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« SCIENCE: Cellular messaging system may bring new way to treat disease….
FASTER? PLEASE. Amid SR-72 Rumors, Skunk Works Ramps Up Hypersonics. “Although I can’t go int… »
BUT THE GOVERNMENT-APPROVED SCIENCE! Emails Show How An Ivy League Prof Tried To Do Damage Control For His Bogus Food Science.
The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement, a $22 million federally funded program that pushes healthy-eating strategies in almost 30,000 schools, is partly based on studies that contained flawed — or even missing — data.
The main scientist behind the work, Cornell University professor Brian Wansink, has made headlines for his research into the psychology of eating. His experiments have found, for example, that women who put cereal on their kitchen counters weigh more than those who don’t, and that people will pour more wine if they’re holding the glass than if it’s sitting on a table. Over the past two decades he’s written two popular books and more than 100 research papers, and enjoyed widespread media coverage (including on BuzzFeed).
Yet over the past year, Wansink and his “Food and Brand Lab” have come under fire from scientists and statisticians who’ve spotted all sorts of red flags — including data inconsistencies, mathematical impossibilities, errors, duplications, exaggerations, eyebrow-raising interpretations, and instances of self-plagiarism — in 50 of his studies.
Read the whole thing — and don’t forget to say, “Thanks, (Michelle) Obama.”
Posted by Stephen Green at 1:14 pm
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6 Mar 1878 - 12 Mar 1928
Grave site information of Robert Anderson (6 Mar 1878 - 12 Mar 1928) at Upper Ridge Cemetery in Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, United States from BillionGraves
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Nasceu: 6 Mar 1878
Morreu: 12 Mar 1928
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Winchester, Frederick, Virginia
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Life timeline of Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson was born on 6 Mar 1878
Robert Anderson was 3 years old when The world's first international telephone call is made between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, and Calais, Maine, United States. A telephone call is a connection over a telephone network between the called party and the calling party.
Robert Anderson was 15 years old when Electrical engineer Nikola Tesla gives the first public demonstration of radio in St. Louis, Missouri. Nikola Tesla was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.
Robert Anderson was 31 years old when Ford puts the Model T car on the market at a price of US$825. Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand and most luxury cars under the Lincoln brand. Ford also owns Brazilian SUV manufacturer Troller, an 8% stake in Aston Martin of the United Kingdom, and a 49% stake in Jiangling Motors of China. It also has joint-ventures in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Russia. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is controlled by the Ford family; they have minority ownership but the majority of the voting power.
Robert Anderson was 34 years old when The British passenger liner RMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic at 2:20 a.m., two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg. Only 710 of 2,227 passengers and crew on board survive. RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the early hours of 15 April 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. There were an estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, and more than 1,500 died, making it one of the deadliest commercial peacetime maritime disasters in modern history. RMS Titanic was the largest ship afloat at the time it entered service and was the second of three Olympic-class ocean liners operated by the White Star Line. It was built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Thomas Andrews, her architect, died in the disaster.
Robert Anderson died on 12 Mar 1928 at the age of 50
Browse > United States > Virginia > Upper Ridge Cemetery > Robert Anderson
Grave record for Robert Anderson (6 Mar 1878 - 12 Mar 1928), BillionGraves Record 3502810 Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, United States
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Home Uncategorized All’s Quiet on the Eastern Front – The Decline of Football in East Germany
All’s Quiet on the Eastern Front – The Decline of Football in East Germany
Dáire O'Driscoll June 30, 2014
Einigkeit (Unity) is very important to Germans. So important, in fact, that it is the first word in their national anthem.
“Einigkeit und Rechts und Freiheit für das Deutsche Vaterland”.
Germany as we know it today is a relatively new phenomenon. Before the ascension of Kaiser Wilhelm I to the throne as Emperor of all Germany, the country was a collection of hundreds of smaller kingdoms and dominions. Fast forward 50 years and the nation was once again splintered with Danzig (Gdansk as it is known today) isolated from Germany by the Polish Corridor.
Roll forward 40 more years and you have the Federal Republic of Germany (West) and the German Democratic Republic (East) dividing the country in two once more. While it’s been a quarter century since the fall of the Wall and the reunification of Germany the divisions between East and West are still to be seen.
East Germans have lower life expectancies, higher rates of unemployment, lower average incomes, only one player in Germany’s 2014 World Cup Squad (Toni Kroos) and no team in the top flight of German football.
Germany has the most non-EU born inhabitants of any EU nation with 6.4 million, which accounts for 12% of the population. The DFB (Deutscher Fussball Bund – German football’s national governing body) has done well in incorporating second and third generation immigrants into the German national team with players such as Jerome Boateng, Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and the Polish duo of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski but since the reunification of East and West in 1990, the numbers of East Germans in the national side is depressingly few.
The DFB recognises itself that the team playing post 1990 is identical in appearance to that of West Germany but “has benefitted from an increased membership and player pool” by the inclusion of the Eastern States. However, the victorious Euro ’96 team included only two East German players.
Granted that the 2002 World Cup squad contained five East German players, which could be seen as more representative, the reduction of the number of East German players in the national team is worrying.
Association football is by far and away the most popular sport in Germany. Basketball and Handball come in a distant second and third. So why, if the sport is so popular in Germany, are the national representatives almost exclusively selected from the West?
The answer doesn’t lie in a top level government conspiracy; or at least we should hope not. There are two possible explanations that one could point to.
Firstly, East German sport tended to focus more heavily on individual sports such as swimming, gymnastics, cycling, weightlifting and track and field. One could consider this strange, that a system of government i.e. socialism, so inherently focused on social togetherness would promote sports characterised by single athlete isolation. But in saying all that East Germany’s fairly good record at Olympic Games has been called into question by a series of doping accusations. Most of Germany’s footballers are too young to have been thrust into athletics programmes rather than football, indeed a number of the current team weren’t even born when the Wall collapsed, so as far as this journalist is concerned, that argument is fairly weak.
The second, more convincing argument is that the lack of top flight East German teams and top flight East German players is to blame. Young people respond predominantly to success and role models when choosing sport to pursue. This is most evident in the United States where African American children are far more likely to play basketball than ice hockey, and girls are far more likely to play soccer and swim than they are to play basketball or hockey. This can be put down to the success of athletes in those sports.
The US Women’s national soccer team is the most successful female team on the planet, while there are comparatively few African American top level swimmers and as a result the sport is not pursued to the same extent by African American children.
Some may argue that this is not a problem at all and that places on the plane to Brazil were awarded on merit not geographical location. True. This journalist isn’t arguing for quotas of East Germans on the national team. In a competitive sport, such quotas are in all eventualities, uncompetitive. But the absence of any East German team in The Bundesliga 1 this year and only the one East German in the national team creates a hysteretic effect, meaning that a lack of top quality football and footballers breeds a lack of top quality football and footballers in the future.
The DFB must do their utmost to increase participation rates in former East German states and invest heavily in football there in order to achieve the unity that Germany so craves.
Daire O’Driscoll, Pundit Arena.
east german football germany world cup jermoe boateng lukas podolski mesut ozil miroslav klose sami khedira toni kroos Top Story world cup news 2014-06-30
Dáire O'Driscoll
About Dáire O'Driscoll
German and Economics graduate from Trinity College Dublin. Former underage Irish swimming champion. Interested in all things sport. Once held a top ten time worldwide for Luigi Circuit on Mario Kart Wii.
@daireodrf
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Home > International > Use of terror will remain part of Pak’s foreign policy: Former intelligence official
Use of terror will remain part of Pak’s foreign policy: Former intelligence official
Punjab Update Bureau - Posted on July 9, 2019
New Delhi: A former senior official in India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analyses Wing (R&AW), has said that the use of terror will remain a part of Pakistan’s foreign policy even if it warps its policies.
In an article published by The Telegraph, Anand Arni, a former special secretary, R&AW said: “For the moment, there is little to pin our hopes on any change in Pakistani policy. Its use of terror as a part of its foreign policy has been successful even if it warps its policies.”
“It cannot rectify as it simply does not know how to dismount. It will, thus, continue to use terror as part of its foreign policy until the world comes up with something more comprehensive and punitive. It is a game of deception and, unfortunately, they have become good at it”, he said while adding that hope is not policy and especially not when the Pakistani Deep State is the policy subject.
Pakistan has been on FATF’s grey list twice before (2008 to 2010 and 2012 to 2015) but is trying to avoid being blacklisted by convincing the world about its anti-terrorism actions.
As Islamabad is making all possible efforts to avoid blacklisting by the FATF, its narrative in dealing with terror groups is highly questionable.
“They have a good reason to make it look like they are cautiously reforming. They are desperately short of funds and did not want the US to block the IMF loan that was being negotiated,” Arni said in his article.
Even though Pakistan wants the world to believe that it is acting earnestly against LeT, much remains murky about what has been done, principally about the cadres – have they been rebranded or moved to other jihadi outfits?
Arni said: “The LeT is highly trained with special forces capabilities and it’s no easy matter to disarm and demobilise them. Anything that impacts on the LeT would need to be calibrated and carefully done for the Pakistan Army as it is in no position to take on such a highly trained and motivated force in an urban war in Punjab, its heartland.”
“Actually, this practice of morphing jihadi groups has long been an ISI practice, not so much with the LeT, but with other groups. The LeT has been largely free from this due to their discipline and ideological considerations – they belong to the Ahl-e-Hadith (Salafi) school and cannot easily transition elsewhere. The Ahl-e-Hadith account for only 4-5 per cent of Pakistani Sunnis,” said the former intelligence officer.
He claimed that terror outfits are aggressively operating from Pakistani soil and some of them have found an alliance in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Arni said that this time it appears that Hafiz Saeed-led JuD has begun to morph and what is worrisome is that it has now gravitated to, or at least has begun calling itself, ISIS.
He added: “Recently, a Pakistan-based correspondent for The Diplomat claimed that, in May, ‘militants affiliated with the Islamic State and LeJ were arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan and Sialkot. IS cells affiliated with Kashmir-bound Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) have been busted in Punjab in the past.’ All three, the LeT/JuD, the LeJ (Lashkar e Jhangvi) and the ISIS are Salafist.”
The former intelligence official believes that the world would face consequences if Pakistan failed to act against these terror groups.
He added: “It could be bad news for the world if Pakistan does not figure out what to do with the LeT cadres. Otherwise, it is entirely possible that they could pose a problem to the world by outsourcing their skills to the highest bidder.”
“Some three years ago, a LeT explosive expert was arrested in France and the possibility of the presence (or involvement) of former LeT cadres in incidents in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or even South-East Asia cannot be ruled out,” Arni concluded.
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Ophrys apifera - Huds.
Common Name Bee Orchid
Family Orchidaceae
Habitats Pastures, field borders, banks and copses on chalk or limestone, especially on recently disturbed soils; also on base-rich clays and calcareous dunes[17].
Range Central and southern Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:346_Ophrys_arachnites_Reich.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Lycaon
Ophrys apifera is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
It is hardy to zone (UK) 7. It is in flower from April to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Lawn; Meadow; Cultivated Beds;
Edible Parts: Root
Root - cooked. It is a source of 'salep', a fine white to yellowish-white powder that is obtained by drying the tuber and grinding it into a powder[200]. Salep is said to be very nutritious and is made into a drink or added to other cereals and used in bread etc[183]. One ounce of salep is said to be enough to sustain a person for a day[100, 115]. The salep can also be made into a drink[100].
Demulcent Nutritive
Salep (see above for more details) is very nutritive and demulcent[4]. It has been used as a diet of special value for children and convalescents, being boiled with water, flavoured and prepared in the same way as arrowroot[4]. Rich in mucilage, it forms a soothing and demulcent jelly that is used in the treatment of irritations of the gastro-intestinal canal[4]. One part of salep to fifty parts of water is sufficient to make a jelly[4]. The tuber, from which salep is prepared, should be harvested as the plant dies down after flowering and setting seed[4].
Plants can be grown in a lawn, but the lawn must not be cut until the plants have set seed[200]. When well-suited, the plants can multiply rapidly[230]. Grows well in a sunny dry border or on a scree[230]. Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[230]. This symbiotic relationship makes them very difficult to cultivate, though they will sometimes appear uninvited in a garden and will then thrive. Transplanting can damage the relationship and plants might also thrive for a few years and then disappear, suggesting that they might be short-lived perennials[230]. This species can often appear in disturbed habitats well away from its normal preferred sites on chalk and limestone hills[230]. The flowers resemble a female insect and also emit a scent similar to female pheremones. This species is unique in the genus, however, in that it is not pollinated by insects but is self-pollinated[230]. Tubers should be planted out whilst they are dormant, this is probably best done in the autumn[200]. They should be planted at least 5cm below soil level[200].
Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[200]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move. This species only rarely forms new offsets and so division is seldom feasible, the following methods can be tried, however[230]. Division of the tubers as the flowers fade[230]. This species produces a new tuber towards the end of its growing season. If this is removed from the plant as its flowers are fading, the shock to the plant can stimulate new tubers to be formed. The tuber should be treated as being dormant, whilst the remaining plant should be encouraged to continue in growth in order to give it time to produce new tubers[230]. Division can also be carried out when the plant has a fully developed rosette of leaves but before it comes into flower[230]. The entire new growth is removed from the old tuber from which it has arisen and is potted up, the cut being made towards the bottom of the stem but leaving one or two roots still attached to the old tuber. This can often be done without digging up the plant. The old tuber should develop one or two new growths, whilst the new rosette should continue in growth and flower normally[230].
Ophrys araneola 2 2
Ophrys bertolonii 2 2
Ophrys bombyliflora 2 2
Ophrys fusca Brown Bee Orchid 2 2
Ophrys holoserica Late Spider Orchid 2 2
Ophrys insectifera Fly Orchid 2 2
Ophrys iricolor 2 2
Ophrys lutea Yellow Bee Orchid 2 2
Ophrys scolopax Woodcock Orchid 2 2
Ophrys sphegodes Early Spider Orchid 2 2
Ophrys tenthredinifera Sawfly Orchid 2 2
Ophrys vernixia 2 2
Huds.
Chris Povey Thu Jan 19 2006
very disappointed to see the virtues of SALEP being promoted on this website. The use of tubers as a food is mainly restricted to Turkey where it is a part of the large scale problems with plants being robbed from the wild. What you should mention in your notes on cultivation of terrestrial orchids is that they take between 4 and 8 years to reach flowering size and taking the tuber will kill the plant. I'm wondering where UK SALEP enthusiasts intend to obtain their tubers, only a handful of growers are raising them from seed and I would certainly refuse to sell any of my stock for culinary purposes. On a different note, the most reliable way to grow terrestrial orchids is using tissue culture techniques under sterile conditions, this is nothing like permaculture as i remember it. You mention that Cribb & Bailes' "Hardy Orchids" gives very little info on uses of terrestrial orchids, this might be because even the ones that aren't specially protected in law are rare and using them as food makes as much sense as using Rhino horn as an aphrodisiac.
gavin reece-smith Tue Jul 10 2007
What you say about salep makes it sound as if these are very common- if they were, and you had developed a large stock of them on your land to make drinks with! Do you know anyone who can get seeds of this plant? Perhaps you could start a conservation project, and grow little stocks so people can reintroduce them to their land.
Tue Oct 13 2009
this is a very gren website!
Subject : Ophrys apifera
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Labrador dog named Lucy saves Oregon man from sex conviction
ANDREW SELSKY
Associated Press 11 September 2018
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The discovery of a black Labrador named Lucy led to the unraveling of a criminal case Monday against an Oregon man who had begun serving a 50-year prison sentence.
Joshua Horner, a plumber from the central Oregon town of Redmond, was convicted on April 12, 2017, of sexual abuse of a minor.
In the trial, the complainant testified Horner had threatened to shoot her animals if she went to the police about the alleged molestation, and said she saw him shoot her dog and kill it to make his point.
Six months after a jury convicted Horner in a verdict that was not unanimous, he asked the Oregon Innocence Project for help. The group took up his case.
When the group raised concerns in April about the case with Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel, he agreed to work with them.
Horner had insisted he never shot the dog. Finding the dog would show the complainant had lied under oath. But if it was alive, where was it?
An Oregon Innocence Project volunteer and an official from Hummel's office searched for it. The black Lab had reportedly been given away. The investigators were sniffing on the trail, but they had trouble tracking down the purported dog's owner.
"They made a couple trips around Deschutes County; he was not there," said Steve Wax, legal director of the Oregon Innocence Project. "We heard he was in Seattle. Then we learned he had a place on the Oregon Coast."
It was there, in the town of Gearhart northwest of Portland, that the pair finally found Lucy after her owners agreed to rendezvous at a golf course.
"She was drinking a bowl of water and sitting in shade underneath a porch. We played with her. Petted her. It was wonderful," said Lisa Christon, the Oregon Innocence Project volunteer.
Lucy was identified by an undisputed chain of custody and her looks.
"She's a very distinctive-looking black Lab; not purebred. She's got this adorable shaped head and really long ears," Christon said.
That key evidence showed the complainant had not been truthful when testifying, the district attorney said.
"Lucy the dog was not shot. Lucy the dog is alive and well," Hummel's office said in a statement.
Hummel told the court Monday he's not certain that Horner did not sexually abuse the complainant, but that he's now not convinced he did. The Associated Press is not naming her because it typically does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.
Deschutes County Judge Michael Adler dismissed the case.
Horner, in a statement released by the Oregon Innocence Project, thanked the group, his family, friends and Hummel.
"Kelli and I are ready to pick up the pieces of our lives," Horner said, referring to his wife. The couple came out of the courthouse Monday holding hands and smiling.
Horner had walked out of a state prison in Pendleton on Aug. 3 after the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed his conviction and ordered a new trial. The appeals court said the defense had not been allowed to present certain evidence that was unrelated to the dog.
Now, Horner no longer faces that second trial. He declined a request for an interview, saying he is not ready to speak with the media yet
After Lucy was found, the complainant failed to attend a meeting in August to discuss her testimony, Hummel said. Last Wednesday, one of his investigators heard she was at a home near Redmond. When he pulled up to the driveway, she ran away.
Horner had been indicted under a previous district attorney, but the trial and conviction came under Hummel's watch.
Hummel said in an email the issue of the dog being shot was raised for the first time during the trial, so there was no investigation to be done regarding it prior to trial, "and we had no credible reason to question the statement after it was made."
He said exonerations are a reminder that while the U.S. has "the best system of justice in the world it is not perfect. Mistakes will be made and we should be judged by how we respond to them."
Wax, who was Oregon's former top federal public defender for 31 years before joining the Oregon Innocence Project, said the case is highly unusual.
"To be able to establish that a person should not have been convicted, you need something objective," Wax said in a telephone interview. "In most child sex abuse cases, there is no evidence. Finding Lucy alive showed the complainant lied under oath in her testimony."
It was the first exoneration for the Oregon Innocence Project, launched in 2014 to exonerate the wrongfully convicted and promote legal reforms.
Wax praised Hummel for his willingness to re-examine the case.
"Nationwide, what Mr. Hummel did was unusual," Wax said. "It is to be commended. It should be the model."
Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky
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Karl Lagerfeld and Puma are cooking up a fashion collaboration
AFP Relax 5 September 2018
The late designer Karl Lagerfeld attends the 2017 WWD Honors at the Pierre Hotel on October 24, 2017 in New York City
Puma is strengthening its ties with the luxury fashion industry via a new collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld.
The German sportswear brand has teamed up with the designer's eponymous label on a capsule collection of menswear and womenswear pieces, WWD reports.
The focus of the collection will be Puma's Suede 50 sneaker, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year and has been the subject of multiple creative collaborations over the past few months. Lagerfeld's take on the shoe comes in the form of two different unisex styles inspired by his own personal uniform of a black tuxedo, white shirt and sunglasses.
The series will also feature a jumpsuit and cropped t-shirt for women, menswear separates such as a hoodie and sweatpants, and accessories including a bag and baseball cap. The line will go on sale worldwide on October 19.
The move is the latest in a string of high-profile collaborations undertaken by Lagerfeld's brand, which unveiled a capsule collection with supermodel-of-the-moment Kaia Gerber at the end of August. The creative also released a limited-edition beauty collection with Model Co earlier this year, and joined forces with his personal assistant Sebastien Jondeau on a curated menswear capsule that debuted at the Pitti Uomo trade show back in January. Puma has also been racking up celebrity collaborations of late, enlisting the help of The Weeknd, Sonra and Hello Kitty, to name just a few.
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Home Home | News & Events | Mindanao
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 17 June, 2019 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Marawi, Marawi Response Project, Mindanao, USAID, USAID Philippines
U.S., Philippines Celebrate Successful Partnership that Expanded Opportunities for 25,000+ Out-of-School Youth
Manila, May 3, 2019 — The U.S. and Philippine governments celebrated the successful conclusion of the six-year, Php832-million Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev) project. The partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), and 11 local government units across Mindanao expanded access ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 3 May, 2019 | Topics: Education, Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Department of Education, Lawrence Hardy II, Mindanao, Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev), TESDA, USAID, USAID Philippines
U.S.-Philippine Partnership Fosters Citizen Engagement and Good Governance in Mindanao
Cebu City, February 14, 2019 — The U.S. and Philippine governments celebrated the accomplishments of a six-year U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project that has worked to improve peace and stability in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. The Enhancing Governance, Accountability and Engagement (ENGAGE) project is a six-year, Php 860 million U.S.-Philippine partnership to advance ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 14 February, 2019 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Department of Interior and Local Government, Enhancing Governance Accountability and Engagement (ENGAGE) project, Marawi, Mindanao, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process, Task Force Bangon Marawi, USAID, USAID Philippines
U.S. Commits Php595 Million to Extend U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Advancing Peace and Stability in Mindanao
Manila, November 15, 2018 — The U.S. government announced a Php595 million extension of the Mindanao Peace and Development Assistance Agreement on Tuesday, November 13. The bilateral agreement, a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), supports projects that enhance governance, expand economic opportunities, provide infrastructure, and ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 15 November, 2018 | Topics: Events, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Marawi, Mindanao, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), USAID, USAID Philippines
#ForMindanao Summit Highlights Results of Grassroots Marawi Conflict Response Initiative
Misamis Oriental, October 17, 2018 – Community leaders from Marawi, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur came together for a #ForMindanao Summit in Misamis Oriental to showcase projects funded by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ Php18.5 million #ForMindanao campaign. With this funding, community leaders have assisted approximately 43,000 Mindanaoans affected by the Marawi crisis. ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 17 October, 2018 | Topics: Agriculture, Alumni, Events, News, Press Releases, Public Affairs, U.S. & Philippines | Tags: #ForMindanao, Marawi, Mindanao
Peace Corps Philippines Receives 2018 Gawad Kadakilaan Award for Mindanao Project
U.S. Peace Corps Philippines received the Gawad Kadakilaan Award in September for the tremendous impact of Peace Corps’ Padayon Mindanao 2.0 program on out-of-school youth and Alternative Learning System educators in Mindanao. Gawad Kadakilaan is an award conferred annually by the I Transform! Campaign Consortium (ITCC), led by Youthlead Philippines (YLP), in recognition of individuals ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 2 October, 2018 | Topics: Events, News, U.S. & Philippines | Tags: Gawad Kadakilaan, Mindanao, Peace Corps, Peace Corps Philippines
U.S. Embassy Supports Student Symposium on Countering Violent Extremism
Capt. Robert Barnes and Capt. Sergio Villarreal, both U.S. military officers working with Indo-Pacific Command Augmentation Teams, present a certificate of appreciation to Police Chief Superintendent Dennis Basgni, Deputy Director of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) during a recent PNP-SAF leadership symposium on countering violent extremism. During a recent PNP-SAF leadership symposium ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 12 July, 2018 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines | Tags: Marawi, Mindanao, PNP, PNP-SAF, U.S. Military
USAID Partners with Philippine Technology Company to Promote Sustainable Fisheries in Southern Mindanao
Sarangani Province, July 5, 2018 — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new partnership with Manila-based Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprise, Inc. (FAME) to promote sustainable fisheries and boost livelihoods in southern Mindanao. Together with FAME, USAID will begin installing transponders on the vessels of over two dozen small-scale fishers from ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 5 July, 2018 | Topics: News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Mindanao, Sarangani, USAID, USAID Philippines
U.S. Government Announces Php296.2 Million in Assistance for Women and Households Affected by Marawi Conflict
Davao, June 23 — U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Michael Klecheski announced Php296.2 million ($5.55 million) in new assistance for humanitarian and recovery work in and around Marawi. The additional assistance will promote the role and inclusion of women in the recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi as well as support ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 23 June, 2018 | Topics: Deputy Chief of Mission, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines | Tags: #FriendsPartnersAllies, Marawi, Michael Klecheski, Mindanao, USAID, USAID Philippines
U.S. Government Provides Teacher’s Kits to Schools in Marawi and Surrounding Areas
Marawi City, June 5, 2018 — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated over 3,500 teacher’s kits to the Philippine Department of Education to benefit schools affected by the conflict in Marawi. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, DepEd-ARMM Regional Secretary Rasol Mitmug, Jr. and over a hundred DepEd officials attended ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 5 June, 2018 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Department of Education, Marawi, Mindanao, USAID, USAID Philippines
U.S. Government Announces Additional Php182 Million to Support Marawi Humanitarian Response
Manila, May 4, 2018 — The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), announced an additional Php182 million ($3.5 million) to support ongoing humanitarian relief in Marawi. This brings the total U.S. government contribution to the Marawi response to nearly 1.4 billion pesos ($26.4 million). The new assistance will enable USAID ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 4 May, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador, Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Marawi, Mindanao, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, USAID, USAID Philippines
American Muslim Scholars Lead Institute for Muslim Women
Manila, March 21, 2018 — From March 5 to 16, prominent American Muslim scholars from the U.S.-based KARAMAH organization led a 12-day Institute on Law, Leadership, and Conflict Resolution for 34 female madrasa teachers and community leaders from across Mindanao in addition to delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Singapore. The U.S. Embassy in the ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 21 March, 2018 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines | Tags: Marawi, Mindanao
U.S. Government Announces Food Aid for Families Affected by Marawi Conflict
Ambassador Sung Kim (center) leads the ceremonial handover of rice to Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (second from left) and Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima, Spokesperson of Task Force Bangon Marawi (leftmost) during the ceremonial handover held in Taguig City. Also present are Stephen Gluning, Country Director of ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 14 March, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador, Events, News, Press Releases, U.S. & Philippines, U.S. Agencies | Tags: Marawi, Mindanao, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, USAID, USAID Philippines
Marine Conservation Camp for Mindanao Youth in Cebu
Cordova, Cebu, January 26, 2018 — From January 23 to 31, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) Camp in Cebu will bring together 25 young marine conservationists from Mindanao to learn how to lead sustainable development initiatives in their home communities. This week-long workshop on environmental conservation and youth leadership ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 29 January, 2018 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases | Tags: Cebu, Mindanao, SEA Camp, SEACamp, YSEALI
U.S. Government Begins Delivery of More than 6,500 Tablet Arm Chairs for Displaced Marawi Students
Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur ,October 4, 2017— The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Department of Education, delivered its first batch of tablet arm chairs to schools in Mindanao, where displaced Marawi students are currently enrolled. USAID’s Basa Pilipinas provided five schools in the municipality ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 4 October, 2017 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases | Tags: Department of Education, Marawi, Mindanao, USAID, USAID Philippines
Padayon Mindanao 2.0 Holds Second Educate and Engage to Empower Camp
By Metodio B. Maraguinot Jr., Project Specialist for Padayon Mindanao; 1 September 2017 Peace Corps Philippines’ (PCP) Padayon Mindanao 2.0 project recently organized the Second “Educate and Engage to Empower” (E2E) Camp at Bohol Plaza Resort in Dauis, Bohol. Forty eight participants joined with half coming from the project’s regional partners in Mindanao and the ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 29 September, 2017 | Topics: Events, News | Tags: Mindanao, Peace Corps, Peace Corps Philippines, Visayas
U.S. Increases Surveillance Support for AFP Counterterrorism Efforts in Mindanao
Manila, September 11, 2017 —The United States deployed the Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to Mindanao for additional surveillance in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterterrorism efforts. Compared to current surveillance platforms used in the region, the Gray Eagle has a longer flight duration which will enable a larger area ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 11 September, 2017 | Topics: News, Press Releases | Tags: #FriendsPartnersAllies, Armed Forces of the Philippines, counterterrorism, Mindanao
U.S. Government Programs Provide Relief to Marawi Evacuees
Manila, July 19, 2017 — The U.S. government is partnering with the Philippine government in delivering critical health and education services to civilians who have been affected by the ongoing conflict in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. “The United States and the Philippines are longstanding friends, partners and allies,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 19 July, 2017 | Topics: News, Press Releases | Tags: Marawi, Mindanao, USAID, USAID Philippines
Cotabato City Youth Graduate from U.S. Government-Supported Skills Training Program
Cotabato City, March 31, 2017 — More than 100 Filipino youth are now better equipped with knowledge and life skills to help them succeed, following their completion of a job training course provided by the U.S. government in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System, ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 31 March, 2017 | Topics: Events, Press Releases | Tags: Cotabato, Mindanao, TESDA, USAID, USAID Philippines
U.S. Government-Funded Partnership Advances Water Security in Visayas and Mindanao
March 23, 2017, Manila — “Through our partnership with the Philippine government, more than 1.3 million Filipinos have gained access to improved sanitation and over 1.5 million more now have access to safe and clean drinking water,” said U.S. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim in his keynote address during the finale ceremony of U.S. Agency for ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 23 March, 2017 | Topics: Events, Press Releases | Tags: Basilan, Be Secure Project, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Leyte, Maguindanao, Mindanao, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, USAID, USAID Philippines, Visayas, World Water Day, Zamboanga
US Embassy Manila Donates Barracks at Camp Kasim, Jolo, Sulu to the Philippine National Police
Manila, April 19, 2016 — U.S. Embassy Manila donated a newly-refurbished building at the Sulu Training Center, Camp Kasim, Jolo, Sulu to the Philippine National Police (PNP). The construction of the barracks began in early 2015 by the U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force West, and was completed on April 4, 2016 at a ...
By U.S. Embassy Manila | 19 April, 2016 | Topics: Press Releases | Tags: Mindanao, Philippine National Police, PNP
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What If My Kid… ? (A Guide To Odds)
Let’s say you’re a new parent. You’re a US citizen, and you can’t help but wonder: Will my kid grow up to be President? How about a doctor? A football player? How likely are different options?
Below, I give some numbers for how likely a random American is to wind up doing different things. Unless otherwise stated, numbers are for a whole lifetime: eg., the odds of working for Google is the chance that a person will ever work for Google, at any point in their career. Most of these are based on “back of the envelope” statistics: they’re supported by real data, but they may not be exactly right, and some are probably off by a factor of two or so.
A very important caveat: all these numbers assume that the world remains as it is. For example, by the time a kid born today is old enough to be President, the US may be a protectorate of the Chinese Technocracy, dooming his chances. This is intentional: I aim to give a picture of the US as it exists today.
(1 in 1: Certainty)
Born male (or female): 1 in 2
Graduates from college: 1 in 3
Born non-white: 1 in 3.5
(1 in 10: One person at a family dinner)
Being a millionaire, in a randomly chosen year: 1 in 15
Born gay: 1 in 30
1300 / 1600 SAT score: 1 in 50
Goes to law school: 1 in 80
(1 in 100: One person in an apartment building)
Has an income of $400K or more, in a randomly chosen year: 1 in 120
Lives in Manhattan, in a randomly chosen year: 1 in 190
Becomes a doctor: 1 in 230
Goes to an Ivy League school: 1 in 250
Gets a college degree in computer science: 1 in 350
1500 / 1600 on the SAT: 1 in 700
(1 in 1,000: One person in a small town, or city block)
Works as a Google engineer: 1 in 2,500
Perfect SAT score: 1 in 4,000
Gets a Ph.D. in physics: 1 in 5,000
Elected as a state legislator: 1 in 7,000
Becomes an Ivy League professor: 1 in 8,000
Is worth more than $30 million, in a randomly chosen year: 1 in 9,000
(1 in 10,000: One person in an average-sized town)
Funded by Y Combinator: 1 in 12,000
Plays in the NFL: 1 in 15,000
CEO of Fortune 500 company: 1 in 60,000
(1 in 100,000: One person in a small city)
Is elected to Congress: 1 in 110,000
Becomes a billionaire: 1 in 200,000
Joins Skull and Bones: 1 in 250,000
Becomes a US Senator: 1 in 600,000
Becomes a cabinet member: 1 in 800,000
Becomes President: 1 in 20,000,000
(If you disagree with any of these numbers, please post in the comments – preferably with sources – and I’ll go back and edit if you’re right. Same applies if there are any cool ones I’ve missed.)
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foragercorner
You mention president in the post but don’t have it listed in the odds.
sandorzoo
Added, good catch
Steve Loodernberg
1 in 11 a millionaire, but only 1 in 120 earning over $400k… I don’t get it… unless there are lots of millionaires that don’t earn anything. 1 in 11 sounds stupidly large.
You can earn less than $400,000/yr and still save a million dollars.
I guess if you include house values, a large proportion of middle aged people are millionaires.
kev009
I wonder if it takes nest eggs into account (home equity, retirement account, etc). Sounds about right if so.
Eduardo Cereto
He probably means earning over $400k in any single year of his life. Someone could earn $100k per year or less and still become a millionaire at some point of his life.
Here’s the source I used: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/05/chart-of-the-day-9-of-americans-are-millionaires-in-2011/238458/
Thinking more deeply about this, I’ve adjusted the number to 1 in 15, since almost all kids (~25% of the population) are part of someone else’s household, and so would be counted as “millionaires” even though they had no control over the assets.
Rob Toledo
Wikipedia tends to make me think that the 1 in 30 being gay thing is a bit off — maybe outwardly admitting they are gay is that low, but the estimated number is much higher — “In a 2006 study, 20% of respondents anonymously reported some homosexual feelings, although 2-3% identified themselves as homosexual” (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality)
Yeah, I agree.
You can probably rephrase that as: “Will tell you he/she is gay”.
Or are you implying the other 17% of gays are not _born_ that way?
Eric Warnke (@EricWarnke)
Does the NFL stat take into account that half the population isn’t even eligible to play because they are female?
Sam B
Interesting and informative, but a recent and much-hyped release from the Census Bureau indicates that there is now an approximately 1 in 2 chance of being born non-White: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/us/whites-account-for-under-half-of-births-in-us.html?pagewanted=all
Leave a Reply to Steve Loodernberg Cancel reply
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Protecting Faith Communities Faith Leaders, FBI Collaborating to Keep Religious Institutions Safe from Attacks
Added by Staff Reports on July 12, 2019.
Saved under Crime, Law Enforcement, News, Spiritual
Assistant Director Kerry Sleeper of the FBI’s Office of Partner Engagement speaks at a meeting of faith leaders at FBI Headquarters Tuesday.
Seven minutes, 24 seconds.
That’s how long it took a gunman who opened fire at a Baptist church in rural Sutherland Springs, Texas, to kill 26 people. Many in the church on November 5, 2017 took cover under the pews. Tragically, that made them an easier target for the gunman. The gunman later died by suicide after an armed passerby confronted him.
From Sutherland Springs to Pittsburgh to Poway, it’s becoming sadly common—worshippers gunned down during their religious services. Law enforcement and religious leaders met Tuesday at FBI Headquarters to discuss these threats and how to protect religious institutions. It was a conversation all parties wished wasn’t necessary.
“Everyone who attends a service deserves the right to do so in peace,” said Assistant Director Kerry Sleeper of the FBI’s Office of Partner Engagement. “That’s certainly our common goal here as we move forward.”
FBI officials briefed attendees on topics like hate crime and terrorism threats and warning signs for shooters. They shared in-depth case studies on the shootings at Sutherland Springs and on the attack on a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in 2012.
While the events may seem random, many shooters do show warning signs before they act. In the case of the Sutherland Springs shooter, the gunman had a troubled history; he had been court martialed in the military and had a history of domestic violence.
Officials encouraged religious leaders to remind their communities of the warning signs so they can be handled appropriately at the local level. Depending on the threat, sometimes a simple mental health treatment referral is all that’s required.
But when attacks happen, the FBI offers its resources to state or local law enforcement, who are usually the primary investigators. In Sutherland Springs, a rural community with a small sheriff’s office, the Texas Rangers led the investigation. The FBI offered its national-level resources to the small community, services such as evidence processing and victim services, said FBI San Antonio Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Krupa.
As with all crime scenes on religious grounds, the investigative team took steps to respect religious traditions and sensitivities.
“It’s still a sanctuary. It’s holy ground, and we treated it as such,” Krupa said.
While communities are concerned about violence, preparation does make a difference, attendees said.
Michael Masters, executive director of Secure Community Network, a security organization for Jewish institutions, said that active shooter training helped save lives at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last October, where a shooter killed 11 people.
Just a few weeks before the attack, a security review showed that emergency exits were blocked. Those exits were cleared before the attack. The synagogue’s rabbi didn’t typically carry a cell phone on the sabbath, but he agreed to do so after the security training. It was the rabbi who made the call to 911 when the shooting started.
“Many of them credit that training with helping save their lives,” Masters said.
The goal of the meeting is to kick off a national community of interest of faith leaders, so law enforcement can share threat information widely. Federal law enforcement agencies have similar channels with local police, the private sector, and school security personnel. After recent attacks on houses of worship, the FBI wants to expand that information sharing to faith leaders, Sleeper said.
In an interview after the meeting, Rev. Markel Hutchins, founder of One Congregation, One Precinct (ONECOP), an Atlanta-based organization that promotes police-community relationships, said the conversation is one congregants are eager to have.
“I think one of the benefits of this much-needed conversation is that the FBI and other agencies got a better sense of the enthusiasm that faith communities have to prepare themselves to prevent attacks,” said Hutchins.
Prevention and Response
In Tuesday’s presentation, FBI officials offered suggestions on steps religious institutions can take to protect themselves and their congregants:
Get to know your local law enforcement officers and first responders; invite them to a service. It’s better to establish a relationship before a security incident.
Read and encourage your attendees to read the FBI’s report on pre-attack behaviors. If you see something, say something.
Teach your members what to do in the event of an attack. Use the FBI’s Active Shooter resources and Run-Hide-Fight training. Without preparation, human nature is to freeze. Simple steps like knowing where the exits are save lives.
Design buildings for security, including multiple exits, so people can get out during a shooting.
Make sure security cameras are working and that police can access the footage quickly in an emergency.
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Should Democrats Avoid Women Candidates?
By Mona Charen
Mona Charen
Mona Charen is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Her new book, Sex Matters: How Modern Feminism Lost Touch with Science, Love, and Common Sense, is available now.
| May 9, 2019
Many Democratic voters are worried that a woman candidate cannot win the presidency in 2020. “I don’t think they’re strong enough to carry it for themselves,” an Iowa voter told the Washington Post. Amber Phillips reports that “female politicians are held by voters to a much higher standard than men,” and points to polls showing that today’s support for Elizabeth Warren (12 percent) and Kamala Harris (8 percent) drops to low single digits when voters are asked who is likely to defeat Trump.
Without denying that some people may harbor misogynistic feelings, and that many Democrats may indeed fear, as Phillips reported, that while they personally would happily vote for a woman for president, their neighbors might not, this doesn’t prove that women are held to a higher standard. The evidence is mixed. It’s never possible to know with certainty what motivates voters. Could Romney’s religion have decided the 2012 race? It’s possible.
Is there an anti-woman bias? Election analyst Karlyn Bowman has found that women are just as likely to be successful in political races as men. And most voters are past the identity politics phase of wanting to vote for a candidate (or oppose one) due to sex.
At the level of presidential politics, the data set is a bit skimpy — one election. Many Democrats seem to believe that Hillary Clinton’s 2016 loss can be chalked up to sex, or, in the words of New York Times op-ed writer Farhad Manjoo, the perception that “American society is wracked at every level by a pervasive and enduring misogyny.”
Or perhaps Hillary Clinton became unpopular for reasons all her own. It isn’t as if she was always unpopular. Twice in her career, Clinton was regarded favorably by a whopping 66 percent of Americans — in December, 1998 when the Monica Lewinsky scandal made her the most prominent wronged wife on the planet; and in November of 2009, while she served as Secretary of State. Even in the midst of the Benghazi hearings in December of 2012, her approval still held steady at 65 percent.
In 2015, Clinton’s approval dipped sharply, down to 49 percent. This drop tracked among all voters, including Democrats, whose support declined from 86 percent to 77 percent. What happened? Clinton didn’t change her sex. She ran into the private email server scandal, and it damaged her not just because of the underlying offense, but also due to her persistent deceit, and the fact that this revived earlier concerns about her dishonesty and “rules don’t apply to me” image from earlier in her career.
The share of voters who are women has been increasing steadily since 1980. The Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers shows that in 2016, 63.3 percent of eligible women voted compared with only 59.3 percent of eligible men. It’s possible that women harbor self-hating feelings toward women candidates, but that seems unlikely. The data do show clearly that women, especially the unmarried ones, tend to prefer more liberal candidates without regard to sex. And there is one study showing that when Democratic women run against Republican men, some Republican women voters defect to the woman.
What about men voters? Are they the ones who hold retrograde views, thinking women candidates are too emotional or weak to do the job? There may be some of that, but think of Republican voters in 2008. They were lukewarm toward John McCain, the last man standing at the end of the primaries, but they were over the moon for Sarah Palin. A September 2008 CNN poll found that 62 percent of men approved of Palin compared with only 53 percent of women. Asked whether Palin was qualified to be president, 57 percent of male respondents said yes, 14 points higher than among women. In fact, 55 percent of women thought she wasn’t qualified.
You can mine the data in the belief that voters are not “ready” for a woman president. But the truth is probably closer to this: the right woman candidate hasn’t run yet. Qualifications aside (it’s so pre-2016 to fret about qualifications!) if Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama jumped into the race, they’d rocket to the top. Great Britain, Israel, Germany, and India for heaven’s sake, have elected female leaders. Is the U.S. more misogynist than those countries?
Not everything reduces to bias. May the best person win.
Published in Politics
Tags: 2020, Democratic Primary, Gender
Eustace C. Scrubb
I’d love to see Nikki Haley test whether Americans would vote for a woman.
https://ricochet.com/621112/should-democrats-avoid-women-candidates/#comment-4487302
I don’t hate women. I love women. My mom is and both of my grandmothers were women.
I object to the idea that I have to hate Hillary Clinton for being a woman when there are plenty of reasons to hate Hillary Clinton for being Hillary Clinton.
Mona Charen: Is there an anti-woman bias?
For Democrat women, yes. Obama was an outlier, but he was a guy. Yes, I think there was a “man thing” even for the Dems, working in 2008 and 2012.
But Hillary was so wrong in many ways. I think Rush summed it up best:
“Hillary Clinton was every man’s ex-wife.”
Having said that, I don’t think America is ready for a woman President just because she is a woman. I think America doesn’t care, as long as 1) it’s not Hillary Clinton, and 2) the woman isn’t insane. The second criterion eliminates all the female Democrat candidates. Trump will be re-elected in 2020 (sorry, Mona). But . . .
Nikki’s children should be on their own in 2024. I look for her to make a run. In spite of my disdain for her removal of the Confederate Battle Flag in SC (yes, it matters), she stands head and shoulders above any candidate the Dems could field.
EJHill
Mona Charen:. Qualifications aside (it’s so pre-2016 to fret about qualifications!) if Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama jumped into the race, they’d rocket to the top.
There’s absolutely no evidence of those assertions. What’s the difference between those two women’s politics and any of the women already in the Democratic race? Again, the conventional wisdom rears its head that name recognition equals electability.
Great Britain, Israel, Germany, and India for heaven’s sake, have elected female leaders. Is the U.S. more misogynist than those countries?
Of all of these examples few equate to winning a US Presidential election. Indira Gandhi, Theresa May and Golda Meir all ascended into their premierships either by death or resignation. (Gandhi was helped because her father was India’s first PM.) Angela Merkel became chancellor through a hung parliament.
Only Margaret Thatcher sat in opposition, led her party to a majority and became Prime Minister primarily through a democratic election.
Basil Fawlty
Mona Charen:
Only if they’re Republicans.
Let’s plaaaay…. Jeopardy!
This pathetic choice for a female PM was left off of Mona’s list.
Caryn
EJHill (View Comment):
Benazir Bhutto. Assassinated, as was Indira Gandhi. Hmmm….being a female head of state is a pretty high risk job.
Daniel Sterman
Stad (View Comment):
I think America doesn’t care, as long as 1) it’s not Hillary Clinton, and 2) the woman isn’t insane.
You repeat yourself.
Caryn (View Comment):
Who is the only other elected Prime Minister, besides Benazir Bhutto, to give birth while in office?
May 10, 2019, at 1:52 AM PDT
She (View Comment):
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (President, but…)
Park Geun-he (S Korea)
Khalida Zia (Bangladesh)
Sheikh Hasina (also Bangladesh)
Tansu Çiller (Türkiye)
Isabel Peron
“the right woman candidate hasn’t run yet.” Yes not even close, but Hillary could have won if she’d run a sound campaign and she was as corrupt and inept as we’ve ever seen. “if Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama jumped into the race,” god forbid. Isn’t there a Margaret Thatcher out there someplace? Of course she wouldn’t be a Democrat. Come to think of it, the first female president will likely be a conservative Republican.
Michael Brehm
Who is Theresa Merkel?
Mona Charen: the right woman candidate hasn’t run yet.
Well, I understand Marianne Williamson (Oprah Winfrey’s spiritual advisor) has reached the DNC’s donor threshold and qualified for the primary debates, so perhaps we’re inching closer . . .
The correct question the judges had in mind is, “Who was Kim Campbell?”
She was PM of Canada for a whole 132 days after succeeding Brian Mulroney. Jean Chrétien and the Grits mopped the floor with her in the 1993 elections.
The Great Adventure!
Well, 20 years ago many of us felt the same about the first black president.
If a woman candidate doesn’t remind you of your ex-wife at the beginning of the campaign and your ex-wife’s lawyer at the end of the campaign, she has a chance of winning.
Eustace C. Scrubb (View Comment):
The thing is, a R woman is not likely to win. Look at those numbers on Palin.
Mona Charen: Asked whether Palin was qualified to be president, 57 percent of male respondents said yes, 14 points higher than among women. In fact, 55 percent of women thought she wasn’t qualified.
Women seem to be a stronger voting bloc than men and (we) are overwhelmingly pro-nanny state, especially among single women. Married women lean more to the Right, but they aren’t strong there.
Women are far harsher critics of women than men are and they are particularly cruel to R women. A right leaning woman will not win a general election.
May 10, 2019, at 1:35 PM PDT
Arthur Beare
Women are far harsher critics of women than men are . . .
Yes. And they are pretty good at detecting crazy, which eliminates most of the female Dems in the news. That leaves Harris (maybe–I think she is a little too cool and calculating for most people of either sex to trust) and Michele Obama. And Oprah.
The Great Adventure! (View Comment):
Yep. I did. Prediction is difficult, especially about the future.
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Since receiving his first drum practice pad in the thrid grade, Jimmy Fox has not stopped making music. And now, with the full capacity of a world class pro studio at his disposal, Jimmy makes music with a sound that is both unique and timeless.
First recording his music to two track cassette tape, and then later on the four track, the ADAT, and finally the DAW, Jimmy has recorded in almost every format, including two inch tape.
Relocating to Boston from Miami in 1995, Jimmy began his professional career as a stage hand for orchestra performances in Jordan Hall. Then followed a stint managing the day to day at a local mastering studio.
Seven albums and two tours later, Jimmy's music spins worldwide on College Radio, iTunes, and Pandora. He's written music for short films, and produced other artists in his studio.
In addition to Jimmy's professional credits, he's provided entertainment to a wide variety of organizations from the Aids Walk to the X-Games. Played the Brattle Theater's Trailer Treats Smackdown, plus festivals in Vermont, weddings and parties, at venues throughout New England.
Jimmy has played hundreds of shows with multiple bands at legendary Boston area clubs like the Roxy, the Avalon, Paradise Rock Club(both rooms), the Middle East(upstairs and downstairs), Lilli's, JJ Foley's, Wally's, the Squealing Pig(both locations), the House of Blues(both locations), the Midway Cafe, the Milky Way, the Beachcomber, the Cantab, the Lizard Lounge, Toad, the Linwood, Great Scott, O'Brien's, and the Burren.
In New York City, Jimmy's bands have regularly gigged Arlene Grocery, Banjo Jim's, Wetlands, Knitting Factory, Luna Lounge, Maxwell's (Hoboken), and many more. Years of experience playing live and in the studio has allowed Jimmy's music to thrive reguardless of format or environment.
SADAWALA Music Everything © 2016
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The Economic Consequences of the Atlantic Slave Trade
Barbara L. Solow - Foreword by Dale Tomich
The Economic Consequences of the Atlantic Slave Trade shows how the West Indian slave/sugar/plantation complex, organized on capitalist principles of private property and profit-seeking, joined the western hemisphere to the international trading system encompassing Europe, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean, and was an important determinant of the timing and pattern of the Industrial Revolution in England. The new industrial economy was no longer dependent on slavery for development, but rested instead on investment and innovation. Solow argues that abolition of the slave trade and emancipation should be understood in this context.
978-0-7391-9246-7 • Hardback • May 2014 • $91.00 • (£60.00)
978-0-7391-9400-3 • Paperback • May 2016 • $43.99 • (£29.95)
978-0-7391-9247-4 • eBook • May 2014 • $41.50 • (£27.95)
Subjects: History / Latin America / Central America, History / Caribbean & West Indies / General, Social Science / Slavery
Barbara L. Solow retired from the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute at Harvard University after having taught economics at Brandeis University and Boston University.
Chapter 1: Capitalism and Slavery in the Exceedingly Long Run
Chapter 2: Slavery and Colonization
Chapter 3: Eric Williams and His Critics
Chapter 4: Why Columbus Failed: The New World without Slavery
Chapter 5: Caribbean Slavery and British Growth: The Eric Williams Hypothesis
Chapter 6: Marx, Slavery, and American Economic Growth
Chapter 7: The Transition to Plantation Slavery: The Case of the British West Indies
Solow provides important insights for understanding the economics of slavery in the Americas. This posthumous volume brings together some of her seminal publications based on her research throughout the past twenty-five years. It well deserves to be collected in a convenient volume for scholars who study slavery in the Americas. The central theme is the significance of the institution of slavery in modern economic development. Always written with a brilliance and flare, Solow’s work ably outlines the basic features of slavery as a system and economic structure. Although her analysis is heavily weighted toward British and North American history, her explanation of slavery’s underpinnings in economic terms applies to any society in any time period.
— Journal of Interdisciplinary History
Solow’s book...will give students an interesting and useful introduction to examining major aspects of the history of slavery and the way it effected (and was affected by) its role in the world economy.
— New West Indian Guide
These papers by Barbara Solow on capitalism and slavery have radically altered our view of the whole subject of the role of the Atlantic slave trade in relation to the British Industrial Revolution and to the evolution of capitalism as a global system. They provide not only the most vigorous and successful defense of the still highly controversial ‘Williams Thesis’ that we have in the literature, but go well beyond that thesis itself in placing the entire historical episode in a global context that is more extended in both space and time.
— Ronald Findlay, Columbia University
The essays gathered in this volume examine the relation of slavery and capitalism over long historical time. In them Barbara Solow combines the analytical rigor of an economist and the sensitivity to social and political context of an historian. Her comprehensive temporal and geographical scope together with her uncommonly broad vision, originality, and insight deepen our understanding of old problems and provide new questions for further inquiry. They will be necessary reading for students of slavery, capitalism, and the Atlantic world.
— Dale Tomich, Binghamton University
Barbara Solow is a pioneer in the study of the economics of the slave trade and of slavery itself. Her penetrating, quizzical essays on Eric Williams' view of slavery's contribution to capitalism as well as her other studies of slavery and the growth of capitalism are brought together in this volume and thus given the permanent place in the literature that they deserve.
— Bernard Bailyn, Harvard University
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Leader of Multi-Million Dollar Immigration Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty
February 27, 2019 By sdcnews
SAN DIEGO–A man pleaded guilty in federal court, admitting that he orchestrated a long-running immigration-fraud scheme that tricked more than 100 victims out of millions of dollars based on false claims that they could secure immigration status in the United States.
Hardev Panesar pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel to all counts, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, four counts of false impersonation of a federal officer, and one count of structuring financial transactions. Panesar also pleaded guilty to a separate count of failing to appear in court, resulting from his decision “jump bail” and flee to Mexico in June 2018, where he remained a fugitive for two months.
According to his plea agreement, Panesar admitted that from at least 2012 through May 24, 2017, he defrauded immigrants and aliens by inducing them to pay money to him based on fraudulent claims that he and his co-conspirators could obtain legal status in the United States for the victims and their families. Panesar managed to defraud the victims by, in part, impersonating an official from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and claiming that he had the power to stop deportation proceedings. To trick his victims, Panesar repeatedly showed fake agency credentials, provided immigration applications, and took fingerprints of victims. He often demanded more money to speed up the process or guarantee the immigration documents by a certain date. Panesar and his co-conspirators never delivered on their promise to provide immigration documents, despite collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims. As part of the plea agreement, Panesar agreed to pay approximately $2.5 million in restitution to his many victims.
Panesar also admitted that on June 21, 2018, he fled to Tijuana, Mexico, the day before a hearing scheduled in this case. Panesar remained a fugitive, hiding in Mexico, until August 13, 2018, when he was arrested by Mexican authorities and expelled back to the United States. Panesar has been in custody ever since, pending trial.
Panesar is scheduled to be sentenced on May 10 before Judge Curiel. Hastie, one of Panesar co-conspirators, was sentenced to 46 months in custody on January 4.
Filed Under: Central San Diego, Local Tagged With: Local news
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Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM) is a non-profit Aboriginal Corporation and is one of eight Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (RIMO’s) in Australia.
Based in Cairns, QRAM provides a range of services to radio stations in the remote Queensland communities of Atherton Tablelands, Aurukun, Doomadgee, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Mornington Island, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), Normanton, Pormpuraaw, Woorabinda and Wujal Wujal.
QRAM is funded by the Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Most of these stations are funded under the Remote Indigenous Broadcast Services scheme and are often called RIBS stations, or their original name, BRACS services. The name BRACS comes from the original scheme that enabled them to be set up in the 1980 and 1990’s. Many people in communities still call their station BRACS.
QRAM’s services are ‘tailor-made’ to the requirements of each individual station, include training, technical support, general administrative support, representation of the region to Government and Broadcasting Industry bodies, assistance with licensing including renewals, and secretariat support. QRAM specialises in finding innovative solutions to the many challenges faced by broadcasters in remote areas, including the Black Star service you can read about here.
QRAM Aboriginal Corporation was formed in 2006/2007, becoming fully operational in July 2007. Our services were sorely needed as Queensland RIBS had received minimal support over the previous 7 years, with the demise of the previous co-ordinating body, RIMAQ, in 1999.
Since the formation of QRAM, there has been a revitalisation of broadcasting activities in remote Queensland and stations that had been dormant have ‘dusted themselves off’ and are back providing an essential service to their communities.
Achievements since QRAM’s formation include:
Successful completion of the IRRR Remote Radio Refurbishment – bringing the entire region’s RIBS back to a modern, reliable and functional state.
Establishment of Accredited Training based in Cairns, in conjunction with Tropical North Queensland TAFE and industry experts from commercial and community media organisations. This has provided unique opportunities for members of QRAM’s remote communities to be trained by seasoned industry experts.
Establishment of a regional marketing scheme that allows the area to directly participate in its own marketing strategies. Importantly, for the first time, funds being generated as the result of this marketing are being used entirely to the direct benefit of the Cape and Gulf RIBS communities. The Cape and Gulf stations now have their own mechanism to represent their interests directly to agencies and project bodies, reducing the opportunity for organisations outside of the region to siphon funds away from the region.
Development of the Black Star network – an exciting new approach to networking programs and programming content and the subsequent raising of local community interest in their own radio service. For the first time, Cape and Gulf communities can hear a modern, progressive and informative voice that they and they alone own and control, with greater security of service, especially during extreme weather events
For the first time in many years, a strong flavour of independence and great pride in our regional broadcasting landscape.
Responsible and sound financial management and governance.
Meet our Board here
Read more about Black Star, our Technical Services, Training and Projects by clicking on the menu items.
One response to “About Us”
Victor Aanensen July 1, 2019 at 10:58 am · · Reply →
I love your music but if you don’t fix you turntable we will be changing channels
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/ Modified apr 2, 2019 8:49 a.m.
Politicians, business leaders and and economists warned of blocking cross-border trade and the movement of people. by Cedar Attanasio, Associated Press TWEET SHARE
Motorists wait to cross at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Sonora, in February 2019.
Murphy Woodhouse/Fronteras Desk
EL PASO, Texas — President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the southern border raised fears Monday of dire economic consequences in the U.S. and an upheaval of daily life in a stretch of the country that relies on the international flow of not just goods and services but also students, families and workers.
Politicians, business leaders and economists warned that such a move would block incoming shipments of fruits and vegetables, TVs, medical devices and other products and cut off people who commute to their jobs or school or come across to go shopping.
"Let's hope the threat is nothing but a bad April Fools' joke," said economist Dan Griswold at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. He said Trump's threat would be the "height of folly," noting that an average of 15,000 trucks and $1.6 billion in goods cross the border every day.
"If trade were interrupted, U.S. producers would suffer crippling disruptions of their supply chains, American families would see prices spike for food and cars, and U.S. exporters would be cut off from their third-largest market," he said.
Trump brought up the possibility of closing ports of entry along the southern border Friday and revisited it in tweets over the weekend because of a surge of Central Americans migrants who are seeking asylum. Trump administration officials have said the influx is straining the immigration system to the breaking point.
Elected leaders from border communities stretching from San Diego to cities across Texas warned that havoc would ensue on both sides of the international boundary if the ports were closed. They were joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which said such a step would inflict "severe economic harm."
In California's Imperial Valley, across from Mexicali, Mexico, farmers rely on workers who come across every day from Mexico to harvest fields of lettuce, carrots, onions and other winter vegetables. Shopping mall parking lots in the region are filled with cars with Mexican plates.
More than 60 percent of all Mexican winter produce consumed in the U.S. crosses into the country at Nogales, Arizona. The winter produce season is especially heavy right now, with the import of Mexican-grown watermelons, grapes and squash, said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
He said 11,000 to 12,000 commercial trucks cross the border at Nogales daily, laden with about 50 million pounds of produce such as eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, cucumbers and berries.
He said a closing of the border would lead to immediate layoffs and result in shortages and price increases at grocery stores and restaurants.
"If this happens — and I certainly hope it doesn't — I'd hate to go into a grocery store four or five days later and see what it looks like," Jungmeyer said.
Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, said a closure would be catastrophic.
"Closing the border would cause an immediate depression in border state communities and, depending on the duration, a recession in the rest of the country," he said.
"Our business would end," said Marta Salas, an employee at an El Paso shop near the border that sells plastic flowers that are used on the Mexican side by families holding quinceañeras, the traditional coming-of-age celebrations.
Salas said her whole family, including relatives who attend the University of Texas at El Paso, would be affected if the border were closed.
"There are Americans who live there. I have nephews who come to UTEP, to grade school, to high school every day," Salas said.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration said Monday as many as 2,000 U.S. inspectors who screen cargo and vehicles at ports of entry along the Mexican border may be reassigned to help handle the surge of migrants. Currently, about 750 inspectors are being reassigned.
That, too, could slow the movement of trucks and people across the border.
The effects were evident Monday: Sergio Amaya, a 24-year-old American citizen who lives in Juarez, Mexico, and attends UTEP, said it normally takes him two minutes to cross the bridge. It took an hour this time.
"The Border Patrol agent said it's going to get worse," Amaya said.
Instead of ensuring the flow of goods across the border, the inspectors are being put to work processing migrants, taking their applications for asylum and transporting them to holding centers.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the reassignments are necessary to help manage the huge influx that is overloading the system.
"The crisis at our border is worsening, and DHS will do everything in its power to end it," Nielsen said.
In addition to reassigning inspectors, Nielsen has asked for volunteers from non-immigration agencies within her department and sent a letter to Congress requesting resources and broader authority to deport families faster. The administration is also ramping up efforts to return asylum seekers to Mexico.
Apprehensions all along the southern border have soared in recent months, with border agents on track to make 100,000 arrests and denials of entry there in March, more than half of them families with children.
Associated Press writers Colleen Long in Washington, Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Nomaan Merchant in Houston and Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this story.
MORE: Border, Business, Economy, Government, News, Donald Trump
Border official resigns amid uproar over migrant children Nogales pedestrian tunnel at the border now open around the clock Southwest members of Congress decry produce protection measures
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Scientology Research
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You are here: Home / Archives for Hal Moon
Hal Moon
April 11, 1951 by Caroline Letkeman
Memorandum: Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc., Information Concerning (April 11, 1951)
File/Ref. No.: 17-cv-03842-A; 62-94080-5-12; 62-HQ-94080-1-77
Download: 17-cv-03842-A-87-88.pdf
Download: 62-94080-5-12.pdf
Download: 62-HQ-94080-1-77.pdf
… [Read more...] about Memorandum: Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc., Information Concerning (April 11, 1951)
Filed Under: FBI Documents Tagged With: Arthur R. Ceppos, Gene Benton, Hal Moon, Hjalmer Rutzchek, Joseph A. Winter M.D., L. Ron Hubbard, Peggy Benton, Roger Starr, Ross Lamereaux, Sara Northrup Hubbard
March 15, 1951 by Caroline Letkeman
Memorandum: Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc., Information Concerning (March 15, 1951)
File/Ref. No.: 17-cv-03842-A; 62-94080; 62-HQ-94080; 17-cv-03842-A (82-86)
Download: 17-cv-03842-A-81.pdf
By letter dated March 3, 1951, L. Ron Hubbard, president of the above-named foundation, furnished a list of individuals, the majority of whom had been connected with his organization, whom he suspected of engaging in Communist activities. Hubbard furnished the names of the following three individuals as individuals who had not previously been reported to Bureau field offices. [...] … [Read more...] about Memorandum: Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc., Information Concerning (March 15, 1951)
Filed Under: Correspondence, FBI Documents Tagged With: communists, FBI, Hal Moon, Hjalmer Rutzchek, Miles Hollister, Roger Starr
March 3, 1951 by Caroline Letkeman
Letter: L. Ron Hubbard to FBI Attention Mr. Parrish (March 3, 1951)
Author: L. Ron Hubbard
File/Ref. No.: 62-94080-5-03; 17-cv-03842-A
The following is a list of Communist Party members or suspects in our organization. … [Read more...] about Letter: L. Ron Hubbard to FBI Attention Mr. Parrish (March 3, 1951)
Filed Under: Correspondence, FBI Documents Tagged With: communists, Dave Vrooman, Gene Benton, Hal Moon, Henry Hunter, Imar Rutzebak, Leo West, Lyn Hite, Marge Hunter, Miles Hollister, Peggy Benton, Richard Halpern, Roger Starr, Ross Lamereaux, Sara Northrup Hubbard, Susan Isaacson
Recommended reading: Ron the War Hero (2019)
Chris Owen is a British historian and researcher who was appointed MBE for his work in 2000.
US Navy Documents: L. Ron Hubbard
FBI Documents: Hubbard and Scientology
FDA Documents: Scientology; E-Meter
Subliminal Messaging in Leah Remini: Scientology & The Aftermath “Bonus” video
Transcript: Leah Remini: Scientology & the Aftermath – Battle with the IRS | A&E
Malignant Persuasion in the Aftermath series
FBI Documents
Navy Documents
FDA Documents
Legal and Disclaimer
Academy of Scientology Aleister Crowley Allied Scientists of the World Assistant United States Attorney Raymond Banoun brainwashing case histories Church of Scientology Civil Action No. 74-744 Civil Action No. 77-0175 claims of research communists Dianetics E-meter FBI FBI raid Founding Church of Scientology Glossary government conspiracy HASI Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation Jack Parsons Jane Kember Joseph Cheesman Thompson L. Ron Hubbard Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath Los Angeles medical Mike Rinder Morris Budlong Oak Knoll Naval Hospital OMPF: L. Ron Hubbard Russia Sara Northrup Hubbard search warrants SITOL subliminal messaging The Babalon Working The Brainwashing Manual The Education Angle The Enemy Angle The Family Angle The Mental Health Angle The Police Angle The Religion Angle Washington DC
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Exactly how secret was the reveal in The Empire Strikes Back?
Arguably the most famous scene in Star Wars is when Darth Vader reveals to Luke Skywalker that
He is Luke's father.
This surprise was kept secret to most of the crew and even the cast during production, with Dave Prowse, the actor playing Darth Vader, delivering a fake line, the actual line being overdubbed. (Of course, Darth Vader wasn't voiced by him in the first place; all lines were overdubbed by James Earl Jones).
Like Mark Hamill relates in an interview:
But, for example, your big scene, one of the classic cinematic moments when Darth Vader divulges his true identity, is no longer a revelation.
It's such a great moment! The fake line that was put in there just to try and keep the secret was "You don't know the truth: Obi-Wan killed your father!" But as much as I enjoyed leaking false information, it was a wonderfully hard secret to keep because (Irvin) Kershner, the director, brought me aside and said "Now I know this, and George knows this, and now you're going to know this, but if you tell anybody, and that means Carrie or Harrison, or anybody, we're going to know who it is because we know who knows."
So how do we explain Dave Prowse knowing and divulging this same secret two years before the release?
And [David Prowse] offered a glimpse of a possible plot for the second sequel. Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, the young hero in the first film played by Mark Hamill, are hooked up in a do-or-die light saber duel when Luke learns that Darth is, in fact, his long-lost father.
So exactly how secret was this secret anyway?
As DVK points out on Skeptics.SE, the newspaper article is probably authentic.
star-wars production
SQBSQB
The explanation I've heard in a few places was that Prowse was joking/speculating at the time, and only happened to be right. – phantom42 Aug 28 '14 at 12:33
Note that Prowse suggests this will be revealed in "Star Wars III" (i.e. Episode VI). If he had really known this was a coming plot point, he'd have known it would be in Episode V. – Nate Eldredge Aug 28 '14 at 15:50
Not necessarily. The numbering wasn't changed until Empire – phantom42 Aug 28 '14 at 16:06
@phantom42 No, Nate's point is that he said the reveal would happen in the third movie, when it actually happened in the second. Nothing to do with numbering. – JLRishe Aug 28 '14 at 17:12
Do we know for certain that that newspaper article is authentic? After all, it did kind of show up out of the blue fairly recently. (Or at least, that is my impression.) – Martha Aug 28 '14 at 23:30
The explanation I've heard in a few places was that Prowse was joking/speculating at the time, and only happened to be right. I've seen a few people speculate that he must have seen an early script or draft and ran with that.
While this interview from 2006 does not specifically address the supposed leak, he does say that he didn't know the truth, and that he felt the studio didn't trust him because he might leak something like that.
So they never told you?
I finished the film in November 1976 and when it came out in the USA in May 1977 I got a note from director Russ Meyer saying ‘congratulations Dave, you’re in the biggest movie ever. By the way, did you know they overdubbed your voice?’ I have never spoken with George Lucas since 1983 and neither he or anyone from Lucasfilm has ever come to me saying why they overdubbed my voice.
In the Empire Strikes Back you also didn’t know the line ‘no Luke, I am your father’ was going to be in the movie. You said ‘No Luke, Obi-Wan is your father’.
No, I never said that. I just said ‘come and join me and the Dark Side’. I had no dialogue referring to Luke’s father. I have never seen a script for the Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. Everything was kept a secret because they were afraid things would leak. I think only George, Gary Kurtz and Mark Hamill knew.
What do you think about the fact that Darth Vader is Luke’s father?
I think it’s a wonderful twist.
And what about the fact that they didn’t tell you?
I think it’s a lack of trust. They were afraid I was going to say something in an interview. While if you’re one of the main characters the last thing you would do is give such information away. I was very careful so I hated the lack of trust.
Additionally, according to this article, Prowse's own book states that he only learned about the twist at the premiere of the movie. He repeats this in this interview/article
That was not the only time he was kept in the dark.
David had no idea he would be revealed as the father of hero Luke Skywalker in the second film, The Empire Strikes Back, until he saw it on the big screen.
Security was tight around the scripts after information leaked out early in filming and Lucas may have wanted to keep the film's big twist closely guarded.
"They must have given me some completely different line, because it was all going to be overdubbed," David said.
"When I went to see the movie I suddenly discovered I was Luke's father.
"That's my favourite scene of all."
In the Annotated Screenplays, Irvin Kirshner, the director of The Empire Strikes Back also explicitly says that Prowse did not know, and that Hamill was the only one who did.
The actor who played Vader did not know that Luke was his son; when we did the scene, the only one who knew was Mark, and I told him right before we shot it. We didn't want anybody to know, so i had the page with the real dialogue put away. So the actor playing Vader was saying other words; I gave him other words. He was saying something totally different, which of course we replaced later.
phantom42phantom42
Perhaps it's the other way around. Perhaps Lucas got the idea from Prowse. I feel another question coming on... – SQB Aug 28 '14 at 12:50
Wouldn't it be a wonderful irony if, had they told Prowse, he wouldn't have speculated? ;-) – DevSolar Aug 28 '14 at 14:31
Reading that his original line was "come and join me on the Dark Side", Prowse must have been really confused at Luke's reaction. At least the rumored "Obi-Wan killed your father" could have reasonably warranted such an... "emotional" response. – phantom42 Aug 28 '14 at 14:36
@phantom42 This is what doesn't hold up for me. How on earth could anyone accept that such an emotional reaction was warranted in response to such a trivial phrase? Something's fishy... – Discant Aug 29 '14 at 1:26
@Discant: There is a cut between Vader’s line and Luke’s reaction. There is no need for Prowse to have even witnessed the reaction. – Wrzlprmft Feb 10 '15 at 21:46
Besides the issue of how many people in the film's production knew, it's worth noting that the novelization came out on April 12, 1980--more than a month before the film's release on May 21. Given this, it's strange if they continued to keep the cast in the dark until the public release of the film, but at the very least, it was authorized, potentially public knowledge for several weeks before the film's premiere.
My guess is that keeping it secret during production was a combination of keeping the actors' reactions naturalistic, and high-profile leak prevention, since an actor letting something slip during an interview would spread the word much more than random people having read the book without a medium like the internet to share what they had learned. I guess they also just didn't trust David Prowse for whatever reason. Maybe it was related to correctly guessing the plot point in his speech?
Edit: The TESB book coming out before the movie was confirmed on a retrospective posted on starwars.com: http://www.starwars.com/news/return-of-the-star-wars-rumors
Milo PMilo P
That seems very odd. Was there a later release date for the novel at some point after the movie's release? It could have been published and shipped out in advance of being allowed to be sold (as happened with the last few Harry Potter books, for example) – Bobson Aug 28 '14 at 19:36
That's a good question. The book source I found was the only non-wiki source I could find after moderate googling, and the only source for it actually being released earlier was an unsourced aside on Wookieepedia. It certainly seems possible. – Milo P Aug 28 '14 at 22:10
@Bobson It's more the norm to publish books/comics before the release date. I remember having the prequel novel and comic adaptations a month before the movies came out. – BennyMcBenBen Sep 4 '14 at 10:56
Wookiepedia and Wikipedia both list the novelization publish date as 1980-04-12, a month before the film's theatrical release. – jtheletter Mar 22 '18 at 20:25
Keeping reveals / plot twists etc. secret is standard practice in both movies and TV production. Filming a scene several ways, multiple script "edits", change in locations and other techniques are used to keep the entire production unaware of the final outcome.
Famous example: Dallas. 1980. J.R. Ewing is shot from offscreen, the gunman is the season cliffhanger. This one grew to epic proportions partly due to the popularity of the show and partly due to the Writer's Guild strike that delayed everything until November.
Production had the entire cast film scenes holding the gun and speaking the line, the only people who knew which scene was going to be used was the writer, producer and the editor.
Of course, there's an alternate explanation to the multiple "options" of the shooter - they didn't know who they wanted to be responsible at that point. TV series are adapted based on viewer response, after all. This would allow them to pick the best option as viewer theories came. – Luaan Sep 4 '14 at 7:51
Wait... someone shot J.R.? – Omegacron Feb 26 '15 at 20:32
I can tell you this.
Dave Prowse was a constant house guest of mine when he visited Marin to have meetings with George Lucas. I was living with my ex, Hal, at the time and Dave loved to come to town and stay with us because Dave and my Hal shared a bromance and a giant interest in photography.
The day Dave returned from a meeting with George Lucas, Hal and I sat down to have dinner with Dave and we asked him how his meeting with George went.
Dave was in a minor shock...He shared with us that George had the meeting with him to find out if Dave would be interested in signing on to do a sequel to "Star Wars". This was the first any of us had heard about any kind of idea about a sequel to "Star Wars".
I turned to Dave and joked that in the sequel we will probably find out that Darth Vader is Luke's father.
At the moment I made the joke all the hair on my arms stood up and I showed this to Dave. I said that the goose bumps and hairs standing on their end proved that the words I just spoke...that were intended to be a joke were actually true.
Dave laughed it off and did not put any weight on my insistence that Darth was Luke's father.
Even after "The Empire Strikes Back," Dave insisted that the words I spoke were not true....because he had just wrapped the second "Star Wars" and he was not given the script that revealed the truth. It is true that he was given an alternate script and did not know that Darth was in actuality Luke's father until the film hit the theaters.
So TWO Things...Number 1...At the time he wrapped "The Empire Strikes Back," Dave "DID NOT KNOW" that Darth was Luke's father and Number 2...Dave had no idea that the film would take the mask off of Darth Vader revealing the character's face. Dave did not have that in his script and although he understands Lucas' rational for having the face of an older man, Dave would have preferred to have portrayed the film face behind the mask.
Sharon A. FoxSharon A. Fox
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged star-wars production or ask your own question.
Prior to The Empire Strikes Back, did anyone predict that Darth Vader is Luke's father?
Out of Universe, was Vader always planned to be Luke's father?
Why does Palpatine refer to Luke's father as Anakin?
Was “The Empire Strikes Back” always numbered as episode V, or has it been renumbered?
Is Rey's hairstyle a clue to her origins?
Why did Vader not use the force to stop Luke from falling down in end of The Empire Strikes Back?
When and how does Vader learn that Luke is his son?
Did Luke have a plan when he jumped into the chasm in Empire Strikes Back?
Was Star Wars changed because of a car crash?
If Darth Vader discovered Luke was his son from the Emperor in the 2004 retconned version of “The Empire Strikes Back”, then how did the Emperor know?
Who/what exactly does Darth Vader believe taught Luke between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi?”
Did Han Solo know that Anakin Skywalker was Darth Vader?
Did Captain Needa die in The Empire Strikes Back?
Did Luke know the “Chosen One” prophecy?
Why was the Empire so obsessed with hunting down the Millennium Falcon in “The Empire Strikes Back?”
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Guam Garand Monograph
Scott Duff
The Eddystone Story
The Eddystone Story By Walter J. Kuleck, Ph.D. The war activities of the Baldwin Locomotive Works also included the construction of two large plants on their property at Eddystone for the manufacture of rifles and ammunition, and accomplishments...
THE GUAM GARANDS
THE GUAM GARANDS Introduction In all military conflicts, the price of an objective is paid with the lives of combatants. Historically it has been considered that the force armed with superior weapons incurs fewer casualties and has a greater chance of victory. For...
The M1C Sniper Rifle
The M1C Sniper Rifle by Scott A. Duff Two telescope-mounted versions of the M1 rifle were developed at Springfield Armory for use by snipers. They were designated the M1C and M1D. The M1C was adopted as standard on 27 July 1944. A Lyman produced M81 or M82...
The M1D Sniper Rifle
The M1D Sniper Rifle by Scott A. Duff Two telescope-mounted versions of the M1 rifle were developed at Springfield Armory for use by snipers. They were designated the M1C and M1D. The M1D was adopted as substitute standard in September 1944. The M1D...
National Match M1 Rifles
National Match M1 Rifles by Scott Duff Perhaps the most refined version of the M1 is that known as the National Match (NM) rifle. In March 1953, Springfield Armory was directed by the Ordnance Department to furnish 800 M1 rifles for use at the High Power...
What’s the scoop on cut & uncut op rods? Are uncut rods safe? How do I tell them apart?
What's the scoop on cut & uncut op rods? Are uncut rods safe? How do I tell them apart? The M1 Garand's operating rod is made in three parts, the tube, handle and gas piston (the shiny thing at the end of the tube). They are then welded together to create...
Who Made M1 Garands? How Many Were Made? When Were They Made?
Who Made M1 Garands? How Many Were Made? When Were They Made? by Scott Duff World War II Production Springfield Armory The first production M1 was successfully proof fired, function fired, and fired for accuracy on 21 July 1937. Thus began...
What Is Heat Lot Number??
What Is Heat Lot Number By Scott Duff Another factor (in addition to drawing numbers) used in the identification of Springfield Armory manufactured receivers, barrels, and bolts is the "heat lot" number. This is an alphanumeric code used by the Armory to identify the...
What Is A Drawing Number??
What Is A Drawing Number?? An understanding of the engineering drawing numbers which were stamped on some M1 parts is necessary in order to fully comprehend the evolution of those components. For example: A hammer may be marked C46008-2 SA. The "C" designates the...
What’s a “Tanker” Garand?
What's a "Tanker" Garand? By Walter J. Kuleck, Ph.D. The "Tanker Garand" is a "misnomer." During WWII two separate prototypes were developed for paratroop use. The first was the M1E5. The M1E5 had a short barrel and a folding metal stock. It was developed and tested...
What were the origins of the Garand? “Our New Service Rifle (1938)”
OUR NEW SERVICE RIFLE JOHN CANTIUS GARAND 1888-1974 A Quiet Genius Who Gave To His Adopted Country "The Greatest Battle Implement Ever Devised" The M1 Rifle from the inscription on the John C. Garand bust at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site Donated by the...
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Fake News, Geula, Israel, Judaism
In Israel, the weather this winter has actually been pretty good.
It hasn’t been so cold, and we’ve had regular and plentiful rainfall for the last 2-3 months, which is fantastic.
But in other parts of the world, the ‘deep freeze’ is really starting to kick in, and be felt.
Parts of Canada and the US Mid-West have been dealing with many days of arctic temperatures, where the wind chill is making it feel like minus 67 degrees. That’s crazy! When I lived in Montreal, we had a really bad winter where there was a lot of minus 40 degree weather, with wind chill, and I literally didn’t leave the house for a month.
Every time I tried to get outside, I’d feel that my eyeballs were starting to turn into little blocks of ice, and I’d rush indoors somewhere to defrost, before they froze solid.
And the snow is also being dumped in crazy amounts all over the place at the moment, like:
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/snow-snow-go-away-ottawa-breaks-record-for-snowiest-january-and-we-all-suffer
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/01/29/toronto-record-breaking-snowfall/
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/16/alps-on-avalanche-alert-after-record-breaking-snowfall
That’s global warming for you, of course.
Or rather, it’s ‘climate change’ caused by excess CO2 (which has an insulating and warming effect).
Is there really any sane person out there, who still believes that’s what is going on with the weather?
Don’t the facts on the ground match up far more closely with the ‘Grand Solar Minimum’ model of climate change, which has been predicting for decades that 2017 would see the start of a new period of global cooling, together with a massive uptick in seismic events? (See the video below – shmirat eynayim friendly).
If the Grand Solar Minimum model is right, then the weather is going to continue to cool off for at least the next 15 years or so.
And then how quickly the world starts to warm up again depends on a lot of things, not least whether a new ice age got triggered.
Even with all the modern technology, all the electric-powered heating, all the icebreakers and snow ploughs, it’s getting hard for people to actually ‘live’ in these frozen conditions. If they only happen once, for a week, every 30 years, then that’s no big deal, right?
But what if this weather is going to become the norm, and it’s going to get colder and colder for longer and longer in places like Chicago? Then what? What does that mean for the economy? What does that mean for the quality of life, in these places? Even with all the modern technology and electricity?
Another thing I just wanted to mention, briefly, is all these reports of dead fish and dead birds from around the world. (Here’s just a few, to whet your whistle:)
https://phys.org/news/2019-01-sea-white-hundreds-thousands-fish.html
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Thousands-of-Birds-Found-Dead-at-Salton-Sea-504735561.html
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-20/galahs-falling-from-the-sky-in-milang-south-australia/10637842
When I was researching the volcanoes book, I came across a lot of historical reports of volcanic eruptions and massive earthquakes that were preceded by mass die-offs of fish and birds in the area, beforehand.
The reason for this is pretty straightforward. The asthenosphere is a layer of partially molten magma, combined with volcanic gases including methane and a few other gases, some of which are toxic if inhaled. When that magma starts to move, and to rise closer to the surface, a few different things start to happen.
There will be lots of minute, and not so minute, fissures and ‘cracks’ in the ground, as moving magma is what causes earthquakes. (It’s a side point, but fissures, cracks and sink-holes are happening a-plenty in Iran right now.)
And much of the volcanic gas contained in the asthenosphere then also starts to rise up, and escape out. As I mentioned elsewhere, this seepage of natural gas was behind the recent spate of awful wildfires in Califonia, and it’s also behind why they’re finding so many dead birds around Salton Sea, and so many dead fish in the creeks in Australia, to name but a few.
If there’s enough of that stuff escaping out, it can poison water supplies, and also form a toxic gas cloud, before dispersing.
The scientists don’t really know what’s causing millions of fish to suddenly start dying in Australia, but there’s a lot of theories being floated that the rivers are being ‘de-oxygenated’ in some way, with many people blaming the lack of rain and drought conditions.
I think what’s going on is two things: there is less water to ‘dissolve’ the volcanic gases in, so it’s becoming more concentrated (or at least, there was. Queensland just got hit with record-breaking rainfall which now saw rivers rise to a 120 year-high), AND there is also more volcanic gas being produced, because magma is on the move underground.
Why do I think there is also more volcanic gas being produced? Because of the reports of mass bird die-offs that are coming in from all over the place, but especially from areas that are known to have been very seismically active in the past. It’s the proverbial ‘canary in the coal mine’.
If low water supplies was the only factor, then only the fish would be affected, it wouldn’t also be affecting the birds.
Again, is there really still anyone out there who things all the record snow and cold, and freak weather and weird geological phenomena, and dead creatures is just because you’re driving a diesel-powered vehicle?
Doesn’t it make far more sense, logically, that we are now in the opening stages of a Grand Solar Minimum, where the sun’s activity decreases so much that the earth starts to become cooler, and the earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis start to pick up?
(The seismic activity is related to more cosmic rays hitting the planet, and ‘agitating’ the silicon molecules that make up magma. BTW – human beings are also composed of a lot of silicon molecules too, so yes, you and me are also being ‘agitated’ at the moment.)
Doesn’t that make way more sense, logically and scientifically?
Tremendous things are happening all over the place with the weather and planet earth. That’s where the real story is at, that’s where the real news headlines should be pointed, instead of all the politics and political correctness.
There will be more cold weather (caused by diminishing heat from the sun) and more freak weather (caused by stratospheric volcanic eruptions) and more weird planet phenomenon (caused by underwater eruptions, eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis – and the fallout from all these things on the marine and animal world.)
This is the ‘scientific’ completely UN-miraculous view of what is currently going on around us. Of course, Jews are above nature, and God is the One who is really calling the shots, so who knows what’s actually going to come next?
Everything depends on our teshuva, our emuna, our efforts to work on our own bad middot and get close to the true tzaddikim.
But in the meantime, no wonder so many of feel like we’re in hibernation at the moment, or at least, that we should be.
April 24, 2019 /0 Comments/by Rivka Levy
https://rivkalevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/galina-n-189483-unsplash.jpg 533 800 Rivka Levy /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rivka-1-2.png Rivka Levy2019-04-24 10:00:292019-05-12 10:37:07In Hibernation
Fake News, Jewish Values, Judaism, Judaism 101
The False Foundations of Modern Science
Most of us have no idea just how much of the modern scientific establishment that we believe to be grounded 100% in scientific veracity and truth-seeking is actually built on the flimsiest foundation of conjecture and dogma.
Much of modern science – maybe even most of modern science – is built on theories that were floated around in the 1800s, and seemed to be ‘true’ enough then to be accepted, but which have subsequently been shown to be completely false.
Some sciences, notably physics, have been able to move with the times, and to free themselves from the shackles of this ‘wishful thinking’ from the past. But much – maybe even most – of modern science is still firmly hitched behind these myths, building ever-taller houses of cards around ‘axiomatic’ principles that are simply completely untrue.
One such example of this is the theory of evolution, which I wrote about a little while ago here, here and here.
Douglas Axe demolished the theory of evolution, and the theory of natural selection, in one fell swoop, when his recent experiments with folding proteins showed that the amount of time it would take to get EVEN ONE useful mutation in a living organism is a number so large, the world would have to be many trillions of years’ older than the already ridiculously inflated numbers being bandied about by ‘truthful science’.
The theory of evolution is a mathematical impossibility. Full stop.
But try telling that to a biologist, or a doctor, and see how far you get.
What many people aren’t aware of, though, is that Darwin in turn built his deceitfully false ‘scientific theories’ on another utterly false premise that was introduced by his teacher and colleague, Sir Charles Lyell.
Lyell was a lawyer and a geologist who wrote a book called Principles of Geology, where he spent an awful lot of time trying to prove black was really white. His big ‘contribution’ to the false foundation of modern science came to be known as the ‘principle of uniformity’.
In a nutshell, Lyell went around persuading his fellow ‘scientists’ at the local geology mens’ club in Victorian London that:
“no process took place in the past that is not taking place in the present.”
The principle of uniformity also states that:
“not only nature, but the intensity of physical phenomena of our age are the criteria of what could have happened in the past.”
While even a cursory reading of this statement must surely call forth a big question mark in even the most unscientific reader – I mean really? Should we believe a holocaust never happened 70 years ago because we can’t see it happening today?
Or that Vesuvius and Mount Etna never really exploded, because now they are quiet? Or that the Tsunami from a few years’ ago never ripped through Asia, because today the sea is quiet?
But apparently, the scientific minds of Victorian England were much easier to convince that this clap-trap was true, despite the fact that the geologists of that time – including Lyell himself – could clearly see from the rock formations they were finding that the earth had been through a great many violent upheavals in its past that current observations of how nature apparently worked simply couldn’t explain.
To quote Immanuel Velikovsky, someone who I hope to introduce you to properly in a future post, Lyell:
“acknowledged that the surface of the globe has the appearance of having been subjected to great and violent sudden changes, but he believed that the record is incomplete and that the major part of the evidence is lost.”
I.E., Lyell spun the story that his theory was correct, but the ‘facts’ that would prove it hadn’t yet been found. A couple of decades’ later, Darwin trotted that trick out again – and modern evolutionary scientists are continuing to razzle dazzle the unsuspecting public with it – by claiming that his theories were also true, but the facts that would prove it (most notably in the fossil record) simply hadn’t turned up yet.
Guess what: It’s now 150 years’ later, and they still haven’t turned up, not for the theory of uniformity, and not for the theory of evolution.
But that won’t stop many, maybe even most ‘scientists’ trying to fit every piece of information they discover into these two hugely deceitful boxes, and discarding anything that doesn’t fit the twin paradigms of uniformity and evolution.
Why should you care about all this stuff? How is it affecting you, and your life?
In a nutshell, uniformity – the principle that nothing ever really changes, and that the earth must be incredibly, unbelievably old to have achieved ANY of the changes that we see in our planet, given how we see nature apparently working today – was put in place to counter a belief in what came to be known as ‘catastrophism’.
As the name suggests, ‘catastrophism’ suggests that enormous changes, enormous catastrophes, even ‘extra-terrestial’ catastrophes took place even in the recent past, and could easily happen again at any moment.
Let’s be clear that the fossil record, the archeological records and the geological records ALL bear this out. Let’s also be clear that our own Torah, and the midrashim, and other holy Jewish writings also state this explicitly (and you can remind yourself of some of those sources HERE.)
What was Noah’s flood, and the plagues of Egypt, and the dispersion of the builders of the Tower of Babel, if not enormous natural disasters that directly affected mankind all over the planet?
Do you know how many smashed animal fossils have been found in rock strata, crevices and caverns all over the world? Do you know how many ‘underwater’ forests there are, when dry land became the sea and vice-versa? Do you know how many deposits of marine fossils have been found on the tops of the highest mountains? Do you know that many scientists believe that the range of mountains that includes Everest is less than 4,000 years old, because that’s what the geological and scientific evidence actually shows, when all the lies are cleared out the way?
Unless you’re really researching this issue, you’ll have no idea, and you’ll for sure believe that the world is 4.5 billion years old (at least….)
– although as we mentioned, even that amount of time is not enough for an amoeba to morph into…anything, actually.
But the ‘scientifically’ minded gentlemen back in Victorian London weren’t interested in proving the Torah right, or proving God’s existence – quite the opposite – which is why their scientific theories went all-out to try to prove ‘black’ is really ‘white’ – and that’s still happening today.
Geologists will tell you that the world is billions of years’ old, because the idea that ‘something’ – call it the hand of Hashem, call it a huge, planet-sized comet – came and literally turned the world upside-down repeatedly, even in modern times, is simply too hard for them to accept.
So all the chaos and destruction and different ‘worlds’ that were created and destroyed by God – 974 times altogether, in the 2000 years preceding the creation of our world, 5777 years’ ago – is magicked billions of years’ away into the past by the collective scientific imagination that ascribes all changes to the gentle trickling of water, and the quiet accumulation of dust.
That still doesn’t describe HOW or WHY any of this stuff actually happened, but it reassures everyone that it definitely WON’T happen again. Not in our times. Not with modern science at the helm of the human endeavor.
And it banishes God, and God’s plan for humanity, firmly out of the picture.
Moshiach is coming. Global redemption is not so far away. The world is going to change, and change radically. Modern science, modern society, would have you believe that that’s all a fairy tale, and that the world will continue along the same path, just with more technological gizmos, for another 4.5 billion years…(which is maybe long enough for the atheists to evolve a brain cell that actually works and can do maths.)
But they’re lying!
We live in a world where the Himalayas appeared literally overnight! Where the world was flooded to the point of extinction in less than six weeks! Where hundreds, even thousands of different species of animals disappeared literally overnight, when hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes ripped the earth to pieces.
That could happen again, so easily.
God is so awesome.
We need to take Him, and His Torah, seriously.
And we need to know that modern science is built on a foundation of deceit, conjecture and atheism, designed to keep the public away from believing in God, and believing in the eternal truth of the Torah.
But days are coming when all the denial, all the fancy polemics, all the evolutionary theories, and belief in uniformity are going to crumble in the face of a new reality that will prove once and for all that God, and only God, is in charge – and really, He always has been.
https://rivkalevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/chi0eieaacq-austin-schmid.jpg 338 600 Rivka Levy /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rivka-1-2.png Rivka Levy2019-04-22 12:37:192019-05-12 11:36:10The False Foundations of Modern Science
Fake News, Geula, Judaism, Judaism 101
How God uses comets to fight for the Jews
When I’m not driving myself crazy with other things, I’ve been continuing to trawl through the Gemara sources and Tanach to see what else we can learn about how Hashem has typically used comets in the past.
Here’s some good news: There are so many instances in the Gemara where we find discussions of how Hashem used a comet to actually come and fight on behalf of his Tzaddikim / the Jews, and in this post, we’re going to take a closer look at some of those sources.
Let’s kick off with this, from Tractate Rosh Hashana, 11b, which describes how God used a ‘rogue star’ to cause Noah’s flood, aka the mabbul:
“In the six hundredth year of the life of Noah, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on this day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. R’ Yehoshua says: ‘That day was the seventeenth of Iyar, a day on which the constellation Kimah normally sets during the daytime – and the subterranean fountains normally become depleted.
“’But because the generation altered their practices to deviate from the natural order, the Holy One, blessed is He, altered upon them the works of creation. And He brought the constellation Kimah up during the daytime, and He took two stars from Kimah and brought a flood to the world.”
Here’s some more details about those two stars and the Kimah constellation, taken from the Artscroll notes:
“The constellation Kimah is a minor constellation located in the tail of the Lamb [i.e. connected to the ‘Aries’ constellation, which rises in the month of Nissan.]”
Why is it important to know that we’re dealing with a lamb (Aries) here?
More connections will be made when we get to the section, below, about Rebbe Nachman’s story called ‘The Bull and the Ram,’ but for now, suffice to say that the Israelites were redeemed in Nissan, the month connected to the Aries constellation, and were told to slaughter a Paschal LAMB by Hashem.
We also know that this ‘lamb’ was worshipped by the Egyptians (because remember, their pagan gods were all named for celestial bodies) – so the Jews were sending a very deep message to the Egyptians about Who really rules over the heavens.
Now, let’s skip over to Sanhedrin, 95b, where the Sages are discussing how Sancheiriv’s army was miraculously killed by Hashem as they camped outside the Jerusalem city walls on the eve of Pesach. (There’s that Nissan / lamb thing going on again!):
“The wicked Sancheiriv came upon the Jews with an army…The Gemara adds that this was not the only time a force so vast was marshaled against the Jews. And so they came upon Abraham, and so they are destined to come with Gog and Magog.”
According to the Maharsha:
“The three enemy forces mentioned here – Sancheiriv’s army, the army of the four kings and Gog and Magog were all defeated through clearly miraculous circumstances. Furthermore, all three wars represent turning points in world history.”
The Gemara continues:
“And an angel of Hashem went forth and slew one hundred and eighty five thousand of the campy of Assyria, and they arose in the morning, and behold they were all dead corpses….With what did [the angel] strike them? R’ Eliezer says: [The angel] struck them with its hand…The Jews who witnessed the splitting of the Sea saw the same hand that was destined to punish Sancheiriv.”
The Gemara is setting up a link between the ‘modus operandi’ God used to bring about the miracles of the Exodus, and the punishment of Pharoah’s army, and the way Sancheiriv’s army was miraculously killed. What is that ‘modus operandi’? Read on.
The Gemara then puts forth different options for how the angel Gabriel (God’s agent for this purpose) killed the Assyrians, with one saying that ‘Gabriel breathed into their nostrils and they died’, while others saying that ‘Gabriel clapped his hands and they died’.
Elsewhere in the Gemara, we’re taught that Nadav and Avihu died the same way that Sancheiriv’s army died. How did they die? They were electrocuted! The descriptions above also accord with the idea that ‘something’ disturbed the static electricity held in the dielectric air of our atmosphere, and channeled it down in a way that it electrocuted literally hundreds of thousands of Assyrians.
In 96a, the Gemara tells us:
“With reference to Abraham’s war against the four kings, Scripture states: And at night, he and his servants deployed against them and struck them etc….R’ Yitzhak Nafcha said:…the implication is that ‘night acts’ were performed on behalf of Abraham (i.e. the very stars in the sky fought on his behalf.)”
TO SUM UP WHAT WE’VE LEARNED SO FAR:
The stars came and ‘fought’ for Avraham against the four kings
There’s a link between how the four kings were miraculously defeated, how Sancheiriv’s Assyrian army was miraculously killed (on Pesach Eve), and the future war of Gog and Magog.
There’s also a link between Sancheiriv’s defeat and the events of the Exodus – with the ‘same hand’ being used to punish the Assyrians and the Egyptians.
We’re explicitly told that God took two stars from the ‘Kimah’ constellation to cause the mabbul
The Kimah constellation corresponds to the month of Nissan, and Aries, the Ram.
We know that the Exodus occurred in Nissan, and that the miracle involving Sancheiriv was also Nissan (erev Pesach).
We also know that there is a famous teaching that the Jews will be redeemed in the future, too, in the month of Nissan.
OTHER TIMES THAT HASHEM USED ‘COMETS’ TO COME AND FIGHT FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Now, let’s head over to Tractate Brachot, 58a, where there are some more connections to be made. There, it says (talking about Hashem’s power):
“Who performs great deeds that are beyond comprehension…and the strength – This is a reference to the Exodus from Egypt, for it is stated regarding the Exodus: Israel saw the great hand etc. And the splendor – This is a reference to the sun and the moon, which stopped for Joshua, as it is stated: Then the sun stood still and the moon stopped… even everything in heaven and earth – This is a reference to the battle against Sisera, for it is stated regarding that battle: From heaven they fought; the stars from their courses, etc [fought against Sisera.]”
That same section of the Gemara then goes on to talk about the fall of Rome, the war against Amalek and the war of Gog and Magog.
What the Gemara in Brachot seems to be telling us clearly is that:
God regularly moves stars out of their regular orbits, and the celestial bodies to fight against the Jews’ enemies.
When this occurs, it’s often referred to in Scripture as ‘the great hand’ of Hashem.
This ‘great hand’ showed up at the Exodus; when Joshua fought the Caananite nations; and when Deborah the Prophetess fought against Sisera.
There is a connection between these events, and future events including the fall of Rome, the final disappearance of Amalek and the war of Gog and Magog.
MORE REFERENCES TO THE ‘KIMAH’ CONSTELLATION
In case the links weren’t starting to come into sharp enough focus, in the very next section, Brachot 58b, the Gemara then starts talking about comets, the ‘Kimah’ constellation, and the blessings a person should say when they experience:
Lightning and
Tempests (i.e. very strong winds)
As we know from THIS post, all these things start happening in abundance when a large comet approaches and starts disrupting the earth’s weather and other things.
The Gemara has a whole discussion about earthquakes in Brachot 58b, that makes it clear that earthquakes happen because God is upset about the ongoing exile of the Jewish people, and that He’s shaking the ground in sympathy, as it were, with Jewish suffering.
I.e. – the earthquakes are on our side!
What’s even more interesting, though, is the discussion about the comets and the Kimah constellation. The Gemara tells us:
“Upon seeing the Zikin, one says Blessed are You… Whose strength and might fill the world…What is the meaning of zikin? It is a kochva d’shavit.”
The notes explain that Rashi describes this kochva d’shavit as having a long shape, like that of a rod, while the Rambam describes it as a star with a tail – clearly, a comet.
“Shmuel said: The paths of heaven are as clear to me as the paths of Nehardea, except for the path of a kochva d’shavit, of which I am ignorant.”
The Jewish sages who codified the Gemara knew all of the heavens inside and out, as Shmuel attests. But, even they couldn’t predict the path of a comet, because (as we learnt in THIS post) a comet’s tail is always changing, and the amount of ‘drag’ it exerts on the body of the comet can radically change its course and path.
To put this another way, a comet’s course is only known to God, and is 100% affected by the actions and teshuva of the Jewish people, and mankind more generally. No-one can predict ‘comet events’ with any accuracy!
MORE ABOUT THE KIMAH (ARIES) CONSTELLATION
Now – no coincidence here! – the Gemara starts talking about the Kimah constellation, that we already know was responsible for the mabbul, and by inference (because it’s part of the Aries constellation that governs Nissan), probably also played a major part in whatever ‘comet’ experiences were going on at the time of the Exodus, and Sancheiriv – and maybe the other times too.
(I haven’t found any specific dates for Sisera’s defeat or Joshua’s miracle over the Ayalon valley, that we’ve seen are also associated with ‘stars’ fighting for the Jews. If you, dear reader, can help fill in those blanks, that would be amazing.)
Let’s get back to the discussion about the Kimah, and other, constellations in Brachot 58b:
“He makes [the constellations] Ash, Kesil and Kimah…. What is the reason for the name Kimah? Shmuel said: It is called Kimah because it looks like a hundred stars.”
In modern astronomy, ‘Kimah’ has been identified with the Pleiades star cluster.
I’m going to paraphrase the next bit, but feel free to go and look all this up for yourselves and draw your own conclusions.
The Gemara explains that the constellation ‘Ash’ is also called ‘Yotha’, and that it could either be the ‘tail of the Ram’ (i.e. Aries) or the ‘head of the bull’ (i.e. Taurus, which equates to the month of Iyar, when Noah’s flood began).
The Gemara then explains that ‘Ash’ follows ‘Kimah’ (i.e. Taurus follows Nissan) because: “When the Holy One, Blessed is He, wanted to bring a flood on the world, He took two stars from Kimah…And when He wanted to close the gap [in Kimah], He took two stars from Ash and closed it up.”
The discussion ends:
“Rav Nachman said: In the future, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will restore [Ash’s stars] to her…”
Why is this so important to know?
Because Benayahu explains that God will take the stars from Kimah, and put them back in Ash, and then create two new stars for Kimah, in fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah’s statement about what’s going to happen when Moshiach comes and the redemption actually happens, that: “Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth.”
It appears that the time that redemption / Moshiach is going to occur, is when Kimah / Ash are ascendant (Nissan / Iyar).
We now know that at that time, stars will once again be moving around the heavens in weird ways – two stars will ‘disappear’ from Kimah and go back to Ash, and Kimah will then have two ‘new’ stars appear in their place.
The last time two stars ‘disappeared’ and then ‘reappeared’ from Kimah, Noah’s flood happened as a result.
If the Tzaddik of the generation, Noah, had prayed for mankind to make teshuva, the flood wouldn’t necessarily have destroyed the way it did…. So it’s still all to pray for IN 2017.
REBBE NACHMAN’S TALE OF THE BULL AND THE RAM
Now, let’s take a look at Rebbe Nachman’s tale of the Bull and the Ram. You can read that story for yourself HERE, but here’s the main points:
There’s a king who decreed that anyone who wanted to stay in his land would either have to stop being religious, or leave.
Some left, many stayed, and the ones that stayed become marranos, or hidden Jews.
This first king died and his son takes over. He rules with an iron hand, and his ministers start plotting to kill him. One of the ministers is a Jewish marrano, and he goes to tell the King about the plot, and saves his life.
The king then swears to give the marrano whatever his heart desires – so the marrano asks for the right to wear his tallith and tefillin in public, and openly practice as a Jew.
The king begrudgingly agrees.
This king dies and is succeeded by his benevolent son, who is really into astrology, and asks his astrologers what could destroy his children. The astrologers tell him to be careful about a bull and a ram.
This king dies, and is succeeded by his son, who also rules in a very autocratic way, and comes up with a plan to conquer the entire world without war. This son also bans all bulls and rams from his kingdom.
This king creates a statue made of gold, silver and other metals [similar to the one seen by Nebuchadnezzer in the book of Daniel] and puts it on a hill, so that ‘all seven planets shine on it’. People start asking this statue what they should do in life (i.e. worshipping it), and by way of this statue, the king conquers the whole world.
This statue only has power if the king ‘lowers the haughty and raises up the lowly’. So, the king issues a command that all the privileges, rights and rank should be stripped from the ‘worthy’ people of his realm, including the Jew’s privilege to wear his tallit and tefillin.
One night, the king has a dream, were the bull (Taurus) and the ram (Aries) signs of the zodiac are laughing at him. He wakes up extremely angry and frightened, and asks all his wise men what’s going on, and whether its connected to his family’s tradition that they could be destroyed by a bull and a ram.
One wise man speaks up and tells him about an ‘iron rod’ that can dispel all his fear, and the king takes his family and sets out to go there. BUT – the road is guarded by the angel that oversees anger, and this angel is in charge of all the destructive forces in the world. Only he knows the path to the iron rod.
When they get to this angel, he directs the King and his entourage to go on a path that passes through a fire that is so hot, that a person is burned if they get within four miles of it.
The entourage looked, and they saw kings and Jews wearing tallit and tefillin walking through this fire. When the king sees this, and against the advice of his counsellor, he decides he and his family can also cross through the fire. They are burnt to a crisp.
When then counsellor returns home and tells everyone what happened, the Marrano has this to say:
“They were destroyed because of me. The astrologers saw something, but they didn’t know what they saw. From the skin of the bull, tefillin are made. From the wool of the ram, the tzitzit tassels of the tallith are made. Therefore, because [of the tallit and tefillin], the king and his family were destroyed.
“The kings who walked through the fire unharmed have in their land Jews who wear the tallit and tefillin. But [this king] did not allow the Jews in his land to wear the tallit and tefillin, and therefore he was destroyed.”
THE CONNECTION WITH PSALM 2
Rebbe Nachman’s story is connected to Psalm 2, which Artscroll tells us: ‘alludes to the encounter between the nations and the Messiah.’
Once again, there are a lot of ‘hints’ about what’s going to be, when the Moshiach is revealed:
“Why do nations throng and regimes talk in vain? The kings and princes of the earth take their stand and conspire together against Hashem, and against His Moshiach…He who sits in heaven will laugh at them and mock them. He will speak to them in His anger and His wrath, and terrify them….[Talking to the Moshiach]:
“You will smash them with a rod of iron, like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them. O kings, be wise, o judges of the earth, be disciplined! Serve Hashem with awe, so that you may rejoice when there is trembling.
“Yearn for purity, lest He grow wrathful and your way will be doomed, for blaze in a brief moment will His anger. Praiseworthy are all those who trust in Him.”
TO SUM UP WHAT WE JUST LEARNT FROM REBBE NACHMAN AND PSALM 2:
There are four ‘kings’ or kingdoms, and these correspond to the four kings who persecuted and exiled the Jews.
The last kingdom is Rome / Edom / Xtianity.
The kingdom’s astrologers have a tradition that a ‘bull and a ram’ can destroy the (non-Jewish) king and his descendants – but they don’t know how, or what it really means.
The non-Jewish king and his family are ultimately mislead by the angel of anger and destroyed by fire.
The non-Jewish kings who encourage their subjects to practice Yiddishkeit can ‘pass through the fire’ unscathed, as can practicing Jews.
The tallit (wool) and the tefillin (leather) are what mitigates the power of the ‘ram’ (Aries) and the ‘bull’ (Taurus).
The non-Jewish king and his descendants are killed because of the Marrano, i.e., the Moshiach.
The world’s leaders who are ‘conspiring’ against Hashem (and the Jewish people) are going to be smashed into pieces when the world starts ‘trembling’.
Anyone who’s at least yearning to serve Hashem properly, and to act appropriately, and to have emuna will come through the process OK. (And clearly, it also helps if they’re careful to lay their tefillin every day and wear tzitzit, if they’re Jewish men…)
I’M NOT PRETENDING I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ALL THIS MEANS
Or, how it all fits together. I know there are people out there with a much higher level of Torah scholarship than I possess, and I’d be very happy to get more ideas or pointers about what all this may be telling us, tachlis.
But at the end of the day, God has been pushing me to get all this stuff out there, because some clear themes are poking through that if we trust in God, or at least WANT to trust in God and to walk in His path, we’ll be OK.
That’s not my idea or my opinion – that’s the message from Rebbe Nachman, the Prophet Isaiah, the Sages of the Gemara, and many other huge Jewish leaders, too, right up to our own modern times.
Emuna and emunat Tzaddikim (which includes believing in ALIVE Torah sages, and not just in Torah sages who already passed on) are the key to being on the right side of the comet equation.
https://rivkalevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/shlomo-shalev-1005553-unsplash.jpg 533 800 Rivka Levy /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rivka-1-2.png Rivka Levy2019-04-22 12:17:112019-05-12 11:40:26How God uses comets to fight for the Jews
Fake News, Geula, Judaism
Idol worship and ‘Nibiru’
I was really planning to leave the whole ‘Kochav Yaacov / Planet X’ subject alone for a while, and to write more about different things, but God doesn’t seem to be letting me.
I sit down to type, and all that comes out is….Nibiru! Idol worship! Star gazing!
So, instead of fighting the impulse, I’m bowing to it. I’ve been reading a lot of things in our holy sources that are directly related to all the ‘Nibiru’ phenomena that I suspect we’re all going to start hearing a lot more about, and I guess God wants some solid Jewish sources in place to damp down the paranoia, panic attacks and crazy conspiracy theories that seem to flourish in the wake of ‘Nibiru’, when God’s out the picture.
It’s crucial to understand that STAR WORSHIP = IDOL WORSHIP, and that giving the planets / sun / moon / comets ‘powers’ without connecting their effects on the planet (and on human beings…) directly back to Hashem is the essence of idol worship.
All those ‘deities’ we may be familiar with from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome (to name the most well-known) were all representatives of the planets and other celestial bodies.
Even today, the hard-core pagan astrologists out there have sites that read like NASA probe reports.
Whenever we fall into the error of being ‘scared of Nibiru’ – we’re effectively worshipping idols, same as our ancestors did when they used to offer incense to the ‘Queen of Heaven’ (i.e., planet Venus) to ‘stop it’ from ravaging planet earth. I’ll give you some more historical sources of this in a following post, but for now, let’s go back to our Gemara, Tractate Avoda Zara II, 54b (Artscroll translation) to see how our Sages explained this phenomenon:
“The Rabbis taught in a Baraisa: The philosophers asked the Jewish Sages in Rome, ‘if your God is not favorably disposed toward an idol, why doesn’t He get rid of it?!’ The Jewish Sages replied to the philosophers: ‘If they would worship something that the world has no need for, He would indeed get rid of it. But behold, they worship the sun, the moon, the stars and the constellations.
“’Should He destroy the world because of the fools?! Rather, God allows the world to function according to its natural order, and the fools who have acted corruptly will ultimately have to give an accounting of their sins.’”
A little later on in that same Gemara (55a), there’s a discussion about why the matters connected with idol worship / paganism often seem to be so convincing, as though they really can affect the world without Hashem, and predict the future:
“Rava bar Rav Yitzhak said to Rav Yehuda, ‘There is this pagan temple in our place that whenever there is a drought, and the world needs rain, [the idol] appears [to its followers] in a dream and tells them: ‘Sacrifice a man to me and rain will come.’ They sacrifice a man, and rain rain indeed comes. How do you explain this?’
“Rav Yehuda replied to him:…’What is the meaning of that which is written: ‘And lest you raise your eyes to the heaven and you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars – the entire legion of heaven – and you be drawn astray and bow to them and worship them, which Hashem, your god, has apportioned to all the peoples under the entire heaven!’
“‘This teaches that God smoothed the way for the idolaters to slip by means of stuff and nonsense, such as these deceptive dreams, in order to drive the idolaters from the world. If a person wishes to pursue the vice of idolatry, his free will is given ample opportunity to do so, until the point of utter self-destruction.’”
Again, sitting in our vantage point of 2017, we think that our ancestors were the most primitive idiots alive for ‘worshipping’ little stone idols and turning their backs on Hashem.
But here’s the thing: the ancients used those ‘stone idols’ as a way of ‘tapping into’ the power that really does exist in the Heavens, and that is the root and essence of idol worship.
For example, the pagan god ‘Markulis’ that shows up in a lot of the Gemara’s discussion was actually named by the Romans for the planet Mercury – and so it was with all the ‘pantheon’ of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
Even on a very ‘materialistic’ plane, the celestial bodies effect our weather, food supply, health and moods. On the spiritual plane, they can effect our destiny – if that’s what we believe, as the Gemara discusses in detail, and as I will BH bring in a post soon.
It seems to me that part of the test of ‘Kochav Yaacov / Nibiru’ is to not fall back into the same mistakes our idol-worshiping ancestors made, who attributed power to the celestial bodies that was disconnected from Hashem.
Hashem is pulling the strings in the heavens (and everywhere else).
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Fake News, Geula, Judaism, Judaism 101, Teshuva
Comets in the Torah
Comets, and particularly large comets that pass close to the earth, can affect our planet in some hugely fundamental ways.
In this post, I thought it would be useful to track down some of the key ‘turning points’linked to comets in human history, as described by the Torah.
Can we see the fingerprints of James McCanney’s ‘Plasma Discharge Comet Model’, as described in THIS post, coming through in the Torah’s descriptions of things like Noah’s flood (the mabbul); the sin of Enosh ben Shet (the first idol-worshipper in the world), and also the Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai?
If the answer is ‘yes’, then that gives us a pretty good basis to assume that just as Hashem used large comets in the past to achieve key milestones in the human race’s spiritual development, He will probably do so again, in the time of Moshiach.
PLEASE NOTE: The Jewish sources below were all culled from Rabbi Dovid Brown’s wonderful work, ‘Mysteries of the Creation’. If you haven’t already bought his book, please do so, as he goes into much more depth and detail about many of the points brought below, and this post really stands on his tremendous scholarship and insight.
MOUNTAINS THAT ‘RUN’, ‘MELT’ AND ARE FORMED IN AN INSTANT
The first place to start is with James McCanney’s assertion that:
“During the close passage of a large comet, the ‘gravitational wave’ is sufficient to move waves of land and rock at speeds in excess of a thousand miles per hour, across land.”
Elsewhere, he tells us that:
“Mountain chains were ripped from the ground in a brief, violent motion as a massive planet / comet passed by earth.”
I’m going to keep my own comments very brief in this post, as the biblical quotations I’m about to list really speak for themselves:
Midrash Mechilta, Yitro, haChodesh 4:
“When God descended to give the Torah to Yisrael, the mountains rushed to dispute with each other. Each one wished the Torah to be given upon it. Mount Tavor travelled from Beit Aylim, and Mount Carmel crossed the sea from Spain to the Sinai Desert in order to be chosen for mattan Torah. Though their candidacies were rejected, their honor of the Torah was rewarded by their being replanted in Eretz Yisrael”
Psalm 29 (which Chazal in Sanhedrin 116a tells us is referring to Matan Torah):
“The voice of God is on the waters; the God of glory thunders…The voice of God breaks the cedars, Hashem shatters the cedars of Lebanon! He makes them (the mountains of Lebanon and Siryon) prance about like a calf, like young antelopes! The voice of Hashem lights flames of fire. The voice of Hashem convulses the wilderness…of Kadesh.”
The prophet Nachum (1:4, 5):
“The mountains tremble because of Him and hills melt; the earth goes up in smoke before Him, and the world and all its residents.”
Midrash Yalkut Shimoni 1:47:
“In the days of Enosh ben Shet, the third generation after creation, people began to anger the creator with new religious practices…Consequently, God brought on them three punishments: First, the ocean broke out and flooded a third of the globe. Second, whereas previously the earth had been entirely level, in those days it became mountainous, rocky and hilly (in the future, yet to come the world will be returned to its original level state.) Third, God reduced the height of men.”
Midrash Brayshit Rabba 49:6:
“For 25 years prior to the destruction of Sdom, God brought tremors onto the land and made the mountains around Sdom quake to warn the people they must repent, but they didn’t take the hint.”
Rashi on Parshat Vayeira, 19:25:
“The four cities of Sdom and its suburbs were situated on one table of rock. The angel overturned the rock and with that one act, the cities were overturned.”
TWO TYPES OF MOUNTAIN
Sources from the Torah basically describe two types of mountains in the world:
1) ‘Volcanic’ mountains, that were formed at the time of creation, in order to raise the land out of the sea and give the water that covered the earth depressions in which to ‘pool’ as oceans.
2) Non-volcanic mountains, that were formed AFTER the six days’ of creation by God, usually in response to some massive spiritual event like people starting to worship idols, or the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.
And guess what – modern geology agrees!
So far, we’ve seen proof from the Torah that mountains melted, ‘ran around the globe’ and reformed on a number of occasions, including:
When the generation of Enosh started to worship idols
When the inhabitants of Sdom sinned and were destroyed by God
When the Torah was given on Mount Sinai
(I’m sure there are many more instances, too.)
GOD DOESN’T VIOLATE HIS OWN LAWS OF NATURE
Before we continue, it should be made clear that the ‘line’ between ‘miracle’ and ‘natural occurrence’ is completely blurred when it comes to any discussion of comets. As a believing Jew, we know that really there IS NO NATURE, in any area or sliver of our lives. Even the smallest occurrence, thought or action in the world is God’s doing.
That’s the first principle of faith, and the first rule of Emuna.
But when we’re discussing enormous, earth-shattering events like the destruction wreaked by close contact with a comet, the curtain that Hashem hides behind in the physical world essentially disappears.
Clearly, God is the one moving all these mountains around, and flooding the world etc!
Nevertheless, the Zohar reminds us (in Bereishit 138b, Midrash HaNe’elam) that:
“The laws of nature are never violated.”
Which is probably why 4/5 of Am Yisrael died in the plague of darkness, and why the world didn’t repent of its idol worshipping ways in the time of Noah, because their evil inclination had them convinced that the ‘Niribu’ of their time was a natural phenomenon, and nothing to do with God….
CHANGES IN THE EARTH’S AXIS
Another thing we learnt in the last post is that ‘near misses’ with large comets can change the earth’s rotation on its axis, and permanently shift the poles, completely altering the earth’s calendar and seasons and relationship to the sun.
Is there any discussion of that phenomenon, in Torah sources? You betcha!
Sforno:
“Before the mabbul (Noah’s flood), the apparent circuit of the sun was directly around the equator. The change in the attitude of the earth after the mabbul, so that the earth faces the sun at an inclination of the axis, is the cause of the varying seasons.
“Before the mabbul, the climate was perpetually warm due to the sun striking the earth directly at the equator. That environment was extraordinarily robust compared to the modern world’s, and the earth had greater energy in all its members, mineral, vegetable, animal and human. For this reason, their lives were extraordinarily long.”
Midrash Bereish Rabba, 25:4:
“Rabbi Yochanon teaches that the heavenly bodies ceased functioning during the 12 months of the mabbul. Rabbi Yonaton argues that they did function, but as the earth was heavily clouded, their effects didn’t reach the land.”
Joshua 10:13:
“Then the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the people took retribution against their enemies…so the sun stood in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to set for a whole day. There was no day like that before or after it…”
(Again, there’s lots more to say on each of these areas, but there’s a limit to how much I can type, so I’m giving a flavour here, and feel free to flesh it out in the comments section if you have more to add.)
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE / FLAMING HAIL
One of the things that occur with ‘near misses’ with large comets is that many of the accompanying gases, substances and rocks in the comet’s tail inundate the earth. That usually results in massive flooding on a scale that’s impossible to describe (as we know happened at the time of Enosh, when a third of the world was covered with water, and again with Noah’s flood, when the whole world was submerged by ‘strong waters’ for a year.)
But other things also ‘fall’ into the earth’s atmosphere from a near miss with a comet, including the elements that form naptha (crude oil), sulphur, and many other chemical compounds, metals, gasses, small rocks and other debris.
Often, these elements ignite as they fall through the atmosphere to earth.
So one of the key things that happen with close calls with comets is that the earth can be deluged BOTH by fire, and by water, at one and the same time.
Another thing to add into the mix is that an approaching large comet plays havoc with the earth’s existing weather and geology, triggering earthquakes and volcanoes. The Torah tells us that there are 8,000 volcanoes (or what it terms ‘gateways to Gehinnom) in the world – and many of these volcanoes are located in the oceans.
So with that knowledge under out belts, let’s see what Torah passages we can find that might be describing some of these phenomena:
Parshat Noach, Bereishit 7:4:
“In another seven days, I will bring rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights, and I will obliterate the whole establishment which I had made from the face of the earth.”
Gemara, Sanhedrin 108b:
“The people of that time [the mabbul] sinned by raising their temperatures with sexual crimes; in consequence they were punished too by heat, with water at boiling temperature.
Parshat Vayeira, Bereishit 19:24:
“God made sulphur and fire rain on Sdom…”
Parshat Vaeira, Shemot 9:22:
“Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven and there will be hail in the entire land of Egypt, on man and beast, and on all the grass of the field in the land of Egypt.’
“Moshe stretched out his staff toward heaven, and Hashem sent thunder and hail, and fire went earthward, and Hashem rained hail upon the land of Egypt. There was hail and fire flaming amid the hail – very heavy, such as had never been in the entire land of Egypt, from the time it became a nation.”
And Chazal teach us that some of those same ‘hailstones’ returned a generation later, to help Joshua overcome his enemies as he led Am Israel in the conquest of Eretz Israel:
“It happened when they fled before Israel; they were on the descent of Beth-horon when Hashem cast upon them large stones from heaven until [they reached] Azekah and they died. More died through the hailstones then the Children of Israel killed with the sword.”
THE SEVENTH WORLD
As we set out in THIS POST, where we discussed the six different ‘worlds’ that have existed since the creation of Adam and Eve, Pirkei deRabbay Eliezer tells us that the seventh world, the world of Moshiach, is also going to be a strikingly different place, physically, from the way we’re experiencing life at the moment.
Here’s a few of the statements we find in our sources about what will be happening in that seventh world:
Yerushalmi, Shkollim 6:2:
“Rabbi Yehuda maintains that in the future, grain will grow in one month and tress will bear fruit every two months. Rabbi Yossi asserts that grain will grow in fifteen days and trees will bear every month.”
Torat Cohanim on Parshat BeChukotai, Vayikra, 26:4:
“The Torah doesn’t promise us merely that in the future the earth will bring forth produce as it does today, but that it will produce at its maximum level, the way it did before the sin of Adam HaRishon. That is, crops will come up daily.”
Gemara Ketuvot 112b:
“In Eretz Yisroel in the future, even trees that today don’t produce edible fruits will bear fruit for human consumption.”
Prophet Yeshaya, 65:20, 22:
“There will no longer be a person who dies young, nor even an old person who doesn’t live out his natural life span, for a person who dies at age 100 will be considered to have died young, and a sinner will be cursed to die at a century…”
THE NATURE OF THE WORLD WILL CHANGE – NATURALLY
As you’re hopefully starting to grasp, the way God can cause these enormous changes in the nature of the world, and in human life, ‘naturally’, without breaking His own laws of nature, is via the massive realignments of planet earth that come along with close encounters with planet-sized comets.
There’s lots more to say, but for now, let me leave you with the following quotes about what’s in store for the world at the end of days, and I’ll leave it to you to figure out this could all be tied in to another ‘close encounter’ with a huge comet:
Midrash Dvorim Rabba 4:11:
“How will God enlarge Eretz Israel? When a scroll is rolled up, one cannot tell its length. When it’s unrolled, its size becomes evident. Just so, Eretz Israel is mostly mountains and hills. God will flatten it…then the true size of Eretz Israel will become evident.”
Prophet Zecharia 14:1-5:
“A day for God is coming…I will gather all the nations to Yerushalayim for war…And God will go out and fight with those nations like the day He fought the Egyptians at the Yam Suf.
“His feet will stand on that day on the Mount of Olives…east of Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives will split in half, forming a very big rift, and half the mountain will move north and half south.”
Prophet Yechezkel 38:18-20:
“It will happen on that day, on the day Gog arrives in the land of Israel,” says God, ‘My anger will rise…in the heat of My wrath…there will be an earthquake in Eretz Israel….The mountains will be demolished, stairs will fall and every wall will topple to the ground.”
Tanna DeVey Eliyahu, Rabba, Ch.2:
“At that time the whole world will quake and the people will wonder, ‘Is a new mabbul coming on the world?’ God will assure them, ‘No, this isn’t a mabbul. I have come, rather, to make a banquet for my children and rule over the entire world.”
May we all pass through the upcoming process peacefully and safely, holding firmly onto God’s hand.
https://rivkalevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/nasa-45072-unsplash.jpg 387 600 Rivka Levy /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rivka-1-2.png Rivka Levy2019-04-22 11:36:082019-05-12 11:47:13Comets in the Torah
Being real, Fake News, Geula, Judaism, Mental Health
The energy angle to why we’re all going bonkers
Once you start to dig a little deeper, past the superficial, God-less way most of the world sees life and the events occurring within us and around us, so many things start to fall into place in an awe-inspiring way.
Most days, I have at least one moment when I think to myself: God is a genius!
The wisdom in creation is so awe-inspiring, and nowhere more so than in the area of human health. As I’ve been piecing together how things appear to be working, health-wise, it’s given me more and more appreciation for Yiddishkeit, and also for Breslev, because Rebbe Nachman set so much of this stuff down even 200 years’ ago, just we didn’t know what it was we were being told.
(OK: I didn’t know what it was we were being told – I’m sure the Breslev Tzaddikim haven’t had that problem, and are still so far ahead of the game it’s scary.)
I’m not pretending I know how it all fits together 100%, because I don’t. But I’m still trying to share what I’m learning as I’m going along, as it’s helping me so much to get a handle on so many of the challenges I’m dealing with in life, and I hope that it might also do that for other people.
So today’s slice of insight is this: why we are all going bonkers, and how it’s connected to working on our middot (isn’t everything?) plus climate change, plus geula and Moshiach.
First, some very basic background on how the human body works:
The human body is a bio-electric liquid crystal.
Physiologically, the human body conducts electricity like a liquid crystal. Every cell is polarized (i.e., it has a positively charged ‘end’ and a negatively charged ‘end’) and a great deal of the communication that happens within our bodies occurs using bioelectricity.
Think of it this way: when the cells change from being negatively or positively charged (or vice-versa) it’s like they flick a switch off or on – kind of like morse code – which signals different chemicals to be produced, different hormones to start coursing through the body, and different biological processes to begin or end.
Emotions and thoughts affect the body mamash like chemicals
You feel happy? That triggers a whole bunch of bio-electrical impulses and chemical responses within your body, that directly affect your PHYSICAL health, as well as your sense of wellbeing. Each emotion we feel triggers a different set of bio-electrical impulses and chemical responses, and the negative emotions and thoughts – if they’re chronic – can literally disrupt the healthy functioning of the body’s bio-electrical impulses, leading to ill-health and disease.
Negative emotions and thoughts can also LITERALLY change the way the brain is hardwired, leading to so-called ‘mental illnesses’, and physical health issues.
Here’s where we really start to get into the ‘God is a genius!’ stuff, because now that we know that God is using bio-electric impulses in our bodies to regulate our physical and mental health, we can also see that the more bad middot and negative emotions we have, the more mental and physical illnesses we will have to deal with.
Bad middot and negative emotions act as ‘blockages’ on the line, preventing the right messages from being passed on, skewing chemical transmission within the body by getting the lines crossed, and starting or stopping the internal processes necessary for human health in a very unhelpful way.
The more we work on uprooting our bad middot, and dealing with our negative emotions in the way God intended (which is NOT to just ignore them, go into denial or try to medicate them away) – the healthier we’ll be, body, mind and soul.
The more bad middot etc we have, the more ‘blockages’ and weaknesses we have in the bio-electric circuit that is the human body.
Electromagnetism can ALSO affect our thoughts, emotions and health from ‘the outside in’
So now, we hit another ‘God’s a genius!’ patch, because external sources of electromagnetism, energy and radiation can also affect our thoughts, emotions and health.
If the electromagnetism we’re experiencing from the outside world goes up or down – as it does all the time, as a function of the earth interacting with the different planets and stars God created in the universe – that will also spark off ‘bio-electrical’ signals inside of us to think, act or feel certain ways.
It’s like those days when ‘everyone’ feels inexplicably more down than usual, or more stressed, or more antsy, or more angry, or even, more giddily happy and optimistic.
What’s occurring is that God is manipulating our environment – with a Nibiru, or a solar storm, or a Haley’s comet, or a thinned-out atmosphere, or even with a microwave oven or an i-Phone – to program our bio-electric circuit to start experiencing a different set of feelings, emotions or thoughts.
This is what’s commonly known as a ‘ruach’ in our holy writings, and the phenomena is referred to by many of our sages. Eg, most of us have heard of a ‘ruach shtut’ or ‘spirit of madness’ that is described as somehow ‘entering’ people from the outside, causing them to act bonkers. This is what it’s talking about.
The ARIZAL once told his main student, Rav Chaim Vital, that in a few months’ time he was going to encounter a period of time when he’d feel extremely worthless and ‘bad’ about himself. The ARIZAL told his student: “It’s just a ruach that’s being sent down to the world! Don’t pay it any attention!”
And these different types of ruach are being sent down to planet earth all the time, as tests and measurements of character.
Which bring us to the next key point:
God is bringing all our bad middot to the fore at the moment, by way of atmospheric changes (including things like Nibiru); plus man-made sources of electro-magnetism including wi-fi, cell-phones and powerlines.
We’ve just hit the part where we can hopefully start to understand why so many people are literally starting to go bonkers.
It’s like this: When Moshiach and geula rolls around, we’re told that God will kill the yetzer hara, or evil inclination.
There’s also suggestions that anyone that isn’t ‘prepared’ spiritually for Moshiach will not make it into the time of redemption. And what’s the main preparation we need to make? We need to work on eradicating our bad middot, and upping our emuna, or belief in Hashem.
Now, we can see how all this starts to slot together (because like I mentioned, God is a genius.)
As covered in a previous post, the world is going to change physically when Moshiach comes (albeit these changes will roll out over time and they won’t be immediate). The atmosphere will change; the amount of energy we get from the sun and other planetary objects is going to change; the amount of electromagnetism rolling around the planet – and sparking off biological effects in the human body – is going to change.
If we still have bad middot ‘blocking’ our internal circuitry, our bodies literally won’t cope with these changes – they’ll be overwhelmed, flooded, backed-up, fried-out etc by all the increased energy, radiation and electromagnetism.
Instead of being able to harness the extra energetic input to live longer and healthier lives and to serve Hashem (and probably do some other ‘miraculous’ things, too) – it’s going to make us implode.
It’s not a ‘punishment’, it’s just a consequence of not doing the work to get our system ready, the way God has instructed us.
So now, what’s happening specifically today?
God is playing around with the atmosphere in a way that’s designed to ‘press’ as many bad middot buttons as possible, and to bring them out of hiding so we can deal with them properly, and uproot them.
That’s why there’s such heaping doses of things like despair, depression, anger, paranoia, fear, anxiety, guilt, hatred, worry etc etc going around.
God is creating a bio-electrical environment that’s perfectly designed to trigger those middot off, in anyone that has them.
Why is He doing this?
So that we can recognize the problem, and work on eradicating our bad middot ahead of Moshiach and geula, so that we’ll be able to cope with the enormous physiological (and spiritual…) changes that will occur at the period of time, and stay alive.
THERE’S JUST ONE PROBLEM:
So many of us are still not doing the work!
Instead of working on our emuna more, and including God more in our lives, and digging deeper to get to the real roots of our emotional, mental and physical illnesses, we’re buying all the God-less (and completely unproven, scientifically) pap about ‘chemical imbalances’ causing the problems; or pills and surgery being the answer to all our physical health woes.
(I go into this stuff a whole lot more in my books, especially Talk to God and Fix Your Health, which you can buy on Amazon and also on the Book Depository, so I’m not going to rehash it here.)
The basic idea is this: things like antidepressants turn off the warning lights – i.e. you don’t FEEL so bad any more, or so depressed, or so anxious – but really, the bioelectrical processes and blockages causing you to feel that way are STILL CONTINUING unchecked.
The block is literally still there in the liquid crystal that is your body, and hasn’t been dealt with. When Moshiach shows up, that’s going to be a huge problem.
But even if people aren’t trying to medicate their heightened emotional states away, they’re still not dealing with them properly.
(BH, I’ll cover how to deal with bad middot properly in a future post, but be reassured it’s really not so hard, as God is doing most of the work.)
Despite rising evidence to the contrary, they continue to insist that they’re NOT angry, or unhappy, or despairing, or obsessed with money and status, or trying harder and harder to control every little detail about their lives (because that’s what happens when God is out of the picture.)
And then, these blockages start to implode in a million different ways, manifesting as eating disorders, depression, rage fits, narcissism, and then on to physical illnesses too, like kidney stones (fear), gallbladder issues (hatred), liver problems (self-hatred and guilt), heart problems (anger) etc etc etc.
TO SUM ALL THIS STUFF UP:
God is using energetic forces in the world, like electromagnetism and radiation, to affect the ‘liquid crystal’ that is the human body, and to bring our attention to the fact that we all have a lot of bad middot that are mucking-up the way we’re meant to function, across all three levels of body, mind and soul.
Those forces could be the gravitational pull of a ‘Nibiru’, a solar flare, or even more prosaic things like i-Phones (which could also explain another dimension to WHY internet and i-Phones are having such a bad moral effect on so many people).
He’s doing that because He wants us to WORK ON FIXING OUR BAD MIDDOT, and learning more emuna.
If we do that, we’ll remove the energetic ‘blockages’ that our bad middot are creating in our bodies, and then we won’t implode when Moshiach shows up, and the world changes in some very dramatic physical, geological and spiritual ways.
Hopefully, we’ll talk some more about HOW to work on the bad middot, as it’s really the key to everything.
But in a nutshell, THAT’s why we’re all going bonkers.
https://rivkalevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/aaron-blanco-tejedor-768029-unsplash.jpg 653 986 Rivka Levy /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rivka-1-2.png Rivka Levy2019-04-22 07:29:212019-05-13 12:35:25The energy angle to why we’re all going bonkers
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Gemara on the End of Days: Tractate Sanhedrin 97b: Geula Depends on Teshuva
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Rabbi Berland is Postponing Gog and Magog
Rivka Levy is a Breslov writer who is trying not to go bonkers while she waits for Moshiach to show up. She's the author of The Secret Diary of a Jewish Housewife series, plus a bunch of other books like Talk To God and Fix Your Health, 49 Days, and Unlocking the Secret of the Erev Rav.
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Cooperation, News
Togo’s accession to the Commonwealth: “… We are optimistic for the rest of the process” (Robert Dussey)
Togo strikes at the door of the Commonwealth, the intergovernmental organization whose English is the common language. Togo has embarked on the process since 2014 and missions have multiplied in recent months in the Togolese capital. Is Togo really on the footsteps of Rwanda, the second African country to join the Commonwealth in 2009 after Mozambique?
For its heading “THREE QUESTIONS A”, Agence Savoir News approached Mr. Robert Dussey, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Savoir News: Togo is fighting to join the Commonwealth. At the present stage, can we say that the dossier is evolving with “big steps”?
Robert Dussey: Thank you. I would first like to say that the evaluation process is done in four stages. This is the second time that a Commonwealth mission has been in Togo within five months. At each of their missions in Lomé, the experts met with several actors and institutions of the Republic. Everything went well.
In short, the issue of Togo is well on the way and we are optimistic for the rest of the process!
What are the advantages of Togo?
Togo is a politically stable country, where there is peace and democracy. In this respect, we have quite dynamic political, economic and social institutions capable of playing a regulatory role in terms of transparency and fairness to citizens.
Linguistically and culturally, Togo already has a strong English tradition, given that English is the second foreign language studied in the Togolese educational system, but also in trade. It should be noted that the Anglo-Saxon model is highly appreciated by the populations and Togo has strong relations with the English-speaking countries of the region, especially with neighboring Ghana and Nigeria.
Geographically, our country has a strategic position with enormous assets, including a deep water port, the only one in the West African zone, which opens up the countries of the hinterland (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali).
Lomé is also a crossroads city of great international meetings, where there is a strong English presence. We therefore have indisputable assets for our membership in the Commonwealth.
The accession of Togo will give concretely what? (Eg diplomatic and economic).
Togo’s accession to the Commonwealth will enable it to integrate a large family of 52 friendly and allied states. Togo will have the opportunity to broaden the scope of its state relations and further diversify its relations of friendship and cooperation, making new friends and getting closer to its old friends such as Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and so on.
On the economic front, the Commonwealth, through the Technical Cooperation Fund (CFTC) and the Association of Commonwealth Countries, plays an important role in the economic and social progress of its members, acting on their pace of economic growth .
Togo which has a growth rate (5 to 6%) will be able to benefit from these channels to boost its economy. Furthermore, from a commercial standpoint, the Commonwealth constitutes a large external market (more than 2 billion consumers) for exports of Togolese national products. END
Interview by Junior AUREL
Peace and Security Council meeting in Niamey
Launch of the High Council of Togolese Abroad: Speech by Minister Robert Dussey
Official visit to Brazil: Press Release
#NewACPEU: Measuring Progress in Brussels
SPEECH BY H.E. PROF. ROBERT DUSSEY IN THE EU-AFRICA REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS FOR THE ACP-EU POST-COTONOU AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
Post-Cotonou Agreement 2020: Continuation of ACP-EU negotiations in Kingston.
European, African, Caribbean and Pacific countries conclude second round of talks on a new ambitious partnership
Press Release: Presentation of the Road Map for Togolese Abroad
Speech by Minister Robert Dussey at the launch of the roadmap for the togolese abroad
Diplomag 18th is available to download!
ACP Pacific High Level Meeting in Apia
Goodbye dinner in honor of US Ambassador David Gilmour
AFRICA-EU RELATIONS: A mixture of fascination and mistrust, By Robert Dussey
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Posts Tagged ‘Barack Obama’
Memes, Subcultures and Social Media
Dawkins’ dodgy dogma
Digital deviation
‘Something Awful’, ‘4chan’ and ‘Encyclopedia Dramatica’
Rise of the alt-right
The ‘incel’ subculture and online misogyny
Social-media minefield: the dark side of the meme
The joke’s gone too far
In Part 2 of this series on ‘Education and the Internet’ I focussed on some problems with Wikipedia, in particular how a combination of administrative protocols and web anonymity facilitates a preponderance of sectarian influences on certain articles. In the case in which I was personally involved, there was also the factor of trolling, a decidedly abhorrent feature of the Web 2.0 environment. In this part I have turned my attention to another Web 2.0 development, one with a broader relevance than Wikipedia, and which also incorporates a trolling component.
I am referring to the ubiquitous ‘internet meme’, which doesn’t attract the same sort of news headlines as other online problems: cyber war, cyber terrorism, ransomware attacks, election interference, news manipulation, cyber bullying, and so on. The latter are serious issues, and rightly subjects of concern, but their effects on most people are either indirect or infrequent. The internet meme, by contrast, is more likely to be a part of many people’s everyday experience, particularly if they use social media. Probably every Facebook user is familiar with the endlessly re-posted images, which are often humorous, cute or ‘motivational’. Why would anyone compare this seemingly innocuous practice with the sort of issues listed above? What harm could there be, right?
Some may be familiar with the origin of the word ‘meme’ in a 1976 publication. I’ll hazard a guess, however, that few would be aware of the connection between the internet-meme phenomenon and several online subcultures with dubious reputations. Furthermore, although some media organizations (e.g. The Guardian) have recently started to shine a spotlight on the controversial content to be found on social-media sites like Facebook, analysis of the links between the above-mentioned subcultures, memes, and social-networking groups attracts little, if any, publicity.
I first became alert to Facebook ‘meme groups’ early in 2016, and in April of that year I posted a message indicating my concern about some of the groups that were using the social-media site as a platform. I wondered at that time whether the parents among my Facebook contacts were even aware of the nature of some of these groups and their associated pages. For a while the topic was off my radar, but in 2017 it became a topic of discussion in the school where I was teaching, and I decided to investigate further. My research resulted in a better understanding of the background to the Facebook meme-group culture, which I present below.
First, however, a point about terminology. The word ‘meme’ itself is neutral, just like the word ‘joke’. There’s nothing inherently offensive about a joke. Many jokes are simply funny; some make a point about something, perhaps a political one (e.g. satire); some might be a bit ‘edgy’; yet others would be generally considered in poor taste or, worse, downright offensive. As with jokes, so also with memes. It’s a spectrum, and the dividing lines between acceptable, edgy, in poor taste, and downright offensive, vary from person to person. I think it’s fair to say, however, that most people would recognize there is a spectrum, ranging from perfectly acceptable to downright objectionable. We might wonder at someone who collapses such distinctions and sees no difference between the two extremes.
The word ‘meme’ pre-dates its internet incarnation by several decades. It was coined by Oxford evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins, in his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. Like its biological counterpart, the gene, a carrier of heritable traits between generations of an organism, Dawkins conceived of the meme as a carrier of cultural information, such as an idea, a symbol, or a practice. Such cultural units are transferred from mind to mind, and in this sense either survive or die out. Successful memes, therefore, have survival value. Like genes, they are ‘selfish’, using minds as ‘hosts’, just as a virus uses an organism as a host. Dawkins derived his coinage from the ancient Greek concept of mimesis, from which we get words like ‘mime’, ‘mimicry’ and ‘imitate’.
We need a name for the new replicator, a noun that conveys the idea of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation. ‘Mimeme’ comes from a suitable Greek root, but I want a monosyllable that sounds a bit like ‘gene’. I hope my classicist friends will forgive me if I abbreviate mimeme to meme. If it is any consolation, it could alternatively be thought of as being related to ‘memory’, or to the French word même. It should be pronounced to rhyme with ‘cream’. (The Selfish Gene)
Unsurprisingly, Dawkins’ theory of memes has been the subject of astute criticism, with one critic describing it as ‘pseudoscientific dogma’ (see ‘Memetics: A Dangerous Idea’). To me the concept of meme seems a crude version of ‘sign’, in the semiotic sense, a study of which was part of my postgraduate research in philosophy (see the section on ‘Semiotics’ in my earlier post: An Educational Autobiography). A useful summary of the development of the meme concept, including some inherent problems with it, is James Gleick’s ‘What Defines a Meme?’, which is an extract adapted from his 2011 book, The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood.
My concern here, however, is not with meme theory as such, but rather the social phenomenon of internet memes, and in particular the online groups that employ them relentlessly. For this analysis, the coherence or otherwise of the theory is irrelevant, and it would make no difference if the word ‘meme’ had never been invented.
In its transition to the Web, the term has undergone an evolutionary development of its own. The internet usage carries the more restricted sense of ‘an activity, concept, catchphrase or piece of media which spreads, often as mimicry or for comedic purposes, from person to person via the Internet’ (Wikipedia). Images, usually with some form of text, are probably the most common permutation (see image macro). Standard forms have developed, with associated protocols. Typical examples of internet-meme jokes are ‘Y U NO’ and ‘Condescending Wonka’.
‘Y U NO’ meme
One thing to note about these is that the link between the image and the text is usually tenuous: just about any text could be used, ranging from relatively benign (the examples given here) to strongly offensive.
‘Condescending Wonka’ meme
Not all memes are jokes. Animals feature prominently, and, while sometimes amusing, they are more often ‘cute’ as in the following example (which also demonstrates the popular animated ‘gif’ format):
Bear cub playing with wolf cub: cute animals are common memes
Sticking with animals, we have the ‘pet shaming’ series:
And it would be negligent not to include some reference to the most famous cat on the Internet, ‘Grumpy Cat’ (real name: Tardar Sauce), whose fame can be traced to a September 2012 Reddit post by her owner’s brother. The cat’s peculiar physiognomy, caused by feline dwarfism and an underbite, gives her a permanently scowling expression:
‘Grumpy Cat’ meme
Yet other memes depend on incidental photographs, often amusing, whether staged or fortuitous:
‘So I turned into a toad last night’
All that’s needed is a clever caption:
‘Instructions were unclear’
One of the most famous photograph memes is indicative of a further development in this rapidly evolving social phenomenon. ‘Bad Luck Brian’ is a goofy photo from a 2005-2006 school yearbook. The picture is of Kyle Craven, a class clown and self-confessed prankster, who deliberately dressed and posed in order to create a joke image. The principal was unimpressed and forced Kyle to sit for the picture retakes, although he (Kyle) later persuaded someone on the yearbook staff to include both images. Kyle was forced to surrender the photo, but not before he and his friend, Ian Davies, had scanned and saved it. It was Davies who posted the image to Reddit in January 2012, naming it ‘Bad Luck Brian’ and including the caption ‘Takes driving test – gets first DUI’ (Driving Under the Influence). It was an instant hit, and ‘Bad Luck Brian’ became a magnet for every conceivable bad-luck caption.
Kyle Craven as ‘Bad Luck Brian’
Reddit fame was only the beginning:
Before long, Bad Luck Brian was an Internet sensation. His face appeared on Facebook, blogs and advertisements. T-shirts with his photo were sold at Wal-Mart and Hot Topic. Companies made Bad Luck Brian paperweights and Bad Luck Brian stuffed animals. He was flown to Internet conventions across the country. People like me, who barely knew him in high school, bragged about his photo’s popularity. (‘Anatomy of a meme: The real story of Bad Luck Brian, his viral class portrait and the fleeting nature of online fame’, National Post, 6 January 2015)
As the case of ‘Bad Luck Brian’ indicates, it didn’t take long for commercial interests to realize the marketing opportunities presented by internet memes. ‘Grumpy Cat’ garnered similar attention, not to mention being featured in mainstream media (see ‘Grumpy Cat’ on Wikipedia). There are now many websites offering advice on the use of memes for marketing purposes, e.g. ‘4 Things You Should Know Before You Start Using Memes on Social Media’.
Examples could be multiplied indefinitely, and many of them can be found on websites like ‘quickmeme’ and ‘knowyourmeme’. Those provided here demonstrate that there is nothing inherently objectionable about the content of internet memes. Other aspects of the practice, however, are legitimate topics for discussion: its potential for time wasting; an occasional tendency to misinformation (especially quotes attributed to celebrity geniuses like Einstein); and perhaps a general trivialization and dumbing-down of culture. These topics will re-emerge in future posts in this series.
Furthermore, I have chosen some particularly ‘tame’ examples, and there are definitely ‘edgier’ ones, depending on the viewer’s perspective. The phenomenon becomes problematic when it goes beyond what might be termed ‘common decency’. Here the internet meme seems to cross a line that only a minority are willing to traverse. Moreover, the memes themselves are only a part of the problem. At this point, the context in which they are being shared becomes just as salient.
The story of the internet meme is inseparable from the online subcultures known as Something Awful, 4chan, and Encyclopedia Dramatica.
‘Something Awful’ (SA) was created by Richard ‘Lowtax’ Kyanka in 1999, and is the source for the Slender Man meme (regarding which, see the ‘Waukesha stabbing and other incidents’ and ‘Mothers of teens who pleaded guilty in “Slender Man” stabbing case say there were no warning signs of violence’). Something Awful was described in a January 2008 Wired article as a collection of members-only message forums:
an online humor site dedicated to a brand of scorching irreverence and gross-out wit that, in its eight years of existence, has attracted a fanatical and almost all-male following. Strictly governed by its founder, Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka, the site boasts more than 100,000 registered Goons (as members proudly call themselves) and has spawned a small diaspora of spinoff sites. Most noticeable is the anime fan community 4chan, with its notorious /b/ forum and communities of ‘/b/tards.’ Flowing from this vast ecosystem are some of the Web’s most infectious memes and catchphrases (‘all your base are belong to us’ was popularized by Something Awful, for example; 4chan gave us lolcats) and online gaming’s most exasperating wiseasses. (Julian Dibbell, ‘Mutilated Furries, Flying Phalluses: Put the Blame on Griefers, the Sociopaths of the Virtual World’, Wired, 18 January 2008)
‘4chan’ is an ‘imageboard’ website that was launched in October 2003 by Christopher Poole, then a 15-year-old student from New York City, and a regular participant on the SA forums. Poole intended 4chan to be an American counterpart to the popular Japanese Futaba Channel (‘2chan’) imageboard, and a place to discuss Japanese ‘manga’ and ‘anime’. He encouraged users from the SA subforum, ‘Anime Death Tentacle Rape Whorehouse’, to discuss anime on his website. In its earliest days, 4chan had only two boards: ‘/a/ – Anime/General’ and ‘/b/ – Anime/Random’. The latter was the first board to be created, and is, according to Wikipedia, ‘by far 4chan’s most popular board, with 30% of site traffic’ (retrieved 4 July 2017). More boards were added over time, and /b/ was eventually renamed to ‘/b/ – Random’, or simply ‘random’. The ‘random’ board has minimal regulation and its notoriety is attested by numerous sources, including the Wired article cited above (for more, see the ‘/b/’ subsection of the Wikipedia ‘4chan’ article). A 2008 New York Times article (worth reading in its entirety) contains the following description of /b/:
Measured in terms of depravity, insularity and traffic-driven turnover, the culture of /b/ has little precedent. /b/ reads like the inside of a high-school bathroom stall, or an obscene telephone party line, or a blog with no posts and all comments filled with slang that you are too old to understand. (Mattathias Schwartz, ‘The Trolls Among Us’, New York Times, 3 August 2008)
According to Wikipedia, /b/ is the source of many internet memes, some of which are listed in the ‘Internet memes’ subsection.
‘Encyclopedia Dramatica’ (ED) was founded in 2004 by Sherrod DeGrippo. Wikipedia describes it as a ‘satirical website’ that ‘celebrates a subversive “trolling culture”, and documents Internet memes, culture, and events, such as mass organized pranks, trolling events, “raids”, large-scale failures of Internet security, and criticism of Internet communities which are accused of self-censorship in order to garner prestige or positive coverage from traditional and established media outlets’ (accessed 4 July 2017). Julian Dibbell, in a 2009 Wired article, situates ED in the context of ‘trolling’ (‘the most obnoxious innovation that architecture [i.e. the Internet] ever produced’): ‘Flamingly racist and misogynist content lurks throughout, all of it calculated to offend, along with links to eye-gougingly horrific images of mutilation, [and] sexual perversity’ (‘The Assclown Offensive: How to Enrage the Church of Scientology’, Wired, 21 September 2009).
As the Wired articles make clear, a paradoxical attitude pervades the subcultures of SA, 4chan and ED, which is a seriousness about not taking anything, including the Internet, seriously. Everything is for ‘the lulz’ (a corruption of ‘lols’, the plural form of ‘lol’ or ‘laugh out loud’). For those who haven’t come across the expression, ‘doing it for the lulz’ means doing something ‘for the laughs’, and the laughs are typically at someone else’s expense. This ambivalent stance appears to be the case whether the activity is online, or real-world events orchestrated by Anonymous, the actvist group spawned by 4chan, with strong links to ED.
The association of the internet meme with these subcultures helps explain the attitudes and ‘banter’ encountered in the meme groups on social-networking sites like Facebook (more on this below).
This story would be incomplete without some reference to the so-called ‘alt-right’, an umbrella term for those who identify themselves in opposition to both neo-liberal and traditional conservative values. Emerging over the course of the last decade, the alt-right unashamedly promotes views that are white supremacist, racist, antisemitic, anti-Muslim, antifeminist, misogynistic, and antihomosexual. (See ‘Psychologists surveyed hundreds of alt-right supporters. The results are unsettling.’)
More significant for the thesis I am developing here, however, is that the roots of the alt-right lie in 4chan, from which it derives its penchant for expressing views in the form of extremist memes. In a Conversation article from 20 July, Jason Hannan points out that the American alt-right took their liberal adversaries by surprise, when the latter, particularly under the tech-savvy President Obama, had
arrogantly assumed that the future belonged to them — that social media was the terrain of a younger generation of liberal hipsters fluent in irony, memes and hashtags — all the while assuming that conservatives were a largely clueless generation of technologically challenged old people scarcely able to make sense of the exotic world of “the Facebooks,” “the Twitters” and “the Snap Chaps”. (‘Trolling ourselves to death in the age of Trump’)
Perhaps the ultimate indication of alt-right ascendancy was the election of Donald Trump, in Hannan’s words ‘a man whose irreverence toward liberal propriety and whose absolute lack of principle made him the perfect instrument against the enemy’. John Cassidy of The New Yorker suggests that the US now has at its helm ‘an oafish Troll-in-Chief who sullies his office daily’ (‘Donald Trump will go down in history as the Troll-in-Chief’).
Hannan claims that one result of this has been the normalization of trolling:
The problem is that trolling has gone mainstream. It is no longer confined to the darker corners of the internet. The president of the United States is a troll. It is not a wild exaggeration to say that American public discourse is being recreated before our eyes in the light of Twitter.
We are witnessing the birth of a new political game, in which one of the primary moves is the act of trolling. Politicians now routinely troll each other online. Citizens troll politicians and politicians troll them back. The common denominator in all this white noise is the logic of the insult: whoever insults hardest wins.
He also makes an interesting theoretical point, an extension of the thesis proposed by Neil Postman in his pre-internet Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985):
Taking his cue from the media theorist Marshall McLuhan [of ‘the medium is the message’ fame], Postman argued that public discourse had been recreated in the image of television. American democracy had become a form of entertainment — equal parts sitcom, soap opera, and tabloid TV — in which the trivial and the superficial had come to hold greater persuasive power than the logical and the factual.
Television, Postman claimed, offered nothing less than a ‘philosophy of rhetoric,’ a theory of persuasion according to which truth is decided by entertainment value. The more entertaining a public figure, the more persuasive the message. Postman, of course, wrote in a more innocent time, the age of Ronald Reagan. Would that he had written in the age of Donald Trump.
We can extend Postman’s argument about television to social media. If television turned politics into entertainment, then social media might be said to have turned it into a giant high school, replete with cool kids, losers and bullies.
He concludes his article with the observation: ‘If Postman were alive today, he might be concerned that we are not so much amusing, as trolling ourselves to death.’
Postman died on 5 October 2003, just four days after the launch of 4chan. Internet trolling was emerging as a significant phenomenon, although it would take some years to peak (academic researcher Whitney Phillips refers to 2008-2011 as the ‘Golden Years’ – see This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Mapping the Relationship between Online Trolling and Mainstream Culture, Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 2015). In October 2013, 8chan was launched by computer programmer Fredrick Brennan, who felt that 4chan had become too restrictive. Fast forward to 15 March 2019, and Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian residing in New Zealand, posted to 8chan a link to an 87-page manifesto titled ‘The Great Replacement’ before carrying out a gun attack on two mosques in Christchurch. Fifty people were killed and many more injured. He also live-streamed to Facebook his drive to the Al Noor Mosque, his initial target, including a monologue with references to memes and internet culture. Even the earliest reports picked up on the association:
On the 8chan internet forum, there have been hundreds of posts explicitly linking the Christchurch mass shooting with Nazi ideology.
8chan is an online forum where users can post with very little moderation. It was set up as an alternative to 4chan, which was perceived as being too highly regulated. It became popular after 4chan banned Gamergate threads – many of which included death threats aimed at female developers.
It’s sometimes called ‘the world’s most vile website’.
Hours after the Christchurch shooting, six of the top seven ‘boards’ or message rooms on 8chan were about the attack, including one titled ‘Brenton Tarrant appreciation station’.
Anonymous users wrote that ‘finally’ one of their own had actually ‘done something’.
(James Purtill, ‘Fuelled by a toxic, alt-right echo chamber, Christchurch shooter’s views were celebrated online’, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 15 March 2019.)
The link between online culture and offline terrorism is alarming.
Overlapping with the alt-right, and other hate groups, is the ‘incel’ subculture. The term in question, an abbreviation of ‘involuntary celibate’, has its roots in a website started in 1993 with the title ‘Alana’s Involuntary Celibacy Project’. The eponymous creator was a Canadian college student, who started the site in order to discuss the lack of sexual activity in her own life. In 1997 she created a mailing list titled ‘INVCEL’, which was further abbreviated to ‘incel’.
The term was subsequently appropriated by some loosely-associated male groups that belong to the so-called ‘Manosphere’. The core belief of such groups is that feminism has ruined society, and the remedy lies in men ’embracing a super-dominant, uber-masculine gender role, forcing ladies to fall into step behind them’ (Caitlin Dewey, ‘Inside the “manosphere” that inspired Santa Barbara shooter Elliot Rodger’, Washington Post, 27 May 2014).
Incels have developed a body of shared beliefs, spawning a corresponding ‘insider’ lexicon and, unsurprisingly, a whole new category of memes. They assume a form of social Darwinism, in which alpha males (or, more simply, ‘alphas’, i.e. those with a favourable genetic endowment) have a monopoly on mating, particularly with alpha females. These alpha males and females are referred to as ‘Chad’ and ‘Stacy’ respectively. By contrast, incels regard themselves as ‘betas’.
According to incel beliefs, feminism has empowered women to withhold sex, even from deserving betas. At the same time, females are by nature ‘hypergamous’, a sociological term referring to the tendency to seek the highest-status male as partner. At the height of their reproductive years, women will have sex with as many alphas as possible, and preferably high-status ones, a practice known as ‘riding the carousel’. Confronted by the ‘wall’ of their impending infertility, they may settle for a beta for marriage and reproduction purposes, although they may continue to have sex with desirable alphas, making their husbands cuckolds or ‘cucks’.
Borrowing from the plot of The Matrix, incels refer to betas who have woken to the truth of their situation as ‘red pills’, whereas those who remain in ignorance are ‘blue pills’. There are many sub-categories of male and female, and many other terms in the incel lexicon, but the foregoing are fundamental. (For a more comprehensive list, see the ‘Manosphere glossary’; and for some overlap with alt-right terminology, see Nikhil Sonnad and Tim Squirrell, ‘The alt-right is creating its own dialect. Here’s the dictionary’, Quartz, 30 October 2017.)
‘Inceldom’, therefore, is pervaded by a strong current of male inadequacy combined with an alarming misogyny. The latter is expressed in various ways, ranging from disparaging jargon at one end of the spectrum, to fantasies of sexual violence and real acts of terror at the other. For example, women are referred to as ‘femoids’ (or ‘foids’, also ‘fembots’, indicating a sub- or non-human status), and ‘roasties’ (a derogatory reference to female genitalia).
Just to be clear, none of this is to suggest that there are not issues affecting males. Some males have genuine grievances, just as some females do, and advocacy is just as necessary in the case of the former as in the latter. This does not entail misogyny, however, any more than feminism should entail misandry. For a balanced perspective, see Cassie Jaye’s The Red Pill documentary.
Some of the more intellectual among the incel community have sought justification for their beliefs in the literature of ancient Greece and Rome. Criticism of this trend has come from an unexpected source, in the form of classicist Donna Zuckerberg, sister of the famous founder and CEO of Facebook. Her book, Not All Dead White Men: Classics and Misogyny in the Digital Age, was published by Harvard University Press in October 2018, and in it she takes to task the incel appropriation of the classics, which she sees as an attempt to ‘lend a veneer of intellectual authority and ancient wisdom to their project of patriarchal white supremacy’. That quote is from the publisher blurb on the above site, and it concludes with the interesting observation that the book ‘reveals that some of the most controversial and consequential debates about the legacy of the ancients are raging not in universities but online’. Although such cultural appropriation for political ends is not unique to our time, it’s worth pointing out that Zuckerberg, notwithstanding the involvement of several family members in the business of social media, blames the latter for the extent of the current problem:
“It is without doubt that social media has allowed this to happen,” she says of the toxic moment we’re in. “It has created the opportunity for men with anti-feminist ideas to broadcast their views to more people than ever before – and to spread conspiracy theories, lies and misinformation. Social media has elevated misogyny to entirely new levels of violence and virulence.” (Nosheen Iqbal, ‘Donna Zuckerberg: “Social media has elevated misogyny to new levels of violence”‘, The Guardian, 11 November 2018.)
Those of a traditionalist persuasion might point out that the negative views of women espoused by incels reflect an unanticipated outcome of the so-called ‘sexual revolution’ beginning in the 1960s, which separated sex from marriage and childbearing. The traditionalist view is found in all human cultures, and is shared by all of the major religions, albeit with variations. In the Catholic tradition, for example, some commentators have been re-examining Pope Paul VI’s 1968 Humanae Vitae encyclical. Although divisive in its time, five decades later these commentators have been using terms like ‘prescient’ to describe some of the emphases (see Terrence Prendergast, ‘Humanae Vitae at 50 — 1968, the real Summer of Love’, Ottawa Sun, 29 July 2018.)
Other writers have made the point that the sexual revolution did not benefit women in the long run. In a recent article, Deborah Savage — a professor of philosophy and theology at the St Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St Thomas in St Paul, Minnesota, and a faculty associate with the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio — describes her own experiences, and those of her peers, attending college ‘barely an hour’s drive from the famous Haight-Ashbury district’ in San Francisco. As a Catholic, she avoided many of the pitfalls of the counterculture, but she had a ‘front-row seat’ as the ‘revolution’ unfolded. Her article is a mature and nuanced reflection on the forces at play:
It is actually hard to say now who was the perpetrator and who the victim in all this. We were all very young, and like all young people without fully developed frontal lobes, our judgment was unsurprisingly impaired. The natural desire for intimacy is an ineluctable feature of human existence; young men and women have always tended to mistake sexual attraction for love. Which is generally why they need adult supervision. And so, at the end of the day, we were all complicit. And once we all agreed to it, there was nowhere to go except exactly where we find ourselves now—in a state of total confusion about human relationships. If only we had given it a moment’s thought, we might have realized that this could have been predicted. (‘Reflections on the Revolution: A Sexual Ethic that Works for Women’, First Things, October 2018.)
As stated above, the traditionalist position is not limited to Catholicism (although raised a Catholic, my own religious sympathies are ‘universalist’). From a traditionalist perspective, I think it is important to make a distinction between the supposed liberation of the sexual revolution, on the one hand, and what I believe to be the legitimate pursuit of female equality in areas such as politics, education and employment, on the other. The anthropological record reveals a wide variety of arrangements when it comes to parenting, but I think it’s safe to say that the stability of socially-sanctioned marriage is common to all of them, whereas promiscuous sexual relations are universally regarded as dangerously destabilizing. (On the anthropology of childhood and parenting, see David F. Lancy, Raising Children: Surprising Insights from other Cultures, Cambridge University press, 2017, which is a distillation of the parenting content in his 2015 The Anthropology of Childhood: Cherubs, Chattel, Changelings.)
There appears, then, to be a contradiction at the heart of incel ideology. On the one hand, incels are critical of the ‘liberated’ behaviour of women after the sexual revolution. On the other hand, they aspire to the same sort of uninhibited promiscuity that they think the alpha males enjoy. In other words, incels share with the targets of their opprobrium the same underlying (social Darwinist) assumptions, which amount to a rejection of traditional values concerning chastity, marriage, and childbearing. Perhaps both sides should reflect on the irony of this.
Of even greater concern is the congruence of incel misogyny with the attitude of occultist Aleister Crowley (1875-1947). Although he died before the advent of 1960’s counterculture, his ideas gained a certain popularity with that generation and the New Age movement that followed. Arguably his adherents were not very familiar with the full details of his life. According to British writer Kevin Shepherd, Crowley regarded women ‘merely as instruments of gratification’, and he quotes from the latter’s Confessions, which had been written by the late 1920s:
Women were for me beneath contempt. They had no true moral ideals … Intellectually, of course, they did not exist … Their attainments were those of the ape and the parrot. Those facts did not deter me. On the contrary, it was highly convenient that one’s sexual relations should be with an animal with no consciousness beyond sex. (See ‘Attitude to Women’ in ‘Aleister Crowley’.)
As Shepherd’s article makes clear, Crowley demonstrated this attitude from an early age. Although the occultist’s misogyny arose from a different set of circumstances to those of the incels, the affinity in attitude is striking nonetheless. Incels should not be flattered by the comparison.
While the underdog and misogynistic worldview of incels is mostly limited to discussion-group posting, primarily on Reddit (Braincels) and 4chan (r9k), some individuals have resorted to extremist behaviour. On 23 May 2014, 22-year-old Elliot Rodger raised incels out of subcultural obscurity when he murdered six people and injured fourteen others near the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, before killing himself inside his vehicle (see ‘2014 Isla Vista killings’ on Wikipedia). Rodger appears to have had mental-health problems, and found socializing difficult. His experience of being bullied and a social outcast led to a brooding desire for revenge and a series of escalating hostile acts. Immediately prior to the events of 23 May he uploaded to YouTube a video titled ‘Elliot Rodger’s Retribution’, in which he outlined details of his planned attack and the motives behind it: ‘He explained that he wanted to punish women for rejecting him and that he envied sexually active men and wanted to punish them for being sexually active’ (Wikipedia).
On 23 April 2018, in Toronto, Canada, 25-year-old Alek Minassian killed ten pedestrians and injured sixteen more with a rented van before police arrested him. Minassian was a ‘software and mobile app developer’ who, only months earlier, had enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces, but requested voluntary release after 16 days of recruit training. After the attack, it was discovered that he had posted the following on Facebook: ‘Private (Recruit) Minassian Infantry 00010, wishing to speak to Sgt 4chan please. C23249161. The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!’ (see ‘Toronto van attack’ on Wikipedia). The ‘Incel Rebellion’ may have been a joke to many in incel forums, but this is cold comfort to Minassian’s victims and their loved ones. (See, further, Dale Beran, ‘Who are the “incels” of 4chan, and why are they so angry?’, which links 4chan, the alt-right, and incels, as well as the meme culture in which they are immersed, to Japanese social phenomena such as Otaku and Hikikomori.)
Rodger and Minassian represent the extreme face of inceldom. As with the other subcultures already discussed, however, many of the associated ideas have entered the cultural mainstream, particularly via social-media channels.
Like many others, my earliest encounters with internet memes were of the generally innocuous variety described in the ‘Digital deviation’ section above. These appeared in my Facebook newsfeed, posted by people within my own circle of contacts. They were frequently amusing and I habitually re-posted them, thereby facilitating their viral spread. Facebook procedures make sharing easy, and the default setting is to share with one’s entire circle, which for many individuals amounts to hundreds of people (some younger users number their contacts in the thousands). The process preserves a link to the originating poster, though for memes it’s unnecessary to follow that link since the typical composite of image and text is visible in its entirety.
Early in 2016, one of my contacts shared a meme that caught my attention for some reason. I followed the link to the source and encountered something unexpected. Here was a publicly visible Facebook page with posts that were frequently objectionable for one reason or another. This led to another discovery: there are thousands of such user pages on Facebook. A lot of them have ‘meme’ in their titles, such as ‘Dank Memeology’ and ‘Meme Extreme’, while others, like ‘Filthy Frank’, although dispensing with the defining noun, leave no doubt about the owner’s posting preferences. Postings on these pages range from the merely puerile to the explicitly racist, misogynistic, antisemitic, homophobic, pornographic, and ‘disturbing’. My contact was following about five hundred of them.
Later I discovered that, in addition to the openly-visible ‘pages’, which require only a button-click to follow and whose historical postings are visible to anyone, there are also member-only groups based on meme sharing. Membership in these is by request. Entry prerequisites may vary, but the bar is likely to be low. Age requirements can easily be circumvented anyway, since Facebook doesn’t verify user age at the time of initial account set-up. In addition to the ‘closed’ groups that still show up in Facebook searches, there are also invisible groups that no one can see, membership in which is by invitation only.
Another common adjective, applied to ‘pages’ and ‘groups’ alike is ‘banter’. A search for this key term on Facebook reveals pages and groups devoted to almost every imaginable topic. These pages and groups also tend to favour the meme-type post.
Apart from ‘pages’ and ‘groups’, there is another Facebook feature that has been adopted by the meme-based group, and that is ‘chat’. Chat uses Facebook’s instant-messaging service, simply called ‘Messenger’, which comes built-in with the browser version, but is also available as a separate app for mobile devices. Chat groups can have the same sort of titles as pages and groups (e.g. ‘Edgy Memes’), but this doesn’t mean that membership in the chat group is the same as the general group with that title. Individuals are ‘added’ to a chat group by an admin who selects them from his or her own list of contacts. Chat is more ephemeral than pages and groups. Chats don’t show up in Facebook searches, and you can’t tell from your own Facebook account whether any of your contacts is in a group chat, unless you are also in that chat of course (although identities can be disguised in chat through the use of ‘nicknames’).
What is true of Facebook is doubtless true of other social media sites, although Facebook is one of the largest, with about two billion monthly active users. Many of the meme-based groups, including ‘Filthy Frank’, have their own YouTube channels.
It is important to remember that there is nothing inherently objectionable about ‘meme’ or ‘banter’ pages and groups. Many are devoted to completely innocent interests. My extended family has a Facebook group, and it’s a great way to share photos and generally keep in touch. Some pages and groups are devoted to political causes; others are based on national, ethnic, or religious identity; yet others are concerned with special interests, such as sport, art, or philosophy; and the list goes on.
That notwithstanding, it remains troubling that there is so much objectionable content distributed across social-media pages and groups. What exactly is the nature of this content, and how does it relate to the well-known memes pictured above? In terms of process, there is no difference: the most extreme and objectionable memes are made in exactly the same way as the examples provided above, generally involving the association of an image or short video with some text. Just how objectionable some of them are will become clear in what follows.
The offending categories listed above (racist, misogynistic, antisemitic, homophobic, pornographic, and ‘disturbing’) refer to ‘generic’ posts, i.e. not targeting any particular individual. It doesn’t stop there, however, as specific individuals are also liable to be victimized. If your photo is available online, then you are a potential target. Both generic and specific types can be extremely objectionable, as several years of investigative journalism have demonstrated.
As early as 2011, The Guardian newspaper reported that Facebook was refusing to remove pages containing rape jokes, on the grounds that a rude joke wouldn’t ‘get you thrown out of your local pub’ (Lizzy Davies, ‘Facebook refuses to take down rape joke pages’, The Guardian, 1 October 2011). This was followed three days later by another piece questioning the analogy with pub humour:
By refusing to take these pages down, and by resorting to such a ridiculous and quite frankly offensive ‘rude joke’ analogy to justify their decision, Facebook executives have made absolutely clear where they stand on the issue of gender hate crime. It’s fine to post hateful or threatening content on their site, just as it’s fine to post content that incites violence. Well, as long as it’s primarily aimed at women, that is. (Cath Elliott, ‘Facebook is fine with hate speech, as long as it’s directed at women’, The Guardian, 4 October 2011)
The campaign against content endorsing rape and domestic violence continued, and in May 2013 The Huffington Post reported that high-profile companies were being urged to boycott advertising on the social media site, in the face of its continued refusal to remove objectionable content. According to the article, the Women Action Media (WAM) group, one of the organizations calling for a boycott, was maintaining a cache of offensive material, including:
a photograph of singer Rihanna’s bloodied and beaten face, captioned with ‘Chris Brown’s Greatest Hits’. It also features an image of a woman lying in a pool of blood, with the words ‘I like her for her brains’ emblazoned across it … Further examples include a picture of a bruised and battered woman entitled ‘WHOREMOUTH – shut it when men are talking’ and one of a man holding a rag over a woman’s mouth, captioned ‘Does this smell like chloroform to you?’. (Sara C Nelson, ‘#FBrape: Will Facebook Heed Open Letter Protesting ‘Endorsement Of Rape & Domestic Violence’?’, The Huffington Post, 28 May 2013)
The WAM cache is maintained here (contains graphic content).
The following day, The Guardian reported that Facebook had been forced to take action against ‘hate speech’ on its pages, as a result of the campaign against ‘supposedly humorous content endorsing rape and domestic violence’:
The company said on Tuesday it would update its policies on hate speech, increase accountability of content creators and train staff to be more responsive to complaints, marking a victory for women’s rights activists. ‘We need to do better – and we will,’ it said in a statement. (Rory Carroll, ‘Facebook gives way to campaign against hate speech on its pages’, The Guardian, 29 May 2013).
Fast forward to March 2017, when The Guardian reported that the British government was calling on social media companies ‘to do more to expunge extremist material from the internet’. The main target was ‘the easy availability of material promoting violent extremism online’, with Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, claiming that ‘extremist material online was “corrupting and polluting” many people’ (Andrew Sparrow and Alex Hern, ‘Internet firms must do more to tackle online extremism, says No 10’, The Guardian, 25 March 2017).
Also in March, the tabloid press exposed some of the more shocking examples of meme-based trolling, where victims of terrorist attacks and their families were mocked. The exposé by The Sun Online refers to the members of so-called ‘ghost’ (i.e. invisible) groups:
Jokes are made about Madeleine McCann, terror victims and disabilities – with no topic out of bounds. Groups are moderated by ‘admins’, who can remove sick content – but instead act as ringleaders. An admin of ‘Pure Banter 18+’ last week shared a sick joke about PC Keith Palmer, who lost his life in the Westminster terror attack … Jokes about slavery and racist slurs are also common, with users requesting memes about dark topics. In the ‘Banter18+’ group this week, one member asked for ‘all your best rape memes’ and received scores of sickening posts. Other topics have included Robin Williams’ death, 9/11 and child abuse. (Ellie Flynn, ‘Antisocial Network’, The Sun, 29 March 2017)
On 30 March, the same source reported that groups that had been removed as a result of the previous day’s article had been set up again within ten minutes, with members mocking The Sun (see Ellie Flynn, ‘Who Can Stop Them?’, The Sun, 30 March 2017). On 31 March, the Daily Mail carried a similar story.
On 2 May, The Sun reported on ‘The Bathroom’ banter group (180,490 members), in which cash was being offered for the ‘most f****d up memes and videos’, including ones mocking Harvey Price, the disabled son of Katie Price. (Ellie Flynn, ‘Sick Facebook troll groups are offering MONEY to the nastiest bullies who taunt disabled kids including Harvey Price’). Later that month, ‘Pure Banter’ was reported to be still in action, with some users making jokes about the bombing at the Manchester Arena. The report added that other members of the group refused to endorse the activities of the trolls. Apparently this was going too far for some. (Ellie Flynn and John Shammas, ‘Vile Facebook “banter” groups have been mocking the Manchester bombing victims since last week’s atrocity’, The Sun, 31 May 2017).
Recognizing the scale of the problem, in May The Guardian announced The Facebook Files, a series drawing together the burgeoning investigation into the social-media giant. One focus is the burden experienced by Facebook’s ‘moderators’, who simply cannot cope with the volume of material being uploaded. Another concerns the company’s dilemma in trying to reconcile free speech with social responsibility.
These files raise legitimate questions about the content Facebook does not tolerate, and the speed with which it deals with it. But just as importantly they raise questions about the material it does allow – which some people may consider cruel, insulting, offensive, sexist and racist. (Nick Hopkins and Julia Carrie Wong, ‘Has Facebook become a forum for misogyny and racism?’, The Guardian, 22 May 2017)
One of the articles included in ‘The Files’ goes into some detail about ‘Facebook’s secret rules and guidelines for deciding what its 2 billion users can post on the site’:
They illustrate difficulties faced by executives scrabbling to react to new challenges such as ‘revenge porn’ – and the challenges for moderators, who say they are overwhelmed by the volume of work, which means they often have ‘just 10 seconds’ to make a decision. (Nick Hopkins, ‘Revealed: Facebook’s internal rulebook on sex, terrorism and violence’, The Guardian, 22 May 2017)
Given such restrictions, it is hardly surprising that the focus is often on ‘credible violence’. Several of ‘The Files’ deal with the ‘mission impossible’ faced by moderators, as well as the specific threat posed by online extremists.
Before proceeding, there is a final point to make about language in the meme-based Facebook groups. Terms like ‘banter’ disguise the real nature of the discourse that predominates in many of these groups, and especially in chat. There is nothing playful or friendly in the interactions between people who, more often than not, have never even met. Nor will you find the sort of inspirational quotes that do the rounds on Facebook newsfeeds, whether accurately attributed or not. The language in meme chat-groups tends to be denigratory. An indication of this is evident from the abbreviations that are frequently employed, for example ‘kys’ (kill yourself), ‘smd’ (suck my d**k), ‘gfy’ (go f**k yourself) and ‘stfu’ (shut the f**k up) – see Net Lingo. Such discourse is more akin to the trolling mentality, which is facilitated by internet anonymity.
A revealing indication of the extent to which the dark side of meme culture has pervaded society was reported by The Washington Post a little over a month ago (see Samantha Schmidt, ‘Harvard withdraws 10 acceptances for “offensive” memes in private group chat’). It concerned a group of students who had been offered places at Harvard, and for whom an official Facebook group had been set up (The Harvard College Class of 2021), allowing admitted students ‘to meet classmates, ask questions and prepare for their first semester’. About a hundred of the incoming freshman class used the official group to create ‘a messaging group where students could share memes about popular culture — a growing trend on the Internet among students at elite colleges’.
But then, the exchanges took a dark turn, according to an article published in the Harvard Crimson … Some of the group’s members decided to form an offshoot group in which students could share obscene, ‘R-rated’ memes, a student told the Crimson. The founders of the messaging group demanded that students post provocative memes in the main group chat to gain admittance to the smaller group.
The students in the spinoff group exchanged memes and images ‘mocking sexual assault, the Holocaust and the deaths of children,’ sometimes directing jokes at specific ethnic or racial groups, the Crimson reported. One message ‘called the hypothetical hanging of a Mexican child “piñata time”‘ while other messages quipped that ‘abusing children was sexually arousing,’ according to images of the chat described by the Crimson.
University officials got wind of the R-rated sub-group, and, following an investigation, the institution revoked its offers to ten of the offending students, on the basis that ‘the university reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission if the admitted student “engages or has engaged in behavior that brings into question their honesty, maturity or moral character,” among other conditions’. The decision provoked mixed reactions, divided along free-speech-versus-social-responsibility lines. The newspaper pointedly observed:
The university’s decision to rescind the students’ acceptance to Harvard underscores the dangers of social media posts — public or private — among prospective college students. According to Kaplan Test Prep, which surveyed more than 350 college admissions officers, 35 percent of admissions officers said they check social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn more about applicants. About 42 percent of those officials said what they found had a negative impact on prospective students.
According to Dawkins’ original conception, memes ‘selfishly’ use human brains to replicate themselves. In other words, we are not the actors in this evolutionary drama, but rather the passive victims of the meme imperative to survive and reproduce. Ultimately, therefore, we are not responsible for these cultural packages of meaning (symbols, theories, practices, and so on). Their existence is independent of individual human beings, since we are merely temporary ‘hosts’.
The analogy with the ‘selfish gene’ is ultimately dissatisfying, however, and leads to self-contradiction. Dawkins’ theory evinces a modern variation of the ancient paradox of philosophical relativism, since its universal application undermines its own objectivity. In other words, Dawkins’ theory of memes, if true, is itself a meme; but if it is a meme, selfishly using our brains to replicate itself, then how could we ever know that it is true, that it corresponds to some objective state of affairs?
Like all paradoxes, this one points to an important philosophical question: to what extent do we control our ideas, and to what extent are we controlled by them? Dawkins was perhaps aware of the contradiction at the heart of his theory, since he appears to allow us some measure of control over the mental parasites. He concluded the original Selfish Gene with the following: ‘We are built as gene machines and cultured as meme machines, but we have the power to turn against our creators. We, alone on Earth can rebel against the tyranny of the selfish replicators’.
In this connection, it is instructive to examine the writings of another scientist, with credentials at least as impeccable as Dawkins’. I refer to neuropsychologist, neurobiologist and Nobel laureate, Roger Sperry (1913-1994). Sperry opposed the prevailing materialist reductionism of twentieth-century science, and propounded instead a ‘mentalist’ theory in which mind plays a causal role in brain processes, taking its place in a hierarchy extending from the subatomic, through intermediary levels, to the cultural. Causes necessarily vary from level to level and, therefore, an explanation appropriate at one level will not be appropriate at another.
In 1965, over ten years before Dawkins’ Selfish Gene, Sperry authored a paper entitled ‘Mind, Brain, and Humanist Values’ (later included in his 1983 book, Science and Moral Priority). In keeping with his mentalist outlook, Sperry argues for the potency of ‘ideas’ in the brain:
Near the apex of this command system in the brain – to return to more humanistic concerns – we find ideas. Man over the chimpanzee has ideas and ideals. In the brain model proposed here, the causal potency of an idea, or an ideal, becomes just as real as that of a molecule, a cell, or a nerve impulse. Ideas cause ideas and help evolve new ideas. They interact with each other and with other mental forces in the same brain, in neighboring brains, and thanks to global communication, in far distant, foreign brains. And they also interact with the external surroundings to produce in toto a burstwise advance in evolution that is far beyond anything to hit the evolutionary scene yet, including the emergence of the living cell. (Science and Moral Priority,
p.36)
At first glance, this almost seems like a proto-meme theory, with ‘ideas’ playing the same role as ‘memes’ in Dawkins’ later scheme. The comparison is superficial, however, because Sperry incorporates the exercise of individual agency in the process. Ideas are only part of the psychic furniture of the brain, along with other ‘mental forces’. In his opposition to a thoroughgoing physical determinism, Sperry does allow for a moderate psychic determinism: cerebral operations are not without antecedent causes, but those causes are not compelling. Potentially included among the causes are memories of previous episodes in an individual’s life, and also the repository of collective experience that is civilization. Such causes can perhaps be better described as ‘influences’. (See op cit, p.39-41)
To my mind, Sperry’s theory more accurately reflects our ordinary human experience than does Dawkins’ dodgy dogma, and this has important implications for how we conceive of memes in general, and internet memes in particular. The mentalist approach implies a measure of responsibility for the memes we generate and disseminate, and this burden cannot be shirked.
In a 2013 Washington Post article (‘Have Internet memes lost their meaning?’), Dominic Basulto takes stock of Dawkins’ ‘extraordinarily clever idea’ as it has adapted to the Internet. Reflecting on things like ‘lolcat’, he makes no reference to the dark side of internet memes, and merely speculates that memes ‘no longer transmit intelligent ideas – they only transmit banality’.
I would venture further and say that the internet meme represents a dumbing-down of culture. After all, if you fill your mind (and your time) with banality, then there is simply no room for the great ideas that form our cultural inheritance. By this I don’t mean that we should ‘consume’ culture for its own sake. By exposing ourselves to the great cultural creations of the past, including literature, the visual arts and music, we rise above our biological nature and, ultimately, develop character.
Banality may be a problem in itself, but it is hardly the most pressing one. When we consider the darker side of internet memes, as outlined above, we are confronting a more serious issue. As I said at the beginning, when it comes to humour there may be varying degrees of acceptability, but most of us would agree that at some point a line is crossed and we have left ‘acceptable’ behind and entered ‘objectionable’ territory. Why does this matter? I would say that it is because the darkest memes pander to the lowest parts of our nature, where sensuality and aggression are to be found. These primitive impulses have always been with us, to different degrees, but the countervailing forces of civilization have served, as a minimum, to keep them in check, and ideally to transform them. Left unchecked, such tendencies can become magnified into gross sensuality, cruelty and sadism.
The propagation of such destructive tendencies via social media, in the guise of humour, is a cause for genuine concern. The whimsical nature of many familiar internet memes can downplay the toxicity of others. It is a process of trivialization. This toxicity then spreads virally through the entire medium, with an accompanying risk of normalization and desensitization, especially when the consumers are young and still forming an identity. The internet troll represents the nadir of this social phenomenon, and while most of us would not identify with such sociopathic traits, to varying degrees the discourse and practices of trolling have pervaded the culture of internet memes.
In 2017 I discussed the issue of ‘dark’ memes with Grade-11 Philosophy students at a boys’ school. There seemed to be a general dismissal of the problem, summed up by one boy when he said that ‘no one takes those things seriously, even the people who post them’. In other words, it’s all ‘for the lulz’. Another boy responded to the first by saying that you can’t excuse any offensive content simply by labelling it as a ‘meme’. I added to this objection, by referring to a point made by Umberto Eco (1932-2016) in his 1967 article, ‘Towards a Semiological Guerrilla Warfare’ (published in the 1986 collection Faith in Fakes, later republished as Travels in Hyperreality). Eco pointed out that messages are interpreted at the destination, not at the source. This means that, regardless of someone’s intentions in sending a message, its interpretation will have more to do with the frame of reference of the person receiving it. This means that the interpretation of dark memes is beyond the control of the poster, and ultimately is unpredictable. Doing it ‘for the lulz’ amounts to a form of social irresponsibility, and those who provide a platform for the activity have a share in the accountability.
One suspects that those who post objectionable material ‘for the lulz’ would not be at all happy if the ‘lulz’ were at their expense – if, for instance, a mocking meme incorporating their photo was shared across the Internet, and hence visible to their peers; or if their family received phone calls from anonymous trolls making fun of a personal tragedy. Whether sociopaths have an abundance or a scarcity of empathy, its nature is perverted in their case, and yet an appropriate quality of feeling is required for a functional moral life. One role of civilization is to cultivate this, and I suspect that the aggressive, mocking nature of the internet troll undermines it. The internet meme, so easily generated and disseminated, is a major vehicle for this undesirable tendency.
In his 2008 article, ‘The Trolls Among Us’ (cited above), Mattathias Schwartz suggested: ‘It may not be a bad thing that the least-mature users have built remote ghettos of anonymity where the malice is usually intramural.’ This may once have been true of the college frat-society, but the Internet doesn’t work like that, a situation fuelled by technology and faulty age- and identity-checks. The malice is not contained within the virtual walls of an internet ghetto. It is all too clear that it spills over into real-life actions and harm, as attested by many of the examples given in the newspaper articles above.
In one of the Guardian articles from May 2017 (‘Revealed: Facebook’s internal rulebook on sex, terrorism and violence’), Nick Hopkins drew attention to the following astute observation by Sarah T Roberts, an expert on content moderation:
It’s one thing when you’re a small online community with a group of people who share principles and values, but when you have a large percentage of the world’s population and say ‘share yourself’, you are going to be in quite a muddle. Then when you monetise that practice you are entering a disaster situation.
The same point was made by Geoff White, the reporter on a recent episode of BBC Radio’s File on 4 programme (‘Online Grooming’, originally broadcast on 13 June 2017), albeit in a different context:
Shouldn’t the social-media companies themselves be doing more to protect children? After all, Facebook alone has almost two billion users worldwide; many of them are young people, valuable targets for the advertisers who fill the tech company’s coffers. Social-media sites are happy to capitalize on youngsters’ likes, shares, and messages, but are they getting the message when it comes to online grooming? (2:35)
Although primarily concerned with the worrying problem of online grooming, it is perhaps worth noting one complaint made by young people that is mentioned in the programme: the use of personal content by third parties, in a manner unwanted by the original poster of the content. This was reported by Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield:
My starting point is that the Internet is a force for good, but it wasn’t built for children. And a third of the users of the Internet are children, so we need to make special accommodation, if you like, for them. Now what they told me was that they often found themselves coming across content that they didn’t expect and they thought was nasty or distasteful; they sometimes found their own postings being used in ways that they weren’t happy with … There were children who found photos of themselves that had been used in other ways, children who had found content that they found very disturbing, and they felt, in the main, nothing was done about it. (5:48)
The allegation that social-media companies have difficulty policing the content on their sites occurred in several of the journalistic sources cited above. It was also made in the File on 4 programme. The source of the problem is twofold: burgeoning subscriber numbers, on the one hand, and the exceptional legal circumstances applying to social-media companies, on the other. Jenny Wiltshire, a criminal defence solicitor from law firm Hickman and Rose, described the situation as follows:
Social networks come within the regime of hosting companies, which are covered by an EC directive, which gives them a lot of protection. The directive essentially says that if the social network doesn’t have actual knowledge of unlawful activity, then they can’t be liable either criminally or in civil damages. It’s only once they are made aware and they are provided information to say that unlawful activity has happened that they are under an obligation to act expeditiously to remove that material or disable the access to that information. So that’s resulted in social networks acting reactively rather than proactively to the problem. (34:32)
If that is the case with ‘unlawful’ activity, then we can only suppose that companies like Facebook will be even less proactive when it comes to the grey area of questionable content that we have been discussing in this post.
The law offers a certain level of protection against some extremes of behaviour on social-media sites. In addition, social-media companies have guidelines that discourage certain behaviour, although the bar may be set quite low, and in any case their ability to enforce the guidelines is in question. Beyond such formal provisions, it remains within the power of individuals to decide what is acceptable. No one is compelled to visit websites containing objectionable content. No one is compelled to join adult banter groups. And no one is compelled to pass on ‘edgy’ or ‘dark’ memes. In the case of children and teenagers, the responsibility lies with their guardians to become aware of their online activity and make decisions about what is acceptable.
The issues can seem complex. First, there is privacy, by which I mean the ability of an individual to control what is made public. This is a difficult one for celebrities, whose lives are often subject to media scrutiny. But everyone has a right to some degree of control over their information, including images. Some private individuals find themselves in the media spotlight through no choice of their own, such as when they are victims of tragedy. They are rightly enraged when that exposure is exploited by anonymous individuals with sociopathic tendencies. We should also be enraged on their behalf.
Then there is free speech, which is always counterbalanced by social responsibility. Getting the balance right is a perennial political, and legal, problem. There is a role for legitimate protest, for criticism, and for satire. But ‘hate speech’ and harassment infringe other liberties and should not be tolerated, and they cannot be excused on the grounds that they are ‘for the lulz’.
If there is any truth in the old adage that ‘you are what you eat’, then perhaps it is also true that ‘you are what you attend to’. If it is possible to become ill through an unhealthy diet, then might it also be possible to malnourish the mind by feeding it junk? I suggest an affirmative answer, and that the darker side of internet memes are creating a toxic environment from which we may need to protect ourselves and those for whom we care.
Just when I thought I had finished this post, I was listening to a podcast of an episode from ABC Radio National’s Saturday Extra programme (‘Democracy and trust’). Presenter Geraldine Doogue raised the topic of ‘civility’ with Bill Emmott (8:00), former editor of The Economist and author of The fate of the West: the battle to save the world’s most successful political idea. It occurred to me that the concepts of ‘civility’ and ‘civil discourse’ are very relevant to the point I have been trying to make here. As the Wikipedia article makes clear, there is much more to civility than ‘politeness’ or ‘good manners’:
Community, choices, conscience, character are all elements directly related to civility. Civility is more than just having manners, because it involves developing a civil attitude and civil responsibility. Civility often forms more meaningful friendships and relationships, with an underlying tone of civic duty to help more than the sum of its whole. (Wikipedia, ‘Civility’, accessed 22 July 2017)
This is reflected in the etymology of the word, from the Latin civilis, ‘relating to citizens’: ‘In early use, the term denoted the state of being a citizen and hence good citizenship or orderly behavior. The sense “politeness” arose in the mid-16th century’ (Wikipedia, ‘Civility’, accessed 22 July 2017). The same word is, of course, at the root of ‘civilization’.
The article on civil discourse reminds us that it ‘neither diminishes the other’s moral worth, nor questions their good judgment; it avoids hostility, direct antagonism, or excessive persuasion; it requires modesty and an appreciation for the other participant’s experiences’ (Wikipedia, ‘Civil discourse’, accessed 22 July 2017).
The opposite of civility is incivility, and the following paragraph from Wikipedia could have been written for this blog post:
Incivility is the polar opposite of civility, or in other words a lack or completely without civility. Verbal or physical attacks on others, cyberbullying, rudeness, religious intolerance, lack of respect, discrimination, and vandalism are just some of the acts that are generally considered acts of incivility. Incivility is a negative part of society that has impacted many people in the United States, but as the world is becoming increasingly more transparent in social interactions, it has become more increasingly apparent that incivility has become an issue on the global stage. Social media and the web have given people the ability around the globe to freely exchange ideas, but it has not come without its consequences. (Wikipedia, ‘Civility’, accessed 22 July 2017)
It is noteworthy that the article goes on to highlight the prevalence of incivility in politics, pointing out that Donald Trump, during his presidential campaign, ‘regularly called his rivals “stupid, incompetent and losers”‘ (the quote is from a US News article by Kenneth T. Walsh, ‘Bush Appeals for Civility in GOP Race’).
It may be that the Internet, while not the sole cause of a decline in civility, is playing a significant part in an ongoing process of decline. One reason why this matters is that a good society requires civility, so a society lacking civility will not be good. To use Aristotelian terminology, a good society encourages individual flourishing, or ‘living well’. By contrast, a bad society makes it more difficult to be a good person, and to flourish.
Perhaps it is appropriate to conclude this post with a meme:
Tags:2chan, 4chan, 8chan, Al Noor Mosque, Alek Minassian, Alex Hern, alt-right, Andrew Sparrow, Anne Longfield, Anonymous, Bad Luck Brian, banter group, Barack Obama, Bill Emmott, Brenton Tarrant, Cassie Jaye, Cath Elliott, Chad, Christchurch mosque shootings, Christopher Poole, civil discourse, civility, cuck, dark side of the meme, David F Lancy, Dominic Basulto, Donald Trump, Donna Zuckerberg, Ellie Flynn, Elliot Rodger, Encyclopedia Dramatica, Facebook, fembot, femoid, Filthy Frank, Fredrick Brennan, Geoff White, Geraldine Doogue, ghost group, Grumpy Cat, hypergamous, Ian Davies, incel, inceldom, incivility, James Gleick, James Purtill, Jason Hannan, John Cassidy, John Shammas, Julia Carrie Wong, Julian Dibbell, Kenneth T. Walsh, Kyle Craven, Lizzy Davies, manosphere, Mattathias Schwartz, meme, misogyny, Neil Postman, Nick Hopkins, Red Pill, Richard 'Lowtax' Kyanka, Richard Dawkins, Roger Sperry, Rory Carroll, Samantha Schmidt, Sara C Nelson, Sarah T Roberts, Sherrod DeGrippo, Simon Kidd, Slender Man, Something Awful, Stacy, Tardar Sauce, The Great Replacement, troll, Troll-in-Chief, trolling, Umberto Eco, Waukesha stabbing, Web 2.0, Whitney Phillips
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The Slate Gist
By Lee Smith
April 02, 20022:34 PM
If the Arabic language is what unifies the Arab world, can all Arabs understand each other? Not exactly: There is an official language used in the media and diplomacy, and colloquial Arabic is spoken on the streets and in the markets.
The official language, fussha, or Modern Standard Arabic, is what the various leaders and ministers from around the Arab world spoke at last week’s Arab League Summit. It’s the language of the newspapers and Arabic literature, and it differs from the Quran only in that its vocabulary has expanded to include ideas that weren’t in circulation 1,500 years ago. The pronunciation is exactly the same, thanks to seventh-century Arab grammarians who added diacritical marks to the Quran to ensure that the caliphate’s non-Arab subjects would recite the book correctly and thus preserve the purity of the language. The sound of the Quran, God speaking in Arabic to the Arabs, is part of its meaning. The result is that today Mohammed and his companions could walk into a Cairo mosque, or an Arab League Summit, and they’d be understood.
Still, a 25-year-old Algerian would have a hard time asking for directions to that same Cairo mosque. That’s because every Arab nation has its own spoken dialect or ameya. They all have the same underlying structure, issuing from the pure classical Arabic set down in the Quran, but differ widely in vocabulary and pronunciation, depending largely on each nation’s political and military history. The most widely known ameya is undoubtedly Egyptian, which was popularized, starting in the 1930s, through the mass appeal of Egyptian movies. Still, it’s a far cry from a lingua franca.
So, why doesn’t our Algerian friend just use fussha to get directions to the mosque? Well, fussha isn’t really a lingua franca either because while many Arabs can more or less understand it, only a small percentage can use it to generate their own sentences. When an Arab says he can’t speak “real” Arabic well, he means his fussha is only so-so. Religious scholars speak fussha, as does Osama Bin Laden—evidently quite beautifully—but the masses cannot and neither can the rising generation of diplomats and news journalists.
The American University in Cairo, which produces a fair portion of the Arab world’s political and professional elite, has received complaints from various Egyptian ministries that their recent graduates don’t know fussha. A more daunting problem, the critics claim, is with broadcast journalism. Al Jazeera, for instance, has correspondents from around the Arab world, all of whom frequently use pronunciations or words from their own dialects to read the news. The fear is that if the language isn’t spoken “correctly,” the way the Quran is pronounced, then Arab culture will lose its connection to its past. That might be true, but what Arab culture might sacrifice in continuity would be made up by the way television is connecting the modern Arab world across borders.
As Egyptian movies introduced other Arabs to the Egyptian dialect, the proliferation of satellite dishes in the region is now teaching a considerably larger audience what other Arabs sound like. The several layers of language that had separated Arab states—and social classes within each state—are now being thinned out by television as Arabs tune in to watch music videos from around the region and game shows like Who Wants To Earn a Million (Saudi riyals), which is produced in Cairo and has a Lebanese host. And, of course, the most compelling Arab programming of all is coming from Gaza and the West Bank.
As Arabs are glued to their TV sets watching the Israelis and Palestinians at war, transnational comprehension in the Arab world is increasing. Just as a language free from regionalisms developed on U.S. network news broadcasts, a universally understood ameya—the Arabic equivalent of Midwestern English—is evolving on Arab television. For the first time since Islam spread from the Arabian peninsula in the middle of the seventh century, Arabs are learning how to speak exactly the same language.
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English/who-we-are/founder/
Español/es/who-we-are/founder/
Home Who We Are Founder
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Our Founder
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, was a pioneer in the worldwide struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities.
One Woman’s Vision
Eunice Kennedy Shriver believed in justice. But, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she saw little justice in the way people with intellectual disabilities were treated. She saw they were excluded and routinely placed in custodial institutions. They were often ignored and neglected, yet she knew they had many talents and gifts to offer.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver had a sister, Rosemary, who had an intellectual disability. She and Rosemary grew up playing sports together and with their family. The sisters swam, they sailed, they skiied, they played football together. But in those days, there were limited programs and options for someone like Rosemary.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver went on to become an athlete in college. She began to see that sports could be a common ground to unite people from all walks of life.
Visit the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Website
Camp Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver believed that if people with intellectual disabilities were given the same opportunities and experiences as everyone else, they could accomplish far more than anyone ever thought possible.
She put that vision into action in 1962 by inviting young people with intellectual disabilities to a summer day camp she hosted in her backyard. She called it “Camp Shriver.” The goal was to explore the children’s skills in a variety of sports and physical activities. The idea behind that first Camp Shriver began to grow. In July 1968, the first International Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
In her remarks at the Opening Ceremony, she said the inaugural Chicago Special Olympics prove “a very fundamental fact” — that children with intellectual disabilities can be exceptional athletes and that “through sports they can realize their potential for growth.” She pledged that this new organization, Special Olympics, would offer people with intellectual disabilities everywhere “the chance to play, the chance to compete and the chance to grow.”
What began as one woman’s vision evolved into Special Olympics International — a global movement that today serves over 6 million athletes and Unified partners in 174 countries.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver speaks at the 1987 Special Olympics World Summer Games in South Bend, Indiana, USA. More than 4,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from more than 70 countries took part in these Games. At the Opening Ceremony, she tells them: “The right to play on any playing field? You have earned it. The right to study in any school? You have earned it. The right to hold a job? You have earned it.”
Honored at The ESPYS
On July 12, 2017, Eunice Kennedy Shriver received the Arthur Ashe Award For Courage at The ESPYS. Her son, and our Special Olympics Chairman, Tim, accepts the award and calls out the work that still needs to be done with equality towards people with intellectual disabilities. Three Special Olympics Florida athletes were proudly on stage with Tim during his acceptance speech, and also received Honorary ESPYS awards.
Global Day of Inclusion
Global Day of Inclusion/Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day is an annual celebration of her life and a global call challenging everyone to “Choose To Include”. This invitation stems from Mrs. Shriver’s teaching that on the playing field, we forget about our differences and recognize our mutual humanity. All year long, but especially on this day (third Saturday in July), we celebrate the legacy and vision of our Founder, and invite you to join us and change the game for inclusion.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Website
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day – July 20
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"Cold War", Amerika, Foreign Policy, History, Media, Oxford University Press, Podcasts, Soviet Union, Stalinism, Transcripts, United States and Russia Series
Rósa Magnúsdóttir is an Associate Professor of History at Aarhus University in Denmark specializing in propaganda and US-Russian relations during the Cold War. She’s the author of Enemy Number One: The United States of America in Soviet Ideology and Propaganda, 1945-1959 published by Oxford University Press.
Consolidated, “Friendly Fascism,” Friendly Fa$cism, 1991.
If you like these transcripts and want to read more, then support them by becoming a patron of the SRB Podcast.
This abridged version of the interview has been edited for clarity.
Your book, Enemy Number One: The United States of America and Soviet Ideology and Propaganda 1945-1959, explores the Soviet view of America during the early years of the Cold War. To start, what was the Soviet view of the United States before 1945?
That’s actually quite important because the view of the United States in the postwar Soviet Union relied to a great extent on earlier images of the United States. In the book, I review the images that we see from the late 19th century, starting with some of the literary accounts like from Vladimir Korolenko, and of course the big ones like from Maxim Gorky and Aleksandr Block. Many of them visited the United States, saw it, wrote travel logs that became classics in the Soviet Union. A lot of the later images relied to a great extent on these early literary accounts. Then, of course, we have political accounts. The Bolsheviks also looked to the United States as a positive model in terms of technological advancement and even prosperity. It’s quite well known they had a very positive view of Fordism or Taylorism. So, it was not all negative like it was in the postwar period.
There was, of course, also a negative image—social and racial. The United States were criticized quite openly. But their overwhelming view for almost about 50 years, up until the Second World War, was that the United States was a technological model for the Soviet Union. The Second World War and the wartime alliance also had a great impact on the Soviet perception of the United States. The influence of Lend Lease, tanks, jeeps, trucks, guns, foods—a lot of people talked about Spam or American products that entered the Soviet Union during the Second World War. And popular culture was obviously very famous. This particular image, the war-time alliance, when the United States and the Soviet Union were co-operating for the greater good, ends up playing a big role in the later images of the United States. That’s one of the points that I make in the book: the importance of the war-time alliance and what role that plays in later views of the American enemy.
The image of America in the Soviet Union turns more hostile after 1945. What was some of the elements of anti-Americanism in the final Stalin years?
In the first chapter of the book, I go over the anti-American campaign. We all know about the anti-western and the anti-cosmopolitan campaign but there was also a very clear top down anti-American campaign from the top layers of the Soviet bureaucracy. And it emphasized how anti-Americanism should be present in all layers of society. We know the most about the media, so in the book I highlighted anti-Americanism in theater, films and literature. There we see some of the old classics being reused because they fit perfectly with the style and the anti-American Cold War agenda. New works were also designed to suit those purposes in the late Stalin era. It was really interesting to me how detailed the instructions were and also the extent of the paranoia. This was obviously a totalitarian society. In the late 1940’s under high Stalinism, we have works that had been considered perfectly good anti-American Soviet works from the 1920s and 1930s that are all of a sudden not anti-American enough. It was really interesting to me how authors had thought they were catering to the needs of the Soviet cultural bureaucracy, were suddenly defending their choices and trying to explain in reality how anti-American they were.
What were some of the negative qualities about the United States that they emphasized or exaggerated?
The anti-American campaign strongly focused on social and racial issues in the United states. Evil capitalists, obviously, and the war mongers of American culture. One of the interesting things, is that, in stark opposition to what, I think, how most Americans perceived of the Soviet Union as the evil Russians during the cold war, the Soviet image of the United states was more nuanced. It had these evil Americans, which were the capitalists and the warmongers, but then it had the good Americans. The Soviets promoted this image of the “dual America” and made ordinary Americans into victims of these evil Americans. So, still very anti-American but it was nuanced, where there were the progressive Americans, the good Americans.
American racism and violence against African Americans had a really important place in Soviet views of America. How did Soviet attention to black Americans figure into their anti-American propaganda?
It was really clear that works written by American authors that were critical of the way African Americans were treated in the United States was a favored genre in the pre-war period and in the Cold War. It didn’t have to be literary works. Any kind of social science related research that showed the sufferings of African Americans was used. They really relied on Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It was available in a large print runs and in the libraries all over. It became the standard reference point for educating the Soviet people about the situation of African Americans in the United States.
When Stalin dies and Soviet-American cultural relations are revived in the mid-1950s, then the Soviets are actually scolded for relying too much on outdated views of the history. The situation of African Americans had changed quite radically in the mid-1950s from how it was presented in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, not to mention from before the Second World War. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is one example of how these early images are repeated, sometimes for decades and not updated, to the point where the knowledge is completely outdated and useless. It was actually Paul Robeson, a very famous African American activist and friend of the Soviet Union, that took them aside and told them they needed to stop doing this and that it was embarrassing.
United States tried to counter a lot of the Soviet internal propaganda with the publication of a Russian-language magazine called Amerika. There was also Voice of America radio, which tried to counter the negative picture of the United States and the American system to Soviet people. How did the Soviet government respond to these counter-propaganda efforts by the United States?
Almost everyone knows about these efforts by the United States government, the publication of Amerika and, later, the broadcasts of the Voice of America. I tried to find out how they were received in the Soviet Union. And Amerika is interesting because it was a legal publication that resulted from a bilateral agreement.
The American’s are publishing this journal, Amerika, in the Soviet Union, and the Soviets are publishing a similar journal, The USSR, in the United states. They start publishing in 1945 and the Soviets are open to it. This is before the anti-American campaign had really started in 1947. They allow Amerika to increase its print run. It 1946 that they increased the run up to 50,000 copies. But then very soon after, the Soviets start to limit access to this legal publication. They wanted to limit subscriptions to patriotic workers of the Party and Soviet organizations. It ended up becoming very privileged reading, for the most loyal, Soviet cultural and political bureaucrats.
Some copies of Amerika were distributed by subscription and others were supposed to be on sale in kiosks. Тhe Soviet government made it very difficult for people to access these copies that were supposed to be on sale. I think that they had kiosks in only three cities in all of the Soviet Union. American embassy workers actually went around in Moscow and tried to find the journal on sale, and they weren’t able to find it.
There were interesting internal discussions in the Soviet cultural bureaucracy because they became frustrated that the journal wasn’t selling. And they claimed that no American organization would be satisfied with the sales of the magazine. But at the same time, they are making it very difficult for people to actually buy the journal. And they ended up canceling the publication in 1952 and then later restarted publication in 1956. It was really the anti-American campaign that ruined the possibility for Amerika to be published there.
The Voice of America is a bit different because it’s, of course, illegal, and not something that is agreed upon between the two countries. The Soviet approach toward the Voice of America radio broadcast is to jam it. All of this is just so telling of how concerned Soviet authorities were. First, they do everything in their power to limit the distribution of the legal journal, Amerika, and then just a year after Voice of America started broadcasting, they start to jam it. They are really trying to control the availability of information about the United States in the Soviet Union.
Do you have any sense of the public reception of Amerika and Voice of America?
I was really interested in trying to get at this. I read a bunch of files from the Procuracy about people who had been convicted for anti-Soviet crimes, under Article 58 of the Soviet Criminal Code. I was able to find people who had allegedly read the journal or listened to the Voice of America broadcasts. These files can be difficult to use, but in any case, just the fact that these actions, reading or listening, were noted as crimes in these files, that somebody saw them to be a necessary reason to put somebody in prison is just very telling of the fears of the Soviet state. What’s recorded in these files are people claiming to have read something in Amerika or listen to a program and doubting the truth about the United States, that they were hearing in the Soviet media because they had this alternative view from these mediums.
So, the comments noted in these files do reveal what the Soviet fear was then. If these utterances were correct then their fears were justified, because people were taking information from these mediums to heart and starting to doubt their own realities and comparing their reality to what they were hearing in these broadcasts.
Stalin dies in 1953 and Khrushchev denounces him in 1956 in his famous speech at a 20th Party Congress. How did the image of America change after Stalin’s death?
It softens quite considerably. The biggest change in Soviet-American cultural relations is actually in 1955, before the secret speech. And that is the year when Soviet cultural officials write reports where they celebrate that they finally now are able to have a dialogue. Before then, the reports from the Soviet embassy in Washington had also been, to the effect, that they were not able to do anything, or reach out or have any kind of contacts in the late Stalin period. I think that like with so many other things in Soviet society, the effects of Stalin’s death are also quite immediate in the cultural bureaucracy. So, 1955 is the year when we have delegations, high-profile delegations going back and forth between the countries. There’s an agricultural delegation, there’s a journalism delegation. There are artists pouring into the Soviet Union in numbers that had been unimaginable just two years earlier. Porgy and Bess comes on tour in 1955, and that’s a interesting episode obviously with the racial aspects of the musical and of the history there.
Finally, America has served as both an object of fascination and enmity in Russia over the 20th century. In many respects, this continues today. What are some of the legacies of the Soviet image of the United States from the cold war period? Do you see elements of it in Russian anti-Americanism after the collapse of the Soviet Union?
When I was writing the book, I was following Russian-American relations, and was fascinated when, not in terms of anti-Americanism, during the second “Thaw” which was labeled a “Reset” in the Obama administration. We have exactly the same narrative that Khrushchev used. This is obviously after a rather cold period in Russian-American relations, and we have Obama and Medvedev attempting to smooth things over. When Obama and Hilary Clinton advocate for the reset of Russian-American relations, they use exactly the same rhetoric. They even go as far as celebrating the “spirit of Elbe,” going back to the Second World War. It became obvious to me that the “Meeting on the Elbe” is still a moment that leaders will refer to in speeches when they want to make great claims about potential for cooperation and peaceful coexistence. And then at the same time, there was even a film that was about the meeting on the Elbe just a couple of years ago. And that was criticized for being too positive in its illustrations of the relationship.
So, we see repeated themes. The Americans are the bad guys or that it cannot go too far. Any kind of fascination with America should stay within certain limits, for sure. That is also something you see in contemporary Russian anti-Americanism. Even during the Stalin era, anti-Americanism is only one part of the story, like in contemporary Russia, there was also an obvious fascination with the United states.
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By freakpool / April 4, 2019
Live-action Kaguya-sama: Love is War releases teaser trailer
Kaguya-sama: Love is War just wrapped up its TV anime, and now it’s getting a live-action film. It will star…
Kaguya-sama: Love is War just wrapped up its TV anime, and now it’s getting a live-action film. It will star King & Prince idol group member Shō Hirano and Kanna Hashimoto will star as the two protagonists, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya respectively. They also revealed the first look at the film with a new teaser trailer.
Hayato Kawai (live-action My Love Story!!, Nisekoi) is directing the film, with Yuuichi Tokunaga writing the scripts. Principal photography has now begun, and is scheduled to go on until the end of April. It is set to premiere in Japan on 6 September 2019.
Aka Akasaka’s Kaguya-sama: Love is War manga follows the student council of a prestigious academy. Its top student is Miyuki Shirogane, who is also the school’s student council president. He is in love with his Vice President, Kaguya Shinomiya, the school’s #2-ranked student and heiress to the Shinomiya business empire. Actually, both of them like each other, but can neve confess because of sheer pride. To them, whoever confesses loses, so they do a series of “battles” to get the other to confess their love for one another.
Categories: ENTERTAINMENT Tags: Kaguya-sama Love is War, Kanna Hashimoto
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Tag Archives: shuffle
Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
No artist has control over how their music is received, and any work that catches on big will attract an audience that’s probably a good deal wider than its author intended or envisaged, and will likely include a whole swathe of people the author doesn’t really relate to all that strongly.
For proof, let’s look at Tears for Fears, at once one of pop’s most serious-minded, interior-looking groups and a shorthand for lol big 80z muzik. While I’ve known Everybody Wants to Rule the World since I was a child (and have liked the band since becoming consciously aware of who they were when Sowing the Seeds of Love came out), my response to it has changed a little over time, and I’m aware that how I take it, and what I get from it, is not the same as what someone else might.
A few years ago I watched an old mid-1990s Adam Curtis TV series called Pandora’s Box. The League of Gentlemen, an episode that dealt with economics and the dangers inherent in treating it as a science, began with some footage of (presumably real) city workers in a karaoke bar, bellowing out the chorus of Everybody Wants to Rule the World, lagers in hand. OK, so the characterisation of all city boys as beered- and/or coked-up louts entirely deaf to the subtext and irony of what they were singing was heavy handed, but it made Curtis’s point forcefully enough (and I assume from the general tenor of his lyrics that Roland Orzabal and Curtis would find a reasonable amount of political common ground). And now, of course, I can’t help but see those two beery karaoke singers whenever I hear the song. Thanks for that, Adam.
That’s the thing. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is a song so big, and so universal, that it can encompass many meanings, can mean almost anything to anyone, in fact. It can be a go-on-my-son nod of encouragement to the lairy and megalomaniacal, or a sigh of acceptance that, yes, this is how people are, and it’s confusing as hell, but we aren’t alone. It can be travestied by Lorde in her bewildering goth remake for a Hunger Games sequel, placed at the end of a mid-1980s Val Kilmer sci-fi comedy (Real Genius) about super-smart college kids destroying their tutor’s house through the ingenious use of popcorn, or simply used as an all-purpose 1980s signifier in Peter’s Friends.
The song isn’t just interesting at a textual level though. If I were a music teacher, and I almost entirely lack the theoretical knowledge to ever be one (as this next section is likely to prove), I’d pull it out to explain to students how common time and triple metre can be laid on top of each other.
The sheet music for Everybody stipulates 12/8 time at brisk 112 beats per minute. Yet what’s going on here is more subtle than that – it doesn’t really have the 1-2-3-1-2-3, 1-2-3-1-2-3 feel that 12/8 time would imply, at least not in the drums. The hi-hat part plays a shuffle (first and last beats of the triplets only), with the second beat of each triplet merely ghosted. The opening guitar riff is determinedly in triplets, but the melody of the chorus is square on-the-beat crotchets (replace the lyrics “most of freedom and of pleasure, nothing ever lasts for ever” with “one two three four, one two three four, one two three four, one two three four” to see what I mean). So there’s really three feels present at the same time, with the 4/4 shuffle coming out as the dominant feel (for me, at least – others will feel and play it differently, and if anyone versed in these things can explain it better, please do leave a comment) because the vocal melody insists on those four strong beats.
It’s a masterly piece of writing, a great arrangement and one of the finest moments of a group not short of great songs.
Not a shuffle feel in sight:
This entry was posted in Music and tagged 12/8, 1980s music, 4/4, Adam Curtis, Curt Smith, eighties music, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Hunger Games, Lorde, movie soundtracks, Pandora's Box, Peter's Friends, Real Genius, Roland Orzabal, shuffle, shuffle feel#, signifiers, Sowing the Seeds of Love, Tears for Fears, The League of Gentlemen, time signatures, triplets, Val Kilmer on July 16, 2015 by rossjpalmer.
Underrated Drum Tracks I have Loved 2014, Part 7 – I Give Up – Quasi
My last few posts have been in praise of drummers who played for the song. The strength of Earl Young’s performance on Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind this Time) is the well-placed, authoritative backbeat. The more I’ve played with drummers as a songwriting guitarist, or as a drummer with another songwriter, the more I’ve valued that skill. While the title of this series of posts is slightly tongue in cheek, the skill involved in playing a simple groove with precision and a good feel that works for the song is something I’ve come to appreciate more with each passing year.
Teenage wannabe drummers don’t get it, of course. It’s all about notes per second. I understand that. I do. As a teenage guitarist, I considered myself above appreciating ‘shred’ guitarists, being more attracted to noise-mongers on one hand and ‘feel’ players on the other. But as a music fan who understood a little bit about drums from playing bass in a high school band, I loved to hear drummers playing loads of really cool fills, preferably ones with a lot of notes, so to speak. And in 1998-99, no one I listened to played more cool fills than Janet Weiss, particularly on the Quasi album Featuring “Birds”.
It sounded like no other record I’d heard. Sam Coomes wrote fragmentary, snarky little songs and then covered them in huge, gunky layers of distorted Rocksichord. Janet Weiss’s drums, meanwhile, were frantic, full of nervous twitchy energy, but with the confidence to fill every available space in the songs.
Quasi were a 2-piece – organ/vocals and drums/vocals – so there was a lot of space. Weiss had no bass player to lock in with, no lead guitarist to give room to. In any other style of music, to play as Weiss did on Featuring “Birds” would have to be considered overplaying. With Quasi, she had almost no restrictions, even fewer than with Sleater-Kinney, so the fun in listening to Featuring “Birds” for me was the wacky shit Weiss would throw in there.
I Give Up is a great example of their Featuring “Birds”-era style. It starts off with a melodic theme played by Sam Coomes on the organ with the right hand on the organ, no vocals, while his left hand plays a wandering, rising-and-falling bass line. The tone is distorted, and there’s some fun dissonance in there to stop everything sounding too perky. The B section, arrived at via a big fill from Weiss, is still eighth-note 4/4, but based on a five-bar pattern, and with a pushed accent and a huge fill that starts halfway through the fourth bar while the organ holds an E chord. After repeating this four times, the feel shifts to triplets and the drums temporarily stop. Coomes begins singing in his nasal monotone while Weiss harmonises on top. Lyrically, the song takes an unexpected turn for the serious:
They say ‘Hold on to your dream’
That plays good on TV
But never worked for me
Now I need to find a way to occupy my time
Until the day I die
‘Cause I give up
It’s gone so wrong, so long
It’s gone so wrong
So long, so long
Concision was the great strength of early Quasi, diluted when Coomes tried to play his former Heatmiser bandmate Elliott Smith’s game and adopt conventional song structures and lengths. I Give Up says more in its 11 lines than anything on Sword of God, When the Going Gets Dark or American Gong. But anyway, back to Janet Weiss. When she comes back in, it’s with a shuffle pattern on floor and snare, at the line ‘Cos I give up’. Then, at the song’s emotional climax (‘It’s gone so wrong, so long), she lifts the song by shifting back to a full triplet pattern on hats and, after that, ride. The key thing is that at each point of the song’s journey from its playfully circular and twisting beginning, through its goofy middle section to its unexpectedly poignant ending, Weiss always does the right thing: when the openings are there to be filled in the middle section, she fills them confidently, vigorously and with a sort of quizzical aggression. You get the sense her mind’s only a stroke or two ahead of limbs and she doesn’t quite know where she’s going to go next. But when she has to rein it in and give space to the lyric, she’s just as adept. Indeed, with Elliott Smith and the Go-Betweens, Weiss has shown she’s more than capable of backing more classic singer-songwriters than Coomes, her former colleagues in Sleater-Kinney and her illustrious post-S-K employers, and with the frankly impossible Drumgasm (a drum trio record with Matt Cameron and Zach Hill) behind her, I’m intrigued to see who she’ll team up with next.
Janet Weiss c. 2000-ish?
Some of you may be interested in hearing some of my own recent work. Here you go!:
This entry was posted in Music and tagged 4/4, alternative rock, American Gong, Didn't I (Blow Your Mind this Time), drum fills, Drumgasm, drummers, drummers who can drum, Drums, Earl Young, Elliott Smith, Field Studies, Go-Betweens, Heatmiser, I Give Up, indie, Janet Weiss, kill rock stars, Matt Cameron, organ, Quasi, Rocksichord, Sam Coomes, shuffle, Sleater-Kinney, Sword of God, triplets, underrated drum tracks, underrated drummers, When the Going Gets Dark, Zach Hill on October 1, 2014 by rossjpalmer.
Underrated Drum Tracks I have Loved 2014, Part 3 – Lido Shuffle – Boz Scaggs
Session players will play on a lot of crap. It’s part of the job. You’re hired, you go in and play the songs to the best of your ability, you accumulate credits and you get more work. The quality of the material you play on is almost irrelevant. Unless you’re at the very top of the A list, you can’t afford to turn anyone down, and folks who are at the very top of the A list, well, they didn’t get there by turning down opportunities. If there’s a player on the session you’ve never hung with, or a producer who you’d like to connect with in future, who cares if this particular song is a no-hoper? This is a career, after all. You have to play the long game. If you want to understand the session player mentality, consider Matt Chamberlain, once the drummer in Edie Brickell’s New Bohemians, who was asked to do a tour with Pearl Jam in 1992, just when they were blowing up. The tour went well enough that he was offered the slot permanently (yeah, Pearl Jam weren’t Mudhoney; being a former New Bohemian didn’t disqualify you). Yet Chamberlain turned it down to play in the Saturday Night Live band. He was 25 years old. Call me an unreconstructed punk rocker if you will, but being in the SNL band should be no 25-year-old’s dream gig.
In any generation, only the most technically gifted players get to make that choice. Only the very few can make a living as a recording drummer, particularly since the advent of drum machines and drum programming software. Rock fans tend to lionise favourite players in favourite bands, but usually these guys would be the first to admit that they’re stylists, not technicians. If you want to know who the best drummers of this generation are, ask some record producers. Look at the credits for recent big-budget singer-songwriter albums: you’ll see people like Chamberlain, Joey Waronker and Jay Bellerose.
Once upon a time, you’d have seen Jeff Porcaro.
Porcaro’s credit list is a fascinating read. Reading down the list, you see him muscle his way to the very centre of the LA-based rock-soul interface in the mid-1970s when barely in his twenties by playing the hell out of some fiendish Steely Dan charts and grooving like a mother through Boz Scaggs’ Silk Degrees. His performance on Lido Shuffle is a favourite of mine. It’s an all-time-great drum track. It’s as tight as can be, yet it feels ridiculously good. There’s a half-hour instructional video of Porcaro’s on YouTube (and watching it gives you an insight into why he was so continuously employed; he put a lot of care into his bass drum patterns and his approach to both to choice of hi-hat pattern and employment of dynamics within that pattern is eye opening). He picks apart his Lido Shuffle groove for the benefit of dullards like me. On the hat he plays the first and last note of the triplet on each beat of the bar, while the second note of the triplet is played as a ghost on the snare. He plays the backbeats (two and four) on the snare. On the kick, he plays first and last note of the triplet on the first beat and the last note of triplet on the second beat, repeating that pattern for the third and fourth beats. It’s intricate, for sure, but it makes a lot of sense when he plays it. And his ability to jump in and out of it – to play his fills at the end of each verse, just before the line ‘One for the road’ – is really impressive. This guy, clearly, was a hell of a player. Yeah, he was a member of Toto. So what? He played on Bad Sneakers and Lido Shuffle.
Yet getting an overview of his career by reading his credit list is overall a dispiriting exercise. As you get further down the list into the late 1980s, the artists who employed him get ever more washed-up and irrelevant, further and further from anything you could defend artistically. I’m sure he got paid a shedload for playing on Michael Bolton’s Time, Love & Tenderness and Richard Marx’s Rush Street in the early 1990s, and sure, he was at an age where Pearl Jam wouldn’t have been calling him up to occupy the drum stool anyway, but there were genuine artists working in the major label system too, and to actively choose Bolton and Marx seems such a waste, given how abruptly his life would end in 1992, when he had an allergic reaction to pesticides he’d used in his garden.
Mr Porcaro
If you’d like to hear some of my recent work, here you go!
This entry was posted in Music and tagged Bad Sneakers, Boz Scaggs, Colonel Jeffrey Pumpernickel, Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, hi hat, Jay Bellerose, Joey Waronker, Katy Lied, kick drum, kick drums, LA, Lido Shuffle, Love & Tenderness, Matt Chamberlain, Michael Bolton, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, recording industry, Richard Marx, Rush Street, Saturday Night Live, Session players, shuffle, Silk Degrees, Steely Dan, Time, Toto, triplet groove, triplets, underrated drum tracks, youtube on September 21, 2014 by rossjpalmer.
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Suburbicon: George Clooney’s Latest Film Insults All Trump Supporters
Written by: Hombre Sinnombre
George Clooney may be a talented actor be he’s also an insufferable and arrogant narcissist.
How else can you explain his decision to paint everyone who voted for Donald Trump, or supports a different vision of America’s future, as an angry racist?
In an interview with the Daily Beast Clooney talks about the possibility of running for political office while openly hoping that “anyone” besides Trump be our next President.
He also discussed his upcoming movie “Suburbicon ” which depicts a mob of white suburbanites angrily protesting as a black family moves into their neighborhood.
The film looks back at race relations in suburban 1950’s America and tells the true story of the first black family to move into Levittown, Pennsylvania.
It’s a sad reminder of what race relations in our nation used to look like, but listen to how Clooney explains how he came up with the idea for such an ugly film…
“The genesis of the screenplay [came when] I was watching a lot of [Trump] speeches on the campaign trail about building fences and scapegoating minorities, and I started looking around at other times in our history when we’ve unfortunately fallen back into these things, and I found this story that happened in Levittown, Pennsylvania…
When you talk about ‘Making America Great Again,’ America being great everyone assumed was the Eisenhower ‘50s, and it was great if you were a white, straight male, but other than that it probably wasn’t so great. It’s fun to lift up that curtain and look underneath that thin veneer and see some of the real problems that this country has yet to completely come to terms with.”
Yep. Clooney got the idea for the racist movie by thinking about Trump supporters.
Here’s the problem, none of what President Trump has been talking about or what Republican voters want is racist.
Make America Great Again – is about re-energizing our economy, reasserting our strength on the world stage, and putting America on a path towards progress instead of a path towards the black hole that is European-styled socialism.
When Trump supporters say “Make America Great Again” it has nothing to do with 1950’s suburban racism and has everything to do with the American Dream and growing wealth. Black, white, brown…. we want ALL AMERICANS on a path towards prosperity.
That’s what MAGA is.
Not Clooney’s ugly, racist vision.
Here’s more of what Clooney thinks about Donald Trump and Trump voters.
“Would I like to be the next president? Oh, that sounds like fun. Can I just say that I’d like anybody to be the next president of the United States. Right away, please…
It’s probably the angriest I’ve seen the country, and I lived through the Watergate period. There’s a dark cloud hanging over our country right now. I’m an optimist. I do believe in the youth, and I believe that we’re going to get through all of these things, and I think that the institutions of the U.S. government tend to work. We see them work with the press, and with the legislative and the judicial branches of government.”
Can I suggest that we all just avoid Clooney’s future attempts at entertaining us?
He obviously doesn’t want our hard-earned money as he’d prefer to make films that reinforce his own point-of-view, while completely ignoring what the conservative half of America is actually saying.
Which pretty much sounds like everything else that Hollywood is doing these days.
No wonder Hollywood just had its worst summer season in over 25 years.
Article posted with permission from Constitution.com
Trump to Announce End to Obama’s DREAMer Program Next Post:
LOL: Linda Sarsour Claims that Wearing a Hijab Transformed Her from “White” Into a “Person of Color”
About the Author: Hombre Sinnombre
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New vintage race car at Indianapolis Int’l Airport
August 20, 2014 Harriet BaskasExhibits, Museumsaiports, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, Indy 500, Race cars
Cars inside an airport?
That’s a regular thing at Indianapolis International Airport, where the Dowgard Special #2 – known as The Grey Ghost – has joined the line-up of classic racing cars on loan from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
Here’s some information about the car:
It was built in 1958-59 by Eddie Kuzma and was driven on one-mile tracks by Jim Rathmann, Ed Elisian, Bobby Grim, Jimmy McElreath and two-time National Champion Tony Bettenhausen, who won with it at Phoenix in 1959.
It became known as “The Grey Ghost” after a rush repair job in 1962 led to an appearance at a track in gray primer. Look for it on Concourse B near the exit to Civic Plaza.
The airport’s release also refers to the racing car as a ‘dirt car’ – and says that, according to the museum, other than the Indianapolis 500, most National Championship races held between the early 1930s and the late 1950s were dirt track “100-milers,” with the popular events still counting toward the national title as late as 1970. These dual-purpose, solidly built cars won the 500 in 1950, ’51 and ’52, and were still in the lineup as late as 1956.
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« Back to Map
San Antonio is the seventh-most populous city in the United States, and the second-most populous city in both Texas and the Southern United States, with more than 1.5 million residents. Founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718, the city became the first chartered civil settlement in present-day Texas in 1731. The area was still part of the Spanish Empire, and later of the Mexican Republic. Today it is the state's oldest municipality.
The city's deep history is contrasted with its rapid recent growth during the past few decades. It was the fastest-growing of the top ten largest cities in the United States from 2000 to 2010, and the second from 1990 to 2000. Straddling the regional divide between South and Central Texas, San Antonio anchors the southwestern corner of an urban megaregion colloquially known as the "Texas Triangle".
San Antonio serves as the seat of Bexar County; recent annexations have extended the city's boundaries into Medina Countyand, for a tiny area near the city of Garden Ridge, into Comal County Since San Antonio was founded during the Spanish Colonial Era, it has a church (San Fernando Cathedral) in its center, on the main civic plaza in front, a characteristic of many Spanish-founded cities, towns, and villages in Spain and Latin America. As with many other urban centers in the Southwestern United States, areas outside the city limits are sparsely populated.
San Antonio is the center of the San Antonio–New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area. Commonly called Greater San Antonio, the metro area has a population of 2,473,974 based on the 2017 U.S. census estimate, making it the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the United States and third-largest in Texas. Growth along the Interstate 35 and Interstate 10 corridors to the north, west and east make it likely that the metropolitan area will continue to expand.
San Antonio was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13. The city contains five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which together were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2015. Other notable attractions include the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, SeaWorld, the Alamo Bowl, and Marriage Island. Commercial entertainment includes Six Flags Fiesta Texasand Morgan's Wonderland amusement parks. According to the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city is visited by about 32 million tourists a year. It is home to the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, and hosts the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, one of the largest such events in the U.S.
The U.S. Armed Forces have numerous facilities in and around San Antonio; Fort Sam Houston is the only one within the city limits. Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland AFB/Kelly Field Annex, Camp Bullis, and Camp Stanley are outside the city limits. Kelly Air Force Base operated out of San Antonio until 2001, when the airfield was transferred to Lackland AFB. The remaining parts of the base were developed as Port San Antonio, an industrial/business park and aerospace complex. San Antonio is home to six Fortune 500 companies and the South Texas Medical Center, the only medical research and care provider in the South Texas region.
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Justia › US Law › US Case Law › US Supreme Court › Volume 44 › Lane v. Vick
Lane v. Vick, 44 U.S. 464 (1845)
Lane v. Vick, 44 U.S. 3 How. 464 464 (1845)
Lane v. Vick
44 U.S. (3 How.) 464
Newit Vick made the following devises, viz.:
"2dly. I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth Vick, one equal share of all my personal estate, as is to be divided between her and all of my children, as her own right, and at her own disposal during her natural life, and also, for the term of her life on earth, the tract of land at the Open Woods on which I now reside, or the tracts near the river, as she may choose, reserving two hundred acres however, on the upper part of the uppermost tract to be laid off in town lots at the discretion of my executrix and executors."
"3dly. I will and dispose to each of my daughters, one equal proportion with my sons and wife of all my personal estate as they come of age or marry, and to my sons one equal part of said personal estate as they come of age, together with all of my lands, all of which lands I wish to be appraised, valued, and divided when my son Westley arrives at the age of twenty-one years, the said Westley having one part, and my son William having the other part of the tracts unclaimed by my wife Elizabeth, and I bequeath to my son Newit, at the death of my said wife, that tract which she may prefer to occupy. I wish it to be distinctly understood that that part of my estate which my son Hartwell has received shall be valued, considered as his, and as a part of his portion of my estate."
"I wish my executors, furthermore, to remember that the town lots now laid off and hereafter to be laid off on the aforementioned two hundred acres of land should be sold to pay my just debts or other engagements, in preference to any other of my property, for the use and benefit of all my heirs."
From the provisions of the will, it appears not to have been the intention of the testator to include the town lots in the devise of his lands to his sons.
But these town lots must be sold, after the payment of debts, for the use and benefit of all the heirs of the testator.
The mere construction of a will by a state court does not, as the construction of a statute of the state, constitute a rule of decision for the courts of the United States. If such construction by a state court had been long acquiesced in, so as to become a rule of property, this Court would follow it.
The case was this.
In 1819, Newit Vick, a citizen of the State of Mississippi, died leaving a wife and the following children:
Sons -- Hartwell Vick, John Westley Vick, William Vick, Newit H. Vick.
Daughters -- Nancy, Sarah, Mary, Eliza, Lucy, Matilda, Amanda, Martha, Emily.
The wife, however, died in a few minutes after her husband.
In October, 1819, the will of the deceased was admitted to probate in the Orphan's Court of Warren County, and was as follows:
"In the name of God, Amen! I, Newit Vick, of Warren County, and State of Mississippi, being of perfect mind and memory, and
calling to mind the mortality of life and knowing that it was appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in the manner and form following, to-wit: "
"Primarily and first of all, I give and dispose my soul into the hands of Almighty God, who gave it, and my body I recommend to be buried in a Christian-like and decent manner, according to the discretion of my executors."
"2dly. I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth Vick, one equal share of all my personal estate, as is to be divided between her and all of my children, as her own right, and at her own disposal during her natural life, and also, for the term of her life on earth, the tract of land at the Open Woods on which I now reside, or the tracts near the river, as she may choose, reserving two hundred acres, however, on the upper part of the uppermost tract, to be laid off in town lots at the discretion of my executrix and executors."
"3dly. I will and dispose to each of my daughters one equal proportion with my sons and wife of all my personal estate as they come of age or marry, and to my sons one equal part of said personal estate as they come of age, together with all of my lands, all of which lands I wish to be appraised, valued, and divided when my son Westley arrives at the age of twenty-one years, the said Westley having one part and my son William having the other part of the tracts unclaimed by my wife Elizabeth, and I bequeath to my son Newit, at the death of my said wife, that tract which she may prefer to occupy. I wish it to be distinctly understood that that part of my estate which my son Hartwell has received shall be valued, considered as his, and as a part of his portion of my estate."
"4thly and lastly. I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Elizabeth, my son Hartwell, and my nephew Willis B. Vick, my sole and only executrix and executors of this my last will and testament. It is, however, furthermore my wish that the aforesaid Elizabeth should keep together the whole of my property, both real and personal, reserving the provisions before made, for the raising, educating, and benefit of the before-mentioned children."
"It must be remembered that the lot of two acres on the bank of the river on which a saw mill house is erected belongs to myself, son Hartwell, and James H. Center, when the said Center pays his proportional part."
"I wish my executors, furthermore, to remember that the town lots now laid off and hereafter to be laid off on the aforementioned two hundred acres of land should be sold to pay my just debts or other engagements, in preference to any other of my property, for the use and benefit of all my heirs, and that James H. Center have a title made to him for one lot already laid off of half an acre in said two hundred acres, and on which he has built, when he pays to my executors the sum of three hundred dollars. "
"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 22 August, in the year of our Lord 1819."
"The words interlined, 'for the use and benefit of all my heirs,' before signed."
"NEWIT VICK [SEAL]"
"FOSTER COOK"
"EDWIN COOK"
"B. VICK"
The wife being dead, Hartwell, one of the executors, virtually renounced the executorship, and Willis, the other executor, gave the necessary bond and took out letters testamentary; but being in bad health, he was, with his own consent, removed. John Lane, one of the complainants, who had married Sarah, one of the daughters of the testator, then took out letters of administration with the will annexed, and filed accounts, from time to time, until the year 1829, when he filed his final account and was discharged. He reported the sale of sixty-seven town lots at various prices and to various persons. The debts of the testator were all paid.
In 1831, John Westley Vick sold a portion of his interest, which was subdivided by sundry mesne conveyances, and came into the possession of several holders.
In 1838, the plaintiffs, being residents of Louisiana and Tennessee, filed their bill against all the other descendants of the testator, and claimants under them. It recited the facts above set forth, and proceeded thus:
"Your orators would further allege, that some years since the said Willis B. Vick departed this life, and that for some years all the executors of the last will and testament of said Newit Vick have been dead. Your orators allege, that only a few lots had been laid off and sold by Newit Vick, in his lifetime, and that your orator, John Lane, as administrator, with the will annexed, laid off by actual survey the said Town of Vicksburg, off of the upper end of the uppermost tract, referred to in said will, which will, as your honors will perceive, directed the same to be done. Lots and parts of lots have been sold from time to time by the said administrator, and the amounts of the sales applied to the payment and liquidation of the debts of the said Newit Vick, until all the debts which he, the said Newit Vick, owed, so far as are known, have been paid off and discharged."
"They would further state, that there yet remain lots and parts of lots, and parcels of ground in said town, and on said two hundred acres, which are unsold, and more especially, that part of said town known by the name of 'Commons,' and 'Levee street,' which have descended to the heirs of said Newit Vick, hereinafter mentioned. They would further represent, that the powers of said Lane, administrator, to sell the unsold lots, parcels of ground, as above stated aforesaid, have been doubted and brought into question, which renders it to him a matter of prudence and sound discretion to
stop the sales, since the debts of Newit Vick have been paid, and ask the advice of this Honorable Court, sitting in chancery, who have the burden, and whose duty it is to explain the nature of all trusts, and decree the performance of the same, to say what shall be done with the residue of the unsold lots, and parts of lots, commons, Levee street &c., in said town, and on said two hundred acres."
It concluded thus:
"Your orators pray your honors, upon a final hearing of this cause, to decree a division and partition of the aforesaid lots, parts of lots, commons, and Levee Street, to be made between them and the other heirs of Newit Vick, and that said claimants shall be put into possession of the part allotted to her or them, and that the defendants shall account for the rents and profits which they have respectively received. Or if a partition and division of the ground aforesaid, as above asked for, is not, in the opinion of this Honorable Court, carrying the will of the testator, Newit Vick, into full and complete effect according to the true intent and meaning thereof, then may your honors decree and order the said John Lane, administrator with the will annexed, to proceed to sell said grounds upon such terms and credits as you may deem proper, and then distribute the money among the several claimants according to their respective interests, and grant all such other relief as to justice may belong."
Some of the defendants answered the bill, admitting the truth of its statements, and concurring in the prayer for a division, "among the several claimants, according to the nature and extent of them as heirs, and also under the will of Newit Vick;" others concurred generally and prayed that their parts might be allotted to them.
The parties made defendants, as vendees &c., to-wit, Prentiss &c., demurred to the bill, and the cause being set down for hearing on this state of preparation, the court, in June, 1842, sustained the demurrer, and dismissed the bill.
From this decree the complainants appealed.
STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
MR. JUSTICE McLEAN delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case is brought here by an appeal from the decree of the circuit court for the District of Mississippi.
The complainants under the will of Newit Vick, late of the State of Mississippi, deceased, claim certain interests in a tract of two hundred acres of land, on which the Town of Vicksburg is laid off. In the bill various proceedings are stated as to the proof of the will, the qualification of one of the executors named in it, the death of the executrix, and the refusal of one of the executors named to qualify; that the executor who qualified was afterwards removed, with his consent, and Lane, the complainant, appointed administrator with the will annexed; that acting under the will, the administrator laid off the Town of Vicksburg, sold lots, and paid the debts of the deceased; that there yet remains certain parts of the above tract undisposed of, and that his power as administrator to sell the unsold lots is questioned.
The defendants are represented as being interested in the above tract as devisees and as purchasers, and the complainants pray that the court would decree a part ion of the lots, commons, and Levee Street, to be made between them and the other devisees of Newit Vick, and that said claimants shall be put in possession &c., or that said property may be sold &c., as shall best comport with the intent of the testator.
The defendants favorable to the object of the bill answered; the others demurred to the bill, which was sustained on the hearing, and the bill was dismissed, from which decree this appeal was taken.
The decision of this case depends upon the construction of the will of Newit Vick. It was proved 25 October, 1819.
Every instrument of writing should be so construed as to effectuate, if practicable, the intention of the parties to it. This principle applies with peculiar force to a will. Such an instrument is generally drawn in the last days of the testator, and very often under circumstances unfavorable to a calm consideration of the subject matter of it. The writer, too, is frequently unskillful in the use of language, and is more or less embarrassed by the importance and solemnity of the occasion. To expect much system or precision of language in a writing formed under such emergencies would seem to be unreasonable. And it is chiefly owing to these causes that so many controversies arise under wills.
In giving a construction to a will, all the parts of it should be examined and compared, and the intention of the testator must be ascertained not from a part, but the whole of the instrument.
By the second paragraph of the will under consideration, the testator bequeaths to his wife one equal share of his personal property, to be divided between her and her children. This would give to his wife one-half of his personal estate. But the succeeding paragraph qualifies this bequest so as to give to his wife a share of the personal property equal only to the amount received by each of his children. This shows a want of precision in the language of the will, and that one part of it may be explained and qualified by another.
In the second paragraph, the testator devises to his wife, during her natural life,
"the tract of land at the Open Woods, on which he then resided, or the tracts near the river, as she might choose, reserving two hundred acres on the upper part of the uppermost tract to be laid off in town lots, at the discretion of his executrix and executors."
This discretion of his executrix and executors, referred to the plan of the town, and not to the propriety of laying it off. The testator had determined that a town should be established, and reserved for this purpose the above tract of two hundred acres, "to be laid off in town lots."
The testator next disposes of his personal property to his wife and children, and he says,
"to my sons one equal part of said personal estate as they come of age, together with all my lands, all of which lands I wish to be appraised, valued, and divided when my son Westley arrives at the age of twenty-one years, the said Westley having one part and my son William having the other part of the tracts unclaimed by my wife Elizabeth, and I bequeath to my son Newit, at the death of my said wife, that tract which she may prefer to occupy. I wish it to be distinctly understood that that part of my estate which my son Hartwell has received shall be valued, considered as his, and as a part of his portion of my estate."
By these devises, Newit, on the death of his mother, was to have the tract selected by her for her residence. She died, it is admitted,
in a few minutes after the decease of the testator, so that no selection of a residence was made by her. But this is not important as regards the intention of the testator. What lands did he devise to his sons Westley and William? The answer is the land unclaimed by the wife of the testator. His words are "Westley having one part, and my son William having the other part, of the tracts unclaimed by my wife Elizabeth." But what tracts may be said to come under the designation of "tracts unclaimed by my wife?" The land which, under the election given to her in the will, she might have claimed as a residence but did not.
This claim by the widow was expected to be made shortly after the decease of the testator, as by it her future residence was to be established. If she selected the river land, then the Open Woods tract was to go, under the will, to Westley and William; but if the Open Woods tract were selected by the widow, then they were to have the river land. This devise, being of the land unclaimed by the widow, presupposes her right to have claimed it in the alternative under the will. It did not include the town tract, for that was expressly reserved by the testator from the choice of his wife. That this is the proper limitation of the devise to Westley and William seems to be clear of doubt.
To Hartwell was devised the tract on which he lived, and which was to be valued.
These are the specific devises of his lands by the testator to his four sons. The tract of two hundred acres reserved for the town is not affected by them. Did this tract pass to his sons under the general devise of his lands to them, in the third paragraph of the will? That point will be now examined. The words of the testator are
"and to my sons one equal part of said personal estate as they come of age, together with all of my lands, all of which lands I wish to be appraised, valued, and divided, when my son Westley arrives at the age of twenty-one years."
The words "all of my lands," unless restricted by words with which they stand connected or by some other part of the will, cover the entire real estate of the testator. But these words are restricted by the part of the sentence which follows them, and also in other parts of the will.
"All of which lands I wish to be appraised, valued, and divided, when my son Westley arrives at the age of twenty-one years" follow the words "all of my lands," and show that the tract of two hundred acres was not intended to be included in this general devise. Such an intention was incompatible with the reservation of this tract for a town. In the second clause of the will are the words, "reserving two hundred acres, however, on the upper part of the uppermost tract, to be laid off in town lots." Now the testator could not have intended, in the next clause, to direct that this tract should be valued and divided among his sons. This would be repugnant to the authority given to his executors to lay off a
town, and would have been an abandonment of what appears, from the last clause in the will to have been, with him, a favorite object. Did he intend the tract of two hundred acres should be valued and divided among his sons, which he directed in another part of his will to be laid off into town lots and sold by his executors? So great an inconsistency is not to be inferred. The general devise to his sons "of all his lands" was limited to the lands which he directed to be valued and divided among his sons. This cannot be controverted, for it is in the very words of the will, and does not depend upon inference or construction. The special devises to each of his sons, which follow the general devise, also, in effect limit it. These devises cover all the real property of the testator except the town tract, and show what he meant "by all his lands." He intended all his lands which he subsequently and specially devised, and not the tract which, in the will, he had previously reserved and afterwards disposed of.
In the next clause of the will, the testator expresses his wish that the aforesaid Elizabeth should keep together the whole of his property, both real and personal, reserving the provisions before made, for the raising, educating, and benefit of the before-mentioned children.
These exceptions refer to the share of the personal property which each child was to receive when married, or at full age, and to the land appropriated for the town.
We have now arrived at the last clause of the will, under which clause this controversy has arisen. The testator has made provision for his wife by giving her a life estate in one of two tracts of land as she might select and an equal share, with each child, of the personal property. To his sons, in addition to his share in the personalty, he has given to each a portion of his real estate. He has made no disposition of the tract reserved for a town, but proceeds to do so in the following and closing paragraph of the will.
"I wish my executors furthermore to remember that the town lots now laid off, and hereafter to be laid off, on the aforementioned two hundred acres of land, should be sold to pay my just debts or other engagements in preference to any other of my property for the use and benefit of all my heirs."
This clause is construed by the appellees to be a charge on the two hundred acres of land for the payment of the debts of the testator only. And that the authority to the executors to sell lots is limited to this object. That as the personal property bequeathed to his heirs was first liable for the debts of the deceased, the charge on this tract may well be said, in the language of the will, to be "for the use and benefit of all his heirs."
That there is plausibility in this construction is admitted. It may at first generally strike the mind of the reader as reasonable and just. But a closer investigation of the structure of the paragraph
and a comparison of it with other parts of the will with the view to ascertain the intention of the testator must, we think, lead to a different conclusion.
If the object of the testator had been, as contended, merely to charge this tract with the payment of his debts, would the words, "for the use and benefit of all my heirs" have been inserted? The sentence was complete without them. They add nothing to its clearness or force. On the contrary, if the intention of the testator was to pay his debts only by the sale of lots to be laid off, the words are surplusage. They stand in the sentence disconnected with other parts of it, and consequently are without an object.
The testator directed that the town lots should be sold to pay his just debts, "in preference to any other of his property." This released his personal property, which he had bequeathed to his children, from all liability on account of his debts. And on the hypothesis that he only intended to do this, why should the above words have been added? They were not carelessly thrown into the sentence when it was first written. From the will it appears they were interlined. This shows deliberation and the exercise of judgment. Without this interlineation, the lots were required to be sold to pay debts, in preference to other property, in language too clear to be misunderstood by anyone. It could not have been misunderstood either by the testator or the writer of the will. But as the paragraph was first written it did not carry out the intention of the testator. To effectuate that intent, the interlineation was made. The words, "for the use and benefit of all my heirs" were interlined. Does this mean nothing? This deliberation and judgment? Were these words added to a sentence perfectly clear, and which charged the land with the payment of the debts of the testator, without any object? Were they intended to be words of mere surplusage and without effect? Such an inference is most unreasonable. It does violence to the words themselves and to the circumstances under which they were introduced. No court can disregard these words or the manner of their introduction.
The testator was not satisfied with the direction to his executors to sell lots for the payment of his debts, but he adds "for the use and benefit of all my heirs." By this he intended that the lots should be sold for the payment of his debts, and "for the use and benefit of all his heirs." The omission of the word and has given rise to this controversy. Had that word been inserted with the others, no doubt could have existed on the subject. And its omission is reasonably accounted for by the fact of the interlineation. On such occasions, more attention is often paid to the matter to be introduced than to the word which connects it with the sentence. That the lots should be sold "for the use and benefit of all his heirs" after the payment of his debts is most reasonable, but it cannot with the same propriety of language be said that the debts
of the testator were to be paid "for the use of all his heirs." The word use imports a more direct benefit. That the phrase was used in this sense we cannot doubt.
The clauses in the will preceding the one which is now under consideration have been examined, and no disposition is found in any of them of the town tract. And if it be not disposed of in this last paragraph, after the payment of the debts, the remaining lots or their proceeds will descend generally to the heirs of the testator as personal property. The law will not disinherit the heir on a doubtful devise. But we think the testator intended that the tract of two hundred acres should be laid out in lots and sold "for the use and benefit of all his heirs" and "the payment of his debts and other engagements."
This construction of the will is strengthened by its justice to all the parties interested. That the testator intended to give to his sons a much larger part of his property than to his daughters is evident. He gave to his sons an equal share, with his daughters, of his personal property. But did he intend to cut off his daughters from all interest in his real estate? He could not have had the heart of a dying father to have done so. He did not act unjustly to his daughters. They, equally with his sons, were devisees of the proceeds of the town lots after the payment of all just debts and other engagements.
It is insisted that the construction of this will has been conclusively settled by the Supreme Court of Mississippi in the case of Vick v. Mayor and Aldermen of Vicksburg, 1 How. 379.
The parties in that case were not the same as those now before this Court, and that decision does not affect the interests of the complainants here. The question before the Mississippi court was whether certain grounds within the town plat had been dedicated to public use. The construction of the will was incidental to the main object of the suit, and of course was not binding on anyone claiming under the will. With the greatest respect, it may be proper to say that this Court do not follow the state courts in their construction of a will or any other instrument as they do in the construction of statutes.
Where, as in the case of Jackson v. Chew, 12 Wheat. 167, the construction of a will had been settled by the highest courts of the state and had long been acquiesced in as a rule of property, this Court would follow it because it had become a rule of property. The construction of a statute by the supreme court of a state is followed without reference to the interests it may affect or the parties to the suit in which its construction was involved. But the mere construction of a will by a state court does not, as the construction of a statute of the state, constitute a rule of decision for the courts of the United States. In the case of Swift v. Tyson, 16 Pet. 1,
the effect of the 34th section of the Judiciary Act of 1789, and the construction of instruments by the state courts, are considered with greater precision than is found in some of the preceding cases on the same subject.
The decree of the circuit court is reversed and the cause is remanded to that court for further proceedings.
MR. JUSTICE McKINLEY.
In this case, I differ in opinion with the majority of the Court not only on the construction of the will, but upon a question of much greater importance, and that is whether the construction given to this will by the Supreme Court of Mississippi is not binding on this Court. I will proceed to the examination of these questions in the order in which I have stated them, and to bring into our view all the provisions of the will which dispose of the real estate of the testator, I will state them in the order in which they stand in the will, unconnected with other provisions not necessary to aid in construing those relating to the real estate.
After the introductory part of the will, and providing for his funeral, the testator proceeds to dispose of his estate thus:
"Secondly, I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Vick one equal share of all my personal estate, as is to be divided between her and all my children, as her own right and at her own disposal during her natural life, and also for the term of her life on earth, the tract of land at the Open Woods, on which I now reside, or the tracts near the river, as she may choose, reserving two hundred acres, however, on the upper part of the uppermost tract to be laid off in town lots, at the discretion of my executrix and executors."
"Thirdly, I will and dispose to each of my daughters one equal proportion with my sons and wife, of all my personal estate, as they come of age or marry, and to my sons one equal part of said personal estate, as they come of age, together with all of my lands, all of which lands I wish to be appraised, valued, and divided when my son Westley arrives at the age of twenty-one years, the said Westley having one part and my son William having the other part of the tracts unclaimed by my wife, Elizabeth; and I bequeath to my son Newit, at the death of my wife, that tract which she may prefer to occupy. I wish it to be distinctly understood that that part of my estate which my son Hartwell has received shall be valued, considered as his, and as part of his portion of my estate."
"Fourthly, it is, however, furthermore my wish that the aforesaid Elizabeth should keep together the whole of my property, both real and personal, reserving the provisions before made for the raising, educating, and benefit of the before-mentioned children. I wish my executors furthermore to remember that the town lots now laid off and hereafter to be laid off on the aforementioned two hundred
acres of land, should be sold to pay my just debts, or other engagements, in preference to any other of my property, for the use and benefit of all my heirs."
An inquiry which lies at the threshold of this investigation is what was the meaning and intention of the testator in reserving the two hundred acres of land, "to be laid off in town lots?"
Did he intend this tract, of two hundred acres, should not pass by his will, under the general description of "all my lands?" Or did he mean simply that it should be reserved from the use of his wife, in the event she selected the river tracts in preference to the Open Woods tract? Or did he intend, as the majority of the Court has decided, that it should be reserved to be sold by his executors for the purposes of paying his just debts and other engagements, "and" to increase the legacies of his daughters? To the last construction there is a very material objection. The power of the executors to sell the lots laid off and to be laid off on the two hundred acres is not absolute, but contingent. The testator did not direct that any of his property, real or personal, should be sold for the purpose of paying his debts or for any other purpose. But his meaning and intention, as manifested by the language employed, is that if, in the administration of his estate, it should become necessary to sell any portion of it for the payment of his debts or other engagements, he wished his executors to remember that the town lots then laid off and thereafter to be laid off should be sold "in preference to any other of [his] property."
If the debts and other engagements could have been satisfied without a sale of the lots, the executors would have had no power to sell them for any purpose whatever, and the words "for the use and benefit of all my heirs" would have been inoperative for the purpose to which they have been applied, and the bounty which it is supposed by the court a father's heart could not withhold from his daughters would have been entirely defeated, and in that event the interpolation of the word "and," which has been supplied by the court, could not have conferred on the daughters the lots, nor the proceeds of the sale of them. But conceding the power to sell the lots for the payment of the testator's debts, do the words "for the use and benefit of all my heirs" give any authority to the executors to sell the remainder of the lots after paying the debts, or any right to the heirs to receive the proceeds of such sale?
The Court seems to admit by its reasoning that these words alone give no right to the heirs to claim the proceeds, nor power to the executors to sell the remainder of the lots, and therefore it has supplied the word "and" to unite the power granted to sell for the payment of debts with the words "for the use and benefit of all my heirs," which, it says, completes the right to receive the proceeds. If the Court has the right to alter the will and then give construction to it, it makes it mean what it pleases.
But I deny the power of the Court in such a case as this to add the word "and." The rule is understood to be this: where there is a supposed mistake or omission, all the court has to do is to see whether it is possible to reconcile that part with the rest, and whether it is perfectly clear, upon the whole scope of the will, that the intention cannot stand with the alleged mistake or omission. Mellish v. Mellish, 4 Ves. 49. It appears to me these words are perfectly consistent with the other parts of the will, and are by no means repugnant to the main intention of the testator, but perfectly consistent therewith.
His intention, as manifested by all the provisions of the will, appears to be to divide his personal estate equally among his sons and daughters and his wife, and to divide all his real estate, or lands, equally among his sons. That he intended each son to take an equal part of his lands is proved by the direction to have each portion valued. That half of the Open Woods tract was not equal in value to the two river tracts, excluding the two hundred acres to be laid off into lots, is clearly proved by the will itself, because the testator gives his wife her choice of the Open Woods tract or the two tracts on the river, and whichever she selects is, at her death, to go to his youngest son, Newit, and the other to be divided between his sons Westley and William, and he further directs that the part which his son Hartwell had received should be valued, considered his, and as part of his portion of the estate. Here is a clear and unequivocal intention manifested to give to each son an equal portion of his real estate, and it is as clearly manifested that the specific portions given are not equal. To maintain the construction given to the will by the Court, the two hundred acres are excluded from the devise of all the testator's lands to his sons. And the question arises, and ought to have been decided, how are these portions to be equalized? If the two hundred acres passed to the sons by the devise, subject to the payment of debts, then a reasonably certain contingent means was afforded for equalizing the portions by dividing and valuing the lots not sold to pay debts to make up deficiencies.
This view alone is sufficient to satisfy my mind that all the lands passed to the sons by the general words, "all of my lands, all of which lands I wish to be appraised, and valued, and divided, when my son Westley arrives at the age of twenty-one years." Can the words "for the use and benefit of all my heirs," which in themselves contain no positive words of grant, control the previous, positive, and unconditional, grant of all his lands to his sons? It appears to me to be impossible to give such controlling influence to such words upon any of the known and established rules of construction, and especially when they admit of a different interpretation, by which they would stand in perfect harmony with the other provisions of the will.
The accounts settled by the executor, with the orphans' court,
and which are part of the record exhibited in the bill of complaint, show that between twenty-five thousand and thirty thousand dollars of the debts of the estate were paid by the proceeds of the cotton crops, which proves that a large portion of the personal estate consisted of slaves. Is it not reasonable, therefore, to suppose the testator had in his mind the disadvantages that would result to all his children if he should leave his slaves liable to be sold for the payment of his debts, when he ordered the lots, which were unproductive, to be sold for that purpose "in preference to any other of his property" which was productive? Acting upon this view of his affairs, is it at all surprising that he should have inserted in his will, even by interlining, the words, "for the use and benefit of all my heirs," that being the reason which induced him to charge the debts upon the town lots?
But putting out of view all extraneous considerations, can the construction given by the Court to this part of the will be sustained upon principle? Executors have no authority to sell real estate unless the power to sell and the purpose of the sale are expressed in the will. Therefore the Court cannot infer from a power expressly granted to sell the estate for one purpose a power to sell it for another purpose not granted. Hill v. Cook, 1 Ves. & B. 175. In the case under consideration, the only authority given by the will to sell the town lots was for the payment of debts, and there the power of the executors to sell any portion of the estate terminated. When they had sold as many of the lots as were necessary to pay the debts, the remainder fell into the general devise of all the lands of the testator to his sons, and the purposes of the testator in relation to his real estate were accomplished, according to his plain intention, when all the provisions of the will are taken together.
To reserve the remainder of the lots from the general devise and to give effect to the interlined words different from their plain meaning, in the connection in which they stand with the other provisions of the will, the court revive the exhausted power of sale and give capacity to all the heirs to take the proceeds of the sale of the remainder of the lots by inserting the conjunction "and" between the power to sell the lots for the payment of debts and the interlined words, thereby changing the meaning of the whole sentence. This certainly is not construing the will, but it is making a will and giving this portion of the testator's estate to his daughters which he plainly intended for and gave to his sons.
This will was brought in question before the High court of Errors and Appeals of the State of Mississippi in the case of Vick v. Mayor and Aldermen of Vicksburg, 1 How. 442. The question before that court was whether the land in controversy had been dedicated by Newit Vick in his lifetime to public purposes, or passed to and was vested in his devisees by his will, and it is a part of the same land in controversy in the case
before this Court; the court of Mississippi having concurrent jurisdiction of the subject matter with this Court decided that the whole of the real estate was devised to the sons of Newit Vick, deceased, and that his daughters were entitled to no part of the lots nor any part of the proceeds of the sale of them. According to the Constitution and laws of the United States and previous decisions of this Court, I think this Court was bound to follow the decision of that court upon the construction of the will.
The 2d section of the 3d article of the Constitution of the United States declares
"The judicial power shall extend to all cases in law and equity arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made or which shall be made under their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; to controversies between two or more states, between citizens of different states, between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof and foreign states, citizens, or subjects."
In these three latter classes of cases, the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States is concurrent with the state courts. In this case, it originated between citizens of different states, and is therefore concurrent with the courts of Mississippi. Before the jurisdiction here conferred on the courts of the United States could be exercised, it was necessary their powers and authority should be established and defined by law. And accordingly, by the 34th section of the Act of Congress of 24 September, 1789, it is enacted
"That the laws of the several states, except where the Constitution, treaties, or statutes of the United States shall otherwise require or provide, shall be regarded as rules of decision in trials at common law in the courts of the United States in cases where they apply."
The purposes for which jurisdiction was given to the courts of the United States between citizens of different states in ordinary matters of controversy, between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants from different states, and between an alien and a citizen of a state, was to give in each of these cases, at the option of the plaintiff, a tribunal presumed to be free from any accidental state prejudice or partiality for the trial of the cause.
And when Congress defined the powers of the courts of the United States, they directed that the laws of the several states should be regarded as the rules of decision in suits at common law in cases where they apply. And upon these principles, with few if any exceptions, has this Court acted from the commencement of the government down to the present term of this Court. That they should continue so to act is of great importance to the peace and harmony of the people of the United States. If the state judicial
tribunals establish a rule governing titles to real estate, whether it arise under statute, deed, or will, and this Court establishes another and a different rule, which of these two rules shall prevail? They do not operate like two equal powers in physics, one neutralizing the other, but they produce a contest for success, a struggle for victory, and in such a contest it may easily be foreseen which will prevail.
The state courts have unlimited jurisdiction over all the persons, and property, real and personal, within the limits of the state. And as often as the courts of the United States have it in their power, by their judgments, under their limited jurisdiction, to turn out of the possession of real estate those who have been put into it by the judgment of the highest court of appellate jurisdiction of the state, so often that possession will be restored by the same judicial state power. To avert such a contest, and in obedience to the act of Congress before referred to, this Court has laid it down in many cases as a sound and necessary rule that they should follow the state decisions establishing rules and regulating titles to real estate. And in the following cases they have applied the rule to the construction of wills, devising real estate. In Jackson v. Chew, 12 Wheat. 162, the principle is fully maintained. In that case, the Court says
"The inquiry is very much narrowed by applying the rule which has uniformly governed this Court that where any principle of law, establishing a rule of real property, has been settled in the state courts, the same rule will be applied by this Court that would be established by the state tribunals. This is a principle so obviously just and so indispensably necessary under our system of government that it cannot be lost sight of."
The question in that case arose upon the construction of a will devising land in New York. In the case of Henderson v. Griffin, 5 Pet. 154, the Court says
"The opinion of the Court in the case of Kennedy v. Marsh was an able one; it was the judicial construction of the will of Mr. Laurens, according to their view of the rules of the common law in that state, as a rule of property, and comes within the principle adopted in Jackson v. Chew, 12 Wheat. 153, 25 U. S. 167."
These cases are in strict conformity with the 34th section of the Act of 24 September, 1789, above referred to.
There are many other decisions of this Court applicable to this case; some of them have followed a single decision of a state court where it settled a rule of real property. And at the present term of this Court, in the case of Carroll v. Safford, it was held that it was not material whether it had been settled by frequent decisions or a single case. From these authorities it is plain the jurisdiction of this Court is not wholly concurrent in this case with the Supreme Court of Mississippi, but in power of judgment it is subordinate to that court, and therefore the construction
given by that court to the will ought to have been the rule of construction for this Court.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE TANEY concurred in the opinion of MR. JUSTICE McKINLEY.
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One Single Person
Every morning, at 6am, a waterski boat comes into view. I’ve got coffee, the afghan over me, and I’m watching the morning unfold from my front window on Williams Lake. Moments later, a skier emerges from beneath the water, gliding and dancing across the wake. One single ski enables all that grace. It seems effortless.
I recently commenced writing a second book. I had thought one single book would be it. The first book certainly wasn’t effortless. Why go through it all again? But then I think, it’s because others before me made my life easier, and maybe this new effort is a thank you to them. There’s the one, single congressman I read about last week, who was around in the 1920’s. He became the swing vote for ushering in the 19th Amendment, that key law which gave women our constitutional rights. The story goes that when his mother found out about the hung vote, she told him to vote yes. “Do it for the ladies,” she told him. And being a good son, he cast the deciding vote.
Then there’s a man I’m coming to know, Paul Polman, who is CEO of Unilever. Unilever is the mega-company which makes products like Dove Soap, Hellman’s, Lipton Tea, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Paul has graciously accepted my invitation to appear in this second book. What a remarkable man, I’m learning! He’s one of the few CEO’s who’ve figured out how to balance social action with business results. Paul’s work is devoted to reducing the carbon footprint Unilever products are leaving. He also gets the power of women in business. He recognizes our assets as a real competitive advantage; our empathy, our sense of purpose, our gift of partnership. He goes so far as to predict that future leadership will require women and the gifts we bring.
One of my favorite lines of his is: “You can’t be a bystander in a system that gives you life in the first place.” Bingo. I know some C-suite people who live to collect a fat paycheck, and that’s it. Paul looks at his work as a mission, with purpose–to serve the business good, and the common good too. I’m glad my book can shine a light on his work.
I’m watching now…and I see the boat slow. Our skier is finished for the morning. She drops, and then extends her hand so the driver can pull her up, into the boat. Maybe that’s my mission, to lend a hand. Maybe that’s everyone’s mission. We can be single people who try to make a difference for a few, or for many.
By Susan Packard|2017-08-11T20:14:07-04:00August 11th, 2017|Role-playing|0 Comments
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Elihu's Four in February 2018: Journey's End
Elihu Aran
Filed to: Four in februaryFiled to: Four in february
Four in february
#TAYClassic
So here we are. This is where I’d normally do a writeup about the third game I played for my Four in February, but this isn’t that article. This is an announcement.
Well, the beginning, silly. And that was years and years ago, back in 2013. Four in February was brand-new, TAY was its’ own message wall that Kotaku hosted, and a bunch of us were just hanging out for the heck of it. I had heard of Four in February, and had started to play a few games, and partway through, I wrote that I was doing it and had fun with whichever games I was playing.
The next year, TAY had changed. The Great Kinja had consumed Gawker Media, and with that, TAY had changed to being its’ own fan-run site where people wrote articles so that we could get noticed by Kotaku-senpai, and maybe have our own fleeting moments of “we can be gamz jurnlists too!”. And in the beginning, there were a few of us (not me) that put out really good stuff! And they got featured from time to time!
So, in that first year of the new TAY, in 2014, I decided to try to actually write these writeups for TAY. Since I didn’t have authorship, I just wrote on my personal Kinja Blog, and tagged the appropriate tags so that actual TAY authors could share them when they got noticed. And guess what? My first writeups were very, very bad. But I didn’t care, I was writing! I was improving my craft! And by the end of that year? Still not great, but I was already noticeably better at this whole “writing” thing.
At some point between the end of February 2014 and the start of February 2015 I had received authorship, so I could post my writeups (and like the two actual TAY Reviews I ever did) directly to TAY without someone needing to approve them. What followed was a few years of more or less writing a bunch of stuff every February and feeling good about it. In those years, I encountered a few setbacks along the way in the form of: late articles; switching games midway through; hosting guests; etc.; but I always got them out.
What’s the Relevance?
After I realized that The Silver Case was gonna take me forever and wasn’t suitable for my Four in February, I started to look for alternative games. I had seriously considered playing Outlast 2, but after playing that for about half an hour I realized I wasn’t in the mood. I then picked up Descenders, that new procedurally generated downhill mountain biking game, and thought maybe I’d consider doing a whole run from start to finish in a single go and count that. I even had an inkling for how to write it, but then I decided that I was having too much fun with the other games I was playing on my own time.
On top of that, I was having problems writing about the first two games. I had fun with them, I enjoyed them, but there wasn’t much for me to write about them, at least not how I normally write the writeups. Which is kind of confusing, because I zoomed through the first bit of the Tacoma writeup in like no time, then I got stuck real hard on the “Thoughts” portion of the writeup. I was planning on doing a more in depth analysis on the games’ themes, but I was drawing blanks.
All of this brings me to today’s topic: As suggested by this article’s title (and the header image), I’m ending my Four in February.
Honestly? I’ll still consider doing Four in February in the future, but I don’t think I’ll write about every game. It’s become difficult to write anything that I like with regards to the writeups, and the best fix I can come up with is that I personally need some kind of break. A chance to enjoy doing the thing without feeling like I need to report back.
Now I don’t want any of you readers to feel like this is your fault in any way, it’s honestly not. You’ve all been so kind and I want to keep encouraging those of you who want to do a Four in February, since it’s such a good idea. And those of you who are close to finishing, or those of you who know you can’t make it, keep going! I know you all are doing the best you can!
The Rest of the Stuff (Or, What Did I Actually Play?)
So, even though I don’t have a writeup for a third game, I’ve decided to devote a little bit of writing about the things I did do this month outside of my Four in February:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Switch)
I played a boatload of this while watching TV, just before dozing off, while waiting for things to happen IRL. I didn’t start Skyrim this month, I picked it up at launch and played a bit here and there, and it’s only been recently that I’ve played more heavily. I wound up taking my character from roughly level 20 to 43-ish; I got her sneak all the way to 100; I started and finished Mage College; I got a handful of Daedric Artifacts (namely Mehrunes’ Razor); I found a bunch of shouts thanks to the Greybeards (until the sidequest bugged and gave me Arcwind Point twice, like it’s known to do); I’ve started the Thieves’ Guild so I can pay off my bounty in Dawnstar because killing the NPC that I needed to kill for Mehrunes’ Razor accidentally gave me bounty. I’d like to be able to do Dark Brotherhood, but getting attacked by guards everytime I step foot into the area isn’t great. I wound up getting her smithing from whatever it started at to 100 because I accidentally disenchanted a piece of ebony armor and wanted ebony. Once I had hit 80 smithing, I decided that I was close enough, I might as well just go straight for Dragonbone armor. It’s been a very productive month.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PC)
I came across the game on sale for a reasonable price, and decided that I should pick up the game and see how it goes on PC. I had already gotten most of the way there on PS4, I was almost done the game’s second chapter, which consists of a bunch of “Do it again, but this time it’s harder” missions and a few actual plot missions that advance the story of MGSV post-Sahelanthropus/Skull Face. I’ve been having fun running around with a bit of knowledge of what the bonus objectives actually are, to the best of my memory, and with little tips and tricks that the more difficult retread missions basically force you to do to be successful being put to use much earlier here than I did on PS4 (I’ve gotten really good at holdups and CQC). I’m still not too far, I’ve only just done the Honey Bee mission, but I’ve already put in roughly 10 hours, with only some of that being waiting around for things to finish developing.
Descenders (PC)
I’ve been having a blast with this game, so I’ve only been poking at it for maybe an hour at a time, in the hopes that I don’t burn myself out on it. I’ve made the Forest shortcut, and I’ve come close to reaching the Forest Boss Jump a few times, but I’m not quite skilled enough yet to do it.
Tom Clancy’s The Division (PC)
My Destiny clan has had a hankering for more Division time, so now that it’s a better game, and since there was a pretty good Humble Bundle sale, a whole bunch of us now own it on PC. I’ve played a little bit of it, I’ve only rescued the heads of the Medical and Security Wings, with the Electronics Wing head needing to be rescued. I had only previously played the closed beta on PC and the open beta on PS4, but I didn’t wind up getting it at launch.
Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PC)
I played a few games, enough to get my first two boxes for the first two weeks. Once again, my Destiny clan plays this and I play with them, but I did occasionally drop in for a solo round or two of Shrinking Map Pochinki Scrap. Most times I died somewhere around the 30-ish left mark, sometimes I died right away. Othertimes, I cracked the top ten, but I have yet to get a solo poultry dinner. Such is life in Shoot’em Loot’em Battlebois.
Final Thoughts?
It’s been a wonderful time. It’s a shame that I won’t actually finish my Four in February, but sometimes you have to know when to call it quits. This is that time for me. I hope you all succeeded in your own personal Four in February attempts, please don’t let my resignation of sorts put you off.
Thanks once again to everyone who showed any kind of support during these many years of me writing about games that I play, you’ve all been very kind!
Recent from Elihu Aran
Elihu's Four in February 2018: Isn't That the Game About the City, or the Truck?
Elihu's Four in February 2018: Just Bros Being Bros
Elihu's Four in February 2018: Short and Sweet Will Do It This Time
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Home Football Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois are on the verge of signing for...
Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois are on the verge of signing for Real Madrid
Eden Hazard reaches verbal agreement with Real Madrid. And Thibaut Courtois is almost set to join Real Madrid, according to reports in France.
RMC Sport claims the Belgian has a verbal agreement to join Los Blancos. But the European champions are yet to agree a transfer fee with Chelsea. Speaking after Saturday’s World Cup third-place play-off victory over England. Hazard hinted that his time at Stamford Bridge could be coming to an end this summer. “After six wonderful years at Chelsea, it might be time to discover something different,” he said. “Certainly after this World Cup, I can decide if I want to stay or go. But Chelsea will make the final decision – if they want to let me go. You know my preferred destination.”
Madrid are in the market for a new forward player following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and have money to spend. But on Monday, both The Times and Belgian outlet HLN reported that the Blues value Hazard at more €225m. Hazard still has two more years to run on his current contract. The Chelsea management is hoping that he will be convinced to stay as the club embarks on a new era under new manager Maurizio Sarri. But now there’s only a little hope left for Chelsea, as Hazard has made up his mind of joining the Los Blancos.
But the Chelsea player who seems much closer to moving to the Bernabéu is Thibaut Courtois. He has impressed the Real Madrid management, with his performances in the World Cup which won him the Golden Glove award. According to RMC Sport, the two clubs have agreed a fee in the region of €35m for the goalkeeper. And he could become a Madrid player in the coming days.
When it comes to replacing Courtois, Chelsea are reportedly reluctant to match Roma’s €75m valuation of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. And after Liverpool signed Alisson they could instead turn to cheaper alternatives such as Arsenal’s Petr Čech or Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel.
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Cristiano Ronaldo helps Juventus to win their 8th successive Serie A...
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Iranian Revolution Anniversary
Iranian protesters demonstrate against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Forty years ago, he went into exile and never returned to his country. (AP)
Tyranny, uprisings, overthrow. Sounds like the American—or French or Russian—revolution. But what likely began as a rebellion of frustrated citizens against a corrupt government quickly became the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Forty years later, the consequences still rumble ’round the world.
PERSIAN IDENTITY
Iran, also known as Persia, is part of one of the world’s oldest and formerly largest civilizations. Its history dates from the 6th century B.C.
King Cyrus of Persia was chosen by God in 2 Chronicles 36 to build a temple in Jerusalem. Cyrus established the first Persian dynasty, or line of rulers.
A parade of Persian dynasties followed, each with its own contributions to the Persian way of life. Two later dynasties shaped the fundamentals of modern Iran’s identity. Shia Islam was established as the official state religion. Intense political power was given to the Muslim clergy. These two ideals contributed to the downfall of the final Persian dynasty. They influence present-day politics even now.
PAHLAVI REFORMS
The Pahlavi dynasty began in 1925. It had only two rulers. The second, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, ruled from 1941 to 1979 and would be the last shah (king) of Iran. He ended centuries of Persian rulers in part because he abandoned his country’s devotion to Shia Islam.
Pahlavi saw himself as a Persian—not Muslim—ruler. He celebrated the 2,500th anniversary of the pre-Islamic Persian empire. He discarded the Islamic calendar for a Persian one. He introduced economic, political, and social reforms, including women’s right to vote. To Western nations, the Shah seemed progressive. To many Iranians, he was anti-Islamic.
BACK TO FUNDAMENTALS
Iranian politician and religious leader Ruhollah Khomeini strongly objected to the Shah and his policies. Khomeini expressed his disapproval publicly. In response, the Shah’s government exiled him in 1964. Khomeini spent almost 15 years outside Iran.
But Iran’s staunch Shia Muslims kept in touch with Khomeini. His supporters grew more disgruntled with Pahlavi and his pro-Western ways.
To bolster his waning authority, the Shah employed ruthless secret police. Arrests, censorship, and torture became commonplace in Iran. Unemployment skyrocketed.
The first official anti-Shah protests began in 1977. Shah Pahlavi cracked down. His attempt to quash the rebellion created more and stronger protests. From afar, Khomeini encouraged the rebels.
In 1979, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s last ruling shah, fled Iran. He left others in charge of his government. The Iranian Prime Minister invited Khomeini back.
FROM OUTCAST TO AUTHORITY
The next month, Ayatollah (Shia Muslim religious leader) Khomeini returned from exile. Cheering crowds greeted the triumphant leader of the Iranian Revolution.
Khomeini insisted that a Muslim scholar would lead the new Iranian government. And who better than himself to take control? The new Iran would have a president, legislature, and a prime minister as always. But their rulings would be second to Khomeini’s. He called himself the representative of Iran’s official god, Allah.
To rid the country of lingering opposition, Khomeini created a political party and terrorist group called Hezbollah (hez-BO-luh). His courts applied sharia (shuh-REE-uh) religious laws harshly. Thousands were executed. The people had exchanged one tyrant for another.
In the decades since, the effects of the Iranian Revolution have reached worldwide. They are terrorist attacks, spy operations, nuclear enrichment activities, border breaches, trade embargos, and military strikes. Still today, the United States believes Iran supports Islamist movements in the Middle East, including training warriors intent on jihad—“holy war” against enemies of Islam.
Iran’s past is full of greed, idolatry, and violence—as is all of human history. It’s good to remember that all were sinners at war with God. (1 Corinthians 6:11) The one true God alone can redeem such stories.
A timeline of key moments leading up to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent U.S. Embassy hostage crisis:
UNREST AHEAD OF THE SHAH’S DEPARTURE
—Jan. 7, 1978—Religious riots break out in the city of Qom. Seven demonstrators are killed, setting off a cycle of anti-Shah violence.
—Aug. 1 —Hundreds die in an intentionally set fire at a cinema in the southern city of Abadan. Authorities and the opposition blame each other for the fire.
—Sept. 8—100,000 anti-Shah demonstrators stage a protest march in the Iranian capital. Troops open fire on demonstrators in the capital’s Jaleh Square, killing 121 and wounding 200.
—Sept. 11—U.S. President Jimmy Carter calls on the Shah to reaffirm the “close, friendly relationship” between the United States and Iran.
—Oct. 31—Iran’s oil workers begin strikes that reduce production from five million barrels daily to a trickle and cause U.S. gas prices to soar.
—Nov. 6—The Shah pledges that “past mistakes of unlawfulness, cruelty, and corruption will not be repeated.”
—Nov. 13—Anti-Americanism intensifies. An exodus of American citizens in Iran begins.
—Nov. 25—From Paris, Khomeini calls for resistance against the Shah’s “illegal” military government.
—Dec. 10—Anti-Shah demonstrations take place. An estimated 300,000 to two million people take part in a peaceful march.
—Dec. 24—U.S. Marines fire tear gas at a mob trying to storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
—Jan. 1, 1979—The Shah appears before reporters saying he “would love” to go on vacation “if the situation permits.”
—Jan. 13—Khomeini announces from Paris the formation of a revolutionary council to prepare for an “Islamic Republic.”
—Jan. 16 —The Shah departs Iran, never to return.
REVOLUTION AND THE HOSTAGE CRISIS
—Feb.1—Khomeini returns to Iran.
—Feb. 10—Islamist and leftist guerrillas battle imperial guard troops, forcing the Shah’s troops to retreat with heavy losses.
—Feb. 16—Execution by firing squad of four top generals, including the former head of the Shah’s secret police.
—March 5—Iran resumes oil exports for the first time since anti-Shah labor strikes shut down oil production.
—March 30—Millions of Iranians vote “yes” in a referendum on replacement of the monarchy with an Islamic revolutionary regime.
—Aug. 3—Iranians elect a clergy-dominated 73-member Assembly of Experts to draft a new constitution.
—Oct. 23—The Shah enters the United States and is admitted to a New York City hospital to undergo treatment for cancer.
—Nov. 4—Militant Iranian students overrun the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. They take hostages, including 52 Americans, demanding the extradition of the Shah.
IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS
After leaving Iran, Shah Pahlavi entered the United States for cancer treatment. Iran demanded his returned to stand trial. The United States refused. Iran saw this as U.S. support of the Shah and his rule.
On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian Muslim college students took over the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Tehran. The group held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days—until January 20, 1981. The incident is the longest hostage crisis in recorded history and likely cost then-President Jimmy Carter a second term.
Iranians viewed the hostage crisis as a revolt against U.S. influence in Iran. Pro-Muslim revolutionaries believed America undermined the Iranian Revolution and supported Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
The crisis reached a climax after diplomatic negotiations failed to win release for the hostages. U.S. rescue attempts failed. Finally, just hours after President Ronald Reagan took office, Iran released the hostages on January 20, 1981.
The Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi sits on an ornate throne in Tehran before the revolution that replaced his rule with an extreme Muslim theocracy. (AP)
Iran is about the size of Alaska and has a population of 83 million. Islam is the religion of 99.4% of the people in Iran. (AP)
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's exiled Islamic religious leader, exits a plane after the 1979 revolution made possible his return to Iran. (AP)
Ayatollah Khomeini (center) waves to followers from the balcony of his headquarters in Tehran. (AP)
1st comment
yay. I got the first comment
he was a bad guy!
Wow, that's awful what he did
Wow, that's awful what he did!!!
its so sad what people will
its so sad what people will do when they don't know Christ
yes.. . . . you are write . . . sooooo sad : ( : q :Q
maybe... somehow ...hell
maybe... somehow ...hell become a christian
wait grace!
you mean he'l rite??!!!
He'll
okay guys.... maybe check
okay guys.... maybe check your spelling before hitting Save? it doesn't clutter up the comments as much
elizebeth h
@ the two above comments
its ok to misspell somtimes.
Elizabeth H. and Warren C.
Please don't pick on Nadia A., but maybe we should try a little harder
there not picking on me! i thought they were picking on grace K I don't know what they were doing.
it is sad what people will do
Permalink On Fri, 04/19/2019 - 12:50 | BY TESSA M
it is sad what people will do for power
Slideshow Iranian Revolution Anniversary
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The Elder Scrolls: Legends beta started
As of today, you can sign in to the closed beta of The Elder Scrolls: Legends. Bethesda opened up registrations today, with the first invites already being send out.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends is the latest game in the legendary Elder Scrolls series. It's also the first free-to-play title and the first strategy game of the franchise.
Legends is a strategy card game that will expand on the game's characters, creatures and lore. The game will feature several game modes and promises 'easy to learn, hard to master' gameplay. Of course collecting different cards and building a powerful deck is also an important part of the game.
After opening up the registrations today, Bethesda will send out invitations for the beta in the coming months. If you really can't wait, you can make your way to PAX East in Boston, where you can play the game this weekend (on stand #8021, if you really are attending). On Saturday April 23rd developer Pete Hines will host a gameplay session on the official Twitch PAX stream.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends is being developed for PC and iPad, but Bethesda promises other platforms are yet to be announced.
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Make in India – Making India a global manufacturing hub
The program ‘Make in India’, a major national initiative which focuses on making India a global manufacturing hub, was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 25th September, 2014, at an event in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Speaking to more than 500 top global CEOs along with captains of Indian industry at the launch ceremony, Prime Minister termed ‘Make in India’ initiative a lion step to usher in increased manufacturing in the country, which will ultimately generate more employment opportunities for the poor and give greater purchasing power to their hands.
Key thrust of the program would be on cutting down in delays in manufacturing projects clearance, develop adequate infrastructure and make it easier for companies to do business in India. The 25 key sectors identified under the program include automobiles, auto components, bio-technology, chemicals, defence manufacturing, electronic systems, food processing, leather, mining, oil&gas, ports, railways and textiles.
The national program aims at time-bound project clearances through a single online portal which will be further supported by the eight-member team dedicated to answering investor queries within 48 hours and addressing key issues including labor laws, skill development and infrastructure.
It also aims to transform the economy from the services-driven growth model to labor-intensive manufacturing-driven growth. This will in turn help in producing jobs for over ten million people, who join the workforce every year.
Objective of the campaign:
The objective of the mega program is to ensure that manufacturing sector which contributes around 15% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is increased to 25% in next few years.
The objective of the campaign is also to get manufacturing sector to grow over 100% on a sustainable basis over a long run.
Features of the program:
The government will look into all regulatory processes to ease the burden of investors.
A dedicated cell has been created to answer all the queries from Business entities through a freshly created web portal.
While an exhaustive set of Frequently Answered Questions on this portal will facilitate investors find instant answers to their general queries, the back-end support team of the portal would answer queries in less than 72 hours.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and industry lobby the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) have jointly started an eight member expert panel to deal with queries and concerns of the investors. They will clarify Indian policies to the investors and suggest reforms to the central and state governments.
All central government services are being integrated with an e-Biz single window online portal.
States have been suggested to introduce self-certification.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has been asked to give all security clearances to investment proposals within three months.
An advisory has been sent to all departments/state governments to simplify and rationalize regulatory atmosphere which includes online filing of all returns in a unified form.
Steps being taken:
Cutting down on procedural delay.
To make India an investment hub, the first and foremost important step would be to create efficient administrative machinery which would cut down on delays in project clearances.
Delay in getting regulatory clearances lead to rise in cost of production. The quicker the government addresses these challenges its better for the industry to set up facilities in the country.
For providing better infrastructure for the industry, there has been a big constraint in terms of land acquisition. Often land acquisition for the industrial purpose run into trouble at the local level.
Tax sops and focus on innovation.
Economists are urging for providing tax concessions to any industry which would set up manufacturing facility in the country.
India should be more focused towards novelty and innovation for the sectors identified and integration with the country’s premier institute for carrying out research and development. This would be critical to the success of the make in India program.
The country’s huge small and medium-sized industries which could play a big role in making the country take the next big leap in manufacturing.
Skill development and thrust on education
The country needs to focus on quality education not just skill development.
In the emerging economy, people will need to continuously learn new skills to meet the economy’s changing requirements.
The creation of Labor Market information system initiated by the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) should help industry sourcing their manpower requirement.
Reforms in the labor laws.
Besides the skill development, labor law flexibility is a key element for the success of this campaign for increasing manufacturing in the country.
Labor law flexibility does not imply ‘hire and fire’ policy, it’s about providing a sound social safety net to workers.
India has some of the most comprehensive labor laws at the same time a large parts of working population do not have access to social security net.
The big challenge for ‘Make in India’ would face constant comparison with China’s ‘Made in China’ campaign. China launched the campaign at the same day as India seeking to retain its manufacturing prowess. India should constantly keep up its strength so as to compare China’s supremacy in the manufacturing sector.
There is a need for some fundamental changes in Indian economy so that the country emerges as global manufacturing base.
Demographic Dividend.
The demographic potential offers India and its growing economy an edge that economists believe could add a significant 2% to the GDP growth rate annually.
India is the only country in the world which offers the unique combination of democracy, demography, and demand from a rising middle class.
Besides, the campaign would ensure closer centre and state relations for promoting India as a global manufacturing hub.
Progress so far…
Among the many campaigns launched by Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, perhaps the most high-profile has been the Make in India campaign.
The government has already taken important steps to improve the regulatory climate, to enable manufacturing and to open Foreign Direct investment (FDI) in key sectors, i.e., the three pillars to bring about a positive transformation in manufacturing.
Important sectors like defence production, civil construction and railways have been opened to greater foreign investment by the government.
The process of applying for industrial licenses has been greatly simplified and made online.
Manufacturing units, except for those producing hazardous materials, can now do a great deal of self-certification, thereby reducing the ambit of government inspectors in the private manufacturing sector.
Much of the interface between entrepreneurs and the government, both central and state, has been made online.
Important economic structural reforms have been put in place.
Another reform: the government has put in place a new gas pricing policy in October 2014 which specifies that price notification will occur once in six months based on international prices of gas, thereby reducing predictability into this important price which affects almost every sector of the economy.
Another crucial reform which will also improve the availability of power within India is the establishment of a simplified system for auctioning coal mines online, which will introduce transparency into this sector, a most important one for power generation in India and which will, therefore, improve the economy as a whole.
Results of these reforms:
The index of industrial production has grown rapidly, while inflation has declined.
The stock market index is establishing new records every day, attesting to the large investments coming into, and to the enhanced industrial and economic activity in, India.
Both imports and exports have increased appreciably over the last few months.
The Indian currency remains stable.
“A major new national program. Designed to facilitate investment. Foster innovation. Enhance skill development. Protect intellectual property. And build best-in class manufacturing infrastructure. There’s never been a better time to make in India.”
Through this campaign, the Indian Government aims to clear the daunting image of complex rules and bureaucratic red tape of Indian administration. It will facilitate the world investors to foster their investment decisions and will also facilitate in realizing the aim of liberalized economy.
This entry was posted in General Studies and tagged features, Key thrust, Make in India, Objectives, reforms, results, steps being taken. Bookmark the permalink.
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The First Gates
Stories, Dreams, Imagination, Soul
The music of Iris Dement
Posted on November 1, 2012 by Morgan Mussell
Last Sunday I caught an NPR interview with one of today’s finest country and folk music artists, Iris Dement. Her music is not as well known as it should be, though it has been featured on several notable TV shows and movies.
I first heard Dement’s music in the final scene of the final episode of my favorite TV show of the 90’s, Northern Exposure. The song, “Our Town,” from her first album Infamous Angel 1992, illustrates one constant in her work, an unflinching look at the losses and longings that permeate our lives.
And you know the sun’s settin’ fast,
And just like they say, nothing good ever lasts.
Well, go on now and kiss it goodbye,
But hold on to your lover,
‘Cause your heart’s bound to die.
Go on now and say goodbye to our town, to our town.
Can’t you see the sun’s settin’ down on our town, on our town,
Goodnight.
In the NPR interview, Dement said that for her, singing is prayer, and two other songs on Infamous Angel reflect the range of her spirituality. The album’s title song is about redemption, imagined from the perspective of her evangelical upbringing, while “Let the Mystery Be” opened the soundtrack of Little Buddha 1993.
Everybody’s wonderin’ what and where they all came from.
Everybody’s worryin’ ’bout where they’re gonna go when the whole thing’s done.
But no one knows for certain and so it’s all the same to me.
I think I’ll just let the mystery be.
Dement’s second album, My Life, 1994, won a grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category. The liner notes explain why it’s dedicated to her father who had been a fiddler but stopped playing after he was “saved.” Young Iris was fascinated by the dusty violin case in the back of the closet and one day mustered the courage to ask her father to play a song. He looked at her and at at the violin for a very long long time before picking the instrument up. The few bars he played gave his daughter permission. “No Time to Cry,” is her song about his passing.
Also notable on My Life is “Sweet is the Melody,” a beautiful song and fine expression of the nature of the creative process:
Sweet is the melody, so hard to come by
It’s so hard to make every note bend just right
You lay down the hours and leave not one trace
But a tune for the dancing is there in it’s place
Dement appears in Songcatcher 2000, a movie about an early 20th century musicologist collecting Scots-Irish ballads in the Appalachians. She sings “Pretty Saro,” an expression of American roots music that parallels her own search for musical authenticity. Her most recent film credit is True Grit, 2010, where her version of the classic hymn, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” plays at the end of the movie. You can watch a clip in my review of the movie: http://wp.me/pYql4-up
The recent NPR interview follows the release of Dement’s fourth album, Sing the Delta, a reference to the Arkansas Delta where she was born. http://www.npr.org/2012/10/28/163560263/singing-is-praying-for-iris-dement. She discusses the importance of her Pentecostal upbringing. As the youngest of 14 children, she sang in the church choir and took her faith seriously as an adolescent. Losing that faith as an adult is reflected in her new song, “The night I learned how not to pray,” yet Dement emphasizes her gratitude for what she was taught as a child, saying it gave her a message “about what’s going on underneath the waters of life. My parents just gave me a gift I can’t even put a figure on.”
Though she left the beliefs that sustained her youth, Dement relates a lesson she learned from her mother, “My mom, who sang straight up until the day she died, told me one day: ‘You know, Iris, singing is praying and praying is singing. There ain’t no difference.’ So I think, even though I’ve left the church and moved away from a lot of the things that didn’t do me any good, I continued to pray — and that is singing for me.”
You won’t find music more sincere or heartfelt than this.
This entry was posted in Folklore, Music, Spirituality and tagged 2012, folklore, Iris Dement, Music, spirituality by Morgan Mussell. Bookmark the permalink.
4 thoughts on “The music of Iris Dement”
Rosi on November 1, 2012 at 8:54 am said:
I loved the movie Songcatcher. There should be more movies like that. Iris Dement is well loved in this house. Our daughter Maggie took her daddy to see Dement as a birthday present a couple years ago and they both loved it. I’ll be passing the link to this along. Thanks for a great post.
Morgan Mussell on November 1, 2012 at 12:03 pm said:
Glad to know you like her music. In terms of the depth and originality of her songs, she reminds me of Kate Wolf, who was rooted in this part of the country. Very sadly, we lost Kate to leukemia when she was only 44, but I still listen to her music from time to time.
Maggie on November 1, 2012 at 9:05 am said:
Morgan, thanks for this write-up about Iris Dement. I can’t believe I missed her presence on one of my favorite TV shows (Northern Exposure) and one of my favorite movies (Little Buddha)! I first discovered her when my dad heard her on Prairie Home Companion, rushed right out and bought Infamous Angel, and brought it home to share with us. He wasn’t as taken with the album as he had been with the PHC performance, but for me it was love at first listen and I appropriated the CD right away! I’ve gotten so much out of her music, and I think I’ve seen her live more times than any other musician. She’s always a treat to see in person. I look forward to hearing the NPR interview.
Hi Maggie. I may not have been clear – she didn’t appear in Northern Exposure or Little Buddha, but her music was prominent in the soundtrack. Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you liked the post.
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Review: Mel Gibson revives his career with ‘Hacksaw Ridge’
Lionsgate Movies
"Hacksaw Ridge" is the true story of World War Two medic, Desmond Doss. Doss won a medal of honor for rescuing over 70 of his squadmates during the battle of Okinawa.
By Aidan Lentz — Staff Writer
“To take another man’s life — that is the most egregious sin in the Lord’s sight. Nothing hurts his heart so much.”
“Hacksaw Ridge” is a simple yet effective film that marks the return of controversial director Mel Gibson. It’s a fitting return as well, perfectly presenting both the power and limitations of Gibson’s stoic and direct style of storytelling.
Gibson recently told The Hollywood Reporter, “I like telling stories where no one says anything. It’s just wonderful for me to be able to speak volumes without dialogue.” This quote may as well be the thesis for Gibson’s approach to “Hacksaw Ridge,” a film far more interested in its protagonist’s actions than his dialogue. The plot revolves around Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a deeply religious man who decides to enlist in the army as a medic while steadfastly refusing to kill a man. His adamant refusal to even touch a gun puts him into conflict with his squadmates and the army at large. However, he ultimately proves to be bravest man in the whole regiment.
This movie is based on Desmond’s incredible true story. One of the biggest hurdles this movie had in adapting the true story was the potential for Desmond, a resolutely religious man to the extreme, to come across as one-dimensionally preachy or holier-than-thou. Luckily, Garfield does a fantastic job grounding the character while portraying his principled personality with a likable honesty. He’s just a good man who knows what he believes in and is willing to fight for it.
Desmond is joined by his endearing love interest Dorothy (Teresa Palmer). Dorothy is a nurse with the same small–town charm as Desmond, but is more of a realist. She’s not given too much to do in this movie, but her chemistry with Desmond is palpable, and their love story is heartwarming. Hugo Weaving also stands out as Desmond’s dad, immersing himself into his role as a damaged war veteran. Shifting on a dime between understandable and despicable, Weaving leaves the audience in suspense wondering what he’ll do next. Desmond’s squadmates aren’t quite as remarkable, but every actor does a good job, especially Vince Vaughn and Sam Worthington.
This may just be the movie that Gibson was born to direct. The simple yet inspiring moral tale is a perfect fit for the director of “Braveheart” and “Passion of the Christ.” The war scenes are harrowing and impeccable, while the small–town scenes are imbued with an endearing quaintness. Gibson does a great job of making the action feel both hectic and comprehensible. The visuals are breathtaking and terrifying. Dead bodies and dismembered limbs litter the rat–infested ground. Shouts of agony ring out as the true terror of war is laid bare. Occasionally, the relatively small budget becomes clear with a few slightly shoddy special–effect shots, but these moments are largely outweighed by the film’s gritty and immersive visual style.
“Hacksaw Ridge” attempts to capture the negative consequences of war, but doesn’t take its analysis far enough. Occasionally the violence still feels as if it’s being glorified instead of chastised. The overarching morality of the conflict is also never touched upon, save for brief commentary with no reflection. The Japanese, with a few exceptions, are represented as one-dimensional monsters as well. While the pain and humanity felt on the American’s side is accentuated, the Japanese are shown as ruthless, and their pain is largely glossed over. For a movie that’s attempting to take a moral look at warfare, its interpretation feels biased toward the Americans.
The dialogue also comes across as heavy–handed from time to time. To the script’s benefit, the movie is also chock-full of quotable lines like, “Rifle won’t bite,” “Yeah, it will, look around you,” and, “One more. Please, Lord, help me get one more.” These lines work very well in the movie, even if it occasionally feels as if the characters are looking directly at the camera, telling the audience the moral of the story. The pacing also becomes sluggish when Desmond is court martialed, but once the fighting starts, the film picks right up and barrels toward an inspiring finish.
Ultimately, anyone familiar with the work of Gibson won’t be surprised by any aspect of this movie. It’s a well–told tale of bravery and courage. Even though Gibson doesn’t stray from his usual formula, “Hacksaw Ridge” may just be the best execution of the blueprint. It’s well worth a watch for anyone who’s a fan of inspiring war movies or the prior work of Gibson.
Aidan Lentz can be reached at alentz1@ithaca.edu or via Twitter: @alentz98
Review: Rural backdrop steals the show in bank heist thriller
By Aidan Lentz | Feb 21, 2017
Review: Villeneuve translates Sci-fi story to the big screen
By Colin Barrett | Feb 21, 2017
Review: Washington directs a home run with his latest film
By Colette Piasecki-Masters | Feb 21, 2017
Andrew GarfieldBraveheartcourt martialedDesmond BrattonDorothyHacksaw RidgeHugo WeavingJapanesemedicMel GibsonnurseOscars 2017Passion of the ChristSam WorthingtonSaving Private RyanTeresa PalmerThe Hollywood ReporterVince VaughnwarWWII
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Archive for the ‘Rocktober’ Category
#Rocktober Rock Fiction on Sale!
Tags: buy it read it review it, Lisa Gillis, on sale, Rocktober
Even though I have yet to read any of Lisa Gillis’ books (anyone? Want to send me a review?), I follow her on Facebook. So I found this and figured I’d pass it along, although time’s running short.
Only through today, you can check a sale on a whole slew of Rock Fiction. Some sound like they are free and some are 99c. I’ll let you explore, see what you like, what the deals are…
Just remember, if you pick any up — while on this sale or not — the best way to say thanks to the author is by leaving reviews. And if you post them anywhere, feel free to send ’em to me, too, with links back to you (If you have and/or want any) so I can give you proper credit and props.
#Rocktober 2016
Posted: October 1, 2016 in Note to Readers, Rocktober
Tags: guest bloggers wanted, join in, Let's make it good all year round, reviewers wanted, Rock Fiction authors wanted, Rocktober, we want your input
So it’s October 1. First day of Rocktober and … I gotta let you guys down.
Susan and I have been debating telling you this earlier. But here’s the thing. If you missed it, in January, Susan had a pretty bad accident while on her bike. She told me that today, October 1, is the forty-week mark since it happened. Forty weeks. Think about that. And she’s had more than the eye to deal with, if that wasn’t enough. She got diagnosed with a concussion… at week 29. She’s still battling a pinched nerve in her arm/shoulder/hand/wrist that, while the concussion doctor has cleared her for all activity, still prevents her from doing things.
There was no way she could chase down authors for contributions to this year’s Rocktober. And me, I’m too busy. And it’s not my job, either. I’m having enough trouble reading and reviewing and coveting around here! That administrative stuff… that’s for her.
I hope you’ll miss the fun, but really. This is The Rock of Pages! It ought to be Rocktober year-round here!
Which means if you’re an author, or friends with an author, you’re welcome to drop in any single day of the year to promote your books. Yeah, I said it. Come do blatant promo. Susan and I don’t care; we’re thrilled to hear from you. We’d love to help you get the word out to a wider audience.
If you’re a reader or friends with a reader, feel free to send us your reviews! You’ve seen we’ll post ’em. You’ve seen we like to give the writer a ton of links and publicity. Why aren’t you? This is your place as much as it’s ours. Use it. We don’t care; we want you to!
The Rock of Pages. Where it’s Rocktober all year round.
Another Successful #Rocktober Winds Down…
Posted: October 31, 2015 in Rock Fiction on Sale, Rocktober
Tags: get free books, on sale now, read, review, Rocktober, Rocktober's over, Susan Helene Gottfried, the Trevolution
It’s the last time for another year that I can use the awesome Rocktober logo (designed by the awesome Magnolia Belle, herself an author of Rock Fiction, so please pick up her books and leave a review when you’ve finished them.), and that makes me sad. I love the Rocktober logo.
As always, it’s been a great month, with new authors and authors who’ve been here before, and books, books, books. Not just books. Rock Fiction.
Haven’t had enough? Well, here’s an offer for you. I’ll leave The Demo Tapes: Year 1 for free for a bit longer — like, whenever I go, “Hey, I should fix that!” — and Trevor’s Song at 99c. If you send me a link to a review you’ve posted at GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else (your blog?), I’ll send you whichever of my books you’d like next. The more reviews you write, the more free books you can earn.
I am hoping to have something brand new (but not Rock Fiction. The horror!) out in the spring. So yes, you can save your freebie for that one, too.
Read. Review. Get free books.
And remember… it’s Rocktober all year long here at the Rock of Pages. Want to write a guest post? Go for it. Post a review? Go for it. Cross-post a review? Go for it. Got something YOU want to covet? Go for it!
Drop Susan and Jett a note. We’d be glad to host you. It’s all about spreading the word of Rock Fiction.
(and to put my money where my mouth is, keep your eyes peeled for my review of Cherry Cox’s book coming soon!)
#Rocktober Book Spotlight from Cherry Cox
Posted: October 29, 2015 in Guest Poster, Rocktober
Tags: book spotlight, buy it, Cherry Cox, male-male, read it, review it, romance, Thanks for the review copy
So into my inbox pops a new-to-me author about to launch her first book, It’s a Long Way to the Top. It’s a male-male story, so it wasn’t for Jett, and let me tell you. I’m halfway through it and it is totally knocking my socks off. Unless something happens between now and the end, expect another Rock of Pages Recommended Read!
Cherry was kind enough to send me the following blurb, and I’m more than pleased to post it for you.
What’s it like to be a young, hot, talented, yet gay guitar god in a world that isn’t ready for gay?
Step back in time to 1985 where sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll rule the Sunset Strip, and where Jackson ‘Jax’ Reed and his band Acts of Insanity are forging their place in rock ’n’ roll history.
What can I say? I love rock music. I’ve always loved music. I’ve always loved rock music. Many years ago I even tried my luck as a vocalist in several rock music bands. The lifestyle was killer. Literally. It was hard on my mind and my body. It was also one of the greatest times of my life.
Fast forward to 2011. I was loading up my e-book reader with material to read on a long overseas journey when I came across my very first romance/erotica rock fiction book. And I was blown away. I’d just found a new passion. Subsequently, I downloaded all the romance/erotica rock fiction I could find.
I also knew I had to write my own story. And so I started tinkering with IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP.
IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP takes a behind the scenes look at a band navigating their way through the industry, and at a lead guitarist who is struggling with his sexuality.
“Well, let me tell you this rock star – the world isn’t ready for a gay guitar god, you understand me? The world isn’t ready for gay. One word of this gets out, one whiff of suspicion, and it’s over. Do you understand that?”
Melissa Cleeman, Senior Editor at Busy Bird Publishing, had this to say:
Raw, sexy, electrifying. A world where music is God and Rock n’ Roll is a religion, Cherry Cox delivers the sounds, smells and tastes that is the 80s rock era.
Jax is an unforgettable character, leading you down the dark slivers of the industry as he struggles to accept himself in a world that’s not yet ready to. I swayed from wanting to comfort him, slap him, jam with him, and fuck him.
Cox has captured the sexual tension and chemistry between Jax and Harley brilliantly, leading the way for a partnership that has to succeed in more ways than one. Each scene made me feel like I was there in the moment, whether that was being part of the band and playing music, to being in the corner of a seedy bar, reeking of booze and itching for my next fix.
Acts of Insanity paves the way to a new genre, where rock and sex come together in a spectacular way. I can’t remember the last time I read a story where I was so emotionally invested in the characters, and their plight, I just kept coming back for more!
Now, a year after I began tinkering with the concept, IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP has finally hit the shelves. If you want a real, raw, and gritty story about sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, if you want to know about Jax’s journey, then IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is the answer to your rock fiction prayer.
But be warned, it is not for the faint-hearted.
Available Rocktober 21 – KINDLE, AUDIO, PRINT & iBOOK
For more info go to:
Paperback Pleasures
http://www.paperbackpleasures.com
And join me on:
My website/blog
http://www.cherrycox.com
https://www.facebook.com/CherryCoxAuthor
https://twitter.com/CherryCoxAuthor
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BAND IN CHEAP SHOT MAGAZINE
http://www.paperbackpleasures.com/acts-of-insanity-series.html
SEE THE BAND’S ONE AND ONLY MUSIC VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33z9e1c3GAo
#Rocktober Guest Post from Doris Dumrauf
Tags: buy it, Doris Dumrauf, good read, guest blogger, mystery, read it, review it
Doris Dumrauf is a friend of mine. I think the world of her and I’m thrilled to be hosting her today for Rocktober. Her first novel, Oktober Heat, is a fun read for you mystery fans — and if you’re not a mystery fan, this one can convince you to be one. Of course, it’s got a strong rock theme to it, too.
Cold War means spies, arms race, and – rock ‘n’ roll? During the 1950s, the U.S. military built hundreds of military installations in West Germany within a few years. GIs with pockets full of dollars, big cars, and the latest rock ‘n’ roll records invaded the formerly sleepy villages. The local girls found them irresistible. Romances blossomed while the young couples danced the night away to the hottest tunes. American and German musicians toured the enlisted clubs to entertain the troops.
“There’s a novel in there,” I thought when I learned about the Fifties in my home county. But which year should I choose as the setting? And then it occurred to me that Elvis Presley arrived in Germany in 1958 to complete a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. I had found my hook!
In my novel “Oktober Heat,” music becomes the symbol of the clash between Old World values and New World culture. The book begins and ends with a concert because rock ‘n’ roll music is my protagonist’s passion. Young police officer Walter Hofmann works long hours investigating a murder and relaxes by listening to the latest hits on AFN.
I admit that I do not remember the 1950s from personal experience. By the time I became interested in pop music, the first Beatles hits were already Oldies. But I’ve always enjoyed the music of the Fifties and Sixties and played them while writing my novel.
How important is music to Walter? Let’s ask him:
Q: How do you feel about Elvis Presley’s arrival?
WH: First of all, I love his music. But I am not happy that the girls are all crazy about him. I mean, how is a young man with average looks and income supposed to compete with him?
Q: What do you like most about the American GIs?
WH: I like the rock ‘n’ roll records they bring in. Most of all, I love attending concerts at the base. How else would I ever see the Trotters and other famous bands? They bring the big, wide world into our province. Lauterbach was a sleepy village before they arrived, and now look at it. We have an italian ice café, several bars, and plenty of pubs. German singers are trying hard to imitate the sound, but I much prefer listening to American bands, even if I can’t understand all the lyrics.
Q: You seem to be very protective of the women in your life.
WH: Yes, I became a police officer because I want to protect and help people. My younger sister Ingrid, though, makes it hard for me. She’s 18 and a bit rebellious. Her Elvis infatuation is getting out of hand and I don’t have the time to look after her all the time. I fear that she might get into trouble.
Q: So you young people just want to have some fun and enjoy life?
WH: Yes, we do! We work hard, but when we’re off work we want to shake up the town. And now I have to go because the Crocodiles are playing at the Enlisted Club tonight and I don’t want to miss it.
“Oktober Heat” is available at:
#Rocktober Guest Post from author CK Johnson
Tags: buy it, CK Johnson, ebooks, giveaway, influences, love it, Metallica, read it, review it, Rocktober
One of the best things about Rocktober is being able to share authors who may not write about great big Rock Stars, but who write about music in different ways. I think it’s every bit as important as the tales of backstage debauchery and tour buses and groupies and love. So today, meet CK Johnson. She’s great fun, my buddy CK. And her books? I love how inventive they are.
Here’s a bit from CK:
I’ve been a rock fan since my friend first introduced me to Metallica. I played “The Unforgiven” on the violin until I got my hands on a guitar. My go to on a bad day was “Nothing Else Matters.” When it came time to write a novel it wasn’t a surprise that music shaped it.
A Piper’s Song tells the story of Kyra, a descendant of the Pied Piper who can control people with music. It’s an urban fantasy laced with darker notes reminiscent of the original Grimm tales. I enjoyed writing a book that allowed me to take the music I love and shape it into imagery. My favorite part of the book is toward the end when Kyra steps onto The Fields to prove herself. I got play battle of the bands piper style—a fine line between music and madness.
In honor of Rocktober I’m giving away two eBooks of A Piper’s Song. Leave a comment about one of your favorite songs and why you love it and I’ll do a random drawing.
Yes! You totally want to read this, so start commenting away.
Connect with CK, too, because there’s no better way to show love than to buy a book — except maybe to review it once you’ve read it.
#Rocktober Guest Post from Anne-Marie Klein
Let’s welcome author Anne-Marie Klein to The Rock of Pages! She’s not only a Rock Fiction lover, she puts her money where her mouth is. Which means this woman who loves the Who loves them so much, she steps out to see them play live.
Sort of.
The Wholigans formed in Toronto in 1982 as a cover band that played Keith Moon era songs by British supergroup The Who. In their heyday, they played local clubs that are now long gone, from the Gasworks to the Nag’s Head. I met them in 2003, at a local gathering of Who fans, and have been a friend and a supporter ever since. Each member of the group is a talented musician, and I can attest to the fact that the quartet is made of four very distinct yet equally colourful characters. Their shows are always lively, and much like the group they have emulated for 33 years, very loud.
I am a rock fiction writer, and in 2012 I published the first novel in a series called ‘Behind Blue Eyes.’ The books are based on the Pete Townshend song of the same name, and they tell the story of a sad blue-eyed man forming a rock band in the Toronto of the late 70s. The books combine my love of music and my hometown with a family drama and a great love story. So far, three books have been published: ‘Love Reign o’er Me,’ ‘Love Ain’t For Keeping,’ and ‘Let My Love Open the Door.’ The series will end in the new year with the fourth instalment, ‘Empty Glass.’
I am also a huge music fan, especially for the album sounds of my teenage years and young adulthood, a genre now known as classic rock. As a measure of my great affection for the Wholigans, I made them the headlining group in one of the early club scenes of the first book. Despite my knowledge of their 1982 formation, it was important for me to include them in the narrative to pay tribute to their longevity and contribution to the Toronto music scene of that era, and so I made them jump back in time and play DJ’s Tavern in 1978. Lead singer Barry Quinn confirmed to me that they did play that club a few years later than I claimed in print, so I was comfortable with the anachronism despite my insistence on maintaining historical accuracy in every other aspect of my books’ timelines.
This past weekend, The Wholigans played two dates in their hometown, despite the fact that Barry and guitarist Bill Cannell flew in from Florida and New York City, respectively. Drummer Darren Atkinson and bassist Dave ‘Gater’ Smith still reside in the city, and rounded out the lineup for the weekend shows. The special occasion was only announced a few weeks ago, and most of us were shocked to hear that Gater was retiring from the band and that we would be seeing the last of him as ‘fake John’. I could not attend the final show at the iconic Cadillac Lounge on Saturday, October 17th, having already purchased tickets to see Paul McCartney, but I did go to The Duke on Friday, October 16th, to make sure I saw the band one last time. As it happened, they were playing sets from ‘Quadrophenia’ and ‘Who’s Next’ the first night, choosing to do ‘Tommy’ and “Live at Leeds’ for the very last performance together. It was perfect: my two favourite Who albums performed at the only show I could attend.
A funny thing happened on the way to the concert: the Toronto Blue Jays made the American League Baseball Championships, and a decision was made by the venue to delay the Wholigans’ first set until the game against the KC Royals was decided. Sometime during the day, a contractor accidentally cut off the cable link, and it wasn’t until after we had arrived at The Duke that the signal came back on and the game could be viewed. The delay allowed me to chat with Barry and Gater, and to meet some mutual friends.
When it was clear the Jays would not recover, well past 11pm, The Wholigans took to the stage for the first of two sets. They opened with some of the best music from ‘Quadrophenia,’ from the big hits such as ‘Love Reign o’er Me’ and ‘I’m One’ to lesser gems like “The Punk and the Godfather.’ There were classic Roger Daltrey moves from Barry like marching steps and microphone twirls, fantastic Pete Townshend windmills and jumps from Bill, and Gater reminded us all of his phenomenal bass-playing skills with his interpretation of John Entwistle’s solo from ‘5:15.’ Darren got to shine with his rendition of Keith Moon’s ‘Bellboy,’ and the very best music from my favourite Who album was delivered in grand style and with great ability.
The second set was all about ‘Who’s Next?’, and all the big songs from that classic record were thrown at the audience with equal enthusiasm and ability. The audience cheered as ‘Behind Blue Eyes,’ “Baba O’Riley,’ “Naked Eye,’ and “Won’t Get Fooled Again’ were played to near perfection. There were also nods to the earliest Who recording, as Barry asked the cheering crowd to suggest numbers: out came ‘Substitute,’ ‘Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere,’ ‘Pictures of Lily,’ ‘Boris the Spider,’ ’Squeeze Box,’ ‘My Generation,’ and even ‘Who Are You?’ as the band fed on the energy of the fans and delivered a solid performance throughout the second set. There were moments of audience participation as Barry wandered between tables and invited people to sing along, and despite the late hour, people sang, danced, and enjoyed themselves to the very last note. The show finally ended after 2 am with an encore of ‘Shaking All Over’ as people continued to dance before the stage. All in all, a wonderful night of seeing old friends do what they have done so well for so long, and the end of an era. Happy retirement, Gater, and long live rock.
Isn’t Anne-Marie great? Pick up her books and connect with her, why don’t you?
Links to Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, B&N Nook (ebooks), and Lulu (print)
#Rocktober When Rock Fiction Lingers
Tags: essay, the things that linger, thoughts on a book
So… I read and reviewed my buddy Jessica Topper’s new release, Softer Than Steel. I don’t blame you if you’re too lazy or busy to click through, so I’ll say this: I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.
Now that it’s been over a month since I finished reading, I’ve found that, like all of her other books, it’s lingered with me. With Louder Than Love, it was the idea of drunk Adrian showing up at the library. That’s such a packed image. With Deeper than Dreams, it’s the image of Kat sitting on the steps of the library while Adrian does that spoiler thing. Just… wow. The beauty of it. With The Dictatorship of the Dress, it’s… well, hell. It’s a lot. The bean. Sleeping in the tub. The Magic 8 ball. The feel that Laney gives off whenever she appears on a page. I think she’s Topper’s best overall character, to be honest. Laney and I connected, and she hasn’t fully let me go yet.
But in Softer than Steel, I keep coming back to the idea of the ner tamid, the eternal light that hangs over the bima in a synagogue, shul, or temple. The idea of that light watching Sidra teach her yoga classes. Watching Riff learn to let go of his past. Watching Sidra and Riff love each other.
That’s heavy stuff. It’s got the obvious God reference, since that’s part of what the ner tamid represents. (Part! All you purists, hush! I am Reform!)
But there’s a metaphysical sense, too. Something not quite Godlike, not so obvious. I stretch for it, but can’t quite get it… there’s a feeling of safety under that particular ner tamid, a sense that it’s taking care of more than Sidra and Riff. A sense that the light helps contribute to the mood of the yoga studio, that it enables everything that happens under its watchful eye.
And that’s what lingers for me. It’s a lovely image, not at all creepy, if you’re reading this and thinking along those lines (Hey, Halloween does approach). Safety, protection, and the growth that can occur when someone who’s been badly traumatized finds safety at last.
This is what I take away from Softer than Steel, more than anything. It probably says more about me than it should, more than Jessica ever intended.
But reading, as we all know, is an intensely personal experience.
Playing into this for me is the fact that although my house was never a synagogue, a shul, OR a temple, I’ve got a ner tamid of my own, strangely enough. I still can’t figure out what the builder was thinking when he installed a light on a circuit that never turns off and has no switch. When I was new to the house, I put a bulb in the fixture, a simple white canister of a light. It begs for a couple of hands and a clock mechanism, this fixture. That’s how I found there’s no switch and no circuit I can flip without shutting down other parts of the house.
But this light? It wasn’t comforting. It didn’t make me feel safe.
Just the opposite, in fact. It was creepy, this stark white light that illuminated the bathroom and reflected off the tub underneath. Malevolent. Even now, years after I promptly removed that bulb, I look at that light covering with an uneasy feeling.
It’s kind of funny, really. I’m a Rock Fiction expert. You’d think I’d have connected to the record store, which plays a magnificent role in Softer. Or to Riff, who is a fascinating man.
But nope. It’s a light. A relic from a time when the building was something else, when it meant the same kind of safety and protection that it offers in the book’s present.
And that, of all the elements in the book, is what lingers with me.
#Rocktober guest post: AJ Krafton
Tags: AJ Krafton, buy it, Lacuna Coil, new release, read it, review it, wanna read
Let’s welcome my friend AJ Krafton to The Rock of Pages! We’ve bonded, she and I, over our musical loves and with a new book out last month, I asked her to come talk about… what else? The collision of music and fiction.
Senza Fyne, Senzafine: The Musical Inspiration behind AJ Krafton’s THE HEARTBEAT THIEF
By Ash Krafton
I’ve always been inspired by music. Words are powerful things but somehow, when they are sung, they gain an extra layer of strength and intent, especially when the singer pours their heart and their emotion into each note, each line. Their art becomes part of me, seeking the spark within me that is a new story, waiting to be told.
If I tried, I could identify a song behind almost every story, every poem I’ve ever written. In fact, my third novel, WOLF’S BANE, was inspired by a German metal band. You know how writers sometimes feel like their characters are real people? Part of me actually believes Turn of the Wheel is a real band. I even made concert shirts. See?
So, yeah. I like to rock out when I write, and write about what rocks me.
Lacuna Coil: Moody Music
Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.
(Antony and Cleopatra, 2.5.1-2)
I love these words…”music, moody food”…because the sentiment perfectly describes the muse that leads me through the pages of each of my stories.
I tend to listen to music that is emotionally-laden. My writing playlists lean heavily toward rock and metal—Type O Negative, Blind Guardian, My Chemical Romance, and especially the Italian band Lacuna Coil.
Lacuna Coil are an Italian gothic band I first heard when they opened for Type O Negative in 2003, I believe. I was stunned by the melodious qualities of the duo vocalists against the keys and guitar. Moody food, indeed!
The next morning, despite a thick fuzzy head from the great quantities of Bacardi mixers consumed the night before, I stopped at a record store and bought the CD Comalies, listening to that swirl of rapture all morning.
The songs spoke of longing and separation and the agonies of love—things I haven’t experience since I was an angsty teen—and I realized I found my elusive muse at last. Songs like Entwined and The Ghost Woman and the Hunter supplied the emotions my characters need to flourish, renewed by the beauty and the grace of my musical muse.
Lacuna Coil have since progressed to become a kick-ass symbol of all things urban fantasy—fortunate for me, no doubt, as I have lots of urban fantasy and paranormal romance inside me just begging to claw its way out.
Lacuna Coil’s songs take me to a place where urban fantasy becomes real. Their song “Our Truth” from the album Karmacode even appeared in one of the Underworld movies. What can be more urbanly fantastic than a movie about vampires and werewolves and (quite literally) everything in between?
There is something about Lacuna Coil songs that make me want to write: their guitar-driven melodies, their soul-searing harmonies, their relentless pounding heartbeat. It’s almost as if I become a part of their flow—they create and inspire me to create in return.
The Heartbeat Thief and its Musical Muse
While I have lots of favorite LC titles, the top of the list is Senzafine, one of their Italian-language songs.
Senzafine is the Italian word for “without end” or “endless”. It’s the word that inspired the main character’s name: Senza Fyne. It also told her story.
It wasn’t only the title that inspired the character. The lyrics themselves and their underlying interpretation accurately portray the internal struggle Senza experiences and is the perfect companion piece to the story.
This video of Senzafine [https://youtu.be/JIRIRHW5sWc] contains an English translation of the lyrics so that you can enjoy the song, even if you don’t speak Italian. (It also has live clips of LC, which makes me very happy. I love seeing them in concert!)
While the provided translation may not be perfect, it does get the gist of it. The female voice expresses her desire to break free of her life, her destiny. The male voice sings of darker things, the force that fights against the female. There is a constant battle between good and evil and the female admits that is sometimes hard to choose between them. There is also the realization that she must be prepared to live alone, dependent upon only herself.
And that, to me, sounds very much like the symphony of Senza’s determined heart.
Playing opposite to Senza is a tall, mysterious stranger who teases her with secretive smiles and suggestions of magic. From their first meeting, he calls her bien-aime, which is French for “beloved”. When she demands his name, he listens to the tolling of a nearby church bell before calling himself Mr. Knell.
But he has an older name. A much older name. And it will take Senza a very, very long time before she realizes just who he truly is.
The song Senzafine fits him, too. One particular verse fits Senza’s dark seducer perfectly. In fact, I believe the last lines belong to him…
Non c’e scelta senza me
Non c’e vita senza me
There’s no choice without me
There’s no life without me
And Senza utterly believes him.
I hope you’ll read The Heartbeat Thief [http://viewBook.at/thief]and keep these words somewhere in the back of your heart. And when you finish, and you close the book, think back upon Senza and her struggle to escape her destined life. Think back upon Knell and think back upon those last lines. I hope you’ll find them as deliciously poignant as I do.
Most of all, think back upon your own feelings, and firmly resolve to resist destiny’s plans for you and choose your own, instead. The song will still be there to inspire you on your journey, just as it continues to inspire me.
#Rocktober Guest Post: Juli Page Morgan
Posted: October 6, 2015 in Guest Poster, Rocktober
Tags: buy it, guest blogger, how'd he get his name, Juli Page Morgan, love it, read it, review it, Rocktober, romance
As the word of Rocktober spreads, so does the number of authors who want to take part in the fun (remember, it’s ALWAYS Rocktober over here at The Rock of Pages. This is just the month we crank it up to twelve. ‘Cause eleven’s not loud enough!).
Today’s guest is Juli Page Morgan, who’s got a great guest post about her new release, Crimson and Clover.
Juli, take it away!
He was just supposed to be a minor character, that’s all. The hero of my book, the guy who got the girl, was going to be the lead singer. And that minor character? The lead guitar player for the band. I didn’t think about him much, to be honest. He was only there because the band needed a guitarist. Dude didn’t even have a name.
But one day while I was writing a scene involving the whole band, a scene where the heroine was in attendance, I took a good look at this minor character for the first time. I saw him through the heroine’s eyes, and damn. He was beautiful. I mean the kind of male beauty that makes panties evaporate and ovaries explode. And my heroine? She went into heat. If she’d been a cat she would have rolled around on the floor in front of him and yowled. I was tempted to join her.
So while I salivated over this minor character, I tried to reason with my heroine.
Me: Cut it out. I mean it. You’re in love with the lead singer.
Her: What lead singer? There’s a lead singer? Didn’t notice.
Me: Come on. None of us have time for this nonsense. You love the lead singer, and y’all are going to live happily ever after. This guitar player is just a minor character. He doesn’t even have a name yet.
Her: He doesn’t need a name. All he needs to do is strap on that axe and then get all sweaty onstage.
Me: Stop it. (pause) Sweaty?
Her: Dripping. Just look at that luscious black hair of his. Look at his freakin’ eyes!
So I looked at his eyes. There was a mischievous twinkle shining in them. There were also a lot of really hot promises about what he could do to me … I mean, do to the heroine.
Then he smiled.
Lead singer? There was a lead singer? Didn’t notice.
Still, I tried to carry on with the story I thought I was writing. So the guitar player would assume a bigger role in the book. No big deal. It happens. Besides, lead guitar players are hard to shove into the background, am I right? But the more I wrote, the more he showed up. Little by little he took over the story and the heroine’s heart. I finally had to scrap almost everything I’d written and start again. Only one problem: he still didn’t have a name.
Check that. He had a name, he just refused to tell me what it was. I asked, he laughed. I begged, he laughed harder. One day he let me know it was time to reveal his name. I was indecently relieved and had my finger hovering over the “Find and Replace” function on my computer, ready to change all instances of Guitar Guy (that’s what I was reduced to calling him) to his name. He leaned close and whispered in my ear.
Him: My name is … Delbert.
Then he snickered.
To be honest, I don’t really remember how I came to know his name was Jay Carey. I was writing and the heroine called him Jay. And I just knew. I’m sure he told me somehow, the sneaky little bugger.
That minor character, the one with no name, took over the whole book. He went from a shadow in the background to the hero, the guy who gets the girl. He knew the lead singer wasn’t right for the heroine so he stepped up. Because he wanted her.
Can’t ignore those lead guitarists.
If you want to read Jay’s story it’s called Crimson and Clover. You can read the first chapter and find out how the story begins on my website.
I am in tears over this one. Delbert? Oh, my! This guy has a lot in common with my Trevor, which means I love him already. Maybe not the cat in heat love that Juli has, but that’s okay. He’s hers. I’m willing to let that remain.
Until I read the book and meet the man for myself, anyway…
As always, grab a copy of Crimson and Clover.
All Romance
Smashwords (referral link)
Check out Juli’s backlist of other Rock Fiction romances. Buy them. Read them. Review them.
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Don Warren brings in $45,000, outraising John Nix in first stretch of race for Tyler mayor
Kevin Vest named new TJC athletic director
@PLAY BEST BETS: Johnny Lee coming to Liberty Hall; Moon Day set Saturday at science center
Full Obituaries
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Billie Bob Hickman
A graveside service for Billie Bob McConal "BB" Hickman, 99, of Tyler will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2019 at Loop Cemetery in Loop, TX.
Billie L. Gilley
A celebration of the life of Billie L. Gilley will be July 13, 2019, at Swan-Wood Springs United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00 a.m.
Frances Ann Stringer Allen (Hopkins)
Services for Frances Ann Hopkins Stringer Allen, 97, of Tyler will be held on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ken Warren officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Jasper, Texas under the direction of Stewart Family Fu…
G.C. Rodriguez Jr.
Funeral services for Mr. G.C. Rodriguez Jr., 84, of Henderson, will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2019, in the chapel at Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home with Pastor Jeremy Nobles officiating. Interment will follow at Rusk County Memorial Gardens under the direction of Crawford-A. …
Gary Wayne Sorrells
Gary Wayne Sorrells Gary, affectionately known as "Big Daddy" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, went to his heavenly home on July 4, 2019, at 73 years young.
Mary Frances Orand (Garner Orman)
Services for Mary Frances Garner Orman Orand, 84, will be held at 2pm on Friday, July 12, 2019, at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home in Tyler, TX. Burial will follow at Tyler Memorial Cemetery.
Sherman Jones Jr.
Funeral services for Mr. Sherman Jones, Jr., 93, Tyler is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Friday, July 12, 2019 at Miles Chapel C.M.E. Church with Rev. Orenthia Mason as eulogist. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Community Funeral Home of Tyler.
Bessie Ann Robinson
Bessie Duncan Robinson, of Chandler, passed away July 6, 2019 in Tyler, Texas at the age of 83. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 12, 2019 at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home in Mexia, Texas with RevChris Rowe officiating. Interment will follow in the Mexia Cemetery. Grandchildren w…
Beverly Bell (Rogers)
Visitation for Beverly Bell, 80, of Tyler is scheduled from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler. Inurnment will be scheduled at a later date at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.
Carol Newell
Memorial services for Carol Newell 73 of Bullard is scheduled for Friday July 12,2019 at 11 o'clock at Flint Baptist Church with Reverend Sam Deville officiating. Visitation is at 10. Mrs. Newell passed away on July 6,2019 peacefully at home. She was born May 22,1946 in Louisville,Mississipp…
Edna Jo Kidd-Welch (Harrison)
Funeral Services for Edna Jo Kidd Welch age 94, of Edom will be 10:00am Thursday at 1st United Methodist Church in Chandler with Bro Bryan Harkness officiating with Jackson's Burks Walker Tippit in charge of arrangements.
Ted Wayne Whaley
Ted Wayne Whaley made his heavenly transition, peacefully in his home in Heath, Texas in the morning of Friday, July 5, 2019. He fought a 14 month battle with Stage IV Glioblastoma.
Ben Lowery
Ben Lowery went home to Jesus on July 3rd. He was born in Galena Park, Texas on August 14th, 1946 to Clara Courtney Lowery and Henry L. Lowery. Ben attended church with his family and put his faith in Jesus as a child and never wavered. He attended school in Galena Park, graduating to go on …
Danielle Aubrey Singleton
December 8, 1977 - July 7, 2019
David Kent Exum
A celebration of life and visitation for David Kent Exum, 71, of Tyler is scheduled for 6 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at Lloyd James Funeral Home. The family will have a private graveside service at the Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery.
Ella Elizabeth Greathouse (Jones)
Ella Elizabeth "Liz" Jones Greathouse, resident of Tyler, Texas passed away on July 6th at her home, at the age of 89.
Eugene Brown
Eugene Brown of Flower Mound, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2019. Eugene was born in Brookfield, Missouri on April 5, 1922.
James William McCullars Jr.
Graveside memorial services for James William McCullars, 57, of Overton, formerly of Tyler, will be at 10:00 am, Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Rosehill Cemetery in Tyler. Arrangements are under direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton.
Robert Max Hill
Funeral services for Robert Max Hill, 87, of Tyler are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at Lloyd James Funeral Home with Reverend Dr. Allison Andrews officiating. Burial will be in Bascom Cemetery.
Billie Jo Hunt
Graveside services for Billie Jo Hunt, 89, of Tyler, will be held on Monday, July 8, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Tyler with Ken Somerville officiating, under the direction of Jackson's Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home.
Bobby Tom Tindel
Bobby Tom (BT) Tindel passed away on July 4th, 2019 at Homeplace Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, TX. He was born June 14th 1935 in Chandler, TX to parents Archie Bob and Margaret (Smith) Tindel.
Leroy Roman Hieger
Leroy Roman Hieger, 87, passed away on June 18th at Trinity Care Center in Round Rock, Texas. He was born on August 20th,1931 in Andale, Kansas, to Paul and Anna Scheer Hieger.
Lila Hitt Coulter
A graveside service for Lila Hitt Coulter, 92 of Tyler, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 8th, 2019 in Sand Flat Cemetery with Mark Coulter officiating.
Earnestine Turner (Grant)
Funeral services for Ms. Earnestine Grant Turner, 85, Tyler is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2019 at North Star Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. Jerard R. Mosley, Sr. as eulogist. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Community Funeral Home …
John Lee Jackson
Funeral services for Mr. John Lee Jackson, 71, Tyler is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, Kilgore, TX with Rev. Ronald Daniels as eulogist. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Kilgore, TX under the direction of Community Funeral Home of Tyler.
Jozell C. Pullum
Funeral services for Mrs. Jozell C. Pullum, 86, Winona is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Winona, TX with Rev. M. L. Collins as eulogist. Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery under the direction of Community Funeral Home of Tyler.
Mary K. Bellis
Services for Mary Louise (King) Bellis, 89, of Tyler will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel in Tyler with Rev. Bill Ballou and Rev. Pike Wisner officiating. A private burial will be held at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler.
Wayne Murray
Services for Wayne Murray, 76, of Tyler will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Stephen Rhoads officiating. A private burial will held at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.
Gary D. Graham Sr.
Services for Gary Dale Graham Sr., 68, of Bullard will be held on Friday, July 5, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Flint Baptist Church with Rev. Sam DeVille officiating. Burial will follow at Damascus Cemetery in Lindale under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.
Henry Lee Bowie
Funeral service for Mr. Henry Bowie, 78 of Tyler will be held on Friday, Noon at New Hope Baptist Church, Bullard with Rev. Vincent Bowie, eulogist. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery under the direction of John R. Harmon Undertaking Company. Mr. Bowie was born on January 4, 1941 and tr…
Thomas Oran Sikes
Thomas Oran Sikes, 70, died peacefully Wednesday, July 3, 2019 from complications due to Parkinson's disease. Tom was born May 20, 1949 to Thomas C. Sikes and Maurine Poole Sikes. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1967 and then attended Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M Uni…
Viola Doris Singletary
On July 1, 2019, Viola Doris Singletary, loving wife and mother of three, passed away at the age of 90.
Bible verse: 7.17.19
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10)
Green Acres Baptist Church
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VIDEO: Public Enemy – “Me To We”
VIDEO: Public Enemy – “Lost In Space Music”
Video off of their new album, Man Plans God Laughs, out now. Produced by Gary G-Wiz and Carl Ryder. Video directed ...
Public Enemy – “Everything”
From the album, Evil Empire of Everything. Produced by Gary G-Wiz, featuring Gerald Albright & Sheila Brody.
Public Enemy – “RLTK” feat. DMC
Video from the album Most of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear On No Stamp. Directed by David C. Snyder. Produced by: Johnny ...
Public Enemy – “Say It Like It Really Is” video
PE's salute to soul, featured on the upcoming box set Bring the Noise, Hits, Vids, and Doc Box: Greatest Sites and Sounds (Chapter 2 1999-2009).
Toki Wright – “By the Time I Get to Arizona” 2010 video
Video for Toki Wright's updated Public Enemy classic “By The Time I Get To Arizona” in response the state of Arizona's recently passed Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070).
Toki Wright – “By The Time I Get To Arizona Redeux”
Rhymesayers artist Toki Wright updates the Public Enemy classic “By The Time I Get To Arizona” in response the state of Arizona's latest racist fuck-up.
Public Enemy to fan-fund new album with SellaBand
Hip-hop pioneers Public Enemy have announced plans for fans to fund their new album – but also take a share of ...
10 years ago by 319
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Outsite combines coworking and vacationing in beautiful locations
Business Entrepreneur
Outsite is the latest in a string of coworking services where, in stark contrast to the common mold, working hard and playing hard are given equal weight.
Coworking is love
I love the coworking movement. As a perpetually on-the-go freelancer, it’s hard to find a decent spot full of like-minded people working in tandem: coffee shops end up being too chatty, I can’t count on a library being within walking distance of my lodging, and the whole “I need a power outlet” thing puts a bit of a kibosh on working outside most of the time.
Read also: Croissant makes freelance the coolest place to work
I would, however, gladly work AT Outsite–the latest in a string of coworking sites dedicated to making sure freelancers and contract workers have access to an environment conducive to productivity. Unlike your run-of-the-mill coworking space, however, this startup emphasizes both working AND playing hard.
The concept is pretty straightforward: Outsite provides you with a paid membership that gets you hefty discounts on lodging in places such as Santa Cruz, San Diego, and Lake Tahoe. Once there, you work side by side with other freelancers.
After a hard day of work, you can relax alongside those same people, with site-specific activities including spas, BBQs, beach activities, and yoga classes, to name a few.
Vacation meets productivity
This is a freakin’ cool idea because it takes the allure of a vacation and combines it with the romanticization of working remotely. The final product is a mind-clearing getaway wherein one can focus on work and relaxation in tandem–a concept that, despite its proven health and productivity benefits, is still a minority in the workplace.
Say no more
From a personal standpoint, I’d be delighted to spend a week in any of Outsite’s glorious locations with a 60-hour agenda and evenings free.
This grandiose endeavor is indicative of a surge in popularity of remote work and gig economy.
These are two cultures in which I happily partake–and the “work hard, play hard” aspect of an exotic location paired with the ability to get away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life should make for an interesting routine.
If you find yourself as intrigued as I am, head on over to their website at https://outsite.co and check out their services–I know I’ll be keeping a keen eye on this startup.
#Outsite
Related Topics:coworkingofficeOutsite
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Jack Lloyd has a BA in Creative Writing from Forest Grove's Pacific University; he spends his writing days using his degree to pursue semicolons, freelance writing and editing, oxford commas, and enough coffee to kill a bear. His infatuation with rain is matched only by his dry sense of humor.
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(ENTREPRENEURS) Once you’ve built a successful business, it’s time to reexamine your role and determine where you fit in best.
Rob Simons
In my experience, most entrepreneurs are “accidental entrepreneurs.” They happened to be good at something, or they had a unique one-time opportunity to provide a product or service to the market. Then years later, they wake up one day and realize that they’re running a big business.
As an entrepreneur, one of the unintended consequences of building a business is that you become essentially unemployable within your own organization. After living the life of freedom, flexibility and responsibility of being a business owner, it’s difficult to go back to a “nine-to-five” job. This is why many entrepreneurs don’t enjoy staying with their businesses after they’ve sold to other organizations. Within months, they are frustrated that they’re no longer in control and the new owners are (in their opinion) making poor choices.
I see many situations where entrepreneurs are bad employees in their own organization. In fact, they may be the worst team members in the organization by having inconsistent schedules or poor communication skills and/or by inserting themselves into areas that aren’t useful. They can also have too much freedom and flexibility. And while most entrepreneurs insist on clearly defined roles, expectations and goals for all of their employees, they don’t always take the time to define their own roles, expectations and goals.
So why do entrepreneurs become bad employees?
I believe that it’s because they don’t have someone holding them accountable. Think about it: Who do they report to? They’re the owners. Part of the definition of “owner” is being accountable for everything but not accountable to anyone. Having a board of directors, a peer group or a business coach can provide some accountability for them, but another solution is to clarify their roles in the company and then abide by those definitions.
If you find yourself “unemployable” in your business, it’s time to define your role. It starts with outlining your main focus. Do you concentrate more on day-to-day execution or strategic, long-term decisions? Do you consider yourself an owner-operator or an investor?
Most entrepreneurs start as an owner-operator and put in countless hours of sweat equity doing whatever needs to be done to build the business. But over time they reinvest earnings in the business and hire a management team so they can step back and take on a more strategic role. Sometimes it’s not clear when the entrepreneur makes that transition, which can lead to challenges for the entire team.
Focus: Strategic Overview
If your main role is in dealing with long-term, strategic decisions, then it’s important for you to communicate that to the team. Clearly delegate tactical roles and responsibilities to the leadership team.
I’ve seen many instances where owners do more harm than good by haphazardly injecting themselves into tactical decisions that should be handled by the leadership team. Instead of jumping in when they see something they disagree with, I encourage owners to actively “coach” their leadership team to be better leaders. The approach of micromanaging every decision of others will frustrate everyone and lead to an underperforming organization.
I have one client that decided his role was to build strategic relationships and work on a new service offering. He was confident that his leadership team could handle the day-to-day operations of the business. Over time he discovered that being in the office every day was actually a distraction for him and his team. So, he moved his office out of the building.
To maintain his ownership responsibilities to the company, he scheduled one afternoon a week to physically be in the office. Team members knew they could schedule time with him during that weekly window when he temporarily set up office space in a conference room. Not having a permanent office in the building also sent a message to the team that he was not responsible for day-to-day decisions. Sometimes not having an office in the building is better than the team seeing the owner’s office empty on a regular basis.
Focus: Day-to-Day Execution
If you decide that your role is in the day-to-day execution of the business, then clearly define your role in the same way you would define any other team member role. Are you in charge of marketing? Sales? Finance? Operations? Technology? R&D? Or, some combination of multiple roles? Take the time to outline your responsibilities and communicate them to the team.
Just as you define your role, also define what you are NOT going to do and who is responsible for those areas. After all, sectioning off some tactical work does not abdicate you from long-term decision-making. You must set aside time to make the long-term, strategic decisions of the company.
Being an entrepreneur sounds glamorous to those that haven’t done it, but ultimately, the owner is accountable for everything that happens in their organization. It can be quite sobering. And while some entrepreneurs have a delusional belief that they can do everything in a company, it’s not a path to long-term success.
All entrepreneurs have to decide what their role should be in their organization – even if it means that they’re contributing to their “unemployable” status.
(STARTUPS) Tech startups are a huge part of discussing diversity and inclusion, but something as simple as hiring women in management somehow remains elusive.
According to the Silicon Valley Bank’s annual report, over half of startups have no women on their leadership team. None.
As hard as this fact is to believe, it is also hardly breaking news. Organizations who have surveyed startups and technology companies for the past several years have seen that long-standing trends that disadvantage women and other genders in the tech space are still at play.
Like many other gendered debates about the treatment of women and other minority workers, this problem is seemingly a Catch 22 or a chicken and egg situation. Critics will continue to argue that the reason ladies aren’t in leadership roles is because they don’t have innate leadership qualities or that once their non-male employees have proven themselves, then they will start getting the resources and promotions that they say that they desire.
Like many other myths about women in the workforce, these beliefs only serve to reinforce the status quo by transferring the responsibility for these frustrating conditions onto the marginalized party.
These beliefs are busted not only because they’re tired gender clichés, but because we have hard data that proves the financial and cultural benefit in long-term effects of women leadership in tech.
However, for all the discussion of diversity initiatives, the likelihood of traditional funding going to women-led startups is still small.
For now, startups with women in leadership roles were more likely to get their funding from investing teams that were also led by females. Wouldn’t it be great if other investors began to not only understand that in 2019 it’s imperative that a company’s leadership reflect the diversity of the employees that comprise it? That workers will be more motivated, feel more understood, and have greater buy-in when they identify with their management?
Empowering women is how more get involved in tech. Diversity of leadership helps organizations thrive. And if something as simple as binary gender diversity is such a tremendous challenge, all other diversity issues are still (unfortunately) a large mountain to climb.
(ENTREPRENEUR) When you think of our nation’s first self-made millionaire, C. J. Walker is probably not the picture that may come to mind, but this generous genius made it to the top, breaking every glass ceiling possible.
Johnny Crowder
These days, it seems like Oprah gets all the bragging rights. I don’t think it’s quite fair that some car-gifting mogul gets to bask in the glory of a path that was paved a century ago. **No offense, O Great Winfrey. You’re cool, too. Please don’t take my Altima back.**
It’s time to pay our respects to the first female self-made millionaire in America. My friends, I’d like to introduce you to your new idol, Sarah Breedlove, better known as Madam C. J. Walker.
This gal had just about every card in the deck working against her. Both of her parents and all of her siblings before her were born into slavery. Her mother died when she was five, and her father passed the following year. Orphaned, she lived with her older sister until she married at age 14.
As if that wasn’t enough, a mere two years after her first child was born, Sarah’s husband died. I mean, she just couldn’t catch a break. Unfortunate event after unfortunate event. She then moved to St. Louis to live with her brothers, working as a washer woman for a mere dollar a day. Classic rags-to-riches stuff.
Her brothers worked at a local barber shop, and she wound up learning a thing or two about hair care while sharing a home with them. This planted the seed that would lead to her working with Annie Turnbo Malone, selling African American hair care products. As she learned more about hair, she must have realized she had a knack for it, because she decided to roll up her sleeves and put some indie elbow grease in.
After moving to Denver to work on her own products, she married Charles Walker, who provided the advertising know-how that would help her venture succeed. She adopted the name C. J. Walker and began traveling and training women in the fields of beauty and sales.
Eleven years later, in 1917, she called her first convention of so-called “beauty culturists” in Philadelphia. Here, she rewarded her top agents as well as those who were the most philanthropic towards local charities.
What I love about C. J. is that as her business grew, so did her awareness of the social climate around her. She never forgot where she came from, never hesitated to give back, and never gave up. She lectured on topics such as women’s independence, helping educate other black women in the ways of business.
Upon her death, it was determined that she was the wealthiest African-American woman in the country. In true C. J. style, she left two-thirds of her future profits to charity.
If I ever get mega-famous, I’m doing it the C. J. Walker way: Keep a level head, educate and help others, and put your community first.
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Angel in My Pocket
October 10, 2011 booknutgirls
First sentence: “There was a pile of money on Bette Miller’s kitchen table.”
Bette Miller is dealing with her mother’s sudden death. (Yes, at the outset this is another one of those mother-is-dead books.) However, once Bette finds an angel coin in a charity jar, her life takes a turn. A neighbor moves in downstairs to help keep an eye on Bette, and gradually Bette finds that while life without her mother is sad, it’s still liveable.
But the story doesn’t end there: the coin gets passed to others: Joe Garcia, whose mother is often sick and who is struggling to find a place at the prestigious art school he (and Bette and the other characters) attends; and twins Andy and Vivi who have been growing apart in the year since Vivi’s asthma became really crippling both get a turn with the angel coin. And their lives are invariably changed, though in small and subtle ways, for the better.
I was kind of lukewarm on the book; on the one hand, I thought it handled the whole overused dead parent thing well. It wasn’t heavy handed, and the fact that the book branched out to deal with other kids and their problems helped as well. In fact, my favorite thing about the book was the way it transitioned between one kid and the next seamlessly. No jerky stops and starts, no ending of sections, announcing “here comes the next problem”. It was seamless and effortless.
But it was also kind of predictable. I knew, and perhaps this is the way the author wanted it, that having the angel coin would somehow 1) bring an angel into the life of the person who has the coin and 2) help them get over their problems. There weren’t any surprises in the process, and the book fell flat because of that. It would have helped if one could connect to the characters (and maybe some will), but they came off as one-dimensional and flat. It was also a little on the message-y side for my taste: be yourself, find joy in your life, and don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s not a bad message, but I would have liked it to be more about the characters and less about What They Learned.
But I’m nitpicking. It’s a sweet little story, one that I think kids will like.
One thought on “Angel in My Pocket”
Heather Zundel says:
I've never heard of this one before, but it seems like a sweet story. Something for a winter's night with hot chocolate. 🙂
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The Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational, arts, and cultural organization.
The mission of the Center for the Performing Arts is to engage and inspire the Central Indiana community through enriching arts experiences.
Songbook Staff
Chris Lewis joined the Great American Songbook Foundation in August 2011 as Director of the High School Vocal Academy and Competition, now known as the Songbook Academy®. Chris holds a Master’s Degree in Education and has worked as a history teacher and special education liaison for the New York City Department of Education. He is an accomplished musician with experience as a professional vocalist, choral director and voice teacher, and was a member of the vocal jazz octet, Pieces of 8.
Chris can be reached at CLewis@TheSongbook.org or 317.844.9446.
Lisa Lobdell
Archivist Lisa Lobdell has had a life-long interest in preserving and organizing things dating back to her childhood when she used rainy days to reorganize her coloring books and games. She worked in banking, manufacturing, and property management prior to returning to her first love. She joined the Great American Songbook Foundation in May 2010 after completing her graduate degrees in library science and history.
Since joining the Songbook Foundation, she has moved the collections twice, provided input on the design of office space, and serves as both head librarian and museum curator along with her archival duties. Today she oversees a team of volunteers and interns who work to make all of our collections accessible in a variety of ways to our user community.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her four grown children, grandchildren and friends, preferably outdoors.
Lisa may be reached at LLobdell@TheSongbook.org or 317.844.9457.
Cathy A. Burton
Director of Museum Planning & Audience Enrichment
Cathy Burton joined the Songbook Foundation staff in January 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art (Art History) and a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology. She has worked for four museums during her career emphasizing museum education and programs. At the Songbook Foundation, Cathy researches and plans how to build a Songbook museum to meet the needs of diverse audiences; she welcomes, trains, and works with volunteers, and is a team member producing enjoyable and memorable activities for gallery visitors and specific audiences. Cathy has many interests; she volunteers for an arts organization, enjoys creating in visual arts, and travels and participates in museums with friends and family.
Cathy can be reached at CBurton@TheSongbook.org or 317.844.9454.
Renée La Schiazza
Manager of Programs & Communications
Renée La Schiazza joined the Great American Songbook Foundation in February 2018. Though a new staff member, she was no stranger to the Great American Songbook Foundation, as she was a 2012 Songbook Academy Alum and interned for the organization in 2013. Renée holds a B.F.A. in Music Theatre and a B.A. in Arts Administration from Elon University. She is an accomplished performing artist with experience as a professional actress, associate director/music director and choreographer at regional theaters and performance venues throughout the country. Renée most recently appeared as Lucy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, while also working full-time in their Marketing & Development office.
Renée can be reached at RLaschiazza@thesongbook.org or 317.844.5832.
ASHERWOOD
Jason Butram
Property Manager & Director of Security
Joe Landers
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Strychnine at the Savoy: was Agatha Christie’s Mysterious Affair at Styles inspired by an Indian murder?
March 2, 2017 2.51am EST
Arup K Chatterjee, O.P. Jindal Global University
Arup K Chatterjee
Assistant Professor of English, O.P. Jindal Global University
Arup K Chatterjee does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Agatha Christie, here with husband Colonel Archibald Christie (left) and friends in 1922. Many stories she wrote were inspired by travels. Wikimedia
Agatha Christie’s first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was written more than a hundred years ago. It remains one of her most popular works.
In the novel, members of an estate in Essex wake up one night, during World War I, to find the proprietor, Emily Inglethorp, convulsing to death from strychnine poisoning.
The novel introduced readers to the punctilious detective, Hercule Poirot. It also introduced a new form of murder. Very rarely, until its publication, had strychnine featured as a murder weapon in literature.
Two prominent Victorian novels had earlier featured scenes of death by strychnine. Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo (1844) and Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Sign of Four (1890).
Agatha Christie, in 1925. Wikimedia Commons
Hitherto, strychnine was more often seen poisoning mice, as in Charles Reade’s Hard Cash (1864), or being a used as sleep-inducing “grand tonic” in H G Wells’ The Invisible Man (1897).
In Arnold Cooley’s A Cyclopædia of Practical Receipts (1846) and Robley Dunglison’s New Remedies (1839), strychnine is said to be extracted from the rectified spirit of wine. Both the Invisible Man and Emily Inglethorp suffered from insomnia. An admixture of diluted strychnine compounds acted as a cure for sleeplessness, in both cases, and thus as a spirit.
However, strychnine may not be the only spirit that inspired Christie’s first novel.
Death by strychnine
Strychnine was first isolated from the plant Strychnos nux vomica in 1818, by French chemist Joseph Bienaimé Caventou.
Its career as a poison is much shorter than that. “Having strychnine in your house today would be suspicious,” writes Kathryn Harkup, but it would not have been so back in 1920.
Jack the Ripper suspect Dr Thomas Neill Cream. ABC
Strychnine acquired early celebrity in the hands of Dr Thomas Neill Cream. Cream was executed in 1892 for the serial-strychnine-murders of women in Canada and Britain. Allegedly, his last words were, “I am Jack the…”
Inglethorp’s death was not so different from any of Cream’s victims. Christie writes:
The convulsions were of a violence terrible to behold … A final [one] lifted her from the bed, until she appeared to rest upon her head and her heels, with her body arched in an extraordinary manner.
During her nursing-tenure at the Torquay War Hospital, at the time of the Great War, Christie had learned a great deal about chemicals, and conceived fabled prescription that led to Inglethorp’s death.
Accordingly, a mixture of potassium bromide added to strychnine sulfate left a precipitate of the free alkali to crystallise at the bottom of the container. Anyone consuming the crystallised grains of strychnine without shaking the contents ran the risk of instant cyanosis and asphyxiation.
Torquay War Hospital, Devon. 'The War in Agatha Christie’s Words,' BBC
Did Christie really pick up the idea from a pharmacy textbook as her hero Hercule Poirot does in the novel? Or did she gather it from the British Empire’s “autonomous networks of social communicators”?
Ruskin Bond, the Anglo-Indian author, believes she was inspired by the story of a British spiritualist, murdered in India.
‘S’ is for strychnine (and Savoy)
In the summer of 1911, two British female spiritualists arrived in Musssoorie – an Indian hill-station founded by the British in 1820s.
They stayed at the Savoy Hotel. Opened in 1902, the hotel had been built by an Irish barrister from Lucknow, Cecil D Lincoln. He gave the Savoy its spires, lancet-windows and Gothic architecture. The dining hall was varnished with flooring made of oak trunks. Billiard tables, grand pianos, cider and wine barrels, crates of champagne and Edwardian fixtures were lumbered up the mountain roads.
Savoy Hotel, Mussoorie, India. ITC Fortune, Savoy, Mussoorie
One of the two guests was a 49-year-old spinster, Frances Garnett-Orme. The other, Eva Mountstephen, her friend from Lucknow. Garnett-Orme was once engaged to a British officer from the United Provinces, who died before the wedding. In later life, she became a practitioner of séances and crystal-gazing, and sought to communicate with the dead.
One day Garnett-Orme was found dead upon her bed. The door of her room was locked from inside. Mountstephen had left for Lucknow that morning, but the facts of the case made her the prime suspect. Garnett-Orme’s autopsy revealed traces of prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) in her blood.
The poison was believed to have been administered through her bottle of sodium bicarbonate, possibly tampered with by someone close to her. Mountstephen was brought to trial at the Allahabad High Court, before Justices Rafiq and Tudball. Due to a lack of evidence against her, she was exonerated. Within a few months of the acquittal, the doctor who had carried out the deceased’s post-mortem was found poisoned to death by strychnine.
The Ghosts of Savoy
Today the hotel is a heritage property and is believed to be haunted: the spirit of Garnett-Orme is said to still linger in the mansion.
Savoy’s Writer’s Bar, which the LA Times describes as “where Britain’s colonial elite once toasted their empire in Victorian splendour,” was the setting for the unforeseen intertwining of histories. The bar hosted writers from Jim Corbett, to Lowell Thomas, to John Masters (the writer of Bhowani Junction, who served for the Gurkha Regiment at Dehra Dun) to the Nobel Laurate, Pearl S Buck.
Ruskin Bond. Aleph Book Company
The hotel’s guests, including Garnett-Orme, have left behind their echoes in the lobbies of the hotel. Their spirits are said to haunt the place in supernatural manifestations. Apart from historical personalities, the hotel is haunted by tourists throughout the year.
The real ghosts, says Bond, “are those who manage to slip away without paying for their drinks.” Garnett-Orme or Inglethorpe were certainly not those.
The man who would be Poirot
In 1913, when the trial in the Garnett-Orme case was underway, Rudyard Kipling, another Anglo-Indian author, came to know of it. Although Kipling had left India, by 1890, he continued to have his sources. He had acquaintances in one Allen family, who told him about the case. They were owners of respectable newspapers and publications in which Kipling’s stories had appeared.
Portrait of Rudyard Kipling, by Joseph John Elliott & Clarence Edmund Fry. Wikimedia Commons
Kipling, by now a Nobel Laureate, pitched the idea to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the resident of 221B Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes. The scene is said to have occurred in the billard’s room of Doyle’s house, in Windlesham, Surrey, as confirmed by Peter Costello, in the book Conan Doyle, Detective (1991).
The sources Costello cites are the India Office documents and a Times report from October 1912. In some interpretations of the case, it appears that a lover-doctor had administered the poison into the lady’s bottle of cough-pills.
Bond later wrote a fictional narrative of the account, In a Crystal Ball: A Mussoorie Mystery (2007). In the story, Kipling writes to Doyle,
There has been a murder in India … A murder by suggestion at Mussoorie … one of the most curious things in its line on record. Everything that is improbable and on the face of it impossible is in this case.
Portrait of Arthur Conan Doyle, by Walter Benington. Wikimedia Commons
In real life, Doyle took great interest in India. A part of The Sign of Four was set in the Andaman Islands. Yet he refused to write a story on the case from Mussoorie, for “the risk of libel.”
And here a new theory intervenes.
Bond claims that the case was then passed on to Christie, who used the details for The Mysterious Affair at Styles, changing the setting to Essex. If this is true, the question arises whether the man who became Poirot, could well have been Holmes himself, had Doyle not declined the case.
Around the same time, Christie’s friend and neighbour, Eden Philpotts, had offered to help her with her novel, Snow Upon the Desert. He showed it to his literary agent. But Christie had no luck then.
Philpotts who was born in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, was familiar with the India that Kipling knew. Philpotts was also a friend of Doyle. It is likely that he may have played the envoy for the passage of the case to Christie.
In the novel, Poirot tells Hastings, “a lady in England lost her life by taking a similar mixture,” as that which had poisoned Inglethorp. Poirot’s words are not his own, nor Christie’s. They were taken verbatim from Joseph Price Remington’s legendary treatise, The Practice of Pharmacy (1886).
Remington’s book had been in circulation for over a decade and half, when Garnett-Orme was murdered. There is uncanny similarity in the way she died and the death that Remington’s describes. Later, Christie devised nearly the same death for Inglethorp.
J.E.C.F. Harper & Co. Strychnine Advertisement. Life and Health
Did Christie conceive the fatal formula in Torquay, indeed? Or was it after hearing of Garnett-Orme’s case from Philpotts? Did Remington’s book only serve to provide her the chemical solution to a murder that she had already plotted in her mind?
These questions are clouded beneath the mist of the Mussoorie hills. And they will remain so, until more details about the death of Garnett-Orme are unearthed.
The lychgate of the Camel’s Back Road Cemetery. Anne_nz/Flickr
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home : features : catholic schools July 18, 2019
Toms River schools come together to build faith
Caring For Others • Jackson Bahr, a second grade student in St. Joseph School student holds his brick that shows his Corporal Work of Mercy of Comforting the Sick. Photos courtesy of JoAnn D’Anton
In Search of Fulfillment • Donovan Catholic students Mary Fitamant and Eric Dodgson, present a skit depicting a lone traveler’s wanting to encounter others who are making a difference in the world.
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
The familiar phrase “strength in numbers” took on added meaning Jan. 29 when some 1,300 students from St. Joseph Grammar School and Donovan Catholic converged in St. Joseph Church to begin their celebration of Catholic Schools Week.
Together, all of the students from kindergarten through 12th grade, their pastor, Father Scott Shaffer, respective school principals and teachers, prayed, presented skits and witness testimonies and sang songs of praise, all of which centered on the theme of “Building a Foundation In Your Life Today, Making A Difference In Your World Tomorrow.”
Photo Gallery: Catholic Schools Week in Toms River
“Today we celebrate Catholic Schools Week as one community,” Dr. Edward Gere, Donovan Catholic’s principal, said at the start of the prayer service, at which Father Shaffer presided. “We gather with Catholic schools [from] all over the country to celebrate the freedom we have to worship and to give thanks to God for the opportunity to learn in a community of faith.”
The prayer service began with Donovan Catholic students presenting a brief, mimed and narrated skit about a lone traveler who was in search of people who really felt like they were making a difference in the world. It wasn’t until the traveler met three bricklayers who, although were doing the same work, shared very different perspectives.
The skit continued with seven St. Joseph School students building a brick wall as a way to show each student could, in his or her own way, bring about a positive change in the world that would ultimately lead them to help build the city of God.
One of the examples the reflections included a student who enjoys English who hopes to one day use his public speaking skills to write speeches for the United Nations. A student who reflected on religion said it’s his hope to one day be the Pope and to share God’s Word. A third student said he would like to use his knowledge and interest in history to become president of the United States. As president he would to protect the rights of all those who have no voice, especially the unborn.
After the witness talks, each student built a sturdy foundation using handmade red- painted bricks with their favorite subject printed on one side and a Corporal Work of Mercy printed on the other. The congregation was encouraged by Father Shaffer to perform good works as they, too, are ways to build God’s kingdom.
The prayer service also provided an opportunity for both Toms River schools to show how they recently carried out the Corporal Works of Mercy by helping Sacred Heart School in Rockford, Texas, which was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. In St. Joseph School, students collected $1,370 for supplies while the faculty made care packages for the teachers. Donovan Catholic seniors made Sacred Heart Rosary Chaplets and prayer cards. Donovan Catholic religion classes also collected $1,325 for playground equipment.
“One of the most meaningful things I learned today was the importance of one’s attitude and outlook on everything they do,” said Eric Dodgson, a Donovan Catholic junior. “I believe the purpose of today’s service was not only to raise awareness of the importance of a Catholic education but also how our education pushes us toward fulfilling God’s plan.”
Junior Katherine Uffer and Logan Cioffi, an eighth-grader in St. Joseph School, both noted how they appreciate all that a Catholic school offers.
“I learned that doing well in my studies will not only help me in the future but help others as well,” said Cioffi.
“Catholic Schools Week is important because it helps unite all Catholic schools around the country and shines a light on us to show how great we are,” Cioffi added.
Uffer said the week “is an important time to remember that we are rooted in faith and that foundation allows us to grow to be faith-filled young adults. A Catholic education brings all core subjects together to be expanded by our Catholic understanding of the world around us.
“Education is just as important as faith, and I am able to nurture both at Donovan Catholic. Catholic Schools Week is a perfect time to give thanks for this this gift.”
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Afghan Lessons From the Iraq War
Ray McGovern,
You don’t have to go back 40 years to the Vietnam War to feel the sting of déjà vu. Returning to the Iraq War just three years ago will suffice.
Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates summed up the administration’s dilemma on Afghanistan in a single question: “How do we signal resolve and at the same time signal to the Afghans and the American people that this is not open-ended?”
It is the same question that policymakers and generals were grappling with three years ago with respect to Iraq. Let’s hope they learned the right lessons from that experience, but it’s doubtful since the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM) has been no help in shedding light on what actually happened.
If you remember, President George W. Bush had been voicing lots of optimism about the Iraq War and Vice President Dick Cheney had claimed the enemy was “in its last throes.” But it was becoming increasingly clear by 2006 that sectarian violence was ripping Iraq apart, that the death toll of American troops was rising, and that U.S. defeat was looming.
But Bush and Cheney were hell-bent on preventing defeat from happening, at least on their watch. Nor did they want the neo-con dream of a U.S.-dominated Iraq to die.
However, many in Washington – especially in the military – recognized that the Bush/Cheney war couldn’t be open-ended and that hard decision would have to be made for a gradual withdrawal to begin.
To his credit, Rep, Frank Wolf, R-Virginia, almost singlehandedly got Congress to create the “Iraq Study Group,” a blue-ribbon panel that was to assess the situation in Iraq and determine what the United States could still reasonably accomplish.
The effort was not blessed by Bush and Cheney, who considered the idea of second-guessing their judgments a nuisance or worse. But the panel became more of a threat when high-profile figures — Republican elder statesman James Baker and Democratic fixer Lee Hamilton — were picked to chair it.
Though Baker had been the Bush family’s consigliere for decades, he was considered a possible wild card. As a hard-headed pragmatist, he reflected Establishment thinking, which was coming to believe that the war-hungry neo-cons around Bush had bitten off more than they could chew in Iraq.
A New Course
By fall 2006, the members of the Iraq Study Group were convinced that a new course was needed for Iraq. And almost no sober thinker favored sending more troops.
The senior military, especially CENTCOM commander Gen. John Abizaid and his man on the ground in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, emphasized that sending more U.S. troops to Iraq would signal leading Iraqi politicians that they could relax and continue to take forever to get their act together.
Here, for example, is Gen. Abizaid’s answer at the Senate Armed Services Committee on Nov. 15, 2006, to Sen. John McCain, who had long been pressing vigorously for sending 20,000 more troops to Iraq:
”Senator McCain, I met with every divisional commander, General Casey, the corps commander, General Dempsey, we all talked together. And I said, ‘in your professional opinion, if we were to bring in more American troops now, does it add considerably to our ability to achieve success in Iraq?’
“And they all said no. And the reason is because we want the Iraqis to do more. It is easy for the Iraqis to rely upon us do this work. I believe that more American forces prevent the Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own future.”
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad sent a classified cable to Washington warning that “proposals to send more U.S. forces to Iraq would not produce a long-term solution and would make our policy less, not more, sustainable,” according to a New York Times retrospective on the “surge” by Michael R. Gordon published on Aug. 31, 2008.
Khalilzad was arguing, unsuccessfully, for authority to negotiate a political solution with the Iraqis. Bush and Cheney would not allow Khalilizad to do so.
Instead, Bush and Cheney began to plan a purge of their top commanders – moving to replace Abizaid and Casey – and easing Khalilizad out as well.
Bush and his neo-con advisers also had a problem with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who was backing his generals. On Nov. 6, 2006, a day before the mid-term elections, Rumsfeld sent a memo to the White House that made many of the same arguments that Abizaid, Casey and members of the Iraq Study Group were making.
The first 80 percent of Rumsfeld’s memo addressed “Illustrative Options,” including his preferred – or “above the line” – options, such as “an accelerated drawdown of U.S. bases … to five by July 2007” and withdrawal of U.S. forces “from vulnerable positions — cities, patrolling, etc. … so the Iraqis know they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country.”
On Nov. 8, after Republicans were routed in the 2006 elections, Bush cut loose Rumsfeld, replacing him with former CIA Director (and member of the Iraq Study Group) Robert Gates. The Washington news media widely interpreted the move as Bush’s acceptance of a more realistic policy for winding down the Iraq War.
A Misconstrued Firing
However, Rumsfeld’s firing was completely misread. Behind the scenes, the controversial Defense Secretary had been backing his commanders on the need to keep the U.S. “footprint” as small as possible.
The careerist Gates was a different story, willing to support an escalation in exchange for a place again at the Washington power table.
Since his early days at the CIA, Gates was never one to let truth derail his ambition. Though privy to the analysis emerging from the Iraq Study Group – on the need for a gradual U.S. withdrawal – Gates was willing to play ball with Bush on an escalation.
On Dec. 6, 2006, after months of investigation and policy review, the Iraq Study Group issued its final report, which began with the ominous sentence, “The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating.” It called for:
“A change in the primary mission of U.S. Forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly. … By the first quarter of 2008…all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq.”
On the same day as the ISG report, Gates was confirmed by the full Senate. In retrospect the coincidence was a supreme irony, since Gate’s Washington rebirth as Secretary of Defense facilitated the early death of the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations.
We were in for a “surge,” not a drawdown of troops.
Bush quickly deep-sixed the ISG recommendations, which his neo-con advisers depicted as defeatist, a prescription for “losing Iraq” and – worse yet – doing so on the Bush-Cheney watch. Bush made clear he was prepared to stay in Iraq indefinitely and expand the fight against Islamic extremism.
At a news conference on Dec. 20, 2006, Bush cast this wider struggle against Islamists as a test of American toughness and perseverance, a demonstration to the enemy that “they can’t run us out of the Middle East, that they can’t intimidate America.”
Rather than scale back the neoconservative dream of transforming the Middle East, Bush argued for an expanded U.S. military to wage this long war.
“We must make sure that our military has the capability to stay in the fight for a long period of time,” Bush said. “I’m not predicting any particular theater, but I am predicting that it’s going to take a while for the ideology of liberty to finally triumph over the ideology of hate.”
Neo-cons Planning
As Bush talked tough, neo-cons at the American Enterprise Institute were devising a plan to “surge” 20,000 to 30,000 additional U.S. troops into Iraq, enough to stave off definitive defeat at least until January 2009 when Bush and Cheney could ride off into the sunset without having lost a war.
The neo-cons even found a retired general, Jack Keane, who had been Army Vice Chief of Staff and knew how to work the Pentagon side of things.
Bush announced the “surge” on Jan 10, 2007, and the escalation was phased in through much of 2007. U.S. casualties skyrocketed, with more than 1,000 American troops dying, roughly a quarter of the total killed in the Iraq War.
As author Steve Coll put it, “The decision [to surge] at a minimum guaranteed that his [Bush’s] presidency would not end with a defeat in history’s eyes. By committing to the surge [the President] was certain to at least achieve a stalemate.”
Gradually, the violence in Iraq did subside, from catastrophic to wretched. That prompted the well-placed neo-cons and their friends in the Fawning Corporate Media to hail the “surge” as a great success and a sterling example of Bush’s steely-eyed courage.
That point of view congealed into a potent conventional wisdom among Washington insiders. However, many military analysts believed the “surge” was at best a minor factor in improving Iraq’s security climate.
For his book, The War Within, the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward interviewed a number of military officials and concluded:
“In Washington, conventional wisdom translated these events into a simple view: The surge had worked. But the full story was more complicated. At least three other factors were as important as, or even more important than, the surge.”
Woodward reported that the Sunni rejection of al-Qaeda extremists in Anbar province (which preceded the surge) and the surprise decision of radical Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr to order a unilateral cease-fire by his militia were two important factors.
A third factor, which Woodward argued may have been the most significant, was the use of new highly classified U.S. intelligence tactics that allowed for rapid targeting and killing of insurgent leaders. Woodward agreed to withhold details of these secret techniques from his book so as not to undercut their continued success.
But there were previous glimpses of these classified U.S. programs that combined high-tech means of identifying insurgents – such as sophisticated biometrics and night-vision-equipped drones – with old-fashioned brutality on the ground, including on-the-spot executions of suspects. [For instance, see Consortiumnews.com’s "Bush’s Global Dirty War” and "Iraq’s Laboratory of Repression.”]
Brutal Factors
Other brutal factors further explained the decline in violence:
—Vicious ethnic cleansing had succeeded in separating Sunnis and Shiites to such a degree that there were fewer targets to kill. Several million Iraqis were estimated to be refugees either in neighboring countries or within their own.
—Concrete walls built between Sunni and Shiite areas made “death-squad” raids more difficult but also “cantonized” much of Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, making everyday life for Iraqis even more exhausting as they sought food or traveled to work.
—During the “surge,” U.S. forces expanded a policy of rounding up so-called “military age males” and locking up tens of thousands in prison on the flimsiest of suspicions.
—Awesome U.S. firepower, concentrated on Iraqi insurgents and civilian bystanders for more than five years, had slaughtered countless thousands of Iraqis and had intimidated many others to look simply to their own survival.
—With the total Iraqi death toll estimated in the hundreds of thousands and many more Iraqis horribly maimed, the society had been deeply traumatized. As tyrants have learned throughout history, at some point violent repression does work.
But this dark side of the “successful surge” was excluded from the U.S. political debate in 2008, much as the illegality of Bush’s original invasion had been treated as a taboo subject during the early years of the Iraq War.
During last year’s presidential campaign, when Barack Obama tried to make the more sophisticated argument about the “surge,” he was badgered by prominent journalists, such as CBS anchor Katie Couric and ABC’s “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos.
For instance, on Sept. 7, 2008, Stephanopoulos demanded of Obama: “How do you escape the logic that … John McCain was right about the surge?”
When Obama responded that he couldn’t understand “why people are so focused on what has happened in the last year and a half and not on the previous five,” Stephanopoulos cut him off, saying “Granted, you think you made the right decision about going in, but about the surge?”
Unwilling to pay the price for challenging Washington’s conventional wisdom regarding the “surge,” Obama finally agreed to cede the point and “admit” that the “surge” had “succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.”
An Early Sign
It was an early sign that Obama was not prepared to take on Washington’s media/political elites over a factual issue, even one with important national security implications.
Ironically, just as Obama was retreating on the “surge,” Iraqi officials were standing up against Bush’s desire to have a “status of forces agreement” that would grant the United States the indefinite right to operate militarily in Iraq.
Instead, they insisted that Bush accept a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities in 2009 and then from the country by the end of 2011.
Bush, who had always rejected the idea of a withdrawal timetable, was forced to accept just such a timetable.
The timetable also appears to have had a beneficial effect on levels of violence in Iraq. Since the SOFA was signed, U.S. military fatalities in Iraq have dropped by more than half, to 142 in 2009 from 314 in 2008, according to icasualties.org. The U.S. death toll was 904 in 2007.
However, after winning the presidency, Obama continued to finesse the powers-that-be. He kept on Gates – a Washington favorite – as Defense Secretary. He also appeared eager to score some points by describing the Afghan conflict as “a war of necessity.”
However, these decisions by Obama – bowing to “the myth of the successful surge,” retaining Gates and exaggerating Afghanistan’s strategic importance – have all served to box the President in on what to do next about that eight-year-old war.
The lazy Washington analysis has remained that the “surge” worked in Iraq, so why not do one in Afghanistan? Plus, a “surge” has been recommended by two of Bush’s favorite generals, David Petraeus and Stanley McChrystal. They want Obama to send at least 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, while Gates is reportedly on board for 30,000.
If Obama is to resist the pressure to escalate in Afghanistan, he will find himself tacking into the stiff wind of the FCM’s “successful surge myth” and having to maneuver around the recommendations of his field commanders and his Defense Secretary.
Though Democratic officials are notoriously disinterested in history, Obama may find that his acceptance of a false history for Iraq has real-life consequences in Afghanistan.
At least on the Vietnam War, thanks to Daniel Ellsberg’s leaking of the Pentagon Papers, Americans have a relatively clear understanding of how they got dragged into that mess.
Today, if the “successful surge” myth weren’t so deeply engrained in Washington, a case could even be made that the expectation of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in 2008 and the actuality of the U.S. military pulling troops out of the center of Iraqi cities in 2009 have had the most dramatic effect on tamping down violence, compared to all other strategies.
Looking at the sharp decline in U.S. casualties in 2008 and 2009, one might even hypothesize that it was the presence of a foreign occupying army that provoked many Iraqis to take up arms.
Now that would be a lesson that President Obama might want to take to heart as he weighs his options for an escalation in Afghanistan.
Ray McGovern
Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publication arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington, DC. He served at the CIA from the administration of John F. Kennedy to that of George H.W. Bush, and was one of five CIA ‘alumni’ who created Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity in January 2003.
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At Durban Talks, Government Officials Fiddle as Planet Burns
Laura Carlsen,
Demonstrators gather near the International Conference Center, where the Durban Climate Change conference is held on December 2, 2011. (Photo: Ainhoa Goma / Oxfam)
The image of Nero fiddling as Rome burned—albeit apocryphal— has stuck as the metaphor for willfully irresponsible government. Government representatives, gathered at climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, have been fiddling for the past week. Of the hundreds of closed-door sessions, official meetings and informational seminars, all that’s come out so far is cacophony.
By the looks of it, they plan to fiddle right through to the end, wasting one of the last opportunities to respond in time to a threat that affects not only their societies, but the entire planet.
With only a few days to go, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the obvious on December 5., telling delegates, “It may be true, as many say: the ultimate goal of a comprehensive and binding climate change agreement may be beyond our reach – for now.”
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Tone-Deaf Deniers
As for the burning, the climate change deniers have—finally—lost the scientific debate. Reports from the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN World Meteorological Organization, the UN Environmental Program, and others confirm that the planet is already experiencing the worst-case scenarios of early predictions, showing the hottest decade on record and extreme dangers in the most vulnerable regions of the world.
But the deniers' message on global warming—‘don’t sweat it’—has won the agenda-setting race. In the United States, especially, conservatives heavily backed by the fossil fuel industry have created a domestic political environment to do nothing. It’s no longer politically acceptable to talk about climate change in apocalyptic terms. The term “global warming” has been replaced by the neutral “climate change,” while concern about the planet has decreased in inverse proportion to the increase in the earth’s temperature. The sense of urgency that once characterized the debates has slipped into complacency, despite the fact that in 2010, global emissions went up 6 percent.
There’s also a global consensus on what has to be done to get off this suicidal course. Emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases must be cut back immediately. For all its faults and omissions, the Kyoto Protocol brought developed nations responsible for the historic accummulation of gases into a binding legal agreement to cut emissions. The United States failed to ratify the agreement. Now Canada, Japan, and Russia want out, and prospects for renewing the agreement when the current period runs out in 2012 look dim, to say the least.
In Durban
World governments limped into the Durban talks with a new global economic crisis weighing heavily on their shoulders. This has bumped climate change down the ladder of global priorities—a particularly convenient situation for oil companies and polluting industries. The argument is that current economic conditions preclude significant action on curtailing global warming.
Bickering has ensued over who will sacrifice competitiveness in the international economic system in order to deal with climate change. U.S. negotiators insist that China and other developing countries exempted from the binding rules of Kyoto should be included in a binding agreement, noting that China is now the number-one emittor of CO2 in the world. Yet the United States has blocked any move toward a binding agreement in favor of a voluntary “pledge and review” system of national commitments without sanctions.
China shook things up on Monday when its representative vaguely indicated willingness to join an international binding agreement. According to reports, South Africa, Brazil, and India made similar statements. These countries have insisted on a “common but differentiated” approach to emissions cuts. The Chinese government released ambitious national goals shortly before the conference. If the Chinese are serious about these goals, the country should have no problem with joining an international agreement on mandatory cuts. If it were to do that, and the European Union at least maintains if not improves on its current commitments, the United States would be practically isolated in blocking multilateral action.
Fourteen major international environmental groups became so frustrated with the U.S. position at the talks that they issued a statement reading, “America risks being viewed not as a global leader on climate change, but as a major obstacle to progress.”
Global South Sings Different Tune
Observers note that the U.S. team has refused to consider real action before 2020, and U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing said as much on Monday. African environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey interviewed on Democracy Now!, had one thing to say about that: “Eight years is a death sentence for Africa.”
Bassey recently published a book on Africa and global warming with the telling title, “To Cook a Continent.” Civil society organizations gathered in Durban have presented many testimonies on the effects of climate change on small farmers, poor people, women, indigenous peoples, and other groups not represented in official talks. Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, of Via Campesina, told the Americas Program, “The situation is really serious, because in Haiti we have six months of drought a year, and when there isn’t drought, there are floods, so agricultural production is declining.” He added that under present conditions, it will only get worse.
Bolivia took a lone stand against the agreement to disagree at last year’s climate talks in Cancun. That heavily impacted Andean country hosted the Cochabamba Peoples’ Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in April of last year. It offered a series of solutions that reject carbon markets and other market-based mechanisms, while supporting small farmers, agroecology and “the Rights of Mother Earth”—a paradigm that views the planet as a unitary system of which the human race is but a single aspect.
Oddly enough, as Durban heads toward even more dismal results than Cancun, Pablo Solon, Bolivia’s former ambassador to the UN and a leading world figure in the fight against climate change, found hope in the long view.
“It would be an illusion to think that through these processes we’re going to arrive in the short term at a declaration that changes the paradigm of western civilization that has placed man at the center of a development model. What we’re saying is you can’t just put humanity there, you have to put all of nature,” he said in an interview.
Durban, like Cancun, in the end will be mostly just another global showcase for this clash of worldviews. As nations continue to view the issue as a trade-off between saving the earth and saving the economic system, there is some hope in the long view.
To build on that hope, one of the most important steps will be to broaden the focus from once-a-year meetings in high-carbon conference centers, to the fields, communities and town halls where alternatives are already growing and a stronger political consensus can be built from the bottom up.
Laura Carlsen
Laura Carlsen is director of the CIP Americas Program.
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Inside the Syrian Uprising
Reese Erlich,
National Radio Project
As the Arab spring enters its second year, the popular uprising against the Syrian government continues. Scores are being killed by government forces, but international condemnation has not been enough to stop the violence. Foreign correspondent Reese Erlich is one of the few foreign reporters who got into Syria to interview opposition demonstrators, Kurdish refugees, government officials and impassioned supporters of President Bashar al Assad. On this edition, An Inside look at the Syrian Uprising, produced by Reese Erlich.
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting provided a grant to Reese Erlich for his reporting from Syria. Special thanks to Azad Diwani and Nabaz Shwani for translation and arranging interviews.
Leen, Ahmad, Taim, Mahmood, Syrian activists; Bouthaina Shaban, Syrian Presidential advisor; J. Toumajian, translator; Feras Dieb, Alawite businessman; Mohammad al Habash, Syrian Parliament member; Rana Issa, marketing and advertising business owner; Barkhodan Balo, Kurdish refugee; clothing store owner in Damascus souk.
Reese Erlich
Reese Erlich is a best-selling book author and freelance journalist who writes regularly for the Dallas Morning News, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Radio and National Public Radio. He has won numerous journalism awards and he was a segment producer on a radio series that won a Peabody award, and received a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for his reporting in Egypt.
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April 5, 2017 VoicesLeave a Comment on Jackson Five
Jackson. Who doesn’t know this name. Like Presley, Charles or Dylan Jackson is a name, which has written history in music. But, Jackson is more than a name of one musician, it is a family of musicians.
The family Jackson produced known artist like Janet Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Randy Jackson or, the most popular and very successful, Michael Jackson!
The fact that the family produced so many music artist probably was because the father of the family, Joseph Jackson, was very ambitious and put his children under a lot of pressure to work in this kind of area. In Michael’s case his career already started in his childhood. With only 7 years Michael became the singer of the “Jackson Five”. This group consisted with the five brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson.
Soon the “Jackson Five” could celebrate the first small successes, winning several talent competitions. 1969 a record contract with at the time one of the most important US-American soul label Motown and an appearance on the legendary “The Ed Sullivan Show” on the 14th of December 1969 brought the national breakthrough of the “Jackson Five”.
Hits like “I want you back” or songs like “ABC”, “The Love you saves” and “I’ll be there” introduced the soul group also in the international scene. Till the middle of 1975 the group published at total 13 albums with Motown.
However, Motown was known for the fact that the songs were written exclusively by professional songwriters.
The Jackson brothers however wanted to become also the creatively active one; so they separated themselves from Motown. Just Jermaine stayed and so he was replaced by Randy. After their separation the group received in spring 1976 with Epic Records a new record contract.
The rights for the name still were with Motown, so they simply called themselves “The Jacksons”.
With “Show you the way to go” they had their only number one hits with Epic Records, but the world tour end of the 70th and in the beginning of the 80s were pioneering. Although the songs of “The Jacksons” were not anymore chart toppers,”The Jacksons” were still worldwide successful. 1980 Jermaine returned back to the group. From July to December 1984 the group made a tour again with the album “Victory” through the USA, also called “Victory tour”.
Shortly after the end it Michael told the public his resignation of “The Jackson”, which was also the end of this group and so Michael Jackson’s solo career started and the birth of one of the most inspiring and popular world music artist began.
Besides really popular songs he produced many successful songs like “Thriller”, “Got to be there”, “Bad” or “Invincible”. Song texts that made simply history.
By Dominik Daniel
Categories Culture, EnglishTags Culture, English, Magazine, VCS, Voices
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Jen Epstein
Jen Epstein is a researcher, writer and a self-shooting media maker who has devoted many years to working as a manager in film and television. She has worked at the New York based post-house Broadway Video, and currently works as an Operations Project Manager for Discovery Communications.
She has also worked with the Black Maria Film and Video Festival and was a juror on the 2012 New Jersey Young Film and Video makers Festival.
Jen’s passion for documentary arts began in college when she worked as a production assistant/researcher on several documentary features including BrotherMen; a performance based documentary film that aired nationally on PBS.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from Ramapo College of New Jersey and earned her MA in Media Studies, with a concentration in Documentary Studies, from the New School.
2018 CoLAB films, "Sandwiched" and "Narmin's Birthday" premiere at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival!
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No active fault at BNPP – geologist
Posted in BNPP, Congress, Energy, Legislation by Erineus on March 16, 2009
By Alcuin Papa
THE activation of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) can give the country cheap and consistent power in the years to come, according to a geologist at the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Carlos Arcilla, director of the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS), said the BNPP was just standing idly and should be used to mitigate the effects of a looming power shortage and to bring the price of electricity down, which is one of the highest in Asia.
“Let’s think of what we can do with the power that can be produced by the BNPP. I hate expensive electricity and I’d like to see cheap electricity in households where the members won’t have to worry about their electrical bills,” he said.
In arguing for the activation of the plant, Arcilla revisited the objections to the BNPP, mostly dealing with safety.
Arcilla said he conducted last month a study of the ground below the plant and found no active fault.
Mt. Natib
He said the BNPP was built on the “flanks” of Mt. Natib. Even assuming that Mt. Natib erupts, the country already has the instrumentation to predict an impending eruption and give enough time to shut down the plant.
“Is it (Mt. Natib) active? Potentially, yes. But within the 60 years during which the plant will operate, the risk of an eruption is very small. Even Phivolcs is not monitoring Mt. Natib,” Arcilla said.
On the design of the BNPP, Arcilla noted that there were “carbon copies” of the plant operating in Korea and Taiwan since the 1980s without any accident. He also said that nuclear plants were built to withstand earthquakes and that the BNPP was unscathed after the 1990 temblor.
He said the mothballing of the plant came as a reaction to the meltdown of the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine. But Arcilla said US-designed power plants were far safer than their Russian counterparts.
He pointed to the Three Mile Island meltdown, where no one died, as proof that safety systems in a plant were effective in controlling a meltdown. “Among all power sources, nuclear power has the lowest rate of accidents,” he said.
On a disposal site for nuclear waste, Arcilla pointed to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, New Mexico as a model for disposal of nuclear waste.
Arcilla issued a challenge. “Give me one island out of our 7,000 and I can find ways to store nuclear waste safely in the Philippines. Storing nuclear waste can be safe because there will be levels of barrier protection systems.”
Besides, Arcilla said the technology to safely store nuclear waste had not been fully explored. “It’s because of the social acceptability. We have this attitude of ‘not in my backyard.’ But if you take that out, then definitely we can come up with better ways of storing waste. The technology is already there,” he said.
On the cost, Arcilla said the BNPP could pay itself off in seven years.
“Even if the BNPP were to produce only 620 megawatts of the perceived 3,000 MW shortage in the next few years, it’s still 620 MW. Expensive electricity leads to more poverty,” he said.
Arcilla said he had an “open mind” and was also advocating the use of other power sources, like geothermal, solar, and wind. But he said building geothermal plants was expensive and power from solar and wind sources was not consistent enough for the country’s needs.
“If there is proof that the site is not geologically safe or that the plant already has defects, I’ll be the first to say ‘Let’s forget all about it.’ I won’t accept a nuclear plant that is not vetted for safety,” the geologist said.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/talkofthetown/view/20090308-192920/No-active-fault-at-BNPP–geologist
Tagged with: Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, no active fault at bnpp, nuclear power plant
Protest vs BNPP evokes EDSA scenes
Posted in BNPP, Congress, DOE, Energy, Entertainment, Legislation, Social Issues/Concerns by Erineus on February 24, 2009
BALANGA CITY, Philippines—Evoking scenes from the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, residents of Bataan and neighboring provinces clutched rosaries, carried images of the Virgin Mary and prayed as they marched here Monday in protest of a plan to reopen the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) located in this city.
Meeting in front of St. Joseph Cathedral, nuns, tribal folk, environmental groups, students and parish leaders joined the protest in response to a call from Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas to block a bill reviving the facility built during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos but later mothballed because of safety concerns and corruption issues.
Authored by Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, son of business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, with Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, eldest son of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as co-author, the measure seeks to revive the $2.3-billion BNPP purportedly to address the problem of global warming and an impending power crisis in the country by 2012.
“Let’s stand up for each other like we did at EDSA in 1986,” Villegas said, reading from a pastoral statement during Mass.
More than 15 priests concelebrated the Mass with Villegas, who had served as secretary to the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, one of the EDSA revolt’s major players.
Pope Benedict XVI and the late Pope John Paul II only advocated safe nuclear science for health purposes and for the welfare of humankind and nature, Villegas said.
He added that reputable geologists like Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo had advised against the nuclear plant’s revival because of the possibility of a volcanic eruption and an earthquake at the site, while Dr. Nicanor Perlas, an environmentalist, said the BNPP was built without experts monitoring its construction.
“All the priests and nuns here have stood up to the BNPP to give a voice to Bataan,” he said. “Our parishioners see it as a threat to their health and life.”
A separate rally was held Sunday by the international environmental organization Greenpeace, its affiliates and their families on the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
Greenpeace and the Network Opposed to BNPP have stepped up its campaign against the plant, urging congressmen to withdraw their signatures from House Bill 4631.
The alleged “undue haste” in the passing of the bill in the energy committee headed by Mikey Arroyo had also been questioned by critics. With a report from Nikko Dizon
By Tonette Orejas
Central Luzon Desk
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090224-190693/Protest-vs-BNPP-evokes-EDSA-scenes
Tagged with: Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, BNPP, no nukes rally
US scientist scolds pro-nuke lawmaker
Posted in BNPP, Energy, Social Issues/Concerns by Erineus on February 16, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—A US scientist admonished Pangasinan Representative Mark Cojuangco for “dangerously misrepresenting” a scientific study in a bid to make the lawmaker’s proposal to reopen the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) “look good.”
Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo, professor emeritus of the University of Illinois Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said he was dismayed Cojuangco misused the 2005 study the American and two fellow scientists made.
“I am dismayed that our paper was cited by Cojuangco in his exploratory note. He is being ignorant of scientific data,” said Rodolfo.
Cojuangco authored a House bill seeking to revive the $2.3-billion BNPP mothballed over two decades ago.
A visibly angry Rodolfo, during a Friday conference on nuclear power at the University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS), accused Cojuangco of “dangerously misrepresenting” the scientific study, which covered the geology of Subic Bay.
Rodolfo, also an adjunct professor at UP-NIGS and a staunch critic of nuclear energy, argued that the paper did not certify the safety of the area where the BNPP is located.
A heated exchange ensued during the open forum when Cojuangco tried to rebut Rodolfo’s accusations, saying that the rest of his proposed measure was based on solid scientific data.
Cojuangco also said that the bill was meant to ensure long-term availability of power in the country and reduce the effects of global warming .
But Rodolfo rebuked Cojuangco saying that the lawmaker should have understood the purpose of their paper, which studied geologic faults in Subic Bay and not Natib where the BNPP stands.
Rodolfo said his team even found by accident some geologic faults previously undetected. These could in fact cause some danger to surrounding areas of Subic, which includes Natib, some 10 kilometers away, he said.
“What you’re doing is cherry-picking arguments that would make your proposal look good,” Rodolfo said.
Trying to calm down, Cojuangco finally apologized to Rodolfo and said he would amend his bill. “I’m going to try to put amendments in my explanatory note that you are anti-nuclear.”
Rodolfo also posted online a statement about the alleged misuse of the study.
Tagged with: Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, BNPP, nuclear energy, nuke plant, philippine social issues and concerns
MOTHBALLED NUKE PLANT: Debate heats up anew over BNPP revival
Posted in BNPP, Congress, Energy, Legislation, Social Issues/Concerns by Erineus on February 3, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—The arguments had been heard before like a broken record.
They were raised again on Monday as Congress began debates on a bill that seeks to revive, at the cost of another $1 billion, the $2.3-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) mothballed over two decades ago.
First, said Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and geologist Kelvin Rodolfo, comprehensive studies on the safety, technical and financial aspects of the plant should be made by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
They said at the hearing of the House committee on appropriations that the bill initiated by Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco was premature.
“There should be a study of the site, led by Phivolcs, a study by geologists with no conflict of interest,” said Rodolfo, a professor at University of Illinois and University of the Philippines.
Rodolfo said the location of the plant was “geologically dangerous.”
“Bataan and the entire Philippines are too tectonically and volcanically active,” he said.
He said the Phivolcs had not examined the safety of the region. He added that just because nothing happened to the plant during the powerful earthquake that hit Luzon in 1990 did not mean that the plant was safe, pointing out it was not operational at the time.
Rodolfo pointed out that the plant was close to Mt. Natib, a dormant volcano that has the possibility of erupting.
If proponents of the nuclear plant say the country is wrong to rely on Saudi oil, then it is also not right for the Philippines to rely on foreign sources for uranium, he said.
“There is only so much uranium in the world. It is depleted rapidly,” Rodolfo said.
Lagman said he had not seen a feasibility study on the project and suggested that the Cojuangco bill be transformed into one that would undertake a thorough review of the plant that would show that objections before could be surmounted.
Among those who countered Cojuangco’s proposals were Greenpeace, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, professor Giovanni Tapang and engineer Roberto Verzola.
Cost likely to go up
Etta Rosales of the Freedom from Debt Coalition questioned the projected $1-billion cost for the plant’s rehabilitation, saying the amount was likely to balloon to meet technical and safety demands, not to mention the costs of corruption.
Construction of the plant began in 1976, in the aftermath of the first Middle East oil embargo. The original cost was $500 million, but it ballooned to $2.3 billion by the time it was completed in 1984 under the regime of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Following the ouster of Marcos in the 1986 People Power Revolution and apprehensions caused by the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in the Soviet Union in the spring of that year, the Corazon Aquino administration closed the plant. It also sued Westinghouse for overpricing and bribery, but a US court threw out the suit.
The debt on the plant, the country’s largest single obligation, was finally paid in April 2007, but the 620-megawatt facility with its nuclear reactor intact never generated a single watt of electricity. An earlier study revealed that the plant had over 2,000 defects.
Carlos Arcilla, a University of the Philippines professor and director of the National Institute of Geological Sciences, said that there had been no evidence in the past 20 years that there was a fault in the plant’s vicinity.
Not a nuclear bomb
“A nuclear plant is not a nuclear bomb. There’s no fear the nuclear plant will become a nuclear bomb,” Arcilla said.
Cojuangco argued that there was a pressing need to recommission the BNPP because of the looming power shortage by 2012 would result in 24-hour brownouts in Metro Manila and result in great economic dislocation.
Getting the BNPP up and running would also translate to lower power costs. At present, he said, the high price of electricity has been repelling investors.
As for the safety concerns, Cojuangco said that if the BNPP were rehabilitated to its original specifications, “it is a safe plant according to current international atomic standards of the power generating industry.”
Cojuangco said that South Korea and Japan had several power plants, and Japan had many fault lines at that. “If it’s OK in Japan, why would it not be OK in the Philippines?”
Ramon Pedrosa, chair emeritus of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said he regretted working for the shuttering of the BNPP and was now supporting its recommissioning.
“For 22 years, we’re paying the high price for not using the BNPP … let this be the start of a true sovereign energy program,” Pedrosa said.
‘Faulty economics’
Around 30 members of the environment group Greenpeace massed outside Congress carrying an 8-foot-tall tombstone on which was written “R.I.P. BNPP” and denouncing the project as “grotesquely expensive and based on faulty economics.”
Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director, called the Cojuangco bill a “farce.”
Hernandez explained that the program may include the “possible commissioning of subsequent nuclear plants to justify the program’s existence. This presents a “greater and sustained drain on the country’s financial resources on top of the upfront cost of the BNPP rehabilitation itself.”
“The overwhelming safety and security reasons behind why the BNPP was mothballed remain just as valid and unassailable today. Our lawmakers should heed reason and let the BNPP rest in peace,” said Greenpeace campaigner Amalie Obusan.
In Balanga City, some 100 farmers, fishermen and students also marched Monday on the provincial capitol, demanding that Bataan officials reject the program. With reports from Amy R. Remo in Manila; and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Agence France-Presse
Tagged with: Alternative Energy, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, BNPP, Congress, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Greenpeace, Legislation, Nuclear Power, Philippine Nuclear Plant
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More equitable
Posted in CARP, DAR, Laws, LBP, Supreme Court Decisions by Erineus on February 12, 2009
This is another case of agricultural lands subjected to land reform. The issue arising here is the time of determination of just compensation: is it at the time of taking or at the time of payment?
The case involved 8 parcels of lands containing an aggregate area of 34.95 hectares all duly titled in the name of an agricultural cooperative (AAC). Sometime in 1972 the DAR acquired the said property under its Operation Land Transfer Program pursuant to PD 27. The properties were thereafter distributed to farmer beneficiaries who were subsequently issued certificates of land transfer and emancipation patent between the years 1978 to 1990.
However, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) paid AAC for only two parcel of land on February 10, 1986 and March 3, 1987 in the total sum of P35,778.70. The other 6 parcels of rice land with an area of 28.2514 hectares remained unpaid.
On May 28, 1987, AAC sold the said properties to another cooperative (PAMC). The latter thus inquired from the LBP about the balance of payment for the six other parcels of land. LBP then sent a letter to PAMC pegging the value of the 6 remaining parcels at P 148,172. 21. The latter however refused to accept their valuation.
In the meantime, R.A. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Act was signed into law on June 15, 1988. The said R.A. mandates that the LBP shall compensate the landowner in such amount as may be agreed upon by the landowner, the DAR and LBP or as may be determined by the court as just compensation taking into consideration the cost of the acquisition of the land, the current value of like properties, its nature, actual use, income, sworn valuation by the owner, the tax declarations and the assessments by government assessors.
On August 12, 1994 LBP reiterated its valuation of P148,172.21 and requested PAMC to submit some documents so that full payment could be effected. But PAMC again protested and requested for a revaluation. In October 1994 DAR issued A.O.13 imposing an increment of 6% yearly interest compounded from the date of coverage on the value of lands not yet paid. So LBP adjusted its proposed valuation by adding said increment thus increasing the amount to P537,538.34. PAMC still rejected the amount and instead subsequently filed a petition before the RTC acting as Special Agrarian Court (SAC) for the valuation and determination of just compensation pursuant to R.A. 6657.
LBP however contested the said petition contending that the said law should not be applied retroactively to this case as it did not provide for retroactive application. According to LBP, the taking of the lands in this case was deemed effected on October 21, 1972 when PD 27 took effect and when AAC was deprived of ownership over its lands in favor of farmer beneficiaries. Hence in computing the value of land for payment of just compensation, the valuation of the land at the time of the taking in 1972 pursuant to PD 27, should be made the basis. There is no injustice here since there would be an increment of 6% per annum, according to LBP. Was LBP correct?
No. Under the factual circumstances of this case, the agrarian reform process is still incomplete as the just compensation has yet to be settled. Considering the passage of R.A. 6657 before the completion of this process, the just compensation should be determined and the process concluded under said law. R.A. 6657 is the applicable law with PD 27 and its corresponding E.O. 228 having suppletory effect only. It would certainly be inequitable to determine just compensation based on the guideline provided by PD 27 and E.O. 228 considering the DAR’s failure to determine just compensation for a considerable length of time. More than 30 years have passed and the landowner is yet to benefit from it while the farmer-beneficiaries have already been harvesting its produce for the longest time. The seizure of the landholding did not take place on the date of effectivity of PD 27 but on date of payment of just compensation.
Hence it is more equitable for the SAC to determine just compensation for the reminder of the property using the values at the time of its payment and considering the full and fair equivalent of the property taken from its owner by the expropriator, equivalent being real, substantial, full and ample (LBP vs. Pacita Agricultural Multi Purpose Coop. etc. G.R. 177607, January 19, 2009).
Note: Books containing compilation of my articles on Labor Law and Criminal Law (Vols. I and II) are now available. Call tel. 7249445.
A LAW EACH DAY (Keeps Trouble Away) By Jose C. Sison
Tagged with: a law each day, Agrarian Reform, comprehensive agrarian reform act, equitable, jose sison, land reform, pd 27, ra 6657, special agrarian court
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A Great Time to Be a Husband, Parent, and a Dad
by Dan Liberto
Note: This article originally appeared in the Fall 2011 issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, the trade magazine for homeschool families. Read the magazine free online or read it on the go by downloading the free apps for your mobile devices.
As I write this note, the paraphrased words of Mordecai in the fourth chapter of Esther ring clearly in my mind: “Who knows but that you have come to this royal position for such a time as this.” Seems initially like pretty lofty stuff. But as husbands, parents, and dads, are we not sitting in the same position, overseeing the family’s royal crest? Aren’t we called to lead our families to the knowledge of Christ? Do we not have the purpose of reflecting to our family and neighbors faith, hope, and most importantly the love of Christ? These are certainly royal objectives, because they are ordained by the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ. But do we treat them as royal objectives?
In our nation and in the world, we are experiencing difficult times. But when light is willingly turned off, then there is no option other than darkness. We have willingly, if not purposely, promoted this darkness by limiting the Light of Christ in our daily expression. This daily expression, which is akin to Jesus’ words to take up your cross daily, should begin in the home and radiate out from there.
https://www.crosswalk.com/family/homeschool/encouragement/a-great-time-to-be-a-husband-parent-and-a-dad.html
Samuel Kaylin and “Steamboat ‘Round the Bend”
Samuel Kaylin (January 18, 1892 –July 7, 1983) was a film score composer and conductor who scored Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto movies for Fox Film and 20th Century Fox. Kaylin was born Shevach Samuel Kalinowsky on January 18, 1892, at Ekaterinoslav in the Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire (now Dnipro, Ukraine), and immigrated to the U.S. on January 16, 1907, aboard the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamship Neckar. He worked as a musician at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. Kaylin joined Fox Film in 1930 and composed more than 80 film scores. Among them were the scores for Shirley Temple’s Bright Eyes and John Ford’s Judge Priest. Steamboat Round the Bend was a 1935 American comedy film directed by John Ford, released by 20th Century Fox and produced by Fox Film, based on the 1933 novel of the same name by author Ben Lucien Burman with music composed by Kaylin.
In Steamboat Round the Bend, starring Will Rogers, Anne Shirley, Irvin S. Cobb, Eugene Pallette, and Baerton Churchill, a Louisiana con man and riverboat captain Doctor John Pearly (Rogers), who pilots a ramshackle floating waxworks museum, from which he also dispenses highly alcoholic cure-all medicine, learns that his nephew Duke has killed a man in self-defense. Duke’s only chance for freedom is the testimony of a half-crazed witness, New Moses, who has disappeared upriver. Pearly’s rival Captain Eli is itching to race his paddle wheeler, the Pride of Paducah, against Pearly’s steamboat, the Claremore Queen. So Pearly enters his steamboat in a winner-take-all wild steamboat race with his rival while attempting to find the eyewitness that will save his nephew and lasso a win for the Claremore Queen.
The movie was the penultimate film of star Will Rogers and was released posthumously, after he was killed in an airplane crash on August 15, 1935. Shirley is particularly good as a swamp girl taken in by Rogers. Churchill shines in comic role of river prophet “The New Moses.” The climactic steamboat race is a gem. After serving as Music Directoro for a few years, Kaylin left 20th Century Fox, Fox Film’s successor, in 1940. He died in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA, on July 7, 1983 at the age of 91.
My collection includes the following work by Samuel Kaylin:
Steamboat ‘Round the Bend (1935).
Brown County Historical Society Pioneer Village School, Nashville, IN
Brown County Historical Society Pioneer Village School
90 E. Gould Street at Old School Way
Nashville, IN 47448
The mission of the Brown County Historical Society, a non-profit organization formed in 1957, is to collect, preserve, and present the history of Brown County, Indiana. To approach this goal, they maintain the Pioneer Museum in downtown Nashville and The Bailey/Reeve Archives at the Society building, and present a monthly program on local history. Located in downtown Nashville on the Northeast Corner just behind the Brown County Courthouse and across the street from the Brown County History Museum, the recently completed Brown County History Center Pioneer Village welcomes visitors with a wide front porch and rustic charm. There are exhibit halls; an authentically reconstructed and restored log cabin room with fireplace and exhibits typical of the pioneer period; a two-story 1879 log jail, used until 1919; a two-story dog-trot log building, once used as a community building and housing exhibits of Brown County schools and churches, military items, and a special exhibit of Cracker Jack memorabilia created by local artist Carey Cloud; a working blacksmith shop circa 1850; an 1898 doctor’s office used by Dr. Alfred J. Ralphy for nearly 50 years in Bellsville, in the southeastern part of the county; a gift shop; environmentally controlled areas for the collection and archive of important documents; and a replica one room school house. The Pioneer Village is open weekends May through October from 11:00 to 4:00 p.m., and by special arrangement.
http://www.browncountyhistorycenter.org/
Henry Clay Work and “Marching Through Georgia”
Henry Clay Work (October 1, 1832 – June 8, 1884) was an American composer and songwriter. Work was born on October 1, 1832, in Middletown, CT, to Alanson and Amelia (Forbes) Work. His father opposed slavery, and Work was himself an active abolitionist and Union supporter. His family’s home became a stop on the Underground Railroad, assisting runaway slaves to freedom in Canada, for which his father was once imprisoned. Work was self-taught in music. By the time he was 23, he worked as a printer in Chicago, specializing in setting musical type. He allegedly composed in his head as he worked, without a piano, using the noise of the machinery as an inspiration. His first published song was “We Are Coming, Sister Mary,” which eventually became a staple in Christy’s Minstrels shows. He is credited with 75 compositions.
Work produced much of his best material during the Civil War. He captured the deeply-felt emotions of that conflict and was more popular even than Stephen Foster. Work shares much of the credit for the development of the carefully refined Verse-Chorus structure of late 19th century popular song. In 1862 he published “Kingdom Coming” using his own lyrics based upon snippets of Negro speech he had heard. This use of slave dialect (Irish too was a favorite) tended to limit the appeal of Work’s works and make them frowned upon today. 1862 also saw his novelty song “Grafted Into the Army”, followed in 1863 by “Babylon is Fallen” (“Don’t you see the black clouds risin’ ober yonder”), “The Song of a Thousand Years”, and “God Save the Nation”. His 1864 effort “Wake Nicodemus” was popular in minstrel shows.
Timothy Shay Arthur’s play Ten Nights in a Barroom, had Work’s 1864 “Come Home, Father,” a dirgesome song bemoaning the demon drink: too mawkish for modern tastes, but always sung at Temperance Meetings. At the end of the American Civil War in 1865, Work wrote his greatest hit, “Marching Through Georgia” (sometimes spelled as “Marching Thru’ Georgia” or “Marching Thro Georgia”), inspired by U.S. Army major general William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea” to capture the Confederate city of Savannah, Georgia in late 1864. The song, sung from the point of view of a Union soldier, tells of marching through Georgian territory, freeing slaves, meeting Unionist men glad to see the U.S. flag and U.S. soldiers, and punishing the Confederacy for their starting the war. Thanks to its lively melody, the song was immensely popular, especially with Union Army veterans after the American Civil War, its million sheet-music sales being unprecedented.
Personal problems, including the deaths of three children, seem to have affected his postwar output Settling into sentimental balladry, Work had significant post-Civil War success with “The Lost Letter,” and “The Ship That Never Returned”—a tune reused in the “Wreck of the Old 97” and “MTA.” A massive hit was “My Grandfather’s Clock,” published in 1876, which was introduced by Sam Lucas in Hartford, CT, and again secured more than a million sales of the sheet music, along with popularizing the phrase “grandfather clock” to describe a longcase clock.” By 1880 Work was living in New York City, NY, giving his occupation as a musician. He died in Hartford four years later, June 8, 1884, at the age of 51. He was survived by his wife, Sarah Parker Work, and one of their four children, Henry Clay Work’s headstone is in Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, CT.
“Marching Through Georgia” \is a cheerful marching song and has since been pressed into service many times, including by Princeton University as a football fight song. Outside of the Southern United States, it had a widespread appeal. The British Army sang it in India, and an English town thought the tune was appropriate to welcome southern American troops in World War II. The song remains popular with brass bands, and its tune has been adapted to other popular songs, including the anthem of Glasgow Rangers Football Club “Billy Boys” and “Come In, Come In.” It was also sung by a carpetbagger in “Gone with the Wind,” and Ann Sheridan in “Dodge City.” Henry Clay Work was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. He was a distant cousin to Frances Work, a great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales.Among the best-known of Henry Clay Also “Kingdom Coming” appeared in the Jerome Kern show “Good Morning, Dearie” on Broadway in 1921, and was heard in the background in the 1944 Judy Garland film “Meet Me in St. Louis.”
The following work by Henry Clay Work is contained in my collection:
Marching Through Georgia
Joe Winner and “The Little Brown Jug”
Joseph Eastburn “Joe” Winner Jr. (1837-1918) was an American composer, songwriter, and music publisher of the 19th century who is best known for his tune “The Little Brown Jug” (1869). Winner was born in 1837 at Philadelphia, PA, the son of Joseph E. Winner Sr., an instrument maker specializing in violins, and his wife Mary Ann Winner, who was a relative of Nathaniel Hawthorne. From 1845 to 1854 he partnered with his brother, the composer Septimus Winner, in the music publishing business. Septimus was also a songwriter who used the pseudonyms Alice Hawthorne, Percy Guyer, Mark Mason, Apsley Street, and Paul Stenton for such well known songs as “Listen to the Mockingbird,” “Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone,”“Ten Little Indians,” and “Whispering Hope.”
Working apart from his brother, Joseph operated his own publishing business in Philadelphia from 1854 to 1907. He sometimes used the pseudonym R. A. Eastburn on his compositions. “Little Brown Jug” was written in 1869 and was originally published in Philadelphia with the author listed as Winner’s middle name “Eastburn.” It was intended as a drinking song and remained well known as a folk song into the early 20th century. Like many songs which make reference to alcohol, it enjoyed new popularity during the Prohibition era. Joseph Eastburn Winner died in 1918. In 1939, bandleader Glenn Miller recorded and broadcast his swing instrumental arrangement of “The Little Brown Jug” with great success, and the number became one of the best known orchestrations of the American Big Band era.
My collection includes the following work by Joe Winner:
The Little Brown Jug
Krys Mach and Prairie Daughter
Krys Mach is a self taught musician. He started playing clarinet at age 15 and then moved on to alto saxophone at 18, studying with Aubrey Frank at the Guildhall School of Music in London. Getting his first tenor saxophone at age 20, he started playing with younger kids to gain access to sight reading jazz charts in the youth orchestras at Luton, Bedforshire, U. K., where he met Mario Travaras and formed Kat Kool and the Kool Kats with Travaras on guitar and Paul Young as bassist and later vocalist. Also, Mach played with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain led by Bill Ashton and was lucky enough to play 2nd tenor next to Dave Bishop. In fact, he did a tour of Australia with Ashton’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra a day after having wisdom teeth removed.
Mach worked on several Greek cruise liners around the Mediterranean sea, most notably the Oceanus which in later years sank . Always a bebopper at heart, he ended up playing with jazz funk bands. Jazz fusion was really popular at that time, and he got busy doing sessions locally and in London for singers and bands, joining jazz funk band Unlimited Source and then the Luton band Stikki Stuff, doing numerous recording sessions and gigs in London, the U.K., and Europe. In addition, he performed and recorded with the internationally acclaimed group Level 42 led by Mark King, doing several world tours and appearing on TV with them for nearly six years. One of the highlights was performing to 10,000 fans per night for 14 nights in a row sold out at Wembley Arena in England.
After doing several American tours and appearing on the television shows Saturday Night Live in New York and American Bandstand in Los Angeles, Mach moved to Los Angeles. After years of touring, he was seeking to replenish the fire within, so he worked in jazz clubs throughout the 1990s with top jazz pianist Frank Strazerri, world famous jazz drummer Nick Martinis, and many L.A. studio jazz players. Through the years, he continued studying saxophone players and jazz history to understand the various jazz traditions, becoming involved in instrument development and consultation and helping many top flight players with their instruments, including Tom Scott, Wayne Shorter, and Wilton Felder. Today he is finding new and often younger musicians to collaborate with on recording sessions and performing at jazz venues and events in and around Los Angeles and in the U.K. and Europe. Also he enjoys finding ways to teach and help other players who are interested in various forms of jazz.
In addition to the Bb and bass clarinets and the soprano, alto, baritone, and tenor saxophones, Mach plays several other instruments, such as the Ewi (Electronic wind instrument), trumpet, flute, and various eastern flutes and ocarinas. His arrangement and performance of a traditional Native American melody, “Prairie Daughter” has appeared on several albums, including Spiritual Sound of Native America (2008) and Traditional Native American Flute – Cries from the Earth (2012). Scott Yanow, a jazz journalist, wrote, “Krys Mach is an exciting and hard-swinging tenor-saxophonist. His control of the tenor, some of the upper register cries in his playing, and his ability to play at fast tempos are reminiscent of Johnny Griffin but he has his own musical personality. He can be relied upon to add excitement to any jazz date.”
The following work by Krys Mach is contained in my collection:
Prairie Daughter
Motivation: A Motivating Force, Stimulus, or Influence: Incentive, Drive
By Andrew Pudewa, the Institute for Excellence in Writing
(Note: This issue of Biblical Homeschooling includes an article by the very popular and talented writing teacher, Andrew Pudewa, regarding “Motivation.”)
To accomplish difficult tasks, motivation is absolutely necessary. No one doubts the need for motivating students, and methods of inspiring them to accomplish a teacher’s goals are numerous. On one extreme, there is fear: “Do this or die,” while on another, huge reward: “Do this and you win a million dollars.” When motivating children to write, however, there are some significant principles that must come into play because the fear of death impedes learning, and ultimately, material reward becomes ineffective. Some children write for fun; reading what they’ve written is its own reward. They embrace the idea of journals, and, inspired by their dreams and future, they write because they have a mission: to become writers. But these students are rare. Most children, especially those for whom writing is difficult, don’t have an instinctive inner drive to write. Typically the desire must be developed, and often the teacher’s biggest challenge is creating and maintaining that motivation.
For most of us, the basic reason for writing lies in Audience. We write a letter because we believe that someone will read it. We complete an assignment because it will be read and graded. We submit an article to a publication because we hope it will be published and appreciated by many.
https://iew.com/sites/default/files/article/fileattachment/motivation.pdf
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Monica Trujillo
17 years in Queensland Hospitals, 4 years in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and 13 years in Medical Administration
Dr Monica Trujillo obtained her degree in Medicine and Surgery, Universidad del Valle, Colombia 1998. She holds an AMC Certificate 2000, Masters of Public Health 2005, and has been a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators since 2009.
Dr Trujillo has worked 17 years in Queensland Hospitals, 4 years in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and 13 years in Medical Administration.
Dr Trujillo joined UnitingCare Health in July 2012 as Australia’s first Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and Regional Director of Medical Services for The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital and St Stephen’s Hospital at Hervey Bay. The opportunity to work on the development of Australia’s first fully-integrated digital regional hospital created strong appeal, as did the strength demonstrated in value-based leadership through the introduction of the Living Values program.
Dr Trujillo led the clinician engagement strategy in the successful opening of St Stephens Hospital. St Stephens Hospital is Australia’s first fully integrated digital hospital, and a pioneer in digital technologies. St Stephens is also the first hospital in Australia to achieve HIMSS Stage 6 certification and the national benchmark in automated patient care, leading the future of healthcare.
In September 2015, Dr Trujillo was chosen to join the HIMSS Asia Pacific Governing Council. The Council is a dedicated and committed group of industry experts working to drive the industry forward through the use of healthcare information technologies and management systems. She was recently elected as Vice-Chair of the Council.
Dr Trujillo is the Executive General Manager leading the Clinician and Consumer Engagement and Clinical Governance Division as the Chief Clinical Information Officer at the Australian Digital Health Agency.
Dr Trujillo is a strong advocate of e-health and in particular of the capabilities to deliver better patient care. Her main interests are Patient Safety, Clinical Governance, Medical Workforce, Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management, Medical Education and Information Technology in Healthcare.
Executive General Manager, Clinical and Consumer Engagement and Clinical Governance - Chief Clinical Information Officer
I love shoes!!
I'm passionate about
Clinical leadership, techie stuff and my family
Nigel Chartres
We Are Health Informatics is proudly brought to you by © HISA – Australia’s digital health community
www.hisa.org.au; Email hisa@hisa.org.au
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21 Dec 2004 - 20 Jan 2019
Collection: 51_crawl
this data is currently not publicly accessible.
QUICK LINKS ----------------- Undergraduate Advising Faculty & Staff Listing MBA Executive Education Information Technology Contact Us NOTRE DAME HOME MENDOZA HOME
Master's in Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Science in Accountancy
Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA)
The Mendoza College of Business enrolls over 1600 undergraduate students who pursue degrees in Accountancy, Finance, Marketing and Management (Consulting, Entrepreneurship or Information Technology Management). Students enter the Mendoza College in their sophomore year. For more program information, visit undergraduate advising.
Non-business undergraduates click here for course information.
Master's in Business Administration (MBA) ranked #26 in BusinessWeek serves more than 300 students in several programs of study: a two year MBA degree, a one year MBA degree for students with an undergraduate business degree, and dual degrees - JD/MBA, Engineering/MBA, and Physical Science/MBA - offered conjointly with other University of Notre Dame colleges.
Master of Science in Accountancy ranked 4th nationwide by the Public Accountancy Report is a two semester, 30-hour program in which students earn a master's degree while fulfilling the education requirement for CPA exam eligibility.
Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) program developes leaders and managers in business excellence and ethical leadership for the nonprofit sector. Accommodating the full-time work schedules of participants, the program offers on-site courses in the summer and electives offered via e-learning during the fall and spring. The MNA degree is completed in 14 to 50 months.
Executive MBA (EMBA)— ranked in the top 20 in BusinessWeek — is a flexible master's in business administration degree program designed for executive students who are employed full time. EMBA programs are offered in downtown Chicago, Illinois and on the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Indiana as well as at an off-campus classroom in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Executive Education Non-Degree Programs are designed for client companies and organizations as well as individuals seeking professional development. Custom Programs are designed to assist client companies in achieving specific organizational learning objectives. Open Enrollment Programs serve several hundred managers and aspiring executives annually, who enroll in a variety of executive courses.
CONTACT US Copyright © 1998, 2000, 2001 Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame
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Aug OCT Nov
18 Dec 2001 - 02 Jul 2019
California Historical Landmarks
Skip to: Content | Footer | Accessibility
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OHP Home
SHPO
Decisions Pending
CHRIS/IC
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THPO
Landmarks Guidebook - 1995
California Historical Landmarks (CHLs) are buildings, structures, sites, or places that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below. The resource also must be approved for designation by the County Board of Supervisors or the City/Town Council in whose jurisdiction it is located; be recommended by the State Historical Resources Commission; and be officially designated by the Director of California State Parks. CHLs #770 and above are automatically listed in the California Register of Historical Resources.
Criteria for Designation
To be eligible for designation as a Landmark, a resource must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Be the first, last, only, or most significant of its type in the state or within a large geographic region (Northern, Central, or Southern California).
Be associated with an individual or group having a profound influence on the history of California.
Be a prototype of, or an outstanding example of, a period, style, architectural movement or construction or is one of the more notable works or the best surviving work in a region of a pioneer architect, designer or master builder.
Effects of Designation
Registration will be recorded on the property deed.
Limited protection: Environmental review may be required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if property is threatened by a project. Contact your local planning agency for more information.
Local assessor may enter into contract with property owner for property tax reduction using the Mills Act.
Local building inspector must grant code alternative provided under State Historic Building Code.
Automatic listing in California Register of Historical Resources.
Bronze plaque at site (underwritten by local sponsor) may be ordered through OHP; highway directional sign available through local Department of Transportation (Caltrans) district office.
CALIFORNIA LANDMARKS
Landmarks listed by County
1995 Landmarks Guidebook
LANDMARKS REGISTRATION
Landmark Registration Information
How to nominate a Landmark
HISTORY OF LANDMARKS PROGRAM
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7 captures
07 Nov 2012 - 12 Jun 2018
Print © 2011 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro named to National League All-Star team
07/03/2011 1:14 PM ET
CHICAGO - Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro today was named to the 2011 National League All-Star team, the first selection of his major league career.
Castro will join manager Mike Quade, who last week was named to National League Manager Bruce Bochy's coaching staff, in representing the Cubs at the 82nd Major League All-Star Game Tuesday, July 12 in Phoenix.
The 21-year-old Castro becomes the youngest player in franchise history to be named to an All-Star team. Greg Maddux was 22-years-old when selected to the All-Star team in 1988 but did not play in the game. The youngest position player in franchise history to play in the All-Star Game is Ron Santo, who made the team at the age of 23 in 1963.
Castro is the first Cubs shortstop to be selected to the All-Star game in 21 years when Shawon Dunston made the club in 1990. Castro is only the sixth shortstop in franchise history to be named to the All-Star team, the third in the last 50 seasons, joining Dunston (twice), Don Kessinger (three times), Ernie Banks (nine times as a shortstop), Billy Jurges (once) and Woody English (once).
Entering Sunday, Castro ranks ninth in the National League with a .309 batting average (108-for-349), second with 108 hits and 32 multi-hit games and third with seven triples. He has appeared in 82 of Chicago's 84 games and leads the club in hits, doubles (21), triples, total bases (149), games played and batting average (among qualifying players).
Castro was named to the All-Star team by Bochy.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Cubs Homepage | MLB.com
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Getting to know Officer Gary
Chrystian Wimberly, Staff Writer
Filed under Human Interest
Gary Nieberlein is the resource officer for MMS. You’ve probably seen him greeting and dismissing students each day or walking the halls.
According to NASRO (the National Association for School Resource Officers), school resource officers, often called SROs, are career law enforcement officers who are employed by a community to offer protection in one or more school buildings. NASRO says it is “best practice” that a resource officer fulfill three main roles: educator (i.e. guest lecturer), informal counselor/mentor, and law enforcement officer.
Officer Gary fulfills the role of guest lecturer, often by working with health classes. He recently met with classes to discuss the dangers of opioids and alcohol. He showed students the emergency medical equipment that officers carry to assist overdose victims–Narcan, an AED (automated external defribulator), and wound treatments.
He also develops relationships with students daily by being present throughout the school day. When needed, he assists in resolving conflicts, deescalating situations, and responding to any crises.
Officer Gary grew up in Parma, Ohio, and he lived in a neighborhood where “everyone got along.” He has been a cop for twenty-six years, since 1993, and when he applied for the job at Mayfield, he didn’t even know where or what Mayfield was.
Since he was a kid, Officer Gary wanted to be a police officer. “ I always wanted to be a police officer,” he said. “I was set on it.” He went through training at the Cleveland Heights Police Academy. This four-month training camp is the first step in becoming a police officer.
To be a school resource officer, Officer Gary received additional specialized training. Although his job at MMS requires that he stay off the road and normal patrol, he still goes on patrol on days when school is not in session.
Outside of work, Officer Gary enjoys reading and his family. “They are great,” he said.
The mission statement of the Ohio School Resource Officer Association best captures the important role that Officer Gary fills. “The OSROA believes that the presence of a properly trained School Resource Officer within a school provides a first line of defense against violence, fosters communication/partnerships between educators, law enforcement, students and parents, and ensures safer and more productive school communities in Ohio.”
Thanks, Officer Gary Nieberlein, for your work in our building.
Students impacted by incarcerated parents
Which do you say? Behind the age-old word debates
An interview with Ms. Fasola
The 131st anniversary of the first of the Whitechapel murders
The truth about redheads
The wrap on Mr. Rapp
Inside the life of Mrs. McGarry
The dig on Destino
Getting to know MMS guidance counselor, Mrs. Borden
The five most infamous unsolved murders
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Wildlife career advice straight from the experts
You may know for sure that you want a career in wildlife, but you might not be so sure about which road you should take when looking for careers after graduation.
Attendees at the Career Opportunities Panel Discussion on Tuesday morning during TWS’ 23rd Annual Conference got some insight from people who work in different areas of the wildlife field, including how they got to where they are and the variety of career options that are available.
The event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, is the first of its kind at a TWS conference where five panelists spoke about their organizations and what their careers entail. The panel also answered questions from the crowd of students in the audience.
Brian Logan, the national wildlife program leader with the U.S. Forest Service spoke about working and traveling to different locations before landing his USFS position in Washington, D.C. Logan says there are positions from the technician level to district wildlife biologists to regional program leaders, and students can work their way up the ladder in these USFS positions. Logan also stressed the importance of advancing your writing skills for wildlife careers.
It’s not all Discovery Channel,” he said. “There’s some of that at the technician level,” but he added that there’s also a lot of timber harvest, mining, grazing, law regulation and policy associated with working with the USFS.
Rosa Gonzalez with the Wildlife Services also provided some insight into her organization and position dealing with human and wildlife coexistence at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Fla. Gonzalez started school at age 34, which she says shows that non-linear paths in the wildlife field can also lead to success.
“I didn’t know Wildlife Services had so many jobs available,” Gonzalez said. “When I went to school, I was thinking of becoming a park ranger.” Gonzalez also suggests having some writing skills and applying for internships is helpful. “School teaches you the basics, but internships are going to take you all the way,” she said.
Scott Yaich, the chief scientist of Ducks Unlimited, added some key advice for students as they look for jobs in the wildlife field: Be hopeful, be flexible and be ready to know good luck when it happens to you. Yaich says it’s important to seize opportunities that are available. He also stressed the importance of networking. “Network, network, network,” he said. “Who you know is rarely going to get you a job. But who you know can make you aware that an opportunity is available.”
While students may have heard of the previous organizations, Stephen Petron of CH2M spoke about his engineering consulting company that helps resolve issues and solve problems for state and federal governments. “You need to have mentors throughout your career, and that’s not just starting out,” Petron advisesd.
Another organization that wildlifers might not think of when considering careers is Duke Energy. Scott Fletcher, the natural resource manager with Duke Energy, discussed how the organization deals with wind and solar energy projects that often require wildlife and endangered species issues. “One thing I stress for you folks is good communication skills,” Fletcher said, adding that this means good technical writing skills as well as communication skills. “And the other aspect is good teamwork,” he stressed.
Fletcher concluded that 60 percent of the employees in his organization will likely retire in the next 10 years. “There’s plenty of opportunity out there for those in the private sector side,” he said.
Dana Kobilinsky is associate editor at The Wildlife Society. Contact her at dkobilinsky@wildlife.org with any questions or comments about her article. You can follow her on Twitter at @DanaKobi.
Read more of Dana's articles here.
Career Opportunities Panel Discussion
TWS 2016
wildlife field
Western Section Offers Students Hands-On Experience
TWS Conference Special Session: Careers with USFS and WS
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Muhammad Hassan
Muhammad Hassan (wrestler)
Muhammad Hassan (Brunei)
Muhammad (name)
Muhammad: The Messenger of God (film)
Notable people named Muhammad Hassan include:
Muhammad Hassan (Brunei) (reign 1582–1598 or 1601-1610), ninth Sultan of Brunei
Muhammad Hassan (Taliban), an alleged leader in the Taliban's Quetta Shura
Muhammad Hassan (wrestler) (born 1981), American professional wrestler born Mark Copani
Muhammmad Nurridzuan Abu Hassan (born 1992), Malaysian footballer
Mohamad Hassan (politician) (born 1956), Malaysian politician
Mohamed H.A. Hassan (born 1947), Sudanese scientist
Mohammad Al Hajj Hassan (born 1976), Lebanese cleric
Mohammed Hassan (disambiguation)
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Muhammad_Hassan
Mark Copani (born November 7, 1981) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2004 to 2005, where he portrayed an Arab American under the ring name Muhammad Hassan. His career came to an abrupt end when a controversial "terrorism" storyline coincided with the 7 July 2005 London bombings, leading the television network UPN to pressure WWE to remove Copani's character from television. Copani was later hired as Vice Principal at G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, New York.
Copani was born in Syracuse, New York. He graduated from Cicero – North Syracuse High School in 1998. He enrolled in the SUNY Buffalo, studying for a degree in history. In 2002, he left university to pursue a career in professional wrestling.
Professional wrestling career
Ohio Valley Wrestling (2002–2004)
Copani joined the Louisville, Kentucky-based promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in 2002. He debuted in the same year under the ring name Mark Magnus.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Muhammad_Hassan_(wrestler)
Sultan Muhammad Hassan was the tenth sultan of Brunei. He reigned from 1582 to 1598. His predecessor Shah Berunai was his older brother who died without an heir. He was succeeded by his elder son Abdul Jalilul Akbar.
Muhammad Hassan's descendants, through his elder son, have ruled as Sultans of Brunei into the 21st century, and he is the ancestor of the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Muhammad Hassan's middle son Pangiran Muda Tengah may have been sent to become Sultan of Sarawak then called by Sultan Tengah or Raja Tengah and the son of Sultan Tengah / Raja Tengah named Sulaiman was become Sultan of Sambas.
The earliest historical record of the Sultans of Brunei is not clearly known due to the poor early documentation of Brunei history. In addition there has been an effort to Islamise the history, with the "official history" not matching up with verifiable foreign sources The Batu Tarsilah - the genealogical record of the kings of Brunei - was not started until 1807. Therefore, much of the intepretation on history relied on earlier Chinese sources and legends. It seems that the early Sultanate of Brunei was dependent on Chinese support, and perhaps early Sultans were of Chinese origin. Furthermore the earliest Sultans may have been practising the Hindu or Buddhist religions, with early names indicating this origin.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Muhammad_Hassan_(Brunei)
Muḥammad (Arabic: محمد; c. 570 CE – 8 June 632 CE), is the central figure of Islam and widely regarded as its founder. He is known to Muslims as the "Holy Prophet", almost all of whom consider him to be the last prophet sent by God to mankind to restore Islam, which they believe to be the unaltered original monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. He united Arabia into a single Muslim polity and ensured that his teachings, practices, and the Quran, which Muslims believe was revealed to him by God, formed the basis of Islamic religious belief.
Born approximately in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca, Muhammad was orphaned at an early age; he was raised under the care of his paternal uncle Abu Talib. After his childhood Muhammad primarily worked as a merchant. Occasionally, he would retreat to a cave named Hira in the mountains for several nights of seclusion and prayer; later, at age 40, he reported being visited by Gabriel in the cave and received his first revelation from God. Three years after this event Muhammad started preaching these revelations publicly, proclaiming that "God is One", that complete "surrender" (lit. islām) to him is the only way (dīn) acceptable to God, and that he was a prophet and messenger of God, similar to the other prophets in Islam.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Muhammad
Muhammad (Arabic: محمد) is the primary transliteration of the Arabic given name, مُحَمَّد, from the triconsonantal root of Ḥ-M-D; Praise and becomes conjugated to Muhammad, which means "The Most Praised One". It is the name of the Islamic prophet. Throughout the Muslim world, it is popular to name a male child after him. This name and its variant transliterations are among the most popular names in the world.
The name Muḥammad is the strictest and primary transliteration of the Arabic given name, محمد, that comes from the Arabic passive participle and triconsonantal root of Ḥ-M-D (Praise); hence Praised, or praiseworthy. However, its actual pronunciation differs colloquially, for example, in Egyptian Arabic: IPA: [mæˈħæmmæd], while in exclusively religious contexts, talking about Islam: IPA: [moˈħæmmæd].
The name has one of the highest spelling variants in the world. Other Arabic names from the same root include Mahmud, Ahmed, Hamed, and Hamid.
Transliterations
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Muhammad_(name)
Muhammad: The Messenger of God is a 2015 Iranian Islamic epic film directed by Majid Majidi and co-written with Kambuzia Partovi. The film is set in the sixth century where the story revolves around the childhood of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The film marks the biggest-budget production in Iranian cinema to date. Development of Muhammad: The Messenger of God began in 2007 and Majidi wrote the first draft of the screenplay by 2009. By 2011, a colossal set created in the city of Qom near Tehran was ready for the majority of the film. Several scenes were filmed in South Africa. Throughout the filming process, Majidi worked with a team of historians and archaeologists for the work on accuracy of the early life of Prophet Muhammad. Post-production works began in Munich during late 2013 and were completed in 2014. The cinematography is done by Vittorio Storaro and film score is composed by A. R. Rahman.
The film was set to have its premiere at the Fajr International Film Festival on 1 February 2015 but was pulled out due to technical difficulties. For the critics, film-makers and journalists, a special screening was held at Cinema Farhang in Iran on 12 February 2015. The film was released both in Iran and at Montreal World Film Festival on 27 August 2015. The film was selected as the Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Muhammad:_The_Messenger_of_God_(film)
'Muhammad Hassan' is featured as a movie character in the following productions:
WWE Royal Rumble: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 4 (2008)
Actors: Matt Anoai (actor), Antonio Banks (actor), Dave Bautista (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Eric Bischoff (actor), Matt Bloom (actor), Terry Brunk (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Barry Buchanan (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), David Cash (actor), John Cena (actor), Chris Chavis (actor), Mike Chioda (actor), Hazem Ali (actor),
Genres: Action,
The Great American Bash (2005)
Actors: Chris Benoit (actor), Adam Birch (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Carlos Cabrera (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), Dionicio Castellanos (actor), John Cena (actor), Tony Chimel (actor), Michael Coulthard (actor), Shawn Daivari (actor), Nick Dinsmore (actor), Eddie Guerrero (actor), Dominic Gutiérrez (actor), Oscar Gutiérrez (actor), Dave Bautista (actor),
Genres: Sport,
WrestleMania 21 (2005)
Actors: Kurt Angle (actor), Matt Anoai (actor), Apl.de.Ap (actor), David Arquette (actor), Steve Austin (actor), Doug Basham (actor), Dave Bautista (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Eric Bischoff (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Carlos Cabrera (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), John Cena (actor), Akebono (actor),
Plot: Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero, Money in the Bank Ladder Match - Edge vs Kane vs Christian vs Chris Benoit vs Shelton Benjamin vs Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton vs The Undertaker, John Cena vs JBL, Big Show vs Akebono in a sumo match, Batista vs Triple H.
Keywords: sumo-wrestler, tv-special, wrestlemania, wrestling, wwe
Taglines: WrestleMania Goes Hollywood
WWE Backlash (2005)
Actors: Dave Bautista (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Eric Bischoff (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Carlos Cabrera (actor), Mike Chioda (actor), Jonathan Coachman (actor), Rob Conway (actor), Adam Copeland (actor), Shawn Daivari (actor), Jack Doan (actor), Ric Flair (actor), Nelson Frazier Jr. (actor), Matt Anoai (actor),
Genres: Action, Sport,
WWE Hall of Fame 2005 (2005)
Actors: Kurt Angle (actor), Matt Anoai (actor), Steve Austin (actor), Doug Basham (actor), Dave Bautista (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Eric Bischoff (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), John Cena (actor), Jonathan Coachman (actor), Carlos Colón Jr. (actor), Rob Conway (actor), André the Giant (actor),
Genres: Documentary,
WWE New Year's Revolution (2005)
Actors: Dave Bautista (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Eric Bischoff (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Carlos Cabrera (actor), Jonathan Coachman (actor), Rob Conway (actor), Adam Copeland (actor), Shawn Daivari (actor), Nick Dinsmore (actor), Jack Doan (actor), Ric Flair (actor), Nelson Frazier Jr. (actor), Matt Anoai (actor),
WWE Royal Rumble (2005)
Actors: Doug Basham (actor), Dave Bautista (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Eric Bischoff (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Carlos Cabrera (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), John Cena (actor), Tony Chimel (actor), Mike Chioda (actor), Jonathan Coachman (actor), Carlos Colón Jr. (actor), Adam Copeland (actor), Kurt Angle (actor),
Jon Heidenreich: Snitsky!::Gene Snitsky: Heidenreich!::Jon Heidenreich: I don't like coffins!::Gene Snitsky: Neither do I! But I like you John!::Jon Heidenreich: And I like you Gene!::Jon Heidenreich: But I still don't like coffins!
Christian: [wanting to challenge John Cena to a battle rap] Tomko, give me a beat.::Tyson Tomko: No.
[points to girls]::Christian: This is a real tough job, you should be proud of yourselves.
WWE Velocity (2002)
Actors: Mike Alfonso (actor), Doug Basham (actor), Dave Bautista (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Brian Black (actor), Matt Bloom (actor), Mike Brendli (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Barry Buchanan (actor), Garrison Cade (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), Matt Cappotelli (actor), John Cena (actor), Aaron Aguilera (actor),
Sunday Night Heat (1998)
Actors: Brian Adams (actor), Bob Backlund (actor), Dave Bautista (actor), Rodney Begnaud (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Matt Bentley (actor), Eric Bischoff (actor), Gerald Brisco (actor), Michael Bucci (actor), Barry Buchanan (actor), Chris Cage (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), Matt Cappotelli (actor), David Cash (actor), Shaggy 2 Dope (actor),
Plot: "WWE Sunday Night Heat" is a weekly live event/recap show featuring the superstars of Ric Flair's RAW brand. The show usually features the midcarders of the World Wrestling Entertainment RAW brand, and recaps the week that was for RAW.
Keywords: compilation, nwo, pro-wrestling, professional-wrestling, raw-brand, wcw, world-wrestling-entertainment, wrestling, wwe
Taglines: Sunday is no longer a day of rest!
Hassan, Muhammad Filmography
Slow Fall
2014, role: composer
YTMND Soundtrack, Volume 1 released: 2005
YTMND Soundtrack, Volume 1
Intro to Volume One
Straight Ahead
Call on Me
Drop It Like It's Hot
Dr. Zaius
Tender Crisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch
Dragostea din Teï
World Wrestling Entertainment: Muhammad Hassan
Speedy Speed Boy
Who's the Nigga?
I'm in the Mood for Dancing
German Super Mario Bros.
United States of Whatever
Mortal Kombat (Techno-Syndrome 7" mix)
abbashassan.org
muhammadubuhari.net
Latest News for: muhammad hassan
Plantation drive kicked off at NUML
The News International 19 Jul 2019
Director General NUML Brig Muhammad Ibrahim, irector Administration Brig (r) Ziaul Hassan Sahi alongwith other directors and staff members were also present on the occasion ... Director General NUML Brig Muhammad Ibrahim, irector Administration Brig (r) Ziaul Hassan Sahi alongwith other directors and staff members were also present on the occasion....
14 men from Tamil Nadu raised funds to set up ISIS cell in India
Deccan Chronicle 17 Jul 2019
Chennai ... One had been staying in Dubai for 32 years. Read ... The NIA, post interrogation had arrested two men in Nagapattinam- Harish Muhammad and Hassan Ali. According to the sources, an ISIS operative, named Hassan Ali, has been recruiting people to strike India ... .......
Reshuffle continues in tax machinery
Dawn 16 Jul 2019
... Wing FBR; Usman Ahmed Khan, Additional Director, Directorate General of Training & Research IR, Lahore; Maheen Hassan, Second Secretary, IR Policy Wing FBR; Muhammad Adil Khan, Second Secretary, IR Policy Wing FBR; and Muhammad Nauman, Second Secretary, IR Policy Wing FBR....
Sindh police reshuffle19 recently promoted officers
SP Muhammad Khalid Khan, ... SP Muhammad Hassan Khan, recently promoted, has been transferred and posted as SP Complaint Cell, District East, Karachi Range ... SP Muhammad Hassan Khan, recently promoted, has been transferred and posted as SP Complaint Cell, District East, Karachi Range....
Restrictions in parts of Srinagar to prevent separatist protests
The Siasat Daily 13 Jul 2019
It is a public holiday in the state ... Mir, state president of Congress party, M.Y.T Arigami, state secretary of CPI-M, Engineer Rashid, President of Awami Ittehad Party, Ghulam Hassan Mir, President Democratic Party Nationalist and Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, chief of Peoples Democratic Front ... Source. IANS. ....
Martyrs Day: Restrictions Imposed In Srinagar
Kashmir Observer 13 Jul 2019
Police sources said restrictions have been imposed in parts of Old City areas ... */ Martyrs Day ... Mir, state president of Congress party, M.Y.T Arigami, state secretary of CPI-M, Engineer Rashid, President of Awami Ittehad Party, Ghulam Hassan Mir, President Democratic Party Nationalist and Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, chief of Peoples Democratic Front....
‘Lohi Bhair Park to be uplifted’
Rawalpindi ... Director Wildlife Faisalabad region Muhammad Anwar Mann, Director Lahore Zoo Hassan Ali Sukaira, Director Rawalpindi Region Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi, Dy ... Rawalpindi ... Director Wildlife Faisalabad region Muhammad Anwar Mann, Director Lahore Zoo Hassan Ali Sukaira, Director Rawalpindi Region Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi, Dy ... ....
KU continues its Bengali department with six students despite many Bengalis in city
Of the six students, two, Hassan Muhammad Umar and Yasmeen Siraj, are enrolled on the MS previous programme, whereas, the other four are the students of BS programme, of whom three students, Shezad Siraj, Jameel Ahmed and Areeb Ahmed, are in their second year....
'Woolwich Boy' drug gangster is identified as fourth ISIS terrorist who boasted about killing Brits and Americans on phone video
Three of the men had already been identified - British Choukri Ellekhlifi, 22, Fatlum Shalaku, 20, and Muhammad Mehdi Hassan, 19 - and the fourth man has now been identified as Abdullah Hassan, one of the 20 men linked to the notorious 'Woolwich Boys' drug gang who are believed to have travelled abroad for Jihad, the Sunday Times revealed....
Six suspects arrested for street crime
The suspects were identified as Shamroze Ali, Ibrar, Syed Hadi Raza Zaidi, Syed Hassan Raza Rizvi, Amir Khan, Muhammad Faraz, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Shahzad and Manu ... The suspects were identified as Shamroze Ali, Ibrar, Syed Hadi Raza Zaidi, Syed Hassan Raza Rizvi, Amir Khan, Muhammad Faraz, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Shahzad and Manu ... ....
COLUMN: MANTO LIVES ON!
There are several new books on Saadat Hassan Manto ... More curious is the essay by Mumtaz Hussain, a leading Progressive writer, who sets out to prove that the stance of Muhammad Hassan Askari — who contributed the introduction to the volume — is akin to fascism since he had espoused ‘art for the sake of art.’....
Aspiring actors enthrall audience
Vice-Chancellor GCU, Professor Dr Hassan Amir Shah, graced the event as a chief guest and distributed certificates among all performing students, including Inam-ur-Rehman, Imran Meer, Altaf Hussain, Sundus Mehmood, Muhammad Hassan, Shoaib Ata, Mishal Nazir Chaudhry, M Rizwan ......
Dawah Academy plans centre in Chitral
Members of the Council including Justice Retired Fida Muhammad Khan, Prof ... Muhammad Munir, Vice President (AF&P), IIUI, Dr. Sohail Hassan, Director General, Dawah Academy, Dr ... Muhammad Tahir Khalily, Vice President (Academics), participated in the meeting ... Members of the Council including Justice Retired Fida Muhammad Khan, Prof....
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This website contains a sampling of my journalistic work and media appearances. I hope you see something you like.
Aaron L. Morrison | Journalist Aaron Morrison is a reporter and writer based in New York City.
Nov 25 Beyond Flint (Mich.)
Aaron Morrison
International Business Times | Published January 25, 2016
By AARON MORRISON, Staff Writer
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — Elizer Lee Cruz will occasionally look out at English Station — the shuttered and corroding coal power plant sitting on an eight-acre island in the middle of Mill River — and marvel at its architecture. From Fair Haven, a neighborhood just east of the river comprising largely minority and working-poor people, Cruz and his neighbors can see the tops of four of the facility’s smokestacks that stopped billowing in 1992.
“The way the bricks are laid — little blocks of cement with a circle and a lightning bolt — it was a power plant that was built to the glory of God,” he says, describing what he can see from the riverbanks. But that awe is fleeting for Cruz, an environmental activist who last year fought a plan that would have reopened the plant .
English Station, though dormant for more than two decades, still casts a large shadow. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has condemned it as a brownfield site whose grounds are tainted with polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, a contaminant that causes cancer. The energy company that once owned the facility sold it to another company, and a disagreement over who is responsible for the site’s neglect has delayed cleanup.
Meanwhile, Fair Haven’s Latino, black and immigrant residents cast fishing lines along the river adjacent to and downstream from the power plant, where some of the marine life is already contaminated with PCBs. City and state officials have discouraged consuming certain kinds of fish that come from the Mill River, but Cruz worries that stalled cleanup of English Station is endangering some immigrant families who sustain families with their catches.
“If there is anything known or unknown that is escaping into the water, they’re eating it,” says Cruz.
Because of New Haven’s own history of environmental problems, Cruz is watching the ongoing scandal over Flint, Michigan’s poisoned water supply with great interest. He and other community advocates are all too familiar with one of the hidden truths of American ecological injustice: People of color are disproportionately harmed by neglected environmental issues.
The Flint water crisis continues to generate headlines, but the negligence and mismanagement of public resources in largely minority communities reaches far beyond the borders of that central Michigan city. Across the country, blacks and Latinos are more likely than whites to live dangerously close to environmental hazards.
Connecticut is among the states with the worst disparities, with a higher proportion of poor minorities living near facilities that use, store, process or emit harmful chemicals, according to the Center for Effective Government report released this month. The study suggests that, nationwide, proximity to such sites increases the risk of death, disease and other poor health outcomes in children and adults.
To read the full story, click here.
Nov 25 Vanita Gupta, the DOJ's Civil Rights warrior
Nov 25 Voting after the Ferguson Uprising
Nov 25 John Ashe, the UNGA President
Nov 25 The Google search that launched Dylann Roof into mass murder
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Jul 3 Exposing Academia’s Penchant for Cultural Idolatry
College, Academia, Entertainment
The cancer of egocentric nihilism continues to metastasize throughout our network of colleges and universities.
According to its course catalogue, Washington University in St. Louis debuted a class this spring named “The Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics.” To entice students to enroll in this academic novelty, the university presents Mr. West as a “case study for interrogating the interplay between fame, gender, sexuality, and race.”
Undoubtedly, the Bible-believing Christian will accurately identify the harmony between this social justice themed content and the hyper-progressive cultural climate. However, this barely scratches the surface in terms of the Biblical significance of this seemingly whimsical course offering.
What does “The Politics of Kanye West” reveal about the spiritual health of our national system of higher education?
As we perform our inquiry, I would like the reader to bear in mind that this course features a price tag of $1,950. Assuming the class is comprised of a mere 25 students, our culture is investing nearly $50,000 into this course (per semester!) for what essentially amounts to forty hours of star-struck veneration.
So who is Kanye West and how does he contribute to American culture?
Kanye West defines himself as a god who is deserving of praise. These are his words in the song entitled “I Am a God,” the third track on his sixth studio album. In the rap, he shouts the phrase on twelve separate occasions.
I know what you are thinking. This is sensationalism. This is theater. This is simply an entrepreneur engaging in a garish production to garner media attention.
Perhaps these were the thoughts of BBC Radio DJ Zane Lowe, a man given the opportunity of interviewing West shortly after the release of his album. When asked to clarify the meaning of the song title during a radio interview, West indignantly shouted, “I just told you who I thought I was…a god! I just told you. That’s who I think I am!”
West later appears to embrace a savior mindset when discussing the political landscape following the 2016 election. He interrupted his own concert in San Jose, California to explain how he has “been sitting here to give y’all my truth even at the risk of my own life — even at the risk of my own success, my own career.”
Washington University apparently believes idolatry is a subject worthy of rigorous study.
During a separate interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2009, West shamelessly confessed that although he has a band help him produce and assemble his music and performances, he makes them “sit down in the pit so I can get all the shine.”
Washington University apparently believes selfish ambition is a subject worthy of study.
Of course, Kanye West is perhaps most famous for an incident during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Midway through her award acceptance speech, West took the microphone out of Taylor Swift’s hands to protest the injustice of the award not being given to Beyoncé.
Washington University apparently believes discord and factions are subjects worthy of study.
Kanye West has engaged in multiple emotional outbursts during his rise to stardom. When his bodyguard began a conversation with his wife, he “flipped out” and fired him immediately. Years earlier, he “lunged at a photographer” for inquiring about Kardashian’s ex-boyfriend outside a Miami restaurant.
He railed on the paparazzi and his potential fans in a profanity-laced tirade during a New York City concert in 2013, an outburst in which he used a disgraceful pejorative to describe infant children.
Washington University apparently believes fits of rage are a subject worthy of study.
Like so many American colleges and universities founded prior to the Civil War, Washington University was built upon the foundation of God, the Bible, and timeless Christian principles. In fact, Pastor William Greenleaf Eliot, Jr., the university’s first Chairman of the Board of Trustees, explained in the university’s 1857 inauguration that the university was founded “to educate the rising generations in that love of country…and in that faithfulness to God and Truth.”
Now, 160 years later, this school functions as just another in a long line of Christian colleges and universities not only running from their heritage, but actively evangelizing the adulation of self throughout the culture.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians contends that this is the exact opposite of what an institution of higher learning should be promoting:
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Thus far, we have addressed West’s actions, but what about his beliefs and philosophies?
During earlier interviews with Ellen, West spoke on the topic of education. He openly ridiculed the classical method of instruction, explaining that he is “like all about not reading.” He later asked “what is the point of thinking?” when asked to reflect on the challenging issues in his life.
On the subject of philosophy, he explained that he likes to “come up with theories that I thought applied to my life…not what applied to someone’s life thousands of years ago.”
These declarations strongly suggest that Kanye West believes that there is no value or relevance to anything outside of himself. Is this what we are so eagerly seeking to teach the next generation of adults?
If Washington University insists on learning from a living black man, why not study the economic policy of Thomas Sowell or the legal opinions of Clarence Thomas?
When Christians sympathize with the high-voltage cultural themes of race, diversity, and inclusion, they would be wise to filter these fleeting developments through the eternal principles of the Bible, not the other way around.
When the Israelites equally yoked themselves to Baal in the book of Numbers, the Lord’s anger burned against them. Not only should we have nothing to do with these flirtatious dabblings in egotistical nihilism, we are called to shine the light upon such wickedness that attempts to masquerade as education.
There is no enlightenment in idolatry.
university, college, culture
Jul 17 My New Book, Entitled to Slavery, is On Sale Today!
Apr 11 The March for Political Science Is Set for April 22, 2017!
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6202.0 - Labour Force, Australia, Feb 2008 Quality Declaration
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Principal labour force series, Trend estimates
States, Trend Estimates
FEBRUARY KEY FIGURES
Jan 08 to Feb 08
Feb 07 to Feb 08
Employed persons ('000)
Unemployed persons ('000)
Unemployment rate (%)
Participation rate (%)
FEBRUARY KEY POINTS
TREND ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)
EMPLOYMENT increased to 10,649,700
UNEMPLOYMENT decreased to 456,000
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE decreased to 4.1%
PARTICIPATION RATE remained at 65.2%
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)
increased by 36,700 to 10,665,500. Full-time employment increased by 47,700 to 7,633,500 and part-time employment decreased by 11,000 to 3,032,100.
decreased by 16,800 to 440,900. The number of persons looking for full-time work decreased by 5,800 to 293,200 and the number of persons looking for part-time work decreased by 11,000 to 147,700.
decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 4.0%. The male unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6%, and the female unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 4.4%.
remained steady at 65.2%.
ISSUE Release Date
March 2008 10 April 2008
April 2008 8 May 2008
May 2008 12 June 2008
June 2008 10 July 2008
July 2008 7 August 2008
August 2008 11 September 2008
IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SAMPLE DESIGN
Following each Census of Population and Housing, the ABS selects a new sample for the Labour Force Survey. This is done to ensure that the sample continues to accurately represent the distribution of the Australian population. A new sample has recently been selected based on the 2006 Census.
In order to reduce the potential impact of the change in sample on labour force statistics, the new sample will be introduced progressively, taking advantage of the existing rotation scheme. Using this scheme, the private dwelling sample in larger urban centres and less remote areas, representing approximately four-fifths of the total sample, will be phased in over the period November 2007 to June 2008. Within these areas, one-eighth of the new sample will be introduced each month under existing sample rotation arrangements. The rest of the sample (in remote, less populated areas and for non-private dwellings) will be introduced in two stages, March and April 2008. Detailed information about the new sample is provided in Information Paper: Labour Force Survey Sample Design (cat. no. 6269.0), which was released on 28 November 2007.
An analysis of the incoming and outgoing components of the sample indicates that the phasing in of the new sample has had minimal impact on the estimates.
ANNUAL SEASONAL REANALYSIS
Recently, the ABS has developed improved methods of producing seasonally adjusted estimates, focused on the application of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modelling techniques. The revision properties of the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates can be improved by the use of ARIMA modelling. ARIMA modelling relies on the characteristics of the series being analysed to project future period data. The projected values are temporary, intermediate values, that are only used internally to improve the estimation of the seasonal factors. The projected data do not affect the original estimates and are discarded at the end of the seasonal adjustment process. The ABS has implemented the improved method into the Labour Force Survey during the annual seasonal reanalysis. This month's issue of the publication is the first using the improved method.
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Mary Piechowski on Canberra (02) 6252 6525.
Document Selection
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This page last updated 9 April 2008
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Spoilers and Game-Changers in Libya’s Civil Conflict
From December 2014 to February 2015, there was a significant lull in violence on all fronts in Libya. This is concurrent with a dramatic decrease in Libya Dawn (Fajr Libya) activity, especially from the Misratan battalions (see Figure 1).
Whilst tensions were stoked at the beginning of May between Libya Dawn forces and Operation Dignity in the West of Libya, the second half of May witnessed a shift in the locality of violence, predominantly concentrated in the central city of Sirte and eastern city of Benghazi. Consequently, the Libyan Dawn alliance played a lesser role in violent conflict throughout May, reflected through several reconciliatory efforts and prisoner swaps between groups in Zintan, Misrata and Gharyan. Counterintuitively, the agents driving these peaceful exchanges are the revolutionary brigades themselves, rather than the respective parliaments and legislatures to which they are aligned. The General National Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of coordination between the fighting groups, municipalities and the legislative authorities in reaching the terms of agreement (The Libya Observer, 23 May 2015). Militia groups continue to hold significant power over their respective allied governments, taking their own course of action as the UNSMIL political process drags on with little progress made.
Similar sentiment was further expressed by the House of Representatives (HoR) that declared that any political-business arrangements established currently would be invalid under the transitional government. However, the negative reception towards the UN & Bernadino Leon’s third draft peace agreement – which would almost certainly curtail the influence of Islamist groups under Libya Dawn – has created a further impasse in reaching a resolution.
Dynamics on the ground largely reflect this wider stalemate within Libya, as the Libya National Army (LNA) continues to battle Ansar al-Sharia and groups under the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC) who are largely concentrated in the districts of Leithi, Sabri and Garyounis. Despite aerial bombardment by the Libya National Army on Ansar positions, throughout May the Islamist groups appeared to have gained the upper hand with a substantially higher proportion of casualties reported from the army side. On the 12 May 2015, groups affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) appeared to have crept into Benghazi, joining the fight against the Libya National Army and General Khalifah Haftar’s forces. Whether they are fighting alongside Ansar al-Sharia militants is unclear, however the humanitarian impact on the civilian populations within Benghazi is turning catastrophic. Libyan citizens who have remained within the city have been exposed to heightened rocket and RPG attacks and reports from residents suggests that certain districts have started to be deliberately targeted after refusing to back the fighting Islamist groups under the BRSC (Libya Herald, 26 April 2015). Whether the Islamic State redoubles its efforts in Benghazi remains to be seen, but for the next few weeks it is likely to solidify its presence in Sirte and Derna where it has established control over government institutions, most recently the Gardabiya airbase and the Great Man-Made River Project to the east of Sirte.
The growing manifestation of IS and the spiralling complexity it is adding to the Libyan situation (see Figure 2) could prove to be the pivotal mechanism for more concrete collaboration between the divided forces in Libya. On the 21 May 2015 for the first time since fighting began in May 2014, a joint security operation was conducted by Misrata’s 166 Battalion and forces of the internationally recognised parliament against the Islamic State in Sirte. To date, the Misratan bloc has been the most active group in confrontations with IS militants, where Islamic State advances on Misratan positions have seen clashes erupt in the town of Nawfaliyah and suicide attacks on the outskirts of Misrata itself. If sustained cooperation between Misrata and the Libyan National Army to combat the IS threat were carved out, it would pull the Misratan bloc further away from the ideologically hardline GNC, who are reluctant to concede power in the UN Resolution.
This would act to destabilise relations between fighting groups and the GNC camp. How this forecast plays out in the coming weeks is yet to be seen, but intentions to protect the economic and political prowess held by the city of Misrata is likely to be a guiding factor in this decision. Steps towards this outcome are already underway where recent weeks of fighting have reportedly left the Misratan forces stretched thin, divided between multiple battlefronts in both the east, west and central Libya.
Misratan forces have stepped down in confrontations with the Libyan Army, and taken decisive steps towards forging an agreement with Wersheffana to withdraw from Zawia and Janzour (Mozayix, 28 April 2015), with other groups under the Libya Dawn umbrella taking a more active role in early May. Furthermore, Operation Sunrise forces withdrew from fighting in Bin Jawad to secure oil installations and agreed a ceasefire with the Petroleum Facilities Guards aligned with the Tobruk-based government in order to redeploy troops for an offensive against IS around Sirte.
Grounds for stability could be forged through this battlefield alliance although the resilience of this brokered partnership to combat a common enemy may be harder to translate into a long-term transitional solution through institutional means. This is especially the case once the threat subsides and old tensions return to the fore. The GNC administrations unease at these political settlements highlights this potential faultline.
As Misrata moves from the weapon to the mouthpiece of the GNC – a move unwelcomed by GNC members- it is the response of the opposition that may uncover the real underlying dynamics in the Libyan conflict. In any case, the response of General Khalifah Haftar is worthy of attention, who has staunchly refused to recognise the camp as anything other than a radical Islamist coalition. The House of Representatives has also had to contend with its own political infighting this month, when armed protesters surrounded a parliament session in Tobruk demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni, and an “attempted assassination” attempt on Al-Thinni the same day. Whilst uncertainty surrounds these events, it has been speculated that Haftar orchestrated the event to undermine the legitimacy of the PM, in tandem with business and media elites.
James Moody
Africa Research Manager
James Moody is Africa Research Manager with ACLED. In this role he oversees the coding of political violence and protest across all countries in Africa. He is also a Geography PhD Candidate at the University of Sussex. His research interests include protest movements across North and sub-Saharan Africa and the dynamics of civil war violence. His own research explores the rising wave of protest in the post-Arab uprising period, focusing on local level governance, forms of contention, and protest geography, diffusion, and escalation across Africa. James has country-specific knowledge on Egypt and Libya. He is based in Brighton, United Kingdom.
Tagged on: Libya
James Moody 08/06/2015 29/12/2017 Africa, Civilians At Risk, Current Hotspots, Islamic State, Islamist Violence, Political Stability, Remote Violence, Rioting And Protests, Violence Against Civilians
← Protest, Service Delivery and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa
Counter-Insurgency and Violence Against Civilians in Eastern Congo →
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No, Senator, You Can’t Have the Torture Report Back (UPDATED)
By Ashley Gorski, Staff Attorney, ACLU National Security Project
January 28, 2015 | 5:45 PM
Treaty Ratification
dem14-tortureaccountability-500x280-rel1.png
Update (2/10/15): It looks like Senator Burr won’t get the torture report back, after all! In response to our emergency motion, filed late last month, the government has committed to “preserving the status quo” – in other words, it will hold on to its copies of the 6,900-page report detailing the CIA’s torture program, despite Senator Burr’s attempt to bury it beyond the court’s reach. Our efforts to get the full report into the hands of the public are continuing.
The new chairman of a powerful Senate committee wants to ensure that the full Senate torture report, the executive summary of which was released in December last year, never sees the light of day. And he may be getting help from the CIA.
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who now leads the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, made an unprecedented request to President Barack Obama earlier this month. He asked that the executive branch agencies transfer their copies of the SSCI’s full report on the CIA’s torture program back to the Senate. Several members of the committee and other senators have roundly condemned Sen. Burr’s request for what it is: a naked attempt to keep the full torture report from the American public as well as to prevent democratic accountability for the abuses carried out in our name.
The timing and the content of Sen. Burr’s request strongly suggest some degree of coordination with executive branch agencies to avoid producing the report in an ACLU Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking its release. We are gravely concerned that the CIA and other agencies will return the report in response to Sen. Burr’s letter, and that it might never be released to the public. Last night, we filed an emergency motion asking the court in our case to order that the executive branch agencies retain the full torture report while our lawsuit is pending.
The full torture report is the product of a multi-year, comprehensive investigation into the CIA’s post-9/11 program of detention, torture, and other abuse of detainees. When the SSCI sent the full torture report to the CIA, the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense last month, then-SSCI Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) asked that the report be made available “broadly” within the executive branch to help make sure that the CIA’s detention and torture program is “never repeated.” But some of the agencies haven’t even opened the package containing the report, in what seems to be a maneuver designed to evade their FOIA obligations.
The response to the Senate’s public release of the report’s executive summary shows just how important it is for the full report to be released. The summary describes horrific human rights abuses and a litany of misrepresentations by the CIA. It generated global attention and spurred renewed calls for investigation and prosecution of the architects of the torture program. But like any summary, it omits critical details. That’s why the ACLU is seeking to compel the agencies to release the full report, which spans more than 6,900 pages and provides substantially more detail about the CIA’s deceptions and brutality.
As shown in the executive summary, the CIA has a troubled relationship with the truth in the courts. In one particularly striking example, a CIA attorney expressed concern that a declaration she or he wrote in a different lawsuit was “a work of fiction.” And in this very FOIA case, the CIA told us through government counsel month-after-month that it did not possess the full torture report, until finally it turned out that the CIA did, in fact, have the report, and the government lawyer had to explain: “there was a miscommunication apparently within the agency as to what they were looking for … they didn’t realize that they had it.”
If the CIA and other agencies send the full report back to the SSCI, the agencies could argue that the court lacks the power to order the committee to produce the report in response to our lawsuit. Our emergency motion seeks to prevent this legal bind and any efforts by the agencies to circumvent FOIA.
The public is entitled to the entire story about the CIA torture program and its lies to Congress, the White House, and to us. Any attempt to bury the fullest account of the torture program in existence – and a fine example of congressional oversight – undermines the democratic accountability that is necessary to the rule of law.
We’re fighting to prevent that.
Learn more about torture and other civil liberty issues: Sign up for breaking news alerts, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
If " CIA attorney expressed concern that a declaration she or he wrote in a different lawsuit was 'a work of fiction.'", then she or he should be disbarred and brought up on charges of perjury.
Fucking LYING should NOT BE TOLERATED, especially in legal documents.
Oh Yes! It's all about "democratic accountability for the abuses carried out in our name. "
You rethugs better remember, this includes you criminals as well!
Oh YES. It's all about "democratic accountability for the abuses carried out in our name. "
You rethugs better remember this is equally about your criminal behavior, as well.
The United States Government should not be torturing people, I used to think that stuff like this only happened in third world dictatorships.
CBP Can’t Detain Domestic Flight Passengers for Refusing Suspicionless ID Checks
Doctors Who Facilitate Torture Must Be Held to Account
I Quit My Job to Protest My Company’s Work on Building Killer Robots
CIA Torture Killed My Father. I Want to Know What They Did With His Body.
We’re Suing the CIA to Find the Body of a Torture Victim
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African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure ISSN 2223 814X
ISSN | 2223 814X
African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
From 2019 it is recommended that authors provide their once-off ORCID iD in each of their submission details.
This is, however, not mandatory.
Vol 8(4) is now CLOSED for articles to be considered for peer reviewing and will re-open on 01 August
WE ARE PROUDLY HOSTING TWO SPECIAL EDITIONS IN 2019
Volume 8(Special Edition - CUT South Africa) 2019
The Centre for Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Studies, in the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Central University of Technology, Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa, is hosting its Second International Conference on Entrepreneurship Development during the period 3 to 5 April 2019.
Theme: Sustainable entrepreneurship development for the 4th Industrial Revolution
Special issue title: Promoting Entrepreneurship Development in Africa - Views from the Global South
Volume 8 (Special Edition - GATR Malaysia) 2019
Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR)- Malaysia, is hosting the
9th& 10th Global Conference on Business and Social Sciences 2019
Theme: Contemporary Issues in Management Studies Research
Volume 7 (6) 2018 (Special Edition - Italy) is now closed
III International Conference on Tourism Dynamics and Trends - X Scientific Meeting SISTUR- November 14th-16th, 2018
The International Conference on
Theme: Tourism Dynamics and Trends
is organized in collaboration with three Universities:
Akdeniz University (Turkey), University of Sannio (Italy) , University of Seville (Spain),
jointly with the Sistur (Italian Society of Tourism Science).
soliciting papers in the domains of
We are proudly making peer reviewed research research available online to a global community of practice.
AJHTL The journal incorporates all types of empirical and conceptual research in issue relevant to
Tourism, Hospitality, Leisure Management and general Management.
All submissions must be well researched, informed and show good familiarity with the relevant current extant literature, concepts and also various theoretical perspectives in the areas of the study. Papers are solicited from, but not only limited to the related fields of Marketing, Strategic Management, Communication Science, Business Ethics, Corporate Governance, Stakeholder Management, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, Nutrition, Service Quality, Sustainability and Globalization.
This also includes any area which has an impact, in some way or other, on Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure.
AJHTL is an ACCREDITED journal founded in 2004, appearing on the Scopus index, and DOAJ and was on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) list of approved South African journals from January 2014.
This is an open-access journal - free use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium is allowed, provided that the journal, and original author(s) are credited.
Periodicity 2019
Five (5), online, electronic format editions will be published (January, February, [mainly articles from the previous year] April/May, August, November) and one (1) special edition in June 2019.
publication Indexing and impact
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AJHTL appeared
Department of Higher Education and Training
(DHET, South Africa)
list of approved
South African journals
January 2014 -2018
Due to a DHET rule of 2019, articles on international indices need no longer appear on their list.
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There is no charge to submit a paper, but publishing a paper in AJHTL requires paper processing charges. Publication charges include publishing and administrative expenses.
Processing fees payable after peer-reviews but before publication:
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Only 10 - 12 articles will be considered in the waiving of fees.
However, this does not apply when articles are co-authored with others from non-waiver nations.
Once the allowed number of fee waived articles is reached,
reduced fees may apply.
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The AJHTL aim of publishing up to 2 special issues per annum is to provide a respectable international medium for researchers to share their valued research endeavours as this contributes to the propagation of new and important scientific data and knowledge.
The key function of the Guest Editor of a Special Issue/Edition, will be to communicate with AJHTL and prospective authors regularly, and send papers and also the AJHTL review template to the reviewers selected by the Special Issue/Edition hosts. The template must be used and track changes must be made on all articles submitted by the reviewers with their important comments. These track change documents must be sent to AJHTL as the are submitted by their reviewers and authors. Ideally all 12-14 articles should be submitted to AJHTL simultaneously after guest reviewing is done.
The deadline for the publication of the special issue will be posted online- no articles will be accepted after the given date. Note that only 12-14 articles or less will be accepted depending on their quality and academic rigour.
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NB- no reasons need to be given by AJHTL for rejection of a paper.
(8) The Guest Editor must send an email and also the record and status of all papers on a weekly basis, but AJHTL will then, as per point (7) ultimately advise on the acceptance/rejection/ revision and resubmission as applicable, and we will inform the authors of final acceptance/rejection.
(9) AJHTL will invoice the respective authors of accepted articles and these must be paid within the specified time.
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You retain copyright and are free to disseminate your article, make copies for any use, and/or deposit in any repository or archive (thus retaining publishing right), provided that the journal, and original author(s) are credited.
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Although efforts are made to ensure that the contents of the articles are correct, AJHTL will not be responsible for any errors made or damages suffered as a result of reliance being placed on information obtained from the Journal. Furthermore, opinions expressed by authors are their own and do not reflect the opinion or viewpoint of AJHTL. Publication of an articles does not imply endorsement or agreement with any particular statement made in an article.
AJHTL is by no means responsible for the infringement by the contributing author/s for copyright infringement of a third party. The authors are responsible and should be held liable in such a case.
This work by African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Photos used under Creative Commons from LukePricePhotography, Brisbane Joinery
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"Music Capsule" incorporates a wide variety of musical influences from 50s rock 'n' roll, to 60s psychedelia and beyond. Like its namesake, the Time Capsule, this collection has been compiled and housed to offer a retrospective on bygone eras. Incorporating documentaries, concerts, music videos and TV series. Featured are renowned artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, The Band, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, The Sex Pistols and much, much more. Right: John, Paul, George and Ringo...
Title: A-Z
Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love (2009)
Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Starring: Youssou N'Dour
Senegalese pop sensation Youssou N'dour has spent the last 20 years in the spotlight as a world- renowned musician. At the height of his career, he be... Read more
Youssou N'Dour: Return to Goree (2010)
Director: Pierre-Yves Borgeaud
Reversing the trajectory of the slave trade, African superstar Youssou N'Dour brings jazz back to Africa in this documentary. Along with his pianist M... Read more
Yusuf: Roadsinger Live 2010 (2010)
Starring: Cat Stevens, Yusuf
In 2010, 36 years after he last toured down under as the enigmatic Cat Stevens, the now renamed Yusuf returned and the result is this live concert fil... Read more
Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (1973)
Director: D A Pennebaker
Starring: David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder
David Bowie at his most outrageous, performing many of his biggest songs. Filmed in London in 1973, during Bowie's last appearance as the androgynous... Read more
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Contributor(s): Matthew Haughn
App monetization is a means of making money from a mobile app without charging for it. Users often balk at paying for apps because the vast majority of them are offered free of charge. Despite that fact, however, according to The Verge, free apps are the source of 98 percent of Google Play revenue.
One of the most common ways to monetize an app is to collect user data and sell it to third parties, usually advertisers. That often puts data at risk because it may be inadequately protected in transfer. Furthermore, those third parties may not protect the data well and it could be accessed by cybercriminals for identity theft or targeted attacks, among other possibilities. Although app developers may stipulate how they will access user data and what they will do with it, end users often fail to even read that information before they agree to the seller's terms. Another unpopular option is advertising within the app, which can be particularly distracting for users given the small screen size.
Other options for app monetization include:
The freemium model, in which a basic version of an app is available free of charge and a premium version is available for users who want added value. In this case, it's important to ensure that the original app is fully functional and that the premium version is a significant upgrade.
In-app purchases, which offer enhancements for purchase from within the application. In a game, for example, users may have the option of upgrading their skill levels or buying currency, characters, tools or weapons.
Free trial periods, after which the user has the option to pay for the app to continue using it.
Once an app is somewhat established, it may be possible to find sponsors who will pay to have their branding on the app. This practice is known as white labeling.
Continue Reading About app monetization
Fact: Free apps sell your data
Get rich selling in app stores? Not so fast.
Balancing consumer privacy with data monetization
How to monetize your mobile app
10 ways to monetize your mobile app
Does your mobile applications development strategy have what it takes?
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California is the home of both the highest and the lowest points in the continental U.S. — Mt. Whitney at 14,495 feet and Death Valley at -282 feet. As far apart as these two sites are on the altimeter, they’re less than 100 miles apart on the odometer.
That’s a lot of up and down. If you follow California’s developing law on Independent Contractor vs. Employee tests, you’ve also seen a lot of ups and downs recently. If a pending bill passes (as expected), businesses using independent contractors may be about to experience a new low.
Remember the Dynamex case? As explained here, that’s the California Supreme Court decision that enacted a strict ABC Test for determining whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor under California’s wage orders. As we discussed here, though, the ABC Test only applies to certain state law employment claims. Other less stringent tests still apply when analyzing whether a contractor should really be considered an employee under other state employment laws.
But that may be about to change.
Assembly Bill 5 would adopt the Dynamex ABC Test as the way to determine whether someone is an employee under all parts of the California Labor Code and under state unemployment law.
In its current form, the law would exempt certain licensed professions from being subject to the ABC Test. Extensive lobbying efforts are underway by various trade associations to carve other trades out of the law as well. For those professions excluded from the law’s reach, the test for determining whether a contractor is really an employee would be the S.G. Borello balancing test, a much less stringent standard than the Dynamex ABC Test.
The bill is now pending before the state senate. If it passes, it will become even harder to be a legitimate independent contractor in California. The state with one of North America’s highest peaks will become a virtual Death Valley for contractors trying to maintain their independent status.
We’ll continue to follow the status of this bill.
This entry was posted in California, Independent Contractor, Independent Contractor vs. Employee, Non-Employee Workers, Tests, Uncategorized, What to Watch and tagged ABC Test, California, Death Valley, Dynamex, Independent Contractor, Independent Contractor Misclassification, Independent Contractor vs. Employee, Legislation. Bookmark the permalink.
← Fun with Funerals? Cremation Company Settles Misclassification Case for $2.5 Million
After Robert R Died, the State Agency Kept Sending Him Assessments. Then I Did This… →
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Ihsanoglu: OIC commited to engender a culture of harmony among peoples of diverse religious faiths
WAM: Emirates News Agency
WAM JEDDAH: Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, or OIC, in a statement on the occasion of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, said the OIC is committed to engender a culture of harmony among peoples of diverse religious faiths, civilizations and cultural backgrounds. We took the lead in pioneering Dialogue among Civilizations at the United Nations as early as 1998 to promote intercultural and inter-civilizational understanding and mutual respect for diversity.
“The urgency attached by the OIC to establish interfaith harmony is vindicated in various initiatives taken including that of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia with major events in Makkah, Madrid and at the UN General Assembly in New York in 2008,” he added The international community is observing the World Interfaith Harmony Week on February 1-7, 2011.
“As Secretary General of the OIC, I take particular pride that the initiative came from the Head of an OIC Member State, His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, during the ongoing 65th session of the UN General Assembly. On behalf of the OIC, I issued a statement welcoming this visionary initiative and called on all to observe the week in a befitting manner,” he further said.
The OIC secretary general added that the call for “World Interfaith Harmony” gains in weight and substance when we find ourselves confronted by radical and extremist elements who are active in pursuing an agenda of religious intolerance and hatred. The Organization of the Islamic Conference has on various occasions and at international forums, urged the international community to develop a common strategy and mechanism to confront the challenge.” WAM/MMYS.
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Protecting the Health and Welfare of Our Nation
The health service has grown from the initial corps of just physicians to encompass eleven different health categories including, therapists, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists, to name a few. They are veterans under federal law entitled to all of the benefits, including being buried in a veteran’s cemetery.
Most people, when asked to name the seven uniformed services of the United States confidently rattle off Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy but then, they start to falter. Wreaths Across America was contacted and asked to amend ceremony scripts to include and give proper credit to the other two branches and is honored to do so.
“Officers of the United States Public Health Service have been around in uniformed service since 1889,” states Col. (ret.) James Currie, Exec. Dir. of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service. “After the Civil War, the country needed a mobile corps of physicians who could be sent anywhere in the country where there was a public health need. Back in the nineteenth century, they were sent to places where there was cholera and yellow fever; epidemics of one kind or another.”
The mission of the Commissioned Officers Association is to represent and support the uniformed officers in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), of which there are 6500 active duty. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has been around since 1951. “Even though people may be familiar with the U.S. Surgeon General, most aren’t aware of the uniformed corps. The Surgeon General is the director of what’s called the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service. The corps all have medical backgrounds of one kind or another, and they wear a Navy uniform unless they’re part of the 450 public health service officers assigned to the Coast Guard. In fact, the Surgeon General of the Coast Guard is a two-star admiral in the Public Health Service. The largest number of officers, roughly 1,900 of them work for the Indian Health Service providing health care to Native American populations on reservations.”
The health service has grown from the initial corps of just physicians to encompass eleven different health categories including, therapists, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists, to name a few. They are veterans under federal law entitled to all of the benefits, including being buried in a veteran’s cemetery. They participate in events at Arlington National Cemetery, and you may very well see a public health service contingent marching in local Veterans or Memorial Day parades. USPHS officers are serving in 22 federal agencies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Homeland Security to the Department of Agriculture. Many of the native Spanish-speaking officers deploy to the U.S. Southern border to help there. They serve along-side members of the other uniformed services in time of war.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the seventh uniformed service wearing Coast Guard uniforms, and they’re a small unit of 321 people mostly known for the hurricane tracking flights into the eye of the storm. NOAA also drops and maintain buoys and conducts oceanographic research.
Col. Currie tells us several years ago one of the association’s members reached out to him soliciting his sponsorship for a veteran’s wreath through Wreaths Across America. “I looked into the organization and its activities and thought, yeah, that’s a good group. Being a veteran myself I believe in honoring those who have served.” Col. Currie has been an annual donor to Wreaths Across America. When he learned Wreaths Across America ceremony scripts paid tribute to the Armed Forces singling out each branch by name, but never mentioned USPHS or NOAA, it was time to reach out. “Frankly, educating people about the USPHS and NOAA is what we do almost every day.”
With a Ph.D. in History, Col. Currie reminds us not only of the heroic service in world conflicts but in more recent times. “You may recall during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, the United States was terrified the disease would enter this country, but we were successful in helping to contain the virus in West Africa. This disease has a very high fatality rate, yet these people volunteered to go to Liberia. It takes a lot of guts as far as I’m concerned to be treating people who are vomiting all around you, and you hope you don’t have a breach in your HazMat suit. The entire Public Health Service Corps was given a Presidential Unit Citation, given to a unit associated with the U.S. military, for exceptional service.”
The Commissioned Corps officers have already been participating in Wreaths Across America ceremonies across the country and will continue to do so according to Col. Currie. “They are a unique service corps; they are professionals, and I can tell you they’re proud of their service and being United States veterans.”
Wreaths Across Greensboro (NC0057P) |18336|
Forest Lawn Cemetery , Greensboro, NC 27455 (NCFLCG) |16686| Choose Another Cemetery
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Make a donation →
Your support can make a difference.
There are a number of exciting projects which need funding and support.
ONLINE DIGITAL ARCHIVE
Gavin and the team have been reading and researching for over 20 years. A huge amount of the archive materials studied have been scanned and processed digitally. The “Menzies Archive”was donated to Yunnan University in Kunming, where it is held at the University Library. The 1421 Foundation has established a close working relationship with Yunnan University, Yunnan University Library, and Yunnan Zheng He’s Studies Association, demonstrating a sustained commitment to studying and sharing of our understanding and insights of Zheng He and his voyages.
Together, Yunnan University and the 1421 Foundation commit to continued research, education, and outreach efforts; beginning in three specific areas:
(1) Yunnan University Library will establish a sole data center and catalogue the archives donated by Gavin Menzies. This data center will be open to all teachers, students and the general public.
(2) Yunnan University will, in conjunction with the “Belt and Road Initiative” in China, promote and strengthen the study of Zheng He’s voyages in MA and PhD programs.
(3) Yunnan University and Yunnan Zheng He’s Studies Association will strengthen the academic and educational cooperation with the 1421 Foundation at the student and scholar exchange level.
It is hoped that, in the coming years, and through our cooperation and joint efforts, the extent and significance of Zheng He and his voyages will become universally understood and accepted.
HOW CHINA CHARTED THE WORLD - MAP EXHIBITION
The 1421 Foundation is developing a travelling exhibition which explores the evolution of world maps through the ages. It was agreed that the exhibition would be held initially at the Royal Geographical Society, London, and then travel around the world. The aim of the exhibition and accompanying seminars is to provide the world with stunning visual proof that China had been exploring and mapping the world for millennia before the European “Age of Discovery” began in the fifteenth century. The exhibition will bring together, in plain sight, and at hugely prestigious and relevant venues, the cartographic proof which shows that great exploratory voyages from Asia had mapped and circumnavigated the world by 1421 AD.
The culmination of these great voyages of discovery can be seen in the “Impossible Black Tulip”, Matteo Ricci’s Chinese world map of 1602, a copy of which the Royal Geographical Society has displayed on its very own walls in the Map Room. Accompanying the two week exhibition in the RGS Pavilion, will be a series of seminars led by a panel of experts from around the world who will show, beyond reasonable doubt, that the great European explorers all set sail using maps which were based on Chinese knowledge of the world, acquired over several millennia of global exploration.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a book, brochure and television documentary.
SUPPORT CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Part of the 1421 Foundation’s goal is to support the development of curriculum-based learning. We would like to give students the option to learn about the evidence of early man’s exploration of the world through experiential and un-biased class …
Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, Malacca
This remarkable museum founded by Drs. Tan Ta Sen in Malacca, Malaysia, is built on one of the original entrpots used by Zhneg He’s fleets. When the “1421 Exhibition” held in Singapore in 2006 closed, part of it was moved to the Menzies 1421 Gallery at the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum in Malacca, and Dr. Tan has now requested the 1421 foundation assit him in refurbishing and breathing new life into his museum.
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THE FLEET At FLOOD TIDE: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945
THE FLEET at FLOOD TIDE JAMES D. HORNFISCHER
The extraordinary story of the World War II air, land, and sea campaign that brought the U.S. Navy to the apex of its strength and marked the rise of the United States as a global superpower
One of America's preeminent military historians, James D. Hornfischer has written his most expansive and ambitious book to date. Drawing on new primary sources and personal accounts by Americans and Japanese alike, here is a thrilling narrative of the climactic end stage of the Pacific War, focusing on the U.S. invasion of the Mariana Islands in June 1944 and the momentous events that it triggered.
With its thunderous assault into Japan's inner defensive perimeter, America crossed the threshold of total war. From the seaborne invasion of Saipan to the stunning aerial battles of the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, to the largest banzai attack of the war and the strategic bombing effort that led to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Marianas became the fulcrum of the drive to compel Tokyo to surrender with consequences that forever changed modern war.
These unprecedented operations saw the first large-scale use of Navy Underwater Demolition Teams; a revolution in the fleet's ability to sustain cross-hemispheric expeditionary warfare; the struggle of American troops facing not only a suicidal enemy garrison but desperate Japanese civilians; and the rise of the U.S. Navy as the greatest of grand fleets. From the Marianas, B-29 Superfortresses would finally unleash nuclear fire on an enemy resolved to fight to the end.
Hornfischer casts this clash of nations and cultures with cinematic scope and penetrating insight, focusing closely on the people who rose to the challenge under fire: Raymond Spruance, the brilliant, coolly calculating commander of the Fifth Fleet; Kelly Turner, whose amphibious forces delivered Marine General Holland Howlin Mad Smith s troops to the beaches of Saipan and Tinian; Draper Kauffman, founder of the Navy unit that predated today s SEALs; Paul Tibbets, who created history s first atomic striking force and flew the Enola Gay to Hiroshima; and Japanese warriors and civilians who saw the specter of defeat as the ultimate test of the spirit.
From the seas of the Central Pacific to the shores of Japan itself, The Fleet at Flood Tide is a stirring and deeply humane account of World War II s world-changing finale. Advance praise for The Fleet at Flood Tide
This is a masterful account of the barbaric last year of the Pacific War, combining original scholarship, engaging prose, excellent historical judgment, and empathy for the soldier, to explain why defeating the Japanese proved so costly and how American military forces performed so effectively and, in the end, humanely. The Fleet at Flood Tide is, quite simply, popular and scholarly military history at its best. Victor Davis Hanson, author of Carnage and Culture, senior fellow in classics and military history, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University
We have here a carefully researched and well-written account of key stages and events in the final portion of the war in the Pacific that includes a careful look at the Japanese side as well as the American. The campaign in the Marianas and the background and reality of the atomic bomb are exceptionally thoughtfully presented. Gerhard L. Weinberg, author of A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II, professor emeritus of history, University of North Carolina"
HUBBY'S REVIEW:
A fabulous book about the war in the Pacific and the sacrifices made by all of the service men and women. Beginning with Saipan and leading you to the end of the war with Japan, and along the way the author provides memories of some of the individuals, either by letters, diary made possible by family, and sometimes by the actual person. This gives you the reader a better feel for what was going on at the time. It still amazes how the Marines continued to storm the beaches even after seeing the comrade in arms down, and yet they would still keep coming and attacking until the island was taken. How after numerous banzai attacks the training of the sailors would kick in to save the ship, and then later grieve for the ones they lost. Another part of the book that got me was that from June of 44 to the end of the war that is when the military in the Pacific and Europe lost over One million personal of the one million and a quarter that was lost for the entire war. Shocking for me because my father was with the 82nd Airborne during that time. I also remember him telling me that after Germany surrendered that they were gearing up to go to the Pacific to invade Japan, and the day the first bomb was dropped they were actually getting reading to board planes to leave when they got the message of the first bomb. Everyone in Europe was happy because as he put they were tired of fighting, still would have. This goes along with the authors talking to people from that time and the cost of lives that were projected at the time. The author goes into detail with this and the making of the bomb. I found this to be a very thorough and fascinating book. I got this book from netgalley. I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
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Critical Analysis of "The Road Not Taken"
1340 WordsApr 10, 20136 Pages
Ayden Harris Dr. Olsen English 102 March 12, 2013 Robert Frost’s Poem “The Road Not Taken” "The Road Not Taken” is an iconic poem which establishes the poetic genius of Robert Frost, one of America’s much celebrated writers. All scholarly discourses on the poem clarify many vital aspects regarding the theme and other stylistic aspects. On a peripheral analysis, the poem seems to be a descriptive account of a journey of persons. The person is the poet himself, and he is talking about the road he has to choose in undertaking the journey. Critical thinking from the part of the readers makes it clear that the poet is talking about certain grave issues in life. It is in this context that a philosophical reading of Frost’s poem attains significance. The real greatness of the poet lies in the fact that he could present all details with vivid literary devices. Through the poem, Robert Frost gives answers to certain deep philosophical questions of practical life. Robert Frost is a poet who always speaks through images. Throughout the poem, it is seen that there are a number of supreme symbols which heighten the themes presented. As the title indicates, there is a road at the center of the poem. In fact, there are two roads which the poet sees right in front of him. But he does not, at first, know which road to take in order to reach the destination. He realizes that both the roads would lead him to where he has to reach. Yet, he has to choose one road from the two. It is the philosophy of an individual which is being highlighted in all selection processes. The poet undertakes critical thinking on finding two roads. Here, the readers can rightly understand that the poet is talking about the choices life offers (Shmoop Editorial Team). The road is a metaphor which has multilayered meanings. In life, a person has to make a series of choices. Each such instance
The Road Not Taken Essay
1214 Words | 5 Pages
“The Road Not Taken” Robert Frost claims he wrote “The Road Not Taken” as a joke to his friend Edward Thomas because he was so indecisive. (Ellis, Robert). In Frost’s Words “Thomas was a person who, whichever road he went, would be sorry he didn’t go the other.” He was glad either way that the poem became one of his most popular poems and that it can be interpreted in many ways. (Andrews, Terry). Robert Frost is referring to the age old dilemma toward making difficult decisions that must be faced
The Road Not Taken Analysis
most uncertain thing that each human has. “The Road Not Taken” is a consideration of the uncertainties of life. Every person looks at choices in a different way but all people should weigh their choices with no bias. Each choice at a time should be given a fair chance to be studied. In the poem it says, “then took the other, as just as fair,” (Frost 6). Robert Frost is saying that the traveler gave each road a fair chance while deliberating which road to take. With the result of the choice the traveler
Critical Anlysis Of The Road Not Taken Essay
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN BY ROBERT FROST (CRITICAL ANALYSIS) This poem is made up of four stanzas of five lines written by “Robert Frost”. Along with “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” this poem is one of Frost’s most beloved poems. The poem is a nostalgic commentary on life choices. The narrator decided to seize the day and express himself as an individual by choosing the road that was “less traveled by.” In the first stanza the poet while standing at
Robert Frost The Road Not Taken Critical Analysis
Sam Obeidat Mrs. Breedlove ENGL 1102 26 April 2012 A Critical Analysis of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken It is truly incredible how a relatively small poem of only four stanzas has grown to being considered one of the great illustrations of American poetry.” In the poem, “The Road Not Taken”, the poet, Robert Frost, brings the readers on a walk to a fork in the road and asks them to answer the question, “ Where do I go next?” with a simple answer, “Go left or right.” However, when one
The Best Poem Ever The Road Not Taken Daniel Berglas The poem “The Path Not Taken” written by Robert frost is one of the most well-known and discussed poems ever written. Critics still debate until this very day about what the true meaning and intent of this poem is. The poem is about a man faced with a decision in the forest, to choose between two paths. He looks at both paths and they seem equally travelled, neither one seems to be any greater than the other. The speaker then chooses the second
Analysis of the Road Not Taken
Analysis of “The Road Not Taken” The poem “The Road Not Taken” is a poem that really seems to express what a lot of people feel. As a result, many people think their interpretation of the poem is the “correct interpretation”, but there is no correct interpretation. Beyond the literal meaning of the poem, it can have different "correct" personal meanings to different people. Robert Frost uses a metaphor, imagery, and the structure of the poem to tell the reader about the road he or she might
Analysis the Road Not Taken
2396 Words | 10 Pages
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, | | And sorry I could not travel both | | And be one traveler, long I stood | | And looked down one as far as I could | | To where it bent in the undergrowth; | 5 | | | Then took the other, as just as fair, | | And having perhaps the better claim, | | Because it was grassy and wanted wear; | | Though as for that the passing there | | Had worn them really about the same, | 10 |
The Road Not Taken - an Analysis
How does Frost tell the story in "The Road Not Taken"? In the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, Frost uses many techniques in order to tell the story in an effective and engaging way. To begin with, the plot of the poem involves a person walking in a "yellow forest". This person comes to a cross-road, or "two roads diverged". The person takes his time to consider which road to take. After consideration, he takes a road. Throughout the poem he is reminiscing about the other path, and considering
Analysis on "The Road Not Taken"
Analysis on the “Road Not Taken” The poem the “Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is a short poem that puts the speaker at a fork in the road. He must choose a path but both ways are equally worn. He chooses one, telling himself that he will take the other path another day. But he knows it is unlikely that he will have the opportunity to do so. He admits that someday he will recreate the scene with a different outcome. He will claim that he took the less-traveled road. This is why I chose this poem
Jonathan Kocian English IV AP 1st period. Analysis of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken In his poem The Road Not Taken, the poet is walking alone on a road, which splits into two paths. He contemplates the two paths and their merits, but each one has been walked on. So he goes on the one he says is “less traveled” and says “it has made all the difference.” But has it? Several critics have called that statement a “mitigation”, if not an outright lie. The poem is usually interpreted to
More about Critical Analysis of "The Road Not Taken"
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SAT vs. ACT
Apr 9 (Tue)
7:00pm EDT / 4:00pm PDT
Duration: 1h 00m
Natalie Murphree
The SAT and ACT have both experienced updates and changes in the recent years. Come learn about the main differences between the two tests, how to decide which one is better for your child, when to take them, how much to prepare for them, and more. Hear about how your child's strengths can favor one test or the other. Learn about what colleges really look for and what you need to plan for.
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7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT Taming the Tiger of Test Anxiety
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7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT The Recruited Athlete: Admissions, Testing, Timelines
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Aug 13 (Tue)
7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT Interviews and Interest: Getting to Know Each College
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8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT SAT 101: Everything You Need to Know About the SAT
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7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT The Art of Motivation
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12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT Helping Your Students with LDs Become Super Testers
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May 3 Exploring Irish with Susan Folan
Let's start this episode of LangFM with a little song you may know.
Still sound familiar?
The song is "Wake me up" by Swedish DJ and music producer Avicii, a big summer hit in 2013. The version we hear now, however, is by Seo Linn, an Irish band seeking to promote Irish through covers of popular songs and own material. Their version of "Wake me up" on YouTube has garnered over 5,5 million views so far. But let me tell you, Seo Linn are not the only ones having success. Listen to 15-year-old Shannon Bryan:
I found both of these music videos, and many others, on the YouTube channel of TG4 or [tʲeː ɟeː ˈcahəɾʲ], the fourth Irish TV channel serving Irish-language speakers in the whole country. TG4 may place a strong emphasis on music, and they may have broadcast all Harry Potter films dubbed in Irish, but the highest ratings regularly go to… their weather reports:
"The weather girls on TG4 are particularly famous for beingvery beautiful and mystifying creatures, you know? I think, probably, this air of mysticism that surrounds the language for those who've never encountered an Irish speaker is maybe intensified by the fact that there is then this beautiful creature on the screen telling you about the weather in Irish."
Meet Susan Folan. Susan is an EU-accredited conference interpreter for English and Irish.
"I always loved languages, always. And then I picked up French,I did a little bit of German. I like to talk. And I really like to talk to people who didn't share my language."
[Music: "Galway", by Kevin MacLeod]
"I grew up in Galway City. I'm part of the evil that's known as a townie, a very proud townie at that. What does it mean to be a townie? A townie is somebody who speaks Irish but who is from the city, who isn't from the Gaeltacht, really."
Let's take a moment here to dig in a little deeper. First off, Galway is a beautiful little town on the West coast of Ireland. Home not only to Susan Folan, but also to the National University of Ireland (more on this later). Galway also happens to be part of the Gaeltacht. In a nutshell, the Gaeltacht refers to the primarily Irish-speaking regions of the country. They are quite rural, and with the increasing popularity of Irish Gaelic in the cities, including Dublin, there is a bit of friction between the two communities of speakers (hence the term "townie").
"It's not a compliment, but I wear the badge with pride."
The Gaeltacht goes back to the 1920s and the time of the Irish Free State and was part of Government efforts to revive the Irish language.
"The way I see it, and I'm being a bit personal about it here, is that boundaries were set up around areas where Irish would have been the daily language used by people in the community. And it was given a type of protected status. I always feel though, personally, that when you put a fence around something, that those fences start closing in. And those Gaeltacht areas have gotten smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller. And I can understand the idea in having a protected area. But I mean, we're not marine life, we're people, and we move around, and if you can take your language with you, then that language is no longer a minority language, it's a global language. And it's very much a personal opinion, but I would like to see Irish being used all over the country rather than just in these specific designated areas. And then, maybe, people could actually start to appreciate the fact that, you know what, I can use my Irish when I go into the shop in Dublin. They'll just reply, and we can both go on about our days. There are quite a lot of people who are very interested in having areas that they can speak Irish outside of these traditional Gaeltacht regions. There was actually an event in Dublin recently. I read about it on Facebook - where does anybody read about anything these days? - were there was a pop-up Gaeltacht in the centre of Dublin and you'd want to have seen the attendance, it was really, really strong!"
"But all of my education, the entire way up through, was through Irish from Montessori. [...] The number of Irish-speaking schools is growing and growing and growing."
Now, Irish teaching is an interesting topic. In his wonderful book "Coming Home - One Man's Return To The Irish Language", Michael McCaughan did the math: An average child goes through 45 daily minutes of Irish class for roughly 180 days per year. Multiply that by 14 years and you end up with over 2000 hours.
"You might have someone in Dublin, who has learned Irish from the age of 4, the whole way up through school, who has never encountered a native speaker. For them, I can understand why they would say that Irish is a dead language. They've never ever encountered anybody with whom they could have a conversation in Irish. It's a moot point, really. What are they learning this language for, they can't see a point."
And yet, many of the 1.8 million people who said they have some command of Irish in the 2011 census, were probably "faking it", as McCaughan calls it. Which sounds strangely familiar to someone who was born in the former socialist half of Germany, where millions of people quote-unquote learned Russian while remembering very little in the end. But Irish-speaking schools, through the renaissance of the language, have become all the rage even among those parents, who hated Irish when they themselves were forced to learn it in school. The days when children were encouraged or even forced to only speak English, because it was considered modern or as providing better professional opportunities, seem to be fading away.
"Children are going to pick up English no matter what. If you can reinforce the second language skill, you're doing them a service. And I think that people are coming around to that way of thinking now. There are quite a lot of children now in Ireland who come from English-speaking backgrounds, or we'll say non-Irish-speaking backgrounds, who are now attending primary and secondary school through the medium of Irish. I think there's an acknowledgement there as well that passive bilingualism - learning your maths or your history through Irish - also gives you the added bonus of reinforcing your language skills. Hopefully, as we see those children grow up, maybe there'll be more of an acknowledgement of the skills that they have as a bilingual."
Apparently, that's exactly what happened with Susan.
"So I studied Irish and French, didn't really know what I wanted to do, so I decided to keep going with what I enjoyed. And my parents supported me - God bless them for that! - and I did a Masters in Irish. And just as I was finishing the Masters in Irish, it was 2006 and people were preparing for 2007 and using Irish at EU level, and I thought: finally! I always had Brussels in the back of my mind but I never thought Irish would get me there."
[Music: "Ode to joy (on D whistle)]
Well, in the EU, it's been a long and winding road for Irish. When the country joined in 1973, alongside Denmark and the UK, an agreement had already been in place for two years saying Irish would become an official language of the then European Communities, but with the understanding that only primary legislation, i.e. European treaties, would be translated into it. Which is why Irish is often referred to as a "treaty language".
"Well, as far as I'm aware, they actually declared English as their national language, whereas constitutionally, Irish is our first language. I don't know whether it was a post-colonial attitude, or what it was. I think, maybe they didn't want to bother people. Ireland in the seventies was a very, very different place. And I think that, maybe, people felt a little bit like we were on the backfoot. When we were joining, anyway. And there's been that attitude in Ireland for such a long time that the language is a bother. You know, so you wouldn't like to upset anybody by using Irish. So we'll just use English. You know, that our bilingualism is not something to be proud of. You know, Irish is fine at home. I guarantee you that you will meet people in Dublin who will tell you that nobody speaks Irish. And for them, they're being very truthful, they genuinely don't believe that anybody speaks Irish. There are some who acknowledge then as well that there are bilingual people. And then you can go to the west, and there are people who are still far more comfortable in Irish than they are in English. And when you've got a society that's that divided about the language - in the country itself - when it gets to an international stage then, or even gets to an EU stage, you can see that it gets even more complex. There's so much infighting among ourselves about the prominence of Irish that everybody else in Europe is a little bit baffled by it and thinks, well, if you guys can't get your act together and decide, what are we supposed to do?"
On 1 January 2007, Irish became a full official language, but with a derogation prolonging, more or less, the status quo. This derogation will gradually fade out and is scheduled to end by 31 December 2021.
"This derogation was in place because we couldn't reach that critical mass for translators or interpreters. It's been a long time coming. When you consider how long we've been an EU member and how we're facing these issues now, really, we should have been planning for since the seventies."
In 2015, Sinn Fein MEP Lia Ni Riada, went on a two-week language strike and spoke only Irish to draw attention to the dire situation of her native language in the EU.
"And it did draw attention to the problem. But as with anything, any type of protest, the media's interest was peaked. There were a couple of news articles about it. And then it all fell away again. I would like to have an active Irish booth that wasn't the source for any sort of interest. That it was just the same as any other languages across the board, in the institutions. And that's what Lia Ni Riada, the MEP, wanted as well. But until we have the ressources, I do understand that it can't be treated exactly the same as other languages. So, I would like to see sufficient ressources so that it could be. I think one of the difficulties is that if we ourselves don't see like that in the country, well then how are we expected to project that to an international stage?"
[Music: "Gravel Walk (Irish)", by The Rosen Sisters]
By now you'll probably assume - and rightly so - that Susan wasn't going to just going to accept the situation. Here's how she became in interpreter.
"I actually applied for what I thought was a job. Saw it advertised in the paper. And in my innocence, I thought: interpreting, wow, with Irish? And I have French. Great, I'll do that. I just liked the idea of all of these nationalities communicating with one another, and having a shared goal, not necessarily a shared language, but managing to do it all the same. And I don't know whether I ever dreamed that I would be an interpreter, but I did think that I would get involved where my languages would be useful."
Having studied Irish and French, Susan felt like she could just become an interpreter and replied to that ad in the paper. She didn't quite realise at that point that it was about a programme of the Irish government to build up a pool of qualified translators and interpreters for the Irish language.
"I never thought that anybody need to train. I was still a bit 'innocent' at that stage and I certainly needed some training, now that I look back. So they sent some of us to Westminster to train, the irony of which was not lost on anybody. To send people to London, the University of Westminster, to train with Irish as one of their interpreting languages - the mind boggles! Once we finished training and passed an inter-institutional test, then some of us started working. But I was under the impression, even then, that we were going to start working in an active booth. And that still hasn't happened because we haven't reached critical mass of active Irish interpreters. So I had two of the bread-and-butter languages with English and French. And then I had an exotic, which makes all Irish people smile. We've never really considered ourselves exotic. But that's nice to think, isn't it? Of those who were successful in their final exams, some are still working with me now. Some still work as trainers with me as well and as examiners in Galway.”
NUI - National University of Ireland Galway was founded in 1845, its oldest part, the Quadrangle building, being built as a replica of Christ Church college in Oxford. It stands in stark contrast to the, let's say very functional building that houses the interpreting lab, where Susan oversees the training of the next generations of interpreters.
"We set up the course in Galway. We are a bilingual university. I think Westminster's difficulty was accessing native speakers of Irish who could assist as speakers on the course. They had excellent trainers, but Galway had the native speakers right on the doorstep, so we took over from there. We took over with just Irish and English initially. We've grown since then. There's French, Italian, Spanish on the course this year, as well, and last year, we had German. The university department that I work in is not the Irish department, and we have a very good Irish department as well, but it's the only third-level department in the country that teaches all of its subjects through Irish. Which is incredible. If you consider the difference: between a country that has Irish as its first language constitutionally, and then consider that you haven't got universal education programs at third level through Irish, you can see that there's a big difference between what's actually going on and what's on paper but there's a real movement towards improving that. My department teach other courses like communications, conference interpreting, translation, language planning, which is a really interesting area when it comes to to Irish and how you might have plans in place to protect the language in the future. But it teaches all of those third-level courses through the medium of Irish. The students aren't necessarily studying the language."
But apart from working for EU institutions, what does the Irish interpreting market look like? In terms of conference interpreting or community interpreting, for example?
"The market isn't sufficiently developed to differentiate between the two elements at times. I've certainly started to notice an awful lot more conference interpreting. But sometimes I wonder then - chicken and the egg - whether that's because we're producing conference interpreters who are explaining to people what the difference is and what the possibilities are. Which is great. The more people understand the opportunities, the more you're seeing a couple of sets of headsets in general meetings that would have been conducted through Irish previously, or because there might have been eight people in a room of eighty people who didn't understand Irish. Immediately, the other 72 changed to English, despite the fact that the English speakers are in the minority. So now, they don't have to feel left out."
And what about people who have to undergo medical treatment or stand trial? Can they speak Irish and have interpreting available?
"Yes is the simple answer to that. And the more complex answer to that is that it's like any country in the world where it's: What happens when you can't find the interpreter? Unfortunately, that makes it very easy for all authorities to pass the buck. You know, to say, we don't have sufficient numbers of people, so we can't provide the service and then, well, if you're not going to provide service, how can I provide the resources. Because I need to be training people for a market. But I have noticed improvements, definitely."
[Music: "Irish Club", by Podington Bear]
So it sounds like there’s reason to be optimistic about the future. Or is there?
“I think if you follow what you love and what you believe in, everything else tends to fall into place. Does that make me terribly millennial - it probably does. My ideal is that we have an active Irish booth. That we have sufficient numbers of people so that we are working actively. And I think then you don't end up having to justify your presence. So that's my idea. And I hope that that's going to happen, also, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't. Everything comes back to cost, always. It’s thrown at Irish speakers all the time. Could you actually even possibly quantify how much English is costing? Your listeners can’t see me smiling, but I am. I had a student knock on my door in Galway there recently. He didn’t look Irish. He was very, very tall and Czech-looking. Turns out he was Czech. And he spoke to me in the most beautiful Irish you’ve ever heard. Oh, incredible Irish. What a linguist!“
1nt, Irish, interview
Jul 25 A Chat With Matt Baird, The Bolder Translator
Apr 5 Brian Fox, A Life In Interpreting
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Gilbert Patrick KEEGAN
KEEGAN, Gilbert Patrick (Pat)
Born January 12, 1919 in Maniwaki, Quebec, Pat Keegan died peacefully on March 23, 2008 at Glenwood Care Centre, Agassiz, B.C. Predeceased by his wife, Elsie (2005) and his granddaughter Janet Nasadyk (1978), Pat is survived by his sisters, Violet Pelot (Gerard) and Beulah Keegan; four daughters: Joyce Keegan, Amelia Cox, Trish Keegan (Bryan Best), and Bev Kennedy (Bob); seven grandchildren: Terrill Scott (Warren), Richard Nasadyk (Karen Zilke), Kevin Cox (Johanne Major), Rod Cox, Darren Kennedy (Lenni), Warren Kennedy, and Scott Kennedy; eight great-grandchildren: Jeremy Scott (Christa), Jesse Scott (Lindsay), Kyle Kennedy, Jake Nasadyk, Caleb Nasadyk, Shelby Kennedy, Nicholas Kennedy, and Joey Kennedy; and four great-great-grandchildren: Zoey Scott, Emily Scott, Quinton Scott, and Cohen Scott; and many nieces and nephews.
Pat started his working life at age 15 as a logger in Quebec. He joined the RCAF in 1941 and was stationed at various locations in British Columbia until 1947, during which time he learned the culinary arts trade. He was cook for Lakeberg Logging (Andy Lakeberg) and Eagle Creek Logging (Buster McCombs) on Harrison Lake in the 1950s. He worked as chef on the DEW Line in the early 1960s, and as chef and camp manager for Cal-Van Canus Catering at various logging, construction, and mining camps in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, N.W.T., and Yemen, Saudi Arabia, throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Pat and Elsie loved the Agassiz-Harrison area, living there in the 1950s, early 60s, early 70s, and moving permanently to Agassiz in1977 where, after a few more years of going out to cook at various camps, they settled down and started PEK Enterprises; many will remember the superb meat pies and other specialty baked goods produced by Pat at this time.
Aside from a short period of driving big rigs in Vancouver and gravel truck for G & M Construction in Harrison Hot Springs, Pat’s second trade was carpentry, which he practiced at different periods during his working life. He built houses, did renovations, and built fine furniture in Vancouver, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, and elsewhere in the Fraser Valley.
Pat liked nothing better than to cook and bake for family gatherings. He was a supporter of the Agassiz-Harrison Historical Society, a member of the local legion, and always interested in the communities in which he lived and worked. He was especially proud to learn to use the computer in his 80s, and at age 88 hooked up to email to communicate with friends and family.
Pat’s family will observe a private celebration of his life. Pat requested that if anyone would like to do so, donations could be made to the Canadian Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.
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Canine Genetics research team grows thanks to new funding
Fundraising news, News about dogs, Research news, 20th March 2018
We’re very pleased to have appointed a new research assistant within our canine genetics research team. Hattie Wright, from Cambridge, has joined us in a newly-created position, following funding by Vets4Pets, who agreed to support the lifesaving research.
Hattie has a degree in Zoology from the University of Reading and a Master’s in Veterinary Science from the University of Cambridge, where she spent a year researching candidate genes for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in Pugs, French Bulldogs and Bulldogs, as well as the facial morphology of these breeds.
Hattie Wright, Vets4Pets research assistant, in the lab
Hattie said: “I’m very excited to join the AHT’s research group and start working on a wider range of diseases affecting dogs. I previously worked at the AHT in another department, and am thrilled to be able to come back and contribute to the world renowned canine genetics research, where I am sure I will learn a great deal from this amazing team.
“I’m passionate about animal welfare and veterinary science, and research which aims to improve the health of dogs, so this role is a fantastic opportunity.”
Hattie’s role will support all of our canine genetics research, with a primary focus on lens luxation in various breeds of dog, and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in Dachshunds, which are known to suffer from painful and debilitating slipped discs.
With Hattie’s help, it is hoped we will be able to speed up our canine genetic investigations, resulting in more DNA health tests which breeders can use to select the best mate for their dog, in order to breed healthy, happy puppies, free from known inherited diseases.
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Hattie to our research group, and increase the work we do in helping dogs,” said Dr Cathryn Mellersh, who heads up our Canine Genetics team.
“Thanks to the funding from Vets4Pets, Hattie will be able to have a significant impact on the volume of work we can do going forward, and therefore the number of dogs we can help through our research. We are very much a team, and every DNA test we successfully develop for a specific disease-causing genetic mutation in a breed of dog, relies upon the varied expertise of the whole team.
“The research assistants, who carry out the laboratory and bench-based research play a particularly important role, as they typically work on multiple projects at the same time and therefore help speed up the lab-based part of the research investigations.”
Our Canine Genetics research team, primarily funded by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, has discovered more than 20 disease-causing mutations in the dog and used this research to develop DNA tests for nearly 50 different breeds of dog.
The team is currently involved in projects to study the genetics of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) in several breeds, including the Gordon Setter and English Springer Spaniel, the genetics of idiopathic epilepsy in the Border Collie and Italian Spinone, and the genetics of glaucoma in multiple breeds of dog.
Dr Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at Vets4Pets, said: “The Animal Health Trust’s Canine Genetics research team does a fantastic job in helping us better understand, treat and prevent inherited diseases in dogs. As a group, pet welfare and responsible pet ownership are our primary concerns and it’s fantastic to be able to play a small part in this invaluable research.
“We’re delighted our funding has allowed someone with Hattie’s enthusiasm and experience to support the excellent work carried out by the AHT.”
AHT research saves puppy's sight
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The Walking Dead: A Look at Season 9
The cast and creators preview what’s to come in Season 9 and Rick Grimes’ final episodes. The Walking Dead returns Sunday, October 7 at 9/8c.
The Walking Dead Onslaught | Official Announcement Trailer
(SPOILERS) Wrapping Up Season 9 of The Walking Dead
(SPOILERS) Inside The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 16
(SPOILERS) Making of The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 16
(SPOILERS) The Walking Dead Talked About Scene: Season 9, Episode 16
(SPOILERS) The Walking Dead: In Memoriam of the Victims From "The Calm Before"
Next On The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 16
The Walking Dead Sneak Peek: Season 9, Episode 16
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NYU Stern: Imparting the Best of Business Analytics Education to Build Data Professionals
The New York University (NYU) Stern MS in Business Analytics program is an advanced business degree program teaching executive how to understand the role of evidence-based data in decision-making with an aim to leverage data as a strategic asset. In the first half of the program, students are exposed to the fundamental concepts and principles of business analytics, such as modeling skills, foundational programming skills, and methods for dealing with data. NYU Stern MS in Business Analytics teaches students the skills to perform complex statistical and econometric modeling. Students are exposed to several programming languages and software packages to increase their awareness of tools that can be used to solve business problems. The second half of the program expands on these fundamental concepts and focuses on the business applications of these foundational tools.
Courses in the NYU Stern MS in Business Analytics program focus around the domain-specific areas such as analytics strategy, marketing, optimization, and revenue management. Students tackle examples of data-driven decision-making in firms and consider the strategic, policy, and economic implications of business analytics. NYU Stern MS in Business Analytics program additionally includes a course on data privacy and ethics, which is a pressing issue related to business analytics, and of growing importance.
Exceptional Business Analytics Program
NYU Stern’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program is positioned at the intersection of business and analytics/data science and is designed for experienced professionals who pursue their degree while continuing to work. What makes NYU Stern’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program unique is that it teaches students to become analytics translators. Students study to build a foundation on the data science/analytics fundamentals so that they can speak to the technical, but more importantly, use business expertise and domain knowledge to leverage the data to become a strategic asset. In the process, what often gets lost is that data science/analytics are just tools. The real power behind analytics is when right people who have the knowledge and business acumen to use it to the company’s advantage are achieved. That is why Master of Science in Business Analytics program, housed in a top business school, stands apart from the rest of programs that are based in engineering or mathematics.
Bringing Analytics Education to Executives
NYU Stern’s MS in Business Analytics program is uniquely positioned for an executive audience. The average age of the students is 37 and the average work experience is 12 years. NYU Stern MS in Business Analytics is a part-time program where students are working full-time and study part-time.
Students taking the course come from different geographic regions and industries where each can share their perspective on how analytics is being used in their businesses. This diverse representation is intentional because, in an executive program like this, work experience is important. Students not only learn from the faculty but also learn from each other.
Motivating Leadership and Global Faculty
NYU Stern’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program draws inspiration from its Global faculty who inspire students to lead data science careers worldwide. Roy Lee serves as Assistant Dean at New York University’s Stern School of Business, responsible for providing the strategic direction and oversight of the School’s Executive Programs (EP) group. The EP group serves as an innovation lab for NYU Stern, creating and developing high-quality degree and non-degree programs for experienced professionals that increase and diversify the School’s portfolio of offerings. In addition, Roy serves as the analytical lead working on a School-wide initiative to develop and foster NYU Stern’s internal data analytics capabilities.
Participants in the program have the advantage of learning from world-renowned NYU Stern faculty, selected global faculty, and leaders of industry who have practical experience. “In a field where transformation in analytics is happening quickly, we have faculty who live both in the academic world and in the practitioner world where a lot of the changes are happening, Roy said.
Adding Value to Analytics Delivery
“Our students gain a sense of confidence and credibility. Post-graduation, our students gain confidence by having technical capabilities to speak the language to understand how to work with data and become a translator of that information, or a disruptor of business thought and strategy in a positive and impactful way,” said Roy. They also now have the credibility of the NYU Stern degree, along with a specialized skill-set, where they can blend their business domain knowledge along with next-generation analytics to add increased value to their organizations.
Peer to Peer Interaction
The learning from the MS in Business Analytics program extends beyond the classroom pedagogy. Specifically, students should choose a program where their peer group will be as important as the faculty who teach in the program. With NYU Stern MS in Business Analytics global program, students coming from different nationalities and diversity in a cohort leverage an opportunity to challenge their perspective and assumptions that they may have and this enlightens them to new ways of approaching data-related business problems faced across different industries, job functions and locations. The peer group at the college adds a depth to the learning experience, beyond the classroom through discussions and debates in-class, leading to intellectual, stimulating conversations and amazing learning experiences.
Offering Practical Exposure for Industry Collaborations
The MS in Business Analytics Capstone is a team-based project in the program curriculum, which gives students the opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of the core competencies taught throughout and apply them to real business problems. Capstone projects use business analytics to address a specific strategic issue. All projects include data mining, modeling and/or other business analytics techniques learned in the program. Past projects range from improving operational efficiency in hospitals by using analytics, using HR analytics to predict talent acquisition and identifying drivers for workforce performance, and the development of an application for surge pricing models for electric vehicles.
Analytics-Driven Organizations: The Way Forward
The advancements in big data, AI and machine learning are changing the management of organizations in that they are forcing companies to become data-centric – to shift from intuition-based decision-making to data-driven decision-making. The sheer size and scope of big data makes it harder for companies without an analytics strategy to be able to separate the signal from the noise. “Companies have to think strategically about how to build their organizational structure to extract the full value of analytics. Five years ago, if the industry was able to leverage analytics, it could gain a competitive advantage. Five years from now if they don’t, they’ll be left behind,” added Roy.
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Parking Information 2017
During Mòd week, Highland Council car park charges will still be in force. The guide below provides details on all long and short stay car parks within Fort William Town Centre. Wardens will be patrolling the car parks throughout the week- please do not get caught out.
***Appeal for Stewards***
With the start date of The Royal National Mòd in Lochaber a mere four weeks away, the local organising committee has been searching for willing volunteers who will help with stewarding duties during Mod week.
The role of the steward is crucial to the smooth running of the Mòd and many are needed, in particular at the beginning of the week for the children’s competitions. Being a steward is also an excellent way to get actively involved in this year’s Mòd and soak up the fantastic atmosphere. We would welcome anybody who has an interest in the language, music and culture to come forward and offer their services.
If you are interested in being a steward please contact the local organising committee via the contact details provided below.
Mòd tickets 2017 Available Online
We are pleased to let you all know that the Mòd Programme and tickets for this year’s events are now available to buy ONLINE.
Tickets will be available from both offices and in Fort William (venue to be confirmed) soon. Keep an eye out for more information.
**Please note that all orders will be dispatched when the Mòd Programme arrives. We are expecting this to be in the next 2 weeks**
Record Number of Entries for Royal National Mòd 2017
Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (The Royal National Mòd) will return to Lochaber next month (Friday 13 October – Saturday 21 October) for what’s set to be a record-breaking year for the festival, with participant numbers expected to exceed 3,600 - the highest in a decade.
The nine-day spectacular of Gaelic music, arts and sport will take place in Fort William for the first time in ten years and, this year, will welcome representatives from towns and cities that the Mòd hasn’t seen in generations.
Last year’s event generated £2.5m for host location, the Western Isles, and organisers are confident they’ll see a similar impact in Lochaber, renowned for its warm and welcoming community.
Scotland’s biggest Gaelic Cultural Festival will kick off on Friday 13th October with a torchlight procession, which will see hundreds of people weave through the streets of Fort William in breathtaking scenes.
The procession will conclude at the Nevis Centre where a blistering opening ceremony will take place - with very special performances by former Gold Medalist Robert Robertson, Ross Wilson and Gaelic folk group, including a former Mòd gold medalist, Na h-Òganaich officially kicking off this year’s festival.
The Mòd is the most important festival of the Gaelic language in Scotland. It sees thousands of competitors from Scotland and across the world, including a delegation of American competitors this year, take part in or watch over 200 competitions in highland dancing, sport, literature and drama, as well as Gaelic music and song.
Alongside the main competitions, The Mòd Fringe returns with a bustling programme filled with traditional music, book launches, concerts and art forms of every description, throughout the festival week. The Fringe festival programme, which also launched today, can be found here , on our social media pages, in The Oban Times and in various pubs, hotels and other venues local to Lochaber.
John Morrison, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said; “We’re excited to be returning to Fort William for the first time in ten years and to do so with a record number of participants is just terrific. We’ve had a very busy year in the run up to the festival, from running our hugely popular Mòd Roadshow which encourages children to take part, to our Mòd Academy bringing dedicated Gaelic tutors to 14 schools throughout Scotland – so it’s great to see the number of entries reflect this. We’re thrilled to have local celebrities Robert Robertson, Ross Wilson and Na h-Òganaich as part of this year’s opening ceremony, kicking off what is going to be an incredible Royal National Mòd 2017.”
Highland Councillor, Alister Mackinnon, Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee said: “We are delighted that the Royal National Mòd is returning to Lochaber, an area in Highland where Gaelic and its associated culture remains part of the community. We are also pleased to be supporting The Royal National Mòd as the event has a great deal to offer the Gaelic community. It will be a pleasure to welcome all the visitors to the Highlands, including those from overseas, who should enjoy the convivial atmosphere, the great range of singing and musical competitions, the many informal ceilidhs, lectures and the various events on offer as part of the exciting fringe programme. The Mòd puts Gaelic on local, national and international platforms, as it provides the opportunity to showcase the best of our language, culture, in the areas where we live, learn, and work.
“I believe that the Mòd will have a positive impact in the area and official studies show that it contributes hugely to the economy of the area where it is hosted. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mòd Loch Abar Local Committee for their hard work, especially in relation to fund raising, and I wish Mòd Loch Abar every success. With only one month to go, keep practicing, and good luck to all the Highland competitors.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Scotland’s unique Gaelic heritage is a wonderful part of our national identity. We are delighted to be supporting the Royal National Mod to celebrate this, especially during Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. Once again the organisers have a jam-packed programme of music, highland dancing, drama plus much more, for the Gaelic-speaking community from both Scotland and further afield to enjoy.
“Scotland truly is the perfect stage for cultural events and we look forward to the return of this internationally renowned festival one month from now.”
Brian Fulton, CalMac’s Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement said: “The Royal National Mod is a highpoint in the CalMac calendar and we are greatly looking forward to coming to Fort William, for what is always an enjoyable and memorable event.”
Shane O’Rua (10), Arran Stephen (10)
(L-R) Ciara MacDonald (11), Owen MacRaild (9), Shane O’Rua (10), Arran Stephen (10), Seumas MacFarlane (10), Seumas Stevenson (9)
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Thanks to Anthony Kirk-Greene
I've just discovered that Anthony Kirk-Greene - a colonial administrator who became an exacting historian of colonialism - died last month. He was 93. Tony spent the 1950s helping to govern northern Nigeria. (I seem to remember he told me he was once a district officer - a foot soldier of the colonial endeavour). After Nigeria became independent, he taught at Ahmadu Bello University. He was fluent in Hausa.
I came across Tony when he taught me for the 'Imperialism and Nationalism' special subject in the final year of my history degree at Oxford. It was the most exciting and rewarding part of my studies there. I'd never been to Africa, or indeed anywhere outside Europe - but I really took to the subject, and especially the rise of nationalism in sub-Saharan Africa.
Tony suggested that I consider doing a PhD - he wanted me to look at the rise of Nyerere's TANU in what is now Tanzania. I didn't bite - but the confidence he showed in me did encourage me to pursue postgraduate research, though in British social and political history rather than Africa during colonialism.
I do wonder whether the interest stirred and nurtured by Tony Kirk-Greene made me more open to living and working in India and to becoming immersed in its history and politics. We didn't keep in touch after I left Oxford, and it's chastening to realise that Kirk-Greene, when he was my tutor, was about ten years younger than I am now.
But let me, belatedly, say thanks to A.H.M. Kirk-Greene. I'm grateful to you!
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Kobe Bryant Leads All-Star Annie Awards Presenters Lineup
Watch: Netflix Dates ‘Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling’ Global Launch
Disney Flies First Look at 2nd VR Short ‘a kite’s tale’ at SIGGRAPH
Academy Invites 842 New Members
The 44th Annual Annie Awards will kick off on Saturday, February 4 with a ceremony honoring the year’s best in animation. ASIFA-Hollywood has announced that this year’s presenters will include a mix of glittering names from within and without the animation community.
The lineup includes former L.A. Lakers basketball legend Kobe Bryant, actress Jenna Elfman, animator-director Patrick Osborne, Moana voice star Auli’i Cravalho, animator-author-illustrator Glen Keane, actor and comedian Tom Kenny, nominated directors Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) and Michael Dudok de Wit (The Red Turtle), comedian Stephen Kramer Glickman, and actress Chelsea Kane.
“The run up to the Annie Awards is always exciting,” said ASIFA-Hollywood Executive Director, Frank Gladstone. “As the voting process concludes and ceremony preparations go into the final stage, the anticipation really builds for the big reveals. 2016 saw a wide variety and sheer number of projects. It was a banner year for animation, and it looks like it will be a banner year for the Annies as well.”
This year’s event will present awards in 36 categories, including Best Animated Feature (Finding Dory, Kubo, Kung Fu Panda 3, Moana and Zootopia) and Best Animated Feature – Independent (Long Way North, Miss Hokusai, My Life as a Zucchini, The Red Turtle and Your Name.) See the full list of nominees announced in November here.
The 44th Annie Awards will also present Juried Awards honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. All three 2017 Winsor McCay career contributions award recipients will be attending the ceremony: animator Dale Baer, indie animation champion Caroline Leaf, and influential anime director Mamoru Oshii. The Ub Iwerks Award for technical advancement will go to Google Spotlight’s Virtual Reality Platform, and the Special Achievement Award will go to the documentary Life, Animated. The June Foray Award for community contribution will be presented to Bill & Sue Kroyer. And Certificate of Merit awards will be given to ASIFA-Hollywood volunteer coordinator Leslie Ezeh, and ASIFA-Hollywood office manager Gary Perkovac.
The black-tie event will begin at 5 with Red Carpet arrivals and a VIP champagne reception, and the Annie Awards ceremony will stream live beginning at 7 p.m. PT on Feb. 4 via annieawards.org/watch-it-live. Complete event details available here.
44th Annie Awards
Related Topics:44th Annual Annie Awards, Annie Awards, ASIFA-Hollywood, Auli’i Cravalho, Bill Kroyer, Caroline Leaf, Chelsea Kane, Dale Baer, Finding Dory, Frank Gladstone, Gary Perkovac, Glen Keane, Google Spotlight, Jenna Elfman, Kobe Bryant, Kubo, Kubo and the Two Strings, Kung Fu Panda 3, Leslie Ezeh, Life Animated, Long Way North, Mamoru Oshii, Michael Dudok de Wit, Miss Hokusai, Moana, My Life as a Zucchini, Patrick Osborne, Stephen Kramer Glickman, Sue Kroyer, The Red Turtle, Tom Kenny, Travis Knight, Ub Iwerks Award, Virtual Reality Platform, Your Name, Zootopia
The exclusive screening of the newly released GKIDS animated film Okko’s Inn will highlight the Library...
Cape Town Int’l Animation Fest Offers Something for Everyone
Hoho Cooks Up ‘Shane the Chef’ for Milkshake!
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ARCHITECTURE[publication]FUND Arnas Dineika scholarship Leonardo modernizmas.lt Vilnius architecture guide Introspection
[excursion]
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PALANGA. SOVIET PERIOD - LIUTAURAS NEKROŠIUS, IRENA LIKŠIENĖ, LEONAS MARDOSAS
In the Register of Cultural Property, architectural tendencies of Palanga in the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century are represented by the Tiškevičiai Palace with a park, ten villas, fourteen residential houses, two hotels (Kurhaus resort buildings in Nemirseta and Palanga), a pharmacy, complex of baths, ship rescue station, bus station. Naturally, the aforesaid composition of the heritage reflects just a part of urban development stages, whereas the today’s townscape was formed in the sixties-eighties of the 20th century. At that time, Palanga turned into a major resort of national importance, thereby differing significantly from the towns of similar size found in Lithuania and in the Soviet Union of those days and being comparable with the larger regional centres in terms of both the artistic value of modern architecture and the extent of investments. The architectural projects developed in the 2nd half of the 20th century and having turned into an integral part of the resort architecture image soon after, however, were realised in less than 50 years ago. This means that the abovementioned edifices could be classified as the objects of the immovable cultural heritage only after a few decades. Nevertheless, does inclusion into the Register of Cultural Property imply the only one way to preserve and represent appropriately architecture of the era? Isn’t it possible, by courtesy of systemic architectural research studies of that period, by public and professional discussions, to form an art collection the persons and companies being in charge of the exhibits whereof would foster and popularise the artistic values of resort architecture unanimously?
GUIDES: doc. dr. Liutauras Nekrošius, architects Irena Likšienė, Leonas Mardosas
DURATION: 5 h
DOWNLOAD EXCURSION MAP: map
PHOTOS OF THE EVENT: take a look 1, take a look 2
VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/59481724
This is the second part of excursion series „modernizmas.lt“ (2012/09/08-10/27)
Excursion is sponsored by LR KULTŪROS RĖMIMO FONDAS.
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Florida’s Courts Don’t Understand Suicide Medical Malpractice
by Spencer Aronfeld | Jan 25, 2012 | Medical Malpractice |
Florida’s First District Court of Appeal unplugged the rights of victims of the negligent failure to diagnose suicide in the case of Rebecca A. Tuten as the personal representative of James Tuten v. Alexander Fariborzian, Meridian Behavior Healthcare, Inc.
Here are the facts:
On behalf of her husband, Jame’s, estate, Rebecca Tuten sued Dr. Alexander Fariborzian, a psychiatrist, and Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, a psychiatric facility,for his negligent wrongful suicide death in Florida. Mr. Tuten was receiving outpatient care at Meridian for depression and suicidal ideations. He attempted suicide in 2007 and voluntary admitted himself. After only 3 days, he was released on medication. Two months later he again attempted suicide and was admitted in the intensive care unit of a local Florida hospital. After being discharged from the ICU he was readmitted into Meridian, but again after just 3 days of care, he requested to be discharged. This time, Dr. Fariborzian denied his request and a petition was filed to involuntary continue his admission pursuant to Florida’s Baker Act. Dr. Fariborzian supported the petition for the Baker Act.
At the court hearing for the Baker Act procedure, Mr. Tuten requested to be discharged and Dr. Fariborzian certified that he was competent to provide his own consent for release with an order to receive follow-up care. The very next day Mr. Tuten shot his wife and then fatally shot himself.
The court dismissed her first complaint and she amended it to include a count against the doctor for breaching the standard of care when he certified that Mr. Tuten was competent to consent and against the facility for vicarious liability and for improperly discharging him. Procedurally similar to a case we are currently working on, where we represent the family of a nurse suing his own employer/hospital for the negligent care that we believe led to his suicidal death, the Court dismissed Mrs. Tuten’s case and she appealed to Florida’s First District Court of Appeal.
She raised three points on appeal. She argued that the trial court erred in dismissing her complaint under the Baker Act, that both the psychiatrist and facility breached their duty of care and that the court refused to allow her to amend her complaint.
The court dismissed her claim under the Baker Act by holding that a petition for involuntary placement can be withdrawn prior to a hearing and that Dr. Fariborzian opined that Mr. Tuten could decide for himself if he needed to be committed. Essentially, this means that if a psychiatrist petitions a court for the involuntary commitment of a psychiatric patient and then before the hearing decides to change his mind, even if he is wrong about his evaluation, there is no cause of action.
The court dismissed the second count by holding that there is no common law duty requiring the facility or doctor to keep a patient committed against his will once the treating doctor decides that the patient is well enough to make up his own mind regarding commitment . Because, and I quote the court, “the internal workings of the human mind remain largely mysterious.”
The court seems to comfort itself by the fact that Mr. Tuten’s death occurred outside of the hospital’s custody. Using the illogical reasoning of the Chacko court, which apparently gives Florida’s psychiatric hospitals, and their staff unlegislated immunity from liability if one of their suicidal patients pulls the trigger after being discharged, regardless of whether the assessment and discharge was done appropriately.
As a Florida lawyer who sues hospitals and doctors I understand that Mr. Tuten was not in the hospital’s custody when he shot his wife and ended his own life, but I am outraged that this Court seems to give Florida’s corporate medical cartel the comfort of practicing medicine without consequence to the safety and well being of those suffering from depression and suicidal ideations.
Suddenly, the human mind is such an abstract and wondrous mystery that suicides defy prediction or prevention. Somehow, courts are able to divine the intent of parties to contracts or whether or not an accused acted with premeditation. That the court seems to be able to grasp and see through the looking glass of human nature with 20-20 vision. But the suicidal ideations of Mr. Tuten, who already had tried suicide not once but twice before, was not enough for the First District Court of Appeal to simply allow the case to go to a jury to decide? I find it reprehensible that trial and appellate judges, have the audacity to substitute their interpretation of what is reasonable medical and psychiatric care for that of a Florida jury.
If this Alachua County Florida wrongful death case went to a jury and the jury told Mrs. Tuten that her husband had received the appropriate care, I would be disappointed but I would applaud the fact that she had her day in court and that the jury did its constitutionally designed function. This result is unjust and I humbly suggest unconstitutionally deprives not only Mrs. Tuten justice but potentially thousands of Floridian’s affected by the failure to diagnose suicidal ideations and prevent their catastrophic consequences. I realize that not all suicides are predictable or preventable. As a Miami-Dade County patient safety advocate I do not believe that Florida’s doctors and health care providers should not be accountable for failing to diagnose a potentially suicidal patient and giving that patient the appropriate care. It is simply no different to me than failing to diagnose a stroke or pre-term labor. Psychiatric Medicine is a science and not some mystical medieval folk art. I suggest that they spend some time reviewing some of the recent studies published by the National Suicide Prevention Hotline that have identified genetic markers that are important in understanding risk of multiple suicide attempts.
Our Florida psychiatric medical malpractice lawyers express our sincere condolences to the Tuten family and hope that the Florida Supreme Court will hear their case and reverse the First District Court of Appeal’s unjust decision.
§394.467 Involuntary inpatient placement.–
(1) CRITERIA.–A person may be placed in involuntary inpatient placement for treatment upon a finding of the court by clear and convincing evidence that:
(a) He or she is mentally ill and because of his or her mental illness:
1.a. He or she has refused voluntary placement for treatment after sufficient and conscientious explanation and disclosure of the purpose of placement for treatment; or
b. He or she is unable to determine for himself or herself whether placement is necessary; and
2.a. He or she is manifestly incapable of surviving alone or with the help of willing and responsible family or friends, including available alternative services, and, without treatment, is likely to suffer from neglect or refuse to care for himself or herself, and such neglect or refusal poses a real and present threat of substantial harm to his or her well-being; or
b. There is substantial likelihood that in the near future he or she will inflict serious bodily harm on himself or herself or another person, as evidenced by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening such harm; and
(b) All available less restrictive treatment alternatives which would offer an opportunity for improvement of his or her condition have been judged to be inappropriate.
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I am a potential user; how do I know if the work I want to use is under copyright?
There are many considerations in determining whether a work is copyright-protected or not. The “Copyright Basics” section of this website can give you guidelines in determining whether the image you are hoping to reproduce is under copyright or not. If you are still in doubt about the status of the image you are considering, call us and we will be happy to provide you with the necessary information.
When I clear rights through ARS, do I also get a photo?
No. ARS is not a photo archive and does not lend photographic material, with the exception of some images available through the Andy Warhol Foundation (click here for more information). We clear intellectual property rights only, and the procurement of photography is an entirely separate function undertaken by the user. However, we suggest contacting image providers such as Art Resource at www.artres.com.
Can’t I just scan the image out of a book?
No. Simply scanning images out of books or lifting them from other sources for your own purposes is violative of the rights and prerogatives of the artist, the publisher of the book, and the photographer who supplied the original photographic material. It also constitutes unlawful interference in the contractual relationship between the original supplier of the photograph and the publisher.
Stella, Frank (1936 - ) Hooloomooloo 4, 1994. Acrylic on canvas. Collection of the Artist. Photo: Steven Sloman. © 2015 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo © Art Resource, NY.
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Gallery News & Events
The commercial work of the artist has graced the pages of national magazines, international advertising campaigns, CD covers, posters, and book covers from Agatha Christie to the cover of “Scarlett” the sequel to “Gone With the Wind”. Since graduating from the Art Center College of Design in 1983 his artwork has been represented by Bernstein & Andriulli in New York, Ron Sweet in San Francisco, and Foster Represents in St. Louis.
Recent corporate and institutional commissions include murals and large scale paintings for: The Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, The Missouri Botanical Garden’s permanent collection, The Westward Expansion Memorial Museum at the Arch, Novus International Inc., and the Danforth Plant Science Center. Additional patrons include Disney, Estee Lauder, Warner Bros., Toblerone – Switzerland, Universal Studios, IBM, Nike, Sony Music Corp., Anhueser Busch, and many private collections.
Awards include – The Society of Illustrators-New York awards, Print Magazine Awards, Communication Arts Awards, and Graphis-Switzerland.
From sketchbook to color studies, and on to the finished paintings on canvas, compositions are created by hand.
“Whatever it is, Bryan Haynes creates art that is sublimely beautiful, art that stirs emotions in the viewer. He is part Thomas Hart Benton, with a dash of George Catlin, Grant Wood, Joe Jones, N. C. Wyeth and any number of other great artists. But to compare his style to that of others does him a discredit, for his work is in many ways unique and stands apart from any other artist.” – Bob Moore, National Park Historian
While offering limited edition prints on canvas, the artist produces many new original works a year. Patrons include corporations, institutions, and private individuals. Working directly with clients, commissions can range from farm landscapes, to family histories, to corporate legacy murals. Or, a developing concept can be commissioned directly from the artist’s sketchbook of ongoing ideas, as the client will see the development of a project at every stage of the process.
ART ON A LARGE SCALE
Stories are just better told when they’re on a large scale. And, the artist has developed a unique process of creating large works of art, by tiling panels together in an archival arrangement. Either as original paintings on canvas, or enlargements from reduced size original paintings, the artist creates in the studio murals of any size. The largest to date is the “Kauffman and the Entrepreneurial Spirit” mural at the Kauffman Foundation measuring 5.5 x 80 feet.
STONE LITHOGRAPH PRINTS
Drawn on Bavarian limestone in the time honored craft using grease pencils, the tradition of Regionalist lithography is being extended. In a very limited series of editions, only four new images a year are being produced.
Art & History Presentation
Studio/Gallery Grand Opening
Kansas City Chiefs / Arrowhead Stadium mural
PGAV Destinations / Lobby Murals Commission
Niche Restaurant mural installed.
American Legacy Gallery
Kodner Gallery
Manitou Galleries
© 2019 Bryan Haynes All Rights Reserved.
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MARTIN GARRIX RELEASES TRACK AND VIDEO FOR “NO SLEEP”
FEATURING BONN
Genre : Electronic
Author : Team ARTISTdirect
Date : Thu, 21 Feb 2019
Today, Dutch wunderkind Martin Garrix releases a new track and accompanying video for “No Sleep” feat. Bonn via Sony Music International/STMPD RCRDS/RCA Records. “No Sleep” marks Garrix’s second time collaborating with Bonn, following the massive success of their track “High On Life” which reached #1 on the Dance radio charts in the US and has enjoyed over 250 million streams and video views worldwide. The pair first premiered “High On Life” during Garrix’s closing set at Tomorrowland in 2018.
Garrix will also play the Ultra Music Festival mainstage in Miami next month as well as hosting his own stage for his label STMPD RCRDS. In May, he will headlining Shaky Beats festival in Atlanta.
About Martin Garrix:
Martin Garrix has risen to global stardom in both pop as well as electronic circles. Dance music’s freshest talent has headlined festivals around the globe, founded a label and mentored other artists and won the #1 spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100 three times. His passion, ambition, drive and maturity remain unmatched in the world. “Animals” released June, 2013 was a breakout success and a game changer for the music industry. Reaching No.1 in the UK and many other territories, it proved that a hard-hitting dancefloor-oriented track could reach pop status, ultimately reaching over a billion streams across several platforms. The five years since have been marked by a quick march through the ranks of dance music, conquering stages all around the world and releasing more breakout hits including “In The Name Of Love” with Bebe Rexha, the highly acclaimed “Scared To Be Lonely” with Dua Lipa, “There For You’” with Troye Sivan and “So Far Away” with David Guetta, featuring Jamie Scott & Romy Dya. He was awarded with two MTV EMAs, a ‘Man of Today’ accolade from British GQ, a spot among Forbes’ ’30 Under 30’ list twice, Billboard’s “21 Under 21” list three times, and has also been honored on Billboard’s ‘EDM Power Players’. Garrix performed at the 2018 Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve, performed on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon twice and Good Morning America’s GMA Day. With STMPD RCRDS now firmly established, he has free range to do exactly what he loves most: making music.
Support Martin Garrix at our Purchase Partners
Relive Coachella DJ Sets Via Thefuture.FM
Martin Garrix Embarking on Headline Tour This Week
MARTIN GARRIX RELEASES 'OCEAN THE REMIXES VOL. 1'
MARTIN GARRIX RELEASES NEW TRACK “HIGH ON LIFE”
MARTIN GARRIX RELEASES OCEAN THE REMIXES VOL. 2
MARTIN GARRIX AND MIKE YUNG RELEASE COLLABORATION TRACK + VIDEO FOR "DREAMER" -
MARTIN GARRIX SHARES NEW SINGLE “SUMMER DAYS”
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⇠Latest version 2015 Tesla S P85D shown off at 2015 Detroit Motor Show
Audi R8 E-Tron - Barnd's First Electric Supercar Gets Series Version In March⇢
Ford Fiesta Could Get RS Version
By Andreea Conway
| Friday, February 06, 2015
Friday, February 06, 2015 Ford could launch an RS version of the Fiesta in the near future. This would be developed by the Ford... Friday, February 06, 2015 WebPage https://www.auto-types.com/images/_autonews/2015-Ford-Fiesta-RS_60.jpg Auto Types https://www.auto-types.com/img/logo1.png 242 55
Ford could launch an RS version of the Fiesta in the near future. This would be developed by the Ford Performance Division and is expected to debut in 2017.
The Ford Fiesta RS could become a reality in the US producer's range in a few years, according to the British from Autocar. The version, more efficient than the ST, in the Fiesta range would be part of the 12 models which the brand performance division has promised to launch by the end of this decade.
For now, only four of the 12 models had unmasked their identity: the Focus RS, GT, F-150 Raptor and Mustang GT350, but the Fiesta RS could be the fifth model in this range. Originally, the Fiesta RS version was not a possibility confirmed by Ford officials, but brand representatives have confirmed their intention to launch a model with higher specifications than the ST variant.
Tyrone Johnson, Ford Performance chief division, declined to specify if the future model of the Fiesta range with higher specifications then the ST version will be a replacement of this generation, or if it is an RS version. Nevertheless, in addition to confirming the intention of launching a model more powerful than the Fiesta ST, the head of Ford's Performance division confirmed that the next version will retain the current model's chassis, so it is still not be a new generation of the Fiesta ST, but a stronger sibling of this model.
"The current Fiesta has another two and a half years before it's replaced. We'll update the ST within that period, and after that there could be something else," said Tyrone Johnson.
Tyrone Johnson's statement seems to correspond to Ford's strategy. This involves introducing RS versions when the models are at the end of their "life". It also suggests a launch date set in 2017 for the Fiesta RS.
Another novelty in the ST range will be the launch of a PowerShift Focus ST TDCi version, the latter being confirmed to debut at the end of 2015. On the other hand, the gasoline powered version of the Focus ST has not yet gotten the approval for the introduction of a PowerShift transmission because Ford representatives are not sure that there is enough demand for such a variant.
Back when they first introduced the Fiesta RS Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2004, Ford has toyed with the idea of a Fiesta RS. But due to the improper economical conditions the business case didn't go anywhere.
This time however the situation is different. Taking into account the overall success of the current Fiesta ST and the help of two strong voices in the company's leaderboard, Jim Farley (President and CEO of Ford Europe) and Raj Nair (Ford group global product development vice president) the project got the go-ahead this time. But as usually happens at Ford, the price will be the essential factor.
Meanwhile, Johnson also gave some interesting insight into the hierarchy of Ford's performance car product plan. "There will be three categories that each of these 12 cars will fall into," he declared. "Enhanced technology – models like the Fiesta ST and Focus ST. High performance – things like the F150 Raptor, Mustang GT350R and Focus RS. And then Ultra high-performance, which is the new GT."
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Plano--TX
GMC (367)
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Front Anti-Roll Bar (3874)
Delay-Off Headlights (3782)
Front Center Armrest (3670)
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Front Side Airbags (Passenger) (3540)
Overhead Airbag (3436)
Radio Data System (3333)
Rear Anti-Roll Bar (3286)
Overhead Console (3254)
Rear Center Armrest (3177)
$23,000 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER ABARTH
Location: Plano
Features 17 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, 6 Speakers, AM/FM, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Air Filtration, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes, Auto Climate...
$28,978 2018 LINCOLN MKZ RESERVE
Features 14 Speakers, 19 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adaptive Suspension, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes, Anti-Theft...
$24,978 2016 LINCOLN MKZ BLACK LABEL
$24,900 2018 LINCOLN MKT LIVERY
Features 10 Speakers, 18 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adjustable Pedals, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes, Anti-Theft...
$31,978 2016 LINCOLN MKX RESERVE
Features 10 Speakers, 19 Speakers, 20 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adaptive Cruise Control, Adaptive Suspension, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock...
$23,987 2016 LINCOLN MKX SELECT
Features 10 Speakers, 18 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adaptive Suspension, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, All-Season Tires, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock...
$36,988 2015 GMC YUKON XL DENALI
Features 10 Speakers, 20 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, AM/FM, Adaptive Suspension, Adjustable Pedals, Adjustable Seats, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes,...
Features 11 Speakers, 19 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adaptive Cruise Control, Adaptive Suspension, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels,...
$23,498 2016 RAM 1500 SLT BIG HORN
Features 17 Inch Wheels, 20 Inch Wheels, 6 Speakers, AM/FM, Active Grille Shutters, Adjustable Lumbar Support, Adjustable Seats, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes,...
Features 17 Inch Wheels, 4 Speakers, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Air Filtration, All-Season Tires, Anti-Lock Brakes, Anti-Theft...
$4,900 2005 FORD FREESTYLE SEL
Features 17 Inch Wheels, 4 Speakers, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Air Filtration, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes, Auto-Dimming...
Features 10 Speakers, 13 Speakers, 20 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adaptive Suspension, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes, Anti-Theft System,...
$39,477 2016 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SELECT
Features 14 Speakers, 20 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adjustable Pedals, Adjustable Seats, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock...
$19,998 2015 LINCOLN MKC
Features 10 Speakers, 18 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adaptive Cruise Control, Adaptive Suspension, Adjustable Ride Control, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Adjustable...
$27,678 2017 LINCOLN MKZ SELECT
$24,700 2018 FORD MUSTANG PREMIUM
Features 18 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, 9 Speakers, AM/FM, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Air Filtration, Alloy Wheels, Aluminum Dash Trim, Anti-Lock Brakes,...
$11,000 2008 FORD F-150 XLT
Features 17 Inch Wheels, 18 Inch Wheels, 3-Point Seat Belts, 4 Speakers, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, AM/FM, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, All-Season Tires, Alloy Wheels, Antenna, Anti-Lock Brakes,...
$16,000 2018 FORD FOCUS TITANIUM
Features 10 Speakers, 17 Inch Wheels, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Air Filtration, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Lock Brakes, Anti-Theft System,...
$15,500 2016 HONDA CR-V LX
Features 16 Inch Wheels, 4 Speakers, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 4-Wheel Independent Suspension, AM/FM, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Air Conditioning, Air Filtration, Anti-Lock Brakes, Anti-Theft Stereo, Automatic...
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William E. Lipscomb, III
Coy R. Johnson
Michael R. Sleister
Putnam C. Smith
Christopher D. Light
Condemnation/Eminent domain
Wills/Probate
More than 30 years of legal experience
Personal Injury & Workers Comp
Michael R. Sleister was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1953 and graduated from high school in 1971. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1975. In 1979 he graduated with honors with a psychology degree from the University of Georgia. In 1981 he graduated with a Masters in Public Administration with honors from the University of Georgia. Before entering the University of Georgia Law School in 1985, he held jobs in both the private and public sector. In 1988 he graduated in the top third of his class from the University of Georgia Law School and since that time he has been admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in the State of Georgia. Since 1992 he has practiced in the law firm of Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey and Smith in Cumming Georgia.
Michael R. Sleister is married and has three sons. He has been active in various community affairs including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, coaching his boys recreational basketball teams, and being on the Board of Trustees of the Forsyth County Public Library.
If you would like more specific information about the areas in which Michael R. Sleister practices, then please click on the links listed on the left side of this web page.
Cumming Office
Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey & Smith is located in Cumming, GA and serves clients in and around Cumming and Forsyth County.
See our profile at Lawyers.com or Martindale.com.
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Art Works Celebrating Our 130 Year History To Be Created At Oakwell!
New art works inspired by and exploring the living heritage of Barnsley FC are being created by artist, Ben Mosley at Oakwell this summer.
Reds supporter Ben Mosley is fast becoming a recognised international artist!
Commissioned by the biggest organisations within sport including Wembley Stadium, Manchester United, The London Olympics, and The Emirates and Creek Golf clubs in Dubai, Ben is now about to realise a lifelong ambition.
Ben’s work captures on canvas the many human emotions which play out in sporting events. His paintings have portrayed the victory of a winning goal, showed the camaraderie between father and son as they watch a game and encapsulated the electricity of a crowd making their way to the stadium.
Ben has been a Barnsley FC supporter since 1987. He has strong family ties with Barnsley with his father and grandparents having been from the town.
As he explained to us: "Barnsley FC has been central to my upbringing and has played a huge part in the bond I have with my father, and this bond has been the inspiration for my football inspired artwork.
"To be involved in this exciting project at Oakwell is something I'm truly proud of and I can't wait to get started!"
Ben is obviously delighted to be creating work inspired by the living heritage of Barnsley FC here at Oakwell.
Through Reds in the Community’s latest project, ‘Our Club, Our Ground, Our Past, Our Future’ which is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Ben aims to create art work that celebrates the relationship between the people of Barnsley and the football club during the club’s 130th anniversary.
Ben will be painting LIVE at Oakwell from Tuesday 16th May until Monday 22nd May, and again from Wednesday 7th June until Thursday 15th June, and Reds in the Community and Barnsley FC will be capturing the creative process, through photography and video, to share with supporters.
For further information, please contact Sarah Hughes, Heritage Officer with Reds in the Community on 07392 960182 or via email at sarah.hughes@barnsleyfc.co.uk.
Toby Beats The Street
Running from Wednesday 5 June until Wednesday 17 July, Beat the Street is a free, fun challenge, and participants will be rewarded with points and prizes for exploring their town on foot, scooter or...
Toby Backs Beat The Street!
Beat the Street, backed by Sport England, arrived in Yorkshire on Wednesday. The campaign was launched at Barnsley Town Hall by the Mayor of Barnsley, Councillor Pauline Markham and Reds mascot, Toby...
Women's World Cup Festival
Reds in the Community will be hosting a Women & Girls World Cup festival ahead of the Lionesses’ fixture against Scotland!
Kieffer Moore is PFA Community Champion!
Reds in the Community are delighted to announce that Kieffer Moore has been named as the PFA Community Champion of the Year for the 2018/19 season!
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Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair
I have never been to an Ebony Fashion Fair, so having the opportunity to attend the Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of EBONY Fashion Fair exhibit at The George Washington University Textile Museum was the next best thing. Last year, I spent hundreds of hours researching Eunice Johnson and Ebony Fashion Fair for my sculpture “Esther”. Reading about Ebony Fashion Fair is one thing, but to see these beautiful creations by some of the top fashion designers in the world in person was nothing short of breathtaking! Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Patou, Alexander McQueen, and the list goes on. Many of the haute couture pieces featured were one of a kind designs purchased by Mrs. Johnson for Ebony Fashion Fair. For over fifty years Ebony Fashion Fair was a traveling fashion extravaganza that toured the country bringing high end fashion to African American women everywhere. Fashion Fair was not about selling clothes, but rather was about exposing African American audiences to the world of high fashion. It was intentionally replete with images of beautiful successful, well-heeled African American women and served to elevate in the minds of its viewers what was possible. These theatrical shows were considered the event of the year in communities throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
The first part of the evening event included a guided tour of the collection by the curator of the collection, Ms. Camille Brewer. Ms. Brewer did an outstanding job of telling the story of Ebony Fashion’s beginnings and provided much antidotal information about Mrs. Johnson and Johnson Publishing Company.
The second part of the evening was even more interesting as it featured a lecture by Shayla Simpson, Ebony Model and Fashion Fair commentator. Ms. Simpson gave poignant insight into the world of fashion and the pivotal part that Ebony played. Starting initially as a model, then commentator, Ms. Simpson eventually became a buyer under Mrs. Johnson’s tutelage. Listening to Ms. Simpson speak was utterly fascinating. She eloquently weaved a story that pulled you in and kept you there! She talked about her buying trips to Paris with Mrs. Johnson. Initially, being a rookie, her job was to cover the lesser known shows and report back to Mrs. Johnson what she should buy. After approximately two years of making recommendations and Mrs. Johnson never purchasing a thing she picked out, she was utterly bewildered. Finally, she asked about it and was told that this was a part of her being groomed for the big shows. Subsequently, she went on to attend all the major shows in Paris, Milan, London, and New York and was a major buyer for Ebony Fashion Fair.
This experience provided me with an even greater appreciation of not only Ebony Fashion Fair, but of the Fashion Industry as a whole.
Tagged: Eunice Johnson, Esther, EBONY Fashion Fair, NYFW, Fashionn, Fashion Week
Meet the Nolcha Four: Esther
I have never met Eunice Johnson, but honestly wish I could have. Eunice was, bar none one of the most influential women of the 21 century. She was an entrepreneurial visionary whose drive and ambition changed the fashion industry for African American women everywhere. Her contributions are legendary. Volumes have been written about how she brought high fashion to communities across the nation by launching Ebony Fashion Fair, while simultaneously raising millions of dollars for various charities. This is in addition to creating Fashion Fair make up, and founding Ebony and Jet magazine. Eunice used fashion to break down cultural barriers and raise expectations of what was possible. Everything she did, she did with world class style, glamour and panache.
Aside from her huge contribution to the world of fashion, what interests me most about Eunice, is Eunice herself. I do not have to have known her to know that she was blessed with the unique ability to motivate, empower and impart a sense of hopefulness in others. She must have been hugely optimistic, believing in herself and others and in her sense of mission. She was able to build relationships with unlikely partners and find creative ways in which to accomplish her goals. She was a brilliant woman who viewed obstacles as opportunities. One antidotal story tells of her collecting press releases from around the country referencing specific designers in the Ebony Fashion Fair. She used this information to help persuade these designers of the benefit that could be had by partnering with her.
It is a combination of all these traits that inspired me to create Esther. It is my hope that the beauty and stance of this piece evoke a feeling of the strength and self-assurance, traits which Eunice possessed in abundance. This sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Eunice Johnson. A truly remarkable woman, whose legacy lives on.
Tagged: Eunice Johnson, Esther, Nolcha Four, NYFW, EBONY Fashion Fair
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Canadians wary of 9/11 explanations - and of US officials
By Tara McKelvey BBC News Magazine
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25370076
Image caption 7 World Trade Center has drawn the focus of the 'truthers' who watch video of its collapse and conclude it must have been felled by explosives
An advertising campaign in Canada raises questions about the US government's official account of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Are Canadians more sympathetic to anti-American conspiracy theories than Americans themselves?
The posters, displayed on buses in Ottawa, show an image of a World Trade Center building collapsing in the inferno of the terrorist attack that morning.
The advertising campaign is supported by a Lafayette, California-based organisation called Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth.
The office tower, 7 World Trade Center, may have been destroyed in a controlled demolition, members of the organisation purport, rather than in a fire.
Frank Greening, a nuclear scientist who lives in Hamilton, Ontario, knows the people behind the organisation - truthers, as they are known - well. He first met them years ago.
Like them, he initially thought there was something more to the story of 9/11 than the US government let on. To him it seemed unlikely that a small group such as al-Qaeda could have pulled off such a monumental act of horror.
Canadians are more likely to believe in conspiracies in American life
Jordan Michael Smith, Journalist
Besides like many Canadians, he harbours a deep scepticism of US officials and their explanations for why things happen.
"I think Canadians are more tolerant of conspiracy theories when it's anti-American," he said.
Experts agree.
Jonathan Kay, an editor at the National Post and author of Among the Truthers, said 9/11 conspiracy theories resonate for a reason.
"There's an underlying neurosis about American power," he said. "In Canada, it's very fashionable to casually attack the US as neo-imperialist.
"If you went up to someone and said, 'Hey, was George Bush lying about Iraq?' they'd say, 'Oh, yeah, that sounds like something he'd do.'"
Or, as Jordan Michael Smith, a Toronto native who writes for the Wall Street Journal and other publications, explained: "Canadians are more likely to believe in conspiracies in American life. But so is everyone else in the world."
"But belief in conspiracies about life in Canada are extremely rare," he said. "I can't think of any, in fact."
Ted Walter, the manager of the advertising campaign for the 9/11 Truth organisation, said the advertisements have appeared in Ottawa, New York, London and Sydney. In Ottawa, he said, the response was particularly strong.
"The ads in Canada sparked more public discussion than anywhere," he said.
Image caption Truthers said many Canadians were receptive to their argument
The campaign has been controversial. Ottawa councillor Diane Deans, head of the transit commission, said earlier this autumn that she thought the ads seemed "insensitive", according to the Ottawa Citizen.
Last week new ads were approved for the buses, according to Walter. David Pepper, manager of business and operational services, provided the BBC with a statement that said they are undergoing a review of "Advertising Standards". The ads, said Walter, will run until early January.
For an online poll, a sample of Canadians viewed a 30-second video of the collapse of 7 World Trade Center put together by members of the 9-11 Truth organisation.
The participants were then asked whether they were inclined to believe officials who said that a fire caused the tower's collapse or critics who claimed that explosives brought down the building.
Among Canadians, 49% said they were inclined to believe the critics, while 37% of Americans said the same. In other words, the Canadians who responded to the online questions were somewhat more sceptical of the official account than were Americans.
The online poll was unscientific. Yet polls from more established groups also show that Canadians do not necessarily believe US officials, at least when it comes to 9/11.
According to a 2011 Canadian Press/Harris Decima poll reported by the Toronto Star, 42% of Canadians believed that "information about 9/11 is being intentionally hidden", while 47% did not.
Image caption In the US, the truther movement has resisted numerous official, scientific and journalist accounts of what happened that morning
Greening stood out, even among conspiracy-minded Canadians. Indeed, he decided to do his own research. He discovered that al-Qaeda did in fact have the capacity to destroy the World Trade Center.
"When I ran the programme, I thought, 'Holy smoke, it can collapse the building,'" he said. He published his findings in the October 2008 edition of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics.
His research was hardly shocking. It has been backed up by plenty of other experts, including those at Popular Mechanics who published a special report called Debunking the 9/11 Myths.
Yet some Canadians felt he had betrayed the truther cause.
"I was called a government shill - a scumbag," he said. One evening he met some of his critics in a Hamilton coffeehouse. They belonged to "a cell, so to speak, of 9-11 truthers", he said.
"They were polite," he said. "But I could sense this tremendous animosity." He understood.
Image caption Some believe dust from the towers, shown in 2001, contained explosive residue
"They felt they had the moral high ground and this was something that needed to be exposed," he said. "It's very idealistic and I respect their sincerity."
After he published his paper, he began hearing stories that dust from the World Trade Center contained explosive residue. He spoke with a scholar who had previously worked with him and asked if he wanted to go further with the research.
"He said, 'Frank, look, the intent of the paper was to silence the truthers. I consider it mission accomplished,'" Greening recalled.
He was disappointed. Even after proving the truther theories wrong, he still had their idealism. Like conspiracy theorists and truth-seekers in Canada, the US and everywhere else, he believes there is a bigger story that has not yet been told.
"My motive was not to silence anybody, but to get to the truth," he said. "If I ever make it to heaven, my first question will be: 'OK, tell me what really happened on that day.'"
Why the 9/11 conspiracies have changed
Q&A: The collapse of Tower 7
New Yorker - Birthers, truthers
New York Times - World Trade Center
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15 Most Controversial Vaccines For Babies
by Aunindita
in Did You Know...
Despite the mounting evidence that vaccines are really safe and even beneficial for babies, vaccine scares just don’t seem to go away. Some of these do have roots in the past, when technology wasn't as advanced as it is today, that resulted in the contamination of vaccines. Others, however are due to studies that link them to certain side effects although these studies were later discredited.
There are, of course, babies who shouldn't get certain vaccines. This is particularly if they're allergic to them, have a history of adverse reactions or have certain medical conditions (which varies per vaccine). But, of course, parents still have the discretion to choose whether or not to vaccinate their child if they well understand the risks.
To run you through the history of vaccines, here are many vaccines that have been controversial in history.
15 Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is one that prevents illness from pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia and meningitis. These infections are caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. It has undergone controversy when a meta-analysis found that it was ineffective. However, this inefficacy was specifically noted for the elderly and adults with chronic illnesses. The papers on its overall efficacy, however, were mixed. Doctors still find it an important vaccine, particularly for kids, so that by being immune to the bacteria, they’re less likely to transmit it to people at risk.
14 Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
The HPV vaccine can be a touchy subject for parents. It prevents cervical cancer, which can be triggered by the sexually transmitted HPV infection. There may also be other causes, but HPV is the leading cause. It’s recommended for preteen girls so that they can gain immunity to the virus well before they’re sexually active. Some parents, however, consider it unnecessary insisting that their preteens aren’t going to be sexually active any time soon. However, given that it can be difficult to monitor the sex lives or absence thereof of teenage girls, it’s probably better off that everyone gets it so we can keep the virus from spreading. Besides, whether a girl decides to be sexually active at fifteen or twenty-five, getting the vaccine does significantly prevent the dangers of cervical cancer.
13 Rotavirus
The rotavirus vaccine prevents a viral infection that is a widespread cause of diarrhea in young children. In 2010, administration of this vaccine was suspended due to the detection of the viral strains PCV-1 and PCV-2 in the vaccines. This was studied for a while until the FDA determined that these viruses do not infect humans. In addition, the benefits of the vaccine in preventing rotavirus was greater than the risks involved in not getting vaccinated.
12 Cholera
Cholera is another diarrheal illness that is rampant in developing countries. It can cause severe dehydration and death if left untreated. It is commonly recommended if you are traveling to a country with a cholera outbreak. The vaccine uses a killed or inactivated virus to help the body develop immunity.
However, it may not be recommended for use by pregnant mothers. It is currently in the Pregnancy Safety Level C, which means that its risk for use by pregnant mothers is yet to be ruled out. If you are pregnant or think you may be, don’t get this vaccination and talk to your doctor about your other options to prevent infection.
11 Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is yet another illness common in developing countries. You may therefore need to get it if you’re traveling somewhere where there is a tuberculosis epidemic. It is controversial because its protective effect varies. For some reason, it provides little effect for some individuals. In others, however, it can be extremely protective against tuberculosis. Despite this variation, however, it is still essential for countries with high rates of tuberculosis. This is because the risk of getting the illness is so high that any protection is better than none.
10 Smallpox
Smallpox was known in Britain as “the pox,” which is probably what those angry English people in historical dramas mean when they wish “a pox upon you.” That or what was known as the “great pox,” which is now called syphilis.
Smallpox is an old, unsightly disease that has an overall mortality rate of about 30 percent. Fortunately, however, Dr. Edward Jenner managed to produce a vaccine for smallpox, which was introduced to the general population in 1798.
Vaccines then were not as safe as vaccines now. However, smallpox was such a deadly, contagious illness that the risk of contracting it far outweighed the risk of the vaccine. It did, however, meet staunch opposition from religious folk who deemed it “unnatural” and proponents of a competing process called variolation, which was deadlier and more uncomfortable.
However, the vaccine won out and smallpox was soon declared eradicated in 1979. The last recorded case was in the United Kingdom in 1978 where a medical photographer involved in smallpox research accidentally contracted it in a laboratory and died. Because the disease was eradicated, we no longer have to get smallpox vaccines.
9 Pertussis
The whooping cough, known also as pertussis or the hundred day cough, is another very contagious childhood illness that gets its name from the characteristic whooping sound as a person gasps for air after a fit of coughing. It’s particularly more severe in younger children, especially those who are below six months of age.
The original diphtheria vaccine became controversial in the 1970s because it had the common side effect of high fever, which sometimes resulted in benign febrile seizures. In addition, some claimed that it was a cause of sudden infant death syndrome, although there wasn’t much proof to back these claims. Because of this, the United Kingdom halted the administration of the vaccine. Soon after, however, a pertussis outbreak that resulted in some deaths encouraged further study of the vaccine, which proved it to be safe and that the side effects typically went away.
The modern acellular variety of the vaccine is associated with fewer side effects. Nowadays it is incorporated in the DTaP vaccine, which also includes immunity for diphtheria and tetanus.
8 Measles
Worldwide, measles is among the leading causes of death in young children. It’s less prevalent today because of the introduction of a MMR vaccine, which can also give immunity for mumps and rubella. Like pertussis, it tends to be more serious in younger children, as well as persons 20 years of age and above.
There is a bigger controversy surrounding the MMR vaccine, which we’ll get to later. However, one controversy that particularly involves measles is one that occurred in the Netherlands between 1999 and 2000. During this time, an epidemic swept the country. A study found that the incidences of measles occurred in clusters, around areas where communities of people who had religious objections to vaccination could be found. A whopping 81% of those who got measles said they didn’t get vaccinated because of their religion.
This study is available in its entirety through Oxford University Press and is considered one of the best examples of the benefits of herd immunity.
7 Diphtheria
Diphtheria is another contagious childhood disease that is characterized by a thick, gray lining made out of dead tissue covering the throat and tonsils. It’s also associated with breathing problems, a sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes.
The corresponding vaccine, which was touched earlier as it is a component of DTaP, was associated with a number of side effects. It is important to note that side effects are common effects of a vaccine that are both harmless and temporary. This is opposed to an adverse reaction, which is more serious. In the rare case that your child experiences an adverse reaction, the doctor will note this in his medical record and he will not receive a booster dose.
The mortality rate for diphtheria with proper treatment is somewhere between 5% and 10%, although in young children, as well as adults above 40 years of age, the mortality rate is around 20%. If left untreated, however, the mortality rate for diphtheria is around 50%.
6 MMR
MMR is probably the vaccine that has gotten the worst press. Most of this is due to a 1998 paper published by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues claiming that the vaccine causes autism. In the years following its publication, the number of parents who choose to vaccinate their kids fell dramatically.
Succeeding studies failed to replicate Wakefield’s findings. Later, it was found out that there was personal interest involved. His colleagues have since refuted the paper and Wakefield was barred from practicing medicine.
Many parents still believe their children get autism after vaccination. However, they do not take into account the fact that the onset of autism is around the same time as vaccinations take place, regardless of whether the child is vaccinated or not. This is because the symptoms are clearer around the time a baby normally displays social communication cues. Just because the two are seen together at a specific age does not automatically mean causality.
5 Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious viral infection of the liver that is transmissible through blood and bodily fluids. Some parents are afraid of vaccinating their child against this condition because the shot may come with side effects like a fever or a sore arm. Some are also concerned that the vaccine is given at such an early age. However, the small risks involved in the vaccine are nothing compared to the benefits.
For some people, acute or the “short” stage of hepatitis comes and goes with few symptoms and resolve completely. About ten percent of people who get infected with the virus, however, develop chronic hepatitis. This can result in serious problems later in life, including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. But the risk of the illness getting chronic is higher the younger a child is. About 90% of infants who get the virus, usually from their mothers, get hepatitis. Up to the age of five years old, the risk is up to 50%.
4 Meningococcus
The meningococcal vaccine is another common childhood vaccine. It is not recommended for kids with a history of allergy to any of the vaccine’s components. It may come with side effects such as fever and pain. Some claim that the vaccine actually causes Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition that causes paralysis. However, two major studies trying to explore this link have found that the vaccine does not cause GBS.
The bacteria that this vaccine protects against is called Neisseria meningitidis and is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. Initially, it may mimic symptoms of flu before it develops into something serious. Its distinguishing symptoms include a stiff neck, projectile vomiting, a bad headache, light sensitivity and, in infants, a bulge over the fontanel. Overall bacterial meningitis has a death rate of about ten percent. However, if not treated immediately, it can cause death within days of the first symptoms.
3 H1N1
You may remember the H1N1 outbreak of 2009. The H1N1 is a mutation of the flu virus that is believed to originate from infected pigs. The mortality rate was estimated to be at less than 20%. However, the most alarming part of the outbreak was that it was primarily in otherwise healthy people under 65-years old. In contrast, most “regular” flu deaths occur in people above 65 who also have other health conditions.
A vaccine was made in a rush and, because of this, many parents were concerned about their child getting the vaccine. Unlike that of the meningococcal vaccine, scientists have actually found a slight increased risk of getting Guillain-Barre syndrome following a flu vaccine. However, kids who get the flu or other infections also have an increased risk of getting GBS.
In any case, at the time of the outbreak, the risk of contracting and dying from H1N1 was incredibly high compared to the risk of getting GBS.
2 Polio
Interesting story about the polio vaccine: the inactivated polio vaccine, the kind that is more common in the United States, was developed by Jonas Salk in 1955. Just three years before this, the US had a massive polio outbreak in which more than 3,000 people died, while more than 21,000 were left disabled. When Salk discovered the vaccine and it was found to be successful, he could have used it to earn a lot of money. He, however, chose not to, so that the vaccine could be distributed at a low cost. When asked about who owned the vaccine, Salk simply responded: “Well, the people, I would say.”
The only public controversy surrounding this vaccine was in 1955, when a laboratory producing the vaccine accidentally contaminated some vaccines with a live polio virus. This resulted in 56 polio cases and five deaths. This was a call for pharmaceutical companies to refine their procedures to ensure that something like this would not happen again.
1 Varicella
Varicella, more commonly known as chicken pox, is a usually mild childhood illness that involves fever and a skin rash, which later develops into blisters and then scabs. In babies and in adults, however, a varicella infection is more dangerous. In addition, people who have contracted varicella have an increased risk of developing a painful and sometimes debilitating illness called shingles.
The vaccine has a few more side effects than other vaccines. There is, of course, low-grade fever and pain at the injection site. However, it may also cause a mild rash, cough, vomiting or a headache. It is also associated with rare adverse reactions such as seizures, easy bleeding and high fever, all of which warrant a visit to your doctor. Before taking the vaccine, you should first discuss with your doctor any allergies or illnesses your child has.
However, doctors have determined that the risk of getting side effects is far lower than the risks involved in a chicken pox infection.
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MH370’s missing five hours
MH370 vanished four years ago, yet there are still no conclusions as to what exactly happened. Picture: Xinhua/Meng Delong (lfj) MH370 Mystery: strange new information
by Larry Vance
18th May 2018 10:14 AM | Updated: 10:14 AM
WHAT happened to Malaysia Airlines flight 370 remains one of our greatest aviation mysteries.
What we do know is the flight left Kuala Lumpur just after midnight local time. It alerted air traffic control as it left Malaysian airspace, but the plane never flew over Vietnam as expected. Below is an edited extract from a new book examining the case, MH370 Mystery Solved by air crash investigator Larry Vance.
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) was a Boeing 777-200ER (B777) aeroplane that departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the dark of night, at 42 minutes past midnight local time on March 8, 2014. The destination was Beijing, China. On board were 12 Malaysian crew members, and 227 passengers.
The captain of the plane was Zaharie Ahmad Shah, who was 53 years old. He was married and had three children. Captain Shah had been an airline pilot with Malaysia Airlines for 33 years, and had 18,423 hours of flight time. He had been a B777 captain for 16 years, and had 8659 hours on that aeroplane type. By virtue of his good track record and seniority, he had been designated as a Type Rating Instructor, and Type Rating Examiner, on the B777. He was recognised as an accomplished and well-respected pilot who had no blemishes on his record.
Zaharie Ahmad Shah was a 53-year-old highly experienced pilot when MH370 vanished.
The co-pilot of the plane was Fariq Abdul Hamid, who was 27 years old. He was unmarried. Co-pilot Hamid had been an airline pilot with Malaysia Airlines for seven years, and had 2813 hours of flight time. He was in the process of transitioning to the B777, and was just finishing his mandatory training to complete the transition. He had 39 hours on the B777.
MH370 was to be his final training flight prior to undergoing his "check ride", which was to take place on his next scheduled flight. This type-check training is a normal process in airline operations. Captain Shah, as a designated Type Rating Instructor, was authorised to conduct such training on regularly scheduled flights.
The planned flight duration for MH370 was 5 hours, 34 minutes. The captain had ordered sufficient fuel for a flight endurance of 7 hours, 31 minutes, allowing some two hours of contingency fuel.
The flight departed normally from Kuala Lumpur, and climbed to its planned cruising altitude of Flight Level 350 (written as "FL350", which is approximately 35,000 feet above sea level). It proceeded toward its first en route electronic waypoint - the IGARI waypoint. (Aeroplanes navigate along an assigned route by tracking through a series of fixed locations, known as waypoints, which provide a more-or-less straight-line track to their destination.)
About 37 minutes after departure, as the plane was approaching the IGARI waypoint, Air Traffic Control (ATC) cleared MH370 to switch to the communication radio frequency of the next control sector, where the pilot would be expected to report in.
Most experts believe the plane made a sharp turn soon after contacting Air Traffic Control in Malaysia for the last time.
In the area of the IGARI waypoint, the aeroplane was in a transition zone.
It would leave the airspace controlled by the Kuala Lumpur ATC sector, and enter the airspace controlled by the Ho Chi Minh ATC sector. The reply from the aeroplane to Kuala Lumpur ATC was, "Good night Malaysia Three Seven Zero". As has been well documented, this was the final radio communication with MH370.
Less than two minutes after that final radio transmission, a significant anomaly occurred on board MH370. Something happened on the plane that caused it to disappear from all ATC radar screens. The electronic tracking signal from the aeroplane completely disappeared. This electronic signal is transmitted from the plane by a radio unit called a transponder. The transponder signal is sent in response to an interrogation from a ground-based radar facility. After the transponder signal disappeared from the radar screens, MH370 was essentially invisible to ATC.
From that point on, after the transponder signal disappeared, there was no more ATC interaction with MH370. There was no more voice communication with the aeroplane, and MH370 was no longer under any ATC control or monitoring.
Initially, the disappearance of MH370 did not raise any red flags with the controllers at ATC. This was because of the specific location where the transponder signal disappeared from the radar screens - just as the flight was being handed off from one control sector to the next. Investigators found that it had taken some time before the controller in the receiving sector noticed that an expected aeroplane (MH370) had not checked in, or shown up on his radar screen.
An artist’s impression of MH370 landing in the ocean. Picture: 60 Minutes
I have added the following commentary for context, and not to provide an excuse for ATC. A receiving controller is not necessarily focused on watching the radar screen for a handed-off plane to show up. Their primary responsibility is collision avoidance. ATC's task is to ensure the track and altitude of the incoming aeroplane (MH370) do not conflict with another aeroplane in their sector. A receiving controller would know that the clearance delivery system would not have issued the assigned track and altitude for MH370 to enter their sector if a potential conflict existed. Also, there would be an expectation by the receiving controller that any aeroplane entering their sector would immediately check in, thereby drawing their attention. Most certainly the MH370 pilot would be aware of this dynamic, and that is why he chose this specific location to make his plane disappear.
Essentially, at 01.21 local time (39 minutes after departure) MH370 simply disappeared. It was only after some 17 minutes that the Ho Chi Minh ATC sector controller noticed that MH370 had not checked in, and that sector checked with the Kuala Lumpur ATC sector to see what might have gone wrong. The Kuala Lumpur ATC sector contacted the other ATC sectors along the flight-planned route, but none of them had established contact with MH370.
It was not until some five hours after MH370 had disappeared from electronic radar tracking that the Kuala Lumpur Rescue Coordination Centre was activated, and a search-and-rescue operation was initiated. ATC could not provide the Rescue Coordination Centre with any specific information about the whereabouts of the flight, other than where it was when it disappeared.
They had no way of knowing whether MH370 had landed, or crashed, or had flown on in some unknown direction.
Larry Vance is an air crash investigator, and has written this book on MH370.
MH370 Mystery Solved by Larry Vance, published by Group of Three publishing, $21.99, available May 23.
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aircraft air travel editors picks flight malaysia airlines mh370 missing plane
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Zai and Bally Collaborate for Wallpaper* Handmade
Zai has teamed up with one of the world's best-known shoe makers - the one and only Bally - to create an exclusive handmade ski for Wallpaper* Handmade, an annual exhibition of the best handcrafted design curated by the internationally renowned design magazine Wallpaper*. As part of the same project, Bally has produced a hiking boot concept inspired by the zai design ethos. The skis and boots were developed over months of top secret design meetings, held in the dusty vaults of the Bally archive in SchÖnenwerd, after Wallpaper* united the two Swiss brands for its Handmade project. Both pieces feature zai's unmistakable clean, functional design and make use of the finest quality Swiss leather in their construction. The zai for Bally ski features two ground breaking world-first innovations: a natural leather surface and asymmetrical geometry. And here's the really clever part: Despite having a 'left' and a 'right', the skis remain interchangeable, with performance varying according to which ski is worn on which foot. The skis also feature signature zai innovations including stainless steel upper edges and natural rubber trim. The hiking boots are the work of Pablo Coppola, Bally's recently appointed Design Director, with input from zai. Classic with a contemporary twist, their rugged, functional design is modelled on vintage Bally alpine wear from the 1950s.
For Simon Jacomet, zai's founder and Creative Head, the chance to work with a brand of Bally's heritage and experience presented an exciting challenge. "It's a privilege to be selected with Bally for Wallpaper* Handmade", he said. "Like zai, Bally is an authentic Swiss brand with a strong focus on quality and an intense affinity for the Alpine world. Bally has been going for 160 years, which is humbling in today's throwaway culture. Just getting the opportunity to dive into the company's archive in SchÖnenwerd was a revelation". Simon worked closely with Pablo, whose impressive credentials include previous posts at Tom Ford, Dior, Burberry and Alexander McQueen. "Some people you can work with easily and openly from the start, and I felt that immediately with Pablo", said Simon. "It felt like we had already been working together for a long time. Pablo is incredibly focused while he is creating, he seems to play with a treasure chest of knowledge that he's collected in his life as a designer".
Simon took elements of shoe design as his inspiration when designing the ski, and spent hours pouring over the Bally archives before arriving at his final design. "Skis are essentially elongated feet, so I took the asymmetry of footwear as a starting point. From there, applying leather and rubber became obvious. Varying the thickness of each ski in different directions highlights the beauty of the leather as it flows over the surface, and you get a left and a right ski. If the skis are interchanged from left to right, you get two different characters out of one pair of skis".
Bally's Pablo Coppola was similarly enthusiastic about the project, despite not being a skier himself. "The skiing side was new territory for me, so I found the technical knowledge that Simon brought to the project fascinating", he said. "I was amazed by the innovation of the zai team. To think of building a ski with leather would strike some people as a crazy idea, but the final result makes perfect sense. For Bally of course, it's a natural direction as we have a rich heritage in snow sports and winter recreation". Pablo has worked with some major designers in his time, but he was still impressed by the perfectionism that Simon brought to the project. "Simon has a very uncompromising approach to design, a quest for perfection that pervades the entire zai ethos", he said. "Just 'good' is not enough, he wants the best. But there is always a sense of fun in his work, too. The mood was relaxed and nothing felt forced. I really enjoyed the project and would do it again in a heartbeat".
Pablo and Simon trawled through Bally's huge shoe archive together and found inspiration from classic boot designs from the 1950s and 60s. Simon, in keeping with zai's focus on functionality and comfort, insisted on trying boots on himself before eventually choosing a favourite on which to model the new boot. "This was not just a simple re-edition", explained Pablo. "We made a lot of changes, including an updated sole contraction and hand-treating the leather to give it a luxurious vintage patina. The hardware of the boot was revised too, for extra strength and durability". The zai / Bally ski and boot were unveiled in April at the Wallpaper* Handmade exhibition in Milan, where they earned praise from major figures in the fields of art, design and architecture. Both items have since been included on a shortlist of 'best designs' chosen by Wallpaper* to be exhibited during the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York throughout May.
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