard more prominently on the single’s B-side — a baroque slice of psychedelic pop, “9 O’Clock Business Man,” somewhat in contrast to the ‘West Coast harmony style’ (later dubbed “sunshine pop“) for which the group is more known. By the way, if you enjoyed the dance to “9 O’Clock Business Man” in the video link above, check out this other performance of the same song at Hamilton, Ontario’s Gage Park. by Mike Long, an unstoppable dance force.
How curious to learn that the Peppermint Trolley Company would be part of a lineup for a big music event attended by 120,000 people at an amusement park in Aurora, Ohio in 1968, just one year before my dad would relocate to that rural Cleveland suburb from Cincinnati — as chronicled on Danny Faragher’s website:
“‘Our live dates were rare’ – (says Faragher) – ‘We probably played about ten gigs during the entire life span of the band… Bakersfield, Phoenix, and then there was the Biggie in Cleveland.’ This ‘Biggie’ was a package concert …WIXY’s second annual ‘Appreciation Day,’ held on August 2, 1968 in Geauga Lake Park, just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. The Peppermint Trolley Company. shared the stage with Gene Pitney, The Box Tops, Jay and the Techniques, The 1910 Fruitgum Co., and [Ted Nugent’s] Amboy Dukes. The event drew a crowd of 120,000 attendees. At that time, it was the largest audience ever assembled in the Cleveland area.”
In addition to arranging and singing the original Brady Bunch theme, the Peppermint Trolley Company would also make a guest appearance on The Beverly Hillbillies, as well as this episode of detective series, Mannix (where the owner of the recording studio is played by Harry Dean Stanton, who would later introduce The Replacements on their sole Saturday Night Live appearance):
The Beatles – EMI artists – listed on the rear of Peppermint Trolley’s UK picture sleeve:
A near-mint copy of the Peppermint Trolley debut album might set you back as much as $75. Peppermint Trolley fans might also be intrigued to know there exists an “extremely rare promotional 45 sent to radio stations in 1967 for Sunn Guitar amplifiers” with three radio spots for The Who on the A-side, with the Peppermint Trolley singing a radio spot to “She’s the Kind of Girl” and another featuring bassist Greg Tornquist saying “it sounds groovy and clean.”
Posted in "Baby You Come Rollin' Cross My Mind", Danny Faragher, Psychedelic Pop, Sunshine Pop, The Peppermint Trolley Company | Leave a reply
Psych + Horns = The Gears
Posted on August 31, 2015 by Zeroto180
Doc Lehman’s Bangagong! music blog has a poster for a “Festival of Bands” in Columbus, Ohio that took place in 1967 — 34 bands over the course of 2 evenings, admission just $1:
Is this the same Vox as in Vox Guitar-Organ and Vox Phantom guitars?
Interesting to note that the first band at the top of each list would record a memorable 45 for Counterpart Records, either that same year – The Fifth Order’s “A Thousand Devils” – or the next one – The Gears, with their horns-heavy psychedelic classic, “Come Back to Me“:
“Come Back to Me” The Gears 1968
The Gears would record one more 45 that same year – “Feel Right” – for Columbus label, Hillside, and then … nothing more?
Jubilation! This is story #10 in Zero to 180’s Counterpart Records History Series.
Posted in "Come Back to Me", Counterpart Records, Garage Rock, Psychedelic Pop, The Gears | Leave a reply
Sasha Caro’s B-Side of Irony
Posted on May 5, 2015 by Zeroto180
Yesterday’s piece about London’s Chalk Farm Studios omitted the fact that this recording facility had actually begun life as Rayrik Sound – established in 1964 by Bruce “Ray” Rae and Caro “Rick” Minas. And although Eric Clapton & Cream’s debut album had been recorded at Rayrik two years later, the studio would be close its doors in 1968, only to re-open that same year as Chalk Farm.
Rick Minas, who had begun his musical career as part of a songwriting partnership with Mike Banwell, would strike out in the mid-60s for a solo career. Minas – using the alias, Sasha Caro – would release a pair of singles in 1967 and 1968 that found none other than Cat (“I’m Gonna Get Me a Gun“) Stevens sitting in the producer’s chair. In a cheeky move, Caro would select (ironically perhaps) “Never Play a B-Side” for the second single’s B-Side — summon the courage to play it, if you dare:
Rick ‘Sasha Caro’ Minas “Never Play a B-Side” 1968
Cream’s Inaugural Single: Doo-Doo
American audiences are largely unaware that Cream’s UK debut single – recorded at the Chalk Farm sessions – would be excluded from their 1st album (except in Sweden, oddly). “Wrapping Paper” would be the A-side of their first 45 released in the UK, Germany, and Australia. Ginger Baker, in a 2007 interview, would denounce “Wrapping Paper” as “the most appalling piece of [poo] I’ve ever heard in my life!” and express more than a little frustration that the song was merely a vehicle to generate publishing royalties for the emerging songwriting “club” of Jack Bruce and Pete Brown.
Rare [mimed] Performance of “Wrapping Paper” 1966 French TV
[Is Jack Bruce playing a 6-string bass during this televised performance?]
45Cat contributor, BiffBamPow, would hilariously describe “Wrapping Paper” as “the most ridiculous debut single by anybody” and point out that B-side “Cat’s Squirrel” is much more representative of the band’s sound.
Posted in "Never Play a B-Side", Psychedelic Pop, Sasha Caro | Leave a reply
“Astral Cowboy”: Not Enough Echo
Posted on December 16, 2014 by Zeroto180
Yesterday’s piece about Sagittarius (et al.) brought to mind one particular Curt Boettcher song that too few people have heard, 1969’s (demo only) “Lament of the Astral Cowboy” — one hundred forty mesmerizing seconds, each one of them echo-filled:
Could this be what Gram Parsons had envisioned when he came up with the idea of “Cosmic American Music”? Curt Boettcher, who would compose/produce for Sagittarius and Millenium and also serve as house producer for Columbia, would briefly form a label with Gary Usher & Keith Olsen (Together Records) and ultimately give “Lament of the Astral Cowboy” to Together artist, Michele O’Malley, for her one and only album release, Saturn Rings (where O’Malley would alter the title slightly to “Astro Cowboy”).
Boettcher would later release a solo album on Elektra, 1973’s There’s an Innocent Face, after the folding of his label. Sessions for a follow-up album, Chicken Little Was Right, did take place briefly before Curt left Elektra to pursue a career as a session vocalist, and as the liner notes indicate, “there is reason to believe ‘Astral Cowboy’ was planned to appear on Chicken Little Was Right.”
Glen Campbell: The Voice Behind “My World Fell Down” by Sagittarius
Tip of the hat to The Big Takeover‘s Jack Rabid for his illuminating and well-researched review in AllMusic of Sagittarius’s Present Tense from 1968, an album centered around its ‘enthralling’ single, “My World Fell Down” – a song that features, surprisingly enough, the guest vocal talents of Glen Campbell:
“The initial 1967 single, “My World Fell Down” — which went to number 70 in the charts — is largely sought after by the most fanatical of Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys followers, since it not only replicates that unique and incomparable production value, but benefits greatly from a lead vocal by Glen Campbell. Not his “Rhinestone Cowboy” voice, it’s the more angelic, boyish Mike Love tones he employed when then touring and recording with the Beach Boys. As well, real Beach Boy Bruce Johnston sings a key part, as does fellow producer Terry Melcher and vaunted session man Hal Blaine sits in. Mixing “Good Vibrations” with “God Only Knows,” “My World Fell Down” is a missing link to pre-breakdown Brian Wilson’s obsessions, particularly the bonus-track single version, which blends in pre-psychedelia sounds of a bullfight, an alarm clock, and a crying infant. Subsequent recordings found Usher teaming with singer/writer/producer Curt Boettcher, whom Usher met while working with Wilson, and some use songs from the latter’s singing group Ballroom and players from Boettcher’s new, real band Millennium.”
Posted in "Lament of the Astral Cowboy", Curt Boettcher, Psychedelic Pop | Leave a reply
“Sister Marie”: Not Meant for LP
“Sister Marie” – a great song that slipped between the cracks – found belated release as a bonus instrumental on the CD release of Sagittarius’s Present Tense (1968 Columbia LP, originally). According to the liner notes: “Gary Usher recorded this backing track with Sagitarrius in mind but decided to give it to Chad & Jeremy instead.” Chad & Jeremy’s version of “Sister Marie,” meanwhile, was released as a non-LP single (that didn’t chart), while Nilsson’s version would end up a mere B-side. I agree with the 45Cat contributor who declares “Sister Marie” to be “one of the great lost Nilsson recordings”:
“Sister Marie” by Harry Nilsson — February, 1968
In a fascinating bit of coincidence, Nilsson would release his B-side in February of 1968 at the same time Columbia would issue for the German market an A-side also entitled, “Sister Marie,” by the artist, Marquis of Kensington. Not the same tune, as you can hear:
“Sister Marie” by Marquis of Kensington — February, 1968
Says Chad Stuart on the Chad & Jeremy website:
“‘Sister Marie’ was our last single and if it does anything at all, it clearly illustrates the production expertise which comes from a lot of hours in the studio. Curt Boettcher’s higher-than- high voice is evident on this track, as is the technical wizardry of Keith Olsen. Jeremy hated all that “ear candy” as it later came to be called, and in retrospect, I can understand how a Moody Blues sort of bloke like I was then would not get along too well with a J. J. Cale kinda guy like Jeremy aspired to be!”
Posted in "Sister Marie", Chad & Jeremy, Gary Usher, Harry Nilsson, Psychedelic Pop, Sagittarius | 1 Reply
House of Nimrod: Taking Back the Name
Posted on October 29, 2014 by Zeroto180
At some point in my youth – can’t pinpoint exactly when – the name “Nimrod” began to enjoy heavy use by male teens as an epithet of some repute in terms of its ability to convey strong public doubt about the intended victim’s masculinity. Wiktionary points out that a Bugs Bunny reference to Elmer Fudd as a “poor little Nimrod” may have greatly contributed to its current use as a pejorative term akin to “idiot,” “doofus,” or “lamebrain.”
But then in a recent episode of TV sketch comedy, Key & Peele, I was struck by a small bit where you see the two comedians tooling down a desert highway in a classic 1960s muscle car, casually informing viewers, in the course of conversation, that Nimrod was – contrary to public perception – depicted in The Bible as a mighty hunter and man of great power (according to the Book of Genesis and the Books of Chronicles, this son of Cush and great-grandson of Noah was also once the King of Shinar).
So, of course, I had to go search the 45Cat database to see if any pop/rockers had embraced the power of the Nimrod name prior to the 1980s, when it had greater cachet. The answer? New Zealand’s own, The House of Nimrod. The song? “Slightly-delic.” The year? (braying of brass) 1967!
Andrew Schmidt, music writer at Audio Culture: The Noisy Library of New Zealand Music:
“In late 1967, House of Nimrod gobbled up New Zealand’s Christmas pop charts with the mischievous oddity ‘Slightly-Delic’, a song experimenting with the sound of the summer – harmony-laden psychedelic pop.
“A chance meeting between Bryce Petersen, a North Shore based children’s folk singer/songwriter, and Australian guitarist Johnny Breslin, produced enough creative sparks for a band and two singles. Breslin had been trying to get a group together and knew a 20 year-old drummer from South Auckland, Billy Lawton, late of The Plague (with Corben Simpson). Lawton knew a blue-playing guitarist and philosophy student Tony Pilcher (21) and young Māori bass guitarist Larry Latimer (20).”
Posted in "Slightly-delic", House of Nimrod, Psychedelic Pop | Leave a reply
Music Goes Better with Coca-Cola
Posted on August 6, 2014 by Zeroto180
A number of notable names in pop music have recorded jingles for Coca-Cola, and — incredible as it might seem — a few of them came out surprisingly well.
Sydney, Australia’s Easybeats pull off the nice hat trick of writing an unabashed ode to a soft drink that is – at the same time – an infectious piece of rock ‘n’ soul, possibly from 1966:
[Pssst: Click the triangle above to play The Easybeats’ mid-60s Coke ad.]
Alex Chilton’s Box Tops craft a soul pop nugget that gets a boost each time the bass trombone makes an appearance — recorded in 1968, I’m guessing:
[Pssst: Click the triangle above to play The Box Tops’ late-60s Coke ad.]
The Moody Blues disguise the product placement rather adroitly with this tuneful slice of psychedelic pop from 1969:
[Pssst: Click the triangle above to play The Moody Blues’ Coke ad from 1969.]
Posted in Music in Advertising, Psychedelic Pop, The Box Tops, The Easybeats, The Moody Blues | Leave a reply
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EU ENDS 16-YEAR BANANA TRADE BATTLE
The European Union (EU) has ended one of the world's longest-running trade battles as it agreed to cut import tariffs on bananas grown in Latin America. The settlement, which is expected to be ratified in early 2010, ends a 16-year trade dispute over access to the EU's US$ 6.7 billion banana market, the world's largest. EU Trade Commission Karel De Gucht said that the EU's old colonies "will face challenges in adjusting to the new situation." The new fight, says Alistair Smith of Banana Link, a UK-based advocacy group, will be over labour and environmental conditions at banana plantations all over the world.
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KTEE returns
by Mike Barnard January 25, 2019
Austrian singer/songwriter KTEE last spoke to zap! bang! Magazine ahead of the release of ‘Rollercoaster’ in September 2017. Now she returns to chat about her career so far and new single, ‘Melody’.
‘Melody’ is about finding one’s soulmate, about the connection one can have with a very special person.
First up, tell us bit about yourself - what first got you into music?
I’ve really been singing since I was a child, I cannot even remember when it started. I am one of the people who is humming a melody all the time. Quite annoying for people around me, but I can’t help it ;)
I’ve always wanted to make music professionally. It is a tough business though, there are so many talented people and the music market is huuuuge. But there has never been an option B, it’s what I live for. Before KTEE “was born“, I was part of different music projects, I was training my voice and trying to find my way.
Were there any particular bands or artists you took inspiration from?
I have to say that Jessie J has inspired me a lot in the years before I released my first music. Her control over her voice is amazing. I’ve seen her perform live twice and she is a vocal goddess, really. Her songs are ideal for training ones voice.
I am a fan of many female artists with powerful voices, especially some of the British ladies are really awesome: Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie, Adele…
How would you describe your musical style?
The focus is clearly on my voice. I am really bad at describing it, sorry. When this question is asked, I usually say „Listen to my songs and find out yourself“ :D Kind of lazy, I know ;)
If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be?
There are many: Jessie J, Anne-Marie, Jess Glynn, James Arthur, DNCE…
You released debut single ‘Rock Your Life’ in 2016. What response did it get?
‘Rock Your Life’ is my first baby and it still means a lot to me. It is about living the moment, living in the here and now and forgetting about the past, breaking through useless patterns and focusing on the good things in life. This is something that I had to learn as well, that’s why this song means so much to me. I kind of decided with this song, to focus more on the positive things.
At concerts I always get great feedback when I sing ‘Rock Your Life’, I guess it somehow encourages people to really rock theirs as well more often, haha.
Your second single, ‘Rollercoaster’, helped you to the semi-final of the International Songwriting Competition in 2017. What did that mean to you?
I was overwhelmed, I am still proud of me and my co-writer and my producer for writing this song, I still love it very much. So, it meant a lot to me that other people, people in the Jury of ISC 2017 appreciated the love and work that was put into the song. I still have high hopes for the song :D
Tell us about your new single ‘Melody’ what’s it about?
‘Melody’ is about finding one’s soulmate, about the connection one can have with a very special person. I use ‘music’ as a metaphor for this love/connection.
My attitude that another person can never be the missing puzzle piece in someone’s life is also reflected in the song. I think that self-love is pre-condition for feeling a strong connection with somebody else.
When did you write it and where did you record it?
I wrote it in summer 2018. I was thinking about songs that have a meaning in my life and I was thinking about people having different songs that make up the soundtrack to their life and that’s when the idea came (the first line of the chorus is: When I write the soundtrack to my life, do you wanna be the melody?).
I recorded it in my producer’s studio (in Lower Austria).
How does ‘Melody’ build on your style?
Focus is again on my voice and what is important, is that it focuses on something positive again. Loving yourself, appreciating somebody else, being happy, being full of hopes.
What are your hopes for ‘Melody’?
To be heard and appreciated all of the world of course :DDD
What can you tell us about your plans for the rest of 2019?
I am working on new songs, my plan is to release two more songs this year and also to play as many gigs as possible. I will play some gigs in London in February, which I am very much looking forward to. I love performing in London :) You can find the dates on my Facebook page or website.
Finally, if you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice, when would it be and what would you say?
“Be patient and don’t lose the trust in your talent! Your time will come“. I would have told me that when I started making music and when it seemed that nothing great was gonna happen. When you have a dream, you should never never never give it up. Even when you fall sometimes: stand up, shake off the dust and keep going.
‘Melody’ is out now - listen on Spotify below. For news and tour dates go to kteemusic.com.
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Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Speak Out For First Time Since Engagement
Andrew Toth, Getty Images for TAO Group
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have been living in romantic bliss since getting engaged earlier this month, and the two recently discussed their post-engagement emotions for the first time.
“We’re really happy,” the singer/actress gushed to PEOPLE on Wednesday (March 20).
“We have [an] appreciation for where we are in our lives today, and that’s what we’re enjoying the most,” her retired baseball star beau added.
Neither party is new to marriage—Rodriguez has been married one other time, and Lopez three—but this relationship is different than any Jenny from the Block has experienced in the past. “I’m in a good relationship. I feel like I can say that for the first time—I don’t know—maybe ever. And not that I didn’t have great relationships, full of love and adventure, but this is the first relationship I’ve been where I feel like we really make each other better," Lopez gushed about Rodriguez in 2017. "We complement each other, and there’s really pure, true love. Just wanting to support the other person and make them happy. So there’s a different selflessness in the love that’s beautiful and different. And healthy!”
That sentiment still rings true as the couple plans on legally binding their family (Rodriguez has two daughters, Natasha, 14, and Ella, 10, with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis, and Lopez has 11-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Anthony).
“Everything that we do, we do together,” the World of Dance judge continued during her conversation with PEOPLE. “He knows my dreams and I know his dreams, and together we feel like we’re stronger.”
Though Rodriguez is a sports analyst now, he's not obligated to play 162 games anymore, which means he can tag along when his fiance is busy touring or filming. “We’re constantly supporting each other in our individual endeavors and thinking about all the things that we can build together,” Lopez explained.
"We are very grateful" Rodriguez humbly added.
Though the newly engaged couple hasn't revealed any details about their upcoming nuptials, Ellen DeGeneres has already volunteered to be Lopez's Maid of Honor.
The 19 Quickest Celebrity Engagements
Source: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Speak Out For First Time Since Engagement
Filed Under: alex rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez
Categories: Entertainment News
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Companies Paying the Most (and Least) Taxes
By Alexander E.M. Hess and Michael B. Sauter January 8, 2014 12:45 pm EDT
10. United Continental Holdings
> Income tax expense: -$1 million
> Earnings before taxes: -$724 million
> Revenue: $37.2 billion
> 1-yr. share price change: +55.6%
> Industry: Airlines
Several airlines merged in recent years in an attempt to cut costs and capacity. United and Continental Airlines were no different when they merged in 2010, joining a long list of mergers, including Delta and Northwest, Southwest and Airtran, as well as American Airlines and U.S. Airways. However, United Continental has hardly been a model for a successful merger. The new company has struggled to integrate the systems and workers of the two airlines. Additionally, the company finished 2012 with a net loss for the year, while in the most recent quarter passenger revenue per available seat mile — an important industry measure of profitability — fell. In large part because of its lack of profits, losses before taxes totaled $724 million, the company recorded no tax expense in its most recently reported fiscal year.
9. Bunge Limited
> Earnings before taxes: $372 million
> Industry: Agricultural products
Bunge, a global agribusiness company, reported $372 billion in earnings before taxes in fiscal 2012, but the company actually received a tax benefit that year of $6 million. If the company had assessed all of its income based on the federal corporate tax rate of 35%, it would have had $130 million in tax expenses. However, 42% of Bunge’s total pre-tax income comes from operations overseas, on which the company pays cheaper foreign corporate tax rates. Also the company received over $50 million in fiscal incentives for its investments in Brazil. In October, the company indicated it was considering a sale of its sugar operations in the country after reporting a substantial quarterly loss.
ALSO READ: America’s Most (and Least) Healthy States
8. Rite Aid Corporation
> Income tax expense: -$111 million
> Earnings before taxes: $8 million
> 1-yr. share price change: +317.3%
> Industry: Drugstore
Rite Aid, one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains, had more than $25 billion in revenues in its most recent fiscal year but just $8 million in earnings before taxes. Between a decrease in deferred taxes and a number of tax credits received, the company actually reported a total tax benefit of nearly $111 million. Since it filed its annual report, the company has shown some positive signs. Shares are up by more than 300% in the last year. In the most recent reported 12 months, the company reported net income of roughly $300 million. The drugstore chain may owe much more in taxes when it reports this year.
7. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
> Earnings before taxes: $2.3 billion
> Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a New York City-based pharmaceutical giant with some 28,000 employees as of fiscal 2012. That year, the company lost patent protection on its blockbuster drug, Plavix, a blood thinner that accounted for roughly a third of its sales the year before. In all, earnings after taxes fell from $3.7 billion in 2011 to just under $2 billion in 2012. However, the drugmaker was able to take advantage of rates abroad to reduce its tax expense dramatically. According to Tax Analysts’ Sullivan, companies that can shift profits abroad and have a great deal of non-physical assets, such as pharmaceutical companies, often save on their taxes. The company also received a tax benefit related to the writeoff of its acquisition of Inhibitex, helping to bring its total tax balance below zero.
ALSO READ: America’s Disappearing Restaurant Chains
6. Morgan Stanley
> Industry: Banking
Global investment bank and brokerage house Morgan Stanley reported revenue in excess of $26 billion and had just over half a billion in pre-tax income in fiscal 2012, it’s most recently reported fiscal year. However, the company recorded no income tax expense at all. In fact, it reported a tax benefit of nearly $240 million that year. The combination of lower foreign tax rates, tax-exempt income, and domestic tax credits all helped Morgan Stanley record this sizable tax benefit.
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Posts Tagged ‘Hillary Clinton’
Politics = Corruption
Tags: Clinton Foundation, FIFA, Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, State Department
I’m going to start this post with the simple premise that politics = corruption. And because politics touches everything from birth to death to the air we breathe, so does corruption.
There are of course gradations of corruption throughout the various political systems that govern the people on this planet, but one surefire way of gauging the level of corruption is determining how much money is involved. If it’s a lot of money, then there’s sure to be a lot of corruption.
Defenders of corrupt politicians, like Hillary Clinton, will want to see the nitty-gritty quid pro quo before acknowledging this obvious axiom about politics. The most recent analysis, I think, speaks for itself:
Under Clinton’s leadership, the State Department approved $165 billion worth of commercial arms sales to 20 nations whose governments have given money to the Clinton Foundation, according to an IBTimes analysis of State Department and foundation data. That figure — derived from the three full fiscal years of Clinton’s term as Secretary of State (from October 2010 to September 2012) — represented nearly double the value of American arms sales made to the those countries and approved by the State Department during the same period of President George W. Bush’s second term.
The Clinton-led State Department also authorized $151 billion of separate Pentagon-brokered deals for 16 of the countries that donated to the Clinton Foundation, resulting in a 143 percent increase in completed sales to those nations over the same time frame during the Bush administration. These extra sales were part of a broad increase in American military exports that accompanied Obama’s arrival in the White House. The 143 percent increase in U.S. arms sales to Clinton Foundation donors compares to an 80 percent increase in such sales to all countries over the same time period.
I don’t know why I’m still amazed at the capacity of partisans to rationalize away these icky implications, but they do, over and over and over again.
Yesterday I was involved in a Twitter spat with Jay Stevens, one of the founders of this humble blog. He was incredulous that Putin would defend FIFA corruption. But Putin, IMHO, isn’t defending FIFA corruption, he’s just playing geopolitics, same as the US. Anyone who thinks Russia is more corrupt than the US when it comes to getting the World Cup (or the Olympics) to gravy train corporate loot into their respective spheres is delusional.
So what’s the deal with America’s sudden interest in FIFA corruption?
At Moon of Alabama, b opens his post with this:
Today the U.S. ordered Swiss police to raid, incarcerate and extradite to the U.S. six FIFA officials for alleged corruption. The raid, with obviously pre-alarmed New York Times reporters on the scene, comes shortly before a FIFA vote to expel Israel from the association.
This Friday the world football association FIFA is meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, for its 65th regular World Congress. One of the votes on the agenda (pdf) is about the “Suspension or expulsion of a member”. There is also an “Update on Israel-Palestine”.
When dealing with equally corrupt nation-states, especially cold war adversaries, there’s always something else going on than what the surface story describes. I wish more people in this particular nation-state were more discerning.
But we’re not, so any Putin-demonizing angle that can be conjured up will be enthusiastically consumed.
Politics = corruption. Proceed from that premise, and you may start understanding the movements behind the posturing.
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Accurate Anime
Where History and Animation Collide!
lime-iro Senkitan
Lime-iro Senkitan and Port Arthur
April 29, 2016 anime, historyanime, history, lime-iro Senkitan, port arthur, russo-japanese warRobert Chiuchiarelli Leave a comment
So I came across this anime by accident and frankly, I couldn’t get more than one episode into it. Was it the character that turned me off? No. The plot? Not that ethier. Instead it was the 2 minute opening describing the start of the Russo-Japanese war. See, Lime-iro Senkitan takes place in 1904. A period when Japan was rapidly modernizing its military and society in what would be later known as the Meiji Restoration. At this same time Russia was facing its own difficulties modernizing. The sparks of revolution were already being lit in the Tsarist state and morale was at an all-time low. While this was occurring the Empires of Russia and Japan were vying for influence on mainland Asia. Russia, looking for a warm water port, had a long term lease of Port Arthur (Порт-Артур)(Jap. Ryojun (旅順)). However, Japan wanted control of Korea and her politics. Japan has had a long history of trying to conquer and control mainland Asia via Korea. However, Russia’s military presence in the region was preventing that. Negotiations began between the two Empires. Russia offered a buffer zone, with itself holding Manchuria and northern portions of Korea while Japan would hold the Southern part. Japan countered with a deal that would have Russia completely leave Korea. Needless to say both sides did not agree to anything. This would lead to Japan launching a surprise attack on Port Arthur on February 8th, 1904. The fighting was intense and even though the Japanese outnumbered the Russian three to one a siege of the port began. On January 2nd, 2905 the port fell to the Japanese. This was one of a series of defeats given to Russia by the Japanese. Although European diplomatic interference would limit Japan’s gains from the war. Also, Port Arthur was surrendered prematurely. While the Russians put up a significant fight, at the first sign of their defenses faltering they gave up, even though they had food and munitions to last them for months. Its commander, Anatoly Stoessel, was executed upon his return to St. Petersburg.
So now that you know what actually happened we can look at how this anime bridges from entertainment to propaganda. The first episode opens with a foreboding narration of the Russo-Japanese war. Explaining how “weak” a country Japan was and that “its existence was threatened by a fortress protected by the army of evil.” The narrator goes on to announce how it was inevitable that the two countries could clash. Clearly this is the case as one country rented a port from a third party and the other country wanted to conquer mainland Asia. I understand how artists would want to paint their nation in a favorable light but Japan clearly was the aggressor of this war. Also, while being painted as the underdog “weak” nation, Japan clearly had an advantage in the fight. The majority of Russia’s fleets were located in the Baltic Sea, on the other side of the world, and would have to travel for months to even reach the fight. Lastly, in the anime Port Arthur is not lead by Anatoly Stoessel, but rather Grigori Rasputin. Rasputin, while he did influence Russian politics, engage in drunken orgies with courtesans, and admonished trivial acts like bathing, did not have any influence over the siege of Port Arthur.
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Magnolia bark extract. EC No. 107
July 2009: Application from William Wrigley Jr. Company for the authorisation of magnolia bark extract under the Novel Food Regulation (EC) 258/97. Authorised October 2011.
The magnolia bark extract (MBSE) is obtained from the bark of the plant Magnoliae officinalis. This plant is native to the mountains of China and has been used for centuries as part of traditional Asian remedies. The applicant intends to incorporate MBSE into two confectionary products (chewing gum and a limited number of mint confectionery products) at a maximum use level of 0.2% for its perceived breath freshening properties. t be rigorously assessed for safety.
Legal Backgroud
Before a novel food can be marketed legally in EU it requires a pre-market safety assessment under the Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, previously 258/97 (EC). This is the Regulation establishes the legal basis for novel foods and the process for submitting a novel food authorisation(s).
One of the major changes under the revised Regulation, was the centralisation of the authorisation process at the EU level. Prior to this, applications for new novel foods were underwent initial assessment in a Member State to achieve an EU wide authorisation. This application was received by the UK under Regulation 258/97 EC and was assessed by our independent experts the Advisory Committee on novel foods and processes.
Application Status: Authorised
The application for Magnolia Bark Extract was assessed by the UK under Regulation 258/97 (EC). The application was accepted in July 2009 and was reviewed by the Committee to assess it whether the proposed use met the requirements under the regulation. Namely that it is safe, not misleading and would not put consumers as a nutritional disadvantage.
The Committee completed its assessment and published its positive opinion. This opinion was shared with the other Member States resulting in the product being authorised by the EU subject to the conditions specified in the authorisation. it was authorised using an acceptance letter from the UK.
Application Files
Application for Magnolia Bark Extract(599.40 KB)
Magnolia bark extract authorisation letter(64.10 KB)
Magnolia Bark Extract UK Initial opinion(327.12 KB)
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Federico C. Sayre
Federico Sayre
Federico Castelan Sayre is a nationally recognized trial lawyer. He has been trying cases for the past 40 years and has tried over 200 cases to verdict. He practices in the areas of Civil Rights litigation, mass toxic tort, wrongful death, complex commercial litigation, employment law and serious personal injury. He handles criminal matters of significance, including Capitol Cases and white collar criminal cases. While Mr. Sayre’s primary practice is in California State and Federal Courts, he has handled cases in Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada, just to name a few. Mr. Sayre is a frequent lecturer and panel member in various areas of civil practice. He is the past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County. He is the only person to have been designated as Outstanding Hispanic Attorney in Orange County (by the Hispanic Bar Association) and the Benito Juarez Outstanding Attorney in Los Angeles County (by the Mexican American Bar Association).
Mr. Sayre received his Bachelor of Arts and Government Degree in 1969 from the University of Arizona. While at Arizona, Mr. Sayre was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and was the founding member of the Mexican-American Liberation Committee.
Mr. Sayre received his Juris Doctorate from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He was Chief Note and Comment Editor of the California Law Review while at Boalt. Mr. Sayre also attended Princeton University where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He received a Masters in Public Affairs from Berkeley University in 1971. While at Berkeley, he was the Founder and Director of the “Migrant Legal Services Program.” He has a long history of involvement in groups that work to improve conditions within the Hispanic community. Mr. Sayre is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Mr. Sayre also received a research grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, where he conducted research on the subject of “Future Alternatives for Farm Workers in Response to Technological Change in Agriculture.”
Mr. Sayre is admitted to practice in all United States District Courts of California. He is a member of the Los Angeles County and American Bar Associations; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; California Trial Lawyers Association; Los Angeles Trial Association; Mexican-American Bar Association. Founding Life Member; Trial Lawyers for Public Justice; Member and Board of Director, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation; Board of Directors California Rural Legal Assistance; National Secretary, Railroad Section, ATLA; Board of Trustees for Los Angeles County Bar Association; Treasurer of the Mexican-American Bar Association and National Chairman of the Railroad Section for ATLA.
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Country house life between the wars
Tag Archives: George Vernon
The Baronet, the Blackshirt and the Farmer’s Daughter
Posted on May 13, 2013 by adriantinniswood
Sir George Vernon
‘Sir George Vernon was found shot in his bedroom at his country home, Hanbury Hall, near Droitwich, about midday yesterday’, ran the report in the Manchester Guardian of 15 June 1940. ‘A revolver was near the body.’
The Vernon family had lived at Hanbury for centuries. Richard Vernon was rector there before the Spanish Armada. Thomas, a sucessful chancery barrister, marked his success by building Hanbury Hall, a beautiful essay in redbrick Queen Anne, in the early years of the 18th century. Victorian Vernons added to the estates. Now, in the summer of 1940, that was all over. Sir George was the last of his line.
He was a man of pronounced views, and after inheriting Hanbury in 1920 at the age of fifty-five, he took every opportunity to make them known. He wrote to the Times to complain about local taxes; he resigned as a magistrate because his colleagues were too lenient towards motorists who came up before them. He loathed the Church of England and was active in the anti-tithe campaigns of the 1930s, to the extent that in June 1935 his refusal to pay tithes led to a forced sale of his goods in front of the Hall.
It was through the anti-tithe campaign that Sir George became involved with Oswald Mosley and the the British Union of Fascists. In the early 1930s a number of leading British fascists saw the campaign as a way of garnering support among farmers, and the blackshirts were active in organising opposition to tithe seizures all over the country. Sir George was never a member of the BUF, but he sympathised with its aims, and Mosley became a regular visitor to Hanbury.
Sir George combined extremist political views with an unconventional private life. In 1927, after separating from his wife of more than twenty years, he turned up at the house of his farm manager, Edward Powick, and asked to borrow Powick’s 16-year-old daughter Ruth for a few months. ‘Things are in a mess up at the Hall,’ he explained. Ruth lived with him for the rest of his life, becoming his secretary and his mistress. In 1938 she changed her name to Vernon and he made her his heir. He had no children of his own. ‘Sir George introduced me everywhere as his daughter’, she recalled.
On 22 May 1940 the British government passed Defence Regulation 18B (1A), allowing the detention without trial of anyone believed to be ‘of hostile origin or associations or to have been recently concerned in acts prejudicial to the public safety or the defence of the realm’. Early the next morning Oswald Mosley was arrested, along with other leading figures in the movement. ‘Britain Swoops on Fascists’, reported the popular press, which carried front-page pictures of BUF members giving defiant salutes as they were led away by police. Over the following months around one thousand active members of the British Union were interned, along with an unknown number of far right sympathisers.
Sir George thought his own arrest was imminent. It was this, coupled with his poor health – he was variously described as having heart disease and throat cancer – that led the 74-year-old squire to close his bedroom door on the world that day in June 1940 and take his own life. Ruth married six years later and lived happily ever after – although not at Hanbury Hall, because Sir George’s widow moved back in after her husband’s death. The house passed to the National Trust in 1953.
/ Tagged 1930s, country house, George Vernon, Hanbury Hall, Long Weekend, Oswald Mosley / Leave a comment
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Edwin Frizzell on the Fairmont Royal York's 19th floor, the Executive's Floor. Photo by John Hryniuk
Check In at the Modern Historic Hotel
While the iconic Fairmont Royal York will never forget its storied past, Edwin Frizzell is leading it toward the future
By Keith Loria
A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a celebrated collection of more than 70 distinctive hotels, including the famed, historic Fairmont Royal York. Edwin Frizzell serves as both the general manager for the latter and regional vice president for Central Canada, overseeing four additional Fairmont properties in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary.
When the Fairmont Royal York originally opened in downtown Toronto in 1929, the iconic building was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth. Over the course of the next eight decades, it continues to be a symbol of pride and allure.
In 2014, its ownership announced a large renovation of the property, with Frizzell a main component of leading change and innovation.
“Innovation is one of our three key pillars in terms of what we look at in terms of how we evaluate decision-making around any aspect of what we’re doing,” Frizzell says. “So whether that’s looking at how we deliver a service experience from arrival to departure or delivering a special guest request to how we book and analyze our meeting space and what conventions align well with the hotel, pretty much everything that we do is touched by technology and innovation.” The challenge of the repositioning was having the hotel stay true to its historic roots while utilizing modern technology.
“Even though the Fairmont Royal York is one of the most iconic and historic buildings in the city, we’re also one of the most technologically advanced and one of the newest luxury experiences that you can have,” Frizzell says. “Our vision is about innovation, about elevating our experience, while inspiring people to be at their best. We know that if we take great care of our colleagues, they’ll take really great care of our customers, and the business will take care of itself.”
“Even though the Fairmont Royal York is one of the most iconic and historic buildings in the city, we’re also one of the most technologically advanced and one of the newest luxury experiences that you can have”
One of the first implemented changes was in the way guests checked in, which for 30 years followed the tried-and-true measure of people walking up to the front desk.
“We’re one of the first hotels to fully deploy an iPad check-in experience where, because we already know in advance of your arrival—and all of the things that you’ve told us like what type of room you want, and what your preferences are—our front desk agents can actually interact with a guest for the check-in experience anywhere in the hotel,” Frizzell says. “So whether you’re sitting on a sofa in the lobby or whether you’re coming into the restaurant and doing it table-side, we really believe in finding ways to make the processes of interacting with our customers easier so that we can spend more time actually personally connecting with our guests and helping fulfill our Fairmont service promise, which is turning moments into memories.”
The hotel is also launching the next generation of the MICROS food-and-beverage point-of-sale system called Symphony 2 in all of its restaurants, allowing its servers to better meet the demands of customers. Fairmont Royal York has also completed renovations on almost 1,000 of its nearly 1,400 rooms in the new Fairmont-Luxury-Room style, which includes an automated mini-bar system, media panels that allow a guest to connect content from their iPhone or mobile device onto the television screens, and the latest in wireless connectivity.
“We are also working on the public areas in terms of modernizing some of those iconic spaces—like the concert hall and the ballroom, which is an amazing space with historic trompe-l’œil ceilings and incredible moldings—and of course our Imperial Room, which is one of the most famous event spaces in the city,” Frizzell says. “All of those spaces are currently being redesigned with a plan to complete this restoration project later on in 2016 and early 2017.” Frizzell’s team is also working on a newly-designed Fairmont GOLD experience for its best customers, which will launch in early 2017.
He notes that although every move won’t sound “sexy and cool,” there are many changes that will improve the client experience. For instance, the hotel is launching a new door-locking system with the latest in radio-frequency-identification and environmental-control technology.
BETTING ON THE HOUSE
Frizzell posing for a selfie at the hotel’s 2015 holiday party, which this year was a casino night. Photo by Photagonist.ca
“The ability to be able to make it easier for our customers and our teams to change room keys and make them work more effectively and do all those things is very significant. It’s a multimillion-dollar project,” Frizzell says. “There are lots of hotels out there that would love to be doing something on that scale and just don’t often get the chance to do it.”
The hotel also recently installed a new preventative-maintenance tracking system for all of its engineering work called Synergy MMS. “We have over 29,000 pieces of equipment alone in this building that require preventative maintenance on an annual basis. Managing that manually is virtually impossible,” Frizzell says. “Today we use technology and software programs to help us be able to execute this in a way that allows our engineers to be working on the right thing and our support teams to be proactively ensuring that our customers don’t encounter mechanical or engineering challenges when they arrive at the hotel that perhaps we weren’t even aware of.”
The historic aspect of being in a grand-luxury hotel is more important than ever, and Frizzell notes that at Fairmont Royal York its teams take that history seriously. “We know that we can’t improve the experience with technology to make that interaction more efficient without always understanding what the intent is: to give our colleagues more time to make those experiences memorable and fulfill the Fairmont service promise of ‘turning moments into memories.’”
While people like to think of Fairmont Royal York as a somewhat old-fashioned hotel, Frizzell shares that the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
“We are an iconic, historic building,” Frizzell says. “We are historically protected in terms of the Heritage Society, but what really drives the heartbeat of our team is the fact that we consistently want to find ways to make this building better for the future and create exceptional and memorable experiences for our colleagues and guests. We are all writing our current chapter of the history of this hotel, and when people look back on that, I’m hopeful that they will see that this was a time of innovation and change and that we enhanced the overall image and perception of the hotel.”
Reaching New Heights
Time to Look Good
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Located in southern Thailand, this semi-off-the-map island is one of my favorites and the month I spent here remains one of my most fond memories. Here on Ko Lipe, the super-friendly locals bring in the daily catch for amazing seafood, as the island’s water is teeming with life. Accommodation is still basic, and most places turn off the electricity around midnight.
Zakynthos, or Zante, has shrugged off its reputation as a destination for lads on tour (as long as you avoid Lagana and the built-up south coast) by rebranding itself as Greece's greenest island. It's not just the emerald hills sliding into the electric blue Ionian: much of the south coast is a nature reserve where endangered loggerhead turtles hatch in the sand. The turtle beaches are off limits, but there are countless coves in every hue of green and blue. Favourites are tiny Xigia, with its bubbling underwater springs, and craggy Porto Limnionas, with sunbeds wedged between the rocks and palm-frond umbrellas positioned between the pine trees. Skinari is the starting point for boat trips to the most famous landmarks, the Blue Caves and Shipwreck Beach, where a rusting liner leans into the chalky cliffs. From Keri, you can cast away for Marathonisi island, another turtle sanctuary.
Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer were among the first guests at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, a 642-acre that opened in May 2016 on the island’s west coast 17 miles from Honolulu. Closer to the action of Waikiki, the Surfjack Hotel opened in May with a dose of vintage 1960s Hawaii, down to its painted murals and birds of paradise wallpaper by local artists that are just begging to be Instagramed. Pacific Beach Hotel re-emerges in the fall as Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, whose $115 million upgrades include two new restaurants by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto.
My husband and I are heading to Greece in July this year. We fly into Athens and then are connecting to Samos where we are meeting up for a friend’s 50th birthday celebration. We have 4 nights here and then another week to explore some other islands. We would love to visit Santorini although I know it is not close to Samos so not sure if that is the best option? We thought about Paros or Naxos for 3nts, and then Santorini for another 3nts. Then fly back to Athens and spend a couple of days here before we head for Dubrovnik. Do you know if there are ferries between these Island points and would that be the best use of our time? I guess we don’t want to waste too much time travelling between points! We are just playing around with ideas at the moment as Samos is the only part set in stone. Open to any suggestions as this is my husband’s first trip to Greece and my last trip here was with my parents about 35 years ago!
Growth rates are not consistent in all regions, but countries with a de-regulated airline industry have more competition and greater pricing freedom. This results in lower fares and sometimes dramatic spurts in traffic growth. The U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, India and other markets exhibit this trend. The industry has been observed to be cyclical in its financial performance. Four or five years of poor earnings precede five or six years of improvement. But profitability even in the good years is generally low, in the range of 2–3% net profit after interest and tax. In times of profit, airlines lease new generations of airplanes and upgrade services in response to higher demand. Since 1980, the industry has not earned back the cost of capital during the best of times. Conversely, in bad times losses can be dramatically worse. Warren Buffett in 1999 said "the money that had been made since the dawn of aviation by all of this country's airline companies was zero. Absolutely zero."[88]
Despite Zlarin’s small size and relative obscurity, it is certainly an island with dazzling beauty. It is known locally as the ‘Golden Island,’ because it’s really that eye-wateringly gorgeous! This small island is just off the mainland, separated by the Sibenik Channel and is mostly famous for its history of coral harvesting; there is even a Coral Museum where you can learn more about it.
During the era of decolonization, newly born Asian countries started to embrace air transport. Among the first Asian carriers during the era were Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong (founded in September 1946), Orient Airways (later Pakistan International Airlines; founded in October 1946), Air Ceylon (later SriLankan Airlines; founded in 1947), Malayan Airways Limited in 1947 (later Singapore and Malaysia Airlines), El Al in Israel in 1948, Garuda Indonesia in 1949, Japan Airlines in 1951, Thai Airways International in 1960, and Korean National Airlines in 1947.
We are having trouble deciding on another island to go to besides Santorini (we both want to go there). I was hoping you might be able to make a suggestion. We are not really into late night partying/night life. We LOVE good food..quite possibly the most important item on our list. We also like to hike, my husband is very into history, we love beer/wine, we could definitely be into in a less populated/touristy type spot. Gorgeous beaches and great views are also a plus.
The sleeper hit of the Cyclades, Serifos is the summer retreat of interior designers and architects who prefer to keep the sandy beaches to themselves. (One French home-owner is so protective of her hideaway that she tells all her friends she summers on nearby Sifnos.) Even in August, you’ll find coves where you can skinny dip in blissful solitude. That’s because the best beaches (Kalo Ambeli, Vagia, Skala) are only accessible via bone-rattling dirt roads or donkey tracks. Better still, rent a motor boat from the laidback harbour, Livada. Make sure to moor outside Anna’s taverna on Sikamia beach for freshly caught fish and garden-grown salads.
Transport between them can be patchy, but a new service linking Zakynthos with Corfu which started this year now brings all the islands (bar Kythira) together. Zakynthos is otherwise linked to Kefallonia with an old-style open deck ‘slipper’ ferry; Kefallonia includes Ithaki on its local small ferry route to Nydri on Lefkada. There is no link (except for the new service) from Lefkada to Paxi/Corfu. Corfu has links to Paxi and its little know satellite islands just to the north. Kythira has an airport with flights to Athens and ferries to Crete (Kissamos) and the Peloponnese (Gythio, Kalamata, and Neapoli).
Transport between the three islands relies on local ferries and these are unsophisticated ‘landing-craft’ style boats that do little more than ferry passengers and vehicles in Spartan comfort, but they are very functional and vital to the inter-island communication. There is plenty of on the ground support excursions and infrastructure and the islands are well-used to tourism; the only exception is that travellers will need to use a bit of independence in getting between the islands.
Increasingly since 1978, US airlines have been reincorporated and spun off by newly created and internally led management companies, and thus becoming nothing more than operating units and subsidiaries with limited financially decisive control. Among some of these holding companies and parent companies which are relatively well known, are the UAL Corporation, along with the AMR Corporation, among a long list of airline holding companies sometime recognized worldwide. Less recognized are the private equity firms which often seize managerial, financial, and board of directors control of distressed airline companies by temporarily investing large sums of capital in air carriers, to rescheme an airlines assets into a profitable organization or liquidating an air carrier of their profitable and worthwhile routes and business operations.
Islets of Proizd and Ošjak: Visit the islets of Proizd (a famous beach in the area) and Ošjak – two of the most visited destinations in the area. Proizd is a small island that can be reached by a small excursion boat featuring three beautiful beaches with turquoise waters, several walking trails and a small restaurant and cafe. A day trip to this island is highly recommended. Ošjak is known as the Love island because of its beautiful nature, peaceful surrounding, and tranquillity. Enjoy swimming in unspoiled waters, walking through a dense pine forest and exploring an interesting cave.
Hi dave – very cool and informative site! We’re a family of 6 (all adults) traveling to Greece for the first time…and most likely the last time. We’d like to visit some historic sites, but more interested in experiencing Greek life in small towns. Beaches and nightlife are not important. I’m looking to put together a balanced itinerary covering 10 days (11 nights) and had the following in mind:
Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a chain of 1,000 islands (200 are inhabited, and only 5 have any substantial population). The country is actually just a series of coral atolls that are barely above sea level. During the 2004 Tsunami, many of these islands were completely washed away. The government has built flood barriers to help lessen the impact of any future tsunamis.
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On Syros, capital of the Cyclades, you won’t find sugar-cube villages and whitewashed lanes. The colourful 19th-century city of Ermoupoli is built on twin peaks – one Orthodox, the other Catholic, the heritage of a long Venetian occupation. There’s still a strong Italian flavour in Ermoupoli’s marble piazzas, princely mansions, and miniature replica of La Scala, the showpiece of a year-round cultural scene. Syros hosts festivals of animation, dance, digital art, film, classical music, jazz and rembetiko, the Greek blues popularised by local musician Markos Vamvakaris. A few rembetiko joints have survived in the upper town, Ano Syra.
Sarah-Jane — Thanks for another helpful article (this one on planning an island-hopping trip). Chasingthedonkey.com is a great website and my first go-to place for information on Croatia. I have scheduled my third 3-month-long stay and still have so much to do and see in Croatia. Personally, my favorite times to visit are in the “shoulder” seasons …. September-November and March-May.
Panama is an underrated destination in Central America, including the San Blas Islands. This is a popular spot for sailing and boat tours, though there are also some resorts in case you’re looking for a more luxurious stay. Generally, the islands are quite rustic and make for a great off-the-grid island getaway. There are tons of beautiful spots for good sailing, diving, and snorkeling.
Thus the last 50 years of the airline industry have varied from reasonably profitable, to devastatingly depressed. As the first major market to deregulate the industry in 1978, U.S. airlines have experienced more turbulence than almost any other country or region. In fact, no U.S. legacy carrier survived bankruptcy-free. Among the outspoken critics of deregulation, former CEO of American Airlines, Robert Crandall has publicly stated:
A group of 27 coral islands that form two atolls in the Indian Ocean, the Cocos Keeling Islands were virtually unheard of until beach activists Brad Farmer and Andrew Short named Cocos Keeling’s Cossies Beach as the best in Australia for 2017. Called the continent’s last unspoiled paradise, the remote destination is as special for what’s not there (high-rise resorts, chain restaurants, crowds, traffic) as what is — pristine white sand and a turquoise lagoon that’s home to 30,000 sea turtles.
Comfortable accommodation in May for 2 persons can be found for between €40 and €80 per night. A meal for two that includes a starter, two main meals, salad and a litre carafe of local wine will cost you around €25-35. This can vary widely depending of level of establishment you eat at. A cheap vegetarian dish (pulses or vegetable) will set you back by no more than €5-6 a plate. If you get your breakfast included at the hotel, that is good because breakfast can add another €15 for the two of you per day.
These little coral islands are surrounded by excellent diving, snorkeling, and white sand beaches, and are filled with friendly locals. Private resorts litter the islands, and a vacation here is also very pricey. Luckily, Bangkok Airways offers cheap flights to and from Thailand. The best time to go to the Maldives is from November to May, when the weather is cool and dry. June through October sees wetter and hotter weather due to the monsoon season.
Aside from coral, there is a lot of history in Zlarin, dating back to the 13th century. If however, you’re more about beaches and beauty, then Zlarin has it covered, and then some! The long sandy beach is ideal for families who want to run free and explore, and the green background gives you that ‘castaway’ feel. You won’t find a lot of hotels on the island, though. Instead, there is wonderful private accommodation, which helps you get that home-away-from-home vibe to your break.
Although Philippine Airlines (PAL) was officially founded on February 26, 1941, its license to operate as an airliner was derived from merged Philippine Aerial Taxi Company (PATCO) established by mining magnate Emmanuel N. Bachrach on December 3, 1930, making it Asia's oldest scheduled carrier still in operation.[52] Commercial air service commenced three weeks later from Manila to Baguio, making it Asia's first airline route. Bachrach's death in 1937 paved the way for its eventual merger with Philippine Airlines in March 1941 and made it Asia's oldest airline. It is also the oldest airline in Asia still operating under its current name.[53] Bachrach's majority share in PATCO was bought by beer magnate Andres R. Soriano in 1939 upon the advice of General Douglas MacArthur and later merged with newly formed Philippine Airlines with PAL as the surviving entity. Soriano has controlling interest in both airlines before the merger. PAL restarted service on March 15, 1941, with a single Beech Model 18 NPC-54 aircraft, which started its daily services between Manila (from Nielson Field) and Baguio, later to expand with larger aircraft such as the DC-3 and Vickers Viscount.
Other factors, such as surface transport facilities and onward connections, will also affect the relative appeal of different airports and some long distance flights may need to operate from the one with the longest runway. For example, LaGuardia Airport is the preferred airport for most of Manhattan due to its proximity, while long-distance routes must use John F. Kennedy International Airport's longer runways.
India was also one of the first countries to embrace civil aviation.[54] One of the first Asian airline companies was Air India, which was founded as Tata Airlines in 1932, a division of Tata Sons Ltd. (now Tata Group). The airline was founded by India's leading industrialist, JRD Tata. On October 15, 1932, J. R. D. Tata himself flew a single engined De Havilland Puss Moth carrying air mail (postal mail of Imperial Airways) from Karachi to Bombay via Ahmedabad. The aircraft continued to Madras via Bellary piloted by Royal Air Force pilot Nevill Vintcent. Tata Airlines was also one of the world's first major airlines which began its operations without any support from the Government.[55]
On 25 August 1919, the company used DH.16s to pioneer a regular service from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome to Le Bourget, the first regular international service in the world. The airline soon gained a reputation for reliability, despite problems with bad weather, and began to attract European competition. In November 1919, it won the first British civil airmail contract. Six Royal Air Force Airco DH.9A aircraft were lent to the company, to operate the airmail service between Hawkinge and Cologne. In 1920, they were returned to the Royal Air Force.[7]
I think Naxos would be the best island for you: incredible beaches, wonderful villages, great restaurants, and some very good hotels (though I don’t think I’d go so far as to call them hip – but nice, for sure). The farther south you go from Naxos Town the quieter the beaches get – so keep going to find the balance you prefer. If you want an island with a little more hip but beaches not quite as perfect then try Paros. If you want to err on the quieter and idyllic side then Antiparos or Ikaria.
The first French airline was Société des lignes Latécoère, later known as Aéropostale, which started its first service in late 1918 to Spain. The Société Générale des Transports Aériens was created in late 1919, by the Farman brothers and the Farman F.60 Goliath plane flew scheduled services from Toussus-le-Noble to Kenley, near Croydon, England. Another early French airline was the Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes, established in 1919 by Louis-Charles Breguet, offering a mail and freight service between Le Bourget Airport, Paris and Lesquin Airport, Lille.[10]
Considering your interests (great food, hiking, beaches, nightlife unimportant) then Naxos should definitely be your other island. (And Naxos has many daily ferry connections with both Santorini and Athens.) Also, Athens needs at least one full day to explore so you should drop any thoughts about Delphi or Nafplio. Also, I would look into flights from Athens to Santorini on your night of arrival. If you could get to Santorini that night (and move your day in Athens to the end of your trip) you’d almost gain an entire day and could spend two nights on Naxos.
Many countries have national airlines that the government owns and operates. Fully private airlines are subject to a great deal of government regulation for economic, political, and safety concerns. For instance, governments often intervene to halt airline labor actions to protect the free flow of people, communications, and goods between different regions without compromising safety.
Hi, Dave! My husband and I will be going to Greece 8/26 – 9/4. We are flying into and out of Athens for cost efficiency. We really want to see Navagio Beach on Zakynthos for a day, and we realize this will likely be an overnight trip, or even 2 nights depending on the travel options. What is the best way to get from Athens to Zykanthos? What is the best way to get from Zakynthos to Santorini? Or is it best to just go from Zakynthos back to Athens and then to Santorini? We are trying to avoid additional flights but realize we may have to fly from Zakynthos to Santorini.
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Latest News » Catholicism
New book born from Notre Dame conference on polarization in the Catholic Church
Author: Olivia Hall
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Centers and Institutes, Research, and General News
While universality—and unity amid diversity—is a fundamental characteristic of Roman Catholicism, all-too-familiar issues related to gender, sexuality, race, and authority have wrought the church with internal conflict and no clear path to finding middle ground. A new book, co-edited by Mary Ellen Konieczny, intends to start the conversation about the polarization in the Catholic Church through healthy debates and genuine engagement.
A full Notre Dame experience planned for San Antonio Shamrock Series
Author: Sue Ryan
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, and General News
Presentations by University faculty and researchers, Mass, a service project, a 5K run/walk and marching band performances are planned leading up to kickoff at the Alamodome.
Notre Dame to host academic conference on Pope Francis in Cuba
Author: Michael O. Garvey
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Internationalism, and General News
The University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies will convene a gathering of theologians and other scholars in Havana Oct. 16-18 to discuss the impact of Pope Francis’ visits to Latin America and the United States. The colloquium, to be held in the Casa Sacerdotal (Priests’ House) of the Archdiocese of Havana, will include participants from throughout Latin America and the United States — among them, a group of Notre Dame undergraduate students enrolled in one of the institute’s theology courses.
McGraths endow Institute for Church Life with $15 million gift
Author: Dennis Brown
Categories: Catholicism, Centers and Institutes, and General News
University of Notre Dame alumnus Robert P. McGrath and his wife, Joan, have made a $15 million gift to his alma mater to endow the University’s Institute for Church Life.
In new book, Arts and Letters dean reveals Jesuits’ impact on global history
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Alumni, Research, and General News
In his new book, American Jesuits and the World: How an Embattled Religious Order Made Modern Catholicism Global (Princeton University Press), McGreevy uses individual religious experiences and others as a gateway to a larger narrative. The book traces how the religious order grew from 600 men in 1814 to roughly 17,000 men a century later. McGreevy argues that their odyssey of expulsion (by European nationalists worried about excessive Jesuit loyalty to the papacy) and reconstruction (as Jesuits launched a counterculture centered around parishes, schools, and universities) powerfully shaped modern history.
'Saturdays with the Saints' lectures to feature saints for the Year of Mercy
Author: Meg Mirshak
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Centers and Institutes, and General News
The seventh annual “Saturdays with the Saints” lecture series sponsored by the Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame will feature seven saints whose lives give witness to the mercy of God.
In Fifty Years with Father Hesburgh, Schmuhl paints warm portrait of former president
Author: Brittany Collins Kaufman
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Research, and General News
Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987, was one of the nation’s most influential figures in higher education and national affairs and a well-known figure on campus. In the 1960s, a student named Robert Schmuhl, covering what Father Hesburgh called “the student revolution” for the Associated Press, began what would be a lifelong relationship with the president. Schmuhl, now the Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Chair in American Studies and Journalism at Notre Dame, is the author of Fifty Years with Father Hesburgh: On and Off the Record, released Aug. 25 by University of Notre Dame Press.
Notre Dame’s Medieval Institute names Thomas E. Burman new director
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Internationalism, Centers and Institutes, Research, and Graduate Students
Thomas E. Burman, an esteemed scholar of medieval Christianity and Islam, has been named the Robert Conway Director of the University of Notre Dame’s Medieval Institute. Burman, currently a professor of history at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will begin his new role in January 2017.
Three Questions with Latino Theologian Peter J. Casarella
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Internationalism, Centers and Institutes, Research, and General News
Peter Casarella, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame and interim director of Latin American/North American Church Concerns (LANACC), is a scholar of Latino theology. Before joining the Notre Dame faculty in 2013, he served as professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University where he was director of the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology. In an interview, he discusses his research, Pope Francis, and the future of Latin American/North American Church Concerns, of which he is interim director.
Rev. 'Monk' Malloy, Former Notre Dame President, Concludes His Three-Volume Memoir
The three-volume memoir of the University of Notre Dame’s president emeritus, Rev. Edward A.“Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., will be completed next month with the publication of Monk’s Tale: The Presidential Years: 1987-2005 by the University of Notre Dame Press.
Center for Theology, Science and Human Flourishing Appoints New Assistant Director
Author: Katie Zakas Rutledge
The Center for Theology, Science and Human Flourishing at the University of Notre Dame has named Rev. Terrence P. Ehrman, C.S.C., its assistant director of life sciences research and outreach. Ehrman will expand the center’s portfolio of life sciences research projects and oversee the center’s outreach efforts across campus and more broadly.
Video: Theology Professor Khaled Anatolios on Studying the Origins of Christian Doctrines
Author: Todd Boruff
“I tend to gravitate towards doctrines that seem inexplicable, and I try to understand what motivated the early Christians to formulate these doctrines in just these ways,” said Khaled Anatolios, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. Anatolios specializes in the theology of the early Church. As a Byzantine Catholic priest, he has a special interest in the doctrines of the Greek fathers as well as complementary ideas between the Eastern and Western traditions. His current research focuses on the doctrine of salvation, particularly the disconnect between classical sources and modern experience.
Notre Dame and Vatican Library Formalize Collaboration and Exchange Agreement
Categories: Catholicism, Internationalism, Centers and Institutes, Research, and General News
Notre Dame and the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, or Vatican Library, formalized a unique agreement of collaboration and exchange in a ceremony May 9 in the Hesburgh Room of the Morris Inn, where Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and Archbishop Jean-Louis Bruguès, O.P., archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, together signed a memorandum of understanding.
Notre Dame, Holy Cross lead transformational liberal arts education program at Indiana prison
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, General News, and Graduate Students
Driven by a commitment to Catholic social teaching and a strong belief that a liberal arts education can transform lives, Notre Dame and Holy Cross College faculty are teaching college-level courses for inmates at Indiana's Westville Correctional Facility. Since 2013, nearly 100 inmates have earned college credit and 11 have earned associate degrees as of this month. But developing a strong foundation in reading, writing, research, public speaking, and critical thinking offers benefits that go far beyond the professional opportunities a degree might one day provide.
Faculty Comment on Pope Francis' Letter, 'Amoris Laetitia'
Pope Francis released his apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”) in Rome on April 8. The document addresses such areas of Catholic Church doctrine as the admission of divorced and remarried Catholics to the sacrament of the Eucharist, same-sex relationships and cohabitation, all issues that arose, often controversially, during the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October. Here is what some people on the Notre Dame faculty are saying and thinking about “Amoris Laetitia.”
Theology Professor Wins Fellowship to Spend Year Researching in Jerusalem
Author: Brian Wallheimer
Gary Anderson, Hesburgh Professor of Catholic Theology at Notre Dame, will spend a year in Jerusalem working with an international group of scholars to better understand how early Jews, Christians, and Muslims read, understood, and interpreted the stories told in the Bible’s early chapters. Anderson is part of a team of scholars from North America, Israel, and Europe accepted this fall to conduct research at the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Forthcoming Book Tells the Story of Irish-Americans' Role in Ireland's Easter Rising of 1916
Author: Heather Gary
Robert Schmuhl is the Walter H. Annenberg-Edmund P. Joyce Professor of American Studies and Journalism at the University of Notre Dame. He received the 2014 Hibernian Research Award in support of his forthcoming book, Ireland’s Exiled Children: America and the Easter Rising, which will be released by Oxford University Press next month, just in time to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916.
‘Stakes Are High’ in Pope’s Visit to Mexico, Experts Say
Categories: Faculty News, Catholicism, Internationalism, Centers and Institutes, and General News
When Pope Francis travels to Mexico Feb. 12-17, he will visit six cities—including two in the state of Chiapas, Mexico’s poorest state—and will celebrate a Mass in Ciudad Juárez across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. The first pope from Latin America, where 40 percent of the world’s Catholics live, he will be touring the country that’s home to the second largest Catholic population in the world.
Professor, Cushwa Center Director Begins Leadership of American Catholic Historical Association
Pope Francis has ignited increased public interest in the future of the Catholic Church, and Kathleen Sprows Cummings hopes she can use that to remind people of the Church’s past. Cummings, an associate professor of American studies and history and the William W. and Anna Jean Cushwa Director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at Notre Dame, begins her term this month as vice president/president-elect of the American Catholic Historical Association.
Notre Dame Launches Initiative to Develop Better Catholic Preaching
Categories: Catholicism and General News
Notre Dame’s John S. Marten Program for Homiletics and Liturgics has embarked on a unique project specifically designed to strengthen Catholic preaching. The Rev. William A. Toohey, C.S.C., Notre Dame Preaching Academy, a five-year initiative funded by the Lilly Endowment of Indianapolis, has enrolled its first cohort of 23 priest-participants from Notre Dame’s founding religious order, the Congregation of Holy Cross, as well as from the archdioceses of Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky; and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana.
Economics Alumna is the Catholic Church’s Consultant in Chicago
Author: Bianca Almada
Categories: Catholicism, Alumni, and General News
Though Betsy Bohlen ’90 once enjoyed success as a partner at Chicago’s McKinsey and Co., the business leader always knew she eventually wanted to direct her efforts toward nonprofit work, especially within the Catholic Church. “There was a part of me that always felt that, one of these days, I would serve in a more nonprofit capacity,” Bohlen said. “I think there was a calling for me to do that, to apply my leadership skills there.” Today, she is the chief operating officer of the Archdiocese of Chicago, making her the highest ranking woman in Chicago’s Catholic Church.
Shamrock Series Academic Events to Tackle Irish History, Research on Poverty
A football game isn’t the only thing Notre Dame is bringing to Boston in late November. As part of a weekend of events surrounding the Shamrock Series, Notre Dame’s annual home-away-from-home football game, the College of Arts and Letters will host a pair of academic conversations the day before the Fighting Irish face Boston College at Fenway Park. Notre Dame historians will offer an interdisciplinary look at the impact of Irish immigration on American religious and political structures, as well as the role of the U.S. in the 1916 Easter Rising, while economists will discuss research initiatives that aim to change the way humanitarian services help the poor both domestically and abroad.
Catholic Intellectual Life: Student Perspectives
Author: Todd Boruff and Mary Haley
Categories: Catholicism, Undergraduate News, and General News
For students in the College of Arts and Letters, the unparalleled liberal arts education they receive is grounded in and enhanced by the Catholic intellectual life fostered on campus. Catholicism is an essential part of courses that every student takes, such as theology and philosophy, but it also serves as a background for all fields of study, from analyzing the consequences of poverty in an economics class to learning how to use design for social good. Students are encouraged to examine enduring questions and explore cultures and traditions across time and around the world.
Video: Betsy Bohlen ’90 on the Importance of the Liberal Arts and Catholic Leadership
“When I came to Notre Dame I had a sense that I wanted to have a business career, and I chose a liberal arts degree because I wanted a broader education,” said Betsy Bohlen ’90. She was named the first-ever chief operating officer of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2015, after serving as chief financial officer and in other senior advisory roles. Previously, she was a partner at McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm, where she worked for 16 years.
Video: Cross-Cultural Leadership Program Immerses Students in Latino Communities
Categories: Catholicism, Centers and Institutes, Undergraduate News, and General News
The Cross-Cultural Leadership Program (CCLP) is a three-credit, eight-week summer course administered by Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies. This service learning experience immerses students in organizations serving Latino communities in either Chicago, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C. All living expenses are covered for the students during the program. “We’re able to go out into the community, speak Spanish, and really relate to the people on the ground level. I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said Gregory Jenn, a junior political science and Romance languages major.
Notre Dame Experts Await Pope Francis
When Pope Francis lands at Andrews Air Force Base on September 22, it will be the first time in a short pontificate and a long life that Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of Argentina, has ever set foot in the United States. His visit promises to be unprecedented in numerous other ways, and several University of Notre Dame scholars have been speculating on how.
Three Questions with Theologian Timothy Matovina
Pope Francis is due to arrive in America Sept. 22, his first trip to North America. He’s expected to address the growing influx of Latinos in the U.S. Catholic church while he’s here, including delivering several talks in Spanish. Timothy Matovina, professor of theology and co-director of the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, says Latinos have much to offer in the Church. Matovina teaches and studies Latino theology and Catholic history in America.
ACE to Send Forth 272 Catholic School Teachers and Leaders in Missioning Ceremonies
Author: William G. Schmitt
The University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education will send forth 272 Catholic school teachers and leaders to nearly 200 Catholic schools across the country in the annual Missioning Mass, capping two months of professional formation and spiritual renewal. The ceremony, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. July 24 in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, will celebrate and bless the next steps on the educators’ journeys back to their respective schools and classrooms.
Father Jenkins to Appear on Public Affairs Program ‘The Open Mind’
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, will be the guest on the 2015-16 season premiere of The Open Mind, the longest-running public affairs program in public television history. A member of the Commission on Presidential Debates, Father Jenkins will speak with host Alexander Heffner about moral education and the cure for incivility in an age of entrenched partisanship.
Faculty React to Pope’s Encyclical on Climate Change
University of Notre Dame faculty members continue to comment on the new encyclical Laudato Si, issued by Pope Francis in Rome on June 18. In an op-ed in Wednesday’s Chicago Tribune, Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., writes that, “It is characteristic of this pope to speak as the Catholic leader but to seek to build bridges to all people who promote friendship and cooperation serving the good of all.”
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Love of Appalachian Literature Inspires Student Research
Author: Joanna Basile
Pride in his cultural heritage and a love of literature prompted Matthew Coyne—a Notre Dame senior majoring in English—to delve into the origins of the Appalachian literary journal Cold Mountain Review.
“My professors encouraged me to study what I love,” says Coyne, who was raised in Parkersburg, W.Va., a small town located in the heart of Appalachia. “So I did—and I haven’t looked back since.”
Indeed, Coyne used his summer last year to do research at Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, N.C., where three students founded Cold Mountain Review in the early 1970s. The trip was funded by an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) grant from Notre Dame’s Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts.
“My research asks what I consider to be important questions about how residents of Appalachia relate to the region, how they shape their identities, and what that means for the future of the area,” Coyne says. “As someone who grew up in West Virginia, this is something incredibly important to me.”
Chronicling a Literary Community
Coyne set three goals for his UROP project: thoroughly study the works and histories of the journal and its early writers, interview as many of the founding authors as possible, and turn the research into a paper suitable for submission to an academic journal.
Although each of the journal’s founding authors has received some academic attention, the influence they had on each other and literary society has never been adequately investigated, Coyne says.
“It was an exciting experience to know my work was filling in a gap in the field of Appalachian literary studies, a subject that means so much to me,” he says.
Coyne spent the first few weeks of his trip in ASU’s archives poring over all the information he could find about the journal. He then conducted an extensive interview with two of the founders.
“I learned a lot about the relationship between higher education and literary production in the Appalachian south,” he says. “I also was very interested to find that the literary community in Appalachian State’s graduate school in the 1970s more closely resembled the community of the Fugitive poets at Vanderbilt in the 1920s than it did the emerging culture of creative writing programs springing up across the country.”
After doing his initial research, Coyne donated his interview recordings and more than 40 pages of transcripts to the W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection archives at ASU’s Carol G. Belk Library. He also created an edited version of his interview, with introduction, which he submitted to Appalachian Journal, a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal published at ASU.
More Research on Appalachian Authors
Coyne says his summer research experience provided a good foundation for his senior thesis on West Virginia short story writer Breece D’J Pancake, who “shares many similarities” with the founders of Cold Mountain Review.
“Much of the scholarship with which I became familiar this summer will be a vital part of my thesis,” he says. “And the contacts I made at Appalachian State will certainly be useful as I work toward completing the thesis.”
Coyne says ASU English Professor Thomas McGowan, a Notre Dame alumnus, was a valuable resource throughout his research project. At Notre Dame, his senior thesis and summer research adviser, Kate Marshall, an assistant professor in the Department of English, has also served as a resource and mentor.
“Beyond the conversations we’ve had about literature in and outside of the classroom,” he says, “she has just been a great help as I try to get an idea of my future plans, whether that be in graduate school or something else.” Next year, Coyne will be working as a technical writer for a software company and hopes to, one day, pursue work in the publishing industry.
“But regardless of what I end up doing and where I end up doing it, I am committed to encouraging conversation in and about Appalachia,” Coyne says. “I hope my work will contribute to this purpose.”
Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts
Cold Mountain Review
Categories: Research, Undergraduate News, and General News
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All Star Activist
Blog of Eldon James Brown – San Francisco, California
About Me – Eldon James Brown
All posts for the day January 28th, 2015
Pakistan: Seeking Dignity for Women
Posted by Eldon J. Brown on January 28, 2015
Posted in: Passions. Tagged: Hina Jilani, Pakistan. Leave a comment
Hina Jilani (Lawyer and Human Rights Activist)
Pakistan: Seeking Dignity for All
“Women do not receive social support. The whole society has to work it out.”
“Children must be taught to live in a diverse society.”
Jan. 22, Thu.
The issue of human rights for women in Pakistan has drawn fresh attention since Malala Yousafzai was chosen to share last year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Yet violence and abuse against women are still serious social problems. Lawyer and human rights activist Hina Jilani has led the fight for human rights for Pakistan’s women for 30 years. She established Pakistan’s first all-female legal practice and helps women who have fled from abuse. She has received international recognition for her work and led the UN’s human rights agency. We ask Jilani how Pakistan can become a country where everyone’s human rights are guaranteed.
Somewhere in Lahore, there’s a facility guarded by armed police officers.
It’s a shelter for women started by Jilani. She named it Dastak, the Urdu word for “knock”. Her idea was to welcome anyone who knocks at the door. Sixteen women, including some with children, live there.
Today, “Asian Voices” comes to you from Lahore, Pakistan. Our guest has been fighting to protect the rights of her fellow women.
Hina Jilani is a lawyer and human rights activist. She’s been fighting to improve human rights in Pakistan for more than 30 years.
It was here in Pakistan that Malala Yousafzai, who shared last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, was shot.
Pakistan has long struggled with violence against women and children. Some women are even killed by family members.
Abuse Victim: “If an iron bar were lying there, he’d hit me with it. If he saw a laundry pole or brick, he’d use that.”
In 1980, Jilani opened the country’s first all-female law practice. She has stood at the forefront of Pakistan’s human rights movement ever since.
Jilani also runs a shelter for battered women and helps them become self-reliant.
She drew on her experiences to lead the UN agency that promotes human rights. Jilani also belongs to The Elders, a non-governmental group whose members include former heads of state.
Jilani: “When women are harmed, they do not receive social support as they should. The whole society has to sit down together and to work out.”
We ask Jilani how Pakistan can become a country where the rights of all members of society are respected.
Late last year when we visited Pakistan, soldiers were on the alert and tensions were running high.
The trigger was an incident in December in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
An Islamic extremist group called the Pakistani Taliban attacked a school run by the army.
The militants randomly opened fire on students, killing more than 150.
The deadly attack targeting children stunned the nation.
Protester: “Raise your fist! Beat the terrorists!”
The shootings sparked a wave of anger across Pakistan. People are saying “no” to terrorism.
The government responded by resuming executions of death-row inmates and is stepping up measures against terrorism.
Islamic extremists have threatened to strike back, leading to concerns of further attacks.
How can Pakistan break out of this cycle of violence?
Most recently, in Pakistan, there was a tragic incident in Peshawar, on December 16th. What was your initial reaction when you came across the news?
I think it was a shock that went throughout the nation. But I think people need to understand that this is not the first terrorist attack that Pakistan has suffered. We have had several hundred terrorist attacks in the past few years only. One of the things that came out of this attack in Peshawar is a national resolve that terrorism has to end. This resolve should have come much earlier. I do believe that this is not something that we are victims of. This is something that we created, and are now experiencing the aftermath of our own actions.
A key factor behind the rise of Islamic extremists in Pakistan was the former Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.
Muslim soldiers known as the Mujahideen used guerilla tactics to resist the Soviets.
The government of Pakistan joined the United States in backing them. Pakistan also trained soldiers to send to Afghanistan.
Even after Soviet troops withdrew, Pakistan maintained a close relationship with Taliban leaders. And Pakistanis influenced by the Taliban spread extremism in Pakistan.
Hina Jilani being interviewed by NHK Senior Commentator Aiko Doden
Because of what was happening in the region at that time with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a deliberate attempt was made to create in this region some kind of a religious fervor in order that they could gather forces to fight in Afghanistan against the Soviets. This was something that was done as a joint venture by both the Pakistan military and the Western countries. We are really reaping the results of what was done at that time.
Of course, these acts of atrocities needs to be condemned. But it does seem, having read the newspaper for the past few days, that there is an outcry from the public for the resumption of execution. Would that be a direct deterrence to such acts?
Absolutely not. I do believe that the death penalty is a controversial issue in this country. I am against the death penalty, especially in countries where there are such fraud justice systems that the finality of a death sentence is certainly not acceptable. In the context of Pakistan and terrorism, I don’t think that this is going to in any way affect our struggle in the elimination of terrorism. What we need to do is, first of all, review our foreign and defense policies. Make sure that there is nothing in Pakistan’s security doctrine or policy that depends on outsourcing war to Jihadists. And this policy of Jihadism be totally eliminated. I think those are the things that need to be done. We need to make sure that in our school curriculum, hate literature is totally eliminated. Children are taught to live in a plural and diverse society that we are in. They are to be taught the values of tolerance, of adjustment, and of accommodation of pluralism.
Jilani has dedicated her career to protecting human rights for women and children.
This is Jilani’s law practice in Lahore. About 40 women come each day for consultations.
Jilani: “Tell us everything. Don’t be afraid.”
They include this 27-year-old woman. She says her husband demanded a divorce, and then she was almost killed.
Client: “I was riding home when I was shot 3 times by a man in a car. My husband wanted to kill me. He tried by throwing whatever was at hand.”
The first thing Jilani does when a woman comes seeking help is to offer reassurance.
Client: “My husband is trying to kill me.”
Jilani: “We will protect you. Tell the local police you’re being threatened. We lawyers will help you.”
Jilani decides to provide shelter for the woman and sue her husband for her living expenses.
The law office has pictures depicting domestic violence against women.
This one shows a woman whose nose is being sliced off. In another, a husband threatens to pour acid on his wife. Many women put up with such abuse in silence. But Jilani wants to help them understand that it must end.
It’s quite brutal.
Jilani: “It’s very brutal, and unfortunately this is a society that has accepted and tolerated a lot of brutality against women over the years. We hope that they are paid attention to by men and women who are coming to this office.”
Cartoon depicting an actual crime against a Pakistani wife.
Jilani is especially troubled by “honor killings.” For instance, a woman who marries a man without her family’s consent may be killed by her father or other relatives for tarnishing the family’s honor.
Last May, a 25-year-old woman was beaten to death with bricks by her father and other male relatives.
She married someone different from the man her family had chosen, and became pregnant.
In 2013, there were nearly 870 confirmed honor killings in Pakistan. But many cases are treated as family matters and are never reported to the police.
Many people say they approve of honor killings.
Man: “Those who don’t restore the family’s honor aren’t real men. Honor is a pillar of our society.”
What factors do you think have been becoming great in the actual crimes of violence, honor killing in particular, in this country?
I think it’s mostly a social mindset that ordains control over women’s sexuality, over their autonomy. When women exercise their right of choice, women exercise their right to make a decision for themselves and to determine their own future, it is then that the family and the society react. You see, the perception here is that women are the property of the family.
They can be bartered away, their rights can be easily violated, the practices that lead to killings in the name of so-called honor because I believe that there is no honor in killing anyone. Then there are other issues that they link with this kind of feeling of honor, such as a view that women should not be in the public domain. Working women have been killed only because they went into the public domain without the consent of the family. So these are the kinds of things. As long as you can control women, and make sure that they do what you want them to do. For instance, there are these absolutely unacceptable practices of bartering women. If you have a family dispute, you will give away a woman as a compensation for resolving the dispute. So these kinds of practices, although now much less frequent, still exists. The problem of women is acute in this country and I have to say I’ve had several times when I have thought that the female population in this country is a population at risk.
In the cases of honor killings that can often happen, where the perpetrators of crimes can go about, set free.
We have laws that are deeply flawed. In cases of honor killing, there is, in fact complete impunity, which is supported by the law itself. And therefore, even the judiciary and the justice system cannot deliver justice to victims of honor killings.
Could you elaborate a little?
The general law of murder here is such where the family of the victim can forgive the accused. Now imagine a situation where a woman is killed by her own father or mother or brother. When she dies, her heirs are the same as those who have killed her and they forgive each other and the law is satisfied. This is the height of injustice.
You also speak about the culture of impunity. What do you mean by that?
The culture of impunity comes firstly because of the mindset of the society where what is unjust is not even recognized as unjust and people’s perception of justice has to be corrected. The rule of law is weak. State capacity to eliminate impunity and to ensure that people who suffer do get redressed, but that capacity is extremely weak and the political will is not there. It is a divided society, it is a class stratified society where influence and contacts, at many times, work in favor of those that do injustice and those that perpetrate fear and harm to other citizens.
Now, in the face of all the threats, you have relentlessly worked for the cause and continued your activism. And I understand it was in this office that you yourself were threatened.
Yes, there have been several such incidents. One such incident of course was the most extreme where one of my clients was killed right next to me by her own family unfortunately. When outside agencies organize themselves and form associations to protect women and other victims of family violence, the anger of the family and the society turns to these people. So then we have human rights defenders, especially women human rights defenders, who become the target of hatred, of violence. And hence human rights work, especially for women’s rights, has become a very dangerous business in such societies, especially mine.
Jilani: “Your pain is ours, too. We are in this together.”
Resident 1: “I’m relieved.”
Jilani: “We wish you well.”
Many of the residents fled abusive husbands. And some came after refusing marriages arranged by their families.
Could you tell me about your story?
Resident 2: “My parents forced me to get engaged to a relative. I was confined, and wasn’t allowed to see or talk to anyone. And they cursed at me.”
Women at the shelter can learn sewing, cooking, and accessory making. And as they fight in court, they prepare for the day they will stand on their own feet.
T-shirts and bags they make are sold in the neighborhood. This deepens the practical aspects of their training.
The children receive lessons similar to those taught at regular schools. Some of the funding for these activities comes from international NGOs and other groups.
A talk for shelter residents is held every two weeks. Jilani encourages the women to live independently.
Resident 3: “I was kicked out of my father’s house and lived at my uncle’s.”
Jilani: “Don’t waste your time while you’re here. Please study and train hard. Someday you must leave the shelter. Your future is important. Don’t forget that.”
Victims of domestic violence crafting to support themselves and their children.
You have this law office to provide the legal assistance and support, and you have also established a shelter to provide support for women in distress.
This shelter that we have actually started from my observation of the fact that while we are giving legal aid, that’s not the end of the problem for women. I am extremely worried about the fact that when women are harmed, they do not receive social support as they should. I am extremely worried that when women are harmed they do not have enough knowledge and information on what can be done to help them. Also I’m worried that sometimes when women come to us, we have very few tools in our hands to help them because as I said, the legal framework is inadequate many times. But more than the legal framework, the problem is that the state’s duty to protect is not complemented by the state actually setting up state mechanisms on the ground which can help victims. We have never refused a woman admission in this shelter.
We have certain criteria, but we try and accommodate as many as we possibly can. But at the same time, I know that the need for these shelters is much greater than what we are providing.
What are the priorities in encouraging those women in distress to be relieved of trauma and to rebuild their life?
So the first thing that we do is to inspire that woman and give her some confidence. Get her some psychological help so that she can overcome the trauma, show her the way in which she can resettle herself. And that the families or others who are seeking to harm them also then would know that this woman is not powerless. She has support, she can be helped, and she has become empowered because of that support.
NHK Senior Commentator Aiko Doden.
And it does seem like it’s a question of regaining one’s dignity.
The slogan of this shelter is “protection with dignity”, which means you do not give women protection by taking away all their other fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of movement, which is the policy largely of most of the public shelters in this country. I started this shelter with this vow that whatever I have to do and whatever I have to overcome, I will never put these women in a situation where they feel that their freedom of movement has been curtailed. These are adult-thinking, sub-juris, women. They have the right to make their choices. We are only there to help them and advice them when they need it.
This is a farming community in the suburbs of Lahore. We visited a former shelter resident who now supports herself.
49-year old Zainab Bibi makes a living by sewing. She used to suffer severe abuse from her husband almost daily.
Bibi: “If an iron bar were lying there, he’d hit me with it. If he saw a laundry pole or brick, he’d use that. When I got to the shelter, my head was bleeding and my leg was broken.”
Bibi stayed at the shelter for a year until her divorce was finalized. She later married someone else. With little money she had, she purchased a secondhand sewing machine and began working. Today she earns about 60 dollars a month, the average wage in this area.
So how is your life now?
Bibi: “Now I support myself. I can act as I wish. I feel free. I am happy now.”
After Bibi left the shelter, she was followed around for some time by her ex-husband. But her sense of danger has gradually diminished because she covers her face completely when she goes out.
Bibi: “My ex-husband didn’t recognize me because I hid my face. And I used to be thin, but I’m fat now.”
Zainab Bibi, successful graduate of the shelter now self employed.
When I met one of the graduates of the shelter, Zainab Bibi, I felt that she was really standing on her own feet. No, she did not fight for her rights by force, but it seems as though she fought for it by empowering herself.
That’s true. That’s true and all we can do is to help them empower themselves. Once they get this sense of empowerment, they’re capable of doing whatever they feel like. Many such women have been able to resettle themselves, despite the fact that the families have not been able to accept them again. They have not been able to go back to their families with the promise of safety within that family environment, but they have been able to do well themselves.
Female literacy rate in Pakistan is rather low, and the gap between the male and female literacy is very big, one of the largest in the world as well. That is not totally unrelated to the status of women perhaps?
Absolutely. I think it is a very major factor. However let me point out that although I am all for this concept that education helps build societies, education must not be equated with awareness. This is not an unaware society. Women are becoming more and more aware. Unfortunately, we are not targeting the society and the communities at large. If you just target women, they will become aware but then they will have this friction with the society whose level of awareness has not been raised parallel to that of women. It is a fact that if you treat women right, it is not just important for the women themselves, but it is important for the society itself.
In the face of threats and violence how do you keep yourself going all these years?
Look, there is no option. There is no option. How can you live in a country and a society? Look at all the injustice around you and turn your face away, how can you do it? I’m a lawyer, my first responsibility is to use my profession to strengthen social and legal remedies, and make it easier for people to live. I live in this society. I’m not necessarily doing it for everyone else. I’m doing it for myself too.
You have articulated many of the challenges that Pakistan faces, but if I were to see any hope, a ray of hope in advancing women’s rights, what would that be?
I think it would be a constant struggle. I don’t think the society’s ever become ideal. Nevertheless, to bring them to a state where discrimination and equality of opportunity exists would be a great accomplishment. People like us, human rights defenders, have patience and we invest a lot in the struggles. For us, success, although a very coveted achievement, is only a bonus.
So, in the future, where would your activities take you to? If I came back to Pakistan the next year and conducted an interview, would you still be saying it’s a constant struggle?
I will still be saying that there is a way forward to go. We have a lot to deal, to do. The day that I feel it is easier to do it will be the day that you will, perhaps, one day come and ask me and I will say I am still doing the same thing. But today, it’s easier than it was yesterday, and I hope that day will come. The struggle is there, we will always struggle. We just hope that it will become less and less painful.
Well thank you very much, Ms. Jilani.
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I’m being set up with false narratives and “straw men” July 6, 2019
I’m still here, now an ex-inmate but free and OK so far June 17, 2019
Still OK, sort of… April 25, 2019
Stupid cowards can be tedious April 8, 2019
Still OK Saturday 6th, 2019 April 7, 2019
If you don’t hear from me every Saturday, you’ll know I’ve been murdered… April 5, 2019
The so called attack on alternative media April 3, 2019
Somewhere over God’s rainbow February 25, 2019
The specialized person December 23, 2018
Life as a Sigma male December 19, 2018
Thank you doll… December 17, 2018
Plight of the Hero December 14, 2018
My narrative belongs to me alone December 5, 2018
Mission Navigation Center (1950 Mission St.) December 5, 2018
And the torture continues… September 1, 2018
Volunteering and community service August 24, 2018
SF Public Defender’s Office politically corrupted (repost) April 28, 2018
I am no longer a resident of the All Star Hotel April 19, 2018
Don’t take your family into the forrest February 24, 2018
Legal and trusted December 16, 2017
Meet the Targeted Individual Community – Vice December 9, 2017
I’m Still Here December 1, 2017
SF Public Defender’s Office politically corrupted November 22, 2017
Refuse To Participate In The Charade July 6, 2017
Missing my Mom June 8, 2017
A little more about me… June 8, 2017
Friends and the Targeted Individual June 8, 2017
UPDATE: 05-16-2017_Still coming to terms with my mother’s murder and death May 16, 2017
The Deep State Murdered My Mother Linda Goodmoney part 1 March 29, 2017
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My other blog: Justice for Jacqueline and Janessa Greig
Rest In Peace Sweet Mother And Daughter
Five years after CPUC Ratepayer Advocate Jacqueline Greig’s murder, PG&E increasing rates to highest level since 2006
September 9th was the fifth anniversary of the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion that killed (murdered) CPUC Gas Ratepayer Advocate Mrs. Jacqueline (Jackie) Greig and her thirteen year old daughter, Janessa. Mrs. Greig was the head of her department and was in charge of approving a 3.6 billion dollar rate increase proposal submitted by PG&E […]
My Visit To The Memorial At The CPUC
PG&E: Federal criminal charges likely in San Bruno explosion
Alan Wang (KGO Reporter) SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — PG&E is waiting to get hit with criminal charges. The federal government is expected to go after the utility for that pipeline disaster in San Bruno more than three years ago. The gas explosion was always a crime in the eyes of Gayle Masuno whose 87-year old […]
I Don’t Want To Look At Another Picture
Well, I just finished the story about attending the Subcommittee meeting and I must say, it wasn’t easy. It was difficult for several reasons but most of them had to do with me being new to blogging, especially this particular template that you see here. Even though both of my blogs are on WordPress (which […]
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Archive for the ‘Propaganda’ Category
War is A Racket!!!!!!!
By Neil Foster – the Sovereign Independent –
I think anyone reading this now, even if they are new to the information on our site, would have to admit we’re going through extraordinary times.
We’re suffering financial implosion and facing poverty unseen in our countries for decades if not longer, under the guise of ‘austerity’, a planned austerity by those who control the purse strings of governments; the international banking elite.
Until recently we were involved in two wars in the Middle East under the delusion that primarily in Afghanistan, we were looking for a multi-millionaire who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks from a cave in the Tora Bora mountain ranges on the Pakistani/Afghan border.
Subsequently there followed the invasion of Iraq, allegedly to stop Saddam Hussein attacking the West with weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes according to Tony Blair.
Neither Osama bin Laden nor the alleged weapons of mass destruction have been found to this day some 10 years on from the invasion of Afghanistan and 8 years on from the invasion of Iraq yet nobody has been held to account for the lies and deception which have led to the deaths of thousands of troops and hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. The only casualty in Britain it would seem was Dr. David Kelly who exposed the lie of WMD’s and was found murdered in the woods close to his home a short time later.
Let’s be realistic here, the war in Afghanistan, dressed up as the ‘War on Terror’ was a distraction whilst the power elite conditioned and propagandised the public, particularly in Britain and the US, for the later invasion of Iraq; planned well before 9/11 happened.
Even the notion that the military went to hunt down Osama bin Laden is laughable if it weren’t so deadly for the tens of thousands of innocent civilians who’ve been murdered in Afghanistan and Pakistan by our so called ‘democratic’ governments, the same democratic governments who selective deafness as a justification to ignore the will of the people, their employers, who marched in their hundreds of thousands across the Western world in a vain attempt to voice their protest at these illegal acts being carried out in their names and which was ultimately futile as the puppet politicians carried out the orders of their elite masters of the parallel world government.
Now we’re becoming involved in a war on Libya which I’m sure will also lead to the colonisation, or at minimum, partition of that sovereign country into two separate states, with the public already being conditioned to the idea that Syria is the next ‘rogue state’ which must be ‘democratised’ by the West with Iran to follow.
The following passage is from a document titled: “Rebuilding America’s Defences: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century”
When their missiles are tipped with warheads carrying nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, even weak regional powers have a credible deterrent, regardless of the balance of conventional forces. That is why, according to the CIA, a number of regimes deeply hostile to America – North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria – “already have or are developing ballistic missiles” that could threaten U.S allies and forces abroad. And one, North Korea, is on the verge of deploying missiles that can hit the American homeland. Such capabilities pose a grave challenge to the American peace and the military power that preserves that peace.
The passage above would seem to contradict itself with its admission that;
“…even weak regional powers have a credible deterrent…”
And following that by stating that;
“…North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria – “already have or are developing ballistic missiles” that could threaten U.S allies and forces abroad.”
You don’t ‘threaten’ with a ‘deterrent’. You deter aggressors from attacking you. None of the countries above have invaded and permanently occupied another sovereign nation.
“The ability to control this emerging threat through traditional non-proliferation treaties is limited when the geopolitical and strategic advantages of such weapons are so apparent and so readily acquired.”
Again, a ‘deterrent’ is not a threat.
The Clinton Administration’s diplomacy, threats and pleadings did nothing to prevent first India and shortly thereafter Pakistan from demonstrating their nuclear capabilities. Nor have formal international agreements such as the 1987 Missile Technology Control Regime done much to stem missile proliferation, even when backed by U.S. sanctions; in the final analysis, the administration has preferred to subordinate its non-proliferation policy to larger regional and country-specific goals. Thus, President Clinton lamented in June 1998 that he found sanctions legislation so inflexible that he was forced to “fudge” the intelligence evidence on China’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Pakistan to avoid the legal requirements to impose sanctions on Beijing.
In this passage we clearly see that Bill Clinton lied or doctored intelligence data by his own admission, an act strangely reminiscent of war criminals, Tony Blair and George W. Bush, ‘sexing up’ the ‘intelligence reports to justify the war in Iraq which as mentioned earlier was exposed by Dr. David Kelly which cost him the ultimate price.
The interesting thing about this section of the document, an official government document, is the choice of countries seen as threat to the US and their allies.
Leaving aside North Korea, although I’m sure they’ll be targeted sometime in the future, we see that Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria are the four countries deemed most dangerous to the ‘peace’.
Well, Iraq has already been invaded and occupied on the lie of weapons of mass destruction and is in turmoil in what appears to be a never ending horror show. A war on Iran was mooted not so long ago by the US who made accusations about the usual suspects of ‘nuclear weapons of mass destruction’ in the hands of demons. This didn’t quite stick though and that particular inevitable war has been put on hold for somewhat easier conquests.
We’ve invaded Libya under the guise of again, weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons, human shields etc., etc., etc., with the need for airstrikes by aircraft from Britain, the US and France which are already dropping their own version of weapons of mass destruction, depleted uranium munitions, on military targets and those very civilians they’re apparently there to protect from government attack. They’re more commonly called collateral damage as part of the dehumanising process when you can’t admit back home that your ‘brave’ pilots are basically blowing to pieces innocent men, women and children in the blind belief that they’re bring democracy to them or perhaps just because they enjoy it. They are the ‘Playstation generation’ after all.
It’s all just a big plan, a big plan well worked out a long time ago. Wars don’t happen by accident.
Did anyone ask them if they wanted this fraud called ‘democracy’? No!
I’m sure they don’t like living under tyrants either, but then the West gave them those too, plus the weapons to use on them, so perhaps it would be far better for those countries to have some honest attempts to help them within their own borders without resorting to butchery at every opportunity.
What makes this war slightly different however is that, for the first time in history, the United Nations has declared war on a sovereign state with no legitimate authority to do so. It’s ironic that an undemocratic and unelected private organisation can declare war on a sovereign state on the basis of imposing democracy on that nation, which in itself is an oxymoron. If there is any legitimate form of democracy, surely it can’t be ‘imposed’?
But then again, if you have all the armies with all the weapons at your disposal, you rule the roost it would appear; so let’s not fool ourselves into believing that this new illegal war has anything to do with giving freedom or ‘democracy’ to the Libyan people. It’s simply another example of imperialistic thuggery to capture further valuable resources from the region and also to install another puppet regime to further drag a once moral people into a degraded society to amalgamate it with the already debased and debauched West.
So whilst we watch the video game that is the new war in Libya, let’s keep an eye on the coming war in Syria and the future war in Iran to ensure that the New World Order jackboot marches on.
Oh and by the way, in case you’ve forgotten, Japan suffered its biggest earthquake on record recently and the subsequent tsunami destroyed nuclear power plants leading to a cloud of radiation flowing across the planet, but we’re supposed to have forgotten that and moved onto the latest crisis now haven’t we? Whatever next? I wonder!
The True Face of the Iraqi and Libyan War. Is This How We Want Our Children and Grandchildren to Remember Our Generation?
UAE And Qatar Pledge Aircraft In Libya Conflict, As Iran Calls On Saudi, UAE To Leave Bahrain Immediately
Iran war would end humanity: Castro
Dear friend of Democracy in Ireland
Climate Scientists Deepening Skepticism of Democracy
Short URL: http://oneworldscam.com/?p=14310
America’s Planned Nuclear Attack on Libya (worldtruthtoday.com)
Libya: A replay of Iraq? (worldtruthtoday.com)
John Bolton Thinks US Action In Libya Should Have Been Unilateral (crooksandliars.com)
Posted in 911 missing links, alternative news, DEPOPULATION, false flag terrorism, Government lies, HAARP, HUMANITY, Lybia non crisis, Mass Mind Control, New_World_Order, NWO, Propaganda | Tagged: 2003 invasion of Iraq, George W. Bush, Iraq War, Osama Bin Laden, Tony Blair, United States, War in Afghanistan (2001–present), Weapon of mass destruction | 4 Comments »
Understand the very real planned and growing NEW WORLD ORDER:
THE NEW WORLD ORDER (Novus Ordo Seclorum): Globalist elites (operating through organisations including the Bilderberg Group, Royal Institute of International Affairs, Council on Foreign Relations, Tri-lateral Commission, World Bank, WTO, United Nations, European Union, NAFTA, the Club of Rome and others) have collectively sworn to bring about their long-term plan of “post-industrial revolution,” which is nothing less than the wholesale destruction of the Western industrial base, a single global currency & centralised financial control, the liquidation of the middle class as a social group and the micro-chipping of the general population. The people of the Western World are in the middle of a profoundly disturbing social engineering exercise that most are ignorant of, even though many sense that something is not quite right with their society. Led by plutocrats following a long-standing plan, the globalist political elite are waging a covert campaign of aggressive disorientating assault against its populations using propaganda, divide-and-rule and other mass-manipulation techniques. These elites are all traitors to their respective countries, guilty of high treason and of high crimes and misdemeanours. They are attempting to achieve this goal using Hegllian techniques to produce their own new order out of chaos (order ab chao): they create repeated false-flag terror events like 9-11, exaggerated & false environmental scares and international finacial crashes so that, as anticipated, a gulllible and suffering populous clamour for the globalist ‘solutions’ that are already prepared. Those solutions are covertly designed to transfer power to a global plutocracy and remove liberty from the people. Those lesser individuals lower down in the power pyramid that assist the globalists are secretly referred to as “useful idiots” by their elite masters: who co-opt them by deceitful pretence that their actions are for the good of all humanity.
Step by step, the elites’ goal, in their own words (see below), is a one-world plutocratic government of ‘scientific dictatorship’ in which democratic participation will be meaningless, resistance will not be tolerated and global population will be reduced to less than 20% of its current levels. This will be achieved first by continental geo-political merging (European Union, NAFTA etc) leading to global merging (One World Government). and totalitarian control. Ordinary people will be increasingly relocated into city population-centres and excluded from the countryside in the continuation of a plan initiated through the current United Nations Agenda-21.
Take note; If YOU are a bureacrat, businessman, policeman or soldier or professional of any kind that is helping to build this system then you urgently need to see the bigger picture and do the population math: what you are deceived into doing as a “useful idiot” is constructing a global gulag in which YOUR children and YOUR grandchildren will be enslaved – IF they survive at all in a programme that will reduce global population by some 80% or more…
This anti-democratic nightmare can be and must be stopped (see below).
…If you think the Globalists NWO scenario/plan is not real and not relentlessly progressing then you simply have not studied the elites’ own words and actions (and the mainstream media has been actively and passively engineering your ignorance of such matters) – a mere introductory selection of which follows:
“We are grateful to the Washington Post, the New York Times, Time magazine, and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promise of discretion for almost forty years. . . It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards World Government. The supra-national sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries.”
David Rockefeller, founder of the Trilateral Commission, in a private June 1991 Trilateral Commission meeting: quoted from page 405 in his book ‘Memoirs’ published in 2002, Chapter ‘Proud Internationalists’. He goes on:
“Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as internationalists and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure, One World if you will. If that’s the charge, I stand guilty and I am proud of it.”
“The implications of the transfer of full sovereignty from separate nations to a World Organization. . .Political unification in some sort of World Government will be required. . .Even though. . . any radical eugenics policy will be for many years politically and psychologically impossible, with the greatest care, and that the public mind is informed of the issues at stake so that much that now is unthinkable may at least become thinkable.” Julian Huxley
“We are not going to achieve a new world order without paying for it in blood as well as in words and money.” Prominent Council on Foreign Relations member, Arthur Schlesinger, July/August 1995: In the CFR’s Foreign Affairs Magazine.
“There are three ways of securing a society as regards population. The first is that of birth control, the second that of infanticide or really destructive wars, and the third that a scientific world society cannot be stable unless there is a World Government. . .Unless. . . one power of group of powers emerges victorious and proceeds to establish a single government of the world with a monopoly of armed force, it is clear that the level of civilization must continually decline. . .” Bertrand Russell
“A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present levels, would be ideal.” Ted Turner, founder of CNN and major UN donor
“This plan is to establish — very soon — the first stages of a ‘new world order.’ This will be the novus ordo seclorum for which a self-perpetuating inner circle of Conspirators has been working and scheming relentlessly during some six generations….” World Federalists, September 1972.
“The common enemy of humanity is man. In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill. All these dangers are caused by human intervention, and it is only through changed attitudes and behavior that they can be overcome. The real enemy then, is humanity itself.” Club of Rome, premier environmental think-tank, consultants to the United Nations.
“Isn’t the only hope for the planet that the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isn’t it our responsiblity to bring that about?” Maurice Strong, founder of the UN Environment Programme.
“… the resultant ideal sustainable population is hence more than 500 million but less than one billion.” Club of Rome, Goals for Mankind.
“Marxism represents a further vital and creative stage in the maturing of man’s universal vision. Marxism is simultaneously a victory of the external, active man over the inner, passive man and a victory of reason over belief… Human beings become increasingly manipulable and malleable… Today we are again witnessing the emergence of transnational elites… whose ties cut across national boundaries… The nation-state is gradually yielding its sovereignty… Further progress will require greater American sacrifices. More intensive efforts to shape a new world monetary structure will have to be undertaken…” Zbigniew Brzezinsk – Between Two Ages: America’s Role in the Technetronic Era, published 1970. Brezinski is a CFR member who became the first director of the Trilateral Commission, President Carter’s national security advisor and leading foreign affairs advisor to President Obama.
“Childbearing should be a punishable crime against society, unless the parents hold a government license. All potential parents should be required to use contraceptive chemicals, the government issuing antidotes to citizens chosen for childbearing.” David Brower, first Executive Director of the Sierra Club.
“We need to get some broad based support, to capture the public’s imagination… So we have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements and make little mention of any doubts… Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest.” Prof. Stephen Schneider, Stanford Professor of Climatology, lead author of many IPCC reports.
“Europe’s nations should be guided towards the superstate without their people understanding what is happening. This can be accomplished by successive steps, each disguised as having an economic purpose, but which will eventually and irreversibly lead to federation.” Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet (1888-1979) the “chief architect” of the European Unity and a “Founding Father” of the European Union Superstate plan.
“We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis…” David Rockefeller, Club of Rome executive member.
Carroll Quigley was the Georgetown Professor who was the official historian of the Secret Conspiratorial Society plotting World Empire, whose outward expression is often called the Anglo-American Establishment, the de-facto Shadow Government of the Western World. Quigley said that the Will of the Power Elite is made manifest in the real world by its control of the credit of nations. Moreover, that the ultimate aim of the Dark Force, the Big Plan of the Invisible Money Power is:
” … nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole … controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent private meetings and conferences.”
“Democracy is not a panacea. It cannot organize everything and it is unaware of its own limits. These facts must be faced squarely. Sacrilegious though this may sound, democracy is no longer well suited for the tasks ahead. The complexity and the technical nature of many of today’s problems do not always allow elected representatives to make competent decisions at the right time.” Club of Rome, The First Global Revolution.
“The [global warming] models are convenient fictions that provide something very useful.” Dr David Frame, climate modeler, Oxford University.
“Effective execution of Agenda 21 will require a profound reorientation of all human society, unlike anything the world has ever experienced a major shift in the priorities of both governments and individuals and an unprecedented redeployment of human and financial resources. This shift will demand that a concern for the environmental consequences of every human action be integrated into individual and collective decision-making at every level.” UN Agenda 21.
“Today, Americans would be outraged if UN troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow, they will be grateful! This would especially be true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated that threatened our very existence. Is is then that all people of the world will please to deliver them from this evil. The one thing man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to then by a World Government.” Henry Kissinger at the World Affairs Council Press Conference, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel , April 19th 1994. He goes on:
“The New World Order cannot happen without U.S. participation, as we are the most significant single component. Yes, there will be a New World Order, and it will force the United States to change it’s perceptions.”
“The spiritual sense of our place in nature… can be traced to the origins of human civilization… The last vestige of organized goddess worship was eliminated by Christianity.” Al Gore, Earth in the Balance.
“Let the U.N. establish new agencies such as an International Criminal Court….National sovereignty would be gradually eroded until it is no longer an issue. Eventually a world federation can be formally adopted with little resistance.” World Federalist Association – The Genius of Federation: Why World Federation Is the Answer to Global Problems, 1994.
“It doesn’t matter what is true, it only matters what people believe is true.” Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace.
“Saying the world should not debate who won the Cold War, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev called… for the United states and Soviet Union to be partners in building a new world order…” Mikhail Gorbachev speaking at Stanford University, USA – quoted by Sentinel wire services Jun 5 1990.
“Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective – a New World Order – can emerge. . . Now, we can see a New World Order coming into view. A world in which there is a very real prospect for a New World Order. . .A world where the United Nations, freed from a Cold War stalemate, is poised to fulfill the historic vision of its founders.” March 6th, 1991, George Bush Sr. Address to Congress.
“My vision of a New World Order forsees a UN with a revitalized peacekeeping function. It is the sacred principles enshrined in the UN charter to which we henceforth pledge our allegiance.” February 1st, 1992, Goerge Bush Sr.
“Now, our President faces greater tasks. And he must have help from like-minded men and women in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate who can help him establish the “new world order” he seeks.” A quote from an invitation sent to Republican contributors throughout the United States in May 1991.
“The only way to get our society to truly change is to frighten people with the possibility of a catastrophe.” Emeritus professor Daniel Botkin.
“All countries are basically social arrangements….No matter how permanent or even sacred they may seem at any one time, in fact they are all artificial and temporary….Perhaps national sovereignty wasn’t such a great idea after all….But it has taken the events in our own wondrous and terrible century to clinch the case for world government.” July 20, 1992, Time magazine: “The Birth of the Global Nation” by Strobe Talbott (Rhodes scholar roommate of Bill Clinton at Oxford University, CFR director, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace board of directors member, and Trilateralist from a wealthy Ohio investment banking family).
“The goal now is a socialist, redistributionist society, which is nature’s proper steward and society’s only hope.” David Brower, founder of Friends of the Earth.
“In my view, after fifty years of service in the United Nations system, I perceive the utmost urgency and absolute necessity for proper Earth government. There is no shadow of a doubt that the present political and economic systems are no longer appropriate and will lead to the end of life evolution on this planet. We must therefore absolutely and urgently look for new ways.” Dr Robert Muller, UN Assistant Secretary General.
August 26, 1992, The New York Times publishes “The World Needs an Army on Call” by U.S. Senator David Boren (Rhodes Scholar 1963, CFR member, and member of the elite “Skull and Bones” Secret Society) in which he states: “In the aftermath of World War II, President Truman wanted to empower the United Nations to create a new world order… Richard Gardner proposes that forty to fifty member nations contribute to a rapid-deployment force of one hundred thousand volunteers that could train under common leadership… It is time for us to create such a force… The existence of such a force would go a long way toward making the “new world order” more than just a slogan.”
Jan 13, 1993: Confirmation hearings are held for CFR member Warren Christopher’s nomination to be Secretary of State. He and Senator Joseph Biden discuss the possibility of NATO becoming a peacekeeping surrogate for the U.N. (as later happened in Bosnia) “to foster the creation of a new world order.”
“A massive campaign must be launched to de-develop the United States. De-development means bringing our economic system into line with the realities of ecology and the world resource situation.” Paul Ehrlich, Professor of Population Studies and scientific advisor to President George Bush.
“What Congress will have before it is not a conventional trade agreement but the architecture of a new international system….a first step toward a new world order.” July 18, 1993:. CFR member and Trilateralist Henry Kissinger writing in The Los Angeles Times concerning NAFTA.
“There has long been a hidden agenda to merge America and Russia under the New World Order.” The McAlvany Intelligence Advisor, March 1995, quoting Vladimir Zhirinovsky on Nov 9 1994 at a press conference at the U.N.
Billionaire financier George Soros at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, January 27, 1995 stated that the world needs a “new world order” and “I am here to alert you that we are entering a period of world disorder.”
“We require a central organizing principle – one agreed to voluntarily. Minor shifts in policy, moderate improvement in laws and regulations, rhetoric offered in lieu of genuine change – these are all forms of appeasement, designed to satisfy the public’s desire to believe that sacrifice, struggle and a wrenching transformation of society will not be necessary.” Al Gore, Earth in the Balance.
The 1995 report, “Our Global Neighborhood” by The Commission on Global Governance (partly funded by the U.N. Development Program and endorsed by the U.N. Secretary-General) states: “A new world order must be organized… Global governance is the way we manage global affairs… nations have to accept that in certain fields, sovereignty has to be exercised collectively….We need to accept that there may be circumstances within countries when the security of people is so severely violated that external intervention becomes justified. We propose that the U.N. Charter be amended to permit intervention in such circumstances… We believe that there is a need for a highly trained U.N. Volunteer (military) Force… Accelerated progress must be made toward demilitarizing the international society… We strongly endorse community initiatives to … encourage the disarming of civilians…”
“The big threat to the planet is people: there are too many, doing too well economically and burning too much oil.” Sir James Lovelock, BBC Interview.
” if we are to avoid catastrophe, a system of world order –preferably a system of world government– is mandatory. The proud nations someday will… yield up their precious sovereignty.” A Reporter’s Life by Walter Cronkite, 1996.
“the World Trade Organization is creating a world government in which one organization which is totally unelected, wholly secretive….with the power to virtually override and local or national laws if those in any way inconvenience global corporations….It was a terrible shock (to those of us who supported Bill Clinton) when Clinton came in and GATT and NAFTA became the centerpieces of his policy….And in a sense, there was almost a seamless transition from President Bush to President Clinton in that regard….Our democracy has been rendered meaningless by big money. The truth is there are politicians (who) are owned lock, stock and barrel by the big money interests….Our elections create, to some extent, a facade of choice.” May 11 1996, David C. Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World (1995) and former Ford Foundation project specialist in Manila, interviewed by Journalist Joan Veon.
“My three main goals would be to reduce human population to about 100 million worldwide, destroy the industrial infrastructure and see wilderness, with it’s full complement of species, returning throughout the world.” Dave Foreman, co-founder of Earth First!
May 5, 1998, The New York Times publishes “The New World Order” by A. M. Rosenthal, in which he states: “The U.S., its democratic allies and major dictatorships are rapidly building a new world order… The U.S. gets to sell strategic material to China, offering as an extra a visit by the U.S. President to honor the Communist leaders and expand their power and political life span. Religious and political mavericks in the totalitarian partners of the new world order get prison, or death, often both. The press of the democracies gets to write about the growth of order in the new order. Other citizens of the democracies get to say costs of imported goods are down, how nice. Americans and Europeans may come to object for political or moral reasons, or because the new world order may after all cost them…”
“There is a chance for the President of the United States to use this (9-11) disaster to carry out … a new world order.” Gary Hart, at a televised meting organized by the CFR in Washington D.C. just after the 9-11 terror attack, Sept 14, 2001.
“For the first time in my life, I think the formation of some sort of world government is plausible, (and) would involve much more than cooperation between nations. It would be an entity with state-like characteristics, backed by a body of laws … a recent report from the Managing Global Insecurity (MGI) project, whose small U.S. advisory group includes John Podesta, the man heading Mr. Obama’s transition team and Strobe Talbott [Rhodes scholar], the president of the Brookings Institution, from which Ms. Rice [Rhodes scholar Susan Rice the US Ambassador to the UN] has just emerged … it talks about ‘global governance’ rather than world government, but Jacques Attali, an advisor to President Nicholas Sarkozy of France, argues that: ‘Global governance is just a euphemism for global government.’ … So, it seems, everything is in place. For the first time since homo sapiens began to doodle on cave walls, there is an argument, and opportunity and a means to make serious steps towards a world government.” Gideon Rachman: former BBC journalist, in an article entitled “And Now For A World Government” Financial Times.
Towards a new world order
Wondering Why all the Jobs are Going to China? – Because it Was Planned That Way!
Newsweek : The New World Order(Tribal ties—race, ethnicity, and religion are more important than borders)
New World Order or Feudalism of the 21st Century?
New World Order Quotes
Short URL: http://oneworldscam.com/?p=1136
World War III: One Nation at a Time (worldtruthtoday.com)
New World Order ? EndGame HQ full length version (theboldcorsicanflame.wordpress.com)
“What good fortune for the governments that the people do not think” – Adolf Hitler (angelbabe43.wordpress.com)
Fall of the Republic (promoteliberty.wordpress.com)
A leak of the real plan of the Globalist Elite? The Toronto Protocol (politics.ie)
Posted in BLOODLINES, CIA /NAZI, DEPOPULATION, EndTimes, FEDERAL RESERVE, FOURTH REICH OF THE RICH, fraud, George Orwell 1984, Government lies, H1N1 HOAX, HAARP, Illuminati, New_World_Order, NWO, POLICE STATE, Propaganda | Tagged: Club of Rome, European Union, New World Order, One World Government, Trilateral Commission, United Nations, United States, Western World, World Bank, World government | 5 Comments »
Why Nobody Trusts the Mainstream Media
Pj Research
Is it a problem that the top six media corporations dominate the information flow to most of the developed world?
Multi-billion SDR (Have the globalists imploded it yet? Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself). Multi-billion DOLLAR conglomerates, to use John Perkins‘ visualisation; “float around the globe like clouds”, with no loyalty to any particular nation, regardless if they have a head office in the very land mass in to which they pump warmongering patriotism and mainstream fear. Oh, and abdominal exerciser infomercials.
One of the issues is commercially driven, mass media serves a profit-hungry loyal to sponsors; meaning advertisers and government, not the public interest. There are bigger trends to consider too. Can history provide us any teachings?
Six Points
Six company names; Bertelsmann, NBC (Comcast / GE), Disney, News Corporation, Time Warner, and CBS (/ Viacom) summarise the biggest controllers of media and information flowing through our eyes and ears today.
It really is overwhelming to witness the power of a few men over all manner of worldwide media outlets, whether cinema, TV, DVD’s, print newspapers, magazines, cable TV, radio networks, or book publishing.
Wherever you look, editors are paid by their seniors make sure that certain topics are given attention, and other topics are not given attention. Do you think that a media mogul is ever going to run a devastating hit-piece about himself, should the truth make his position untenable? Of course not. Is it so hard to imagine that just as the wealthy and connected chiefs of these Orwellian empires would never act to hurt their personal interests, just as similarly they would never act to hurt their commercial interests? How about the commercial interests of their friends?
There is a Russian proverb: “Where money talks, the truth is silent.”
Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds You
So-called journalists and reporters have mortgages to pay and mouths to feed, just like the rest of us. When confronted with heart-wrenching choices between intuition-approved honesty, versus the grinding war machine of profit and power, it is easy to understand the how and why corporate slaves roll over and capitulate to even questionable ambitions of their paymasters.
Their paymasters too, are subject to the rules, policy, laws and pressured from their superiors and executives above them. With the influence of money, the few at the top dictate to an organisation marching in lock-step to serve the superior beneficiaries in the boardroom.
Stepping back to gain some perspective, it seems that the charted direction of these corporate owned media warehouses of BS, endlessly continues to consolidate both wealth and more importantly; power. Disregarding any ethics or morals along the way, the obvious trajectory from 50 major companies sharing the US media market in 1983, down to 14 in 1992, and 6 today, alarmingly points out the looming next phase clearly sought by the owners, which is a de-facto monopolistic integration in to a centrally controlled communist propaganda machine. As Mark Crispin Miller remarked in the excellent documentary; Orwell Rolls in His Grave (2003) –
Read More : Pj Research
Short URL: http://www.sovereignindependent.com/?p=15827
http://www.corbettreport.com/when-the-criminals-control-the-cameras/
http://www.pjresearch.com/why-nobody-trusts-the-mainstream-media
http://www.pjresearch.com/secret-media-empire
http://www.pjresearch.com/disinformation
Disinformation,Deception, Lies (angelbabe43.wordpress.com)
Getting mainstream US media to challenge Obama (gunnyg.wordpress.com)
Trust the Media – NOT! (economicnoise.com)
Why nobody trusts the mainstream media (tipggita32.wordpress.com)
Don’t Be Suckered by Mainstream Media Tsunami Reports (iflizwerequeen.com)
Posted in 1984, BLOODLINES, BRAINWASHED, Government lies, Media Lies, Propaganda | Tagged: John Perkins, Mark Crispin Miller, Mass media, NBC, News Corporation, Orwell Rolls in His Grave, Time Warner, United States | 2 Comments »
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In The News • July 28, 2017 August 2, 2017
Ground-breaking sets stage for new affordable housing on Columbia Pike – Inside NoVA – July 28, 2017
With the half-dismantled Arlington Presbyterian Church sanctuary serving as the backdrop, ground was broken July 27 for a new 173-apartment, $71 million mixed-use complex that aims to help stem the exodus of affordable rental units from the Columbia Pike corridor.
“This is without a doubt the most complex project we have ever undertaken – it takes many hands joining together to get it done,” said John Milliken, board chair of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH).
APAH will build the apartments on land in Alcova Heights that had been occupied for generations by the Presbyterian church. In 2012, church leaders approached the affordable-housing organization with a proposal to use the land for affordable housing.
“This is the most complex deal we’ve ever worked on,” said Art Bowen, managing director of rental housing for the Virginia Housing Development Corp., an arm of the state government. Perseverance of the interested parties through the process proves “Arlington County, by far, does more than any other locality in the state” in its efforts to create and retain affordable housing, Bowen said.
The parcel is located on the north side of Columbia Pike, a block west of South Glebe Road. Among the units will be nearly 70 of two and three bedrooms, plus 11 designed specially to meet the needs of residents with physical disabilities. The six-story, 165,000-square-foot project was designed by Rosslyn-based KGD Architecture. The new apartment complex, which also will include retail space, will be named “Gilliam Place” in honor of Ronda Gilliam (1906-70), a leader in the local community and the first African-American member of Arlington Presbyterian Church.
The new apartment building is slated to be completed by mid-2019.
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Tag: FGM
Global Health News Last Week
September 12, 2011 August 13, 2015 by ihsection, posted in News
September 5 was Labor Day.
POLITICS AND POLICY
The State Department has announced the official US Delegation to the UN High Level Meeting on NCDs, which will take place September 19-20.
Access to affordable lifesaving medicines will be threatened where they are needed most—in parts of the developing world—if the U.S.insists on implementing restrictive intellectual property policies in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, says Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders).
Sarah Boseley shares the great news that Kenya has officially made female genital mutilation illegal.
A federal appeals court in Virginia has dismissed two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon singled out sustainable development as the top issue facing the planet with the world’s seven billionth person expected to be born next month. Key to this was climate change, and he said time was running out with the population set to explode this century.
Thousands of proposed cuts in the US Congress could lead to significant cuts to USAID.
The Philippines reproductive health bill is still making its way through the senate. Meanwhile, 7 villages in Bataan, the Philippines have banned “artificial contraception” amid national debate over the bill.
A report co-authored by an Australian academic highlights the need for healthy ecosystems as the basis for sustainable water resources and stable food security for people around the world.
Sometime this fall, the world’s population will reach 7 billion people. Experts now forecast that by 2050, the population could be 10 billion. Some say those numbers should force policy makers to focus more intently on making family planning much more widely available in the developing world.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has put together a one day conference bringing together innovators and health workers to share ideas about ways to more easily deliver interventions.
It has been commonly held that insecticide treated bed nets reduce the rate of malaria for people who use them. Now there is hard evidence to back up that assumption.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONS
A new study shows that less than three doses of the vaccine against cervical cancer can effectively protect women in the developing world where 80% of global deaths due to cervical cancer take place.
Only three African countries are on track to achieve MGD 5, according to an African Institute for Development Policy study.
Most efforts in the Western world seeking to find solutions for developing world problems tend to think of inventing new technologies or, at least, using the tools we typically use to fix things — modern drugs for diseases, improved seeds for crops, a better mousetrap. Sometimes, all you need is a newly geared donkey.
Scientists may have developed a new TB vaccine after tests showed the elimination of TB from infected tissue in mice.
A socially active lifestyle can dramatically speed up weight loss through the burning of fat in mice, a study shows. Researchers at Ohio State University in the US identified a link between the amount of social interaction in a mouse’s environment and its weight.
An easy-to-use diagnostic chip for HIV could “give results in minutes” and be a game changer in the field of cheap diagnostics for remote regions, claim the researchers who developed it.
DISEASES AND DISASTERS
Having to contend with U.S.army drones and the crossfire between the Taliban and the Pakistani army, the residents of Pakistan’s tribal areas find access to treatment for HIV/AIDS harder than in most other parts of the world.
Three-quarters of a million people are facing death by starvation in Somalia according the United Nations, who declared Monday that famine had spread to a sixth southern region of the beleaguered Horn of Africa state. Meanwhile, an investigation has revealed that masses of food meant for famine victims in Somalia are being stolen. There have also been reports of rioting and killings during food distribution at camps for famine victims.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck 100km southwest of the city of Medan, Sumatra and 110km beneath the earth’s crust.
A New York Times editorial castigates the international community’s response to the cholera outbreak in Haiti.
The CEO of insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk says the WHO should buy low cost diabetes drugs in bulk for the developing world.
Messages of good health and positive self-esteem for girls aren’t hard to come by in kid lit, so what’s the deal with all the attention for a not-yet-published rhyming picture book about an obese, unhappy 14-year-old named Maggie?
INFOGRAPHICS AND OTHER MEDIA
Interaction has published an online “Horn of Africa Aid Map” showing 98 aid and development projects working on immediate famine relief as well as long-term development in East Africa.
There may not be any zombies, vampires or mutant monsters wreaking bloody havoc on innocent people, but the fact that “Contagion” has a premise that experts say is all too plausible may make it the scariest movie of the season.
A new index from Save the Children establishes the safest – and most dangerous – places in the world for a child to fall sick, which correlate closely with their chances of getting to see a health worker.
Tagged 7 billion, Ban Ki-moon, bed nets, cervical cancer, cervical cancer vaccine, cholera, Climate Change and Environment, Contagion, contraception, Diabetes, Doctors without Borders, Earthquake, Family Planning, famine, female circumcision, female genital cutting, female genital mutilation, FGC, FGM, food security, Haiti, healthy ecosystems, HIV/AIDS, Horn of Africa, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, ITNs, Kenya, Labor Day, Maggie goes on a Diet, malaria, Médecins sans Frontières, Medan, MSF, Novo Nordisk, obesity, Pakistan, Philippines, rapid diagnostics, reproductive health, Sarah Boseley, Save the Children, seven billion, Somalia, Sumatra, sustainable development, TB vaccine, TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, tuberculosis vaccine, UN, UN High Level Meeting on NCDs, United Nations, US health care reform, USAID, Virginia, world populationLeave a comment
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Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/661e2501f88546f98061e669e9be5380
Sports - Africa
War-torn South Sudan launches youth rugby league for peace
By SAM MEDNICKSeptember 28, 2018
In this photo taken Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, a girl prepares to catch the ball during the South Sudan Rugby Club's weekly practice in Juba, South Sudan. The country this year launched its first rugby league since independence, finding in the rough-and tumble sport a way to promote peace, with more than 200 children having signed up for practices run by volunteers, many of whom learned to play as refugees. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Clutching the ball with both hands, Gloria Nene charges past opponents and proudly scores a try. The 11-year-old girl traded in Boro Boro, South Sudan’s equivalent of dodgeball, for rugby a few months ago and already has decided she wants to go pro.
“It’s good to play. If you’re outside doing nothing you might fight with friends and you won’t get to know each other,” she said.
Civil war-torn South Sudan this year launched its first rugby league since it won independence from Sudan in 2011, finding in the rough-and-tumble sport a way to promote peace.
More than 200 children between 5 and 13 have signed up for the South Sudan Rugby Club’s weekly practices run by volunteers, many of whom learned to play as refugees in neighboring countries. More than 50 of those who have enrolled are girls.
“Sports does not discriminate, it speaks one language,” head coach Abraham Riak told The Associated Press.
The club is an inclusive alternative to the more popular but often overcrowded soccer, where young people are sometimes turned away, he said.
The rugby league also teaches life lessons such as how to communicate without fighting.
“What we are trying to do with the rugby, besides grow participation in the sport, is provide these young people with the tools to be the change makers in their communities,” said Gemma Robson, a British expatriate who is a volunteer coach.
On a recent morning in the capital, Juba, giddy children waited to receive their training jerseys as cows grazed on the makeshift field. After the practice more than a dozen children from the neighborhood shyly approached and asked how they can join.
The league’s founders are looking for sponsors and hope that rugby will become a national sport so it can benefit from state funding. But South Sudan’s government already struggles to support existing teams including ones for soccer, basketball and handball, said Josseline Samson Apaya, acting director general for sports in the ministry of sports, culture and youth.
She said more investment would greatly contribute to the country’s transition to peace after more than five years of civil war.
“Sports is good for any nation, for reconciliation to forget about what happened,” she said.
Less than $5 million was allocated to the ministry last year, enough to cover two regional trips for national teams, the government said. Meanwhile $72 million was allocated for military spending, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an independent resource on global security.
This year parliament lobbied for the sporting budget to be increased to almost $8 million. The government still has to ask the local community and international partners for help in sending teams to compete abroad. South Korea is paying for the football team’s visit to Seoul in October and local businessmen are funding the basketball team’s trip to Tanzania in December.
“South Sudanese are tall and talented, they could be great athletes if given the opportunity,” said David Unyo Demey, a parliament member and chairman for the committee on sports, culture and youth.
Some South Sudanese have been recognized on the world stage. Four of them play in the NBA: Luol Deng and Deng Adel with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thon Maker with the Milwaukee Bucks and Wenyen Gabriel with the Sacramento Kings. Many others compete at the university level in the United States and elsewhere.
At least one man who played in the U.S. is pushing for more investment in sports back home.
The 39-year-old Denay J. Chagor, who played basketball for the Wisconsin Badgers, is now the chairman of South Sudan’s United Movement opposition party. He attributes many of his leadership skills to his time on the court and says sports can foster peace.
“I know that if that is championed through the government and if this is encouraged it can help the young people come together and work together and live together again,” he said.
Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa
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See Keith Urban’s Performance at NHL Stadium Series [Watch]
Keith Urban headlined as entertainment for the 2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series outdoor game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (Feb. 23), and he was on fire...literally!
Urban performed during the intermission of the first and second periods with pyro blazing behind his set; a striking look for a show celebrating a sport played on ice.
"It's crazy! We went out there this afternoon to soundcheck and it's just so surreal seeing that rink in the middle of this massive stadium," Urban tells NHL Network.
Urban is an avid hockey fan, regularly showing up to Nashville Predators games, but admits it's taken time to figure out the best way to observe the action. "It's so fast—that's one thing I think you don't really get until you come and see a game, right there with the ice in front of you. Someone said to me one time, 'If you really want to watch the game just pick a player and watch him for an entire period. I've done that many times and it changes the whole perception."
When asked what he feels after a performance compared to an athlete that's spent from a game, Urban joked, "I have all of my teeth, so that's good."
He did admit that he still gets butterflies before big performances, "Anxious definitely, that's why I hate this sitting around and waiting. I just want to play, I want to get out there and get going."
Next for Urban is traveling across the globe for more shows. For the first time in nearly a decade, Urban will be touring through Europe this March. The Graffiti U World Tour will be hitting up Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Glasgow and Dublin.
Source: See Keith Urban’s Performance at NHL Stadium Series [Watch]
Filed Under: Keith Urban
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Key witness in Navy SEAL case takes blame for 2017 killing of Iraqi detainee
By Julie Watson & Brian Melley
SAN DIEGO -- When prosecutors called a special forces medic to testify, they expected him to bolster their case against a decorated Navy SEAL accused of stabbing an Islamic State fighter in his care.
Corey Scott delivered in part, saying Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher unexpectedly plunged a knife into the adolescent detainee in 2017 after treating his wounds in Iraq.
But the government was floored by what came next: Scott took the blame for the killing, saying he suffocated the boy in an act of mercy shortly after Gallagher stabbed him.
It was a stunning twist in an already tumultuous case - illustrating the challenges of prosecuting war crimes cases, especially those involving members of the secretive special forces. The turn of events also exposed the risk that prosecutors take when immunity is granted to witnesses.
"You're assuming a certain amount of risk that you know what they're going to say and that what they're going to say is truthful," said Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Altenburg Jr., who has handled or oversaw about 1,000 military trials. "If you get surprised, you get surprised. That's what can happen when you have cases like this."
Scott wanted to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and not answer questions when he was called by the prosecution. But he was granted immunity and ordered to testify.
After Scott made the declaration, a visibly angry prosecutor accused him of lying, saying Scott had told investigators a different story several times and changed it only after he was granted immunity, which prevents him from being charged in the killing.
"So you can stand up there and you can lie about how you killed the ISIS prisoner so Chief Gallagher does not have to go to jail," John said. "You don't want Chief Gallagher to go to jail, do you?"
"He's got a wife and family," Scott said. "I don't think he should be spending his life in prison."
The testimony was the latest setback for prosecutors and a big boost for Gallagher, who is fighting charges of premeditated murder in the boy's death and attempted murder in the shooting of civilians.
The defense has said Gallagher only treated the prisoner for a collapsed lung and that disgruntled sailors fabricated the murder accusations because he was a demanding leader and they did not want him promoted.
When asked if Scott's testimony, which did not dispute that Gallagher stabbed the militant in his care, would mean a lesser charge of premeditated attempted murder for the special operator, defense attorney Tim Parlatore said it only proved one thing: "It means he's not guilty," he said.
Gallagher's wife said she was relieved that the truth was finally emerging.
"To hear today that someone's finally had the bravery to stand up for the truth was refreshing after all these years," Andrea Gallagher said as she stood with her husband and their two children outside of court.
The Navy said in a statement it will not drop the premediated murder charge and that it's up to jurors to decide the credibility of witnesses.
Before the stabbing, Scott said that he and Gallagher had stabilized the sedated prisoner who had been wounded in an airstrike and that he was breathing normally through a tube inserted to clear his airway.
Scott said he was shocked when Gallagher, the platoon's leader, stabbed the boy at least once below the collarbone. He said there was no medical reason for it. Gallagher then grabbed his medical bag and walked away.
"I was startled and froze up for a little bit," Scott said.
Scott said the patient would have survived the stabbing, but he plugged the youth's breathing tube with his thumb because he believed the prisoner would eventually be tortured by the Iraqi forces who had captured him and delivered him to the SEAL compound for medical treatment.
"I knew he was going to die anyway, and I wanted to save him from waking up to whatever would happen to him," Scott said.
Scott said no one asked him how the patient died.
Four SEALs and one former SEAL have taken the stand. Several have described instances when they said Gallagher fired at civilians, once shooting an old man.
Gallagher's case has drawn the attention of President Donald Trump, who is reportedly considering a pardon.
The trial came after a judge's removed the lead prosecutor over a bungled effort to track emails sent to defense lawyers in order to find the source of leaks to the media.
The judge determined that the effort violated Gallagher's constitutional rights and reduced the maximum possible punishment from life in prison without parole to the possibility of parole.
The seven-man jury is made up of five Marines and two sailors - all war zone veterans. A two-thirds majority - at least five - is needed to convict. Anything less ends in acquittal.
The Navy has said the jury can convict Gallagher of a lesser charge, such as premeditated attempted murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life with the possibility of parole. There is no minimum sentence.
navyiraqu.s. & worldsealiraq war
Crowd at Trump rally yells 'Send her back' in attack on congresswomen
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Bees give ex-offenders new start in life
June 2, 2011 (CHICAGO)
It's part of a new project that hopes to help give ex-offenders a new start and a new career.
Darrell Williams is all suited up for another day at work. But this is no ordinary job. And the jobsite is no ordinary place.
On the outer edges of O'Hare Airport, men who have done time now spend their time learning to raise bees.
"I've gained deeper respect for going to work. The pride I feel everyday going to work is unmeasurable [sic]," said Williams.
"Notice how they store honey around where they live," said Williams.
O'Hare is the first airport in the nation that's home to an apiary, essentially a bee farm where honey is harvested and careers bloom.
"Today right now we're in bee suits. Later today we'll be manufacturing and extracting honey and just infusing it into our skincare products. It's hands-on experience at all different levels," said Mark Heins.
"It taught me patience and discipline, because you have to be patient when dealing with the bees, not so hyper and energetic," said Curtis Camps.
Skeptics buzzed four years ago when North Lawndale Employment Network's Brenda Palms Barber pitched the idea for ex-offenders to raise bees and use their honey for skincare products.
Today, you'll find "Bee Love" sold in Whole Foods and dozens of other retailers. More than 325 people have found jobs through the program.
"What they didn't get is it was really about building a business and honey was just one component of that business and today it's thriving," said Palms Barber.
Talk about busy bees: Each of these hive will produce 150 pounds of honey every season. Half of it will go into products; the other half will stay right here for the bees to feed on all winter long.
Bees and their honey: A sweet beginning that these men hope will bring them a happy ending.
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Bible survives two fires at two different churches
A Wisconsin community has found hope even as their church has been destroyed by fire. The church's original bible was saved from the flames.
More than 100 community members arrived at the Springs United Methodist Church to say their final goodbye to a building that has so many stories to tell.
"Yes, this is a building. And yes things can be replaced. But these things have lots and lots of memories," one churchgoer tells WSAW.
Members almost broke down into tears when they found out the Plover Fire Department was able to save the original church bible.
"This bible has survived two fires in two different churches. We can't open it anymore. But I think it's a great testament to our faith that still stands strong," said Pastor Tim O'Brien.
The fire department says that this bible was what the congregation wanted to salvage most.
After surviving the original St. Paul's Methodist Church fire in Steven's Point several years ago, the bible was put in a case in the Springs United Methodist Church.
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How to Notarize a Power of Attorney in Colorado
Tags:agent, agent record, attorney in fact, Colorado, durable, durable POA, financial power, incapacitated, medical POA, notary, POA, power of attorney, principal
November 19, 2013 How To, Legal Forms Jerry Lucas
One of the most common legal forms that I am asked to notarize is a Power of Attorney (POA). This form allows the signer, known as the Principal, to appoint one or more persons as an agent, or attorney-in-fact, to act on behalf of the Principal.
Colorado updated its Power of Attorney laws and adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, (UPOAA), effective January 1, 2010. A sample POA form is included in the state statutes.
A Colorado POA created after UPOAA is a durable POA, continuing in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated.
The form is used to appoint an agent to have general financial powers, including authority over bank accounts, real property, personal property, stocks, and bonds, operating a business, insurance, estates and trusts, legal claims, personal and family maintenance, government benefit programs, retirement plans, and taxes.
In addition, there are other optional sections on the form to grant additional specific powers, known as hot powers, and special instructions, and to nominate a conservator or guardian, should a court need to appoint one at a future date.
The form only requires the signature of the Principal, and an acknowledgment by the Principal made before a Notary Public. The agent does not need to sign the form and no witnesses are required in Colorado. Other states may require the signature of the agent or witnesses.
Sample POA Form
The sample statutory form also includes instructions for the agent, to help them understand their role, powers, and duties. The agent must keep a record of the actions performed on behalf of the principal. See our article on keeping an agent record for a POA.
The form does not authorize the agent to make health care decisions for the Principal. A health care or medical power of attorney can be used for that purpose.
A free PDF version of the POA form is available at
Colorado Statutory Power of Attorney form.
Contact an attorney with any legal questions.
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Notarized Minutes of Meetings 24 views | under Legal Forms, Small Business Tips
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Two Kinky Boots Charlies Get Hitched on Same Weekend!
October 14th, 2014 | By Ryan McPhee
One weekend, two Charlies, two weddings! Kinky Boots’ leading man on Broadway Andy Kelso and current national tour headliner Steven Booth both celebrated their weddings over the weekend. The New York Times made the announcement for both: Kelso wed Sheila Coyla in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania on October 11, and Booth and Molly Alvarez tied the knot on October 12 in Los Gatos, California.
Kelso and Coyle (a singer with The Manhattan Dolls) met in 2007 at a friend’s party in Queens. He popped the question on the stage of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre following a performance in September 2013, surrounded by family and friends. As his castmates backed him up during renditions of “On Broadway” and “The Way You Make Me Feel,” a glass case rose from the stage floor with the ring.
Booth and Alvarez’s relationship began as a showmance during the national tour of Happy Days. The two played on-stage lovers, and the romance quickly developed offstage as well. Following a romantic dance to Ella Fitzgerald’s “Misty” last October in the middle of Il Bambino, an Astoria, Queens restaurant, Booth got down on one knee.
Kelso originated the role of Harry in Kinky Boots before stepping in to Charlie’s shoes, replacing Tony nominee Stark Sands. He made his Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! and played Fiyero in the national tour of Wicked. Booth appeared on Broadway in Glory Days; his additional credits include Avenue Q in Las Vegas and Dogfight off-Broadway.
Congratulations to the happy couples! We’re sure both of you looked positively dashing on your prospective big days in the red thigh-highs. (That did happen, right?)
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Tag Archives: germany
by At The Rails | June 27, 2014 · 9:13 pm
Europe’s Poor Performance… and Other Useless Stats
The major story lines leading up to this World Cup were all about things that had little or nothing to do with football. Faulty or incomplete stadiums, paltry labour conditions, a populace acting as unhappy hosts, the ever-present whispers of bribes and corruption… this is how we talked about Brazil.
Two weeks into the tournament, however, and the story is very much about the game itself. Wide-open play has meant a treasure chest of goals, the most ever for the group stage. Out of the 48 matches so far, only eight of them have been draws, and only five of those have been nil-nil. Meanwhile, there have been a lot of shutouts (almost half of the matches) but only 13 games have been either 0-0 or 1-0 finals. For this writer anyway, this has been the best World Cup since France ’98.
However, several European nations might disagree with me. Out of the 13 UEFA teams in the tournament, only the Netherlands, Greece (a first for Ethniki), Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland are going to the Group of 16. For the second World Cup in a row, less than half of the European teams are progressing. Is this because the former colonial powers can’t play away from their home continent? Maybe… but the European influence has been declining for some time.
If you take the percentage of total participants in each tournament* allocated to UEFA (in 2010, that was 13/32 or 40.625%) and multiply it by the percentage of European teams that make the knockout round (again in 2010, it was 6/16 or 37.5%), you can — imperfectly — see well how the confederation performs.
There are a couple of trends that emerge. First of all, the number of UEFA spots have pretty much stayed the same, with one or two additions or subtractions. But as the tournament has expanded, this has meant the Europeans’ share of World Cup berths has declined. Nothing shocking here.
A familiar sight for England fans over the last half-century
What is changing is who are winning the knockout berths. At least three CONMEBOL teams have qualified for the next round in three out of the last five tournaments; they only got two spots in 1994 and 2002, and Brazil won both of those anyway (FYI the Brazilians have only missed the knockout round once, in 1966… between World Cup victories in 1962 and 1970). Last tournament, two CONCACAF teams reached the knockout stage; this year, there are three. For the first time ever, two African teams have reached the Group of 16 in 2014.
The reason for the European decline are fuzzy. Some blame the flood of foreign players — particularly South Americans — into the big European leagues, pushing home-grown players aside and making big clubs less likely to develop their own youngsters. Others say European players lack the desire to achieve greatness for country, because they are getting paid so much by their clubs.
However, it could all back to simple maths. The change starts to be noticeable in Mexico’s 1986 World Cup. João Havelange had won the FIFA presidency in 1974 on promises to let more developing nations into the tournament. Twelve years later, Morocco was the first African Nation to qualify for the knockout round along with hosts, Mexico. It was the first time two teams from one of the “other” confederations made it through with the big boys. Since then, both CAF and CONCACAF have had at least one team in the elimination rounds, and CONMEBOL get at least 50 percent of its teams into the knockouts.
Capello thinks about how to spend his millions
What is more interesting is who is out. The platinum generation of Spanish footballers finally ran out of currency, dropping out at the group stage for the first time since 1998. Their Euro 2012 final opponents, Italy, missed two successive knockout rounds for the first time since the 1960’s. The “golden generations” of Portugal and England both finally sputtered out. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia still have far to go to match the prowess of their Yugoslavian predecessors. Russia may be rethinking Fabio Capello’s £6.7M annual salary… although the gaffer claims he did his job by getting the side into the tournament for the first time in 12 years. In fairness to Capello, he didn’t have his talisman, Roman Shirokov. Imagine if Óscar Tabárez’ Uruguay had to play with Luis Suarez… oh right.
– like Brazil in ’94 and ’02, Spain won in 2010 despite a record-low representation by European teams. However, the other three tournaments that had a low knockout representation by Europe went to South American sides: 1950, 1970, and 2002.
– a more likely determinate of World Cup success is tournament location. If it’s in Europe, a UEFA team will likely win the whole thing. If not, look to CONMEBOL. The only exceptions are South Africa 2010 for Europe and Sweden 1958 for South America (where UEFA had seven of eight playoff births but Brazil still won).
– the set up of this year’s tournament tree means that only one of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay will advance to the semi-finals, while the Europeans could still end up having six teams in the quarter-finals.
*Only post-war World Cups. The three tournaments before 1950 had no group stage, and were straight knockout competitions.
Filed under Brazil 2014, World Cup
Tagged as belgium, bosnia, bosnia-herzegovina, brazil, caf, concacaf, conmebol, croatia, england, europe, fabio capello, france, germany, greece, italy, joao havelange, luis suarez, mexico, mexico '86, morocco, netherlands, oscar tabarez, portugal, roman shirokov, russia, spain, switzerland, uefa, yugoslavia
More Iberian Misery, and the USA is A-OK
The highly-anticipated Germany-Portugal match turned out to be a rout, even before Pepe’s flash of anger got him sent off. The Germans were all over the team in claret, dragging them this way and that. Portugal’s first bad decision came when João Pereira pulled down Mario Götze in the box. Up steps Thomas Müller… and in goes the ball. Twenty minutes later, Mats Hummels got a running start off a corner to head the ball in… 2-nil.
Hummels rising like whatever the German word is for salmon.
Then came Müller’s obvious theatrics, which raised Pepe’s ire… but why he let the blood rush to his head, we’ll never know… probably because that’s what Pepe does. Portugal are down to 10-men and Müller goes on to score two more goals, rubbing salt in Portugal’s wounds. After the match, coach Paulo Bento claimed the referee was biased against Portugal, but that’s pretty rich considering their record for flopping around (and taking pride in it). Germany 4-0 Portugal.
The other match in this group featured two teams trying to capitalize on Portugal’s slip. The U-S-A came out as expected, playing organized and physical football. Clint Dempsey gave the Stars and Stripes a dream start with the fifth-quickest goal in World Cup history. After that, things calmed down a bit. A couple of USA injuries (Jozy Altidore’s tournament appears to be over after a hamstring injury, Matt Besler came off at the half) meant that Jürgen Klinsmann had to make subs earlier than he would have liked. Ghana got a kick start in the second half when Kevin-Prince Boateng came on (it was surprising that Akwasi Appiah started neither Boateng nor Michael Essien in midfield). The Black Stars’ shots started flying in, albeit most of them from way outside the box.
Brooks in disbelief
After being down for 80 minutes, Asamoah Gyan gave a lovely little backheel pass to Andrew Ayew who flicked the ball past Tim Howard with the outside of his left foot. Pandemonium amongst the Ghanaian support. However, just four minutes later, the American substitute John Anthony Brooks — a man born and raised in Germany — scored a header off a corner… and earned himself his own Wheaties box. USA 2-1 Ghana
Tagged as akwasi appiah, andrew ayew, asamoah gyan, black stars, clint dempsey, germany, ghana, joao pereira, john anthony brooks, jozy altidore, jurgen klinsmann, Kevin-Prince Boateng, mario gotze, mats hummels, matt besler, Michael Essien, paulo bento, pepe, portugal, thomas muller, tim howard, usa
World Cup 2014 Preview: Groups G & H
The last two groups could not be more opposite in quality and reputation. While I don’t think Group G is the Group of Death, I do think that the four nations will have their work cut out for them. Meanwhile, the young Belgians will have a chance to strut their stuff while the other three fight their way through.
Miroslav Klose-ing in on World Cup history
Much has been written in recent days about the injuries to Joachim Löw’s Germany. Marco Reus tore his ankle just days before the tournament, and potential starters Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira are all either playing with knocks or coming off recent injuries. Luckily for Löw, he suffers from an embarrassment of riches. Half of Der Mannschaft (tee hee, Mannschaft… still makes me giggle) plays for either of Germany’s two biggest teams: Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund. The side also features Arsenal’s three prizes: veteran defender Per Mertesacker, as well as attacking midfielders Mesut Özil and Lukas Podolski, and Chelsea’s Andre Schürrle. Löw’s Teutonic system (the newest rage in football, a melange of tiki-taka and counter-attacking) means all hands going forward, which explains why he only brought one striker: 36-year-old Miroslav Klose. If Klose plays — and scores — Germany’s all-time record goal-scorer will tie Brazil’s Ronaldo for all-time World Cup goals (15). SEMI-FINALS
Apparently, he’s going to be okay…
If there is one nation whose fans’ self-delusion rivals that of England’s, it’s Portugal‘s. Every four years — two if you count the Euros — their fans believe they have what it takes to be world beaters. But like England, they strive and fall short. Portugal features a superstar player in Cristiano Ronaldo (just like Wayne Rooney) who is surrounded by a team of competent players that would never get a kick at the can in a side like Argentina or Brazil (just like England). Portugal are also a nation whose FIFA ranking is absurdly high, boosted by a complicated formula (just like England). Ronaldo has been fighting to be fit for this tournament. If he performs like he does for Real Madrid, Portugal could go deep into quarter-final territory. But their path is likely blocked by Belgium in the knockout stages and then Argentina. ROUND OF 16
Bradley and USA in tough in Group G
Jürgen Klinsmann says he will sing both Germany’s and the U.S.A.‘s national anthems, when the two teams square off in their very last group game. By then, Klinsmann will have a pretty good idea whether his last three years of effort have finally elevated the USA into the elite pantheon of football nations. A look at his side would suggest it hasn’t yet. I don’t want to write off the Stars and Stripes: they are well organized and physical. They feature a handful of players who are class: Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are great keepers; Clint Dempsey, Geoff Cameron and Jozy Altidore have all cut their teeth in the Premier League, and Michael Bradley — despite his strange move to MLS — will be the lynchpin of Klinsmann’s side. It’s a pity they are in a group with Germany and Portugal. The building continues. THREE AND OUT
Muntari and Essien: the Black Stars’ two superstars
Everyone’s favourite in South Africa 2010, Ghana faces the plague of other successful African nations: inflated expectations. The Black Stars’ midfield is still credible: Milan’s Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari will bolster the back line, with Kevin-Prince Boateng playing in front of them. But no one will be surprised by the Ghanaians, and that’s unfortunate in a tough group like this. THREE AND OUT
Just in case you’re wondering who Hazard plays for…
The return of Belgium to the biggest international stage has excited many soccer purists. After finishing fourth at Mexico ’86, the Belgians were disappointing, bowing out early in the next three World Cups. The country’s football association then changed the way it trained young players, and it also changed its relationship with its big clubs. Now the the Red Devils are in their first international tournament since Japan/Korea ’02 and what a line-up. Thibault Courtois and Simon Mignolet are two of the most sought-after young keepers in the world right now. Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku were easily Chelsea and Everton’s best players, respectively, while Kevin Mirallas was no slouch either, and Dries Marten scored 13 goals for Rafa Benitez’ Napoli. Marc Wilmots is bringing only one true fullback, selecting seven centre backs to play in his defence. What’s more, that defence is expected to press high up the pitch. Even if they don’t go far, this team will get a couple another kick at the can at the Euros in France and then Russia’s World Cup. QUARTER-FINALS
A rare smile from Capello
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has struggled to rebuild itself to the former power of her predecessor (that’s because most of the USSR’s great players were Ukrainian. Shhh). Save for a third place finish in Euro 2008, they’ve failed to make it out of the group stage. However, Euro 2012 was a good showcase for them. Too bad this is a different side with a different manager. Capello has made this team more defensive, as is his way. Captain Roman Shirokov had to bow out to injury, and exciting young Alan Dzagoev is in the Italian gaffer’s bad books. Still, this is a weak group, and they should be able to get through… unless they can’t stand the heat. Literally. ROUND OF 16
Slimani sees who’s waiting if they finish second…
Algeria are currently the highest-ranked team in Africa right now, due in part to a new philosophy brought in by manager,Vahid Halilhodžić. Most of his players are young men who were born in France but chose to play in the country of their parents’ birth, and most of them are bench players in the Spanish, French and English leagues. One exception is Islam Slimani, who scored 10 goals in 31 appearances for Sporting Lisbon; another is Sofiane Feghouli who regularly starts for Valencia. Anything has to be an improvement over the boooring football played in South Africa (ask England fans), but Algeria still have to grow. THREE AND OUT
Hong Myung-Bo: the man, the myth, the manager
South Korea have also done a 180 with their tactics, after Korean legend Hong Myung-Bo made them more technical, with less kick-and-run and more passing. British football fans will be familiar with Ki Sung-yeung, who was bought from Celtic by Swansea City, in a move that broke the Welsh team’s transfer record; he then spent this season on loan at Sunderland. Bayer Leverkusen’s Son Heung-min is probably S. Korea’s best player, which leaves a smattering of bit players in the Bundesliga, Prem and Asian leagues. You want the Koreans to replicate the success they had at their own World Cup in 2002, but they won’t. THREE AND OUT
Up Next: The Bracket
Tagged as alan dzagoev, algeria, andre schurrle, Bastian Schweinsteiger, belgium, black stars, brad guzan, clint dempsey, cristiano ronaldo, dries marten, eden hazard, fabio capello, geoff cameron, germany, ghana, hong myung-bo, islam slimani, jozy altidore, jurgen klinsmann, kevin mirallas, Kevin-Prince Boateng, ki sung-yeung, lukas podolski, manuel neuer, marc wilmots, marco reus, mesut ozil, michael bradley, Michael Essien, miroslav klose, per mertesacker, philipp lahm, portugal, roman shirokov, romelu lukaku, russia, sami khedira, simon mignolet, sofiane feghouli, son heung-min, south korea, sulley muntari, thibault courtois, tim howard, usa, vahid halilhodzic
by At The Rails | July 3, 2012 · 8:30 am
Pieces of Eight: Why Spain is So Money and Other Euro Observations
Well that was fun. Lots of goals, an upset or two, some behind-the-scenes drama… and for what? At the end of three weeks, the new Champions are the same as the old Champions. The footballing universe is balanced and unsullied, and in six weeks, we can go back to watching club football. In the meantime, enjoy my little observations about the highlight of the summer. Don’t you dare mention the Olympics!!!
1) This Spanish side may be the best international side ever. Duh.
Euro. World Cup. Euro. Nineteen players in the side have now won both tournaments. More than half of those players will still be under 30 by the time they reach Rio in two years time (not to mention next year’s Confederations Cup). An average possession rate of at least 65%. A side that has gone 646 minutes without conceding a goal in a knock-out match. This is more than a “Golden Generation”; this is utter and complete dominance.
2) Buffon and Pirlo are studs.
Despite every indication that they would do the opposite, the Italians (the Italians?) took the game to Spain, trying to play offensive and open-pitch football (seriously, the Italians?!?). Prandelli’s tactics allowed the world to see Andrea Pirlo’s incredible play-making abilities. Pirlo is a big reason why Juventus won the Scudetto this season, and AC Milan (his old team) didn’t. Meanwhile, Buffon faced a barrage of attempts, especially in the final’s second half. When the winners were getting their medals, Buffon was stoic in defeat.
Prandelli: “Balotelli has to learn to accept defeat.”
3) Balotelli needs to grow up.
He may have put on a clinic against ze Germans… but Mario is still a super baby. He stormed off the pitch after Italy lost against the Spaniards and was the last person to receive his medal. That’s too bad because he had an exemplary tournament. Colourful players with heaps of talent have always made the game more interesting…. but Balotelli can be a detriment to his team(s). Luckily for both Italy and Manchester City, his behaviour may mellow with time. Witness another former petulant son in…
4) Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s an incredible player… he just needs a team.
Like the Italians, the Portuguese weren’t expected to do much. Critics assumed that Ronaldo would once again be unable to replicate his club form for A Seleccao. But not only did Ronaldo have a great tournament, he showed tremendous un-Ronaldo-like restraint as teams gave him a kicking. Old Ronaldo would have flopped around like a fish. New Ronaldo recorded the most shots in the tournament. Too bad that he also hit the wood work more than any other player… and let’s not even mention the penalty shot that never was.
5) The end of the Van Marwijk era means the end of the Van Bommel era, et al. Praise Cheebus.
The Dutch gaffer opted for pretty much the same side as he used in the World Cup. Oops.
Before the tournament even began, the players exhibited symptoms of Dutch Disease: an in-fighting both in and out of the public spotlight that hobbled everyone. Their performance on the pitch reflected the lack of unity and tactics. One hopes that it wasn’t nepotism that led Van Marwijk to start his over-the-hill son-in-law Mark Van Bommel. The captain sums up all that’s wrong with the Oranje: old, dirty, and petulant. A mid-tournament rebellion in the dressing room, followed by an early exit,would make the Dutch this year’s France, except that…
6) France is this year’s France.
After a disastrous World Cup campaign in South Africa, you’d think Les Tricoloures would avoid their petty squabbles and unite under Laurent Blanc. Malheureusement, it was not to be. Reports of a dressing room bust-up after losing to Sweden in their final group-stage match was followed by Samir Nasri’s unseemly outburst towards a reporter. A tidy loss to the eventual champions meant the end of another tournament… and the dismissal of another manager.
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité… Someone tell the French players.
The other sad Mario…
7) Das Jahr der Schrecken for Bayern Munich players.
What a season for the eight men out who play for both the German national team and Bayern Munich. Bayern suffered a double domestic loss to Borussia Dortmund in both the Bundesliga and the DKB-Pokal, followed by a baffling defeat at Chelsea’s hands at home in the Champions League. Top that off with Germany’s semi-final loss to unfancied Italy and they face a tough summer staring into their schnitzel. Mario Gomez even lost out on the Euro Golden Boot because he tied Fernando Torres in goals and assists, but took more minutes to do it! Scheisse!
8) England, thanks for coming out.
Joe Hart and Steven Gerrard played well. Surprisingly, so did John Terry. Andy Carroll scored the same amount of goals as Wayne Rooney, but played 50 less minutes. Theo Walcott had a game to remember. Now let’s never mention this again.
Filed under Bundesliga, Euro 2012
Tagged as a seleccao, ac milan, andrea pirlo, andy carroll, bayern munich, borussia dortmund, chelsea, christiano ronaldo, england, fernando torres, germany, gianluigi buffon, golden boot, italy, joe hart, john terry, juventus, laurent blance, manchester city, Mario Balotelli, mario gomez, mark van bommel, netherlands, oranje, portugal, prandelli, samir nasri, steven gerrard, theo walcott, van marwijk, wayne rooney
by At The Rails | July 23, 2010 · 5:04 am
World Cup Payday
The best way I’ve heard the World Cup described is that it’s a sprint, not a marathon. In a sport where the best players on the biggest club teams often have to play a 50+ match season, seven games over a month isn’t a lot — and it may not be the best way to judge a player’s ability.
Scouting for the big clubs is a now a world-wide affair and it’s rare that a player is unknown. But a great tournament performance can be too irresistible for some teams to pass up. Sometimes it works… and sometimes it doesn’t. Witness then-Liverpool manager Gerrard Houllier’s ill-chosen signings from the 2002 Senegal team.
Still… if you base it on their World Cup performances, here’s 10 players who have earned a change of scenery.
Forlan's Golden Ball may earn him a golden handshake
Diego Forlan (URU)
Current Club: Atletico Madrid
This tournament’s Golden Ball winner, Forlan is coming off a Europa League win as well. He has excelled since leaving the Premier League and says he won’t go back. Look for Juventus to make an offer as Atletico tries to raise funds for defensive players.
Luis Suarez (URU)
Current Club: Ajax Amsterdam
Suarez played well off of Forlan, and scored some lovely goals before the hand-ball “incident”. He is rumoured to be a part of Ajax’s restructuring i.e. massive sell-off that already has Martin Jol seeing red.
Maxi Pereira (URU)
Current Club: Benfica Lisbon
This writer’s pick for right-back of the tournament, Pereira ran rampant on the flank. He scored against the Dutch, while clocking up 66 kilometres in six games. With natural fullbacks at a premium in the Prem, perhaps Senor Pereira might head north for the winter…
Carlos Salcido (MEX)
Current Club: PSV Eindhoven
The left-back led his national team in shots at this World Cup, including a close one off the crossbar against Argentina. A highly-rated player, even ‘Arry tried to sign him. Rumours are that Roberto Martinez will try to bring him to Wigan.
Fabio Coentrao (POR)
Only 22 years old, Coentrao was amazing on the left flank, slotted in as a fullback but playing like a winger. There is already talk that fellow countryman Jose Mourinho will pluck him from Lisbon and drop him into Madrid. Rumours are also swirling that Chelsea buying him as a replacement for Ashley Cole.
Justo Villar (PAR)
Current Club: Real Valladolid (Spanish 2nd Division)
Villar allowed only two goals all tournament — and one of them was David Villa’s weird-ass goal that went off the post three times. Villar also blocked a re-taken penalty kick and, in the match against Japan, denied the swarming Keisuke Honda a goal. Plus, he’s wanted out of his newly-relegated club since last season.
John Mensah (GHA)
Current Club: Olympique Lyonnais
What are the odds? Ghana’s central defence consisted of Johnathan Mensah — who plays for Udinese — and Lyon’s John Mensah. Confusing, non? What’s not confusing is John’s next probable destination. He played 15 games for Sunderland on-loan last season — even scoring a goal and Steve Bruce would like to bring him back. But it would likely have to be on loan again because of Mensah’s injury problems.
Robinho (BRA)
Current Club: Manchester City
Robinho spent last season on loan back in his native Brazil, due to a falling out with Citeh manager, Roberto Mancini. After a very decent performance alongside Luis Fabiano, it’s likely that Robinho will never return to Manchester. There are rumours he could be used as trade bait for Inter Milan’s Balotelli, or to pry young Brazilian star Neymar from Santos.
Mesut Ozil (GER)
Current Team: Werder Bremen
Everyone and their mother seem to be keen on Germany’s playmaker. The 21-year-old Ozil has been valued at 15 million pounds by Bremen. After scoring a goal — and helping on three others — he may be worth it.
Klose may still have wind in his wings...
Miroslav Klose (GER)
Current Club: Bayern Munich
This old warhorse had a great World Cup, scoring some unattractive but not unappreciated goals. He has vowed to remain in Munich for the last year of his contract, but after only starting 12 times last season due to injury, Klose has a tough fight on his hands. A stellar domestic season by first-choice Ivica Olic — and an astounding international debut by Thomas Muller — means it may be in Klose’s best interests to find another team.
Filed under La Liga, Premier League, World Cup
Tagged as ajax amsterdam, atletico madrid, bayern munich, benfica, brazil, carlos salcido, coentrao, diego forlan, germany, ghana, harry redknapp, houllier, ivica olic, japan, justo villar, juventus, keisuke honda, klose, luis suarez, lyon, manchester city, martin jol, maxi pereira, mensah, mesut ozil, mexico, neymar, paraguay, portugal, PSV Eindhoven, robinho, santos, steve bruce, sunderland, thomas muller, uruguay, werder bremen, world cup 2010
by At The Rails | July 12, 2010 · 4:00 pm
Best of the bunch: WC Starting XI
So, Spain are World Cup champions after beating a Netherlands team that left Dutch legend Johan Cruyff hurting inside. Even on top of the world, Xabi Alonso might also be feeling a bit of pain – as Nigel de Jong can attest. You might be hurting, too, now that the World Cup is over and there’s no footy on every day. It’s back to work for most of us, but a happy retirement for Oracle Paul. My Futbol Guapa, a marine biologist, just wants to know one thing about this super smart octopus: Did he know who was going to win, or did he make it happen? Hmmmm.
It wasn’t the greatest of finals, more a card-strewn affair that left plenty of people upset with Howard Webb, who didn’t have a great game but was in a tough spot with that lot. And while the sport didn’t shine in it’s signature moment, The Globe & Mail’s John Doyle won’t go easy on you if you think that means soccer sucks.
Anyway, before we go, time to hand out the hardware. The award for best young player goes to German Thomas Mueller, whose three assists break a deadlock with the other five-goal men to make him Golden Boot winner, too. Uruguay’s Diego Forlan, the subject of transfer rumours, has been named Golden Ball recipient as the tournament’s best player, the first winner not to play in the final.
No less lucrative and prestigious is inclusion in the At The Rails World Cup Starting XI. Brent and Dr. Z have each picked teams, and present them now for your perusal and pleasure.
Brent’s picks
Hadi’s picks
GK: Richard Kingson (Gha): The man made 22 saves, while allowing only three goals all tournament. A big reason the Black Stars made it to the quarters. GK: Manuel Neuer (Ger): Not the busiest keeper in the tournament but solid when called upon. Also had a wonderful assist on the first goal against England.
RB: Maxi Pereira (Uru) Uruguay’s defence was a bit of an unknown quanitity coming into the tournament. But this right back-cum-midfielder kept the goal count down against his country, and even contributed one himself. RB: Philip Lahm (Ger) Doubts about his ability to lead this young German team quickly evaporated thanks to fantastic on field performances and a calmness even Michael Ballack could admire.
CBs: Carles Puyol (Spa) Scored a massive goal against Germany to get his team into the Final and, along with… CB: Diego Lugano (Uru) Captained the most overachieving side in the tournament. Anchored a Uruguay defence that was at times impenetrable.
CB: Gerard Pique (Spain) …. served as full-stop, the anchors of a stingy, stingy Spanish team. This pair are coming off another La Liga-winning season, as well as a Champions League semi-final. Its easy to see why. CB: Carles Puyol (Spain) The man with the wonder hair was at his brave best this past month. Lunging, diving, blocking, and even scoring, he did it all for the Spanish.
LB: Fabio Coentrao (Por) A no-name player for Benfica who was part of a back four that conceded only one goal all tournament. Unfortunately, it was the goal that knocked them out. LB: Ashley Cole (Eng) The lone bright spot on a terrible English team. Equal contribution on offence and defence. The only world class player who showed up for the Red and White.
MF: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Ger) The man sprayed the ball around like a Wehrmacht machine gun nest. Watch him carve through Argentina to set up Friedrich’s goal. MF: Thomas Mulller (Ger) What more can be said about this guy’s performance. At times seemed unstoppable. Cool on the ball and fantastic movement without it. A star is born.
MF: Xabi Alonso (Spa) Alonso was the first line of defence in solid, unchanging back eight and the pilot of a talented attacking team that knew how to bide its time. MF: Xavi (Spain) The best passer in the world. Period.
MF: Lukas Podolski (Ger) If it wasn’t Muller, it was Klose. If it wasn’t Klose, it was Podolski. Both he and his fellow Polish-born team mate were written off after terrible club seasons. Two goals and two assists erased that. MF: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Ger) Took over for the injured Michael Ballack and did so to perfection. Considering he started his career as a winger, this central midfielder looks destined to lead a dangerous German team into the 2012 Euros.
MF: Thomas Mueller (Ger) Der Kinder Surprise on a team of babies, this man was sorely missed in the semifinal against Spain. MF: Wesley Sneijder (Ned) Might have challenged for Golden Ball if not for poor final. The fulcrum of the Oranje, he can seemingly do it all: pass, shoot, run, and even head.
FWD: Wesley Sneijder (Ned) The man of the tournament, and tied for top scorer with five goals, Sneijder has been a revelation, even after a treble-winning club season, injuries not withstanding. Automatic. FWD: David Villa (Spa) The best finisher in the world today is heading to Barcelona next season… as if they needed any more help.
FWD: David Villa (Spa) I wanted to take Miroslav Klose here because of his remarkable World Cup run. But Villas goals were a lot prettier… including his monster against Chile. FWD: Diego Forlan (Uru) Proved you can hit the Jabulani ball from distance and control it too. Countless wonder strikes and always a threat to score.
Honorable mentions: Manuel Neuer, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Lucio, Ryan Nelsen, Phillip Lahm, Dirk Kuyt, Xavi, Arjen Robben, Andres Iniesta, Diego Forlan Honorable mentions: Iker Casillas, Fabio Coentrao, Da Silva, Maicon, Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Arjen Robben, Mesut Ozil, Asamoah Gyan, Gonzalo Higuain
Say what you will about the overall quality of the play, I’m just happy only two matches were decided by penalty kicks. I’m also among those impressed by the excellent job South Africa did as host, with the country now considering an Olympic bid. Of course, while there was joy over Nelson Mandela’s appearance at the closing ceremonies, there’ ll still be crushing poverty and racial inequality when the hype dies down. Still, plenty of anticipated problems never showed up, allowing the country to shine on the world stage. For that, and for plenty else, South Africa deserves a lot of credit.
Ian Harrison, Brent Lanthier & Hadi Zogheib
Filed under World Cup
Tagged as diego forlan, germany, netherlands, south africa, spain, thomas mueller, uruguay, world cup
Dutch Courage vs. Spanish Elan
Thirty days later and we’ve arrived here: The Final Countdown. One game, two European teams, both of whom have been stuck with the “choker” label in recent years. Half a billion people are expected to watch the final. No pressure, boys. Let’s ease into it then, with the consolation round!
Germany and Uruguay kept true to the form of past third-place games, with the goals coming fast and furious. The match finished 3-2 Germany, though Uruguay’s Golden Boy Diego Forlan hit the crossbar in the last minute. A new dawn has risen for German football — with a young team that should impress for years to come. Let’s hope the same can be said for little Uruguay.
Goals from Forlan and Germany’s Thomas Muller bring both players to five. That makes them level with Wesley Sneijder and David Villa for the Golden Boot. Of course, Sneijder and Villa have one more shot to build on their tally. There hasn’t been this many players tied for the Golden Boot since Chile ’62… when six players shared the honour.
Blast from the Gen X past: U.S. star Alexei Lalas said he picked Netherlands-Uruguay and Spain-Germany in his bracket, with Holland beating Spain 3-2 in the final. They used to burn Gingers at the stake for stuff like this…
According to FIFA’s foul and card count, the dirtiest team in the tournament will play the cleanest. If you don’t which is which, I’ll throw out a hint: Mark Van Bommel.
The calls have been growing louder for Van Bommel’s head. The Dutchman has only picked up one yellow, despite video evidence showing some vicious attacks through the tournament.
Spanish eyes mustn’t have been smiling when they heard Howard Webb was officiating the final. Webb reffed the 2009 Champions League quarterfinal match between Barcelona and Van Bommel’s Bayern Munich. Watch Van Bommel’s vicious elbow on Lionel Messi. Webb played the advantage — which led to a Barca goal. Trust me, the Spaniards haven’t forgotten…
Enjoy the final!
Tagged as David Villa, diego forlan, germany, holland, howard webb, mark van bommel, netherlands, spain, thomas muller, uruguay, world cup final
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Home → Free essays → Literature → "This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona" and the Life of Sherman Alexie
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Buy custom "This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona" and the Life of Sherman Alexie essay
In every culture, there are characteristics that make up that particular group of people; those characteristics can be everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and even traditions. A tradition is a long established custom or belief that has been passed on from generation to generation. Tradition and culture make a huge part of one’s sense of being as it did for Sherman Alexie growing up in an Indian Reservation. This author has managed to explain the nowadays society what they can loose by rejecting traditions and the life that was here before the current community. Sherman Alexie is the contemporary genius of the modern literature (Konigsberg).
Sherman Joseph Alexie Jr. was born on October 7, 1966 in Spokane, WA; he is the son of Sherman Joseph and Lillian Agnes Alexie. He was born a hydrocephalic which in layman’s terms means he had water in the brain. At six months, he underwent a brain operation after which he was not expected to survive (Flanagan). His stories tend to mirror his life experiences. Being born in a family of Indian parents, Sherman Alexie is still considered one of the most popular writers, poets, and filmmakers in the American culture. His readers can relate or imagine most of his material. Considering the information mentioned above, there is no wonder that his stories reflect his life experiences.
In his childhood, Alexie had been suffering from a mental disease. “Upon his birth, he had fluid pressure on the brain and underwent brain surgery at six months. As a result, Alexie was a weak and sickly child until about age seven.” As a teenager, Alexie enrolled in reservation schools, he found his mother's name written in a textbook assigned to him (Flanagan). While living in the reservation and studying at school there, Alexie dealt with many life challenges. His father was a truck driver suffering from alcohol abuse who was hardly ever at home. That was the reason why later the author was left without a father. Almost the whole his life Alexie was growing up without a man’s hand. He ended up transferring to Washington State University, where his high school sweetheart was enrolled. The young man’s move to Washington is considered to be the biggest step in his future career that changed his life completely. While in Washington, Alexie began concentrating on writing fiction and poetry. Being a Native American, he devoted almost all his works to the problem of Native Americans in the United States of America (Gale Biography in Context). As it was mentioned above, almost in every story, Alexie applies symbols that help him as an author to describe the life of Native Americans. Beyond that, he describes the confrontations between Native Americans and White Men. His collection of short stories became not only the basis of his future movies, but also the sort of his label in the American and world’s literature. The first famous collection of short stories written by Sherman Alexie is the The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. These are stories that give a picture of life in the reservation through short impressionistic scenes recounted by a few different people.
One of Sherman Alexie’s short stories included in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is “This is what it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”. The main characters of this story are Victor and his childhood friend Thomas-Builds-the-Fire. Victor has just lost his father and lives far away in reservation without money; that is why he decides to borrow some. Thomas-Build-the-Fire is the one who is here to help his old friend; as a result, they both travel to Phoenix, Arizona. Recently, the story became a script for the film called Smoke Signals directed also by Alexie. Alexie centers our attention not only on the theme of Native Americans, but also on the relationships between father and son (Bond). Furthermore,“This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” mainly focuses on showing its readers the conflicts not only between the two communities, Native Americans and White men, but also the conflicts that exist inside each community. A mutual understanding between the characters is shown with no relation to eac other throughout the story, at the same time, with the same kind of a “father” figure (Alexie). Like any other piece of literature, Sherman Alexie’s story can be considered just as a common story for its readers’ entertainment; although, one should not forget that the author grew up and lived in the Native American community himself. Sherman Alexie depicts struggles in the Native American society through his writings. The main its struggle is the one with time. For example, in “This is what it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, Alexie emphasizes on the fact that traditions he was raised in are almost dead nowadays. Alexie also focuses his readers’ attention on the love between parents and children; finally, he pays significant attention to the true friendship between main characters. As it was mentioned above, Victor, the main hero of “This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, goes on the trip to Phoenix just to get the father’s ashes and the heritage his father left him. During this trip, both Victor and his sort of “lost” childhood friend Thomas-Builds-The-Fire are trying to come to terms with each other. They have been friends since the age of seven years. Moreover, on their way to Phoenix, Thomas-Builds-The-Fire is telling about many tribes’ traditions. Victor remembers how it was in childhood when Thomas liked to criticize these traditions in a very philosophical way. However, he always did it with respect to them. In “This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, the image of Thomas-Builds-The-Fire is a symbolic one. It is not just a character who helps his friend regardsless of time or relations between them; Thomas is also the kind of a character that symbolizes the whole Indian nation with its difficulties and traditions. Thomas-Builds-The-Fire made a huge contribution to the story. This man also has lost his father long ago; so, he thinks of Victor’s father as of the one he has never had. Thomas, being a storyteller during the whole friends’ trip, has opened Victor’s eyes on his society; he helped Victor not just with money, but also he healed his friend’s soul. With this certain moments and through Tomas’s stories, the author shows his readers that the hope for the better future is still there (Bond).
The main things that are described in “This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” between thr lines are culture and character. Moreover, as it was mentioned previously, the symbolic image of culture is quite fascinating. It is shown not only through Thomas-Builds-The-Fire, but also from the descriptions of nature and Indians’ behavior that the author gives his readers. Sherman Alexie is trying to create the image of the Spokane Reservation where he has been living in the descriptions of the Reservation he has shown in the story. Sometimes, the author is describing both culture and character aspect in a humorous and sometimes in a tragic way. As it was said above, the symbolic aspect of a character is also an important part of the image described in the story. Both characters have not an easy life. Both of them have their tragedies and suffered their losses. They have a hard past; the fact that both Victor and Thomas-Builds-The-Fire have not been communicating since their childhood played a big part in their lives. Thomas is annoying, critical, yet respectful to traditions man, while Victor is also a good man, but with troubled fate. Thomas has been always scaring their community with his stories, while Victory has been just living his life. Thomas is the one who represents Indian spirit with its traditions, and Victor at first rejects his true nature. Moreover, there was one moment in their past when Victor, while being drunk, attacked Thomas-Builds-The-Fire. However, this was in the past, and all is left of that incident are just memories. In the present, however, both characters are on the trip to Phoenix. While being far away from their reservation, Victor and Thomas-Builds-The-Fire reunite as two old friends. Men are apologizing for their past actions towards each other; they are discussing their life after the moment they have stopped being best friends. Moreover, Thomas-Builds-The-Fire is telling Victor that after their sort of “break up”, he haas an encounter with Victor’s father. He asked Thomas to look after Victor and help him whenever he will need it. At the end of their journey, both Thomas and Victor decide to throw Victor’s father’s ashes in the Spokane Falls, but Thomas thinks that it will not bury Victor’s father after all. He is sure that Victor’s father will arise from ashes even after being buried in the Falls. Both of them expect very different results from burying father’s ashes. Thomas thinks that Victor’s father will arise as a salmon, which symbolizes someone smart, the one who remembers everything and who will take care after his son despite death and destination his spirit will need to manage. The relationships between Thomas-Builds-The-Fire and Victor changed during their journey. Victor finds out that this journey has changed him in all meanings; he starts to believe and respect traditions. Both men understand what the real friendship is, and as long as they are together in their life, nothing can be difficult for them. After all, Victor makes a decision to throw his father’s ashes. He thinks that it is time to let his past go and let his father rest in peace. Both comrades see that their friendship is the most important thing in their life; moreover, after this journey, they both start sharing the same view on different things including their traditions and the way the relationships between them should be. The journey they both took to Phoenix, Arizona, taught them that it is important to have at least someone with whom you could share stories, experiences; so, there is be always the someone who would listen to you no matter what happens (Alexie).
Despite thte feelings Victor had to his father before his death and every fight they had in their past, Sherman Alexie is showing his readers the whole variety of feelings that one can experience when his close person passes away. Melancholy, anger, despair, pain, loss – yet it is not the whole list of feelings. The list is always different from person to person, but the feeling of the respect or forgiveness stays always the same. This is what has happened in “This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” with the main protagonist. Despite fights and understatements that Victor has had with his father, the feeling of guilt makes him return to Phoenix and at least show obeisance to his father for the last time. Therefore, there is no wonder that he wants to share his grief and guilt with his childhood friend but not with just some neighbors, who after all, even do not care about Victor’s loss. Although at the beginning of the story, the friends differently perceive death and life, in the end, it seems that Victor comes to understanding what Thomas is trying to show him. After all, Victor even says Thomas that he will do from now on the same things he does. Moreover, in the end of “This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, Victor promises his friend that he will always stop once he sees his friend and will always listen to his stories (Bond).
In his “This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, Sherman Alexie is not only showing his readers the real meaning of relationships, especially those inside family or the relationships in the old friendship, he also is trying to show the nowadays society how important is the native culture with its customs and social norms and how it can affect the relationships between two people. The author is trying to pay readers’ attention to the moments when two characters, for example, remember their bonds and get some mutual understanding after all these years or the moments of compassion and forgiveness. “This is what It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” is not just some simple short story, it is a masterpiece that discloses the problematic situation of Indian society to Alexie’s readers and shows everyone the real talent of the author. It seems almost surreal how far Alexie has gone, almost like rags to riches type of story. He is a very successful author, with a beautiful wife and children. He has become whom he is today because of his short stories and the meaning he has put in them. Sherman Alexie is a great writer, an example in the world’s literature for all the future generations of writers.
Formal Analysis of John Cheever's "The Wrysons"
Common in Uncommon
Translating Setting into Mise-en-scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
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Home Products More Precious Than Peace: The Cold War and the Struggle for the Third World
More Precious Than Peace: The Cold War and the Struggle for the Third World
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A veteran of the Washington policy wars has written a tour de force on the U.S.-Soviet struggle for the Third World. At turns dispassionate, witty, and argumentative, Rodman brings to the work not only a near-unique vantage point as a senior aide in four Republican administrations but also highly impressive skills as a historian. Beginning with the clash between Wilson and Lenin over the colonial question, Rodman expertly traces the unfolding of the great game over the following 75 years, with most of the work given over to the 1970s and 1980s and to detailed treatments of the crises in Angola, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Central America. Rodman shows how, at the moment of abject American demoralization following the collapse in Vietnam, the Soviet Union began to break out of the fetters that Nixon and Kissinger had attempted to impose. Its various interventions, culminating in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, underlined the necessity for vigorous American opposition. They also provided an opportunity to pay the Soviets back in their own coin, and American support was funneled to armed insurgents who contributed significantly to the enfeeblement and collapse of Leninism. Ironically, this resistance was most effective in Afghanistan, where it was least democratic. Nevertheless, in Rodman's view Reagan's great accomplishment was that he joined together a strategic rationale and a moral justification ("the democratic revolution") for U.S. actions, tapping "the Wilsonian tradition as a motivation for the accomplishment of a Nixonian strategic purpose." Whatever its merit in the past, the relevance of the Reagan formula for the post-Cold War world is questionable. The partners to the union, Mr. Strategic Purpose and Ms. Moral Vision, seem increasingly ill at ease in one another's company. It seems most unlikely that the form their dalliance took under the Reagan Doctrine -- underwriting armed insurrections on behalf of free government -- provides a justifiable policy for a future without the Soviet threat.
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“Utter Non-Interest in the Facts”—Orwell On Truth vs. Ideology
aviatrixkim / June 11, 2012
I’ve loved Orwell’s journalism ever since I discovered Homage to Catalonia, and then devoured every book, article, and letter of his I could find. Now, I’m enjoying his wartime diaries, which The Orwell Prize has been blogging since 2008, 70 years to the day after Orwell wrote each entry.
A couple of things always struck me about Orwell’s writing: First, he explored an argument from all sides and tended to devote more energy to dismantling the “smelly little orthodoxies” of his own camp than to attacking the opposition. Make no mistake: Orwell was decidedly a Socialist, although he tended to define it on his own terms, i.e. justice and liberty, common decency (his words). And this: “I want a civilisation in which ‘progress’ is not definable as making the world safe for little fat men.” Vague, but colorful and memorable.
BUT. He openly ridiculed the more absurd iterations of the left in his own country and refused to become a partisan apologist for the so-called Socialism of the Bolsheviks. He could wax pretty grumpy when his rants got going strong, as you’ll see in this excerpt from The Road to Wigan Pier, his 1937 exposé of working-class poverty in England’s industrial north. It’s quite funny and cranky, full of stereotypes that still ring familiar:
“We have reached a stage when the very word “Socialism” calls up, on the one hand, a picture of aeroplanes, tractors, and huge glittering factories of glass and concrete; on the other, a picture of vegetarians with wilting beards, of Bolshevik commissars (half gangster, half gramophone), of earnest ladies in sandals, shock-headed Marxists chewing polysyllables, escaped Quakers, birth-control fanatics and Labour Party backstairs-crawlers. Socialism, at least in this country, does not smell any longer of revolution and the overthrow of tyrants; it smells of crankishness, machine-worship and the stupid cult of Russia…as with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.”
At moments, that sounds a bit like something modern political commentators might say, except when you remember that he’s making fun of his own side.
A Miner & His Wife
Second, he was willing to consider his own prejudices and how they influenced his opinions—to great effect in The Road to Wigan Pier, in which he writes at length of his bigotry towards poor people (which at times bordered on revulsion). In this passage, he’s screwing up his courage to enter a working-class lodging house:
“It seems ridiculous now. But you see I was still half afraid of the working class. I wanted to get in touch with them, I even wanted to become one of them, but I still thought of them as alien and dangerous…”
The most fascinating aspect of Wigan Pier and the above passage, to me, is that he’s not only willing to confess his preconceived notions and fears; he’s eager to confront them by learning about a class of people almost wholly unknown to him. He spent time with miners’ families in Northern England, went into the mines, lived for months at a time among the London homeless and the plongeurs of Paris. He worked as an Imperial policeman in Burma (a job he hated and which shaped his opposition to Empire) and fought Fascists in Spain (which revealed to him the true nature of Soviet rule). Who of today’s political talking heads would go to that kind of effort to openly question his own assumptions, would challenge them by going out into the world and learning about other people? Can you imagine any of them criticizing idiocy and inconsistency in their own political camp?
Orwell was willing to change his views based on experience, and even to seek out experiences that might re-shape his beliefs—an astonishing sort of open-mindedness that seems to have gone extinct in political discourse of late, and even in ordinary households. In America today, an individual’s beliefs about the science behind global warming or evolution, or what caused the present economic downturn, or whether income disparity is on the rise, or whether racial discrimination happens in our justice system—all seem to depend far more on the political trend of the moment than on, say, actual evidence. And the fewer facts a person knows, it seems, the stronger his belief.
Orwell in 1945
Which brings me to Orwell’s diary entry of June 11, 1942. The Nazis had just announced to the world that they’d eradicated the Czech village of Ladice—murdered the men, sent the women to camps and the children to be “re-educated,” and razed the town—for allegedly harboring the assassins of S.S. Gen. Heydrich. Here’s Orwell:
It does not particularly surprise me that people do this kind of thing, nor even that they announce that they are doing them. What does impress me, however, is that other people’s reaction to such happenings is governed solely by the political fashion of the moment. Thus before the war the pinks believed any and every horror story that came out of Germany or China. Now the pinks no longer believe in German or Japanese atrocities and automatically write off all horror stories as “propaganda”. In a little while you will be jeered at if you suggest that they story of Lidice could possibly be true. And yet there the facts are, announced by the Germans themselves and recorded on gramophone discs which no doubt will still be available. Cf. the long list of atrocities from 1914 onwards [German atrocities in Belgium, Bolshevik atrocities, Turkish atrocities, British atrocities in India, American atrocities in Nicaragua, Nazi atrocities, Italian atrocities in Abyssinia and Cyrenaica, red and white atrocities in Spain, Japanese atrocities in China, in every case believed in or disbelieved in according to political predilection, with utter non-interest in the facts and with complete willingness to alter one’s beliefs as soon as the political scene alters.
Utter non-interest in the facts. Sound familiar?
Orwell’s wife Eileen visits his unit in Spain
I’ll end with one of my favorite Orwell passages, from his essay, Looking Back on the Spanish War:
“…unfortunately the truth about atrocities is far worse than that they are lied about and made into propaganda. The truth is that they happen…There is not the slightest doubt, for instance, about the behaviour of the Japanese in China. Nor is there much doubt about the long tale of Fascist outrages during the last ten years in Europe. The volume of testimony is enormous, and a respectable proportion of it comes from the German press and radio. These things really happened, that is the thing to keep one’s eye on. They happened even though Lord Halifax said they happened. The raping and butchering in Chinese cities, the tortures in the cellars of the Gestapo, the elderly Jewish professors flung into cesspools, the machine-gunning of refugees along the Spanish roads — they all happened, and they did not happen any the less because the Daily Telegraph has suddenly found out about them when it is five years too late.”
“They happened even though Lord Halifax said they happened.” Favorite. Quote. Ever.
exercise: Replace “Lord Halifax” in the above sentence with your own least-favorite politician of the moment. Then, in lieu of the aforementioned “atrocities,” substitute something you’re ideologically doubtful about, all evidence be damned. How do your beliefs stand up? Show your work.
Related post: Orwell on Language
June 11, 2012 in Essays, Writing. Tags: George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia, ideology, politics, propaganda, The Orwell Diaries, The Road to Wigan PIer
The Tyranny of Language
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Down and Out in a Piper Apache
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7 thoughts on ““Utter Non-Interest in the Facts”—Orwell On Truth vs. Ideology”
Nilu says:
I can’t believe I have never read anything by him. Sounds really fascinating. What do you recommend I start with? I’m not a native English speaker.
You could have fooled me. Your English seems perfect, and the images on your blog are incredibly lovely.
I’m glad you’re interested in Orwell! To begin, have a look at Shooting an Elephant. It’s about his experience as a policeman in Burma, and the immorality of empires. It’s a sad and fascinating read.
I now remember to have actually read that shot story in English class. Odd, I forgot by whom it is. It was very strong and touching. So I guess I like Orwell already. What else do you think is good for nearly-beginners?
Thanks for liking my photographs, they mean a lot to me. In real life I couldn’t fool you with my English though, I have a funny German accent 🙂
At the moment I am reading Hemingway, For Whom The Bell Tolls, and the photo of the Spanish Civil War reminded me of it.
Thanks for stepping by my blog and following!
@Nilu, There’s a great “Best of” list here: http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays.htm
You could try “Looking Back on the Spanish War” (1942) if you’re interested in the Spanish Civil War. And my absolute favorite is “Politics and the English Language” (1946) The Tribune columns (further down the page) are also varied and interesting.
ok thanks. I will check it out!
ephraimrc says:
This is one of my favorite posts. I’ve only read Animal Farm, great book, but this is very intriguing. Gotta love objectivity. Thanks for posting.
Thanks! It’s fun to read Orwell’s earlier work, because it gives a sense of how the idea of Animal Farm came to be. Even if you only read Homage to Catalonia, you can see the birth of his anti-Soviet feeling, via his personal experience.
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Medical Procedures for Hemorrhoids
Medical Procedures for HemorrhoidsGIS2016-11-22T11:55:30-07:00
Within the walls of the anal canal there are three main cushion-like areas containing a combination of small, irregularly-shaped blood vessels, connective tissue, and smooth muscle. Smaller, similar areas are interspersed in between and around the internal anal opening.1 During bowel movements and when we cough, sneeze, or strain, these areas engorge with blood. In the case of bowel movements, the swelling protects the underlying anal tissue, and during coughing, sneezing, and straining the fullness created by the engorged cushions helps prevent stool leakage. Typically, the swelling resolves quickly following these actions. The top surface areas also contain nerve endings, which help us sense the difference between liquid, solid, and gas in the anal area.2
When the cushions stay swollen, sometimes pushing out of location, they’re known as hemorrhoids. When the rectal tissue bulges outside of the anus, it’s known as a prolapse.3 You will find that most sources refer to these enlarged masses of rectal tissue simply as hemorrhoids, and we will also do this throughout this article. Hemorrhoids may have a number of predisposing causes, but, in most cases, increased pressure in the abdomen plays a key role. Some of the most common underlying factors for developing hemorrhoids include constipation and straining during bowel movements, repeated lifting of heavy objects, frequent diarrhea, prolonged sitting or standing, obesity, and pregnancy. Nearly 5% of the population have hemorrhoids at any given time,4 and by the time you are fifty years of age, there is a 50% chance you will have experienced them at least once. Your chances increase if you have a family history of hemorrhoids, and 38% of women in the third trimester of pregnancy will have them.5
There are two types, external and internal, which can occur separately or in combination. You could have a single hemorrhoid, or have several at the same time. The main symptom of internal hemorrhoids is bright red blood during or after a bowel movement, but they are not usually associated with pain unless they develop a blood clot (thrombose). External hemorrhoids are more nerve-rich and more likely to cause pain and itching; they usually appear as a hard purple bulge outside of the anus. Many people do not seek medical help unless symptoms are severe, because of embarrassment and stigma around anal problems. It is very important that you receive a correct diagnosis from a medical professional, as rectal bleeding and pain can also be symptoms of other, more serious, gastrointestinal conditions.
Hemorrhoids usually resolve within a few days on their own, and you may find that you can manage the symptoms through at-home methods. Ensuring a balanced diet that is high in fibre and includes adequate amounts of fluid; taking sitz baths, in which you sit in a warm, shallow bath containing salt; and over-the-counter topical treatments might help relieve symptoms. Sometimes, however, hemorrhoids persist, become very large, or cause extreme pain, requiring medical treatment. Depending on your particular situation, a physician will choose from a number of treatments, including traditional surgery, rubber band ligation, coagulation therapy, sclerotherapy, cryosurgery, or stapling. In this article, we will review these procedures and look at how physicians perform them, how they work, possible side effects, and potential complications.
NSAID Risk: It is normal to experience some pain and discomfort following a medical procedure for hemorrhoids. A sitz bath or mild pain medication such as acetaminophen can provide some relief. However, do not use aspirin, ibuprofen, or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 4-5 days before or after treatment, as these drugs increase your risk of bleeding.
Traditional Surgery
This procedure involves the surgical removal of the hemorrhoid using a scalpel, laser, or cautery pencil (which uses electricity). Your physician will usually choose this older methodology treatment only after other, less invasive treatments have failed. It is rare for a hemorrhoid removed by traditional surgery to return, but you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery, mostly due to pain. In addition, healing time is considerably longer than for other treatments, taking about 5-6 weeks.6
Rubber Band Ligation
Rubber band ligation is the most common procedure to treat internal hemorrhoids and it is very effective. After inserting a device called a syringe ligator into your anus, the physician will gently draw the hemorrhoid into the device, twisting it slightly and then locking it in place above the sensitive dentate line, before quickly securing a rubber band around the hemorrhoid’s base to complete the process. This procedure, like several others we will discuss, works by cutting off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing the tissue to die and fall off in about a week. It is normal to experience slight bleeding when this occurs. Fibrous tissue forms during healing, fixing the remaining hemorrhoidal cushion in place, which helps to prevent future hemorrhoids in that area.4,7
If you experience pain or discomfort after the procedure, your physician can adjust the band slightly with a gloved finger or inject the area with pain medicine.8 Aside from traditional surgery, which comes with additional risks and side effects, rubber band ligation is the most effective removal method for medium-sized internal hemorrhoids. However, it is not appropriate for very small or very large hemorrhoids.
Side effects include feeling as if you need a bowel movement. Some pain is also normal, especially 24-48 hours after the procedure. Rare side effects include severe unresponsive pain, bleeding, inability to pass urine, and infection.9 A physician normally performs only one or two ligations per session, as simultaneous ligations increase the risk of complications.3
Coagulation Therapy
The most common type of coagulation therapy is infrared photocoagulation, in which your physician will use the heat from an intense beam of infrared light to create fibrous tissue on the hemorrhoid, cutting off the blood supply to the enlarged rectal tissue. Your physician might also perform coagulation therapy with a laser or an electrical current. This treatment is for small or medium-sized hemorrhoids. There is a risk of pain during this procedure and symptomatic hemorrhoids may recur. Side effects and complications are about the same as those for rubber band ligation.10
Your physician may choose sclerotherapy to treat internal hemorrhoids that are too small for rubber band ligation. The physician injects a chemical (the sclerosant) into the base of the hemorrhoid, which hardens and prevents blood from feeding the enlarged mucosal tissue, which dies and eventually falls off. The resulting fibrous tissue helps to prevent additional hemorrhoids from forming in the same location. However, hemorrhoids do sometimes return after sclerotherapy, requiring a repeat of treatment. It is normal to experience some pain after this procedure. Rare complications may include an allergic reaction to the sclerosant, severe or persistent pain, infection, or bleeding. This procedure requires a high degree of skill, as injecting the chemical into the wrong area, such as the anal vein or the prostate, can cause other, more serious complications.11
In this procedure, your physician will first use local anaesthesia to numb the area before applying either nitrous oxide or liquid nitrogen with a cryoprobe to freeze internal or external hemorrhoids. The physician may also tie them off (ligate) before freezing them. The hemorrhoids shrink and fall off in 2-3 weeks. There tends to be more pain after this type of treatment, and there are increased risks, such as infection and bleeding. Cryosurgery was once very common, but most physicians now opt for a different treatment due to the many potential complications of this procedure.12
Stapling, also known as procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH), is a technique used for large prolapsed hemorrhoids.13 A prolapsed hemorrhoid is an internal one that has pushed down and stretched until it bulges outside of the anus. Under local anaesthesia, your physician will use a number of special tools to push the tissue nearer to its original location along the anal or rectal wall, remove excess tissue, and then secure the cushion to its original location with circular titanium staples. Fibrous tissue forms around the staples during healing, which helps to anchor the hemorrhoidal cushion in place. The staples eventually pass unnoticed with your stool.
Stapling results in a higher chance of hemorrhoid recurrence than with traditional surgery, but comes with a faster, less painful healing time.14 As with other procedures, you may have the sensation of rectal fullness and/or pressure for several days following the procedure. You may also have some bleeding. Potential complications include a temporary inability to pass urine, tearing of the lining of the anal wall (fissuring), trauma to the rectal wall, excessive scar tissue that narrows the anal or rectal wall, and infection.15
After any successful hemorrhoid treatment, it is important to maintain a balanced diet that is high in fibre, and to drink adequate amounts of fluid. If you experience hemorrhoids that persist for an extended period or are very painful, visit your physician to discuss the treatment options that are best for you.
4 Simple Steps to Help Prevent Hemorrhoids16
If you are pregnant or genetically predisposed to developing symptomatic hemorrhoids, they may be impossible to prevent, but the following tips may nonetheless lower your risk of experiencing them:
Consume well-balanced meals and snacks, ensuring high-fibre content and adequate fluid intake.
Avoid sitting or standing for long periods. Take short walks whenever you can.
Do not delay bowel movements when you feel the urge.
Breathe freely and avoid prolonged straining during bowel movements and other activities that could involve straining, such as lifting heavy objects.
Dr. Iain G.M. Cleator, Professor Emeritus of Surgery
First published in the Inside Tract® newsletter issue 183 – 2012
1. Lohsiriwat V. Hemorrhoids: From basic pathophysiology to clinical management. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2012;18(17):2009-17.
2. Sneider EB et al. Diagnosis and Management of Symptomatic Hemorrhoids. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2010;90:17-32.
3. Madoff RD et al. American Gastroenterological Association Technical Review on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemorrhoids. Gastroenterology. 2004;126:1463-73.
4. Johanson JF. Nonsurgical treatment of hemorrhoids. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2002;6(3):290-294.
5. Vohra S et al. The effectiveness of Proctofoam-HC for treatment of hemorrhoids in late pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2009;31(7):654-659.
6. Hemorrhoids.net. Traditional Surgery. http://www.hemorrhoid.net/surgery.php#tradtional. Accessed 2011-01-09.
7. Schubert MC. What every gastroenterologist needs to know about common anorectal disorders. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009;15(26):3201-09.
8. The Cleater Clinic. Methods of Treatment. http://www.haemorrhoids.ca/haemorrhoids.php#methods_treatment. Accessed 2011-01-09.
9. HealthLinkBC. Rubber Band Ligation for Hemorrhoids. http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/otherdetail/hw212526.html. Accessed 2011-01-09.
10. HealthLinkBC. Infrared Photocoagulation for Hemorrhoids. http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/otherdetail/hw212815.html. Accessed 2011-01-09.
11. Hemorrhoids.org. Sclerotherapy as a Hemorrhoid Treatment. http://www.hemorrhoids.org/hemorrhoids/complications-to-sclerotherapy-as-a-hemorrhoid-treatment.html. Accessed 2011-01-09.
12. Hemorrhoidtreatmentanswers.com. Cryosurgery. http://www.hemorrhoidtreatmentanswers.com/fixative-hemorrhoid-treatments-cryosurgery/ Accessed 2012-08-14.
13. Medicinenet.com. Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy. http://www.medicinenet.com/stapled_hemorrhoidectomy/article.htm. Accessed 2012-08-15.
14. Giordano P et al. Long-termm Outcomes of Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy vs Conventional Hemorrhoidectomy. Archives of Surgery. 2009;144(3):266-72.
15. Hemorrhoid.net. Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids. http://www.hemorrhoid.net/procedure_prolapse.php. Accessed 2011-01-09.
16. HealthLinkBC. Hemorrhoids: Prevention. http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/major/hw213495.html#hw213687. Accessed 2012-08-15.
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Rumor: Complete Specs for Next Xbox Leaked
Luke Brown
For months and months, rumors about what Microsoft's next console might be have been making the rounds. Now it appears the final specs for the Xbox 720 have been uncovered.
According to VGLeaks, the Xbox 720 (or Durango), will be quite an impressive piece of machinery. There's a lot of technical specifications to take in, though for the most part, much of what the site is reporting aligns with what has been rumored for the past year or so. The Durango will include 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 50GB Blu-ray drive, and an 8-core 1.6GHz processor. The console will also include the standard WiFi, ethernet, and HDMI ports, but will reportedly also feature an HDMI in-port for the first time. Could Microsoft be turning the next Xbox into a true media center, with DVR capabilities?
Kinect will still be part of the Durango, though there's a bit of a mystery about how it will be integrated. Not only is there a dedicated Kinect USB port, but the specs also make mention of a High-fidelity Natural User Interface Sensor. Without a physical picture of the console, there's no telling just what the NUI sensor is, but it's likely we won't have to wait much longer to find out.
As with all next-gen rumors, this report should be taken at face value. Until Microsoft actually announces the Xbox 720/Durango, the best we can do is hope these specs turn out to be real.
Filed Under: Microsoft
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Urban Blob
New renderings revealed for Peter Zumthor's sinuous LACMA redesign
By Antonio Pacheco • August 5, 2016
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and Atelier Peter Zumthor launched a website yesterday, BuildingLACMA.org, that touts newly revealed renderings for a $600 million project aimed at demolishing LACMA’s existing galleries in exchange for a wholly new museum by the famed Swiss architect.
The website launch comes as the first step toward the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) required for the project to move into the construction phase. Thursday’s announcement also set out a date for the first “scoping meeting” for the current phase of the project, to be held on August 24, to hear public comment regarding the extent and scope of the EIR study.
Zumthor’s updated renderings speak to the overriding parti of the project, an expansive, sinuous, continuous gallery spanning across Wilshire Boulevard, elevated on eight “pavilions.” A quote featured on the website states the following premise for the design: “With a horizontal layout and no back or front, every culture is given equal focus.” LACMA’s preference for the continuous, single-story gallery is seen as an equalizing and modernizing force for the encyclopedic art institution founded in 1910, during an era where European art was often displayed prominently while the works of other cultures were relegated to basements or accessory structures.
LACMA’s impetus for the demolition of L.A. architect William Pereira’s 1965 structure is also touted as a pragmatic choice to replace “inefficient, deteriorating buildings with new, environmentally sustainable structures, embracing state-of-the-art resource management and technology.”
In the current era of supersized museum expansions and relocations, however, it is perplexing that Zumthor’s designs for the new museum will actually create smaller overall building for the new LACMA. The new plans call for an approximately 368,000 square foot structure, while the current arrangement beats that projection by nearly 25,000 square feet. There is a plus side, however: The reorientation of the museum, use of “pavilions” as footholds, and overall decrease in gallery space will have the effect of producing 2.5 acres of additional public outdoor open space.
The project aims for a 2023 completion date, due to coincide with the opening of an extension to the city’s Purple Line subway route, which will have a stop adjacent to the museum complex.
Antonio Pacheco
Contributor, The Architect's Newspaper
LACMA Peter Zumthor William Pereira
Fractured Future
Cracks found on L.A. Times building ahead of controversial development
LACMA Lowdown
LACMA Lovers League starts petition to pause Zumthor's new building
Still No Floorplans
New batch of renderings for Zumthor’s LACMA proposal unveiled
Collect $117.5 Million
LACMA proposal moves forward despite fierce opposition
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Aamir Khan launches the theme song of Satyamev Jayate
Events, News, Slider, Television | April 16, 2012 | | by Prateeksha Khot
There’s a reason Aamir Khan is known as Mr. Perfectionist. He gives his 100% to everything he undertakes which is why his first television show, Satyamev Jayate, which took a couple of years to be out for the audience, has already created enough buzz. Aamir had the theme song of the show launched recently and the viewers already seem to love it.
Written by Prasoon Joshi and composed by Ram Sampath (of Delhi Belly fame), this video has been shot by Ram Madhvani and showcases Aamir visiting different parts of the country and connecting with the people. This song is unique in the sense that it is a love song for the country and it was Aamir’s idea that it should be so. He said, “Earlier, we were planning to compose a national song or like one anthem. Later, I realized, why am I doing this show? I have love in my heart for my country, like each Indian who loves their country. Then we went with a romantic song. We thought, it should be a love song that reflects the love for my country and relate with each Indian.” There will be songs for each episode composed by Ram and written not only by Prasoon but some other lyricists as well.
Aamir refrained from saying much about the show saying he wanted to keep the element of surprise but he did mention that the show is very close to his heart and it’s a way to connect with people. “I am not attempting to change anybody’s life. I don’t have the strength to change anyone’s life. When I speak about change, it’s about changing myself. I am not interested in changing the world. Who am I to change anyone’s life? I can only connect to them emotionally and empathize,” he clarified.
An interesting fact is that this show will be telecast on not only a private channel (Star Plus) but the national channel DD1 as well. That’s not all. The show will be dubbed and showcased in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Bengali (Aamir said he had no qualms with his voice being dubbed) and will be broadcast on Sundays 11 am. “I wanted to telecast my show on Sunday morning. I want each family to watch the show and connect with it. We have watched Ramayana and Mahabarata and it used to come on Sunday morning. The shows created a different atmosphere. I am not scared of the saas or bahus. My thought was Bharat jodo abhiyaan,” said Aamir.
The show will start from May 6. We love the theme song of Satyamev Jayate and hope the show is as touching too.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXg6Usdjl5c
Prateeksha Khot
View all posts by Prateeksha Khot →
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— JeffPC @ August 31, 2009 02:19
The other night, just before midnight, STS-128 launched. I took a few screenshots of NASA TV. NASA described the launch as:
Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A was on time at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The first launch attempt on Aug. 24 was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. The second attempt on Aug. 25 also was postponed due to an issue with a valve in space shuttle Discovery’s main propulsion system.
The STS-128 mission is the 30th International Space Station assembly flight and the 128th space shuttle flight. The 13-day mission will deliver more than 7 tons of supplies, science racks and equipment, as well as additional environmental hardware to sustain six crew members on the International Space Station. The equipment includes a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill.
Here’s the “beenie cap” with the moon in the background:
A nice shot of the whole shuttle:
The engines:
Beenie cap being retracted before launch
Later on, I found this image on NASA’s site. Wow.
(original link)
Viewed from the Banana River Viewing Site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery arcs through a cloud-brushed sky, lighted by the trail of fire after launch on the STS-128 mission.
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Reflections on Enforcing Coding Style to Commit Code
I was recently part of a team implementing a new cloud service. One of the objectives of this team was to frequently release software to production. This might be a minor patch or the introduction of a significant new feature. After some careful investments in automated builds, deployments and tests, we were able to accomplish this goal. We could essentially release at any time, as long as all of our automated tests passed.
An important part of our process was a gated check-in for the main branch, which we used to build production releases. To pass the gated check-in, all the code had to compile, pass static analysis, pass all the unit tests and conform to the coding style. Enforcing a coding style might seem a bit rigid, but I feel that it was an important element of our process and resulted in a higher quality product. But it does not come without drawbacks. After having lived with the process for approximately one year, I'll describe some of the advantages and disadvantages I have observed from enforcing a coding style as part of a gated check-in.
Since we were using C# and Visual Studio, we used StyleCop to define and enforce our coding style. StyleCop was included via a NuGet package in each project and we had one global StyleCop settings file at the root of our source directory. We decided on the StyleCop rules as a team over the course of a couple of meetings where we were reviewing a lot of code. I feel that the rules we settled on were pretty lightweight, mostly concerned with formatting (e.g., whitespace and the use of braces), class layout (e.g., the ordering and grouping of fields, methods, properties, etc.) and member naming (e.g., PascalCasing for method names and camelCasing for local variables, etc.). We stayed away from esoteric rules like every member must be commented. We felt rules like this encouraged counterproductive behaviours like this:
public class SomeResource
/// The Name
/// The ID
int ID { get; set; }
The Drawbacks
I think the drawbacks were, generally, few and far between. At first, it was certainly a bit annoying when I was focused on coding a feature and my check-in would be rejected because of some trivial style issue. This took some getting used to but eventually we all got in the habit of running StyleCop in addition to static analysis locally, before committing our check-in. This really kept the focus on the fact that our main branch had to be production-quality code that could be released to our production environment at any time.
I think the biggest drawback was interpersonal. Even though we discussed the rules as a team and I felt that we had defined our style guide by consensus, some rules were more appealing to some people than other rules. Some people found certain rules too rigid and the fact that these rules were strictly enforced (if you didn’t follow the rule you couldn’t check in) created resentment. I think one should be especially sensitive to this if there are differences in age or programming backgrounds among the team members. It is also probably more of an issue on a newly formed team, rather than a team that has worked together for years and has a well-established style. Deferring to an industry standard style guide (like Framework Design Guidelines or MSDN for .NET) can certainly help. The defaults of tools like StyleCop and ReSharper are also pretty good places to start. Compromising and reaching consensus on items like this, however, is ultimately part of team building and, in retrospect, this was probably more indicative of other issues that needed to be addressed rather than being the problem in and of itself.
One technical problem that we had was to make sure each project included the StyleCop NuGet package. When adding a new project it would be easy to forget to include the StyleCop NuGet package and, if so, our style guide would not be applied to that project on check-in. We had already customized our build to interrogate project setup ahead of compiling to ensure, among other things, that static analysis was correctly configured, so we used this to also check that StyleCop was included. It would be nice if there were facilities in the automated build to support such global configurations without having to resort to customizations, but we were not aware of any at the time. Using a check-in policy might be an interesting alternative.
Code Review is About Code Review
I think the biggest benefit was that enforcing a consistent style as part of the check-in made subsequent code reviews strictly about code review and not about style. This made for more effective code reviews. When I would code review another class it was immediately familiar; the code was formatted the same way I would format it and I was not distracted by minor stylistic concerns. It is also easy for someone to "contribute" to a code review by pointing out these tedious stylistic concerns. This can feel nitpicky and judgmental too which can make people defensive or withdrawn. And it doesn't make the code better, other than perhaps making it more maintainable. I like what Erik Dietrich has to say about code reviews in his article How We Get Coding Standards Wrong:
Keeping methods and classes small and focused, principles like DRY and SOLID, and other good design principles are much more important standards to which to aspire, but they’re often less concrete and harder to enforce. It’s much easier and more rote for a code reviewer to look for casing issues or missing comments than to analyze code for good software practice and object-oriented design. The latter is often less cut-and-dry and more a matter of degrees, so it’s frequently glossed over in favor of more tangible, simple things. Problem is, those tangible, simple things really aren’t all that important to the health of your applications and projects over the long haul.
Code reviews should be about code review. Does the code do what is intended? Are exceptions handled appropriately? Have authentication and authorization been considered? Is there encapsulation? And so on. Things that affect the functioning, reliability, security, performance and maintainability of the code. These aspects can take great concentration and stylistic distractions only detract from an effective code review. So we basically used a tool to take care of the “simple things”, as Erik calls them, before the code was even committed to source control.
I noticed lately when looking at a class that was not part of our project, I was distracted by extra whitespace and properties intermixed with private fields. I don't think there was actually anything functionally wrong with the class, but because the style was not consistent it made it much more difficult for me to understand.
Maintaining consistency for things like class layout is tedious and I don't want to have to memorize these, arguably arbitrary, rules. I want a tool to check these and provide reminders so that I don't have to think about it. ReSharper is an excellent tool for providing these reminders in context as you code. Plugins like Visual Studio Productivity Power Tools, which will format code when the document is saved, can go a long way to automating stylistic concerns as well.
Adding People to a Team
We never had an opportunity to put this to a test, but I do feel that having the basic stylistic conventions of the team codified in a tool would be useful for on-boarding someone new to a team. The new person can learn the conventions naturally as he/she works on code and contributes to the project. A build warning that the person can work on by themselves is more gentle than being told "don't do that" in front of the team. Isn't that a nice way to on-board with a team? Start working on code and don't worry too much about the style. If the style doesn't follow our conventions the build will remind you. It is also more productive in that the person can just learn on their own without having to have someone mentor them in adopting the conventions of the team. It also means that the conventions are not some secret handshake known by the elders of the group and passed on to the next generation.
An In-Context TODO List that Actually Gets Done
One trick I used when experimenting with changes that I didn't necessarily want to check-in, or when I wanted a reminder to do something before checking in, was to annotate the relevant code with a //TODO comment. StyleCop will complain that all comments must start with a space (i.e., // TODO), so I would be safe in knowing that these changes would not pass the gated check-in without me resolving them first. I found myself regularly using this trick as an excellent way to make quick to-do annotations right in context without breaking my flow. This allowed me to be very thorough, especially remembering to write tests for edge cases.
I’m no longer working on a team with a gated check-in, or even a strict coding style. I certainly miss it. I miss the consistency and quality it brought to our code. I think it made us more productive and improved the quality of the product. Perhaps all it did was contribute to a culture along the lines of Vince Lombardi’s famous quote:
Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.
We had the luxury of being a new project, so enforcing style as part of our check-in gate was relatively easy. Doing this for a project with a significant amount of legacy code, or dependencies that may be out of your control, could be daunting, or near impossible, and not worth the investment. But perhaps try it for new code added to your project and see how you like it.
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Sara's dispatches
A Freelancer by Any Other Name
By Sara Horowitz
https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2013/03/28/freelancer-any-other-name/
Freelancers choose all kinds of different names, but they all share the same meaning: a sense of independence and the freedom (or responsibility) to make your own choices.
There really is this thing called a freelancer identity, and I saw it last week in full force when I met with groups of freelancers on the West Coast.
I went to Portland and Los Angeles for a couple of book events, and to take the pulse of the freelancer communities there. We set up group discussions at two coworking spaces, NedSpace in Portland, and at NextSpace in LA.
The conversations we had in both places made me want to take these events to cities all over the US. More than 100 freelancers showed up, and I was blown away by how eager everyone was to share their experience and help each other.
A makeup artist who had just moved to LA talked about how daunting it was to try and break in to the industry. How do you land that first gig? A dozen people piped up offering advice and leads, and not just other makeup artists.
Everyone we met was excited about their work/life situation, proud to be freelancers, and eager to share. What came through was that whether you’re an actuary or an architect, if you’re a freelancer, you’ve had common experiences and face common issues.
And don’t think this is just a Gen-X or Gen-Y phenomenon. The groups ranged in age from 20-something web designers to 60-something book keepers.
People at both events talked about networking—not the shoving-your-card-in-someone’s-face kind of networking, but as in, building a life filled with people you care about. You help each other because you have a genuine connection, not because you’re trying to gather as many names as possible for your contact list.
Other people were interested in launching incubators or finding affordable business services.
Dylan Meconis, a freelance comic book creator in Portland, was so engaged by the group discussion that she drew a cartoon of it in real-time.
What kept coming up was this collective wish to figure out a model for organizing freelancers, so independent workers could come together for mutual goals.
Solving the common issues that we all face will take creative solutions. Sometimes, that means finding institutions that are already there and figuring out how to partner with them.Solving the common issues that we all face will take creative solutions. Sometimes, that means finding institutions that are already there and figuring out how to partner with them.
Here’s what I mean: Diana, a freelancer from the Bay Area, talked about how childcare kept coming up among the freelancers at her coworking space, Next Space in San Francisco. So, she created a childcare program within the building (called NextKids), and now members have a place to drop their kids off a few days a week.
By collaborating with an existing institution—her coworking space—Diana was able to set up a new enterprise that responded to members’ needs.
As we move forward in building the new economy, we all need to be thinking that way—freelancers, contractors, consultants, free rangers, the self-employed…all of us.
What's It Like to Be Our Member Rep?
Joseph Caserto is Freelancers Union’s current Member Representative. Since Member Elections are right around the corner, we asked…
Last-Minute Tax Advice: Do's and Don'ts for Freelancers
Editor’s Note: Guest blogger Jonathan Medows is a New York City based CPA who specializes in taxes and…
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In re Lane, LLC (9th Cir. BAP) – 9th Cir. BAP holds that disallowance of a claim for lack of standing does not void a lien under 11 U.S.C. § 506(d)
Business Law Business Law Insolvency Law Committee Case Updates
The following is a recent case update:
In Bank of New York Mellon v. Lane (In re Lane), 589 B.R. 399 (9th Cir. BAP 2018), the U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit (the “BAP”) held that disallowance of a claim for lack of standing by the claimant did not also void the underlying lien under 11 U.S.C. section 506(d) because no argument had been made by the debtor that the lien or underlying obligation was substantively invalid. To read the full published decision, click here.
Richard Lane filed a chapter 13 petition and disclosed that he owned real property subject to two secured claims in favor of Bank of America, indicating that the senior lien was disputed regarding the “real party in interest.” He proposed a chapter 13 plan that provided for monthly payments on the first lien, but also stated that the loan was disputed and that, until “‘proof of real party in interest status[,]'” he would set aside the monthly payment. Id. at 403 (alteration in original).
Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”) then filed a request for special notice that directed all notices to its counsel. It filed a secured claim for the first lien against the property, attaching copies of the original deed of trust, the original note and a recorded assignment to BNYM; the note was endorsed in blank. The debtor objected to BNYM’s claim, arguing in a form claim objection that BNYM had failed to establish standing to enforce payment on the claim and seeking disallowance of the claim. BNYM failed to respond to the claim objection, despite being served through its counsel of record. The bankruptcy court sustained the objection. BNYM did not appeal the order.
With respect to the debtor’s plan, BNYM initially objected to it, but ultimately withdrew its objection, conceding that its objection had become moot because BNYM would not receive payments under the plan as a result of the claim disallowance order. The bankruptcy court confirmed the plan, and the debtor made no payments on the senior lien during his five year plan.
After the debtor completed his plan payments and received his discharge, BNYM reopened the debtor’s case and unsuccessfully moved to reconsider the claim disallowance order. In the meantime, the debtor sued BNYM to void the first lien against the property under 11 U.S.C. section 506(d) and to obtain an award of attorney’s fees. The debtor quickly moved for summary judgment, arguing that as a result of the disallowance of BNYM’s claim, BNYM’s lien was void under Section 506(d), citing the Ninth Circuit’s decision in HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v. Blendheim (In re Blendheim), 803 F.3d 477 (9th Cir. 2015). In opposition, BNYM argued for further discovery and a continuance of the hearing. BNYM also argued that the debtor’s interpretation of Section 506(d) was contrary to the holding in Dewsnup v. Timm, 502 U.S. 410 (1992), that liens normally pass through bankruptcy unaffected. Although BNYM acknowledged that it was not entitled to receive payments under the plan, it argued that its lien survived bankruptcy because the debtor had never disputed the legitimacy of the loan documents, only who had standing to enforce them.
The bankruptcy court disagreed with BNYM, finding that it was required by Section 506(d) and the Blendheim decision to void the lien because it had disallowed the claim and the exceptions under Section 506(d) did not apply. The bankruptcy court also awarded the debtor attorney’s fees for prosecuting the lien avoidance action, opposing BNYM’s unsuccessful reconsideration motion and filing the motion for an award of fees. BNYM appealed the Section 506(d) summary judgment and order, the fee award and the order denying its request for a continuance of the hearing.
The BAP first turned to BNYM’s argument that the debtor’s standing objection was a procedural argument, rather than a substantive argument, that did not support avoidance of its lien under Section 506(d). Although the BAP noted that BNYM raised this argument for the first time on appeal, it elected to analyze it on the basis that it was an important issue of law that did not depend on the factual record. The BAP determined that an objection based on standing concerns the claimant’s ability to enforce its claim and is therefore not a mere procedural objection. It noted that this conclusion was consistent with Section 502(b)(1), which requires disallowance where a claim can be defeated by a legitimate non-bankruptcy defense.
After ruling that lack of standing was a substantive objection, the BAP determined that Blendheim did not control the outcome in this appeal. In Blendheim, the senior lender filed a proof of claim that the debtors objected to on the basis that there was no documentation and the note contained a forged signature. The lender failed to respond to the claim objection. The bankruptcy court sustained the objection by default and later voided the lender’s lien under Section 506(d), which provides in pertinent part that “[t]o the extent that a lien secures a claim against the debtor that is not an allowed secured claim, such lien is void . . . .” The court in Blendheim found that because the debtors raised a substantive objection to the underlying obligation and the lender failed to defend its claim from that objection, the lien was void under Section 506(d).
The BAP noted that implicit in the Blendheim decision was a requirement that Section 506(d) apply only when a claim disallowance deals with the merits of the underlying debt. Applying that logic to the facts at hand, the BAP held that while the debtor’s standing objection was a substantive objection, it was not a substantive attack on the validity of the underlying obligation. Indeed, the debtor did not dispute that he obtained a loan for the property; in fact, he even acknowledged in the plan that he owed some lender for the loan and that it was secured by a first priority lien against the property. In reaching this conclusion, the BAP commented that the bankruptcy court’s finding that BNYM lacked standing to enforce the claim was a “legal fiction” because the claim had in fact attached documentation that established BNYM’s standing, concluding that the claim disallowance order “should never have been entered.” The BAP viewed itself as having to deal “with the effects of that erroneous ruling.” Lane, 589 B.R. at 410.
Having distinguished Blendheim and because there was an enforceable order that BNYM lacked standing to enforce its claim, the BAP held that where a note and lien are valid and enforceable and the question is who has the ability to enforce that debt, a lien cannot be voided without first giving the true party in interest notice and an opportunity to be heard. After giving effect to the bankruptcy court’s prior order that BNYM lacked standing and therefore finding that the bankruptcy court had voided a lien that belonged to a party not before it, the BAP held that the bankruptcy court erred in entering the Section 506(d) summary judgment and order voiding the first priority lien, and reversed.
As to the attorney’s fee award, the BAP reversed the award in connection with the summary judgment because the debtor was no longer the prevailing party. It also reversed the award in connection with the debtor’s successful opposition to BNYM’s reconsideration motion because Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7054, which incorporates Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54, required that the debtor’s motion for attorney’s fees be filed within fourteen days of the order denying the reconsideration motion. Because the debtor’s motion for attorney’s fees was not timely-filed, the bankruptcy court was required by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9006 to find excusable neglect, which it had not done. The BAP therefore reversed the attorney’s fee award.
AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY
The BAP’s conclusion was that the bankruptcy court erred in voiding the first lien because the proper party was not before it in the lien avoidance proceeding. This was an odd conclusion given that BNYM appears to actually have been the proper party and participated at length in those proceedings. However, the result is the right one, at least under equitable principles. It would also be the right result if BNYM’s lack of standing was more than a “legal fiction” because due process would not have been given to the party that actually held the rights to the lien and underlying debt. However, the broad conclusion that Section 506(d) does not apply if disallowance of a claim is not based on the merits or validity of the underlying debt or lien seems to be at odds with the plain language of Section 506(d), which provides as follows:
[t]o the extent that a lien secures a claim against the debtor that is not an allowed secured claim, such lien is void, unless—
(1) such claim was disallowed only under section 502(b)(5) [provides for disallowance of claim for an unmatured debt that is excepted from discharge under Section 523(a)(5)] or 502(e) [provides for disallowance of certain claims for reimbursement or contribution] of this title; or
2) such claim is not an allowed secured claim due only to the failure of any entity to file a proof of such claim under section 501 of this title.
Given that the debtor appealed the BAP’s ruling, it will be interesting to see if the Ninth Circuit agrees with the BAP’s interpretation of Blendheim.
These materials were written by Kyra E. Andrassy, a partner with Smiley Wang-Ekvall, LLP in Costa Mesa (kandrassy@swelawfirm.com). Editorial contributions were provided by Cathy Ta of SulmeyerKupetz in Los Angeles (cta@sulmeyerlaw.com).
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23 and a 1/2 hours
What's the single best thing we could do for our health?
Categories: Audio, Lifestyle.
Health Professional Review
23 and 1-2 hours- What is the single best thing we can do for our health
“24 Hour Fitness — 23 and ½ Hours” is a video produced in partnership with Dr. Mike Evans. It provides viewers with an entertaining and informative visual lecture about the single best thing you can do for your health — exercise!
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I had a black dog, his name was depression
YouTube video based on the book by Matthew Johnstone. At its worst, depression can be a frightening, debilitating condition. Millions of people around the world live with depression. Many of these individuals and their families are afraid to talk about their struggles, and don't know where to turn for help. However, depression is largely preventable and treatable. Recognizing depression and seeking help is the first and most critical towards recovery.
Overcoming Anger and Irritability CD
: Talks with your Therapist.
CD Available in your local library.
This CD is based on the book: Overcoming Anger and Irritability: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques. The CD includes a series of nine talks by clinical psychologist Dr William Davies. It explores how anger and irritability affects us in different ways and sets out effective strategies to reduce feelings of irritability and become less angry.
Relationships: The missing piece of the wellbeing puzzle
Relationships – as much as exercise, a healthy diet and not smoking – are fundamental to our mental health and wellbeing. In the 21st century, people are living longer, often further away from family and with increasingly virtual friendships. But it doesn’t need to be like this.
Video based on the United Kingdom but similar statistics and situation here in New Zealand.
http://www.booksonprescription.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Relationships_-the-missing-piece-of-the-wellbeing-puzzle.mp4
Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world CD
A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world.
Everyday life is so frantic and full of troubles that we have largely forgotten how to live a joyful existence. We try so hard to be happy that we often end up missing the most important parts of our lives. In “Mindfulness,” Oxford professor Mark Williams and award-winning journalist Danny Penman reveal the secrets to living a happier and less anxious, stressful, and exhausting life. Based on the techniques of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, the unique program developed by Williams and his colleagues, the book offers simple and straightforward forms of mindfulness meditation that can be done by anyone and it can take just 10 to 20 minutes a day for the full benefits to be revealed.
Chanél Pienaar, Getting Dunedin Active and Green Prescription Advisor at Sport Otago, joins us to talk about these community-based programmes that can help make ‘movement’ part of your new year’s resolution.
We find out how Green Prescription and Active Families can help get your whanau active as well as provide nutritional and social support, and how you can access all of this for free – or at very low cost.
We also review the Books on Prescription resource, 23 and a half hours – what is the single best thing we can do for our health, exercise is the ‘medical treatment’ that has the biggest impact, the biggest return on investment.
http://www.booksonprescription.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/NZOA64k-Listen-Yourself-Well-2016-12-29-Episode-09.mp3
How to overcome fear and anxiety
This podcast was produced by the UK Mental Health Foundation as part of Mental Health Action Week 2009. – See more at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/podcasts-and-videos/how-overcome-fear-and-anxiety#sthash.y0ooELTj.dpuf
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Tag: jimmy eat world
New Found Glory – Makes Me Sick
New Found Glory exists currently for about 20 years. I know people who are younger than this band. This is so bizarre. Recently I sat with a friend and we reflected (or lamented, or celebrated) the fact we’re getting older. What makes this all the more bizarre is that New Found Glory works in the genre of youth. Even if you weren’t a teenager in the days of Punk Pop – I was, but was more of a Nu Metal kid – this still sounds like music for teenagers to get loud to. It was catchy, it was loud, it was angry and victorious at the same. For the 30-year-old man, a song like “My Friends Over You” means nothing. For a 16-year-old kid trying to convince himself that he’s not attached to a girl, this song means everything.
In a way, this album is an acknowledgement that these dudes are getting older. Whatever their previous albums sound like, “Party on Apocalypse” is the sound of an out-of-touch adult who remembers being young, yet realizes his youth has been replaced. In style it’s what you expect from a grown-up Punk-Pop band. The riffs are moved to mid-tempo and they discovered you can dance to something other than pounding drums, so you get a slightly funk rhythm. Musically it updates the genre for parties, and many bands went this way. Eventually we find our friends and want to chill with them.
The lyrics are different. Many heard about how the current generation is stupid. Just ask Socrates and how he hated writing. The lyrics are full of discorn, of venom towards the current generation. It doesn’t come from an adult perspective or reminisincing on better days. It’s just as suited for any 16-year-old today who’s confused about how to have fun.
The first verse immediately kicks off with how the ‘living for the weekend’ mentality is stupid. Coming from the band with that nasty tone, they sound like the ones who are actually having fun. All these people who pass out in parking lots and care so much about their image look ridiculous. The band doesn’t get angry over it, but confused and mocking. Later there’s even a slight at Social Justice. It’s the outsider perspective, how things look from the outside. All those people putting pictures on Facebook of them with beer bottles and all this identity politics thing, where people think their race or gender must be their whole meaning. Thankfully the chorus saves it from being just a song about being grumpy about waiting for all the trends to die. In the end it’s a party song about looking at the world from outside, thinkinkg it’s ridiculous and knowing you have more fun.
Two more other songs take this delusional approach – “Call Me Anti-Social” and “Your Jokes Aren’t Funny”. The latter is pretty obvious. Someone’s jokes lost their spark, like when you’re 22-years-old and memes about rape jokes just don’t do it for you and actually look offensive. “Call Me Anti-Social” continues from “Apocalypse” with being even more anti-social, but there’s something charming about it. Like the previous song it’s another response to a world where we’re surrounded by images of people being social (Which is not the same as actually being social). In this world, it’s far easier to feel isolated and alone. Unless you’re sticking your tongue out in Ibiza, you’re no fun. As an anthem of tiredness, it’s fantastic and exactly what I’d expect from a rock band who notices how different the rock landscape is now.
Everything else after that is just a retreat of Sticks & Stones. That’s okay, because New Found Glory have more charm than any band they influenced and overtake them. Anyone else would’ve ruined “Party On Apocalypse”, but it’s their everyman, ordinary people with loud guitars approach that makes it so charming. So when they talk about being used for sex (“The Cheapest Thrill”) or a weird unstoppable love (“Barbed Wire”) it’s cute.
It also lacks vigor. It lacks the authenticity of youth. I’m not saying they are pretending. I’m sure they really care about these songs and the only time a song is close to bad is because the melody is dull, like how uninspired “Blurred Vision” is with repeating a single phrase over and over. Yet what made their original material so powerful was how youthful it sounded, that it wasn’t a professional band knowing their genre but a bunch of dudes who had passion for romance and were really confused over being young. “Barbed Wire” is really cute and the lyrics are adorable, but I wonder what it would’ve been like if they played it 15 years ago. They do sound grown-up, which is excellent for some songs. When talking about broken hearts though, they’re just professionals going through the motions. It’s still good, but this isn’t the heart of Punk-Pop.
“Party On Apocalypse” is a fantastic and should be at the top of end-of-year lists talking about the best songs. It’s everything I want from New Found Glory now that they’re older. Someone should’ve expressed disillusionment and confusion over contemporary times and this nails it. Besides that, it’s just a rehash of old material without the same youthful energy. It’s fun, sure, but besides “Call Me Anti-Social” I can get everything here in better form in previous albums. Get these two tracks though.
I wish they would’ve used a better album title. What could be more generic?
2.5 apocalypses out of 5
Author The Brain in the JarPosted on May 1, 2017 May 1, 2017 Categories music, reviewTags +33, a loss for words, acceptance, album, album review, alkaline trio, all downhill from here, all time low, allister, amber pacific, american hi-fi, apocalypse, armor for sleep, as it is, autopilot off, bayside, better luck next time, blink-182, bodyjar, bowling for soup, box car racer, boys like girls, brand new, cartel, chunk! no captain chunk!, city lights, classic rock, cute is what we aim for, dance punk, emo, every avenue, face to face, fall out boy, farewell, fenix tx, fireworks, forever came calling, forever the sickest kids, four year strong, garage rock, go radio, gob, goldfinger, good charlotte, halifax, handguns, hard rock, hardcore punk, head on collision, hey monday, hidden in plain view, hit the lights, home grown, houston calls, i am the avalance, i call fives, indie rock, jimmy eat world, just surrender, kids in glass houses, knuckle puck, lagwagon, less than jake, linkin park, lit, lucky boys confusion, major league, makes me sick, man overboard, matchbook romance, mayday parade, me vs hero, mest, midtown, millencolin, moose blood, motion city soundtrack, music, music 2016, music album, music review, mxpx, my friends over you, neck deep, new found glory, no use for a name, over it, paramore, party on apocalypse, patent pending, plus 44, polar bear club, pop punk, pop rock, post punk, punchline, punk, punk pop, punk rock, quitedrive, real friends, relient k, rock, rock music, rock review, rufio, saves the day, say anything, seaway, senses fail, set your goals, simple plan, slick shoes, spitalfield, sr-71, state champs, such gold, sugarcult, sum 41, taking back sunday, teenage bottlerocket, the academy is, the all-american rejects, the ataris, the audition, the dangerous summer, the get up kids, the matches, the menzingers, the movielife, the red jumpsuit apparatus, the startling line, the story so far, the summer set, the swellers, the wonder years, this time next year, tonight alive, transit, turnover, unwritten law, useless id, valencia, veara, we are the in crowd, we the kings, with the punches, yellowcard, you me and everyone we know, you me at six, youth, zebraheadLeave a comment on New Found Glory – Makes Me Sick
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Biblia Arabica
The Bible in Arabic among Jews, Christians and Muslims
The “Psalms of David” as reimagined and rewritten by Muslims
by Adrian Binder | posted in: Blog | 1
by David R. Vishanoff
The history of the Bible in Arabic includes not only the reception of its textual content, and the reworking of its stories and themes in various forms of “rewritten Bible,” but also the reimagining of the Bible as a concept—in the minds of Muslims as well as Jews and Christians. One particularly curious example of rewritten Bible is an Arabic text purporting to be the “Psalms of David,” written by a Muslim to fit a Qur’anic conception of the Zabūr. Rather than human prayers and praises addressed to God, this collection of one hundred “suras” takes the form of a divine revelation spoken by God to the prophet David, full of pious admonitions about the enticements of this world and the terrors of the next.
“King David Playing the Harp.” Miniature pasted on an album leaf from the period of Shah Jahan. India, Mughal; 1610-1620 (miniature) and c. 1640 (leaf). The David Collection, Copenhagen, Inv. no. 31/2001.
Here is a sample:
Blessed are the anxious, those stricken with fear, who comfort orphans with food and nourishment. Blessed are those who withdraw in silence from society and its vices, whose souls are afforded the most sublime insight. Blessed are those who rise to spend the night in vigil. But woe to those who go looking for adultery! The least that I will do to adulterers is to blot out the glow of health from their faces and wipe away both their lifespan and their livelihood. Blessed are those who think too highly of me to gaze on the private parts of those forbidden to them, fearing my punishment.[1]
This new scripture’s form and content suggest that it was intended as a collection of sermon material, while its fearful and ascetical tone suggest that its author was one of the khāʾifūn and zuhhād who, modeling themselves partly on Christian monks, upheld for a century or two an ascetic strand of Muslim piety that was displaced in the ninth century by mystical and legal forms of piety.[2] The recent discovery by Ursula Bsees of two papyrus leaves containing psalms 7–13 shows that the original Core text does indeed date back to the eighth or early ninth century.[3] In subsequent centuries it was frequently copied, edited, expanded, rearranged, and even radically rewritten, resulting in a dozen different recensions.[4]
Recensions and selected manuscripts of the Islamic Psalms.
These psalms appear to be original compositions, but their authors drew on, alluded to, or were inspired by several kinds of material: short passages from the Biblical Psalms and Gospels, ḥadīth qudsī, qiṣaṣ al-anbiyāʾ, ḥikma, zuhd, the Qur’an, and possibly some “Sayings of the Desert Fathers.” The author of the Core text did not have direct access to the Biblical Psalms, but employed paraphrases of a few famous passages that had been learned orally and were circulating among Muslims. Even the later editors do not appear to have used Arabic translations of the Bible, with one exception: the editor of the Sufi recension used an Arabic translation, made from Hebrew, of Psalms 1–3.[5]
Although only a fragment of the Core text survives, its contents can often be reconstructed from the later recensions, each of which expanded and modified it in keeping with its editor’s own inclinations. For example, the “Sufi” editor elaborated on themes such as divine love, the “Pious” editor replaced love with obedience, and the “Orthodox” editor rectified theological problems such as allusions to David’s sin of adultery—a Biblical story that was known among early Muslims but was quickly modified or suppressed as unworthy of a prophet.[6]
Some manuscripts of the Islamic Psalms.
Copies of these recensions circulated from Iran and the Caucasus in the East to al-Andalus and Timbuktu in the West. (The “Broken Pious with Moses” recension was especially popular in Jerusalem.) Some copies were included in collections of sermons or alongside treatises on scrupulous piety (waraʿ), while others were made to look like copies of the Qur’an, with sura headings, verse divisions, and recitation marks. Dozens and probably hundreds of copies were produced between the 13th and 18th centuries, but interest faded as Arabic translations of the Christian Bible became widely available in print. A handful of scholarly articles drew attention to them in the early 20th century,[7] but since that time they have been almost entirely forgotten by Western as well as Muslim scholars. The only version to have been printed[8] is a small collection that was originally associated with Moses before being recast as Psalms of David; it is still being used in West Africa today for the training of preachers in Qur’anic schools.[9] Since I have found no complete copy of the Core text, I am preparing a critical edition and English translation of the Koranic recension, which does not diverge much from the Core text. I believe these rewritten psalms are worth bringing back into view, not because of their implicit polemical claim to be more authentic than the corrupted Biblical Psalms—a pretension belied by the Muslim editors’ eagerness to improve the text at every opportunity—but because of their historical value for the early history of Muslim piety, and also for what they reveal about the function of the Bible in the Islamic milieu. The Bible is not just a text; it is a repertoire of narratives, characters, concepts, values, and symbols that Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike can reinterpret and redeploy for their own purposes. The Bible is also a concept, an imagined idea that changes shape as it moves into new linguistic and religious environments. That is why the “Psalms of David” could be given a whole new text, and thus be made to serve Muslim ascetics as well as Christian monks.
David Vishanoff is Associate Professor of Islamic studies in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma, where he teaches courses on the Qur’an, Islamic theology, Islamic law, and comparative topics in religious studies. He received his Ph.D. in West and South Asian Religions from Emory University in 2004. His research is principally concerned with how religious people interpret and conceptualize sacred texts—both their own and those of other religious traditions. His publications have dealt with the early history of Islamic legal theory and hermeneutics, and with uses of scripture across religious lines, especially Muslim rewritings of the Psalms. He is presently editing and translating one version of the Islamic Psalms, and studying modern developments in Qur’anic hermeneutics beginning with recent developments in Indonesia, where he spent the spring of 2013 as a Fulbright scholar. This work has led him to dabble in digital methods of data visualization and “distant reading.”
[1] Psalm 5.5 from the Koranic recension (corresponding to 4.5 of the Core text) based on MS Istanbul, Süleymaniye, Fatih 28, fol. 4b.2–8, and MS Madrid, National Library, MSS/5146, fols 208b.21–209a.4.
[2] See Hurvitz, “Biographies and Mild Asceticism;” Melchert, “Exaggerated Fear in the Early Islamic Renunciant Tradition;” Melchert, “The Islamic Literature on Encounters between Muslim Renunciants and Christian Monks;” Melchert, “The Transition from Asceticism to Mysticism at the Middle of the Ninth Century C.E.”
[3] MSS Vienna, Austrian National Library, A. P. 01854 a Pap and A. P. 01854 b Pap, of which Ursula Bsees and David Vishanoff are preparing an edition.
[4] For an overview of several recensions see Vishanoff, “An Imagined Book Gets a New Text.” I will give an updated and expanded overview in an edition of the Koranic recension that I hope to complete this year.
[5] See Vishanoff, “Why Do the Nations Rage?” 153–158.
[6] See Déclais, David raconté par les musulmans, 187–211.
[7] See the works of Cheikho, Krarup, Mukhliṣ, and Zwemer listed in the bibliography.
[8] al-Mukhtār, ed., Mawāʿiẓ balīgha min Zabūr sayyidinā Dāwūd.
[9] Personal communication from Dr. Yushau Sodiq of Texas Christian University, March 2019.
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David R. Vishanoff, Muslim Reimagination, Psalms of David, Rewritten Bible
The “Psalms of David” as reimagined and rewritten by Muslims | David Vishanoff
14. May 2019 | Reply
[…] “The ‘Psalms of David’ as reimagined and rewritten by Muslims.” Biblia Arabica blog. May 14, 2019. https://biblia-arabica.com/the-psalms-of-david-as-reimagined-and-rewritten-by-muslims/ […]
The Qurʾānic Subtext of Early Arabic Bible Translations 16. July 2019
Oriental Languages and Scholarly Collaboration in Seventeenth-Century Europe: Étienne Hubert and the Arabic Gospels 28. May 2019
The “Psalms of David” as reimagined and rewritten by Muslims 14. May 2019
Biblical translations into Christian Arabic preserved in the Cairo Genizah collections 30. April 2019
Can manuscript headings prove that there were Arabic Gospels before the Qurʾān? 3. April 2019
© 2019 Biblia Arabica. Maintained by the Biblia Arabica Munich team.
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CDC, Federal Government Quietly Started EBOLA Preparations Before Congo Migrant Invasion
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health, as well as New York City and state and local governments began preparing for a possible Ebola outbreak shortly before the current Congolese migrant invasion on our southern border, as the Congo migrants journeyed from Africa to the United States.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department partnered with the CDC and the Kentucky Department of Health beginning in February to monitor people traveling to and from the Ebola outbreak region on the African continent, with the local department acting on guidance provided by the federal and state government bodies.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is a branch of the National Institutes of Health, sponsored a clinical trial beginning in late January at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio to test Ebola vaccines.
The Congo migrant “surge” at the southern border continues, as recently-landed Congo migrants in San Antonio, Texas described their six-month journey to the United States — during which time the government started making Ebola preparations instead of acting to stop the illegal migrant invasion.
I reported:
New York City partnered with New York State to carry out an Ebola outbreak drill in April 2019, right around the time the city started looking for applicants to fill a “short-term” Ebola manager position for the city’s health department.
New York City’s health department issued a little-noticed public release on April 30 entitled “New York City and New Jersey Health Departments Conduct Emergency Exercise to Safely Transport a Simulated Ebola Patient to NYC Health + Hospitals / Bellevue.”
The drill, flagged by the global tracker Ebola Outbreak Map, was quietly conducted before the current Congo migrant surge at our southern border hit the press, with Congo migrants flooding into San Antonio, Texas amid the Ebola outbreak in their home country. Congo migrants said in June that their travel to the United States took six months, meaning that New York City was formally preparing for an Ebola outbreak while the migrants were on their way to America.
The city government stated (emphasis added):
“In order to prepare for viral outbreaks occurring in other parts of the world, New York City and State partnered with first responders in New Jersey to conduct an emergency exercise last week to transport a person pretending to be an Ebola patient to NYC Health + Hospitals / Bellevue. Agencies that participated in the drill included the Health Department, NYC Health + Hospitals, the Fire Department of the City of New York, New York State Department of Health, the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and health and law enforcement agencies from New Jersey. The exercise entailed the transfer of a person pretending to be an Ebola patient from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey to the Regional Ebola and Other Special Pathogen Treatment Center at NYC Health + Hospitals / Bellevue in New York City.
Given the current outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the second largest Ebola outbreak in history with over 1,100 confirmed cases and 700 deaths, it is critical that the healthcare system is prepared to handle an actual case of Ebola or other infectious disease threat. Despite this critical need for readiness, federal funding for Ebola preparedness is set to expire in 2020, placing the future of these emergency response capabilities in jeopardy.
This exercise – the first of its kind between New York City and New Jersey – tested the health care system’s ability to safely move a patient to a clinical setting where Ebola can be most effectively treated…
“New York City is a global city and must be ready to respond when global health issues become local,” said New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “It is essential for the Health Department to closely collaborate with City agencies, local health care facilities, and our partners in New Jersey so that we can prepare collaboratively for disease threats, like Ebola, and protect the health of New Yorkers when these deadly pathogens appear in our communities…
“In New York City, we need to be ready for anything,” said Laura Evans, M.D., Medical Director of the Special Pathogens Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and Co-Principal Investigator for the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC).”
New York City Health release passage ends
Meanwhile, Bill de Blasio’s city government has been quietly preparing for an Ebola outbreak in other ways.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and its partner Public Health Solutions are no longer accepting applications for the position of: “Ebola and Special Pathogens Program Manager.”
The ad identifies the job as a “short-term project” expected to end in May 2020.
The job posting was flagged by Ebola Outbreak Map, a tracker of the Ebola virus worldwide.
Public Health Solutions, a public health nonprofit, put up the job posting on LinkedIn three months ago, noting, “The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the program, but will work at DOHMH’s headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, NY and be supervised by DOHMH.”
The job posting still exists, as of press time, on Simply Hired and indeed.com.
Since the ad was posted, a wave of migrants from the Congo have entered the United States and stoked fear among people in San Antonio, Texas that they could be carrying disease. An Ebola outbreak is currently underway in the Congo.
The job posting states: “With an annual budget of $1.6 billion and more than 6,000 employees throughout the five buroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds…DOHMH’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OEPR) promotes the Agency’s and NYC’s ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from health emergencies. OEPR coordinates agency-wide emergency preparedness planning, exercises and training, evaluation of incident response, exercise performance and collaborates with community and healthcare stakeholders, city, state & federal partners on public health and healthcare emergency planning and response.”
The job posting notes: “This is a short-term project (expected to end by May 2020).”
The duties for this role include:
Support the Ebola and special pathogen preparedness programming for healthcare partners including designated treatment centers, network coalitions, and partner agencies (e.g. FDNY), and special projects through deliverable-based contracts (7 Network Coalitions, 2 Designated Treatment Centers, FDNY, others).
Working with the Senior Medical Coordinator, support document development for assessing and supporting the preparedness needs of hospital networks and treatment centers for Ebola and special pathogens; this work may include (but not limited to) translating funding requirements into work plans, supporting exercise planning and execution, review of proposals and deliverables sent from the above hospitals and networks to meet preparedness needs and program requirements.
Coordinate and support joint planning activities with regional partners from NYC, New York state and New Jersey.
Work with the Senior Medical Coordinator and Medical Director to design and carry out new initiatives to support communicable disease preparedness.
Develop and maintain relationships with these healthcare entities and their representative leaders to ensure contract deliverables are on time and complete and program requirements are met…
Work closely with Senior Medical Coordinator and Medical Director to develop educational support materials to address healthcare system preparedness needs for special pathogens and other communicable disease risks.”….
Job posting passage ends
The Ebola outbreak in Africa is growing.
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report confirms this. The United Nations, of which WHO is a part, and which features a report on its website touting “replacement migration” in the United States, refuses to call the Ebola outbreak a global emergency. Migrants from the Congo continue to invade the United States, particularly the state of Texas.
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reports: “The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday in its weekly profile of Ebola activity aired growing concern about case spikes in two Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) areas—Mabalako and Mandima—that were hit hard when the outbreak began last August. Meanwhile, the DRC health ministry yesterday reported 7 new cases, and the WHO’s online Ebola dashboard says there will likely be 13 more today, which would lift the overall outbreak total to 2,297 cases.” Center passage ends
Of course, this is not stopping our globalist central planners from allowing migrants from the Congo to invade the United States, even as a mystery disease has led to three people being quarantined at a private hospital in El Paso, Texas.
The Washington Examiner recently interviewed Congolese migrants in San Antonio. Even the New York Times admits that migrants from the Congo are contributing to a “surge” at the border.
A medical professional on the border in Texas told Big League Politics that the crisis is reaching fever pitch, with three individuals now quarantined at a privately-owned hospital in El Paso with an unknown disease. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not even been able to identify the disease the three migrants have, as the military guards the quarantine area.
“There were some Congolese people caught crossing the border, it was suspected they had Ebola. In one facility there are three patients being held because they don’t know what they have. The CDC have been here to assess them. They are isolated, they only have certain specialists who can see them,” the medical professional tells Big League Politics.
“We’ve had an outbreak of mumps over here.”
“What scares me is what happens if we someone come over here with Ebola. We only need one person, and there’s a pandemic.”
“There was a female, 10 years old, who was found with 20 different types of semen inside her body. She was dispatched to a family member. The girl who was with her who was supposedly a family member was not really a family member, just someone who bought her from her family in Guatemala. These are real problems that exist here on the border. There are some people who are trying to leave jugs of water out here for them. A lot of these people come to this country needing help,” the professional stated.
Migrants are obtaining “Rent-A-Kids,” and since Border Patrol cannot perform DNA tests to determine if children are related to adults most of the human traffickers get into our country.
“In Juarez, there is a huge influx of Cubans right now. They have taken over the streets and started a prostitution ring among them. The Cubans cannot cross here. If they have Cuban citizenship, they cannot cross here.”
“There are a lot of people who come here from El Salvador, Guatemala who are in acute renal failure, they cannot walk. There are some who have come with cirrhosis of the liver. I’ve seen some patients who are almost at the point of dying with the cirrhosis that they have,” the medical professional stated. “The time and resources it takes up to treat them is massive.”
“A lot of these children come over here sick, you don’t catch the flu overnight, there’s an incubation period. A lot of these kids are already sick coming here. Right now, at least 2 percent are being taken up by people who are coming here illegally, somehow someway they do have insurance. We’re guessing that as soon as they come over here they get some kind of insurance, whatever they are not given we have to foot the bill here, and they are illnesses they have had for a while,” the professional stated.
Big League Politics has previously confirmed with border watcher Jim Benvie that illegal migrants obtain insurance and EBT cards upon gaining access to the United States.
“There have been some women who have come forward who said they were raped…in the end you have to believe they were because of the damage done to them, either vaginally or anally,” the professional stated.
“When they cross over, you see them land…being transported in these huge buses, they don’t have to go through TSA, they get escorted and go first. What they need to do is it has to be like Ellis Island, they need to vet these people and quarantine.”
I reported: Jim Benvie is a border watcher who leads fellow concerned citizens in peacefully stopping migrants who invade the United States over the southern border. Benvie’s videos from the border can be found on his Facebook page. Benvie is the leader of the Guardian Patriots and has been especially active in the El Paso, Texas region.
Benvie appeared on The Campaign Show with Patrick Howley on Patriots Soapbox (6-8 PM Eastern on Sundays, live.patriotssoapbox.com) to discuss the scourge of human trafficking and cartel activity on the Texas and New Mexico border, the ACLU’s quest to fight citizen watchers, and the deep possibly irreversible corruption of our American political system.”
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Cell Nucleus
Cell Nucleus Definition
The cell nucleus is a large organelle in eukaryotic organisms which protects the majority of the DNA within each cell. The nucleus also produces the necessary precursors for protein synthesis. The DNA housed within the cell nucleus contains the information necessary for the creation of the majority of the proteins needed to keep a cell functional. While some DNA is stored in other organelles, such as mitochondria, the majority of an organism’s DNA is located in the cell nucleus. The DNA housed in the cell nucleus is extremely valuable, and as such the cell nucleus has a variety of important structures to help maintain, process, and protect the DNA.
Cell Nucleus Structure
A cell nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane, known as the nuclear envelope. This membrane covers and protects the DNA from physical and chemical damage. In doing so, the membrane creates a separate environment to process the DNA in. The outer membrane is in contact with the cytoplasm, and connects in some places to the endoplasmic reticulum. The inner membrane connects to the nuclear lamina. This nuclear framework inside the cell nucleus helps it maintain its shape. There is also evidence that this scaffolding of proteins helps form a matrix to transport and distribute products within and out of the nucleus. Nuclear pores create passages through the nuclear membrane, and allow products of the cell nucleus to enter the cytoplasm or endoplasmic reticulum. The pores also allow some specific macromolecules and chemicals from the cytoplasm to pass back into the cell nucleus. These macromolecules are needed to synthesize DNA and RNA, and are needed for the creation of new proteins and macromolecules within the cell nucleus. In a stained nucleus, a dark spot can be seen. This spot is the nucleolus. Within the nucleolus, the several different parts of ribosomes are produced and exported. These structures can be seen in the following image.
While the cell nuclei of plants and animals differ in subtle ways, their main purpose and general activities remain the same. The cell nucleus is responsible for producing two main products to support the efforts of each cell. The first, messenger RNA, or mRNA, is the product of transposing a gene coding for a specific protein from the DNA structure to the RNA structure. This shorter mRNA strand can exit the nucleus and enter the cytoplasm. When a ribosome picks up this mRNA, it will translate this mRNA into the language of proteins and create a long strand of amino acids. This strand will then be folded into a functional protein, which may serve one of a thousand different roles. Examples of the differences between plant and animal cell nuclei can be seen below.
Examples of a Cell Nucleus
Animal Cell Nucleus
This generic animal cell has all the components that every animal cell has. The cell nucleus can be seen on the left side of the cell. It is the large purple circle. Remember that this is a cross-section view, and in reality the nucleus would be more of a sphere. In animal cells it usually takes a spherical shape if there is enough room within the cell. The nucleus is surrounded by the endoplasmic reticulum, which is covered in spots by ribosomes. When the animal cell divides, the nucleus breaks up, and the nuclear envelope falls apart. The nuclear envelope is then reassembled around each new nucleus after the chromosomes have been divided.
Plant Cell Nucleus
Above is a generic plant cell. Notice how it has a rigid shape, due to the presence of a cell wall. Further, a large central vacuole occupies the majority of the cell, pushing all the other constituents to the sides of the cell. The nucleus here is orange, shown with a chunk taken out to expose the interior. Like animal cell nuclei, this cell nucleus will retain a spherical shape if there is enough room. Oftentimes in plant cells, the central vacuole expands with water to apply pressure to the cell walls. This pressure forces the nucleus into a more flattened, oblong shape. As with animal cell nuclei, this cell nucleus will break down during cell division. Unlike animal cells, plant cells must build new cell walls between dividing cells. The two new nuclei must be moved away from the metaphase plate, or the nuclei may become damaged by the formation of the cell wall.
Other Examples of Cell Nuclei
Besides these two simple examples of cell nuclei, there are countless variations to these two general schemes in nature. Some cells merge together, creating large cells with multiple cell nuclei in each cell. Many organism have cells with more than one nucleus, including humans. Human muscle cells are multi-nucleated. Other organisms, like some fungi, exist with most or all of their cells being multi-nucleated. In some organisms, the process of cell division does not include the breakdown of the nuclear envelope. Instead, microtubules extend through the cell nucleus and directly manipulate the chromosomes and work to divide the nucleus. Evolutionarily, it is assumed that early organisms that developed nuclei had clear advantages over those without. Over the course of millennia, different strategies for managing and maintaining the cell nucleus have evolved. While the nucleus may seem like a more advanced form of life, don’t forget that prokaryotes, like bacteria and other single-celled life forms, are still some of the most abundant on the planet. That being said, the cell nucleus has evolved as a highly successful strategy in multi-cellular forms of life.
1. Why is it helpful for a cell to protect its DNA within a cell nucleus?
A. To shield from chemical changes
B. To protect from physical damage
C. Both of the above
C is correct. The long DNA strands are very fragile. In the cytoplasm, they would be subject to damage as various organelles and vesicles traveled past. Within the nucleus, they are protected from those interactions. Further, the cytoplasm contains a variety of substances which could interact with the DNA chemically. The specialized proteins on the nuclear envelope help protect against unwanted chemicals entering the nucleus.
2. As mentioned early in this article, mitochondria also contain DNA. Are mitochondria a different form of cell nucleus?
A. Yes, any organelle with DNA is a nucleus.
B. No, their DNA doesn’t produce anything
C. No, because mitochondrial DNA isn’t protected the same way
C is correct. Mitochondria are much more similar to bacteria. Like bacteria, mitochondrial DNA exists in a circular form, within the interior of the mitochondria. According to endosymbiotic theory, mitochondria were once free-living bacteria which developed a symbiotic relationship with a larger eukaryotic cell. The same applies to chloroplasts DNA, which is found only in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
3. When looking at stained nuclei under a microscope, you notice that some appear uniformly colored, while other appear almost empty, with most of the color clumped together in the middle. What is happening?
A. The cells are dividing
B. Your stain is not working properly
C. The cells are from different species
A is correct. The dye used to see the nucleus attaches to DNA molecules. The cells that appear uniform are not dividing. The DNA in non-dividing cells is being transcribed into mRNA and replicated in preparation for division. The clumped cells represent a tightly packed DNA, in the process of dividing.
Nelson, D. L., & Cox, M. M. (2008). Principles of Biochemistry. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Nuclear Membrane
Protoplasm
Nucleoid
Cell Membrane
Cytosol
Telophase
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Prince Philip ‘God Status’ In Samoa
12th May 2010 | by Brian Barton
A signed portrait of Prince Philip has become an integral part of the lives of a remote village called Yaohnanen in a South Pacific jungle on the island state of Vanuatu. They now have 3 of the pictures, however the first black and white photo, now damaged by damp seems to date back to the early 1960s with two more following, one in the 1980s and the last in 2000. The tribe als treasured correspondence from Buckingham Palace, however it has been destroyed over time by humidity and nibbling mice.
Prince Philip has received God like status in Yaohnanen and the surrounding areas as they believe him to be the son of an ancient spirit who inhabits a nearby mountain, on the island of Tanna.
They have recently discovered that the Prince’s birthday is on the 10th June and have begun ambitious plans to celebrate it. They have planned a feast and dancing and Chief Jack Naiva has acquired a Union flag, which will be run up a flagpole and saluted.
They are all hoping that Prince Philip will join them for the celebrations to mark this special event.
It is unclear why exactly these people came to believe in the prince’s divinity but it seems to be a combination of Christian beliefs of a returning messiah and the respect for Prince Philip that was formed while the New hebrides were part of our colony. Prince Philip also fits with an ancient prophecy in which it is believe a Tanna man would travel long distances to marry a powerful woman
The prince’s cult-like status grew while on a state visit to the New Hebrides in 1971. He was wearing a white naval uniform as he and the Queen arrived into the capital, Port Vila and is continuing strong today.
Brian Barton
Having been at the helm of Turquoise Holidays since its inception in 2002, I finally decided to let my friend, business (and golf!) partner, James Bell, take complete day to day charge of running Turquoise from the summer of 2016…
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Solving Urbanization Challenges by Design – The Science of Green Roofs
by Lakis Polycarpou|January 31, 2011
Patricia J. Culligan is a professor of civil engineering and engineering mechanics at Columbia University and the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs for Columbia Engineering. Her research focuses on the movement of liquid through porous media—an interest that she has applied in diverse contexts, from tracking pathogens in the shallow aquifers of Bangladesh to metal toxicity in rainbow trout. She has worked extensively with The Earth Institute, in particular the Urban Design Lab, which focuses on “a design-based approach to shaping the long-range future of sustainable urbanism.”
In this interview, Culligan discusses her work with the Columbia University Green Roof Consortium to quantify the benefits of green roofs—a new approach to roofing in dense urban environments that has been heralded as a way to insulate buildings, manage sewer overflows from stormwater (by reducing the volume and peak flow of water that flows into sewers during storms) and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
More broadly, green roofs are seen as a key component of “green infrastructure,” a design approach which attempts to make use of natural and biological systems, including constructed wetlands and other ecosystems, to manage the urban water cycle. Green infrastructure has recently been touted by many organizations, including New York City’s Plan NYC, as a cost-effective and more ecological alternative to the conventional “grey infrastructure” approach that makes use of pipes, cisterns and other hard-surface approaches to storage, diversion and dilution of urban water overflows.
Always the scientist, Culligan believes that if green roofs are going to be applied on a wide scale, their benefits need to be quantified—both to provide a better understanding of how they work and to determine which of the competing green roof technologies should be used to achieve different goals.
In part one of this interview Culligan discusses the difficulty of calculating the economic benefits of green roofs, why results don’t necessarily scale between different sized systems and how lowering peak runoff might be more important than overall flow if one is worried about urban water quality.
What is the Columbia University Green Roof Consortium?
It’s a group of researchers and research students at Columbia University who are interested in understanding the role that green roofs might play in urban sustainability– I’m one of the researchers—the others include Stuart Gaffin, from the Center for Climate Systems Research, Wade McGillis, who’s a research professor at the Lamont campus, and Matt Palmer who’s in E3B [Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology]. We have strong collaborations and ties with the Office of Environmental Stewardship and work jointly with the Earth Institute’s Urban Design Lab and the Education Center for Sustainable Engineering. Our team of research students includes both undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines.
A green roof monitoring station at Columbia University
We’re interested in quantifying the performance of green roofs in an urban environment from multiple perspectives. We currently have a suite of greenroofs instrumented around the city. The consortium really consists of the research group, the instrumented suite of greenroofs, and a lot of stakeholders–including Con Edison, the EPA, and several schools—all of whom are interested in understanding what impact they could have in ameliorating some of the environmental challenges we face in the city. My piece of that is looking at the potential benefits of green roofs from a water management perspective.
Specifically, we’re interested in the green roofs capacity to detain and retain stormwater and in the quality of water that outflows from the green roof. With respect to detention, one benefit is preventing stormwater from entering the combined sewer system of New York City, which reduces the chance of combined sewer overflow (CSO) events.
With respect to the water quality, that’s an interest that the EPA, among other stakeholders, has. Sometimes stormwater goes straight into local water bodies; the question is, if it passes through a greenroof system before it enters that local water body, is it cleaner, or not?
From initial observations we’ve found that in some areas–for example, in the addition of nitrates to water that passes through some green roof systems–green roofs might not be environmentally beneficial.
This would be nitrates from plant fertilizers?
I understand you’re using a new medium for growing plants on roofs?
Well, the Green Roof Consortium is currently investigating a number of systems. We have one instrumented up at the Fieldston School–that’s a native system. We have one instrumented at Columbia–a pre-cultivated mat system–there’s the Con Edison building in Queens–a tray system–and a government office building, also a tray system. All of the growing media associated with those are different, and many are proprietary. We didn’t develop them.
We also have set up another investigation system that we call test boxes. They’re sort of small-scale green roof systems that may be a few feet by a few feet in plan area. We’re looking at how those small systems detain and retain stormwater, and also at the water quality that runs off of those systems. There are two questions that we’re asking with those experiments.
The first is, can these small-scale pilot systems give you any indication of large-scale performance?
And then the second part is actually testing the potential use of waste materials for the greenroof growing medium orsubstrate—so investigating the idea of designing a “green” greenroof. This idea has been proposed in a lot of European countries and I think there have been some successful pilot tests, but I think in the U.S. most the attention to date has been focused on getting acceptance for the greenroof technology itself, before pushing the envelope further and thinking about making “green” greenroofs.
So the conventional media used is synthetic?
It’s lightweight, and usually consists of soil mixed with non-organic aggregates and organic matter. The non-organic aggregates can be naturally occurring materials like pumice or they can be synthetically produced. There are examples of media that containpolystyreneto keep the weight down. I know of one system that uses waste polystyrene, so that’s an example of a greenroof system that makes beneficial use of a waste product that might otherwise go to a landfill. The use of virgin polystyrene is, of course, not so environmentally friendly.
Results of Combined Sewer Overflow. Source: American Society of Landscape Architects
You said most of the focus up until now has been on trying to get green roof technology accepted. What’s the status of that?
I think over the last five years or so, it’s become the new green arm of many building projects, including redevelopment and retrofit projects. But I think the pathway that Columbia University took is to some extent typical of some of the trepidation that’s felt about these systems–they put their green roofs on roofs that were in relatively good condition, because they didn’t want to yet rely on the green roof system as a roofing system until they had gained experience with the use of this technology. But ideally, in order for these systems to minimize cost-benefit, you would replace a traditional roof with a greenroof system at the end of its lifecycle–not put a greenroof on a roofing system that was in good condition.
Also, though they were interested enough to try the new system, Columbia chose the lightest weight system on the market. From the perspective of not adding much additional load to the building, it was the obvious choice. But someone like Matt Palmer might say that if you’re interested in ecological restoration in an urban environment, the thicker systems that can support native vegetation might be more effective.
My current understanding is that Columbia University have been pleased with the performance of their green roofs to date, and they’re rapidly gaining confidence with the use of technology. I believe that this is typical of many building owners who have also installed greenroofs I would not underestimate the initiative Columbia undertook in testing this technology, which was very much supported by Nilda Mesa of Columbia’s Office of Environmental Stewardship.
The green roof tray systems are also becoming quite popular. You often have the whole system integrated in each tray, including the growing medium, and you have the option of using sedum (a desert succulent) or alternate native plants as the vegetation. For this approach, you literally put a system of trays on your roof, so it’s not too difficult to upend the trays if you decide for one reason or another that you want to make alterations. Also, if you decide it wasn’t a good choice, you can change to another system, or go back to the traditional roof.
With the tray system, people are also able to put pathways between the trays so people can access the vegetated areas without walking on the plants. The pre-vegetated sedum mats that Columbia installed are like a green carpet of vegetation that covers most of the roof area and cannot be stepped upon. Columbia has created some pathways for us as a research team so we can access our instruments without harming the roofs were are studying but, in general, the mats are not designed to allow people access to the vegetation.
Native systems are a lot more robust, but understanding which native plants would flourish in a growing medium is not as simple as you would think either. Obviously native plants are used to the climate, but issues such as building shadowing that can happen in a dense urban environment can create conditions that do not always mimic the natural system that existed before man invaded.
What’s the state of the science on green roofs now? Do these systems work? Do we have evidence of that?
Well, we now have several years of stormwater data gathered from our small-scale systems and the full-scale roofs we have instrumented.
To date what we’ve seen is if we just look at the retention—basically the total runoff that a green roof released versus the total atmospheric precipitation –- for the small storms, they seem to be able to retain most of the runoff. The native systems performance is superior because they have thicker substrates—the trays systems in this respect also appear to be superior to the pre-cultivated sedum mat systems but as storms get larger the tray and mat systems behave in a similar fashion.
Then, there’s almost a linear increase in total runoff from the green roof with total precipitation, although the runoff from the greenroof still remains less than the precipitation. After this there follows almost a plateau, which is curious, in that the runoff doesn’t seem to increase even though the precipitation does. Following the plateau there appears to be an exponential increase in total runoff with total precipitation. In the larger storms the runoff from the green roof is almost equivalent to the precipitation.
But the system behavior is very complex because it depends on the preceding weather conditions. This means we have to be consistent in our definition of a storm or event. When there has been no rain for the past six hours our group defines it as an individual precipitation event. This means that you can have multiple events in 24 hours, if it has rained, stopped raining for 6 hours, and then started up again. Conversely, for the same amount of total precipitation you could have one event if the rainfall was somewhat continuous within that period. We are seeing evidence of a relationship between greenroof runoff behavior and observed precipitation in the prior 48 hours before an event.
We’ve gathered an awful lot of data. We’ve tried to compare it to software that was developed for modeling landfill performance, because there are similarities between landfill covers and green roof systems, but we don’t get very good predictive results, even though that model will allow us to put in antecedent moisture conditions and model the system layers. We have also yet to find a normalizing relationship that will tie into the behavior of different sized greenroofs together.
Can you explain?
So we’ve three similar roof systems, one on a brownstone, one on a residential building, and one in a small box. If we normalize (i.e., divide) the results we have collected by the different surface area of each system, for example, the normalized results between systems are not comparable. If we normalize by system volume, the same is true. So the scaling between systems is not directly related to simple calculations based on system area or volume
So results from a small-scale system cannot predict results from a larger system by simply taking into account the different areas of the two systems.
That’s right. It’s related to the flow-path length. So think of a raindrop that has to get from one corner of a large greenroof to the roof drain. In a small-scale box, it’s basically going to drain downwards pretty quickly. Versus a larger roof, where it’s got to travel a reasonable horizontal distance to reach a drainage point.. But while it’s traveling, it can evapotranspirate. So the scaling is not as straightforward as one might think. Many of the prior predictions that people have done are based on an assumption that green roofs scale with area, and we’ve found that’s actually not correct.
The peak reduction also interests us. Peak flow is dramatically retained for most of these systems, over a wide range of storms–a 90 percent reduction in many cases.
Well, you have the cumulative, or total, flow, which is the amount of water that comes off from the greenroof. That depends on the size of the event itself, it depends on the duration of the event, and it depends on the preceding events.
But then, there’s a peak runoff. So if you look a typical storm, there’s a buildup in intensity, and then you have a peak in intensity, when it’s raining as hard as it can, and then it drops off again. So the green roof also has a peak runoff. So with every storm, you see a peak runoff. Usually it’s delayed a little bit in time compared to the peak rainfall intensity, but not so much, really. They tend to coincide fairly well.
But we found that the reduction in peak intensity seems to be fairly constant over a quite wide range of storms. As opposed to the cumulative runoff, which shows a different behavior. But the reduction in peak runoff from the green roofs compared to peak rainfall intensity is dramatic. So the question is, if you’re interested in stormwater management, what parameter controls? Reducing the peak intensity in runoff or the total runoff?
Do we know the answer to that question?
We don’t really. All of the greenroof cost-benefit analysis that I have see published, , assume that greenroof performance scales with area and that it’s the cumulative runoff that matters.
We’re finding that performance does not scale with area, and I suspect that a reduction in peak runoff–for some storm types–is going to be much more important than cumulative runoff in controlling combined sewer overflow events.
We’ve also started looking at various economic models, because it is not clear to us how to do the cost-benefit analysis. What we’ve been doing for our initial analyses is looking at the number of dollars per volume reduction in CSOs–so dollars per gallon–and we can compare that with the dollars per gallon reduction in CSOs for gray infrastructure, i.e. stormwater detention basins, as an alternative.
What we’ve found is that you can divide the New York City sewer sheds into three categories: one where the CSO problem is not so severe, one where it’s of medium severity, and one where it’s pretty severe. And for the CSO watersheds where it’s not so severe, greenroofs are not an economic solution if you look at this method of cost-benefit analysis. For the ones that are medium severe, our calculations indicate that they’re probably a little bit more economic than gray infrastructure. For the very sever structure they’re much more economical.
But you’ve got to think “is this the right way of doing it?” Because the city is not penalized based on its CSO events, it’s penalized for not meeting water quality criteria. Okay, so then you say, maybe, dollars per eliminated CSO event is a better metric for exploring the cost-benefits of greenroofs. And most of the CSO events happen for the small storms that the greenroofs detain. So with this metric as an indicator greenroofs might be deemed quite economical.
CSO events happen for the small storms? I always think of them as happening with the big storms.
No, they happen with the small storms too, depending on the sewershed configuration. In some NYC sewershed 60 to 70 percent of CSO events are associated with small rainfall events. However, most of the gallons come out of the big storms. So that’s why The cost-benefit analysis changes when you trade dollars per CSO gallon eliminated for dollars per CSO event eliminated in the calculations.
If you’re skewing your analysis towards gallons, greenroofs only look cost effective if you’re in a sewershed that has above-average problems. But if you’re skewing it towards number of events, then maybe green roofs become more cost-effective citywide.
Then the other thing is, if it’s water quality you’re looking at, one should really be looking at the concentration of fecal matter that gets put into the water body. With the big events, it’s likely very diluted. “Dilution is the solution to pollution” sort of works for that one! But for the small events, where you’ve just got enough stormwater to trigger the event, then you’re looking at less dilution. So maybe you should look at dollars per milligram per liter of fecal matter that is eliminated from entering a waterbody
And then there’s yet another way of looking at it. If greenroofs could reduce 25 percent of the stormwater entering the sewage system, the system might be able to handle 25 percent more sanitary sewage without much additional investment in sewage infrastructure. This might enable population increase in some neighborhoods at a lower public infrastructure cost. So, the benefit of this needs an entirely different metric. We’re really interested in not just the science, but the justification of greenroofs as a potential urban strategy.
Columbia Water Center demonstrates research-based solutions to global freshwater scarcity. Follow Columbia Water Center on Facebook and Twitter
InfrastructureNew York CityUrban Designurban design labwater mattersWater Quality
How Climate Change Impacts the Economy Great Fish Count Nets Huge Number of Sea Creatures
Solving Urbanization Challenges by Design – The Science of Green Roofs (part 2) – Water Matters - State of the Planet
[…] Continued from Part 1 […]
zacheus
This is a fantastic approach to water conservation,am writing from Kenya which is believed to be water scarcity country by all definitions.In my rural homes we usually use grass thatched huts,does these grass thatched roofs qualify to be green roofs. very little research have been carried out on this especially the quality of water from such roofs.What could be done on this?
Lakis Polycarpou
Hi Zacheus, You make an interesting point! I think you’re right that not much research done on water quality from thatched roof huts. I am guessing (just guessing) that the answer to your question might have to do with whatever is used to hold the thatch together, as well as whatever the water will be used for. Certainly catching water from roofs for use (if it can be done safely) seems like a good idea. Maybe someone will pick up research on this topic? It seems like something that could apply in many locations where thatch is the economical and… Read more »
Pat Widmayer
YES! Your roof definitely is green in the sense that the materials to make it are natural as well as the distance materials have to travel to their destination. This would hardly increase your human footprint. I am in the Horticulture and Crop Sciences Department at The Ohio State University, and have not yet uncovered anything on the quality of the water as well. I am specifically interested in the water chemistry, particularly on global level because I’m sure much of the water chemistry if effected by acid rain falling hundreds even thousands of miles before falling to the earth…
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Ben Sheridan
Lead Road Starts in Mali
Aug 27, 2012, 3:58 AM
The uprising against the Qaddafi regime in Libya took a turn in favor of the rebels after NATO imposed a no-fly zone and provided them with communications equipment. However, the gradual distribution of conventional weapons to the National Transitional Council may have also inadvertently created a power imbalance in the region.
“Whilst Kalashnikov rifles and other small arms such as rocket-propelled grenades have flooded Libya in their hundreds of thousands,” explains NATO’s website, “there are weapons which although less numerous could cause an even greater threat…It’s feared that man-portable missiles, rocket systems and even chemical weapons could fall into the hands of extremists unless prompt action is taken to secure them.”
Although NATO’s primary objective was to aid Libya’s rebels, one glaring consequence of their action has also been an influx of illegal weapons flow across North Africa. Unless dealt with swiftly, this “Lead Road” will provide devastating weapons to some of the free world’s most dangerous adversaries.
Earlier this year, the MNLA, predominantly made up of Tuareg tribesmen indigenous to North Africa, led a coup against government forces in North Mali. Reports indicate that the weapons used to topple the Qaddafi regime had been instrumental to the separatists’ success. Tuareg control was short-lived; the Ansar Dine, aided by another faction named Mujao, wrested power from the tribesmen in North Mali’s three major cities. They quickly implemented Sharia penal code on the local innocents.
Given the rapid ascension of Ansar Dine (Defenders of the Faith), an affiliate of AQIM (al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), the conventional wisdom of supplying “just any” rebel group with future arm shipments must be reconsidered. Famed author David Halberstam once wrote, “The essence of good foreign policy is constant reexamination.”
Allowed free reign, the North Mali factions (Ansar Dine, Mujao and AQIM) will each become more powerful. They could eventually consolidate their assets and align with other repressive regimes in Africa, namely al-Shabaab in Somalia and the tyrannical Bashir government in Sudan. Without decisive action, susceptible targets like Egypt’s Sinai Desert, Libya’s emerging democracy, and the refugees in Darfur will continue to be victimized by militants who depend on the Lead Road to sustain their repressive tactics.
Israel is not immune either, many of these weapons can ultimately end up in Gaza. Since the beginning of Syria’s civil war the weapons import spigot from Iran has tightened; Hezbollah, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and others will continue to seek new supply routes.
In March, Malian soldiers revolted against West-friendly President Amadou Toumani Toure in the southern capital Bamako, leaving the country under brief rule of a military junta. Their replacement, an interim government led by National Assembly President Dioncounda Traore is supported by West Africa’s major power broker ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States). However, Traore is not a revered domestically nor does his government have the necessary strength to regain control of North Mali, a desert roughly the size of France.
Confronting terrorists who have sowed instability and oppressed the people of North Mali must become the top priority of Africa’s security institutions. Eviscerating Ansar Dine, the MNLA, and Mujao would be a direct blow to the growth of AQIM, and more, to the entire region’s historic weapons trafficking problem. Diplomatic efforts, regional and global, have proven futile insofar. Any mission to combat these terrorists will be a serious test to the virility of the African Union forces and ECOWAS. However, history shows the price of inaction will prove most costly.
Ben Sheridan is a political science major at Binghamton University. He formerly studied Jewish Diaspora history and Middle East Politics at the Oxford Center for Jewish and Hebrew Studies. Ben lived in Jerusalem for a year and traveled to Europe, North Africa, and India with Kivunim; there he developed a strong interest in international relations. At school, Ben is actively involved with pro-Israel advocacy and was a 2012 Goldman Fellow at the AJC. When not working, Ben loves to cook, play basketball, travel, read, and take artsy photos on his phone.
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The best games for PC
July 6, 2019 July 6, 2019 Loknath Das Games
So how do you categorize a beast like gaming on the PC? With decades of titles to pluck from (and the first port of call for most indie titles, too), there’s so much to choose from. Gaming on your PC adds the benefits of (nearly always flawless) backward compatibility and console-beating graphical performance — if you’ve got the coin for it. We’ve tried to be broad with our recommendations here on purpose. There are so many great games out there for your PC, consider these some starting points. In our summer update, we’ve added Beat Saber which replaces Fortnite. With a busy few months for games coming up, expect more changes in the future.
Beat Saber is a euphoric gaming sensation that makes the most of virtual reality. You’ll swing your unofficial lightsabers at incoming boxes, slicing and slamming them to the beat of the soundtrack. Similar to iconic rhythm-rail-shooter, Rez, which has its own VR iteration, Beat Saber often makes you feel like you’re creating the music as you hit your cues. We might have had initial reservations on the soundtrack at launch but new tracks and customizations continue to add to the challenge. There’s even a level creator for PC players, making this the definitive version. MS
It’s fair to say that not a lot of people were excited about Doom. id Software’s much-loved series had essentially been absent for over a decade, and a pre-release beta, which only showed off the game’s multiplayer, was judged harshly by critics and players alike. Within minutes of booting up the single-player campaign, though, essentially everyone realized they needn’t have worried. id successfully updated an antiquated formula for modern gamers, and in doing so, created a truly unique first-person shooter.
Doom is so great because it makes gamers play the game as the developers intended. The Glory Kill system, which initially was written off as violence for the sake of violence, turned out to be a vital part of the gameplay. While other games have you backing away and cowering behind cover, Doomforces you to get in the enemy’s face or, more accurately, punch their face off. Doing so rewards you with items which let you dispatch the dozens of enemies you’ll inevitably be surrounded by. It’s an adrenaline rush dressed up by a game, and it’s a must-play for anyone that loves (or can stomach) egregious violence. AS
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a properly crafted fighting game, with competitive esports ambitions. It’s also incredibly fun, polished and looks like an anime come to life. With a lengthy campaign mode featuring voice actors from the TV series and new characters designed especially for this game, it’s arguably the best-realized Dragon Ball game yet, with a battle system that’s fun for entry-level fighters but surprisingly complicated and nuanced enough for higher-echelon brawlers. too. MS
FTL: Faster Than Light
Who hasn’t wanted to captain their own spaceship? Well, after a few hours of FTL: Faster Than Light, you might be rethinking your life goals. FTL is a roguelike, which means every game starts from the same spot. All you have to do is travel through a number of star systems, recruiting crew members and collecting scrap as you make your way towards a final showdown against a stupidly overpowered ship. Gameplay is roughly divided between a map view, where you can take as much time as you like to chart the most efficient route to your goal, and combat events which play out in real-time (although you can and will be using a pause button to slow things down).
Where the real fun comes in is in the narrative, which plays out in two ways. There’s the structured side, where every so often you’ll be asked to make decisions that may improve or hinder your chances of survival. And then there’s the natural story you create for yourselves, as you’re forced to decide, for example, whether it’s worth sacrificing a crew member for the greater good. AS
League of Legends represents one of the most exciting landscapes in gaming today. On top of supporting a monthly player base of roughly 100 million people, League is the most popular esports scene in the world. When you’re not watching pro matches, LoL itself is perfect for all-night gaming sessions, playing with a team of friends or solo. There are a few different roles to best match your preferred play style, and Riot Games consistently rolls out updates, new champions and visual upgrades. Plus, the studio has built a character roster 143 deep (and counting). JC
Nier Automata takes the razor-sharp combat of a Platinum Games title and puts it in a world crafted by everyone’s favorite weirdo, Yoko Taro. Don’t worry, you can mostly just run, gun and slash your way through the game, but as you finish, and finish and finish this one, you’ll find yourself pulled into a truly special narrative, that’s never been done before and will probably never be done again. It’s fair to say that the PC release, as is unfortunately often the case, wasn’t exactly the best and is still remarkably lacking in options, but it’s at least stable now, and trust us when we say this one is unmissable. AS
Many were ready to write off the Resident Evil series after the disaster that was Resident Evil 6. What started as the horror game on the original PlayStation had become a bloated mess of an action game. Instead of throwing the whole franchise in the trash and forgetting about it, Capcom took a hard look at what wasn’t working, which — surprise! — was basically everything, and thoroughly rebooted the formula. Borrowing from Kojima’s PT and, in some ways, Creative Assembly’s Alien: Isolation, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is horror through powerlessness. For the majority of the game, you’re basically unable to do anything but run from or delay your foes. And that’s what makes it so good.
This is an unforgettable ghost-story-slash-murder-mystery with a distinctive old-school graphical style. It’s unlike any game we’ve played in a while, with a low-key musical score and a style of puzzle solving that’s like one satisfying, grisly riddle. In Return of the Obra Dinn, you’re put aboard a ship, alone. There is, however, a corpse near the captain’s cabin. As you track the deceased’s final footsteps, leading to yet more grisly ends, you need to figure out what happened. Who killed who? And who is still alive? Special mention to the sound effect that kicks in every time you solve the fates of three of the crew. Goosebumps. MS
It might be the best open-world RPG out there. Despite now being several years old, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a dense action game that acknowledges the maturity of the player with multiple — occasionally harrowing — storylines, choices that have consequences and almost too much game to wrestle with. It’s not perfect; the combat system is rough, frustrating death comes in the form of falling from just a few feet and there’s a lot of quest filler alongside many incredibly well thought out distractions. The scope and ambition on display will have you hooked, and once you’re done, there are some excellent expansions to check out. MS
There was some spirited discussion about which XCOM game we would include in this list, but in the end, War of the Chosen won out. The 2017 expansion to XCOM 2 is the latest and greatest entrant to the XCOM series. All the staples of a classic XCOM game are here. You’re a commander of a rag-tag group of elite military units. You command those units in short missions against an impossibly large alien force, carefully moving them around a grid map to take out the enemy one by one. Completing missions advances the story and also gives you the opportunity to upgrade your units — which is where XCOM‘s party trick comes in.
XCOM has permadeath. That means that once a character dies, it’s dead. This keeps the stakes high and inevitably leads to some truly painful moments. One wrong move can send your high-level, ultra-customized, definitely-not-named-after-your-co-workers soldier to its death, to be replaced by a rookie that’s even more vulnerable. Honestly, you should absolutely buy 2013’s XCOM: Enemy Within as well, but War of the Chosenremains of the finest examples of a turn-based tactics game ever to grace the PC. AS
[“source=engadget”]
Tagged Best for Games The
Nintendo president: ‘we must keep up’ with cloud gaming tech
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Charles M. Blow
Your Questions, Answered
By Charles Blow
I invited you to ask me anything this week, and you did. Here are my answers to some of your most interesting questions — I only wish I had time to respond to every single one of you!
(Questions have been edited slightly for length and clarity; the original version can be found by clicking on the commenter’s name.)
Am I wasting my college education studying political science under the belief that our government can be majorly reformed to be able to finally address problems like income inequality, institutional racism and climate change? If so, what should I be doing?
—Ani Alys, Calif.
I wouldn’t call studying political science a waste of time, but I would ask you to clarify your goal and expectations. What does “reform” mean in this context, and do you believe any one person, you in this case, can be the agent of said reform? Or, would it be suitable and worthwhile, in your eyes, to be the agent of some change, regardless of the magnitude. Sometimes we don’t have to make the difference in order to make a difference.
My wife and I were talking at supper tonight and the conversation drifted to discrimination — race-based and income-based. Acknowledging both, which should we prioritize?
—Kevin D, Cincinnati
To prioritize the two seems an odd impulse. Would the priority go to the one you think has a larger effect on your life? Your community? Our country? And how to completely untangle the two? And what are your measurements?
I have enjoyed your columns for years; the combination of intelligent commentary, wit and outrage works well considering the times we live in. I wonder how you manage to maintain clarity and composure in the face of stupidity, racism, religious fundamentalism, ignorance and lack of compassion of a large segment of the population. As a psychiatrist, a father and a citizen I am appalled by these aspects of our culture as well as our unwillingness to look to other first world countries for guidance, and our stubborn adherence to outmoded beliefs. How do you keep your spirits up?
I’ll be taking reader questions this week on any topic. Simply post your question in the comments section here and I’ll sift through and choose the most interesting and relevant ones to answer (I’ll probably pick 10 to 15). We’ll notify you by email if your question was chosen, and all my answers will be posted later this week.
No topic is too large or small — politics, race in America, voter ID laws, Obama, unlikely career paths, parenting, what to do if your child wants to get into competitive fencing…
Comments are now closed.
Leaning Hard on a Shaky Crutch
By Charles M. Blow
Chicken Littles on the left have lately been aligning with the right (where the sky is not only falling, it has crashed to the ground and suffocated all reason and logic) on the issue of “fixing” Social Security.
And Monday saw two prominent pieces in which we were told – by Democrats – how grateful Americans would be if we dealt with the Social Security “problem.” (Let’s set aside for the moment whether or not there really is a “problem” and focus on the commentary.)
On The New York Times Op-Ed page, Alicia H. Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College and a member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Bill Clinton, argued for “solving Social Security’s problems.” She maintains that:
“Restoring balance to Social Security would make Americans feel more secure, increase national confidence in our finances and set a precedent for bipartisan action. This is not a political game. Someone has to go first and put a proposal on the table.”
Also on Monday, NPR’s Scott Horsley quoted Jim Kessler, of the moderate Democratic think tank Third Way as saying:
“‘I think in normal times, that strategy [of Democrats campaigning as the champions of Social Security] works very, very well,” he says. “I don’t think we’re in normal times right now on this issue.’
Kessler notes that even after President Bush proposed big changes to Social Security in 2005, large numbers of seniors voted Republican in 2006, 2008 and 2010. In 2012, he says, voters of all ages seem ready to embrace a hard-headed look at the federal budget, including Social Security.”
Feel more secure? Ready to embrace? Maybe, grudgingly, but it’s complicated, according to recent polling.
A Washington Post-ABC News Poll last month found that Americans fear for the Social Security program and an increasing number support measures like raising the retirement age, raising the social security tax rate and reducing benefits to early retirees,
BUT, (and that’s a big but) a Wall Street Journal poll last week found that:
“Americans across all age groups and ideologies said by large margins that it was ‘unacceptable’ to make significant cuts in entitlement programs in order to reduce the federal deficit. Even tea party supporters, by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, declared significant cuts to Social Security “unacceptable.”
He’s In!
When President Obama confirmed Monday morning that he would seek re-election, his team immediately geared up for the fundraising, releasing this video.
My reaction to the video in a word? Small. Small towns, small rooms, small groups. People speak on porches, in kitchens, and in cul-de-sacs. That, in and of itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, he will definitely need to appeal to small town America to win.
But, there is something about the tone that is also small, and sorrowful and downcast and humbled. (Maybe it’s the monotonous, “Days Of Our Lives” soundtrack.) And, they say much of nothing. In fact, It’s hard to find a single remarkable or memorable line in the whole thing.
There is no grandeur (except a fleeting scene from the last election), no glamour and no glory.
Soaring rhetoric is replaced by boring ramblings. (So long Hope and Change. Hello Defense and Duty.)
If Team Obama was looking for a message to energize the masses, I’d say that they missed with this one.
Nov 2, 2010 Nov 2, 2010
A Referendum, Not a Choice
For weeks now, the White House and Democrats have been trying to drive home the idea that Tuesday’s vote is a choice between Democratic and Republican philosophies and visions and not a referendum on President Obama and the Democratic party. But according to exit polls, that message didn’t seem to reach the people who voted for Republican candidates. Check out the chart.
Source: United States General Exit Poll
Obama and the Jews, Part 2
The Pew Research Center
Last Saturday in my column “Oy Vey, Obama,” I pointed out the following fact:
“The number of Jews who identify as Republican or as independents who lean Republican has increased by more than half since the year he was elected. At 33 percent it now stands at the highest level since the data have been kept. In 2008, the ratio of Democratic Jews to Republican Jews was far more than three to one. Now it’s less than two to one.”
Eric Alterman wrote a response, “Obama’s Silent Jewish Majority,” on The Daily Beast. I generally ignore these types of responses, but part of this one piqued my interest:
“Barack Obama, like pretty much every Democrat before him, remains more popular with Jews than with just about any other ethnic group in America, save blacks. His approval rating among Jews, steady in the low 60s, is about 15 percent higher than it is with the goyim.”
It seemed to me that this was a fair area for further analysis. Alterman didn’t perform the analysis, so I did it for him. The most relevant measure, in my opinion, is not simply where the president’s “popularity” currently stands among Jews, but the growth or shrinkage of this standing over time – not just where it is, but where it’s been. And, how does this data compare to similar groups over the same time period?
For the purpose of this analysis, I compared Jews to other groups of enthusiastic Obama supporters. I defined enthusiastic supporters as those who voted 75 percent or more for for him in 2008. This group included blacks, white Democrats, Jews, hispanics aged 18 to 29 and the religiously unaffiliated. I also included all Democrats, liberals and the country as a whole for comparison. (Some of the enthusiastic supporter groups could be broken down even further. For instance, you could look at college-educated blacks, or wealthier blacks, but I did not. As for Hispanics, those between 18-29 were the only part of the group to meet the threshold.)
I gave that list to the people at The Pew Research Center, and they graciously combed through their data and provided me with Obama’s average approval rating among each group in 2009 and thus far in 2010. (Thanks Scott.)
Obama’s approval rating among Jews in 2010 averaged 58 percent.
This percentage was the lowest of all those representing his enthusiastic supporter groups except one, the religious unaffiliated.
The percentage change in Obama’s approval rating from 2009 to 2010 among Jews was greater than any of the other enthusiastic supporter groups, greater than Democrats and liberals in general and greater than the nation overall (or the goyim, if you prefer.)
Instead of refuting the trend at the crux of my column, the change in Jewish approval ratings actually buttresses it.
Aug 5, 2010 Aug 5, 2010
Thursday, the Unhappiest Day
Okay, this is just cool. Researchers from Northeastern and Harvard Universities have analyzed hundreds of millions of Twitter messages to determine the “Pulse of the Nation,” or at least the pulse of the nation’s Twitterbots, of which I am one.
How’d they do it?
“The plots were calculated using over 300 million tweets (Sep 2006 – Aug 2009) collected by MPI-SWS researchers, represented as density-preserving cartograms. This visualization includes both weekdays and weekends; in the future, will we create separate maps for each. The mood of each tweet was inferred using ANEW word list using the same basic methodology as previous work. County area data were taken from the U.S. Census Bureau, and the base U.S. map was taken from Wikimedia Commons. User locations were inferred using the Google Maps API, and mapped into counties using PostGIS and U.S. county maps from the U.S. National Atlas. Mood colors were selected using Color Brewer 2.”
Whew, that’s a lot. So, what did they find?
“The peak in the overall tweet mood score is observed on Sunday mornings, and the trough occurs on Thursday evenings.”
“The early morning and late evening [have] the highest level of happy tweets.”
“The west coast [shows] happier tweets in a pattern that is consistently three hours behind the east coast.”
Not necessarily earth-shattering news, but very nicely done.
Chart Abuse |
Joint Economic Committee
Maybe it’s the former graphics/art director in me, but I get really offended when people use charts to confuse rather than to clarify.
Take a look at this monstrosity released today by the Joint Economic Committee minority, which is led by Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) and Representative Kevin Brady (R-Texas).
To paraphrase one of my favorite quotes: they’re using this chart like a drunken man uses lampposts – for support rather than for illumination.
Jan 20, 2010 Jan 20, 2010
A New Comment System for ‘By the Numbers’
By Hilary Howard
Hello “By the Numbers” readers! This is Hilary, Charles’s assistant, with some tech news:
As of today, there’s a new way to make comments on this blog.
The main thing you’ll need to do—if you haven’t already done so—is register as a nytimes.com user (it’s free, easy, and you’ll only have to do this once). You can sign up here. Already have an account? You’re good to go.
2010, Again
Allow me to reprise my role as The Man Who Stares At Votes to provide an addendum to my most recent column, “The Passion of the Right,” which warned that:
“[Republicans] are likely to make significant gains [in the 2010 midterm elections], not because of their anachronous tenets, but because of historical patterns and an electorate exasperated with seeming Democratic ineptitude.”
To buttress that theory, I’d like to point out more supporting data.
Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Last Wednesday, the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press released the report “A Year Out, Widespread Anti-Incumbent sentiment,” which noted that:
“Support for congressional incumbents is particularly low among political independents. Only 42% of independent voters want to see their own representative re-elected and just 25% would like to see most members of Congress re-elected. Both measures are near all-time lows in Pew Research surveys.”
And which party has more incumbents? Yeah, that’s right, the Democrats.
On the same day the Pew report was released, FiveThirtyEight.com published the post “House Handicapping One Year Out.” With it was a table, attributed to David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report, which identified 28 Democrats who were considered “endangered” in 2010.
And on Friday, Gallup released a poll which noted that:
“Congress’ job approval rating now precisely matches the 26% recorded in November 2006, just before control of Congress shifted from Republicans to Democrats, and is not too dissimilar from the 23% recorded in October 1994, just before control shifted from Democrats to Republicans.”
Now, none of us can see round the bend. We don’t know for sure what will happen a year from now. And, while the Democrats have dug themselves into this hole over the last 10 months, they also have 12 months to find a way out of it. That said, at this point it doesn’t look good.
I also invite you to join me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or e-mail me at chblow@nytimes.com.
Oct 6, 2009 Oct 6, 2009
Who’s a Terrorist? Depends on Whom You Ask
How well coordinated are federal authorities in labeling terror suspects? Not very, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a data gathering, research and distribution organization at Syracuse University. According to a recent TRAC report:
“During the last five-and-a-half years, one out of three (34%) of the defendants who were charged in federal court for one or or more specific terrorism offenses were not categorized as having any connection to terrorism by the federal prosecutors.
On the other hand, during the same period, one out of four (26%) of the defendants on a list of terrorism matters prepared by the National Security Division (NSD) — an office in the Justice Department — were not classified as having anything to do with terrorism by the prosecutors who actually brought the cases.
Furthermore, a comparison of all of the terrorism cases listed by three separate and independent agencies — the courts, the prosecutors and the NSD — found that there were only 4% of the defendants in common. Even when the very extensive federal prosecutors’ list is constrained to just those connected with international terrorism or terrorist related finance, there is still only an 8% overlap — just 66 defendants — among the lists.”
Seems like there’s some work to be done.
Sep 29, 2009 Sep 29, 2009
Obama Rebound?
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
In my Saturday column I posited that President Obama’s rope-a-dope tactic of letting Republican opponents tire themselves out during their summer of shouting may have worked better than many suspected.
Today, a Kaiser Health Tracking Poll will be released that supports that theory. According to the survey:
“Public support for health reform ended its summer slide, reversed course and moved modestly upwards in September …
“Fifty-seven percent of Americans now believe that tackling health care reform is more important than ever – up from 53 percent in August. The proportion of Americans who think their families would be better off if health reform passes is up six percentage points (42% versus 36% in August), and the percentage who think that the country would be better off is up eight points (to 53% from 45% in August).”
(It should be noted however that while the figures for those in favor of reform have rebounded, a New York Times/CBS News Poll found reported that “public support for universal health insurance is declining.”)
A look at the party breakdown of those responding that the family as a whole “would be worse off if the president and Congress passed health care reform” shows how broad the changes have been.
If the numbers continue to trend in this direction, the Democrats could do themselves a favor by heeding the Republicans’ pleas to slow down. If the Kaiser results accurately capture what’s happening in the country, the tide is turning in the Democrats’ direction.
The Catholic Court
Thirty years ago eight of the nine Supreme Court justices were Protestant. Now only two are. Five are Catholic, and two are Jewish. If federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor is confirmed as a replacement for Justice David H. Souter, who is Protestant, she will become the sixth Catholic justice on the court. For context, only a quarter of the population is Catholic.
Does/should this matter? Why?
(It should be noted that the Catholics now on the court constitute its entire conservative arm.)
Correction: As some have noted, William Brennan was also Catholic. Thanks. The wording of the post has been changed to reflect that.
Apr 24, 2009 Apr 24, 2009
Two Little Boys
On April 6, just before dinner, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, a Massachusetts boy who had endured relentless homophobic taunts at school, wrapped an extension cord around his tiny neck and hanged himself. He was only 11 years old. His mother had to cut him down.
On April 16, just after school, Jaheem Herrera, a Georgia boy who had also endured relentless homophobic taunts at school, wrapped a fabric belt around his tiny neck and hanged himself as well. He too was only 11 years old. His 10-year-old sister found him.
Two beaming little boys, lost. To intolerance? Too tragic.
Photo courtesy of The Atlanta Journal Constitution
The sad ends to their short lives shine a harsh light on the insidious scourge of the homophobic bullying of children.
Children can’t see their budding lives through the long lens of wisdom – the wisdom that benefits from years passed, hurdles overcome, strength summoned, resilience realized, selves discovered and accepted, hearts broken but mended and love experienced in the fullest, truest majesty that the word deserves. For them, the weight of ridicule and ostracism can feel crushing and without the possibility of reprieve. And, in that dark and lonely place, desperate and confused, they can make horrible decisions that can’t be undone.
For as much progress that’s been made on the front of acceptance and tolerance of all people, regardless of our differences, enough hatred remains–tucked in the crags and spread about the surface–to force Carl and Jaheem into the abyss.
We should commit ourselves to ensuring that their deaths are not in vain, that their lives are the last page in this sorry chapter of our development as a people. And, the first step in that direction is to fully understand the scope of the problem.
In short, homophobic bullying is pervasive. It disproportionately affects black and Hispanic kids. A new study suggests an apparent link between bullying and suicide. To wit, black and Hispanic adults who are gay reported higher “serious suicide attempts” than their white counterparts, most of those attempts taking place when they were young.
Let’s look at the data: Read more…
Vermont Victory Revisited
Photo by Toby Talbot/Associated Press
Gay marriage advocates react to the passage of a gay marriage bill by the Vermont legislature.
The passage of gay marriage legislation in Vermont is momentous, but not necessarily a sign of momentum. Of all the states with pending gay marriage legislation, Vermont may well have been the easiest. Why? Because Vermont is the least religious.
Opponents of gay marriage often base their arguments on religious texts. “Homosexuality is a sin – an abomination.” “Marriage is between men and women.” “Blah, blah, blah.” (It’s baffling how intelligent people try to derive a well-rounded set of modern mores from books written by men who didn’t even know that the world was round. But, I digress.)
It only follows that states whose legislators have fewer religious constituents would be more willing to approve gay marriage bills.
That’s what sets Vermont apart. Read more…
Charles M. Blow, The Times's visual Op-Ed columnist, conducts a discussion about all things statistical — from the environment to entertainment — and their visual expressions.
Biography: Charles M. Blow
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The Dirty Dozen: The 12 Hottest Female Anchors on Business Television
by Eric Armas 10 years ago
If you spend your entire day like we do, keeping one eye on a sea of computer screens awash in green and red numbers and charts, and the other on a TV tuned to CNBC (and occasionally Bloomberg and even more occasionally Fox Business), you come to truly appreciate the business networks' beautiful — and incredibly smart and knowledgeable — women anchors. Here are our 12 favorites:
Maria Bartiromo
Bartiromo is one of the original female business news anchors. As a result of he rise to prominence she earned the nickname “Money Honey.” She hosts “Closing Bell” on CNBC every day, which airs from 3 to 5 p.m., though she'll frequently pop on at other times with high-profile interviews. Bartiromo allegedly had an affair with Todd Thomson, the former head of Citigroup's Wealth Management division. On one trip home from China, Thompson ran into Bartiromo and made the other Citigroup employees fly home commercial while he took the company's private jet with Bartiromo. Allegedly.
Burnett started her career at Goldman Sachs and then worked at a number of different Wall Street firms until she eventually ended up at CNBC. Our opinion is that CNBC brought in the young and spicy Burnett to replace the aging Bartiromo. Ever since joining CNBC, Burnett has seen her airtime increase while Bartiromo's has decreased. She anchors CNBC's “Street Signs” which airs daily from 9 to 11 a.m. and is also the host of the 2 p.m. “Squawk on The Street.” [Editor AG's Note: I'd marry Erin Burnett tomorrow, if only all of Wall Street wasn't madly in love with her, too.]
Just like her colleague Burnett she started her career at Goldman Sachs and then hedge fund D.E. Shaw before landing at CNBC. Regan may well be the most well-rounded chick in the biz — and not just because she's currently preggers. Prior to graduating c*m laude from Columbia, Regan was Miss New Hampshire. She hosts CNBC's “The Call” weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon, but most of her work is done in special reporting. Her most famous work was a special she hosted entitled “Marijuana Inc.,” which took an in-depth look at the underground marijuana industry in the states. Brains, beauty, and a pot special make Regan our top pick.
Melissa Francis
Francis started her career at a very young age as an actor. She appeared in a number of commercials as a young child but her most famous role was as Cassandra Cooper Ingalls in “Little House on the Prairie.” She currently co-anchors CNBC's “The Call,” airing weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon. She's basically like a utility player for CNBC — not big enough to hold down her own show but can fill in where needed.
Becky Quick
Started her career working at the Wall Street Journal before joining CNBC in 2001. Quick is co-anchor of CNBC's “Squawk Box,” which airs weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. and is also a fill in on other programs. Quick is married to the producer of the show she hosts, “Squawk Box” which is why we think she's more looks than brains. That said, she has also managed to forge one of the most exclusive reporter-subject relationships we've ever seen — with billionaire Warren Buffett, no less. You will almost never see an interview with the Oracle of Omaha without Quick asking the questions.
Amanda Drury
Drury is one of CNBC's hidden gems; she anchors two programs: “Squawk Box” and “Cash Flow” for CNBC Asia. While mainly appearing on CNBC Asia she occasionally fills in for anchors in the U.S. A mini controversy occurred this summer when Drury appeared on air exposing more cleavage than her American colleagues. We were huge fans of this but apparently her producers were not. While it hasn't been confirmed, supposedly CNBC producers unfortunately asked her to cover up a bit. While she hasn't been on air in the States recently, we hope to see her again very soon.
Julia Boorstin
Boorstin is another one of CNBC's lesser-know hotties. She is a Princeton graduate and wrote for Fortune magazine before joining CNBC. Unfortunately she doesn't host a show on the network but instead is a general assignment reporter as well as CNBC's media and entertainment reporter. She reports all over the world from various media and entertainment-related events and occasionally makes appearances in the studio. Just like Drury, she's another reporter in the CNBC arsenal that we would like to see a lot more of.
Melissa Lee
Lee started her career at Bloomberg Television and CNN Financial News before joining CNBC in 2004. She is now the host of CNBC's popular show, “Fast Money,” which airs weekdays at 5 p.m. She is also used to fill in where needed and recently reported on and hosted a one-hour doc*mentary about the growth of China.
Rebecca Jarvis
Jarvis got her lucky break in a more unconventional way than the other members of this list. After working as an investment banker and a trader, she auditioned for “The Apprentice” and won a spot. Jarvis was one of two, finalists but was eliminated in the final episode. She was hired by CNBC shortly thereafter, where she worked as a general assignments reporter. It was just announced on October 21, 2009, however, that she wil be leaving the network. While no official plans have been announced, it is widely believed Jarvis is headed to CBS. At the age of 27, she is the youngest member on the list, so look to be seeing her for some time to come.
Alexis Glick
Glick is a Columbia grad who started her career working as an analyst for Goldman Sachs and had a number of other jobs in the financial industry. Her most notable achievement was when she was an executive director and headed the New York Stock Exchange Floor Operations for Morgan Stanley. She then worked for CNBC before joining rival network Fox, where she is currently the Vice President of Business News as well as the anchor of “The Opening Bell” weekdays 9 to 10 a.m. She is also a mother of three and, to be honest, she kind of scares us; on the flip side, she would make a great sugar mama.
Jenna Lee
Lee is a gorgeous West Coast blonde. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she played softball. She started her career at Fortune working as a reporter and segment producer before joining Fox. She was one of the original anchors to go on air when Fox Business was launched in October of 2007. Her father was an NFL quarterback and her brother is currently the starting quarterback for the University of Nebraska. While she doesn't currently host a show on Fox she appears on the network every day giving new breaks and updates on stories. It is also rumored that she will appear in the much-anticipated movie sequel “Wall Street 2.”
Liz Claman
Claman is Fox's answer to CNBC's Maria Bartiromo; she has established herself as one of the most accomplished fema;e reporters in the industry. She got started in the business working for a number of smaller local TV stations. She finally got her big break in 1998, when she began working for CNBC. During her time at CNBC she hosted a number of shows and worked on various stories, earning the nickname “The Red Fox.” Sensing there was only room for one silver fox at CNBC — and with the network leaning towards “The Money Honey” — Claman left in 2007 and signed with FOX.
UPDATE: Revealed: Bloomberg's Seven Heavenly Anchor Babes
TAGSbloombergcnbc
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» Recruitment
Key Elements of Successful Recruitment
Sources - Advantages and Disadvantages
The Legal Realities
Candidate Information Management System
Some Innovative Approaches
Due to the economic and labour market conditions that have prevailed over the past decade and the relative stability in wage rates, organizations have not been required to be pro-active in their recruiting efforts. Often they have relied upon convenient and inexpensive methods such as walk-ins and referrals for their candidates. Times are changing, not only in terms of a shift from it being a “buyer’s” to a “seller’s” market, but also human rights and diversity goals are forcing a re-examination of recruiting strategies.
If You Can Drive a Truck, You Can Drive a Bus - Right?
A traditional source of drivers for the motor carrier passenger industry has been trucking. The logic for this is that truckers have the essential driving and large vehicle handling skills needed to operate a bus safely and efficiently. Notwithstanding these obvious benefits, as customer service becomes a more important aspect of the bus operator’s job, many companies are questioning whether driving a truck is the best kind of training for candidates who are being recruited into a customer-service job.
If a company is to sustain a technically competent, customer-focused and committed workforce, it has to be drawing upon as rich a pool of candidates and recruits as possible. Traditional methods and sources for candidates will not produce this result. In addition to changing their methods and sources for recruits, companies will have to re-assess some of their beliefs and values about diversity and the skills required to be a bus operator. Finally, values play an important role in a company being able to attract the right kind of candidates.
Do Values Matter?
Mention the name of a prominent Canadian corporation - The Hudson’s Bay, Canadian Pacific, Canada Post or Air Canada - and each and every one of us quickly forms an image based upon our opinion of that corporation and what we feel are its values. Values drive corporations to become the kinds of organizations they are and ultimately the “image” they have in the public’s mind. This image can help or hinder in the recruiting process and that is why values matter.
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This article is sponsored by Eagle's Flight
Has your company invested in its culture?
Any leader struggling to figure out how to shape a company’s work environment should make the development of core values a top priority, since trying to repair an organization’s culture will come at a much higher cost than any investment required to set it up in the first place.
Special to Financial Post
“Some organizations don’t do anything until they’ve gone off the rails and they’re feeling intense pain, and then it … becomes potentially a much bigger investment of time, energy and resources to get things back on track,” says Chris Cancialosi, managing partner and founder of gothamCulture, a New York-based consulting firm.
“[The creation of a culture] is going to happen whether you do anything or not,” and organizations that are proactive about how they shape their culture from the beginning are in a better position to “manage it as opposed to being managed by it,” he says.
Do a cost-benefit analysis
While many companies will opt not to invest in building and maintaining a culture that commits all employees to the same goals and provides clear measures for success, experts say many of the actions and behaviours required to enhance employee productivity aren’t all that expensive – and they certainly don’t compare with the cost of dealing with the fallout of an unhappy staff. By failing to invest in culture, “you would lose an awful lot, and you wouldn’t know [it] because when people in organizations, or unions in particular, decide to work to rule or to go slow, you look in the place and [mistakenly believe] everything is working just fine,” says Harvey Kolodny, a professor emeritus of organizational behaviour and human resource management with the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Focus on small changes that make a big difference
Kolodny points to regular human resources practices that should generally be applied to all organizations, such as keeping employees up to date on what’s going on outside the business and how it may affect the company’s operations. “The most important thing you’re going to do any time you’re making significant changes is communicating about the change, and does that have to be expensive? Probably not,” Kolodny says. “But a lot of people who are leading the change have to understand that people don’t hear you the first time, and they don’t hear you the second time and they don’t even hear you the third time, and you’ve got to take the time to explain what you’re doing and where you’re going over and over and over again. And that doesn’t come free.”
Take a holistic approach
Nicholas Greschner, director of human resources at Accenture, says the global management consulting firm has spent a lot of time thinking about its culture and how it motivates employees to give their best. There are several rules Accenture lives by, including an open-concept floor plan that reinforces the idea of approachability at the most senior level, so that employees feel they can bring their ideas or suggestions to anyone in the company. They also emphasize the need for teamwork and collaboration, and understand that people may need varying amounts of flexibility at different stages of their careers.
Invest in the tools that matter
While many of the values, attitudes and behaviours that help create a positive culture don’t cost much, selective investment may be necessary. According to Greschner tools that allow a company to survey and understand the feedback from its people are definitely ones worth investing in. “We find that it’s very effective in terms of giving us the pulse, or a point-in-time snapshot, of how people are feeling against their core values and the culture,” he says. “It’s good for us to understand how we rate ourselves, and sometimes you need tools.” Such mechanisms, as well as leadership development or high-potential programs, do come at an opportunity cost, he adds, but it’s much lower than the cost of attrition the company could face if employees are not happy.
Being able to measure how employees are feeling about the company’s culture is crucial, agrees Cancialosi, and it points to the larger issue: Too many business leaders, he says, don’t know how to measure their culture, they don’t have a common language for it, and they don’t know how to engage their people in a dialogue about it.
“You see these organizations that spend so much time and energy developing a plan that they have no hope of actually executing [because] they don’t have the internal way of working, the internal culture, to [implement it],” Cancialosi says.
“If people are not aligned around a certain way to do things that’s going to lead to success, then people are rowing the boat in different directions, and you’re not going to get the benefit of having everyone rowing in the same direction.”
This story was produced by Postmedia’s advertising department on behalf of Eagle’s Flight for commercial purposes. Postmedia’s editorial departments had no involvement in the creation of this content.
This content was provided by Market One Media Group for commercial purposes.
Advertised by Market One Media Group
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H-1B Cap Random Selection Completed for FY 2018
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced this week that the agency has completed its selection process for the H-1B petitions it received for Fiscal Year 2018. The lottery, a computer-generated random selection process, was completed on April 11 after the agency received approximately 199,000 H-1B petitions during its filing period, which began on April 3. The agency received well [...]
By Brad Hendrick|2017-06-19T14:05:40-06:00April 20, 2017|
President Trump Issues New Executive Order on Travel
On March 6, President Trump approved a new executive order that will go into effect on March 16 limiting travel to the United States for certain people from six Middle Eastern countries — a revision to his earlier executive order issued in January. The order bars entry to certain nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 [...]
By Brad Hendrick|2017-03-17T08:55:54-06:00March 13, 2017|
AAO Establishes New Standard for National Interest Waivers
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ended 2016 with a significant change to the legal standard for National Interest Waiver (NIW) petitions. On Dec. 27, 2016, the Administrative Appeals Office released Matter of Dhanasar, which created a new framework for evaluating NIW petitions. The NIW provides an immigrant visa to “qualified immigrants who are members of the professions holding advanced [...]
By Brad Hendrick|2017-01-19T13:30:28-06:00January 19, 2017|
DHS Publishes Final Rule Easing Regulations for Highly-Skilled Foreign Workers
The Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule amending its regulations related to highly skilled immigrant and nonimmigrant workers. The changes, which are aimed at improving the process for U.S. employers and providing greater stability for foreign workers, went into effect on Jan. 17, 2017. Much of this regulation creates formal regulations around long-standing USCIS practices, effectively giving these practices [...]
DHS Announces List of H-2A and H-2B Eligible Countries
The Department of Homeland Security recently published its 2017 list of countries from which the United States will accept H-2A and H-2B temporary workers. The only new addition from its 2016 list is the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which joins 84 other countries eligible for the H-2A visa and 83 other countries eligible for the H-2B [...]
By Brad Hendrick|2016-12-27T11:06:17-06:00November 18, 2016|
Fees Increasing for Most Immigration Applications and Petitions, Per USCIS
In a final rule published on October 24, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that, for the first time in six years, fees for most immigration applications and petitions will increase starting on December 23 (happy holidays from USCIS!). Per USCIS, fees will increase by a weighted average of 21 percent. The department said these increases are necessary to [...]
By Brad Hendrick|2016-12-27T11:06:18-06:00November 4, 2016|
USCIS Proposes Rule for Entrepreneurs Who Provide Business Growth and Job Creation
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security, has issued a proposed rule that seeks to amend the regulations surrounding discretionary parole for certain foreign entrepreneurs of start-up entities. The proposed rule would guide the use of parole on a case-by-case basis specifically for entrepreneurs who provide a significant public benefit through substantial and [...]
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News Articles Highlight Immigration Facts and Skilled Immigrant Labor Contributions
Immigration reform is a hot-button topic in large part due to current presidential politics, with many predicting that despite setbacks to reform in recent years, the issue will come before the United States Congress in 2017. Many organizations, including tech companies, universities and hospitals that benefit from skilled immigrants who fill the void for certain specialized knowledge are pushing for [...]
By Brad Hendrick|2016-12-27T11:06:19-06:00August 29, 2016|
Employer Compliance in 2016 — The Government Giveth and the Government (Enables Itself to) Taketh Away
Summer of 2016 was a mixed bag for employers in the world of immigration compliance. I-9 Penalties Increasing to Adjust for Inflation First the bad news — effective Aug. 1, the Department of Homeland Security issued a rule that will increase civil monetary penalties for any regulations enforced by the department, which, as employers should note, includes penalties for I-9 [...]
In 4-4 deadlock, SCOTUS turns back DAPA
The Supreme Court announced that it had deadlocked in a case challenging President Obama’s immigration plan. As a result, as many as five million undocumented immigrants will not be shielded from deportation or allowed to legally work in the United States while awaiting Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform. The 4-4 deadlock left in place an appeals court ruling blocking the plan. The [...]
By Brad Hendrick|2016-12-27T11:06:20-06:00June 24, 2016|
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Hick education advisors chew on A66 defeat
By Todd Engdahl - November 14, 2013
The comments ranged from determined to glum Thursday as members of the Education Leadership Council dissected the defeat of Amendment 66.
Businesswoman Barbara Grogan said to Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, “The needs are still there, the system is still broken. So now what, Joe?”
Barbara Grogan (left) and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia
“I don’t have answers,” said Garcia, who chairs the council, an appointed group of about three-dozen state executives, education officials and business leaders. Thursday’s session was the group’s first meeting since the Nov. 5 election at which voters overwhelmingly rejected the K-12 income tax increase proposed in A66.
Sen. Mike Johnston said, “I don’t think any of the goals changed. The question is how you work within the constraints. If there’s a new game with new rules we’ll have to figure it out.” The Denver Democrat was a key backer of the amendment and author of its companion legislation, Senate Bill 13-213.
Garcia promised that despite the loss, the Hickenlooper administration remains “committed to implementation of Senate Bill 191” and other education laws already on the books and to “enhance early childhood education in any way possible.”
Picking up on that comment, Tony Salazar, executive director of the Colorado Education Association, asked, “Are we still able to do those things well … with fidelity, with assurance that they’re going to be done in the right way?” Salazar also noted that adding any new programs for schools to implement “may cause a bit of a revolt in the education community.”
School districts statewide this year are using new content standards, implementing the new early literacy law, testing the SB 10-191 evaluation system for the first time and preparing for new statewide tests that will debut in 2015.
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“Chalkbeat is my go-to education news source. Typically, Chalkbeat is the place to find out about district news before you hear about it anywhere else.” — Amy M.
Margaret Carlson, president of the Summit County school board, said, “Some of them [teachers] do feel like they’re drowning,” adding, “Hopefully there’s going to be a next time” to seek an increase in education funding.
Ken DeLay, executive director of the Colorado Association of School Boards, was glum about the next time. “The odds of getting the voters of Colorado to approve a general tax increase are very low,” saying he was discouraged about the prospects for fixing the fiscal constraints and conflicts in the state constitution.
Members of the group were a mostly A66 supporters. Piping up “as the token Republican in the room,” Rep. Carole Murray of Castle Rock said, “I think the graduated tax was a real problem for businesspeople, and I think they felt picked on” by the two-step income tax increase proposed in A66. “I heard that from businesspeople who really want to help education.”
Helayne Jones, head of the Colorado Legacy Foundation, sounded the same note, saying, “I think the message [of the election] was not that much about education” but was about the structure of the tax increase.
Jones had perhaps the most interesting comment of the afternoon, noting that conservative majorities took control of school boards in Jefferson County and the Thompson district. That may have been the most important development from the election, she said, adding, “Conservative school boards will do more damage to the reform agenda than anything else.”
Jeffco Superintendent Cindy Stevenson joined the discussion at that point, noting an energized minority of voters changed the direction of the Jeffco board. “That’s a factor we need to keep in mind in the future.” (Stevenson announced her retirement two days after the election; see this EdNews story for details.)
The council also batted around other issues, including Gov. John Hickenlooper’s proposed 2014-15 education budget and the possibility of teacher licensing legislation being introduced during the 2014 session. (See this story for background on the budget plan, and this article for the latest on the licensing discussion.)
Jones also had a provocative comment about licensing. “How does that legislation come forth in a way that doesn’t come across as a burden and open a door for educators to back away from” from other reforms, like teacher evaluation. “I think there are people looking for a way to back away.”
David Archer, Gov. John Hickenlooper’s education policy advisor, said, “It’s certainly something that we’re all trying to be very mindful of.”
Johnston argued that the goal of licensing reform is to streamline the process and figure out “how do we get the state out of the way.”
Jones cautioned “that message is going to be really, really important.”
By Todd Engdahl
In this story: Amendment 66, Cindy Stevenson, Funding & finance, Joe Garcia, John Hickenlooper, K12 Ballot Measure 2013, Legislature 2013, Mike Johnston
Denver teachers union endorses three candidates for school board
root causes
How Colorado lawmakers are trying to make schools safer
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COAST GUARD Compass Archive
This site will no longer be updated. Please visit www.compass.coastguard.blog for current content
Vice Adm. Michel testifies at Arctic hearing
Posted by LT Stephanie Young, Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles Michel testifies alongside retired U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Bob Papp, U.S. Special Representative for the Arctic at the U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Timothy C. Gallaudet, Oceanographer and Navigator of the U.S. Navy. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.
Coast Guard Vice Commandant Vice Adm. Charles Michel testified on Arctic operations before a joint subcommittee hearing held today that included the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, both with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
During the hearing, Vice Adm. Michel discussed the Coast Guard’s Arctic Strategy in support of the National Strategy and the service’s international and domestic efforts to ensure safe, secure and environmentally responsible maritime activity in the region.
A map of the Arctic region is displayed at a joint subcommittee hearing with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.
Vice Adm. Michel spent a significant amount of his career focused on Arctic and polar issues, including field visits in the Arctic and Antarctic to better understand specific operating challenges in these extreme environments.
“I can personally attest that these regions are remote, hostile and unforgiving,” he shared with the subcommittees. “Distances are vast, weather is a constant factor, ice conditions are very dynamic and infrastructure is almost non-existent.”
”Operations in both polar regions demand detailed and deliberate planning supported by specialized, reliable and unique equipment, and they often demand close coordination with federal, state, local, academic, industry and indigenous community stakeholders,” he added. “The Polar Regions also offer valuable opportunities for international cooperation and interoperability among Arctic nations and others who have shared interests in the region.”
As a visible reminder of the need to forge strong partnerships, Vice Adm. Michel testified alongside representatives of two critical partners in the region: retired Adm. Bob Papp with the U.S. Department of State and Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet with the U. S. Navy.
Throughout the hearing, Vice Adm. Michel outlined key areas of interest for the Coast Guard, including enhancing Arctic operations and exercises, developing the Polar Code, increasing engagement with peer maritime services from Arctic nations and supporting the Arctic Council and the U.S. Chairmanship through the newly formed Arctic Coast Guard Forum.
Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles Michel enters the Rayburn House Office Building shortly before testifying with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.
Vice Adm. Michel concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of assured access to the polar regions for the Nation.
“The ability to operate year round, safely and reliably means having heavy icebreakers. Year round access is vital to our Nation’s security and economic interests,” he stated.
“The Coast Guard needs at least two heavy icebreakers to provide year-round, assured access and self-rescue in the polar regions” he added. “The Coast Guard is moving forward at best speed to meet the President’s intent of recapitalizing our icebreaker fleet, and we look forward to working with Congress on this important effort.”
Editor’s note: Vice Adm. Michel’s written testimony and oral testimony are available at the committee’s website. Video of the hearing is also available.
Tags: arctic, Bob Papp, Charles Michel, testimony, timothy gallaudet, vice commandant
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Shabazz Napier: ‘there are hungry nights that I go to bed and I’m starving’
By Scott PhillipsApr 7, 2014, 8:20 PM EDT
Shabazz Napier has become one of the poster boys of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Besides being a fantastic asset on both ends of the floor for the No. 7 seed Huskies, Napier has been an inspiring leader as a 6-foot-1 senior guard.
But now Napier has contributed an interesting tidbit off-the-floor as Shabazz has been quoted in a story that was showcased in a CNN.com article on Monday. The original interview was conducted last week and posted on Fox Sports.
“I don’t feel student-athletes should get hundreds of thousands of dollars, but like I said, there are hungry nights that I go to bed and I’m starving,” Napier said to reporters.
When the senior was asked if he felt like an employee, the Huskies point guard said, “I just feel like a student-athlete, and sometimes, like I said, there’s hungry nights and I’m not able to eat and I still got to play up to my capabilities. … When you see your jersey getting sold — it may not have your last name on it — but when you see your jersey getting sold and things like that, you feel like you want something in return.”
With the recent ruling for the Northwestern football players union in the NLIB, the attention has turned to the players participating in the NCAA Tournament.
Connecticut lawmakers have noticed Napier’s remarks, according to CNN. Since Northwestern is a private school, they can go through other means that state-funded schools like UConn cannot do at the moment.
State Rep. Matthew Lesser and other state lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow athletes at the University of Connecticut to unionize, Lesser said. Unlike at Northwestern, a private institution governed by the National Labor Relations Board, Connecticut law governs whether employees at a public institution can unionize.
“He says he’s going to bed hungry at a time when millions of dollars are being made off of him. It’s obscene,” Lesser said. “This isn’t a Connecticut problem. This is an NCAA problem, and I want to make sure we’re putting pressure on them to treat athletes well.”
Napier still has a season to focus on, but this quote certainly doesn’t make anybody feel better about the fair treatment of NCAA student-athletes in light of all of the recent rulings. Will athletes like Napier be able to help usher in changes to the NCAA system?
Tags: 2014 NCAA Tournament, NCAA, Shabazz Napier, UConn Huskies
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Tag Archives: Noah Wyle
TNT’s Hit Series FALLING SKIES Invades Comic-Con with Panel, Preview Clips, Autograph Session and Collectible Pin Series
TNT’s Falling Skies, which recently chalked up cable’s #1 series premiere of the year and was renewed for a second season, is returning to Comic-Con in a big way. Falling Skies, which comes to TNT from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg, starring Noah Wyle, will have a multi-faceted presence at the annual gathering. Activities will include a panel discussion with stars Wyle, Moon Bloodgood and other members of the cast and production team, preview clips from upcoming episodes and an autograph session. In addition, TNT will give away a series of collectible pins. Attendees can pick up each pin in the five-pin Falling Skies set at specific locations throughout Comic-Con.
The following is a rundown of TNT’s Falling Skies activities at Comic-Con:
Falling Skies Panel: Friday, July 22, 3:15-4:15 p.m. in Room 6BCF – Series stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Colin Cunningham and Sarah Sanguin Carter will join executive producers Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank and co-executive producer and writer Mark Verheiden for a Q&A panel session to be moderated by TV Guide Magazine editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum. The panel discussion will include never-before-seen clips from upcoming episodes.
Falling Skies Autograph Session: Friday, July 22, 5-6 p.m. at the Dark Horse Comics booth – All six Falling Skies cast members and co-executive producer and writer Mark Verheiden will be on-hand to sign autographs following the panel session.
Falling Skies, which airs Sundays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) on TNT, takes place in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Tom Mason (Wyle), a Boston history professor and the father of three sons, must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as second in command of a regiment of resistance fighters protecting a large group of civilian survivors.
TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama. Seen in 100.5 million households, the network is home to such original series as The Closer, starring Emmy® winner Kyra Sedgwick; Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; the Peabody Award-winning Men of a Certain Age, with Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher; Falling Skies, starring Noah Wyle; Franklin & Bash, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; Hawthorne, with Jada Pinkett Smith; Memphis Beat, with Jason Lee; and Southland, from Emmy-winning producer John Wells (ER). TNT also presents such powerful dramas as The Mentalist, Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order, CSI: NY, Cold Case and, starting next year, Castle; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. TNT is available in high-definition.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
via TNT Press Release
Posted in Comic Con, San Diego Comic-Con, SDCC -- Past Years, SDCC Panel | Tagged Autographs, Colin Cunningham, Comic Con, Darryl Frank, Debra Birnbaum, Drew Roy, Falling Skies, Justin Falvey, Mark Verheiden, Moon Bloodgood, Noah Wyle, Sarah Sanguin Carter, SDCC -- Past Years, SDCC Panel, signings, Steven Spielberg, TNT, Twilight | Leave a reply
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You are here: Home / Other Companies / Image / Jupiter’s Legacy #2 – Millar and Quitely
Jupiter’s Legacy #2 – Millar and Quitely
July 1, 2013 by Shawn Warner
Even super-heroes are not immune to dysfunction in the family. Mark Millar explores the depths of that dysfunction in his new series, Jupiter’s Legacy. Utopian is the patriarch of a family of super-beings – to call them super-heroes would imply that they are somehow virtuous and that cannot be said for most of them. He struggles to maintain some semblance of morality in this clan of deficient principals, however his struggles seem to be overwhelming even for one who possesses the powers of a “superman”. Besides his drug-addled celebrity children, Chloe and Brandon, who make Paris Hilton and Marilyn Manson look well-behaved by comparison, Utopian has a back-stabbing, power-hungry brother named Walter to contend with.
Chloe has just found out that she is eleven weeks along in an unplanned for and unwanted pregnancy when she is rushed to the hospital to recover from yet another drug overdose. Her “boyfriend”, Hutch just happens to be the son of a super-villain. Brandon looks more like a rock star than a super-hero and he behaves more like one as well. He begins this issue by recklessly and drunkenly using his telekinetic powers to transport a huge cargo ship through the air. The ship is full of containers which start to fall overboard when Brandon loses his concentration. A number of the containers plummet dangerously toward the ground. It is only Utopian’s timely intervention that prevents any loss of life not to mention millions of dollars in property damage. Father and son have a heated exchange full of some very well written dialogue – Millar is quite adept at giving his characters believable voices. Frank Quitely’s awesome visual story telling really shines in this scene as well.
Next we go to Long Beach where Hutch, Chloe’s paramour, makes his first appearance. He is a shady reprobate who has absconded with a shipment of heroin, neglecting to pay for said narcotics. His weapon of choice is something called a “power rod” but he also has the ability to transport anyone foolish enough to annoy him to some rather inhospitable surroundings. For instance when he is approached by a pair of super-powered henchmen representing “The Big Man” whose heroin Hutch pilfered, he simply says the words “shark-infested waters” and bingo! Next thing you know the unlucky henchmen are shark food. This is one of the issue’s highlights – the nonchalance of Hutch just makes this such an awesome moment and Frank Quitely’s cinematic style brings it to life so brutally yet so stylishly.
Utopian finds his brother, Walter in a Cabinet Office meeting with some government advisors. He barges in, making Walter look and feel inferior in front of the government big-wigs. This does not sit well at all with him and makes for a very devious and dubious alliance that begins to unfold on the final page of this issue. I dare not say more suffice to say a knife is looking for a back to call home.
This book has everything I love about good comic books. First of all it has long-time Grant Morrison collaborator, Frank Quitely, who is in my humble opinion the very best comic book artist to grace the printed page. His style is so unique; no one can match the emotion and command of anatomy he wields over his characters. His work is clean with an elegance unrivaled. He lends a sense of humanity to these characters simply by the limitless array of facial expression in his artistic arsenal.
Next there is Mark Millar, who has written Jupiter’s Legacy at a break-neck pace thus far, glossing over some vital history that I hope he gets around to in later issues. That is my only complaint and it is a minor one. This book has come out of the gate firing on all thrusters. I love Millar’s” take no prisoners” style of writing, I have been a fan of his for quite some time. His seminal work on The Ultimates, his groundbreaking Wolverine story, Old Man Logan, the significant Kick Ass trilogy are all examples of the genius of Mark Millar and there are so many other works I could add to that list. With Jupiter’s Legacy he has created a work that will be compared to Alan Moore’s Watchmen and Mark Waid’s Irredeemable for its very human portrayal of super-heroes, their flaws and strengths there to be observed. The plot is intriguing and full of scandalous characters who threaten to bring down a good man who only wants his children to live up to the potential he believes exists within them. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
If you are a fan of superb writing and just phenomenal artwork this book needs to be on your pull list. So until next week, see you at the comic book store.
Filed Under: Image
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Tag Archives: Leon Panetta
Israel warns of month-long war after possible strike on Iran’s nuclear program
Posted by Various Writers in Elections - Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, International News, Liberal Media Bias, Liberal Progressive Left, National Security, New Media News, Politics, War on Terror
≈ Comments Off on Israel warns of month-long war after possible strike on Iran’s nuclear program
air raid sirens, Avi Dichter, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Iran, Iran nuclear program, Israel, Israeli-Arab conflict, Leon Panetta, maariv daily, politics, possible strike, rockets and missiles, U. S. Defense Secretary, U. S. Military Chief, undefined, warning month-long war, Winning Elections
March 15, 2007: In this file photo Israeli school children wear gas masks during a drill organized by the Israeli Home Front Command simulating a chemical missile attack in a shelter at a school in the central Israeli city of Lod. (AP/File)
JERUSALEM – An Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear program could trigger a bloody monthlong war on multiple fronts, killing hundreds of Israelis or more, the Israeli Cabinet’s civil defense chief warned in an interview published Wednesday.
Obama’s deceptive bodyguard
Posted by Various Writers in Constitution, Corruption, Elections - Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, International News, Liberal Media Bias, Liberal Progressive Left, National Debt, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Scandals, Terrorism, War on Terror
≈ Comments Off on Obama’s deceptive bodyguard
Afghanistan trip, America Rejects Obama, axis of evil, bin laden, deception, Defense Secretary, fake Tuesday schedule, Jay Carney, Leon Panetta, Marxists in the White House, meeting with in Kabul, national security reasons, Obama, obama body guard, Oval Office?, politics, socialism, War on Terror
[DailyCaller.com]
Published: 4:32 PM 05/01/2012
By Neil Munro – The Daily Caller
Archive | Email Neil Munro
Photo: AP -White House spokesman Jay Carney said Friday that he doesn’t lie.
But his office did lie on Monday for national security reasons.
On Monday evening the White House’s press office distributed a fake Tuesday schedule for the president. The deceptive document went to the White House press corps, and to the many other media outlets and non-media groups that track the president’s schedule.
“In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet with Secretary of Defense [Leon] Panetta in the Oval Office,” said the 6:31 p.m. email, titled “Daily Guidance and press schedule for Tuesday, May 1, 2012.” The guidance also announced that Jay Carney, the president’s press secretary, would give a press briefing at 3 p.m.
GOP Senators renew plea to avoid ‘devastating’ defense cuts
Posted by Various Writers in Constitution, Corruption, Deficit, Elections - Politics, Government, Jobs and Unemployment, Liberal Media Bias, Liberal Progressive Left, National Debt, National Emergency, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Terrorism, The Economy, War on Terror
armed services committee, Defense Department, Do-Nothing Democrats, GOP, GOP wants to void crippling budget cuts, government, james inhofe, Leon Panetta, plea for bipartisan collaboration, politics, republican, Senate Armed Services Committee, Senators
[HumanEvents.com]
by Hope Hodge
Before departing for a two-week Easter recess Thursday, Republican senators renewed a plea for bipartisan collaboration to avoid a round of crippling budget cuts to the Defense Department.
Under an agreement reached last year by legislators on both sides of the aisle, automatic budget cuts to the Defense Department could reduce its funding by $500 billion over the next 10 years–on top of the $487 billion the department has already been ordered to find and slash. The cuts, which Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has repeatedly called a “meat ax,” would take effect on Jan. 1 and would create particularly dire financial straits for the department in Fiscal 2013.
Other federal departments, including Education, are expected to take a budget hit under this Budget Control Act requirement, called sequestration, but DoD has received most of the attention on the issue, as it is slated to absorb half of the cuts.
Congressional Resolution: Impeachment of Barack Obama
Posted by Various Writers in Constitution, Consumer Issues, Corruption, Elections - Politics, Government, Healthcare, Jobs and Unemployment, Liberal Media Bias, Liberal Progressive Left, National Debt, National Security, Politics, Religious Freedoms, Scandals, Tea Party Conservatives, The Economy, War on Terror
Appropriations Committee, Articles of Impeachment, committee session, Congress, Congressional Resolution, Consitution, corruption in government, Featured, IMPEACHMENT OF BARACK OBAMA, Leon Panetta, library of congress, politics, the Power of Congress, walter b jones, WORST PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY
[FrontPorchPolitics.com]
Written on March 10, 2012 at 5:42 pm by Tim
The impeachment of President Barack Hussein Obama has begun. The new Congressional resolution filed Wednesday states that using offensive military force, without prior consent violates Congress’ express Constitutional power to declare war. This is exactly what President Obama’s Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta was promoting the other day in the Appropriations Committee.
The Library of Congress has on file, as of March 7,2012 H. Con. Res. 107 which says,
Expressing the sense of Congress that the use of offensive military force by a President without prior and clear authorization of an Act of Congress constitutes an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor under article II, section 4 of the Constitution.
After the Appropriations Committee session I wrote on just days ago, this was introduced.
Mr. Walter B. Jones (Rep. NC) put forth this resolution in preparation for a war in Iran. Why this is not being taken further in regards to the issue of Libya, one can only guess that the administration didn’t call it a “war”. It is possible however, that this will be used to bring charges against the President for the war in Libya and maybe even in Syria as well.
The Concurrent Resolution goes on to state:
Whereas the cornerstone of the Republic is honoring Congress’s exclusive power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the Constitution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that, except in response to an actual or imminent attack against the territory of the United States, the use of offensive military force by a President without prior and clear authorization of an Act of Congress violates Congress’s exclusive power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the Constitution and therefore constitutes an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor under article II, section 4 of the Constitution.
Panetta Says Drone Campaign Over Iran Will Continue
Posted by Various Writers in Corruption, Deficit, Elections - Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, International News, Liberal Media Bias, Liberal Progressive Left, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Tea Party Conservatives, Terrorism, The Economy, War on Terror
≈ Comments Off on Panetta Says Drone Campaign Over Iran Will Continue
Afghanistan, al-Maliki, Bagdad, cyber attack, Defense Secretary, high tech jamming device, Iran drone campaign, Iraq war end, Leon Panetta, military, operations continue, Sentinel drone, USAF
By Justin Fishel & Jennifer Griffin
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, in an exclusive interview with Fox News, said that the stealth drone campaign along the Iran-Afghanistan border will “absolutely” continue despite the loss of a valuable and sophisticated drone to Iran.
The mysterious loss of the RQ-170 Sentinel drone has revealed not only that the U.S. was spying on Iran, but also that the program was being run from Shindad Air Base in western Afghanistan.
Panetta would not comment directly on what that drone was doing over Iran, but he said the U.S. military has no plans to halt the drone operation out of western Afghanistan.
“Those operations have to be protected in order to do the job and the mission that they’re involved with,” he said.
When asked if he would continue those missions as they have been conducted out of Afghanistan, he responded with one word: “Absolutely.”
U.S. Military Increases Base Security Ahead of Sept. 11
Posted by Various Writers in Government, International News, Liberal Media Bias, Liberal Progressive Left, National Debt, National Emergency, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Terrorism, The Economy, War on Terror
≈ Comments Off on U.S. Military Increases Base Security Ahead of Sept. 11
10-year anniversary of 9/11, Al Qaeda, CHARLIE, DELTA, hightened awareness, increased security, Leon Panetta, light aircraft alert, Pentagon, press secretary George Little, U. S. Military bases, War on Terror
[Remember 9/11/01]
by Justin Fishel
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has approved a request to increase force protection on U.S. based military installations in preparation for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little announced Wednesday.
In addition, Fox News has obtained an internal document sent from Northern Command with instructions for all military bases operate under security level ALPHA through Sept. 11.
ALPHA is only one step up from a normal or standard security status. It increases in order from NORMAL to ALPHA, to BRAVO to CHARLIE. CHARLIE would be established if intelligence shows and imminent threat. DELTA is the highest level and would be declared when an actual attack is occurring.
Little said this increase in security is not in response to any “specific or credible threat,” rather simply “prudent and precautionary planning.” Although he reminded us that there were documents found at Bin Laden Abbottabad compound that mentioned aspirations to strike on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
Although he recalled that there were documents found at Bin Laden Abbottabad compound that mentioned aspirations to strike on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
According to the internal document, which was released prior to Panetta’s approval, some of these new security measures include increasing security patrols on U.S. bases, recommending base members be vigilant and report suspicious activity and applying “extra scrutiny” to non-routine vendors such as taxis, flower deliveries, tow trucks and fast food delivery.
US ‘within reach of strategic defeat of al-Qaeda’
Posted by Various Writers in Foreign Policy, Government, Liberal Progressive Left, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Terrorism, The Economy, War on Terror
≈ Comments Off on US ‘within reach of strategic defeat of al-Qaeda’
Afghanistan, AQAP, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Kabul, Leon Panetta, NDS, new al-Qaeda leader, new US Defense Secretary, Panjshir valley, Taliban conflict, western Pakistan
BBC – South Asia
9 July 2011 Last updated at 10:15 ET
New al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is believed to be hiding in western Pakistan. New US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said the US is “within reach of strategically defeating al-Qaeda”.
Mr. Panetta said that following the killing of Osama Bin Laden, key leaders in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere had been identified and would be targeted.
He offered the upbeat assessment during his first visit to Afghanistan since taking over at the Pentagon last week.
Earlier, a member of Afghanistan’s intelligence service shot dead two US soldiers in the Panjshir valley.
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) officer, a bodyguard for its deputy director, was killed when another US soldier returned fire.
Pentagon No. 2 William Lynn to Resign
07 Thursday Jul 2011
Posted by Various Writers in Government, Immigration, Liberal Progressive Left, National Emergency, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Terrorism, The Economy, War on Terror
≈ Comments Off on Pentagon No. 2 William Lynn to Resign
CIA, CIA director, Dep. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, Lexington Institute, Loren Thompson, Michele Flournoy, set to resign, William J. Lynn III
AP – In this May 31, 2010 file photo, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. In a further shake-up of U.S. defense leaders, the Lynn, Pentagon’s second-ranking official said Thursday he intends to resign but has agreed to stay on the job until Defense Secretary Leon Panetta chooses a successor.
WASHINGTON — In a further shake-up of U.S. defense leaders, the Pentagon’s second-ranking official said Thursday he intends to resign but has agreed to stay on the job until Defense Secretary Leon Panetta chooses a successor.
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II 1 Now Yahshua being born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herodas the king, behold! Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying “Where is He having been born King of the Judaeans? For we have seen His star in the east and we have come to worship Him!”
Strabo quotes Polybius where he says that “the priests of the Egyptians, the Chaldaeans, and the Magi, because they excelled their fellows in knowledge of some kind or other, attained to leadership and honour among the peoples of our times” (Geog. 1.2.15). Quoting Poseidonius, he says that “the Council of the Parthians … consists of two groups, one that of kinsmen, and the other that of wise men and Magi, from both of which groups the kings were appointed” (11.9.3). The Magi kept a guard at the tomb of Cyrus (Strabo, 15.3.7), directed the sacrifices of the Persians and distributed the meat from the altar, without setting aside a portion for the Persian deities (15.3.13) because the gods do not need meat, where Strabo also said that “the Persians do not erect statues or altars, but offer sacrifice on a high place”, a practice we see the Israelites chastised for in Scripture. Strabo also mentions his own eye-witness account of a “sect of the Magi, who are called Pyraethi (fire-kindlers)” who dwell in Cappadocia. They are said to keep an eternal fire, and to sacrifice animals by cudgeling them, and to carry about in procession a wooden statue of a strange god named “Omanus” (15.3.15). Among the Magi of Persia Strabo said that when they die they are not buried, but rather their bodies are left “to be eaten by birds”, and mentions that they were known to “consort even with their mothers” (15.3.20).
Strabo's view of the Magi, even considering the more fantastic stories he offered, is still quite practical compared to that of Diodorus Siculus, who only makes notable mention of them – at least in relation to our purposes here – on one occasion where he states, speaking of the early people of the island of Rhodes who were called the Telchines, that “men say that the Telchines were also wizards and could summon clouds and rain and hail at their will and likewise could even bring snow; these things, the accounts tell us, they could do even as could the Magi of Persia; and they could also change their natural shapes and were jealous of teaching their arts to others” (5.55.1-3)
The much earlier Herodotus, speaking of the Medes, names the Magi as one of the “tribes of which they consist”, listing six (1:101). In his account of the birth of Cyrus, which is considered fantastic by most commentators, the historian describes one of the Magi as being an interpreter of dreams for Astyages the king of the Medes (1:107, 120), a gift we also see attributed – albeit imperfectly – to the Chaldaean priests in the Book of Daniel. This is describing events which took place circa 580 BC, a century-and-a-half before Herodotus wrote. This is right around the same time as the Hebrew prophets Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel. Herodotus also said of the Magi that “The Magi are a very peculiar race, differently entire from the Egyptian priests, and indeed from all other men whatsoever. The Egyptian priests make it a point of religion not to kill any live animals except those which they offer in sacrifice. The Magi, on the contrary, kill animals of all kinds with their own hands, excepting dogs and men. They even seem to take a delight in the employment, and kill, as readily as they do other animals, ants and snakes, and such like flying or creeping things. However, since this has always been their custom, let them keep to it.“ Now this seems trite, but what Herodotus does not say about the Magi is important. Herodotus recorded a lot of fantastic stories, for which he is often criticized, but he himself admitted this, considering it his duty to “report all that is said” whether he believed it or not (7:152). Yet about the Magi he reports no fantastic stories such as shape-shifting or flying carpets or other wild tales.
Discuss: the magi called by the Greeks Pseudo-Smerdis here, (Gaumata, impersonated Bardiya the brother of Cambyses.
Ezra 8:17 states: “Ezra 8:17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.”
From Classical Records of the Origins of the Scythians, Parthians,& Related Tribes:
“East of Iberia and reaching to the Caspian Sea was Albania, of which the eastern part, Caspiana, sat at the mouth of that same Araxes river where the Scythians are placed at the earliest times. Herodotus mentions the Caspians at 7.67, and in company with the Bactrians in Xerxes’ Persian army at 7.86. In Strabo we have seen the relationship of the Bactrians and Scythians mentioned above (11.8.2). Caspiana must be, as Dr. George Moore agrees in his The Lost Tribes And The Saxons Of The East And The Saxons Of the West, that same district mentioned at Ezra 8:17, Casiphia, to which Ezra sent for Levites to come to Jerusalem after the rebuilding of the Temple. Moore wrote as much in the 1870’s, when his book was first published.”
Caspiana, or Casiphia, was in an area that Herodotus would very well have associated with the Medes. It is very possible that he and later writers, all the way down to the time of Christ, may have confused the Levites in the area as being another “sect of the Magi”, as Strabo puts it. It is very possible that the “Magi” of the time of Christ may well have been descended from the Levites of the deportations of Israel and Judah. Of course, this is conjecture and there is not enough evidence to make any solid claim, however the possibility certainly explains the interest and knowledge that the Magi had concerning the Christ.
Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, Princeton University Press, 1969, ed. J. Pritchard, no mention of Magi in index, or in my notes from having read the book. No mention of Magi found in other sources I could locate for ancient inscriptions which predate the Persian period.
3 And hearing it King Herodas was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and upon gathering all the high priests and scribes of the people he inquired from them: “Where is the Christ born?” 5 And they said to him: “In Bethlehem of Judaea.” For thusly it was written by the prophet: 6 “And you Bethlehem, land of Iouda, by no means are you least among the leaders of Iouda, for there shall come out of you a leader, who shall shepherd My people Israel.”
1. The use of the plural, “high priests” throughout the New Testament.
2. Herod the Edomite.
3. Bethlehem, city of David. The quote is from Micah 5:1-3.
4. The conspiracy against the Christ.
In the Revelation at 12:4 we see “And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, in order that when she should give birth he may devour her child.“
The dragon here is represented by the historical Herod the Great, for only he attempted to murder the Christ child as soon as he was born, as we find recorded here in Matthew. The fact that Herod represents the dragon is quite profound once we discover that he was not an Israelite, but an Edomite by race. That Herod was indeed of the seed of Esau is fully apparent in the pages of the Judaean historian, Flavius Josephus, where it is attested to directly or indirectly at least five times, and those instances shall be cited here:
Josephus, Antiquities, 14:8: But there was a certain friend of Hyrcanus, an Idumean, called Antipater, who was very rich, and in his nature an active and a seditious man; who was at enmity with Aristobulus, and had differences with him on account of his goodwill to Hyrcanus. [Antipater was the father of Herod.]
Josephus, Antiquities, 14:403: but Antigonus, by way of reply to what Herod had caused to be proclaimed, and this before the Romans, and before Silo also, said that they would not do justly if they gave the kingdom to Herod, who was no more than a private man, and an Idumean, i.e. a half Jew, whereas they ought to bestow it on one of the royal family, as their custom was...
Josephus, Wars, 1:123: Now, those other people which were at variance with Aristobulus were afraid, upon his unexpectedly obtaining the government; and especially this concerned Antipater, whom Aristobulus hated of old. He was by birth an Idumean, and one of the principal of that nation, on account of his ancestors and riches, and other authority to him belonging...
Josephus, Wars, 1:312-313: 312 And here a certain old man, the father of seven children, whose children, together with their mother, desired him to give them permission to go out, upon the assurance and right hand that was offered them, slew them after the following manner: he ordered everyone of them to go out, while he stood himself at the cave's mouth, and slew each son of his as went out. Herod was near enough to see this sight, and his bowels of compassion were moved at it, and he stretched out his right hand to the old man, and besought him to spare his children; 313 yet did not he relent at all upon what he said, but over and above reproached Herod on the lowness of his descent, and slew his wife as well as his children; and when he had thrown their dead bodies down the precipice, he at last threw himself down after them.
Now at Antiquities, 14:403 we see that Josephus called Herod a “half Jew”, but by that he did not mean that his mother was an Israelite, since here where Josephus is speaking of Antipater we shall see that Herod's mother was indeed an Idumaean, at Antiquities, 14:120-121: 120 and as he came back to Tyre, he went up into Judea also, and attacked Taricheae, and presently took it, and carried about thirty thousand Jews captives; and slew Pitholaus, who succeeded Aristobulus in his seditious practices, and that by the persuasion of Antipater, 121 who proved to have great interest in him, and was at that time in great repute with the Idumeans also: out of which nation he married a wife, who was the daughter of one of their eminent men, and her name was Cypros, {a} by whom he had four sons, Phasael, and Herod, who was afterward made king, and Joseph, and Pheroras; and a daughter, named Salome.
With this it is apparent that by “half-Jew” Josephus did not mean racially, but perhaps he used the term only as far as confession and appearance were concerned. It is fully evident that Herod, representative of the dragon, was fully an Edomite by blood. Remember, as it is mentioned in both Malachi chapter 1 and Romans chapter 9, Yahweh God hated Esau, Paul even referring to the Edomites as “vessels of destruction”.
3 And hearing it King Herodas [the Edomite usurper] was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and upon gathering all the high priests and scribes of the people he inquired from them: “Where is the Christ born?” 5 And they said to him: “In Bethlehem of Judaea.” For thusly it was written by the prophet: 6 “And you Bethlehem, land of Iouda, by no means are you least among the leaders of Iouda, for there shall come out of you a leader, who shall shepherd My people Israel.”
Left to discuss:
KJV Micah 5: “1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.”
The ruler of Israel shall come from Bethlehem, he shall be of the tribe of Judah, and he shall be smitten. The prophecy in Micah also reveals, by necessity, that the ruler is Yahweh Himself, because it states that – while he is coming in the future – he is also one “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”, which can only describe God Himself.
Now Matthew records that at the report of the magi, ”Herodas was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him”, which indicates that all of the court of Herod which heard the magi, the officers, the priests, and whoever else may have been present, were troubled about the announcement of a Messiah as much as Herod was. This stands in stark contrast to the joy of the Magi, or the reaction of the apostles recorded at John 1:35-51, or the profession of the woman at the well in John chapter 4, that she knew that the Messiah would soon come, and expected even to see Him in her lifetime. The apostles as portrayed by John also anticipated His coming. All of these people expected the Messiah and were full of joy to see Him. The people of Judaea should have been, if they were indeed His people. Rather, they were not, and for that reason they feared. It is evident from many later Scriptures, from john chapters 8 and 10 and Romans chapter 9 for instance, that the people of Jerusalem – at least a large amount of them – were indeed Edomites, and not Judah.
Later in this presentation of the Gospel of Matthew both Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 shall be read in their entirety, discussing the conspiracy against the Christ and how He was to suffer, as foretold by the prophets. For now, Psalm 22:16 reads: “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” Isaiah 53, a Messianic prophecy, states in verse 7: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” We shall see later in this presentation of the gospels, that Christ spoke to Pilate, but he would not answer Herod a word. The connection of the metaphor of dogs to Canaanites, which is also evident in Matthew chapter 15, and the connection of Herod to the dragon of Revelation 12, which is also the serpent and satan, are facts of history, and should alone make it without doubt that it was the children of the serpent, and not the children of God, who were ultimately responsible for the murder of God. So Yahshua tells Pilate that “he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin”, Himself indicating that the Edomites of the Herodians were indeed responsible for His death.
[Cite Near Eastern Archaeology, Volume 68 Number 1, March-June 2005, and an article entitled “A People Transformed – Palestine in the Persian Period” page 16, for yet another admission of the Edomites in Judaea after the deportations of Israel. The people were not transformed, they were replaced! There is a ton of evidence of this even in modern writings, even at places such as Wikipedia. However the mainstream judaized so-called churches ignore the implications.]
7 Then Herodas calling the magi secretly, exacted precisely from them the time of the appearance of the star, 8 and sending them to Bethlehem said: “Going, you inquire precisely concerning the child, and when you find Him, you report to me, that I also coming may worship Him.”
There is no doubt that Herod exhibits the cunning so manifestly prevalent among those of his own race, and which those known as jews today – the synagogue of satan - have been famous for throughout time. Many men have tried to determine what this star was. I am not one of them. We have tools available, which seem to be good, such as the Wolfram Alpha computational engine which is open on the internet. This particular machine (it is a software machine) can do marvellous things, including the computation of celestial bodies as they appeared thousands of years ago. However its flaw is that we must assume that as the celestial bodies are today, so they were thousands of years ago. We must bear in mind that this is indeed an assumption, and there are no guarantees that it is correct. I, for one, would not depend upon extrapolating present conditions back thousands of years in an attempt to determine the past. There are many books and papers written by men professing to know what the star was, and all for their own reasons. I will not make a comment upon it. One thing is certain to me, whatever this star was, I can find no Scripture today which indicates anything about it, but these magi were indeed quite confident and so they must have had something that instructed them of the start and its significance.
9 And hearing the king they went, and behold! The star which they saw in the east went before them, until coming it stood above where the child was. 10 And seeing the star they rejoiced with an exceedingly great joy. 11 And coming into the house they saw the child with Maria His mother, and falling they worshipped Him and opening their chests presented gifts to Him, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by a dream not to go back to Herodas, they withdrew by another way into their country.
Now we shall see in the Gospel of Luke that Yahshua's parents, Joseph and Mary, were quite poor. This is evident in Luke 2:24, where the offering they brought for the child at his presentation in the temple was a pair of birds. Leviticus 12: “6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.” These gifts, being of great value, it must be that they were somehow stored for the child by the parents, rather than having been consumed by them. No mention is made of such wealth in later scripture. Matthew and Luke each tell this story quite differently, and each tell different parts of it. Luke is focused on the child, and what other people, those who were pious and loved God, said about Him. Matthew is focused on the events going on in Judaea surrounding the birth of the child, and on the conspiracy against Him by the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
13 And upon their withdrawing, behold! A messenger of Yahweh appeared in a dream to Ioseph, saying: “Arising, take the child and His mother and flee into Egypt, and you must be there until when I should speak to you. For Herodas is about to seek the child and to destroy it!” 14 And arising he took the child and His mother at night and withdrew into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herodas, in order that that which had been spoken by Yahweh through the prophet should be fulfilled, saying: “Out of Egypt I have called My Son.”
The words are found at Hosea 11:1: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” Matthew interpreted Hosea 11:1 as a dual prophecy, applying to Christ as well as the people of Israel. The things which Israel suffered during her national history, Christ also was to suffer. Going to Egypt to flee death was symbolic of the children of Israel who did likewise many centuries before. This further solidifies the bond between the Christ and His people Israel (which today's judaized Christians deny, thinking that somehow the jews are Israel, who are actually satanic). It says in Amos 3: “1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” In this respect, Paul wrote at Hebrews 2: “14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
The Children of Israel escaped the slaughter of the first-born and the bondage of Egypt by the blood of a lamb. Now we need to escape the judgement of this world and our present state of bondage by the blood of The Lamb.
16 Then Herodas, seeing that he had been mocked by the magi, had been exceedingly angered, and sending he slew all the children who were in Bethlehem and in all of its borders from two years and below, according to the time which he exacted from the magi. 17 Then that which had been spoken through Ieremios the prophet had been fulfilled, saying: 18 “A voice was heard in Rama, much weeping and wailing; Rachel crying for her children. And she did not desire to be comforted, for they are not!”
There is no historical verification of this event, and especially in the pages of Josephus. For this reason many scoff, and they should all be ashamed of themselves. Bethlehem was a small pastoral community in the mountains about 10 kilometers south of Judaea. It was so small, that there is no archaeological evidence from the period which even can be used to verify its existence, so today the jews argue over whether it existed at all. There is no solid assurance that they are even looking in the right place. Some jews even claim that Christ was born at a different Bethlehem, in Galilee, an idea which flies in the face of Scripture. It cannot, therefore, be imagined that the population was very large. It may well be that, because of the relatively small population of this remote pastoral village, only a few dozen children perished in such an incident, if that many. Contrasted with the many other evil deeds of Herod, the murder of a few dozen children would hardly be worthy of notice!
Josephus says in Antiquities Book 15: “since Herod had now the government of all Judea put into his hands, he promoted such of the private men in the city as had been of his party, but never stopped avenging and punishing everyday those who had chosen to be of the party of his enemies”. When Herod secured power in Judaea, he put all of the principle men of the land to death, who were connected to the Hasamoneans (the Maccabees). Later, he murdered his own wife and several of his own sons. Not long before his own death, after a failed sedition against him, he again had all of the principle men of Judaea gathered into the Hippodrome, and had them all slain. This would have been right around the time of the birth of Christ, and surely would have been a distraction from any of his other misdeeds. Herod died in 1 B.C., only a little over a year or so after Christ was born.
19 Then upon the dying of Herodas, behold! A messenger of Yahweh appears in a dream to Ioseph in Egypt, 20 saying “Arising take the child and His mother and go into the land of Israel. For those seeking the life of the child have died!” 21 And arising he took the child and His mother and entered into the land of Israel.
Herod was succeeded by his son, Herod Archelaus, who was twice as wicked as his father, and deposed by the Romans after a few years of rule.
22 And hearing that Archelaos reigns over Judaea in place of his father Herodas, he feared to depart for there. But being warned in a dream he withdrew into the parts of Galilaia, 23 and coming he settled in a city called Nazaret, that that which had been spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled, that He shall be called a Nazoraian.
There are two different Greek words which are both said by Strong to mean “of Nazareth”: Ναζαρηνός (3479), always “Nazarene” here, and Ναζωραῖος (3480), always “Nazoraian” here. The A. V. often translates either word “of Nazareth”, and Ναζαρηνός is the more proper of the two forms for that. Thayer does not put “of Nazareth” in his definition for Ναζωραῖος. According to Moulton - Geden, which some mss. may vary from, Ναζαρηνός is found at Mark 1:24, 10:47, 14:67, 16:6; Luke 4:34 and 24:19, and Ναζωραῖος is found at Matt. 2:23 and 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5 and 7, and 19:19; Acts 2:22, 3:6, 4:10, 6:14, 22:8, 24:5, and 26:9. Here it is evident that the sect of Christians was called “Nazoraians”, and Josephus writes of the sect about this same time, which Whiston translated “Nazirites”, at Antiquities 19.6.1 (19:294), which can only be referring to Christians. For “Nazirite” in the Old Testament see Numbers chapter 6; Judges. 13:5 and 7, 16:17; Lam. 4:7; and Amos 2:11-12, where in the LXX Greek the word was translated from Hebrew as “consecrated ones”. Before the Judaean followers of Christ were called “Christians” after Yahshua Christ, they were called “Nazoraians” after Yahshua the Nazoraian, evident at Acts 24:5. Initially the jews would not refer to the followers of Christ as “Christians”, nor would they call Jesus the Christ, because the very use of the name admitted the truth! This is why Paul is called in Acts Chapter 25 “a leader of the sect of the Nazoraians”.
That Christ was to be called a Nazarene, is a literal interpretation of the Hebrew word for branch, which is netzar, Strong's number 5342, which is translated branch at Isaiah 11:1. This word also apparently gave the town of Nazareth its name.
‹ Matthew Chapter 1 up Matthew Chapter 3 ›
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Once The Musical Review
March 7, 2015 April 24, 2015 chazzychasLeave a comment
When I heard that Once The Musical was coming to the West End in London, I was well excited. I was looking forward to see how a film adaption is transferred to a musical adaption. It’s a musical that’s been out since April 2013 in London and after months and months of wanting to see it, I’ve finally got to see it in the theatre this month.
For those who know little about this, Once The Musical is a based on an 2007 Irish film of the same name (which is brilliant), and it’s about an Irish guy who’s a busker inspiring to be a musician, who later meets a Czech girl in a street who was impressed with his singing who’s also a musician and a pianist and they have a bond over their love of music through songs. It was a film that was successful as it was highly favourable in the US and it won an Oscar for Best Original Song for the song “Falling Slowly.” For this musical adaptation, written for stage by playwright Edna Walsh and directed by John Tiffany, offers a simple but moving and effective musical.
#ronankeating #once #musical
When Ronan Keating was announced as Guy for the musical from November 2014, I think it would be an interesting role for him to take as musicians who decided to be actors, sometimes don’t perform to the acting standard. For his acting role in the West End, Keating delivers a fine, inspiring performance and that would surprise a few people. He shows vulnerability when a man is washed up in bar before Girl (Jill Winternitz) pops up in where she’s approvals his singing and it gives him some hope. A few minutes into meeting, there’s a hilarious moment between the pair in where a vacuum cleaner is involved.
Jill Winternitz’s performance as Girl is quirky and impressive and as a result she outshines as Keating in most parts which leads him to be a passenger and with that you see his vulnerability. After all, this is his first West End role. However, vulnerability can be a good thing for Keating as he displays this when he is singing and he sings effortlessly especially in the scene, in where himself, Wintermitz and the supporting cast are outstanding when singing to someone who’s in the music business.
And there’s a mention of the supporting cast as when you at a theatre, you normally see the orchestra playing the music for the cast so it was unusual and a surprise when the actors are also musicians as they play the piano, guitars, drums, violins you name it and it was wonderfully played.
#once #music #musical #actors #musicians
Once is not a traditional love story. It’s a love story in where people have a connection over their love for music and you can see it from the stage. However despite great performances from Keating and Winternitz, the connection is not efficient between the pair. In the original film, you can feel the spark and chemistry between Hansard and Irglova and it was special and from the musical, it’s not recuperated.
But it’s only a small criticism as the musical makes up for it with funny and hilarious moments as mention before. Tim Prottery-Jones and David Mehmet provide the biggest laughs in their roles and unlike the original film, it’s refreshing to have this in the musical. And of course the music is memorising and uplifting. It’s something in where it’s deserved to be applauded.
It’s a heart-warming, captivating, delightful musical in where you should see this more than once. If you watched it and you were unsure, see it again. It will change your view but make sure you see it before it ends on 21 March. You may regret it.
Rating 8/10
Films#oncethemusical, #theatre
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We found out last weekend that the boys got into the school we wanted them to go to in Cairo. Rationally, I knew they would, but until the acceptance notice came there was always a lingering fear. I think T was most relieved. He’s so excited to be going. He loves UNIS but I think that after seven years there he’s ready for a change. He’s really looking forward to perusing the elective offerings and choosing his courses. He’d leave tomorrow if he could.
X is also getting excited about the new school. I came home from Egypt with a bunch of photos, and when I was putting him to bed after I showed them to him, he told me, “Mommy, I might be feeling better about moving to Cairo.” It’s no surprise. The school looks like a summer camp. It’s huge—I read 11 acres somewhere—with soccer fields and playgrounds and basketball courts and volleyball courts and ping pong tables and foosball tables and an outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pool. I think it was the photos of the swim class that got X over the hump. The teacher was in the pool and he was squirting a bunch of kids who were lined up at the side—all wearing goggles, which is X’s prerequisite for going in the water. The kids looked like they were having fun.
I think it also helped that the school looked so much like UNIS. I’d taken a photo of a wall mural detailing the UN Rights of the Child. “We study that here!” X exclaimed when he saw it. The classrooms had a similar set up, too, with cushions in the book area and math and reading prompts taped to the walls. It was helpful for him to see that the new school wouldn’t be the alien experience he’d feared it would.
The boys also enjoyed seeing the pictures of the houses I’d looked at. Of course, it would be too much to ask for them both to like the same place. T preferred the villa and X preferred the penthouse. I’m on the fence. The villa is sweet. I love that it’s on a quiet street and feels like a house, which we’re unlikely to ever live in otherwise. It’s great space without being ostentatious or over the top. High-end places in Cairo tend to have gilded furniture and shiny marble floors and feel more like bank lobbies than homes. While this place has marble floors on the ground level, they’re white and worn and don’t feel overly fancy. The kitchen is huge and filled with light. The stairs are rose-colored marble and a little cracked, and while it’s four bedrooms there are only two bathrooms upstairs, so it still feels fairly modest. Overall it’s got all the space we need—including an office and a guest room—but it has a warm and homey feeling. And the huge garden is fantastic. On the downside, though, the street is quiet and I wonder how safe I will feel there.
The penthouse, on the other hand, has a doorman and is far more secure. It’s also great space, five bedrooms in total, so we could have a guest room and an office there, too, and it’s on multiple levels. The roof deck is amazing, with a built-in barbecue and lounge chairs. It would be a great place to throw parties. On the downside, it isn’t as light, the kitchen is smaller and darker—though still large by NYC standards—and the floor of the entire, enormous, living/dining area is a highly glossed marble. The space is fantastic but it’s hard to imagine it ever feeling like a home.
I haven’t done anything on the housing front since I got back. I will soon, but I don’t feel too worried about it. I could take either, and others will come on the market once school lets out in June. I’ll get back in touch with both agents in the next week or so. In the meantime I have to wire the deposit for the school, and now my father tells me my grandmother is unwell again, so there’s that to worry about.
Concerns of my grandmother’s demise were unfounded; she recovered, or attained a state that passes for recovery in a somewhat ailing 95-year-old woman, yesterday. Today she was still not feeling great, but my father had arranged a surprise birthday party for her and she rallied. In the end, she really enjoyed herself.
My father and grandmother at her 95th birthday party
My father has started negotiations on the villa. I’m glad he’s doing it. Not only did he offer far less than I would have had the guts to, but he’s not budging. And I know he’s right. A lot of people are leaving when school lets out at the end of June and a ton of new places will come onto the market. I’m not worried about losing it—while I would love to end up there, if it fall through there will be plenty of other places. And still, I know I would have caved on a million points by now.
I managed to get out yesterday to see my friend R. We met at a Nile-side restaurant in Zamalek called Sequoia that’s frequented by expats and wealthy Egyptians. It’s a different world from the one I inhabit when I’m in Heliopolis: cocktails, shisha, plush furniture, wi-fi and good food. It was great to see R and meet her boyfriend and 6-year-old son. She’s been living here for nearly a year now and is enjoying herself. Her son told me that Cairo isn’t quite as good as California, where R’s family lives, but he likes it here a lot.
All in all it’s been a productive trip, and I’m feeling much less apprehensive about our move here. I think we’re going to have a great time. Okay. It’s getting late and the car is coming at 4 am to take us to the airport. I can’t wait to get home and see the boys.
More house hunting yesterday. I was ready to call it quits since so many houses will be coming available in the next month or so that it seemed a little premature to look in earnest now, but my father had asked a cousin to check out some places and it seemed rude not to follow up on the leg work he had done, even if we didn’t think it would lead anywhere. So we went back to Maadi, and after driving around in circles for 45 minutes, we managed to find the agent my cousin had been working with.
The first two places he and his co-worker showed us were a complete bust. Old and dirty appliances, dark, small. It seemed we were on a fool’s errand. Then he showed me two places I had already seen, which was still a waste of time but at least he was moving in the right direction. It was interesting to see that even though an Egyptian had started the search for me, the prices weren’t any better than those that I had been quoted—in fact, the first two places were more expensive and not as nice.
I’d made an appointment at the school so my father could get a look at it, and we were ready to head over when one of the agents asked me if I’d be interested in seeing a villa near the school. “Sure,” I said, and we got back into the car.
As soon as we walked in to the villa, my father and I both fell in love with the place. It was perfect for us. Nice, and spacious, but not too fancy. Some of the other places I’d seen that I thought would work had a ton of marble, which felt a little too much like living in a bank for my taste. This place was wonderful. It was clean and nice without being ostentatious. Two floors, a big living/dining area, downstairs, with a nice kitchen and a little office, and four bedrooms upstairs, not huge, but nice with built-in closets and a balcony. The garden was quite large, and lovely. My dad made the agent an offer, which we both realized was way too low. I’m hoping we can come to some agreement, because I think the boys would be really happy there. Best of all, it’s only two blocks from the school.
Today, though, things are less cheery, although I’m hoping that’s only temporary. It’s Friday, so everyone has the day off, and I am planning on heading to Zamalek to meet my friend R, a colleague from my newspaper days who is living here now, but my grandmother isn’t doing well. Several times this morning she almost fell and a few minutes ago she started moaning and was having a hard time standing up. I called my father, who’s at his cousin’s for breakfast, and he told me to put her to bed with her legs propped up on pillows. She told me she’s feeling terrible. I’d put her on the phone with him and apparently she told him she thinks it’s the end. I sure hope not. I really want my boys to have a chance to get to know her.
Hopefully this will pass and she’ll feel better soon. I realize that at 95 (which she’ll turn next week) she probably doesn’t have a ton of time left, but I will be heartbroken if she’s not around for at least part of our time here in Cairo.
The Search is On
It’s been an exhausting few days here in Cairo, but, overall, good ones. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday looking at apartments in Maadi. The first few flats I saw were a bit depressing—one was very nice, but too small and too expensive for what it was, and the other two had grungy bathrooms and no outdoor space at all. The next day, though, I went out with a great broker named Monzer, and I liked every place he showed me. He made me feel much more optimistic about being able to find something we would all be happy in. It’s a little too early to be looking, though, as some of the places he thought I would like he can’t show until June 1.
All of the apartments we looked at were within two blocks of the school we applied to for the boys, and a few were right across the street. It would be great to be so close for a few reasons. First of all, the campus is huge and has a ton of places to play, and from what I hear it serves as an informal community center, so I think the kids will spend a lot of time just hanging out there. Also, school starts really early—around 8 am, I think—so being close will make it easier for the boys to get to school on time. T always wants to go to bed later, and balancing a reasonable bed time with his need for sleep is a constant challenge.
I toured the school on Tuesday. It’s an amazing campus, and it seemed like a happy place. It’s so big and spread out that it’s hard to get a sense of it, particularly the lower school. I got a better feel for the middle school, which looked fantastic. The kids are allowed to take electives, and there was one in which they design something on computers for the first part of the trimester and then build it for the second part. I think T will be very happy there.
I’m less clear what X’s experience will be like in the elementary school. I’m sure it will be great, but I am mindful of how upset he is to be leaving UNIS and we have been so happy there that I share some of his sadness on that front. I know the school in Cairo will be a wonderful experience, but UNIS has been a really special place for us. T, on the other hand, will be in heaven at the Cairo school, if only because there are ping pong tables in the recreation area where the kids hang out during their lunch hour.
Monday was a big holiday here called Sham el-Nessim, which marks the beginning of spring and dates back to ancient times. We went to my aunt Noona’s house, where the family gathers every Friday, too. She has a big villa with a swimming pool in a gated community in one of the many irrigated-green developments that have sprung up in the desert outside the Cairo ring road—respite for well-off Cairenes looking for an escape from the pollution and grime of crowded Cairo. I’ve been there a million times with my extended family, but this time her side of the family was there as well. What an eye opener that was. I don’t really know any of them. They were great fun and quite different from my side of the family.
I spent a lot of time talking to S and his wife Y, who I think will become friends once I move here. They were both great. S, it turns out, hung out with my brother when he spent a summer here as a 9 year old. He’s been very involved with organizing the Copts politically and started to tell me a bit about what they’re doing. There’s a great story in there. I didn’t have time to get the details, but will revisit the subject with him when I back in August.
Okay. The driver is here. Time to go back to Maadi with my father and look at some more apartments….
Yesterday’s News
I mean to post this yesterday but ended up using up all the credit on the Wi-Fi stick I bought (see below) because I logged on before the package had been activated. My telecom challenges continue….
I arrived in Cairo last night after a couple of days of very jet-lagged days in Paris. I haven’t managed to do a ton so far but already I can sense that the atmosphere is very different here than it was a year ago. While people talk about crime and fear still—some, like my grandmother, more—they seem to be less tense, as though the dangers have been factored in to their daily lives. Oliver, who is English, likened it to the way Brits learned to live with the constant threat of IRA bombs during those years.
Today is Easter, but the real celebration happened last night. Everyone goes to late-night mass at the church, and then the family gathered at my late-aunt’s apartment, across the hall from my grandmother’s apartment, where I am staying, for a meal at midnight. Apparently you’re supposed to eat right in the earliest moments of Easter morning, i.e. right after midnight. I’ve never been a huge fan of the traditional Easter food. I didn’t get a good look at it last night, but I saw the boiled lamb that is always served, and there were kidneys in some sort of green sauce. I didn’t ask what it was because I wasn’t planning on staying to eat. It was well after 1 a.m. and I was still wiped out from jet lag. I’d only gone over to say hi to the family.
It was nice to see everyone. They all seemed pretty relaxed. Most of them knew I was planning to move and while a few of them pressed me on exactly why I would want to do such a thing, for the most part their reactions were positive. One of my second cousins has three adorable daughters, two of whom are almost the same ages as my boys. I’m hoping they become friends. I’m curious to see how X will deal with these family gatherings, though. The kids are all girls and they are so quiet at these things it’s unbelievable. They sit for hours, talking in low voices and chatting with one relative or another. I can’t quite imagine X being able to keep it all so low-key. It’s going to be interesting.
Telecommunications are, as always, a challenge. I made my requisite trip to the Mobinil store up the street, doubtless the first of many. I had brought a cheap phone I’d bought in a drugstore back in NY thinking I could put an Egyptian SIM card in it, but I hadn’t realized it was locked. So after going through about 20 telephone numbers, choosing the easiest one to remember (which I don’t, although I do remember the last four digits), paying for it and signing all the paperwork, we found out that we couldn’t activate the phone. I’m going to try to find a cheap burner phone tomorrow that will take this SIM card I spent so much time getting set up today.
And then there’s the Internet. I had a USB stick, but I hadn’t used it so long that it was no longer valid. So I got a new data card for that, reactivated that account, got that home and up and running, and before I knew it I had burned through the package that was supposed to last me the whole week. She told me to wait a while before I started using it otherwise the rates would be higher. I guess I didn’t wait long enough. But I noticed that there’s a cute Italian restaurant on the corner that has free Wi-Fi. I think I’ll be spending a lot of time there.
The woman who helped me at the store was very nice and helpful. When we were wrapping up, she wished me a good Easter. For a second I wondered how she could tell what religion I was and then I realized. She needed my ID card to sign me up for phone service. All Egyptian ID cards state one’s religion. I thought it was heartening that in this increasingly polarized Egypt, a Muslim (albeit an unveiled one) would wish a Christian a good Easter, but it was also a reminder that I’m going to have to get used to religious labeling becoming part of my daily life here.
RT @ayaelb: This is happening in Saudi tonight, folks: Janet, Chris Brown, 50 Cent to perform at Jeddah concert that Nicki Minaj pulled out… 1 hour ago
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The Greater China Journal
Is democracy possible in China? Democratic thought in Chinese history – Sun Yat-sen, Lin Yutang, Carsun Chang
February 7, 2019 February 8, 2019 / Aris Teon
University professors from Jiao Tong University vote at a polling booth during the Republic of China legislative election in Shanghai, 1948 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has dominated public discourse through its control of the media and education. The CCP has thus successfully promoted an image of China that suits its own interests.
One of the key elements of CCP propaganda is its opposition to democracy and the distortion of the definition of democracy itself. The Party claims to have the right to lead the PRC and does not tolerate any alternative political force.
On June 30, 1949, Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong gave a speech on the concept of the “People’s Democratic Dictatorship“. He said:
“All the experience the Chinese people have accumulated through several decades teaches us to enforce the people’s democratic dictatorship, that is, to deprive the reactionaries of the right to speak and let the people alone have that right.
“Who are the people? At the present stage in China, they are the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie and the national bourgeoisie. These classes, led by the working class and the Communist Party, unite to form their own state and elect their own government; they enforce their dictatorship over the running dogs of imperialism — the landlord class and bureaucrat-bourgeoisie, as well as the representatives of those classes, the Kuomintang reactionaries and their accomplices — suppress them, allow them only to behave themselves and not to be unruly in word or deed.
“If they speak or act in an unruly way, they will be promptly stopped and punished. Democracy is practiced within the ranks of the people, who enjoy the rights of freedom of speech, assembly, association and so on. The right to vote belongs only to the people, not to the reactionaries. The combination of these two aspects, democracy for the people and dictatorship over the reactionaries, is the people’s democratic dictatorship.”
What Mao meant by “people’s democratic dictatorship” may sound confusing, but it is actually quite simple. According to Mao, the Party had the right to decide who “the people” were. Therefore, the regime could arbitrarily strip individuals of their rights if it deemed them “reactionary”.
This led to crimes against millions of Chinese who were imprisoned, tortured or killed because of their social status, their past political affiliation, or because of opinions that the Party leadership did not like. As Frank Dikotter has explained in “The Tragedy of Liberation“, the classification of the population in clearly distinct classes as envisioned by Mao proved impossible, causing arbitrary persecutions.
To this day the concept of the people’s democratic dictatorship is enshrined in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Ever since the founding of the Communist regime, the Party has been adamant that it alone has the right to lead the country, and that “democracy” means that the “people”, as defined by the Party, must follow Party ideology.
After the demise of the Soviet-style planned economy in the 1970s and the establishment of a state-led market economy, the CCP began to shift its anti-democratic narrative from a strictly Marxist-Leninist standpoint to a cultural-historical one.
In 2002 Zhao Qizheng, director-general of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), claimed that the West and China had different views on human rights.
“Human rights, as a matter of fact, have to undergo a process of constant development in step with societies’ progress and the development of civilizations … Countries vary in the state of economic development, history and culture and, naturally, should follow different ways in striving for development and promoting human rights,” Zhao said. “China differs from the West in historical, cultural and religious background, economic development, political system and ideology. It is only natural that there exist differences between them on the issue of human rights.”
The Communist leadership challenges the notion of universal values and uses the concept of particularism to argue that Western values cannot work in China. At the same time, it also claims that another Western ideology, Marxism-Leninism, is applicable to China.
The CCP’s monopoly on the narrative about China has marginalized the democratic tradition of the country, and has depicted one-party rule – which is also a Western import – as the sole suitable model for the Chinese people.
In this article, we shall provide a few passages from the works of three notable pro-democracy intellectuals: Sun Yat-sen, Lin Yutang, and Carsun Chang. We shall argue that the failure of democracy in China was not predetermined by the character and history of its people, but it was the result of the conscious actions of politicians who used force and propaganda to seize power and mislead the public.
It must be pointed out that the three authors herein quoted expressed ideas that are not always compatible with the contemporary understanding of democracy and human rights. Our aim is not to portray Sun Yat-sen, Lin Yutang and Carsun Chang as flawless champions of democracy, but to show that Chinese intellectuals were influenced by democratic ideals and adapted them to Chinese circumstances. It is therefore wrong to argue that the Chinese adaptation of Marxism and Leninism has any more legitimacy than the adoption of other foreign theories.
Sun Yat-sen and the five-power constitution
Sun Yat-sen (right) and his son Sun Fo in 1911
Sun Yat-sen (1866 – 1925) was a Chinese politician and revolutionary. He was the leader of the Republican movement that overthrew the last imperial dynasty in 1911 and established the Republic of China (ROC).
Sun’s main work is the Three Principles of the People (Sanmin Zhuyi). The three principles were nationalism, democracy, and socialism.
Sun believed in representative government and separation of powers. Drawing on Western and Chinese traditions, he envisioned a so-called five-power constitution where the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government were complemented by the department of examination and the department of supervision (control).
The department of control was tasked with impeaching officials found guilty of misconduct. Its powers are exercised by the Control Yuan of the ROC on Taiwan. The purpose of the department of examination was to oversee the qualification of civil servants. Its functions are carried out by the Examination Yuan.
Sun argued that ROC citizens should have the right of suffrage, recall (a form of impeachment in which the citizens vote to remove elected officials), initiative and referendum.
The following passages are quoted from lectures Sun gave in 1924 and which were subsequently collected in the “Three Principles of the People.” Herein Sun discusses the issue of democracy in China and his concept of a five-power constitution.
“All of you who have come here to-day to support my revolution are naturally believers in democracy. Those old officials who want to restore the monarchy and become emperor are naturally opponents of democracy and believers in autocracy. Which, autocracy or democracy, is really better suited to modern China? This is a question worthy of serious study …
“The essential question is this: Is China to-day ripe for democracy ? There are some who say that the standards of the Chinese people are too low and that they are not ready for popular government. Although the United States is a democratic state, yet when Yüan Shih-kai was trying to become emperor, an American professor named Goodnow came to China to advise a monarchical form of government, saying that the Chinese people were not progressive in their thinking, that their culture was behind that of Europe and America, and so they should not attempt a democracy. Yüan Shih-kai made good use of these arguments of Goodnow and overthrew the republic, making himself emperor …
“China now is in a period of revolution. We are advocating a democratic form of government. Our ideas of democracy have come from the West. We have recently been thinking how we might copy these ideas and build up a nation under popular government.
“After China secures a powerful government, we must not be afraid, as Western peoples are, that the government will become too strong and get from under our control. Because our plan for the reconstructed state includes the division of the political power of the whole state into two parts. The political power will be given into the hands of the people, who will have a full degree of sovereignty and will be able to control directly the affairs of state; this political power is popular sovereignty. The other power is government, and we will put that entirely in the government organs, which will be powerful and will manage all the nation’s business; this political power is the power of government. If the people have a full measure of political sovereignty and the methods for exercising popular control over the government are well worked out, we need not fear that the government will become too powerful and uncontrollable.
“The political power above is in the hands of the people, the administrative power below is in the hands of the government. The people control the government through the suffrage, the recall, the initiative, and the referendum; the government works for the people through its legislative, judicial, executive, civil examination, and censoring departments. With these nine powers in operation and preserving a balance, the problem of democracy will truly be solved and the government will have a definite course to follow.
“The materials for this new plan have been discovered before now. Switzerland has already applied three of the political powers but does not have the recall. Some of the northwestern states in the United States have taken over the three political rights from Switzerland and have added the right of recall. Suffrage is the people’s power most widely exercised in the world to-day. Switzerland is already exercising three of the popular powers and a fourth part of the United States is exercising all four. Where the four powers have been exercised in a careful, compact way the results have been excellent. They are facts of experience, not mere hypothetical ideals. (Sun Yat-Sen, San Min Chu I: The Three Principles of the People, 1927, pp. 168-355, my emphasis).
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Lin Yutang and Democracy
Lin Yutang in 1939 (photo by Carl Van Vechten via Wikimedia Commons)
Lin Yutang (1895 – 1976) was a renowned Chinese intellectual. His most famous work, My Country and my People (1935), was a bestseller in the West.
In the following excerpt, written during the last months of the Second World War, Lin discusses his belief in democracy, criticizes the Guomindang regime’s failure to implement democracy, and attacks Communist totalitarianism.
“The problems facing China today may be summed up as (1) the problem of democracy, (2) the problem of unity, (3) the problem of the Army and (4) the problem of industrialization …
“The problem of democracy comes first because, looking beyond the war, the assurance of a truly democratic China is of great importance to postwar international co-operation, and is therefore of greater world interest than even the winning of the war, now that victory is certain. However, I do not think the establishment of constitutional government is the prerequisite for national unity; or rather, I do not think that its delay is the true cause of the Communist revolt, as I have shown in the chapter on “Civil War.”
“What does being democratic mean? Since everybody is democratic nowadays, we are terribly confused. Why is democracy extolled, applauded, contended for, and paid tribute to by every haranguing orator and every editorial writer?
“Democracy is a system of government based on the association of men who believe that peace, security, and justice for all can somehow be worked out by a delegation of their powers to freely elected bodies, provided the people can at any time peacefully throw out any government that doesn’t give them peace, security, and justice.
“Fun-pokers like G.B.S. [George Bernard Shaw] extol Mussolini and Hitler and Stalin and deny the existence of democracy in England and the United States. It is well to have a few fun-pokers, for democracy likes its clowns. But the people of England and the United States can peacefully throw out their governments that do not satisfy them, and organize other governments with some slight improvements, and that is good enough for me. Because of that, democracy guarantees peace in spite of clashes of opinion and interests inside a nation, and insures a steady evolution of progress, however slow. I believe that is why democracy is the most mature form of government.
“In order to make this possible, there must be certain established habits in the government and the people, like abiding by the majority, respect for the law of the nation established by the people themselves, the fundamental assumption that the government must be made responsive to the majority will of the people, and certain machineries for making the will of the people effective. There follow electioneering and campaigning by men who love power and love to rule others, and who praise themselves and as often as not deceive the people in campaign pledges, which are not to my liking. I am amazed that such people exist. But people are born differently, and I was by nature born into the class to be ruled by others, who send me questionnaires to be answered. Sometimes I good-naturedly co-operate with these busybodies because I know their families’ rice bowls depend on it and they cannot write books. Sometimes I rebel and feel the democratic urge to shove the high and mighty about, whether in my own or some foreign government. Therefore I believe I am fundamentally one of that class of democratic citizens without which no democracy can survive.
“Democracy means the inherent desire of private individuals to shove their rulers about, and the free exercise of their intelligence to tell their rulers what to do and what not to do. Since China says she is going on the road to democracy, I must limber up my muscles, and I shall enjoy it, too. God bless the Chinese Republic and Dr. Sun Yatsen its Founder, that my intellectual muscles may be so exercised.
“In the decade before the war, I tried my best to limber up myself, under a strict censorship of the press without landing myself in jail. The Kuomintang thought I had an undisciplined mind, and the leftist writers thought I was only a joker, trying to laugh off the cruel oppression of the masses. What the leftist writers could not stand was humor. One chauvinistic official, hearing that My Country and My People was a best-seller abroad, wittily said that I was “selling my country.” I am happy to say that that man has met his due: he has become the foreign minister of the puppet government [the government installed by the Japanese] at Nanking.
“It may be objected that criticism of one’s own government abroad is not opportune in time of war; on the other hand, greater harm can be done, and has been done, to the cause of China by painting a half-true picture. The sooner a state of confidence is established by presenting an accurate picture of the true situation, the better it will be for my country. God knows my country is full of imperfections, but only those willing to have their imperfections known and corrected are worthy of help. The present administration has a record of as many failures as successes, exactly the kind of failures that provide ammunition for some pretty bad slugging in a presidential campaign in a Western country. The Chinese government has got to learn to take such slugging as if it were in a presidential campaign with an active and virile opposition party. It has to prepare itself, not the people, for democracy.
“Yet I think the Chinese government and the nation have no reason to be ashamed of their record in this war. When the heat of political campaigning for the Chinese Communists is over, people five years from now, striking a balance sheet and taking into account all the internal factors, will find that they have done the stupendous and the impossible. They will find that both China and the Chinese government were the sinned against rather than the sinners. How difficult is a sense of balance and proportion! I know I am writing under great handicap when I wish to earn my right as an intelligent critic to refuse to fall in with the current conception that Chungking is all black and Yenan all white [Yan’an was the capital of the area controlled by Mao Zedong’s Communists]. I do not see how I can help myself. In the future, the fact that at present the size of American help to China is inversely proportional to the export tonnage of paternalistic advice supplied to her will be regarded as an anomaly, based neither on comprehension nor on policy, but on an offhand and lightminded thoughtlessness.
“Freedom of the press is more important than the enactments of laws and constitutions. People who do not know how to talk against their government do not deserve a democracy. And the best government in the world, when it is deprived of the goading of democratic “gadflies,” soon gets bored with its own virtues and dies of inanity. I sometimes think God Himself created Satan because He was so sick of the singing and flattering angels and wanted to save Himself from boredom. If the kingdom of heaven cannot do without opposition, how much less can a human secular government? …
“[T]hough bearing in mind the necessity of war censorship, I still say that in China the freedom of the press has deteriorated during the war to an undue extent. I talked with many writers and editors in China and found them irked by unnecessary restraint. When I said to a very well-educated reporter in Kweilin that the basis of all democracy is civil liberties and that American editors criticize official acts and nobody can do anything to them on account of protection of civil liberties, his eyes were wide open. In China, I must say, I did not hear of editors banned, fined, or imprisoned for criticizing officials; but since all newspaper copy is passed beforehand by the censors, this could not happen anyway. What good does it do to create a feeling of restraint and general dissatisfaction in the writing profession by an overall censorship?
“The connection between censorship and stupidity is proverbial. All newspapers, magazines, and books have to be submitted to censors before publication. In the case of newspapers, this has placed the government in the odious position of being responsible for approval of all press utterances. In the case of criticisms of acts of foreign allies, Chinese diplomacy is deprived of the power of reference to Chinese public opinion as expressed in a free press. Furthermore, censors are government employees, answerable to the several authorities of the government, the party and the army, and, like all bureaucrats, they prefer to act on the cautious side, which is the murderous side in the employment of the blue-pencil weapon.
“The censors also tend to make literature subservient to propaganda, and authors have to alter their plays in favor of patriotic platitudes. I have heard such complaints from a playwright; he was as mad about the censorship as any American playwright in a similar situation would be. This was the more unbearable because the playwright knew that the censor himself was probably a child of eighteen who has not yet finished high school. In numerous cases, the suppression of entirely harmless and irrelevant phrases became irritating and downright asinine, suggesting that the whole nation was being put through a Sunday school class. Once censorship is established, it is difficult to escape the paternalistic spirit of allowing and forbidding the people what to read and what to think.
“In practice, the Chinese people have got used to it, as the people of Soviet Russia have, except that they get bored with too oft-repeated phraseology and smile when they read it. The astounding thing is that people freely criticize the government acts in public places and private homes, everywhere except when they make a formal speech. They know “mandarin talk” when they hear it. The required submission of all newspaper copy and book manuscripts creates an unhealthy atmosphere, but this does not mean that the censors suppress all criticism of government measures. In 1940 I saw a Ta Kung Pao editorial which in criticism of the failure of the Price Stabilization Board quoted Tsao Tsao of the Three Kingdoms and suggested that “the skull” of the head of the Board “be borrowed to pacify the hearts of the people.” There have been occasional outspoken criticisms on internal policies like that. When in Chungking this time, I read a scathing exposure of a badly run public institution and a great many articles criticizing price control, the closing down of factories, and the transportation situation.
“The Communist daily, Hsin Hwa Jih Pao, was given more freedom than in Yenan. In February, in Chungking, I read a significantly passed attack in this paper on the Minister of Information Liang Han-chao himself, Liang’s reply, Hsin Hwa Jih Pao’s reply to the reply, and Liang’s final answer …
“The whole character of the Kuomintang government is paternalistic, but I do not think it is “fascist.” It has all the evils of paternalism, overanxious to guide and channel people’s thoughts and action, and not anxious enough to let the people guide themselves; but I do not think it has the evils of regimentation of thoughts and ideas and the rule of terror and force. The reaction of the people under a paternalistic regime is one of annoyance or placid amusement; the reactions of people under a totalitarian rule are whispers, secret terrors, frightened submission, and goose-stepping unanimous praise of the government. The evils of paternalism are corrigible; the evils of totalitarianism are not. For definite evidences of the latter, one must go to Yenan.
“What China needs is an immediate enforcement of the Bill of Rights. I would rather see a little less paternalistic coddling of the nation and a little more attention paid to seeing the people’s freedom of speech, assembly, and belief, and the habeas corpus enforced. It is my conviction that democracy begins, grows, and prospers with the protection of the people’s civil rights, and is inseparable from it. The definition of democracy as a term meaning merely the existence of mature, self-respecting individuals living with individual dignity can oftentimes be inadequate. Certainly the Chinese people are mature, self-respecting individuals with a great deal of individual dignity.
“How does it happen, then, that Chinese régimes have often been corrupt and the mature, self-respecting individuals could do nothing about it until the corruption got bad enough and the regime had to be overthrown by the wasteful process of revolt and bloodshed? Individual moral dignity without the legal protection of that dignity is not enough. When individuals were arrested without trial and could not appeal to law, evidently there was not much individual dignity left.
“Chinese editors are not inherently less self-respecting as individuals than American editors. Yet there is something which affects their spirit and mellows their tone; habitually they stand less for their rights than a New England farmer does. Democracy means just that difference, that when a man obeys the law no one on earth can touch him. He holds his head higher, talks louder, and sticks his chest out further. He doesn’t give a damn for anybody. This quality of not giving a damn for anybody is, as I have said, inherent in the Chinese people. But when he pursues his peaceful living and yet the officer of the law grabs him by the shoulder and he knows he does not enjoy the protection of the law, then he does care a great deal. Thereafter he learns to hold his head lower, talk softer, and become wiser. He goes about doing nobody any harm, and by patient industry and thrift and drudgery makes a living, enjoys his family and lives at peace with his neighbors. In one sense, he is a democratic individual; but in the sense of organized political democracy, where every man stands for his rights and is willing to fight for them, he is not free …
“The Bill of Rights is therefore more important than all the paraphernalia of elective government. When the protection of civil rights is enforced, the people do not have to learn to be democratic. There is no ground for saying that the people of China are unprepared for democracy. They are unprepared only so long as the Bill of Rights is not enforced. Any time the people can impeach officials with impunity and with some effect, they are democratic enough to do so. Any time government officials are ready to stand by the law and be impeached, the people are ready to impeach them. Any time editors can expose corrupt and lawbreaking officials with the sure knowledge that nobody can touch them except within the law, they are ready to expose them. Only when they can do that, only when this spirit is present, can true democracy arrive and the body politic be purged of its poison. Freedom of the press, of speech, belief, and assembly is the foundation of democracy.
“There is no reason why freedom of the press cannot be immediately enforced now. Censorship can and should be limited only to suppressing leakage of military secrets or information desirable to the enemy …
“Democracy is a hard thing to learn both for the rulers and for the ruled. In its essence, it implies the ability of the majority to rule and the ability of the minority to criticize and abide by the majority. Even in a small group of boys playing in the streets or three office girls sharing one apartment, democracy means no more than these simple habits of thinking. When the ruling party forgets that it is only elected to rule by the rest of the group and tends to suppress criticism of its actions, it is to that extent undemocratic. When the minority group fails to abide by the majority and prefers to break away and form a separate gang, it, too, becomes undemocratic.
“In so far as the Kuomintang has failed to encourage liberty of criticism through freedom of the press, it is moving in the wrong direction. And in so far as the Chinese Communist party was unwilling to subjugate its partisan interests and unite with the rest of the nation even in time of war, it, too, had failed to learn the most essential of democratic habits. Since it looks as if victory will come sooner than we expected and therefore China will soon inaugurate the constitutional period, both the Kuomintang and the opposition had better learn quickly these simple democratic habits of mind.
“The outer form of a democratic government means nothing. The history of democracy in the German Republic before Hitler, in Italy prior to the advent of Mussolini, and in France before the final collapse, should teach us that the finest form of human government also requires some of the hardest human virtues in co-operative action, struggle tempered by restraint, selfishness held in check by a sense of fair play, and contention subordinated to unity. The Kuomintang will have the best chance to show that it is democratic by rigidly enforcing the rights of freedom and respecting the rights of the opposition, and the Chinese Communists will have the best chance to show that they are democratic by being able to abide by the majority will of the nation. If unethical tactics are employed, the government will have no recourse but to fight underground with underground, as it has been doing in the past. Twice the Chinese Communists have bolted and set up secessionist regimes, because they have not yet learned to place the nation above the party. I hope their declared intention to abolish one-party dictatorship and become a democratic party is sincere — and is lived up to. (Lin Yutang, The Vigil of a Nation, 1945, pp. 2011-222, my emphasis).
Craven A and other Stories
Carsun Chang and the Third Force
Zhang Junmai (1886–1969), known in the West as Carsun Chang, was a Chinese intellectual and social democratic politician. Chang opposed both the Chinese Communist Party and the Guomindang. He advocated for democracy at a time when radicalization and extreme partisanship made moderate politics not viable in China. In the following passage, Chang denounces both the Guomindang and the Chinese Communist Party. He argued that Communist totalitarianism acted against Chinese traditions of laissez-faire and that the regime would ultimately collapse.
“If the aim of the Kuomintang members was democracy, they should have had confidence in the people and ruled in accordance with the general principles of a constitutional government based upon the sovereignty of the people. After the end of the Northern Expedition, which was the end of the military stage, they should have started introducing the constitutional stage immediately, following the schedule laid down by Dr. Sun-military government, tutelage, constitutional government. But Chiang is a soldier; his view was that the intermediate stage should be prolonged as much as possible.
“The other Kuomintang leaders saw the situation differently; men like Wang Ching-wei and Hu Han-min had their own interpretation of Dr. Sun’s plan. They had been just as close to Dr. Sun as Chiang Kai-shek, if not closer, and they thought that they knew Sun’s mind better, a claim which was not in fact extravagant.
“Political tutelage implies the training of the people for constitutional government. If this is accepted, then the practice of parliamentary rule and its attendant privileges and responsibilities, should have been introduced forthwith. These institutions are as essential in the cultivation of democratic virtues as is the swimming pool for one who is to be trained as a swimmer. So long as there are merely lectures on swimming for the swimming class, and no swimming pool, how can the student learn to swim? The Kuomintang, in the first ten years of its existence under the direction of Chiang Kai-shek, never allowed or legalised the existence of opposition parties. For my part, I do not see how an opposition party can get its necessary training except under a constitutional government which granted it equal rights with the party in power.
“The people of China waited for twenty long years before the first election of the legislative assembly finally took place in 1947. Since the people never had any experience of elections during all these years, how could they be expected to vote intelligently when the election actually took place? The result was that the Kuomintang, still under the name of tutelage, kept the political power for itself alone. They talked much about local self-government, because, under the cover of local government, they could increase the number of their party members, whom they expected to appoint to all the offices in the villages; it was their aim to accomplish this and then announce that the stage of constitutional government could begin. This was Chiang’s interpretation of political tutelage, and here lay the roots of internal conflict later experienced by the Kuomintang.
“So long as there was no constitutional government, those who controlled Kuomintang policy with regard to military, financial, and diplomatic policy, would appear to the elements not in power, and even to Kuomintang members, as arbitrary and dictatorial. Chiang, as the leader of the ruling group, held the reins of the party and government and grew in personal power. Since Chiang’s power grew in this manner, it is no wonder that provincial governors like Li Tsung-jen, Pai Chung-hsi, Feng Yu-hsiang, and Yen Hsi-shan, rebelled against him. Chiang was a dictator in the eyes of these men, and when they opposed him he called them feudal-minded counter-revolutionists who were trying to overthrow the established government.
“So long as there was no constitutional government, there was no parliament, no responsible cabinet, no freedom of the press and no freedom of association. Naturally opposition to Chiang’s regime grew, and the Chinese Communists contributed to it, even though their own government was organised on a completely dictatorial basis. The democratic parties which really fought for democracy were then willy-nilly maneuvered into a position in which they had to side with the Communists against the government, when they could have given all their support to the government. It is a pity that Chiang lost the sympathy of large sections of the Chinese people by stubbornly refusing to give up his authoritarian government. This situation inevitably bred corruption and incompetence in the government, and when it was charged with these vices by people both within the country and abroad, there was nothing to say in its defense.
“Even as late as the time when Chiang wrote ‘China’s Destiny’, where he said, “We know that tutelage is the path that must be followed,” he still firmly believed in his authoritarian views. By that time a good deal of damage had already been done. But Chiang seemed to be indifferent to or unaware of the evils of tutelage. Truly, as Lord Acton said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
“Tutelage meant in practice the desire of the Kuomintang’s followers to perpetuate the conditions which placed political power in their own hands. They merely gave lip-service to constitutionalism as a sop to Dr. Sun’s followers and to show that his teaching was not forgotten. Since there was no constitution, no parliament, and no responsible cabinet, all questions of defense, finance, and diplomacy were decided by the party. The people had no right to question the party. While the war was going on, Chiang Kai-shek was elected Tsung-Tsai, or Director-General of the Party, and his power became unlimited. Any expenditure which was approved by him was legally valid. He issued orders by means of notes in his own handwriting. In Chungking, Chiang’s government was openly called “the note-writing government,” and the system naturally led the way to a whole crop of abuses.
“Any minister who was in Chiang’s favor-and this was especially true of Chen Li-fu — could go to his office and get a large sum approved for expenditure. Those ministers who were not close to him had to suffer. Tutelage. in the end, was not even rule by the party as a whole but degenerated to rule by personal whim. Chiang is a man who has confidence only in his relatives, in his brothers-in-law H. H. Kung and T. V. Soong and their subordinates, in the Chen Brothers, and in Chen Cheng, the present Prime Minister of Formosa. Though there was a People’s Political Council which was supposed to serve as an open forum for discussion, yet when there was any question raised about the military or financial condition of the country, it was shouted down by the Kuomintang members, who preserved their majority by unconstitutional means. The opinions of the liberals and the opposition parties never had a chance to be heard.
“It is natural enough that the absolute power of the Kuomintang led to abuses and rampant corruption. The Kuomintang has never had a record of sponsoring efficient government. As early as 1927, one year after the establishment of the Nanking Government, when Chiang Kai-shek was forced to retire and Sun-Fo, the son of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, was appointed President of the Executive Yuan, Wang Han- liang was appointed Minister of Finance. On arriving at the Ministry to assume his functions, Wang found no documents left in it, all the archives having been removed by the staff of T. V. Soong in order to embarrass Wang. It is also known that when, on the recommendation of the British adviser Reith-Ross, China changed over from the silver standard to a managed currency, all the top-ranking men in the government made great fortunes out of it. It never occurred to them that using information derived from the performance of official duties in order to amass personal fortunes is criminal. All the important members of the Kuomintang indulged in this practice without any compunction whatever.
“The case of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, in which Mrs. H. H. Kung was involved in the buying and selling of cotton yarn, was once brought to the notice of Chiang Kai-shek. Wu Ting-chang, then Minister of Industry, was sent to Shanghai by order of the Generalissimo to make an inquiry. Wu brought all the documents back showing how Mrs. Kung was involved in the stock-market operations. Everyone expected that the Generalissimo would bring the case before the courts, the only proper thing to do, and show thereby that he had some respect for the laws of the land. But what actually happened? Wu Ting-chang was dismissed from the Cabinet and then appointed Governor of the distant province of Kueichow. Again, the gold-selling policy gave the influential families connected with the government a chance to amass immense fortunes.
“Because there was no parliament, no official media of publicity, no check, and no accountability on the part of ministers, nothing could be done to stop the abuses. If someone had the courage to write an article in the newspapers about these cases of corruption, he was regarded as one who wilfully tried to undermine public confidence in the government, and he courted great personal danger. Is it not obvious that in this species of political tutelage lie the roots of demoralization and corruption of the government and the army? …
“Chiang is not a man who abides by law or believes in the rule of law … Constitution and parliament in Chiang’s mind are tools which can be manipulated. He does not believe in the inviolability of a constitution decided on and promulgated by the people. He does not understand why there should be so much fuss made over the constitution. To him all government is personal government: constitutions are luxuries which at most serve the purposes of the one who is in power. During the tutelage period, constitutional amendments were made with regard to the position of the Chairman of the Chinese Republic.
“When Chiang was himself the Chairman he gave himself real power in the constitution with regard to policy making. When later Lin Sen was Chairman of the Republic, he became a mere figurehead and the real power went into the hands of the President of the Executive Yuan-who was Chiang himself. The constitution was simply remade to fit the changed circumstances. Chiang regards all institutions with complete indifference, being certain that he can manipulate them in any way he chooses. Imagine having more than 3700 members of the National Assembly, which is the constitutional organ that elects the President and the Vice-President of the Chinese Republic!
“When the Communists were in Chungking, Chou En-lai and myself were both opposed to such an unwieldy number, but the Kuomintang insisted on having it or there was to be no agreement. When the National Assembly actually was in session in 1947, its operations proved to be most awkward and difficult, which was a foregone conclusion. And Chiang never appears to think that laws representing the popular will should be carefully observed; he changes them when they do not suit him. I remember well that, after the rules concerning the People’s Political Council were published, when the number of candidates was found to exceed the number fixed, he just increased that number to suit his purposes. Laws are only putty, to be moulded into any shape and form according to the mood of the moment …
“What is urgently needed to overcome the present crisis in China is not a “strong man” whose twenty-odd years of arbitrary rule has brought nothing but a deluge of corruption and a red inundation, but rather the cultivation of law-abiding habits, a willingness to submit the main issues of national life to open and intelligent discussion so as to reach a just and equitable solution, a consciousness at least among the leaders of the importance of constitutional and parliamentary processes, and a substitution of rational understanding for unstable, unreliable, and whimsical practices. This can come about only when the nation’s intellectual resources are gathered together for maximum exploitation and unhampered expression and not smothered under the weight of an enlarged ego.
“I am firmly convinced that 90 per cent of the Chinese population will be glad to see China a democratic country and would much prefer to have nothing to do with revolution and conquest. They would like to maintain their valuable old traditions and beliefs, and evolve gradually towards a democratic, scientific, and industrial order. The Communist slogan of “Down with Feudalism” is only a pretext under which the Communists are wiping out the tradition of Chinese humanistic ideals and imposing upon China the formula of Stalinist orthodoxy. This Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist way of life is a complete denial of the individual and of individualism.
“It may very well fit into the pattern of life characteristic of Russia, with its history of tyranny and absolutism, but it will never be effective among a people who have lived in an atmosphere of laissez-faire for thousands of years. I have heard often that the control of the Communist regime over China is completely effective: no doubt the Communist army is an efficient one, the Chinese Communists have a well-disciplined party and police force, they watch over the movements of every family and every individual, and the life of every person is being regimented and brought under strict control. But, although there is no reliable way in which we can find out how the people feel under this new regime, as a Chinese, knowing the long history of China and the characteristics of my own people, I think that they cannot be happy under the new dispensation, and sooner or later, in a manner which may not even be predictable, they will rise against the new oppression.
“There is one predominant truth of overwhelming importance in this sad story of China which must be emphasized over and over again, and that is that the Chinese people went over to the Communists for the simple reason that they could not stand the government of Chiang Kai-shek any longer, that they were repeatedly duped, cheated, and oppressed by the shameless political debauchery, dishonesty, and corruption of the government until they were willing to take any chance and submit to any change because they thought that no change could be any worse than the conditions under which they were living. They have now learned to their regret that there is indeed no difference between the devil and the deep sea.
“What the historian Grote said about the Greek usurpers — that they employed the machinery of fraud whereby the people were to be cheated into temporary submission, as a prelude to using the machinery of force whereby such submission was to be perpetuated against the people’s consent — can very well be applied to explain the success of the Chinese Communist Party from 1946 to 1949.
“The Chinese people now realize that the policy of the Chinese Communists can only lead them to disaster. Communist control over China is only maintained by means of bayonets. Their hold on the country is effected through the secret police; it is not rooted in the hearts of the people. Their government is a house built of bamboo and mud, and can very easily be pulled down. It is a tree whose roots are exposed to rain and wind, and which can be shaken and uprooted. There is no reason to think that the control of the Chinese Communists over China can be effective for any length of time. Once it is shaken it will soften and weaken. The political psychology of the Chinese has been explained by the old sage Mencius: “Ke and Sui lost the Empire because they lost the people, and they lost the people because they lost their hearts. There is only one way to hold the Empire-hold the people. There is only one way to hold their hearts — that is to get for them what they like and not to impose on them what they dislike.”
“This political philosophy is true now as it was true 2000 years ago; it is true of China as it must be true of other peoples in other parts of the world. It means that behind a government there must be a sincere popular will. Let us look at the present situation in China. Is the Chinese intervention in the Korean war what the Chinese people want? Is the Sino-Soviet military alliance what the Chinese people like? Can mass executions make the present regime popular? Nothing that the Chinese Communists are doing has promoted the welfare of the people; they simply perform what Stalin commands. Can such a government last? No, it cannot last. (Carsun Chang, The Third Force in China, 1952, pp. 94-308.)
Tiananmen Exiles: Voices of the Struggle for Democracy in China
Chiang Kai-shek, China, Chinese Communist Party, chinese history, democracy, Guomindang, history, sun yat-sen
Carsun Chang, Chiang Kai-shek, China, Chinese Communist Party, democracy, Guomindang, Lin Yutang, sun yat-sen
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According to the Chinese constitution, specifically Article 79, China is a democratic country. If any Chinese tries to sell their totalitarian system to you, you should ask him to explain the contradiction.
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Bartography
“This is Chree-yus!”
In 1976, when I was four years old, members of my family recorded audio greetings for my great-grandmother on the occasion of her 87th birthday. My Northeast Texas accent (and that of my older brother) was a lot stronger back then. Listen for yourself!
Chris Barton Posted in Chris Barton Leave a comment
Come “dig deep” with me!
This week, I’m a guest on author Melissa Stewart’s blog with a contribution to her “Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep” series.
The title of this series is no joke: Melissa urged me to dig deeper than I’d been inclined to on the first draft of my post, and I’m glad she did. It’s probably no surprise that in my post I talk quite a bit about Barbara Jordan and What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?
Thank you, Melissa, for that encouragement, and for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned about what young readers, Barbara Jordan, and I have in common.
Here’s a bit of what I had to say:
This great woman whose oratorical powers inspired her constituents, brought out the best in her colleagues, and helped end Richard Nixon’s shameful presidency had once possessed a talent as undeveloped as it was promising. Just like the talents of the students I’m speaking to. Just like my own.
Chris Barton Posted in Barbara Jordan, Chris Barton, Melissa Stewart, Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep, What Do You Do With a Voice Like That Leave a comment
What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? among Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year
From the Bank Street College of Education’s Children’s Book Committee:
The Children’s Book Committee strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents, and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year. The list includes more then 600 titles chosen by reviewers for literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes.
I’m pleased as can be that the 2019 list includes What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan (written by me, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, and published by Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster) among its best books for readers ages nine to twelve.
In a brief write-up, the Committee said, “Jordan’s bold voice took her to places few African American women had been in the 1960s, and finally to the US Congress, where her oratory and integrity shone.”
Not only that, but our book received special recognition for Outstanding Merit and Diversity.
As that long paragraph above says, there are hundreds of other titles on this year’s list, from books for kids under five up to books for readers over 14. Have a look at the whole list, and you’re bound to find something terrific for the young reader(s) in your life.
Chris Barton Posted in Bank Street College of Education, Barbara Jordan, Beach Lane, Chris Barton, diversity, Ekua Holmes, Simon & Schuster, What Do You Do With a Voice Like That Leave a comment
Now available: WHOOSH! (in paperback) and ¡FUSHHH! (en español)
Three new versions of Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Steam of Inventions are available today: a high-quality paperback edition of the original, and Spanish translation ¡Fushhh! El chorro del inventos súper húmedos de Lonnie Johnson in both hardcover and paperback.
Chris Barton Posted in Charlesbridge, Chris Barton, Don Tate, Fushhh!, Lonnie Johnson, Super Soaker, Whoosh! Leave a comment
“It was meant to be funny. This little zombie kid embracing a big ol’ root vegetable like it was his teddy bear. But then it hit me: That was Mo.” (2-question Q&A and giveaway for May 2019)
Welcome to the Q&A and giveaway for the May edition of my Bartography Express newsletter (which you can sign up for here).
My Q&A this month is with married collaborators Megan and Jorge Lacera, the creators of the picture book Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies!, published last month by Lee & Low Books.
In a starred review, Kirkus said, “Tasty and homegrown, this hits a strange and specific trifecta: a lightly bilingual book that feels inclusive not only for Latinx kids, but also for different eaters and for those who aren’t afraid of gory, monster-themed humor.”
To a Bartography Express subscriber with a US mailing address, I’m giving away one copy of Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies! If you want to be that winner, just let me know (in the comments below or by emailing me) before midnight on May 31, and I’ll enter you in the drawing.
In the meantime, please enjoy my two-question Q&A with Megan Lacera and Jorge Lacera.
Chris: Side-by-side collaboration between author and illustrator is the exception in picture books — usually the author creates the text and then, for the most part, steps aside while the illustrator brings in the visual aspect of the storytelling.
What’s something that Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies! would have lost if the two of you had worked on it in that traditional way? Is there a particular page or attribute or other element of the book or story that comes to mind?
Megan Lacera
Megan: Such a great question, Chris! I don’t think we would have arrived at the same story if we hadn’t collaborated so deeply.
Early on, after I had written several versions and Jorge had storyboarded out the book numerous times, we were looking at all of the different pieces together. There was good stuff happening, but it wasn’t gelling the way we hoped. While we talked about the issues, Jorge sketched. The result was an image of Mo hugging a carrot. It was meant to be funny — and it was! This little zombie kid embracing a big ol’ root vegetable like it was his teddy bear. We both cracked up.
But then it hit me: That was Mo.
Veggies were much more than something he liked to eat. He loved them. Growing them, harvesting them, mincing them, dicing them. All of it. They were essential to who he was. That realization led to a key discovery for our story: that Mo had to fully embrace his differences. There wasn’t another choice because this wasn’t a food preference. It was love.
Jorge: Megan is a pun master, and we tossed a lot of them back and forth that we thought were funny and worked with the story.
Early on in the story we had a series of vignettes where Mo is trying to convince his parents to give veggies a try. We knew we wanted a bunch of visual gags, so I went to the list we kept of puns and spotted “head of lettuce” and immediately the visual of a scarecrow but with a lettuce head popped into my head.
I think the whole time it was an organic back and forth between the art and the text.
Jorge Lacera
Chris: Your website credits your six-year-old as “Studio Lacera’s Chief of Research and Story Development.” Reading abilities and interests can grow and change so quickly at that age — are there ways that your own storytelling has evolved as a result?
Jorge: Thankfully for us, Kai’s interests seem to match ours. From the start we knew we wanted to collaborate on a variety of stories, from picture books to middle grade and beyond. We hope Kai keeps up with us — otherwise he might need to be transitioned to another department.
Megan: Maybe because he is a only child, or maybe it’s just who he is, but Kai has always wanted to be involved in our work. He loves stories of all kinds and has a gigantic imagination.
The truth is that part of including him on our site is because he wanted to be — and he certainly is a big part of what we do. He loves to share his thoughts on projects and has very strong, definite ideas.
I think our own storytelling has evolved with Kai because we see how he (and other kids) has so many things vying for his attention, like tablets and smartphones and all kinds of gadgets. Instead of being deterred by that, we embrace that there is “competition.” We think about how we can grab his attention with a character or idea — and tell stories that keep that attention. It’s a big challenge!
Chris Barton Posted in Bartography Express, Chris Barton, giveaway, Jorge Lacera, Lee & Low, Megan Lacera, Zombies Don't Eat Veggies 9 Comments
My seedling from the Oklahoma City Survivor Tree
Three years ago, a book tour took me to Oklahoma City, and before I left town, I made my first visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The experience — especially the storytelling achieved by both the Memorial and the Museum — made a big impression on me.
Among the many facets of the story that began with the bombing of Oklahoma City’s Murrah Building on April 19, 1995, is the Survivor Tree that stands between the Museum and the Memorial. Here’s a photo I took of the tree on the day I visited:
After my visit, I could not stop thinking about the bombing and the effect it had — and still has — on the lives of so many people. That’s always a pretty good sign, for me, that there’s a book I should write.
I began reading a lot about the bombing and the resulting Memorial. In June 2017 I returned to Oklahoma City to do more research, which included quite a bit of time in the Museum’s archives. That’s where I saw this photo showing the Survivor Tree soon after the bombing:
Collection, Oklahoma National Memorial & Museum
I also took some close-up photos of the tree itself, demonstrating just how carefully it is tended to —
— and how healthy and full of life it became in the two decades-plus after the bombing:
Not long after, Lerner Publishing agreed to publish my picture book, All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing, with illustrations by Nicole Xu. The book is almost finished and will be published next February.
Jennifer and I talk with an Oklahoma couple who had just received Survivor Tree seedlings (photo by Danielle Carnito)
Two weeks ago, for the 24th anniversary of the bombing, I returned to Oklahoma City again, along with the book’s editor, Carol Hinz; art director, Danielle Carnito; and my wife, Jennifer Ziegler. We attended the annual Remembrance Ceremony, after which Survivor Tree seedlings were distributed to attendees.
Though our book is not only about the Survivor Tree, the tree and its offspring definitely are integral parts. Yet this was the first time I had seen the seedlings, some of which were larger than I expected.
It was also my first opportunity to meet some of the people I had interviewed by phone, including Mark Bays, an urban forestry coordinator with Oklahoma Forestry Services.
Mark, Jennifer, Carol and me in front of the Museum (photo by Danielle Carnito)
Mark has helped lead efforts to revive, preserve, and propagate the Survivor Tree since shortly after the Murrah bombing, and he was stationed at the entrance to the Museum to distribute seedlings.
By the time I got there, only a few seedlings remained, but the line of recipients had dwindled down to nothing, and I took a seedling for myself.
Later that day I visited the Memorial at night for the first time — by the light of a full moon, as it happened — and got a view of the Survivor Tree that I’d never had before:
Early the next morning, Jennifer and I got on a flight home. I heeded the advice I received from her — and from Carol, and from Danielle — not to try to pack my Survivor Tree seedling inside my carry-on suitcase. (No, I was told, not even if I tried to do so carefully.)
So, from Oklahoma City to Dallas to Austin, my seedling poked out of my leather messenger bag that I kept between my feet.
When we got home, I bought a new blue pot and planted the seedling. That won’t be where it stays permanently, but I don’t know that our pecan trees leave enough room for an American elm to grow and thrive. There’s a good chance that I’ll offer to plant the my Survivor Tree seedling — by then, perhaps, a sapling — next spring, sometime close to the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.
In the meantime, I’ll appreciate seeing it outside my front door — and remembering all that it represents — each time I come and go.
Chris Barton Posted in All of a Sudden and Forever, Carolrhoda Books, Chris Barton, Lerner, Nicole Xu, Oklahoma City bombing, Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, Survivor Tree Leave a comment
Now available: A full-Throttle Mighty Truck adventure!
Surf’s Up!, the fourth book in the Mighty Truck early reader series (written by me, illustrated by Troy Cummings, and published by HarperCollins) is officially published today.
This is especially good news for those of you who enjoyed the excitement surrounding surf wagon Mr. Dent and his beleaguered cat, Throttle —
— in the original Mighty Truck picture book.
This time around, Mr. Dent is, like, way involved in the story, and Throttle is totally part of the action:
If any of the Mighty Truck books have revved the engines of a young reader you know, I think you and they will love Surf’s Up!
If it’s not yet on the shelves of your favorite library or bookstore, please do Mighty Truck the favor of requesting his latest adventure.
I have it on good authority that his ordinary-pickup pal Clarence will appreciate it as well.
Chris Barton Posted in Chris Barton, early readers, easy readers, HarperCollins, I Can Read!, Mighty Truck, Surfs Up, Troy Cummings Leave a comment
My remarks at the Barbara Jordan Media Awards
As I mentioned last month, my book What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan (illustrated by Ekua Holmes and published by Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster) won the 2018 Barbara Jordan Award for children’s books.
Three weeks ago, Jennifer and I had the honor of attending the awards ceremony at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Not only did I get to meet some of the other winners —
— but I also got to appreciate some of their award-winning work. And I’ve got great news: You can enjoy it, too, after about 60 seconds of remarks by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. (Excerpts from What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? begin at about the four-minute mark.)
Upon receiving the award, each of the winners had an opportunity to say thank you and share other thoughts. What I said during my three minutes was:
I must admit, I was really, really, really hoping that my Barbara Jordan children’s book would win the Barbara Jordan children’s book award.
I am so grateful for this honor, and I can’t help but also be a little tickled by it. And based on what I learned about Barbara Jordan in the course of researching and writing What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?, I think she would have gotten a kick out of it, too.
That shared sense of humor would not be the only thing Barbara Jordan and I have in common, despite our significant demographic differences. We’re both native Texans. We both found a home and a community in our adopted city of Austin.
I admire and aspire to emulate Barbara Jordan’s talent for and interest in listening to those whose viewpoints and experiences differ from our own.
Her forceful insistence on integrity and ethical behavior has led me, regarding many situations, to wonder — occasionally, then frequently, now daily — What Would Barbara Jordan Do?
And like Barbara Jordan, I believe in putting my own success and privilege — and, yes, my own voice — to work pulling up or helping along others who, for various reasons, are not yet there themselves.
My favorite example of how Barbara Jordan lived that value is how she, after accumulating significant political capital herself, applied that capital to shoring up — rather than restricting — the voting rights of Mexican-American citizens and others.
In my work as a member of the children’s book community, that impulse has taken the form of advocating for authors, illustrators, readers, and characters who tend to share Barbara Jordan’s demographics more so than my own.
I don’t know how many other titles were in the running for this year’s honor, but nothing would make me happier than for my Barbara Jordan book for children winning the Barbara Jordan children’s book award to inspire many more children’s books about Texans with disabilities and by Texas authors and illustrators with disabilities.
I want there to be plenty of fierce competition for this prize in the future, and for the judges to have their work cut out for them every year.
Thank you, judges, and to all who work on behalf of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. Many thanks to illustrator Ekua Holmes and to our publisher, Simon & Schuster.
Thank you to my wife, Jennifer — I love you — and to all the family and friends and librarians who have supported me and my work. Thank you, Barbara Jordan, for your inspiration and for that voice. Thank you all.
Since the awards ceremony three weeks ago, I’ve begun making some inquiries about the accessibility of conferences for writers and illustrators, in hopes of helping make those events more accessible for people with disabilities.
If you’ve had experiences or can offer suggestions that might contribute to those conversations, please leave them in the comments section below, and I’ll be glad to pass them along to the folks I’m in touch with.
Chris Barton Posted in accessibility, Barbara Jordan, Beach Lane, Chris Barton, Ekua Holmes, Simon & Schuster, Texas Governors Committee on People with Disabilities, What Do You Do With a Voice Like That Leave a comment
2020 pub-date updates
For a while, my next two picture books had the easy-to-remember tentative publication dates of 1/1/2020 and 5/5/2020. Now, they have new dates that are closer together and less tentative, and if these two dates together no longer seem quite as memorable, well, that’s why we have calendars.
If you’re so inclined, you can mark yours for:
February 4, 2020: That’s the planned publication date for my next nonfiction picture book, All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing, illustrated by Nicole Xu and published by Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing.
March 10, 2020: Five weeks later is when you can expect my next fiction picture book, Fire Truck vs. Dragon, illustrated by Shanda McCloskey and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Chris Barton Posted in All of a Sudden and Forever, Carolrhoda Books, Chris Barton, Fire Truck Vs. Dragon, Lerner, Little Brown, Nicole Xu, Oklahoma City bombing, Shanda McCloskey Leave a comment
“Being able to recreate a slice of my border town was a truly magical experience.” (2-question Q&A and giveaway for April 2019)
Welcome to the Q&A and giveaway for the April edition of my Bartography Express newsletter (which you can sign up for here).
My Q&A this month is with Raúl the Third, the illustrator of the Lowriders graphic novels (written by Cathy Camper) and now a creator of picture books.
Raúl’s first book as author and illustrator, ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market!, was published yesterday by Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He now lives in Boston, but the book evokes Raúl’s childhood in El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
¡Vamos! has received four starred reviews, including one from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books that says the book’s “grab bag of bilingual terms embedded in dialogue, signage, and stray scraps of text invite[s] all readers to have a grand time latching onto what they know and figuring out what they don’t.”
I’m giving away one copy of ¡Vamos! to a Bartography Express subscriber with a US mailing address. If you want that winner to be you, please let me know (in the comments below or by emailing me) before midnight on April 30, and I’ll enter you in the drawing.
In the meantime, please enjoy my two-question Q&A with Raúl the Third.
Chris: After illustrating the three Lowriders graphic novels, what were the biggest surprises in making your first picture book?
Raúl: I would say that the biggest surprise was how many more books I would complete if I was only making picture books! We are nearly done with the second ¡Vamos! book.
I really enjoyed the entire process and being able to recreate a slice of my border town was a truly magical experience.
Chris: The title page for ¡Vamos! has a credit that may be familiar to graphic-novel readers, but one that I don’t think I’ve seen before in a picture book: “Colors by.”
For the uninitiated, what does a colorist do, and for this picture book where did your work leave off and her work begin?
Raúl: Elaine Bay is the colorist for ¡Vamos! Let’s go to the Market! I am so incredibly lucky to be working with her on this series as the colors have the feel of the border town we were both raised in.
As the illustrator, I am turning over black and white line art to Elaine Bay that she then colors using a wide array of media. She has a library filled with stains and marks, and using a Cintiq she colors the book both digitally and traditionally.
I love exploring the different marks, patterns and textures she has been using.
Chris Barton Posted in Bartography Express, Chris Barton, Elaine Bay, giveaway, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Raul the Third, Vamos Let's Go to the Market, Versify 2 Comments
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Bartography has been going strong since 2005. There’s lots to read in the archive, and much more on the way that you can keep up with through the feed.
RT @LernerBooks: This week's #TBT is courtesy of a visit from @Bartography! One of his books, Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art… https://t.co/fXdBQJ9H7g 2 hours ago
@misskubelik @ABRAMSbooks Well, now I *have* to come back. And also for food trucks in a non-thunderstorm setting. 18 hours ago
And also this anthology she’s edited, coming out in September and getting read by me as soon as I possibly can. Con… https://t.co/ycbue3LKlC 19 hours ago
Photo essay: Places @misskubelik Showed Me Today in Des Moines https://t.co/ByCSOQa3TB 19 hours ago
Sometimes you want to go/where your phone already knows the Wi-Fi password and Red Headed Stranger is playing when… https://t.co/xGygQrAq0w 3 days ago
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California Attorney General Kamala Harris points during a news conference to a display showing the location of Corinthian Colleges in California.
(photo by © Eric Risberg/ /AP/Corbis)
Are For-Profit Colleges Evil?
Government keeps tightening the rules on proprietary schools
Back Longreads Dec 1, 2013 By Allen Young
For decades, politicians and journalists have released reports showing the sector taking a disproportionate share of federal financial aid dollars (a quarter of the total allotment, by one count) and producing a disproportionate number of students who default on their loans. The critic’s interpretation: The job training at these schools must be weak, if not downright fraudulent.
It didn’t take long for the for-profit colleges to get back in the news. Just a year after Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) dropped a massive report accusing for-profits of overcharging students for worthless degrees, California Attorney General Kamala Harris set her sights on Corinthian Colleges Inc. The operator of Heald, Everest and Wyotech colleges piled debt on poor young people while falsely promising quality education and job opportunities, alleged the AG in an October lawsuit. Harris went on to describe Corinthian’s “predatory scheme” as “unconscionable.”
Are for-profit colleges truly one of Capitalism’s hideous deformities? For decades, politicians and journalists have released reports showing the sector taking a disproportionate share of federal financial aid dollars (a quarter of the total allotment, by one count) and producing a disproportionate number of students who default on their loans. The critic’s interpretation: The job training at these schools must be weak, if not downright fraudulent.
The findings have produced waves of regulations over the entire industry. New rules were passed a couple years ago, and more are on the way. But just like community bankers complain about Wall Street’s Goliath banks tarnishing their reputation, for-profit college representatives feel similarly scapegoated.
“Enough is enough,” says Robert Johnson, executive director of the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools. “You’ve gotten to the point now where it’s overkill. Other states are regulated, but they look at what we have and it’s just over the top.”
For-profit institutions, and the government regulations placed on them, strike a deep American nerve because the schools are vulnerable to attacks by both liberals and conservatives. By focusing on privatization, the schools would seem to be a free-market jobs program. But they rely almost entirely on government subsidies. Nationwide, the sector took in $28.4 billion of federal aid in the 2010-2011 academic year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The average for-profit school takes more than 80 percent of its revenue from federal aid.
The U.S. has long struggled with the idea of higher education as a right, and problems resulting from privatization are met with natural scrutiny. It’s a complicated issue, because for every media or government report that publishes scandalous data about extremely high default and dropout rates, the industry argues that the numbers are the inevitable result of educating an at-risk population. Poor people drop out of college or stop paying their loans for a host of reasons outside of a college’s control, they say.
“Default has no relationship to quality of education or whether or not a person is working,” says Johnson. “There’s no facts to back that up. None. It could be many things. It could be quality of education. Who knows? But to say that’s the absolute reason drives me wild.”
For-profit colleges have been around for more than 150 years but saw a large influx at the turn of the 20th century when droves of working class people matriculated into high school. In the 1960s, the civil rights movement drove the country’s education establishment to embrace a ‘college for all’ philosophy. That trend, combined with President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, paved the way for the federal Higher Education Act of 1972, which opened Pell grants and other financial aid programs to students attending for-profit schools.
The law expanded the number of for-profits across the country by 11 percent each year. From 1976 to 2006, for-profit institutions went from a 0.4 percent share of the total U.S. higher education market to 6 percent.
From early on, the sector targeted working class adults — single mothers, veterans, college dropouts, even former gang bangers. The students were often young parents who wished to ascend toward a career. For-profit schools have long capitalized on this market because, unlike public colleges, proprietary colleges can offer more specialized training, flexible course times and, in the past decade or so, a variety of online classes.
In the late 1980s, the federal government caught wind of disproportionately high default rates in the for-profit sector, and began denying financial aid to schools with default rates over 25 percent. That rule dropped the number of for-profit schools operating in the U.S. by a quarter. Years later, however, officials realized that some schools were using accounting gimmicks to misrepresent their numbers, so the rules were tightened in 2008. The impact of that reform is still being monitored and success won’t be known until 2014.
Meanwhile, the for-profit sector continues to be the subject of investigative exposés. A Bloomberg investigation found top executives at the 15 publicly-traded for-profits pocketed $2 billion in pay and stock sales while clocking the worst loan-default and four-year college dropout rates in the entire U.S. higher-education sector.
In August 2010, The Government Accountability Office released a report and accompanying video of 15 for profit colleges that showed college recruiters exaggerating the salaries available to students who had gone through their program, lying to students about a school’s accreditation and encouraging student’s to lie on government forms to maximize student loans. The GAO later backed off some of its claims but stood by its accusation of widespread fraud.
Closer to home, a 2010 analysis by the Sacramento Bee found that for-profit schools in the Capital Region educated one eighth of college students but were responsible for two thirds of the region’s student loan defaults.
Under pressure to implement more regulations, in 2011 the federal government tightened rules around recruitment tactics and increased the kinds of disclosures schools must make.
In California, lawmakers created eligibility criteria for the Cal Grant, which is financed by the state general fund. The criteria has changed since it first went into effect, but schools are currently denied the Cal Grant if more than 15.5 percent of their students default on their loans or if their graduation rate is less than 30 percent. This year, 114 for-profit schools didn’t make the cut, and 51 did.
“In California now we have a strong system of licensure and approval and oversight,” says Diana Fuentes-Michel, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission. “It’s not perfect,” she adds. “My colleagues will argue that a 30 percent graduation rate is nothing to write home about. But we have a place to start. Before, we didn’t have anything.”
The state and federal government plan to go even further by strengthening the so-called ‘triad’ of accountability: the federal government, the state government and accrediting institutions, which can be regional or national.
Federal officials are developing a new metric to gauge a student’s ability to find work and repay loans. California lawmakers also plan to reauthorize the state bureau and their accountability regulations in 2014. Industry practitioners fear the piling on of onerous compliance paperwork.
“If you look at federal standards, accreditor standards, state standards — none of them line up. Placement rates don’t line up, completion rates don’t line up, because they are all defined a little differently,” says Johnson. “We have three standards that we’re reporting. No other sector of education does that.”
But supporters of the new rules argue the additional oversight is needed to protect against a sector with a troubled track record. “Too many students are taking out loans to go to colleges that may not give them what they bargained for. We need more information and transparency for consumers and more accountability for colleges. When colleges fail to deliver, they need to be cut off,” says Debbie Cochrane, research director for the Institute for College Access and Success.
If part of this effort is to crack down on obscene profiting by college presidents, the abuse is not apparent inside John Zimmerman’s office. The president of MTI College in Sacramento apologizes for the stacks of small cardboard boxes piled along his wall, leaving little room for a guest. The office sits above a classroom full of stylist chairs and sinks at the college’s Paul Mitchell beauty school.
The irony of government regulations and his industry’s aversion to them is that they’ve made MTI “a far better institution today than we were in 1980,” Zimmerman says.
Back then, when Zimmerman’s father ran the college, MTI would open the doors to any student. The college’s student loan default rate was 28 percent. “Nobody cared,” he remembers. “Access to education should be available to all, that was the mantra. Let everyone have an opportunity.”
But in the past few decades, the college grew more selective with its enrollment policy. Educators began focusing more on test results to identify common deficiencies to raise class-wide achievement. It’s worked. According to Zimmerman, MTI now boasts a 91 percent placement rate and 71 percent graduation rate.
The regulations may have improved instruction and performance, but there is one issue they don’t address. With the focus now on student outcomes, what becomes of that applicant pool that the sector is no longer willing to accept? Community colleges are over capacity, public and nonprofit universities require good grades. There is a leftover student population that for-profits used to take a chance on. Not anymore.
“I’m not serving those people because I can’t afford to serve them. It’s going to come back and shut us down,” says Zimmerman. “No school in their right mind, even any public school, would want to open up and serve the hard-to-serve people because they know what the outcomes are. So who is going to serve these people? Are we in a perpetual cycle of people being pushed aside and no one taking care of them?”
Allen Young is the associate editor of Comstock’s magazine. Reach him at ayoung@comstocksmag.com or follow him on Twitter @allenmyoung.
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Linking Education to Industry
Public schools now have millions of dollars to join Sacramento’s Next Economy. Will they?
Feb 1, 2014 Allen Young
Placer County goes global in search for higher education
A 12-year mission to bring higher education to Placer County, spearheaded by local land baron Angelo Tsakopoulos, has gone global.
Feb 1, 2014 Allison Joy
Allen Young
@allenyoungsacbiz
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Counseling Graduate Program
CACREP Accreditation
The School Counseling Program and the Clinical Mental Health Program are accredited by CACREP (Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs) through October 2026. In January 2012, CACREP awarded accreditation to the Part-Time, Online Campus Delivery of the School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Programs. Additionally, in February 2012, the University received approval of the Online Campus programs from the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
2018 Program Outcomes Report
2016-2017 Program Evaluation Report
Starting in the Fall of 2012, the counseling programs in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling have been offered both on campus and online, while the Human Services program is offered only online. Our goal is to make the WFU Counseling Programs accessible to working professionals who desire to complete a master’s degree in counseling or human services but cannot leave work for two years to complete the program on campus. More specifics about curriculum, admissions, faculty and other matters are outlined in the following sections. Click here to learn more about the Masters in Counseling and Masters in Human Services online programs.
Online Campus State Specific Information
Please view state specific information pertinent to Online Campus Students in the MA Counseling and MA Human Services degree programs here.
The master of arts in counseling degree is awarded to candidates who successfully complete a minimum of sixty semester hours in a planned and directed program of study. The program consists of a common core of courses to provide knowledge in eight areas: human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, career and lifestyle development, appraisal, research and program evaluation, and professional orientation. The program also supplies clinical instruction with practicum and internship experiences. In addition, students must select a program specialty area—school counseling or clinical mental health counseling—in which they complete their internships and take courses that assure at least entry-level competence. First-year students in the full-time, Reynolda Campus program complete core courses such as Theories and Models, Professional Orientation to Counseling, Counseling Skills and Techniques, Research, Group Procedures, Life Span Development, Family Counseling, and Career Counseling. In the second semester of the first year, students begin their field experiences in Practicum. First semester Online Campus students will complete core courses including Professional Orientation to Counseling and Life Span Development or Theories and Models of Counseling and Research and Statistical Analysis in Counseling. Online Campus students begin their Practicum field experience in their sixth semester of course work.
In order to complete all requirements, summer school attendance is required between the first and second years for Reynolda Campus students. Online Campus students are able to complete the program in three years by continuing course work in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. In addition to academic coursework, students work an average of 20 hours each week in an internship in either a school or clinical mental health setting. Internships occur during the second year of the Reynolda Campus program and during semesters eight and nine for Online Campus students. All courses for full-time students are offered on the Reynolda Campus of Wake Forest University. None of the required Reynolda Campus courses are offered in a long-distance format or at night or on weekends. All classes for the Online Campus program are offered in a long-distance, online delivery format.
Continuance in the program and admission to candidacy are based on success in academic courses and on personal, ethical, and performance considerations. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certified Counselor examination. Those who complete the School Counseling Program are eligible to apply for licensure with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. As a CACREP-accredited program, the program of study through the Department of Counseling generally meets the licensure requirements for other states. However, certain states may have other requirements. For example, Florida requires a course in Human Sexuality. It is the responsibility of the student to check with their state licensing boards to determine what requirements are necessary and to plan for meeting those requirements, if any. State licensing information can be accessed through the American Counseling Association.
Course Requirements - MA Counseling
Wake Forest University Masters of Arts – Counseling Reynolda Campus Students and Online Campus Students
A minimum of 60 semester hours is required for Master of Arts degree in Counseling. The Program of Study includes fifteen required Core Courses, three Clinical Courses, and three courses in a Program Specialty Area.
CORE COURSES: (42 semester hours)
CNS 721: “Research and Statistical Analysis in Counseling” (3)
CNS 736: “Appraisal Procedures for Counselors” (3)
CNS 737: “Basic Counseling Skills and Techniques” (3)
CNS 739: “Advanced Counseling Skills and Crisis Management” (3)
CNS 740: “Professional Orientation to Counseling” (3)
CNS 741: “Theories and Models of Counseling” (3)
CNS 742: “Group Procedures in Counseling” (3)
CNS 743: “Career Development and Counseling” (3)
CNS 747: “Cultures and Counseling” (3)
CNS 748: “Life Span Development: Implications for Counseling” (3)
CNS 765: “Addiction Counseling” (3)
CNS 773: “Family Counseling” (3)
CNS 780: “Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues in Counseling (2)
CNS 786: “Consultation and Program Development in Counseling” (2)
CNS 790: “Professional Identity Capstone Course” (2)
CLINICAL COURSES: (9 semester hours)
CNS 738: “School Counseling Practicum” (3) OR CNS 738: “Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum” (3) AND CNS 744: “School Counseling Internship I” (3) CNS 745: “School Counseling Internship II” (3) OR CNS 744: “Clinical Mental Health Internship I” (3) CNS 745: “Clinical Mental Health Internship II” (3)
PROGRAM SPECIALTY COURSES: (9 semester hours)
School Counseling Program Specialty Courses
CNS 749: “School Guidance and Counseling” (3) CNS 746: “Counseling Children” (3) CNS 760: “Issues in School Counseling” (3) OR
Clinical Mental Health Program Specialty Courses
CNS 771: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3), CNS 770: “Classification of Mental and Emotional Disorders” (3) CNS 762: “Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling” (3)
Approved Electives (0-6 semester hours)
CNS 746: “Counseling Children” (3) (for Clinical Mental Health Counseling students) CNS 770: “Classification of Mental and Emotional Disorders” (3) (for School Counseling students) CNS 750: “The Vienna Theorists” (3) (Reynolda Campus Students Only) CNS 764: “Creative Arts in Counseling” (1-3) (Reynolda Campus Students Only)
Sequence of Courses
Full-time Reynolda Campus Program
Part-time Online Campus Program
School Counseling Program
The School Counseling Program is designed to provide prospective school counselors with the knowledge, skills, and competence necessary to establish and conduct effective developmental guidance and counseling programs in schools, kindergarten through the twelfth grade. The course of study that leads to a license in school counseling in North Carolina (and through reciprocity agreements leads to licensure in most other states), is based on the requirements of the North Carolina State Board of Education, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty leads to eligibility, after passing the required examination and meeting the post-master’s supervised experience requirement, as a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina and may lead to licensure in other states, depending on their requirements. The course of study is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the core required courses in the program meet the eight CACREP core areas required by most states for licensure. In addition, students will gain professional knowledge, skills, and practices necessary to address a wide variety of circumstances within the clinical mental health counseling context
Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in Counseling Dual Degree
This degree is an academic program for graduates who seek to enter the ministry with skills in both theology and in counseling. Full-time on-campus students accepted into the dual degree program can complete the requirements for both Divinity and Master of Arts in Counseling degrees in four years instead of the usual five. In this combined program, neither the MDiv nor the MA in Counseling is compromised.
All classes are offered on the Reynolda Campus of Wake Forest University. At this time, the Dual Degree program is not available for students in the Online Campus Counseling program. The curriculum is in line with the accreditation bodies of both partners. Graduates will meet the educational requirements of licensure as professional counselors in North Carolina and in most other states.
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Failed US policy in Afghanistan risks regional security
By crssblog March 15, 2019 March 15, 2019
Leave a Comment on Failed US policy in Afghanistan risks regional security
By Durdana Najam
The US Senate recently introduced a legislation to end the 18-years-long war in Afghanistan. Called “American Forces Going Home After Nobel Service Act,” the bill has come at a time when the US is engaged in direct talks with the Taliban to work out an exit plan. The bill reads: “Within 45 days, a plan will be formulated for an orderly withdrawal and turnover of facilities to the Afghan government, while also settling a framework for political reconciliation to be implemented by Afghans in accordance with the Afghan constitution.”
Senator Rand Paul, one of the two architects of the bill, presented it saying: “The mission of punishing al Qaeda for orchestrating the 9/11 attack in the US has been achieved and the time has come to end the long-running war.” Giving the cost benefit analysis of the war, Paul said that the US had lost 2,300 service men, 20,000 were left wounded, the current war expense runs at over $ 51 billion and to date the war has cost the US $ 2 trillion. Since the senator had nothing to fill in the benefit side of the analysis, he had to by compulsion dwell on the negatives. In a video message posted before presenting the bill Paul had said: “Hundreds of millions of US taxpayers’ dollars have gone waste on rebuilding projects.” Groaning further he said: “We have spent $ 43 million on a natural gas station, even though no one has a car that runs on natural gas in Afghanistan, and $ 210 million went to build a new Afghan government building.” Then he inquired: “My question is: when are they [Afghans] going to pay for their own stuff? The list is ongoing and incredibly insulting to American taxpayers. It’s time to declare our mission over and our war won. Its time to build here, not there.”
What Paul has pointed at now had been told to the US many years back, with a forewarning that Afghanistan was not a winnable bet, not at least in the way the US had designed it. Afghanistan was not so much about spending resources as it was about creating an environment of congeniality absent in the Afghan political culture. The US instead of strengthening Afghanistan politically, supported crime syndicates and propped up a parallel power structure that worsened law and order in the country. The US Special Inspector-General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), John Sopko had explained this US behaviour in the following words:
“We went to bed with a lot of warlords, corrupt mafia figures and now we are stuck with them. We are identified with them. We are identified in essence with the bad guys with a lot of Afghans.”
The general impression recorded about Kabul in the international press has been of a capital which when not attacked by suicide bombers is in the hold of a gun-toting crime syndicate protected by the elite and warlords.
In the research on the causes and reasons for corruption compiled by the World Bank, war provides a perfect environment for pervasive corruption because of weak administrative institutions, a broken legal and judicial system, ineffective prosecution and the incapacity of the state to discourage corrupt behaviour. The report published by Transparency International in late January 2019 proved the World Bank right by stating that Afghanistan is the most corrupt country on earth having ranked 172 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index. Another survey by the Asian Foundation found that 81.5 percent of the Afghan population considers corruption one of the “major problems” of their country.
Going by the World Bank’s definition of a war economy, all the resources that the US claimed to have spent in the so-called state building in Afghanistan were actually squandered on projects that had no bearing on its political, economic or legal system. The SIGAR report presented to the US Congress further reinforced this fact. Sopko had narrated that the aid money was spent on medical clinics without doctors and water, on schools without children, and buildings that literally washed away in rain. Audit revealed funds paid to bureaucrats, soldiers and police that never existed.
In due course, when Afghanistan became increasingly unmanageable and dangerous, the western donor countries along with the countries engaged in a combatant role made a trust fund to pool their aid dollars. The World Bank, UN and NATO were to manage the trust. These big names, however, failed in their attempt to manage the money meant for the welfare of Afghans. “Our findings are that basically the World Bank did not know how the money was being spent and…even the Afghans were saying some of the programs were really stupid, but there was no way to stop them,” said Sopko. In another comment on the issue Sopko said, “His office had found a troubling lack of financial oversight and far-reaching mismanagement of two Western trust funds – the World Bank’s Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and the United Nations-administered Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan used to train and equip Afghan security forces.”
Notwithstanding Senator Paul’s number crunching about the US losses in the Afghan war, both in term of casualties and squandered funds, he failed to spare a single word for the sufferings of Afghans. This is a reminder of the uncomfortable truth that the reconstruction project of Afghanistan lacked a ‘human face’. After ousting the Taliban in the first few months of the invasion and later installing a new government under the new Afghan Constitution, the US failed to understand that its role had now changed. The challenge at hand was not insurgency, but a corrupt and incompetent governance structure. The US policy on Afghanistan did not feature any plan to tame ethnic rivalries, undercut warlords, pick local leaders, build a justice system embedded in local norms that would have given people a reason to oppose the Taliban. To play out these strategies, politics, and not a war-induced mentality was required, which was absent.
Every passing year has added new losses to the war. The year 2018, according to the UN Assistance Mission Annual Report, was the deadliest year since the mission began tallying figures in 2009. The report recorded 4,000 civilian deaths in a single year, of which 63 percent were the result of attacks by different insurgent groups, and only 24 percent due to government and US actions.
The US has been trying to dump the wages of its failure in Afghanistan on Pakistan. But Pakistan has successfully countered the US design by sticking to the policy of seeing an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution to the war. However, given the ethnic fault lines and a political structure lacking ownership locally, a regional consensus among China, Russia, Iran and the Central Asian states against terrorism is indispensable.
It is this consolidation of consensus that will be the real test of Pakistan and the regional partners to build peace in South Asia.
Originally Published in The Nation
Previous Entry South Asia’s changing political and security dynamics – Ijaz Awan
Next Entry Against all odds, President Trump may finally bring peace to Afghanistan!
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« Album Review: George Duke – DreamWeaver
Album Review: Wayne Wallace – Latin Jazz/Jazz Latin »
The Best Jazz Albums of 2013 (So Far)
Over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed a small but insistent wave in jazz. We’re seeing artists in their twenties and thirties playing music that does nod to the traditions but also shows the influences of what a lot of these younger musicians grew up listening to; hip-hop; crunk and other related styles. This style has evolved from the confused mess that some of the early cross genre attempts were, into something that is fresh and stands on its own, apart from either of its main musical parents. As a result, I’ve begun to see a number of today’s jazz writers (and a few musicians as well) rise up and take arms against the “interlopers”. They have written page after page on why what the young musicians are doing “isn’t jazz”.
Whatever else it is, “jazz” will always be about evolution, improvisation and change. What the young cats are now trying to do, could represent the first really new thing in jazz in 50 years. I may not like everything that’s a part of it but I embrace the fact that someone is doing something new.
You’ll see a couple of those albums among my mid-term favorites. Disagreements and agreements are always welcome but spam is not. The albums are in alphabetical order by title.
The Bespoke Man’s Narrative – Aaron Diehl (Mack Avenue)
This was the first album this year to “wow” me. Mr. Diehl’s third album is an unabashed tribute to the Modern Jazz Quartet, which was the first jazz group to “wow” me, over thirty years ago. Mr. Diehl is an outstanding pianist with a strong sense of swing, yet a light touch, reminiscent of course, of John Lewis. And when label mate Warren Wolf sits in on vibes, the transformation becomes complete.
Border Free – Chucho Valdes and the Afro-Cuban Messengers (Jazz Village)
The great Cuban pianist just gets better with age. This album is a deeply personal statement, filled with tributes to his family members and others who have influenced his musical direction. But you never forget that this is a Chucho Valdés album, so these tributes are carried out in the midst of killer Afro-Cuban rhythms and piano statements of astonishing brilliance. You can read my full review HERE.
Grace – J.D. Allen (Savant)
After recording in the sax, bass, drums trio format for five years, J.D. brings a pianist back into the group on Grace. Not just any pianist but Russian-born wunderkind Eldar Djangirov. Instead of altering the group’s style, Djangirov blends in nicely adding a rich texture to Allen’s group that was missing in some of the previous outings. The pianist has made a good thing even better. You can read my full review HERE.
In A World of Mallets – Jason Marsalis (Basin Street Records)
The youngest of the musical Marsalis brothers, Jason made a committment to playing the vibes full-time a few years ago. While he was a world-class drummer, Marsalis struggled a bit on his first album after making the switch four years ago. He seems to have put those troubles behind him on this album, which is a rich, quirky and mature musical statement. It also takes my award for the punniest album title so far this year,
Live Today – Derrick Hodge (Blue Note Records)
Derrick Hodge, who was a major presence on Robert Glasper’s Grammy Winning Black Radio in 2012, has made an even stronger musical statement on his debut as a leader. The big name guest stars are not here but the music is denser and more complex than Black Radio’s. Finally, an artist has nailed it in the search for a hip-hop/jazz hybrid. This is “Real Jazz” for the 21st Century. You can read my full review HERE.
Magnetic – Terence Blanchard (Blue Note Records)
Hard to believe that Terence Blanchard has been on the jazz scene for over thirty years. While he has done everything from score films, to write operas, when you get right down to it, he is never better than he is when he fronting a group and reminding everyone that before all of the Hollywood accolades, Blanchard was one of the best jazz trumpet players around; period. He reminds us again here, with his working group and stellar guest spots from Ravi Coltrane, Lionel Loueke and the incomparable Ron Carter. You can read my full review HERE.
No Beginning, No End – Jose James (Blue Note Records)
The vocal love child of Al Green and Bill Henderson, Jose James struck pay dirt on this album, his Blue Note debut. It’s not as straight ahead jazzy as his Impulse! album from a couple of years back nor is it as club ready as some of his first efforts. It’s a blend of jazz, hip-hop and R&B that fits like a glove around James’ unique voice. It is absolutely irresistible. No Beginning No End hasn’t left my CD Jukebox since its release and there’s a good chance that it will remain there until the end of the year.
Songs From This Season – Tim Green (True Melody Music)
This Baltimore native first drew attention with his second place finish in the 2008 Monk Saxophone Competition. He has recorded with a litany of jazz and Gospel artists from Warren Wolf to Andrae Crouch. But it’s Songs From This Season which has brought Mr. Green to the attention of most of the jazz world. It’s easy to see why. The album’s selections are mostly traditional post bop and Green is on fire throughout; be it on introspective ballads such as “Psalm 1” or burners such as his trio take on “Pinocchio”. This young man has musical ideas to spare. Something tells me that he will be on this list numerous times in the future.
That Nepenthetic Place – Dayna Stephens (Sunnyside Records)
A “nepenthe” is a fictional medicine for sorrow, a “drug of forgetfulness” mentioned in ancient Greek literature and Greek mythology. That ancient word is an apt description for the music performed by tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens and his quartet on this album. Though the selections are not decidedly upbeat, when taken as a whole, they leave you feeling terrific when they are done. Add in contributions from Gretchen Parlato, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw and the third album proves to be the charm for Mr. Stephens. This is his best and most well-rounded recording to date.
Cecile McLorin Salvant – WomanChild (Mack Avenue Records)
This is the most talked about album from a female jazz singer this year. Why? Because it is also the best album by a jazz vocalist so far this year, hands down. The requisite comparisons to Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae and a number of other vocal greats have already begun. Ignore them. For though this is only the second album from this Miami native, she has established enough of her own style already to make most of those comparisons unfair and fairly irrelevant. Cecile won the Monk vocal competition in 2010 and if you want to know why, listen to this album. It’s not the work of a neophyte finding herself but of an established vocalist who knows exactly where she is going.
Again, this list represents my favorites among the jazz albums released this year that I’ve heard to this point. There’s much more that I will hear, including the stack of new recordings on my desk now. In December we will post the final list for 2013, which will include these albums plus the ones that I will be privileged to hear over the next four months. Until then, The Jazz Continues…
This entry was posted on August 7, 2013 at 10:26 am and is filed under Best Jazz Albums of 2013 with tags aaron diehl, best jazz of 2013, cecile mclorin salvant, chucho valdes, dayna stephens, derrick hodge, jason marsalis, jd allen, jose james, terence blanchard, tim green. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
3 Responses to “The Best Jazz Albums of 2013 (So Far)”
Jim Kaz Says:
keep up the great work! I love the new jazz we need more sites like yours…
Best Jazz Albums of 2013 – The Second Half | Curt's Jazz Cafe Says:
[…] to confess that this year’s list of the best jazz albums feels somehow incomplete. The albums on the first list, posted in early August and the ones in this article are all outstanding but as much as I get to hear, due to my vocation […]
CurtJazz’s Best Jazz Albums of 2013 – The Final List | Curt's Jazz Cafe Says:
[…] From Best Jazz Albums of 2013 (So Far) […]
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Running Down the Road
Posted on August 31, 2013 September 5, 2013 by Dana Forrester
June 2010 “Running Down The Road”
Newsletter from Dana Forrester Automotive Art, 7th Edition, June 2010
It’s about 6:30 in the morning and I’ve just come in to the studio from reading the newspaper on the deck, one of my favorite things to do this time of year. I enjoy reading the paper in the coolest air of the day, listening to the city awaken and drive to work. I savor the sound of the Harleys accelerating up the hill on the interstate, spreading the sound of freedom for miles. What a great way to begin the day!
And now to catch you up on what I’ve been doing lately. I was glued to the television broadcast of the 24 Hours of LeMans last weekend, and was crushed when I awakened Sunday morning to find that both of the Corvette team cars were out of the race. Lance Miller had invited me to join his group taking their Cunningham LeMans Corvette back to LeMans to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its Class Win in 1960. I planned to join them, but a heavy load of Custom Painting commitments and a Calendar of conflicting exhibition dates caused me to withdraw. I knew I’d regret the opportunity, and I do. What a great time it would’ve been to wave the American Flag in Europe!
This year’s 24 Hours of LeMans was the 50th Anniversary of the Briggs Cunningham 1960 Corvette #3 car that won its class in 1960. The Chip Miller Family, the current owner of the Corvette, mounted an unheard of dream project of returning the car to LeMans to celebrate that 50th Anniversary. Chip passed away in 2004, but his family, led by his son Lance, toiled to make Chip’s dream a reality. The Corvette was shipped to LeMans and driven on the track by Corvette Racing Driver Johnny O’Connell and on the street by Lance Miller. That same Corvette is the subject of one of my new paintings commissioned by the National Corvette Restorer’s Society as the Official Art and Photo Banner for the 2010 NCRS National Convention in Charlotte. That image, titled “Charlotte and LeMans,” is included here in the New Release section of this website. Prints on paper, canvas, and wallpaper are available to the public. This Original Painting will be auctioned at the NCRS Convention in Charlotte, the proceeds going to the NCRS Foundation.
“Charlotte and LeMans”
Another Official Event Art watercolor I created this year was for the 2010 Grand National Cadillac Convention in Kansas City. The event staff commissioned me to paint a significant 1960 red Cadillac Convertible in front of a brick wall sign that displays three logos of the Convention and the Cadillac LaSalle Club. Prints on paper, canvas, and wallpaper are available to the public. The Original Painting of “Jenning’s Cadillac” will be auctioned a tthe Grand National Convention.
“Jenning’s Cadillac”
I’ve created a special painting for the 20th Anniversary of the Eureka Springs Corvette Weekend. “Cruising Eureka” features nine Corvettes of varying generations, including all three of our Corvettes and a yellow one we’d like to own. I wanted to create a feeling of the Corvette enthusiasts cruising the main downtown street of that small Arkansas town, and I feel I’ve done that. The featured Corvette is the blue 1989 in the foreground known as the DR1. This is the only C4 ZR1 built as a convertible specifically for GM Executive Don Runkle, hence the name of DR1.
“Cruising Eureka”
I just completed a larger watercolor of a trio of new Camaros, all of them Berger Stage III Camaros. Berger Chevrolet, famous for its series of High Performance cars from the 1960s, has a new building front which provided the setting for these three Masterpieces. Also included are a 1967 Corvette and a 1969 Camaro inside the dealership. The glass in the dealership building proved to be a real challenge, but I feel the painting was a great success. Its title is “Berger Stage III Camaros,” and it will debut the last weekend of June at the GM Carlisle event. Prints on paper, canvas, and wallpaper are available to the public.
“Berger Stage III Camaros”
I’ve also just completed two new watercolors that will debut at the Bloomington Gold Corvettes event in late June. “Tiger Paws” features a pair of Tuxedo Black 1967 Corvettes parked beside a wall advertising the tires mounted on the cars, US Royal Red Line Tiger Paws. The ad on the wall is a combination of ideas of various ads from the ’60s. Originally, the Corvette on the right was to be Rally Red with a black Stinger, but a number of Corvette friends talked me into two black Corvettes. This Watercolor Painting is still available.
“Tiger Paws”
The final new watercolor is a celebration of Motorama Concept cars. At the Greater Kansas City Auto Show I photographed the 2009 Concept Sting Ray (known as Sideswipe in the movie “Transformers II”) and agonized about the appropriate background for it. As often happens, an early-morning vision inspired me to create a wall sign advertising the 1953 Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. That event featured the debut of Corvette and also exhibited the Harley Earl Masterpiece “LeSabre.” What a monumental event that was! My intent was to create a feeling that this historic sign has just been uncovered, protected for 50 years by the wall of an adjacent building. The Watercolor Painting is still available.
“Motorama Treasures”
Finally, I’ve completed plans to lead another NCRS Midwest Road Tour to the National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. We’re viewing a pair of Automotive Collections in St. Louis, attending the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, then cruising on into Charlotte. Initially we’d planned to drive the “Tail of the Dragon,” but rock slides have rendered that highway impassible.
That completes my news update for now. I plan the next issue to report on all my summer adventures.
Dana Forrester, A.W.S., N.W.S.
17611 48th Terrace Court South
Signature Member, American Watercolor Society
www.danaforrester.com
dana@danaforrester.com
This entry was posted in Running Down the Road. Bookmark the permalink.
Dana Forrester
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Who Killed the Electric Car?
Home»All Films»Science & Technology
Who Killed the Electric Car? is an informative and entertaining documentary film, which makes an explicit link between carbon dioxide emissions and global warming, traces the evolution and eventual marketplace failure of the innovative vehicle.
Laying the blame at the feet of General Motors, apathetic politicians, and an unrepentant oil industry, film-maker Chris Payne also gives voice to the car’s staunch defenders, Mel Gibson among them. He may have a clearly defined axe to grind but, in this war-ravaged and environmentally distressed day and age, Paine’s passion is worth attending to.
The documentary explores the many factors that played into the ultimate failure of the electric car to catch on with consumers, even as gas prices began to skyrocket, in a thoughtful meditation on the increasingly important role that renewable energy plays in modern society.
Introduced as a means of providing an alternative to increasing oil consumption and reducing pollution in 1996, the electric car was all but a forgotten memory only a decade later – but why?
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Comic-Con: From ‘Shang-Chi’ To ‘Birds Of Prey’, Asian Americans Are More Than Ready For Their Close-up In Superhero Movies
Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Will Have World Premiere In Cannes
May 2, 2019 3:14am
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood will play in Cannes after all. Hallelujah!
The film will have its world premiere at the festival and will play in competition. This comes after the feature was not in the original batch of pictures unveiled last month. The festival has also added Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo by Abdellatif Kechiche to its competition lineup and additional titles to other strands.
This year’s edition marks 25 years since Tarantino’s iconic Pulp Fiction screened on the Croisette. The director has a long-held affinity for Cannes and was keen that his latest film play at the event.
General Delegate Thierry Frémaux said of the film’s late inclusion, “We were afraid the film would not be ready, as it wouldn’t be released until late July, but Quentin Tarantino, who has not left the editing room in four months, is a real, loyal and punctual child of Cannes. Like for Inglourious Basterds, he’ll definitely be there – 25 years after the Palme d’or for Pulp Fiction – with a finished film screened in 35mm and his cast in tow (Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt). His film is a love letter to the Hollywood of his childhood, a rock music tour of 1969, and an ode to cinema as a whole. In addition to thanking Quentin and his crew for spending days and nights in the editing room, the festival wants to give special thanks to the teams at Sony Pictures, who made all of this possible.”
Cannes Film Festival 2019 Lineup: Malick, Almodóvar, Dardennes; Four Women Directors In Competition - Full List
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood charts the story of a faded television actor and his stunt double who strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles. The film will also intersect with the Charles Manson cult.
Margot Robbie will play Sharon Tate, Leonardo DiCaprio will play Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt is Cliff Booth, Dakota Fanning will play Squeaky Fromme, Al Pacino is set as Marvin Shwarz and Damian Lewis will play Steve McQueen. Kurt Russell, Timothy Olyphant, Margaret Qualley, Tim Roth and the late Luke Perry are also among cast.
Written and directed by Tarantino, it is financed by Sony’s Columbia Pictures, and produced by Shannon McIntosh and David Heyman.
Separately, Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo by Abdellatif Kechiche was also added in Cannes competition, while Gaspar Noé’s Lux Æterna has been added to the Midnight Screening section. Additions to Un Certain Regard are La famosa invasione degli orsi in Sicilia by Lorenzo Mattotti and Odnazhdy v Trubchevske by Larissa Sadilova. Special Screening additions comprise Chicuarotes by Gael García Bernal, La Cordillera de los sueños by Patricio Guzmán, Ice on Fire by Leila Conners and 5B by Dan Krauss.
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Home > ~ Tangents > Non Sequiturs > Anatomy of the Harreld Hire
Anatomy of the Harreld Hire
September 13, 2015 By Mark 4 Comments
As an alumnus of the University of Iowa, the recent hiring of J. Bruce Harreld to be the new president of my alma mater gives me pause. In the aftermath of that hire there has been an outpouring of frustration about the hiring process and selection, voiced immediately through votes of no-confidence in the Iowa Board of Regents by both the faculty and students. Chief among the complaints seems to be that the hire may have been a backroom deal brokered by a malevolent force on the Board of Regents, who is disinterested in whether the university can meet its core responsibilities as an institution of higher learning.
While I sympathize with anyone’s frustration in trying to get the truth out of a politically appointed bureaucrat, plausible deniability is a cornerstone of all political chicanery, and can at times approach high art. So the idea that a smoking gun might suddenly appear and reveal the entire hiring process to have been deliberate fraud is unlikely at best. In fact, attacking the regents would only play to the board’s strengths given their control of the hiring process, their secrecy, and particularly their institutional ability to deny and delay until everyone just runs out of indignation.
From time to time, however, bureaucrats — and particularly politically appointed bureaucrats — forget that while they’re cooking the books or lying to the people they purportedly serve they’re still obligated to meet a minimum standard of competence. They don’t have to be rocket scientists, or even rock scientists, but they do have to meet basic tests of accountability, particularly when working in government.
In questioning the mechanics of how Harreld was hired, a crime is being alleged. It may be that an actual crime took place, having to do with hiring practices and government regulations and things I know nothing about, or that the crime was metaphorical. It is frustrating that we will probably never have access to the information that would allow us to determine who, specifically, engineered such a crime, but we don’t have to know whodunnit to know that a crime took place.
The Board of Regents unanimously agreed to hire Harreld at a salary of $600,000 for each of five years, plus $1,000,000 in deferred compensation, meaning Harreld will be paid a minimum of $4,000,000 under the current contract. What makes that particularly remarkable, and factors into the outrage at his hiring, is that J. Bruce Harreld is demonstrably unqualified for the job. That the Iowa Board of Regents insisted, unanimously, on hiring him anyway, obviously calls their own competence into question.
The usual bureaucratic dodge is to say that there was ample opportunity to ask questions and raise objections during the hiring process, that the decision has been made, that it will not be reversed, and that it is now incumbent on everyone to move past any sour grapes and work together as professionals to make the University of Iowa great. As a factual matter, the four finalists for the position did each appear in an open forum and answer questions from stakeholders, and those forums did take place before the regents came to their unanimous determination. If people wanted to raise objections so the regents would factor those concerns into their own decision-making process, they should have made their voices heard.
Preliminary results from the AAUP survey show Ohio State University Provost Joseph Steinmetz with the most support and J. Bruce Harreld, former IBM, Boston Market Company, and Kraft General Foods executive, with the least support.
Of the more than 440 UI faculty members who responded to the AAUP survey — a voluntary poll conducted online that asked the same 10 questions for each candidate — 98 percent said they believe Steinmetz is qualified to be UI president.
Among faculty, only about 3 percent thought Harreld is qualified. The other two candidates — Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov and Tulane University Provost Michael Bernstein — also received high marks from the faculty, with about 94 percent calling Bernstein qualified for the job and 91 percent saying so of Krislov.
Of the 230-plus students, staff, and community members who responded to the AAUP poll, about 95 percent said they thought Steinmetz is qualified for the job, followed by Krislov at 84 percent, Bernstein at 80 percent, and Harreld at 4 percent.
Fair enough. Rather than dwell on the past we will look to the future, and in particular the future graduates of the University of Iowa who are now being led by a man who was not simply the least qualified of the final four candidates vying for president, but unqualified for the position. Because in insisting that they had the right to hire whomever they want, the Board or Regents has not only undercut the very premise of the institution that Harreld now leads, they have eviscerated the criteria by which the students at that institution are judged on a daily basis.
The Competence Problem
The University of Iowa has more than 32,000 students, of which over 22,000 are undergraduates. In searching for a new president to lead those students four finalists were chosen, and by all accounts three of those candidates were more than qualified, by virtue of their professional experience, to helm a large university. The fourth candidate, J. Bruce Harreld, was decidedly not qualified by virtue of his professional experience, which, in an educational setting, included only teaching.
His resume says he taught Master of Business Administration students at Harvard from 2008 to 2014. During his time there, a number of his writings and publications focused on pulling business out of crisis, and reinvigorating stagnant businesses. He also taught an MBA course at Northwestern University in 1993.
So how does Harreld’s business background position him to lead an institution of higher learning? It doesn’t, and as soon as Harreld was hired, he himself acknowledged that he had a lot to learn. In fact, he made it explicitly clear that he would be relying on the people under him to teach him how to actually do the job that the regents were paying him $4,000,000 to do.
“I will be the first to admit that my unusual background requires a lot of help, a lot of coaching,” Harreld told reporters after the Iowa Board of Regents voted unanimously to give him the job. “And I’m going to turn to a whole lot of people that were highly critical and really tough on me the other day and ask them if they would be great mentors and teachers (to me). And I suspect and hope all of them will.”
Granted, it’s probably a given that people who are now subordinate to the unqualified Harreld, who have also now been singled out for being “highly critical and really tough” on him, will teach him how to do his job, if only to protect their careers. Unfortunately, the faculty and staff who will be mentoring the new $4,000,000 president on basic aspects of his position — none of which would have been necessary had the regents hired any of the other three qualified candidates — are not the only ones who will be burdened by his incompetence.
Among the pressing problems facing the students at the University of Iowa are alcohol abuse, the stigma of being seen as a party school, and a shocking correlation between alcohol abuse and sexual assault. How is Harreld prepared to meet those cultural challenges, drawing on his expertise as a businessman? He isn’t. Harreld has no relevant experience, and the Iowa Board of Regents knew he had no relevant experience when they hired him, even as the regents also knew about those pressing problems. How does Harreld’s business experience position him to meet the core mission of an institution of higher learning, which is of course education? It doesn’t, because Harreld has no background in education other than teaching a few business courses.
In hiring the next president of the University of Iowa, the Board of Regents had one overriding responsibility, which was to bring in someone who was qualified to take on the most pressing issues facing the students. In explaining why they abdicated that core responsibility and chose someone who was unprepared for the position, the regents claim that Harreld brings other qualifications to the table which compensate for his fundamental deficiencies. In asserting their belief that Harreld’s other qualifications will prove transformative, the regents are not only gambling that the new president can be taught to do the job he was actually hired to do, they are making a blind $4,000,000 bet that Harreld’s ideas will also prove to be of benefit.
In responding to concerns from stakeholders about Harreld’s complete lack of qualifications, and in justifying Harreld’s hire, the regents insist that Harreld’s strengths as a candidate were formidable. While nowhere have these strengths been enumerated other than to point out Harreld’s business successes, including, apparently, the ability to use a telephone, what the regents have failed to address is the singular difference between a demonstrated ability to make money and a demonstrated ability to educate students.
Money does not think. Whether money is working for a crime boss or a philanthropist, it just does what it’s told. Students not only do think, in an educational setting they are expected to think and taught to think, and therein lies another problem with the hiring of J. Bruce Harreld.
The Credibility Problem
Just as Harreld now wakes up each morning and tackles daily remedial lessons in how to be a university president, all across the Iowa campus 32,000 other students are starting their semester under his unqualified watch. Whether they know much about Harreld or not, by now they have probably learned that when he met with interested stakeholders in an open forum prior to his unanimous selection by the Iowa Board of Regents, he not only admitted that what he knew about the University of Iowa came from Wikipedia, but that some of the information on his resume was false.
Faculty members have also expressed concern over Harreld’s résumé, which states that he’s the managing principal for Colorado-based Executing Strategy LLC, a firm with an expired registration in Massachusetts. Harreld admits that the firm no longer exists and that he neglected to update his résumé.
While perhaps engendering solidarity with students who have also cited Wikipedia, or who are a bit fuzzy about their own biographical information, those students probably still draw some distinction between their own halting efforts to learn how to research a subject or present themselves, and the level of professionalism they expect in a candidate for president of their university. By the same token, while many university students need remedial instruction because of deficits in their secondary education, and some students may feel a kinship with Harreld because he is unprepared for the task that he has been assigned — else he would not have graciously volunteered for, and in fact obliquely ordered, his own remedial instruction — at some point even the most genial of students will notice that while they are paying tuition in order to receive their remedial tutelage, Harreld is being paid $600,000 a year to endure his.
It may also occur to some of Harreld’s 32,000 student peers that while Harreld has had some business success, he and they all have exactly the same amount of professional experience running an institution of higher learning. In fact, as the semester grinds on, more and more students may find themselves sitting back and thinking about a great many things at their school, because that’s what students are encouraged to do, expected to do and taught to do. And from an academic perspective it’s hard not to think that the hiring of an unqualified candidate into a position of authority seems to undercut the very premise of higher education, including the idea that you have to know something about a subject or discipline in order to land a cushy, all-inclusive, high-paying job in a given field.
In the real world is it really the case that making money selling products qualifies you to do any job in any industry, or do you actually have to know something about the specifics of the position you take? Can you really expect everyone else to make up for your deficiencies, particularly when you’re getting paid more than any of those people, or should you have to prepare yourself for the work you want to do by making that work your career? Can you really get hired just by saying the right buzzwords, or prattling on about slogans, or do you have to have coherent ideas and relevant experience?
Alternatively, some students may now be wondering why they should study hard and get good grades in their chosen discipline, let alone commit to a specific career, if the job they ultimately want is going to be given to someone who made a bunch of bureaucrats drool at the prospect of going from great to greater? What does that even mean, anyway? What are the metrics of greaterness? More to the point, would such a proposal pass muster in first-semester rhetoric class, or would the faculty at the University of Iowa expect a bit more concrete detail?
While the performance that Harreld gave at his open forum proved embarrassing, in the context of higher education — and particularly from the perspective of students at an institution of higher learning — it takes on an even more ludicrous slant. What would any professor say to a student who gave a presentation in which they cited Wikipedia as a source or submitted bogus biographical information? What possible conclusion could be drawn other than that the student was — at best — unprepared? And what are all of the other students at the University of Iowa to make of the fact that while they are being held to an appropriately high standard, Harreld flunked his presentation by every conceivable metric, needs remedial instruction in order to be minimally competent, yet still got the job and will now be paid $4,000,000? In the face of that decision by the Board of Regents, what can any professor say to any student about the need to be prepared, to be qualified, and to be factually accurate?
Which brings us to those students who are concerned about the culture at Iowa, including problems related to substance use and sexual assault. The regents had an opportunity to bring in someone with a proven track record of dealing with such issues, but instead they went as far as they could in the opposite direction short of hiring a private-equity firm to cleave the university into salable assets, liquidate the art collection, then move the remaining shell into bankruptcy so as to void any outstanding pension or health benefits.
If you’re currently a student at the University of Iowa, and you just came back from summer break, and you’re taking this all in, and you’ve got a sick feeling that you’re the last priority on the list at the Iowa Board of Regents, you are factually correct. There is no other conclusion you could possibly draw from Harreld’s hire. The unanimous decision by the Iowa Board of Regents to hire an unqualified candidate with zero life experience dealing with not merely any or most but all of the issues of importance to you can only be seen as a complete abdication of responsibility, if not an open and contemptuous betrayal.
The Criteria Problem
Now, you may be thinking that use of the word ‘unqualified’ is somehow unfair to both Harreld and the Board of Regents. Perhaps you would prefer least-qualified or minimally qualified, or alternately qualified, or magically qualified. Unfortunately, we can only know if a person is qualified by referring to established criteria, and on that point the Board of Regents has created a fair amount of confusion — except, incredibly, on the rather salient question of whether Harreld is qualified by all or even any of the normal criteria applicable to the world of higher education.
By Harreld’s own admission that he needs to be taught what to do, and by the regents’ own admission that Harreld was hired because of strengths in other areas, it is beyond factual dispute that Harreld is not qualified to be president of the University of Iowa, or any university, or any college, or a high school, or a junior high, or a small country elementary school, or a preschool, or a daycare. The explanation for how he still came to be named president of the University of Iowa is that while Harreld is not qualified in any normal or traditional or expected or common sense, he brings non-traditional experience and skills to the job that more than offset the fact that he does not actually know how to do the job that he is now being paid $4,000,000 to do.
So, as a sign of good faith, and in order to stop harping on the obvious when we are in fact all in agreement, we will accept ‘non-traditional’ as a euphemism for ‘unqualified’, because that is exactly the basis on which both Harreld and the regents have employed that term. That in turn allows us to get on with the more important business of explaining why that euphemistic assertion inevitably leads to two additional concerns about Harreld’s non-traditional candidacy and unanimous appointment.
First, it’s probably safe to assume that some minimal hiring criteria were established for the position of president of the University of Iowa. Even allowing for non-traditional candidacies, at the very least there would have been non-negotiable requirements in terms of degrees held, citizenship, outstanding felony warrants, etc. We know this because not only is doing so useful in helping candidates self-select for their own viability, it’s important in terms of laws covering the hiring of personnel. While I don’t know what the minimum stated qualifications were for the position of president in this case, we can safely assume that Harreld met those tests because he would not have otherwise been hired.
It is also important for candidates to know, however, if any additional criteria might factor into the decision-making process, so again candidates have some ability to determine their own viability, and know how to best position themselves during the interview process. For example, if the Board of Regents issued a minimum set of criteria, but refused to divulge that it was secretly looking for a candidate wearing sparkly ruby-red shoes, then all sorts of impropriety might ensue. Candidates without that knowledge would be at an obvious disadvantage, while candidates informed of that unstated criterion — including perhaps the only candidate informed of that criterion — would be a shoo-in. (I’m so sorry. Really. I will not do that again.)
Speaking of which, given that Harreld’s prior business success apparently outweighed any deficiencies in his candidacy — which was, unambiguously, deficient in every other way, and acknowledged as such by both the regents and Harreld himself — were all of the other candidates notified in advance that such a determination might be made? Because if that was not the case — if that potential weighting of criteria was not acknowledged in advance — then those other candidates might now feel that the hiring process was not entirely on the up-and-up.
Second, and assuming that the criteria that led to Harreld’s hiring were listed in full in advance of the hiring process, how much effort did the Board of Regents put into finding other people who were as non-traditionally qualified, or perhaps even more non-traditionally qualified, than Harreld? While it’s clear that Harreld was the only non-traditional candidate to make the final four, was that also true when the candidates were whittled down during prior phases of the search process? Because if Harreld was the only non-traditional candidate in the hiring pipeline, or the only one with his level of non-traditional qualifications, and the regents new in advance that his ruby-red non-traditional qualifications were exactly what they were looking for — instead of, say becoming aware of that overwhelming conviction at the last possible moment — then it’s again possible that the other candidates, and in particular the more traditionally qualified candidates, might feel that the hiring process was unfair.
If the regents did not know in advance that they were looking for big, bold, non-traditional ideas and candidates, then it stands to reason that such criteria would have been omitted from the minimum qualifications, which in turn means Harreld would never have applied unless he was convinced of a messianic capacity to sway unbelievers. Is that what happened? Did the force of Harreld’s Wikipedia citation, or perhaps his forthright explanation for why information on his resume was false, win the day?
If the regents did know in advance that they were looking for big, bold, non-traditional ideas and candidates, then it stands to reason that such criteria would have been stated in advance, meaning other such candidates would have applied, perhaps with even better non-traditional qualifications than Harreld. And if that was the case, if the Board of Regents knew they were leaning toward a business-oriented candidate, doesn’t it seem as if more than one such candidate should have made the final cut, thus giving the regents a choice, instead of leaving them handcuffed?
The Conceptual Problem
What were these big, bold, transformational ideas that Harreld used to sway the Board of Regents into hiring a candidate who had no qualifications for the position other than being non-traditional and having big, bold ideas? Well, having read a fair number of accounts I have no idea, and I’m not sure anyone does. In fact, it’s not at all clear that Harreld presented his ideas to anyone during his candidacy, except — and here we do acknowledge some relevance to education — in spitball form.
Did the Regents get some briefing or presentation from Harreld that has not been reported? If Harreld did wow the regents with his big, bold ideas, why was he not able to communicate those same big, bold thoughts during the open forum in which he foundered? Conversely, if he did not wow the regents with his big, bold ideas, why was he hired?
If Harreld did not present his big, bold ideas at all, then on what conceivable grounds could the Board of Regents have been enamored of his non-traditional candidacy? Given that Harreld’s exhaustive research into the University of Iowa consisted of looking at a Wikipedia page, how confident could the regents be that Harreld’s big, bold, business-centric ideas would be materially different from, say, the various schemes enacted by for-profit colleges over the past decade? How well-versed is Harreld in that tawdry history, including the fact that they were all founded by business executives for the express purpose of bringing big, bold new ideas to education – right up until they were all but wiped out by the federal government as a result of widespread fraud? How intensively has Harreld studied what has been tried and what has failed in the education industry when profit becomes the administrative motivation for educating young minds? If Harreld used Wikipedia to look up his future employer, and he can’t remember whether the information on his own resume is accurate, what confidence can anyone have in his ability to put together big, bold, innovative plans for driving an educational mission through the application of business metrics that may never have been used for that purpose — or worse, have been used for that purpose, but only to defraud students?
From the outside looking in — and obviously I may have missed something — nowhere in Harreld’s candidacy do I see the rigorous modeling, meticulously documented facts, extensive research and detailed planning that are not simply cornerstones of higher education, but cornerstones of the teaching and study done at the University of Iowa’s own Henry B. Tippie College of Business. Instead, what I see are a lot of upbeat quotes in the press from the Board of Regents, and upbeat statements from Harreld, and vague, non-binding promises wrapped in pugnacious enthusiasm, all of which are a hallmark of business, and particularly the sales side of business.
If Harreld’s bold ideas were so incredibly compelling that three other fully qualified candidates were passed over, why are those big, bold, beautiful ideas being kept secret? Or do they even exist? Because as it stands now, although I don’t have an MBA myself, I’m reasonably confident that nobody on the faculty of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business would have awarded Harreld free housing and $600,000 a year for five years on the basis of what Harreld has presented so far, even if they were explicitly told to ignore his complete lack of competency in every other regard.
Were I a cynic I might even wonder, based on Harreld’s admittedly brief track record with the university, if Harreld intended to enlist the faculty of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business in fleshing out, or perhaps detailing, or perhaps even creating from scratch, all of his big, bold ideas — albeit after other faculty and staff finish teaching him whatever he needs to know to avoid accidentally burning the university to the ground. But I am no cynic.
Harreld hasn’t laid out the specific measures he would take to raise revenue or cut costs—he couldn’t be reached to comment for this piece—but, during his application process, he said to reporters and in public forums that he was looking forward to learning about the workings of the university and that he would collaborate with professors and others to come up with decisions that would serve the campus well.
I don’t know who those ‘others’ might be, and I can’t say whether Harreld might be more predisposed to favor the wishes of the people who cut his checks as opposed to the little people on the faculty and staff, to say nothing of the very little people who pay tuition, all of whose input the regents insolently ignored during the hiring process. Still, given that the regents seem very concerned about money, it’s worth wondering why they’re paying an unqualified person $4,000,000 dollars not only to learn on the job, but to use the university’s own resources to develop the currently nonexistent plans that apparently made his candidacy irresistible. Again, while I have no background in business, it seems to me that the regents could have had all of Harreld’s big, bold, future ideas simply by hiring him as a consultant, or perhaps as a professor in the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, thereby leaving the position of president to be filled by someone who actually knew what they were doing. (In business circles I believe such a decision would be characterized as a win-win.)
Better yet, why didn’t the regents skip hiring Harreld altogether and simply give the problems that Harreld has promised to solve — using his cumulative zero years of experience in academic administration and the intellectual infrastructure of the University of Iowa — to the exemplary faculty, administrative staff and MBA students in the Henry B. Tippie College of Business? What better place to find people who not only understand business and the unique needs of educational institutions, but who particularly understand the unique needs of the University of Iowa? That in turn would again have allowed the regents to hire a qualified president to take care of all the other responsibilities of the job that are at this very moment wanting.
The more I think about it, the more hard-pressed I am to see how passing on any of the three qualified finalists and pulling the trigger on Harreld advances anyone’s goals. Any of the other three candidates could have worked with the College of Business to put together a well-researched, cutting-edge plan based on both the most recent scholarship and current economic realities, using their established credibility in academia to make sure that all constituencies and stakeholders were heard from and accounted for. What conceivable advantage could there be in injecting an unqualified individual into the middle of such a process? Why insist on hiring an intellectual interloper in need of remedial education? Verily, what constituency could possibly be served by such machinations?
The Conviction Problem
We said at the outset that we will probably never know if some shady backroom deal took place in the hiring of Harreld to be president of the University of Iowa. We also said that doesn’t matter, because from the facts already in evidence we could conclude that a crime had taken place, even if only the crime of incompetence. Whether Harreld really does believe that he embodies big, transformative, future ideas and simply lucked into the right moment in history, whether he saw an opportunity to cash in late in life by promising to do whatever the regents want him to do in exchange for $4,000,000, or whether there are more nefarious motives at work, the buck stops with the regents because Harreld could not have hired himself.
The problem for the Board of Regents is that they have no capacity to plead innocence or ignorance. They hired this guy, unanimously. And while their crime may only be incompetence, it’s entirely possible that their crime is more than metaphorical. In fact, given what we do know, it’s almost impossible not to reach that conclusion.
Leaving aside everything we’ve discussed so far, imagine that you were one of the other candidates who originally applied for the job of president at the University of Iowa. Maybe you didn’t go on to make the final cut, maybe you did, but you were in the hunt, and sincere about your interest in the position.
Now imagine that you eventually lose out to a white heterosexual male. Depending on your life experience that may or may not cause you to raise an eyebrow, but if an eyebrow did go up, it would be understandable. Still, because the position is at a major university, and followed on the heels of a long and inclusive hiring process in which many voices were heard, you decide to ignore your cynical brow.
Now imagine that the white heterosexual male that you lost out to had no professional experience relevant to the position. Yes, he taught a few courses, but he had no administrative experience in education, at all, while you do. Might your other eyebrow go up? Or both at the same time?
Now imagine that the justification for hiring the white heterosexual male with no relevant work experience turns out to be big, bold ideas drawn from the world of business, yet none of those big, bold ideas are in evidence. No matter where you look, those transformative ideas seem to be nothing more than a promise. What would you think?
Now imagine that the white heterosexual male with no relevant work experience and a portfolio of dreams not only received a hostile reception from faculty, staff and other interested stakeholders based on his lack of qualifications, but information on his resume proved to be demonstrably false. What could you possibly conclude except that some hidden factors weighed heavily in the decision to hire that candidate, and that you may have been discriminated against as a result?
Fortunately, just as you are about to spiral into a paranoid abyss, a dim bulb pops on in your belfry and you belatedly realize that whatever non-traditional experience the white heterosexual male with the falsified resume has, it must be world-class. To assuage your fears you begrudgingly read up on the victorious candidate and learn that he had a solid record as a business executive, at which point you quite reasonably assume that he must have demonstrated the same abilities in an academic setting in order to so impress the regents.
While a frightening thought in its own right, particularly for the University of Iowa, you momentarily entertain a swashbuckling fantasy in which you were bested by the collegiate equivalent of “Chainsaw Al” Dunlap. Yet the more you read the more you find that the new president actually has no documented experience applying business practices to higher education. No demonstrated excellence, no demonstrated expertise, no demonstrated attempts. You find nothing except an acknowledgment by the candidate and the regents that his hire will be a $4,000,000 experiment.
What thoughts might start banging around in your head at that point? Would you wonder if you were you fully informed as to the relevant criteria for the position? Would you wonder if the Board of Regents actually used you as a smokescreen to give the hiring process the appearance of legitimacy, while all the while wasting your time? Given that you went to the trouble to research the University of Iowa beyond looking at a Wikipedia page, and you double-checked all of the facts on your resume, and you prepared for the position by working in academic administration and working with students and learning the unique set of skills necessary for that unique mission, what could you possibly think when you found out who got the job — even if you yourself were a white heterosexual male?
Now, I’m not a lawyer and I know nothing about hiring practices and discrimination lawsuits, but based on what I’ve seen over the course of my life I’m not sure you could make a hire look worse. In fact, if the regents had gotten together and set out to make the Harreld hire look bad, to the point that people would end up wondering how they were qualified to make any decision including choosing toilet paper, I’m not sure they could have done a better job.
As a practical matter I think it’s unlikely that anyone will sue, but not because there aren’t grounds for a suit. It’s unlikely because people won’t want to put themselves through that abuse, and they won’t want to be labeled a troublemaker in the educational community. Then again, maybe there is one person who’s had enough, and really does feel cheated. Or maybe they just feel that education is separate from business, that it is equal to business, that it is, ultimately, the engine of business, and that hiring any of the people who trained Harreld to be a success in business would have made a hell of a lot more sense than hiring Harreld himself.
If there was such a candidate, who believed that seasoned educational administrators should administrate, and that the culture of a university is important and unique, and that the safety and welfare of its students is of primary importance, then that candidate might be moved to file a case alleging discriminatory or fraudulent hiring practices, which would then allow them to use the lever of justice to compel the Iowa Board of Regents to answer questions that it is currently unwilling to answer. Because while you can tell the public that you’ve got big, bold ideas, and you can tell the press that there’s nothing to see here, and you can tell the faculty and staff at the University of Iowa that it’s time to get back to work, and you can promise the students that they’re going to be greater than great, when the federal government comes calling you don’t get to tell them anything. They tell you, and they aren’t going to wait in the outer office or beg you for five minutes of perfunctory and disingenuous attention before they let you hear it.
What will come of this mess I don’t know. As long as Harreld doesn’t burn the university to the ground the regents can frame anything he does as vindication because there won’t be anything else to compare it to. Harreld will get his $4,000,000, if not more, the regents will get whatever they’re getting out of the hire, and the university will have to band together to overcome the inadequacies of both.
Still, if Harreld really is a good guy, there’s a chance that he may come to his senses — perhaps during one of his remedial classes — and realize that right now he himself is the university’s main liability. Perhaps he’ll suddenly comprehend the full scope of his responsibilities, and how woefully unprepared he is to meet them. If he really cares about the education of young minds, he might even realize that his mere presence sets the school back and undercuts its mission. Or he might realize that none of the students signed up to be part of whatever undisclosed, untested, unformulated experiments he and the regents have in mind.
Then again, to be fair, it should be noted that Harreld has presented one big, bold idea, and it’s an idea that I believe everyone at the University of Iowa can get behind.
Anticipating several repeated questions on why he would want the job, Harreld wrapped his 37-minute remarks saying simply, “I think I can help.”
“If [I] can’t,” he said, “Kick me out of here. Literally kick me out of here because I have better things to do, you have better things to do.”
Even if nothing is ever proven, and nobody files suit, and the press gets bored and moves on to smaller things, by his very presence Harreld will perpetually dispel the notion that hard work and relevant experience win out over money and political favor. Bitter lessons that Harreld’s student peers will undoubtedly take with them into their own working lives, even as they may have preferred otherwise. Unless of course they all have high, six-figure salaries and private tutors with multiple advanced degrees awaiting them as belated compensation.
The Board of Regents will certainly not fire Harreld after just hiring him, but that’s to be expected. Politically appointed bureaucrats are not by nature concerned about right and wrong, which means the hope that one of the current members of the board may be having second thoughts, or may speak out about any aspect of the hiring process that troubled them, remains remote. What remains certain from the facts in evidence is that when given the opportunity to put the students at the University of Iowa first, and presented with multiple qualified candidates who would have done just that, the best that can be said of the nine members of the Iowa Board of Regents is that they decided instead to give $4,000,000 to a dilettante.
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Harreld Hire Culture Update says:
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Artificial nose identifies malignant tissue in brain tumours during surgery
An artificial nose developed at Tampere University, Finland, helps neurosurgeons to identify cancerous tissue during surgery and enables the more precise excision of tumours.
Electrosurgical resection using devices such as an electric knife or diathermy blade is currently a widely used technique in neurosurgery.
When tissue is burned, tissue molecules are dispersed in the form of surgical smoke.
In the method developed by researchers at Tampere University, the surgical smoke is fed into a new type of measuring system that can identify malignant tissue and distinguish it from healthy tissue.
An article on using surgical smoke to identify brain tumours was recently published in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
"In current clinical practice, frozen section analysis is the gold standard for intraoperative tumour identification.
In that method, a small sample of the tumour is given to a pathologist during surgery," says researcher Ilkka Haapala from Tampere University.
The pathologist undertakes a microscopic analysis of the sample and phones the operating theatre to report the results.
"Our new method offers both a promising way to identify malignant tissue in real time and the ability to study several samples from different points of the tumour," Haapala explains.
"The specific advantage of the equipment is that it can be connected to the instrumentation already present in neurosurgical operating theatres," Haapala points out.
The technology is based on differential mobility spectrometry (DMS), wherein flue gas ions are fed into an electric field.
The distribution of ions in the electric field is tissue-specific, and the tissue can be identified on the basis of the resulting "odour fingerprint".
The study analysed 694 tissue samples collected from 28 brain tumours and control specimens.
The equipment used was developed specifically for the study.
It consists of a machine learning system, which analyses the flue gas with DMS technology, and an electric knife, which is used to produce the flue gas from the tissues.
The system's classification accuracy was 83% when all the samples were analysed.
The accuracy improved in more restricted settings.
When comparing low malignancy tumours (gliomas) to control samples, the classification accuracy of the system was 94%, reaching to 97% sensitivity and 90% specificity.
Source: Tampere University
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Super Teams Are Destroying The NBA
Chris Milholen
Super teams are great if you’re cheering for one, but they’re destroying the NBA—and that’s a problem.
The NBA today cannot be totally compared to any era in recent history. The “super team era” era is not only hurting the league, but it is destroying the NBA.
Usually built through signing free agents, super teams—stockpiling a roster full of All-Stars has become more common in recent years.
An argument can be made that the 2007 Boston Celtics, which had the talents of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen—who were arguably all in their prime—started the super team trend. The Celtics won it all 2008 and were a force for years until trading Garnett and Pierce to Brooklyn in 2013.
But the most notable example was when LeBron James and Chris Bosh both signed with the Miami Heat during their free agency in 2010 to team up with Dwayne Wade and form “The Big Three,” which won consecutive titles in 2012 and 2013. They dominated the Eastern Conference until LeBron jumped ship to return to Cleveland in 2014.
Today, the NBA is completely dominated by super teams. The Eastern Conference is controlled by two super teams—Boston and Cleveland.
The Celtics were one of the top teams in the conference last year but, with the offseason additions of Kyrie Irving via trade and Gordon Hayward through free agency, Boston is right back to being a super team and a favorite to win it all.
The Cavaliers are the other, built around stars LeBron James, Kevin Love, Dwayne Wade, and Isiah Thomas. Not only that, but they have an elite bench which includes notable names like Derrick Rose, J.R Smith, Iman Shumpert, and sharpshooter Kyle Korver.
The projected three-and-four seeds in the East—teams like Milwaukee, Toronto and Washington—don’t stand much of a chance of taking down the Celtics or the Cavs in a best-of-seven playoff series. Those two super teams have taken most of the competitive excitement away from the Eastern Conference.
The Western Conference has had and continues to have better overall teams than the East for the past couple of seasons. But the competitiveness of the West is also controlled by super teams.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 07: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers fight for position in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors are the top Super Team in the NBA, built with elite all-around talent. A starting lineup that features Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, supported by an elite bench roster including Nick Young, David West and Andre Iguodala; the Warriors are the team to beat in the NBA.
There is a new super team in the West to give the Warriors some competition: the Oklahoma City Thunder, which recently added Carmelo Anthony and Paul George via trade to help their franchise player, reigning NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, contend for a championship. The Thunder have not only formed the newest “Big Three” and the newest super team but, with players such as big man Steven Adams still around, the Thunder are not only the team to watch in the Western Conference but are in contention to win it all.
The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are also considered top teams in the West but will have trouble beating out these two powerhouse super teams in the playoffs. For the rest of the West, they can only hope to make the playoffs, not contend for a title.
Super teams have never controlled the NBA as much as they currently do. Not only does it ruin the competitive nature of the league, but it discourages teams from trying to contend—because they know they can’t.
While NBA commissioner Adam Silver has taken steps towards getting rid of tanking by teams like Philadelphia—which knew it had no chance of competing—nothing will really change until super teams are history.
NEXT: John Wall Dunks on Michael Beasley (Video)
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Grit in the Classroom
David Anthony Vaughn, Loyola University ChicagoFollow
In the United States today, educational opportunity is not equally distributed. Statistical data show a persistent educational achievement gap that disproportionately affects students of color or with a low socioeconomic status. There have been countless efforts to reform this inequality within the American school system; however, many efforts have ignored underlying issues regarding power structures and may instead be rooted in the biased beliefs of dominant culture. Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) Public Charter Schools, in particular, emphasize seven character strengths that are intended to promote success for their students and bring them to and through college. Such traits may provide valuable insights on the intersection of education and on structural issues such as culture, power and race. This thesis explores the intersection of the character strength grit as proposed by Angela Duckworth and how it intersects with equity. The hope is that through the use of teacher interviews and classroom observations, readers can better understand how teachers understand the racial or socioeconomic implications of teaching grit in their classrooms.
Vaughn, David Anthony, "Grit in the Classroom" (2016). Master's Theses. 3358.
Copyright © 2016 David Anthony Vaughn
Educational Psychology Commons
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Relevance of gender in the policy area
The Digital Agenda for Europe was established with a view to stimulating economic growth while at the same time addressing social challenges through information and communications technology. In both cases, gender has particular relevance.
In terms of economic growth, the so-called knowledge economy is a key economic factor underpinning national and EU development. The World Bank suggests that every 10 % increase in access to broadband results in a 1.38 % rise in GDP in developing countries. The 2015 progress report on the EU Digital Agenda confirms this correlation: digitalisation accounted for 30 % of growth in GDP in the EU between 2001 and 2011.
According to the Broadband Commission report, the presence of women online can boost GDP: bringing an additional 600 million women and girls online around the world will result in a GDP increase of up to USD 18 billion.
The report underlines that, for women, having access to the Internet means:
increased efficiency/productivity in their work and businesses;
improved access to markets to sell and buy goods;
improved education;
wider networks;
new innovations;
faster access to relevant information.
In addition, the European Commission report Women active in the ICT sector concludes that including more women in the digital economy could create an annual GDP boost in the EU of EUR 9 billion.
In terms of addressing social challenges, access to modern ICT and the Internet enables the exercise of human rights, freedom of expression, cultural rights and the right to assembly. It can also confer a sense of identity. Internet access also encompasses the right to participate and fully engage in policy and decision-making processes, thereby making the Internet a gateway to new ideas and opportunities and a driving force for innovation.
Women’s digital inclusion is an empowering process, giving women a voice and enabling them to effectively participate in governance processes and innovate to build and shape the future they want.
Furthermore, ICT also enables people to acquire new skills and acts as a catalyst in the delivery of public services such as education, employment, healthcare and financial services. In this light, ensuring equal access to ICT and the Internet is not only a matter of human rights (e.g. freedom of expression); it would also improve women’s health and the health of their families and communities, support women’s access to education and other social services, and contribute to women’s employment, economic independence and the sustainable development of their livelihoods.
However, the full potential that women can bring to the digital field – in terms of economically sustainable growth, human rights and social achievement – is still blocked by persistent gender inequalities. First of all, there is a gender divide in Internet use among women and men. This may be related to the lower take-up of digital education among women: for example, the use of ICT and the Internet is usually part of scientific education pathways, where women are present in smaller numbers. Women are also underrepresented in ICT employment and are generally employed in low-quality digital jobs, despite research suggesting that gender balance in high-value ICT positions, both in management and operational roles, improves business performance.
Second, ICT has been increasingly associated with cybercrime, which is increasingly becoming an instrument to harass and harm women while at the same time reinforcing existing structures of inequality.
The Digital Agenda is thus an area that remains influenced by a set of persistent gender inequalities. These are as follows:
gender gaps and differences in access to and use of digital technologies;
gender gaps and differences in digital-related education: segregation across fields of study among women and men and girls and boys;
gender and the digital labour market: women’s low participation in the digital labour market and in particular in high-quality jobs and top management positions;
ICT, cybercrime and gender.
Gender inequalities in the policy area - Main issues
Gender gaps and differences in access to and use of digital technologies
According to 2015 Eurostat data, 81 % of EU households have access to the Internet. This ranges from 96 % in the Netherlands and Luxembourg to 57 % in Bulgaria. Even though these data are not disaggregated by sex, studies suggest that access to the Internet is probably less widespread among women-headed households for various reasons, such as lower income, lower digital skills and less interest in Internet technologies.
Eurostat data also show that 54 % of men aged 16–74 years use mobile devices to access the Internet, compared to 48 % of women in the same age group. In the EU-28, Internet use is widespread among both women and men in the 16–74 years age group. However, women tend to use computers and the Internet less than men (62 % of women compared to 68 % of men). Between 2010 and 2014 the percentage of women aged 16–74 frequently using the Internet increased by 13 % (compared with a 9 % increase among men over the same period), considerably narrowing the gender gap. The Broadband Commission’s report finds that gender gaps in Internet use tend to increase when it comes to more complex uses of the Internet. For instance:
18 % of women aged 16–74 use the Internet to download software content, compared to 33 % of men in the same age group (2013 data);
35 % of women aged 16–74 use the Internet to listen to the radio or watch television programmes online, compared to 41 % of men (2014 data);
42 % of women compared to 47 % of men aged 16–74 use Internet banking (2014 data);
17 % of women aged 16–74 use the Internet to sell goods compared to 22 % of men in the same age group;
13 % of women aged 16–74 use the Internet to buy online compared to 20 % of men in the same age group.
Women generally use other communication technologies, such as social networking sites, email, video calls, instant messaging, texting and phone calls, more often than men. When using social media websites, women and men behave differently – women tend to disclose more than men. There are also gender differences regarding the type of Facebook friends to whom women and men divulge information. Women tend to reveal more to their face-to-face friends and exclusive Facebook friends than men; men have more intimate discussions with their recently added Facebook friends than women.
Gender gaps and differences in digital-related education
According to 2014 Eurostat data, more women (42.3 %) than men (33.6 %) go on to higher education, yet women are present in greater numbers in the humanities than in scientific fields. According to Eurostat data, the number of women graduates in science and technology per 1 000 inhabitants was half that of men in 2012: 11 % of women compared to 22 % of men aged 22–29. The increase in the percentages of third-level graduates in science and technology over the 2010–2012 period is slightly higher for men (+2.9 p.p.) than for women (+1.2 p.p.).
Furthermore, the 2013 study Women active in the ICT sector notes that only 9.6 % of women students in third-level education study ICT-related degrees, compared to 30.6 % of men. This difference leads to a considerable waste of women’s talent in maths, science and technology (MST) and ICT. This is an important issue to acknowledge in light of the European Commission’s estimations that there will not be enough ICT specialists to cover the number of jobs forecast for the digital sector.
There is a complex set of reasons for this situation, including the perception that some subjects and fields of study and work are ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine’. Indeed, the ICT field is stereotypically depicted as the preserve of ‘male geeks’ – highly knowledgeable enthusiasts with few social skills.
Another reason relates to the use of ICT in schools and the way ICT is taught. A study to benchmark access and attitudes to, and use of, ICT in schools in 31 countries (including the EU-27 at the time of the study) revealed positive (albeit minor) correlations between students’ attitudes towards computers and the number of years they had been using ICT. The longer students used computers at school, the more positive was their attitude towards them. The study also concluded that, at grade 11, boys had a slightly more positive attitude towards computers than girls. This might indicate a lower use of computers at school by girls or the influence of gender stereotypes and the way ICT is taught.
Gender gaps in the digital labour market
Women’s low participation in the digital labour market is a key challenge.
Not only do girls tend to avoid ICT-related studies, they also choose careers in ICT to an even lesser extent. According to the European Commission study Women active in the ICT sector, in 2012 only 2 % of all women in the labour market worked in the ICT sector, compared to 3.6 % of men. Only around 32 % of employees in the ICT sector are women.
This trend remained stable in 2014, with only 2 % of all women in the labour market employed in technical, professional and scientific jobs, compared to 5 % of men. Attracting more women to the digital labour market is only part of the problem: retaining them in the sector is also a challenge. Women’s participation in the digital labour market decreases with age: women under 30 with a degree in ICT make up 20 % of the ICT sector, compared to 15.4 % of women aged between 31 and 45 years and 9 % of women over 45 years. This phenomenon is known in the literature as the ‘leaky pipeline’ and relates to mid-career women – in this case in ICT jobs – abandoning the field due to a lack of career progression to senior leadership roles. As suggested by the European Parliament, the following factors contribute to the leaky pipeline in the career steps: a poor work–life balance, organisational constraints, a male-dominated environment and a lack of women role models. These are similar to the problems identified for women entering the ICT sector.
Segregation in low-paid positions
When they are employed in the ICT sector, women more often hold low-status positions: in 2010, 96 % of chief executive officers (CEOs) in the ICT and telecom sectors were men. While the low presence of women in top management positions is a problem in many service industries, the gap is particularly large in the ICT sector: women represent only 19.2 % of managers in the ICT sector, compared to 42.5 % in the non-ICT service sector.
The unadjusted average gender pay gap, which measures pay inequality as a percentage of men’s pay, is –21 % (2010 data) in the ICT sector compared to –12 % in non-ICT sectors. However, when comparing women and men with similar socioeconomic characteristics, it is noticeable that the gender gap is 0 in the ICT sector (2010 data) compared to 5 % in other non-ICT service sectors.
Low levels of women’s entrepreneurship in ICT
In 2010, women represented only 19.2 % of all entrepreneurs in the ICT sector, compared with 53.9 % in the non-ICT service sectors. Furthermore, out of all self-employed women in the EU in 2010 (31.1 %), only 2 % worked in the ICT sector (compared with 3.5 % of self-employed men).
Women’s insufficient access to and participation in the digital sector may be explained by a range of factors, as set out below.
Stereotypes about women lacking skills to work in the sector (e.g. lack of leadership skills, weaker aptitudes for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers).
A traditionally strongly male-dominated environment, with discrimination against women based on stereotypes about women’s role in society and the workplace, and the ‘old-boy network’ culture. Women may be unwilling or lack confidence to engage in struggles and competition in this type of environment.
Complexities in reconciling personal and professional life arise due to long working hours and the paucity or inadequacy of policies to balance work and private life. There are few role models in the sector.
ICT, cybercrime and gender
While ICT has increased opportunities for women to exploit their capabilities and improve their quality of life, it has also exacerbated existing structures of inequality by enabling cybercriminals to access and misuse the technology to abuse, harass and harm women, thereby reinforcing existing structures of inequality.
The UN estimates that 95 % of aggressive behaviour, harassment, abusive language and denigrating images in online spaces are aimed at women and come from male partners or former partners. Perpetrators are also using digital technologies to control and track their victims, such as spyware, wireless technology, logging facilities in instant messaging services and Internet browsers, webcams, and GPS. Cybercrimes are becoming increasingly common, ranging from threats or false accusations about a person in an online space (e.g. social networks and mobile phone calls), stealing identities or data, and spying and monitoring a person’s computer and Internet use without permission. This can result in devastating psychological effects on women, particularly young women, who may turn to self-harm or even suicide.
At the same time, digital tools and technologies are playing an important role in supporting and empowering victims of violence (e.g. web campaigns, information and support websites and apps) and in helping combat gender-based violence.
Existing gender-equality policy objectives at EU and international level
The digital sector falls under the responsibility of both the European Commission and EU Member States. While the Member States are in charge of creating favourable conditions for the development of the digital economy, which includes the increased participation of women in the digital economy and society, the remit of the Commission is to create the Digital Single Market. The Digital Single Market is one of 10 political priorities and is defined as a market for the free movement of people, services and capital, where individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and exercise online activities under conditions of fair competition and with a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence. As one of the pillars of the Digital Single Market strategy consists in maximising the growth potential of the digital economy, the European Commission has been taking action to encourage EU Member States to speed up the development of the digital economy, including initiatives to support Member States in boosting women’s participation in this sector.
EU level
The European Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe was launched in May 2010 as an integral part of the Europe 2020 strategy to stimulate Europe’s economy and help Europe’s citizens and businesses get the most out of digital technologies. It includes seven pillars and 101 specific actions. Pillar VI is dedicated to enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion. It proposes several actions, including Action 60, which strives to ‘increase [the] participation of women in the ICT workforce’. This action aims to address the current low numbers of women in the ICT sector through web-based training resources, game-based e-learning, social networking, studies and research on women in ICT, data collection, and awareness-raising on the relevance of women’s participation in the digital economy and society.
The E-Skills for the 21st Century strategy specifies a need for specific actions to increase the participation of women in ICT and STEM fields. These include exchanging information and good practices on Member State initiatives to promote science, maths and ICT as well as related job and career profiles and role models. The strategy also includes plans for teacher training in the area of ICT skills while also addressing gender issues in technical and scientific areas and encouraging women to choose ICT careers by further promoting the ‘IT girls shadowing exercise’ in cooperation with ICT companies.
Encouraging women’s participation in higher technical and scientific education is also an objective of the EU Agenda for the Modernisation of Higher Education Systems, which acknowledges that tackling stereotypes and dismantling the barriers faced by women in reaching the highest levels of postgraduate education and research – especially in certain disciplines and leadership positions – can liberate untapped talent. Furthermore, the agenda foresees that one of the key polices to be addressed by Member States is implementing the recommendations of the Helsinki Group on Women in Science.
Increasing women’s participation in the labour market and the digital economy and society are also targets of the EU Agenda for New Skills and Jobs. It recommends four priorities to the Member States: better-functioning labour markets; a higher-skilled workforce; better job quality and working conditions; and stronger policies to promote job creation and demand for labour. The ICT sector has envisaged actions to equip people with the right skills for employment and integrate ICT competences and digital literacy (e-skills) into lifelong learning policies.
The Social Investment Package 2020 (SIP) is the Directorate-General for Employment’s main contribution to Europe 2020 in the area of social inclusion. It aims to enhance the use of ICT to promote women’s participation in the labour market. For instance, it urges EU Member States to address barriers to women’s participation in the labour market by encouraging employers to offer suitable workplaces, including e-accessibility, and reconciliation measures (such as childcare services and smart work through ICT-based solutions). It also calls on Member States to ensure that women enjoy equal access to basic services such as the Internet.
While not specifically addressing the areas covered by the Digital Agenda, the EU Strategy for Equality between Women and Men 2010–2015, which was adopted in 2010, includes key recommended actions. These actions involve further promoting opportunities for women to access training, skills and professional experience in the scientific, mathematical and technology fields, as well as promoting women’s adult learning and scientific career choices. The recommended actions also focus on improving media literacy (cf. reducing the ‘digital gap’, as mentioned in the Europe 2020 Digital Agenda).
The European Commission has also promoted initiatives aimed at bringing together different stakeholders to ensure coordination of actions to increase women’s participation in the digital economy and society. The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs and Growth, led by the European Commission, was launched in 2013 and is an EU-wide multi-stakeholder partnership helping to address a shortfall in the number of European citizens with ICT professional skills and to exploit the employment creation potential of ICT. The partnership has included the European Centre for Women and Technology as a stakeholder, which is in charge of mainstreaming a gender perspective throughout the coalition’s actions. At present, three national coalitions have been set up (Greece, France and Lithuania) and a specific pledge on gender and digital jobs has been presented.
In 2013, two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) presented a Motion for a resolution on women and ICT. This motion emphasised the opportunity and need to encourage young people (particularly women) to take up ICT-related careers and to attract more women into ICT jobs. The motion called on the European Commission and Member States to make efforts to establish education and training programmes and to encourage girls and women to develop careers in the areas of mathematics, computer science and new technologies. To improve women’s employability in these fields, Member States were also called upon to promote vocations and professions requiring scientific, technical, engineering and mathematical skills among women from an early age.
One of the main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, was the agreement by Member States to launch a process to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Amongst the goals developed, the following refer to women’s participation in the digital economy and society:
by 2030 ensure that all men and women, particularly the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology, and financial services including microfinance
by 2030 ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable quality technical, vocational and third-level education, including university
enhance the use of enabling technologies, in particular ICT, to promote women’s empowerment.
The UN aim to support gender equality in the ICT field is delivered through the gender equality policy in the digital sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies. Its main gender equality policy objectives consist of allowing women and men to benefit equally from ICT to help reduce inequalities and to contribute equally to the work of the organisation. Since 1998, ITU has launched several resolutions to promote gender equality and gender mainstreaming, as follows:
Resolution 7 (Valletta, 1998) – Gender and telecommunication policy in developing countries
This Resolution set out to ensure that the “benefits of telecommunications and the emerging information society are made available to all women and men in developing countries on a fair and equitable basis”. To facilitate these priorities, it recommended to establish a task force on gender issues (TFGI) as well as a commitment from ITU-Development to develop gender-sensitive policies and programmes, to collect and analyse sex-disaggregated data and to develop gender-sensitive indicators.
Resolution 70 (Minneapolis, 1998) - Inclusion of gender perspective in the work of the ITU
This Resolution recognised that society benefits from the “equal participation of women and men in policy and decision-making and equal access to communications services for both women and men”. In addition, it supported the need to ensure a gender perspective in policies and programmes.
Resolution 55 (Doha, 2006). Promoting gender equality towards all-inclusive information societies
This Resolution endorsed an action plan that included the incorporation of a gender dimension when designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating projects and programmes in developing countries and countries with economies in transition that are either specifically targeted to women or gender-sensitive. It also supports the organisation of capacity-training for staff; the mobilisation of resources for gender-sensitive projects and projects specifically targeted to women; and the development of partnerships with other United Nations agencies to promote the use of ICT in projects aimed at women.
Resolution 70 (Rev. Guadalajara, 2010) - Gender mainstreaming in ITU and promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women through information and communication technologies
This Resolution endorsed the previous Resolution dating from 2006, on promoting gender equality towards all-inclusive information societies. It does this by continuing the work performed in promoting gender equality in ICT through the recommendation of measures at the international, regional and national level on policies and programmes that improve socio-economic conditions for women, particularly in developing countries.
Resolution 55 (Dubai, 2012) - Mainstreaming a gender perspective in ITU Telecommunication (ITU-T) standardisation sector activities
This Resolution states that ITU-T should continue to encourage the inclusion of a gender perspective, including the use of gender-neutral language, in the work of all ITU-T activities and groups, including TSAG and the ITU-T study groups.
More specifically, to achieve this goal the EC, in partnership with the European Parliament and the International Telecommunication Union, organised an event in support of the worldwide initiative Girls in ICT Day in 2013. This event aimed to empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the growing ICT sector. Based on the information available on the EC’s Digital Agenda website, a study was undertaken to devise a policy toolkit based on the analysis of existing data and replicable best practices including the use of social media for advancing gender equality in ICT. The study was concluded and its report launched in 2013: Women active in the ICT sector.
The Commission has supported the initiation of the first Digital Woman of the Year Award. The 2014 edition featured two awards: European Digital Girl of the Year and European Digital Woman of the Year.
Policy cycle in digital agenda
Click on a phase for details
How and when? The Digital Agenda and the integration of the gender dimension into the policy cycle
The gender dimension can be integrated in all phases of the policy cycle. For a detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in each phase of the policy cycle click here.
Below, you can find useful resources and practical examples for mainstreaming gender into the Digital Agenda. They are organised according to the most relevant phase of the policy cycle they may serve.
Practical examples of gender mainstreaming in the Digital Agenda
The gender impact assessment of the specific programmes of Framework Programme 5 – the user-friendly information society consists of an ex post evaluation of the 5th Framework Programme, which served to help shape the 6th Framework Programme based on its findings and recommendations.
Lessons on gender in ICT applications: Case studies of infoDev projects, presents the results of a review that strived to:
analyse the effect of project activities and outcomes on women’s situation
identify gender issues that affected the project design, implementation and results
identify lessons learned and make recommendations to ensure that infoDev projects equally benefit women and men.
The Information for Development Programme (infoDev) is a global multi-donor programme managed by the World Bank Group, which supports growth-oriented entrepreneurs through business incubators and innovation hubs.
The goal of Simula’s Gender Action Plan 2010 – 2015 is to increase the percentage of women amongst their ICT employees. The target is at least 25% females within the categories of scientific and support staff by December 2015. As Simula is a public entity, this commitment responds to the objectives of the Norwegian Government of increasing the participation of women in STEM at all levels.
The key milestones of the Digital Agenda policy are presented below.
Green Paper on the convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology sectors and the implications for regulation. Towards an approach for the information society COM(97) 623 final
Read the Green Paper here and here.
Communication of 8 December 1999 on a Commission initiative for the special European Council of Lisbon, 23 and 24 March 2000. E-Europe – an information society for all
[COM(1999) 687 final – not published in the Official Journal]. Read the document here.
Lisbon Strategy objective of increasing gender balance amongst people learning MST
Read the strategy here and here.
Communication of 28 May 2002 from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The e-Europe 2005 action plan: an information society for everyone
Regulation 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning Community statistics on the information society
Read the regulation here.
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
i2010 – a European Information Society for growth and employment COM(2005) 229 final. Read the document here.
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Communication to the Spring European Council
Working together for growth and jobs – a new start for the Lisbon Strategy, COM(2005) 24. Read the document here.
i2020 benchmarking framework, Riga Ministerial Declaration
Read the declaration here.
Communication from the Commission of 31 May 2006: A strategy for a secure information society – dialogue, partnership and empowerment
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 14 June 2007
Ageing well in the information society – an i2010 initiative – action plan on information and communication technologies and ageing [COM(2007) 332 final – not published in the Official Journal]. Read the document here.
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. ICT infrastructures for e-science
[COM(2009) 108 final – not published in the Official Journal]. Read the document here.
Commission White Paper of 3 July 2009. Modernising ICT standardisation in the EU: the way forward COM(2009) 324 final
Read the document here.
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. A Digital Agenda for Europe COM(2010)245 final
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The Digital Agenda for Europe –Driving European growth digitally COM(2012) 784 final
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. A digital single market strategy for Europe COM(2015) 192 final
Current policy priorities at EU level
The overarching policy priorities of EU policy for Digital Agenda are encompassed in the Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Digital Agenda for Europe. The main aims of the Digital policy in Europe are:
increasing access to high-speed Internet and digital content
ensuring cyber-security
increasing the development and use of electronic government and new health services
bridging the digital divide, ensuring inclusion of all European citizens.
In order to reach these aims, in 2012, the Commission revised the Digital Agenda adopted in 2010. The new agenda includes seven pillars (main objectives) and a subset of 132 actions grouped around seven priority areas:
Create a new and stable broadband regulatory environment.
Create new public digital service infrastructures through Connecting Europe Facility.
Launch Grand Coalition on Digital Skills and Jobs.
Propose an EU cyber-security strategy and Directive.
Update the EU’s Copyright Framework.
Accelerate cloud computing through public sector buying power.
Launch a new electronics industrial strategy.
Full implementation of this updated Digital Agenda is expected to increase European GDP by 5%, or €1,500 per person, over the next eight years by increasing investment in ICT, improving e-skill levels in the labour force, enabling public sector innovation and reforming the framework conditions for the Internet economy.
In terms of jobs, up to one million digital jobs risk going unfilled by 2015 without pan-European action, while 1.2 million jobs could be created through infrastructure construction. This is predicted to rise to 3.8 million new jobs throughout the economy in the long term.
The Digital Agenda policy area intersects with other topics in other policy sectors, notably research and innovation, environment, transport and mobility, and e-health and ageing.
Gender and digital agenda
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Groundwater Resources maps of Europe
GIS Maps related to Groundwater resources in Europe, covering 3 themes: Inventory of aquifers; Hydrogeology of aquifers; Groundwater abstraction; for 9 European countries (Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and United Kingdom)
European Commission - DG JRC
In 1982, a study by the European Commission provided a complete catalogue of national water resources for several Member States of the European Union (Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and United Kingdom). This catalogue comprised a series of groundwater resources maps of Europe, at scale 1:500,000 ; there were 38 map sheets covering four themes:
Inventory of aquifers;
Hydrogeology of aquifers;
Groundwater abstraction;
Potential additional groundwater resources.
These maps, covering 9 countries - Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and United Kingdom, were compiled from existing data sources. For an overview of the European study (synthetical report and country reports), look on Groundwater Resources project page..
The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA), commissioned a project to digitise the maps so that they could be used in Geographic Information Systems together with other European level environmental datasets describing soil, climate, weather, land use, topography, etc. A project report " A Digital Dataset of European Groundwater Resources at 1:500,000. (V. 1.0)" describes the resulting digital dataset, explains some implications of using the data in relation to pesticide fate and behaviour and highlights a number of issues that should be considered when using it.
The information was digitized for the first three themes but not for the latter (4. Potential additional groundwater resources) because for this the data sets were considered to be outdated. All details of the digitization process are described in the project report. It describes the published paper maps and reports, from which the dataset was derived, the digital dataset, its formats and attribute data and highlights a number of issues that should be taken into account when using the dataset, particularly if it is used in a Geographic Information System (GIS) with other European-level digital data.
An overview of all 148 resulting maps (as .jpeg images) is given on Groundwater Resources project page.
The digital data are organized in the following European-wide layers :
Theme1: Aquifers
Theme2A : Groundwater hydrology, directions of groundwater flow and of water transfers;
Theme2C : Groundwater hydrology, contours of the watertable or the potentiometric surface;
Theme2W : Groundwater hydrology, Springs;
Theme2S : Groundwater hydrology, Areas of seawater intrusion or saline groundwater;
Theme3 : Groundwater abstraction ;
The data are offered as ESRI shapefiles ; one set of the data is in the Spatial Reference System according to GISCO (documented in the GISCO Database Manual, in Chapter 3 "Main characteristics of the GISCO reference database" under "Spatial Reference System") ; another set of the same data is in the INSPIRE proposed ETRS_LAEA reference system.
Legends for these themes are available in .avl format, compatible with ArcView3.2. These legend files can be imported into ArcGis but are presented slightly different.
Data have been digitised by National Soil Resources Institute, Cranfield University, Silsoe UK - NSRI (HJ.M. Hollis, I.P. Holman, R.G.O. Burton). The project was financed as a Company Investment Propect by the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA), and steered by the ECPA GIS working group (J.R. Van de Veen, B. Erzgraber, A. Gurney, S. Hayes,. Hauck, A. Huber, T.Schad, D. Yon). The data originate from a study performed by the European Commission in 1982 (reference EUR 7940 EN).
The DG JRC agrees to provide these data, free of charge, on behalf of ECPA, but the DG-JRC is not bound to justify the content and values contained therein.
ECPA and the DG-JRC do not accept any liability whatsoever for any error, missing data or omission in the data, or for any loss or damage arising from its use.
The permission to use the data specified above is granted on condition that, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are these data passed to third parties. Moreover they must NOT be used in any way for commercial gain or for purposes other than those specified above.
a) Make proper reference to the source of the data when disseminating the results to which this agreement relates;
b) Participate in the verification of the data (e.g. by noting and reporting any errors or omissions discovered to the JRC).
"A Digital Dataset of European Groundwater Resources at 1:500,000. (v. 1.0)", data from a project by the European Crop Protection Association, based on data originating from a study performed by the European Commission (1982 , EUR 7940 EN)
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How VW plans to achieve job cuts in Germany
Christiaan Hetzner
VW workers construct a Passat at the automaker's Emden plant in Germany.
WOLFSBURG -- Volkswagen hopes to finalize plans this year to reduce its German workforce by a net 14,000 workers by the end of the decade without using to costly severance packages, as the brand seeks to save 3 billion euros in domestic labor costs to help offset the costs of its diesel scandal.
About 7,000 permanent staff close to retirement have already signed contracts to leave the company early through a part-time scheme abbreviated in German as ATZ.
VW personnel chief Karlheinz Blessing said: "Based on our assumptions for natural fluctuation, we are still missing another 2,200 to really be in the target area."
When asked whether he expected this number of employees to sign ATZ early retirement deals by the end of this year, he said: "That's the goal, to check this off the list as much as possible."
VW also expects that it will eventually have to eliminate all its 4,500 temporary posts in Germany, which, along with reductions through natural attrition, will reach the full net figure of 14,000.
As part of its so-called "Future Pact" designed to boost productivity by 25 percent over four years, the VW brand is eliminating 23,000 jobs by 2020 in Germany. Simultaneously, however, it plans to add 9,000 employees in new technological fields such as digitalization and electromobility. As part of a deal with its powerful labor unions, the overwhelming bulk of that increase will be filled by people whose current jobs are being phased out, translating to a net reduction of 14,000. At the end of the program, that will leave just over 100,000 people still employed by the brand in Germany.
Flexibility needed
Blessing warned however that some flexibility in the figures will be needed. While it may be financially attractive at first glance to let go of temporary workers, since it costs nothing, he said exactly this labor force was in general young, able-bodied and qualified.
Losing them might endanger its efficiency goals, which foresees 7.5 percent productivity gains in the first two years and a further 5 percent in the last two. One consequence has been that the Emden plant, where VW builds the Passat and new Arteon midsize models has received an exemption allowing local management to hire hundreds of temporary workers if needed.
Blessing said VW could cut more jobs if necessary to achieve productivity targets "using the tools at our disposal."
Nevertheless, management’s hands are tied. Compulsory layoffs for example have been ruled out under an agreement with unions. Apart from ATZ early retirement deals, natural attrition and fluctuation, VW may end up having to offer bigger severance deals to prompt people to leave the company.
"Severance packages are the absolute last resort and would only be offered on a case-by-case basis," Blessing said. "There was a big severance package campaign at VW in 2006 and typically what happens under the required 'Social Plan' is that you have those people that have the best chances of getting hired elsewhere leave, while those stay whose chances in the job market are poor."
The bulk of the 14,000 cuts will not be fully earnings accretive until after 2019 and 2020, however. By the end of this year, Blessing estimates that only about 1,700 permanent employees will have actually left the company under ATZ deals alongside another 2,000 temporary workers.
"The world doesn't end with the Future Pact, though" Blessing said. Mastering the shift to electromobility with its reduced complexity and fewer hours per vehicle would prove a challenge.
"We don't know at present how many new jobs might be created through digitalization and mobility services but assuming the overall number of cars sold in Europe doesn't substantially grow, then you can imagine we will have an issue in the future," he said. "Thankfully we have a bit of time to shape this process, and that is one of the most valuable aspects about the Future Pact."
Separately, Mueller said on Wednesday that VW was holding intensive talks with possible partners in Europe and China over battery cells, without being more specific. The carmaker is pondering production of battery cells at a new research facility in Salzgitter, Germany as it plans to triple investment in electric drives to about 9 billion euros ($9.80 billion) through 2022.
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You are here: Home / Site Selection / Greater New York Market Sees New Players, Pockets of Strength
The Manhattan skyline, as seen from the top of One World Trade Center. (Photo: Rich Miller)
EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ll soon be publishing an in-depth market report with additional details on the New York/New Jersey market. Be sure you’ll be notified when it’s available by subscribing to the DCF newsletter.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – In recent years, the Greater New York data center market has faced several strong headwinds, including the financial crisis and its chilling effect on spending, fallout from flood-related outages during Superstorm Sunday, and a tough competitive environment for the region’s wholesale providers.
But data center professionals say the New York/New Jersey market has begun to stabilize, as leasing has gradually absorbed vacant space. The region has recently seen some new entrants, and one long-time player is reporting signs of a rebound. There’s also been the emergence of a new sub-market in Rockland County, N.Y.
The New York/New Jersey region has always been a composite data center market, segmented by geography and business models, with carrier hotels in Manhattan, connected colocation centers in Northern New Jersey, and a cluster of wholesale data centers in Central New Jersey.
Trends in the New York region were discussed in several panels at the recent Greater New York Data Center Summit, a CapRate Events conference held at Convene. They says the economics of power remain a challenge for New Jersey wholesale providers, with many large customers opting for the cheaper electricity and critical mass found in Northern Virginia.
As some look to the future, they see the potential for new technologies to boost the data center business in the region’s population centers.
“What will the Internet of Things or autonomous driving mean for your data center?” asks Peter Feldman, the CEO of DataGryd. “Am I going to need a much bigger data center just to control those cars? It comes back to latency, and how this is going to work.”
Cities are expected to be the focus of investment activity around autonomous cars, which could generate as much as $7 trillion of economic activity by some estimates, and generate extraordinary data traffic in major cities.
The View From Manhattan
It’s been five years since Superstorm Sandy brought catastrophic flooding to Lower Manhattan, affecting several data center buildings that lost power when their ground level fuel storage pumps failed.
Sandy established new parameters for risk, prompting some companies to move uptown and others to relocate their data centers out of the region. In the hurricane’s aftermath, the Manhattan market saw several important developments:
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Sabey Data Centers acquired and renovated the former Verizon building at 375 Pearl Street. In addition to updating the building for modern data center space, Sabey has also retrofitted 15 floors of the building for use as office space.
DataGryd took over a large chunk of space at 60 Hudson Street, and made major infrastructure upgrades at the iconic carrier hotel.
Google acquired the city’s other marquee carrier hotel at 111 8th Avenue, but is using it for office space, and reportedly doing no new leasing to data center tenants.
That’s a lot of activity for a market that had been stable for many years. Despite Sandy and the turbulence in the financial sector, having data center space in Manhattan is essential for many blue-chip companies and service providers. Manhattan is also seeing demand from international companies.
“Asian companies are looking for footprint in the United States,” said Feldman. “The more successful Asian players have their base of big customers, and they’ll want to get to a big city like New York or Chicago or Silicon Valley.”
“The existing centers in Manhattan are continuing to see growth and are working to get more out of their footprint,” said Matthew Monaco, Senior Director at Equinix, the industry’s largest colocation provider. “You’re also seeing the emergence of interconnection density in Secaucus and several other sites in NJ.”
Monaco said many companies are pursuing a strategy where they host a small number of cabinets in New York, but place a larger footprint in New Jersey.
DataGryd’s Feldman concurred. “The hub and spoke distribution method still holds true,” he said. “We’re seeing some edge customers come to us because they need a hub to bring the traffic back.”
The importance of the city’s carrier hotels was reinforced by Digital Realty, the world’s largest data center landlord. Big-city “Internet gateways” have always been a focus for Digital Realty, and that’s still the case today, even as its footprint spreads well into the suburbs.
“We still have fairly dominant positions with our Internet gateways into the city, which is obviously focused on performance-sensitive colocation and interconnection points,” said Bill Stein, the CEO of Digital Realty. “We continue to see strong demand, be it at 111 8th, 60 Hudson or 32 Avenue of Americas.”
Evolving Market in New Jersey
For all their connectivity, the Manhattan carrier hotels have relatively limited footprints. Companies seeking larger chunks of data center space have always looked across the Hudson and housed servers in New Jersey.
Colocation hubs sprung up in Weehawken, Secaucus and Newark to provide connectivity and hosting for Wall Street firms. In 2007, developers began building wholesale data centers in central New Jersey, and soon began to win customers who might otherwise build their own facilities. There’s also a modular data center business operated in Edison by IO, which plays in both the retail and wholesale markets.
The initial strong momentum for wholesale has slowed since 2013, when the New Jersey market faced an oversupply of space.
“New Jersey is transitioning from a wholesale market to a retail colo market,” said Jeffrey West, Director of Data Center Research at CBRE. “It’s been a slow couple of years. But like California, New York and New Jersey will always be a critical market.”[clickToTweet tweet=”CBRE’s Jeffrey West: It’s been a slow couple of years. But New York & New Jersey will always be a critical market.” quote=”CBRE’s Jeffrey West: It’s been a slow couple of years. But New York & New Jersey will always be a critical market.”]
“The New York/New Jersey area hasn’t kept up with markets like Northern Virginia,” said Rick Drescher, Managing Director of the Critical Facilities Group at Savills Studley. “At the local and state government level, we don’t have nearly the visibility we should.”
A key challenge is the price of electricity, which runs 15 to 16 cents per kilowatt hour in New York, and about 9 to 10 cents per kWh in New Jersey. That makes for a tough comparison with “Data Center Alley” in Ashburn, where power is 6 to 7 cents per kWh.
“That price difference is hard to overcome,” said Drescher. “If you’re building 25 or 30 megawatts, it adds up.”
The wholesale market in central New Jersey is in a transition with the arrival of two new players. In 2016 QTS Data Centers acquired the huge DuPont Fabros Technology NJ1 data center in Piscataway. DuPont Fabros built the facility seeking large-footprint colo deals, but several industry veterans say QTS’ broader mix of products – it sells wholesale space, retail colocation and managed services – is a better fit for the current New Jersey market.
There’s another new player just up the road in Somerset, where CyrusOne has acquired a wholesale data center built by Sentinel Data Centers. In recent years, CyrusOne has been one of the fastest-growing players in the wholesale market.
A panel of New York area executives at the recent CapRate Data Center Summit sre, from left: Peter Feldman (DataGryd), Matt Gleason (CoreSite), Matthew Monaco (Equinix) and Scott Palsgrove of Cologix. (Photo: Rich Miller)
Panelists at the CapRate event see progress ahead for the New Jersey market.
“There will continue to be good absorption,” said Monaco. “It’s still a buyer-friendly market. The supply will be absorbed over time.”
“I think pricing is going to be more aggressive,” said Scott Palsgrove, VP of Sales and General Manager for New Jersey at Cologix, which has data centers in Parsippany and Ceda Knolls. “We’re willing to get customers in the door, because we believe they’ll grow with us. There seems to be a lot of capacity in this market, and it’s not moving as fast as it should.”
Among the major competitors in the market, CoreSite is notable for its upbeat assessment of market conditions.
“We feel good about the funnel in the New York/New Jersey market,” said Paul Szurek, the CEO of CoreSite, in a recent conference call. Szurek said CoreSite has signed 20 new and expansion leases in the region in the first quarter of 2017, more than 60 percent above the trailing 12-month average.
“Leasing at NY-2 (in Secaucus, NJ) was quite robust accounting for two-thirds of leases executed, and the majority of new logo signed in this market,” Szurek said. “We see a steady stream of leasing activity among smaller customer deployments, which is weighted toward the enterprise vertical including financial services and healthcare.”
Tested by Time, Trials
There’s also been activity in Rockland County, where a new sub-market has emerged. The current nexus of activity is Orangeburg, where Sentinel Data Centers and Russo Development partnered to build a new data center for Bloomberg, and 1547 Realty opened a data center with Green House Data as the anchor tenant. Meanwhile, JP Morgan Chase has expressed interest in acquiring land at the former Rockland Psychiatric Center for use as a data center.
The activity in Orangeburg is focused on financial firms, a promising development for the region’s data center scene, which is stabilizing as Wall Street has selectively resumed interest in local IT operations.
“I think we’ve gotten rational and operators have taken a slower approach,” said Matt Gleason, GM for the Northeast for CoreSite. “This market will go as the financial services guys go. It’s that kind of market.”
Feldman notes that the data centers in New York have unusual experience with resiliency and recovery, noting that 60 Hudson Street and other NY facilities “have been tested by terrorists and acts of God.”
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FUDCon:Bogota 2017
FUDCon
In other languages: English (en) [edit]
1 Estimated Date
2 Local Team
3 Brief Description of City
4 Possible venues
5 Airports Nearby
6 Prices from selected airports
7 Visa
9 Local Transport:
10 Speakers Interested in Giving a talk in this FUDCon
11 General Schedule
12 Currency, Money, Prices
13 Budget Planning
Estimated Date
20-22 October 2017,
Local Team
Eduardo Echeverria
Yohan Graterol
Brief Description of City
Bogotá ,Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C. (during the time of Spanish rule, and also from 1991 to 2000, called Santa Fé de Bogotá) is the capital and largest city of Colombia administered as the Capital District, although often thought of as part of Cundinamarca
The city is home to senior agencies of the executive branch (Office of the President), the legislative branch (Congress of Colombia) and the judicial branch (Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court, Council of State and the Superior Council of Judicature). Bogotá stands out for its economic strength and associated financial maturity, its attractiveness to global companies and the quality of human capital; it is the largest business platform of Colombia where most high-impact ventures occur.
The capital hosts the main market of Colombia and the Andean natural region, and the leading destination for new projects of foreign direct investment coming into Latin America and Colombia. It has the highest nominal GDP in the country, contributing most to the national total (24.7%), and it is the seventh-largest city by size of GDP in Latin America (about USD 159,850 million) (Source: Wikipedia)
Possible venues
The Universidad Nacional de Colombia (English: National University of Colombia), is a public, national, coeducational, research university, located primarily in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira, Colombia. Established in 1867 by an act of the Congress of Colombia, the university is the largest higher education institution of the country with more than 44,000 students, the largest number of graduated professionals per year, and number of academic programmes at undergraduate and graduate levels, with 430 academic programmes, which includes 96 graduate diplomas, 67 Academic specializations, 39 medical specialties, 161 Master's degrees, and 58 doctorates. It is also one of the few universities that employs post-doctorate fellows in the country. Approximately 40,000 students are studying for an undergraduate degree and 4,000 for a graduate degree. The National University of Colombia is widely known as the best Colombian university, and one of the best universities in Latin America, for its high degree of education and research achievement in several rankings of universities in Latin America and around the globe.
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
The Pontifical Xavierian University (in Spanish Pontificia Universidad Javeriana) is a private higher education institution founded in 1623.[1] It is one of the oldest, most traditional, and prestigious Colombian universities, directed by the Society of Jesus, with its main facilities in Bogotá and a second campus in Cali. "La Javeriana", as it is known by its students, has traditionally educated the Colombian elite. It is one of the 33 universities entrusted to the Society of Jesus in Latin America and one of 167 around the world.
Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas
The Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas (Spanish: Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas) is a public, coeducational, research university based Bogotá, Colombia. It is the second most important public higher education institution in the city, after the National University of Colombia, with a population of 26,140 students. It was founded in 1948, by Priest Daniel de Caicedo, who would become its first rector, with the support of the Bogotá City Council, as the Municipal University of Bogotá (Spanish: Universidad Municipal de Bogotá). It changed its name to the current in 1957 when the municipality of Bogotá became a district. Its establishment was officialized by the 1970 decree No. 1030, issued by the national government. The university offers 70 programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including four master and one doctorates.
Airports Nearby
El Dorado International Airport - Colombia
Prices from selected airports
Sample price calculated to El Dorado International Airport airport.
Google Flights Short Link
Lima Avianca USD 384 Nonstop https://goo.gl/GMD4A2
Panama Copa USD 232 Nonstop https://goo.gl/ksqn6y
Miami Latam USD 436 Nonstop https://goo.gl/UkyIQ5
Atlanta American Airlines USD 872 1 https://goo.gl/xahJAS
Houston Avianca USD 565 1 https://goo.gl/6W1VIC
Guatemala Copa USD 514 1 https://goo.gl/sV7lDo
San Salvador Avianca USD 531 Nonstop https://goo.gl/q8188l
San Jose Avianca USD 355 1 https://goo.gl/UvomCQ
Quito Avianca USD 388 Nonstop https://goo.gl/Yyt6Zs
Santiago de Chile Avianca USD 488 Nonstop https://goo.gl/OZ00dH
Buenos Aires LATAM USD 735 1 https://goo.gl/8Ccagb
Montevideo Latam USD 528 1 https://goo.gl/TyGGKg
Asunción Latam USD 529 1 https://goo.gl/n0kRQH
Caracas TAME USD 374 Nonstop https://goo.gl/X6SxFW
La Paz LATAM USD 492 Nonstop https://goo.gl/S2PmLv
Sao Paulo Latam USD 467 1 https://goo.gl/1E0l21
You need to check this document to see if you need a visa to travel to Colombia
http://www.projectvisa.com/visainformation/Colombia
We are looking the venue, so the hotel is not ready yet, however you can see prices here https://goo.gl/Lumuf4
Local Transport:
Local Transport Will be Provided. UBER
Hotel x Event UBER
Airport x Hotel UBER
Speakers Interested in Giving a talk in this FUDCon
fas account
City/Country of Origin
Short Description of the Talk
Currency, Money, Prices
http://www.budgetyourtrip.com/colombia
We are expecting to receive at least 300+ visitors in FUDCon
Bogota is a very tech city, with many FOSS communities around, also is a city with a lot of monthly tech meetups.
Venue Undetermined but could cost about $2500
FUDPub 2.000 US$
travel+hotel 8.000 US$
Material 2.500 US$
Total 15.000 US$
Retrieved from "https://fedoraproject.org/w/index.php?title=FUDCon:Bogota_2017&oldid=485160"
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Cohen & Steers Closed-End Funds Declare Distributions for April, May and June 2019
PR Newswire March 19, 2019
NEW YORK, March 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boards of Directors of the Cohen & Steers Closed-End Funds announced today the monthly distributions for April, May and June 2019, as summarized in the charts below:
FOF
Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc.
Cohen & Steers MLP Income and Energy Opportunity Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Limited Duration Preferred and Income Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc.
RNP
Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred and Income Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.
Distributions will be made on the following schedule:
Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc., and Cohen & Steers MLP Income and Energy Opportunity Fund, Inc. pay regular monthly cash distributions to common shareholders at a level rate that may be adjusted from time to time. Each fund's distributions reflect net investment income, and may also include net realized capital gains and/or return of capital. Return of capital includes distributions paid by a fund in excess of its net investment income. Such excess is distributed from the fund's assets. Under federal tax regulations, some or all of the return of capital distributed by a fund may be taxed as ordinary income. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
Distributions of a fund's investment in real estate investment trusts (REITs), master limited partnerships (MLPs) and/or closed-end funds (CEFs) may later be characterized as capital gains and/or a return of capital, depending on the character of the dividends reported to each fund after year end by the REITs, MLPs and CEFs held by a fund.
Cohen & Steers Limited Duration Preferred and Income Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred and Income Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc., and Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc. only:
Cohen & Steers Limited Duration Preferred and Income Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred and Income Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc., Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc., and Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc. (each, a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds") declared their monthly distributions pursuant to such Fund's managed distribution plans. Each Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The policy gives each Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. Information can also be found on the Funds' website at cohenandsteers.com. The Board of Directors of each Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of each Fund's shares.
Each Fund's distributions may include net investment income, long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains and/or return of capital. Under the plan, prior to the payment date of the distribution every month, each Fund will issue a press release and a notice containing information about the amount and sources of the distribution and other related information to shareholders of record on the record date. Please note that the notice is not provided for tax reporting purposes but for informational purposes only. Information can also be found on the Funds' website at cohenandsteers.com.
Shareholders should not use the information provided in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com/
Symbol: (CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a global investment manager specializing in liquid real assets, including real estate securities, listed infrastructure, commodities and natural resource equities, as well as preferred securities and other income solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cohen--steers-closed-end-funds-declare-distributions-for-april-may-and-june-2019-300815227.html
Decades After Enron Debacle, Electricity Deregulation Is Back
Critics of ESG funds are wrong — sustainable investing delivers competitive returns
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Embraer and Boeing Welcome Brazilian Government Approval of Strategic Partnership
PR Newswire January 10, 2019
SÃO PAULO and CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer [B3: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ] and Boeing [NYSE: BA] have welcomed approval by Government of Brazil of the strategic partnership that will position both companies to accelerate growth in global aerospace markets.
The government's approval comes after the two companies last month approved terms for the joint venture that will be made up of the commercial aircraft and services operations of Embraer. Boeing will hold an 80 percent ownership stake in the new company and Embraer will hold the remaining 20 percent.
The companies have also agreed to the terms of another joint venture to promote and develop new markets for the multi-mission medium airlift KC-390. Under the terms of this proposed partnership, Embraer will own a 51 percent stake in the joint venture, with Boeing owning the remaining 49 percent.
Once Embraer's Board of Directors ratifies its prior approval, the two companies will then execute definitive transaction documents. The closing of the transaction will be subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Assuming the approvals are received in a timely manner, the transaction is intended to close by the end of 2019.
Forward-Looking Information Is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty
Certain statements in this release may be "forward-looking" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the proposed terms of the transaction, the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions to executing or closing the transaction and the timing thereof, and the benefits and synergies of the proposed transaction, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions about future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date they are made and neither party undertakes an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include the effect of global economic conditions, the ability of the parties to reach final agreement on a transaction, consummate such a transaction and realize anticipated synergies, and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in the filings of The Boeing Company and/or Embraer with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Chaz Bickers
Boeing Communications
charles.n.bickers@boeing.com
Valtecio Alencar
Global Corporate Communications
Valtecio.alencar@embraer.com.br
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/embraer-and-boeing-welcome-brazilian-government-approval-of-strategic-partnership-300776621.html
Should Boeing Change the Name of the 737 Max to Put Passengers at Ease?
Boeing to make $50 million in payments to 737 MAX crash victims' families
'I miss their laughter': Grieving crash dad slams 'shameful' Boeing
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With family, friends or as a couple, (re)discover the mountain
Known and recognized as one of the reference alpine destinations for decades and as a land of contrasts combining large spaces and modern chalets, resourcing and activities, La Clusaz is discovered in many ways.
As a mountain village, it has a history.
Surrounded by a rich and abundant nature, it is an infinite playground.
Preserved by its natives, it is proud to welcome travellers who have come to surpass themselves, find themselves or recharge their batteries...
Welcome to Your Home…
Imagine an international alpine resort, in the heart of the protected environment of the Alps, where the softness of life and dynamism would be your pleasure... Source of fresh air and immense playground, La Clusaz unfolds its virgin spaces. Located at the foot of the Aravis range, the resort has developed its personality while looking to the future. Served by its preserved environment and its many treasures, it is a world apart that welcomes you.
Like all good things, La Clusaz can be discovered to the rhythm of your desires and encounters, to surprise you at the bend of a trail, an aperitif time, at the exit of a restaurant or during a treatment with mountain plants...
Our travel consultants will be happy to guide you in your alpine peregrinations! Come and get all the useful documentation and access the internet on our terminals.
Discover La Clusaz through its rich historical and natural heritage as well as its history.
La Clusaz is more than a resort, it is a village whose soul lives all year round through its shops and the men and women who welcome you there.
Bus between Annecy and La Clusaz, the Aravis resorts and the different areas and districts of La Clusaz. Taxis. Parking.
Underground car parks, blue zones, free car parks and good deals...
Can you imagine a holiday without screens, tablets or smart phones... take our word for it, in La Clusaz, it’s possible! Wherever you go there is a wide selection of things to do adapted to the age of your children.
Seasonal brochures, multilingual practical guide, activity guide, family guide... Find all our publications here.
A Wi-Fi network is available in the village centre of La Clusaz (from Champ Giguet to Bossonnet) as well as at the departure and arrival stations of the Balme cable car.
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Anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism (also referred to as revolutionary syndicalism)[1] is a theory of anarchism that views revolutionary industrial unionism or syndicalism as a method for workers in capitalist society to gain control of an economy and thus control influence in broader society. Syndicalists consider their economic theories a strategy for facilitating worker self-activity and as an alternative co-operative economic system with democratic values and production centered on meeting human needs.
The basic principles of anarcho-syndicalism are solidarity, direct action (action undertaken without the intervention of third parties such as politicians, bureaucrats and arbitrators) and direct democracy, or workers' self-management. The end goal of syndicalism is to abolish the wage system, regarding it as wage slavery. Anarcho-syndicalist theory therefore generally focuses on the labour movement.[2]
Anarcho-syndicalists view the primary purpose of the state as being the defense of private property, and therefore of economic, social and political privilege, denying most of its citizens the ability to enjoy material independence and the social autonomy that springs from it.[3] Reflecting the anarchist philosophy from which it draws its primary inspiration, anarcho-syndicalism is centred on the idea that power corrupts and that any hierarchy that cannot be ethically justified must either be dismantled or replaced by decentralized egalitarian control.[3]
OriginsEdit
Émile Pouget
Hubert Lagardelle wrote that Pierre-Joseph Proudhon laid out fundamental ideas of anarcho-syndicalism and repudiated both capitalism and the state in the process since he viewed free economic groups and struggle, not pacifism, as dominant in humans.[4]
In September 1903 and March 1904, Sam Mainwaring published in Britain two issues of a short-lived newspaper called The General Strike, a publication that made detailed criticisms of the "officialism" of union bureaucracy and publicized strikes in Europe making use of syndicalist tactics.[5]
International Workers' AssociationEdit
The 1910 Congress in which the Spanish CNT was established
In 1910, the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) was founded in the middle of the restoration in Barcelona in a congress of the Catalan trade union Solidaridad Obrera (Workers' Solidarity) with the objective of constituting an opposing force to the then-majority trade union, the socialist UGT and "to speed up the economic emancipation of the working class through the revolutionary expropriation of the bourgeoisie". The CNT started small, counting 26,571 members represented through several trade unions and other confederations.[6] In 1911, coinciding with its first congress, the CNT initiated a general strike that provoked a Barcelona judge to declare the union illegal until 1914. That same year of 1911, the trade union officially received its name.[6] From 1918 on, the CNT grew stronger and had an outstanding role in the events of the La Canadiense general strike, which paralyzed 70% of industry in Catalonia in 1919, the year the CNT reached a membership of 700,000.[7] Around that time, panic spread among employers, giving rise to the practice of pistolerismo (employing thugs to intimidate active unionists), causing a spiral of violence that significantly affected the trade union. These pistoleros are credited with killing 21 union leaders in 48 hours.[8]
In 1922, the International Workers' Association (IWA) was founded in Berlin and the CNT joined immediately, but with the rise of Miguel Primo de Rivera's dictatorship the labor union was outlawed once again the following year.[9] However, with the workers' movement resurgent following the Russian Revolution, what was to become the modern IWA was formed, billing itself as the "true heir" of the original International.[10] The successful Bolshevik-led revolution of 1918 in Russia was mirrored by a wave of syndicalist successes worldwide, including the struggle of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in the United States alongside the creation of mass anarchist unions across Latin America and huge syndicalist-led strikes in Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy and France, where it was noted that "neutral (economic, but not political) syndicalism had been swept away".[11] The final formation of this new International, then known as the International Workingmen's Association, took place at an illegal conference in Berlin in December 1922, marking an irrevocable break between the international syndicalist movement and the Bolsheviks.[11]
The Italian Syndicalist Union: 500,000 members
The Argentine Workers Regional Organisation (FORA): 200,000
The General Confederation of Workers in Portugal: 150,000
The Free Workers' Union of Germany (FAUD): 120,000
The Committee for the Defense of Revolutionary Syndicalism in France: 100,000
The Federation du Combattant from Paris: 32,000
The Central Organisation of the Workers of Sweden (SAC): 32,000
The National Labor Secretariat of the Netherlands: 22,500
The Industrial Workers of the World in Chile: 20,000
The Union for Syndicalist Propaganda in Denmark: 600[12]
The first secretaries of the International included the famed writer and activist Rudolph Rocker, along with Augustin Souchy and Alexander Schapiro. Following the first congress, other groups affiliated from France, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. Later, a bloc of unions in the United States, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Cuba, Costa Rica and El Salvador also shared the IWA's statutes. The biggest syndicalist union in the United States was the IWW and considered joining, but eventually ruled out affiliation in 1936 by citing the IWA's policies on religious and political affiliation.[13] Although not anarcho-syndicalist, the IWW were informed by developments in the broader revolutionary syndicalist milieu at the turn of the 20th century. At its founding congress in 1905, influential members with strong anarchist or anarcho-syndicalist sympathies like Thomas J. Hagerty, William Trautmann and Lucy Parsons contributed to the union's overall revolutionary syndicalist orientation.[14] Although the terms anarcho-syndicalism and revolutionary syndicalism are often used interchangeably, the anarcho-syndicalist label was not widely used until the early 1920s: "The term ‘anarcho-syndicalist' only came into wide use in 1921–1922 when it was applied polemically as a pejorative term by communists to any syndicalists…who opposed increased control of syndicalism by the communist parties".[15] In fact, depending on the translation the original statement of aims and principles of the IWA (drafted in 1922) refers not to anarcho-syndicalism, but to revolutionary syndicalism or revolutionary unionism.[16][17]
Flag of the CNT-FAI
The Biennio Rosso (English: "Red Biennium") was a two-year period between 1919 and 1920 of intense social conflict in Italy following the World War I.[18] The Biennio Rosso took place in a context of economic crisis at the end of the war, with high unemployment and political instability. It was characterized by mass strikes, worker manifestations as well as self-management experiments through land and factories occupations.[18] In Turin and Milan, workers councils were formed and many factory occupations took place under the leadership of anarcho-syndicalists. The agitations also extended to the agricultural areas of the Padan plain and were accompanied by peasant strikes, rural unrests and guerilla conflicts between left-wing and right-wing militias. According to libcom.org, the anarcho-syndicalist trade union Unione Sindacale Italiana (USI) "grew to 800,000 members and the influence of the Italian Anarchist Union (20,000 members plus Umanita Nova, its daily paper) grew accordingly [...] Anarchists were the first to suggest occupying workplaces".[19]
Many of the largest members of the IWA were broken, driven underground or wiped out in the 1920s–1930s as fascists came to power in states across Europe and workers switched away from anarchism towards the seeming success of the Bolshevik model of socialism. In Argentina, the FORA had already begun a process of decline by the time it joined the IWA, having split in 1915 into pro and anti-Bolshevik factions. From 1922, the anarchist movement there lost most of its membership, exacerbated by further splits, most notably around the Severino Di Giovanni affair. It was crushed by General Uriburu's military coup in 1930.[20] Germany's FAUD struggled throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s as the Brownshirts took control of the streets. Its last national congress in Erfurt in March 1932 saw the union attempt to form an underground bureau to combat Adolf Hitler's fascists, a measure that was never put into practice as mass arrests decimated the conspirators' ranks.[21] The editor of the FAUD organ Der Syndikalist, Gerhard Wartenberg, was killed in Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Karl Windhoff, delegate to the IWA Madrid congress of 1931, was driven out of his mind and also died in a Nazi death camp. There were also mass trials of FAUD members held in Wuppertal and Rhenanie, many of these never survived the death camps.[12] Italian IWA union USI, which had claimed a membership of up to 600,000 people in 1922, was warning even at that time of murders and repression from Benito Mussolini's fascists.[22] It had been driven underground by 1924 and although it was still able to lead significant strikes by miners, metalworkers and marble workers, Mussolini's ascent to power in 1925 sealed its fate. By 1927, its leading activists had been arrested or exiled.[23]
Portugal's CGT was driven underground after an unsuccessful attempt to break the newly installed dictatorship of Gomes da Costa with a general strike in 1927 that led to nearly 100 deaths. It survived underground with 15,–20,000 members until January 1934, when it called a general revolutionary strike against plans to replace trade unions with fascist corporations, which failed. It was able to continue in a much reduced state until World War II, but was effectively finished as a fighting union.[24] Massive government repression repeated such defeats around the world as anarcho-syndicalist unions were destroyed in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Cuba, Bulgaria, Paraguay and Bolivia. By the end of the 1930s, legal anarcho-syndicalist trade unions existed only in Chile, Bolivia, Sweden and Uruguay.[11] However, perhaps the greatest blow was struck in the Spanish Civil War, which saw the CNT, then claiming a membership of 1.58 million, driven underground with the defeat of the Spanish Republic by Francisco Franco. The sixth IWA congress took place in 1936, shortly after the Spanish Revolution had begun, but was unable to provide serious material support for the section. The IWA held its last pre-war congress in Paris in 1938, with months to go before the German invasion of Poland it received an application from ZZZ,[25] a syndicalist union in the country claiming up to 130,000 workers—ZZZ members went on to form a core part of the resistance against the Nazis and participated in the Warsaw uprising. However, the International was not to meet again until after World War II had finished in 1951. During the war, only one member of the IWA was able to continue to function as a revolutionary union, the SAC in Sweden.[12] In 1927, with the "moderate" positioning of some cenetistas (CNT members) the Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI), an association of anarchist affinity groups, was created in Valencia. The FAI would play an important role during the following years through the so-called trabazón (connection) with the CNT; that is, the presence of FAI elements in the CNT, encouraging the labor union not to move away from its anarchist principles, an influence that continues today.[26]
Spanish RevolutionEdit
Main articles: Spanish Revolution of 1936 and Anarchist Catalonia
Evolution of the number of affiliates in the CNT from 1911 to 1937
On 1 June 1936, the CNT joined the UGT in declaring a strike of "building workers, mechanics, and lift operators". A demonstration was held, 70,000 workers strong. Members of the Falange attacked the strikers. The strikers responded by looting shops, and the police reacted by attempting to suppress the strike. By the beginning of July, the CNT was still fighting while the UGT had agreed to arbitration. In retaliation to the attacks by the Falangists, anarchists killed three bodyguards of the Falangist leader José Antonio Primo de Rivera. The government then closed the CNT's centers in Madrid and arrested David Antona and Cipriano Mera, two CNT militants.[27]
George Orwell wrote of the nature of the new society that arose in the communities:
I had dropped more or less by chance into the only community of any size in Western Europe where political consciousness and disbelief in capitalism were more normal than their opposites. Up here in Aragón one was among tens of thousands of people, mainly though not entirely of working-class origin, all living at the same level and mingling on terms of equality. In theory it was perfect equality, and even in practice it was not far from it. There is a sense in which it would be true to say that one was experiencing a foretaste of Socialism, by which I mean that the prevailing mental atmosphere was that of Socialism. Many of the normal motives of civilised life– snobbishness, money-grubbing, fear of the boss, etc.– had simply ceased to exist. The ordinary class-division of society had disappeared to an extent that is almost unthinkable in the money-tainted air of England; there was no one there except the peasants and ourselves, and no one owned anyone else as his master.
— George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia, ch. VII
Some of the most important communities in this respect were those of Alcañiz, Calanda, Alcorisa, Valderrobres, Fraga or Alcampel. Not only were the lands collectivized, but collective labours were also undertaken, like the retirement home in Fraga, the collectivization of some hospitals (such as in Barbastro or Binéfar) and the founding of schools such as the School of Anarchist Militants. These institutions would be destroyed by the Nationalist troops during the war.
The Committee held an extraordinary regional plenary session to protect the new rural organization, gathering all the union representatives from the supporting villages and backed by Buenaventura Durruti. Against the will of the mainly Catalan CNT National Committee, the Regional Defence Council of Aragon was created. Following Largo Caballero's assumption of the position of Prime Minister of the government, he invited the CNT to join in the coalition of groups making up the national government. The CNT proposed instead that a National Defense Council should be formed, led by Largo Caballero; and containing five members each from the CNT and UGT and four "liberal republicans". When this proposal was declined, the CNT decided not to join the government. However, in Catalonia the CNT joined the Central Committee of the Anti-Fascist Militias, which joined the Generalitat on 26 September. For the first time, three members of the CNT were also members of the government.[28]
In November, Caballero once again asked the CNT to become part of the government. The leadership of the CNT requested the finance and war ministries as well as three others, but were given four posts, the ministries of health, justice, industry and commerce. Federica Montseny became Minister of Health, the first female minister in Spain. As minister of justice, Juan García Oliver abolished legal fees and destroyed all criminal files. Shortly afterwards, despite the disapproval of the anarchist ministers the capital was moved from Madrid to Valencia.[29] On 23 December 1936, after receiving in Madrid a retinue formed by Joaquín Ascaso, Miguel Chueca and three republican and independent leaders, the government of Largo Caballero, which by then had four anarchists as ministers (García Oliver, Juan López, Federica Montseny and Joan Peiró), approved the formation of the National Defense Committee. It was a revolutionary body that represented anarchists as much as socialists and republicans. Halfway through February 1937, a congress took place in Caspe with the purpose of creating the Regional Federation of Collectives of Aragon. 456 delegates, representing more than 141,000 collective members, attended the congress. The congress was also attended by delegates of the National Committee of the CNT.[30]
At a plenary session of the CNT in March 1937, the national committee asked for a motion of censure to suppress the Aragonese Regional Council. The Aragonese regional committee threatened to resign, which thwarted the censure effort. Although there had always been disagreements, that spring also saw a great escalation in confrontations between the CNT-FAI and the Communists. In Madrid, Melchor Rodríguez, who was then a member of the CNT and director of prisons in Madrid, published accusations that the Communist José Cazorla, who was then overseeing public order, was maintaining secret prisons to hold anarchists, socialists and other republicans; and either executing, or torturing them as "traitors". Soon after, on this pretext Largo Caballero dissolved the Communist-controlled Junta de Defensa.[31] Cazorla reacted by closing the offices of Solidaridad Obrera.[32]
CNT poster informing about the socialization of the Textiles industry
The next day, CNT's regional committee declared a general strike. The CNT controlled the majority of the city, including the heavy artillery on the hill of Montjuïc overlooking the city. CNT militias disarmed more than 200 members of the security forces at their barricades, allowing only CNT vehicles to pass through.[33] After unsuccessful appeals from the CNT leadership to end the fighting, the government began transferring Assault Guard from the front to Barcelona, and even destroyers from Valencia. On 5 May, the Friends of Durruti issued a pamphlet calling for "disarming of the paramilitary police… dissolution of the political parties…" and declared "Long live the social revolution! – Down with the counter-revolution!", though the pamphlet was quickly denounced by the leadership of the CNT.[34] The next day, the government agreed to a proposal by the leadership of the CNT-FAI that called for the removal of the Assault Guards and no reprisals against libertarians that had participated in the conflict in exchange for the dismantling of barricades and end of the general strike. However, neither the PSUC or the Assault Guards gave up their positions and according to historian Antony Beevor "carried out violent reprisals against libertarians".[35] By 8 May, the fighting was over.
These events, the fall of Largo Caballero's government and the new prime ministership of Juan Negrín soon led to the collapse of much that the CNT had achieved immediately following the rising the previous July. At the beginning of July, the Aragonese organizations of the Popular Front publicly declared their support for the alternative council in Aragon, led by their president, Joaquín Ascaso. Four weeks later, the 11th Division under Enrique Líster entered the region. On 11 August 1937, the Republican government, now situated in Valencia, dismissed the Regional Council for the Defense of Aragon.[36] Líster's division was prepared for an offensive on the Aragonese front, but they were also sent to subdue the collectives run by the CNT-UGT and in dismantling the collective structures created the previous twelve months. The offices of the CNT were destroyed and all the equipment belonging to its collectives was redistributed to landowners.[36] The CNT leadership not only refused to allow the anarchist columns on the Aragon front to leave the front to defend the collectives, but they failed to condemn the government's actions against the collectives, causing much conflict between it and the rank and file membership of the union.[37]
In April 1938, Juan Negrín was asked to form a government and included Segundo Blanco, a member of the CNT, as minister of education; and by this point, the only CNT member left in the cabinet. At this point, many in the CNT leadership were critical of participation in the government, seeing it as dominated by the Communists. Prominent CNT leaders went so far as to refer to Blanco as "sop of the libertarian movement"[38] and "just one more Negrínist".[39] On the other side, Blanco was responsible for installing other CNT members into the ministry of education and stopping the spread of "Communist propaganda" by the ministry.[40] In March 1939, with the war nearly over, CNT leaders participated in the National Defense Council's coup overthrowing the government of the Socialist Juan Negrín.[41] Those involved included the CNT's Eduardo Val and José Manuel González Marín serving on the council, while Cipriano Mera's 70th Division provided military support, and Melechor Rodríquez became mayor of Madrid.[42] The Council attempted to negotiate a peace with Franco, though he granted virtually none of their demands.
Post-World War II eraEdit
The black cat of the Industrial Workers of the World is also adopted as a symbol by anarcho-syndicalists
After World War II, an appeal in the Fraye Arbeter Shtime, detailing the plight of German anarchists, called for Americans to support them.[43] By February 1946, the sending of aid parcels to anarchists in Germany was a large-scale operation. In 1947, Rudolf Rocker published Zur Betrachtung der Lage in Deutschland (Regarding the Portrayal of the Situation in Germany) about the impossibility of another anarchist movement in Germany. It became the first post-World War II anarchist writing to be distributed in Germany. Rocker thought young Germans were all either totally cynical or inclined to fascism and awaited a new generation to grow up before anarchism could bloom once again in the country. Nevertheless, the Federation of Libertarian Socialists (FFS) was founded in 1947 by former FAUD members. Rocker wrote for its organ, Die Freie Gesellschaft, which survived until 1953.[44] In 1949, Rocker published another well-known work. On 10 September 1958, Rocker died in the Mohegan Colony. The Syndicalist Workers' Federation was a syndicalist group in active in post-war Britain[45] and one of the Solidarity Federation's earliest predecessors. It was formed in 1950 by members of the dissolved Anarchist Federation of Britain.[45] Unlike the AFB, which was influenced by anarcho-syndicalist ideas but ultimately not syndicalist itself, the SWF decided to pursue a more definitely syndicalist, worker-centred strategy from the outset.[45] The Confédération nationale du travail (CNT, or National Confederation of Labour) was founded in 1946 by Spanish anarcho-syndicalists in exile with former members of the CGT-SR. The CNT later split into the CNT-Vignoles and the CNT-AIT, which is the French section of the IWA.
At the seventh congress in Toulouse in 1951, a much smaller IWA was relaunched again without the CNT, which would not be strong enough to reclaim membership until 1958 as an exiled and underground organization. Delegates attended, though mostly representing very small groups, from Cuba, Argentina, Spain, Sweden, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Britain, Bulgaria and Portugal. A message of support was received from Uruguay, but the situation remained difficult for the International as it struggled to deal with the rise of state-sanctioned economic trade unionism in the West, heavy secret service intervention as Cold War anti-communism reached its height and the banning of all strikes and free trade unions in the Soviet Union bloc of countries.[12] At the tenth congress in 1958, the SAC's response to these pressures led it into a clash with the rest of the international. It withdrew from the IWA following its failure to amend the body's statutes to allow it to stand in municipal elections[46] and amid concerns over its integration with the state over distribution of unemployment benefits.[47] For most of the next two decades, the international struggled to prebuild itself. In 1976 at the 15th congress, the IWA had only five member groups, two of which (the Spanish and Bulgarian members) were still operating in exile (though following Franco's death in 1975, the CNT was already approaching a membership of 200,000).[22]
The Direct Action Movement was formed in 1979, when the one remaining SWF branch, along with other smaller anarchist groups, decided to form a new organisation of anarcho-syndicalists in Britain.[48] The DAM was highly involved in the Miners' Strike as well as a series of industrial disputes later in the 1980s, including the Ardbride dispute in Ardrossan, Scotland, involving a supplier to Laura Ashley, for which the DAM received international support. From 1988 in Scotland, then England and Wales, the DAM was active in opposing the Poll Tax.[49] In March 1994, DAM changed to its current name, the Solidarity Federation, having previously been the Direct Action Movement since 1979 and before that the Syndicalist Workers' Federation since 1950. Presently, the Solidarity Federation publishes the quarterly magazine Direct Action (presently on hiatus) and the newspaper Catalyst.
In 1979, a split over representative unionism, professional unionism and state-funded schemes saw the CNT divided into two sections, the CNT as it is today and the Confederacion General del Trabajo. After Franco's death in November 1975 and the beginning of Spain's transition to democracy, the CNT was the only social movement to refuse to sign the 1977 Moncloa Pact,[50] an agreement amongst politicians, political parties and trade unions to plan how to operate the economy during the transition. In 1979, the CNT held its first congress since 1936 as well as several mass meetings, the most remarkable one in Montjuïc. Views put forward in this congress would set the pattern for the CNT's line of action for the following decades: no participation in union elections, no acceptance of state subsidies,[51] no acknowledgment of works councils and support of union sections.
In this first congress, held in Madrid,[52] a minority sector in favor of union elections split from the CNT, initially calling themselves CNT Valencia Congress (referring to the alternative congress held in this city) and later Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT) after an April 1989 court decision determined that they could not use the CNT initials.[53] In 1990, a group of CGT members left this union because they rejected the CGT's policy of accepting government subsidies, founding Solidaridad Obrera. One year before, the 1978 Scala Case affected the CNT. An explosion killed three people in a Barcelona night club.[54] The authorities alleged that striking workers "blew themselves up" and arrested surviving strikers, implicating them in the crime.[55] CNT members declared that the prosecution sought to criminalize their organization.[56]
Contemporary timesEdit
Members of the Spanish anarcho-syndicalist trade union CNT marching in Madrid in 2010
After its legalization, the CNT began efforts to recover the expropriations of 1939. The basis for such recovery would be established by Law 4/1986, which required the return of the seized properties and the unions' right to use or yield the real estate. Since then, the CNT has been claiming the return of these properties from the State. In 1996, the Economic and Social Council facilities in Madrid were squatted by 105 CNT militants.[57] This body is in charge of the repatriation of the accumulated union wealth. In 2004, an agreement was reached between the CNT and the District Attorney's Office, through which all charges were dropped against the hundred prosecuted for this occupation.
On 3 September 2009, six members of the Serbian IWA section (ASI-MUR), including then-IWA General Secretary Ratibor Trivunac, were arrested[58] on suspicion of international terrorism, a charge that was heavily disputed by the international and other anarchist groups. Shortly after their arrest, an open letter was circulated[59] by Serbian academics criticizing the charges and the attitude of Serbian police. The six were formally indicted on 7 December and after a lengthy trial procedure Trivunac, along with other five anarchists, were freed on 17 February 2010. On 10 December 2009, the FAU local in Berlin was effectively banned as a union following a public industrial dispute at the city's Babylon cinema. At the XXIV annual congress of the IWA which was held in Brazil in December 2009, the first time the congress had been held outside Europe, motions of support were passed for the "Belgrade Six" and FAU while members of the Solidarity Federation temporarily took over duties as Secretariat. The International's Norwegian section subsequently took on the Secretariat role in 2010. As part of the anti-austerity movement in Europe, various IWA sections have been highly active in the 2008–2012 period, with the CNT taking a leading role in agitating for the general strikes that have occurred in Spain, the USI in Milan taking on anti-austerity campaigns in the health service and the ZSP organizing tenants against abuses in rented accommodation.[60]
The largest organised anarchist movement today is in Spain in the form of the Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT) and the CNT. CGT membership was estimated at around 100,000 for 2003.[61] The regions with the largest CNT membership are the Centre (Madrid and surrounding area), the North (Basque country), Andalucía, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.[62] The CNT opposes the model of union elections and workplace committees[63] and is critical of labor reforms and the UGT and the CCOO,[64] standing instead on a platform of reivindicación; that is, "return of what is due", or social revolution.[65]
The following organizations are either member groups or friends of the IWA.[66] Friends of the IWA are regarded as semi-official fellow travelers politically but have not formally joined and do not have voting rights at Congress. They are often invited to send observers to Congress.
Argentina Federacion Obrera Regional Argentina FORA-AIT Organizacion Obrera Section
Australia Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation ASF Section
Austria Wiener ArbeiterInnen Syndikat WAS Friend
Brazil Confederação Operária Brasileira COB A Voz do Trabalhador, A Plebe Section
Bulgaria Autonomous Workers' Union ARS Friend
Chile Germinal Friend
Colombia Libertarian Students' Union Friend
France Confédération nationale du travail CNTF-AIT Section
Norway Norsk Syndikalistisk Forbund NSF-IAA Section
Poland Związek Syndykalistów Polski ZSP-MSP Zapłata Section
Portugal AIT-Secção Portuguesa AIT-SP Anarcho Sindicalista Section
Russia Confederation of Revolutionary Anarcho-Syndicalists KRAS-MAT Прямое действие (Direct Action) Section
Serbia Anarho-sindikalistička inicijativa ASI-MUR Direktna akcija Section
Slovakia Priama Akcia PA-MAP Section
Spain Confederación Nacional del Trabajo — Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores CNT-AIT Section
Sweden Örestad Lokala Samorganisation OLS Friend
United Kingdom Solidarity Federation SF-IWA Direct Action, Catalyst Section
United States Workers' Solidarity Alliance WSA Friend
Theory and politicsEdit
Basic outline of syndicalism as an economic system
Anarcho-syndicalists believe that direct action—action carried out by workers as opposed to indirect action, such as electing a representative to a government position—would allow workers to liberate themselves.[67]
Anarcho-syndicalists believe that workers' organisations that oppose the wage system will eventually form the basis of a new society and should be self-managing. They should not have bosses or "business agents"; rather, the workers alone should decide on that which affects them.[68]Rudolf Rocker is one of the most influential figures in the anarcho-syndicalist movement.
Influential anarcho-syndicalist writer and activist, Rudolf Rocker
Noam Chomsky, who was influenced by Rocker, wrote the introduction to a modern edition of Anarcho-syndicalism: Theory and Practice. A member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), Chomsky is a self-described anarcho-syndicalist, a position that he sees as the appropriate application of classical liberal political theory to contemporary industrial society:
Now a federated, decentralised system of free associations, incorporating economic as well as other social institutions, would be what I refer to as anarcho-syndicalism; and it seems to me that this is the appropriate form of social organisation for an advanced technological society in which human beings do not have to be forced into the position of tools, of cogs in the machine. There is no longer any social necessity for human beings to be treated as mechanical elements in the productive process; that can be overcome and we must overcome it to be a society of freedom and free association, in which the creative urge that I consider intrinsic to human nature will in fact be able to realize itself in whatever way it will.[69]
The CNT's Barcelona offices
Criticisms and responsesEdit
Anarcho-syndicalism has been criticised as anachronistic by some contemporary anarchists.[70] In 1992, Murray Bookchin spoke against its reliance on an outdated view of work:
As "practical" and "realistic" as anarcho-syndicalism may seem, it represents in my view an archaic ideology rooted in a narrowly economistic notion of bourgeois interest, indeed of a sectorial interest as such. It relies on the persistence of social forces like the factory system and the traditional class consciousness of the industrial proletariat that are waning radically in the Euro-American world in an era of indefinable social relations and ever-broadening social concerns. Broader movements and issues are now on the horizon of modern society that, while they must necessarily involve workers, require a perspective that is larger than the factory, trade union, and a proletarian orientation.[71]
Bookchin has said that it prioritizes the interests of the working class, instead of communal freedom for society as a whole; and that this view ultimately prevents a true revolution. He argues that in instances like the Spanish Revolution, it was in spite of the syndicalist-minded CNT leadership that the revolution occurred.[71]
Direct action, being one of the main staples of anarcho-syndicalism, would extend into the political sphere according to its supporters. To them, the labour council is the federation of all workplace branches of all industries in a geographical area "territorial basis of organisation linkage brought all the workers from one area together and fomented working-class solidarity over and before corporate solidarity".[72] Rudolf Rocker argued:
The organisation of Anarcho-Syndicalism is based upon the principles of Federalism, on free combination from below upwards, putting the right of self-determination of every member above everything else and recognising only the organic agreement of all on the basis of like interests and common convictions.[73]
Anarcho-syndicalism therefore is not apolitical but instead sees political and economic activity as the same. Unlike the propositions of some of its critics, anarcho-syndicalism is different from reformist union activity in that it aims to obliterate capitalism as "[anarcho-syndicalism] has a double aim: with tireless persistence, it must pursue betterment of the working class's current conditions. But, without letting themselves become obsessed with this passing concern, the workers should take care to make possible and imminent the essential act of comprehensive emancipation: the expropriation of capital".[74]
Confederacion General del Trabajo demonstration in Barcelona, October 2005
While collectivist and communist anarchists criticise syndicalism as having the potential to exclude the voices of citizens and consumers outside of the union, anarcho-syndicalists argue that labour councils will work outside of the workplace and within the community to encourage community and consumer participation in economic and political activity (even workers and consumers outside of the union or nation) and will work to form and maintain the institutions necessary in any society such as schools, libraries, homes and so on. Bookchin argues:
At the same time that syndicalism exerts this unrelenting pressure on capitalism, it tries to build the new social order within the old. The unions and the 'labour councils' are not merely means of struggle and instruments of social revolution; they are also the very structure around which to build a free society. The workers are to be educated [by their own activity within the union] in the job of destroying the old propertied order and in the task of reconstructing a stateless, libertarian society. The two go together.[75]
In popular cultureEdit
The 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail makes reference to anarcho-syndicalism. King Arthur becomes frustrated by a character named Dennis' explanation of the anarcho-syndicalist commune in which he lives, a situation exacerbated when Dennis insults Arthur's claim to Excalibur and kingship of the Britons. Arthur, fed up, assaults Dennis and leaves, an incident that Dennis refers to as "the violence inherent in the system".
Ursula K. Le Guin's novel The Dispossessed (1974) shows a fictional functioning anarcho-syndicalist society. The novel is subtitled "An Ambiguous Utopia".
Living Utopia, (Vivir la utopía, documentary-film from 1997 about anarcho-syndicalism and anarchism in Spain).
Noam Chomsky's The Relevance of Anarcho-syndicalism (interviewed by Peter Jay, 1976) (video and text).
Anarcho-syndicalists (category)
General strike
Kronstadt Rebellion
Libertarian socialism
List of federations of trade unions
Participatory Economics
Wildcat strike action
Workers' self-management
^ Revolutionary syndicalism, Encyclopædia Britannica
^ Jeremy Jennings, Syndicalism in France (St Martin's Press, 1990) ISBN 031204027X
^ a b "1c. Why do anarcho-syndicalists oppose participation in statist politics?". Anarcho-Syndicalism 101. Class Struggle Online. April 2002. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
^ Jameson, J. F., The American Historical Review (American Historical Association, 1895), p. 731.
^ "The Great Dock Strike of 1889," Direct Action #47, 11 August 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
^ a b Geary, Dick (1989). Labour and Socialist Movements in Europe Before 1914. Berg Publishers. Pg. 261
^ Beevor, Antony (2006). The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p.13
^ Wayne Thorpe (1989), The Workers Themselves
^ a b c Vadim Damier (2009), Anarcho-syndicalism in the 20th Century
^ a b c d "1860-today: The International Workers Association". Libcom.org. 2006. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
^ Fred W. Thompson and Patrick Murfin (1976), IWW: Its First 70 Years, 1905-1975
^ Salvatore Salerno, Red November, Black November: Culture and Community in the Industrial Workers of the World (State University of New York Press, 1989), pp. 69–90, ISBN 0-7914-0089-1
^ David Berry, A History of the French Anarchist Movement, 1917–1945, (Greenwood, 2002), p. 134. ISBN 0-313-32026-8
^ "Principles of Revolutionary Syndicalism" Archived 22 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Anarcho-Syndicalist Review
^ "The Statutes of Revolutionary Unionism (IWA)" Archived 16 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The International Workers Association (IWA)
^ a b Brunella Dalla Casa, Composizione di classe, rivendicazioni e professionalità nelle lotte del "biennio rosso" a Bologna, in: AA. VV, Bologna 1920; le origini del fascismo, a cura di Luciano Casali, Cappelli, Bologna 1982, p. 179.
^ "1918–1921: The Italian factory occupations - Biennio Rosso" Archived 5 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine on libcom.org
^ http://www.tau.ac.il/eial/VIII_1/oved.htm
^ "Organise Magazine issue 65". Anarchist Federation. 2005. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
^ a b "Global anarcho-syndicalism 1939-99" (PDF). Selfed. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
^ G. Careri (1991), L'Unione Sindacale Italiana
^ "The IWA today – South London DAM". DAM-IWA. 1985. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
^ http://libcom.org/history/anarchism-zzz-poland-1919-1939
^ Roca Martínez 2006, p. 116
^ Beevor 2006, p. 48
^ Beevor 2006, pp. 146–147
^ Beevor 2006, p. 170
^ Alexander 1999, p. 361
^ a b Beevor 2006, p. 295
^ Alexander 1999, p. 1055
^ Vallance, Margaret (July 1973). "Rudolf Rocker – a biographical sketch". Journal of Contemporary History. London/Beverly Hills: Sage Publications. 8 (3): 75–95. doi:10.1177/002200947300800304. ISSN 0022-0094. OCLC 49976309. Vallance 1973, pp. 77–78
^ Vallance 1973, pp. 94–95
^ a b c Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations'. United Kingdom: Pinter Publishers. 2000. ISBN 978-1855672642.
^ SAC had begun contesting municipal elections under the candidatures of Libertarian Municipal People
^ Michael Schmidt and Lucien Van Der Walt (2009), Black Flame
^ http://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/x69qfd
^ Meltzer, Albert (2001). I Couldn't Paint Golden Angels. United Kingdom: AK Press. ISBN 978-1873176931.
^ Aguilar Fernández 2002, p. 110
^ "FAQ". Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Un sector minoritario que es partidario de las elecciones sindicales se escinde y pasa a llamarse CNT congreso de valencia (en referencia al Congreso alternativo realizado en esa ciudad) y posteriormente, perdidas judicialmente las siglas, a CGT.
^ Meltzer 1996, p. 265
^ ‹See Tfd›(in Spanish) A series of three articles about the Scala Case from the CNT point of view: (1) El Caso Scala. Un proceso contra el anarcosindicalismo Archived 30 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine, ("The Scala Case. A trial against anarcho-syndicalism"), Jesús Martínez, Revista Polémica online, 1 February 2006; (2) Segunda parte. El proceso Archived 30 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine ("Second part: the trial") 31 January 2006; (3) Tercera parte. El canto del Grillo Archived 30 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine ("Third part: Grillo's song") 31 January 2006. All accessed online 6 January 2008.
^ "Los 117 detenidos de la CNT, en libertad tras prestar declaración". El Mundo (in Spanish). 7 December 1996. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
^ http://libcom.org/news/belgrade-anarchists-arrested-state-attorney-international-terrorism-04092009
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014. CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
^ "The unofficial IWA blog". ASI-MUR. 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011. keeps an updated list of recent IWA member activities
^ Carley, Mark "Trade union membership 1993–2003" (International:SPIRE Associates 2004).
^ Beltrán Roca Martínez, "Anarchism, Anthropology and Andalucia", Anarchist Studies 14 (2).
^ ‹See Tfd›(in Spanish) ¿Que son las elecciones sindicales? Archived 9 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, official CNT site. Accessed online 6 January 2008.
^ ‹See Tfd›(in Spanish) Otra reforma laboral ¿Y ahora qué? Archived 26 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, official CNT site. Accessed online 6 January 2008.
^ ‹See Tfd›(in Spanish) Plataforma Reivindicativa Archived 29 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, official CNT site. Accessed online 6 January 2008.
^ [1] IWA Congress 2013
^ Rudolf Rocker, Anarcho-Syndicalism: Theory and Practice (AK Press, 2004), p. 73, ISBN 1-902593-92-8
^ Rudolf Rocker, Anarcho-Syndicalism: Theory and Practice (AK Press, 2004), p. 62-63, ISBN 1-902593-92-8
^ The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature, The New Press, 2006, p.38-9
^ Heider, Ulrike and Bode, Ulrike, Anarchism: Left, Right and Green (San Francisco: City Lights Books, 1994), p. 4. ISBN 0-87286-289-5
^ a b Murray Bookchin, The Ghost of Anarcho-Syndicalism, online at Anarchy Archives Archived 3 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
^ Romero Maura, "The Spanish Case", contained in Anarchism Today, D. Apter and J. Joll (eds.), p. 75
^ Rudolf Rocker, Anarcho-Syndicalism, op. cit., p. 53
^ Emile Pouget in No Gods, No Masters: An Anthology of Anarchism, edited by Daniel Guerin (AK Press, 2005), p. 71. ISBN 1-904859-25-9
^ Bookchin, M 1998, The Spanish Anarchists, AK Press, California. p 121
Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism (Counter-Power vol 1) by Lucien van der Walt and Michael Schmidt AK Press. (1 April 2009). ISBN 978-1-904859-16-1
Chomsky, Noam (ed. Barry Pateman), Chomsky on Anarchism AK Press, 2005 ISBN 1-904859-20-8
Damier, Vadim, Anarcho-Syndicalism in the 20th Century, Black Cat Press, Edmonton, 2009
Flank, Lenny (ed), IWW: A Documentary History, Red and Black Publishers, St Petersburg, Florida, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9791813-5-1
Rocker, Rudolf, Anarchism and Anarcho-Syndicalism
Rocker, Rudolf, Anarchosyndicalism: Theory and Practice
Rocker, Rudolf (1938), Anarcho-Syndicalism (book), Online here: [2]
Van Deusen, David, The Rise And Fall of The Green Mountain Anarchist Collective, The Anarchist Library, 2015.
Van Deusen, David & West, Sean & the Green Mountain Anarchist Collective, Neither Washington Nor Stowe: Common Sense For The Working Vermonter, Catamount Tavern Press, 2004.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anarcho-syndicalism.
A comprehensive list of Anarcho-syndicalist organisations
What is revolutionary syndicalism? An ongoing historical series on anarcho-syndicalism and revolutionary syndicalism from a communist perspective
Anarcho-Syndicalism 101
Anarcho-Syndicalist Review
Syndicalism: Myth and Reality
Revolutionary Unionism: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow by Dan Jakopovich
Anarcho-Syndicalism texts from the Kate Sharpley Library
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For the German politician, see Joseph Roth (politician).
Joseph Roth, born Moses Joseph Roth (2 September 1894 – 27 May 1939), was an Austrian journalist and novelist, best known for his family saga Radetzky March (1932), about the decline and fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, his novel of Jewish life, Job (1930), and his seminal essay "Juden auf Wanderschaft" (1927; translated into English in The Wandering Jews), a fragmented account of the Jewish migrations from eastern to western Europe in the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Revolution.[1] In the 21st century, publications in English of Radetzky March and of collections of his journalism from Berlin and Paris created a revival of interest in Roth.[2]
Joseph Roth in 1926
Moses Joseph Roth
(1894-09-02)September 2, 1894
Brody, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now in Ukraine)
May 27, 1939(1939-05-27) (aged 44)
Cimetière de Thiais
Journalist, Novelist
Austro-Hungarian empire, Weimar Germany, France
Notable works
Radetzky March, The Legend of the Holy Drinker
1920s – 1939
Friederike (Friedl) Reichler
Irmgard Keun
Habsburg empireEdit
Student identity card photo of Joseph Roth (ca. 1914)
Born into a Jewish family, Roth was born and grew up in Brody, a small town near Lemberg (now Lviv) in East Galicia, in the easternmost reaches of what was then the Austro-Hungarian empire. Jewish culture played an important role in the life of the town, which had a large Jewish population. Roth grew up with his mother and her relatives; he never saw his father, who had disappeared before he was born.[3]
After secondary school, Joseph Roth moved to Lemberg to begin his university studies in 1913, before transferring to the University of Vienna in 1914 to study philosophy and German literature. In 1916, Roth broke off his university studies and volunteered to serve in the Imperial Habsburg army fighting on the Eastern Front, "though possibly only as an army journalist or censor."[3] This experience had a major and long-lasting influence on his life. So, too, did the collapse in 1918 of the Habsburg Empire, which marked the beginning of a pronounced sense of "homelessness" that was to feature regularly in his work. As he wrote: "My strongest experience was the War and the destruction of my fatherland, the only one I ever had, the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary."[4]
GermanyEdit
In 1918, Roth returned to Vienna and began writing for left-wing newspapers, signing articles published by Vorwärts as Der rote Joseph (The red Joseph, a play on his surname, which is homophonous with German rot, "red", which is also the signalling color of leftwing parties in Europe). In 1920 he moved to Berlin, where he worked as a successful journalist for the Neue Berliner Zeitung and, from 1921, for the Berliner Börsen-Courier. In 1923 he began his association with the liberal Frankfurter Zeitung, traveling widely throughout Europe, and reporting from the South of France, the USSR, Albania, Poland, Italy, and Germany. According to his main English translator, Michael Hofmann, "He was one of the most distinguished and best-paid journalists of the period, being paid at the dream rate of one Deutschmark per line."[5] In 1925 he spent a period working in France. He never again resided permanently in Berlin.
Marriage and familyEdit
Joseph Roth (right) with Friedl (centre) and an unknown person on horseback
Roth married Friederike (Friedl) Reichler in 1922. In the late 1920s, his wife became schizophrenic, which threw Roth into a deep crisis, both emotionally and financially. She lived for years in a sanatorium and was later murdered in the Nazi eugenics programme.[6]
In 1929 he met Andrea Manga Bell who was to share his destiny for the next six years. Andrea Manga Bell was born in Hamburg and unhappily married to Alexandre Douala Manga Bell, Prince of Douala in Cameroon. Her husband had returned to Cameroon while she and their children stayed in Europe. When Roth met her, she was editor of the Ullstein magazine Gebrauchsgraphik.[7]
NovelsEdit
In 1923, Roth's first (unfinished) novel, The Spider's Web, was serialized in an Austrian newspaper. He went on to achieve moderate success as a novelist with a series of books exploring life in post-war Europe, but only upon publication of Job and Radetzky March did he achieve acclaim for his fiction rather than his journalism.
From 1930, Roth's fiction became less concerned with contemporary society, with which he had become increasingly disillusioned, and began to evoke a melancholic nostalgia for life in imperial Central Europe before 1914. He often portrayed the fate of homeless wanderers looking for a place to live, in particular Jews and former citizens of the old Austria-Hungary, who, with the downfall of the monarchy, had lost their only possible Heimat ("true home"). In his later works, Roth appeared to wish that the monarchy could be restored. His longing for a more tolerant past may be partly explained as a reaction against the nationalism of the time, which culminated in Nazism. The novel Radetzky March (1932) and the story "The Bust of the Emperor" (1935) are typical of this late phase. In another novel, The Emperor's Tomb (1938), Roth describes the fate of a cousin of the hero of Radetzky March up to Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938.
Of his works dealing with Judaism, the novel Job is perhaps the best-known.[citation needed]
ParisEdit
The grave of Joseph Roth at the Cimetière de Thiais
Being a prominent liberal Jewish journalist, Roth left Germany when Adolf Hitler became Reich Chancellor on 30 January 1933. Andrea Manga Bell accompanied him with her children. He spent most of the next six years in Paris, a city he loved. His essays written in France display a delight in the city and its culture.
Shortly after Hitler's rise to power, in February 1933, Roth wrote in a prophetic letter to his friend, the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig:
You will have realized by now that we are drifting towards great catastrophes. Apart from the private — our literary and financial existence is destroyed — it all leads to a new war. I won't bet a penny on our lives. They have succeeded in establishing a reign of barbarity. Do not fool yourself. Hell reigns.[8]
The relationship with Andrea Manga Bell failed due to financial problems and Roth's jealousy. From 1936 to 1938, Roth had a romantic relationship with Irmgard Keun. They worked together, traveling to various cities such as Paris, Wilna, Lemberg, Warsaw, Vienna, Salzburg, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Without intending to deny his Jewish origins, Roth considered his relationship to Catholicism very important. In the final years of his life, he may even have converted: Michael Hofmann states in the preface to the collection of essays The White Cities (also published as Report from a Parisian Paradise) that Roth "was said to have had two funerals, one Jewish, one Catholic."
Roth's last years were difficult. He moved from hotel to hotel, drinking heavily, and becoming increasingly anxious about money and the future. Despite suffering from chronic alcoholism, he remained prolific until his premature death in Paris in 1939. His novella The Legend of the Holy Drinker (1939) chronicles the attempts made by an alcoholic vagrant to regain his dignity and honor a debt.
Roth's final collapse was precipitated by hearing the news that the playwright Ernst Toller had hanged himself in New York.[5]
Roth is interred in the Cimetière de Thiais, south of Paris.
WorksEdit
The Spider's Web (Das Spinnennetz) (1923, adapted in 1989 into a film of the same name)
Hotel Savoy (1924)
The Rebellion (Die Rebellion) (1924; some editions of the English translation call it simply Rebellion)
"April: The Story of a Love Affair" (April. Die Geschichte einer Liebe) (1925; in The Collected Stories)
"The Blind Mirror" (Der blinde Spiegel) (1925; in The Collected Stories)
The Wandering Jews (Juden auf Wanderschaft) (1927; reportage, not fiction)
Flight without End (Die Flucht ohne Ende) (1927)
Zipper and His Father (Zipper und sein Vater) (1928)
Right and Left (Rechts und links) (1929)
The Silent Prophet (Der stumme Prophet) (1929)
Job (Hiob) (1930)
Perlefter (novel fragment) (1930)
Radetzky March (Radetzkymarsch) (1932; some editions of the English translation call it The Radetzky March)
The Antichrist (Der Antichrist) (1934)
Tarabas (1934)
"The Bust of the Emperor" (Die Büste des Kaisers) (1934; in The Collected Stories)
Confession of a Murderer (Beichte eines Mörders) (1936)
"Die hundert Tage" ("The Ballad of the Hundred Days") (1936)
Weights and Measures (Das falsche Gewicht) (1937)
The Emperor's Tomb (Die Kapuzinergruft) (1938)
The Legend of the Holy Drinker (Die Legende vom heiligen Trinker) (1939)
The String of Pearls (Die Geschichte von der 1002. Nacht) (1939)[9]
"The Leviathan" (Der Leviathan) (1940; in The Collected Stories)
What I Saw: Reports from Berlin, 1920-1933, trans. by Michael Hofmann, New York: W. W. Norton & Company (2002)and London: Granta Books (2003)
The Collected Stories of Joseph Roth, trans. by Michael Hofmann, New York: W. W. Norton & Company (2003)
The White Cities: Reports from France, 1925–39, trans. by Michael Hofmann,London: Granta Books (2004); issued in the United States as Report from a Parisian Paradise: Essays from France, 1925–1939, New York: W. W. Norton & Company (2004)
Joseph Roth: A Life in Letters, trans. and edited by Michael Hofmann, New York: W. W. Norton & Company (2012)
The Hotel Years, trans. and edited by Michael Hofmann, New York: New Directions (2015)
Sins of Man, directed by Otto Brower (1936, based on the novel Job), starring Jean Hersholt
Die Rebellion, directed by Wolfgang Staudte (TV film, 1962, based on the novel Rebellion), starring Josef Meinrad
Die Legende vom heiligen Trinker, directed by Franz Josef Wild [de] (TV film, 1963, based on the novel The Legend of the Holy Drinker), starring Hannes Messemer
Radetzkymarsch [de], directed by Michael Kehlmann (TV film, 1965, based on the novel Radetzky March), starring Helmuth Lohner
Die Geschichte der 1002. Nacht, directed by Peter Beauvais (TV film, 1969, based on the novel The String of Pearls), starring Johanna Matz
Beichte eines Mörders, directed by Wilm ten Haaf (TV miniseries, 1969, based on the novel Confession of a Murderer), starring Hannelore Elsner
Trotta, directed by Johannes Schaaf (1971, based on the novel The Emperor's Tomb), starring Doris Kunstmann
Das falsche Gewicht [de], directed by Bernhard Wicki (1971, based on the novel Weights and Measures), starring Helmut Qualtinger
Stationschef Fallmerayer, directed by Walter Davy (TV film, 1976, based on the novella Stationschef Fallmerayer), starring Odile Versois
Hiob, directed by Michael Kehlmann (TV miniseries, 1978, based on the novel Job), starring Günter Mack
Tarabas, directed by Michael Kehlmann (TV film, 1981, based on the novel Tarabas), starring Helmuth Lohner
Die Flucht ohne Ende, directed by Michael Kehlmann (TV film, 1985, based on the novel Flight without End), starring Helmuth Lohner and Mario Adorf
The Legend of the Holy Drinker, directed by Ermanno Olmi (1988, based on the novel The Legend of the Holy Drinker), starring Rutger Hauer
Spider's Web, directed by Bernhard Wicki (1989, based on the novel The Spider's Web), starring Ulrich Mühe, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Klaus Maria Brandauer
Die Rebellion, directed by Michael Haneke (TV film, 1993, based on the novel Rebellion)
Radetzkymarsch [de], directed by Axel Corti (TV miniseries, 1995, based on the novel Radetzky March), starring Max von Sydow and Charlotte Rampling
Exilliteratur
^ Liukkonen, Petri. "Joseph Roth". Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010.
^ Author biography in Radetzky March, Penguin Modern Classics, 1984.
^ a b Hofmann, Michael. "About the author", The Wandering Jews, Granta Books, p.141. ISBN 1-86207-392-9
^ As quoted in: Lazaroms, Ilse Josepha (2014-10-08), "Roth, Joseph," 1914-1918-online/International Encyclopedia of the First World War. Issued by Freie Universität Berlin. doi:10.15463/ie1418.10244. The quotation is from a letter to Otto Forst-Battaglia, dated 28 October 1932.
^ "European Dreams: Rediscovering Joseph Roth". The New Yorker. 19 January 2004.
^ Robbie Aitken, Eve Rosenhaft: Black Germany: The Making and Unmaking of a Diaspora Community, 1884–1960. Cambridge 2013, p. 114f. ISBN 1107435641, 9781107435643
^ 38. Hell reigns. Letter of Joseph Roth to Stefan Zweig, February 1933. Hitlers Machtergreifung – dtv dokumente, edited by Josef & Ruth Becker, Deutscher Taschenbuch-Verlag, 2nd edition, Munich, Germany, 1992, p.70. ISBN 3-423-02938-2
^ Nürnberger, Helmuth. Joseph Roth. Reinbek, Hamburg, 1981, p.152. ISBN 3-499-50301-8
Prang, Christoph (2010). "Semiomimesis: The influence of semiotics on the creation of literary texts. Peter Bichsel's Ein Tisch ist ein Tisch and Joseph Roth's Hotel Savoy". Semiotica. 10 (182): 375–396.
von Sternburg, Wilhelm (2010), Joseph Roth. Eine Biographie (in German), Cologne: Kiepenheuer & Witsch, ISBN 978-3-462-04251-1
Snick, Els (2013), Waar het me slecht gaat is mijn vaderland. Joseph Roth in Nederland en België, Amsterdam: Bas Lubberhuizen, ISBN 978-90-5937-3266
Lazaroms, Ilse Josepha (2013), The Grace of Misery: Joseph Roth and The Politics of Exile, 1919–1939, Leiden and Boston: Brill, ISBN 978-90-0423-4857
Michael Hoffman, trans. and ed., Joseph Roth: A Life in Letters (New York: W. W. Norton, 2012).
Alexander Stillmark, (ed.) Joseph Roth. Der Sieg ueber die Zeit. (1996).
Giffuni, Cathe (1991). "Joseph Roth: An English Bibliography". Bulletin of Bibliography. 48 (1): 27–32.
Mauthner, Martin (2007), German Writers in French Exile, 1933–1940, London: Vallentine Mitchell, ISBN 978-0-85303-540-4
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joseph Roth.
JRO – Joseph Roth Online
Joseph Roth Collection at the Leo Baeck Institute
Works by or about Joseph Roth at Internet Archive
Works by Joseph Roth at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_Roth&oldid=905565207"
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Anh Vien claims two silver medals at Arena Pro Swim Series
Vietnam’s swimming star Nguyen Thi Anh Vien
NDO—Vietnam’s swimming star Nguyen Thi Anh Vien has won two bronze medals in the women’s 1,500m freestyle event and 400m individual medley on the first two days of competition at the 2017 Arena Pro Swim Series in Atlanta, the US.
On the first day of competition, the Vietnamese swimming star earned a silver medal and set her record in the women’s 1,500m freestyle event with a time of 16min 28.18sec.
In the women’s 400m individual medley on May 7, she came in second with a time of 4min 45.25sec.
Meanwhile, Forde Brooke of the US, took the gold medal with a time of 4:43.64.
Anh Vien is currently training in the US for the Olympic Games while her achievements continue to grow. Born in 1996, Anh is the only Vietnamese swimmer to win three places in the 2016 Olympics, being considered one of the medal hopes of Vietnam at the Games next year.
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Vietnam-Japan pair advance in Japanese Futures (Mar 15, 2017 11:54:32)
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