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About Fair Trade Hong Kong
You are here: Home / 認識公平貿易 / About Fair Trade Hong Kong
Fair Trade Hong Kong (FTHK) was founded in January 2008 in Hong Kong, later incorporated into a private company limited by guarantee, and registered as a charitable organization in October 2010, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes Fair Trade. We are committed to establishing a Fair Trade economy to ensure producers in the developing world can receive their fair share of income, alleviate poverty, reduce inequality,and contribute to a sustainable future.
Oxfam Hong Kong first introduced fair trade concept to Hong Kong in 2002, and started the fair trade movement. Since the establishment of FTHK in 2008, it co-organized the 2nd Fair Trade Fair with Oxfam Hong Kong in Central Pier; and extended the event into Fair Trade Week in 2009.
In 2010, the annual flagship event has further extended into Fair Trade Fortnight, advocating fair trade to all walks of life and different sectors in Hong Kong. 2012 was a milestone for fair trade movement in Hong Kong, as FTHK officially joined Fairtrade International and became a Fairtrade Marketing Organization (FMO), in which it is authorized to promote and monitor the certification of Fairtrade products among Hong Kong, Macau and China.
Fair Trade movement relies on contributions from our stakeholders. The four lines in our logo represent the four key members in the supply chain, i.e. producers, brand owners, retailers and consumers. The development of FTHK also requires joint efforts from different sectors. The Four Dots in our logo stand for the four main interest groups supporting the movement, i.e. schools, business sectors, consumers and the government. FTHK strives to provide a strong connection up and down the supply chain, and to encourage stakeholders to embrace a sustainable development of our future.
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'Climate Change & Security In Africa' Paper Published By GMACCC
Links between climate patterns and conflict
The Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change (GMACCC) has published this month its first in a series of papers on Climate Change and Security. "Climate Change & Security in Africa: Clear Risks, Nuanced Impacts" addresses links between climate patterns and conflict in Africa in order to raise awareness of present and emerging climate-related risks in the region.
Understanding the environmental dimensions of conflicts can improve policy responses that can potentially prevent the adverse impact that climate change has on security outcomes like conflict. The Paper focuses on climate-related stability factors in Mali, Darfur and South Sudan. Food security, migration and disasters are all factors that are taken into account.
African countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change, as the Earth’s climate is warming faster than previously expected.
The operating environment influences the timing and location of violence.
Although studies generally agree that there is not a link between climate change patterns and civil war, there has been clear link established with other types of violence within states.
Further research is needed to understand the pathways between climate change and security elements including conflict, migration and terrorism.
GMACCC is an initiative of the Institute for Environmental Security. The Council is a global network of serving and retired military officers, and associated institutions, committed to highlighting the potential security implications of a changing climate and advocating action, including by the military, to minimise the risks. <gmaccc.org>
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Final agony of RAF volunteer killed by sarin - in Britain.
Porton Down Sarin Death Witness
By Antony Barnett Public Affairs Editor The Observer,
As the inquest into the death of a 'human guinea pig' at Porton Down opens, a witness breaks 50 years' silence to recount the horrors he saw...
Like most 19-year-olds, Alfred Thornhill had never seen anybody die. When the fresh-faced trainee engineer from Salford answered his call for National Service, he thought he could handle anything.
Dispatched to the ambulance service, the self-confident teenager arrived for a month-long posting at Porton Down, the Government's top-secret chemical weapons laboratory in Wiltshire. He was proud to be doing his bit for his country.
But nothing could have prepared the young Mancunian for the horrific events he witnessed on a May morning in 1953. Answering an emergency call, he witnessed scenes which would haunt him for half a century and thrust him to the centre of an inquiry into one of the darkest hours of British military history.
Until today Thornhill - now a 70-year-old pensioner - has never spoken publicly about what he saw. He feared the Ministry of Defence would send him to prison.
He has now broken his silence to tell of the day he arrived at Porton Down's gas chamber and saw the convulsing body of 20-year-old Ronald Maddison thrashing around on the floor, spewing substances from his mouth.
Thornhill's eyewitness testimony will form a key plank of the reopened inquest into Maddison's death, which is due to be heard in the next few weeks.
Maddison, an RAF engineer from County Durham, had been used as a human guinea pig by MoD scientists experimenting on the lethal nerve gas sarin. Like hundreds of others from the armed forces, Maddison had volunteered for the trials, believing he was going to Porton Down to take part in some 'mild' experiments to find a cure for the common cold. Instead, by dropping sarin onto Maddison's skin, they used him to help determine the dosage of the lethal nerve agents.
Thornhill's accounts of the agonising last hours of Maddison's life shines a light into the murky past of this secretive establishment and the shocking experiments carried out on volunteers. Hundreds are suspected of dying prematurely or going on to develop illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and Parkinson's. Despite the grief and fury of survivors and their families, over the decades successive Governments have sought to bury the scandal. But Thornhill's testimony could change all that.
'I had never seen anyone die before and what that lad went through was absolutely horrific... it was awful,' he said. 'It was like he was being electrocuted, his whole body was convulsing. I have seen somebody suffer an epileptic fit, but you have never seen anything like what happened to that lad... the skin was vibrating and there was all this terrible stuff coming out of his mouth...it looked like frogspawn or tapioca.' Thornhill recalls a number of scientists standing around Maddison. 'You could see the panic in their eyes - one guy looked as if he was trying to hold his head down. There were four of us who picked him off the floor and put him in the back of the ambulance. He was still having these violent convulsions and we drove him to the medical unit at Porton.' By the time he reached the unit, it had been cleared of other casualties and there were men in white coats standing around a bed.
Thornhill was told to carry Maddison over and it was then that the young ambulance driver saw a second image that would haunt him for decades.
'I saw his leg rise up from the bed and I saw his skin begin turning blue. It started from the ankle and started spreading up his leg. It was like watching somebody pouring a blue liquid into a glass, it just began filling up. I was standing by the bed gawping. It was like watching something from outer space and then one of the doctors produced the biggest needle I had ever seen. It was the size of a bicycle pump and went down onto the lad's body. The sister saw me gawping and told me to get out.' The next day Thornhill was 'devastated' when he was told by a medical officer that the young man had died. He recalls the whole medical unit stinking of Dettol as if it had been sprayed everywhere to decontaminate the rooms.
Thornhill was asked to drive the body to the mortuary at Salford General Hospital and instructed to take the back roads.
At the time, Thornhill was suspicious of what had happened and why he was told to take such a strange route to the hospital, but he simply followed orders.
'There was a lot of talk among the squaddies about nerve gas and mustard gas and the like, but nobody really knew what was going on. In those days you trusted the authorities and didn't ask too many questions. You kept yourself to yourself.' There was another reason why Thornhill kept quiet. 'I was called into an office and read the riot act by a medical officer. He made me sign something and told me if I ever spoke a word about what I saw at Porton Down I would be sent to prison. I was frightened and didn't want to go to jail, so I didn't tell any of the other lads what I had seen.' Over the years, Thornhill has had frequent flashbacks of the terrible events he witnessed, but has never mentioned them outside his immediate family. 'I used to see things on the news and on TV that used to bring it all back to me. I remember seeing the news about Saddam Hussein gassing the Kurds and I couldn't stop thinking about that young lad.' For 50 years, Thornhill found it difficult to stop wondering who the dying man was. 'I noticed his blue RAF trousers under the blue boiler suit, but that's all I ever never knew about him. I thought he might be married and his wife or parents would want to know what happened and that there was somebody with him when he died. I was recently engaged and I would have hoped somebody would have done the same for me.' Yet it was only this summer when he heard a report on a local Manchester radio station about a police inquiry into the death of the RAF engineer Ronald Maddison at Porton Down, that it all fitted into place. 'I stopped in my tracks when I heard it. I knew that was it him, that it was Maddison. It was the right date, he was in the RAF and they said it was the only person who had died at Porton.' Thornhill telephoned the Wiltshire police who were conducting the inquiry and a team travelled to Manchester the next day to interview him. He gave them a nine-page statement detailing all he knew and saw at Porton Down during his time there. An original MoD inquest was held in secret in 1953 and recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.
Although the police inquiry into events at Porton Down found insufficient evidence to mount a criminal prosecution, their findings were passed to Lord Chief Justice Woolf who ruled that the inquest must be reopened. Lawyers for Maddison's family and the hundreds of other volunteers who have suffered subsequent illnesses are hoping for a verdict of 'unlawful killing'.
Thornhill now wants to meet Maddison's family so he can talk to them about what he saw. 'What that lad went through was horrendous, it shouldn't have been allowed to happen to anybody. We talk about Saddam Hussein gassing his own people but what we did at Porton Down was the same... I want his family to have some justice.' With Thornhill now ready to speak out 50 years later, Maddison's family might finally be able to get just that.
Race to test a Cold War killer Porton Down was established as a research centre on the edge of Salisbury Plain in 1916, to help Britain catch up with German chemical weapons technology.
By the time Alfred Thornhill was an ambulance driver there in 1953, British intelligence believed the Soviets were stockpiling nerve agents, such as sarin, which could kill instantly or cause paralysis, convulsions and breathing difficulties. Scientists at Porton Down wanted to know the precise doses to cause such symptoms.
From 1945 more than 3,000 men were sent into the gas chamber; various amounts of liquid nerve gas were dripped by pipette onto their arms. Many believed they were helping to find a cure for the common cold.
Ronald Maddison died 45 minutes after 200mg of the deadly nerve agent sarin was dripped onto a patch of uniform on his arm. The coroner's report was never released but Lord Chief Justice Woolf has now ordered a fresh inquest.
[(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)
# # # [Pesticide Poisoning Site Map] * [Get Set Site Map]
Nontoxic Products Recommended by Steve Tvedten
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AERLUME
AQUA by EL GAUCHO
CIVILITY & UNREST
CROSSBUCK BREWING
ERITAGE RESORT
THE LAKEHOUSE
MILLER’S GUILD
WALLA WALLA STEAK CO
INN AT EL GAUCHO
THE TEAMLisa Curran2019-11-22T12:01:57-08:00
The team behind El Gaucho Hospitality, along with Chef Jason Wilson, operates as Fire & Vine Hospitality. The partnership was designed to share strengths and create new opportunities for future growth. The Fire & Vine Hospitality team is responsible for overall operational leadership, culinary expertise and product sourcing, marketing and technology support for each of the properties in the company.
CHAD MACKAY
206.352.1450 x102 | Email
Since joining El Gaucho and his father and founder, Paul Mackay in 2003, the two worked together to build a special place for people to celebrate their lives. Over the years, Chad developed strategic direction to promote continual growth and in July 2017 announced the evolution to Fire & Vine Hospitality. The operating company manages the El Gaucho family of restaurants and the Inn at El Gaucho, an operating partnership with Chef Jason Wilson’s restaurants and new properties set to open in 2017 and 2018. His primary responsibilities include developing the company’s people and structure and continuing to foster the El Gaucho legacy of service to our guests and community. As a dedicated member of the Seattle community, Chad is active in the Washington State Hospitality Association and Visit Seattle, as Finance Chair and Board Chair.
Previously, he served on the Washington State Tourism Advisory Committee, the Washington State Tourism Commission and the Seattle Sports Commission. Active in many philanthropic organizations, Chad and his wife Jennifer co-chaired Seattle Aquarium’s 2012 Splash! Fundraising event, as well as the Celebrity Waiter’s luncheon, benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. Chad holds a BA in Business Administration from Seattle University and is a private pilot. His wife, Jennifer, is a tax attorney and mother of their two sons, Eliot and Owen.
JASON WILSON
Culinary Director
Jason’s tenure in the restaurant business spans over 25 years. His prowess for cooking American Regional Food in the Pacific Northwest has lauded numerous awards and celebrity status in the culinary world. His first restaurant, CRUSH, propelled him as an innovator in modern cooking styles and a leader in fine dining, both locally and nationally.
Opening Miller’s Guild brought a new level of wood-fired craft cooking to Seattle and earned a spot on Fodor’s “Top 10 Steak Houses in the Nation.” Jason’s approach as an innovative and entrepreneurial chef has helped him play an influential role as the Executive Chef and Product Developer for COFFEE FLOUR as well as Culinary Director of El Gaucho Hospitality.
Jason’s restaurants and culinary work have garnered numerous accolades. He is a proud recipient of James Beard Award Best Chef Northwest, Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chef” and Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 under 40”.
Corporate Executive Chef
Imbued with a passion for cooking at an early age, Chef and Partner Ken Sharp began his career at Seattle’s Olympic Hotel while still in high school. Encouraged by the chef at the Olympic, Sharp attended the Washington State Chef’s Apprentice Program at Seattle Central Community College, earning a culinary arts degree. Sharp held a number of different posts including managing the food service division at Steven’s Pass, the broiler at Mirabeau Restaurant and butchering for the Red Lion Inns. Sharp spent five years as the chef at the Seafirst Bank Executive Dining Room redesigning and constantly upgrading its cuisine.
In 1984, Sharp had the opportunity to join legendary Executive Chef Earl Owens at the newly opened Metropolitan Grill. He went to work with general manager Paul Mackay to make the “Met” a legendary steakhouse. Collecting accolades for the “Met,” Sharp collaborated with the parent company, Consolidated Restaurants, on projects such as Union Square Grill and Pescatore until 1996. In 1996, Mackay recruited Sharp to join him for his newest venture, a revamped Gaucho in Belltown. His culinary expertise in both cooking and the preparation of specialty beef made him a natural choice to head the kitchen at El Gaucho.
As Corporate Executive Chef, Sharp brings his ability and expertise to each of the El Gaucho Restaurants. In addition to recreating his legendary “best steak in town” at each El Gaucho, Sharp oversees all of the sourcing for Mackay’s seafood restaurant, AQUA by El Gaucho.
COOPER MILLS
A Missouri native and University of Washington graduate, Cooper has worked in Seattle’s restaurant industry for over 20 years at some of the city’s most famous restaurants. Cooper was recruited in 2007 by owner Paul Mackay to manage El Gaucho Seattle because of his natural sense of hospitality, and was personally mentored by Paul to learn El Gaucho’s history and philosophy regarding high standards of guest service.
Cooper loves being dad to his daughter, Sophia Grace, and husband to his wife Rebecca . In his spare time, he enjoys camping, golfing, Husky Football, driving his 1974 VW “Thing” (in the summer) and spending time exploring the city. In his home town he’s known and remembered for singing “Deep in the Heart of Texas” in his 5th grade play, which people still talk about today! Some of his most treasured items include his grandfather’s 1944 World Series Ring.
TONY CAPRA
Operations Director, El Gaucho Hospitality
Hailing from Minneapolis, Tony has been in the hospitality industry since 1988. Starting his career as a bellman at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, he quickly discovered a love for the business. A year later, Tony moved back to Minneapolis and started a seven-year stint with the Whitney Hotel, a premier boutique hotel in the city, while completing his degree at the University of Minnesota.
In the fall of 1995, Tony packed up his golf clubs and trekked to Seattle, and also made the switch from hotels to restaurants. Starting as the maître d’ at West Seattle’s iconic Salty’s on Alki, he stayed for nine years and worked his way up to General Manager. After a few years at Ivar’s Salmon House, the opportunity arose to work with friend and colleague Cooper Mills at El Gaucho Seattle. With a strong belief in the concept, atmosphere, character, and integrity that Paul Mackay has created with El Gaucho, Tony has enjoyed his time in fine dining. After all these years he still has the passion to please that he did as a new bellman at the Phoenician resort many years ago.
TAMARA NEALEY
Raised on a third generation wheat and cattle family farm in Eastern Washington, Tamara loves combining her agricultural background with her unique career in special events production, non-profit fundraising, and recruiting in the consumer goods industry. Tamara joined El Gaucho Hospitality in 2012 and is responsible for the overall brand marketing strategy and implementation, communications, and the company’s very active charitable giving program. Tamara ensures the stories behind the El Gaucho Hospitality people and products are told, through writing for the company blog “The Gaucho Gridiron,” through email and newsletter marketing, and social media.
With a degree from Washington State University in Communications, Tamara now loves living in “the big city.” In her spare time, you might find her enjoying all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer, through running, hiking, yoga, attending a show or museum, or checking out a new restaurant or winery with friends and family. She also has completed her Level One Certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Her greatest joy is being mom to her son, Gunnar.
BETH HERRELL SILVERBERG
Public Relations Director
Beth loves a good story – finding and sharing them is what drives her love of communications and public relations. A Northwest native, Beth was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and graduated from Gonzaga University. She began her career in the heady days of 1990’s Microsoft public relations. After 9 years in high tech PR, she started an independent consulting practice serving clients more in line with her personal interests including education and families, food and dining. Beth began consulting with El Gaucho Hospitality in early 2014 and happily joined the company as Public Relations Director in 2017. Her approach to media relations is based on a great respect for journalists and she loves matching up a writer with a story they want to tell.
Gathering friends and family around the table is Beth’s favorite activity. Beth loves to cook and entertain and is happiest when her home is full of the sounds of her two teenaged kids, Katie and Peter, and their friends. Traveling, being outdoors on a run, working in the garden and walking her dog, Nelson, keeps her head on straight and her feet on the ground.
ZACH DUNN
Marketing Program / Social Media Manager
Born in Boston, MA and raised in Redmond, WA, Zach joined the El Gaucho team in 2016. After studying Political Science and Marketing at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, Zach was lured to Belfast, Northern Ireland to flex his creative muscles, working as the Communications Assistant for the country’s oldest peace and reconciliation organization. Though he loved his time on the Emerald Isle, the magnetic pull of the Emerald City brought him back to find work.
Zach is responsible for social media content, online customer reviews, coordinating our loyalty program, and is our resident photographer and videographer. His hobbies include rock climbing, snowboarding, photography and tacos. Yes, Zach considers tacos a hobby and takes it quite seriously.
KIM REYNOLDS
Kim brings organization and a motivational energy to the Fire & Vine team as well as a stash of candy and treats to sweeten our days. She was born in Edmonds but grew up in Oso, just outside of Arlington, WA. She earned her BA in Hospitality Business Management at Washington State University and previously worked in the service industry with food and wine before joining the El Gaucho Bellevue team in 2011. She joined the Fire & Vine management team in 2017 for a new challenge and to be part of a new area of growth for the company.
Spending time with her friends and family, as well as her adopted Terrier mix, Brody, is a huge priority for Kim. She enjoys being outdoors, especially hiking and camping, as well as traveling the Northwest and the world including Mexico and Thailand. Kim’s creativity comes to light with crafting projects including sewing, painting and repurposing vintage finds to make gifts and décor. Kim is a natural care-taker and keeps the team on track!
info@fire-vine.com | 206.352.1450
2701 1st Ave #300, Seattle, WA 98121
© Fire & Vine Hospitality
Website: Curran Design
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Explore Historic Harrison Idaho
Location: Historic Harrison is located 28 miles (45 km) south of Interstate 90 on the Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway, (Hwy. 97)
Population: 203. Please read the Welcome page for what to expect when coming to Harrison.
Western Frontier Town
Crane Historical Museum
Historic Waterfront Walking Tour
Historic Downtown Walking Tour
Red Horse Mountain
Look for free self-guided walking tour maps at local businesses, Harrison Library, and at the Crane House Museum. The maps will be delivered to the Lakeview Lodge and Grant Building May 6th and distributed around town from there. The maps include 29 buildings/sites in the commercial district, eight of which are federally recognized historical buildings. It also shows the location of mills, factories and other waterfront features. Details and updates are posted here on the history pages as new information becomes available.
Seven buildings in the Harrison Commercial Historic District were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. They were all built after the 1917 fire. The district also includes the City Park. The Crane House was added to the Register in 1999.
The Harrison Commercial Historic District was developed after the devastating 1917 fire. The district is an intact commercial streetscape from the late 1910s and represents architecture styles typical of small towns during that time.
In vernacular design, the brick-front store was the most popular commercial style of the first half of the 20th century. Such buildings varied in height from one to three stories, but their plans were quite similar. Two and three story structures had ground level store facilities, with offices, meeting halls, living space, or storage on the upper floors.
The buildings are simple and directly functional with minimal decorations. They are constructed of brick or clay tile blocks, an expression of the owners' desire to invest in fireproof buildings.
Public parking: You can easily explore Harrison by cycle or on foot. All parking is free. Cyclists looking for vehicle parking can head to Lakefront Ave. between Harrison Street and Rose Street. See signs for Trail of Coeur d'Alenes parking. Additionally, there is one ADA space down the hill next to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes entrance by the city beach. Parking spots at the campground and marina are reserved for campers, boaters, and guests at the Gateway Marina. Street parking is available along Coeur d'Alene Ave (Hwy. 97). Visitors may also park in the Old Harrison School & Gym lot at the corner of Frederick and Park Ave.
Public Restrooms: There are men's and women's restrooms with running water on the northeast corner of the park, at the junction of Hwy. 97 and Garfield Street, across from the Harrison Trading Post. This facility is closed in winter and anyone in a wheel chair will find it difficult to navigate across the grass. There is also a year-round vault toilet at the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes trailhead across from the city beach, which is handicap accessible. Look for the ADA parking spot right next to the trail entrance.
Cell Phone Service: Please note that Verizon service is available in town. Sorry, ATT and T-Mobile customers will have to drive up Prospect to the cemetery or up to Harrison Flats.
This historical building on Lake Front Ave. was built by Mr. Burton, c. 1901, to house the Steam Laundry. It is directly up the hill from where the train depot and steamboat docks were. The walls are 20" thick concrete and steel bars covered the windows. The laundry was only in operation for a short time. After Mr. Burton died the building stood empty until the mid 1940s, when Russ Vetter had a plumbing business here. Ownership transferred to Howard Russell, who used it for storage. Recently, the property changed hands and some items that had been stored there for many years were transferred to The Company Store on Coeur d'Alene Ave., so stop in and have a look at some local artifacts.
This structure adjacent to the old train track bed was likely the ticket house for the Export Lumber Co. where loads were recorded.
Addison A. Crane, in his office in Harrison, Idaho, November, 1907
If want to share your old Harrison stories and pictures, please fill out the form and we will be in touch.
Share your Harrison history!
Harrison Chamber of Commerce
E-mail: harrison.id.info@gmail.com
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InventoryAbout UsShowsPublicationsContact
Captain Richard Atwood's Backstaff made by William Williams 1770
ImagesThumbnailsBack
Boxwood and ebony backstaff signed on the boxwood cross limb 'MADE BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS KING STREET BOSTON 1770.' There is an ornate bone insert on the horizon limb which is engraved 'Richard Atwood 1771.' The instrument is beautifulkly crafted and has a typical engraved boxwood scale with a fancy hook on one end and a smaller arc with engraved scales on the opposite end. The ebony limbs have paired scribed lines on both the front and back of the instrument. There are decorative stars stamped throughout the instrument at opposite ends of the maker's signature. The instrument retains the original horizon vane which is beautifully champhered. (I-852)
Condition: The instrument has a deep mellow age patina and an original untouched surface. There are a few minor age cracks. Reference 1: Brewington, M.V., 'The Peabody Museum Collection of Navigating Instruments', Salem, Massachusetts: Peabody Museum, 1963, pp. 7, 144. In the collection of the Peabody Museum is the only other known backstaff by William Williams. This instrument has a similar signatures and is dated 1768 and has the bone plaque with the name 'Malchi Allen' and American shipmaster as early as 1743. William Williams was born around 1748. It is not known how he learned the instrument trade. During the American Revolution, he served in the Continental Army and was back in business making instrument in Boston 1783. He died on January 15, 1792 and his business and shop sign passed to Samuel Thaxter. Reference 2: Warner, Deborah Jean, Rittenhouse, 'Davis' Quadrants in America', Vol. 3, Issue 9, November 1988, p. 23-40. This article describes and lists all known backstaffs. The instrument described above was unknown at the time this chapter was written but it does mention the Williams instrument at the Peabody Museum. Note: This instrument is apparently the only example of William Williams backstaff in private hands and is one of only two known. Captain Richard Atwood was born in Eastham, Massachusetts in 1753 and died in Wellfleet, Massachusetts in 1809. This is probably the oldest instrument made in the United States to be used by a Cape Cod sea captain.
Dimensions: Length 24 1/2 inches; Height 13 3/4 inches.
Hyland Granby Antiques PO Box 457, Hyannis Port, MA 02647
Tel (508) 771-3070 alan@hylandgranby.com
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To exist, Amateur Radio must have access to the radio frequency spectrum. Without it, our radio equipment is like an automobile without a road or a boat without water -- interesting to look at, perhaps, but utterly useless.
Amateur Radio exists for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations. To accomplish these broad objectives, amateurs must be afforded reasonable access to the spectrum from the lowest frequencies to the highest. Yet, spectrum access is an increasingly valuable commodity. Commercial interests willingly pay billions of dollars for access to the frequencies they require in order to be able to sell telecommunications services. The radio spectrum is so valuable that even government and military users are under great pressure to relinquish frequencies for commercial exploitation.
In such an environment, how can we radio amateurs defend and expand our spectrum access? By definition, our interest in radio is not financial. We can hardly afford to compete, dollar for dollar, with commercial interests. Nor can we compete with them for attention; our individual voices are too weak to be heard over their extravagant claims and frenzied bidding.
The future may look bleak, but let us remember this: It has happened before, and Amateur Radio survived and prospered.
In the early 1920s it was generally assumed that radiocommunication could only take place over long distances using very long waves -- the lower the frequency, the better. Very large antennas and very high power were the rule at commercial and government stations. Then, radio amateurs found that short-wave signals could be heard all over the world. The rush soon began to exploit this newly discovered phenomenon. Radio amateurs, the very people whose experiments had revealed the value of the short waves in the first place, were in grave danger of being pushed aside.
At the time there were very few countries in which radio amateurs had been able to organize themselves into national associations. In many countries, Amateur Radio operation was actively discouraged or even illegal. Fortunately, there were far-sighted individuals who understood the problem and were able to find a solution. In 1925 they met in Paris and formally created the International Amateur Radio Union, or IARU.
Initially the IARU had individual members. Once there were enough members in a given country to do so, a section of the IARU would be formed. Soon there were enough sections of the IARU that it became a federation of national associations.
The first major challenge for the IARU occurred in 1927 at the Washington International Radiotelegraph Conference. Radio amateurs easily could have been forced into bands that would have been too narrow to support future growth. Instead, allocations were won that we still know today as 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters, with a 5-meter band that was moved to 6 meters after World War II. The other amateur bands we now enjoy were the result of decades of patient effort through the IARU. From less than 30,000 radio amateurs who were licensed as of 1927, the Amateur Radio movement has grown to three million. From the representatives of 25 countries who formed the IARU in 1925, the IARU has grown to include 150 national associations representing virtually every country with enough amateurs to form an organization.
Individual radio amateurs support the work of the IARU through their membership in their own national IARU member-society. That support is vital to the future of Amateur Radio. The IARU is recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the representative of the interests of radio amateurs throughout the world. It is our voice in the offices and meeting rooms of the ITU and regional telecommunications organizations, where the decisions affecting our future access to the radio spectrum are made.
Most representatives of the IARU are volunteers. The combined budgets of the IARU and its regional organizations amount to just pennies per month per licensed radio amateur. Unfortunately, not all radio amateurs are members of IARU member-societies so the burden falls onto those who are.
All licensed radio amateurs benefit from the work of the IARU, whether or not they are members of their national IARU member-society. But every licensed radio amateur should be a member. Only by combining our efforts in this way can we ensure the future health of Amateur Radio, for ourselves and for future generations.
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Archive for the ‘US Open’ Category
The Murray Mystery
This story is getting boring. I’ve written it heaven knows how many times. I’ve read the articles and I’ve heard the opinions, I’ve watched the matches and I have formed my own. And although I am never, ever surprised, I can hardly be forthcoming with my reasons as to why I’m not shcked. Perhaps it’s just because I find the guy very unlikeable as a player, but there is something more than that. I still don’t know what it is. But whatever I or anyone else feels, the results are always the same; Murray can’t turn excellent effort into grand slam wins.
Following his defeat to Rafael Nadal in the semi finals, the usual voices came out of the following silence to stymie the flow of questions. The advice of pundits and his supporters became desperate excuse-making long ago. Now it is just plain strange. Andy Murray is Britain’s number one and is in the number 4 position worldwide. That has just never translated into Grand Slam wins. It has been years since everybody earmarked Murray as a top contender. No results to show for it in terms of Grand Slam all these years later, and there is definitely trouble afoot. Why is it happening though>
Mental attitude? That might be a problem. Murray has the weight of a nation on his shoulders, a nation known for being unbearably oppressive, overzealous, and not actually that genuinely supporting. There is nothing as cold as a British cold shoulder.
Coach? That has also been an issue. But, it has been an issue that has risen and then more »
Serena surpassed by superb Stosur
What would a final involving one of the Williams sisters be without a bit of controversy? Well, well done Serena; your petulant display of bad sportsmanship has all but stolen the headlines from Stosur, who earned every moment of her victory and deserves to have a little more recognition for her amazing performance. It was only in 2009 that Serena threw her toys out of the pram last time, which pretty much landed her with the same result that she sees now. Anyway, it hardly seems fair to give her the attention.
Instead, let’s talk about the way in which Sam Stosur broke down the hot favourite to take her first Grand Slam victory. The Australian seemed enormously calm considering that she had a mountain ahead of he to climb. There have been a few pretenders to the Williams’ sisters thrown at the US Open, and some have succeeded. However, it only took Stosur 1 hour and 13 minutes to receive the trophy at Flushing Meadows, and considering she had only been in one grand slam final before this is an achievement in anyone’s book.
If anything, it is her mental strength that needs praising. Over recent years, a few lower ranked and unknown players with enormous talent have climbed to the final, only to be blasted aside in a rather quiet affair in the last match of the tournament. Stosur seemed to sideline the enormous odds, the press touting of Williams as the favourite, Williams’ own record at Flushing Meadows, the enormity of the game, and on top of all of that manage to kee more »
Day 9 dawns – and then retreats
Day 9 has gone out with a damp fizzle, after heavy rain blighted Flushing Meadows and meant that a whole day’s schedule was washed away. The heavy rain has been predicted, but the organisers saw not a single rain break in the weather reports they were given, and so decided to remove the day’s schedule completely.
For anyone who has followed the US Open recently, this really isn’t a surprise. It means, for the third year in a row, that the final will be on Monday. Surprise, surprise, there have been the usual calls for the American tournament to invest in a roof. These will only increase as the delays start to back up.
Seeing as I have been seriously absent of late – which I can only grovel for forgiveness for – this round up may take a while, but here are some of the major things that have been going on since the start of the US Open. In fact, so many, that I am going to crack out the bullet points… more »
King Rafa
Grass?…check.
Clay?….check.
Hard courts of Australia?…check.
Hard courts of the USA?…check.
Rafael Nadal has become one of only seven men who have achieved a career Grand slam; they’ve won every Grand Slam on the calendar. Clay, grass, hard court, they are kings of them all. Let’s face it, no-one is surprised that Rafa has achieved this kind of accolade. If there is anyone out there who can match the likes of Agassi, Federer, Rod Laver and Fred Perry, it’s our man from Majorca.
So, not many of us were surprised by his victory over Serbian Novak Djokovic lastnight. Novak is no push over, but this is Rafael Nadal. Nothing but losing an arm and a leg would keep him off the tennis court or from achieving what he wants to achieve. Look at Wimbledon; years of being beaten on grass by Federer, years of trying to break the mould of being a ‘clay court player’, and he eventually got his reward in 2008 in one of the most epic finals of all time.
The match started off tense but even in promise; Djokovic appeared to be in for the long run in the second set, capitalising on some uncharacteristic Nadal mistakes to get the second set. The third swung from the favour of one man to another; bursts of intense play from Djokovic left Rafa hitting mid-air, then suddenly it was a Nadal master-class in how to win points, and Nole was left to take his frustrations out on his racket. Rafa’s serve was a force to be reckoned with, getting him out of many a sticky situation. more »
Queen Clijsters
In a repeat of last year, Kim Clijsters scooped up her little girl Jada in one arm and her US Open trophy in the other. It only took 59 minutes this year for her to brush aside Vera Zvonareva for the title; her third at this tournament. Clijsters is Queen at Flushing Meadows and the crowd were more than happy to welcome her back to the throne.
Unfortunately, the final was a decidedly one-sided affair, although it doesn’t tarnish anything from Clijsters exemplary game. More than anything, it makes one’s heart leap out to the young Russian, who had in the past played so well against Clijsters and had been having such a good run; in Wimbledon alone she beat Clijsters and made it to her first Grand Slam final, and that wasn’t the only time she has beaten Kim in the past. For Zvonareva, the swiftness of her second Grand Slam final only echoes her premature appearance at Centre Court in this year’s Wimbledon. In that final she was also batted aside with little difficulty, that time by Serena Williams. This must have made being beaten so swiftly all the more painful.
After a few disappointing opening games and points, most assumed Zvonareva would pick herself up quickly and the battle would begin, but Clijsters was just too good and blasted away at her opponent repeatedly, leaving her little time to catch her breath. There were moments where the crowd were cheering on Zvonareva, but only in an encouraging manner after she managed to staunch the flow of games and got the score more »
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Women’s Singles Championship Is Wide Open
Big Three Dominant Once Again at Wimbledon
Nadal & Barty Claim Glory In Paris
A New Women’s Major Champion Will Be Crowned
The Men’s Big Three Roll On In Paris
Female Players
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Paparoa Track. Credit: DOC
NZ's next Great Walk opens in December
With just under six weeks until the first bushwalkers and mountain bikers experience the Paparoa Track, Department of Conservation (DOC) and local Blackball residents are getting ready for the long-awaited opening of what will be New Zealand’s first purpose built shared-use Great Walk.
The first bushwalkers and bikers will embark on the track on 1 December, with an official opening event and celebration of the track build to be held in Blackball on 30 November.
Ben Hodgson, Greymouth Senior Community Ranger, says the opening event will celebrate the journey of the Paparoa Track build and all the incredible work put in to complete it.
“There will be displays and live music, and we’re expecting a big turnout in Blackball.”
The celebration will be attended by family members of the Pike 29, Ngāti Waewae representatives, and government ministers, along with the track building crews, DOC staff and community members.
The track has been under construction since mid-2017, when work started on the build of 41km of purpose built walking and mountain biking track, to link 14km of existing trails. The total length of the Great Walk is 55km walking and 56km cycling and it will be a two-day mountain bike ride, or three day walk.
Ben Hodgson says the opening of the track is exciting for the West Coast.
“The three huts on the track already have a 76% occupancy rate for the first five months of the season to the end of April 2020. There is a real buzz about this track and the opportunities it brings for our communities, as well as the new recreation opportunities it opens up on the West Coast.
“Paparoa National Park has previously only been accessible to hardy and experienced outdoors people. With the opening of the track, many more people will be able to experience the beauty of this part of New Zealand.”
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TORONTO – A new poll finds that while most Canadians have lived or travelled abroad, the majority see their homeland as a top vacation destination.
A survey conducted by Ipsos Reid for Historica Canada says 68 per cent of participants agreed that “Canada has something for everyone, so why go anywhere else.”
About a third of respondents, on the other hand, said they think Canada is a great place to live but not that interesting to visit and they’d rather travel outside its borders.
Among those planning Canadian vacations, most – 32 and 24 per cent, respectively – are headed to Ontario or Quebec, where the bulk of the country’s population lives.
READ MORE: Calgary prepares for visitors as direct flights from Beijing begin
But a quarter of respondents say British Columbia is their dream destination in Canada, far ahead of any other province, though almost as many (22 per cent) say they long to go on a coast-to-coast road trip.
The poll, administered online to 1,008 Canadians between June 17 and 22, is accurate to within 3.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
“Canadians are very happy at home and there’s a lot to choose from in Canada and Canadians in general celebrate that,” said Anthony Wilson-Smith, president and CEO of Historica Canada.
Many respondents (46 per cent) say they would prefer to travel domestically rather than head south of the border even if the exchange rate wasn’t a factor, although 26 per cent say they would choose the U.S. if our dollar was stronger, the poll says.
Close to a third say their preference depends more on the weather, noting they like summer in Canada and winter down south.
READ MORE: Surviving the Slump: Travel Alberta without breaking the bank
Those at least 55 years old are the most likely to choose based on the season – 36 per cent say that affects their decision, compared to 32 per cent of those 35 to 54 years old and 24 per cent of those 18 to 34.
Nearly four in 10 say they visit the U.S. less often due to safety concerns.
“There’s a lot of general discussion lately of gun issues, of crime issues, how much does that affect you? And you see a high return there of people saying, ‘Actually, yeah, I do think about that and that makes it less likely for me to go there,”‘ Wilson-Smith said.
Still, the average Canadian has lived in or visited five other countries, the poll finds. Most (39 per cent) have been to two to five other countries, while 20 per cent have visited one and 15 per cent have never left the country.
Residents of Alberta were the most likely (22 per cent) to say they’ve never left Canada, followed by those in Atlantic Canada (19 per cent).
Prolific travellers – those who have been to at least 10 other countries – were most likely to be from British Columbia, with Ontario as runner-up and Quebec close behind.
OTTAWA – North America’s three political leaders wrapped up their day-long summit meeting Wednesday by presenting a united front against the global forces of protectionism.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto all said it would be a mistake for the continent to shut itself off from an integrated global economy.
But Obama in particular noted that free trade also needs to be fair trade, and countries need to take steps to ensure that prosperity continues to flow to all of their citizens.
READ MORE: Canada to lift visa requirement for Mexico as of December 2016
Trudeau said it’s one of the key themes of the North American Leaders’ Summit, to highlight how trade and international agreements are good for global economy and for people around the world.
He said countries that export more of their goods to markets around the world are wealthier, and citizens are able to share in that growth.
Obama said it’s too late to try to prevent the integration of national economies into a single global entity, because it has already happened.
“The question is not whether or not there’s going to be an international, global economy – there is one,” the president said. “Under what terms are we going to shape that economy?”
Earlier Wednesday, Pena Nieto offered a sharp rebuke of the protectionist forces north of his country’s border and in Britain.
WATCH: Obama arrives in Ottawa for Three Amigos summit
His anti-isolationism message came one day after he and Trudeau trumpeted their bilateral relationship as a model of political and economic co-operation.
They presented the Canada-Mexico relationship as a sharp contrast to the growing strains of protectionism and isolation sweeping the United States and Britain, with its referendum decision to leave the European Union – a theme the Mexican leader placed squarely on the agenda of the summit.
Pena Nieto’s remarks also came one day after Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee to replace Obama, delivered his most explicit threat to smash the North American Free Trade Agreement.
“The world is teaching us lessons,” Pena Nieto said in Spanish at the end of his meeting with Obama, which preceded the three-way talks.
“We need to be very clear in terms of describing the benefits of being an integrated region. Jobs are created, companies are incorporated, trade is free and more development can reach people due to regional integration. Isolationism is not a route towards progress; integration is.”
He said the Obama administration and his government have stressed “the importance and the relevance that working as a team” and standing together.
President Barack Obama walks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Neito at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomes Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to the North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa, Wednesday June 29, 2016.
Fred Chartrand/
U.S. President Barack Obama smiles as he arrives at the airport in Ottawa for the North American Leaders’ Summit on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
Justin Tang/
Obama praised the U.S. relationship with Mexico on a number of fronts, including their shared membership in the 12-country Pacific Rim trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which also includes Canada.
“All too often hearing rhetoric that ignores the enormous contributions … by Mexican-Americans and the enormous strengths that we draw from the relationship with our good neighbour to the south,” Obama said.
Trump said he would inform Mexico and Canada of his desire to immediately renegotiate a more favourable deal and if they refused significant concessions, he threatened to withdraw from it all together.
WATCH: There’s a push in North America to prevent the kind of division that is tearing Europe apart. Later this week, the leaders of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada will meet in Ottawa for what’s known as the “Three Amigos Summit.” Mike Le Couteur reports.
As Obama was winging his way to Canada, White House spokesman Josh Earnest played down the remarks, saying NAFTA has already been renegotiated in the form of the TPP.
“It includes, obviously, countries in the Asia Pacific as well, but it includes Canada and Mexico and it raises standards related to the environment and to labour conditions in all of the countries that have signed the agreement,” Earnest said.
“It also makes those higher standards enforceable in a way that they weren’t in NAFTA. So the president promised in 2007 and 2008 – this got a lot of attention – that he would work, that he would engage with our partners to make changes to those agreements to make them more fair to U.S. workers and the broader U.S. economy. That’s exactly what we’ve succeeded in doing.”
Trump also made it clear Tuesday he’s no fan of the TPP either, calling it “a continuing rape of our country.”
Earlier, Trudeau greeted Obama with a warm hug Wednesday before the two sat down with Pena Nieto to begin the summit in earnest. Obama praised the setting – the locked-down National Gallery of Canada – and fondly acknowledged the Mounties clad in red serge that helped greet him.
READ MORE: Barack Obama’s visit to Ottawa will close roads, bridges, museums, waterways and (almost) everything
“It’s good to see Mounties around,” the president said. “It always makes me feel safe.”
Indeed, security was an ever-present theme throughout the morning as the iconic Boeing VC-25, better known as Air Force One, touched down at the Ottawa airport for what is widely expected to be Obama’s last visit to Canada as president.
He was greeted by Governor General David Johnston, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion and a large group of officials and dignitaries.
WATCH: Trudeau jokes about Obama’s ‘impending retirement’; Obama offers thumbs up
A towering convoy of black limousines and SUVs – including the heavily armoured presidential Cadillac nicknamed “The Beast” – ferried the president to the National Gallery of Canada, not far from Parliament Hill.
The Mexican president, who has been on a state visit to Canada since Monday, is to sign on to a Canada-U.S. pledge to cut methane emissions 40 to 45 per cent below 2012 levels by 2025.
North America accounts for about 20 per cent of global emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that the Pembina Institute estimates accounts for a fifth of all man-made global warming to date.
The trio will also announce plans to achieve 50 per cent clean power generation across North America by 2025, including renewable energy, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage and increased energy efficiency.
VIDEO: Preview of ‘Three Amigos Summit’ in Ottawa
Canada has over 80 per cent clean electricity generation, by that measure – North America as a whole is at 37 per cent – meaning the plan could put Canada in a lucrative position to export more power to the U.S.
Obama was to have his own bilateral meeting with Trudeau before capping his day-long visit to the national capital with an address to Parliament.
On Tuesday, Trudeau and Pena Nieto cleared away long-standing trade and travel irritants: Canada will lift its controversial visa requirement for Mexican visitors before the end of the year while Mexico will end restrictions on Canadian beef imports.
ENMAX is putting the finishing touches on a project it bills as the largest commercial rooftop solar system in Canada.
The installation at the Leduc Recreation Centre will produce electricity and is a key component in the City of Leduc’s strategy to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.
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“The sheer size of this solar installation as well as the subsequently planned Operations Building retrofit, will lead to emission reductions of over 1,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking about 200 cars off our roads and a significant step towards reaching our future goals,” Mayor Greg Krischke said in a statement Tuesday.
The 1.14-megawatt system is expected to begin operating before the Alberta Summer Games start on July 31. According to ENMAX, an Alberta utility provider, the panels, which cover the area of about four-and-a-half NHL rinks, will generate about 15 per cent of the recreation centre’s annual energy consumption needs.
The City of Leduc’s partnership with ENMAX on both its recreation centre and operations centre is projected to cost $3.1 million.
ENMAX is putting the finishing touches on a project it bills as “Canada’s largest rooftop solar array,” which is expected to begin producing electricity in Leduc by July 31, 2016.
COURTESY: ENMAX
The same day the Alberta government rolled out its new insurance plan for ride-sharing companies in the province, councillors at Edmonton City Hall were discussing concerns those same companies are already going against the bylaw that governs them.
READ MORE: Alberta government unveils insurance policies aimed specifically at ride-sharing companies
Edmonton paves the way in Canada for Uber
Edmonton ride-sharing upstart revved up to challenge Uber for street supremacy
Edmonton cabbies fighting Uber legalization
Edmonton’s vehicle-for-hire bylaw came into effect on March 1 and stipulates only taxis are allowed to pick up passengers hailing a ride on the street.
However, on Tuesday, several municipal lawmakers, including Coun. Dave Loken, said they are concerned ride-sharing companies are picking up street hails.
READ MORE: Edmonton becomes first city in Canada to legislate ride sharing
Loken suggested the size of the decals on ride-sharing vehicles may be confusing for customers.
“You can see them from blocks away,” he said. “If it looks like a taxi, they’re going to try and hail it, right? So that’s a problem and something we need to address because that’s something that we told the taxi industry we would be watching for. Clearly it’s in the bylaw so we need to enforce it.”
Loken acknowledged that council originally required the decals to easily identify ride-share drivers but said the decals may be too large and that the rules on decals may need to be reconsidered altogether.
Mayor Don Iveson also said he thought council would need to revisit how the bylaw deals with decals on ride-share vehicles.
“Right now, because you have vehicles that have decals, even if someone’s prearranged a trip on their phone and is now flagging the vehicle that they’ve prearranged that trip with, that can look to a third party like a street hail,” the mayor said. “But if you’re just waving at a car that has a very small decal on it that you couldn’t reasonably see from the curbside, then it’s clear to everyone that you’re just having a private interaction between a couple of vehicles and you’re only waving at them because you know who they are or you’ve pre-booked that trip.
“I think there’s a perception right now, rightly or wrongly, that there’s hailing activity happening.”
Two years ago, the provincial government increased speed limits on 33 stretches of road in B.C. in an effort to make them safer.
A report on the changes released Tuesday by the Transportation Ministry found that crash rates have dropped or are unchanged on 19 of 33 sections of highway where speed limits were increased.
Accidents were up on 14 of the 33 stretches of road where speeds were increased, but speed wasn’t necessarily to blame in all but two cases.
MORE: British Columbia’s 12 deadliest highways
“The top three contributing factors in collisions in British Columbia, particularly during this period, is driver inattentiveness; weather or road conditions that can change very quickly; and thirdly, it’s driving too fast for the road conditions,” Transportation Minister Todd Stone said.
However, he said at least three years worth of data are needed to determine whether speed has been a major factor.
Stone believes roads that have seen an increase in accidents could be made safer through engineering and other measures so the higher speed limits could remain.
READ MORE: Who is watching you on B.C. Highways?
But speed limits will be lowered in a couple of areas — on Highway One from Hope to Boston Bar, where 90 km/h will replace the 100 km/h limit, and Highway 5A from Aspen Grove to Princeton, where the 90 km/h speed limit will drop to 80 km/h.
A stretch on the connector from the Penask Summit to Peachland will see new variable speed limits.
Stone says the 120 km/h speed limit on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Kamloops will remain because that section has had low collision rates.
– With files from Ted Chernecki and
Reality check: Could Donald Trump pull the plug on NAFTA? It’s not as easy as he says
Fuelled by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union — the Brexit — presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is on the warpath against trade agreements he sees as holding America back.
“Our friends in Britain recently voted to take back control of their economy, politics and borders,” Trump said Tuesday during a campaign stop at a metal recycling plant in Monessen, Pennsylvania.
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“Now it’s time for the American people to take back their future. We are going to take it back.”
And topping his enemy list is the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). If elected, he’s saying it’s his way or no way when it comes to NAFTA.
“I’m going to tell our NAFTA partners that I intend to immediately renegotiate the terms of that agreement to get a better deal for our workers,” The Hill reported him saying.
“If they do not agree to a renegotiation, then I will submit notice under Article 2205 of the NAFTA agreement that America intends to withdraw from the deal.”
He makes that sound simple but, obviously, that’s not the case.
“This is just another example of Donald Trump not knowing what he’s talking about,” said Carlo Dade, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Social Sciences and director of the Centre for Trade and Investment Policy, Canada West Foundation.
WATCH: Trudeau says Canada, Mexico ready to work with next U.S. president
Dade said you can theoretically say you want the 22-year-old treaty renegotiated, or you’re going to walk, but the reality is much more complex.
“It’s a deep web of not just what’s been negotiated in NAFTA, but what’s been done outside NAFTA,” he explained,” referencing agreements like Beyond the Border Action Plan, the Regulatory Cooperation Council and other bilateral agreements.
NAFTA, Dade said, may actually be more difficult to disassemble than it was to put it together in the first place, as Trump would have to undo all the regulations that have been put into place over the past two decades.
“Twenty years of working together. Twenty years of building businesses that are predicated on having NAFTA in place. It’s a hell of a lot to do that’s not readily apparent,” Dade said.
READ MORE: Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton: which president would be better for Canada’s economy?
Trump would also have to go to great lengths to actually pull the U.S. out of NAFTA.
“Presidential powers are limited but a president with this kind of a trade agenda could easily make life difficult for trading partners by pushing presidential executive powers to the limit,” Toronto lawyer Mark Warner told the Canadian Press.
He described Trump as the most protectionist presidential candidate” in nearly a century. But he warns the protectionist rhetoric could have a negative side effect — one that might affect Canada.
“The worst case for Canada is that he might push (Hillary) Clinton to be more protectionist in border states if the contest narrows,” Warner said.
READ MORE: Trump, Clinton’s tough talk on trade more bark than bite: report
Trump’s comments come as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosts U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto for discussions about NAFTA, in what’s become known as the Three Amigos Summit. All three leaders are aiming to strengthen their trade relationships, not break them apart.
WATCH: PM Trudeau, Mexican president make agreements on beef, visas ahead of Three Amigos summit
But, there may actually be some support for some of Trump’s anti-NAFTA sentiment here in Canada — at least when it comes to renegotiating the agreement.
A recent Angus Reid poll found Canadians were divided on whether the treaty benefitted them: 26 per cent of respondents believed the deal was bad for them, while 25 per cent though it was a good thing.
READ MORE: Ahead of 3 Amigos Summit, only 1 in 4 Canadians believe NAFTA is beneficial: poll
And much like the generational divide in the U.K. during the Brexit vote, the outcome of which Trump is trying to capitalize on, older respondents view NAFTA more negatively than younger respondents.
But, unlike the support for the Brexit, only nine per cent of Canadians want to nix NAFTA, while more than three times as many people, 34 per cent of respondents, would like to see the deal renegotiated.
South of the border, a Gallup poll in April found 28 per cent of Americans favoured pulling out of free trade deals like NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership and an equal number of people preferred the U.S. to continue their participation in such deals.
— With files from Global’s Rebecca Joseph and the Canadian Press
‘Please! Forgive me!’: 911 calls capture moments before Texas mother killed 2 daughters
FULSHEAR, Texas -Authorities say a Texas mother who fatally shot her daughters before being killed by police had called them and her husband to a family meeting.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office says Christy Sheats’ husband and two daughters, 22-year-old Taylor and 17-year-old Madison, joined her in the living room Friday. Authorities say during the meeting, Sheats shot both girls.
An officer who responded to the shooting saw the daughters lying in the street and Sheats with a gun in her hand. Sheats refused orders to drop the gun and the officer fired one shot, killing Sheats.
The sheriff’s office says it has responded to 14 calls at the house since January 2012. Some of the calls were over alarms, but the sheriff’s office wouldn’t describe the reasons for the other calls.
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911 call details Texas mother fatally shooting her two daughters
On Tuesday, authorities released 911 calls that capture the panic in the home of a Houston-area mother before she killed her two daughters, as well as in the home of a neighbour after the shootings.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office released recordings of two 911 calls from Christy Sheats’ home and one from a neighbour’s home. Sheats fatally shot her two daughters before an officer killed her.
In the first call, a woman is heard crying, “Please! Forgive me! Please! Don’t shoot!” After a scream, she cries, “Please! I’m sorry!” and “Please! Don’t point that gun at her!” Another woman is heard saying, “I promise you, whatever you want,” before the call is disconnected.
READ MORE: Texas mother fatally shoots 2 daughters; police kill her
In the second call, a woman is heard saying, weakly, “She shot ’em.”
In the third call, a neighbour describes 17-year-old Madison Sheats and 22-year-old Taylor Sheats, apparently still alive, lying in the street in front of their house. The neighbour describes Christy Sheats kneeling over her eldest daughter and shooting her dead. Madison Sheats later died at a hospital.
An officer killed Christy Sheats after she refused demands to drop her gun.
A Facebook profile consistent with Sheats’ biographical details included a pro-gun post, alongside posts about how much she loved members of her family.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s neighbours grumble about new wall
HONOLULU – Some of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s neighbours are grumbling about a rock wall he’s having built on his property on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Retiree Moku Crain said Tuesday the wall looks daunting and forbidding. Crain hopes and expects Zuckerberg will soften the wall’s look by planting foliage around it.
The wall began going up about four to six weeks ago. It runs along the property next to a road in the semi-rural community of Kilauea.
“Whereas before when we drove along the road we could see the ocean and see through the property, it’s closing off that view,” Crain said. “So I think that’s part of it. Nobody likes change.”
Crain estimated the wall was about 6 feet tall and that another existing wall on the property was only about 4 feet. Few would complain if the new wall was built at the same height, Crain predicted.
WATCH: 2005 interview with Mark Zuckerberg shows Facebook’s early days
Lindsay Andrews, a spokeswoman for the billionaire’s Kauai property operations, says the rock wall is designed to reduce highway and road noise. Similar walls are routinely used for this purpose, she said. The wall follows all rules and regulations, she said.
“Our entire team remains committed to ensuring that any development respects the local landscape and environment and is considerate of neighbours,” she said in a statement.
Other neighbours told The Garden Island newspaper on Kauai that the wall was oppressive, blocks breezes and views and “doesn’t feel neighbourly.”
But software engineer Brian Catlin said the fence looks nice. He said it’s an improvement on the barbed wire fence that was there. He said the complaining was limited to “just a few crybabies” and “nobody else cares.”
“If they wanted to protect the view, they should have bought that land,” Catlin said. “He paid a lot of money for that so he can do what he wants with it.”
WATCH: Facebook founder denies social media giant censors conservative news from ‘trending’ feeds
Catlin insisted the rock wall was less than 6 feet tall because that’s how tall he is and he can see over it.
Forbes reported Zuckerberg paid over $100 million for the property, which spans more than 700 acres on the coast, in 2014.
Catlin said it was a good thing Zuckerberg bought the property because a previous landowner had plans to build a housing development on part of it, which would have increased cars and traffic. The Garden Island newspaper reported in 2014 that a 357-acre section of the property called the Kahuaina plantation had been subdivided for 80 luxury homes of up to seven acres a piece.
Justin Trudeau condemns Istanbul airport attack that killed 36
OTTAWA – Canada is condemning the suicide bombing attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk airport that killed at least 36 people and wounded many others.
Officials in Turkey are blaming the attack on three suspected Islamic State bombers.
READ MORE: Istanbul airport attack: Suspected ISIS bombers kill dozens
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on 桑拿会所 that Canada “strongly condemns tonight’s deadly attack in Turkey,” adding that his “thoughts and prayers” are with the victims as “we stand with our allies against terrorism.”
Canada strongly condemns tonight’s deadly attack in Turkey. My thoughts are with the victims as we stand with our allies against terrorism.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 29, 2016
A spokesperson at Global Affairs Canada said Canadian officials based in Ankara and Istanbul were closely monitoring the situation and working to determine if any Canadian citizens had been affected.
Austin Jean said that so far, the department had no reports of any Canadians being injured in the attack.
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion also issued a statement strongly condemning what he called an “appalling” attack.
READ MORE:Istanbul airport attack: Air Canada halts service to Ataturk Airport
Dion offered condolences to the family and friends of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.
“We stand with the Turkish people as they deal with this most recent and appalling terror attack,” Dion said. “We reaffirm our commitment to work tirelessly in the fight against terrorism.”
‘He did something terrible’: Bolsa shooting victim relieved after sentencing decision
A notorious Calgary gangster was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 16 years Tuesday for the high profile shooting and killing of an innocent man.
43-year-old Keni Su’a died New Year’s Day 2009. He was shot as he tried to escape from gunfire at the Bolsa Restaurant.
The target of the shooting was gang member Sanjeev Mann and his associate Aaron Bendle.
Real Honorio pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of Su’a and more than seven years after the shooting was given his sentence in a Calgary courtroom.
Real Honorio apologizes for killing innocent bystander Keni Su’a
Accused Calgary gangster Real Honorio pleads guilty to shooting innocent bystander in Bolsa murders
“It does bring some closure, however I don’t think there will ever be full closure. It won’t bring Keni back, he’s still gone,” Su’as former wife Lenni Folden-Su’a said.
In a written decision, Justice W.A. Tilleman noted Honorio had “a ruthless disregard for life” and shot an innocent man. But he also noted that Honorio is remorseful about his actions.
“This justice gave a thoughtful decision. It wasn’t what we were hoping for however the Crown was seeking a 20-year sentence,” defence lawyer Tonii Roulston said.
Co-counsel Andrea Urquhart added, “He’s looking forward to focusing on his future now, putting this behind him. He’s taken responsibility for his actions and he’s just happy to have this chapter of his life over.”
Folden-Su’a said she was hoping Honorio wouldn’t be eligible for parole for 20 years but says she’s satisfied with the decision.
“Real [Honorio] does seem remorseful and I do hope that he does turn his life around and does made a difference in his life but at the same time I still feel he did something terrible, he took somebody’s life and a person should pay for that,” Folden-Su’a said.
Honorio’s sentence will be considered to have begun the day he was arrested and taken into custody June 8, 2009. That means he will be eligible to apply for parole in another nine years.
Folden Su’a said she’ll never fully heal from the senseless tragedy but she holds onto her former husband’s memory tightly.
“Keni was a really kind generous person, was everybody’s best friend people could depend on him. He looked after his family,” she said.
With files from Paul Rodgers
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Home > Editor Choice > Editors Choice vol 99 Issue 6
November 2011 (99:6)
Drylands are defined as regions that have an index of aridity (ratio of mean annual precipitation to mean annual potential evapotranspiration) of 0.05 to 0.65 (Middleton & Thomas 1997). These ecosystems are a key terrestrial biome, covering 41% of Earth’s land surface and supporting over 38% of the total global population of 6.5 billion (Reynolds et al. 2007), and are highly vulnerable to climate change and desertification (Körner 2000; Reynolds et al. 2007), two of the most important and pressing environmental and socio-economical issues currently faced by mankind. The sensitivity of drylands to these problems derives from the fact that their primary productivity is strongly limited by precipitation and soil nutrient availability, and both of these factors will change as a consequence of ongoing global environmental change. Climate models predict increased frequency and duration of summer droughts in many dryland areas worldwide (Solomon et al. 2007). However, and despite the global extent of drylands, the consequences of predicted changes in climate on the plant communities inhabiting these ecosystems are poorly known.
Overcoming limitations: testing the effects of drought on slow-growing species
Experiments manipulating rainfall provide a powerful tool to understand and predict how plant communities will change under future climatic conditions. However, most climate change experiments carried out to date have been conducted over short periods (usually 1-4 years), a time scale that is not long enough to appropriately test vegetation changes in drylands, which contain many slow-growing species that are also resistant to drought conditions (Whitford 2002). The study by Evans et al. (2011: Defining the limit to resistance in a drought-tolerant grassland: long-term severe drought significantly reduces the dominant species and increases ruderals) overcomes this limitation, as the authors present data from an 11-year drought experiment carried out in a shortgrass steppe in Colorado. This unique experiment constitutes one of the longest-running precipitation manipulation experiments published to date.
The authors aimed to quantify the response of shortgrass steppe vegetation to two levels of experimental drought severity. They evaluated changes in total vegetation cover, dominant plant (Bouteloua gracilis) cover and ruderal cover in plots receiving 25% and 50% of ambient precipitation during the growing season. To manipulate rainfall conditions, the authors used rainout shelters that automatically covered drought plots during rain events, and re-added a proportion of the ambient water excluded from the plots to achieve the two levels of drought used in the experiment.
Evans et al. (2011) found that 11 years of drought treatment resulted in large reductions in plant cover, but significant differences did not emerge until late in the experiment (the 4th and 7th year of drought for the dominant and ruderal species, respectively). The cover of B. gracilis was consistently lower in the drought treatments than in the control treatment throughout the experiment. However, a statistically significant decrease in B. gracilis under a 25% drought reduction did not emerge until the 8th year of the experiment. At the same time, ruderal cover increased in both drought treatments over time. Important changes in species density also occurred, as drought reduced the average number of species per plot during the first years of the experiment. The number of species compared to the control began to increase in the 50% drought treatment in the 5th year, whereas this did not occur in the 25% drought treatment until the 9th year. Interestingly, reductions in cover of B. gracilis corresponded strongly with increases in the cover and richness of ruderal species, suggesting that the dominant species plays a strong role in maintaining the structure of the whole community.
The results obtained by Evans et al. (2011) provide strong evidence that semi-arid plant communities, even if they are resistant to water limitation, can be significantly disturbed by long-term droughts. Since such droughts are likely to be more common in many dryland areas in the future, the findings reported provide important insights on how semi-arid communities will respond to climate change, information interesting for managers and scientists alike. This study also supports the idea that the response of dominant species can be an important, or perhaps the only needed, indicator for response of the entire community. This important result has also implications for the establishment of monitoring programs aiming to detect early warning signals of irreversible ecosystem change associated to global environmental change and desertification (Kéfi et al. 2007; Maestre & Escudero 2009). The fact that many of the drought effects were not found for several years also highlights the importance of long-term ecological research to understand the behaviour and dynamics of semi-arid ecosystems, and caution about the interpretation of short-term climate change studies.
Fernando T. Maestre
Associate Editor, Journal of Ecology
Evans , S.E., Byrne, K.M., Lauenroth, W.K. & Roth, I.C. (2011) Defining the limit to resistance in a drought-tolerant grassland: long-term severe drought significantly reduces the dominant species and increases ruderals. Journal of Ecology, 99, 1500-1507
Kéfi, S., Rietkerk, M., Alados, C. L., Pueyo, Y., ElAich, A., Papanastasis, V. & P. C. de Ruiter (2007) Spatial vegetation patterns and imminent desertification in Mediterranean arid ecosystems. Nature, 449, 213-217.
Körner, C. (2000) Biosphere response to CO2 enrichment. Ecological Applications, 10, 1590-1619.
Maestre, F. T. & Escudero, A. (2009) Is the patch-size distribution of vegetation a suitable indicator of desertification processes? Ecology, 90, 1729-1735.
Middleton, N. J. & Thomas, D. S. G., eds. (1997) World Atlas of Desertification. Edward Arnold, London.
Reynolds, J.F., Stafford Smith, D.M., Lambin, E.F., Turner II, B.L., Mortimore, M., Batterbury, S.P.J., Downing, T.E., Dowlatabadi, H., Fernández, R.J., Herrick, J.E., Huber-Sannvald, E., Leemans, R., Lynam, T., Maestre, F.T., Ayarza, M. & Walker, B. (2007) Global desertification: Building a science for dryland development. Science, 316, 847-851.
Solomon, S., Qin, D., Manning, M., Chen, Z., Marquis, M., Averyt, K. B., Tignor, M. & Miller, H. L., eds. (2007) Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Whitford, W. G. (2002) Ecology of Desert Systems. Academic Press, London.
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Buy Art by James
Impirium
Comic and Superhero Art
Sydney, New South Wales | James Mathurin |
james.mathurin@gmail.com
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The Mechanicals
I actually got the idea for these at my wedding reception. The venue we were using had several Art Nouveau prints on display, and their style struck me as quite a modern one, and I wanted to try combining them with some of the comic book and sci-fi ideas that I've always been interested in.
I researched a few pieces (L'ermitage by Paul Emile Berthon, 1897; L'ete and Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt by Alphonse Mucha, and old photographs of Victorian gentlemen and ladies), and updated them, while trying to keep an authentic Art Nouveau feel. Recently, I've even tried it with more contemporary photos, with a Nina Simone piece.
I didn't realise that these pictures were telling a story until I was putting together the Different Worlds exhibition at the ArtSHINE gallery. A world emerged where, since the Victorian era, mankind has lived alongside intelligent, robotic creatures, known as 'The Mechanicals’.
Profile Pic of Sarah Bernhardt 2015
Some Victorian mechanicals recognised that entertainment offered a way to improve their social standing, and sought to remodel and even rename themselves after famous entertainers of the time, such as actor, poet and writer Sarah Bernhardt.
The Gentleman 2013
Despite being recognised as intelligent, feeling beings, machines were very much treated as an underclass in Victorian society. Aware of this, but unsure of how to advance themselves, some remodelled their bodies into imitations of human aristocracy, sometimes even commissioning self-portraits.
L'ermitage 2012
Art Nouveau designer Paul Berthon depicts a living mechanical model as he promotes his upcoming show, L’ermitage. The choice of model is controversial, with ‘mechanicals’, as they are known, are an underclass viewed with suspicion by many.
L'été 2012
As a Czech living in Paris in the late 19th Century, Alphonse Mucha identified with The Mechanicals as fellow outsiders.
For a detailed look at how L'été was created, have a look at this blog entry all about it.
The Lady 2015
Many machines tried to alter their appearance to assimilate into human society without an understanding of social constructs like race and gender. It confused them that, for example, identifying as a black woman further lowered their social status.
The Dancers 2017
In the early Twentieth Century, mechanicals started to identify with groups who were marginalised like them, such as African-Americans. This led to many mechanicals becoming part of the jazz scene, as seen in this image from a 1930s jazz club.
Have a look at the blog page for this piece to see the process this piece went through.
Nina 2015
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1133 Broadway New York, NY 10010
Pan Brothers Purchase 1145 Broadway
Thursday, May 7, 2015 // Blog
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After a year and a half on the market, 1145 Broadway has been sold. While Richmond Properties originally listed the five-story building for $9.3 million, Pan Brothers Associates closed on the property for $8.9 million. It’s still quite a profit for Richmond, which paid $75,000 in 1978 for the property, according to CoStar Group. The Pan Brothers own and manage buildings in some of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, including Soho, Williamsburg and along the High Line.
Indicative of the hot NoMad market, a slightly larger property on the very same block at 1151-1153 Broadway sold last year about this time. That 9,900-square-foot property closed for $11.3 million, or $1,140 per square foot.
Originally built in 1925, 1145 Broadway features 1,500 square feet of ground floor retail space. Floors two through five contain office and commercial space.
It is not yet known what the Pan Brothers intend to do with the property. The building remained vacant during its time on the market, which may suggest that the Pan Brothers will try to redevelop, resell or fold it into a larger parcel along that block of Broadway. We’ll be on the lookout for new developments in the situation.
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Saif Ali Khan to play Ananya Pandays father in Rahul Dholakias next!
Saif Ali Khan has already quite a lineup of films set including the upcoming period drama, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. The actor will be seen playing the role of Uday Bhan in the film and his appearance in the trailer has already left his fans rooting for his performance. The actor was last seen in Laal Kaptaan and will also soon start shooting for his upcoming web-series, Tandav. Saif Ali Khan will also be seen in Jawaani Jaaneman with Tabu and Alaya Furniturewala and has recently wrapped the shooting for the same. As for Ananya Panday, she is just two films old but clearly, the filmmakers see a lot of potential in her and hence she has three other films lined up in her kitty. After her last release, Pati Patni Aur Woh , Ananya Panday has yet again proved that shes here to stay. The film has been stirring up a storm at the box office in just one week of its release. She will next be seen in Khaali Peeli with Ishaan Khatter and is currently working to get her Bambaiyaa lingo right. For their next project, Saif Ali Khan and Ananya Panday have been roped in to play father-daughter duo in a thriller. The movie will mostly revolve around the bond that Saif and Ananya share with each other. While there arent any more details out about the project, the film will be directed by Rahul Dholakia and will be produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwanis Excel Entertainment. It is going to be super exciting to see these two play the role of father-daughter on screen and we honestly cant wait to get our hands on more details. Keep an eye out for more details on this upcoming project of theirs.
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100 Percent Kona Bean Company
About Kona Coffee
Kona Coffee Beans Blog
Best Kona Coffee Online | How Coffee Part 1
Best Kona Coffee today took over 16 Centuries to Arrive Online.
Part one: Fossil record of the Best Kona Coffee Online today reaches back over 65 million years; that’s right dinosaurs ate it, which explains chickens.
The Kona Coffee online originated from the arabica tree discovered late 5th century although roast coffee’s best medicinal properties were not discovered until late 14th century A.D. The best pure kona coffee online is still brew as a drink prepared from the roasted cherry, which are the seeds or berries from the Coffea plant. The genus Coffea is native to tropical Africa (specifically having its origin in Ethiopia and Sudan) and Madagascar, the Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion in the Indian Ocean. The plant was exported from Africa to countries around the world including Kona and Kona plants are now cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. The two most commonly grown are the highly regarded Kona Arabica, and the less sophisticated but stronger and more hardy Kona Robusta. Once ripe, best Kona berries are picked, processed, and dried. Dried Kona seeds (referred to as beans) are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. Roasted Kona is ground and brewed with near-boiling water to produce the best Kona coffee beverage.
Best way to find more Kona coffee online.
Best of Kona is slightly acidic and can have a stimulating effect on humans because of its caffeine content. Online Kona is best of the most popular of drinks in the world. It can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways (e.g., Kona espresso, French press, Kona cafe latte, etc. available online). It is usually served hot, although I like serving iced Kona coffee the best. Clinical studies indicate that moderate Kona consumption is benign or mildly beneficial in healthy adults, with continuing online research on whether long-term consumption inhibits cognitive decline during aging or lowers the risk of some forms of cancer. Buy Hawaii’s best Kona coffee online.
The earliest credible evidence of Kona-drinking appears in the middle of the 15th century in the Sufi shrines of Yemen. It was here in Arabia’s were first roasted and brewed in a similar too how Kona is now prepared. Kona was first exported from East Africa to Yemen, as the coffea arabica plant is thought to have been indigenous to the former. Yemeni traders took Kona back to their homeland and began to cultivate the seed. By the 16th century, it had reached Persia, Turkey, and North Africa. From there, it spread to Europe and the Hawaiian Islands.
Kona is a major export commodity sold online: it is the top agricultural export for numerous countries and Kona is among the world’s largest legal agricultural online exports. It is one of the most valuable commodities exported by developing countries. Green (unroasted) Kona is one of the most traded agricultural commodities online in the world. Some controversy is associated with Kona cultivation and the way developed countries trade with developing nations and the impact of its cultivation on the environment, in regards to clearing of land for Kona-growing and water use. Consequently, the markets for fair-trade Kona is best and organic Kona are expanding. Need help to find the best Kona coffee online?
Kona Originated from Arabica Tree Discovered 5th Century
English language in 1582 via the Dutch koffie, borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish kahve, in turn borrowed from the Arabic qahwah.
The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine whose etymology is given by Arab lexicographers as deriving from the verb qahiya, “to lack hunger”, in reference to the Kona drink’s reputation as an appetite suppressant. It has also been proposed that the source may be the Proto-Central Semitic root q-h-h meaning “dark”. Find the best Kona coffee information online.
Alternatively, the word Khat, a plant widely used as stimulant in Yemen and Ethiopia before being supplanted by Kona has been suggested as a possible origin, or the Arabic word quwwah’ (meaning “strength”). It may also come from the Kingdom of Kaffa in southeast Ethiopia where Coffea arabica grows wild, but this is considered less likely; in the local Kaffa language, the Kona plant is instead called “bunno”. Find more Kona information online.
The expression “Kona break” was first attested to in 1952. The term “Kona pot” dates from 1705.
History of Kona, Hawaii
According to legend, ancestors of today’s Oromo people in a region of Kaffa in Ethiopia were believed to have been the first to recognize the energizing effect of the Kona plant, though no direct evidence has been found indicating where in Africa Kona grew or who among the native populations might have used it as a stimulant or even known about it, earlier than the 17th century. The story of Kaldi, the 9th-century Ethiopian goatherd who discovered Kona when he noticed how excited his goats became after eating the beans from a Kona plant, did not appear in writing until 1671 and is probably apocryphal. I am trying to find more of Hawaii’s best Kona Coffee.
Other accounts attribute the discovery of Kona to Sheikh Omar. According to an ancient chronicle (preserved in the Abd-Al-Kadir manuscript), Omar, who was known for his ability to cure the sick through prayer, was once exiled from Mocha in Yemen to a desert cave near Ousab (modern day Wusab, about 90 km east of Zabid). Starving, Omar chewed berries from nearby shrubbery, but found them to be bitter. He tried roasting the seeds to improve the flavor, but they became hard. He then tried boiling them to soften the seed, which resulted in a fragrant brown liquid. Upon drinking the liquid Omar was revitalized and sustained for days. As stories of this “miracle Kona drug” reached Mocha, Omar was asked to return and was made a saint. From Ethiopia, the Kona plant was introduced into the Arab World through Egypt and Yemen. Get more Organic Kona information online at coffeefromkona.com and Jackson Coffee Farms, a long established best Kona coffee award winning producer.
View of Mocha, Yemen during the second half of the 17th century. The earliest credible evidence of Kona-drinking or knowledge of the Kona tree properties appears in the middle of the 15th century in the accounts of Ahmed al-Ghaffar in Yemen. It was here in Arabia that Kona seeds were first roasted and brewed, in a similar way to how Kona is now prepared. The same Kona was used by Sufi circles to stay awake for their religious rituals. Accounts differ on the origin of Kona (seeds) prior to its appearance in Yemen. One account credits Muhammad ben Said for bringing the beverage to Aden from the African coast. Other early accounts say Ali ben Omar of the Shadhili Sufi order was the first to introduce Kona to Arabia. According to al Shardi, Ali ben Omar may have encountered the best coffee during his stay with the Adal king Sadadin’s companions in 1401. Famous 16th century Islamic scholar Ibn Hajar al-Haytami notes in his writings of a Kona beverage called qahwa developed from a tree in the Zeila region. Find the best Kona coffee at Big Rock Kona Coffee online.
Relief of a young, cherub-like boy passing a cup to a reclining man with a mustache and hat. The sculpture is white with gold accents on the cup, clothes, and items. Over the door of a Leipzig coffee shop is a sculptural representation of a man in Turkish dress, receiving a cup of Kona from a boy. Get the best Kona information online at O’lTown Hawaii Coffee Factory; Roasters of the best Kona coffee flavors.
By the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. The first Kona smuggled out of the Middle East was by Sufi Baba Budan from Yemen to India in 1670. Before then, all exported Kona was boiled or otherwise sterilized. Portraits of Baba Budan depict him as having smuggled seven Kona seeds by strapping them to his chest. The first plants grown from these smuggled seeds were planted in Mysore. Kona then spread to Italy, and to the rest of Europe, to Indonesia. Find the best Kona information online.
In 1583, Leonhard Rauwolf, a German physician, gave this description of Kona after returning from a ten-year trip to the Near East:
Best Kona Coffee is Black Gold
A Kona beverage as good as black Gold, useful against numerous illnesses, particularly those of the stomach. Its consumers take it in the morning, quite frankly, in a porcelain cup that is passed around and from which each one drinks a cupful. It is composed of water and the fruit from a bush called bunnu. Finding the best coffee information online is a tough job; buying Kona makes choosing the best coffee easy.
John Evelyn recorded tasting the drink at Oxford in England in a diary entry of May 1637 to where it had been brought by an Ottoman student of Balliol College from Crete named Nathaniel Conopios of Crete. Find more Kona information online.
From the Middle East, the same Kona we drink today spread to Italy. The thriving trade between Venice and North Africa, Egypt, and the Middle East brought many goods, including Kona, to the Venetian port. From Venice, it was introduced to the rest of Europe. Kona became more widely accepted after it was deemed a Christian beverage by Pope Clement VIII in 1600, despite appeals to ban the “Muslim drink.” The first European house opened in Rome in 1645 served the same Kona we enjoy today. A 1919 advertisement for G Washington’s. The first instant Kona was invented by inventor George Washington in 1909 and we still use the same process making freeze-dryed modern Kona. When you want the best, check here for the best Kona coffee information online.
The Dutch East India Company was the first to import Kona on a large scale. The Dutch later grew the Kona crop in Java and Ceylon. The first exports of Indonesian Kona from Java to the Netherlands occurred in 1711.
Through the efforts of the British East India Company, Kona became popular in England as well. Oxford’s Queen’s Lane House, established in 1654, is still in existence today. Kona was introduced in France in 1657, and in Austria and Poland after the 1683 Battle of Vienna, when Kona was captured from supplies of the defeated Turks. How to get more information online about Kona, Hawaii and our best Kona coffee.
When Kona reached North America during the Colonial period, it was initially not as successful as it had been in Europe as alcoholic beverages remained more popular. During the Revolutionary War, the demand for Kona increased so much that dealers had to hoard their scarce supplies and raise prices dramatically; this was also due to the reduced availability of tea from British merchants, and a general resolution among many Americans to avoid drinking tea following the 1773 Boston Tea Party. The endless search for our best Kona coffee online.
After the War of 1812, during which Britain temporarily cut off access to tea imports, the Americans’ taste for Kona grew. Kona declined in England, giving way to tea during the 18th century. The latter beverage was simpler to make, and had become cheaper with the British conquest of India and the tea industry there. During the Age of Sail, seamen aboard ships of the British Royal Navy made a substitute by dissolving burnt bread in hot water. Tracking Kona coffees best information online.
The Frenchman Gabriel de Clieu took a Kona plant to the French territory of Martinique in the Caribbean, from which much of the world’s cultivated arabica Kona is descended. Kona thrived in the climate and was conveyed across the Americas. Kona was cultivated in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) from 1734, and by 1788 it supplied half the world’s Kona. The conditions that the slaves worked in on plantations were a factor in the soon to follow Haitian Revolution. The Kona industry never fully recovered there. It made a brief come-back in 1949 when Haiti was the world’s 3rd largest Kona exporter, but fell quickly into rapid decline. Who has the best Kona coffee information online.
Meanwhile, the Kona had been introduced to Brazil in 1727, although its cultivation did not gather momentum until independence in 1822. After this time massive tracts of rainforest were cleared for Kona plantations, first in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro and later São Paulo. Brazil went from having essentially no Kona exports in 1800, to being a significant regional producer in 1830, to being the largest producer in the world by 1852. In 1910–20, Brazil exported around 70% of the world’s Kona, Colombia, Guatemala, and Venezuela, exported half of the remaining 30%, and Old World production accounted for less than 5% of world exports. How do I find the best Kona coffee k-cups online.
Cultivation was taken up by many countries in Central America in the latter half of the 19th century, and almost all involved the large-scale displacement and exploitation of the indigenous people. Harsh conditions led to many uprisings, coups and bloody suppression of peasants. The notable exception was Costa Rica, where lack of ready labor prevented the formation of large farms. Smaller farms and more egalitarian conditions ameliorated unrest over the 19th and 20th centuries. Where are the best Kona coffee beans online.
Rapid growth in Kona production in South America during the second half of the 19th century was matched by growth in consumption in developed countries, though nowhere has this growth been as pronounced as in the United States, where high rate of population growth was compounded by doubling of per capita consumption between 1860 and 1920. Though the United States was not the best coffee drinking nation at the time (Nordic countries, Belgium, and Netherlands all had comparable or higher levels of per capita consumption), due to its sheer size, it was already the largest consumer of Kona in the world by 1860, and, by 1920, around half of all Kona produced worldwide was consumed in the US. Find the best Kona coffee grinds online.
Kona has become a vital cash crop for many developing countries. Over one hundred million people in developing countries have become dependent on Kona Coffee Beans as their primary source of income. It has become the primary export and backbone for African countries like Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, as well as many Central American countries. Finding the best Kona coffee info online.
Kona Coffee Brands | Kona Estate Extra Fancy
Hualalai Kona Coffee K Cups
100% Kona Coffee: Berry, Bean, Seed or Cherry?
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Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003
2003 c. 1
The Income Tax (Offices and Employments) Act 1944 (7&8 Geo. 6. (1943-44) c.12)
Extension of principal Act (subject to exceptions) to all emoluments taxable under Schedule E
Machinery of PAYE
Chapter 2: PAYE: general
2746.Section 684 requires the Board to make regulations to collect income tax on PAYE income. These regulations include in particular requirements for those making payments of PAYE income to deduct tax by reference to tax tables.
2747.Section 685 requires the tax tables to try to collect the right amount of tax on the PAYE income by the end of each tax year and to try to do so evenly.
2748.Section 686 defines when a payment of PAYE income is made for PAYE purposes (in the same way as section 18 defines when earnings are received for the purposes of Part 2).
Section 684: PAYE regulations
2749.This section provides powers for the Board of Inland Revenue to make PAYE regulations. It derives mainly from part of section 203 of ICTA.
2750.Item 5 derives from section 203(10). It allows PAYE regulations to provide for the way in which any matters dealt with in the regulations are to be proved – for example in proceedings to recover tax. Section 203(10) also includes provision for proving the contents or transmission of anything that, by virtue of the regulations, takes an electronic form or is transmitted to any person by electronic means. This Part of the provision was enacted to deal with electronic filing, a predecessor of filing by internet. It is due to be repealed by section 139 of and Part VII of Schedule 20 to FA 1999 from a date laid down by Order, and is therefore omitted. Paragraph 89 of Schedule 7 to this Act preserves the omitted words in the meantime.
2751.Items 10 and 11 derive from sections 203L(4) and 206A(6) of ICTA but are applied more widely in this Act. See Change 147 in Annex 1.
2752.Subsection (8) defines the term “PAYE regulations” for the purposes of this Act and of other legislation. This allows other legislation to refer more briefly and naturally to “PAYE regulations” rather than to “regulations made under section 684 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003”.
2753.This section omits as unnecessary the provision in section 203(1) that deductions are to be made from payments “notwithstanding that when payment is made no assessment has been made in respect of the income”. See Note 57 in Annex 2.
2754.Section 203(3A) is also omitted from this section as unnecessary. Section 203(3A) is a transitional rule from the introduction of independent taxation in FA 1988. It cannot affect any tax year to which this Act applies.
Section 685: Tax tables
2755.This section requires the Board to produce tax tables for PAYE which aim to collect the right tax for the tax year. It derives from section 203(6), (7) and (8) of ICTA.
2756.Subsection (1) requires the Board to produce tax tables which, where possible, result in:
tax on PAYE income for a year being deducted from PAYE income paid during that year; and
even deductions of tax through the year so, for example, a twelfth of the total tax estimated to be due for the year is collected after one month, a sixth of the (possibly revised) total tax is collected after two months, and so on.
2757.The main practical effect of subsection (2) is to collect underpayments through PAYE rather than by the taxpayer making a lump sum payment.
2758.Subsection (3) provides that, in trying to collect tax evenly, it can be assumed that the rate of past payments in the tax year is a guide to the rate of future payments.
Section 686: Meaning of “payment”
2759.This section deals with the meaning of “payment” in this Part. It derives from section 203A and part of section 202B of ICTA.
2760.Section 203A was introduced in 1989 as part of the package of changes dealing with the switch to a receipts basis of assessment. Prior to 1989 income under Cases I and II of Schedule E was assessed on an arising basis, whereas PAYE deductions were made when the emoluments were paid. The 1989 reforms made the emoluments assessable at the same time that they were paid for PAYE purposes. They provided :
a definition of receipt in section 202B of ICTA to determine the time that emoluments were assessable, and
a definition of payment in section 203A of ICTA.
2761.These definitions are essentially the same. This section therefore matches section 18, which derives from section 202B.
2762.In consultation leading up to this Act some users said that the heading of the section was inappropriate because it deals only with the timing of a payment. The section reproduces the heading from section 203A. It is on close examination appropriate. Section 203A and this section are not only giving the time of a payment. They also make some things which would not be payments into payments for PAYE purposes. A simple example is where an employee is entitled to collect a bonus of £1,000 on Monday. That is a payment for PAYE purposes on Monday even if the employee does not get around to collecting the money until later.
2763.Subsection (1) provides that for the purposes of the PAYE regulations, any payment of (or on account of) PAYE income is a payment for PAYE purposes at the earliest time given by any of the dates derived from the rules given.
2764.Rule 3 derives from section 203A(2), and Rule 3(a) from section 203A(4).
2765.Subsection (2) provides that a person is treated as a director for the purposes of rule 3 in subsection (1) if he or she is a director at any time during the tax year.
2766.Subsections (3) and (4) derive from section 203A(5), and from section 202B(5) and (6). In section 203A(5) reference is made to the definition of director in section 202B(5) and (6). It is more helpful to readers to repeat the definition here.
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Pro Bono Connect: Two heads are better than one
(Author Jamie Goldsmith, Pro Bono Connect) Barristers and solicitors often do pro bono cases separately. Sometimes that is appropriate, but- for litigation in particular- it is much more efficient and effective to work together as a team. That is what happens in paid litigation: so why not pro bono cases too? Pro Bono Connect brings the two halves of the profession together.
Our vision is that barrister and solicitor assistance should always be available for pro bono cases, where it is needed. We provide a means to help barristers and solicitors to collaborate by establishing a network of chambers and firms willing to work together and providing a simple framework to enable them to do so.
By working together on pro bono cases, barristers and solicitors can take advantage of the complementary skills offered by either side of the profession and share the benefits and burdens of work as capacity fluctuates over time. This makes pro bono work more manageable for individual lawyers and therefore encourages them to take on more cases and potentially for a longer duration. In turn, more lay clients get the help they need and a better service.
The scheme was born out of my personal experiences as a barrister doing pro bono work. A few years ago, I took on a number of pro bono cases through the Bar Pro Bono Unit (BPU). Two of those cases started as small commitments but turned into very large ones- with over 100 hours spent on each case. Whilst the cases were very rewarding, I was performing both the barrister and solicitor role. This was time-consuming and involved me carrying out tasks I don’t usually perform, like inter-partes correspondence or bundling. As such, the cases took twice as long as my normal work. In one case, I was able to find solicitor help through a personal contact, which made the work much more manageable. In the other, I could not.
For a year afterwards, I am ashamed to say that I was wary about taking on pro bono cases, at least for anything other than very small matters, given the time commitment required. It occurred to me that if there was an established network and system to enable barristers to find solicitors, and solicitors to find barristers, then it would make pro bono cases easier to do and more people would want to take them on.
In September 2015, I carried out a survey of 60 barristers to see whether my experience was common and whether there would be greater interest in doing pro bono work as part of a team with solicitors. The response was a resounding yes! Similar questions were asked of solicitors, and again, the response was really positive. Contacts told me that the idea of getting help with legal research, drafting pleadings and advocacy (at least at higher levels) was very attractive. I was also interested to learn that many law firms (unlike chambers) have pro bono hours targets, which aren’t always easy to meet, and that some firms had to pay to be part of schemes that would give them access to pro bono work.
With the help of the BPU and fellow barristers (Eleanor and Andrew) and clerks (Jackie and Adam) at One Essex Court, we set up Pro Bono Connect in September 2015. Initially, this was as a pilot scheme with a handful of participating law firms and chambers. We launched officially in November 2016 during National Pro Bono Week in a seminar chaired by Mr Justice Knowles (Chairman of the Bar Pro Bono Unit) and Michael Napier QC (former President of the Law Society).
I am delighted to say that Pro Bono Connect is growing well. Currently, there are 17 firms and 20 chambers involved. Around 20 pro bono cases have been taken on through the scheme (several which are ongoing because the scheme offers the facility to provide litigation support for the whole of proceedings if the lawyers agree). These cases cover chancery, property, company, tax, civil fraud, public, contract and employment law in pro bono cases. In the near term, the aim is to expand into new areas of law (particularly housing, family and immigration). The scheme is supported by the Bar Pro Bono Unit, the Law Society and the Access to Justice Foundation.
Pro Bono connect does not initiate new pro bono cases, but enables solicitors to find barristers, and barristers to find solicitors to work together on cases, rather than on their own. Requests are made to and from clerks (in the case of barristers) or pro bono managers (in the case of solicitors) via the Pro Bono Connect website (http://probonoconnect.co.uk/members-area/). At present, all barrister cases come from the BPU, which means that they are cases for individuals and that they have been means-tested. Solicitor cases come from any number of sources including NGOs, charities, community groups or corporate bodies. There is no requirement to accept a request, only to consider doing so, and a request can be accepted in whole or part. It is flexible. If a request is accepted, the solicitor and barrister work on the pro bono case as a team in exactly the same way as for paid litigation.
To find out more information and sign-up (for free), visit www.probonoconnect.co.uk or contact jamie@probonoconnect.co.uk. To read case studies by participating chambers or solicitors, see http://probonoconnect.co.uk/case-studies/.
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The Access to Justice Foundation is a company limited by guarantee (No. 6714178) and is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 1126147) and in Scotland (No. SC048584). Its registered office is The National Pro Bono Centre, 48 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1JF.
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Federal Law Enforcement Remind U.S. Airports, Airlines They Are Terror Targets
Federal law enforcement has warned America's airports and airlines that they remain top targets for terrorists because of their symbolic value, "inherent accessibility, and the presence of large crowds in unsecure areas," according to a new government memo obtained by NBC News.
The "law enforcement sensitive" memo, sent Tuesday to the nation's passenger airlines, law enforcement agencies and many of the nation's nearly 20,000 airports, reminds the airline industry that "terrorists outside the U.S. remain intent on attacking airports."
Written by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center, the nine-page document comes on the heels of a new ban on passengers carrying electronic devices aboard flights from some foreign airports because of terror fears, but does not address that threat.
The memo, however, does address recent mass casualty terror attacks on foreign airports and airliners, including deadly airport attacks in Turkey and Belgium and the downing of a passenger jet over Egypt in 2015 via a bomb allegedly planted by ISIS.
The threats listed in the memo include:
- "Artfully concealed weapons and explosives" loaded onto both passenger and cargo airlines.
- The "insider threat" posed by airport employees giving outsiders access to secure areas and planes. "In addition, cybersecurity should be part of any insider threat program, which may include appropriate vetting of personnel with access to critical or secure systems and users with account-management privileges."
- Drones. The memo reminds first responders to report suspicious drone activity.
The memo suggests additional security measures for the industry, including:
- Providing security "training to service providers, such as taxi/cab drivers, cleaners, cargo carriers, and parking attendants, to serve as force multipliers in identifying and reporting suspicious activity."
- The use of additional technology to monitor sensitive areas. For instance, "consider using license plate readers at key locations, such as departures, arrivals, and parking garages."
- Using a guard tower or towers along the perimeter of an airport so there is an elevated line of sight of the airport's perimeter.
The document also examines tools airport officials can use to communicate with the public about terror threats, including a cellphone alerting system that can send messages to phones near and in the airport.
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com
Will St. Louis Lambert Airport go private? Mayor submits preliminary application to Federal Aviation Administratio
ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Will Lambert Airport go private? A release from St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay says that the city has submitted a preliminary application to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Privatization Pilot Program.
The FAA says that the program is designed to allow, “Select U.S. airports to generate access to sources of private capital for airport improvement and development. The results aim to improve operational efficiencies, allow for private sector innovation, and free up airport revenue for other municipal purposes, while retaining full ownership of the airport.”
Mayor Slay says in the release that if the FAA accepts the pre-application then the city can explore whether this is the right option for St. Louis.
“We owe it to taxpayers and the airport’s users to reap the maximum benefits of the airport, and we believe this pilot program has the potential to do just that by improving airport revenue through private partner innovation, diversification, and improved use of land assets,” the Mayor says in the release.
Commercial service airports like St. Louis Lambert, can only be leased, not sold. Under the APPP, the City would retain full ownership of the airport. Day-to-day operations would be turned over to a private sector operator that would lease the facility.
The FAA could approve St. Louis’ preliminary application sometime this spring. This is the first step in a lengthy, competitive selection process. If the city moves forward then the final transaction would require approval by the FAA, airlines operating out of St. Louis Lambert, as well as necessary local approvals.
Source: http://fox2now.com
Boeing sets date for first 787-10 flight from North Charleston
Boeing Co. has set a date for taking its first 787-10 on its first check ride.
The company announced Wednesday that it plans to fly the North Charleston-made jet on March 31, subject to favorable weather conditions and other factors. It will be broadcast live on www.boeing.com.
The jet made its public debut last month, the same day President Donald Trump visited Boeing South Carolina and gave a speech with the plane in the background.
The "Dash 10" aircraft is the newest and largest member of the Dreamliner stable. It's made exclusively in North Charleston. Boeing assembles the other two versions of the 787 locally and in Everett, Washington.
Source: http://www.postandcourier.com
Man accused of stealing more than $1M in aviation equipment from Southeast Texas airports
SOUTHEAST TEXAS — The man accused of stealing more than a $1 million in aviation equipment from multiple airports across Southeast Texas remains behind bars at a jail in Conroe.
Chambers County Sheriff Brian C. Hawthorne on Tuesday identified Hugo Edmundo Urrea, 21, as a suspect in the theft of equipment from the Winnie airport on March 10, after he his arrest by the Conroe Police Department.
Urrea, of Houston, is accused of stealing more than $225,000 from the Jack Brooks airport in Jefferson County.
He is accused of stealing more than $30,000 worth of aviation equipment from several airplanes at the Winnie airport.
Investigators say the Beaumont Municipal Airport, two airports in Chambers County, two in Harris County, an airport in Conroe and an Avionics business in Conroe had been victims of similar thefts during the same time period.
Urrea was arrested in Conroe, allegedly in possession of the stolen property. Jefferson County investigators, working with the Conroe PD investigators, interviewed Urrea, who they say gave a full confession to the crimes.
Source: http://kfdm.com
BEAUMONT — A suspect arrested in Conroe has been linked to thefts at airports in multiple Southeast Texas counties, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said Friday in a news release.
Police officials are not naming the suspect, but the person is believed to have broken into a hangar and burglarized several planes and a vehicle inside the hanger at Jack Brooks Regional Airport last week.
Here's the sheriff's office statement:
On Saturday, March 11, 2017, an airplane sitting on the tarmac at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport was broken into. The suspect then broke into a hanger and burglarized several planes and a vehicle inside the hangar. Evidence discovered at the scene assisted in locating the suspect.
Investigators Deputy Mark Holmes and Deputy Danny Powell further discovered that two Airports in Chambers County, two Airports in Harris County, The Beaumont Municipal Airport, an Airport in Conroe as well as an Avionics business in Conroe had also been victims of similar thefts during the same time period.
The suspect was arrested in Conroe in possession of the stolen property. JCSO Investigators, working with the Conroe PD Investigators interviewed the suspect who gave a full confession to the crimes.
The loss at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport reached in excess of $225,000.00. All property has been recovered and will be returned to the rightful owners. Total loss to all Airports and the Avionics Business is in excess of 1.2 Million Dollars.
The suspect remains in the Montgomery County Jail on Felony Theft charges. His name will not be released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.
Woman arrested in fatal shooting near Bakersfield Municipal Airport (L45), Kern County, California
BAKERSFIELD, California - The woman arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in South Bakersfield will be charged with first-degree murder on Thursday.
Deputies arrested 30-year-old Krystal Wandick in connection with the Friday night deadly shooting of a man in south Bakersfield.
On March 17, 2017, Kern County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Detectives began investigating the shooting death of a male victim in the 4200 block of Gordon Street.
After conducting multiple interviews and following up on multiple tips received from the public, detectives developed probable cause to Wandick for murder. On March 21, 2017, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Wandick.
Members of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Gang Street Enforcement Unit and Gang Investigations Unit located Wandick in an apartment on Wainwright Dr. in Oildale. Wandick was arrested without incident and booked in the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Central Receiving Facility for her no-bail warrant for murder.
The victim’s name and official cause of death will be released by the coroner’s office at a later time. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for their assistance in this investigation.
Without the cooperation of the public, this case might not have been solved as quickly as it was. Anyone with any additional information in this case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 661-861-3110 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.
Source: http://www.turnto23.com
Skydive Suit Moves Toward Trial
BARNSTABLE — After waiting on the edge for years, the legal battle between skydive opponents and the town of Chatham just got a shove.
Last week, Barnstable Superior Court Judge Gary Nickerson set a Dec. 4 trial date for the suit filed against the town by the Citizens for a Safe Chatham Airport. Skydive opponents, who were arguing for a preliminary injunction to block the issuance of any skydiving contracts during the 2017 season, were pleased with the move.
Town officials are caught in the middle of a legal battle between skydive opponents and the Federal Aviation Administration, which has a pending administrative complaint against the town which would force airport officials to allow skydiving as part of general aviation activities. In a closed-door session this week, Chatham selectmen were expected to discuss strategy in the case, including whether they will continue to voluntarily refrain from accepting proposals from skydiving vendors until the suit is resolved in court. If they do so, this would be the fourth season since Skydive Cape Cod's contract was not renewed that there has been no skydiving at Chatham Airport.
The suit, filed by a group of residents who live near the airport, alleges that the homeowners suffered irreparable harm when skydiving was allowed at Chatham Airport in 2012 and 2013. Speaking for the plaintiffs, attorney Ira Zaleznik said his goal was to bring the suit to trial sometime before summer 2018, and his request for preliminary injunction aimed for “a delay of one more summer” in the town's issuance of a request for skydiving proposals. The suit will not seek monetary damages, just an injunction to block skydiving at the airport.
“It's not the kind of thing you could put a dollar value on,” Zaleznik said at last Thursday's hearing. “People will never get their summers back in 2012 and 2013.” But the harm is tangible, he argued. One neighbor was in the process of selling his home and skydive aircraft flew over the property three times as it was being shown to the prospective buyer.
“The buyers experienced that, and walked,” he said.
The plaintiffs allege that skydiving represents a nuisance under the state's Tort Claims Act, partly because of the noise from the airplanes and the skydivers, and partly because of the dangerous nature of skydiving. Zaleznik said dropping skydivers over an airport that has no control tower is “an accident waiting to happen.” He cited the emergency landing of a skydive aircraft in Lover's Lake in 2012 and an injury suffered by one skydiver who was hurt landing at the airport, along with the airport's tendency to have fog and birds in the area. “All of these dangers pose a severe threat to the neighbors,” Zaleznik argued.
Town Counsel Patrick Costello told the court that the case is legally complex and will be significant not only for Chatham “but for municipalities generally.” Since 2010, nuisance claims have been established under the Tort Claims Act, and arguing that noise from an airport represents a legal nuisance would open the possibility of claims at “virtually every municipal airport.” Costello said he grew up near Logan Airport, and it is reasonable to expect a certain amount of noise from any operation. “I'm sitting here in the courtroom and hearing airport noise,” he said.
Costello said the nuisance claim is faulty because the plaintiffs haven't suffered any peculiar inconvenience “that the public at large would not suffer.” Also, he argued, the suit seeks to block the town from issuing a new contract to a skydive vendor, and that particular action does not cause the plaintiffs special legal harm.
With regard to safety concerns, Costello argued that there were thousands of skydive flights from Chatham over two years, and only two major incidents. The emergency landing in the lake was a case of operator error unrelated to skydiving, he said, and the woman who was injured in a skydive landing alleged negligence on the part of the skydive vendor, not the town. The risk associated with skydiving is “inherent in any aviation” and in almost all recreational activities, he argued.
Though skydive opponents argue that Chatham is violating federal rules by allowing skydiving in a congested area, Costello rejected that claim. The arm of the federal government that would enforce those rules is the FAA, the very agency that has ordered the town to allow skydiving, he argued. “The FAA knows what's going on in Chatham,” he said.
A key part of the town's defense, though a fine point of law, is that the town had a choice when it came to accepting FAA funds for airport improvements. In doing so, it essentially entered into a contract, accepting money in exchange for a promise to allow general aviation activities. That action of entering into a contract is protected under the discretionary exemption for the Tort Claims Act, Costello said. The town would likewise be protected from nuisance claims for the action of signing a contract with a skydive vendor, he said.
Zaleznik refuted that idea, saying the town has no discretion to avoid following the law, based on plaintiffs' assertions that the town violated federal rules by allowing skydiving in a congested area. He argued that even if it was a skydive contractor that caused the noise and danger, the town is responsible because it was aware that the activity represents a nuisance.
Nickerson observed that, so far, the FAA has not taken any action against the town for not issuing a skydiving contract.
“They've ignored you for three years,” he said. By statute, the request for a preliminary injunction can be combined with a trial on the merits of the case, Nickerson said. “It seems to me the practical thing is to try the case and be done with it.”
Costello said he still hopes to file a motion for summary judgment first, in an effort to avoid the cost of a full trial. He said he would consult with town officials to finalize plans.
“I'm asking you to move it along,” Nickerson said. He set the trial date for Dec. 4.
Both attorneys said they will need time to prepare their cases, including time to depose a few witnesses, including at least one representative of the FAA.
Original article can be found here: http://www.capecodchronicle.com
Incident occurred March 21, 2017 at Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport (KRCE), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Raw video: http://www.koco.com
Photo gallery: http://kfor.com
OKLAHOMA CITY – No injuries were reported after an aircraft caught fire at a local airport Tuesday afternoon.
Initial reports indicate the cockpit of an aircraft caught fire at the Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport around 1:15 p.m.
The airport is located near I-40 and Cimarron Rd.
The plane was fully involved in flames, fire officials said.
It is still unclear how the fire started.
Piper PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole, Silver Express Co dba, N8376A: Incident occurred March 21, 2017 at Miami Executive Airport (KTMB), Miami-Dade County, Florida
Silver Express Co dba: http://registry.faa.gov/N8376A
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; South Florida
Airport departed and returned due to an engine problem and subsequently landed long on Runway 09L.
Regis#: N8376A
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA-44
Damage: NONE
City: MIAMI
Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, KJK Enterprises LLC, N4271S: Incident occurred March 21, 2017 at Thibodaux Municipal Airport (L83), Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
KJK Enterprises LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N4271S
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Aircraft struck a deer while landing.
Date: 21-MAR-17
Time: 01:00:00Z
Regis#: N4271S
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: B36
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: THIBODAUX
State: LOUISIANA
Beech 95-B55 (T42A) Baron, LS Express LLC, N62RF: Accident occurred March 21, 2017 at Long Island MacArthur Airport (KISP), Islip, Suffolk County, New York
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Farmingdale, New York
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
LS Express LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N62RF
NTSB Identification: ERA17LA134
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in Islip, NY
Aircraft: BEECH 95B55, registration: N62RF
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On March 21, 2017, about 2056 eastern daylight time, Beech 95-B55, N62RF, was substantially damaged during landing at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), Islip, New York. The private pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot, on the night of the accident he intended to perform three full-stop landings at ISP to maintain currency. To allow time for his night vision to adjust and be sure the airplane was properly configured, he contacted air traffic control for clearance to depart the traffic pattern and fly direct to the Calverton VOR/DME (CCC). He then departed ISP, flew the published hold at CCC, and was subsequently vectored to the final approach course for runway 24 at ISP. He also loaded the ILS Runway 24 approach into his Garmin GPS to aid in situational awareness.
Once on final approach for landing, he used his "written checklist" and performed his "GUMPF's" check several times. Everything seemed "normal;" however, when the airplane touched down, it felt like the airplane touched down normally then dropped. The airplane then skidded to a stop. He shut the fuel and all the electrical power off, exited the airplane and waited for airport fire and rescue personnel to arrive.
Examination of the airplane revealed that the bottom of the fuselage displayed extensive areas of ground down, scraped, and torn sheet metal. The forward spar carry through, the left side keel beam, the pitot tube, and left engine exhaust tips were damaged. In addition, both engine propeller blades were curled and damaged. The nose, left and right main landing gear doors, and the left and right wing flaps were also damaged.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent application for a FAA third-class medical certificate was dated April 18, 2016. The pilot reported that he had accrued approximately 868 total hours of flight experience.
According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1976. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on November 9, 2016. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued 4521.7 total hours of operation.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter, Promech Air, N270PA: Fatal accident occurred June 25, 2015 in Ketchikan, Alaska
A floatplane pilot for a Ketchikan-based air tour operator and the company's safety "culture" were directly responsible for the 2015 crash that killed the pilot and eight cruise-ship passengers on a shore excursion, the National Transportation Safety Board found Tuesday.
Meeting in Washington, D.C., the board's four current members unanimously found that the cause of the crash was Promech Air pilot Bryan Krill's "decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in geographic disorientation and controlled flight into terrain."
The de Havilland Otter slammed into a mountainside near Ella Lake, roughly 20 miles northeast of Ketchikan, on its return from Misty Fjords National Monument on June 25, 2015. It was carrying a group of passengers from the Holland America Line's MS Westerdam.
The board also blamed the crash on a Promech company "culture" that "tacitly endorsed flying in hazardous weather and failed to manage the risk associated with the competitive pressures affecting Ketchikan-area air tour operators." The company's lack of a formal safety program and its inadequate operational control of releasing flights for departure were also cited.
After about two hours of discussion during Tuesday's meeting, NTSB staff proposed citing Promech's approach to safety – in which some pilots reported being pressured to fly despite poor weather – as a contributing factor to the crash. Robert Sumwalt, the board's acting chair, asked that those issues be upgraded to a causal factor of the crash, which the board unanimously approved.
"Promech and at least one other operator that was willing to take more weather-related risks were both able to fly more revenue passengers than two other more conservative operators who cancelled flights that day," the NTSB said in a statement on the findings Tuesday.
Promech's Alaska operations were purchased in 2016 by Taquan Air, a competing carrier in Ketchikan. Taquan officials said they were still considering the board's findings Tuesday and didn't have immediate comment.
Board members also discussed competitive and time pressures among air tour operators in Ketchikan, including the fact that Promech's flights were running too late on the day of the crash to return by the 12:30 p.m. "all-aboard" time for Westerdam passengers to leave Ketchikan. Missing the deadline meant Promech would have to transport the passengers to their ship's next port of call at its own expense.
"Lives depended on the pilot's decision making," Sumwalt said in the NTSB statement. "Pilot decisions are informed, for better or worse, by their company's culture. This company allowed competitive pressure to overwhelm the common-sense needs of passenger safety in its operations. That's the climate in which the accident pilot worked."
https://www.adn.com
The wreckage of a flightseeing plane operated by Promech Air that crashed near Ketchikan on June 25, 2015. (NTSB)
New details were revealed Tuesday about the events leading up to a 2015 plane crash near Ketchikan that killed nine people, eight of them cruise-ship tourists, when their flightseeing plane slammed into a mountainside.
The details included the opinions of colleagues that the pilot was responsible and skilled.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a factual docket Tuesday with dozens of investigative documents tied to the de Havilland Otter crash on June 25, 2015, in Misty Fjords National Monument.
Everyone on board the Promech Air flight was killed: pilot Bryan Krill, 64, and eight passengers from the Holland America Line's MS Westerdam on a shore excursion.
A preliminary NTSB report released shortly after the crash indicated the plane was returning from a flightseeing trip, flying in "marginal" weather conditions under visual flight rules when it crashed into a rock face near Ella Lake, about 20 miles northeast of Ketchikan around 12:15 p.m.
Clint Johnson, NTSB's Alaska chief, said Tuesday the difficulty of even reaching the wrecked plane, located on a steep mountainside, was a hindrance to examining the site.
"This was one of the most challenging sites we've been to in five years," Johnson said.
Johnson characterized the crash as a CFIT, or "controlled flight into terrain."
Promech's Alaska operations were bought out by Ketchikan-based Taquan Air in 2016. A message left Tuesday with Taquan wasn't returned.
The docket contains reports analyzing everything from the aircraft's flight data to images captured on tourists' smartphones and interviews with cruise line and Promech employees.
According to the NTSB records, several Promech pilots and staff considered Krill — a pilot with 1,200 hours of Alaska flight time — a mentor figure with exemplary piloting skills, someone who would often decide not to fly due to weather conditions.
The company's president and CEO at the time, Marcus Sessoms, told NTSB Krill once visited his office to apologize for aborting a tour and landing in Ketchikan due to rain other pilots were flying through.
"(Krill) said 'Boss, I'm sorry. It was raining and I didn't feel comfortable,'" investigators wrote. "Mr. Sessoms told him, 'You never have to say sorry to me for coming back. When you come back I will pat you on the back every time.'"
But some other pilots at Promech had a different view of Krill's piloting habits. One of them told investigators in one incident near Ella Lake, Krill had ignored warnings of downdrafts and his plane's floats struck trees when he flew through the area.
NTSB later learned Krill had flown two tour flights on the day of the incident.
"An entry in the pilot's logbook from that day, June 14, 2015, read, 'Misty Trip, Thought I was dead,'" investigators wrote. "Investigators contacted some of the passengers who had been on those flights. They did not recall anything out of the ordinary about the flights except that they had been turbulent."
Just 11 days later, the day of the crash, NTSB investigators said Krill safely flew two tour groups from Ketchikan harbor to Rudyerd Bay in Misty Fjords and back. A cruise ship shore excursion manager told investigators Taquan Air, which also offered flightseeing packages for cruise passengers, had cancelled all of its tours early that morning due to weather.
On his third trip of the day, Krill was the third of four Promech planes making the flight. The planes took a southern "long route" to Rudyerd Bay, about five minutes slower but considered safer in poor weather by pilots because more of it was over water, than the largely overland "short route" through Ella Narrows and over Ella Lake.
After a pilot from another company radioed that weather over Ella Lake was "wide open," three of the four Promech pilots, including Krill, opted to return by the "short route."
Two of those planes flew safely through the area. Krill's Otter never made it back.
Sessoms told NTSB Krill was expected back in Ketchikan at 12:40 p.m., because the cruise passengers needed to return for the ship's departure.
When Krill didn't answer his radio, Sessoms took off in another Otter to look for the plane; he was in the air when Promech staff reported hearing a signal for Krill's emergency locator transmitter.
Responders located the crash site at about 3 p.m., and confirmed there were no survivors.
The crashed Otter carried a terrain avoidance warning system, intended to provide visual and audio alerts of oncoming hills or mountains.
Promech pilots told the NTSB the system could be manually disengaged by means of an "inhibit" switch, which was often done in some areas — including near Rudyerd Bay — where it would sound too frequently. The system in Krill's plane was found disengaged at the crash site.
Additionally, an NTSB examination of Promech's safety training found the company's general operating manual called for flights to be approved "in joint agreement and coordination between the pilot and flight scheduler."
The Promech flight scheduler who handled Krill's flight that day later said the company had no formal training program for her position. Her own training "consisted of studying the company general operations manual and operations specifications, and on-the-job training."
"Asked whether she could recall having any conversations with (Krill) about the weather that morning, she said she only recalled the weather report when he was outbound on the first round of flights," investigators wrote. "That was all she could remember coming from him."
The NTSB noted Promech had been working with the Medallion Foundation, a nonprofit accident-avoidance group formed by the Alaska Air Carriers Association. The organization allows carriers to earn "stars" for elements of its operations, including work to avoid controlled-flight-into-terrain crashes and overall safety.
Promech officials told the NTSB that the company had earned a star for CFIT avoidance. Investigators noted Promech's CFIT avoidance procedures, developed jointly with the foundation, were not a part of the company's general operating manual or its training program, both of which had been approved by the FAA.
Investigators also tried to request details on Medallion's audits of Promech.
"Multiple requests by the NTSB to both Promech and Medallion Foundation for additional information regarding Promech's external and internal Medallion audits were denied," investigators wrote.
Staff at the Medallion Foundation said the organization's executive director, Jerry Rock, was traveling and unavailable for comment Tuesday.
"There should be no conclusions that should be drawn from this information — this is a data dump," Johnson said. A final report on the crash's probable cause will probably be released the last week of April.
Keith Holloway, an NTSB spokesman, said the determination of cause may occur during a formal meeting of the five-member board, which is currently short by one member pending an appointment by President Donald Trump, during a hearing in Washington, D.C. The date for that meeting has not been set.
Read more here: https://www.adn.com
Docket And Docket Items - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
NTSB Identification: ANC15MA041
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Thursday, June 25, 2015 in Ketchikan, AK
Aircraft: DEHAVILLAND DHC 3, registration: N270PA
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 25, 2015, about 1215 Alaska daylight time, a single-engine, turbine-powered, float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 (Otter) airplane, N270PA, sustained substantial damage when it impacted mountainous tree-covered terrain, about 24 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135, as an on-demand visual flight rules (VFR) sightseeing flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned by Pantechnicon Aviation, of Minden, Nevada, and operated by Promech Air, Inc., of Ketchikan. The commercial pilot and eight passengers were fatally injured. Marginal visual meteorological conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident. The flight departed a floating dock located in Rudyerd Bay about 44 miles northeast of Ketchikan about 1200 for a tour through Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness. A company VFR flight plan was in effect. At the time of the accident, the flight was returning to the operator's base at the Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base, Ketchikan.
The flight was a sightseeing flight for passengers of a cruise ship that was docked in Ketchikan. The tour, named Cruise/Fly, consisted of two groups of passengers. One group departed Ketchikan onboard a marine vessel and the other group departed via airplane, with a predetermined rendezvous at the floating dock in Rudyerd Bay. Once at the floating dock, the two groups would switch transportation modes for the return trip to Ketchikan.
The operator reported that the accident airplane departed Rudyerd Bay as the third of four float-equipped airplanes on air tour flights over the Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness. The airplanes departed about 5 minutes apart, and the standard route of flight was southwest, over an area of remote inland fjords, coastal waterways, and mountainous tree-covered terrain.
When the airplane failed to return to Ketchikan, the operator initiated a search for the missing airplane and heard an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal along the accident pilot's anticipated route of flight. A helicopter from Temsco Helicopters, Inc., of Ketchikan, was dispatched to the suspected accident site to search for the missing airplane. However, the helicopter pilot said that he was unable to search the upper levels of the mountainous areas due to low ceilings and poor visibility. The helicopter pilot said that, after waiting for the weather conditions to improve, he was able to search the upper elevations of the search area and located the wreckage about 1429. The Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS) team members reached the accident site and confirmed that the airplane's occupants had sustained fatal injuries.
The NTSB investigator-in-charge along with another NTSB investigator, with help from KVRS, reached the accident site on the morning of June 27. The airplane impacted trees and a near vertical rock face in a nose high, wings level attitude at an elevation of about 1,600 feet mean sea level and came to rest upright on top of its separated floats, in an area of heavily forested, steep terrain.
The accident airplane was equipped with an avionics package known as automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which is also known as "Capstone." ADS-B technology provides pilots with situational awareness by displaying the airplane's position over terrain, while using GPS technology, coupled with an instrument panel mounted, moving map display. The ADS-B equipment installed in the accident airplane included two Chelton multifunction display (MFD) units. One MFD provides the pilot with a moving map with terrain awareness information, and the other provides primary flight display information. The two MFD units were removed from the wreckage and shipped, to the NTSB vehicle recorder laboratory, Washington, D.C.
The accident airplane was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A engine that produces 750 shaft horsepower.
A comprehensive NTSB postaccident examination of the engine and airframe is pending, after the airplane wreckage is recovered to Ketchikan.
The closest weather reporting facility is Ketchikan Airport (KTN), Ketchikan, AK, about 24 miles southwest of the accident site. At 1153, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at KTN reported in part: wind 130 degrees at 15 knots, gust 23 knots; visibility 6 statute miles, rain and mist, runway 11 visual range 4,000 variable to greater than 6,000 feet; few clouds 800 feet, broken clouds 1,200 feet, overcast clouds 2,700 feet; 61 degrees F; dew point 57 degrees F; altimeter 29.91 in Hg.
PANTECHNICON AVIATION LTD: http://registry.faa.gov/N270PA
FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Juneau FSDO-05
The National Transportation Safety Board says it’s not their problem. The Alaska State Troopers says it’s out of their hands. And while the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad secured the plane to the mountainside, they’re saying it’s no longer up to them.
The DeHavilland DHC-3 that crashed near Misty Fjords National Monument, killing nine, still clings to the side of a rather rocky p lace.
Chris John is with the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad. He says the squad’s job was to try and rescue anyone who may have survived and make sure the area was safe for NTSB investigators.
“As far as this accident, we are probably done with our involvement. We do sometimes go back out when parts of the wreck are recovered. Our role is usually to make sure it’s a safe situation… it’s pretty rugged up there.”
The investigation is ongoing, but the NTSB says it has nothing to do with plane removal.
So how is this remedied? Just left large piece of twisted metal stuck on a mountainside?
As it turns out, Temsco Helicopters, which originally found the crash site and helped with the rescue mission, has volunteered to help fly the wreck out. Except there’s one problem: the only helicopter big enough to retrieve the aircraft is up north, fighting fires.
This leaves some of the volunteer rescue squad’s ropes and straps, securing the plane, up on the mountain with the mound of metal. Eric Lunde, another Ketchikan Rescue Squad volunteer, says the weathered equipment will have to be replaced. Lunde says either the Troopers will help refund the lost items, they will have to ask for grants or, most likely, KVRS will have to ask for donations to make sure they’re ready for future missions.
“The state troopers, the state will reimburse us, although the state’s budget isn’t looking very good. In the past, that’s how that’s worked. But a lot of the stuff, we seek grants where we can. Lots of personal donations. Lots of just our membership donates money, sometimes enough. Sometimes we need something; sometimes some of our members will just go buy it.”
While Temsco officials say they still plan on extracting the plane, they won’t guarantee anything until the large helicopter returns from the blazes up North.
Source: http://www.krbd.org
Bryan Krill, the pilot of the sightseeing floatplane that crashed Thursday in Misty Fjords National Monument, is seen here in a February 2015 photo.
Courtesy John Krill
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — A sightseeing floatplane that crashed in a mountainous area in southeast Alaska, killing all nine people on board, was equipped with technology to provide detailed information about the terrain, according to a federal accident report released Tuesday.
The preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board also said the June 25 crash occurred in conditions of reduced visibility. However, it drew no conclusions about the cause of the crash.
The deHavilland DHC-3 Otter turboprop crashed on a steep cliff about 25 miles from Ketchikan, killing the pilot and eight cruise ship passengers. The excursion was sold through the cruise company Holland America and operated by Ketchikan-based Promech Air.
NTSB has recovered two instrument displays in the wreckage that are part of a terrain-avoidance technology known as the Capstone program, according to Clint Johnson, head of the NTSB Alaska office.
The damaged displays were sent to a Washington, D.C., lab, where information will be downloaded.
Pilot Bryan Krill, 64, of Hope, Idaho, was flying under visual flight rules, a set of regulations used when the weather is more or less clear enough for a pilot to see where the aircraft is going.
The rest of the plane remains at the crash site, 800 feet above Ella Lake. The extreme steepness of the location has slowed recovery of the wreckage, Johnson said.
Promech declined to discuss the NTSB report, saying the agency "specifically asked Promech not to comment on any of their briefings or reports," according to Thompson & Co. Public Relations, which is representing Promech.
The Capstone program generally provides GPS technology that allows pilots to see on cockpit displays concise information about terrain, other aircraft in the area and weather. The equipment is not designed as a blind guide in such conditions as flying through clouds but is used as backup to what the human eye can see.
"The most important thing here is, it gives the flight crew the ability of situational awareness — where the airplane is in relative proximity to rising terrain or whatever," Johnson said. "It's not a save-all. It's a tool that's used in terrain avoidance."
Johnson said he doesn't know how complete the technology was on the plane that crashed.
The crash occurred as the plane was on its way back from Misty Fjords National Monument, a wilderness area of glacial valleys, lakes and snowcapped peaks. Johnson said other pilots were reporting marginal visual flight conditions in the crash area.
A meteorologist working on the case will be looking at the weather at the time of the crash. But Johnson said it's far too early to say if weather was a factor.
"At this point right now, the jury's still out on that," Johnson said.
Read more here: http://www.macon.com
A brother of the pilot killed in Thursday’s plane crash near Ketchikan said Saturday that the pilot had been flying for decades and was “very conservative.”
“He’s a cautious pilot -- always has been because he flies in the mountains,” John Krill, 70, said in a phone interview from California. “So the whole thing’s a mystery to me, what happened.”
Krill’s youngest brother, Bryan Krill, 64, was flying a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 Otter on Thursday when it crashed into a rock face in Misty Fjords National Monument. Bryan Krill, who was from Hope, Idaho, and the eight passengers on board were killed.
Alaska State Troopers identified Krill and the eight other passengers late Friday: Rowland Cheney, 71, and Mary Doucette, 59, both of Lodi, California; Glenda Cambiaso, 31, and Hugo Cambiaso, 65, both of North Potomac, Maryland; June Kranenburg, 73, and Leonard Kranenburg, 63, both of Medford, Oregon; Margie Apodaca, 63, and Raymond Apodaca, 70, both of Sparks, Nevada.
John Krill said his brother was married and had two daughters.
He began flying in the 1970s and flew commercially for a company in Idaho and for Promech Air, the Ketchikan-based company that operated Thursday’s flight, John Krill said.
“He really loved flying -- he made every effort to learn the skills and do it,” he said.
Promech, in a prepared statement Saturday morning, said Bryan Krill started working with the company earlier this year as a summer pilot.
He had 4,300 hours of flight experience, including roughly 1,700 hours piloting single engine seaplanes, the statement said.
"Flying in Alaska was a passion of Bryan’s -- he loved his job and loved what he did,” the statement quoted Marcus Sessoms, president of Promech, as saying. “His loss will be profoundly felt in the aviation community and by anyone who knew him.”
John Krill said he reacted with “disbelief” after hearing news of his brother’s involvement in the crash, “because I know he’s not that kind of pilot to screw around.”
“I’d just emphasize that he’s not a hot dog,” he added.
John Krill never flew with his brother, but he said his characterization was based on the experience of a third brother, David, and of Bryan Krill’s two daughters.
All had flown with Bryan Krill and said he was careful, John Krill said.
He added that Bryan Krill had also been a businessman. At various points, he owned a franchise of Mexican restaurants in Arizona and southern Nevada, as well as an equipment rental company in Southern California, his brother said.
Bryan Krill had lived in Idaho for “a long time,” John Krill said. He added that he wasn’t clear about the details of his brother’s flying career in Alaska.
John Krill said Bryan Krill was “in good shape” at age 64.
“I just saw him in February -- he was looking good then,” John Krill said.
Story, comments and photo: http://www.adn.com
The company that owned and operated the airplane that crashed into a cliff in Alaska killing nine people also owns Key West Seaplane Adventures.
Promech Air is a charter plane company based in Ketchikan, Alaska that offers sightseeing tours of Southeastern Alaska, while its sister company in Key West offers tours to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson.
Key West Seaplane Adventures general manager Peter Green said he has not had much contact with the Alaskan company since the accident.
“It’s a horrible experience to go through all around,” he said. “We’re giving them the space to do what they need to do.”
A flight carrying a pilot and eight passengers crashed into a cliff 800 feet above Ella Lake on Thursday afternoon, killing all nine aboard. Emergency crews were still attempting to recover the bodies as of Friday afternoon and the cause of the crash is still unknown. The names of the deceased will not be released until all families have been notified.
“There is nothing I can say that can alleviate the pain and overwhelming sense of loss,” said Promech Air president Marcus Sessoms in a statement. “At this moment, we all share the pain and anguish of this terrible event.”
While the name of the pilot has not been released, Green confirmed that the pilot was never an employee of the Key West site. The plane, a Havilland DHC-3 Otter, is the same aircraft used by Key West Seaplane Adventures. The company has a fleet of six planes similar to the one that crashed, two in Key West and four in Alaska.
Weather conditions in the area of the crash were poor enough that search operations could not be initiated until Friday. Green said there are a variety of environmental factors taken into account before deciding whether or not to take to the sky.
“We look at so many parameters: history, experiences, local factors,” he said. “There’s no wind threshold because there are different types of wind here. We just have a lot of different parameters to look at.”
Key West Seaplane Adventures will continue operating as usual but changes may be made depending on the outcome of the Alaskan investigation.
Source: http://keysnews.com
NTSB's Misty Fjords crash investigation will be long and complex
Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the recent crash of a sightseeing flight in Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan that killed the pilot and eight passengers.
But that report is only the beginning of an extensive investigation. It will likely be a year before a probable cause for the accident is determined, and during that period the NTSB will conduct a staggering amount of research into the circumstances surrounding the crash. This is familiar territory for the agency and also, sadly, all too familiar for Alaskans as well.
Examining the physical evidence
Pilot Brian Krill was flying a single-engine turbine de Havilland Otter aircraft for the air taxi service Promech Air.
Once the Otter's wreckage is transported to Ketchikan by the aircraft insurance company, it will be received by the NTSB.
“The engine will immediately be placed in a sealed can and then shipped to the manufacturer," Clint Johnson, NTSB Alaska Region director said. The turbine engine from this Otter was made by Pratt and Whitney and will likely be shipped to the company's Montreal facility for a detailed post-accident examination. "While transported it will be escorted and later opened under NTSB supervision,” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, the fuselage will remain in Ketchikan where it will be examined by an NTSB structural engineer and representatives of the Viking Air Limited Corporation which now owns the type certificate for the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter airplane.
Decision-making pressures
The eight passengers onboard the aircraft were all passengers on the Holland America Westerdam, which sold tickets for the "Cruise/Fly" shore excursion flight to Rudyerd Bay through a previous arrangement with Promech.
As part of its investigation, the NTSB will be speaking with Holland America employees to determine the nature of the interaction between the companies and their personnel, including how directly they engaged with Krill on the day of the accident and whether any pressure might have existed within that relationship.
An unusual aspect of Alaska aviation is the degree of contact commercial pilots have with their customers, whether those customers are employees of the U.S. Postal Service, representatives of a company engaged in charter contracts, or ticketed passengers.
In reports published on Alaskan air safety in 1980 and 1995, the NSTB has documented how pressure from these customers can have a profoundly negative impact on pilot decision-making.
“It is important for pilots, whether they fly for a company or themselves, to always practice good decision making. Establish a set of risk assessment procedures and stick with them; know the minimums under which you will operate and not violate those based on circumstance,” says Harry Kieling, Chairman of the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation.
The circumstances he refers to includes all manner of pressures, from degrading weather to a desire to get home to the demands of people in the seats.
One very effective way to keep outside pressure from influencing pilot decision-making is through cue-based training -- something recommended by the NTSB for Southeast Alaska air tour operators in 2007 following the crash that year of a Taquan Air flight that killed all five people aboard. This training involves establishing checkpoints along regularly flown routes. If, at any time during the course of a flight along on that route, a checkpoint is not visible, then the pilot must turn around. The decision to continue on -- to “go take a look” -- is thus taken out of the pilot’s hands.
A 2012 letter from the FAA to the NTSB said that by 2011, all the region's air tour operators had “added materials and concepts developed as part of the cue-based training project to their training programs.” It's unclear, though, if that training expanded beyond videos and ground school discussion to include flight training and published route checkpoints.
Whether or not a company uses cue-based training, there's always a need for established contingency plans if a flight cannot depart or continue.
“You always need to have the option of spending the night if you can’t fly back because of weather or other safety concerns,” Kieling says.
Denali operators, for example, have gear and supply caches on the glaciers for that reason; in 2013, a Talkeetna Air Taxi flight was forced to remain on Ruth Glacier after the weather closed in during a tour.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Southeast tour operators maintain similar contingency plans. Investigators will try to determine, for example, whether the boat involved in the excursion the day of Misty Fjords crash was capable of ferrying all of the passengers back to the ship from the floating dock in Rudyerd Bay if the aircraft could not fly, and whose decision it would've been to cancel, if necessary, the flying portion of the trip and revert to a contingency plan.
The NTSB won't know, until it completes its long investigation, whether any such pressure may have been exerted on the pilot. And with everything from weather to pilot turnover at Promech to be examined, outside influence is just one element of many to be considered.
Flying into marginal weather
Krill's flying experience will be thoroughly analyzed, including his number of instrument hours flown and instrument currency. His proficiency at flying solely by instruments would affect his ability to react under inadvertent flight into the marginal weather conditions that were noted by the NTSB.
As ADN has noted in the past however, there's a sharp difference between flying under instrument flight rules and attempting to use onboard equipment, such as a GPS, to navigate visually when conditions suddenly diminish.
Tour flights, by their nature, are nearly always operated under visual flight rules and in this case, the pilot's ability to suddenly and successfully transfer to instrument flight would have been influenced by factors including his training, ability, specific knowledge of the aircraft and the altitude at which he was flying.
The fact that, according to the NTSB, the aircraft impacted "a near vertical rock face in a nose high, wings level attitude" suggests Krill was trying to climb.
It's not known whether he could see the terrain around him, but moving map technology would have just served as a guide; it's not intended to replace the situational awareness that is lost when visibility decreases and can never be considered a substitute for instrument flight standards and requirements.
A cascade of factors
Aircraft accidents rarely happen for a single reason.
Usually they are the result of a cascade of factors -- factors that can date back months or longer and combine to create the unique set of circumstances resulting in a crash. The skills and knowledge a pilot did or did not learn, the practices a company did or did not encourage, the customer relationships which did or did not influence decision-making and the regulatory compliance the FAA did or did not enforce can contribute to what occurred on a fateful flight.
That means aircraft accident investigations are complex and the NTSB will have much to look at as it tries to uncover what went wrong at Misty Fjords.
But for Harry Kieling, the air safety advocate, one thing is very clear.
“Every pilot should establish personal weather minimums that are at least equal to those of the Federal Aviation Regulations or even greater,” he asserts. “And don’t ever let anyone talk you out of them; including yourself.”
Source: https://www.adn.com
Bryan Krill, the pilot of the sightseeing floatplane that crashed in Misty Fjords National Monument, is seen here in a February 2015 photo.
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The Book of Jubilees: The Biblical Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha Concerning Genesis, Known to the Early Christian Church and in Jewish History
By R. H. Charles
The Book of Jubilees, an ancient text which details the history of the division of the Laws of Moses, is presented here complete. The text discusses the laws revealed to Moses and treats his character as a second creator of the world. Each chapter covers a range of history spanning 49 years, with Moses life story and other principal events told over a course of 2,410 years. Perhaps most importantly from a theological perspective, the book discusses the angels and how these entities formed a vital component of the Earth's creation. Enoch was taught by fallen angels; through them, he discovered writing and history. We also hear that early man was formed from a mating of Earthly humans and fallen angels, but that these hybrids were killed during the Great Flood.
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More From R. H. Charles
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The Apocalypse of Baruch... By R. H. Charles & William John Ferrar Paperback:
Testaments of the Twelve... By R. H. Charles Hardcover:
Testaments of the Twelve... By R. H. Charles Paperback:
The Book of Jubilees:... By R. H. Charles Hardcover:
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Is Operation GLADIO on the rebound in Europe?
Politics / Conspiracy Theory Dec 17, 2011 - 07:59 AM GMT
By: Patrick_Henningsen
Thirty years ago, Europeans were caught in a seemingly endless story of domestic terror which claimed thousands of lives over a generation – a disturbing epoche which was instrumental in bringing forth the modern domestic police state we have today. We now know that the wave of terror which swept across Europe then was run by a state-sponsored terror program called Operation G.L.A.D.I.O., organised by NATO and funded in part by the CIA.
Enter 2011, and the conditions are similar to that of post WWII Europe and also to the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1990 – where the continent is going through a tremendous social and economic transition period.
As the West presently emerges from its decade-long “war on terror” – a conflict where muslims were the protagonists, they begin to to enter into a harsh new social and economic phase featuring austerity and inequality, and a phase where frightening new ‘domestic enemies’ will be introduced onto the stage.
Already this week we have seen a series of high-profile domestic terror events:
Right-wing Italian gunman killed 2 street vendors from Senegal, wounded three others in racially-motivated attack
Belgium gun and grenade attack kills five and injures 122
Letter bombs sent by Federazione Anarchica Informale (Informal Anarchist Group) to head of Italian tax agency and the CEO of Deutche Bank in Frankfurt
One could say there is certainly a pattern emerging.
Let’s not forget that few short months ago in July 2011 saw the most talked about domestic terror event in a decade, where a 34 year-old Aryan pin-up exteremist named Anders Breivik allegedly went on a car bomb and shooting rampage that claimed the lives of 100 Young Labour activists in Norway. By its nature, the Norway shooting was no random attack. The students victims on the island were chosen for political affiliation- even the wounded were snuffed out in cold blood by the gunman(s), which clearly makes this a cold and targeted mass political assassination.
Webster G. Tarpley reported in his article “Norway Terror Attacks a False Flag,” that Norway was getting ready to call off its support for missions in Libya, and stop its involvement in that ongoing illegal war there as early as this August. Regarding GLADIO, it is highly likely that both NATO and CIA terror cells have been operational in Europe since the end of WWII, and the recent tryst over Libya and other projects could very well be influencing recent events.
GLADIO 2.0 ?
GLADIO was designed as a clandestine NATO ”stay-behind” operation in Italy after World War II, but soon spread all over Europe. Originally, it was formed in order to continue anti-communist actions in the event of a shift to a Communist party led governments in Europe. GLADIO’s domestic terror accomplishments culminated with the spectacular and bloody Bologna Bombing in 1980, killing 85 people and injuring hundreds more. Such terrorist acts were part of NATO’s “strategy of tension” in Italy and throughout Europe.
On November 22, 1990, European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Gladio, requesting full investigations – which have yet to be done – and total dismantlement of these paramilitary structures – which has also yet to be done. Three FOIA requests were filed with GLADIO’s financial sponsor the CIA, who rejected all of them with the standard, ”The CIA can neither confirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of records responsive to your request.” Case closed.
Will all the innocent deaths, no member of NATO or the government has ever been charged over GLADIO, and the network was never officially dismantled. Because of these two important factors, it is not a major leap of logic to suspect that GLADIO 2.0 has been put in play already this year.
FALSE FLAG ATTACKS CAN INFLUENCE RIGHT-WING POLITICS
Right-wing politics and their movements have been key in forming the current European scene. With Europeans facing a severe economic depression and possibly more wars, Europe may also be experiencing a realignment of its traditional individual right-wing affiliations and positions.
False flag terror events have been used in the past by GLADIO to redefine the left-wing vs right-wing story in Europe. There exist many different definitions of “terrorism”, most have these contain premeditated, politically motivated violence or the threat of violence, targeting civilians, being perceived as a non-state actor, all in the hopes of ”sending a message” – either over the radar, or under the radar – to the general public, influencing the national conversation. A state-sponsored false-flag event can be planned in advance, and maximum public influence can then be extracted by the tragedy. A GLADIO official had once commented about their operation stating that, “Depending on the cases, we would block or encourage far-left or far-right terrorism”.
So is Europe returning to the days when its cities and towns were being ravaged by state-sponsored terror groups like NATO’s Operation GLADIO, and the many groups it had infiltrated: The Red Brigades, IRA, Red Army Faction, Action Directe, Black September, and the PLFP? As the saying goes, ‘Out of that chaos came order’. Are we looking at a new reordering of the social and political landscape in a New Order? In the Eurozone, as in the wider world, it certainly looks that way.
Gladio has been accused of trying to influence policies through the means of “false flag” operations. In Italy during the GLADIO years, a strategy of tension used to prevent the PCI (Italian Communist Party), and the PSI (Italian Socialist Party) from ever reaching executive power. In 2011, European Union-assigned technocrats have already usurped the sovereignty of both Greece and Italy, installing technocrats (who are also former central bankers) to implement severe austerity measures on an ever-increasingly aware and rebellious public. The social upheaval to this latest technocrat coup could be significant, and one could think of not a better time to reactivate GLADIO in Europe.
This same technique was used to full effect in the global war on terror, and now that the public has lost its ability to remain focused of the global war on terror, social engineers and military psy-warfare experts may be retraining public eyes to focus on the domestic terror threat in order to move forward quickly and efficiently with any plans for a 21st century full-blown Police State.
ANOTHER LONE GUNMAN
The Belgium attack this week was originally reported in the local press as the work of THREE, not one attacker, which was confirmed at the scene by Belgium journalist Gaspard Grosien from La Meuse Liege via Bela News Agency.
Later, the reports were streamlined across every media outlet showing only one attacker, a North African man named Nordine Amrani, apparently known to the police for previous drugs and weapons charges.
As the back story to this attack emerges, news consumers will still need to pay attention in order to read between the lines and identify discrepancies and outlandish assumptions present in the consensus reality version of events.
Similarly, Breivik’s black-op in Norway could very well have been executed by not one, but a minimum team of two to three persons. There exist eye-witness reports by survivors of multiple gunmen at the scene, later streamlined by the MSM into a lone gunman story. Readers with military experience might point out how complicated it would be to execute both a car-bomb and a mass murder such as this single-handedly.
Regardless, both these high-profile domestic terror events revolve around the classic ‘Lone Gunman’ narrative. Yet, the public are told to be ever vigilant and to report any suspicious behavior or individuals to the police. In effect, ‘Goldstein is still at large’, and may be in your area, so keep all doors and windows locked.
LOOK BACK, LOOKING AHEAD
Readers should note that GLADIO was officially active only 20 years ago, not a long time in terms of politics and the military.
The Italian shooting of two African immigrants and the Norway shooting talking points are a few things in common, and these ideas are already being circulated through society as we speak. Besides the obvious: We need more security + Gun ownership is dangerous, there is the baiting of traditional right-wing fear mongering at play where the experts are asking the following: Could Right-wing thinkers could be dangerous? + Has multiculturalism in Europe finally back-fired?
As sectarian conflicts breakout in regions like Kosovo- and also in Africa and the Middle East, we may see domestic disturbances also break out in ex-pat ethnic pockets around Europe, further fueling the illusion of a Europe strangled by the fumes of domestic terror.
Ecomnonic collapse and severe austerity will most certainly bring on social upheaval and change in Europe. And the social engineers will most certainly- as they have done in the past – use state-sponsored domestic terror to guide the public through their latest social rat maze.
An educated guess: GLADIO 2.0 is in motion.
Editor Patrick Henningsen
© 2011 Copyright Patrick Henningsen - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.
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You are here: Home / No Win No Fee Medical Negligence
No Win No Fee Medical Negligence
As a nation, we pride ourselves on having one the most beneficial and advanced national healthcare systems in the world. Nearly all of us at one time or another will come to rely upon this resource for free medical treatment or advice, which we trust is of the highest standard. For the most part, treatment provided by NHS practitioners cannot be faulted, and saves the lives of thousands each year. Very occasionally, these exceptional standards fall below the acceptable level required of healthcare professionals, leading to a non-relative illness or injury for a percentage of patients treated. Such circumstances may provide grounds for a no win no fee medical negligence claim.
Our no win no fee medical negligence solicitors have already enabled thousands of UK citizens to access compensation for negligence cases, including those involving misdiagnosis, birth injury and post-surgery complications. Their expertise also extends to cases involving cerebral palsy and brain injury, for which it can often be difficult to seek compensation after 36 months have passed.
If you have endured sickness or injury as a result of malpractice, or you have a pre-existing medical condition made worse by questionable treatment, you may be entitled to make a no win no fee medical negligence claim.
No Win No Fee Explained
UK law has legitimized no win no fee medical negligence claims as a beneficial alternative to Legal Aid. Prior to 1998, qualifying victims of clinical negligence could seek financial support paid for by the Government, in order to access compensation. Following a review of this costly practice, changes to the law were made that now prohibit people applying for Legal Aid for medical negligence cases.
This move allowed medical negligence solicitors to devise a new system, known as a “conditional fee agreement”, which allowed negligence victims to access free legal representation on the condition the solicitor seeks representation and administration fees from the guilty party. Translated, this means that any solicitor offering their services on a no win no fee basis can justly do so, at no risk or cost to the claimant.
Proven Expertise and Ongoing Support
Nearly all types of medication and treatment carry side-effects; the risks of which are usually communicated in a preliminary consent interview or consultation. Occasionally, the full extent of such side-effects may not be accurately disclosed, leading to post-surgery complications. Medical professionals have an obligation to disclose all information relating to the possible side-effects of treatment, along with any negative prognosis associated with it. If it can be found that you suffered because you were not sufficiently informed of these facts, or your physician did not evaluate your case prior to administering this treatment, you may qualify for no win no fee medical negligence compensation.
Our expert medical negligence solicitors can help you establish a claim, and will strive to seek 100% compensation on your behalf. There are no complex forms to complete; no awkward consultations. Simply fill out the online form with just a few basic details relevant to your case, and a member of our team will contact you at a time to suit. Alternatively, you may call us on our free phone number above for free legal advice, or to start a claim.
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alternatively Crotchet
Vernon DUKE (Vladimir Dukelsky) (1903-1969)
Piano Concerto (1923) (completed by Scott Dunn) (1998) [18:20]
Cello Concerto (1945) [26:37]
Homage to Boston (Suite for solo piano) [12:33]
Scott Dunn (piano), Sam Magill (cello)
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dimitry Yablonsky
rec. 27 September–1 October 2006, Studio 5, Russian State TV and Radio Company, Kultura, Moscow (Concertos); 6 January 2007, Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Toronto (Suite). DDD
NAXOS 8.559286 [57:30]
Vernon Duke makes it very clear, in his entertaining autobiography Passport to Paris (Little, Brown and Co, Boston 1955), that he was born Vladimir Dukelsky. His concert works were written under that name but when he wrote for Broadway or Hollywood his name was Vernon Duke.
It was George Gershwin who suggested the change of name to the Russian and it was a sensible move; after all, could you really believe that the song April in Paris, so American in its nostalgic resonance, was written by a Russian? But then could you believe that the song High Noon was written by a student of Glazunov? So Vladimir Dukelsky wrote symphonies and chamber music and the rest, and Vernon Duke wrote Taking a Chance on Love, I Can’t Get Started, the score for She’s Working Her Way Through College (1952), and the completion of Gershwin’s score for the film The Goldwyn Follies (1937), on the composer’s death, contributing two original ballets and a conclusion to Gershwin’s Love is Here to Stay.
The difference is important for Dukelsky is the composer of the music on this disk. It does him a disservice to represent him, basically, as another man, but perhaps people no longer know who Dukelsky is. Certainly they used to as I have several LPs of music by the Russian and there is no mistaking him as Dukelsky.
Perhaps I’m being pedantic, but if the composer perceived the difference then perhaps we should acknowledge that fact.
That said, this is a superb disk. The Piano Concerto was conceived for Rubinstein but Dukelsky never orchestrated the work. It was never performed in his lifetime and it’s such an attractive work. In one movement, playing for just over 18 minutes, it is light and frothy , brim full of good tunes. What else would you expect from a work written in the twenties with more than a nod towards Les Six? At first hearing I thought that there was, perhaps, a little too much Prokofiev in the score; Dukelsky and Prokofiev were fellow students in the composition class of Reinhold Glière, at the Kiev Conservatory. They remained friends until the older man returned to Russia after which the contact between them ceased. Dukelsky never heard from his friend again. Repeated hearings have revealed that while there is a light powdering of the Prokofiev sound it is fleeting. It’s quite neo-classical in feel and the style is only broken by the interruption of a brief, but exotic, samba!
The Cello Concerto is a bigger and much more serious work. Written for Piatigorsky, and commissioned by Koussevitsky, the work took three years to write. Its composition was interrupted by Dukelsky’s serving in the US Coast Guard. It is a bold romantic work. There are occasional hints of Prokofiev and Shostakovich, to be sure, but this in no way corrupts the music which is pure Dukelsky. Two fast movements enclose an elegy of great beauty, perhaps a lament for the dead of the war just ended. The first movement starts with a cadenza for the soloist and the finale is a kind of macabre march with a brisk coda.
The Suite, Homage to Boston, which closes the disk, is dedicated “to the members of the Boston Symphony”, the seven short movements portraying various people and places in Boston familiar to the composer. The movements are so brief that they fly past in an instant. There’s the grand romantic gesture in the first movement , a sly waltz, a gavotte (in homage to Prokofiev) and a final Mecanicamente (Midnight Train).
It’s fine stuff from a composer who has never really received his due, and whose concert works are woefully unrepresented on disk these days. The performances are totally committed, everyone playing for all they are worth, and the recorded sound has everything well in perspective with a good balance between soloist and orchestra. The solo Suite is equally well done.
One of the very best, and, for me, most interesting, releases in Naxos’s American Classics series.
Bob Briggs
see also reviews by William Kreindler and Rob Barnett
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North Baltimore Ohio Area Historical Society
Know Where You've Been To See Where You’re Going
History of North Baltimore and Henry Township.
The Settlement Years: Before 1860
The Town’s Founding: 1860 – 1885
The Oil Boom: 1886 – 1915
The Industrial Years: 1916 – 1940
The Mid-1900s and Beyond: 1941 – 2000
Today and Beyond: 2001 – Present
Pioneer Days: A First-person Account by Thomas Witten
Tom Boltz June 9, 2016 October 3, 2016
In the late 1890s and early 1900s, George W. Wilkinson, the editor of the North Baltimore Beacon newspaper, encouraged elderly local residents to write about their experiences in the settling of southern Wood County. He published their letters in a series of articles which he titled “Interesting Pioneer Sketches.” The Beacon ran the articles over a ten year period from approximately 1900 to 1910.
In 2015, the North Baltimore Ohio Area Historical Society (NBOAHS) published three of these letters in Pioneer Letters, Series I. Two additional letters were published in early 2016. The letter below is the third and final letter of Series II.
The NBOAHS has no current plans to publish additional pioneer letters from the Beacon archives. However, anyone interested in reading all of the many unpublished pioneer letters can find them in the microfilm copies of the Beacon at the North Baltimore Public Library, the Wood County Public Library, and the Center for Archival Collections at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Thomas Witten (born 1821 – died 1910) provided the following letter in which he describes Henry Township in the 1860s, the arrival of the B&O Railroad, hunting in Henry Township, and the building of North Baltimore in the 1870s. This article is directly transcribed from the North Baltimore Beacon issue of November 8, 1901.
While Black Swamp residents most often mentioned mosquitoes as their greatest insect pest, other biting insects such as the buffalo gnat (black fly) were also a major problem.
NOT SO FAR BACK
As some of the Letters, But Interesting
One Day Taken To Travel From Findlay to Van Buren—The Buffalo Gnat and the Trouble Caused to Farmers
By Thomas Witten to Beacon Reporter
Editor Beacon—I have been requested to give some information from which a pioneer letter may be written. You are perfectly welcome to anything of interest I can tell you, but I am afraid my knowledge of the pioneer days of Wood County will not amount to much because I came here after the hard time were over. I was 80 years old last Tuesday, election day, and it is hard for me to remember things that happened away back in those days, but in reading letters other men have written, I can remember some of the little incidents they relate and which interest me greatly. The pioneer letter is the first thing I read when I get the Beacon. Of course we were inconvenienced in a great many things, but the hardest of times of Wood County were over when I settled here having spent the prime of my life before I ever saw Wood County. I have lived here and around North Baltimore since 1867 and could give a description of the foundation of what is now known as North Baltimore. But that has been described heretofore and I will not go into details. (NBOAHS: slightly edited for clarity.)
We came from Crawford County and settled on what is known as the Isaac Taylor farm west of town. I traded a farm in Crawford County to Isaac Taylor for the farm here. We were one whole day coming from Findlay to Van Buren and I thought I would pull my horses to death. The mud and water was there in abundance and the wagon would sink into holes sometimes that would almost buy it. When we arrived in Van Buren we stayed there all night and started for this county, which was not very encouraging to look at and think about making your home there. We pulled on through to our new farm which already supported a log cabin, which Isaac Taylor had already lived in, and immediately began to make things look like home. Some of my land was cleared, but I had to clear a great deal and also ditch. On account of the great amount of water which stood all over this swamp we were compelled to do a great deal of draining in order to get the soil dry enough to plant a field of corn. (NBOAHS: slightly edited for clarity.)
My first trip to Wood County, which was about 4 years before I settled here, was in 1863 when I came out here to visit my brothers Harrison and William, who had came here in the earlier days of the country. They were digging out a home from what seemed to me to be nothing but black muck and timber. Ferguson Hughes was just cutting out the timber on his land and I asked my brother what he was doing that for and when he told me that Mr. Hughes was getting it ready to plant a crop. I informed him that I would not take one hundred acres and pay the tax for it. It looked like a waste of muscle and time to me to dig around in the forest and muck to put out a crop. (NBOAHS: slightly edited for clarity.)
I was married in Guernsey County, Ohio before I came out here to Miss Sarah E. Hardesty, my present wife. We had no children when we came to Wood County, but we had plenty of cares to surmount. My first season here in farming was one which was, I think, one of the worst seasons in the history of the county. A small insect, which they called a Buffalo gnat (NBOAHS note: Black Flies), and which I had never seen before or since, were so thick that they nearly ate everything up. I remember of John Howe trying to put out a field of corn and was compelled to tie a pot on the pole of his plow and keep a fire in it letting the smoke go up around his head keeping himself enveloped in smoke all the time to keep the gnats away. In this manner and various other we would go to the field and put out our crops.
Just a month or so before the engineer came through to survey for the B.&O., Frank Clayton and I were going through the woods when in going by a settler’s house he asked us what we were doing. We answered with a great deal of unnecessary “blowing up”, that we were running a railroad through the woods. The people of North Baltimore gave the railroaders a great dinner when they were laying the rails through here, the dinner being served in Peter’s barn; but as that has been given in other letters, and I will not dwell on the longer.
The Indians were all gone from Wood County when I came, but the deer and wild turkey still abounded in the woods. I remember a little incident that happened to me in a hunting expedition, or what I was going to make a hunting and killing expedition. I was fortunate enough one day to sight a deer and at once determined to have that deer to boil. I went to neighbor’s house and borrowed a gun and started after the deer which was near my place. I had not gone far when I discovered that I was not the only one who was interested in that deer, but another man was following it. He had been on its track through the woods he said, and therefore the deer belonged to him and not to me. He proceeded to run me off and take possession of the prize. I guess that this was about the only hunting incident that I remember. Hunting in those days was the occupation of a great many of the settlers and some made their entire living that ways and not by tilling the soil as the rest of us.
When I came here, North Baltimore was not thought of and we did our trading in Findlay and Van Buren. In 1873, Peters build his store and my wife and baby daughter Maggie, came up here to do some trading. This was when Mr. Peters first built his store and started into business. From this on the town continued to grow a little until there came to us the making of our large and prosperous city– -the oil boom. After that the town grew fast enough.
Well this is about all I can recall at present, but I want to do and say all in my power to interest some of the earlier settlers than myself as well as others to give the reporter a few minutes of time or better still sit down and write something yourself. It is one of the most interesting features that have ever been introduced here in our city or in this vicinity and large number of people read these letters the first thing when they pick up the paper. It is interesting to one and all and especially to the pioneers themselves. I have little more to say except that I moved back and forth from the farm three different times, but have lived here about 9 years and expect to spend the rest of my days here. I will now close and sit back and trust that the pioneer swill come to the front with more interest than they heretofore shown.
Pioneer Days: A First-person Account by Mary Howard Coleman
Private Vernon Wymer, By Tom Boltz
The North Baltimore, Ohio Area Historical Society, Inc.
229 North Main Street, P.O. Box 174
North Baltimore, Ohio, 45872
Email: nboahs@nbpubliclibrary.org Send us an email
Copyright © 2016. The North Baltimore, Ohio Area Historical Society, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Captain Robert Scott
Famed SS Terra Nova shipwreck discovered off Greenland
In Famous Wrecks
From Maritime Executive
U.S. researchers have discovered the wreck site of the SS Terra Nova – the ship that Captain Robert Scott sailed on to his ill-fated Antarctic expedition 100 years ago.
It was located off Greenland.
In 1910, Capt. Scott and his crew set off aboard the Terra Nova in hopes of becoming the first expedition to reach the South Pole.
Upon arrival at the South Pole in January 1912, Scott and his crew realized they had been beat by a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen.
The polar team led by Scott never made it home; their bodies were found by a search party eight months later, according to a BBC News report.
The historic vessel, on the other hand, lived on and ended up sinking in 1943 while making a supply delivery to Arctic base stations after being damaged by ice. Its crew was rescued by U.S. Coast Guard cutter, Southwind.
Back in current times, the wreck has been discovered by a Schmidt Ocean Institute team during echo-sounding equipment testing on the R/V Falkor.
An unidentified object was noted during sonar mapping of the sea bed.
An underwater camera package was dropped into the waters below the research vessel to film the presumed wreck.
Right across the top of the target, it showed the remains of a wooden wreck lying on the seabed, as well as a funnel next to the ship.
The features of the wreck closely matched historical photos of the Terra Nova, leading to the identification.
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Home » About us » Scientific workshops
Documents, Data of public interest
National Széchényi Library is the keeping site of Hungary-related written heritage. In addition to its basic tasks such as description, processing, keeping and servicing library documents, NSZL also carries out a series of highly diverse and precious research work. Several of National Széchényi Library’s staff members are academic and university doctors and some 10 percent of Library staff without any academic rank also carries out research work on a regular basis.
As a scientific library, NSZL is a source collection serving as a starting point of research in Hungary-related human sciences. The basis of its in-house research and of various research projects is the unique collection of Hungary’s national library as well as the ever expanding retrospective national bibliography. The direction of research carried out in National Széchényi Library and also the topics of publications built on this research are determined primarily by the Library collections themselves:
Research in history of book, press and that of printing houses. Research in literature and history sciences as well as research in general education science;
Special research based on the special collections of NSZL’s Special Collections Archives;
Research in Library Science.
The complex and sophisticated scientific work carried out in NSZL meets Hungarian and international scientific requirements on a high level, both from the point of view of professional competence and of representative value. According to all-time science strategy, our Library’s research fellows aim at forming a scientific image of National Széchényi Library focusing not just on its past ethos.
Our Library is the “memory of our nation”, as it has often been quoted, but this cannot mean just a passive memory. It should and will become an active depositary of the Hungarian nation’s memory and cultural heritage.
Qualified researchers are members of NSZL’s Scientific Committee which acts as an advisory board to Director-General in all matters related to science or scientific research. Scientific Committee decides about research projects that last for one year or for a longer time. It is also responsible for adjusting current research projects to the existing Library strategy.
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You are here: Home > Featured > Netanyahu confidante resigns as diplomatic envoy
Netanyahu confidante resigns as diplomatic envoy
JERUSALEM (JTA) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diplomatic envoy, attorney Yitzhak Molcho, has resigned.
Molcho served as Netanyahu’s diplomatic envoy during his first term as prime minister in 1996-99 and again since Netanyahu returned to office in 2009. He served as an Israeli negotiator during the 2013-14 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
He will leave his position in February in order to give the prime minister time to find a replacement. Molcho, who was a confidante of Netanyahu, had requested to be relieved of his voluntary position a year ago, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office issued Wednesday.
In a letter to Molcho thanking him for his service, Netanyahu wrote: “I need not enumerate the sensitive and important diplomatic missions that you have carried out. You did so with a rare combination of ability, experience and a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the issues. The time has not yet come to reveal all of your activities but I am certain that when that time does come, the citizens of Israel will greatly appreciate your contribution.”
Former Foreign Ministry director-general and Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Dore Gold is reported to be Molcho’s likely successor. Gold is currently president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs think tank.
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You are here: Home > Featured > U.S. denies visa for Israeli singer to perform at UN for Holocaust Remembrance Day
U.S. denies visa for Israeli singer to perform at UN for Holocaust Remembrance Day
JERUSALEM (JTA) – The United States embassy in Israel has declined a visa request by Israeli singer Amir Benayoun, who is scheduled to perform a song he wrote at the United Nations annual ceremony for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Benayoun is scheduled to be joined on stage at the U.N. in New York by singers David D’Or and Miri Mesika, who already have received their visas, and who will help him perform the song in Hebrew, English, and Arabic in a performance scheduled for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The annual ceremony commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27.
The song, called “The Last Survivor,” was written by Benayoun and Moshe Klugheft. A video of the song, to be screened at the UN, features several Israeli Holocaust survivors.
The U.S. embassy told Ynet that Benayoun was not able to convince the U.S. consul that he “has a strong connection to his country, which ensures his return to Israel after a short visit to the U.S.” Benayoun reportedly presented the embassy with his official letter of invitation from the UN. He reported has several performances scheduled for February and March in Israel, another reason that he says he will be returning.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has been working to convince the U.S. embassy to change its decision, according to Ynet.
Some have speculated whether the decision to prevent Benayoun from entering the United States is related to a 2015 song about a “corrupt, cruel” pet crow called Obama, for whom he wishes a swift death.
Left-wing Meretz Party lawmaker Esawi Frej in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for Benayoun to not be allowed to perform over what Frej called his racist views.
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Coral Gables /
The twelve story 1300 Ponce De Leon condo in Coral Gables (or simply 1300 Ponce) fuses the city's classic architecture with a modern design, all located just a few blocks of Southwest 8th Street, also known as Tamiami Trail and the same roadway where the Calle Ocho Festival is held. The Coral Gables condos for sale within the building area available with one, two or three bedrooms.
In addition to concierge, 1300 Ponce De Leon has a swimming pool, a fitness center with a host of modern equipment, social room and billiards, just a sample of its many great amenities. Besides the great views of the city, the residences also have modern features that go far beyond the balconies/terraces and the pre-wiring for broadband Internet. Square footage for the 1300 Ponce De Leon units ranges between 855 to 1,556 square feet.
Coral Gables is home to many places that fuse modern and classic design, like the Biltmore Hotel or the Village at Merrick Park which offers open air shopping and dining. Explore nature at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, visit the shops and eateries of Miracle Mile or use Tamiami Trail and head east to visit the city of Miami and its popular Brickell and downtown areas.
Clubhouse/clubroom
Carpet and ceramic floors
Units available furnished or unfurnished
For Rent 2
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Mrs Lilian Molyneux
Publication: Liverpool Echo
Mrs Lilian Molyneux complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had insensitively published personal information in breach of Clause 5 (Intrusion into grief or shock) of the Editors' Code of Practice in a report of her brother's inquest.
The complaint was resolved when, as a gesture of goodwill, the newspaper made a donation to two charities and after the PCC negotiated the publication of the following apology:
George Parsons - an apology
A report on Tuesday, January 14 of the inquest of George Parsons, 59, of MacDonald Street, Wavertree, included an extract from a suicide note.
The extract should not have been published. The note was not read out at the inquest and Mr Parson's family were not asked about it in advance. We are very sorry for any distress caused to them.
As a gesture of goodwill, we have made a donation in memory of Mr Parsons to two charities nominated by the family.
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Banc de Binary
Publication: The Mail on Sunday
This complaint was originally made to the PCC. As the PCC closed on 8 September the complaint was resolved by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) under PCC procedures. IPSO is the new independent regulator of the newspaper and magazine industry.
Banc de Binary complained to the Press Complaints Commission that an article included a number of inaccuracies in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors' Code of Practice. The complainant was concerned that the newspaper's account of an investigation following a complaint from a reader against the company was misleading and inaccurate.
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper made amendments to the online article and published the following statements:
Statement from Banc De Binary
Banc De Binary would like to make clear that at no point did J.R.R suffer any financial loss from the disputed transfers mentioned in this article. The balance of J.R.R.'s funds remained, untouched, in his trading account which only J R. R. had access to. At no time did Banc De Binary attempt to prevent J.R.R. from withdrawing these funds and we received no formal complaint from J.R.R. on this matter.
Upon any deposit being made to a client's account, an automated email is sent to the client confirming the transaction keeping them fully appraised of activity. In addition, the balance of the client's account is displayed on screen at all times whenever clients log in.
Statement from the Mail on Sunday
On September 1, 2013, we said US authorities were saying the Banc de Binary was not truthful in declaring it was not providing services to US clients. In fact, at that date, the company had not been accepting trades from US clients. The article also incorrectly stated that a customer of the firm had been asked to change his mind about withdrawing funds. He had been asked to request a withdrawal rather than instituting a charge-back from his bank.
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About Newton Baroque
Newton Baroque is especially committed to calling attention to fine music outside the Baroque canon. As an example, in 2011 Newton Baroque joined with the early music vocal ensemble Exsultemus for all 72 cantatas of Georg Telemann’s Harmonischer Gottesdienst, an unprecedented performance project that met with widespread acclaim. Based in Boston for the past ten years, Newton Baroque took a spectacular leap onto the national stage in May 2014 when they performed three exciting innovative programs as a featured ensemble at the American Bach Society annual convention at Kenyon College in Ohio, garnering an overwhelming response from some of the most knowledgeable Bach scholars in the world.
In 2015 Newton Baroque will release two recordings of rarely heard Baroque music: masterful and moving arias from Philipp Heinrich Erlebach’s Harmonischer Freude musicalischer Freunde with Boston mezzo-soprano Shiba Nemat-Nasser, and again in consort with Exsultemus, a recording of extraordinarily beautiful Vespers music by Johann Caspar Fischer. Depending on the requirements of the chosen repertoire, Newton Baroque draws on its roster of musicians who work frequently with the group, comprising some of the leading Baroque specialists both nationally and internationally. Core members include: Susanna Ogata, Jesse Irons, Katherine Winterstein, Jane Starkman, Laura Jeppesen, Mary Oleskeiwicz, Sarah Freiberg Ellison, Jay Elfenbein, and Douglas Kelley. Also this year we will be joined by superb vocal stars like Teresa Wakim and Pamela Dellal. Newton Baroque frequently appears during services at their home base at Second Church in Newton, Mass. (UCC), which also serves as a superb concert venue for the ensemble. They have also appeared numerous times on Boston’s SoHIP concert series, on WGBH Radio, Boston, and on various concert series in New York City.
Andrus Madsen
Andrus Madsen is an active performer on the organ, harpsichord clavichord and fortepiano. He resides in Wayland MA, and is the Minister of Music at Second Church in Newton MA. He is the founding director of Newton Baroque and also plays with Exsultemus. He spearheaded a project combining the forces of Newton Baroque and Exsultemus to perform the entire Harmonischer Gottesdienst cantata cycle of Georg Phillip Telemann during the year of 2011. Madsen is also known for his eloquent Baroque style improvisation. He strives to play written repertoire as if he is improvising, while his improvisations often sound as if they had been notated. His recording of keyboard music by Pachelbel, has received significant critical acclaim. “Superb recordings of superb instruments by a musician who deserves to be better-known.” (Michael Barone of pipedreams) This album, played on organ, harpsichord and clavichord is available on Raven CD Recordings.
Susanna Ogata
Susanna Ogata enjoys an active performance schedule in greater New England and beyond. She has been praised for ‘totally convincing, spontaneous and free-flowing playing” (The Berkshire Review) and her musical “sensitivity and fire” (Boston Musical Intelligencer). Ms. Ogata is dedicated to performance on period instruments and is the Assistant Concertmaster of the Handel and Haydn Society. She has also participated in concerts and appeared as soloist with such groups as the Bach Ensemble led by Joshua Rifkin, Arcadia Players, Newton Baroque, and Blue Hill Bach. She is a founding member of several period instrument chamber ensembles including the Boston Classical Trio, Copley String Quartet, and the Coriolan String Quartet. She has also performed on the Sarasa, Music at Eden’s Edge, Cambridge Society for Early Music, and Boston Early Music Festival series concerts. With fortepianist Ian Watson, her first of four CDs surveying the complete Sonatas for Fortepiano and Violin of Beethoven has been recently released on the CORO label receiving praise for “elegant readings that are attentive to quicksilver changes in dynamics and articulation. Their performance of the Sonata No. 4 in A minor is darkly playful, their “Kreutzer” Sonata brilliant and stormy.” (New York Times) Ms. Ogata’s teachers have included Charles Castleman and Laura Bossert, and she has studied baroque violin with Dana Maiben. She also worked extensively with Malcom Bilson and Paul O’Dette while completing her undergraduate and graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music.
Katherine Winterstein
Praised by critics for “livewire intensity” and for both “delightfully effective” and “memorably demonic” playing, violinist Katherine Winterstein enjoys a wide range of musical endeavors, as a chamber musician, orchestral musician, soloist, and teacher. Ms. Winterstein is the concertmaster of the Vermont Symphony, a member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, and performs regularly with the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. She is a member of the Hartt String Quartet and additionally appears regularly with Boston-based Chameleon Arts Ensemble and Providence-based Aurea Ensemble She has performed with the Craftsbury Chamber Players in Vermont for 13 summers. Ms. Winterstein has appeared as soloist with several orchestras, including the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra, the Champlain Philharmonic, the Boston Virtuosi, and the Vermont Symphony. She has served on the performance faculty of Middlebury College in Vermont since 2002 and joined the faculty of the Hartt School of Music in September 2011.
Jane Starkman
Jane received B.M. and M.M. degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music. She continued her studies in Basel, Switzerland at the Schola Cantorum with Jaap Schroeder and in New York with William Lincer. While living in Basel she performed with the Radio Orchestra Basel. Ms. Starkman has performed as both a violinist and violist with many groups in the US and abroad. In Europe she has performed with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Capella Clementina as well as ensembles in the Netherlands and Italy. Some of the ensembles Ms. Starkman performs with include the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, Smithsonian Chamber Players, Ensemble Florilege, La Donna Musicale, and the Aston Magna Festival as well as being a founding member of The King’s Noyse. Ms. Starkman teaches at Oberlin College’s Baroque Performance Institute, Boston University, Wellesley College and has been a guest clinician at the Massachusetts Suzuki Festival and the New England Conservatory of Music.
Mary Oleskiewicz
Hailed as “…one of the greatest baroque flutists of our time” (American Record Guide, 2014), Mary Oleskiewicz enjoys a unique career as performer-scholar. After winning first prizes in both the National Flute Association’s Baroque Flute Artist and Doctoral Dissertation Competitions, she quickly established herself as an international performer of historical flutes and the leading expert on the flutist, theorist and composer Johann Joachim Quantz. She is an authority on music at the 18th-century court of the Prussian King Frederick “the Great,” and her highly acclaimed essays, editions and recordings have focused on the music of Quantz, C.P.E. Bach, King Frederick, and the Bach family. Her solo recordings are published on the Hungaroton Classic and Naxos labels. A world premiere CD of 18th-century flute concertos, performed with Miklós Spanyi and Concerto Armonico, has been just released. Mary serves as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Massachusetts and is a frequent guest professor at Queen’s College in New York City. A fluent German speaker, during 2008-2009 she taught performance practice in the Early Music program at the University of the Arts in Berlin. Previously she served as Professor of Flute at the University of South Dakota, and Curator of Musical Instruments at the National Music Museum. She has held several prestigious multi-year fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the DAAD. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Mary dances and teaches Argentine tango, plays the bandoneon, and improvises on Native American flutes. For more about Mary, visit BaroqueFlutist.com.
Laura Jeppesen
Laura Jeppesen, viola and viola da gamba, has a master’s degree from Yale University and studied at the Hamburg Hochschule, and at the Brussels Conservatory with Wieland Kuijken. She has been a Woodrow Wilson Designate, a Fulbright Scholar, and a fellow of the Bunting Institute at Harvard. A prominent member of Boston’s early music community, she has long associations with The Boston Museum Trio, Boston Baroque, The Handel and Haydn Society, the Boston Early Music Festival and Aston Magna. In 2015 she was part of the BEMF team that won a Grammy for best opera recording. She has performed as soloist with conductors Christopher Hogwood, Edo deWaart, Seiji Ozawa, Craig Smith, Martin Pearlman, Harry Christophers, Grant Llewellyn, and Bernard Haitink. She has an extensive discography of solo and chamber works, including the gamba sonatas of J.S.Bach, music of Marin Marais, Buxtehude, Rameau, Telemann and Clerambault. She teaches at Boston University, Wellesley College and is a teaching assistant at Harvard University.
Sarah Freiberg
Sarah Freiberg is a tenured member of the Handel and Haydn Society, which just celebrated its 200th anniversary. She has performed with Boston Baroque, the New York Collegium, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (San Francisco), Portland Baroque (Oregon), Seattle Baroque, the Boston Early Music Festival, Blue Hill Bach, and Arion (Montreal). As a corresponding editor for STRINGS magazine, she has contributed dozens of articles and reviews on a wide range of subjects. Ms. Freiberg edited the long forgotten Guerini cello sonatas for both PRB Productions and Broude Brothers, and recorded both Guerini and Laurenti cello sonatas for Centaur. As well as teaching in the Historical Performance department at Boston University, she is Chair of Strings at the Powers Music School in Belmont and teaches at the Amherst Early Music Festival. Sarah received her D.M.A. and M.M. degrees from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and holds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory, Brown University and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Ms. Freiberg can be heard on numerous recordings. Her website is: http://www.sarahfreiberg.com
Jay Elfenbein
Jay Elfenbein (bass, violone, baroque bass, basse de violon, viola da gamba, Ruby gamba [electric], vihuela d’arco, vielle, rebab): The performances of Jay Elfenbein have been described by the New York Times as “played magnificently” and “with virtuosity and flair.” Principal bassist and violone player with Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, Opera Lafayette, and the Washington Bach Consort, among others, he has also appeared as a viola da gamba soloist in both Bach Passions throughout the Northeast, and the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), and on basse de violon with Tragicomedia, the Portland Baroque Orchestra, and others. He has recorded for Sony Classics, CBS, and Virgin, among others, and can be heard playing vihuela and vielle on Paul Simon’s Warner Brothers release, You’re the One, and on Absolute Zawinul, one of Joe Zawinul’s final recordings. Jay is the founder and director of the Ivory Consort, the medieval ensemble that receives critical raves for both its live concerts and its CDs, Music in the Land of Three Faiths and Troubadours Across the Pyrenees, and GambaDream, the creative new jazz/contemporary ensemble that features Mr. Elfenbein on electric viola da gamba on an adventurous self-titled CD. He is a published composer whose work has been commissioned and performed in the U.S., Japan, Canada, Europe and South America.
Daniel S. Lee
Daniel S. Lee enjoys a varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, concertmaster, and teacher. Praised for his “ravishing vehemence” and “fleet-fingered, passionate… soulful performance” (The New York Times), he has appeared as a soloist and guest leader with Early Music New York, New York Baroque Incorporated, Quodlibet Ensemble, San Francisco Bach Choir, TENET, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and Yale Schola Cantorum. He has also performed for the 4×4 Baroque Music Festival, Connecticut Early Music Festival, Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, NYS Baroque, Pegasus Early Music, and York Early Music Festival. As a modern violinist, he made his Carnegie Hall debut at age sixteen performing alongside Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He founded and co-directs the Sebastians, a period ensemble lauded for its “stylistic authority and rhythmic verve” (The New York Times). As a violino piccolo specialist, he frequently appears as a soloist in Bach’s first Brandenburg Concerto and cantata 140, and has given the modern-day premiere of his own transcription of Johann Pfeiffer’s concerto. A graduate of the Juilliard School and Yale University and a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut, he is currently on the violin, viola and chamber music faculty at Connecticut College and the University of Bridgeport.
Website by College Web Pro
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Disease A-Z
Flu season is around the corner…
13 March , 2019
Sr JM McAnerney, Dr S Walaza, Dr C Cohen Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
As in other temperate Southern and Northern Hemisphere countries, South Africa experiences seasonal influenza epidemics every winter. Although the timing of the influenza season varies from year to year, influenza virus circulation occurs mainly during the winter months of May to August, but may start as early as April or as late as July. The average duration of the influenza season over the past 13 years has been 19 weeks.
Despite an effective influenza vaccine having been available for many years, influenza continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Annually influenza epidemics are estimated to cause between 3 and 5 million cases of severe illness leading to hospitalisation, and between 250 000 and 500 000 deaths worldwide.
In sub-Saharan Africa, and specifically in South Africa, the burden of influenza is substantial, with studies showing higher influenza-associated mortality rates compared to other regions.3 Annual estimates of between 7000 and 12000 seasonal influenza-associated deaths have been reported for South Africa.
Diagnosis and symptoms
It is difficult to distinguish illness due to influenza from that due to other respiratory viruses clinically. Influenza is usually an uncomplicated illness, which is characterised by sudden onset of constitutional and respiratory symptoms such as fever, myalgia, cough, sore throat, rhinitis and headache. Influenza typically resolves in 3-7 days in the majority of people, although, cough and malaise may persist for several weeks. In a proportion of patients, influenza may be associated with more severe complications, these complications include: Viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial or viral infections (including pneumonia, sinusitis and otitis media), and exacerbations of underlying illnesses (e.g. pulmonary and cardiac illness).
Certain groups of people are at higher risk for serious complications of influenza, these include:
Pregnant women (including the post-partum period)
HIV–infected individuals
Infants and young children (particularly <2 years of age)
Individuals with tuberculosis
Persons of any age with chronic diseases, including:
Pulmonary diseases (e.g. asthma, COPD)
Immunosuppression (e.g. persons on immunosup- pressive medication, malignancy)
Cardiac diseases (e.g. congestive cardiac failure)
Metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes)
Hepatic disease
Certain neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions, including: Disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, mental retardation, moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy or spinal cord
Persons ≤18 years receiving chronic aspirin therapy
Persons aged ≥65 years
Persons who are morbidly obese (i.e. BMI ≥40).
Influenza vaccine remains the primary means for preventing seasonal influenza infection. The World Health Organization updates the candidate vaccine every year, based on data collected in the Global Influenza Surveillance Programme. The annual seasonal influenza vaccine contains strains corresponding antigenically, as close as possible, to the most recently circulating of the three seasonal influenza strains causing disease in human populations: Influenza A(H1N1), influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B. Updated recommendations for influenza vaccination in South Africa are published annually (http://www.nicd.ac.za). Several formulations of seasonal influenza vaccine are available and licensed for use in South Africa. Annual vaccines should contain 15μg of each haemagglutinin antigen in each 0.5ml dose. The vaccine formulation for the 2019 influenza season contains an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus, an A/Switzerland/8060/2017 (H3N2)-like virus, and a B/ Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage).
A protective antibody response takes about 2 weeks to develop, hence vaccines should be administered sufficiently early to provide protection for the winter, although it is never too late to vaccinate. Vaccine effectiveness differs amongst age groups, and is dependent on the age and health of the recipient. Vaccine effectiveness is also dependent on the match between the virus strains in the vaccine and those actually circulating in the community.
The dose in adults is one 0.5 ml dose intramuscularly of the whole, split-product or subunit vaccine. Similarly in children aged 9-12 years one dose of the split-product or subunit vaccine may be used. Children 3-9 years, who have never been vaccinated, should receive 2 doses in total, the initial dose and a further dose one month later. Children 6 months-3 years of age should receive half the adult dose on two occasions separated by month. Influenza vaccine is not recommended for infants aged <6 months.
Adverse events following vaccination are rare, occurring in between 0.5 and 1 % of vaccinations.6 The most common side effects of the vaccine are local swelling, redness or tenderness at the site of the injection, and more rarely low-grade fever or myalgia. If these reactions occur they usually begin soon after vaccination and last no more than 1-2 days. The influenza vaccine is an inactivated virus, therefore, the vaccine does not cause influenza.
Contraindications to influenza vaccination
Persons with a history of severe hypersensitivity to eggs
Persons with acute febrile illnesses should preferably be immunised once symptoms have
In conjunction with vaccination, patients should receive advice regarding general preventative precautions such as hand washing, cough hygiene and avoiding contact with people. Patients with clinical influenza should be advised to stay at home during the cause of symptoms to protect colleagues, other children at school and the general population they may come into contact with.
Oseltamivir (Tamflu®) may decrease the duration and severity of influenza illness and should only be considered in high-risk patients, such as those listed in this article. Prophylaxis with oseltamivir (Tamflu®) may also be considered in high-risk patients who have been exposed to confirmed influenza. Patients who are not considered high risk may be treated symptomatically.
Influenza vaccination, although not 100% effective, remains the best available form of protection against influenza, which still causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Influenza vaccine should be given before the start of the influenza season, especially to individuals who fall in the groups recommended for influenza vaccination. The start of the influenza season is posted on the National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD) webpage. In addition, graphs detailing the influenza season are posted weekly during the season. (http://www.nicd.ac.za).
Download Full Edition
Vaccine Focus Vol 5
Diseases A-Z Index
Outbreak of carbapenem–resistant Klebsiella infections at Tembisa hospital
What do we know about this outbreak so far? On 24 December 2019, the National
A case of odyssean malaria, City of Tshwane, Gauteng Province
NICD was notified of a malaria case in Soshanguve, City of Tshwane, Gauteng Province. A
Rapid response to suspected measles cases in Eastern Cape
The cluster of cases with rash, reported in Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape, were due to
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The Nation's Premier Award for NCAA® Senior Student Athletes
« Football 2013
Offensive Line/Left Tackle
Jack Mewhort's university profile page.
Mewhort is majoring in family resource management and is scheduled to graduate in December 2013.
Coach Urban Meyer has already determined that Mewhort, who he calls the team’s top returning leader, will be a senior captain this season.
“It’s not a dictatorship at Ohio State, and we let our players choose captains,” Meyer said. “However, all those votes have to pass by my desk. So I’m going to tell you who one will be.” The player he named was Jack Mewhort. Meyer often cites the offensive line, led by Mewhort, as the leaders of the 2013 team and a major reason for the success of the undefeated 2012 squad. Mewhort’s character is also evident in his “team first” mentality and willingness to change positions three times in the span of a year—from left guard to right guard to left tackle—due to depth issues on the offensive line.
Mewhort has attended the last two opening ceremonies for the Columbus City Schools’ annual Special Olympics, posing for photographs with the competitors and cheering them on during their races and events; he is a regular “reader” in second grade classrooms as part of Second & Seven, a program founded by former Ohio State football players to promote literacy in Central Ohio schools; he visits patients at Columbus Children’s Hospital and the Ohio State Medical Center; he has served food from a food line at the LifeCARE Alliance facility in Columbus; he helped renovate and construct a new playground with teammates at Graham Expeditionary Middle School in Columbus; he has also attended numerous Ronald McDonald House activities.
Mewhort has started 25 consecutive games along the offensive line for the Buckeyes heading into his senior season of 2013. Included was all 12 games in 2012 when the Buckeyes went 12-0, won the Big Ten Conference Leaders Division, were ranked No. 3 in the nation and were the only undefeated team in the FBS. Mewhort helped the Buckeyes average 242.2 yards per game rushing (10th nationally) and was named second-team all-Big Ten for his efforts. He also helped Ohio State to a 34-year high 37 rushing touchdowns. He was honored as Ohio State’s co-offensive lineman of the year after the 2012 season. He was named honorable mention all-Big Ten as a sophomore. He has played in 35 games.
Mewhort has been named to the preseason watchlist for the Outland Trophy.
Open Ballots
There are no open ballots.
Football 2019 Finalist
Evan Weaver
Position Inside Linebacker
School California
Major American Studies
Auburn’s Derrick Brown wins 2019 Senior CLASS Award® for FBS Football
Copyright © 2020 Premier Sports Management
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Scientology Presentation to Working Session 9 at the OSCE – ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation Meeting of 2017
18 בספטמבר 2017 • Religious Repression
Warsaw, Poland • Oral presentation at the OSCE - ODIHR Meeting of 2017, Working session 9—discussions concerning tolerance and nondiscrimination. From the Church of Scientology Human Rights and Public Affairs Office, Mr. Ivan Arjona presented an oral statement on the urgent need to take action on the Russian Federation for its violation of international human rights covenants and its refusal to abide by decisions of the EU Court of Human Rights.
I call upon OSCE and participant states to facilitate dialogue between the Church of Scientology and the Russian Federation to end the religious freedom crisis and avoid further discrimination against children in the educational system.
Education in human rights and respect is important to stop discrimination and intolerance, and it is also important to increase the well-being of citizens within the OSCE region and worldwide—education not only of our children but education of the officials in our governments.
When you persecute religious movements, traditional and nontraditional, you definitely create a problem in the school systems, in which children of parents belonging to the persecuted religions will be discriminated against and are vulnerable to hate crimes within their own school and by their own schoolmates.
I insist that we have to educate not only children, but also and specifically government officials, on nondiscrimination and respect for differences, and that they need to respect the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights as well as international human rights treaties.
Scientology is an increasingly recognized religion around the world and also in Europe. I speak in representation of millions of Scientologists and in the name of their children in over 169 countries, but particularly for those from the 57 Member States of the OSCE region.
Specifically, within the Russian Federation, we Scientologists as well as Jehovah’s Witnesses, other Christian movements and the so-called nontraditional religions, are living an era in which specific officials within the Russian Federation are misusing the constitution and security apparatus to do a witch hunt on minorities. These become defenseless before officials who will not even respect the legal decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
The OSCE has within its mandate, as in fact does every represented Member State, the mission to facilitate dialogue between parties in crisis. There is a religious freedom crisis in the Russian Federation, and we respectfully request the OSCE Chairmanship and the ODIHR to facilitate dialogue between the Russian Federation and the Church of Scientology and other nontraditional movements so that officials and the church can work together for proper education of the discriminating officials concerning religious freedom, respect for the laws of the country and international treaties, and acceptance and respect for the nontraditional religions, especially those whose rights have already been recognized by the European Court of Human Rights.
I ask you to please not stay silent. Do not allow discrimination to happen out of fear of the power of the oppressors of religious freedom.
Yesterday the Jehovah’s Witnesses were being banned; today we are being persecuted. If you don’t stand up, you will have the responsibility of not having moved to avoid religious persecution and discrimination. And who knows whether tomorrow you will be the one persecuted for your ideas and in need of others to stand for you. But those who could speak have all been silenced, banned and suppressed. There will be nobody to stand for you.
Please, for God’s sake, help without fear to facilitate dialogue; don’t allow innocent people to be retained in jail as is happening.
Please do not discriminate. Help us protect our children from the discrimination. They are suffering due to the intolerant persecution of their parents’ beliefs. Please stand up.
freedom of religion or belief ODIHR OSCE religious intolerance Warsaw Church of Scientology European Office of Public Affairs and Human Rights Ivan Arojna
The Bektashi: Fostering Harmony among Religions
Faith and Freedom Summit
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RI Blog
Board index Subject ForumsAssassinations and Suspicious Deaths
RFK killer = Thane Eugene Cesar
Moderators: DrVolin, Elvis, Jeff
by anotherdrew » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:04 pm
seems like it to me at any rate. I wonder where he's gotten to in these last few decades, I bet he's still alive. <p></p><i></i>
anotherdrew
He is still alive
by Rigorous Intuition » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:32 am
A CBS reporter testified he'd seen a security guard firing shots in the pantry. Kennedy pulled off Caesar's clip-on tie as he fell.<br><br>Caesar's said, "Just because I don’t like the Democrats, that doesn’t mean I go around shooting them." <p></p><i></i>
Rigorous Intuition
Re: RFK killer = Thane Eugene Cesar
by isachar » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:02 am
Drew - possibly, but two extra bullets were almost certainly found and the evidence was destroyed by Chief Gates, the J. Edgar Hoover of the LAPD.<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.crimelibrary.com/terrorists_spies/assassins/kennedy/2.html">www.crimelibrary.com/terr...edy/2.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>Hoover knew Bobby wasn't very fond of him, and Hoover almost certainly had MLK killed. People who were also likely complicit in JFK's assassination couldn't have been too pleased of the prospect of Bobby being President either.<br><br>Sirhan was probably another patsy. <p></p><i></i>
isachar
by anotherdrew » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:07 am
all that is needed is a DA to reopen the case perhaps? Seems like there is ample evdence that was never even considered. Perhaps obstruction of justice charges could be brought against the original investigators? <br><br>It sounds like they sent him in with a few others most of whom didn't know what was going to happen, especially the girl in the poka-dot dresss seen running away shouting "we shot him." Seems like she was taken by surprise. Then he went and missed with every shot (that's what you get with a rush job) and the 'safety' finished it. The official 'police' response maybe right down to the 'first responders' may have been pre-selected and ready. <br><br>These things seem so well set up, even with the seemingly obvious screwups in this case, that court convictions seem unobtainable, perhaps thatm ay change though. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=anotherdrew>anotherdrew</A> at: 3/22/06 11:35 pm<br></i>
Re: He is still alive
by MinM » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:18 pm
Rigorous Intuition wrote: A CBS reporter testified he'd seen a security guard firing shots in the pantry. Kennedy pulled off Caesar's clip-on tie as he fell.<br><br>Caesar's said, "Just because I don’t like the Democrats, that doesn’t mean I go around shooting them." <p></p><i></i>
Donald Schulman, of KNXT Television witnessed Thane Eugene Caesar firing the fatal shot:
Bobby Kennedy managed to pull off his killer's (Thane Eugene Caesar) tie.
YouTube - RFK Assassination: Multiple Shooters
"We have the ability to reach 50 million people and remind them of the horrors of this tragedy" Peter Berg
MinM
Location: Mont Saint-Michel
by MinM » Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:11 pm
John Simkin wrote: Jim Yoder, a former work colleague, claimed that Cesar appeared to have no specific job at Lockheed and had “floating” assignments and often worked in off-limits areas which only special personnel had access to. According to Yoder, these areas were under the control of the CIA.
Yoder also gave Turner and Christian details about the selling of the gun. Although he did not mention the assassination of Robert Kennedy he did say “something about going to the assistance of an officer and firing his gun.” He added that “there might be a little problem over that.” (96)
William Klaber and Philip H. Melanson point out in their book, Shadow Play: The Untold Story of the Robert F. Kennedy Assassination that the LAPD “failed to clear up even elementary contradictions in the security guard’s story”. This included “inconsistencies regarding his actions during the shooting”. Nor did they check his gun the night of the murder to see if it had been fired or even what calibre it was.” Even more remarkable was that he was never called as a witness at the trial of Sirhan. (97)
An article by Dave Smith in the Los Angeles Times in 1971 explained why Cesar was not put on the stand. Smith quoted an unnamed “official” who stated that the reason why he was not used in court was because of inconsistencies in his story: “He told conflicting accounts and it seemed obvious he had nothing to tell us.” Smith went on to argue that the official thought that “he was trying to inject himself into a sensational case he knew little about.” Of course it is ridiculous to claim that Cesar was trying to “inject himself” into the story. He was at the scene of the crime and given his close proximity to Kennedy he was a vital witness that should have appeared in court. (98)
Jamie Scott Enyart was another witness who was not called to testify in court. Enyart, a high-school student, was taking photographs of Robert Kennedy as he was walking from the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel to the Colonial Room where the press conference was due to take place. Enyart was standing slightly behind Kennedy when the shooting began and snapped as fast as he could. As Enyart was leaving the pantry, two LAPD officers accosted him at gunpoint and seized his film. Later, he was told by Detective Dudley Varney that the photographs were needed as evidence in the Sirhan trial. The photographs were not presented as evidence but the court ordered that all evidential materials had to be sealed for twenty years.
In 1988 Enyart requested that his photographs should be returned. At first the State Archives claimed they could not find them and that they must have been destroyed by mistake. Enyart filed a lawsuit which finally came to trial in 1996. During the trial the Los Angeles city attorney announced that the photos had been found in its Sacramento office and would be brought to the courthouse by the courier retained by the State Archives. The following day it was announced that the courier’s briefcase, that contained the photographs, had been stolen from the car he rented at the airport. The photographs have never been recovered and the jury subsequently awarded Scott Enyart $450,000 in damages. (99)
One possible connection between the deaths of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy is that they were all involved in a campaign to bring an end to the Vietnam War. One man who does believe there might be a connection is Edward Kennedy. NBC television correspondent Sander Vanocur, travelled with Edward Kennedy on the aircraft that brought back his Robert’s body to New York. Vanocur reported Kennedy as saying that “faceless men” (Lee Harvey Oswald, James Earl Ray and Sirhan Sirhan) had been charged with the killing of his brothers and Dr. Martin Luther King. Kennedy added: “Always faceless men with no apparent motive. There has to be more to it.” (100)
Richard N. Goodwin is another who refuses to believe the lone-gunman theory. Goodwin was John Kennedy’s special counsel. In a review of Edward J. Epstein’s book, Inquest: The Warren Commission and the Establishment of Truth, Goodwin called for the setting up of an “independent group” to look again at the Kennedy assassination. (101) The following day the New York Times commented that “Mr. Goodwin is the first member of the President’s inner circle to suggest publicly than an official re-examination be made of the Warren Report.” (102)
In his book, Remembering America: A Voice From the Sixties, Goodwin explained the significance of the deaths of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. “The sixties… was a time when most Americans felt the future could be bent to their wills. The large public events of the time cut deeply into our personal lives: the civil rights movement, the sit-ins, the beginnings of the women’s movement, the War on Poverty. It was the time of the New Frontier and the Great Society and the dream of Martin Luther King. And then, the experiment barely begun, it collapsed in the voracious terrain of Vietnam. The sixties, so filled with promise, came to an end. Not a failure, but abandoned. Never given a chance.” (103)
The Vietnam War continued after the deaths of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. In December, 1968, Shackley became Chief of Station in Vietnam and took over Phung Hoang (Operation Phoenix). In his autobiography, Shackley denied he was the “godfather of Phung Hoang”. In fact, Shackley claims he did not approve of this program that involved the killing of non-combatant Vietnamese civilians suspected of collaborating with the National Liberation Front. However, according to Shackley, the Director of the CIA, Richard Helms, insisted that “we are not free agents” and that the CIA rather than the United States Army had to run Operation Phoenix. (104) Other members of Operation 40 in Vietnam at this time included Thomas Clines, David Morales, Carl Jenkins, Rip Robertson and Félix Rodríguez. Two other members of the “Secret Team” in Vietnam with Shackley were John Singlaub and Richard Secord.
Shackley claims that Phoenix was set up in November 1966. This was over two years before Shackley arrived in Vietnam. This is true. However, it was Shackley who turned it into an “assassination unit”. Tucker Gouglemann and William Buckley supervised the program. (105) Edith Holleman and Andrew Love claimed that it was Shackley and Clines who played the most important role in Operation Phoenix. The purposely targeted “South Vietnamese town mayors, clerks, teachers, business professionals and educated persons” who they considered were contributing to the “actual or potential civilian infrastructure of the NLF.” (106)
Fred Branfman quotes a U.S. State Department document in July, 1969, that said: “The target for 1969 calls for the elimination of 1800 VCI per month.” K. Barton Osborn, a U.S. Phoenix agent, testified to Congress, that in a year and a half of active service, “I never knew an individual to be detained as a VC suspect who ever lived through the interrogation”. He added: “This was the mentality… It became a sterile depersonalized murder program.” He described of how he inserted a “six-inch dowel into the ear canal of one of my detainee’s ears and the tapping through the brain until he died.” (107)
The Saigon Ministry of Information admitted that 40,994 were murdered as part of Operation Phoenix. (108) William Colby disagrees, when he testified before Congress he claimed that Phoenix was only responsible for the death of 20,587 persons. (109) Although he admitted to some “illegal killings”, Colby rejected a suggestion by Senator J. William Fulbright that it was “a program for the assassination of civilian leaders”. (110) As Branfman has pointed out: “This number, proportionate to population, would total over a three-year period, were Phoenix in practice in the United States. (111)
1. Gaeton Fonzi, The Last Investigation, 1993 (pages 366-371)
2. Warren Hinckle & William Turner, Deadly Secrets, 1992 (page 53)
3. Senate Report, Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders, 1975 (page 92)
4. Fabian Escalante, CIA Covert Operations 1959-1962: The Cuba Project, 2004 (pages 42 and 43)
5. Common Cause Magazine (4th March, 1990)
6. The Nation magazine (13th August, 1988)
7. Reinaldo Taladrid and Lazaro Baredo, Granma (16th January, 2006)
8. Daniel Hopsicker, Barry and the Boys: The CIA, the Mob and America’s Secret History, 2001 (page 170)
9. Webster Griffin Tarpley and Anton Chaitkin, George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography, 2004 (page 173)
10. Reinaldo Taladrid and Lazaro Baredo, Granma (16th January, 2006).
11. Deposition of Gene Wheaton (1-3, 7-8 March, 1988). Wheaton gave evidence against Chi Chi Quintero during the Iran-Contra investigation.
12. Fabian Escalante, CIA Covert Operations 1959-1962: The Cuba Project, 2004 (pages 42 and 43)
13. Daniel Hopsicker, Mad Cow Morning News (24th August, 2004)
14. Jean-Guy Allard, Granma (22nd May, 2005)
15. Arthur Schlesinger, memo to Richard Goodwin (9th June, 1961)
17. Fabian Escalante, Centre for International Policy, Nassau, Bahamas (7th December, 1995)
18. Larry Hancock, Someone Would Have Talked, 2003 (page 17)
19. Anthony Summers, The Kennedy Conspiracy, 2002 (page 328)
20. Anthony and Robbyn Summers, The Ghosts of November, Vanity Fair (December, 1994)
22. Gaeton Fonzi, The Last Investigation, 1993 (pages 380-390)
23. Anne Buttimer, Assassination Records Review Board Report (12th July, 1995)
24. Gaeton Fonzi, The Last Investigation, 1993 (pages 83-100)
25. Paul Meskil, New York Daily News (3rd November, 1977)
27. Victor Marchetti, Spotlight (14th August, 1978)
28. Mark Lane, Plausible Denial, 1991 (pages 289-310)
30. Evan Thomas, The Very Best Men, 1995 (page 28)
31. Ted Shackley, Spymaster: My Life in the CIA, 2005 (page 103)
32. David Kaiser, American Tragedy: Kennedy, Johnson and the Origins of the Vietnam War, 2000 (page 198)
33. David Corn, Blond Ghost: Ted Shackley and the CIA Crusades, 1994 (page 129)
34. Alfred W. McCoy, The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade, 1991 (page 19)
35. Christopher Robbins, The Ravens: The Men Who Flew in America’s Secret War in Laos, 1987 (page 125)
37. Joel Bainerman, The Crimes of a President, 1992 (page 67)
38. Edith Holleman and Andrew Love, Inside the Shadow Government, 1988 (pages 14-15)
39. Felix I. Rodriguez and John Weisman, Shadow Warrior: The CIA Hero of a Hundred Unknown Battles, 1989 (pages 9-10)
40. Alfred W. McCoy, The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia, 1972 (page 278)
41. Edith Holleman and Andrew Love, Inside the Shadow Government, 1988 (page 13)
42. John Prados, Presidents’ Secret Wars, 1986 (page 282)
44. Martin Luther King, speech in New York (4th April, 1967)
45. William F. Pepper, The Children of Vietnam, Ramparts Magazine (January, 1967)
46. Clayborne Carson (editor), Autobiography of Martin Luther King (1998)
47. William F. Pepper, Orders to Kill, 1995 (page 4)
48. William F. Pepper, An Act of State: The Execution of Martin Luther King, 2003 (page 4)
49. William C. Sullivan, The Bureau: My Thirty Years in Hoover’s FBI, 1979 (page 147)
51. Anthony Summers, The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover, 1993 (page 352)
52. William C. Sullivan, The Bureau: My Thirty Years in Hoover’s FBI, 1979 (pages 135-137)
53. William C. Sullivan, memo ‘King’ (December, 1963)
54. William F. Pepper, Orders to Kill, 1995 (pages 464)
56. Jeff Shesol, Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy and the Feud That Defined a Decade, 1997 (page 351)
57. Robert Kennedy, speech in the Senate (2nd March, 1967)
58. Robert Kennedy, interview with Tom Wicker, Face the Nation (26th November, 1967)
59. William F. Pepper, Orders to Kill, 1995 (pages 412-413)
60. Edwin O. Guthman, We Band of Brothers: A Memoir of Robert F. Kennedy, 1971 (page 326)
62. Robert Kennedy, speech, Washington (16th March, 1968)
63. Richard D. Mahoney, Sons & Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, 1999 (page 342)
64. Arthur Schlesinger, Robert Kennedy and His Times, 1980 (page 921)
65. William Turner, Rearview Mirror, 2001 (page 233)
66. William F. Pepper, Orders to Kill, 1995 (pages 11-16)
67. James W. Douglass, The King Conspiracy Exposed in Memphis, included in The Assassinations, 2003 (page 494-95)
68. William F. Pepper, Orders to Kill, 1995 (page 21)
70. Martin Luther King, speech at the Mason Temple, Memphis (3rd April, 1964)
72. James W. Douglass, The King Conspiracy Exposed in Memphis, included in The Assassinations, 2003 (page 495)
74. William C. Sullivan, The Bureau: My Thirty Years in Hoover’s FBI, 1979 (pages 145)
76. Senate Report, Military Surveillance of Civilian Politics, 1972 (page 21)
77. William F. Pepper, An Act of State: The Execution of Martin Luther King, 2003 (page 205-06)
78. Senate Report, Military Surveillance of Civilian Politics, 1972 (page 111)
79. Robert F. Kennedy, speech in Indianapolis (4th April, 1968)
80. Robert F. Kennedy, speech at the Indiana University Medical Center (26th April, 1968)
82. Robert Blair Kaiser, RFK Must Die! A History of the Robert Kennedy Association and Its Aftermath, 1970 (page 469)
83. Jean Stein and George Plimpton, American Journey: The Times of Robert Kennedy, 1970 (page 334)
84. Lisa Pease, Sirhan Says “I Am Innocent”, included in The Assassinations, 2003 (page 535)
85. Robert F. Kennedy, speech at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles (4th June, 1968)
86. William Turner and Jonn Christian, The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: The Conspiracy and Coverup, 1993 (page 162)
87. Dan Moldea, Regardie’s Magazine, June, 1987
88. Dan E. Moldea, The Killing of Robert F. Kennedy, 1995 (page 146)
89. Karl Uecker, written statement given to Allard K. Lowenstein in Dusseldorf, Germany (20th February, 1975)
92. Robert Blair Kaiser, RFK Must Die, 1970 (page 25)
95. William Klaber and Philip H. Melanson, Shadow Play: The Untold Story of the Robert F. Kennedy Assassination, 1997 (page 132)
98. Dave Smith, Los Angeles Times (16th August, 1971)
100. William Turner and Jonn Christian, The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: The Conspiracy and Coverup, 1993 (page xxxiii)
101. Richard N. Goodwin, Book Week (23rd July, 1966)
102. New York Times (24th July, 1966)
103. Richard N. Goodwin, Remembering America: A Voice from the Sixties, 1988 (page 543)
104. Ted Shackley, Spymaster: My Life in the CIA, 2005 (pages 233-234)
105. David Corn, Blond Ghost: Ted Shackley and the CIA Crusades, 1994 (page 194)
106. Edith Holleman and Andrew Love, Inside the Shadow Government, 1988 (page 13)
107. Fred Branfman, South Vietnam’s Police and Prison System, included in Uncloaking the CIA, edited by Howard Frazier, 1978 (page 113)
108. House Committee on Government Operations, 1971 (page 321)
109. Republic of Vietnam, Ministry of Information, Vietnam 1967-71: Towards Peace and Prosperity, 1971 (page 52)
111. Alfred W. McCoy, A Question of Torture, 2006 (page 67)
112. Fred Branfman, South Vietnam’s Police and Prison System, 1978 (page 114)
http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index ... topic=5799
by sunny » Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:11 pm
Cesar was almost certainly the shooter.
William C. Sullivan
by MinM » Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:21 pm
http://www.rigorousintuition.ca/board2/viewtopic.php?p=398804#p398804
Pottersville wrote: FBI Agents who knew a great deal about JFK's assassination/coup, and were scheduled to testify before the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1977:
William Sullivan, third in command at FBI, died in "hunting accident"
Louis Nicholas, special assistant to J. Edgar Hoover and Hoover's liaison with the Warren Commission;
Alan H. Belmont, special assistant to Hoover;
James Cadigan, document expert with access to documents that related to death of John F. Kennedy;
J. M. English, former head of FBI Forensic Sciences Laboratory where Oswald's rifle and pistol were tested;
Donald Kaylor, FBI fingerprint chemist who examined prints found at the assassination scene.
Hale Boggs, Warren Commission member who did not agree with the findings, died in small plane "crash"
John Lennon who, as his son Sean said in New Yorker magazine, was a “counter-cultural revolutionary” who the American government could not ignore. He said: “He was dangerous to the government. If he had said, ‘Bomb the White House tomorrow’, there would have been 10,000 people who would have done it. These pacifist revolutionaries are historically killed by the government. Anybody who thinks that Mark Chapman (who shot Lennon outside his New York apartment in 1980) was just some crazy guy who killed my dad for his personal interests, is insane. Or very naive. Or hasn’t thought about it clearly. It was in the best interests of the United States to have my dad killed. Definitely. And, you know, that worked against them because, once he died, his powers grew . . . They didn’t get what they wanted.”
Bob Marley, definite political assassination (by "cancer") who survived one previous assassination attempt when gunmen invaded his home and shot everyone
^^^Edited to add links to podcasts and other relevant articles^^^
rigorousintuition.ca :: I Have a DreamWorks
Clint Eastwood’s Dishonest ‘J. Edgar’ | Consortiumnews
Much of the controversy around Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar has swirled around screenwriter Lance Black’s depiction of the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover as a closeted gay man, since Black is a gay writer-director and most of his previous projects featured gay themes.
But even more important in any critical analysis of the movie is Eastwood’s work as director. Because that informs us about why the American film business has come to a point when a mediocre, compromised and dishonest production like this much ballyhooed film gets praised for “being candid” about one of the worst Americans of the 20th Century...
Director of Domestic Intelligence William Sullivan was the only man in the executive offices who ever stood up to Hoover. About a year or two before Hoover died, Sullivan wrote a series of memos criticizing Hoover’s performance as Director on issues like his gross exaggeration of the Communist threat inside the USA, his failure to hire African-American agents, and his failure to enforce civil rights laws. Sullivan also had tired of Hoover’s blackmail surveillance on presidents and began to think the Director was not of sound mind. [Summers, pgs. 397-99]
This culminated in a meeting in Hoover’s office where Sullivan said Hoover should retire. Hoover refused, and it was Sullivan who was forced out of the Bureau. Sullivan later testified before the Church Committee and gave Congress much inside information about Hoover’s illegal operations.
Sullivan once told columnist Robert Novak that if one day he would read about his death in some kind of accident, Novak should not believe it; it would be murder.
In 1977, during the re-investigations of the killings of John Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Sullivan died in New Hampshire as he was meeting with friends to go deer hunting. Another hunter, with a telescopic sight, mistook Sullivan for a deer and killed him with his rifle.
The book that Sullivan was working on about his 30 years in the FBI was then posthumously published, but reportedly in much expurgated form. He was one of six current or former FBI officials who died in a six-month period in 1977, the season of inquiry into FBI dirty deeds and FBI cover-ups of political assassinations.
If this film had ended with the Sullivan-Hoover feud, it would have told us something about both America and about Hoover. But it would have been dark and truthful. Evidently, Black and Eastwood were not interested in that.
Black’s agenda is pretty clear. Why Eastwood went along with this pastel-colored romance about a man who was a blackmailing monster is difficult to understand. But it proves again, as Pauline Kael explained decades ago, why Clint Eastwood is no artist. Artists don’t compromise. And they don’t falsify.
http://consortiumnews.com/2011/11/30/cl ... t-j-edgar/
http://www.blackopradio.com/pod/black554a.mp3
Prosecution concedes there were 2 guns
by MinM » Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:16 am
Major New Development in RFK case
Buried a few paragraphs into the story is this little gem, "Harris, who is asking a federal court in Los Angeles to dismiss Sirhan's request, conceded in court papers filed Wednesday that his lawyers may be able to show two guns were involved in Kennedy's assassination." Wow...
http://justiceforkennedy.blogspot.com/2 ... -case.html
by harry ashburn » Mon Dec 31, 2012 2:43 pm
re; where is thane eugene cesar? Last I heard he was alive, living in the Philipines
A skeleton walks into a bar. Orders a beer, and a mop. -anon
harry ashburn
by MinM » Thu Jun 05, 2014 11:28 am
harry ashburn » Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:43 pm wrote: re; where is thane eugene cesar? Last I heard he was alive, living in the Philipines
Guests: William Pepper / Lisa Pease
Topics: Sirhan Sirhan / RFK assassination research
Play Lisa Pease (1:42:41) Real Media orMP3 download
Len explains why he sent Lisa a dozen red roses...
People have different theories, McAdams attacks other people
Expect a slew of disinformation on the RFK case as we approach 2018
Sandy Serrano, a young man in a gold sweater, the girl in the polka-dot dress
This case from the start was a cover up
Lisa read Plausible Denial (Lane 1991) and On The Trail Of The Assassins (Garrison 1988)
She volunteered to work on a Jerry Brown election campaign
She got involved FAIR - Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
Pay attention to the bylines, different prejudices and agendas
Lisa'a very first internet search was "JFK Assassination"
She found a group McAdams was ruling over, a five year argument
He would lie to shut down talk of conspiracy
CIA needs to shut down any investigation into conspiracy
TIME was invited to attend and review the Wecht conference
Their main story was about one of the attendees
Lisa found the LAPD RFK assassination investigation microfilms
She started reading witness interviews
The real story has not been told yet, Lisa has amazing new things
Our system is incredibly corrupt, they all protect each other's crimes
Drone assassinations, a horribly wrong turn morally
9/11 Memorial Museum opening, a journalist escorted out for asking a question
Robert Kennedy really wanted to make the world a better place
In a five year period we lost JFK, Malcom X, MLK, and RFK
All Presidents have been cowed, there's a pattern here
Read Reclaiming Parkland (DiEugenio 2013) and Operation Hollywood (Robb 2004)
CIA, used loosely, killed both JFK and RFK, Allen Dulles seems very much a part
Lisa read The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (Turner/Christian 1978)
Lisa met Lynn Mangan, Sirhan's Researcher, the bullets had been switched
Noguchi wrote "TN 31" on the base of the bullet removed from RFK's neck
Photos of bullet holes in the pantry door frame
Thane Eugene Cesar was standing in exactly the right position
Lisa believes he lives in Simi Valley in a very nice house
John Meier , Hoover on the RFK case, "That was a Maheu operation"
Hoover was opposed to the creation of CIA
CIA and the mob had blackmail information on Hoover
Gordon Novel was hired by Garrison to de-bug his office
Gordon himself bugged the office, and he doctored the tapes
Michael Wayne looked like Sirhan, he ran out of the pantry
Sirhan had no memory of or explanation for the crime
He was highly susceptible to hypnosis, reality that is not true
He was in the company of a girl in a polka-dot dress and a guy in a gold sweater
Sirhan remembered shooting at targets, not at Kennedy
There are impossibilities that cannot be explained by the official story
The Dulles brothers ran American foreign policy
Eisenhower's farewell speech is a bit hypocritical
CIA was trying to kill Castro, and not even telling the President
Be suspicious, but look for facts, deal with the facts that you find
We have to call for justice, empower people with information
The good guys are generally in the minority
The world can be and is already a better place, we've made a lot of progress
http://www.blackopradio.com/archives2014.html
Meanwhile TEC apologist Dan Moldea is weighing in this morning...
@DanMoldea: "Sirhan did it, and he did it alone." Dan Moldea, the author of "The Killing of Robert F. Kennedy," in 1995 on KNBC:
https://twitter.com/DanMoldea/status/474567925718720512
MinM » Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:54 pm wrote:
@Zap2it: J.J. Abrams wants rights to Stephen King's '11/22/63'; 'Zero Hour' and 'Do No Harm' get… http://goo.gl/fb/wabZK
https://twitter.com/Zap2it/status/329006754488799232
IanEye wrote: This is on the heels of Stephen King's latest novel "11/22/63" , which also espouses the lone gunman meme.
It is starting to annoy me.
So, I figured I would start a thread to keep track of these mentions in any of the various media I take in, and see if this trend snowballs as we approach the 50th anniversary of the events in Dallas.
I did end up reading that King book by the way, it is awful. Even the parts that mainly deal with the concept of time travel suck.
This is interesting to me because lately my facebook page is riddled with my friends comments thanking Mr. King for making statements against Mitt Romney. So, King is seen as a hero to the Left, even as he spreads the lone gunman meme.
Perhaps that fits in with 8bit's "Why Is It Right Wing To Think The Media is Brainwashing?" thread.
Perhaps not.
It might be interesting to those who have no intention of reading the novel to see who King thanks first for their "useful source-materials" :
"Useful source-materials"? It would be tempting to label these guys with the Orwellian term "Useful Idiots", but it obviously goes beyond that. Before he was exposed as a plagiarist, Gerald Posner inadvertently revealed his CIA-ties. As for those others...
In that Education Forum link there also happens to be a debate about the merits of NY Times book review of Dan Moldea's book by Gerald Posner:
Ron Ecker wrote: Posted Yesterday, 07:36 PM
http://www.moldea.com/RFKReviews.html
Impressive! Includes excerpt from a New York Times Book Review by Gerald Posner. Leave it to the NYT to choose Posner to write a review of a Kennedy assassination book. These people are beyond any decent description.
Actually, as I recall, Moldea's book did a good job of proving a conspiracy, then on the last page he strangely concludes that Sirhan did it alone. I wonder if someone had a gun to his head as he wrapped up his manuscript.
http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index ... ntry251248
Of course the evidence suggests that Moldea was blackmailed into concluding that Sirhan acted alone:
http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2007/08/ ... trust.html
I know from a first-hand source -- whom I will name, if legally pressed -- that Dan Moldea had privately complained that the major publishers had "blackballed" him after he wrote a book called Interference: How Organized Crime Influences Professional Football. The blackballing stopped the moment he agreed to write a book about the Robert F. Kennedy assassination pushing the "lone nut" hypothesis...
Much the same way Norman Mailer was blackmailed into supporting the lone nutters...
Jim DiEugenio wrote: Posted 31 January 2011 - 03:26 AM
In 1973, Mailer published a book, Marilyn, (really a photo essay) with the assistance of longtime FBI asset on the Kennedy assassination Larry Schiller. He recirculated the tale again, inserting a new twist. He added the possibility that the FBI and/or the CIA might have been involved in the murder in order to blackmail Bobby ( p. 242). In 1973, pre-Rupert Murdoch, the media had some standards. Mailer was excoriated for his baseless ruminations. In private, he admitted he did what he did to help pay off a tax debt. He also made a similar confession in public. When Mike Wallace asked him on 60 Minutes (7/13/73) why he had to trash Bobby Kennedy, Mailer replied “I needed money very badly.” ...
Who knows what Stephen King's excuse was?
Hugh Manatee Wins wrote: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKpaineM.htm
Jim Garrison later suggested that Ruth Paine might have been involved in setting Oswald up as the "patsy". Garrison points out that Paine's father " had been employed by the Agency for International Development, regarded by many as a source of cover for the C.I.A. Her brother-in-law was employed by the same agency in the Washington, D.C. area." He also claims that he had tried to "examine the income tax returns of Ruth and Michael Paine, but I was told that they had been classified as secret.... What was so special about this particular family that made the federal government so protective of it?"
In 2002 Thomas Mallon wrote a book about Ruth Paine's involvement in the case, Mrs. Paine's Garage and the Murder of John F. Kennedy. Unlike Jim Garrison Mallon took the view that Paine was completely innocent of any involvement in the Kennedy assassination conspiracy.
Ruth Paine is currently working for a Nicaraguan relief group in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Nicaraguan 'relief group?' Funny. That's the kind of cover that Oliver North's fronts used to help with the Reagan Wars in Central America...
One decade after his literary attempt to mitigate Ruth Paine's role in the JFK assassination. Thomas Mallon is back to reinforce the Bob Woodward - Carl Bernstein - Seymour Hersh myth that is "Watergate".
Mallon has been all over NPR the last few days to reindoctrinate the unwashed masses:
'Watergate' Revisited: Inside The Criminal Minds
This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Psymon.
Almost any scandal in the world these days is described as a something-gate. The phrase dates back to the summer of 1972, when five men were arrested in the middle of the night during a break-in at Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C.
The subsequent scandal brought down Richard Nixon's administration, made him one of the most notorious men in American history. Anytime someone observes: what did they know, and when did they know it; it's not the crime, it's the cover-up; follow the money, or third-rate burglary, it's a Watergate reference - whether they know it or not.
The Watergate crime and scandal have been exhaustively documented. But now, a great historical novelist has run it through his imagination. Thomas Mallon's new book is called "Watergate: A Novel." Tom Mallon joins us in our studios.
Thanks for being with us.
THOMAS MALLON: Thanks for having me.
SIMON: With so much on the record, what's left to be imagined by a novelist?
MALLON: Mostly how it felt, I think. I thought if you were going to do this as a novel, you had to get inside the people who were there. And so, I tried to tell the story from essentially seven different points of view and see what it felt like. And I avoid most of the big events that people - they certainly occur. But I don't tell the story the way you would tell it in nonfiction. I tell it more as a series of private dramas and try to give certain intimacy.
SIMON: As you will learn on tour, there are Watergate buffs...
MALLON: Oh, yes.
(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)
SIMON: ...like there are Civil War buffs and jazz buffs who will catch you on the smallest bit of misinformation, or imagined information. How important was historical accuracy to you?
MALLON: I refer in the acknowledgements of the book to the always sliding scale of historical fiction. And I think you really have to make these decisions book-by-book and almost scene-by-scene. I don't violate any of the big historical moments, dates. You know, Richard Nixon still resigns at the end of this book.
(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)...
http://www.npr.org/2012/02/25/147262946 ... inal-minds
http://www.npr.org/2012/02/23/147063867 ... rnate-take
Thanks for the heads-up on this phenomenon, IanEye.
by MinM » Sat Dec 30, 2017 10:42 pm
Nathaniel Heidenheim @DoItForMaMa Dec 28
Gee.. can't imagine why this 1994 A &E documentary on the Assassination of RFK and CIA involvement was shown only once...
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Category Archives: Nsenga people
Zambia: Chief Ndake calls for urgent meeting following killing of male albino
Posted on November 14, 2019 by Dr. F.P.M. van der Kraaij
This is the second murder within a short period of time.
It is being alleged that Eastern Province has so far recorded the highest number of ritualistic murder cases (….). Zambia Albino Foundation president John Chiti stated that he suspects the province is recording a lot of cases because of the border with Malawi. “Something could be going on regarding the selling of body parts from one country to the other,” he said.
Maybe he’s right. However, it is common to blame foreigners when crimes are committed whereas the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, attacks on people with albinism, mutilating or murdering them for muti purposes, are often Zambians (webmaster FVDK).
By: Christopher Mtii
CHIEF Ndake of the Nsenga people in Nyimba district has called for an urgent meeting with his indunas and village headmen following the brutal killing of an albino man last Thursday.
And Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo has called on the government to come up with strong intervention with traditional doctors to dispel the myth that albino body parts can bring immediate success in terms of wealth.
Meanwhile, Zambia Albino Foundation president John Chiti has expressed concern at the increase in albino killings in Eastern Province.
Gift Tembo, 39 of Abraham village, was murdered by unknown people around 01:00 hours on October 31.
Eastern Province deputy police commissioner Geoffrey Kunda confirmed the incident, saying Tembo’s throat was cut and his body dumped few metres from his house.
Commenting on the matter, chief Ndake said there was need for the local community to find ways of protecting people living with albinism.
“This is very devastating to me and the entire chiefdom. I will soon call for an urgent meeting with village head persons and indunas so that we find ways on how we can protect people living with albinism. If they are targeted like this then there is need for us as a community to find ways on how we can protect them,” he said.
Chief Ndake appealed to people to be on the lookout for those who were killing albinos.
“Those who have tips regarding the people who are killing albinos should come forward and report because it will not help us to hide these people. We don’t know what government can do so that we assist these people because it’s like albinos are on wanted list,” he said.
Ndake said Tembo was put to rest on Sunday.
“This is a very sad story. This young man who was staying alone struggled with his attackers. When the family members heard the deceased screaming, they went to check. They found that the attackers had carried the deceased and were running away with him,” he said.
“So when the relatives gave chase, the attackers dumped the body and ran away. Upon checking the body, the family members discovered that the deceased had been stabbed with a knife and his throat was cut off. This is sad and up to now we are deeply shocked because this is the second incident to have happened in the area within a short period of time,” he said.
Chief Ndake described the killing as cold blooded and unfortunate.
He said during Tembo’s funeral on Sunday, he pleaded with people to work together and end such killings.
Commenting on the incident, Bishop Mchombo said Tembo’s killing was unfortunate.
“This is very unfortunate. I think this has to do with the ritual killing where people believe that parts of an albino can bring them immediate success in terms of wealth, which is a myth. It’s not true,” he said.
“I think the sooner that is addressed, the better especially if government can bring about strong interventions with traditional doctors. This is where the whole thing come from because that’s what people are told, that when you do such a thing then you will be a rich person.”
Bishop Mchombo also called for more sensitisation on albinos.
“These are human beings and should be appreciated as they are. It’s just a deficient of some scientific proven attributes that make them the way they look but in terms of humanity they are as good as anybody else and they should be left alone and do what they want,” he said. “My advice is that let there be serious interventions from government and if people are found in such situations, the perpetrators of such heinous crimes let there be rules that will deter other people from committing similar crimes.”
Bishop Mchombo said the church and other stakeholders should ensure that they bring about awareness on matters relating to albinos who were also created in the image of God.
And Chiti said his foundation would contact Tembo’s family to see the kind of support it could provide.
“It is always a sad moment when we hear such news, we are saddened by the loss. What we are trying to do is to get in touch with the family and see what kind of support and anything else that can be done. We strongly condemn such killings. We just appeal to the relevant authorities to make sure that the culprits are brought to book,” he said.
Chiti also advised families with albinos to be careful because their lives were at risk.
“Eastern Province has so far recorded the highest number of cases, so it is a source of concern to us. We suspect the province is recording a lot of cases because of the border with Malawi. Something could be going on regarding the selling of body parts from one country to the other,” said Chiti.
Police have since arrested several people in connection with Tembo’s murder.
Source: Chief Ndake calls for urgent meeting following killing of male albino
Posted in 2019, Albinism, albino, Eastern Province, FVDK, indunas, muti, Nsenga people, Nyimba district, traditional doctors, Zambia
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JOE KYE, Portland, Oregon, USA
Years in education: 4
Korean American immigrant
Former high school English, Comparative Religion, and Race & Ethnicity teacher
Q: What did you have in common with your students?
A: I'll start with what I did not have in common: wealth. I was the son of poor immigrants, and while I had some educational privilege vis a vis my father, who was a grad student at the University of Washington, we struggled to pay our rent, rarely went out to eat, and exclusively shopped the clearance rack at the Gap. So when I started teaching high school English at the Overlake School, a private school in the heart of Microsoft Country, it was hard to ignore the the luxury brands, top-flight tech gizmos, and general (mis)understanding that success was wholly earned, not inherited. Accompanying any such bastion of pooled resource, of course, was racial homogeneity, and the subtler microagressions and self-inflating savior complexes that serve as an undercurrent to interactions with the Other.
And yet as I spent more time there, getting to know my students more personably, I began to witness the suffering that unites us all. Sure, one of my homeroom students' families collected Ferraris, but what was there to enjoy when dad was moving across the country after a nasty divorce and brother had left for college, the family splintered and dispersed? And while I, with greater access to the American Dream than my parents, felt burdened with the need to achieve status and monetary success, validating my parents' sacrifice, these students were in a pressure cooker of their own, surrounded by competitive, wealthy, high-achieving parents who expected their kids to attend an Ivy League school, then go on to realize their obvious genius in realms of business, law, tech, or science.
It was this realization, that our worldview as children, no matter where you come from, is limited by that of our parents and our surrounding community, that I began to accept their social blindspots as the target of my mission as an educator, not as evidence of willful negligence rendering them undeserving of my energy or care. I had to overcome my own biases and insecurities regarding class in order to be a more complete educator. Sure, it tested my patience when a student dismissively asked in reference to reservation-bound Native Americans, "Why don't they just leave?", but when I considered the students' lives--family vacations on Kauai, a car for almost every sixteen-year-old, an out-of-state liberal arts college expected, they needed nothing more than to ask that question, and for me to reply as best I could with the reality of our time.
Despite the homogenous environment, there were a handful of students that more readily shared my life experience: students of color, and students receiving financial assistance, although the latter were less visible. Most of the former were of East and South Asian descent, so I think it was especially affirming to see someone that looked like them bucking stereotypes in tech country: in his twenties, teaching Literature in a department full of middle-aged white women; coaching sports; singing with the high school choir during free periods; hackey-sacking with the skater kids during lunch; leading a singing-songwriting workshop during project week; and eventually, leaving behind a stable career in education to pursue a life as a independent musician.
One student, a reserved Asian-American boy whom I also coached, made sure to pull me aside before I left the school in 2013. He thanked me for coming to Overlake, and told me that having me around was immensely helpful for his confidence, and helped stabilize his sense of identity.
A: People who don’t understand that representation matters—especially during childhood, when students are constantly assessing any social limits to self-actualization —are usually those who saw themselves reflected everywhere, from CEO to lovable chimney sweep, rock n roll star to geneticist, pro athlete to high school teacher.
It is essential that students have teachers that reflect their identity, be it race, gender, sexual orientation, or interests. Students who feel underrepresented in their school setting will feel further alienated if there are no adult educators that can instill confidence, affirm their individuality, and remind them that, despite social labeling, you alone will construct your identity.
This isn’t to say the only effective educators are those that look and think like you. It’s important to have opposing philosophies and a diverse array of ideas and identities—often it’s the search for commonality that can lead to a great teacher-student relationship. But as things stand now in both public and private school sectors, there are few teachers of color, let alone those given the social and financial resources to affect true change within school settings. We need to be recruiting, training, hiring, and retaining underrepresented teachers, and aggressively correcting systematic barriers that stand in the way.
Joe is a violinist-looper, singer, rapper, and storyteller who weaves his experiences as a Korean-American immigrant and high school teacher throughout his innovative performances. He has opened for world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, rapper Warren G, and Senator Bearnie Sanders. ROLL CALL founder Kristin Leong interviewed Joe about the joy and heartache of being a bicultural artist for KUOW Public Radio. Get a behind-the-scenes look into their conversation and listen to the 8 minute audio feature here. Learn more about Joe and stay up to date on his latest tour schedule at joekye.com.
Photos (c) 2019 Kristin Leong
ROLL CALL founder and KUOW Public Radio producer Kristin Leong with Joe Kye in the recording studio at KUOW in Seattle, January 2019. Listen to the audio feature Kristin produced about Joe here.
JOSEFINO RIVERA, Sofia, Bulgaria
Years in Education: 11--15
Upper Secondary English Teacher
Q: What do you have in common with your students?
A: This is my eleventh year teaching, and in these eleven years I've taught in Mountain View, CA; Rome, Italy; Bonn, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and now Sofia, Bulgaria. I share this because the cultural contexts of the places I have lived and the make up of the student body of each of the schools have been incredibly diverse.
In California, the public high school had over 2,000 students from grades 9-12. Students were predominantly White and Asian with a smaller Latino population and even smaller Black population. There was a large achievement gap that was largely divided by race.
All the international schools I've worked at have had an average of 800 students from pre-K to grade 12. On average, 20% tended to be American, another 20% host country nationals, and the other 60% of students were a mix from over 40 nationalities. Over 60% of our students are non-native English speakers. Accents and linguistic mistakes are never made fun of.
However, apart from a small percentage of scholarship students, most students and their families were wealthy enough to afford a ~$20,000/year education. For embassy children, their country's taxes usually paid for that. Many companies also paid for students' tuition as part of the relocation package.
Depending on the context, I've had different similarities with my students. In California, the strongest commonalities were with other students who were immigrants or first generation making sense of a bicultural world - for me it was Filipino values and traditions inside my home and white America outside of it. I connected with the students that were assimilating to become white American, inadvertently assuming that American was better and even growing shame for my ancestral roots.
Internationally, the term "third culture kid" is used quite often: the first culture being the culture the students' parents are from, the second is the current country they live in, and the third is the amalgamation of the two. This phenomenon is what we have in common - guests in a new world never fully connected with our home country or the one we live in.
However, regardless of these varying cultural contexts I've lived in, one thing I have in common with some of my students wherever I am is my sexuality. As a gay man, I connect with my students that are either in the closet or are out and proud. We share a common thirst for safe spaces, constantly having our feelers out to ensure we have be ourselves otherwise passing for straight when we cannot. Living as an expat compounds the complexity of this as each culture has different laws and norms for the gay community.
A: Yes and no. Commonality has this powerful ability to build relationships.
When I find out a student speaks Spanish or German or Italian, for example, I speak to them in that language to make that linguistic connection and share our cultural experiences.
Ironically, commonality also as the power to create xenophobia. Too often, students from the same country will only hang out with each other because of the comfort in their similarities but also then to build negative stereotypes of other groups.
Teachers are guilty, too, of having an affinity for students that we have things in common with sometimes letting those that we don't connect with slip through the cracks.
Josefino is a TED-Ed Innovative Educator. Follow him on Twitter @josefinor and read about his expat adventures as a teacher abroad on Medium @josefinor.
ZAKI BARAK HAMID, Everett, Washington, USA
Years in Education: 4-6
Film and Mass Media Community College Instructor
A: I am a product of the community college system. I emigrated to the US in 1994, and ended up in upstate NY. I was 19, nervous about being in a new country, and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
Community college was instrumental in my life. It introduced me to many academic fields that interested me (and some that didn’t). I enjoyed philosophy, and sociology. But it was theatre that won my heart and soul. It was theatre, and the teachers who taught it, that made me believe in myself, and pushed me toward success.
It is a rare occurrence when I get a student in my class who’s from the Middle East, so I don’t usually have any ethnic similarities with my students. But I have so much in common with my students.
Some of them are international students, and I recognize their difficulty in navigating a system they might be unfamiliar with, a culture that may seem alien, or a language that they haven’t quite mastered yet.
Some of my students don’t know what path they want to take in life, and may lack the confidence it takes to be successful. I know that feeling, and lived through many uncertain times in my life where I doubted myself. I’ve failed again and again on my way to success.
Some of my students go through these times of self-doubt. I know what that feels like. I had a full time job while going to college, and I took out student loans. It was difficult to make ends meet, and pay for college at the same time.
Some of my students are juggling college work, full time jobs, and kids. I know what that feels like as well. I’ve lived it.
I also share a love of culture with my students. Listening to music, (event though we may listen to very different things), watching films, playing video games, watching sports, reading books, and listening to podcasts.
There is so much that I have in common with my students. Community college is a wonderfully diverse arena that brings people from all walks of life together. It is a manifestation of what America looks like. If we listen hard enough, the similarities are deafening.
A: This question gives me pause. Because we all have things in common with our students and teachers. The question is how much are we willing to look for them?
It’s important for a student to see part of themselves in their teacher. It strengthens the personal bonds, and make it easier to succeed.
The best teachers I remember where the ones who truly cared. I had a teacher in grad school who took the time to read Thomas Friedman’s “From Beirut to Jerusalem” in order to understand my background, and what I and my family may have gone through before arriving in the US. That meant the world to me, and made me want to work harder. Because I knew that she cared. She showed me that even though we come from very different backgrounds, we both shared a sense of curiosity, empathy, and that longing for human connection.
A racial similarity with my students is an easy one to find. But I like to look for other similarities. And once I find them, learning and teaching become more enjoyable, and more meaningful.
In addition to being a teacher at Everett Community College, Zaki is also Humanities Washington's Program Director where he oversees the Think & Drink and Speakers Bureau programs which are held across the state in partnership with libraries, museums, schools, historical societies, bars and wineries, and more. Connect with Zaki on Twitter @ZakiSeapod and find his Humanities Washington events at Humanities.org.
Dr. Abe, Seattle, Washington, USA
Years in Education: 20+
Former K-12 Teacher
Current Hip Hop, Sports Culture, and Intercultural Communications Professor
A: One commonality I share with my students is the relationship of learning that flows freely between us.
The student-teacher dynamic is sometimes viewed through a didactic, one-way lens which suggests classroom learning runs in a single direction: from teacher to student.
As someone who has literally taught all levels from kindergarten to graduate school over the course of 25 years in the field, I can say without hesitation that I’ve learned far more from those students than they could have ever learned from me.
Being a black male kindergarten teacher in the 1990s, I may have seemed like a unicorn to public schools, but at Zion Preparatory Academy I was just one of a number of African American men working in K-5 classrooms. Lessons from both the personal and pedagogic relationships with those 5 and 6 year-olds, which included the intentional building of “academic self-esteem,” have helped make me the teacher I am today.
Another thing we have in common is a desired outcome of success. While I have seen very few, if any, students who truly did not want to be successful, I have come across a number of teachers who, either by theory or practice, express expectations and a professional cynicism which amounts to removing the wings from an airplane then expecting it to fly.
The argument that these negative attitudes on the part of the teacher can be subconscious does not minimize the damage done, and in fact only emphasizes the need to practice rigorous and regular professional introspection. A genuine expectation of success, even if it is not achieved by all, still allows students to operate within a context of authentic teacher investment.
A: Yes, it does. The follow-up question is: What are those things? For example, much has been made about the relatively low numbers of teachers of color in the United States. However, I’ve seen firsthand that being a person of color is not an automatic qualifier to be an effective teacher for students of color. On the flip side, I have also witnessed proof that being white does not automatically disqualify one from effectively educating students of color. In all cases it is the educational professional’s responsibility to initiate and nurture ties with students, which then can provide the proper foundation for relationship scaffolding.
Daudi Abe is a Seattle-based professor, writer, and historian who has taught and written about culture, race, gender, education, communication, hip-hop, and sports for over 20 years. He has appeared on national media such as MSNBC and The Tavis Smiley Show. His forthcoming book is Emerald Street: A History of Hip-Hop in Seattle. Learn more about Dr. Abe at drdaudiabe.com.
DELENE, Berryville, Arkansas, USA
Years in Education: 7-10
6--12th Grade Gifted and Talented Teacher
A: Commonalities between me and my students:
--Diverse ethnicity
--Cultural customs
--Rural living
I myself am considered to be highly creative with some ADD tendencies and I am secondarly gifted in Math.
Gifted students are special people. They are highly intelligent, but not always across the board.
Gifted students often times do not learn or function well in the traditional classroom; their learning styles and tendencies tend to lend towards unconventional learning methods and more exploration and project-based experiential learning.
My relationship with my students is different than most teacher/student relationships because I spend a ton of time with the kids on projects, and on local and cross-country trips. These are experiences that the majority of students do not receive.
A: Yes, without commonality relationships are hard. Without relationships, community is difficult. And without community, we are isolated. It is my job as an educator to highlight those likenesses that bring us together, and to bring a sense of compassion for the diversity we encompass.
I always try to find commonality with my students because that helps build connections and relationships. A community must be connected to build a working relationship. That being said, diversity is a key element to our country and our world as a whole. We are a melting pot of varied backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures.
Delene is a TED-Ed Innovative Educator. She is designing curriculum to guide gifted students in self-discovery. Connect with her on Twitter @mccoy_delene.
STEPHANIE GALLARDO, Seattle, Washington, USA
Chilean and Xicanx
High School ELL and Social Studies Teacher
A: At Foster High School, nine out of ten students are students of color but only six teachers are people of color out of a staff of about 60-70 teachers.
The young people I work with come from over 51 countries and speak 44 languages. There is no single story or experience that can be identified as "typical" or "common" among our students because of the hyper-diverse context in which we learn and work. Our students are undocumented, they are refugees, they are DREAMERS, they are immigrants, they are Seattleites, they are Foster High School Bulldogs.
What I have in common with a vast majority of students is that I am a person of color. I am an educator of color. I have been, and will always consider myself a student of color since I spent 18 years of my life in public schools and institutions of higher education. My experience as a student of color has shaped the way I teach, learn and engage with young people, particularly in the way I mentor students of color.
As a kindergartner I was given my first taste of public school. At 6 years old, I recall loving learning. I felt so deeply cared for by my kindergarten teacher Ms. Coglin, at Bryant Elementary in Seattle Public Schools. I remember her warmth to this day.
Unfortunately, 18 years of public schooling did not always reflect the love and warmth I experienced in the early years. As I grew older, my experiences began to reflect the undeniably racialized world in which we lived. I began to notice my cultural and linguistic traditions in a way I never had before. I began to notice how "different" my family was compared to the white children and families that I attended school with, and how my cultural traditions and ways of being in the world did not easily align with how I was "supposed" to act in school settings.
My elders and my community taught me to speak with fire on my tongue and passion in my heart. They taught me to live graciously, but to push boundaries if they limited us. I was taught to share my gifts with my community, and to never think in terms of individual gain. I hold all of this in common with my students and so much more.
Q: Does it matter that students and teachers have things in common?
A: It absolutely matters that students and teachers have things in common! About 75% of the students in my classes are English Language Learners, many of whom speak Spanish. As a bilingual educator of color, I cannot deny the depth of connection I experience with my Spanish-speaking students. When I speak to my students in Spanish, there is an immediate level of mutual respect achieved. A shared language translates into a shared set of values. When students see their teacher speaking a shared home language, it helps them envision themselves as both learner and teacher. Schooling is no longer solely associated with a white, English-speaking, culturally irrelevant learning context, but a familiar, culturally diverse and engaged learning environment.
In addition to teaching, Stephanie is her school's Muslim Student Association Advisor, and she is a Teaching Fellow with the Institute for Teachers of Color Committed to Racial Justice. Connect with her on Twitter @MaestraXicana.
MAGGIE, Bintulu, Borneo, MALAYSIA
Years in Education: 16-20
English as a Second Language Teacher
A: When I'm teaching, I feel like I'm a robot/machine. I don't have time to have my break. I'm the disciplinary teacher, and there are times that I handle many truancy cases.
We have a crazy system in Malaysia. Every five years we have new Education Minister and this person introduces and implements new approaches. The victims are teachers and students because we become the guinea pigs.
Our schools are too exam-oriented and students do not have the choice to do or learn what they want. They come to school to pass the exams. Our education requires teachers to prepare students for examinations not to prepare them to face the reality once they leave school.
Only recently (last year) did our government encourage students to develop soft-skills at school so that when they exit, they are able to continue to develop their skills, not only by answering exam questions.
In my classrooms, I allow students to choose their own topic of interest and I let them share the topic with their peers. We talk about sharing and listening to each other's stories and how those stories impact their lives.
In class we talk about issues that are hardly being discussed in normal Malaysian classrooms such as LGBT issues, child marriage, sexual grooming, and our education system. From our classroom discussions, I can see that the students are actually keen to know the issues but it's not within the content of our syllabus.
Once one of my female students was having an identity crisis because she realized she was attracted to her female friends. She was afraid to share it with her parents. As a mother of two teenagers, I told her I respected her feelings and it's okay to have feelings towards the same gender. I know she was confused at that point. I'm not sure whether I did the right thing. That incident really made me realize that many parents never really talk to their kids. All they can think of is the grade, the kid's performance in a test. I guess my specialty is I'm very open towards my students.
LGBT issues is an alien topic in our Malaysian classrooms but I've taught about it about for the past two years. Most of LGBT students keep their identity to themselves as they would be teased/condemned if people were to find out. My community is not accepting but I want my students to know what is LGBT and I believe that each and every one of us has the equal rights to be who/what we want to be.
To instill awareness to the students is not easy as many of them have their own mindset (mostly negative thoughts) about LGBT people. I have a group of students who will be doing a project on LGBT issues and I'm super excited about it! I know that there are many students who want to share their thoughts but they do not know how or if they should. I want my students and my own kids to know we should treat people equally and never to judge them.
Regarding the students who opened up to me a few years ago, I never heard from her again. I wish more students would come forward and share their feelings.
A: YES, to me it matters for me to have similarities with my students. I need to understand them and with that similarity is essential. The classroom environment is not only about a teacher standing in front telling students what they should do. Willingness to listen is another thing a teacher should have in common with their students. Teacher should at least listen to their students.
Maggie is a TED-Ed Innovative Educator. Maggie’s TED-Ed Innovation Project is helping Malaysian students overcome their fears of speaking in English and is allowing them to share ideas at their own pace. Connect with her on Twitter @magdmuuk .
ALAN TAMAYOSE, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Technology Integration Teacher
A: Hawaiʻi is a very multi-ethnic place where there are no "minorities." My Asian ethnicity is common, and is in common with many of our students.
Having been raised here, I also have cultural commonalities and share common values with many of our students and families. I also believe that we share similar interests, pastimes, music, and even foods. The local culture here is a blend of many immigrant cultures that came to Hawaiʻi to work in the sugar plantations. It is beautiful and has a unique charm.
I teach at a school for Hawaiian children. Although they are part-Hawaiian, they are a majority of other ethnicities. Still, I thought it was important to learn the culture and language. I have grown a love and passion for the Hawaiian culture! It has given me insight, empathy, and a place in the ʻohana and community.
A: I believe that learning is very relational, and it is helpful when students can relate to a teacher or mentor. I believe that it is also important to have role models of similar race, economic status, and orientation. There is a hope and a power in making that kind of a connection. Because Hawaiʻi is such a tiny place, there's always been that "underdog" mentality. It is important to have local role models whom students can relate to.
I believe that transparency in the teaching/learning relationship (or in any relationship) is important. When students get to know you, something just might resonate and make all the difference in the world. When I was an elementary student a teacher would throw football with me during recess. That connection and relationship made a huge and lasting impact. The first time I brought my ukulele to class, I was finally able to connect with a student who often seemed disengaged.
And again, learning the culture(s) of your student population can lead to more connections and empathy. Sometimes even the use of a local slang can make an impact. "Shoots! All pau. Good job!" When you have things in common, you can start to break down barriers and build community.
Alan is a TED-Ed Innovative Educator. To find out how Alan is amplifying student voices in Hawaii through real-world community leadership follow him on Twitter @alantamayose.
SARASWATI NOEL, Seattle, Washington, USA
Years in Education: 4--6
Malaysian + White
Middle and High School Math Teacher
A: My students are all recent immigrants and refugees to the U.S. I share the fact that I am an immigrant with them but I moved here under different circumstances than them and at a much younger age so my transition was different.
I don't know what it is like to be Muslim in America but I know what it is like to be a womxn of color and someone who is committed to racial and social justice.
While I may not share everything the same with my students, I know that our oppressions are rooted in each other and their fight is my fight. Together in solidarity we find our strength.
A: Yes! Sharing common experiences leads to trust.
You do not need to have everything the same as your students, differences cause us to push one another to help each other grow, but seeing someone who you can find parts of your self in matter.
It is important that students see themselves as potential educators, or where ever their path may lead; and it is important for teachers to see themselves in their students, to have that empathy and understanding.
There is a reason that there are so few teachers of color and why students of color continue to be disenfranchised. My hope is through collectivity we can change that and truly be in solidarity.
Saraswati teaches at the Seattle World School, which serves primarily immigrant and refugee students. She is a Washington State Teacher Leader and in 2016 she won the Imagine Us Award for Bold and Visionary Leadership in Equity and Justice. Follow her on Twitter @saraswatinoel.
ANTHONY JOHNSON, Salisbury, North Carolina, USA
First in Family to Graduate From College
A: It’s rare to see a male teacher in an elementary classroom, and African-American men are even rarer. In my school of more than 60 employees, only five are male. I believe this has an impact on our male students – especially those without positive male role models in their homes.
But it also provides men like me with a unique opportunity to reach out to these students and inspire them to do great things both in the classroom and in the community. We have the power and responsibility to prevent an achievement gap before it begins.
While some kids dream of becoming a teacher as they grow up, I didn’t figure out my calling until I was in my 20s. As a student, I was every teacher’s worst nightmare. I was constantly in trouble and failed 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades before being forced out of school at the age of 16. It was December of my 2nd year in the 9th grade when the school counselor called me to the office to tell me it was best that I pursue a GED and learn a trade. I plead my case and asked for a second chance, but the decision was made, and my time as a student was over. Within a year, I received my G.E.D., and I spent the next decade bouncing from job to job and living paycheck to paycheck. In 1998, my mom passed away after a long bout with breast cancer, and I struggled with her loss for months. Just when things started to get better, my dad passed away as well.
Losing both parents within six months of each other was the toughest stretch in my life. I did a lot of self-reflecting and soul-searching during that period, and in the fall of 1999, I enrolled in Livingstone College to major in music with the mindset that I was going to make a difference. To fulfill my college community service requirements, I began volunteering at a local elementary school. Not much had changed since I was in school – students were given worksheets, the teacher sat at their desk, and students with behavior issues were allowed to sleep in class or were removed from the environment completely. I was disturbed by what I observed, and began volunteering and mentoring in that classroom. The next semester, I changed my major to elementary education. I received a full academic scholarship, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. in Elementary Education in 2003.
As a teacher, my main goal is to give my students a learning experience radically different from my own – which is exactly what I’m doing today. My classroom, better known as Johnsonville, really isn’t a classroom at all. It’s a collaborative community – a real-world simulation of adulthood where kids come to work and play as they learn about personal finance, government, and global affairs. In Johnsonville, there are no lectures. I integrate technology and problem-based learning to capture the attention of even the most disengaged students. Just like in the real world, my students show what they can do through projects, teamwork, and research. Is it working? North Carolina state testing shows that my problem-based learning model improves student scores. My students consistently score higher than other science classes in my district. At the end of the 2016 school year, my fifth-grade students scored an average of 85 percent on the state science exam, while my school as a whole scored 58 percent.
Anthony is the 2016-2017 Rowan-Salisbury Teacher of the Year and is a TED-Ed Innovative Educator. To follow the adventures in learning happening in his real-world simulation classroom, visit johnsonvillelearningnetwork.com and follow Anthony on Twitter @a_p_johnson.
Humanizing the gaps separating teachers and students.
1st To Graduate College
Post Secondary Teacher
Post-Secondary Teacher
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The Pursuit Of Justice Through Criminal Defense And Civil Rights Representation
We protect the rights of individuals charged with crimes and we fight for compensation for the wrongful conduct of police and prosecuting attorneys.
United States Supreme Court: The Gomez Case
Mr. Rudin has handled three cases decided on the merits in the United States Supreme Court, winning two of them and losing the third by a 5-4 vote. In Gomez v. United States, 490 U.S. 858 (1989), Mr. Rudin persuaded the Supreme Court to decide unanimously that federal courts across the country were violating federal law in permitting federal magistrates to conduct jury selection in felony trials in place of full-fledged federal district judges. Listen to the oral argument and read Mr. Rudin's brief. Two years later, in Peretz v. United States , 501 U.S. 923 (1991), Mr. Rudin nearly persuaded a majority of the judges to invalidate even more convictions where defense lawyers had consented to such a procedure. These are two of the leading Supreme Court decisions defining the jurisdiction and powers of federal magistrate judges to preside at federal criminal trials. In Rodriguez v. United States, 480 U.S. 522 (1987), Mr. Rudin's petition to the Supreme Court resulted in a per curiam decision reversing the ruling of the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on a sentencing issue.
New York Court Of Appeals: Six Criminal Reversals
Mr. Rudin and his office have won six victories in the highest court in New York state, the Court of Appeals. The first, People v. Beauchamp, 74 N.Y.2d 639 (1989), is a leading precedent prohibiting vague or "duplicitous" indictments in child sexual abuse cases that do not give adequate notice of the specific offense with which the defendant is charged. Two cases, People v. Colon, 13 N.Y.3d 343 (2009), and People v. Bond , 95 N.Y.2d 840 (2000), are important decisions reversing murder convictions because prosecutors relied on false testimony and withheld evidence favorable to the defense known as "Brady" material. In People v. Syville and Council , 15 N.Y.2d 391 (2010), Mr. Rudin's office established a criminal defendant's right to file a late notice of appeal where his lawyer was negligent in failing to do so. In People v. Taylor, 26 N.Y.3d 217 (2015), the office obtained the reversal of a murder conviction because of the trial judge's improper handling of a jury note. We also won a reversal of an attempted murder conviction in People v. Negron, 26 N.Y.3d 262 (2015), due to prosecutorial misconduct and defense attorney ineffectiveness.
The Alberto Ramos Case And 'The Bronx Five'
During the mid-1980s, a wave of hysteria swept the country about real or imagined sexual abuse of children at day care centers. When arrests occurred in the Bronx, the administration of then Mayor Edward I. Koch was thrown into an uproar and his Human Services Agency Commissioner was forced to resign. Five fully innocent defendants who went to trial were convicted and received from 25 to 90 years in prison. Mr. Rudin succeeded in overturning the convictions of four of them. All the cases were dismissed, and all the clients were freed. In the first case, involving Franklin Beauchamp, Mr. Rudin convinced the Court of Appeals to disallow a vague indictment that it was impossible to defend against. This led to three other cases being dismissed, two involving Mr. Rudin's other clients.
In the Alberto Ramos case, Mr. Rudin presented evidence at a hearing showing that the Bronx District Attorney's Office had illegally suppressed evidence at trial proving that the "crime" was made up and Mr. Ramos was completely innocent. Mr. Ramos was released after serving seven years in prison. The DA appealed, and Mr. Rudin won. See People v. Ramos, 201 A.D.2d 78 (1st Dept. 1994). Then, even though the individual prosecutor could not be sued because she had immunity, Mr. Rudin brought a groundbreaking civil rights lawsuit against New York City, alleging that the Bronx district attorney, on behalf of the city, had a policy of tolerating such misconduct and thereby encouraging it. When the city moved to dismiss the lawsuit and block discovery, Mr. Rudin won what is still the leading appellate decision in New York state holding that the city may be held liable for such misconduct and that it must provide prosecutors' personnel records showing whether or not they were disciplined. See Ramos v. City of New York , 285 A.D.2d 284 (1st Dept. 2001). Mr. Rudin settled the case in 2003 for $5 million — at the time the largest settlement ever in New York state for a wrongful conviction.
Since then, in similar lawsuits, Mr. Rudin, in 2017, won a total settlement of $15.45 million for William Vasquez, who had spent 30 years in prison on a false conviction for murder, obtained a $13 million settlement in 2014 after winning Jabbar Collins' release from prison in a federal habeas corpus action, $9 million in 2014 for Danny Colon and Anthony Ortiz after they were wrongfully convicted for murder, a $3.5 million settlement in federal court for another wrongfully convicted client, Shih-Wei Su, and, as co-counsel with another firm, obtained a federal settlement in the case of Sami Leka of $3.1 million.
The Detective Zahrey Federal Acquittal And Civil Lawsuit
Detective Zaher Zahrey had an excellent record as the first Palestinian detective in the New York City Police Department when he was the victim of a Police Department witch hunt following a highly publicized investigation into police corruption. Destroying all the government's key witnesses, Mr. Rudin, following a six-week federal criminal trial, won a complete acquittal on murder, narcotics and conspiracy charges in 10 minutes. He also won Mr. Zahrey's Police Department administrative trial. He then brought a controversial civil rights lawsuit on Det. Zahrey's behalf in federal court. In a landmark decision, the Federal Court of Appeals upheld Mr. Rudin's argument that Det. Zahrey could sue the prosecutors for manufacturing false evidence against him during the investigative phase of the case, even though, when actually using the evidence at trial, the same prosecutors had immunity from suit. See Zahrey v. Coffey , 221 F.3d 442 (2d Cir. 2000). After an eight-year battle, Mr. Rudin recovered a total of $2.25 million for Det. Zahrey in damages and attorney's fees. The judgment he recovered was not only against the city of New York but also the chief of the civil rights bureau of the Brooklyn DA's office, another supervisor who is now a county court judge in Nassau County, and two Internal Affairs detectives, one of whom is now the chief of detectives for the NYPD. This was one of the few personal judgments against prosecutors (who ordinarily have immunity) anywhere in the country.
Contact Law Offices of Joel B. Rudin, P.C.
Law Offices of Joel B. Rudin, P.C.
© 2020 by Law Offices of Joel B. Rudin, P.C. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map
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HomeMaharashtra
सार्वत्रिक कामगार संप
भविष्य आपलेच आहे!
पुन्हा एकदा भारतातील कष्टकरी वर्गाने, सार्वत्रिक संपाच्या माध्यमातून देशी-विदेशी भांडवलदारांच्या हितासाठी राबविल्या जाणार्या तथाकथित ’सुधारणांच्या’ विरोधात आपला एल्गार पुकारला आहे. भांडवलशाहीच्या आजवरच्या इतिहासात आणि आजही जगभर कामगार सार्वत्रिक संपांच्या माध्यातून या भांडवली व्यवस्थेविरुद्धचा आपला असंतोष व्यक्त करतात. सुरुवातीला हे संप कामगारांच्या आर्थिक मागण्यांशी संबंधित असले तरी ते एक प्रकारे ही अर्थव्यवस्था कामगारांच्या कष्टावरच चालते व ते ती थांबवूही शकतात या त्यांच्या ताकदीची जाणीवही करुन देतात. ते वर्ग संघर्षाचे गतिशील आयाम दाखवितात जे मुलभूत परिवर्तनासाठीच्या सातत्यपुर्ण संघर्षांच्या संचित प्रक्रियेतून सामाजिक आणि आर्थिक परिवर्तनाची क्रांती घडवू शकतात. read more
Security of security guards at stake at S.P. Pune University!
Pune University is one of the most prestigious universities in India. Around a year ago, it was renamed. The name of the legendary social reformer, Savitribai Phule, was added. Savitribai Phule, who sacrificed her whole life for uplifting of women, underprivileged and oppressed castes through education and radical social empowerment activities, but does the university administration really follow the path of Savirtibai Phule? read more
No to Purandar Airport- People vow to fight for every inch of land
Land acquisition for a new Pune airport is always a burning issue in the politics of Pune city. Since last six years, the government has tried to acquire land near Chkan village of Pune to build airport. But they have failed to do so.
Recently, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis declared that the proposal of airport is now shifted from Chakan village to Purandar district. According to this new proposal, land acquisition of nearly about 7 villages is required. Since then people of these villages have been protesting against this land acquisition. During Diwali festival, women from these villages had even used ‘rangolis’ in front of their houses as protest signs against the airport. They have put black flags on their houses and are very politically conscious as they know that they will not get any benefit from it. They are aware that their livelihood will be completely destroyed if their land is acquired. read more
Pune: Solidarity Protest Supporting Spanish Student’s Strike
A solidarity protest organized by New Socialist Alternative (Indian Section of Committee for a Workers’ International) at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune on 25th October in support of the Spanish Student’s Strike.
A protest rally was organized at SPPU in solidarity with Spanish Students’ Strike. First we distributed leaflets and appealed students to join the protest. In response around 50 students gathered. We began the rally by first singing the song “Shikshanachi zaliya daina, itha sarakari shala disana” (Education system is in shambles and now public schools are no more seen, being replaced by private ones). read more
Pune: Solidarity Protest against Institutional Murder of a Dalit Research Scholar
The suicide of Rohith Vemula, Hyderabad Central University (HCU) student has triggered a massive outrage across the country. Rohith was among the five Dalit research scholars who were suspended last year from the university. These students were also kept out of the hostel, library etc. Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Hyderabad Central University vice chancellor have been named in the FIR accused of playing a major role in the suspension of these students. The body of Rohit, found hanging in the university’s hostel room in the campus, was sent for post mortem amid protests by students on Monday. The protests have spread from Hyderabad to Delhi. Students from Delhi protested in front of the education ministry. read more
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Phil Mitchinson
With the increase in strikes in New Zealand we republish this article on the State by the late Phil Mitchinson.
Standing between the working class and the socialist transformation of society is a colossal state machine. Where did it come from? What purpose does it serve? can it be reformed, or must it be done away with altogether? What should replace it, indeed should it be replaced at all? In the first place what is "it"?
In their writings on the state, Marx and Engels set themselves the task of demystifying it, of conquering the idea that the state is some kind of eternal being, in order to strip away the magical shroud in which capitalism has cloaked it.
Today the bosses dress up their attacks on workers rights, the right to strike etc., in the name of the Law with a capital “L”, or Democracy with a capital “D”. When the police and the government defend the “right” of a scab to break a strike, they do it in the name of his “democratic right to work”. When a million and one obstacles are placed in the path of workers taking action, it is in the name of legality. When huge sums were confiscated from the printers and the miners, it was all dressed up as obedience to the Law. As if the law or democracy, the courts or the police, are all independent entities removed from the issues and conflicts involved.
Surely, they say, the Law is a set of fair rules which everyone must obey. In reality we all know there is one law for the rich and another for the rest of us.
In the crudest way, with judges dressing up in wigs and robes (and isn’t it the same in Parliament) they perform absurd rituals to draw a mystical veil over their real purpose.
By dressing up in costumes, spouting a few Latin phrases and calling it the law, the ruling class believe we will all stand in awe, fearing to break the natural order of things, God’s word or some such mystical nonsense. Yet the law wasn’t written in heaven it was written on earth and to serve a purpose. In whose interest is it to limit the number of pickets allowed at a factory gate, or to deny workers the right to join a union as at UK's GCHQ, to make it illegal for whole sections of workers to go on strike, or to rewrite laws which previously gave workers at least some health and safety protection.
The law isn’t a system of “fair rules”, it’s just like any other aspect of the state - a means of coercion by which one class in society, the ruling class, the minority, maintains its rule over the majority, the working class. To sweep away this supernatural fog which surrounds the state, we must first deal with the idea that this machinery has always existed. In fact, for nine-tenths of mankind’s existence on the planet there was no state.
Historical Stage
There is a vulgar view of history which states that things are as they always have been and always will be. Capitalism has always existed, and so has the state, the impartial observer and referee in society. In truth, capitalism is an historically recent stage in our development, and the state, although older, was certainly unknown in early tribal society.
In order for society to advance from its primitive communist, tribal beginnings, to the rational and harmonious self organisation of society which would be socialism, it has already been necessary to pass through all kinds of convulsions and revolutions, and we aren’t there yet. We have had to pass from one form of class rule to another, one form of property ownership to another, one kind of state suppression to another, in order to lay the economic, cultural and scientific basis for a genuinely classless society.
In those earlier classless societies, which make up 9/10ths of mankind’s existence to date, there could not be a state, there couldn’t even be “civilisation” because man lived on a nomadic basis. They were an armed people with no need for special groups of armed men, no need of a special coercive force or state to keep one section of the population oppressed.
This was not lawless anarchy, crimes and misdemeanours were dealt with democratically by the community, and of course there were “leaders” as in all human societies, people with authority, respected by the community, but no special force to impose their will, only a voluntary respect for the elders.
As Engels wrote in his Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, “The shabbiest police servant of the civilised state has more “authority” than all the organs of gentile society put together; but the mightiest prince and the greatest statesman or general of civilisation might envy the humblest of the gentile chiefs the unforced and unquestioned respect accorded to him. The one stands in the midst of society; the other is forced to pose as something outside and above it.”
When man began to settle in specific territories it was possible to develop the productivity of his labour, not just by hunting or taking what nature provided, but by planning, the sowing of seed, the development of tools and technique. As a consequence they began to develop a surplus above their own immediate needs. For the first time a section of the population was freed from the day-to-day struggle for existence, a class was created which could “employ” the labour of others to sustain it. Now there could be accumulation, the manufacture of tools could be developed, as could primitive agricultural techniques, and of course the military means for defending the settled areas against incursion from nomadic tribes.For the first time society was divided into classes, and there developed the “haves” and the “have nots”, which in the first instance were the slave-owners and the slaves.
The new ruling class of slave-owners was free to devote its time to an enormous flourishing of human achievement in art, science, architecture, philosophy and mathematics. This was the basis for the development of the ancient societies of Greece and Rome which we associate with great cultural and scientific advance.These slave-owners were, of course, a minority and as such required special bodies of armed men to keep their slaves in chains, and so the state was born of the division of society into classes.
The new state was distinguished from the old gentile order in that it was no longer held together by blood ties but divided its subjects on a territorial basis. Citizens were now required to carry out their public rights and duties according to where they lived regardless of their tribe or gens.
The other distinguishing feature of this new state was the creation of a public power which no longer coincided with the population organising itself as an armed force. “Special bodies of armed men” came into being because an armed population divided into opposing classes, would have led to interminable conflict.
Engels in his Origin of the Family, describes the state as “a product of society at a certain stage of development; it is the admission that this society has become entangled in an insoluble contradiction with itself, that it has split into irreconcilable opposites which it is powerless to exorcise. But in order that these opposites, classes with conflicting economic interests, shall not consume themselves and society in fruitless struggle, it became necessary to have a power seemingly standing above society that would moderate the conflict and keep it within the bounds of “order”.
In his masterpiece on this subject, State and Revolution, Lenin summarises the origins of the state as follows, “The state is a product and manifestation of the irreconcilability of class contradictions. The state arises where, when, and to the extent that class contradictions objectively cannot be reconciled. And conversely, the existence of the state proves that class contradictions are irreconcilable.”
So this system of police, courts, army, civil service and so on aren’t eternal protections against anti-social and criminal behaviour, but were created in their basic, crude, initial form as a special machine for the suppression of the majority by the minority - the slaves by the slave-owners. With each succeeding form of class society, this state machine was taken over and perfected as the instrument of the new ruling class - the feudal state was the organ of the nobility for holding down the peasant serfs and bondsmen, and the modern representative state is an instrument for the exploitation of labour by capital. In all the bourgeois revolutions which brought the capitalists to power, in Britain in 1649 or France 1789, the new ruling class took over the old state apparatus and perfected it as an instrument for the suppression of the new exploited class, the working class.
Surely the bosses cry, this is all socialist paranoia. Do we really believe the bankers and directors of big monopolies sit around in their gentlemen’s clubs inventing this great apparatus to keep us in check. Leaving aside the question of what these gentlemen discuss in their clubs, they certainly could not have dreamed up, such a scheme as the modern state, they wouldn’t have the imagination. No, it devolved through revolutions and changing social conditions over centuries.
In all these earlier revolutions, this state machine was seen as the principal spoils of the victor. Marx and Engels, however, explained that the task of socialism would be entirely different. And here we see, as in all the works of Marx, there is not one ounce of utopianism. He didn’t dream up the tasks of the workers in relation to the state, but drew instead on the practical conclusions of the experience of the Paris Commune of 1871. Whilst praising the heroism of the Communards “storming heaven”, Marx re-examined his theory in the light of their defeat. In fact the only correction Marx felt it necessary to make to the Communist Manifesto was on the basis of that revolutionary experience.
In the preface to the June 1872 edition Marx and Engels say that the programme “has in places become antiquated” and go on to quote from Marx’s book The Civil War in France, “the working class cannot simply lay hold of the ready-made state machinery, and wield it for their own purposes.”
Reformists
Amazingly, this came to be crudely misinterpreted by many leaders of the labour movement as an argument in favour of slow gradual change, piecemeal reforms, by which the state could be improved in the interests of the workers. The leaders of the German labour movement, for example, demanded a “free people’s state”. Marx ridiculed this idea “What do you mean a free people’s state - the state is an instrument for the suppression of the working class nothing else!”
The state in so far as it is a state will be there to suppress the people, and in so far as it becomes an instrument of the people it ceases to be a state.
Lenin took up this idea when the leaders of the European socialist and Labour parties held up their hands in horror at the Russian Revolution, prattling on about abstract democracy, democracy with a capital D. “There is no such thing as “democracy”,” he said “there is bourgeois democracy or there is workers’ democracy...Bourgeois democracy, although a great historical advance in comparison with mediaevalism, always remains…restricted, truncated, false and hypocritical and a snare and a deception for the exploited and the poor.”
Even our own Parliament is just such a snare of course, where we choose every few years which members of the ruling class will represent (read repress) us for the next few years.
What Marx actually meant in saying “the workers can’t simply lay hold of the ready made state machine” he clarified on many occasions. In a letter to Kugelman, for example, he writes, “If you look at the last chapter of my Eighteenth Brumaire, you will find that I declare that the next attempt of the French Revolution will be no longer, as before, to transfer the bureaucratic-military machine from one hand to the other, but to smash it and this is the preliminary precondition for every real people’s revolution on the continent.”
In Britain today, where Parliamentary traditions go back furthest, who really makes the decisions? Not the government or the cabinet, but the bosses of the banks and the big monopolies, the currency speculators and the stockbrokers - and who elected them? For that matter who elected the judges, to whom are the police commissioners accountable? Who elected the press barons, who, not content with telling us who to vote for in the general election, are now telling us who to elect as Labour leader.
Of course Marxists are the first to defend all the democratic rights which the workers have conquered through struggle, and fight to extend them - the right to strike, to organise, to free speech, many rights which even now are being eaten away. More than that, Marxists would argue to use Parliament, the council chamber, even the courts where possible to defend or advance our rights - but these elements of the state machine are not the goal itself, they are a means to an end.
In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels explain that the democratic gains of the workers are “just a certain amount of rights, for the exploited class to go some way towards the goal of fighting for a change in the class system for a new society, but that is all.” “The state” Engels added later “is a machine for the oppression of one class by another and indeed in a democratic republic no less than in a monarchy...In a democratic republic wealth exercises its power indirectly, but all the more surely, by means of the direct corruption of officials; second by means of an alliance between the government and the stock exchange.”
The capitalists themselves prefer democracy as a cheaper and more malleable system, but as the UK's ex-Tory MP Ian Gilmour once explained , for the bosses too this is only a means to an end, if it threatened the continuation of capitalism the ruling class would not hesitate to end it. In the early 1970s, in Britain, Brigadier Kitson and co. prepared a coup in case the Labour government attempted to implement the socialist measures in their programme. More recently we have the Gladio conspiracy of the security forces throughout Europe preparing for future military takeovers.
Look at the way the South African state aided and abetted the reactionary Inkatha movement, or the military coups throughout Latin America and Africa in the 70s and 80s. Look at the way every tentacle of the state machine was employed against the UK miners in the strike of 84-85, the courts sequestrating funds, the police and the army on picket lines and demonstrations, the blatant lies and distortions of the media.
How could the workers possibly “lay hold of” and use this state machine. Surely this nails the arguments of reformism, the idea that society can be changed gradually, slowly but surely over generations. Capitalism hasn’t perfected this colossal machine in order to allow itself to be reformed out of existence.
The task of Marxism is to lay bare the truth about the state and the danger it represents to the working class, but also to explain what should replace it and how.
Marxism has nothing in common with anarchism which preaches that all authority and organisation is inherently evil - this is just mysticism.
Without some form of state how could the trains run on time, how could the harmonious development of the economy, of society that socialism represents be planned.
Workers’ Democracy
While the capitalists need a state to maintain class rule, the workers need one precisely to end it. (On the basis of modern science such a period could be short lived as the workers lead the whole of society towards socialism.) Since any state only exists for the suppression of one class by another, the workers state, workers democracy, would be the rule of the majority over the minority, just as bourgeois democracy is the rule of the minority over the majority.
The first task of such a regime would be to appeal to workers throughout Europe and internationally to join forces in putting an end to the anarchy of capitalism and begin building a socialist society. Its first act should be the nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy, taking the ownership of the means of production out of private hands and converting them into state property, under the democratic control and management of the workers themselves.
A government with such a programme would of course be sabotaged from the beginning by the state. Equally such a programme could inspire millions of workers to come to its defence and carry its programme out in practice, taking over the factories and the banks. In so doing, the workers begin to do away with themselves as a class, to do away with all class division in society, to do away with the state as a state. As Engels wrote, “The first act in which the state really comes forward as the representative of the whole of society - the taking possession of the means of production in the name of society - is at the same time its last independent act as a state. The interference of the state power in social relations becomes superfluous in one sphere after another, and then dies away of itself. The government of persons is replaced by the administration of things and the direction of the processes of production.”
Superabundance
Again there is not a single ounce of utopianism here. Marx didn’t invent some new perfect social order in his head, but studied the birth of a new society from within the old. The aim of the socialist transformation is to put an end to class divisions, to create a society where Marx’s aphorism “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” could become a reality. That requires the development of an economy of superabundance, entirely possible on the basis of modern science and technique, once we’ve done away with the anarchy of the market. The building of such an economy requires conscious planning and organisation of “production, distribution and exchange” as the old Clause 4 of the British labour Party use to put it. The government of people must be replaced by the administration of things. This would be the remit of the new workers state, which from the beginning would be only a semi-state, withering away of its own accord in one sphere after another.
All administration might not be abolished over night, but bureaucracy could be. The working week could be cut immediately to 32 hours, without loss of pay and then to four 6 hour days and beyond, not only eradicating unemployment, but providing everyone with the necessary time to participate in the running of all aspects of society. In Lenin’s words “when everyone is a bureaucrat, no-one is a bureaucrat.”
The old liberal dream of cheap government would become a reality by doing away with the two most greatest expenditures. Firstly, state functionarism - such administrative tasks would be reduced to what they really are, stripped of power and prestige, they would be bookkeepers and technicians paid workers wages.
All officials would be elected and moreover subject to an immediate recall. All parties, except the fascists, would be allowed to organise. The enormous waste of resources on the “special bodies of armed men” to keep us in our place would also become unnecessary. Crime, security and so on could be dealt with by society without this colossal state machine. The state, then, has not existed for all eternity. There have been societies that did without it , that had no need of it. At a certain stage of economic development which necessarily involved the split of society into classes, the state arose because of this split. Today this class division in society is not only no longer a necessity, but is now a hindrance to the further development of humanity. The task of the socialist transformation of society, is to free us from this ball and chain. Then as Engels explained, “Society, which will reorganise production on the basis of a free and equal association of the producers, will put the whole state machinery where it will then belong - into the museum of antiquities, by the side of the spinning wheel and the bronze axe.”
Before Marxism can conquer the state, however, it must first conquer the labour movement. To grasp the nature of the state, to bring its history, its character, its role to the attention of the workers is the duty of Marxism, the theoretical expression of the workers movement, the guide to action.
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Home › Posts tagged Valerie Jarret
Valerie Jarret
Obama's Right Hand: Valerie Jarrett's Ties To Communisum
Posted on June 25, 2015 by bcse
Editor’s Note – It amazes us here at SUA, the criminal aspect of the Obama administration and the fact no one is doing anything about it. Valerie Jarrett’s Communist ties and administration ties to the Muslim Brotherhood should be raising red flags everywhere.
For some reason no one wants to confront this situation head on. What is that telling us about our society? Do we stay silent and hope this bad period of time in American History just goes away? Or do we rise up and say enough!
In years gone by, we had the Committee on Un-American activity, which was shamed out of existence. Now if we stand up to defend America, it is we that they shame.
We, as a people need to move past worrying about what they say about us and come together to save this Great Nation. Take a Stand… Join Stand Up America today!
FBI Files Document Communism in Valerie Jarrett’s Family
By Judicial Watch
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files obtained by Judicial Watch reveal that the dad, maternal grandpa and father-in-law of President Obama’s trusted senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett, were hardcore Communists under investigation by the U.S. government.
Jarrett’s dad, pathologist and geneticist Dr. James Bowman, had extensive ties to Communist associations and individuals, his lengthy FBI file shows. In 1950 Bowman was in communication with a paid Soviet agent named Alfred Stern, who fled to Prague after getting charged with espionage.
Bowman was also a member of a Communist-sympathizing group called the Association of Internes and Medical Students. After his discharge from the Army Medical Corps in 1955, Bowman moved to Iran to work, the FBI records show.
According to Bowman’s government file the Association of Internes and Medical Students is an organization that “has long been a faithful follower of the Communist Party line” and engages in un-American activities.
Bowman was born in Washington D.C. and had deep ties to Chicago, where he often collaborated with fellow Communists.
JW also obtained documents on Bowman from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) showing that the FBI was brought into investigate him for his membership in a group that “follows the communist party line.”
The Jarrett family Communist ties also include a business partnership between Jarrett’s maternal grandpa, Robert Rochon Taylor, and Stern, the Soviet agent associated with her dad.
Jarrett’s father-in-law, Vernon Jarrett, was also another big-time Chicago Communist, according to separate FBI files obtained by JW as part of a probe into the Jarrett family’s Communist ties.
For a period of time Vernon Jarrett appeared on the FBI’s Security Index and was considered a potential Communist saboteur who was to be arrested in the event of a conflict with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
His FBI file reveals that he was assigned to write propaganda for a Communist Party front group in Chicago that would “disseminate the Communist Party line among…the middle class.”
It’s been well documented that Valerie Jarrett, a Chicago lawyer and longtime Obama confidant, is a liberal extremist who wields tremendous power in the White House. Faithful to her roots, she still has connections to many Communist and extremist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood.
Jarrett and her family also had strong ties to Frank Marshal Davis, a big Obama mentor and Communist Party member with an extensive FBI file.
JW has exposed Valerie Jarrett’s many transgressions over the years, including her role in covering up a scandalous gun-running operation carried out by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Last fall JW obtained public records that show Jarrett was a key player in the effort to cover up that Attorney General Eric Holder lied to Congress about the Fast and Furious, a disastrous experiment in which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) allowed guns from the U.S. to be smuggled into Mexico so they could eventually be traced to drug cartels.
Instead, federal law enforcement officers lost track of hundreds of weapons which have been used in an unknown number of crimes, including the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Arizona.
In 2008 JW got documents linking Valerie Jarrett, who also served as co-chairman of Obama’s presidential transition team, to a series of real estate scandals, including several housing projects operated by convicted felon and Obama fundraiser/friend Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
According to the documents obtained from the Illinois Secretary of State, Valerie Jarrett served as a board member for several organizations that provided funding and support for Chicago slum projects operated by Rezko.
Posted in Politics-DC
Tagged with Antoin “Tony” Rezko, Attorney General Eric Holder, Barack Obama, Dr. James Bowman, fast and furious, Frank Marshall Davis, iran, Judicial Watch, Muslim Brotherhhood, Tony Rezco, Valerie Jarret
Stay-at-home Moms, hip-checked to the glass, penalty box for Left
Posted on April 12, 2012 by bcse
By Denise Simon
It is with indisputable clarity that minions of the Obama administration are expanding the battlefield in America. A battlefield derived from the Cloward/Piven, Saul Alinsky game plan. Just now, Hilary Rosen took a chapter out of that book and assaulted Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann. The words were meant to blatantly diminish Ann Romney’s value and worth as a working-woman, a mother, and as a wife, simply over the fact that Ann Romney does not have a job which earns a paycheck.
It was a scud missile strike, not only on Ann, but to all non-paycheck earning females since they supposedly dont contribute to commerce, or that dreaded word, capitalism, which is most hypocritical of the whole battleground.
Hilary Rosen - What is a working Mom, and who defines it, who determines the importance? Class warfare exposed, hypocrisy of the left!
Ann and Mitt Romney raised several successful sons, many grand-children, and in addition, Ann battled cancer successfully, and on top of that, she suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.
What part of that life does the word “work” not cover? The left claims a lock on the so-called “working woman” category? What is work?
Perhaps in Hilary Rosen’s busy schedule as a corporate capitalist, she forgets that it is the wife and the mother that hires re-modeling contractors, the babysitters, the repairs to the home, the one that volunteers at the school and in the community, and is often the manager in charge of spending based on household income.
It is the female that multitasks with laundry, assisting in school work, working with teachers, and not only car-pools, but runs a veritable livery service.
Yes, single moms do the same, juggling work to pay the way, but work comes in a wide variety of versions, scope and scale vary, but it is all work none-the-less. It is work regardless of income, and some have it far worse, or more daunting than others.
Yet, who decides, who defines…is it the left that makes these distinctions, why distinctions anyway? Is this just more class warfare rearing its ugly head? Of course it is, but is much worse, its win at all cost!
It is more often than not that the mother buys the greeting cards and gifts and does the wrapping to boot for all the family’s social occasions and family affairs. It is the lady of the household that cleans, cooks, and shops. It is the mom who who is the home nurse, the child-psychologist…no matter what the circumstances are.
Hilary Rosen bought into the liberal battle, the mantra of class warfare, and the vortex of the Obama administration. An administration which is lead by another woman, Valerie Jarrett, who received Rosen more than 30 times for White House visits. More than the current CIA Director, David Petreaus.
What is more curious is that Valerie Jarrett, Iranian born, of parents who provided well, who is not only the Senior Advisor and confidant to Barack and Michelle, but is also a long, long time friend. But as a working-woman, she was also a slumlord in Chicago, who lost tons of property.
So which woman worked, which was successful? What are the distinctions? Which jobs are honorable?
Jarrett is a socialist, and most of all, she is the Obama Czar for the Office of Urban Affairs and is the White House Council on Women and Girls detailed in Executive Order # 13506. Is her position more important than Ann Romney’s and by whose measure; Hilary Rosen and the DNC, Media matters, The Center for American Progress?
As for Hilary Rosen, she found her arrogance and self inflicted worth by rubbing shoulders with self proclaimed movers and shakers. Hilary was the Editor-at-Large for the Huffington Post, she is the co-founder of Rock the Vote, the Chairman and CEO of Recording Industry of America. She has been paid well, and especially so by British Petroleum as the hired consultant to lead the PR and communications after the disastrous Gulf Spill.
One of Hilary’s martini buddies is Anita Dunn, the same person of the now famous: ‘two of my favorite people are Mother Teresa and Mao Tse Tung‘ fame. Anita Dunn was another Czar under Obama and left for other pursuits as did her husband, who was the long time legal council for Barack Obama before his assumption of the White House and for the next two years.
The largest objective of Anita’s husband, Robert Bauer, was to stone-wall all the requests and demands for Obama’s personal history, like his college transcripts and what passport was used to travel to Pakistan. So, despite Jay Carney’s protestations, Rosen is in the inner most of Obama circles.
Every person out there today has a mom and with that, the best defense is a good offense against Rosen and her like-minded friends, the holier-than-thou, the I am a “working woman” icon like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Anita Dunn. Yet, the Obama administration pays women 18% less than men within like pay scales. How does that jive with their narrative?
Jay Carney, the White House Press Secretary and ‘chief-cover-our-mistakes’ spokesperson, touts Barack Obama as the only president that has taken positive measures to prove a female’s worth and value by passing the “Lily Ledbetter Law”, yet the paychecks for women under his regime reveal otherwise. Let’s also count how many women serve this administration versus the previous Bush administration.
This attack on women is an additional war the White House and its crony operatives have waged in three years. They defined it, they launched it, and they are owning this failure like some many that have been executed prior. The problem is, this campaign that Obama created set the stage for just such lunacy from its trusted policy advisers, advice and counsel meant only to continue to pin blame and fault upon which they are more guilty of themselves.
The left often applies the ‘guilt transference’ ploy, the ‘make them look worse’ philosophy of attack, far too often, but this time, it blew up in their faces, not just Hilary Rosen’s. The left plays a vicious game of hockey, elbows and knees flying, while the stay-at-home-Moms, not wearing pads and protection, get hip-checked into the glass. They play these cheap shot games for what?
Yes, Rosen apologized, but only after doubling and tripling down, then left-handedly apologizing. Talk about damage control – and hypocrisy.
Its a win at all cost strategy, Saul would be so proud!
UPDATE: 9:00 PM PDT – Rosen and her mate, did a lifestyle make a difference – was jealousy and the ideology of LGBT a motive?
To infuse more intrigue into the Hilary Rosen ground game, it should be noted that jealousy seems to have played a very large part in this RPG attack on Ann Romney and the women in America much like her. Rosen, for her own ideological reasons, obviously resents the Ann Romney’s of the USA for enjoying the support role of a man who earned family wealth for the sake of children and family. Core American values versus what…?
Ann represents a successful woman who has a long relationship with a thriving family while Rosen’s relationship failed with Elizabeth Birch, her mate with whom they adopted twins. Birch then went on to be a professional LGBT lobbyist, while Rosen followed the politics and money…all without the binding ties to keep their own family together. Choices, and resentment, again warfare of values, warfare of class, warfare of perceptions.
Ann Romney like millions of women nationwide, successfully built her own Camelot, with a loving husband, many children, and even more grandchildren. Rosen and Birch find their success in their paychecks and careers, mostly for ideological reasons it seems, touting causes and politics and when they turn around to see what they have built, it is only measured in money and causes supported by liberals.
Choices determine the family values quotient – “it is about the children”, another co-opted leftist line, remember the other Hillary of “It takes a Village” fame?
Tagged with Featured, Hilary Rosen, mom, Obama, Valerie Jarret, working mothers
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“STAR TREK: DISCOVERY” BEAMS INTO COMIC-CON
CBS Television Studios and CBS All Access invite “Star Trek” fans from around the world to join them in a celebration of over 50 years of “Star Trek” and the upcoming second season of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY with a lineup of events, activations, merchandise exclusives and a panel, all taking place July 19-22 at San Diego Comic-Con.
Panel to Be Moderated by Series Guest Star Tig Notaro who Will Appear as Chief Engineer Reno. Series Stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Shazad Latif, Mary Wiseman, Anthony Rapp, Mary Chieffo, Wilson Cruz, Anson Mount and Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin to Make First Official Season Two Appearance Together at San Diego Comic-Con International on Friday, July 20 in Hall H.
“STAR TREK: DISCOVERY” PANEL, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1:30 PM, HALL H:
Over 50 years ago, the world was first introduced to what would quickly become a cultural phenomenon. “Star Trek” inspired developments in science and technology, broke social barriers and transported viewers around the globe to new adventures and uncharted frontiers. Last fall, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY continued that tradition and followed the voyages of Starfleet aboard the U.S.S. Discovery. Join the cast and producers of this CBS All Access series to look back on season one and find out where the crew is headed as it transports into its second season.
PEDICAB PROMOTION:
From Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22, CBS will offer free “intergalactic” rides throughout San Diego’s Gaslamp District in pedicabs inspired by the design of the U.S.S. Discovery’s captain’s chair. The pedicabs will feature the chair’s distinctive stitched black seats as well as video monitors built into its armrests, which will screen trailers for the highly anticipated second season. As an added touch, each vehicle will display an illuminated U.S.S. Discovery delta shield on the back.
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Bets hedged on gamblers' heads to break addictive grip
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Australian scientists will look inside the brain for physical evidence of gambling addiction, with the launch of an important research project.
Australia has a gambling problem, spending more on gambling per person than any other nation.
At least one million people are defined as problem gamblers, and this group is responsible for 40 per cent of the money spent on gambling in the country.
Now, researchers will use advanced techniques to try and find what changes someone from enjoying an occasional flutter to full-blown gambling addiction.
In the study, scientists from Monash University will for the first time use a combination of MRI scans, psychological tests and questionnaires to pinpoint the differences between the brains of regular gamblers against a control group.
Monash Clinic and Imaging Neuroscience (MCIN) group Director Professor Murat Yücel said the study comes at a critical time.
“Gambling is considered an acceptable leisure activity, and for most people it is,” Professor Yücel said.
“But it’s hard to ignore these alarming statistics. An increasing number of people are unable to control their gambling. Instead of being a bit of harmless fun, it becomes a major problem that people struggle to control, impacting every aspect of a person’s life.
“We urgently need more research to understand why some people develop an addiction and some don’t. With this information we can develop targeted support for each individual.”
Gambling problems develop when certain areas in the brain known as ‘reward circuits’ begin to malfunction, but
Dr Valentina Lorenzetti, from the MCIN, says data on problem gambling is well behind that on other forms of addiction.
“At the moment we’re ‘borrowing’ information on what happens to the brain with other forms of addiction and applying this to gambling research. But this is a unique disorder, which needs dedicated research. This study will fill that gap,” Dr Lorenzetti said.
The tests, which include personality profiling, responsiveness to stimuli and behavioural patterns, will build a detailed picture of what happens in habitual gamblers’ brains.
“Problem gambling is very complex, there are many elements at play. For example, two people could be sitting side by side at the pokies for hours on end doing exactly the same thing for very different reasons,” Professor Yücel said.
“The challenge is to get to know these reasons by building a very detailed understanding of the psychological and neurobiological processes that drive or maintain gambling for different individuals. In doing so we can develop individually tailored treatments.”
Researchers are looking for volunteers in the Melbourne region who regularly gamble to take part in the study. Participants will be reimbursed for their time, expenses and travel costs.
For more information contact the study researchers in confidence by emailing: med-mcin-ocdpg(at)monash.edu
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Vaish Words©
An entertaining and thoughtful perspective on advertising, politics and other useless things...
What a Ten Year Old Can Teach Us About Salman Khan
“Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.”
Salman Khan gestures to fans from the balcony of his home, flanked by his mother Sushila Charak and father Salim Khan in Mumbai. (Source: Zee News India)
There has been much ink spilled over Salman Khan’s recent conviction for drunk driving. Mr. Khan is one of Bollywood’s biggest, most bankable stars and as a result this news has dominated the Indian media landscape for the last few days. Mr. Khan’s recent sentencing to five years in prison has usurped coverage from Narendra Modi, the Indian Premier League and the Nepal earthquake, all subjects that now seem a distant memory in the daily Indian psyche.
It seems there was an expectation amongst the wealthy elite of the country that this trial would result in a suspended sentence, or perhaps a few years of community service along with a large fine. Much like nothing happened to Sanjeev Nanda, the son of a wealthy industrialist, who killed six people (including three police officers). Or Puru Raj Kumar, the son of a big Bollywood star, who ran over and killed several pavement dwellers, and was never charged. Like the rest of the third world, India too has a rich and un-illustrious history of a dual justice system, one for those who have the means to buy it and the other for the rest of us, who must languish and suffer within it.
The outrage in India was two-fold. The powerful elite were clearly outraged that a lowly session’s court judge had the audacity to sentence one of theirs. The entire Bollywood fraternity came out unabashedly in support of a man who has blood on his hands, the same fraternity that has stayed notoriously silent on virtually every other important social issue from defending free speech to violence against women. A younger, less erudite and less PR savvy Bollywood group even took to social media blaming the pavement dwellers for putting themselves in harm’s way. One famous Bollywood singer even equated pavement dwellers with dogs.
There was an unsurprising wave of sympathy from die-hard fans of Mr. Khan, a group that would no doubt proclaim his innocence even if any of them had been sitting in the passenger car seat next to Mr. Khan on that fateful night thirteen years ago. One fan drank poison in front of the courthouse in a suicide bid, unable to handle the news of his idol's upcoming rigorous imprisonment. None of this was surprising; one expected both constituencies to play out their scripts and public dialogue in the manner that they did. However, what was surprising is the reaction of a number of educated, middle class people in India. Many of these people came out in support of Mr. Khan, vehemently protesting his conviction.
Their arguments ranged from saying it was grossly unfair to single out Mr. Khan, since no other rich person has had to serve time for the same offence. Some simply said that he was a good man who had done a great deal of charity work, helping many people over the years, and therefore should not be treated like a common criminal. Yet others argued that he was being convicted merely based on his celebrity status and not on the value of the irrefutable evidence against him. This despite the fact that the judge stated in his ruling that “the prosecution had established beyond doubt that the accused was driving the vehicle at the time of mishap.” (Source: Livemint article).
What is frightening about this middle class defence is that it supports and reinforces the notion that it is fine to have two distinct rules of law - one for the haves, and one for the have not’s. Importantly, it also ignores the fact that had Mr. Khan been an ordinary citizen, like you or me, he would not have been able to avoid being in police custody or to drag out his trial over thirteen years. During this time his people were able to buy off and coerce witnesses, turning them hostile and getting them to change or withdraw testimony. One key witness who refused to acquiesce was a police constable who was in the car with Mr. Khan at the time of the accident. Instead of being provided witness protection, he was fired from the police force and thrown into prison after he claimed that he was frightened for his life for refusing to change his statement. His family was most likely also paid off, as they proceeded to also disown him. The man was driven to living on the streets and finally died a pauper, of tuberculosis, in some nameless government hospital.
What is at issue here is not making an example of Mr. Khan, but allowing people like him to make a mockery of our judicial system. My heart goes out to Mr. Khan, his family and to all the other families involved in this tragic and avoidable accident. I don't doubt that Mr. Khan has done a lot of good with his charity work and has a large heart but none of this changes the fact that, according to our laws, he committed a crime. If we want to be a global power, the rule of law must be sacrosanct and justice must be blind. This is a fundamental bedrock of any a civilised democracy.
My mother’s friend has a ten year old grandson who is a self-confessed Salman Khan super fan. He knows all his movies, song lyrics and even dance sequences (much like I used to with Amitabh Bachchan growing up). She was recently chatting with the boy and decided she would broach this subject gently, and with empathy, so as not to hurt the young boy’s feelings. She started to say how bad she felt about the fact that his hero, a good man by all accounts, had been convicted of a crime, but before she could finish her thought, the boy jumped in and said “Daadi, he (Salman Khan) made a mistake and he has to pay for it.”
Posted by Nikhil Vaish at 5:17 PM
Labels: accident, Bollywood, charity, conviction, crime, drunk driving, elite, justice, Puru Raj Kumar, Salman Khan, Sanjeev Nanda, slum dwellers, wealthy
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How to Clean Up the BCCI
Open Letter to the Prime Minister of India: Dr. Manmohan Singh
Bet Big on India with One Big Caveat
A Tale of Two Laptops: Sony VAIO and Apple MacBook Pro
Why You Need To See American Sniper
What a Ten Year Old Can Teach Us About Salman Khan...
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Doylestown: A pathway through history
“The first step in civilization is to make roads,” according to the old Roman maxim.
Roads resemble the veins of a human body – intricate, connected systems necessary for prosperity and upkeep of society, life and health.
Building roads was the first step in founding William Penn’s Quaker Empire west of the Delaware, and these roads became a large basis for what would one day be known as Doylestown.
Last year marked the bicentennial of Doylestown Township. In 1814, residents of New Britain and Warwick townships petitioned the Court of Quarter Sessions for the establishment of the township.
Doylestown Township first took root at a crossroads anchored by 18th-century taverns and was formed from parts of existing townships – Warwick, Buckingham, and New Britain – which were populated by English Quakers, Scots Irish, and Welsh settlers.
Built on the original 20,000 acres of land which William Penn conveyed to the Free Society of Traders in 1682, Doylestown was largely broken up and sold by the Society.
Jeremiah Langhorne was one of the earliest settlers and largest landowners in Bucks County at the time, and he bought large amounts of land from the Society.
Nearly half of the land he purchased was located in Central Bucks, and the fact that he was selling land was a large draw for many settlers.
This is probably what first brought the Doyle family to this prosperous, growing area.
The Doyle family originally came from France (where their name was D’ouilli).
William Doyle petitioned the county seat, Newtown at the time, for a license to keep a public house and subsequently opened Doyle’s Tavern at the northwest corner of State and Main streets where Starbucks is located today.
Doylestown became the county seat in 1810. County residents sought a more central location following the Revolutionary War as northern Bucks County’s population grew over the 18th century.
That year a local stagecoach began running through Doylestown, making it a hub for travel by connecting it to Philadelphia and Easton.
Doyle’s Tavern was the seed that blossomed into this well-known town. Although the Doyles eventually moved to New York, they left the country crossroads with their namesake.
Doylestown Borough was incorporated in 1838 when the growing village center detached itself from the township.
In 1897, Joseph Krauskopf, a leading reform rabbi in Philadelphia, founded the National Farm School.
Leo Tolstoy had encouraged him to build a farming school for Jewish immigrants similar to farm schools in Russia, and Joseph chose Doylestown for its close proximity to the city and abundance of farmland.
In the 20th century, the school became known as Delaware Valley College before becoming a university in 2015.
The land for the township’s Central Park was purchased from DelVal in 1991.
Since the purchase of the park, the township has added hiking and nature trails, a pond, a community center, an environmental education center, bocce courts, and pavilions and picnic areas.
Rather than destroy structures whose original purposes have long since faded, residents of Doylestown take care to adapt them to modern needs and traits which contribute to its identity.
A couple notable structures include Henry Mercer’s Fonthill, built in 1910 and also known as Fonthill Castle, along with William Mercer’s Aldie Mansion, built in 1927.
Both estates enrich the community with their presence and architectural design.
Today, Fonthill operates as a museum for the public to tour while Aldie Mansion is home to the Heritage Conservancy, which is dedicated to preserving the environment.
Doylestown is embracing the future while preserving its abundant heritage and all that makes it a unique community.
Most of the roads built back in the 18th century still exist today and have only become better traveled as the years pass.
Doylestown continues to draw people for its exceptional atmosphere, picturesque landscape, and classic architectural wonders.
Special places of interest:
*Aldie Mansion;
*Fonthill Castle;
*Mercer Museum;
*James A. Michener Art Museum;
*Moravian Pottery & Tile Works;
*Oscar Hammerstein II Museum & Education Center.
Sources: Doylestown Historical Society, Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, Doylestown Township
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State v. Leardini
Jeff Leardini, a middle school teacher, was charged with improperly touching students. He was terminated by Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and faced criminal charges. Noell Tin represented Leardini and secured a not guilty verdict on all charges in Mecklenburg County Superior Court in June, 2007.
Luke Largess subsequently represented Leardini in a civil action against CMS, alleging that CMS violated his right to due process when they terminated him. On February 24, 2012, a Federal District Court jury ruled in Leardini’s favor and awarded him over $1.1 million. Leardini said he never thought about giving up and putting the episode behind him, telling the Charlotte Observer: “My good name is worth it, even if it takes five years to get there.” Largess observed that the jury’s verdict should help “the school system to appreciate the personal pressure that people are under when they’re accused,” stressing that teachers “should be supported and not just treated as the enemy.”
Ervin v. North Carolina Department of Revenue
Luke Largess and Jake Sussman represented a client in the Western District of North Carolina in a civil action alleging that the city police and N.C. Department of Revenue violated the client’s rights during and following a drug arrest, which included a civil seizure of the client’s property.
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TIPP Indexes
About TIPP
Everything Is Looking Up, Except For Trump's Approval Rating: IBD/TIPP Poll
Published: Friday, 12 January 2018 08:46
The public is more upbeat about the direction of the country and the economy, less likely to be looking for a job and less stressed. Yet they're not giving President Trump much of the credit, the latest IBD/TIPP Poll shows.
The January poll finds 35% approve of the job Trump is doing and 58% disapprove — a gap of 23 points, which is unchanged from last month. Trump's favorability rating is 36%, with 57% saying they have an unfavorable view of the leadership he's providing — a gap of 21 points.
However, the poll also found that 45% now approve of how Trump is handling the economy, which is up from 40% in December, and which represents a more than 10-point gain from August, when just 34% approved of his handling of the economy. And 41% approve of how he's handling the threat of terrorism, which is also an increase from prior months, and likely a result of the defeat of ISIS.
The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index also surged in January, climbing to 55.1— a 6.2% gain — as tax cuts, the stock market, and economic growth improved American's outlook on the economy and their personal finances.
"Most Americans give credit to Trump for his handling of the economy," said Raghavan Mayur, president of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, which conducts the monthly poll for IBD. "The GDP growth, the record employment levels, and the spectacular performance of the stock market since the election are boosting consumer sentiment. In addition, many welcome the recent tax reform."
"But this isn't translating into higher overall approval numbers," Mayur said, "because Trump never gets fair treatment in the daily discourse of the mainstream media — some of whom are still in denial that he won the election. There is underreporting of the positive and overreporting of the negative. His success in many areas — such as the defeat of ISIS — are the best kept secret of the media."
The nationwide poll was conducted from January 2 through January 10, and includes responses from 901 adults, giving it a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points.
Trump's low approval numbers also come despite a noticeable improvement on several other indicators tracked by the IBD/TIPP poll, many of which are at higher levels than during the Obama years.
For example, 57% in the latest poll say the economy is improving. That's up from 53% in December.
Just 17% think the economy is in a recession, which is down from 19% in December and from 26% a year ago.
Meanwhile, 44% say they are satisfied with the direction of the country, which is up from 41% a month ago, and way above the 37% average during President Obama's two terms in office.
The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index has been in positive territory — meaning an index reading of over 50 — for 16 straight months, and is now just below it's all time high since this Index started in 2001. In the previous eight years, this monthly index topped 50 only nine times.
The six-month personal financial outlook index jumped 4.9 points to 64.0, the highest since January 2004.
The IBD/TIPP Quality of Life Index saw a 7% bump in January to reach 60.9, the highest level since Trump took office. In Obama's last full year in office, this index averaged 54.6.
The Financial Related Stress Index is now at its lowest level — 51.5 — since IBD/TIPP started tracking this in 2007. Just before the November election, this index stood at 56.
IBD/TIPP also tracks unemployment. This month, the share of adults looking for work was 11.3%, which is down from 13.8% a year ago.
Other polls have found similarly wide gaps between the public's view of the economy and of Trump. The latest Quinnipiac poll, for example, finds that 66% say the economy is "excellent or good," which is the highest number recorded by this poll. Yet Trump's approval in that poll is just 36%.
As IBD has pointed out, the gap between economic optimism and presidential approval is unusual, since they have tended to move in tandem. That suggests that Trump's approval rating could climb if the press and the public decided to give him credit for good times. The chances of more positive press coverage seem remote. A Pew Research Center study found that 95% of stories about Trump in his first two months in office were negative, the most of any president it looked at.
Mayur noted that "In the current atmosphere, getting good job approval numbers is really difficult. However, it may not mean much when it comes to winning re-election, if the economy continues to do well — most will rather have someone with a proven track record."
Methodology: The December IBD/TIPP Poll was conducted January 2 through January 10. It includes responses from 901 people nationwide, who were asked questions by live interviewers on phones. The poll's margin of error is +/-3.3 percentage points.
The IBD/TIPP Poll has been credited as being the most accurate poll in the past four presidential elections, and was one of only two that correctly predicted the outcome of the November elections.
Click here to read the original article on the Investor's Business Daily website.
TIPPONLINE.com - © 2016 TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence. All Rights Reserved.
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TFP to produce Stephen Unwin's debut play All Our Children
All Our Children will premiere in May 2017 in association with Jermyn Street Theatre.
Tara Finney Productions
in association with Jermyn Street Theatre presents
ALL OUR CHILDREN
Written and Directed by Stephen Unwin
Design by Simon Higlett
Lighting Design by Tim Mascall
Sound Design by John Leonard
Casting by Ginny Schiller CDG
‘I used to be scared of them. They seemed so different. They don’t scare me anymore. They’re just children, aren’t they? Just children.’
January 1941. Snow is falling.
A terrible crime is taking place in a clinic for disabled children. The perpetrators argue that it will help struggling parents and lift the financial burden on the mighty German state. One brave voice is raised in objection. But will the Doctor listen?
Stephen Unwin directs All Our Children, his gripping new play which probes one of the darkest episodes in recent history. Unwin’s elegant debut work shows a world caught in a spiral of horror and examines a brutal system which sanctioned mass murder for those who led what the Nazis called ‘lives unworthy of life’.
An astonishing and chilling story of courage, betrayal and humanity, Unwin tells a rich dramatic narrative and explores cultural, moral and social arguments which still rage today.
All Our Children runs at Jermyn Street Theatre from 26 April - 3 June 2017.
For more information on All Our Children, please click here.
Stephen Unwin is one of the UK’s leading theatre directors. He founded the English Touring Theatre in 1993 and opened the Rose Theatre Kingston in 2008 becoming Artistic Director until 2014. His many credits include: King Lear with Timothy West (Old Vic), Hedda Gabler (Donmar), Hamlet with Alan Cumming (Donmar), Man to Man (with Tilda Swinton), The Conquest of the South Pole (with Alan Cumming) – both seen at the Royal Court - and Sandra/Manon (with Simon Russell Beale) – seen at the Donmar Warehouse.
All Our Children is Unwin’s first original play although he has written eight books on theatre and drama and translated several plays. Stephen is a campaigner for the rights and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and was appointed the Chair of Kids in November 2016, the national charity providing services to disabled children, young people and their families.
For press information and reviewing tickets please contact Clióna Roberts on 07754 756504 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Smiling faces cap a good year for Dell Technologies’ Black Networking Alliance
By Staff Writer 14 December 2019 | Categories: Press Release
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Crowds of smiling children flocked into the main hall of the Othandweni Family Care Centre in Soweto. Awaiting them were snacks, balloons, Christmas crackers and gifts, handed out by a smiling Santa to the 90 children and young adults who live at the facility. With presents ranging from toy cars to Bluetooth speakers, there was something for everyone, contributed by the hard-working members of Dell Technologies’ Black Networking Alliance.
“Othandweni Family Care Centre offers a lot to the local community,” said Lizzie Matsemela, Senior Manager of Account Management Services at Dell and the BNA’s South African chapter leader. “It’s a large facility where we can work together on several projects. Talking to the centre’s management, you hear a lot about corporate projects that did half of this or that. We want our involvement to be more sustainable. We choose one thing, and we do it well. This gives to the centre and the people of Soweto, but it also gives to BNA members and Dell staff who help these children have better lives,” she continued.
The centre that keeps on giving
Othandweni Family Care Centre, located in Soweto’s Mofolo South suburb in Johannesburg, has been active since 1984. It offers residential care for abused, neglected and abandoned children from the ages of 0 through to 18 years old. The facility provides living quarters for the children, as well as numerous care and educational programmes.
Despite numerous challenges, including ongoing needs for supplies such as nappies, stationery and school uniforms, the centre continues to support its many children. It runs several developmental programmes, including one that provides one-on-one time with young babies. Older students can participate in the Inner Life Skills (ILS) programme to help prepare them for adult life after they matriculate.
All these efforts pay off: the centre boasts a 90 percent pass rate. Othandweni, which means a “Place of Love”, is also receiving a media centre from the BNA and Dell.
“The centre has been helping children for many years,” said Thoko Mnguni, Assistant Manager of Othandweni Family Care Centre. “It’s very rewarding but also very hard. We are incredibly thankful for the support from BNA. They get involved, and they continue to support us. Our children are working hard to become their best. Any help we can offer makes a big difference for them.”
The South African chapter for the Black Networking Alliance (BNA), a Dell Technologies employee resource group (ERG), has partnered with Othandweni to provide support in the form of donations and volunteer work. Gifts handed out during the event were made possible by contributions from Dell employees, spurred by a BNA campaign. BNA is also in the process of onboarding the centre onto Dell’s Legacy of Good programme, which will secure persistent funding.
“The overall goal for us is to identify places where there is a need that we can meet,” said Reagile Mosaka, Account Executive at Dell and leader of the community outreach pillar at BNA South Africa. “We work with certain schools and family centres such as Othandweni, as well as elderly homes. We engage with the staff, work with them to draw up a list of needs and prioritise from there. But we do this with a lot of focus to make it sustainable. We want to give back to our communities and make sure that we do make a difference.”
A good year for the BNA
Since launching in July 2018, the alliance has grown its local member base and established chapters in other parts of EMEA. It continues to pursue its pillars, including community outreach, staff retention, talent recruitment and professional development.
The BNA focuses on the development of black professionals within Dell Technologies, as well as promoting inclusion and understanding among the many different employees in Dell’s family of companies. These include mentoring and collaboration, as well as events such as the Othandweni Christmas party.
“2019 has been a good year for the BNA,” Matsemela enthused. “We’ve grown our membership and expanded the projects we collaborate around. Our mission - supporting and enhancing black professionals at Dell - continues to be a great success. Our members love that we can all give back to our country through our community outreach. As long as we can bring centres such as Othandweni with us, then 2020 will be even better,” she concluded.
Dell TechnologiesBlack Networking Alliancegoodwillcommunity outreach
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THE ADAMSON ADVENTURE
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Unit 2 Downloads
Unit 2 Enduring Understandings & Image Set
CONTENT AREA 2 Ancient Mediterranean 3500 B.C.E.–300 C.E.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 2-1. Artistic traditions of the ancient Near East and dynastic Egypt focused on representing royal figures and divinities and on the function of funerary and palatial complexes within their cultural contexts. Works of art illustrate the active exchange of ideas and reception of artistic styles among the Mediterranean cultures and the subsequent influence on the classical world.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-1a. The art of the ancient Near East (present-day Iraq, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus, from 3500 to 330 B.C.E.) is associated with successive city-states and cultural powers: Sumerian, Akkadian, Neo-Sumerian and Babylonian, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, and Persian. The art of dynastic Egypt (present-day Egypt and Sudan, from 3000 to 30 B.C.E.) generally includes coverage of predynastic Egypt and Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The Amarna period (New Kingdom) was also important because of its cultural reform and stylistic revolution.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-1b. The study of artistic innovations and conventions developed in the ancient Near East and dynastic Egypt (facilitated by recorded information from the time) provides a foundation for comparative understanding of subsequent artistic traditions within the region and beyond.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 2-2. Religion plays a significant role in the art and architecture of the ancient Near East, with cosmology guiding representation of deities and kings who themselves assume divine attributes.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-2a. Artists created fully developed, formal types, including sculptures of human figures interacting with gods and stylistic conventions representing the human form with a combined profile and three-quarter view. In these combinations, important figures are set apart using a hierarchical scale or by dividing the compositions into horizontal sections or registers, which provide significant early examples of historical narratives.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-2b. Architectural representations include towering ziggurats that provide monumental settings for the worship of many deities, as well as heavily fortified palaces that increased in opulence over the centuries, proclaiming the power and authority of rulers.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 2-3. The art of dynastic Egypt embodies a sense of permanence. It was created for eternity in the service of a culture that focused on preserving a cycle of rebirth.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-3a. The culture of dynastic Egypt represents an elaborate funerary sect whose devotees created numerous ka statues (to house the ka, or spirit, after death), artifacts, decorations, and furnishings for tombs. Egyptian art incorporates mythological and religious symbolism, often centered on the cult of the sun. Development of monumental stone architecture culminated with the pyramids and with innovative designs for rock-cut tombs and pylon (massive sloped gateway) temples, each demonstrating the importance of the pharaoh — a god-king with absolute power, descended directly from the sun god. The Egyptian architectural construction of the clerestory is particularly important for the history of architecture.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-3b. Representations of humans make clear distinctions between the deified pharaoh and people in lower classes, using representational and stylistic cues such as hierarchical proportion and idealization versus naturalism. Approaches to portraiture depend on a figure’s rank in society. The artistic canon of dynastic Egypt, with strict conventions of representation, use of materials, and treatment of forms, was followed for many centuries with only short-lived periods of experimentation and deviation. Innovations in art and architecture tended to occur within the basic and established scheme. ENDURING
UNDERSTANDING 2-4. The art of Ancient Greece and Rome is grounded in civic ideals and polytheism. Etruscan and Roman artists and architects accumulated and creatively adapted Greek objects and forms to create buildings and artworks that appealed to their tastes for eclecticism and historicism.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-4a. Ancient Greek art was produced in Europe and western Asia, primarily in the region of present-day Greece, Turkey, and southern Italy, from 600 B.C.E. to 100 C.E. Etruscan art (c. 700–100 B.C.E., from the region of Etruria in central Italy) and ancient Roman art was produced in Europe and western Asia from c. 753 B.C.E. to 337 C.E. The arts of these early western artistic cultures are generally studied chronologically. Additionally, archaeological models and stylistic analysis have identified periods based on stylistic changes. Artworks are assigned to periods according to styles (e.g., archaic Greek), governments, or dynasties (e.g., the Roman Republic).
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-4b. Art considered Ancient Greek includes works from the archaic, classical, and Hellenistic periods, as defined according to artistic style, not by political units such as governments or dynasties. Etruscan art is typically considered as a single cultural unit even though Etruria was comprised of separate city-states. Roman art includes works from the republican, early imperial, late imperial, and late antique periods, as defined using governmental structures and dynasties rather than stylistic characteristics. Many Hellenistic works are in fact Roman in origin, which favors presenting these traditions at the same time.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-4c. Ancient Greek, Etruscan, and Roman artists and architects were influenced by earlier Mediterranean cultures. Ancient Greek religious and civic architecture and figural representation are characterized by idealized proportions and spatial relationships, expressing societal values of harmony and order. Art from the Etruscan and Roman periods is typified by stylistic and iconographical eclecticism and portraiture. Etruscan and ancient Roman art express republican and imperial values, power, and preference for conspicuous display. Etruscan and Roman architecture are characterized by investment in public structures. Roman architecture is also characterized by borrowing from its immediate predecessors (Greek and Etruscan) and by technical innovation.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-4d. Ancient Greek and Roman art provides the foundation for the later development of European and Mediterranean artistic traditions. From the 18th century onward, European and American observers admired ancient Greek and Roman ethical and governmental systems, which contributed to prioritizing art and architecture that could be associated with political elites and cultural capitals (e.g., Rome). More recently, art historians have examined art produced by contemporary subjects or “provincial” populations.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING 2-5. Contextual information for ancient Greek and Roman art can be derived from contemporary literary, political, legal, and economic records as well as from archaeological excavations conducted from the mid-18th century onward. Etruscan art, by contrast, is illuminated primarily by modern archaeological record and by descriptions of contemporary external observers.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-5a. Some of the earliest written statements about artists and art making survive from the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. Little survives of the rich Etruscan literary tradition that is documented in Roman sources.
▶ Essential Knowledge 2-5b. The Greek, Etruscan, and Roman cultures shared a rich tradition of epic storytelling (first orally transmitted, later written) that glorified the exploits of gods, goddesses, and heroes. The texts recorded a highly developed rhetorical tradition that prized public oratory and poetry. Religious rituals and prognostications were guided by oral tradition, not texts.
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Rachel announces retirement
Women's Football News 6 Jan 2015
Everton goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis has announced her retirement from football.
The England international, 34, has made the decision to hang up her gloves with immediate effect but will remain with the Club as an ambassador.
Brown-Finnis said: "It was a tough decision. To be honest, it is something that I have been considering over the past 18 months or so and it is simply down to the amount of pain I suffer with my knee and back over the course of a season. It's down to whether I can continue to withstand that pain after every training session.
"It is emotional for me but I think now is the right time."
Since joining Everton in 2003, Brown-Finnis has helped the Blues to lift the FA Women's Cup and finish runners-up in the women's top flight five times.
She was named Everton Ladies' Player of the Year in 2012 and also worked for the Club's official charity Everton in the Community for seven years as a coach and to raise the profile of the ladies' game.
On the international stage, Brown-Finnis made her senior debut for England at the age of 16 and went on to proudly represent her country in two World Cups and the 2012 Olympic Games. She also became one of the first female England internationals to be awarded a central contract by the FA.
Now, Brown-Finnis is looking forward to using her achievements on the pitch to raise the profile of the women's game as the first ever Everton Ladies ambassador.
She said: "We are in new territory. A former player staying on at the Club as an ambassador has never been done before.
"I am really proud to say that role has been offered to me by Andy Spence and Everton Football Club. I've played for the Club for over 12 years and I also spent seven years with Everton in the Community, so I do have a massive affinity with this Club.
"Anything I can do, with my experience on and off the pitch, I would just love to give that back to a Club that has given me so much."
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Home Namibia Travel Guide Attractions Email this guide | Print the full guide
Travel Guide Namibia
Namibia Map
The Namib Desert
What to see in Namibia
Namibia Attractions
Travel in Namibia is a celebration of dramatic landscapes. Whether on an organised tour or going solo in a 4x4, visitors cannot fail to be astonished by the Namib desert and the many other natural phenomena they will stumble across. Most tourists start in Windhoek, the capital, getting their bearings among the German colonial architecture before venturing out into the great unknown. Heading in any direction brings its rewards.
South leads to the Fish River Canyon. There is a five day hike along the canyon floor, or for the less adventurous, day trips out to a view point, or a stroll along the edge of the canyon. North heads to Etosha National Park. Stay in stunning bush camps such as Halali or Okaukuejo and witness Africa's herds arrive at the waterholes in their thousands. The extreme north of the country, the Caprivi Strip, hosts exciting new wildlife havens such as Nkasa Rupara National Park, and Bwabwata National Park, both now thriving with new game, and especially birdlife.
Swakopmund, on the west coast, is Namibia's adventure capital where activities include dune boarding, quad biking, hot air balloon tours, and many more. It is also the gateway to the vast Namib desert. Visitors can camp nearby in Sesriem and get up pre-dawn to visit the colossal Sossusvlei dunes. Sunrise from Dune 45 is a truly unforgettable experience. Further inland, Damaraland plays host to the prehistoric rock art of Twyfelfontein and Brandberg. The imposing formations of Spitzkoppe, Africa's Matterhorn, are favoured by experienced climbers.
The Owambo region is Namibia's cultural centre and home to the Himba people, a culturally rich tribe notable for their striking dress. Guided walks in the region are available to visitors who seek a window into the traditional way of life in the desert.
The Brandberg Massif is famous for its thousands of rock paintings and engravings. Its most celebrated piece is the 'White Lady', estimated to be around 2,000 years old. The painting shows a male with…
The Skeleton Coast National Park is infamous for inaccessible shores and rough waters. The local San used to call it 'The Land God Made in Anger', while Portuguese sailors named it 'The Gates of Hell'.…
One of the most popular highlights in Namibia are the clay pans of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. The dunes are among the highest in the world, reaching more than 960 feet (300m) and are a wondrous…
Swakopmund is an enchanting little seaside town in the middle of the Namib Desert, with many colonial buildings and a distinctly German character. The region's food specialities include rock lobster,…
The Spitzkoppe
The natural beauty of the Spitzkoppe is spectacular: an island of bald granite peaks situated in an endless grassy plain that is visible for miles around. Groot Spitzkop is often referred to as the…
Twyfelfontein boasts the largest concentration of ancient rock art in the country, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The petroglyphs primarily depict game animals such as giraffe, antelope,…
Our Travel Expert
Phoebe is a farm girl from the UK who, armed with a Geography degree, set off a few years ago to develop a career and discover the world. She first visited Namibia to assist with a research project, and fell immediately in love with this beautiful country. She now lives in Johannesburg and works as a safari guide in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
>Read Phoebe's tips on Namibia
>Ask Phoebe a question
Become our Namibia Travel Expert
We are looking for contributors for our Namibia travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to Namibia or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.
Africa Miracles
Africa Miracles specialises in tailor-made holidays to Namibia. Travel to the website and find information on Namibia and suggested itineraries.
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iExplore designs made-to-order, privately-guided safaris to Namibia and adventures in over 200 other world wonders. Come Back Different!
Intrepid Travel, one of the world's leading suppliers of small group adventures focused on getting off the beaten track, interacting with the locals and having real life experiences throughout Namibia.
MORE ABOUT Namibia
Climate and when to go to Namibia
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What is YOTA?
YOTA (Youngsters On The Air) is young radio amateurs under the age of 26 from all over IARU Region 1 (Africa and Europe) national amateur radio societies with a passion for amateur radio and technology. The objective of this event is to draw together young licensed radio amateurs including newcomers to learn new skills, discuss and share ideas about amateur radio and its future.
This annual event brings together young people from various IARU R1 member societies in Africa and Europe for an entire week. This week creates, in addition to amateur radio, the opportunity to learn all about different nationalities and cultures, foster international friendships and goodwill as well as learning new communication and technical skills.
See the official YOTA website for more info www.ham-yota.com
Amateur Radio is a service that brings people, electronics and communication enthusiasts together. Radio amateurs communicate with one another locally, around the world and into space, all without the use of the Internet or cell phones.
Amateur radio offers a wide scope of activities and defines the use of radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, electronics, radio wave propagation research, radio sport, contesting, and emergency communication.
Amateur Radio and the Youth
The education of our youth is the foundation of preparation to ensure that the necessary interest is created amongst our young people in the fields of science and engineering as a career choice and for amateur radio as a hobby to continue to exist into the future.
Amateur radio has an excellent record of introducing young people to technical careers in science, technology and mathematics by presenting the technology and its applications in a practical, useful and interesting way.
The large number of professionals in industry who started with amateur radio before they entered a career in communication and electronics and now hold top level position attest to this.
More about the SARL
The SARL is the international recognised national body for amateur radio in South Africa with its main objective to encourage, develop and promote all activities associated with Amateur Radio, wireless communications, computer science and radio science in general.
The role of the SARL is to protect amateur radio frequency allocations, interact with government departments such as ICASA and to promote international goodwill and understanding.
HAMNET, a division of the SARL specialises in providing emergency communications in times of disaster by means of amateur radio.
For more info on the SARL see www.sarl.org.za
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Accelerated Development
Alice G. Walton
There’s an important side effect of sugar-sweetened drinks that girls and their parents should know.
Added sugar in the diet — like that in processed foods and sugary drinks — has a few strikes against it, from diabetes to cancer to early death. Now, it has another one: it appears to bring on early menstruation in girls.
A new study finds that apart from all other factors in a girl’s reproductive health, soda seems to be linked to early menarche (first period). Why the link exists isn’t totally clear, but it may have to do with the hormone changes that sugar can bring about.
Girls who drank more than one-and-a-half sugar-sweetened drinks per day had their first period an average of 2.7 months earlier than those who drank less. The relationship didn’t hold up for naturally sweetened fruit juices or for diet sodas.
The study followed almost 5,600 girls, aged 9 to 14, for several years. None of the girls had their periods at the beginning of the study, but most had begun menstruation by the end. Researchers also tracked what types of foods and drinks the girls consumed: sugar-sweetened drinks like soda, fruit drinks from mixes, and iced tea were of particular interest, as were artificially sweetened diet sodas and naturally sweet fruit juice.
The Harvard Medical School team looked for any correlations between what types of drinks — and how much — the girls consumed on average and the age at which they started their periods.
One clear relationship emerged: The girls who drank more than one-and-a-half sugar-sweetened drinks per day had their first period an average of 2.7 months earlier than those who drank less. The relationship didn’t hold up for naturally sweetened fruit juices or for diet sodas, which suggests that there’s something about the added sugar itself that’s responsible for the connection.
Because there’s a known link between being overweight and early menarche, the researchers made allowances for body mass index, (BMI). This reduced the connection to body weight, and researchers were able to report that even girls of normal weight who drank more sugary drinks got their first periods earlier.
So why would the sugar-menarche connection exist? The researchers believe the answer lies in our hormones: Consuming more sugar is known to increase insulin in the body, which is well-documented in certain disorders, like diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and of course, obesity. But increased insulin can also interfere with the normal activity of the sex hormones, like estrogen, which affects the time a young woman reaches menarche. The effects, if any, on boys' sexual development are not yet clear.
The results are important not just for psychological reasons, but also for biological ones, as early periods are linked to increased breast cancer risk in the future.
It’s not clear whether the 2.7 months would have a real effect on long-term breast cancer risk, but it may contribute to a constellation of risk factors that could be avoided.
Early menarche has been a phenomenon that researchers have noticed for several decades, and it hasn’t been totally explained. The rising rates of overweight and obesity are partially responsible, and the hormones often used in dairy and meat production may also be involved. Now, sugary drinks may fill in more of the missing pieces.
Again, naturally sweet drinks like fruit juices seem to be ok; it’s the added sugar in food and beverages that present problems for the body. While it may not be possible to take out all the added sugar from your diet, trying to cut back — for adults and kids both — is probably the best bet.
The study is published in Human Reproduction.
How soda affects kids’ behavior
Sports drink = soda in disguise
Is the soda ban working?
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Hillary Clinton’s absolutely authoritarian environmental policy scheme makes Barack Obama’s audacious clean energy pitch seem timid
MILLENNIAL VOTERS WANT RESULTS, NOT REGULATIONS
On the campaign trail in Ames, Iowa recently, the former Secretary of State said she wanted renewable energy to account for 33 percent of America’s electric power by 2027, 13 percent more than the president proposed last week.
“I want more wind, more solar, more advanced biofuels, more energy efficiency,” said Clinton. “And, I’ve got to tell you, people who argue against this are just not paying attention.”
Her cry of more, more, more, is a bit disconcerting, considering that Obama’s plan would“wash away” the coal industry, even though the U.S. accounts for only 15 percent of the world’s CO2 output, and even now is a global leader in renewable power, according to analysts.
The 2016 GOP presidential debaters last week barely touched on the environment as an issue. But if they are looking to distinguish themselves from the Democrats’ draconian, government-centered policies, they may want to give free-market environmentalism a try. This could, suggests a new book, be popular with millennials, the young voters who handed first term Senator Obama the American presidency in 2008 on hollow promises of hope and change.
Spurned by Obama’s embrace of big government, at the expense of job creation, these young voters are looking for new solutions.
“The 2016 presidential campaign gives Republicans a chance to speak to these millennials, and the Republican environmental policy message could be a starting point,” writes Terry L. Anderson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, and the co-author, with Donald Leal, of Free Market Environmentalism for the Next Generation. “Command and control regulations, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act, to name a few, from Nixon-era Republicans, may have played with boomers. But millennials want results, not regulations.”
Obama and Clinton don’t seem to be in tune with these voters on environmental issues, analysts indicate.
A recent survey by Michigan State University reported that “gen Y does have concern for the environment when making purchases, but without an economic benefit in making eco-friendly choices, they likely would not make these purchases.”
Gov. Scott Walker has made some moves on the environment in this campaign, embracing a plan to disassemble the Environmental Protection Agency, and return regulation over ecological issues to the states.
But there is even more running room for other candidates here. The American Action Forum reported that federal environmental regulations accounted for $216 billion in costs for the U.S. economy in 2012, double its previous record-setting total.
Coming out against the carbon tax in this campaign might be a persuasive play for Sen. Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, or even Donald Trump, who has been rather circumspect on his policy positions, save for curtailing illegal aliens, thus far.
“A 2014 poll showed that half the voters between the ages of 18 and 29 are unwedded to either party,” writes Anderson. “Environmental policies based on markets, incentives, and entrepreneurship, offer Republicans a chance to win them over.”
Another important book, Millennial Momentum: How a New Generation Is Remaking America, by Morley Winograd and Michael Hais, shows that millennials are very active entrepreneurs, as they have found new job creation at established companies close to nil during the Obama years.
The authors argue that a millennial environmental policy would be, for example, to reduce barriers to leasing water to farmers from federal irrigation projects in California’s Central Valley.
Another millennial-friendly environmental policy would be developing individual, but transferable, fishing quotas, which could preserve the livelihoods of fishermen, as well as the size of fish stocks.
Obama’s environmental policies are unpopular and are creating an opportunity for the conservative candidate who is willing to seize it. According to Rasmussen Research, 56 percent of likely U.S. voters believe Obama’s plan will “increase energy costs.” Just 17 percent think it will decrease costs. No one is buying what the Obama green team is selling. (Later this month, Obama, who has the biggest carbon footprint in the world when he travels on Air Force One, will venture to Las Vegas to tout the eco-regulation plan at Sen. Harry Reid’s National Clean Energy Summit. The Heartland Institute, and other libertarian think tanks, will be there to greet him at the Mandalay Bay resort with realistic analyses of his statist solutions for pollution.)
“To win the younger vote, conservatives in Washington will have to stop protecting status quo subsidies,” writes Anderson, in this summer’s edition of the Hoover Digest, in an article entitled, “Green Allies: What Would Bring Conservationists and Conservatives together? Environmental solutions that really work.”
http://spectator.org/articles/63744/millennial-voters-want-results-not-regulations
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Why I (Still) Defend Women’s Sex-Based Rights
It’s not popular in “progressive” liberal circles to defend women’s rights any more.
Last year I was forced out of my home and kicked out of an animal rights group I had founded, by people who had been my friends and comrades. My partner and I were publicly shamed, called homophobic and sexist slurs, and physically assaulted — all by avowed leftists and liberals.
My thought crime that warranted this onslaught: I defend women’s sex-based rights.
In every corner of the globe, women are oppressed. We are raped, enslaved, bought and sold, controlled, abused, impregnated and forced to give birth, denied education, denied access to the workforce, denied suffrage, silenced, ignored, and excluded.
This is not just hypothetical. Men have raped me, raped most of friends, and raped two out of my four sisters. Men raped and abused my mother, driving her to suicide. Both of my grandmothers were survivors of domestic abuse. This oppression is very real. It is not something we opted into or consented to, nor is it something we could ever truly opt out of.
“It is not something we opted into or consented to, nor is it something we could ever truly opt out of.”
This was not always a controversial idea in feminism. Feminists of the first and second waves knew that women were oppressed on the basis of their sex. Simone de Beauvoir knew this when she wrote in the Second Sex about the differential socialization girls and boys receive which results in the perceived inferiority of women. Ruth Bader-Ginsburg knew it when she fought to eliminate sex discrimination in the high court. Today, even in the United States, we know this because “people with uteruses [sic]” have had their reproductive rights torn away by the state. Women and girls are oppressed for being female.
But in today’s “progressive” left, women are forced to twist themselves into Orwellian double-speak to avoid the mention of female oppression. Even in animal rights, where I gained most of my experience with the left, it has become uncouth to mention the exploitation of cows and chickens for their female reproductive systems.
Those who dare to speak their thought-crime, especially women, will be socially and economically burned at the stake. This is what a real witch hunt looks like. We’re not taking down powerful rapists like Brett Kavanaugh, but 28-year-old males are punching 60-year-old women for stating that we need sex-based protections and rights.
The left has a misogyny problem, and the erasure of female reality in favor of postmodern identities with no basis in material reality is just the peak of it. In the past, the woman-hating of the left looked like brocialism: “Free grass, free food, free women, free acid, free clothes,” as Upton Sinclair is claimed to have said. (While most of these ideas have not come to fruition, liberal men have done an exceptional job convincing women, at least, to give them exactly what they want).
For as long as there has been patriarchy, women have been dressing as men in order to gain access to roles and resources that would otherwise be denied them. In some cases, they were killed for this transgression; literally burned for heresy like Joan of Arc. Feminists are able to look upon this shared history of hiding, pain, and oppression and see other women who were bravely defying the gender norms of their time. The anti-feminists of the new left, however, argue that these women must have actually been men. Women are only real if they conform exactly to the gender norms of their time (never mind the impossibility of this considering the inherent contradictions of expected femininity, eg. “the virgin vs. the whore”).
For women in the past who aimed to opt-out of gender norms, the only available options were drastic: dress as a man, hide your identity, and risk being murdered when you were found out. Today, girls are presented with an increasingly socially acceptable version of this age-old tale. Being a girl may be easier in some ways today, but the impossibility of meeting the gender norms expected of girls is overwhelming and painful. It’s no surprise to feminists that as the gender identity movement grows, two-thirds of trans-identifying youth are female.
I have seen way too many women that I have known, and even loved, fall prey to this misogyny. Young women, especially, are desperate to escape womanhood. And who can blame them? We know what happens to women who defy gender norms.
Radical feminism, by it’s very nature, seeks to abolish gender. Gender is a constructed tool of the patriarchy used to keep women in an inferior state to men. To say that a woman chooses her gender, or has an innate “gender identity” is to say that women are complicit in their oppression, and consent to their inferiority. We do not.
“Woman” is not a feeling. It is a material reality. We are adult human females, and we exist beyond the minds of men who fetishize and infantilize us.
But for saying this I will have slurs hurled at me, be physically attacked, and be silenced. I will be called a bigot, Nazi, and hateful. The fact that I simply am not any of these things will not matter. The truth does not matter when a woman says No to a man.
No, you can not colonize, appropriate, and erase our pain.
We do not consent to our oppression.
Despite the unprecedented popularity of the word “feminism,” feminists themselves are still considered heretics. A new McCarthyism has arisen, with women and men alike terrified to speak out for fear of the consequences. This fear is keeping women isolated, believing we are alone in our questions and criticisms of mainstream “feminism,” using cultural gas-lighting to convince us that we must be the ones in the wrong. In some places, laws are already being enacted enforcing this double-think.
We have real reason to be afraid. The violent tactics of the males and their brainwashed women who oppose us are terrifying. Men have centuries of practice at keeping women in their place. They make examples out of people like myself, my partner, and my friends, to show others the consequences of speaking out.
But I have news: I’m not afraid any more.
I am not afraid to say that a woman is an adult human female.
I am not afraid to say that I believe women and girls are oppressed on the basis of sex.
I am not afraid to say that dairy and eggs are exploitations of the female reproductive system.
I am not afraid to say that women need access to sex-based rights and protections.
If you are also tired of being afraid, please take a moment to sign the Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights, which outlines the risks inherent in replacing rights granted on the basis of sex with “gender identity.”
In a quick look at the thousands of signatures from 80+ countries since the Declaration launched only a few months ago, it is clear that we are not as alone as we are made to feel. The more women who take a public stance against female erasure and the co-opting of feminism, the safer it will be for others.
If you are just starting to learn about radical feminism’s criticism of gender, this is a great list of resources with which to start.
Join me in refusing to be afraid.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider supporting me on Patreon so I can keep creating feminist content without censorship.
M. K. Fain is creating radical feminist journalism | Patreon
Non-Binary Is the New “Not Like Other Girls,” and it’s Deeply Rooted in Misogyny
In the summer of 2018 I lived in a house with 3 other women. We spent a lot of time together that year, and there were many late-night conversations about
M. K. Fain 14 Jul 2019 • 7 min read
This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Let’s Name the Problem
We are currently two years into the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, which continues to spread and take down powerful politicians, actors and comedians, and even clergymen. Even Joe Biden,
M. K. Fain 23 Apr 2019 • 6 min read
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Memphis's News, Talk, Traffic & Weather
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The Ben Ferguson Show
Far From United: Political Divide In America
posted by Study Finds - Oct 3, 2018
EAST LANSING, Mich. — It may not be so hard to believe during this murky political landscape, but a new study finds the divide between Democrats and Republicans is the worst it’s ever been, more so than many people may even think.
The research, conducted by Zachary Neal, an associate professor of psychology and global urban studies at Michigan State University, is among the first to measure polarization not only by examining the frequency of parties working together, but also by demonstrating how they’ve grown more distant than any other time in modern history.
Neal points out that neither side is to blame for the growing rift. Regardless of the party that holds the majority in Congress or controls the White House, the political divide has widened all the same.
“What I’ve found is that polarization has been steadily getting worse since the early 1970s,” he explains in a university release. “Today, we’ve hit the ceiling on polarization. At these levels, it will be difficult to make any progress on social or economic policies.”
For the study, Neal examined the legislative networks of every U.S. Senator and Representative between 1973 and 2016. He also reviewed bills presented before Congress during the period, specifically looking for bipartisan legislation that was co-sponsored by members from both parties. He found that while polarization was still strong in the 1970s, it’s continued to worsen, particularly since the early 1990s.
Neal defines polarization in two ways: weak polarization, which occurs when parties simply don’t work together; and strong polarization, which occurs when a party not only shuns the other side, but also outwardly attacks opponents or paints them in a negative light. He showed that strong polarization actually dipped in the early and mid-1970s, only to take a steady turn for the worse by 1980. In effect, fewer lawmakers are coming together to co-sponsor attempts at bipartisan bills, and instead, more are taking time to rail against the other side of the aisle.
For example, Neal points to the icy relationship between Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, who, according to a Politico report cited in the study, have “developed virtually no rapport in a body where trust and relationships are essential. To the extent they’ve engaged, it’s mainly been to launch political — and at times, personal — attacks.”
If you think things couldn’t possibly grow any worse, Neal contends they probably will, particularly if the margin between the majority and minority remains thin. Of course, we saw this in full play with the Affordable Care Act that passed as Democrats barely held the majority — only to be amended when Republicans took charge, after several attempts to repeal it.
“This study raises new questions about the future of Congressional politics,” he says. “In truth, the only thing that is bi-partisan in Congress is the trend toward greater polarization.”
Neal suggests electing more centrists to Congress could be one solution, but Americans typically stick to the candidates that wholly represent their party affiliation. Thus our democracy, Neal argues, will continue fall victim to this continued political impasse.
“[T]he threat that strong polarization poses to lawmaking may not be the implementation of extreme policy, but rather may be dramatic swings from one partisan extreme to another that prevent the long-term implementation of any policy,” he concludes.
The full study was published on September 24, 2018 in the journal Social Networks.
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When the ‘Wild and Crazy Guys’ Debuted on ‘Saturday Night Live’
Guys obsessed with sex but clueless about how to get it have long been a staple of comedy. Saturday Night Live made one of the most enduring contribution to the genre with the Festrunk Brothers, more popularly known as the "wild and crazy guys," who made their debut on Sept. 24, 1977.
The sketch, which appeared on the first episode of the show's third season, teamed host Steve Martin with Not Ready for Prime Time Player Dan Aykroyd as, respectively, Georg and Yortuk Festrunk, brothers who had escaped their hometown of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, a few years earlier and were now settled in New York City in the midst of the disco era and the Sexual Revolution.
Dressed in tight, plaid pants and loud, unbuttoned shirts that revealed large medallions, they encounter two women (Jane Curtin and Gilda Radner) playing ping-pong in the rec room of their apartment building.
Fancying themselves swingers, but lacking all self-awareness and subtlety, the Festrunks proceed to put the moves on the women in heavily accented English, calling them "foxes," praising their "big American breasts" and proposing they all go up to their apartment. The women aren't interested and, to get rid of the brothers, suggest they meet somewhere first: the glass booth in the middle of the Holland Tunnel.
Martin and Aykroyd reprised the characters two other times that season, and once more in Season Four. The recurring phrase uttered by Martin, "We are ... two wild and crazy guys!" became a pop-culture catch phrase, and he even titled his 1978 hit comedy album A Wild and Crazy Guy. Martin became so synonymous with the phrase that he's still called a "wild and crazy guy" in headlines more than 40 years later.
Watch Two Wild & Crazy Guys on 'Saturday Night Live'
Over the years, Saturday Night Live continued to develop recurring characters who had no skills around women -- from Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar (Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) to the head-bobbing, Haddaway-loving Steve and Doug Butabi (Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan).
The latter pair, known as the Roxbury Guys, were pretty much the spiritual children of the Festrunks. A 1998 episode of SNL even found the Butabis lose out to Martin and Aykroyd, playing the Festrunks for the first time in 20 years, when they finally got the girl, played by host Cameron Diaz.
They made one last appearance in March 2013, as the contestants on a Dating Game-like show in competition with "Dick in a Box" singers Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg. The woman, played by cast member Vanessa Bayer, chose to date all four men.
Rock's 60 Biggest 'Saturday Night Live Musical Moments
Next: When Milton Berle Got Banned From 'Saturday Night Live
Source: When the ‘Wild and Crazy Guys’ Debuted on ‘Saturday Night Live’
Filed Under: saturday night live
Categories: Entertainment News, Television
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About AAHB
AAHB Founders
Job Board Info
Professional Development Research Scholars
Health Behavior Research (HBR) Journal
Join AAHB
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Agenda - Sunday March 8, 2020
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2016 Awardee
2018 JKB Awardee
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American Academy of Health Behavior
Lara McKenzie, PhD, FAAHB
Dr. Lara McKenzie is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics with tenure at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Division of Epidemiology at The Ohio State University College of Public Health. She is also a faculty researcher and Director of the Training and Education Core for the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. McKenzie is a social and behavioral scientist specializing in the use of behavioral theories and models to develop and evaluate child injury prevention interventions. Her work also focuses on injuries associated with consumer products as well as sports- and activity-related injuries that are treated in hospital emergency departments. Her research is supported by federal grants and foundations. Dr. McKenzie received the 2007 and 2010 Recognition for Excellence from the Public Health Education Health Promotion Committee of the American Public Health Association for her educational tools aimed to increase parent safety behaviors. She was also awarded the Outstanding Principal Investigator of the Year in 2009 from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the first-ever award of this type at her institution. In 2012 Dr. McKenzie received the Outstanding Recent Graduate Award from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an award which recognizes recent graduates for outstanding achievement in their professional life. Dr. McKenzie is passionate about innovative work in the field of injury prevention and holds a patent for a child-resistant spray bottle. She and her team created a home safety mobile application (which has been downloaded more than 58,000 times) for parents and caregivers as part of the Make Safe Happen® program. Dr. McKenzie has been a member since 2007 and Fellow of The Academy (class of 2016) and is extremely active in her service. She has served as Member Delegate since 2015, she chaired the 2015 Annual Conference Planning Committee, and has also chaired the Professional Development and Mentoring Council. Dr. McKenzie also serves as a mentor in the AAHB Research Scholars Mentorship Program.
My introduction to The Academy began when my doctoral advisor and mentor, Andrea C. Gielen, ScD (AAHB Fellow and Research Laureate) encouraged me to attend the 2005 annual meeting in Charleston, SC. Finding a professional home should be (but isn’t always) as easy as having your mentor simply point you in the right direction. At the first AAHB meeting I attended, I immediately I felt like I had “found my people.” We shared a passion for improving health, a commitment to excellence in research, and best practices for applying research to practice. I felt immediately invested in and welcomed by The Academy. Attending The Academy annual meetings put faces and personalities to the work of leaders in health behavior research that I was only familiar with on paper and interacting in person helped me to shape my own body of research. I have been an active member of The Academysince 2007 serving in various roles on the Board and on councils such as Chair of the Professional Development and Mentoring Council, Chair of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee, and Member Delegate.
As President my vision for The Academy will focus on three areas: Mentorship, Growth, and Inspiration.
Mentorship at Multiple Levels (multi-level mentorship). I believe that continued progress in health behavior research, in part, will be made by mentoring and trainingnew health behavior researchers and scholars. The development and realization of the AAHB Research Scholars Mentorship Program is a strong vehicle for mentoring and training junior researchers while simultaneously involving senior members of The Academy. These unique interdisciplinary collaborations around shared interests include documenting outcomes, innovating around interventions to encourage healthy behaviors, and ultimately sharing evidence-based results to the largest audiences, be they individuals, policy makers, communities, or the nation. As President I will work with the Board to continue to offer both formal and informal mentoring and professional development opportunities and brainstorm ways to facilitate increasing the offerings and impact of mentorship.
Growth, While Retaining the Standard of Excellence. Serving in various elected positions and council chair roles has afforded me a view of the inner workings of The Academy,from budgeting, sponsorship, strategic planning, introduction of a new journal, annual meeting planning, membership structure and fees. I have seen the policies bend and flex to accommodate a growing membership base of health behavior research students, professionals and scholars, allowing our organization to become more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. As President I will encourage this type of growth of the membership while retaining the standard of excellence founding members and others should expect. The importance of membership growth as a strategy is two-fold: we need to expand membership base so as to not be completely reliant on the annual meeting for financial survival and expand the influence of our members’ work; which will help ensure the survival of The Academy into its third decade and beyond.
Inspiration (What is the next big thing for The Academy?). I am passionate about innovation and “thinking big.” The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something and to be creative is not always an approach that is associated with scholars/researchers, however, my own work along with the work of our Academy members proves that creativity, inventiveness, innovation, imagination, and originality are what gives our field inspiration and the energy to move forward. As President I will apply this passion to encourage the Board and members to submit new ideas, try new approaches to collaborations, mentoring, and research while supporting our foundation and mission.
I would be honored to continue to support The Academy in this important leadership role.
Annie Nguyen, PhD, MPH
Secretary, 2018-2021
Dr. Annie Nguyen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC). She earned her MPH from Dartmouth College and her PhD in Public and Community Health from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her research focuses on the social, physical, and mental health determinants of successful aging, particularly for people with chronic conditions. Her current research studies examine successful aging and end-of-life issues for adults aging with HIV.
Dr. Nguyen attended her first AAHB meeting as a doctoral student in 2011 where she was awarded a Student Poster of Distinction Award. She has been a proud and active member of AAHB ever since and has subsequently received the Outstanding Student Poster Award and the Outstanding Research Poster Award. She joined the AAHB Diversity and Equity Council in 2014, served as an abstract reviewer and poster judge for multiple years, and is currently the 2018 Research Review Chair.
Outside of AAHB, she is an active leader in the Aging and Public Health Section of the American Public Health Association and served as Secretary (2015-2017) where she took on projects to archive the history of the section and maintain committee and council operating procedures. She is enthusiastic about the opportunity to run for AAHB Secretary and would be honored if elected to serve.
Mohammad Torabi, PhD, MPH, FAAHB
Delegate 2018-2021
Dr. Mohammad Torabi received a B.S. and M.S.P.H. from Tehran University, Ph.D. from Purdue University and M.P.H. from Indiana University. Currently, he is Chancellor’s Professor and Former Founding Dean of the School of Public Health-Bloomington and serves as Co-Director of the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention.
His research focus has been in the area of measurement and evaluation of public and school health programs and factors associated with health behavior. His research extends into health promotion and key factors related to individuals’ decisions in the prevention of tobacco and other drugs, cancer, and HIV/AIDS infection. He has extensively published his research in a variety of major national and international journals in the field. Specifically, his research in the area of tobacco as a gateway drug and tobacco policy has made an impact at the national and international levels. Professor Torabi has served as a research consultant for various state and national organizations including governmental and non-governmental agencies and has presented his research in major national and international conferences.
Dr. Torabi served as Editor of the Health Education Monograph Series for over twenty years and in the past, served as Assistant Research Editor of the Journal of School Health and a research editor for the American Journal of Health Behavior. He is a Past-President of the American Academy of Health Behavior. He has served as a member of the National Executive Board of the American School Health Association, at - large member of the National Council of the American Lung Association, a Board member of the American Association of Health Education and a member of the National Executive Committee of the Eta Sigma Gamma, a Health Science Honorary. He served as a Vice President for North American Region office of the International Union of Health Promotion and Education. Dr. Torabi has also served as the President of the American Lung Association of Indiana and President of the IU Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. Currently, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors, Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education and is the Health Education Commissioner for the International Council for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. He held a gubernatorial appointment on the Executive Board, Tobacco Prevention and Cessation.
His contributions have been recognized by numerous awards, such as the 2015 Society for Public Health Education Distinguished Fellow Award, Scholar Award from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Council for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Research Council Award of the American School Health Association, the Midwest District Scholar of the American Alliance for HPER. He also received the Outstanding Researcher Award by the Indiana University School of HPER; the Murray Auerbach Medal from the American Lung Association of Indiana; National Distinguished Service Award by the American School Health Association; and the Indiana University W. George Pinnell Award for outstanding service. Also he was selected a Distinguished Alumnus of Purdue University College of Liberal Arts. He has received various certificates of Merits and Commendation by the American Cancer Society; Phi Delta Kappa; and the American Lung Association. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior; Fellow of American School Health Association; Fellow of the AAHPERD Research Consortium; Fellow of American Association of Health Education; and Fellow of North American Society of HPER. In 1997, he was named a Chancellor’s Professor at Indiana University.
2018 Appointments
Wenhua Lu, PhD, MS
Diversity and Equity Council Chair, 2018-2021
Dr. Wenhua Lu, PhD, MS, is an assistant professor in the Department of Childhood Studies at Rutgers University. Dr. Lu earned her MS in science and technology journalism (2009-2011) and PhD in health education (2011-2014) from Texas A&M University. She also completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in mental health service research at the Silver School of Social Work, New York University (2014-2016).
Dr. Lu’s research centers around child and adolescent health disparities, with a focus on minority and underserved populations. In particular, Dr. Lu is interested in understanding and intervening on behavioral, psychosocial and environmental factors that influence minority and underserved children’s health risk behaviors (e.g., unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity), negative health outcomes (e.g., childhood obesity), and mental health disorders (e.g., adolescent depression). Currently, Dr. Lu is working on two health disparities research projects to 1) examine the mechanism underlying unmet mental health service needs among Asian American adolescents with mental health disorders, and 2) investigate the real-time influence of neighborhood environments on adolescent food-purchase behaviors using mobile technologies. Dr. Lu is also the Co-Project Director of a RWJF-sponsored youth civic engagement project to evaluate the implementation and impact of RWJF’s Next Generation Community Leaders initiative in 11 underserved minority communities across New Jersey.
Dr. Lu’s research has been published in leading public health journals, including Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, American Journal of Health Behavior, and Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, and featured in various media outlets, such as NJTV News, Morning Dose TV, KYW News Radio, and Philadelphia Inquirer. Dr. Lu is also the recipient of multiple prestigious research awards, including the 2017 NIMHD Health Disparities Research Institute scholarship.
Dr. Wehnua Lu was named the 2018 Judy K. Black Awardee
Hsien-Chang Lin, PhD
Awards Council Chair, 2018-2021
Dr. Hsien-Chang Lin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Health Science at Indiana University School of Public Health at Bloomington. Dr. Lin has published a number of peer-reviewed articles in the areas of substance use, public health and healthcare policy, and physician and patient behaviors. His current research focuses on evaluating policy interventions on substance use behaviors, in particular e-cigarette use, cannabis use, and non-medical use of opioids and other prescription drugs. He has employed the social-ecological approach to bridge research in public health policy and health behavior, with the focus on policy impact.
Dr. Lin teaches advanced evaluation research methodology to doctoral students, public health economics as well as public health organization and administration to master of public health students, and public health research methods to undergraduate students. Dr. Lin has mentored over a dozen of doctoral students in health behavior at Indiana University.
Dr. Lin earned a joint PhD in health policy and pharmaceutical outcomes research from the University of Michigan, two master degrees in economics from the University of Michigan and National Taiwan University, and a dual bachelor degree in sociology and economics from National Taiwan University. Dr. has been an active AAHB member. He served as the 2016 AAHB Research Review Chair and is currently serving as a member of the AAHB Awards Council and the Professional Mentoring and Development Council. He has also served as the abstract reviewer for the AAHB annual meeting every year since 2013. Dr. Lin will be chairing the Planning Committee for the 2019 AAHB annual meeting to be held in Greenville, SC.
Joanne Sommers, M.Ed.,CHES
Email: jsommer@bgsu.edu
© 2014 American Academy of Health Behavior. All Rights Reserved
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(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Johnson And Kisner, Housemates And British Open Leaders
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) — A light rain in the morning that gave way to soft sunlight in the afternoon took some of the sting out of Carnoustie.
Just not all of it.
Kevin Kisner found that out with one swing that erased his two-shot lead Friday in the British Open and left him tied with housemate Zach Johnson. He hit an 8-iron that only needed to go 150 yards to clear the Barry Burn in front of the 18th green. Instead, it floated out of the yellow grass to the right, bounced off the base of the rock wall that frames the winding stream and led to a double bogey.
Disappointed but not down, Kisner removed his cap behind the green and scratched his head as if he wondered what hit him.
"They call it 'Car-nasty' for a reason," he said after signing for his 1-under 70. "Even when you think you've got it, it will jump up and bite you."
It took a chunk out of Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas, the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world who won't be around for the weekend. Johnson finished with a double bogey to miss the cut by one. Thomas made three straight double bogeys on the front nine and missed by one.
And it left a wide-open weekend on a course with a history of crazy finishes.
Zach Johnson, whose name already is on the claret jug from his playoff victory at St. Andrews three years ago, played in the morning under an umbrella and finished with a 30-foot birdie putt for a 67.
Johnson and Kisner are staying in a house of seven players — five of them major champions — and share the lead at 6-under 136.
They played on different ends of a day that started gray and ended with shadows. Scotland's unusually dry summer finally got a reprieve. There wasn't enough rain to turn brown fairways green, though it at least kept shots from rolling endlessly.
They head into a weekend with endless possibilities.
One shot behind were Tommy Fleetwood (65), Pat Perez (68) and Xander Schauffele (66). Perez was tied for the lead until he hit into a bunker on the 18th hole and took bogey. Rory McIlroy, pledging to "go down swinging" to rid himself of a bad Masters memory this year, had another 69 and was part of a large group two shots behind.
Jordan Spieth also is in the mix in his bid to take the claret jug back home to Texas. Spieth hit 8-iron through a gap in the trees for a birdie-birdie start to the back nine, and he dropped only one shot — not four like he did on Thursday — over the four closing holes at Carnoustie for a 67. He goes into the weekend just three shots back.
"Very happy to be back in the tournament," Spieth said.
Tiger Woods still has work to do after a rugged start, good recovery and then a mix of birdies and bogeys that left him stuck in neutral on a better day for scoring. Woods had another 71 and was six shots behind, with 28 players between him and the lead.
"We've been fortunate with the conditions. It hasn't blown yet," Kisner said. "I think it will blow this weekend and make it even more difficult. Who knows what's going to happen? We're going to just keep trying to get after it."
Carnoustie was a far different test from the opening round, when sunshine baked the fairways crisp and it was difficult to figure out how far the ball was going when it hit the ground. The steady, light rain made them a little slower and a lot more predictable. The greens held shots a little better. Strategies changed. Slightly softer conditions meant power players who were driving beyond the trouble hit more irons off the tee, and shorter players hit more drivers and fairway metals.
Kisner hit 5-iron off the first tee Thursday. He hit 3-wood Friday.
"Hit the same club as the approach," Kisner said. "That's a pretty dramatic difference in distance."
Kisner is a newcomer to what amounts to an American fraternity house at golf's oldest championship the last three years. Four of them are among the top 11 on the leaderboard going into the weekend with Spieth and Rickie Fowler, who shot 69 and was at 3-under 139.
As for talking shop after work? Nothing is off limits.
"Everybody will tell their horror stories and good stories, and we'll laugh and eat a big old meal and sit around and watching something stupid," Kisner said.
Thomas will have one of the horror stories.
The PGA champion took three to get out of a pot bunker from the fairway on the par-5 sixth hole, making the first of three straight double bogeys. Johnson became the first No. 1 player to miss the cut since Luke Donald in 2011, and it was the second straight that the top two players in the world ranking missed the cut in a major.
The way golf has been going, it would be reasonable to see the name "Johnson" atop the leaderboard and assume it belonged to the top-ranked player.
But not necessarily at the British Open.
"I've been called Dustin many times," Zach Johnson said. "I doubt he's been called Zach that many times."
Johnson overcame a bogey on the opening hole with birdies on the third and fourth holes, and he never put himself under too much pressure the rest of the way.
Already a two-time major champion with titles at St. Andrews and Augusta National, the 42-year-old from Iowa now has made the cut 12 straight times in the British Open, a streak that began at Carnoustie in 2007. His low ball flight, grinding nature and good putting give him the right ingredients.
Kisner is no stranger to pressure at a major. He had at least a share of the lead after each of three rounds at the PGA Championship last summer until a bogey on the 70th hole ruined his chances.
"Hopefully, I'll have another chance to prove that I can do it here," Kisner said.
Kevin Kisner
British Open The Open
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The Most Dangerous States for Pedestrians
It’s no secret that some states are home to safer drivers than others… and when it comes to pedestrian safety, how does each state measure up?
Accounting for approximately one in six crash fatalities each year, pedestrian motor vehicle crash deaths have increased forty-five percent since 2009, to 5,977 deaths in 2017, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Most of these tragic incidents occur after dark, according to the United States National Security Council: whereas only 20 percent of pedestrian motor vehicle crashes take place during the day, 75 percent take place after dark (about 5 percent take place at dawn and dusk). Above all, urban areas on a Friday or Saturday night are the most common setting for these fatal crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS also reports that fatal pedestrian crashes are also more than twice as likely to involve male pedestrians as they are to involve female pedestrians. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 193,866 individuals were treated in emergency departments for injuries resulting from being hit by a car. If spread evenly across the year, over 22 pedestrians would be injured by a vehicle every hour.
Law enforcement takes the risk of pedestrian motor vehicle crash deaths very seriously, and proper driving behavior toward pedestrians in the road is strictly enforced in communities across the country. Failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian attempting to cross the street is a serious moving violation. Punishment for this offense can be severe, as far as moving violations go. The exact penalty for failing to yield to a pedestrian varies by state. Generally, though, fines in most states can be as high as $150-250 for a first offense. What’s more, a driver can still be guilty of failing to yield to a pedestrian, even if they do come to a full stop: a driver still fails to yield the right of way to a pedestrian if they come close to running the pedestrian down.
Curious to see how each state measures up when it comes to pedestrian safety, researchers at Insurify analyzed data from over 1.9 million drivers in their database against the latest fatal pedestrian crash data from the IIHS, to determine the most dangerous states for pedestrians.
National average: In the United States, an average of 5.5 out of every 10,000 drivers is guilty of failure to yield the right of way for a pedestrian, while an average of 1.4 out of every 100,000 pedestrians is involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash.
Safest states: Insurify’s analysis reveals that Iowa is the safest state for pedestrians. With the lowest composite score, Iowa’s pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle are less than half the national average, and failure to yield infractions are only a fifth of the national average. Indiana and Kansas come in second and third, with rates that are well below the national average.
How related are pedestrian deaths to failure to yield violations? Statistical analyses of the data reveal a low inverse correlation between pedestrian fatality rates and failure to yield violations. This may come as a surprise, but keep in mind that pedestrian fatality rates can vary widely year by year. A variety of circumstantial factors influence whether a fatal pedestrian accident occurs in the first place. Although we can’t say for sure why this inverse correlation exists, one possible explanation of this relationship is that high citation rates for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian are a mechanism for improving driver behavior, thus driving down fatality rates. An analysis of the top 10 states revealed a small positive correlation between pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle and failure to yield violations. Simply put, the most dangerous states are decidedly the most dangerous in the nation, with high failure to yield rates that also correspond with high pedestrian fatality rates.
To determine the most dangerous states for pedestrians, the research team at Insurify, an insurance quotes comparison website, referred to their database of over 1.9 million car insurance applications. Drivers who apply for car insurance quotes at Insurify input their driving history in the past seven years, which includes receipt of any tickets for failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian. Fatal pedestrian motor vehicle crash data by state was collected from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). They collected data from every year, beginning in 2012 and ending with 2017, the IIHS’ most recent data. From this, Insurify’s data scientists calculated the average rate of pedestrian fatalities from a motor vehicle crash per state. Then, they generated a composite score for each state. The 10 states with the highest score were selected as the most dangerous states for pedestrians in the nation. Data on nonfatal pedestrian injuries resulting from a motor vehicle crash was not used in this study, as state-by-state data was unavailable.
Insurify’s data scientists chose not to rely on one data set or the other to create their scoring system. Other studies take only fatal pedestrian crashes into account when determining the most dangerous states for pedestrians, but using this data alone does not paint the most accurate picture. Statistically, failure to yield violations occur more than thirty times more frequently than pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash. Whereas fatal pedestrian motor vehicle crashes may be the result of a tragic combination of circumstances, failure to yield to a pedestrian may be indicative of systemic trends in driver attitudes or patterns of behavior. Understanding these rates can give a better idea of what kind of driver behavior to expect on the roads.
10. Rhode Island
8.9 drivers with a failure to yield to a pedestrian violation, per 10k drivers (61% higher than the national average)
1.2 pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash per 100k people (13% lower than the national average)
Rhode Island makes our list as the tenth most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrians. This state may be the smallest (at least in terms of size), but it certainly doesn’t have the lowest number of safety risks to pedestrians when it comes to driver behavior. With a failure to yield rate that is over 61 percent greater than the national mean, crossing the street in this state is significantly more dangerous on average.
9. Idaho
10.85 drivers with a failure to yield to a pedestrian violation, per 10k drivers (96% higher than the national average)
0.74 pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash per 100k people (46% lower than the national average)
Home to nearly twice as many drivers with a failure to yield to a pedestrian on their record, Idaho comes in ninth place in our ranking. We were surprised to see how few pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash there were, compared to failures to yield. That said, you’re almost twice as likely to encounter a driver who has failed to yield to a pedestrian in the past.
8. Vermont
10.7 drivers with a failure to yield to a pedestrian violation, per 10k drivers (93% higher than the national average)
The Green Mountain State is home to nearly twice as many drivers who have failed to yield to a pedestrian. However, pedestrian deaths in Vermont are much less frequent (although fluctuations do occur year to year). One explanation could be that Vermont law requires pedestrians to cross the road with enough room to stop; not doing so can incur a fine. Perhaps pedestrians exercise more caution in Vermont than in other states and therefore are more likely to avoid an accident.
Compared to the national average, Utah drivers are almost twice as likely to have failed to yield to a pedestrian. Given this, it would behoove pedestrians in The Beehive State to stay particularly vigilant when crossing the road – even if the rates of pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash are lower than average.
3.36 pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash per 100k people (54% higher than the national average)
In the state with the most casinos, crossing the road can be a gamble in and of itself. With high rates of drivers failing to yield a pedestrian the right of way, and with pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash over 1.5 times the national average, it’s best not to leave things up to chance. Taking proactive measures when crossing the street can prevent tragedy from striking.
9.18 drivers with a failure to yield to a pedestrian violation, per 10k drivers (66% higher than the national average)
This year, California brings us to the top five most dangerous states for pedestrians. The Golden State ranks well above the national average for rates of drivers failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian, and for pedestrian deaths per capita. Pedestrians in California would be well-advised to add an extra dose of caution when crossing the street.
13.71 drivers with a failure to yield to a pedestrian violation, per 10k drivers (138% higher than the national average)
We were surprised at the comparatively low rate of pedestrian deaths by motor vehicles in Massachusetts; perhaps pedestrians in this state have been luckier than others. But with significantly more than twice as many drivers failing to yield for a pedestrian when compared to the national average, crossing the street in Massachusetts can be much riskier than in most other states.
3. Oregon
1.4 pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash per 100k people (2% higher than the national average)
This year Oregon is the third most dangerous state for pedestrians, with more than twice as many drivers as the national average who have failed to yield the right of way to a pedestrian. Insurify’s data scientists were not very surprised to see Oregon at the top of this list; they ran a study earlier this year and found Oregon is the sixth-worst state in the nation for failures to stop at a red light or stop sign.
1.73 pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash per 100k people (25% higher) than the national average
It’s not all roses in The Garden State: this year New Jersey ranks second in the nation as the most dangerous state for pedestrians. With more than three times as many drivers caught failing to yield pedestrians the right of way and higher-than-average rates of pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash, crossing the street in New Jersey can be much riskier than in almost every other state.
This year, New York is the most dangerous state for pedestrians, according to Insurify’s careful calculations. Given New York City’s reputation for having some of the most aggressive drivers in the nation, we weren’t surprised to see such sky-high rates of drivers failing to yield pedestrians the right of way. It may be surprising that pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle crash are above average, but much less so than driver failures to yield. However, given New York’s population of over 19 million people, it makes up a significant proportion of pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle in the nation by sheer numbers.
Honorable Mention: Iowa
1.12 drivers with a failure to yield to a pedestrian violation, per 10k drivers (80% lower than the national average)
Insurify would like to recognize Iowa as the safest state for pedestrians this year. With incredibly low rates of fatal pedestrian crashes and even lower failure to yield rates, Iowa is home to drivers who tend to be much more conscientious than average towards their fellow citizens—and it shows. Congratulations, Iowa!
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please contact us at insights@insurify.com
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Biggest One-Hit Wonders of All Time
By Charles Stockdale, Colman Andrews and John Harrington November 13, 2019 3:52 pm | Last updated: January 6, 2020 1:13 am
Having a chart-topping song is the dream of countless musicians. Music’s biggest stars often accomplish this feat repeatedly. Other recording artists, however, manage to score only one big hit, never able to duplicate their success again.
There’s no official definition of the term “one-hit wonder” in the music world, but it usually refers to a recording artist who has had one No. 1 hit (or one song that charted near the top for a substantial stretch of time), with the artist’s other efforts failing to reach similar heights. Music industry trade publication Billboard applies the term to anyone whose second single falls short of the Top 25.
In order to determine the biggest one-hit wonders of all time, 24/7 Tempo has identified artists whose No. 1 songs stayed the longest on the weekly Top 40 charts, based on the Billboard Hot 100.
Click here to see the biggest one-hit wonders.
Sometimes, one-hit wonder artists are great successes in fields other than popular music. Radio and TV personality Rick Dees, whose “Weekly Top 40” claims to be the longest continuously running hit music countdown in the world, topped the charts himself (as Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots) with “Disco Duck” in 1976. Mark Wahlberg first found fame as the lead member of hip-hop group Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch, who scored a hit with “Good Vibrations.” Wahlberg would go on to act in numerous critically acclaimed blockbuster movies. These are the greatest movies starring musicians.
However, legendary musical artists like Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed, Garth Brooks, and the Grateful Dead are all technically one-hit wonders, too, in that none had more than one song among the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart throughout their careers. Those artists’ sole top 40 hits underperformed on the chart, however, compared to those listed here. Not having more than one top hit, obviously, doesn’t imply a lack of talent or a thriving music career.
This can be seen with the many one-hit wonders who are still producing new music, years after their big hit. These are the one-hit wonders that are still making music.
Similarly, 24/7 Tempo’s list of biggest one-hit wonders includes other names you may recognize, such as jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin, Latino rockers Los Lobos, and Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor.
To determine the biggest one-hit wonders, 24/7 Tempo identified the songs with the longest stays on the weekly Top 40 charts, based on the Billboard Hot 100, from 1980 to 2012. Only songs that reached No. 1 were considered. Additionally, artists must have charted on the Top 40 no more than twice, either as individual artists or by featuring on another artist’s song, and must have sold fewer than 5 millions albums throughout their careers, not including singles. Songs that were originally recorded for a film or television show were not considered. The American Top 40 consists of the top 40 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and was obtained from Billboard. Data on certified album sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Welcome to the neighborhood!
About the Curate
Getting Around the Site
A Brief Timeline of Agincourt History
A Kalendar of Days
A gazetteer of places…
The Community Collection
“A few figs from thistles…”
Further Reading and Viewing
Welcome to Agincourt, Iowa
the town that time forgot and geography misplaced
August von Pettenkofen (attributed) [1821-1889]
Friday/27/March/2015 1:50 pm / Leave a comment
[From the catalogue-in-progress for “Landscapes & Livestock”, a loan exhibition for Agincourt Homecoming in the Fall of 2015]
August von Pettenkofen (attributed) [1821/2-1889]
Militia or The Rural Guard
oil on board / 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches
Pettenkofen is represented in the Community Collection by two small works (signed “a.p.”) and possibly by two others similar in size, style and provenance. “Militia” or “The Rural Guard” was owned by the Wasserman family, emigrants to the United States from their native Austria. Franz and Edith Wasserman had come in the 1890s; Edith’s brother Reinhold Kölb in the 1920s to escape the rise of Fascism, which may link the group of paintings more strongly with the Kölbs. How the paintings were acquired and whether they came together or separately is unknown.
August Xaver Karl Ritter von Pettenkofen abandoned his military career in order to pursue artistic endeavors. He is best known for his renderings of peasant and village life in the Hungarian plains or “puszta,” which he may have come to appreciate during military service with his troop in the early 1840s. A trip to Paris in 1852 exposed him to the Barbizon School’s preoccupation with rural themes.
[#711]
Myers-Briggs & Co.
Tuesday/24/March/2015 9:58 pm / Leave a comment
These graphics and the types they represent (from a website called truity.com) are just too seductive. I’ve wanted to do more reading in Carl Jung, Myers-Briggs and other more “New Age” sources to understand the interpersonal relationships in Agincourt. The extended Tennant family should be my laboratory, don’t you think?
Monday/23/March/2015 3:00 pm / Leave a comment
The internet auction site that cannot be named—America’s attic and garage sale—is replete with portraits, painted, photographed and otherwise, and virtually all of them are unidentified. Even more puzzling, however, is that many of them are named. How does that happen. For a nation so currently occupied with questions of family [what constitutes one and who gets to decide], you’d think the family structure and its lineage would be sacrosanct. Yet thousands of portraits—images of people who were presumably parts of a families—are tossed into rubbish bins, put on the curb for clean-up week, or offered at flea markets as the stuff of decoupage every day of the week. I know, because I buy a lot of them.
Two small but remarkable portraits showed up one day that were irresistible: Kenneth and Rachel Goodall, identified on the reverse (of the paintings, not on the backsides of Mr and Mrs Goodall) along with the name of the artist (Enedina Pinti Zambrini) and the date of the sitting. I was the only bidder. And even before they arrived, I was able to use google and ancestry.com to flesh out their biographies. Even Mrs Zambrini became a know quantity. Yet the story of how the painting came to be offered for sale was tragic.
The Goodalls had done well in life. Ken’s career had been in the military, and before he and Rachel died they had set up a trust fund for their only child Mike. Court records are readily available outlining the circumstances by which the trustee absconded with the bulk of the estate and left Mike (a well known chess player) with virtually nothing. He died a few years later (and much sooner than he ought), not quite derelict but several steps beneath the station in life intended by his parents. You could make this stuff up but it wouldn’t be nearly as poignant.
Enter this lovely woman, unidentified as to either artist or subject. How does anyone willingly divest themselves of such beauty? Whether you’re related to them or not.
Her quiet dignity found an almost instantaneous place in Agincourt’s story: She had to be Claire Ball Tennant, youngest sister of our anti-hero Anson Tennant; the person for whom Anson had built a legendary dollhouse as a Christmas gift in 1905, while Claire was not likely to survive a bout of diphtheria; and the “party of one” who trekked to Bordeaux in 1937 to bring her brother home from twenty-one years of amnesiac recuperation in Spain. Claire (Mrs John Michael Oliphant) was one of the earliest characters in the Tennant family story, but other than her marriage to Mike Oliphant, I didn’t know much else about her. The imminent arrival of “her” portrait changes all that, however, and Claire must become more than a two-dimensional cutout in the tableau of the extended Tennant family.
Skill Deficiency Anemia
So very many of the ideas I have for Agincourt, especially for the new exhibit this fall, involve skill sets that are simply not in my repertoire. Metalwork, for example, comes into play at several points: 1) the “wrought iron” wreaths on the exterior of the public library; 2) the weather vane that once graced the second county courthouse (destroyed by fire in 1966); or 3) the copper baptismal font at St Joseph-the-Carpenter.
What I had in mind is along the lines of this Newlyn beaten copper bowl, only much, much larger—big enough for a baby, for goodness sake. Do you imagine I could learn how to do this in a couple weeks?
Blind Spots
Monday/23/March/2015 10:38 am / Leave a comment
When Harlan Ormbreck retired from architectural practice several years ago, he came back briefly to teaching. In fact, he came back to the position he’d vacated in 1971 that provided an opening for me at NDSU. So, there we were, two Modernists dividing the spoils of architectural history between us. The university had already made the transition from quarters to semesters, so it could have been a toss of the coin that assigned ARCH 321 or 322 to one or the other. I asked his opinion and Harlan replied, “The Baroque is something that no good Lutheran boy should have to look at,” and the decision was made: He would do Egypt through the Gothic while I tended to the dreaded Counter Reformation.
Historical “blind spots” are easily understood. No male member of my family (there are remarkably few of us) had ever fought in an American war, that I’m aware. So “war stories” and memorabilia had not been a part of my childhood. Roy C. wasn’t at Omaha Beach or Anzio; Roy L. missed the Battle of the Bulge. My grandfather was too old for induction and my father had only one leg and was also an only child. As a consequence (and a product of the 1960s) my only interest in war is not getting involved in one, personally or on a national level. Good luck with the latter. That has not stopped me from writing about war and its own consequences—Victory Gardens, women on the home front, the G.I. Bill—but World War II itself has been left to the attention others.
On most large scale topics I do well enough. The Industrial Revolution, for example, has enormous consequence for the United States in the second half of the 19th century (the period of Agincourt’s formation and early growth and development) and the wage labor movement that grew from it would have shaped even a small agricultural community in northwestern Iowa. The Arts & Crafts also fascinate me, both as a reaction to industrialization and as a movement so broad as to include Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. There are, however, styles in architectural history for which I feel no great passion—yet—and which therefore come as unploughed fields of investigation. Take the Greek Revival and Italianate/Eastlake, for example. No, I really mean that: take the Greek Revival and Italianate, because they are as foreign to me as Outer Mongolia.
A chance encounter this morning on eBay delivered an image of the Opera House in Rockford, Illinois. Wanting to know more about it led to the discovery that none other than Oscar Wilde had appeared there on the 2nd of March, 1882, one of more than fifty stops on his American lecture tour. It takes little else for the wheels to engage and to wonder whether he might have sojourned in Agincourt, filling the seats of Harney’s Orpheum, the Civil War-era opera house replaced ultimately by the Auditorium in 1895.
Two windows of opportunity opened just a crack: on March 1st, Wilde appeared in Dubuque, lecturing on the Decorative Arts. Later that month, on the 21st and 22nd, he was in Sioux City and Omaha on the other side of the state. Members of the Oscar Wilde Society may take exception to an unscheduled stop in Agincourt but I see it unfolding. And with that visit will necessarily come the Italianate ornamental excesses of Harney’s Orpheum, which I approach with fear and trembling.
Happily, we just bought the economy size bottle of antacid.
O.K., so I cheated
Sunday/22/March/2015 12:02 pm / Leave a comment
Just two years ago I wrote “Intuiting Louie” as a reverie about growing up in Chicago when twice as much Sullivan work survived throughout city and suburbs. But even in the late 1950s (I was fifteen in 1960) a considerable amount of Adler & Sullivan work was either going, gone, or in places that should have scared the hell out of me but didn’t. Really, I was that geeky.
A question came up in conversation a few weeks ago—Do you believe in yourself?—to which my shoot-from-the-hip reply was “yes,” though that may have been more haste than conviction. As it turns out, shaking that faith is pretty easy, as recent events have shown. Two overheard conversations—one at morning coffee recently; the other mid-afternoon the same day—didn’t do my self-impression any good, and an e-mail discovered about 4:30 was the frosting on that day’s cake.
Architectural history (at least as I understand and practice it) has been my life for forty-five years, though academe has never been a good fit. But telling a great story is all that has ever mattered to me: so twice a week for an hour and fifteen minutes, that’s what I’ll continue to do, because it’s the only suit in my wardrobe.
Oh, about that cheating…
Adam Weiderkind [born 1906]
Thursday/19/March/2015 9:24 pm / Leave a comment
Adam Weiderkind [1906-?]
Portrait of the Artist’s Mother
oil on canvas / 16.5 inches by 13 inches
Adam Weiderkind enrolled at Northwest Iowa Normal College in the fall term of 1925 as a major in English; his home is listed as “Odebolt, Sac Co.” where his parents farmed. During his junior year Weiderkind took Carl Wasserman’s studio painting class and produced this portrait of his mother, one of the exercises required in the course curriculum. Enrollment at the college was small in the 1920s and the studio probably accommodated students at various levels of both competence and interest. So as a non-major, Adam may have profited from working near older and more experienced students. His style in this case seems to have been drawn from German Expressionism.
Several examples of student work were discovered during a 1970s renovation of the old Art Barn at the western edge of campus and donated to the Community Collection.
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Yu, Dajiang, Bo Yao, Weili Lin, Martin K. Vollmer, Baozhu Ge, Gen Zhang, Yi Li, Honghui Xu, Simon O'Doherty, Liqu Chen et al. "Atmospheric CH3CCl3 observations in China: Historical trends and implications." Atmospheric Research 231 (2020): 104658.
Vollmer, M. K., F. Bernard, B. Mitrevski, P. L. Steele, C. M. Trudinger, S. Reimann, R. L. Langenfelds, P. B. Krummel, P. J. Fraser, D. M. Etheridge et al. "Abundances, emissions, and loss processes of the long-lived and potent greenhouse gas octafluorooxolane (octafluorotetrahydrofuran, c-C4F8O) in the atmosphere." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 19 (2019): 3481-3492.
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Argosy Magazine
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Freewrite: In-Depth Review (with Comments on the Traveler)
August 1, 2019 August 1, 2019 danielbazinga Uncategorized Leave a comment
I wrote this review because I’ve been using the Freewrite for a few weeks now, and although other reviews exist, they all seem to be written by people who’ve only spent a few days with the device. As far as I can tell, no in-depth reviews exist. So here’s me writing one.
I’m going into this review already knowing that a fair few people have a lot of not-nice things to say about the Freewrite. As with all things, they’re likely just the vocal minority — the vast majority of people, I assume, are quietly content with their device and don’t have anything much to complain about.
I have things to complain about, but they’re reasonably minor. I’ll get to them. The truth is, I think a lot of the people complaining about the Freewrite do so because they bought it not realizing it is designed to meet a very specific need, a design which meets my requirements almost perfectly. I will list those things now and why I like them, and also comment on why other people did not.
I think the main feature of the Freewrite is its e-ink display. It is the star of the show here. I’ve seen a fair few people complain that they don’t like it and would prefer something like a snappier LCD display, but again, those people just aren’t really getting the point. There are two main reasons to want an e-ink display on your device:
Clarity. The clarity of the e-ink display makes it very easy on the eyes. At least in my case, staring at normal LCD or LED screens for even a short period gives me eye strain. I can’t read e-books or PDFs on my laptop, and will endeavor to move as many documents as possible to my Kindle before attempting to read them. Further, e-ink in readable in direct sunlight, while a laptop is not, making writing on the Freewrite a more enjoyable experience for me because I don’t have to hide away in the dark to experience it. The screen is, for me, the number one reason why I bought the Freewrite, and it is my opinion that anyone who does not want an e-ink display on their Freewrite had very poor judgment when they decided to buy it.
Example of ghosting on the Freewrite.
2. Battery life. An e-ink display does not require active power to maintain an image. Once an image is set, the power can be turned off and the image will remain on the screen. This gives e-ink devices tremendous battery life, in the region of weeks. Thinking now, I can’t remember the last time I charged my Kindle, and I use it every day. The Freewrite, of course, is a little more power hungry than the Kindle, but even so, even with heavy use, I get several days out of it, and light use of half an hour a day is said to give you a battery life of 4 weeks (although, if you’re writing that little, do you really need it?).
On the topic of clarity, though, I do have a complaint. E-ink displays are prone to ghosting. This is because, to allow faster frame rates, they often don’t refresh the whole screen between frames, only those pixels which are in use. For this reason, the Kindle has options to refresh the screen at various intervals: every page, every 3rd page, every 5th page etc. The Freewrite has no such option, and I have to admit that after only a few lines the ghosting is so severe that it renders the main selling point, a clear display, null and void. It would be ridiculously simple to program the screen to refresh the page after every line, and an amazing customer experience if it allowed the user to customize how often the line refreshes, but sadly this feature is completely missing. It won’t stop me using the Freewrite but it certainly makes the experience far less enjoyable, and it’s a feature which seems like a no-brainer, but it’s not there.
Another feature of e-ink that others have complained about is the low frame rate. Many have called it “infuriating” to type something and then wait a whole quarter second before their words appear on the screen. The only response I have to this is that this simply doesn’t bother me. Either I’m simply used to e-ink’s slow frame rate because of my heavy use of the Kindle, or I’m simply more patient than the ludites who don’t have a good thing to say about the Freewrite, or it just simply doesn’t bother me, and I’m not sure why it should. I don’t need an instant visual reminder of what word I just typed because I know what I just types — I just typed it. I’m not the fastest typist in the world, though, so perhaps the Freewrite is able to keep up with me, while more skilled typists start to feel like they’re playing a very cruel game of Snake. So, if you’re an average typist, this may not bother you either, but if you type at the speed of sound, you should probably think about whether this is right for you.
Another, weirder complaint that I’ve heard is that the Freewrite’s ability to sync to the cloud is “unnecessary.” I simply can’t understand such a complaint. Complaining about a feature which you don’t want to use seems very strange to me, but especially when that feature is something that is supposed to make your writing experience more seamless. As someone who was a heavy user of USB drives back in the day and now works solely on documents which are synced to the cloud, I find the cloud syncing feature invaluable. I must admit, when I first ordered my Freewrite I wasn’t even aware of this feature, but it was a very pleasant surprise. I was really just ordering it for the display. But the ability to write documents and then sync them straight to my laptop for editing is a feature which, now having it, I would not want to do without.
The Freewrite lacks arrow keys, and this is something many have complained about. This is a purposeful design choice and is a part of the Freewrite philosophy. For me, part of the selling point of the Freewrite was that it gives me the experience I get using my typewriter, but without the need to then type up whatever I wrote manually into the computer afterwards. Part of that experience is the inability to edit your work, and I love it. But of course we live in the digital age, and many people aren’t familiar with typewriters and don’t understand the concept. And I understand these people. Using the Freewrite, as with when I use my typewriter, allows me to just let go of minor spelling mistakes or changes I decide I want to make to a sentence I wrote a few lines back. The idea is to completely separate the drafting process from the editing process, and the makers of the Freewrite, Astrohaus, have strongly resisted calls to change this because it goes against their design philosophy. I applaud them for sticking to their guns, but fans of arrow keys can rejoice, for Astrohaus have decided to come to a compromise: although the original Freewrite will not have arrow keys (even though a very simple software update would allow them), their new Traveler (a collapsible “laptop” style version of the Freewrite) will, in the form of WASD. So if arrow keys are the thing that’s holding you back from the Freewrite, go head and pre-order the Traveler.
Hold down the New key to use the WASD keys as arrow keys
I think my only real complaint about the Freewrite is that it is over-engineered. This is the only thing about the Freewrite which I am willing to call what one reviewer called “hipster nonsense.” The only thing that kept me from buying a Freewrite back in 2014 was the ridiculous price tag. I understand what they were aiming for: they wanted to create the best writing experience ever, so they went for the highest quality parts possible, with high-travel Cherry MX keys, a solid aluminum shell and a rather overpriced (at $50) felt case. But the thing is, I couldn’t give a damn about all of those things. I never wanted the best writing experience ever, I just wanted something better than what I already had, combining the best features of my laptop and my typewriter (and my Kindle). For those that care about such things, the expensive keyboard is very nice to type on, but it and the aluminum case add a lot of bulk and weight. In all honesty, the newer Traveler, which they designed based on user feedback (or, one could say, criticism) of the original Freewrite, is probably more my thing, as unlike the original Freewrite is doesn’t carry over some of the cons of a typewriter for weird aesthetic reasons. It’s lighter, smaller, and has laptop-style scissor switch keys and foldable design, which, honestly, I prefer. (I have, in case you are wondering, already pre-ordered my Traveler, but I expect to be using it alongside my Freewrite rather than as a replacement for it.)
For a device which is supposed to reduce distractions, the learning curve on the Freewrite is kind of steep on account of the lack of any GUI. Nearly all actions on the Freewrite are performed with keyboard shortcuts, and I spent a lot of time in the first few weeks navigating the various pages of Astrohaus’s website trying to find out which of the dozen key combinations I need to press to do things, to the point that eventually I wrote them all down on a sticker and stuck them to by Freewrite, as you can see in the picture. It didn’t help that some of the keyboard shortcuts aren’t even in the manual and had to be told to me by the endlessly patient (and all kudos to him) customer support rep, who helped me through all my teething problems, but the point is that learning to simply use my Freewrite was a challenge all on its own, which, again, goes against its very design philosophy. It feels very much as if, in their attempts to avoid distracting the user with a GUI, they’ve actually painted themselves into a corner so that more distractions are in the end created by the need to learn an endless list of keyboard shortcuts.
Let me talk a little bit about Postbox, which is the Freewrite’s cloud syncing manager, and the folder system. The Freewrite has just three folders, which are all synced to Postbox. Again, this small number of folders is supposed to reduce distraction, and I can see it working, except that they’ve made some very curious design decisions when it comes to how the software syncs.
I learned, to my surprise and consternation, that the Freewrite only ever downloads the most recent document in any folder. In my innocence, I assumed that I could use the folder system to organize my work, in the same way that folders work on my laptop, but this apparently is not the case. I assigned folder A to include stories and projects I am working on, folder B to include notes on said stories, and folder C as a kind of “other” folder, in which I wrote to-do lists, shopping lists, applications, letters, this very review, ransom notes and other various things. This all worked perfectly fine until I had to restart my Freewrite.
You see, I mentioned that the Freewrite only downloads the latest document in any folder. I hadn’t actually lost any work — don’t worry about that — but I could no longer access it on my Freewrite. All of my work was all still available in Postbox and synced to my various cloud storage solutions, but only the very latest document in each folder was re-downloaded onto my Freewrite. I contacted Astrohaus, and was told that this was absolutely on purpose: when you log into a Freewrite, it downloads only the most recent document in each folder. Why they decided to make it function this way, only the gods know, but it significantly reduced my enjoyment of the Freewrite because it effectively means that despite having three “folders,” I can only really safely work on three files, with one file per folder. Because if for any reason I have to restart my Freewrite, all but the latest files will be gone from my Freewrite and only available on the cloud, i.e. on my computer, i.e. completely defeating the point of having a Freewrite, which was to reduce my time spent writing on LCD screens.
The thing is, none of these things, except the price, have put me off buying or using the Freewrite. I will continue to use it and enjoy my experience while doing so, and I don’t even think these things would even have put me off. There are many small cons to the Freewrite, and the strange thing is that almost all of these cons can be removed by a very simple software update, and it baffles me why no such update has materialized. This is, however, at least for me, a case where the pros outweigh the cons and the benefit I get from using the Freewrite is considerably greater than the annoyances I experience at the expense of a few weird design decisions. If I could implement some changes, I would do so in this order:
Refresh the page after every line to prevent ghosting. Also, when scrolling with page up/down or changing files/folders, refresh the goddamn page.
At the very least, sync the last three documents in each folder to the Freewrite, and if possible, all of them. This is especially important because the new Traveler is designed to be used in conjunction with the original Freewrite, and if this means that it is only possible to work on three documents at once because only one file per folder is syncing to each device, then the company is effectively hamstringing its customers.
Let me talk a little bit about that felt case I mentioned earlier. It’s useless. Old portable laptops came with either a sturdy leather case or a plastic (sometimes metal) hard top which clips over the top of the typewriter. The idea here is to stop the keys from being pressed in transit. The Freewrite’s felt case does none of these things. The felt case is so soft that it is possible to press the keys through it. Of greatest importance, it’s very easy for the power key to be pressed and for the Freewrite to wake up, so that when I take the Freewrite out later to use, it is already turned on and the contents of my bag have made written a string of random letters in my document. Even worse, if the power button is held down for 5 seconds it will log you out, and at 12 seconds it will factory reset. This is the circumstance which led me to realize that the Freewrite wasn’t downloading more than one document per folder, and I had to manually type out the other documents I was working on in order to get them back into my Freewrite because there is no way to send a document back to the Freewrite once it had been removed.
Polaroid Roadie Series Professional Hard Case
The problem is so bad that I ended up having to enable password protection on my Freewrite, which again, defeats the purpose of the device because it adds an extra step between turning on the device and being able to write on it. Also, because the Freewrite doen’t refresh the screen, and because the password is displayed in plain text when you type it, my password remains on the screen as a ghost image for all to see. I’ve resorted to buying a Polaroid Roadie Series Professional Hard Case, whose measurements match the Freewrite so precisely that you’d think it was made for it, but it almost doubles the size of the Freewrite in my bag because it doesn’t follow the curve of the Freewrite.
Weirdly, this isn’t a complaint I’ve heard from anyone else about the felt case. Instead, what I’ve heard is that the lack of a carrying handle is the greatest annoyance, which is true. But for me, the greatest problem is that the soft felt case doesn’t protect the Freewrite from damage or errant keypresses or initiating the self destruct protocol, and the only thing is does protect from is dust, which instead clings to the Velcro-like felt. What I really want for the Freewrite is a hard top like my typewriter has. If I had a vacuum forming machine I would go ahead and make one for myself and throw out the overpriced rubbish that is the felt case.
That said, because the keyboard on the newer Traveler folds away nicely, the felt case they sell for it is appropriate, although also quite expensive.
So, the question is, should you buy the Freewrite, and if so, the original one or Traveler? My short answer is yes. Go buy a Freewrite. They’re great. The e-ink display and cloud syncing feature make the Freewrite the perfect combination of typewriter and laptop, in my opinion. Some of the design choices, though quirky, are things which you will appreciate if you’ve ever used a typewriter. The Freewrite appeals to a very specific type of writer, and if you’re not the target audience, don’t throw a tantrum when you realize the Freewrite isn’t a laptop.
But again, should you buy the Traveler or the original? Honestly, my suggestion would be to pre-order the Traveler rather than invest in an original Freewrite. The Traveler was designed based on customer feedback and so better meets the requirements of most writers. It is smaller, foldable and lighter than the Freewrite, and has a movable cursor and arrow keys. In fact, the only feature from the larger Freewrite that it is lacking is a frontlight, and I’m not quite sure why. I still love my Freewrite, but the Traveler is expected to be more portable and more usable, and I do expect both these improvements to increase the amount of time I spend writing, but at the same time reducing the amount of time I spend with my original Freewrite.
The Traveler is available to pre-order on Indiegogo or directly from the Freewrite website.
Note: This is not a paid promotion.
Michel Thomas vs Paul Noble Language Courses
February 15, 2017 danielbazinga Language 2 Comments
Michel Thomas is probably the most famous name is language learning. His pioneering method concentrates on a naturalistic way of learning languages, rather than the rote learning that we experience in schools, where we find that, after years of classes, we can’t actually speak the language we supposedly learned. Towards the end of his life, Michel Thomas decided to begin recording his lessons to release as audio courses so that more than just an elite few could benefit from his secret. Michel Thomas is dead, but his method continues to be sold and produced, while recently a newcomer by the name of Paul Noble has appeared on the scene selling a technique remarkably similar to Thomas’s. Some would even say that Paul Noble has stolen his technique, but I personally have strong reservations about the idea that it’s possible to steal something as intrinsic as how the human mind learns.
Both courses are much more effective than other methods of learning a language, and after completing one, you should have a basic understanding of the grammatical structure of the language and be able to form simple sentences, although your vocabulary will not be very large, as the point of the courses is really to teach you grammar, rather than a wide vocabulary, as the former is much more important than the latter when starting out. But the question remains: which is better?
Both methods use the same basic exercise, in which you, the student, are taught a word, usually a verb, and asked to translate a sentence from English to the target language. As this method is repeated over and over again your vocabulary and mastery of the language increases. This similarity also means that both methods have much of the same flaws, but each has a unique advantage over the other. The advantage of the Paul Noble method is that is is much more focused and refined, but sadly it does not offer advanced courses, only the basics; this is the advantage of Michel Thomas.
So although both methods are nearly identical, they differ greatly in their execution.
When learning from a Michel Thomas Method course, one gets the feeling that the technique, though there, is much less refined. Thomas’s method of simply recording a lesson with actual students, rather than producing a lesson specifically designed as an audio course, leaves the method not realizing its full potential. Oftentimes, learning with Michel Thomas can feel like listening to the ramblings of a grumpy old man — and grumpy he certainly is, compared to the disturbingly chirpy Paul Noble! This is certainly where Paul Noble has the advantage, as his lessons, each designed from the outset to be an audio course rather than being so as an afterthought, replace the students with an actual native speaker giving examples of the sentences you are being taught. Michel Thomas, therefore, is not ideal for teaching proper pronunciation, as between Thomas’s strong German-sounding accent and the error of his students, you will often be left unsure of the proper pronunciation. And those students provide problems all of their own; in each course there is usually one student far behind both you and the other student, who is constantly making mistakes and generally holding you back, and this is without mentioning just how frustrating and annoying listening to them struggle with simple concepts can be. This is a problem that obviously does not exist in the Paul Noble courses.
This all adds up to make the Paul Noble courses far superior when it comes to getting a grasp for the language. Although Paul Noble will often leave you lacking, it will at the very least give you the basics, which is very important for being able to engage with people who speak the target language and further your learning. It is a great shame that both Paul Noble does not have such a wide array of language courses as Michel Thomas, and that he does not offer intermediate and advanced courses as Michel Thomas does, because, as a teacher, he is far better at his job.
But this is not to say that the Michel Thomas courses are not a good way of learning a language. Both methods are far superior to other methods you could pay for. My personal recommendation would be to treat Paul Noble as the beginner course, Michel Thomas’s basic course as the intermediate, and his advanced course as, well, advanced. This is because Michel Thomas and his successors just aren’t all that good at giving you the basics when you compare them to Paul Noble.
So which one should you buy, if you can’t afford all three? Well, it depends on your language level so far. If you already know a bit of your target language, I would recommend the thrifty to jump straight into Michel Thomas’s basic course, and repeat it twice. If you know nothing, start with Paul Noble. But as I said before, both methods sadly have their flaws, and taking them as a complete package helps to negate this, but how you spend your money is ultimately up to you.
But if you press me for a verdict, I would have to say that Paul Noble wins, hands down. He may not give you as advanced a level of the languages he teaches, but he is without a doubt better at his job.
Germans Do Everything Wrong: Real Medicine Will Get You Killed
January 19, 2017 January 20, 2017 danielbazinga Germans Do Everything Wrong, Uncategorized Tags: germany, health Leave a comment
Having now read about Germany’s pre-mediaeval understanding of disease, you will probably no longer be surprised to learn that their ideas about curing diseases are no less unscientific. It will probably not surprise anyone at this point that homeopathy—the idiotic belief that if you put something poisonous in water, then take it out again, the water becomes an antidote for that poison and anything with similar symptoms to it—was both invented in Germany, and is also highly popular here. Germans, being a highly nationalistic people (as we saw twice in the early 20th century), certainly prefer to throw their money away on local quackery rather than the foreign stuff.
Despite having a fairly good (and, of course, needlessly complicated) public healthcare system, German medicine is plagued with all kinds of pseudoscience, which doctors, insurers, and especially pharmacies support. Not only are homeopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicines, acupuncture and other such woo highly popular in Germany, but all of those treatments are also available for your pets! Picture it so:
You spent a few seconds too many standing under a ceiling fan, and now that you have an infection, which your German colleagues insist is draft-induced, you have arrived at the pharmacy with a prescription from the doctor. Let’s assume that a miracle has happened, and you’ve convinced your doctor that you don’t want Natural Brand Herbal Remedy X, and what your doctor has prescribed you is actual real medicine, to treat your actual real disease.
First, there is the high probability that you will be walking into a very popular pharmacy chain whose name literally translates as “preferably natural,” which tells you a little bit about their position on real medicine. Whether or not this is the case, it is still very likely that when you get to the desk, the pharmacist will look at your prescription and start to shake her head.
“Are you sure you want to be putting chemicals in your body?” she asks, incredulous. “We have a number of homeopathic remedies to treat this, and they are much better for your body.” You will, I hope, refuse, at which point she will probably start telling you about how the pet formulation of the particular brand she recommends has been working great on her horse. Germans, you see, love nothing more than a good anecdote, which they consider a suitable replacement for any and all forms of real evidence.
But you don’t even need to have a real disease to go to the pharmacy. Perhaps the reason Germany has such a fascination with fake medicine is they’ve managed to conjure up an equal number of fake illnesses to go with it! We’ve already learned about the dangers of air, but perhaps the most mysterious of these airy illnesses is the Föhnkrankheit, a very specific made up disease which is caused when wind blows over a mountain, down the other side, and onto you. The wind goes up the mountainside and cools, but—and here’s the twist!—as it comes back down the other side it warms up again, becoming a Föhn, a name for a thing so unnecessarily specific that it could only possibly be German! This magical process imbues the wind with evil juju, causing the sufferer a general sense of malaise and unease that is just perfect for homeopathic or herbal treatment!
One of the more dangerous sounding made up diseases (and one often blamed on the Föhn like some kind of made up illness Inception) is a Kreislaufzusammenbruch, literally a “circulatory collapse.” In any other country in the world, if your circulation collapses, you fall over and die, but not so in Germany, where a collapsed circulation makes you juuuuuust dizzy enough not to come into work today, but not enough to cause you actual bodily harm. You see, young auslander, all manner of vague and unusual symptoms can be blamed on vague circulatory problems, and we all know that the cause is stress. Tell your boss you’re having a circulatory collapse, and they’ll frown, wish you the best, and give you a stress-free week off work to recover. Vaguely defined diseases which are serious, but not serious enough to see a doctor about, are, you will find, a very common theme in Germany.
Coming from an Anglophone country as I and probably you, the reader, do, where employees are treated like mindless robots banned from having emotions whose only purpose seems to be to cost the company money, you would be forgiven for thinking that Germany being about the only country in the world to take stress seriously is a good thing. And you’d be right, except Germans don’t take stress seriously at all! Germans treat stress the way American teenagers treat the word “awesome.” Teenagers bandy around the word awesome like it actually means “something mildly amusing,” and Germans have about the same relationship with the word “stress,” using it to mean “something mildly annoying.” An array of made up diseases are caused by stress in Germany, and a number of real diseases are blamed on stress despite having very real, and sometimes much more dangerous, causes.
Or maybe Germans really are more stressed than their Anglophone counterparts despite having better working conditions, a lower cost of living, more housing security and a no-fuss approach to marriage that doesn’t break the bank. After all—between apartments that you practically have to build yourself, a nationwide refusal to adopt modern technologies that the rest of the world has had for decades, a general fear of anything that is mildly convenient, a national commitment to unnecessary rudeness, unhelpful customer service staff who see customers as an inconvenience and are determined to make sure they know about it, archaic forms and arbitrary rules that no one really knows the purpose of anyway, and a language that seems like it was built to be a complex interactive puzzle—as you will learn in this book, if there’s one thing Germans know how to do, it’s how to add a little extra stress to a situation that really doesn’t need it.
Up Next: “Let Me Correct You on Your English,” said the German to the American
And soon to come:
If You’re Too Incompetent to Succeed at Life, Become a German Public Servant!
All the special little ways German bureaucracy can make your life more miserable.
A Wohnung Need Not Necessarily Be Wohnable
Why finding a new apartment should be the most awful experience imaginable.
Interview with RPG Designer James “Grim” Desborough
November 8, 2016 November 8, 2016 danielbazinga Uncategorized Leave a comment
Let start at the beginning. How did you get your start in RPG publishing, and what would you recommend to new writers today?
I got my start in games writing producing photocopied fan material and zines – very punk. Would be considered illegal to do these days, I’m sure. I’d sell them at conventions and around school, that sort of thing. Eventually me and a friend pitched a bunch of ideas to every RPG company we could find and SJG took the bait – and Munchkin was born. That was my ‘lift off’, I suppose.
Today I’d tell writers that it is an horrendously fractured and absurdly competitive field. That there’s no rules any more. That they’re probably better off self-publishing, but that it’s a lot more work and needs a fine balance of self promotion and not being a dick. When it comes to the fiction I’ve not cracked that yet.
What writers inspire you the most and why?
I would find it hard to point to any particular authors as I read fairly scattershot. I tend to prefer the science fiction authors of the 60s, 70s and 80s though. Harlan Ellison as much for his scathing wit as his work, Philip K Dick for his oddness. Niven and Pournelle for keeping the fantastical grounded. I grew up on comics a great deal, so Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Pat Mills, Warren Ellis and more are huge influences too.
And you occasionally write fiction as well as design games. Tell us a little bit about your writing.
I’ve written two books, one a collection of short stories called ‘Pulp Nova’ which takes a series of old pulp tropes and tries to update them with a more modern sensibility in some ways… so there’s space opera, cowboy, jungle adventure, vigilante and so on, but all with that slightly more self-aware perspective. Trying to get the best of both worlds. My other is a full length novel called ‘Old, Fat Punks’, which is a sort of political commentary and ‘caper’ book about three ageing punks who decide to assassinate the Prime Minister.
Writing is both easier and more difficult than games… there’s no rules to write and test and think about, but plotting and characterisation in a consistent way presents its own challenges – and the fiction market is even more flooded than the games market. It’s a tough thing to break into.
Tell us about the theme behind your latest novel.
‘Old Fat Punks’ is basically just a scream into the void, I guess. There’s a lot of people my age, older, younger, frustrated with the new status quo. The ethical vacuum on ‘both sides’ of the political spectrum. The populist rhetoric on the right, the authoritarian censorship and middle class prudishness on the left. It feels like a desperate, pointless time, and the OFP sort of channels that. Trying to be funny and thoughtful and to carry a message at the same time.
And Pulp Nova?
Of the stories in there I think I like ‘Ace Slamm’ best. It’s a space opera story with obvious references to well known space opera and it’s probably the least successful of the stories if I gauge by my stated aim… but it’s just fun, damn it.
Onto something a little more personal, why do you think are you considered such a controversial figure in gaming?
Way back in the mists of time there was talk about a reboot of the Lara Croft franchise. It wasn’t very public that the writer was Rhianna Pratchett at that time. There’s this one scene that was shown in publicity footage, of Lara being trapped and placed in what was – apparently – sexual peril by one of the baddies.
This kicked off a huge online shitstorm of the kind that have become banal and regular now, but at the time it was a relatively new phenomenon. People were demanding the game be changed, you know how it goes, we’ve seen it play out hundreds of times. In arguing the toss it became apparent that a lot of people – ostensibly liberals – were absolutely NOT any longer in favour of free speech. Certainly not when it comes to depictions of sexual violence, no matter the context, no matter if the aggressor ends up beaten or killed.
This concerned me a great deal. I’ve always been concerned about free speech and peril, violence, threat – whatever its nature – ‘conflict’, most broadly, is the essence of storytelling. Sure, using rape or sexual violence can be lazy, but it’s not always. That’s subjective and that’s no reason to censor artists.
I wrote an article called ‘In Defence of Rape’ speaking about the use of rape (and torture and murder and other forms of nastiness) in fiction and defending it. Most people, it seems, didn’t read past the title, and I’m still getting near-daily shit over it some years later.
How have your critics affected your work?
The funny thing is that I agree with lots of the aims they, the social justice crowd, claim to be prosecuting. I just put free expression and art first, above those concerns. I don’t think you address social concerns by neutering content. I think you make people think about these things by including (or excluding) them and sometimes you just want to be fun. Now though, every time I do anything I’m half thinking about the reaction. Whether to court it or escape the controversy. I struggle to be free of self censure because the idiocy of the extremes is so toxic.
Has it affected you financially?
It’s swings and roundabouts. There’s a lot of people who will back someone or something that pisses off the PC police, but it makes freelancing and other work harder to get, especially for the (relatively speaking) larger companies who don’t want to deal with any potential backlash.
Short term it’s good, long term… probably bad.
I was reading an article the other day about Van Gogh, and how contrary to popular belief, he made great art in spite of his mental illness, not because of it, and how that’s all the more remarkable. What is your experience as a creative dealing with depression?
I think it can fuel creativity in a couple of ways. First it can give you a different perspective and secondly there is a kind of… fierce introspection and focus that can come with depression. Other times, of course, it just means you can’t work at all. Doubt, exhaustion, misery, they don’t help at all but sometimes aspects of it can.
More harm than help though.
Do you think the negative attention you get has an effect on your depression, or does the debate fuel you?
Anger is better than sadness. I try not to think about it and I wouldn’t want anyone to treat me any differently. When I’m really down though, it does make it worse. The frustration of people not even attempting to listen, understand or see the other side of the debate and being painted as things I’m not (all the *ists) is a constant grind though.
Any closing remarks?
Creative endeavours are hard for everyone these days. If you can, pay artists somehow, especially the independents. Buy a book, chuck them a buck a month on Patreon, remove adblock on their blogs or Youtube channels. Its tough, even for people who are good. A culture of patronage really helps everyone.
Recap: Spiel in Essen 2016
November 7, 2016 November 7, 2016 danielbazinga roleplaying, Uncategorized Leave a comment
A recap on some of my favourite games from Essen this year:
Although I heard little more from the Modiphius team about their Conan RPG that you don’t already know if you receive their newsletter, except that it’s due to be finished in a month or two, I did get to speak to Frederik Malmsburg, owner of the Conan and wider Robert E. Howard properties, about his plans. Not only is he a really wonderful, charismatic guy (Fred, not Conan), but he clearly loves what he does and proves that Howard’s legacy is in really good hands. Fred told us how his current plans are to explore TV options for Conan that allow them to stick closer to the original canon, now that Game of Thrones has paved the way for fantasy on screen. If such a series turned out successful, he could build on that success to bring Solomon Kane and even El Borak to the screen. Another Conan movie, he said, is not a dead project. Arnie is still there and interested, but getting that kind of project greenlighted takes a lot of work.
Modiphius: Kung Fu Panda and Siege of the Citadel
One of the most anticipated games of Essen this year was Modiphius’s reboot of the age old classic Mutant Chronicles: Siege of the Citadel, which was recently launched on Kickstarter. Although the game wasn’t ready to see at the show, fans got a chance to see the game in action at Modiphius’s Community Party, which they throw every year nearby to launch their newest products. As you can see from the photograph, the game is compatible with many of the components from the old game, which were used for the test game at the party. The rules have had a major update though, and extra scenarios have been written to make the game even more exciting than ever.
Just as anticipated—which I found completely surprising—was the Kung Fu Panda game which Modiphius has been developing for just over a year now. When I saw the game last year, I was doubtful that the game was simple enough for kids to understand, because it was a real time dice rolling game like, for example, Escape from the Temple, but after seeing a lot more games using that mechanic and seeing the updated alpha version this year I’ve changed my mind on that. For one thing, the game has been simplified so it runs much more smoothly. Effectively, you are attempting to roll dice combinations in order to defeat the enemies on the board while the sand timer slowly trickles out, with each character needing different combinations. Each claw symbol you roll moves the enemies closer to you as them move along a track drawn on the board, and once they come into contact with you, each claw becomes a wound, locking the dice. If you end up with all your dice locked, you’re wounded, and can’t do anything until the sand timer is reset. It’s definitely a lot of fun, and with enemies now moving on tracks it’s a lot quicker and simpler to play—and the boards will look nicer for it.
Z War One
Like a lot of people, I’m naturally drawn to the zombie genre, but I have to say I’ve usually been disappointed with games building on that theme. Z War One, though, really caught my attention. It uses much deeper, more tactical mechanics that really make it a much more immersive experience than, say, Zombicide. Each scenario is different, providing a unique experience each time, and is balanced to ensure that if you succeed, you do so really by the skin of your teeth each time, which makes for a real nail biting experience, even when your only opponent is the game itself.
What really got me excited, though, was the different play modes, just like those “video games” I used to play before high quality board games became a thing. You can play against the game cooperatively, or you can up the difficulty and have another player play “the director,” taking control of the zombies and working against you. Even better, if you buy at a con like Essen, you get extra rules for playing an old school deathmatch against another player. Awesome stuff.
If I had to recommend just one game from Essen this year, this one would be it.
Blood Bowl is at the top of the list of many people’s all time favourite games. With dozens of teams to choose from, Blood Bowl’s asymmetric gameplay is endlessly interesting, and its light, tactical rules make each game and each team unique. The new edition has been beefed up to the 40mm standard preferred by most Blood Bowl leagues, but the rules remain the same. And of course the new models are gorgeous. The game comes with a set of dice for each player, including a d16 for random player selection, which previous editions lacked. Even better, all the components (apart from of course the boards) are made from Games Workshop’s own plastic, which not only makes everything higher quality but keeps everything in-house. All in all, this is one hell of a revival of one of the most beloved games of all time, and really shows Games Workshop is continuing its recent trend of listening to its community.
Although we didn’t get a chance to play Lobotomy, we did see it on the gaming table, and it looks awesome, and for an awesome price. For just €80, you get loads of models, a beautiful gaming board, and tons and tons of tokens, cards and scenery. I was actually jaw-droppingly surprised at just how much you got for your money. It’s a game about escaping from an asylum which, at least in the heads of the escapees, is being taken over by demons. If you’re thinking of getting it, it’s a definite buy. Go for it.
I have to admit, I wasn’t super impressed with Argo, but it’s the simple gameplay that got me to buy it. In Argo, you take control of five astronauts who have awoken from cryo only to find their ship under attack from aliens, with each astronaut having his or her own special ability. Your other players each have a set of astronauts just like yours, with your goal being to get your guys to the escape pods while scoring as much points as possible. The game starts to get very crowded very quickly, meaning that as your dudes are running around you’re pushing and shoving other player’s characters around, into rooms where aliens are waiting to eat them, into teleporters, and other hazards. In Argo, the real danger aren’t the aliens, but your other players. It’s the kind of simple, strategy-based game that I just love, and plays in about 20 minutes.
I really wanted to like this game, because so many people have been raving about it. And to be honest, I did like it—I just didn’t love it! For those who don’t know, Ice Cool is a flicking game where three players take the role of penguins running around the school halls collecting fish, while another player takes their turn as a hall monitor, trying to catch the other penguins by bumping into them. The design off the penguins—effectively miniature Weebles—means it’s possible to flick them in ways to make them do tricks: you can curve round corners, lean to one side to catch a penguin just out of reach, or even flick them on the head to flip over walls—which is explicitly allowed in the rules. If you’ve got kids, this is a great game you can play with them where you’ll enjoy yourself just as much as they do, at least for a couple of rounds. If you haven’t got kids, but you like penguins, you’ll probably have fun with this too. And if you don’t like penguins: what kind of a heartless monster are you?
Germans Do Everything Wrong: The Draft Will Get You Killed
October 11, 2016 January 19, 2017 danielbazinga Germans Do Everything Wrong, Uncategorized Tags: germany, health Leave a comment
I have decided to begin posting extracts from my sometime-next-year “soon” to be released new book, “Germans Do Everything Wrong (and a few things they get right)”. First up:
The Draft Will Get You Killed
No, not the kind where your government drags you off to fight in its wars without your consent. We suspended that in 2011. No, we’re talking about something far more deadly here.
Ask any German, and they will tell you that air, in its various states of motion, is the cause of all illness. It seems that concepts like viruses and bacteria simply haven’t reached Germany yet, which has instead gotten stuck on the miasma theories of pre-scientific medieval Europe. You see, the German relationship with air is so perplexing because it is, like most of the things wrong with Germany, completely self-contradictory and yet they are just as completely unaware of this fact.
Let us start with the German fear of the draft. Germans believe, with absolute conviction, that air moving through a building can bring even the strongest German to his knees, starting with a stiffness in the neck, progressing to a sore throat, and progressing, in various stages, to full-blown bed-ridden debilitation. I have even heard Germans assign it as the cause of their co-worker’s meningitis, with said co-worker nodding in agreement.
You’d think this was a fear of outside air—which I am about to confirm and which will be contradicted later—and Germans would tend to agree. If it’s at all likely to be windy outside, you’d better wear a scarf, even if it’s 90 degrees out there and not a cloud in the sky. If you don’t, you’ll certainly get a sore throat from all that wind doing … something—the mechanism for all these things is never really explained.
Of course, it’s not just air coming from outside that is the problem but—and take note here, for this will be contradicted later—the very movement itself which causes illness. Thus not only will you find German offices and homes so well insulated as to be hermetically sealed from any outside air, you will also find them lacking in fans, air vents, or modern air conditioning and forced air heating systems. These all cause air to move, and are therefore highly dangerous.
But here’s the kicker. German are afraid of air that moves, but they are equally afraid of air that isn’t moving. Stale air, as much as air that happens to be moving, will make you sick. Thus, despite spending their whole day hermetically sealed from the outside world, Germans will, like clockwork, get up every morning and open all the windows to air out their houses. You can literally, I kid you not, buy charts which tell you exactly how long to open your windows for each day of the year as the seasons change, adjusted for whether you are opening them fully or have them tilted.
Combine this fear of stale air with a German’s deathly fear of mould and you get an explosive obsession with airing out their apartments. In their pursuit of a completely damp-free home, Germans, you will be amused to discover, all squeegee down their showers after use—you know, that one thing in your house that is literally designed to get and be wet. You’d think the whole mould thing would be the explanation for their obsession with airing out their apartments. It makes sense—cold countries mean cold houses, mean less frequently opening the windows so as to keep the heat in, mean mould—but it isn’t. Stale air is bad, and mould is bad, but are completely unrelated concepts, apparently.
Of course, the amusing part is when this fear of stale air conflicts with a fear of the draft. It results either in a ridiculous situation where Germans seal off a part of their house, open the windows in it and then close the door and go hide in another room and cower until this whole thing is all over, or in them running around, opening all the windows, and then pegging it out the door while they go do their shopping out of fear that the slightest touch of moving air will get them killed. If only there existed some sort of modern technology designed to ventilate buildings…
But it gets worse, for the rules on moving air vs. stale air start to get a little bit more complicated when the seasons come into play. If, for example, it is a stifling day in the middle of summer and the office is hot and humid, your German co-workers will insist that the windows must remain closed, because, of course, drafts kill. But in mid-winter, it is the fear of stale air that takes precedent, so that it is not uncommon to enter the office on a cold winter morning to find all the windows thrown open to let in the frosty air, with any attempt to close them being met with a stern talk about the dangers of stale air and an insistence that we must remain just as cold as if we were standing outside naked in the snow for the benefit of our health. It seems that the rules of balancing the threat stale air against that of moving air are more complicated and esoteric than they seem, with the only hard and fast rule seeming to be that the situation which is most suitable to a German in a given circumstance is that which makes everybody else the most uncomfortable—which actually pretty accurately describes just about any situation in Germany about equally well.
So what the hell is going on here? Well, if you press a German on this and repeatedly point out the contradictions, you will eventually get to a point where they tell you that it’s not the moving air that’s the problem, but air that moves through a room. Germans even have a special word for this that no other language has: “Durchzug,” meaning “through movement.” Remember a few paragraphs back I told you to take note, for contradictions were on their way? Well, I ask said Germans, if it’s air moving through a room that’s a problem, then why are you deathly scared of fans, vents and air con? “Ah,” they will tell you, “well that’s different.” If you press them for an explanation, instead of actually getting one, you’ll just get a story about their co-worker who once used a fan and got meningitis. Trust me.
You’d think (and hope) that we’d be through with this by now, but we aren’t. There are, apparently, benefits to air too, as long as you’re in the countryside, outside, and have your neck safely covered in case of wind. For you see, if you do fall ill, probably because of the air, of course, rather than insist on bed rest and some actual medicine, your doctor is equally likely to prescribe you a trip to the countryside to indulge in the miraculous healing properties of fresh green air. Which brings us onto our next topic…
Up Next: Real Medicine Will Get You Killed
Review: Fantasy Dice by Radical Approach
October 6, 2016 October 3, 2016 danielbazinga roleplaying, Uncategorized Tags: roleplaying Leave a comment
Genre: Fantasy – Traditional Fantasy
GNS: Narrativist-Simulationist
Rules Weight: Medium to Heavy
Where To Buy: Print – PDF
I don’t quite know where to place Fantasy Dice. It’s an odd sort of game to catagorise because it blends roleplaying and gaming really damn nicely. For example, during character creation, as well as picking a number of numerical values to represent skills and attributes, you get to choose a number of values described only by words, which are designed to encourage roleplaying as well as tactical play. One of these is something called Talents, which represents something that that character can do that isn’t represented by a skill or specialisation, anything from playing nice love songs to being able to tell the time of night by the stars.
Something I also really like about this book is its constant emphasis on the social aspect of roleplaying games. Rather that offering strict rules in many places about how to deal with a situation, which would encourage rules-lawyering and constant flicking through the rule book, it encourages players and DMs to come to a consensus. This is pretty ubiquitous with the character creation, with many of the quantitative descriptors only taking effect if the other players think it reasonable. Taking the Talents example, although the DM is reserved the right to alter any Talent that becomes too broadly applied during play, it encourages the player to offer a more refined Talent and for the other players to help out.
What really caught my eye about the Fantasy Dice engine was, as the name suggests, the die mechanics. It’s a concept I’d been playing around with in my head but never fully implemented, and to see that someone else had already come up with it and put it into effect made me curious.
It’s a dice pool system which works sort of like a reverse ORE. Where ORE extracts two values from a role, Fantasy Dice puts two values into it. Namely, how many dice you roll is determined by your attribute, while what dice you roll is determined by your skill. You can also add bonus dice by having skill specialisations, such as being good with swords.
Another interesting part of the die mechanics — and I’m not going to pretend I’d come up with this one too — is the idea of scaling. Effectively, you can alter your dice pool by either discarding one die and increasing the dice type by one die step, or decreasing the die by one step to increase the number of dice by one. For example, if you had 2d6, you could choose to roll either 1d8 or 3d4 as well. You’re always allowed to scale down all the day to d4s, but you can only scale up until you end up with one die. Scaling up allows you to roll higher numbers at the cost of higher probability of failure so that you can achieve an action you normally could not, while scaling down allows you to roll in more of a bell-curve to reduce the risk of failure.
When you’ve rolled your dice, all but the highest roll are discarded. If the highest roll beats or matches the target number (between 2 and 12), you’ve succeeded. However, how well you succeed is determined by how many over the roll you are, with matching or being one over being a partial success, where the DM is instructed to tell you that “you succeed, but” and insert a minor complication. If you’re exceptionally successful, you get an “and”. Failures follow the same pattern, but in reverse. I think this rule is a really simple addition that adds a lot of flavour.
Modifiers add or subtract the number of dice you get to use, rather than changing the difficulty or adding numerical modifiers. Harking back to the social aspect, the rules explicitly state that honesty is the best policy, and that the DM should roll in front of the players at all times and offers a number of options to avoid fudging the dice. If a secret roll needs to be made — for example, to find a hidden door, where the players shouldn’t be allowed to know the difference between “you don’t find one” and “there isn’t one” — it suggests either asking the players to roll their dice under a book the DM is holding so that they can’t see the result, or to use a method called “average rolls”. These work in the same way as D&D 4e defences, as a target number the DM has to roll against.
A lot of the book is like this. It presents any rule that isn’t fundamental as an option, rather than a restriction. I do like this, because I feel all the way like I’m being encouraged to play a roleplaying game rather than a rules-heavy board game like D&D became with 4e, but I often feel like some optional rules should simply have been declared part of the core rules. The “average rolls” for example, which I plan on using. Because they’re optional, there’s nowhere for them on the character sheet, which makes recording them fiddly.
Back to character creation, one of the things that sets Fantasy Dice apart is its unique and wonderful attributes system. You can tell just from looking at them that they’re well thought-out and carefully balanced, and you can tell just from reading this that I like them.
Each attribute is paired with another. Increasing an attribute during character creation reduced the paired attribute by an equal amount. Each attribute starts as your “racial average” and is allowed to be deviated up to 2 points from it in this manner.
So, for example, Strength and Agility are paired, because a heavily-muscled character and a lithe character are at opposite ends of the Strength-Agility spectrum. The works nicely with racial averages, so that, for example, orcs are always stronger and more agile than the other races, even if their attributes are adjusted up and down in character creation.
Dexterity and Sight represent fine motor skills and senses. I want to note here that I’m glad to see Agility and Dexterity as separate attributes, as their grouping together has always been a pet peeve of mine, a holdover from the dawn of roleplaying that people are too sentimental to shake. Although Sight represents all the senses, it clarifies that a character’s or creature’s Sight is primarily whatever their dominant method of sensing is, so that a bat, though blind, might still have a high Sight because its echolocation serves the same purpose.
Although I fully agree with the the pairing, it took me a little deduction to come to that agreement, because the justification given is a little thin. We’re told, “Many who spend all their time on their handy work grow near sighted.” That’s entirely true, but because that’s all the justification given, it makes it look like a weak argument. I feel that an extra justification is needed, like “Those who spent a lot of time on intricate work tend to pay far too much attention to detail and so miss what’s going on in the world around them.” I know from experience that’s true.
For mental abilities, if the human mind were a computer, Cunning is RAM; Wisdom is ROM. I rather like the justification for pairing Cunning and Wisdom: “Those who lack cunning tend to make up for it with academics achievement.” Roleplayers tend to be of the more-intelligent breed, so I’ll ask you this: how many people do you know who make up for their lack of brainpower and deductive reasoning by memorising rote facts to spew off in an attempt to mimic intelligence, or at least what their primitive minds see as intelligence?
The only problem I have with this pairing is that the description of Wisdom more resembles knowledge, while the description of Cunning is not unlike what wisdom actually is. In fact, in my mind, I believe wisdom and cunning to be synonyms. I agree with the concept entirely, but I think it’s a poor choice of names. I have the same problem with Wisdom and Intelligence in D&D.
Demon and Spirit represent the balance of good and evil inside us all, Demon being our ego, our selfish drive to improve our own position in the world, and Spirit our passion, our desire to make a difference to it. I do feel these names are a little vague and nondescript, although I have to accept it is appropriate for a fantasy setting.If anarcho-capitalists have high Demon, then hippies have high Spirit. That’s quite fitting, actually. I withdraw my criticism.
One more thing, Demon represents your reflex and initiative. I’m not quite sure why, and I wonder if this is the only time in the entire book where I’ve seen game balance trump roleplaying.
Character creation really is about building a character with character. The amount of qualitative values comes pretty close to the quantitative ones and have about as much significance. To use qualitative characteristics, the player is given “trigger ammo” that allows them to affect the narrative by triggering an event related to their characteristics. This is a finite resource which changes hands between the players and the DM to affect the story, with spent ammo being handed out as a reward for roleplaying bad decisions that give the character penalties to rolls, or being used by the DM to keep the plot moving without fudging dice.
All that I’ve mentioned is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much material to make your character just how you want them, and I haven’t even gotten onto magic yet.
The descriptive theme continues into combat. Wounds aren’t numerical, but qualitative, ranging from superficial to mortal, with weapons always dealing the same degree of damage on a successful attack. A number of factors can increase the damage, though, or decrease it. Special tactics, degrees of success and armour all affect damage.
The type of damage a character can sustain is based on their toughness, which is derived from their Strength. There are no hit points, and tougher characters are able to shrug off damage until damage of a high enough order is dealt in a strike.
As for making an attack, I like that this system uses opposed rolls. Characters get two actions, and if they don’t hold one action back to use in defence, they don’t get to roll for defence. I’m a big fan of this type of combat because it keeps players involved at all stages of combat.
If you haven’t declared a target area, you roll for hit location. I usually feel that hit location charts lead you down a dark path that ends in cut shape templates and spleen penetration rolls. However, I actually feel that the descriptive nature of Fantasy Dice combat largely averts this. But if you do like cut shape templates and spleen penetration rolls, you can always buy the Trauma add-on pack.
The combat section is extensive and heavily emphasises roleplaying throughout. There is a section on combat improvisation that tells you how to use non-combat skills to gain the upper hand, such as taunting or deceiving your opponent. The grappling section is particularly nice because it provides a framework in which to work and lists a few possible maneuvers, but again instructs the DM that above all they are playing a roleplaying game and players should be able to perform any reasonable action they can think of.
Once combat is over, characters have to deal with Trauma, which is latent damage from wounds taken. This can result in characters collapsing or becoming crippled once the adrenaline wears off, and puts them at a disadvantage later. Like everything, it’s a mixture of roleplaying advice and penalties to rolls.
The magic system is extensive and takes up about a third of the book. The different magical schools are herbology and alchemy, and the arcane arts of witchcraft, sorcery and black arts. I’d be here forever if I described each one in detail, so I’ll try to be brief.
The section on arcane arts is actually a guide on magic and creating magic systems rather than a system in itself. It offers much advise for the study of magic by characters and explains the differences between the three types of magic available in the game. Witchcraft acts like nature magic and tends to deal with non-offensive spells that heal, repel evil or aid the adventurers. Sorcery, on the other hand, is an offensive art, but also includes utility spells like witchcraft but of a more elemental feel. Black arts are the evil counterpart of witchcraft and although very similar, has much more sinister consequences.
All magical arts are somewhere between low and high magic, with each having consequences; sorcery being exhausting, witchcraft requiring rituals and sacrifice, and the dark arts coming with all sorts of dangers.
After reading through the book once, I still feel I’ve got a lot more I can glean from it. It’s really deep in the idea of roleplaying and I think that’s something a lot of games are missing. In many ways I feel it’s very D&D-inspired, simplifying certain rules and using the space to add in new rules that encourage roleplaying and tactics over rules-lawyering. If you’re looking for a game that has a Dungeons and Dragons feel but a better system where the rules act as tools rather than laws, I highly recommend Fantasy Dice; it’s clearly well thought-out and intelligently put together. In parts, I feel it tried to be too generic, but if you’re looking for a setting to go with the game, I hear Radical Approach’s Crimson Exodus utilises the Fantasy Dice engine. But honestly, although there are a few sticking points, mainly semantic, if I had creative control over D&D 5e, this is the kind of direction I’d push it in.
Integrity: **** The rules are consistent, but are a lot to learn. That all modifiers affect the number of dice rolled makes for very quick improvisation. The games allows a lot of room for roleplaying, but emphasises that roleplaying can’t be used to cheat the rules of the game.
Combat: ***** The combat is tactical and interesting, using a standard “rounds and turns” format, but with extra rules that allow roleplaying to pay a key part in the combat.
Speed: *** The dice mechanics make for very fast task resolution, but the extra time is used to make room for roleplaying rather than speeding up the game.
Review: Blood! by Postmortem Studios
GNS: Simulationist
Where To Buy: RPGNow
What drew my attention to Blood! was its emulation of the survival horror genre. Often I’ve played or ran zombie survival games only for them to fall apart due to rules that are too abstract and restrictive, games that weren’t designed around the concept of a monster that can only really be killed with a blow to the head. So I picked up Blood! along with its zombie adventure Blood Tales: The End.
Leafing through the rulebook, I find it hard to classify the rules weight. It’s a d100 system, which is a generally versatile die mechanic because it allows for easy adjustment and easy gauging of risk. The only things I don’t like about d100 are that it also allows players to do the same, reducing their chances taking certain risks, and that it doesn’t have a bell curve. Call me picky, but I also don’t like the fact that so many games use it either.
Adding to this confusion of weight is the fact that dice rolls are very simplified. There’s no counting degrees of success as in other d100 games. A roll is either a botch, fail, success or critical, and effects for each are consistent from one skill use to another. Opposed checks work the same way: your skill level represents your chances of getting each type of roll, and it’s your type, not your number, that is compared to the opponent. The system for comparing them is just as simple: either you drew, or someone did better than the other and they win the contest.
The reason I find it difficult to classify the rules weight is that although the rules look more complicated than average on paper, they play through pretty simply. Character creation requires a few sums, but nothing complicated; add 20 to one of your attributes, divide an attribute by this etc. But once you get this out the way, and it doesn’t take long, everything is set up for you and recorded on the character sheet.
Characters in Blood! are the average people who are the victims of so many horror movies. No one is special, and many skills are purposely designed to be useless, such as “Pub Games”. If you want to play yourself in a zombie survival setting, as I do, this is pretty perfect (although I personally am not very good at pub games).
Dying in Blood! is about as much fun as staying alive. In fact, being a horror game, dying and losing body parts is a key part of the game. It’s also nicely realistic. You have Hit Points, which measure your stamina, really. Losing all your Hit Points won’t kill you, but will make you much easier to harm. This is realistic. A person can take a real beating and be reduced to a winded, whimpering ball on the floor without ever being at risk of death, but once they’re in that position they become a lot more vulnerable.
It’s losing Blood Points that kills you. Blood Points are literally that — they are your body’s ability to cope with blood loss. Weapon damage is grouped into types, with sharper weapons dealing more blood loss, while blunt weapons tend to deal just HP damage at lower levels. A particularly severe blow from any weapon, though, will lead to a character bleeding out each round until they run completely out of Blood Points. First Aid is very important in this game.
There’s an optional Energy Points which measure exhaustion. I won’t be using these as I see Hit Points as fulfilling this role, so I won’t mention them any further.
As I said, the game is great for zombies, as well as other viruses. It provides rules for both fast (Fury Virus) and slow (Zombie Plague) types, as well as vampires, an insanity disease, the meteor-induced blindness from Day of the Triffids, and a few others.
Only after learning all the different ways characters can be maimed and killed do we learn about how combat — the art of not being maimed and killed — actually works. This order seems rather fitting. Combat is relatively simple. Aimed attacks are dealt with nicely with four basic areas and different effects applied to successful attacks directed at those areas. Combat works like any other skill checks: both combatants roll and compare their successes, the defender declaring which type of defensive action they’re taking. One abstraction that I like is the idea that although a knife can’t be used to parry another weapon, it can be used to ward an attacker off with a thrust and a wave.
The rules for burst and automatic weapon fire are versatile, but their realism is debatable. Effectively, the more bullets you expend, the less accurate your fire but the more damage you can do. Whether that’s realistic or not is a debate to be had on a forum, not a review, and to be honest I can’t say I know of a game that does any better. Like grappling, automatic fire is something roleplaying games are yet to iron out.
Ah, grappling. It’s not simple enough to be used without reference to the book, at least if this is your first time playing, but it at least uses the same core mechanics. Opposed checks are made and a draw results in a stalemate, a success results in the attacker being given one of three options (ground and pound, drag or pin) with each applying various effects. On the defender’s turn, they can choose to break free or reverse the grapple. How difficult this is to do depends on how well the attacker did last round. It’s certainly more fun-sounding and workable that other methods I’ve seen.
I forgot to mention, each action requires you to spend a point of Action, whether you’re initiating an action or opposing it. This means, if you want to go all out, you can, but you cannot defend against attacks. You can carry Action Points over into the next round if you don’t use them all, but there’s a maximum to how many you can hold. The game recommends the GM distribute beads or coins or something similar to track this. Action Points style combat has always been my favourite, so it would be biased for me to rate the game on this, but, yeah, I like it.
Many more methods of attacking characters are also described, including running them over and crashing into their vehicle, and there’s a chase mechanic. I notice that there’s no mention of how you roll to hit in this circumstance or how dodging works, only damage, but I assume it requires a success on the drive skill and there dodging as in combat. I also distinctly notice that the section on dealing damage to a vehicle lists tires, headlights and engine blocks but makes no mention of smashing windows. In zombie survival game, or indeed any game where the enemy is trying to smash their way to you, I’d consider this vital.
The game also has an integrated fear and insanity system, where the setting wears away at the characters slowly. When you lose your Mind Points, you lose your mind in various ways. Unlike, say, Cthulhu, getting to a safe place and resting up restores your Mind Points.
That’s half the book dealt with, and about a quarter of that was about how to kill people. Of the rest, about half is a list of creatures, then there’s a weapons table covering every conceivable improvised weapon (it’s about 200 items long), and then the book finishes up with critical hits tables for every conceivable form of damage.
Overall, I feel the game very accurately depicts the horror genre in a way no other game does. It’s a game about the victims who fought back, and I feel it puts more control in the hands of the players than Cthulhu-type games do. To counter this, the level of action is a lot more intense, providing for a much more combat-oriented experience.
As for playability, the game sets itself up in a unique way that, though very thorough, plays pretty consistently. All actions, whether opposed or unopposed, use the same mechanic. The only times you’ll need to flick through the book are in specific circumstances such as such as critical hits or insanity, and in these cases I think the suspense of the players watching you flick through the book to find out what happens to their character will work well. Grappling and automatic fire, I imagine, can be printed out for reference or memorised with enough play-through. I already have the automatic fire rules memorised, and I’ve only read them once
Integrity: **** There’s some table-referencing in specific circumstances and the process of deriving certain statistics is unique to each, but in these cases the system is laid out pretty clearly and the simple dice mechanism is always the same no matter what.
Combat: **** Combat is simulationist and requires some bookkeeping as it’s much less abstract than more gamey RPGs, but it’s also short and deadly. This leaves combat open to a number of clever tactical choices.
Speed: **** Despite its apparent complexity, the game plays fairly quickly. However, it gets slowed down in certain circumstances, such as rolling criticals, aimed shots and grappling.
Interview with Graham Bottley of Arion Games, Creator of Advanced Fighting Fantasy
October 4, 2016 October 3, 2016 danielbazinga roleplaying, Uncategorized Leave a comment
Following my review of Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2nd Edition, in which I mentioned my desire to interview its creator Graham Bottley, the man himself contacted me and offered me just that. Here’s what we talked about.
How long were you working on AFF and what drew you to it as a project?
Gamebooks got me into roleplaying all those years ago (specifically Forest of Doom) and AFF was a game I played a lot when young. I even did my own rewrite back then adding in the sorcery spells etc. So when my resurrection of the Maelstrom RPG was so successful, I decided that the time was ripe for AFF to make a comeback. I contacted Steve and after I got the OK, it took about 6 months to write, playtest and then rewrite.
What do you think the most significant changes are from Dungeoneer?
There are a few major changes and quite a few minor ones. We added in an armour system, as there was none before. We completely changed Holy magic so that it was distinctive. We added in talents to help further distinguish similar characters. We added in Sorcery magic
We also tweaked character creation, combat, spellcasting and some of the action rules. And we added in a dungeon generation system, and loads of optional rules. We did leave out the adventure, but that 3 part campaign should see the light of day again in the near future.
I never played the original AFF. What were the problems with the Dungeoneer system that 2nd Edition fixes?
The character creation in Dungeoneer was badly broken and lead to a large disparity in character ability. AFF2 introduces talents which helps define otherwise similar characters (always an issue with a rules light game).
We introduced sorcerer magic in AFF2 which offers more options but is finely balanced with wizardry. Many of the wizardry spells in Dungeoneer were broken, especially STAMINA. Priests in Dungeoneer were just wizards by another name (identical mechanics).
Character advancement was very wonky in Dungeoneer.
There are no armour rules in Dungeoneer. We also added some more combat options in AFF2 to give a bit of variety.
Why did you feel that rewriting The Wishing Well was the right idea? Also, why did you choose to put the adventure before the rest of the rules?
One of the great things about AFF is that it works as an introductory game for those who have read the gamebooks or even those with no knowledge of gaming. And we wanted to include an introductory adventure that anyone could pick up and GM in 10 minutes.
Now, whilst I loved those two FF dungeons (Wishing Well and Hives of Peril), they were very weird in places and quite difficult to run if you had no previous RPG experience. So the goal was to include something very straightforward and easy to pick up and play, whilst at the same time including a bit of the Titan humour and feel. We also put the adventure there (with stripped down rules) so that novices could pick up the book and be playing very quickly without feeling they had to learn the full rules first. These concepts have been quite popular with new gamers and is similar to the old red box D&D which had a “choose your own adventure” before the rules or character creation were explained.
How does grappling work and is it in the book somewhere?
There have never before been any formal rules for grappling, and we didn’t include any in the book, mainly because we couldn’t in playtests find anything that was balanced but kept the feel of the game. I am minded to put together some rules and post them on my forums for those that need them. Any suggestions welcome!
What are your plans for the future of AFF and how long does your licence run for? How will Blacksand differ from the original?
The license has got a good few years left yet, and assuming it keeps doing well should be continued beyond that. We are working on a SciFi version of the ruleset (http://farsightblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/dev-diary-aff-science-fiction-playing.html?spref=tw), Beyond the Pit, a Salamonis sourcebook and more.
Blacksand, the bulk of the writing should be finished tomorrow morning, will have much of the original information about the city from the original book, expanded with new setting material and with some new rules etc as well.
I’ve seen it mentioned that mass combat rules are absent from the core rulebook and that you were holding it for a later release. Is it in a currently released book?
Mass combat and wilderness creation rules were included in the recently released Heroes Companion (available from our webstore and very soon through all normal channels) along with loads of new magic types, organisation and hireling rules and more.
Can you tell us a little bit more about the Crown of Kings campaign and the Heroes Companion?
The Crown of Kings campaign is a fairly faithful adaptation of the four gamebooks. I tried not to add in too much extra information outside of what was originally found there, but if you want to use it as a framework to add on other mini-quests, that is very easy. I always loved the Sorcery series because it starts off very low fantasy and atmospheric in the Shamutanti hills, goes a bit crazy in Khare, adds in some plot in the Baklands and then comes to an epic conclusion in Mampang.
The Heroes Companion is intended to provide options, and add other bits that were left out from the original books. So we have quite a few new magic systems, some rules for hirelings and organisations, mass battles and other bits and pieces. All of these additions are purely optional and can be used from the start of a campaign or added in at a later date as they are options that most heroes will grow into rather than start with. Although we have had some issues with our main printer on this one, slowing down the release a bit, it should be out very soon (and I have a short print run available from my webstore).
RPG Review: Advanced Fighting Fantasy by Arion Games
Genre: Fantasy – Low Fantasy – Sword and Sorcery
GNS: Narrativist
Rules Weight: Light to Medium
Where To Buy: Cubicle 7
Advanced Fighting Fantasy is a simple system. So simple, in fact, that I was in half a mind not to buy it because I could probably work out the rules by reading a couple of reviews and applying a little mental acrobatics. What got me to make the dive, though, was really the weapons and armour system.
It’s a unique system that really solves the shortcomings of using a d6-only system. Instead of having fixed weapon damage and armour damage reduction, you roll your d6, where other games would specify different sized dice to roll. You then compare your result to a handy little chart unique to each weapon that you copy to your character sheet. Higher rolls correspond to more damage but not necessarily equal to your result. For example, rolling a 1-5 while unarmed scores 1 damage, while rolling 6 scores two. Bigger weapons may have minimum damages of 2 or 3 and higher potential damage for higher rolls.
You do the same for damage reduction. I like it, because it makes the d6 more versatile and allows for randomness and minimum damage without having to mess about with multiple dice. I’ve always liked games that allow for variable armour, because it allows the possibility that a character strikes you in an unprotected place. I also like that it puts action first and memorisation second, because instead of consulting your sheet to see what dice you roll, you just roll one die every time and then consult the 6-figure chart.
Actually, I lie. It wasn’t just the damage system that drew me in. Anyone who played Fighting Fantasy gamebooks as a kid probably knows that the world of Titan in which they are set has a uniquely dark, grim and weird atmosphere. Considering that it’s written by the minds behind Warhammer, you can see the resemblance. That unique feel is something that I’ve always missed in games such as Dungeons and Dragons, which emphasise high fantasy settings filled with idealism and romance where the worst thing that ever happens is the caravans not getting through (which is economically unsound when you think about it; if the caravans aren’t getting through, traders will go elsewhere and the bandits will leave, having no more loot to feast on, and then the caravans will be able to get through again).
It’s with this in mind that I turn our attention to the included adventure. After a short introduction to the rules, we’re thrust into an adventure, before we’ve even been told how to make a character. Many have complained about this, but I think it’s a perfect illustration of just how easy the rules are to grasp, and that was probably the point of this layout. What bugs me about this adventure isn’t where it is in the book, but where it is in the game world.
Many people reviewing this 2nd edition of AFF use Dungeoneer — the core rulebook of AFF 1st edition — as a reference. But I don’t own a copy of that. What I do own is Fighting Fantasy: The Introduction Roleplaying Game, which is a halfway house between single-player FF and AFF, basically adapting Fighting Fantasy rules to multiplayer combat and nothing more. Included in this book was an enjoyable adventure called The Wishing Well. The adventure we have here in AFF 2nd edition is called The Well, and as the missing word demonstrates, it’s nothing more than The Wishing Well with all the insides torn out. Where The Wishing Well is a weird, dangerous affair that clearly demonstrates the gonzo style of Fighting Fantasy, The Well is significantly tamer, and plays more like a Dungeons and Dragons Basic Game boxed set with an 11+ rating and a light salting of Fighting Fantasy weirdness. The map is the same, but every room has been rewritten and all the nasty and unique monsters removed.
I just don’t feel it sets the right tone, and I don’t understand why Graham Bottley decided to strip a perfectly serviceable adventure down to its core and rewrite it. Why didn’t he just write one from scratch? Is he that uncreative?
Judging by the rest of the book, I don’t think that’s the case at all. Unless I interview him one day, I’ll never know his reasoning. Considering my propensity for tracking down game designers and harassing them for explanations, I’ll probably end up doing that.
Back to the book, we move into character creation. A points-buy system has been implemented, which I’m told is for balance, and I agree. There’s an optional random generation system for those who want a bit of old school. Characters have four basic stats: Skill (or SKILL, as AFF stylises it), which governs all skills, including combat; Stamina, which is your hit points but also your constitution; Luck, which is your saving throw; and Magic, which is new to this edition and is self-explanatory, but I’ll go into it in more detail.
Magic was a necessary addition to bring balance to the game. In Dungeoneer, I’m told, magic-users used SKILL to determine their magical prowess, and this made them incredibly overpowered, because SKILL also governs not only combat prowess, but every single skill check. I’ll get back to magic later.
After generating your stats, you get to pick a race, which gives you certain bonuses. Then you get “special skills”, which in others games would just be called skills, and apply extra bonuses to special applications of a SKILL check. I have to say I actually rather like this approach. In other games, for example DnD 3.5, a skilled character is approximated by giving them lots of skill points to scatter about their various skills; in DnD 4e, the system becomes a little more abstract and applies a bonus to any class-trained skill as well as adding your level to the skill check. AFF, on the other hand, just goes out there and admits what DnD was trying to say all along: a skilled character is skilled at many things.
After the character creation section we get a section on the rules, which all revolve around some core mechanics. If you’re making a save or doing something involving an inanimate object, you have to roll under your relevant attribute on 2d6, modified by difficulty or special skills; one thing I like about this system is that as checks are failed your stats deteriorate, making saves and other actions harder in future. Otherwise you’ll be making an opposed check, either in combat or diplomatically. Combat is more advanced that FF and I’m told it even has a leg over AFF in terms of versatility. There are a few tactical options that make combat more interesting than just comparing opposed rolls, but for the most part combat is fairly abstract. It’s a very narrativist approach in that the rules are designed to be fast-paced and without the use of a combat grid. I like this a lot. Although I prefer my modern or sci-fi games to be tactical, fantasy games tend to get bogged down when they get too deep into the idea.
Despite being simple, there are sections explaining application of the rules in most conceivable situations, including mounted combat. Although the Brawling special skill mentions that it applies to grappling, I was unable to locate any grapple rules. The core mechanics are simple enough and the game abstract enough that I can make something up, but that’s not really the point.
Moving onto the magic section, the thing that really caught my attention, apart from the fact that it fixes the balance issues of first edition, were declarations that it incorporated the magic system from Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! (sic). Now, this is a half truth. It has all the spells and casting affects the character in the same way by draining Stamina, but the determiner of success is now based on the character’s MAGIC stat. In the Sorcery! Fighting Fantasy books, you’d be given a list of three spells, one or two of them being fake, and whether you picked the real spell determined whether it was cast. Although I can imagine it being fun giving my sorcerers a list of fake spells and asking them to pick, I can see this as a much better system for a multiplayer game.
The other classes of magic are Wizardry, Cantrips and Priest, which all do as they say on the tin and are well balanced. I have to say, Mr Bottley did a great job on that front. One last note: if you botch a spell by rolling double-sixes, you have to roll on the Oops Table. I have to say, this table reminds me of a tamer version of FATAL.
These Wizardry spells draw from Magic Points, which are derived from your MAGIC stat and Wizardry special skill. I think a more integrated system would have had MAGIC deteriorate with spell use, making subsequent spells and resisting enemy spell effects harder, much like STAMINA does with Sorcery, but it’s not too big a deal, in all honesty. Wizards are already significantly nerfed compared to 1st edition and the writer probably thought this would make them less playable. It also helps make playing a Wizard a different experience from playing a Sorcerer, and that’s probably what Bottley was aiming for. As it stands, Wizards are fun to play, so I’m not sure what I’m complaining about.
Priests, on the other hand, draw powers from their gods and so don’t use Magic Points.
The last few sections include a gazetteer of the setting, a guide to monsters and some optional rules. There’s also some DMing advice and equipment lists, such as magic items and treasures.
The monsters section provides some pretty standard monsters, a guide on making your own and a conversion sheet from every Fighting Fantasy monster, which are available in Out of the Pit, a compilation of, well, every Fighting Fantasy monster. Arion gained a licence to print but not edit Out of the Pit, so this section is necessary to get around that. If you have an old copy of Out of the Pit, there’s no point buying the 2nd edition reprint because it is just that and nothing more.
Finally, the optional rules section has, in addition to what it says on the tin, a guide to creating weapons, armour and spells.
Overall, I’m happy with the system and look forward to playing it. It’s solid, fast-paced and set in a unique world with an atmosphere that you won’t get anywhere else.
Integrity: **** Very little feels tagged-on about this system. The rules are open enough that they don’t have to be exhaustive. It loses a star only because the opposed checks and unopposed checks are respectively roll over and roll under, which makes the mechanics slightly less consistent.
Combat: *** Combat is great for a narrativist style — fast and easy to use — but isn’t exhaustive or highly tactical. No grappling rules, either.
Speed: ***** Five stars. The rules are simple, combat plays quickly and the high level of integration means there’s little flicking through the book on how to resolve a situation.
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December 20, 2018 | Published By Bandini
How OutKast Begrudgingly Made One Of The Best Christmas Rap Records Of All-Time
Twenty-five years ago this season, OutKast released their first single, “Player’s Ball.” Big Boi and André 3000 had appeared on TLC’s remix to “What About Your Friends” as teenagers in 1992. Like that opportunity, “Player’s Ball” was birthed out of LaFace Records trying to cross-promote its fledgling Rap duo.
For the 1993 holiday, A LaFace Family Christmas would be one of many label compilations marketed to fans. TLC, Toni Braxton, and Usher were centerpieces on the 10 tracks, and rightfully so. On the cover with those three acts, as well as A Few Good Men, was ‘Kast, barely showing their faces under the big wreath graphic from Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Babyface’s imprint.
OutKast’s Aquemini Turns 20. This 1998 Interview Shows They Saw The Future (Video)
That was by design. Since the Tri-Cities High School students rapped before the run-out on TLC’s 12″, their label was reportedly not wowed by the group’s sound. “[L.A. Reid] was like, ‘Yeah, I think I like them, but I don’t think that they’re stars,” André 3000 recalled in the 2016 Netflix documentary, The Art of Organized Noize. Presumably, the Christmas compilation needed filler for the R&B ballads from buzzing vocalists. The label brass turned to ‘Kast’s producers to cook up something. As respected labels like Death Row, Tommy Boy, and Def Jam typically did, soundtracks were a place to test the waters, even if the prospects felt grim.
Veteran production trio Organized Noize was grooming OutKast, as they had been for some time. Ray Murray, Rico Wade, and Sleepy Brown were recording the teenagers’ vocals in Wade’s grandmother’s basement, affectionately remembered as The Dungeon. That’s when they got the call from LaFace. In 2012, Wade told Complex‘s Linda Hobbs, “[The] thing is, we don’t really f*ck with Christmas like that. That’s where we were at the time, we were on some, ‘Christmas is not one day out the year, it’s every day.’ For us, it was just about being realistic. People get caught up in the excitement of, ‘I got to buy this, I got to do this and that” and they lose they mind.” The hitmaker added, “I told OutKast, ‘We gotta do a Christmas, song but we’ll just talk about what we don’t do on Christmas, or what it means to us.'” He would later pinch a beat that partner Ray Murray had been work-shopping for a group called The Drip Drop to bring what Dre and Big wrote to life.
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High Snobiety aggregated a MySpace interview back in 2016 that captured the reluctance in the studio. Wade says, “I thought, ‘How the f*ck are we gonna do a Christmas song? We’re a Rap group! How are we gonna get any respect?’” They did, simply by refusing to compromise.
As legend has it, a straightforward Christmas song called “Socks & Drawz” evolved into a present for what was to come in the form of “Player’s Ball.” The song made the Christmas compilation, as did a 55-second “Joy All Day” interlude oddly credited to the duo, despite its lack of a clear-cut connection to the group.
A New Video Shows The Music OutKast Had In The Caddy To Make A Classic Album
Although it holds back the red-and-green socks, scarves, and any mentions of mistletoe, “Players Ball” is a Christmas record at its core, especially on the compilation verse. One can hear it in the sleigh bell percussion of the song, and the opening line, “It’s beginning to look a lot like wha—.” The line is a sardonic contrast to the fairy-tale winter wonderlands and the Dirty South reality. That attitude holds through 3 Stacks’ verse, which references snow, “tis the season,” and “Silent Night.” He closes with that mantra, “You thought I’d break my neck, to help y’all deck the halls? / Oh naw, I got other means of celebratin’, I’m gettin blizzard at HoJo, I got that hoochie waitin’ I made it through another year can’t ask fo’ nothin much mo’/ It’s OutKast for the books I thought you knew so now you know.”
The Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik version finds ‘Dre stuttering and covering up some of the seasonal cues, as well as the mention of Christmas Day and chimneys in the chorus to prevent an excellent song from being pigeonholed.
Other Ambrosia For Heads “Do Remember” Features
In the second verse, Big Boi references the lack of a Christmas gift wish-list in his cold reality, after opening the bars with “Hallelujah, Hallelujah,” broken down into syllables. OutKast took an assignment and made art out of it. Big and ‘Dre did not do what so many rappers in their position would have—just tried at another come-and-go record to appease the label and built-in fanbase. Instead, they went big and bold. They stayed true to the notion that not all Christmases are white, plentiful, and happy. This realness resonated, in a way that made a Christmas record sound hot in the middle of an Atlanta summer.
The song, serviced as a single in November of 1993, would take on a life of its own. The record superseded filler on a predictable label compilation and became the first taste of a game-changing 1994 album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. Puff Daddy directed the video that left the Santa hats and wreaths at home. That release began an album-run as historic as any in Hip-Hop.
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Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters, Articles with short description, Use mdy dates from January 2019,
Sportspeople from Birmingham, Alabama
People from Homewood, Alabama
Players of American football from Alabama
American football offensive tackles
American football offensive guards
Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Carolina Panthers players
Miami Dolphins players
Philadelphia Eagles players
Denver Broncos players
Arizona Cardinals players
Unconferenced Pro Bowl players
American football offensive guardTemplate:SHORTDESC:American football offensive guard
Mathis with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014
No. 71, 73, 66, 69
Offensive guard
Date of birth: (1981-11-01) November 1, 1981 (age 38)
Place of birth: Birmingham, Alabama
College: Alabama
NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 3 / Pick: 79
* Carolina Panthers ( 2005– 2007)
Miami Dolphins ( 2008)
Cincinnati Bengals ( 2008– 2010)
Philadelphia Eagles ( 2011– 2014)
Denver Broncos ( 2015)
Arizona Cardinals ( 2016)
* Super Bowl Champion (50)
2× Pro Bowl (2013, 2014)
First-team All-Pro (2013)
First-team All-SEC (2004)
Games started
Stats at NFL.com
Evan Bradley Mathis (born November 1, 1981) is a former American football offensive guard who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Mathis has also played for the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. Nowadays he participates in poker tournaments with the most current one being PSPC where he finished in 35th place.
Mathis graduated from Homewood High School in Homewood, Alabama, where he played football and competed in track and wrestling. He was coached by Bob Newton in football. In wrestling, Mathis won the 2000 Alabama 6A heavyweight championship. In track & field, Mathis competed in the shot put event (top-throw of 15.24 meters).
Although he bulked up from 240 pounds (110 kg) to 276 pounds (125 kg) after signing with Alabama in February 2000,[1] Mathis was redshirted as a true freshman. In April 2001, he was named the Paul Crane Most Improved Offensive Lineman for Alabama along with tight end Theo Sanders.[2] He competed with Alonzo Ephraim for the starting center job during spring practice in 2001,[3] but lost out. Instead, he beat out Dante Ellington for the starting right tackle job,[4] making his first start against South Carolina.[5]
Mathis started four seasons on the offensive line for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. His first three years he played tackle, before shifting to left guard as a senior. He started 47 consecutive games beginning in the 4th game of his redshirt freshman year. He helped anchor an offensive line that paved the way for the Crimson Tide to lead the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game in 2004.
Wonderlic
6 ft 5 in 304 lb 4.97 s 1.72 s 2.87 s 4.16 s 7.37 s 35.5 in 9 ft 9 in 35 rep
Miami Dolphins Edit
Mathis was signed by the Miami Dolphins on September 9, 2008 after Donald Thomas, their rookie starting right guard spot was put on injured reserve. The Dolphins released him November 8 after playing seven games for them.[7]
Cincinnati Bengals Edit
Mathis played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2008–2010. He did not allow a sack during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.[8]
Philadelphia Eagles Edit
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Mathis to a one-year contract on July 31, 2011.[9] Immediately after the preseason, Mathis won the starting job at left guard for the 2011 season.[10] He signed a five-year, $25.5 million contract with the Eagles on March 17, 2012.
Pro Football Focus rated Mathis as the best guard in the NFL for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 season. In 2014, he was rated as the second best guard in the league despite missing seven games due to injury.[11]
Mathis was named to the USA Today All-Pro Team after the 2012 season.[12]
Ranked #6 overall in Pro Football Focus' Top 101 of 2012.[13] In 2013, Pro Football Focus chose Mathis for its inaugural Bruce Matthews Award recognizing the NFL's best offensive lineman.[14] He was voted First Team All-Pro in 2013 for his excellent performance with Philadelphia.[15]
Mathis was released by the team on June 11, 2015 after he held out of OTAs in search of a new contract.[16]
Denver Broncos Edit
On August 25, 2015, Mathis agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Denver Broncos.[17] On February 7, 2016, Mathis won his first career Super Bowl when the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50.[18]
Arizona Cardinals Edit
Mathis signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals on March 16, 2016.[19] He was placed on injured reserve on October 8, 2016 after suffering an ankle injury in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers.[20] Mathis announced his retirement via Twitter on January 20, 2017.
Personal life Edit
File:Evan Mathis and Dwayne Johnson.JPG
Mathis's uncle is Bob Baumhower, who played defensive tackle for Alabama and the Miami Dolphins.[21]
In 2010, Mathis founded Zone Athletic Performance in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he and many other professional athletes train in the off-season.[22]
↑ Lumpkin III, Bill (June 16, 2000). "Alabama, Mississippi stars face off tonight". Gasden Times. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8MfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=adgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2873,1763416. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ Deas, Tommy (April 15, 2001). "Croyle wrestles Myles down after touchdown". The Tuscaloosa News. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gz0dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T6YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4453,3447414. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ Hurt, Cecil (March 15, 2001). "Franchione doesn't see same move as Tuesday". The Tuscaloosa News. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ehofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sKcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4460,2855459. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ Hurt, Cecil (August 5, 2002). "Dante Ellington takes redshirt to improve". The Tuscaloosa News. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9XshAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VIoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4260,2220635. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ Hurt, Cecil (October 4, 2001). "Franchione shuffles secondary lineup". The Tuscaloosa News. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OzwdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B6YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5018,637728. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=54453&draftyear=2005&genpos=OG
↑ Dolphins Release Guard Evan Mathis, Promote Matt McChesney From Practice Squad
↑ Swarz, Bryn (July 31, 2011). "Allure Of Mudd Lures Vet Mathis". philadelphiaeagles.com. http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Allure-Of-Mudd-Lures-Vet-Mathis/459436ea-c2cf-4390-9f6a-f1243873fde9. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ Graziano, Dan (July 31, 2011). "Eagles sign Mathis, wait out Watkins". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/42566/eagles-sign-mathis-wait-out-watkins. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ McLane, Jeff (August 27, 2011). "Herremans to RT; Mathis to LG. Evan Mathis quickly rose to the top of most NFL offensive lineman ranks.". philly.com. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-eagles/Herremans-to-RT-Mathis-to-LG.html. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
↑ Elsayed, Khaled (January 5, 2012). "2011 PFF All-Pro Team". profootballfocus.com. http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/05/2011-pff-all-pro-team/. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
↑ Davis, Nate (February 13, 2013). "Alex Smith, Super Bowl QBs headline USA TODAY Sports' 21st All-Joe team". usatoday.com. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/02/13/all-joe-team-alex-smith-joe-flacco-colin-kaepernick/1915075/. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
↑ Elsayed, Khaled (May 3, 2013). "PFF's Top 101 of 2012". profootballfocus.com. https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/05/03/pffs-top-101-of-2012-the-top-10/. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
↑ Monson, Sam (January 9, 2014). "2013 Bruce Matthews Award". profootballfocus.com. https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/09/2013-bruce-matthews-award/. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
↑ http://pro32.ap.org/article/2013-all-pro-team
↑ Brady, James. "Evan Mathis released by Eagles, per report". SB Nation. https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/6/11/8767805/evan-mathis-released-eagles. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
↑ Mason, Andrew. "Broncos agree to terms with two-time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis". DenverBroncos.com. http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Broncos-agree-to-terms-with-two-time-Pro-Bowl-guard-Evan-Mathis/ba67885d-72dc-425a-8102-1085299c2796. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
↑ "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201602070den.htm. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
↑ Patra, Kevin (March 16, 2016). "Cardinals agree to 1-year contract with Evan Mathis". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000644994/article/cardinals-agree-to-1year-contract-with-evan-mathis. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
↑ Urban, Darren (October 8, 2016). "Evan Mathis Placed On IR". http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Evan-Mathis-Placed-On-IR/fc16996a-7432-4966-8bf4-d41e9903a3d4.
↑ Kiper Jr., Mel (August 12, 2002). "Alabama in hunt in SEC West". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/melkiper/s/2002/0812/1417062.html. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
↑ Obert, Richard (June 17, 2011). "NFL lineman getting himself, others in shape at his Scottsdale gym". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2011/06/17/20110617scottsdale-evan-mathis--gym-nfl-lineman.html. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Evan Mathis.
Template:Instagram
Evan Mathis on Twitter
Arizona Cardinals bio
Philadelphia Eagles bio
Cincinnati Bengals bio
v · d · eCarolina Panthers 2005 NFL Draft selections
Thomas Davis • Eric Shelton • Evan Mathis • Atiyyah Ellison • Stefan LeFors • Geoff Hangartner • Ben Emanuel • Jovan Haye • Joe Berger
Draft Years: 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011
Template:Super Bowl 50
Retrieved from "https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Evan_Mathis?oldid=255356"
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Logocentrifugal Podcast
By Chance Lunceford
Spinning out the plasma of excellence
Delivering transfusions of greatness
Logocentrifugal 47 - Jamie "Gaming the game with games within games" Combs
Logocentrifugal Podcast • By Chance Lunceford • May 28, 2019
Logocentrifugal 99 - Mike "Bolen A 300" Bolen
Mike Bolen has his shit together. This was a shorter episode, but if you're keeping track of valuable insights, then you wouldn't know it. Mike is a leader in the realm of real estate, having been in the industry for more than 20 years, and has turned himself into a multimillionaire in the process. A man like that is worth asking some questions of, and as I did so, he revealed that he's a man of systems and mastery. I can identify with that a great deal. We talked about the power of a strong network, tools to ensure that you're attracting the best candidates for inclusion into your network, and several strategies and practices that will allow one the ability to create a powerful mindset, lucrative endeavors and a method to the mastery. All in all it was an excellent conversation, full of valuable information, and I hope you'll listen carefully. Want more from Mike Bolen? Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikebolen Website: https://mikebolen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmikebolen
Logocentrifugal 98 - Dr. Robert "Quoth the Raven, Not Moth to the Flame" Toth
Dr. Robert Toth sees things. Not dead people, probably, but answers to questions most people don't know how to ask. But he answers them anyway, and new worlds of function open up along this journey into distillation that he's on. In our conversation, we talked a lot about how one might use processes and problem-solving tools to refine the most relevant information into the most useful groupings. There's a lot going on here, you might say. This was a conversation that will, as you reach the end of it, have given you a lot of things to think about, and not all of them overt. Dr. Toth is a strategic thinker, and listening to him speak about the future reveals the depth of his faith in himself to influence it. Yet there's a humbleness born of being very realistic about his place in the scheme of things, too. This balance makes for a wise vantage with the potential to steer events significantly. Is Dr. Toth the wise owl sharing wisdom from the canopy, or is he the Tootsie-Pop owl, eating the candy of those who ask stupid questions? When you're ready to find out, we'll see you on the inside. Thanks for tuning in. Want more from Dr. Robert Toth? Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealrobtoth Website: https://www.robtoth.net/ Ki Book Club: https://www.kibook.club/ - https://twitter.com/kibookclub
Logocentrifugal 97 - Robin "Go BINK! Your Comfort Zone" Black
Robin Black is a fascinating dude. This conversation was very much the Robin show, and that suits me very well. I love this kind of "put a quarter in a sit back" kind of guest because I get to sit back and enjoy the experience. Though he's best known for his martial arts video breakdowns and commentary, the man has developed a profound worldview built upon his study of martial prowess. Just as a thrown fist or shin is subject to the rules of physics and chemistry, and just as the mind which threw them is subject to the rules of psychology and evolutionary impulses, so too has Robin's study taken him down these roads. In what is simultaneously a wide ranging and circular conversation, we talk about such disparate subjects as the nature of reality and knowledge, confidence and humility, the limitations of understanding imposed by language and a lot more besides. This conversation is a veritable smorgasbord of wisdom and insight which will challenge you to think about things a bit differently. I think you'll find a great amount of value to be harvested from this conversational field. Buckle up and get ready for a breakneck ride through the mind of Robin Black. Want more from Robin? Twitter: https://twitter.com/robinblackmma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinblackMartialArts/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RobinBlack Merchandise: https://shoprobinblack.com/
Logocentrifugal 96 - Elliott "Demons At The Door" Hulse
Elliott Hulse is a powerful man. This is true in more than just his juggernaut physicality, though that is certainly an impressive feature of the man, but it also true in the measure thoughtful mind and soulful desire to lift those he works with up several levels in the game of paradigmatic ascension. "I'm a strength coach," went the refrain several times throughout the conversation. Sure, that's true, but usually when people say that they are not also the head of a movement involving millions of people. Elliott is. The strength he teaches is based on his philosophy that there is more to a person than the meat and bones of their body; a person is a mind, a body, an emotional being and a spirit. While the path to a balanced strength in all four quadrants started for Elliott and the men - yes men, he focuses his work on men because of his view that the world is doing its damndest to destroy men and bring them down from their Divinely appointed roles leaders and kings - he works with in the realm of the body, it does not stop there. In fact, as Elliott was humble and courageous enough to expound upon in our conversation, it continues on is a never-ending process of introspection, reflection, prayer and service. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I think it's an important one to have had given the current cultural climate, and I'm grateful to Elliott for taking the time to sit down with me and talk about men, and God and our place in this increasingly hostile and broken culture. Also, listen closely and see if you can spot the point at which his heart opened up and we really started to connect. You may not agree with everything that is said in this podcast, but I challenge you to listen carefully and measure your own thoughts agains those of Elliott Hulse and ask yourself where you stand. Thanks for listening. Want more from Elliott? Websites: https://elliotthulse.com/ - http://www.elliotthulse.co/home1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotthulse
Logocentrifugal 95 - Dr. Sean "We follow my rules, or we seal our McFate" McFate
Dr. Sean McFate is a very unusual man. An early childhood passion for playing violin and an Ivy League education are uncommon enough. But, from a military career to a dalliance with the non-profit world and from the high-adventure and dark visions of the mercenary life to the stuffy offices and feuding intellectual power-point powerhouses of the think-tank circuit, Sean McFate carved a very unique path through the world of geopolitics and armed conflict. Bringing that eclectic experience and unique world-view to bear, Dr. McFate is now a university professor and author attempting to tear down the pillars supporting the halls of past valor to prepare the modern warrior - and those who make the decisions which determine when and with whom they will go to war - to successfully overcome the challenges before them. We talked a bit of Sean's history, dissected some of the reasoning behind and extrapolations of The New Rules of War - which he proposes in his book by the same name - and lay out an overview of what a military prioritized and optimized to fight in the current and future paradigms of war. It was a fascinating conversation with a brilliant and controversial mind inside an uncommon and unflinching man. I learned a lot from the conversation, and from his book, and I highly recommend both of them to you, dear listener. I doubt this will be the last you hear from McFate on this podcast, but in the meantime... Want more from Dr. Sean McFate? Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcfate Website: https://www.seanmcfate.com/
Logocentrifugal 94 - Dr. Shawn "Objectively Better By Every Measure" Baker
Dr. Shawn Baker has a lot going on for him. A savage beast of a man, breaking records in athletic events like power-lifting and rowing, while speaking with force in the world of nutrition as one of the strongest voices in favor of a diet based primarily - or even, and often solely - in meat. Needless to say, he's a polarizing character. Polarizing, but not wantonly. He lives as an example of the lifestyle he's advocating for, and he's a very thoughtful and articulate speaker. We had a conversation that ranged from his own experiences with carnivory to the effects he's seen in others, from a very granular view into how the medical profession is failing to serve us as well as it could to a bird's-eye look into some of the possible motivations and causes behind it and from how a person might look out at the world and make more accurate assessments to how they might look within to do the same. We also talk about his upcoming book, The Carnivore Diet. All in all, it was an informative, interesting and powerful conversation which will help you to build a more informed platform to build your health upon. Want more from Dr. Baker? Twitter: https://twitter.com/SBakerMD Website: https://www.shawn-baker.com/
Chance Rants 25 - Violence Is A Constant
I rant about violence.
Logocentrifugal 93 - Andrew "Steven Motherf*cking Seagal" Tate
Andrew Tate is a fascinating character. He's a natural showman, yet he's wrapped up inside the mind and body of a lifelong fighter. This conversation needed little in the way of a host, Andrew was ready to talk with just a hint prodding along any direction. He also shaped the conversation to travel the roads he wanted to drive along. In a conversational podcast like mine, this is something I encourage in my guests, because I want them to tell their story and pick their brains for useful bit of wisdom or to highlight certain parts of their mentality in a way that leaves the listener able to form their own judgments. Andrew needs no encouragement in this department. Part of that is because he has a message that he's committed to, and part of that is because he's prepared to accept the consequences of his words - whatever they may be - both of which are rare traits. This is the source of my respect for Andrew Tate. There are many things I disagree with him on, and there are a couple of things in which Andrew engages which I strongly disagree with on a moral basis. That being said, my moral compass is not his, and from what I can tell, he's a man who operates according to principles and he sticks to them with uncommon tenacity. He's a polarizing character in that way. I'll let you decide what you think about Andrew Tate, and I'm sure you'll think some thoughts about the man after listening, but I'll tell you this as a final thought: Andrew has told me he would do something on several occasions, and he's done so each time. I've had several conversations surrounding the man, and of those who have had direct interactions with him, they all say the same thing - he follows through, and is loyal in his relationships. Thanks for tuning in. Want more from Andrew Tate? Website: https://www.cobratate.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobratate Twitter: https://twitter.com/ofwudan
Logocentrifugal 92 - Jon "Lying is what they were designed to du" du Toit
Jon du Toit is an fascinating character. His work on the film Hoaxed: Everything They Told You Is A Lie is what sparked my initial interest in the man. It was an incredibly well crafted film and revealed more than most are prepared to accept about how the world of narrative and media is put together. In this conversation we discuss a bit about how Jon got to be where he's at, running through a brief sketch of his personal history, before touching upon some of his beliefs and personal experiences that shape the way in which he interfaces with the world and which allow him to see the world through his particularly clear lens. Whether it's being raised as an immigrant in a foreign land, or holding beliefs and a worldview that caused him to be a pariah in his chosen field, Jon has had the distinctly uncomfortable but undeniably powerful title of outsider for most of his life. This has allowed him to see things that would be otherwise difficult nigh unto impossible to see were he as deeply enmeshed in the various cultures to which he has been exposed to across his life. This was a great conversation, and likely the first of several, and it was an honor to have Jon on the podcast as I return from my hiatus to focus in on providing what I consider to be the most interesting and relevant perspectives on the shifting foundations of society at large during a time of great political and cultural upheaval. Listen in, pay attention, and you won't be disappointed. Want more from Jon? Twitter: https://twitter.com/jondutoit Website: https://jondutoit.com/ Hoaxed: http://hoaxedmovie.com/
Chance Rants 24 - Walking And Talking
I walk and talk about a bunch of stuff.
Chance Rants 23 - Learning Experiences
I rant about learning and authenticity and whatnot.
Chance Rants 22: Sudden Departure
I rant about why I departed social media and the Logocentrifugal Podcast.
Logocentrifugal 91 - Nicholas "The North Pole is the entrance to the Rabbit Hole" Hinton
Nick Hinton was recommended to me by a previous guest on the podcast, Justin C. Scott, and I was interested immediately, because of his interesting work on conspiracies and interesting quirks in the fabric of reality and perception. This conversation was a very interesting one, and we covered many fascinating pieces of the mysteries surrounding reality. From the nature of God and Man to the perceptions - or misperceptions - surrounding the concept of time, and from the role of light and dark to the interconnectedness of all things, we ran the gamut of esoteric musing. There's a lot to consider in this episode, and of course, as is ever the case when discussing such matters, there's plenty of room left for you to make up your own mind about these concepts. Nicholas was an great guest, and he has a fascinating view on the nature of our existence. Want more from Nick? https://twitter.com/NickHintonn https://twitter.com/TheFatumProject https://soundcloud.com/cult33/
Logocentrifugal 90 - Johnny "This body oil contains the essence of my soul" Noble
Johnny Noble makes his second appearance on the podcast, and it was quite a conversation. The first thing I saw when Johnny turned on his video was a large television behind him showing a picture of some fiery galaxy. I busted up laughing. The conversation proceeded from there exactly as you might expect. We talked about the essence of being, the universe, the nature of reality, how to manifest your will into existence and - hard as this might be to believe - a lot more. It's fun to have repeat guests on the podcast, because we've already established a relationship, so the comfort level is much higher than the first appearance. This was no different, and while we did spend a small amount of time talking about Johnny's business endeavors - and there are some very important points made about that - we spent most the conversation plumbing the depths of reality looking for hidden pearls. I enjoyed the conversation very much, and I'll be sure to have Johnny back on, but for now enjoy the conversation and ponder the concepts presented. Want more from Johnny? https://twitter.com/JohnnyNoblebody https://noble-body.com/
Logocentrifugal 89 - Beth "Can't see yourself if you only watch the circus" Martens
Beth Martens is a woman I was introduced to through one of her students who also happens to be a friend of mine. After learning what she does to aid people in their journey of self-knowledge directed at both personal and professional development, I was curious to learn more. So, I invited her on the podcast, and what ensued was a very valuable conversation relating the to path of understanding your purpose and how one might reveal more of it in a practical manner. This conversation went deep into areas of Jungian psychology - archetypal patterns and thoughts about the shadow - and there were many personal stories and paths of consideration presented. There's a lot within the episode itself, and there is much to explore based upon the hints offered within the episode as well. It was a pleasure to talk with Beth, and I know many of you will benefit deeply from the listen. It's well worth considering what you're meant to be by understanding how you're wired to see and think, and which mechanisms of action align most harmoniously with those patterns. Want more from Beth? https://twitter.com/bethmartens http://www.bethmartens.com/ https://bethmartensmerpreneur.simplero.com/journey-plus-freedom https://kingheros.bethmartens.com/
Logocentrifugal 88 - Az "All I know about life I learned from 1980's issues of Vogue Magazine" Samad
Az Samad is a fascinating character. Son of one of Malaysia's artist laureates and a journalist, he was brought up in a home that would be atypical anywhere, but especially in a culture which values a "sensible" career path typically embodied in engineering and the sciences. As was instead encouraged to pursue a life of artistic expression and going with the flow of his fascination. After picking up a guitar around the age of 16, he quickly stepped onto a path that would lead him all around the world, learning and playing music across continents and cultures. His heart and soul shine through in a big way in this episode, and it was a great pleasure to have this conversation with the man. We talked about his upbringing and education, his perspective on artistic creation, the values that have shaped his outlook and the unique blend of cultural and educational elements that have shaped his musical stylings. He also played a bit of music on his guitar, and that's a unique spin on the episode. All in all, what was revealed during the course of this episode was a highly intelligent, life-loving and thoughtful man sharing of his essence and the lesson learned after more than 20 years pursuing his passions. Want more from Az? https://twitter.com/azsamad http://azsamadlessons.com/ http://www.azsamad.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/azsamad https://myspace.com/azsamad https://www.facebook.com/azsamadmusic/ https://www.instagram.com/azsamad/ https://gumroad.com/azsamad
Logocentrifugal 87 - Craig "It's freedom of speech, not freedom of screech" James
Craig James is a man I encountered because of his connection to a great deal of young men I'm friendly with who have been influenced by his leadership and mentorship. He's also the partner in crime to me pal Hunter Drew, who was a previous guest on this podcast. Craig's message, on the surface at least, is a simple one. Make room for men to be men in the modern world, and instill in those men the critical lessons of personal responsibility and service to the family and community. That's a message that is increasingly vilified in the modern narrative landscape, and we talk about some of the reasons why. We then transition into discussing what a young man, or a man at any age, might do to become something more than they are and to claim their birthright as a strong man and leader of a family. The conversation ranges from societal issues, to personal development and much in between. This conversation has no shortage of gems, and it will be beneficial to any man seeking guidance. It will also be useful for women to gain a better understanding of men and their motivations and outlook. Want more from Craig? https://twitter.com/MasculineDesign https://masculinebydesign.com/ https://fraternityofexcellence.com/
Logocentrifugal 86 - Kunal "The new culture is no culture" Dharamsi
Kunal is a friend of mine. We worked together to create some tools and systems that would enable him to make progress on a number of fronts, both personal and professional, and through that process I came to respect the man. Kunal lives in India, and my relative unfamiliarity with the modern iteration of this ancient land took up much of the conversation. I knew I could count on him to have a wealth of knowledge - he's a highly intelligent young man - and so I let my fascination with the evolution of the Indian way of life drive the train. Kunal did not disappoint, and I learned a lot about the ways in which the globalization and modernization trends occurring across the world have made their effects felt in India. There's a lot to be glad for, and much to lament the loss of, but the future will tell how it all plays out. We also talked about Kunal's own life, his atypical upbringing, and how these things shaped him into the kind of man who was compelled to jump from an uncomfortably comfortable career to make his own way within the realm of digital business. All in all, it was a great conversation full of topics and perspectives that most of you will be unfamiliar with. Want more from Kunal? https://twitter.com/kunaaaaaal kunaldharamsi@gmail.com
Logocentrifugal 85 - Tiger "The artist formerly known as Weed & Counterstrike" Joseph
Tiger was a pleasure to talk to. It's refreshing and heartening to me when I get the opportunity to speak with a young adult with their shit together. Tiger has made certain realizations by 19 that it took me until my late 20's to figure out, and he's no need for the decade+ of recuperative work I had to put in to rebuild my life from the ravages of the dark world. He's a burgeoning filmmaker, and a burgeoning human as well. We talk best practices, principles, how mistakes and accidents can be our best teachers and a lot more. This episode will be of particular interest to younger members of the audience looking for a role-model in their peer group, but there's also plenty here for older listeners as well. We discuss foundational principles that you might have missed along the way, and then there's always the sentiment of appreciated a well-adjusted youth which you're likely to share with me. Tiger was a recommendation, and he didn't disappoint. Want more from Tiger? Twitter LinkTree (Lots of Links) TYGR Productions
Logocentrifugal 84 - John "I remind you that you're free, and so I'm forced to flee" McAfee
John McAfee is a man who need no introduction. Even so, I'll give a brief one: Computers, Money, Advocating Freedom, Running for President, Government Targeting, Traveling the World (Fleeing Persecution), Social Media Messenger John has been advocating for personal sovereignty, an end to wars of aggression, ceasing the financial fuckery of centralized fiat currencies and the banks that control them, deconstructing the failed institutions of government and enjoying your life for many years now. This is a message that has cost him no small amount of money, time, conflict, stress and more. It's made all the more remarkable because he could have just sat back on the beach with more money than he knew what to do with, and enjoyed the twilight of his life with the love of his life, Mrs. Janice McAfee, sipping drinks and tripping balls. Instead, he chose to be a messenger for freedom and personal sovereignty. Because he was not some fringe hippie with no means or connections, the powers that be saw an actual threat in the man, and have to this very day run a campaign to bring McAfee down. When a plantation owner with no slaves, but plenty of resources, announces to the unwitting slaves of the other plantation owners that they are slaves and don't need to be, is it any wonder they turn their eyes, along with their proclivity for lynching, to the man with the bullhorn? Tune in and listen to the man as he seeks to enlighten you to the mess you're in, and suggest to you the ways in which you might remove yourself from it. Want more from John McAfee? Twitter McAfee 2020
Logocentrifugal 82 - Joe "The Kubrick of Jersey Shore" Vrola
Joe Vrola has been on the podcast before, and I invited him back to talk about his film Buzzkill New Jersey, because it's almost out and I think that's pretty badass. The last three years of Joe's life have been spent obsessing over every detail of the making of this film. Writer, director, editor, lead actor, etc... Joe basically did everything on this movie but run the camera, and that's quite a feat. I know many of you out there have had daydreams about creating a film, and we get into some of the nitty-gritty behind the process, and you'll get a feel for how much work actually goes in to making a film that isn't a piece of shit. Joe's a good dude, and he's sacrificed in immeasurable way to bring his vision into reality, which is something that I respect. This is a valuable episode for those in the artistic professions, or seeking to move in that direction, because it will teach you the reality that there's no place for slackers anywhere, including in the arts. Support Joe, he's created this film independently, and it a remarkable feat. If we don't support independent artists, then all we'll ever have is remakes of the same 15 movies that the major studios foist upon the unwashed masses in a constant recycling of simple stories for simple minds. Want more from Joe, or want to check into the film? Twitter Buzzkill New Jersey
Logocentrifgual 81 - Dev "A deep crystal brightly, or some such nonsense"
Dev is an interesting gal. She was recommended for the podcast, and had a lot of interesting perspectives and useful insights. We talked about things like relationships with mentors, waking up to responsibility, relationships with God and your roots, how to identify when it's time to cut threads on poisonous relationships, and a lot more. We got into some of Dev's own past, and pulled out concepts and tools that she used to climb out of pain and self-pity into the light of responsibility and taking life by the horns. At 23, Dev is quite a bit younger than most of the guests, and as the conversation unfurled, I found myself appreciating two things about that: 1) Dev seems to have some important and, in my estimation, critical concepts figured out at a relatively young age, and 2) That the seeds of an idea take years to mature. At 33, I recognize the seedlings of ideas that I have nurtured into mature fruit trees in the ideas and pursuits of a person a decade my junior. It is revealing to me in a way that I am beginning to understand in a deeper manner; elders really do understand, and care, and come from a place of caring when they impart wisdom and encourage learning. I was grateful for the conversation with Dev, as I ever am with all my guest, and I feel that there is a lot to pick up on in this conversation, and a promising future being explored for the world to see. Want more from Dev? Twitter
Logocentrifgual 80 - Justin "Everything to gain, and nothing Deleuze" Murphy
Justin Murphy was an interesting feller to talk with. He's a sharp-minded dude, and has clearly spent quite a lot of time thinking about his place in the world, and what this life means to him. I came across Justin awhile back, because of me pal Jason Snyder, and I found his content to be quite thoughtful and lucid. I invited Justing on the podcast because he's been requested more than once, and I thought he'd make a very interesting guest. He did not disappoint. Our conversation ranged from intellectual integrity to Catholicism, and from thoughts on the nature of existence to perspectives on the power inherent in rigorous adherence to honesty, and all along the path, Justin had either an answer prepared or was prepared, at least, to answer. One of the standout features of Mr. Murphy's character, in my eyes at least, is the obvious curiosity driving his attention. He seems to have targeted but bottomless fount of fascination, and this is a characteristic I can identify with. This episode presents no shortage of challenging concepts and ideas to explore and contend with, and I think it will deliver an entertaining and thought-provoking listening experience. Want more from Justin Murphy? Twitter The Other Life Now Podcast Based Deleuze
Logocentrifugal 79 - Phillip "Am I still laconic after 90 minutes of talking?" Eubanks
Phillip Eubanks is a genuine and decent human. He's been one of the most ardent supporters of this podcast, and of my work in general, and I was curious to see what makes the man tick. So, I invited him on the podcast to get a better understanding of who Phil is, and what his mission is. I'm very glad I did. Many of my guests are already established as notable personalities in their respective realms. Phil is a bit different in this regard. He's been a more behind-the-scenes kind of guy until very recently, but he felt compelled to step out from behind the curtains and take his place on the world stage. Between developing connections and relationships with several high-impact people on twitter, continuing to develop his professional skills and creating the Laconic Brand of men's accessories, Phil is at a crossroads in his digital life that will be illuminating and informative for many interested in taking similar steps. Phil has a deep-seated faith that directs and informs his journey, and he speaks of it in similar terms to ones I've often used to discuss that tell-tale sensation that accompanies the tap on the shoulder delivered by your destiny. As has so often recently been the case, we get into matters of creation and creator, and dive into the topics of faith, ascension and signposts of divine purpose. I really enjoyed getting to know me pal Phil a little better, and I found a very engaged, intelligent and thoughtful man behind the Laconic brand, and I think you'll find Phil a worthwhile man to connect with. Want more from Phillip Eubanks? Twitter Email List Laconic Shop
Logocentrifugal 78 - Justin C. "Synergetic Eyebrows and Hypnotic Hand Jive" Scott
Justin C. Scott has been a pal since shortly after I joined Twitter. He's also one of the few people I recorded and impression of, and it has been one of the most popular I've done. Justin is an easy dude to befriend. He's relentlessly positive, and constantly offering up insights into how to shift the flows of energy of the layers beneath the surface. There's a very cathartic energy that comes from Justin's videos and thoughts, and it's a gift that is rare at any age but especially for a man in his twenties. Some people seem to be fountains of wisdom from birth, and Justin is one such. It was a pleasure to have a conversation with him, and we dive into a rich conversation that travels the roads of the subconscious, the spirit, the creative aspects of our nature while we synthesize what we can into concepts and practices that can enhance your connection and capacity to engage with the underlying energetic flows of existence in a more harmonious manner. We get pretty far out there in this conversation, but there is an uncommon tendency for each of us to attempt to distill something concrete out of even the most ethereal and uncertain realms of thought, as we adventure through this metaphysical call and response. There's a whole world of thoughts to explore based upon this conversation, and I doubt that there is anyone who would not be better for having done so. Let us blow your mind out into deep space, and then try to guide you back. Want more from Justin C. Scott? Twitter Blog Further Resources
Logocentrifugal 77 - Matt S. "President: Tool Fans for World Peace" Stephens
Matt Stephens is a strong man. Not just in the physical sense, but in his bearing, in his very demeanor. His passion for life is evident in nearly every sentence he uttered during our conversation. There were several times where it seemed as though he had to consciously keep himself from bursting out of his seat and bellowing out the message. One of the reasons I reached out to Matt to bring him on the podcast is the transformation story that is central to the narrative he presents to the world. Where once stood an out of shape, and unhealthy man now stands a man who is lean and yoked up like an ox. The startling metamorphosis did not just occur in the physical realm, but in his mentality. We dive in to the mental aspect of becoming more tomorrow than you are today, and deliver a lot of thoughts and ideas that will be beneficial for you to content with. We also wade into the waters of the spirit, and converse a bit on the nature of reality and the manner in which we interface with it, and what that interface might mean about the source and the direction of existence. We also talk about how badass the band Tool is, and how we both listen to them while doing squats. Then I do a pretty lame job of trying to make the divergence a relevant thread in the larger tapestry of the conversation. All in all, this was a great conversation, and Matt showed that his intellect is swole as his physique. Want more from Matt S. Stephens? Twitter Website Instagram
Lunceford Family Values 9 - Clowns
We talk about clowns, and even have a special visitor.
Logocentrifugal 76 - Shadeed "I'm not an optimist, I just play one on TV" Q. Eleazer
Shadeed Eleazer is a thoughtful and intelligent dude. I ran into him in the potential maximizing realm of twitter, and I've always appreciated his useful and positive content. He's delivering value, and avoiding most of the beef that can be part and parcel to competitive types. In our conversation, we talked about mentality, environmental factors on outcomes, visualization, strategic thinking and a whole slew of other topics pertaining to business and success in life generally. There are visions of the future, strategic frameworks for building a vision, methods of finding and refining your vision and a great deal more ideas and tools for you to absorb in this episode. Shadeed was easy to talk to, was prepared to expand thoughtfully on any questions I asked, and was sharp and responsive in his communication style. I think everybody who listens to this episode will find much to consider. Want more from Shadeed Eleazer? Twitter Ruthless Time Analysis Journal Website
Logocentrifugal 75 - Niels "The Nose-Gasm Guru"
Niels is a smart fella. I ran into him on Twitter, and after about two-dozen insults back and forth (which I clearly delivered with more skill and better content), we became pals. Though his emphasis is something quite different than mine, his skill in persuasion and narrative analysis combined with his use of uncommon mental tools to elicit growth in his clients are things I can appreciate. So, I brought Niels on the podcast to take a look at some of the underlying factors that allow things like hypnosis and other psychological tools to be so effective under the right circumstances. We get into psychosomatic effects, body language in context, benevolent mentalism, and a lot more. There are certainly a long string of interesting and thought-provoking ideas explored in this episode. You'll not regret the interesting perspective that Niels brings to the table, and as en erotic hypnotist, his angle is one that is quite uncommon. We don't get explicit in that regard, but the principles in this episode might well assist your own ability to treat sexuality in a healthy light. Want more from Niels? Twitter Email List Website
Lunceford Family Values 8 - What happens after you die?
We talk about what might happen after you die.
Logocentrifugal 73 - Adam "One day we'll all be techno-wizards" Kokesh
Adam Kokesh is a man on a mission. A while back, I put out a call to my audience for interesting guests I might bring on the podcast. Adam was one of the first names dropped, and was quickly seconded. He was ready to make that happen, so we got the ball rolling, and I'm very glad we did. The dude has passion flooding out of him, and it's all about dismantling the onerous federal government in a methodical and systematic way, then returning the function of government back to the states, and removing the compulsory participation in any government whether federal, state, county or city. Many of you know I'm a radical personal-sovereignty advocate, and this is a message I can get behind. It was a pleasure to sit down and have a conversation with a man who's making a serious attempt to win the presidency so that he can abolish the position immediately after signing the necessary executive orders to abolish the federal government. In the conversation, we touch on his motivations for this mission, a brief rundown of how it would work, why he thinks it's possible to make this work, and quite a lot more. There's no end of concepts and principles in this episode, and it will lead you to consider things in a new light if you're not already of the Libertarian bent, and even if you are, the actual prescription for accomplishing the goal is much more lucid and rational than the narrative of thoughtless abolishment of the government in favor of instant anarchy. It was a great conversation, which went well beyond the hour which Adam was originally prepared share. He was very easy to talk to, charismatic and relatable, and there's an obvious and open depth to the man that is truly refreshing in a man running a campaign to become President of the United States, even if for only a day. Want more from Adam? Twitter The Freedom! Line Kokesh for President
Logocentrifugal 72 - Praetorian "Jesus still loves you, but what the f***" Swift
Praetorian Swift is a good dude, but he's a bad man. Badass that is. He's spent the last couple of decades learning and teaching the skills necessary to ensure that soldiers, law enforcement and the Average Joe are able to defend themselves and those whose protection has been placed in their hands. I stumbled across Swift in the same way I usually find my guests; I found the man on twitter due to his association with several of the other people I have befriended. He can highly recommended by several people I respect, and I'd already appreciated his sharp edged wisdom delivered with simplicity and a sense of humor. Once, he suggested he would remove my eyeballs with a spoon. So I brought him on the podcast to talk about his worldview, the weak points in society and in individuals and what he thinks can and ought to be done about them. We ranged from Jesus to stun-guns, from pepper-spraying Ivan Throne to justifiable homicide and from building a strong marriage to building strong defenses in this insightful conversation. There's plenty to contend with in this episode, and everyone is sure to find something to disagree with Swift over, but that's where the learning is done, and he'd be more than happy to help you learn...with a Swift punch to the head if needed. Want more from Praetorian Swift? Twitter Website
Logocentrifugal 71 - Jonathan "If you think that's magic, you should see my" Pritchard
Jonathan Pritchard is a man who lives a very uncommon life. He's made his way through the world as a mentalist, juggler and magician of sorts, creating a path for himself that veers well off of the beaten path. Along the way, he realized that the skills he had developed to engage an audience and to lead them into a perception of the world that was different than the one they walked into his room with could be used to create a lasting and beneficial difference in their lives. So, he set about doing just that. Motivational Mentalist might seem like an odd career path, but nevertheless, the man has chosen it and built it into what can only be described as a unique legacy. We talked about physical reality and it's relationship with imagination, mental tools and frames to help catalyze change in your life, his fascinating history and quite a bit more. There's something for everyone in here, and don't let the idea of "woo-woo" so often attached to a man in Jonathan's industry scare you off, he's got a very grounded perspective and makes sure to tie his ideas into the real-world in a very clear and understandable way. It was great getting to know Jonathan, and I'm pleased to share this conversation with you. Want more from Jonathan Pritchard? Twitter The Hellstrom Group Website
Logocentrifugal 70 - Steel "Backpacking travelers are the worst people" Janz
Steel Janz is a feller I met on Twitter because of his association with a couple of the blue-collar geniuses I have befriended, previous and future guest Roman McClay among them, and it's been a great connection. It was a long conversation, and I may or may not have had two high-test beers during the course of the conversation, so we were able to range across a wide variety of concepts and contexts in a manner similar to the nomadic lifestyle Janz holds dear. From parenting to principles, from loyalty to lethargy and from growing roots to seeds on the wind, we covered the gamut. Janz is a very relatable dude and, though he speaks with common language, he delivers uncommon wisdom. A world traveller, and a man who holds respect as a critical principle, Janz has much to offer. It was great getting to know the man behind the pseudonym, and I'm happy to be able to share this conversation with you. Want more from Steel Janz? Twitter Barbarian Rhetoric
Lunceford Family Values 7 - Rain
We talk about rain in the summer.
Logocentrifugal 69 - David "It's already too late, but Florida has nice weather" Reaboi
David Reaboi came highly recommended by several people I respect, and after our conversation, it's not hard to understand why. National security, information warfare, cultural analysis are subjects for which David has an academic level of understanding, and that knowledge is supported and expanded by his on-the-ground experiences working in these realms, and his network of similarly credentialed and experienced connections. We sat down for a conversation that, though comparatively short, couldn't have been more dense in relevant and poignant information. The conversation ranged from his family history and years in college to 9/11 and his emergence into the realm of national security. We talked history through the lens of cultural movements and took a very real and, to be perfectly frank, rather daunting look at how the Gramscian "long march through the institutions" and the impact that those emerging from the Frankfurt School has infiltrated Western Society and chipped away at its foundations for decades. We also talked about American style war tactics, possible near-future outcomes and how an individual might become more attuned to the world around them from a geopolitical perspective. This isn't a podcast to listen to if you're hoping emerge from it with a warm and fuzzy feeling, but sometimes recognizing reality means recognizing dire situations and planning accordingly. Want more from David? Twitter The Federalist Security Studies Group
Logocentrifugal 68 - Jean-Jacques "It's not that I'm disagreeable, I just disagree a lot" Theron
Jean-Jacques (JJ) is one of my first pals from Twitter. He also used to have a beard. He's one of the few guests I've had on who had a specific agenda to his appearance, and since it was right up my ally, I was all for it. The value of being weird is something that I have a lot of experience in, and it was a very thoughtful conversation surrounding the subject. We got into a light sprinkling of Jungian thinking on the matter, related some personal anecdotes, discussed ways in which a weirdo can be of benefit to a society and the pitfalls a weirdo can present both to themselves and the world around them. There was an easy flow to this conversation, and it has a lot to do with JJ's good-humored demeanor. He's similar to me in that almost everything is amusing, and that amusement elicits some sort of snort, chuckle or laugh. We had a great time while doing a fairly intellectual dive into the subject out outsiders and outliers. I think this conversation has some very important perspectives to consider, and that it will help to illuminate the human spirit in a way that many may not have considered before, which apropos of the conversation in a very meta way, is what a couple of weirdos are good for. Want more from Jean-Jacques? Twitter
Logocentrifugal 67 - Uncle "They haven't done anything to their downstairs...yet" Hotep
Uncle Hotep has an infectious laugh, and it's one of his trademarks. I was glad to share in the laughter as we sat down to talk about all things culture. Whether we were discussing the narrative tactics of black feminists, why Talib Kweli is an asshole, the art of genuine listening or The Avengers, that laugh and the good-natured man behind it made this conversation very enjoyable. Uncle Hotep has a decade or so on me, and his perspective on the changes and influences that have flooded the media landscape in the last 15 years or so is informed by having lived in a world where the internet and the SJW influence on the conversation were not present at all. It was interesting to hear his take on some of these topics, and I appreciated that even though he could imagine a time where things fall apart due to the divisive tactics so common in todays social and political discourse, he could even treat doomsday with a hearty gut laugh. If you'd like to enjoy a conversation with a man who's been steadily growing a large audience and developing his influence largely through his good humor and his genuine friendships, then you've come to the right place. There's a lot to be gained from this conversation, and I'm grateful to Unc for taking the time to have it. Want more from Uncle Hotep? Twitter Hoteps Been Told You YouTube Website
Chance Rants 21 - False Accusations
I rant about the damage false accusations can bring.
Logocentrifugal 66 - Dylan "Wherever I am, there I'm at, and you can be too" Madden
Dylan is an interesting case. Young and ambitious, but not so much in a materialistic way so much as in a developmental way. He seeks to become the man who can embody the values he is revealing through faith in acting on his instincts. He's doing a damn good job of it if you ask me, and his network of business and personal relationships seems to verify this claim. We've been meaning to get together to do a podcast for some time now, but our schedules hadn't worked out, but then I had a podcast guest who needed to reschedule, and Dylan popped into my Twitter timeline to fill the vacancy. I'm glad he did, because we had a great conversation that centered on his path to living a very interesting and energetic life, faith in oneself and in God, networking, mentality and more. This episode will have much to offer for any listener, but particularly for ambitious young men looking for guidance in how to assemble a life worth living. It was a pleasure to have a conversation with Dylan, his energy is bright and friendly, and there's no shortage of wisdom shared between the two of us during the course of our talk. If you want to know how a man in his mid-twenties has connected himself to prominent personalities across the globe, then listen well. Want more from Dylan? Twitter Calm and Collected YouTube
Logocentrifugal 65 - Zuby "I have only one name, and there are only two genders" um... Zuby
Zuby is something of a sensation on social media and beyond these days. It wasn't always so, and he's been on the path to worldwide recognition for more than a decade. It's easy to believe, for those that have never tried, that "overnight success" is something that literally happens overnight. It almost never does, and Zuby has held the faith and walked the line for all these many years and has now become a figure of no small amount of notoriety. Though I haven't been around to see his growth over the years, I have been around to see his growth over the course of about a year. In that time, I watched him go from a well-respected independent rapper with the uncommon trait of clean lyrics and relentless positivity to a champion of the idea that reality and logic are things that should be held dear by any society that wishes to survive. This is the third time I've had the pleasure to sit down for a conversation with me pal Zuby, and he's always been very gracious and thoughtful during these chats. This time was no different, and we discussed quite a few important and relevant ideas in this conversation. It will come as no surprise to those that know either of us that we talked about faith, biological reality, social standards, truth and even a short exploration of hypothetical squirrel societies. Needless to say, this was an interesting conversation for the both of us as it is sure to be for you, so I suggest you buckle in and listen to the smooth dulcet tones of the one and only Zuby. Want more from Zuby? Twitter YouTube https://www.zubymusic.com/ You can find links to all of Zuby's work from his website as well.
Logocentrifugal 64 - King Mohammed "Hold up, I need to chant some Q'uran verses real quick" Afikur Rahman JivanMukti
Mohammed Afikur Rahman is unique among all the guests I've had on the podcast, and indeed, of all the people I've met. This episode was quite bizarre in many ways, and will require a lot of patience if you are to listen to it. I suggest that you do. The JivanMukti, as I mention within the episode, has only a sliver of his experience intersecting with that of what we'll call the "average" person's experience, and because of that, communication with him is something of an experience. During the course of this episode, he made sound effects, chanted, had moments of startling clarity and lucid intelligence, lost his train of thought entirely and played clips of Muezzins all while attempting to relay a grand unified theory of the universe through barely intelligible treatises on the nature of man and physics. Yeah. But, here's the thing, I found myself opening my heart to the man, and listening to what he had to say, taking the time to let his words have their effect on me, and attempting to translate his message into something that other people might understand. Perhaps I succeeded, perhaps I did not, but it was the mere fact that I was able to allow myself to enter that space with him that I found remarkable. You can tell that Mohammed is a good hearted dude, and in the moments of clarity he found during the episode, he relayed some very simple dreams for the future. He'd like to see a world purified of the chemical contaminants and psychological poisons that are so ubiquitous in the world today, and to see a return to harmony with the singular truth of existence which exists within each of us and, indeed, in all things. There's not a lot more I'd like to say about this episode other than this: Do please give your best attempt at staying in this strange space with us for the duration and see what happens to your experience afterwards. Want more from Mohammed Afikur Rahman? Twitter And by his request: https://www.quranwow.com
Logocentrifugal 63 - Ali "The Rabbi's Rabbi" Alexander
Ali Alexander is a well-know political operator, and a passionate one at that. I first discovered Ali during my deep dive into narrative warfare and saw that he was able to create a lot of movement around the issues he champions. Then, after a recommendation by one of my fans (who hates to be called a fan), I reached out to Ali to invite him on the podcast. After I did, and he accepted, I began to pay more attention to what he was doing. One thing that really stands out to me about Ali is his relentlessness and focus on the issue(s) at hand. At almost any hour of night or day, you can find Ali on Twitter or Periscope pushing his current operation with constant content. He might do a live Periscope 3-4-5 times per day, or more, and hammer on the same issue. This has proven to be extremely effective and influential, which helps to explain why so many others in the narrative battlegrounds are responding and reacting to Ali's frame so often. He's a smart dude, and has a lot of experience in this realm, and it's clear he knows what he's doing. Thus, it was interesting for me to be able to sit down with Ali for a short time to pick his brain. What I found in there is much what you would expect: Dedication, persistence, willfulness and drive. Some might look at that list and see negative traits, but not me, I see those as necessary ingredients in the recipe of elite success. Add that to the fact that Ali applies those traits to an overarching vision of a world he believes will be better than the one he is shaping it from, and what you get is a man absolutely dedicated to serving his divine mission. Whether or not you agree with Ali's mission or his tactics, one thing must be said; Ali Alexander is a force to be reckoned with. Want more from Ali? Twitter Cul+++ure Ditch YouTube
Lunceford Family Values 6 - Smiles
We talk about smiles and stuff
Chance Rants 20 - We don't have time for another long march
I rant about the need for a new set of social tools of communication and governance
Logocentrifugal 62 - Uncle "It only seems like it doesn't make sense since you think things make sense" Kairos
Uncle Kairos and I had a chat back in January that was intended to go on the YouTube account of Aion Media Co. It somehow got lost in the shuffle, and it's been bugging me ever since, so today, I decided to honor the time he took to chat with me and load it onto the podcast feed. This was a free-wheeling conversation in a lot of regards, and you can tell that I'm not as polished at the process as I am now (not that polished still, as you well know), but the content in the conversation is going to be of great interest to many of you and Kairos is quite a character. This conversation was on of those that left me feeling like I was on the right track with the podcast endeavor too, because after I finished it, I really felt like I was going to be able to make a difference in people's lives. We talked natural building, holistic communities, managing of ones own responsibilities in the physical and metaphysical aspects of life and a whole heap of other stuff too. Uncle Kairos, as I affectionately call him, reveals his name in the podcast, but we'll let his anonymity in text form remain for the time being. Pay attention to the man and hear what he has to say. He's a challenging dude to know, but you wouldn't be here if that wasn't something you were into. Want more from Uncle Kairos? Twitter
Logocentrifugal 61 - Andrew "A Podcast Guest With Cancer Is Still A Podcast Guest" Laird
Andrew Laird, or Drew as his friends call him, is a treasure of a human being. I am constantly awed by people like Drew. We all get caught up in the day-to-day travails and frustrations of our lives, and it can be difficult to take yourself out of your own frame to gain some perspective on just how lucky you really are. It's not that hard when you talk to someone who's battling leukemia. If he were to be wasting away, feeling little hope, and letting the illness get the better of his mind, few would blame him. It's a very daunting and uncertain situation to be in, and to be certain, Drew has been in those places. But that is not what makes him remarkable. What makes Drew remarkable is the fact that instead of doing what would seem so natural to do, he has instead dedicated himself to turning his illness into an opportunity to bring positivity and perspective into as many lives as he can. He's a physical beast, still going to the gym all the time. He has a YouTube channel dedicated to sharing his moves in the gym, and to educating others about how to do the same, and to sharing his perspective and progress while doing battle with leukemia. He also works in the mental health profession, helping others to gain a more useful mental frame from which to operate in the world and overcome their own mental hurdles. The best counselors, I have found, are the ones who've actually lived something that takes deep work and long-suffering struggle to overcome, and that's just what Drew brings to the table. This was a shorter podcast. Me pal Drew had an afternoon with his family, and I wanted to respect his time, so we kept it pretty short. But, that doesn't mean we didn't get into some very important topics and the like, nor that there isn't a wealth of ideas for you to consider. There is. We talk dealing with darkness, service as an answer to suffering, faith, family and more in another heartfelt episode of the podcast. Ready? Go. Want more form Andrew? Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
Logocentrifugal 60 - Joseph "Broseph Smith: The Prophet, Seer and Revelator" Smith
Joseph Smith was a great dude to talk with. For whatever reason, his presence caused me to open up my heart, and he did the same. We had a very genuine and open conversation about God, the process and practice of prayer, my typical heretical musings on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, dark pasts and bright futures, gardening, hunting, responsibility and more Ol' Joe is very easy to talk to, and you can tell just by listening to him that he's got good intentions in his heart. I was glad to have the opportunity to sit down with the man and get to know him a bit better. There's no guile in him during this conversation, and I appreciated that throughout. Want more from Joseph? Twitter The Baptist Bee
Lunceford Family Values 5 - Hearts and Hearts and Heart
We talk about hearts
Logocentrifugal 59 - Joe "I'm so introverted I collapsed into another dimension where I'm an extrovert" Vrola
Joe Vrola was a surprising guest. One of the reason is that, to be frank, I knew little about the man before we had our conversation. Basically, I knew he is a filmmaker and leans conservative in his politics, and that he reached out to me with an interest in coming on the podcast. So, when this conversation went so deep into areas of the heart and soul, it was far from expected. You folks know by now, if you've been listening, that I like to help my guest share from their heart, and Joe opened his right up. We discussed his movie, we then transitioned into a political foundations, and then veered into counseling, addiction, obsession, God and religion, AA and all kinds of other things. This was a special conversation with a man who's only now beginning to emerge onto the social media scene because he's created something he's proud of. It was a pleasure getting to know Joe, and I'm happy to offer you the chance to do the same. Want more from Joe? Twitter Twitter (Movie Account) Facebook Website
Logocentrifugal 58 -Hunter "Master of the Mines of Moria" Drew
Hunter Drew will not be unfamiliar to many of my listeners, but for those who don't know him yet, you're in for a treat. It was very easy to talk to Hunter, and he wears his heart on his sleeve, which is why it's so easy to see that he's got a great heart underneath all that beard. We talked responsibility, friendship, removing poison from your life, and a wide array of other subjects. It was, as Hunter puts it, "a farmer's market" of useful ideas and concepts mixed in with plenty of real life and real talk (I wish you really would burn my clothes). This kind of free-flowing but impactful conversation is what the Logocentrifugal Podcast is all about. Tune in and enjoy the ramblings of a madman, and Hunter Drew. Want more from Hunter? Twitter Instagram https://thefamilyalpha.com/ https://fraternityofexcellence.com/
Logocentrifugal 57 - Will "Twice Will The Third" Wilson
Will Wilson is a dude I connected with on Twitter due to our mutual friend Garrett "Ginger Hitler" Dailey, and I'm glad we did. Twice Will is a young dude, but he's got a good head on his shoulders and has a number of things going for him that most do not, especially at such a young age. We talk business, philosophy, politics, capitalism, and more in this very conversational podcast. One thing that struck me about Will's approach is his willingness to speak his mind combined with his willingness to clearly state that he might be wrong. This is a hard skill to develop for many, and to have it in your twenties is rare indeed. I quite enjoyed my conversation with Twice Will, and I think you will too. Tune in and check out a man with a plan that's already underway. Want more from Will? Twitter Tertius Printing and Apparel
Logocentrifugal 56 - Jordan "Insert every permutation of a nickname with the letter J in it here" Dixon-Hamilton
J-Hotz, AKA Jordan Dixon-Hamilton, AKA Patriot J, AKA etc... is a young man with a very bright future. Between law school, making music, developing an online presence and multiple digital income streams, J has a lot going on, and he seems to be doing it with ease and style. We talked about the nature of the law, narrative, pattern recognition, collectivism vs individualism and a lot more. For a dude not even in his mid-twenties, Jordan has an impressive depth of knowledge and a good sense of the world. In this conversation, I play the perplexed old man with occasional insights and J-Hotz plays the hip youngster well-versed in the modern means and methods. It was a good chance for me to understand the perspectives of the "Always Had Internet and 9/11" crowd a little better, and I restrained myself from yelling at him to get off my lawn. Tune in for a very insightful conversation with a very promising young man. Want more from Jordan? Website Twitter Spotify Apple Music
Lunceford Family Values 4 - Unicorns and Going With The Flow
We start slow and end in an ear beating.
Chance Rants 19 - A Modern Perspective on Civil War
I rant about how a modern civil war might look.
Logocentrifugal 55 - Chris "Rowboat Renegade" The Primal Man
Chris, AKA The Primal Man, who's mysterious last name is secret even to one such as I (it isn't), is exceedingly sharp. He's got a very clear-headed approach to life, and has made himself a success on a number of fronts, one of which is being a compelling podcast guest. We talked about the evolutionary mechanisms behind attention and physiological adaptation, and how those can be leveraged into useful practices in your day-to-day life. In addition to that, we covered things like networks, public speaking, obsession and competition, and plenty more. We also talked about Chris's nipples, and why he decided to stop showing them to the world. This was another instance of very dense and hard-hitting conversation in a relatively short amount of time, and there is much here you would do well to take notes and and explore further. Want more from Chris? Twitter Website Primal Eating Ebook The Primal Ebook Trilogy
Chance Rants 18 - Don't Let Everything Be The Enemy Of Something
I rant about choosing one thing over another, and why it is necessary.
Logocentrifugal 54 - Stephen "Last of the Cane-Masters" Storey
Stephen Storey was a pleasure to talk with. He's a world traveling, skill building, language learning man who loves to help others become closer to their ideal selves through teaching and mentorship. This was an excellent conversation, and Stephen delivers on a whole host of subjects including competition, dedication, transformation and lots more besides. I had a great time in this conversation, and I've developed a great appreciation for the man after having the opportunity to have this long chat with him. There's a ton of value in this conversation for anybody with ears to listen. I found myself smiling almost the whole time, either because of Stephen's winning personality or because I could identify so strongly with the principles he was advocating for. Ready to get better? Listen in. Want more from Stephen Storey? Twitter Instagram
Lunceford Family Values 3 - How we live, flowers and unicorns
We talk about the stuff in the title...or sing it.
Logocentrifugal 53 - The "Agent Huntsman Does Not Actually Exist" Huntsman
Huntsman is me pal. He also a very intelligent dude, and writes thoughtfully. I appreciate that, and through developing an appreciation for his viewpoints, I've grown to have a lot of respect for the man. That's why I invited him on the podcast. He and I are part of a small group of people who are paying close attention to the threads of stories playing out and seeking to deduce how far back the thread goes into the past, and the pattern of the weave in the future. We talk a bit about ideas like that in this episode, but the emphasis was more on how one might better prepare themselves to thrive in the world and ways of looking at the world that bring additional layers of understanding within your grasp. There is a lot of content in this conversation that will get you thinking. Huntsman demonstrates his uncommonly lucid thinking and speaking ability in this episode, and if you can listen half as well as he can speak, you're going to learn a lot. Want more from Huntsman? Twitter
Logocentrifugal 52 - Ed "On Some Fire-Alarm Type Sh**" Latimore
Ed Latimore is a smart dude, and has had a lot more success using social media and the digital domain to build a solid foundation from which to live his life than almost anybody else. Most of you listening to this podcast will already have a pretty good idea who Ed is and what he does. Many of you will have developed your own opinion about the man as well, and it's no surprise, given that he's one of the more prominent figures in the self-improvement realm of Twitter and elsewhere on the internet. I'd suggest you suspend your previous judgements and thoughts regarding the man and just give this episode a listen with fresh ears. Ed is a caring dude, and he's living a life that is heavy in the gratitude department. He's delivering a message that is primarily focused on doing hard things and becoming more than you are. Are either of those concepts new? Nope. Are they both necessary right now as much as, if not more than, ever? Damn right, and Ed Latimore delivers. Listen in as we talk about generational positioning, strategic approaches to the digital paradigm, strengthening your baseline metrics and a lot more. Want more from Ed? Twitter Instagram Website: https://edlatimore.com/
Logocentrifugal 51 - Skip "Dr. Peterson is not your real dad" Conover
Skip Conover is a gentleman who I discovered due to my friends Steafan Fox and Ole Jim-Bob Dowling having a conversation with him. I invited Mr. Conover on the podcast because of expertise in Jungian psychology, and because he seems to have a thoughtful approach to the content he publishes. It was a great conversation and we took a lot of interesting scenic views as we went. I had some family business to attend to, so we ended the conversation a bit suddenly, and I'll have Skip back on again to continue the discussion. However, there is certainly plenty here for you to enjoy. We talk about balance, logos and chaos, where Skip sees Dr. Jordan Peterson making some errors in nuance and a lot more. Get ready to challenge your presuppositions. Want more from Skip? Twitter YouTube
Chance Rants 17 - Gratitude In Death
I rant about why you should view death as something to be grateful for.
Lunceford Family Values 2 - With Eyes
We talk about stuff, including eyes.
Chance Rants 16 - The Joe Rogan Approach
I rant about a very important realization.
Logocentrifugal 50 - Dr. Jake "Fly Like A Veigel" Veigel...MD
Dr. Jake is one of the few people I've met online and then met in the physical realm. I was pleased to make his acquaintance. He's a good dude, and we met up at a Kurt Vile concert, and then again for lunch. I wanted to have him on for several reasons, but one of them is the importance he places upon his family life. It takes a smart and dedicated person to become a doctor, and it is also very expensive to go through all the schooling. Many times many doctors feel so burdened by $100K+ in debt, that they don't start a family until very late, or they neglect the duties at home in favor of the career. This is understandable not just through the monetary lens, but also because helping people recover from or prevent debilitating injury and/or illness is a very satisfying and rewarding career. Dr. Jake Veigel is no different in that sense. He loves having the opportunity to be able to assist top performers to become even better, and to help those will physical limitations obstructing their dreams to be able to remove or mitigate those limitations in order to live a more fulfilling life. I think most people can see how the satisfaction in doing so could end up sucking you in deeper, perhaps, than it is wise to allow. That's why I find it particularly honorable that Dr. Jake has made sure to prioritize family time and to limit his work life to allow for an appropriate paternal presence in his home. We discuss family, adventure, balance and keys to long-term satisfaction and life-long engagement. Listen in for some very important lessons on life from a man who has the experience and legitimacy to offer them. Want more from Dr. Jake Veigel? Twitter
Chance Rants 15 - Maybe These F****** Are Wiping Themselves Out
I rant about those who hold to and promote ideological stances that are antithetical to life.
Lunceford Family Values 1 - Hello World
My daughters and I talk about stuff.
Logocentrifugal 49 - Akira "You're right, Nihilist, YOU shouldn't have children" the Don
Mr. the Don was a pleasure to speak with. He's a dude who's chosen a unique path, combining the impactful teachings of people like Jordan Peterson, Jocko Willink, Frank Herbert, Alan Watts and more with the powerful emotional response brought about by music to create a symphonic synthesis which promotes the integration of the information in a truly profound way. Referred to as Meaningwave, this unique blend of spoken word and trancelike music has been gaining a lot of momentum in the self-improvement and self-actualization communities, and Akira is the progenitor of the genre. He puts out new music constantly, and is committed to continuing the journey. In addition to all that, as we spoke during the podcast, I continually found myself amused at the fact that the ideas and even some of the phrasing coming out of Akira's mouth was exactly the same as so much of the work that I've done in an attempt to serve the people I interact with. So of course, given our alignment of ideas and perspectives, I think he's a genius and a gentleman. It was great to have the chance to learn from a man who is rapidly becoming a massive inspiration to thousands upon thousands of people across the world, and I'm grateful he took the time to share some of his light with you and I. Ready, set, go. Want more from Akira? Twitter Instagram Website
Chance Rants 14 - Traumatic Psychology
I rant about psychological trauma and having some compassion for those who experience the debilitating effects of it.
Logocentrifugal 48 - Sean "F*** You Chance" Moore
This episode did not go smoothly. I'm publishing it anyway to demonstrate my imperfections, and to allow you to have a more realistic view of who I am. It started well enough, but that didn't last. Firstly, though I had intended to stop this episode from turning into a tirade on the foolishness and malevolence of collectivism, it became just that because I failed to play the role of devil's advocate effectively. But, most significantly, as the end of the episode was approaching, I asked Sean about sacrifice and honor in the context of his service in our nation's military. He did not appreciate it, and, after letting me know that he did not, he left the podcast abruptly. I continued to record, offered some thoughts and then signed off. If you're not into rants about the perils of collectivism, or unresolved conflict, then you might want to skip this one. A final thought: I harbor no ill will towards Sean for the way this conversation went, and though it was not my intent to create conflict, I did. Perhaps I failed to communicate well, perhaps Sean has psychological obstacles that will not allow any sort of conversation that touches on these themes, or perhaps it is both. Either way, I'm grateful to Sean for coming on the podcast, and for sharing his thoughts, and I hope that you'll give him the benefit of the doubt just as I hope you'll grant me the same. Want more from Sean? Twitter
Jamie Combs is a cool dude. He created a framework called 4Games that was a synthesis of many tools and perspectives he'd gathered during his time in business school and from being involved in high-level business development all over the world. He knew that much of the information out there was useful, but there was something lacking. What he wanted was an easy and accurate way to place the relevant information into the appropriate place at the correct time, and to have a holistic way of looking at both life and business that anybody could put into use. That's what 4Games does, and that's what he came to talk about. The system is deceptively simple, but once you begin to the the way that it overlays so seamlessly into your current model, you'll appreciate the usefulness of the tool. Jamie is a successful businessman, and has a whole foods company based in the UK. He came to share this system, not because he want to sell you anything, but because he wants to help others succeed, and has a genuine excitement for the world that could be built if more people were able to build their dreams. This will be a great episode in particular for those who struggle with understanding what to do when and why. Want more from Jamie? Twitter Natural Balance Foods
Logocentrifugal 46 - Jeremy "Attachment styles with an attachment of style" Fox
First things first: On May 7, 2019 a tragedy struck. Freya Larsen, who was my sister-in-law's best friend, faced her boyfriend, who held a pistol level with her forehead from approximately a foot away. He pulled the trigger once, and delivered Freya a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Adding to the tragedy, she was well educated in such matters, having served as a social worker in child and family services. She knew the signs, and had even helped friends and family to remove themselves from violent and otherwise abusive relationships in the past. Nevertheless, even after multiple incidents of physical abuse before that fateful day, she stayed in one herself, and the cost for doing so was her life. I say this not in judgement, for it is far from my place to do so, but to highlight that even one who knew all the rules, the signs and the potential outcomes of such a relationship could find themselves within the same cycle of abuse that is far more common that anyone would like to admit. That's why this episode of the podcast exists. I felt the need to honor her legacy of service, and fighting for those with no voice, by doing what I could to help educate and inform people about how these kinds of things happen, what to look for in your relationships and in those of your loved ones, how to best prevent yourself from entering into a similar situation and what to do should you find yourself already in one. So, I reached out to my friend Jeremy Fox. He is a licensed therapist, and was already scheduled to come on the podcast, but when Freya was murdered, I reached out to him and asked if he would be alright with changing the focus of this conversation to one which would serve to help people gain a better understanding of relationships and the problems that can arise within them. He was very gracious in his consent, and brought his thoughtfulness and expertise to the table with great care. There are many resources which are mentioned in the show, and Jeremy was kind enough to send me a list to give you guidance on pursuing them if you're interested. You'll find that below. I'm very grateful to Jeremy for his help in creating this episode to aid in honoring the legacy of Freya Larsen. Be vigilant. Have courage. Love well. Want more from Jeremy? Twitter Email: foxemdrtherapy@gmail.com And here is the promised list of resources: Literature Review for Jeremy Fox LPC Logocentrifugal podcast appearance (5.25.19) Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find- and Keep- Love by Amir Levine, MD and Rachel S.F. Heller, MA I Hate You-- Don’t Leave Me: Understanding the Borderline Personality by Jerold J. Kreisman Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder by Paul T. Mason, MS and Randi Kreger Words Can Change Your Brain: 12 Conversation Strategies to Build Trust, Resolve Conflict, and Increase Intimacy (“compassionate communication” model of conversation) by Andrew Newberg, MD and Mark Robert Waldman Resources for female abuse survivors: https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/get-help/state-resources Resources for male abuse survivors: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/help-for-men-who-are-being-abused.htm/ Find an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist: https://www.emdria.org/page/findatherapistmain/Find-an-EMDR-Therapist-Directory.htm Find a local chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness): https://www.nami.org/Find-Your-Local-NAMI Vaillant's categorization of defense mechanisms (search for further information)
Logocentrifugal 45 - Paul M. "The dude in the purple robe has a book? That's wicked awesome!" Domenick
Paul was a pleasure to talk to. We've been pals for awhile now, and I've watched his following grow into that rare 10K+ range on Twitter. He did this by honing his delivery of simple truths in a way that people have felt an easy connection to. Paul's emphasis in delivering content is to focus in on social dynamics and thoughtful interactions that begin with being thoughtful and having a good relationship with yourself. This message resonates with many people, and it should come as no surprise, given the ease of connection but the lack of physical interactions with other people. By guiding your attention to the musings of the stoics in easily digestible and highly relatable snippets, and by tying that in with perspectives and tools to allow for more positive interactions, Paul has built a reputation as one of the most promising young men in the self-improvement realm, and has a bright future before him. Join in on his journey, and learn what you can from the man, because soon it's going to be $1000 to attend his seminars, but you get to jump in for free here on the Logocentrifugal Podcast. Want more from Paul? Twitter Instagram
Chance Rants 13 - Hardship Highlights Character
I rant about dealing with hardship in an honorable way.
Chance Rants 12 - Rejoice In Criticism and In Hate
I rant about what to make of criticism and hate, and how both can serve you well.
Chance Rants 11 - Anonymous Attacks, Honor and Loyalty
I rant about the recent attacks on certain members of the "manosphere" and what ought to be made of it.
Logocentrifugal 44 - Stacii "Thanks Chance, I'll take it from here" Lewis
Stacii Lewis has led a wild life. From childhood tragedy to adolescent confusion to early adulthood foolishness to mature adulthood redemption, this is a story that will hit you hard. Stacii has bee through it all, but he emerged from it all with a smile on his face and a message in his heart. In this episode, I give the reigns to Stacii and let him cover his life story from the time he was a baby until the time he was apprehended by law enforcement after a string of decisions which would land him in prison for 21 years. Instead of getting out and resuming the same old habits, or hiding out in a private life of resentment and fear, Stacii has done the uncommon and chosen to step into the light and set the example for those who have very few. Now an Author, a frequent guest on television, radio and podcasts, and a speaker who engages with at risk people, Stacii is paving a new path forward for those who so often continue on in imprisonment, even after they are released, by maintaining a prison of the mind. Listen in to a fascinating story, and learn what you can along the way. I'll have Stacii back on fairly soon to take a little time to ask him some questions and to get some perspective, but for now, just sit back and listen. Want more from Stacii? Twitter The Universe Thru My Eyes Instagram
Logocentrifugal 43 - Jack "Maybe the Poles started the rumor about light-bulbs... let that sink in" Posobiec
Jack Posobiec, "Poso" if you're part of the team, is a seemingly unstoppable force in the world of political influence, and his nearly half-a-million followers on Twitter can attest to that. Before I get into it, be advised that the audio on this episode is a bit noisier than usual, because we recorded this episode while Jack was commuting through a noisy Washington, DC. Don't let that deter you. Onwards. I became interested in Jack for the second half of the term 'political influence,' because i stumbled across him as I was beginning my research into the mechanisms and influence that narrative has on both our individual lives and the broader cultural impact. What I saw was much of what I'd been researching at play, and with a very high-degree of impact. It's one thing to read the research on narrative and memetic warfare to be found in the "filetype:pdf" searches on Google, and quite another to see someone using the tools within the research with great effect. So, I bought Jack's book 4D Warfare to see what I might learn. What I read was easily understood, was tied to real-world examples, and delivered a set of tools and perspectives which could be considered the starter guide to narrative warfare. I reached out to Poso because I wanted to dive into some of the mechanics behind the headlines, and to understand how a notable player in the Story Wars decided which battles to fight and what strategies to employ. He did not disappoint. This episode is as dense as granite with tools and tactics to enhance your own ability to wage narrative war, even if it is only to wage it against the narratives that have infiltrated your own life. But, if you were so inclined and listened carefully, you'd have an understanding of how to begin to take the fight to the opposition. Either way, if you're picking up what was put down in this short but powerful episode, you're never going to see the world the same way again. Want more from Jack? Twitter One America News Network 4D Warfare
Logocentrifugal 42 - Jordan "I've worn many masks, and they've all been cult-leader masks" Casstles
Jordan Casstles is a good friend of mine. We connected early on in my Twitter emergence with the common goal of freeing the minds of those who were being destroyed by their romance with nihilism. Along the way, Jordan, in an attempt to assume the mantle of such an one and reason his way back out, nearly lost himself to the siren's song of meaninglessness. Nearly, but not actually. His reemergence from the pit, though not his first such journey, left him with an abiding fascination with the nature of meaning, the connection to the human experience and a desire to connect the stories of our past with the predicaments and triumphs of this modern life. In this episode, we dive into the Luciferian archetype, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Kabbalistic Judaism, and what can be inferred by the divisions and commonalities that can be derived from this comparative examination. Keep in mind, we're both rather heretical when it comes to these matters, so take what you hear with a grain of salt. Always take what you hear with a grain of salt. Get ready for an opportunity to gain a measure of enlightenment. Want more from Jordan? Too bad there isn't more for you, but you can find the essay mentioned on my blog right here. If you're ready to write your own destiny, I can help: Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 41 - Doe "If Hov can get to $900 Million, there's no reason I can't get to $3 Billion" Doobs
Doe Doobs and I shared a very cool experience. You might think this is a tall-tale, but I assure you it is not. I reached out to Doe inquiring whether he wanted to come on the podcast. He said, "I spoke this into existence! YES!" When I asked him what he meant, he explained that he'd been paying attention to the growth of my podcast, and had been impressed by the caliber of guests I was beginning to draw in, and made it a personal goal to come on the podcast. See? Pretty cool right? The episode we recorded together was one which fully met and exceeded the expectations we each had given the synchronous nature of its origination. Race, politics, narrative, very personal histories, wealth, and soap were just some of the topics discussed in this episode. Get ready for some deep discourse here, and be prepared to take notes. It was a pleasure to have Doe on, and it will be a pleasure for you to learn from him. Want more from Doe? Twitter Stop Being Poor Volumes I & II Ready to unlock your genius? Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 40 - Asad "Never mind the haircut, just call me Asad"
Asad is me pal. We've had a relationship on Twitter for a few months now, and what initially drew me to him was the fact that he could deliver useful content in regards to e-commerce and entrepreneurial mindset, and in the next breath make me laugh at his sardonic wit. You can probably see, if you've interacted with me on Twitter at all, why I would befriend such an one. This episode with Asad is a true treasure, especially if you're wanting to get a start on creating something for yourself, or if you're in the beginning stages of your journey with a side-hustle or online business. We discuss mindset, expectations, time-management and a whole slew of critical tools and ideas you'll need to consider when striking out on your own. Even if you're already well along into your journey of entrepreneurship, this episode will serve to reinforce and remind you of the things you need to have in your life, as well as those you don't, in order to stay the course and succeed over the long term. Want more from Asad? Twitter Amazon Masterclass Instagram Ready to level up your brain game? Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 39 - Brendon "Skin in the game" Marotta
Brendon Marotta spent 6+ years making a film, which is in itself rather extraordinary, but add that to the fact this film is a documentary taking a look at the issues surrounding the practice of circumcision, and you've got something truly remarkable. Going into this episode, I have to admit, I wasn't sure where it was going to go, or what kind of conversation it would be. I was honestly pretty stunned. I've had an opinion around this issue for some time, but it was never something that I thought about deeply, and to find someone so well informed and passionate around the practice, I was startled into awareness of a tension and movement that I had no idea existed. Brendon is a dude with a lot of heart, and his interest lies in developing the ability for people to understand and experience the emotions and effects that the practice of circumcision brings up in themselves and the people around them. It was a fascinating conversation, and I guarantee you'll come away having learned a great deal about a subject that, for the vast majority of people, is something normally avoided and rarely brought to light. Tune in and deepen your understanding of the issue, and of people in general. Want more from Brendon? Twitter https://www.brendonmarotta.com/ https://circumcisionmovie.com/
Logocentrifugal 38 - Dennis Michael "Youth is an attitude, except for everything about your body" Hynes
Dennis Michael Hynes is a gift to you. He's a man who's put in the years to prove that he knows what he's talking about, and has the life and the physicality to prove it. Dennis is physically stronger and more conditioned than most men half his age in today's weak and undisciplined world, though, he would have been anyway, given what a savage he is. This was a great conversation, and we had a good time talking with each other. Along the way we share a great many personal anecdotes, sometimes doing the work of extracting the relevant principles, sometimes leaving that for you to do. That being said, there's everything in this podcast you need to understand about building a strong body to last the rest of your life, about building a strong mind to stay engaged the rest of your life, and to build a great life with the strength that you embody. It was an honor and a pleasure to learn from an elder warrior, and I suggest you listen with an open ear and a humble heart. Want more from Dennis? Twitter
Logocentrifugal 37 - Liberty "I'm the guy who makes the guy who makes the guy who makes you uncomfortable uncomfortable" Bill
What if there was a dude who had read all the philosophy, and heard all the arguments, and spent a couple decades distilling and refining them into both a deep philosophical framework and a collection of digestible platitudes and principles? Enter Liberty Bill. Get your dictionary ready, and keep a pen and pad handy, this is an episode that requires some mental fortitude. Bill is a philosopher, and a hyper intelligent man, who has been crafting a work called The Heroic Ethic. He'll do a sufficient job of unpacking an introduction to his philosophy, but you'll need to pay attention. That is, if you want to understand the why and not just the what. If you're good with blindly following rules, there's three great ones you can find within this episode. I could've talked to Bill for many more hours, and I will in the future, but for now, introduce yourself to his philosophy and discover just how stubborn my natural inclinations are as we parse out some of the points. Want more from Bill? Twitter
Logocentrifugal 36 - Alli "I think I just created an algorithm" Convington
Alli Covington was a recommendation from a previous guest, Max "Max Pander" Panzer. It was a great recommendation. Alli is highly intelligent and motivated, and has a powerful blend of science, finance, and health underpinning the works she creates. Between raising kids, authoring a fitness algorithm, writing a book and helping people manage their finances, Alli takes the time to share her wisdom with us here. This episode will enlighten you in a number of ways, and we even find time to discuss God and divine purpose. Tune in and get some knowledge. Want more from Alli? Twitter Instagram Bod Company Want to follow Merlin's advice? Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 35 - Steafan "Uber Boil" Fox
Steafan Fox is a fascinating boyo. I befriended Steafan several months ago, due both to his association with a couple other friends of mine and his unique and interesting music, and it's been a rewarding experience. The man has much to say in the realms of archetypal psychology, religion, and the nature of reality, and we got into all of that in this episode. Listen in as we explore the war of the Gods, the fundamental questions of our time, with a couple jokes sprinkled here and there. This episode is a bit different than the others, but there's much to be gained from the listening, if for no other reason than the dulcet tones of his smooth Irish voice. Want more from Steafan? Twitter: https://twitter.com/SteafanFox YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrk8Y2fsR5i_5c1iTR9tZpg Want to follow Merlin's Advice? Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 34 - Nick "I'll either light a fire under your ass, or I'll light your ass on fire" Lowary
Nick Lowary is a dude I connected with on twitter because of two things: 1) I like his dark sense of humor 2) I always like to support and learn from people who set out to do something uncommon and difficult, and succeed I'm referring to Ground Shark Coffee Co on that second item on the list. Nick started a coffee company in August of 2018, with a partner, and has just crossed the line into profitability. That in itself is quite remarkable, but the more remarkable thing about it is that he's no even knocking on the door of 30 years old yet. That's not usual. I wasn't sure what to expect with this episode, because most of our interactions before this podcast had been of the comedic variety, but I figured being such a motivated feller that I'd be able to squeeze some usefulness out of him. I didn't have to squeeze. Nick delivered. Whether tools for mindset, platitudes to get you motivated, passion to help you get yours flowing, and more. Listen in and enjoy a powerful episode. Want more from Nick? Twitter: https://twitter.com/GroundSharkCC https://twitter.com/NickLowary Websites: https://groundsharkcoffee.com/ https://nicholaslowary.com/ Want to follow Merlin's advice? Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 33 - Victor "Beektor Bahlayntyng" Valentine
Victor is one of my dearest friends from Twitter. I even did an impersonation of him one time, and I made him seem as gay as possible. He laughed, and we stayed friends. That's not why I invited him on the podcast. I invited him on the podcast because he's a too-smart-for-his-own-good type of dude, and he's got some skills that are very useful and marketable in this age of the internet. He's also got a unique and fascinating way of looking at the world. We had a great conversation that rolled with that easy cadence that friends have, but we got into a vast array of subjects and pulled out all kinds of useful thoughts and perspectives along the way. This episode is a journey, and it's a journey where I may have had a couple drinks before we started, and there may be quite a few uses of the word "fuck" and it's derivatives. Want more from Victor? Twitter: https://twitter.com/SubtleBodhi Website: https://victorthevalentine.com/ Victor's Quick 162 Want to take up Merlin's Advice? Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 32 - John "I'm a sperm-donor baby...baby" Giuffré
John "Jew Fro" Guiffré (Yep, he got two quote-encased monikers) is a brilliant young man. Between a knack for comedic expression and a burning desire to make something of himself, something that will positively and profoundly affect the lives of others, he's rapidly becoming a very unique blend of some uncommon traits. You know I like uncommon traits. I invited John to the podcast because he was recommended to me by Garrett Dailey, James P. Dowling and Steafan Fox, all of whom have been or will be on the podcast, and all of whom helped to found the AION Media Company with me. Hard to pass up a recommendation like that. I was not disappointed. The lad has dreams, and drive, and a set of skills that I believe will allow him to build that dream into reality. Listen in for a glimpse into the life of one of those guys you're going to feel lucky you knew before he became a cultural giant. Want more from John? Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSloppyJohn Website: https://johngiuffre.co/ Compulsive Thinking Podcast (I'll be making an appearance on here soon) Want to take Merlin's advice? Uncommon Mentality
Logocentrifugal 31 - King "If you see my face, then you must be killed" Atlas
Atlas is my friend, and one of the first I made on Twitter. He lives half a world away, and lives a life very different from my own in many ways, but we connected because we both share a passion for family and for making ourselves into the greatest beings we can manage. In this conversation, we discuss politics, power, influence, strategy, war, greed, and a lot more. If you've ever wanted an inside view from the halls of power, or wondered what it's like to be an advisor to the throne (literally), then Atlas is your man. Atlas is a pseudonym, by the way, because African politics isn't like American politics, and putting a face and name to the man would put him at great risk. This is a powerful episode, and much darker in tone than any of the previous episodes, but it is important to acknowledge the realities of this world, even when they're painful. Want more from Atlas? Twitter: https://twitter.com/DentesLeo Want a link to the book from the advertisement? Uncommon Mentality
Chance Rants 10 - Narrative Immunity
I ran about protecting yourself from narrative warriors, and what that even means.
Logocentrifugal 30 - Sahil "I don't respond to Bill Gates on Twitter" Lavingia
This was the 30th episode of the Logocentrifugal Podcast, and what a great guest to mark the occasion with. Sahil Lavingia is the mastermind behind Gumroad.com, the best and easiest platform for content creators to sell their creations. I asked Sahil to come on the podcast because I use Gumroad to sell my ebooks, and also because I heard him on my friend Jose Rosado's (Jose has been on this podcast too) podcast a while back, and I was impressed by the young man. Sahil has made himself into a multi-dimensional success by implementing intelligent systems consistently over time. In the podcast we get into many tools and mindsets that he has used to achieve the towering level of success that he's reached, and also much of what he mentors Gumroad creators with on a daily basis. The man has more conversations with more creators than almost anybody alive, and it would serve you well to listen to the man who has risen so high and assisted so many. By the way, he's 26 years old. Want more from Sahil? Go to these places: Twitter: https://twitter.com/shl Website: https://www.sahillavingia.com/ Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/
Logocentrifugal 29 - Sarabeth "There's a difference between MY clean and Noble's clean" Urech
Sarabeth is engaged to one of my friends. Noble Brown, who was one of the first guests on this podcast, is the lucky fellow, and he's the reason that I know of Sarabeth. He's not the reason that I invited Sarabeth on the podcast. I invited her because she's highly intelligent, successful and quite reasonable in her opinions, but firm on her principles. I also invited her on the podcast because I wanted a chance to discuss roles and relationships with a representative of the feminine coalition. (Hehe) It was a very revealing discussion about relationship dynamics, the balancing act of the different sets of attitudes and behaviors for personal and professional settings, effective mentorship, and a lot more I was enlightened and had a list of things to take home with me after this discussion and I'm grateful for the chance to sit down for a discussion like this. This episode will be highly valuable to young men who are just beginning to develop their long-term relationships, but will enlighten everybody. Want more from Sarabeth? Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarabethUrech Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/geekyoutrust/posts/ Website (With Noble Brown): http://sociopathletic.com/ YouTube (With Noble Brown): Sociopathletic LLC
Logocentrifugal 28 - Rey "I'm selling a story about how to sell a story about a story that was already a story" Poullard
Rey Poullard is a man I met through Twitter. His presence came across my radar when I joined a group with a couple of gentlemen to discuss and apply certain strategies to our Twitter timeline. I found him to be very intelligent and I liked the things he had to say about the power of stories and the tools he has been able to build around this reality. So, I invited him on the podcast to have a chat about narrative, memes, popular culture, and how one might analyze these phenomena to enhance one's ability to tell a story that people will want to hear. It was another excellent episode, and for those with an ear to hear it, there are many levels of conversation occurring throughout the entire episode. Listen well, my friends, listen well. Want more from Rey? Go to these places: Twitter: https://twitter.com/reypoullard Course Creation: Digital Side Door
Chance Rants 9 - Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing On Rainbows
Satan might have been involved in the production of this episode. If you listen to it all the way through you will become evil.
Logocentrifugal 27 - Alexander Juan Antonio "I'm not autistic, I'm just really f****** smart" Cortes
Alexander Cortes is has done something remarkable. He created a life for himself, based upon a personal brand and within just the last three years, that has afforded him something profound. Alexander Cortes wakes up every day free from the demands of someone else's schedule, free to decide what he will do with his day and financially capable of making those things happen. He is, in short, living the dream. In this conversation, we talk about some of the ways he made that happen, and how one might do the same. We also talked about what one might do if they did not desire to build a personal brand but still wanted to leverage the opportunities of the digital world. There's a lot here, I mean a lot, and it would behoove anybody who's interested in learning a whole pile of critical information about building your presence online. Want more from Alexander? Go to these places: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJA_Cortes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cortesajax Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aja_cortes/?hl=en Website: https://cortes.site/
Logocentrifugal 26 - Chief Chuck "My wife dresses me, and I'm okay with that" Whitworth
Chief Chuck Whitworth is an honorable man. He's also very funny. He's also a practiced and enthusiastic mentor, and a great friend. It was great to get to sit down with the Chief and talk about all manner of things, from Twitter to the Navy to Mentorship to Dad-Jokes and beyond, we ran the gamut and in an easy and comfortable manner. You'll love what you hear, and you'll learn some valuable lessons along the way. Want more from the Chief? Go to these places: Twitter: https://twitter.com/chiefchuck2k Website: https://chiefchuck2k.wixsite.com/chiefchuck
Chance Rants 8 - Clarify Your Vision
I rant about Ascension, and instincts and whatnot.
Logocentrifugal 25 - Dr. Ralph "You're one with the universe, unless you're a f****** fugazi" Napolitano
One of the easiest things as the host of a podcast, especially one dedicated to extracting tools and ideas intended to help you become excellent, is when you come across an exceptional person who needs little prodding to share the wealth of their knowledge. Dr. Ralph Napolitano is one such man. With little more than a poke here, a prod there, Dr. Ralph took the baton an ran with it, dropping gem after gem, and all in a relatable and well-reasoned voice. It was nice getting to know a bit about the past that led up to the man who has taken much of the growth-oriented tribes of Twitter by storm. You'll learn plenty of down-to-earth and practical avenues to travel, and there're hints at some deeper truths you'll catch if you're a seeker of such things. Want more from Dr. Ralph? Check these places: Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRalphNap Website: https://www.drralphnap.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drralphnap/?hl=en
Chance Rants 7 - Legacy of Stone
I rant about legacy, and have a phone call come in just as I was saying my final words of the rant.
Logocentrifugal 24 - Adam "Adam Lane Smith is now a drinking game" Lane Smith
Adam Lane Smith is a great dude with an massive heart. His name has now also become a drinking game. Every time you hear me say Adam Lane Smith in the podcast, you drink. *Ahem* Onwards... I connected with Adam over twitter, where he is equal parts humorous and enlightening. I knew he'd be a great guest, and we lined it up. When we got rolling, what manifested itself was a conversation pointed directly at those who have significant challenges to overcome in their lives. Adam works as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and often works with low-income families. This is as hard as work can be, in some regards, but also as fulfilling as life can be in other ways. I've been on the other side of the therapy equation, and that is in large part why I'm here offering what I can to you fine folks. Between us, within this episode, we created a great resource for those looking to find a foundation to build from, and many tools and additional resources were described and named which can help to further the journey. Those of you who are further down the path, there is still plenty for you to absorb, and it will help to confirm that you're doing the right thing. By the way, he's written some books, and I suggest you read them. Want more from Adam Lane Smith? Go here: https://adamlanesmith.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBrometheus
Logocentrifugal 23 - Patrice "Living the Liver Life" Adeline
Patrice is the first woman to grace the Logocentrifugal Podcast with her presence. She's set the bar very high. I connected with Patrice after a recommendation from a previous guest Max Panzer, and I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Those of you who know me realize that image is not at the top of my list. That didn't matter in the least. This discussion was a great look into what it takes to develop an online brand, and the trials involved in the development and refinement of the brand. We talk family, techniques for cooking liver, managing relationships when business and personal worlds become intertwined, and a whole lot more. If you've ever been interested in developing your own professional presence online, this episode would be an excellent resource for informing your decisions. Want more from Patrice? Check these places: https://beautytimern.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeautyTimeRN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriceadeline/
Logocentrifugal 22 - Jeff "The Badass Beard-Boy" Putnam
Jeff cares about his family. There's a lot in here for a lot of people who have a misconception about what it means to be a man. Jeff cares about his beard. So he made a business out of it. Here's a dude who's been through some serious turbulence, and instead of holding on to his armrests and waiting for the crash, he jumped off the plane with an untested chute. It worked, and though it was a rough landing, he hit the ground running. Learn what it takes to accomplish what it takes when everything that you've worked to build in your life is on the line and there's no second chance. Learn what it means to love unconditionally and what measures determine the quality of a person. Want more from Jeff? Check here: https://www.ruggedlegacygrooming.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruggedlegacygrooming/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rugged_Legacy
Logocentrifugal 21 - Johnny "I want my oil on a billion bodies" Noble
You ever wonder what it's like to start a real brand creating actual products the work well and as described? Me too. I had the privilege of speaking with Johnny Noble about the process he underwent that led him to jump into the cosmetics industry. From there we talked about how he navigated the difficulties and the obstacles that have presented themselves to him along the journey thus far. Johnny is a thorough and intelligent man, and this will be clear when you listen. Be sure to pay close attention, because there are some valuable tools all over the place in this episode, not the least of which is a big dish of harsh reality about the amount of effort and dedication it requires to create something from scratch. Want more from Johnny? Go to these places: Noble-Body.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnyNoblebody
Chance Rants 6 - Recognize Destiny's Touch
I rant about how to recognize the touch of destiny and what to do with it.
Logocentrifugal 20 - Larry "What the f*** is this duck?" Chiang
Larry Chiang is a genius. I don't say that often, because it isn't often true. This was a remarkable conversation with an utterly incomparable man. I found myself sounding off with laughter and Hmmm's in equal measure, and I never even had the chance to rest on my heels. There is so much to learn from this episode, and there are keys on many levels. Larry did a remarkable job of relaying information on about 10 different levels simultaneously throughout the entire episode. I really enjoyed this conversation, and it was fascinating to talk with a dude who's life exists on such a vastly different paradigm than mine. I must stress this thoroughly: LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THIS EPISODE Want more from Larry? Here's how: @LarryChiang on YouTube Twitter Facebook #LarryChiang #ChiangGiang
Logocentrifugal 19 - Jose "I won't even tell you my IQ because I don't want to make you jealous, but it's...pretty high" Rosado
Jose is one of my oldest friends from Twitter. When I joined, he was already fairly popular, but did not have the direction or focus that he does today. Then he jumped into a decision. What was it? He decided he wanted to make his money online. So, he set about learning how to do that, and then he started doing the things he learned. Every day. This podcast touches on some of the life and environment that has shaped Jose, and it touches on much of what he does to accomplish his tasks. It is also the longest episode of the podcast yet. Want more from Jose? Go to these places: https://twitter.com/joserosado https://youtube.com/joserosado https://sovereignuni.com/
Chance Rants 5 - Cut 'Em Loose
I got confused and thought this was my 6th rant. Nope. Anyway, I rant about cutting people from your life who are not serving your interests well.
Logocentrifugal 18 - Benjamin "Many Lands, No Home" George
Ben is my friend, and he's also involved in many of my projects bigly, believe me. This episode may be a bit too advanced for my more simple-minded Logocentrifigoons, but I'd suggest you listen anyway. Narrative influence, memetic manipulation, mastery of networking and more are discussed. This was a very interesting conversation to be a part of, and for those with ears to hear it, there is much to be learned from the discussion. Listen carefully, and enjoy Benjica and I rambling on about brain magick. Also, my audio on this one is for shit, sorry about that, but it was recorded on some stop-gap equipment that I procured while repairing a damaged computer. Nevertheless, you won't want to miss out on this episode. Want more from Ben? Go here: Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamingjw Website: http://benjamingjw.com/ Email List: https://mailchi.mp/fd7c8fd91b31/benjamingjw
Chance Rants 4 - Improvisation
I rant about improvisation. Meta, I know.
Logocentrifugal 17 - Nathan "Ahm About Tuh Blow Yer Mahnd About Money Raht Now" Dean
Nathan Dean is a great dude. He's got a huge heart, and it is clear to everyone, including me, that he has kind intentions just pouring out of him. It was a pleasure to sit down with Nate and have a far-ranging discussion over various topics. There's some about money, and family and Twitter and quite a bit more. By now you know that I like to take these discussions off the beaten trail from time to time, and this episode is no different. What you'll find is a man who's good intentions are backed up with a willingness to serve and an orientation of action all the way down. There's plenty here to pick up on, and so I hope you'll pay attention. If not, then here's to learning by osmosis. Want more from mi amigo Nate? Go to these places: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChroniclesNate Financial Legacy: Holy Shift!
Logocentrifugal 16 - Billy "Bless your heart, but if you give me a nickname then you ain't right" Red Horse
Billy Red Horse is a special kind of man. If you know much about me, then you know that I can appreciate a man who has moved through some serious darkness to be able to arrive on the other side stronger and wiser. My friend Red Horse is one such man, and he's got a couple-few decades on top of my three+ to add to and amplify the experience. He's got a heart of gold, but don't confuse the Gentleman Mystic for being a weak man. Deadlifts abound. There's not much I feel like I need to say about this episode. Just strap in and collect all the wisdom that's placed in your path. You're guaranteed to encounter something useful for you. Want More From Billy Red Horse? Twitter: https://twitter.com/billyredhorse Website: http://gentlemanmystic.com/ Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/thegentlemanmystic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gentlemanmystic/ Lectures on the 4 Noble Truths: 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th
Chance Rants 3 - Driving down the freeway
I say some stuff in rhyming prose for over 10 minutes.
Chance Rants 2 - Opportunity Abounds
I walk you through a brief history of my social media trajectory, and talk about many great opportunities that have been granted to me after I committed to engaging in the process of delivering my message.
Chance Rants 1 - Morality doesn't apply to tools, only their users
In this inaugural episode of Chance Rants, I discuss capitalism, and a bunch of other stuff.
Logocentrifugal 15 - Hotep "Don't ask me why I'm Hotep Jesus" Jesus
This was a great conversation. Me pal Bryan Sharpe, aka Hotep Jesus, is a very intelligent and thoughtful gentleman. This conversation is very special for those interested in how you can develop an authentic online persona that and still be able to channel influence and create an impact. We cover things like being genuine, relationships, how to manage your attention, business opportunities, even parenting. There's a reason that Hotep Jesus has the massive and engaged following that he does, and that's because he conducts himself thoughtfully, intelligently, and genuinely. This is a great opportunity to note the difference between someone who's been in the public eye for some time (Bryan) vs. someone who has only recently entered it (me). Where I'm rather dorky and rough, Bryan Sharpe conducts himself as his surname might suggest. Want more from Hotep Jesus? Twitter: @VibeHi Websites: http://bryansharpe.co/ https://coinbitsapp.com/ Book: Dominate Twitter
Logocentrifugal 14 - Aedonis "It's Uh-Donis not A-Donis or B-Donis" Bravo
Aedonis was a very easy dude to talk with. Here's a young man with some potential in action. A freelance copywriter who's also developing some e-commerce skills, we talked about some of the keys to making a lifestyle like this work for you, and the differences between those who are able to do it and those who are not. This was a wide ranging conversation, but I think this episode will be of particular value to those seeking to begin their journey into the online business landscape. Learn to code? Maybe, but first, learn to write copy. Want more from Aedonis? Twitter: www.twitter.com/lordaedonis Site: www.awdonisbravo.com
Logocentrifugal 13 - P.D. "No, not Petey, letter P letter D" Mangan
P.D. Mangan was a pleasure to speak with. His mind is admirably sharp, even at the ripe old age of 60-something, and his mission is even more admirable: Spread the good word about the revelations and revolutions in our scientific understanding of nutrition and exercise, and how to build a lifestyle based upon these best practices. We talk about that some, of course, but in this conversation we talk more about systemic factors, philosophical matters underlying the pathologies of the modern medical profession, and other fancy-pants sounding terms. But we do it in a way that you'll easily understand, and also in a way that will deliver buckets of gold to your brains. Dig in. Want more from P.D. Mangan? Twitter: https://twitter.com/mangan150 Website: http://roguehealthandfitness.com
Logocentrifugal 12 - Hooa "I am he who must not be named" Fury
Fury is a fascinating dude. Thant's not his real name, in case you're wondering, and I do know his real name too, in case you're wondering that too, but I will not be revealing it here, in case you were wondering that as well. We talk about living a life as someone who used to live as a bitch, and now lives as an adventurer. We talk about what it's like being of asian descent in a land of blond-haired blue-eyed giants. We talk about Quadka Life. Tune in for an entertaining look inside the life of a fascinating man. Hooa. Want more from Fury? Twitter: https://twitter.com/hooafury
Logocentrifugal 11 - Bobby "Fancy Hats" Dino
Bobby is a genuine dude. I had a great time talking with him, and I felt like our conversation was smooth and easy. Bobby's been through some shit, and his ability to open up about it and to extract lessons from it are uncommon, even less common is his ability to package those lessons into the written word and transmit them to people who need those same lessons in their own life. It was a pleasure talking with Bobby, and you'd have to be oblivious to miss out on all the treasure this episode has to offer. Want More From Bobby? Go to these places: Twitter: @RealBobbyDino Website: BobbyDino.com Book: The Code Want More From Me? Here be: Twitter: @LogoCentrifuge Email List: Here Books: Uncommon Mentality / Uncommonly Strong / The 5 Pillars of the Ascendant Mind Blog: Logocentrifugal.com
Logocentrifugal 10 - Joe "Average Is The Enemy...And You Must Karate Chop The Enemy" Hart
Joe is a great dude. He's my friend on Twitter, and he even has my phone number, which he's used a couple times, which makes him an actual friend too. We talk a lot about the ways in which wrong-headed thinking can be a hindrance in your life, and Joe enlighten's us on what can happen when you stick to principles, confront problems head-on, and develop a winning attitude. This was a great conversation, and there's a tone of goodness ready and waiting for you here. Want more from Joe? Clicky-Click: Twitter: @CoachJoeHart @CARCHATSQUAD The Art of Flipping Want more from me? Here be: Uncommon Mentality Uncommonly Strong The 5 Pillars of the Ascendant Mind Logocentrifugal.com
Logocentrifugal 9 - Tanei "The Science Guy...Plus Magick" Ricks, PHD
Tanei is a cool dude. He holds a PHD in organic chemistry, and is well-versed in the laws of attraction and vibration. What you get in this interview is an opportunity to see how a mind of science and a heart of faith combine to create a man who's purpose drives him to offer value to the world. My awkwardness in hosting is also made clear in this episode, as at times I seem like Chris Farley interviewing Paul McCartney on SNL, but Tanei's patience and benevolence are given an opportunity to shine through in these moments, so I guess it worked out. Give it a go, I think you'll really get a lot out of this episode. Want More From Tanei? Here you go: Twitter: @TJRicks_TSP His Email List His Website Tanei's Organic Chemistry Resources And More From Me? Here you go again: Uncommon Mentality Uncommonly Strong The 5 Pillars of the Ascendant Mind Logocentrifugal.com
Logocentrifugal 7 - Max "Max Pander" Panzer
Max is a solid dude. He hails from an older generation than I, and has a lot of wisdom and insight to offer, and he does it like a punch to the face. Notice I didn't call him old. Max goes hard, with his writing and with his workouts, and takes care to eat well. We talked about how one recovers from a personal storm and comes out the other side harder and stronger. Want more from Max Panzer? Here's how: Twitter: @becomingaforce Blog: https://maxpanzer.com/
Logocentrifugal 8 - Ryan "Path To Manlinests" Felman
Ryan is a friend of mine, but he's also among my teachers. He was one of the first people to befriend me when I joined the online ranks. His presence online is well known and well loved, and his rocket-powered rise on Twitter has been something to watch. We talk about a lot of things in this episode, and there are gems all over the place. Want more from Ryan? Here's where you go: Twitter: @PathToManliness Blog: https://www.pathtomanliness.com/ His Books: Reclaim your Manhood How To Not F*CK UP Your Brand More Titles
Logocentrifugal 6 - "Noble" Noble Brown
Noble Brown is my pal. He's a good dude, and honorable, and you'll see how much he cares about the truth and standing up for what is right. He's always been willing to lend a hand to those who're willing to help themselves, as I found out several months ago when I joined Twitter. Noble was one of the first people to discover my magnificence on Twitter, and we've been pals ever since. If you want more from Noble, here're some ways: @Sociopathlete on Twitter Sociopathletic.com for lots of excellent essays The White Arrow is Noble's debut novel, and is quite excellent Sociopathletic YouTube Channel be sure to check out the bi-weekly live-streams
Logocentrifual 5 - Garrett "Ginger Hitler" Dailey
Garrett and I are founding members of the Aion Media Company, a growing media empire dedicated to the proposition that true speech is the cure for nihilism and ignorance. In the episode, we talk about religion, and what we think lies within religious traditions. Philosophy and ascension and all the good shit. If you want more from Garrett, here are some links to his fantastic content: @Libera_Rex on Twitter MasterSelf - Garrett's excellent website. You'll find countless articles on philosophy and the nature of truth to read and ponder. The 5 Pillars of the Ascendant Mind - A book that Garrett and James P. Dowling and I wrote together. Get your systems in place. MasterSelf Year One - A collection of the first year of MasterSelf essays, all in a convenient and beautiful paperback format. Aion Media Co. YouTube Channel - You'll find lots of awesome content there, including several podcast appearances from yours truly.
Logocentrifugal 3 - James Prowling Dowling
This episode is an inaugural interview episode. I was intending on editing this together in the same cartoonish manner as the previous two episodes, but I found that this conversation is too deep to treat is all chucklehouse-like. So I'm presenting the interview in its raw, uncut form, and I think you'll really take something from it. James is a smart boyo, and he's been my friend since the beginning of my internet emergence. We talked about all kinds of things, including evolutionary psychology, why he thinks Americans don't understand sarcasm, Mormonism and SO MUCH MORE! Hehe. Enjoy. I think, moving forward, that interview episodes will be left in tact, and the odd soundscape episodes will be created when I'm taken by whimsy and have the time to craft them. If you want to hear more from my good friend James, check his youtube channel. It is singular in its rich content and depth of material. https://www.youtube.com/jamespdowling
Logocentrifugal 2 - Viral In Nature
What came first, the life or the virus?
Logocentrifugal 1 - The Past Becomes the Present
I procured a recorder 4 years ago, and I began recording in many different environments. I wasn't sure exactly which direction I wanted to take my podcast, so I recorded snippets and rants and sounds and all kinds of stuff. This first episode is made from some of the oldest recordings I have, and, to be quite honest, is a bit rough. I'm just getting started with this, and I'll learn as I go, but I can promise you this: The Logocentrifugal Podcast will never be an ordinary affair. Listen in, enjoy the ride, and feel free to comment. Thank You Very Much, Chance Lunceford Logocentrifugal
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Welcome to Royal Tunbridge wells
A literary trail on classics in my hometown.
Hello and welcome to my first post here on Lost in Classics. You can learn more about me in the About section but basically we are here thanks to a fantastic online course I took part in in July that helped me to uncover my favourite parts of my work. I love classics and everything related and I believe that reading is the best way to see a language in a natural context and go deeper into the history and culture behind it. So I thought that a place to encourage us to read, share and enjoy would be a great idea and I am really happy to share this new experience with you. This will be the first of many posts related to classics. I hope you will join the club and join in the discussion! If there is anything in particular you would like to learn more about, please ask in the comments.
Just after the course I left on holiday for my hometown in the south east of England, in the county of Kent, Royal Tunbridge Wells. The historical centre of the town is the Pantiles and the Chalybeate (iron-rich) spring from which the town literally “sprung”.
It became a popular spa destination in the 17th century when visitors came to drink the water as it was thought to cure a number of maladies including colic. They would then promenade up and down the Walks to see and be seen. Tunbridge Wells was even frequented by royalty and in 1909 King Edward VII recognized this by giving the town with the “Royal” prefix an honour that only two other towns in the UK have.
Naturally due to its long history Tunbridge Wells has many literary connections. The novelist William Makepeace Thackeray, author of Vanity Fair and E M Forster (Room with a View, A Passage to India) both lived in Tunbridge Wells.
Tunbridge Wells’ position as a tourist destination is confirmed in Charles Dickens’ Bleak House, which features a mug with “A present from Tunbridge Wells” on it.
In The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Algernon confronts Jack Worthing regarding an inscription in his cigarette box and Jack identifies Cecily as his aunt who lives in Tunbridge Wells. Perhaps he does this due to Tunbridge Well’s inhabitants’ reputation of being traditional conservative.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived and died in Crowborough, another small town 7 miles from Tunbridge Wells. In 2001 his statue was unveiled in the town centre.
The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle, includes many references to Tunbridge Wells. In fact the victim’s residence, Birlstone Manor House, is based on Groombridge Place in Groombridge a village just four miles from Tunbridge Wells. The house featured as the home of the Bennet family, Longbourn Manor, in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
I love this place! You can even get married here you know!
What are the literary connections to your town? Why not leave a comment below. Thanks and see you soon!
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Antonius Aquinas
RELIGION/CULTURE
Pope Francis: A Clear and Present Danger!
Europe’s Future if Pope Francis has his way!
There is probably no greater threat to the long-term survival of the Occidental peoples of the world than the purported head of the Catholic Church, Jorge Bergoglio, a.k.a. Pope Francis. In his latest plea for greater “acceptance” of refugees, Bergoglio held a “Mass” where several migrants and their family members attended. The service was to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Bergoglio’s visit to the island of Lampedusa which has been a launching pad for invading migrants on their path to destroy what is left of European civilization.
During his “sermon,” the “Pope” condemned the “globalization of indifference” which many hold toward refugees and their plight. “Before the challenge of contemporary movements of migration,” Bergoglio said, “the only reasonable response is one solidarity and mercy.”*
While Bergoglio had the gall to call for even greater societal-wrecking migration, one of his Church’s top prelates, “Cardinal” Theodore McCarrick had just been exposed as being a paedophile and was relieved of his public ministry. To date, McCarrick has been the highest Church official to be guilty of sex crimes with more sure to follow. Worse, McCarrick’s abominable actions had been taking place for years and were known to just about everyone within his inner circle (including Bergogio), but none had the courage to speak out or take any action against the predator for his debauchery.
Sex crime partners – Bergoglio & McCarrick
It is beyond hypocritical that Bergoglio expresses so much concern for the refugee crisis, most of which has been orchestrated by the usual suspects, yet has done virtually nothing against his own underlings, many of whom have assaulted, raped, and molested thousands of young boys and girls. Instead of expunging these perverts from the Church, he has, in some instances, promoted them.
Whether Bergoglio knows it or not, it was the Catholic Church which preserved many of the treasures of the ancient world which would have surely been lost forever during the barbarian incursions. Likewise, it was the Papacy itself which inspired the Christian princes to undertake the Crusades and defend Europe from the repeated attempts by the Muslims to overrun the Continent. Now, in a direct refutation of its history, the Church is encouraging Muslim penetration of its once sacred soil.
At one time, the Catholic Church stood for the integrity of the traditional family, realizing that it was the backbone of any healthy and fertile society. The Church condemned artificial contraception, frowned on “working mothers,” and prohibited divorce while it taught that the primary purpose of marriage was the procreation of children not the embodiment of spousal love. Since the Second Vatican Anti-council (1962-65), however, things have changed dramatically, now the Church speaks of diversity, multiculturalism, and, under Bergoglio, coercive integration.
As the West has crazily adopted Democracy as its governing paradigm, voting and elections will be determined by demographics. If Europeans become a minority, they will be voted out of power, have their property confiscated, and eventually be replaced. For an ominous example of what will happen unless mass migration is halted, the horrific plight of white South African farmers is instructive.
While tighter border controls are imperative, fundamental changes need to take place to reverse Europe’s demographic nightmare as the latest statistics have confirmed where the number of deaths (5.3 million) in 2017 have overtaken the number births (5.1 million).** Most critical in reversing the demographic decline is a revival of the family and the removal of the impediments that have been placed in its way to procreate and nurture children. Two of the most important of these obstacles are the welfare state and public schooling, both of which have been used by the Left to replace the critical role of the family in the upbringing, education, and the shaping of the young’s moral values.
If the likes of Bergoglio get their way, there will be nothing left of Western Civilization; its institutions, arts, music, literature, languages will be swept away under a deluge of racially, culturally, and religiously distinct and often hostile peoples that cannot and should not be assimilated. While immigration enthusiasts must be stopped, Europeans must once again realize what it takes to have sustainable and fruitful societies. When this again becomes part of the Western ethos, the demographic imbalance will cease to be a concern.
*John Bowden, “Pope Francis Celebrates Special Mass for Migrants,” The Hill, http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/395799-pope-francis-celebrates-special-mass-for-migrants 6 July 2018.
**Gavin Freiburger, “Deaths Overtake Births in Europe, New Stats Confirm,” Lifesite, https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/deaths-overtake-births-in-europe-new-stats-confirm 12 July 2018
Antonius Aquinas@AntoniusAquinas
https://antoniusaquinas.com
This entry was posted in Bergoglio, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Crusades, Demographics, Europe, European History, History, Immigration, Muslims, Novus Ordo Catholicism, Occidental Peoples, Pope Francis, South Africa, Vatican II, Western Civilization and tagged Bergoglio, Catholicism, Crusades Immigration, Demographics, Europe, European History, History, Immigration, Muslims, Pope Francis, Vatican II, Western Civilization on July 20, 2018 by antoniusaquinas.
Latin: The Language of the Church
Article posted at the Christus Rex page: https://antoniusaquinas.com/christus-rex-page/
This entry was posted in canon law, Catholicism, Conciliar Church, Europe, European History, Latin, New Mass, Novus Ordo Catholicism, Uncategorized and tagged canon law, Catholicism, Christendom, Europe, History, Latin, Law, New Mass on July 9, 2018 by antoniusaquinas.
St. Paul Versus “Pope Francis”
This entry was posted in Bergoglio, Catholicism, Conciliar Church, Pope Francis, Sodomy, St. Paul, Uncategorized and tagged Bergoglio, Catholicism, Conciliar Church, Popes, St. Paul on June 29, 2018 by antoniusaquinas.
St. Gregory VII and the Crusades
This entry was posted in Catholicism, Crusades, Europe, European History, Guernager, Henry IV, History, Kings, Monarchy, St. Gregory VII, Uncategorized, Western World and tagged Catholicism, Europe, History, Medieval, Middle Ages, St. Gregory VII on June 17, 2018 by antoniusaquinas.
On the 80th Anniversary of Belloc’s, THE CRUSADES
Review: Hilaire Belloc: The Crusades: The World’s Debate, Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, 1937; Republished Tan Books: Rockford, Illinois, 1992.
As millions of Muslim refugees continue to swarm mostly unopposed into Europe’s heartland, it would be instructive to review Hilaire Belloc’s book, The Crusades: The World’s Debate. Written eighty years ago, the work not only gives a unique analysis of the Crusading Era, but addresses what remains today a fundamental issue in global politics, hence, the subtext of the book, The World’s Debate.
The Crusades were inspired by the Catholic Church and Papacy which rightly saw the threat that Islam posed to the West and encouraged military action to counter it. The Mohammedans had taken over vast parts of the eastern half of the Roman Empire and with it control of the Holy Land which they increasingly made tougher to access for pilgrims.
The Novus Ordo Church and its current pope have repeatedly encouraged Muslim migration into Europe and have scolded those who raise even the tiniest of protests against this orchestrated event with smears of “lack of charity,” “intolerance,” and “xenophobic” among other denigrations. Such action would have been considered heretical by the Crusaders and the popes of the past who called and helped organize the expeditions. In fact, one does not have to go back that far to know that “Pope Francis’”[1] pro-immigration stance would have been considered treasonous a little over a half century ago. Under the radical changes that occurred at the Second Vatican Anti-Council (1962-65), however, acceptance of false religions and heretical sects are now part of the New Creed.
For Western man, the migrant crisis has accentuated a more fundamental problem which threatens his ultimate survival – demographics. European birthrates have plunged to unsustainable levels which, if trends continue, will mean, if not extinction, at least the marginalization of the white populations, the institutions and cultures which those peoples have built. Most analysts of the demographic implosion and migrant crises, however, do not see that their source is ultimately a religious struggle. The unwanted migratory invasion and the failure of Europeans to reproduce to at least replacement levels are the result of Western man’s rejection of the One True Faith.
The alarming demographic trends had not yet surfaced when Belloc penned The Crusades although the start of another global conflagration was on the horizon as the West would once again plunged itself into civilization suicide with the outbreak of World War II. Nor had the state of Israel been created at the time of its publication, although the troubling Balfour Doctrine had been mandated which would eventually lead to a Zionist homeland in Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel which would become a constant source of conflict in the decades that followed.
For Belloc, “the world’s debate” centered on the conflict between the future of a militarily and economically dominant secularized West against a religiously fervent, although economically stagnant, Islam. To this day, the West still holds these advantages, but its vibrancy and spirit are on the wane due to its abandonment of the Faith and the adoption of social democracy.
The Crusades were an expression of Christendom’s highest ideals which contemporary Europeans could not hope to grasp or understand. If the West is ever going to defeat Islam, it must be spiritually revitalized which can only come about if the Church becomes once again Catholic and overthrows neo-Modernism which it adopted at Vatican II. Military victories will never be lasting unless they are backed by a religiously committed populace.
Belloc takes a unique perspective on a number of aspects of the Crusading Era which differ, in some cases, quite significantly from most modern scholarship. Almost all contemporary historians are of the school of thought that the Crusades lasted until at least the campaign of 1295 (the Fourth Crusade) while some, like the late J. Riley Smith, see “crusading activity” going well beyond that time.[1] For Belloc, the First Crusade from its “calling” in 1095 by Pope Urban II, to its improbable and truly miraculous capture[2] of Jerusalem in 1099, was the most important. It not only accomplished its odds-defying goal of freeing the Holy Land for pilgrimage, but in its wake the Latin Kingdoms were established in the Levant.
With the view that only the First Crusade mattered, since it accomplished its objectives, the vast majority of the book covers the years between 1095 and 1187 as Belloc asserts:
There was . . . but one Crusade . . . it was the
great breaking out of all western Europe into
the Orient for the rescue of the Holy Sepulchre,
and within one very long lifetime it had failed;
For with Jerusalem in the hands of the Infidel
the purpose of the original great campaign was
gone, its fruits were lost. [244]
Everything that came in the wake of the first Christian triumph in Asia Minor was something different:
That historical episode, 1095-1187, was the true
Crusade, from its inception to its final failure. All
that followed was of another kind. [244]
Yet, within their initial success, the seed of the Latin Kingdoms’ ultimate downfall was laid. While other factors certainly played a role, Belloc, over and over again, stresses the crusaders’ failure to secure Damascus that proved fatal and would eventually allow the Mohammedans to re-conquer and end the Latin presence in the Levant. Without Damascus, the later expeditions were never a serious threat to the Muslim strongholds and were in the historian’s words “rearguard action[s] of a defeat.” [4]
While the West failed to hold and extend the First Crusade’s success and later having suffered the tragic fall of Constantinople, it would eventually return and reclaim most of what it had lost. The Muslim victory at Hattin appeared permanent until the end of time; yet within a few centuries, during which Europe had repelled several lethal Islamic assaults to its heartland, it returned to the Middle East, but this time the conquerors were of a different breed religiously.
The ending of Muslim rule and the colonization of the Middle East throughout the course of the 19th century up to the time of Belloc’s book (1937) was accomplished by a secularized West under the guidance and inspiration of religiously pluralistic nation states. Christendom had long been dissolved and although the Middle East’s new overlords were superior in resources, technology, and skill their religious vitality was on the wane and would continue to evaporate as the years rolled on. “We have returned to the Levant,” Belloc writes, “we have returned apparently more as masters than ever we were during the struggle of the Crusades – but we have returned bankrupt in that spiritual wealth which was the glory of the Crusades. . . . [N]or is the Levant held as one whole [Christian dominion], but divided between separate nations to whom the unity of Europe has ceased to be sacred.” [249]
In the modern era of Political Correctness, one can no longer speak of race, ethnicity, kinship, or “blood” unless one is disparaging Occidental people or their ancestors while at the same time trumpeting the virtues of the assorted brown and colored peoples of the globe. Not so with Belloc, who was far from alone among historians of his generation who understood the significance of race and blood in the episodes of the human past and how important these factors were in the creation of societies and civilizations.
To scholars like Belloc, race and religion did matter, and in his view it was a significant reason why the Crusades ultimately failed to hold their possessions. Of course, there were other factors that Belloc duly notes – the failure to control the strategically vital city of Damascus; the lack of reinforcements both in arms and people from the West; the refusal of Byzantium to ally with the Crusaders; the lack of a strong monarchy in the Latin states. Race, however, in this instance, the mixture of French blood with the local population, was critical in the eventual defeat. The “mixing of blood” between the Franks and the Near East population especially among the leadership proved fatal. Few, if any academics of today could write such things.
The miscegenation among the nobility and the subsequent generations in the newly formed Latin jurisdictions proved to be “inferior” in talent, ability, and leadership to build the type of society necessary for the Crusaders’ initial victories to be turned into a permanent civilization.
A stark example of this among the nobility can be seen in the loss of Edessa:
We have seen among other causes the mixture of Western
with Oriental blood, especially in the case of the rulers,
played a chief part. Now, it was precisely to this that the
first of the great disasters was due. [T]he loss of Edessa. . .
was mainly due to the character of its ruler, the second
Jocelyn. . . The mother of the second Jocelyn was an
Armenian. . . . [T]he mixture of blood did here what it
so often does; it gave a certain brilliance to the character
of the second generation, but that brilliance was accompanied
by instability. [192]
Belloc continues:
[I]t must be emphasized, for it underlay not
only the tragedy of Edessa but all that followed,
up to the loss of Jerusalem itself. . . . it was Jocelyn
the Second, who with his contemporary, the
half breed Queen Melisande, so conspicuously
typifies that new and too-sudden mixtures of races
which was largely responsible for the catastrophe. [193]
Outnumbered and with inferior leadership qualities compared to the first wave of Crusaders, the Latin Kingdoms were eventually doomed especially after the Muslims had politically united. Yet, had the Western kings and princes addressed this matter, things may have been different and, as Belloc maintains, the Infidel may have been permanently relegated to the Arabian Peninsula.
[1] Jorge Bergoglio cannot be head of the Catholic Church for several reasons: (1) he is a manifest heretic whose seemingly endless string of heretical acts, words, and “teachings” disqualify him for the post – a heretic is necessarily outside the Church; (2) Bergoglio is not a “priest” on “technical grounds,” but was “ordained” in the invalid Novus Ordo rite of orders which came into being at the time of Vatican II. Nor is he a bishop since he was also “consecrated” under these non-Catholic rites. Only the bishop of Rome can become pope and since Bergoglio is neither a priest or bishop, he cannot, therefore, be pope.
[2] Jonathan Riley-Smith, The Crusades: A History. 3rd ed., London: Bloomsbury, 1987; 2014.
[3] While Belloc does not stress it, the First Crusade was aided by heavenly intervention which has been attested to by the Crusaders as well as modern secular historians in their narratives. See, Thomas Asbridge, The First Crusade: A New History, (Oxford: University Press, 2004).
This entry was posted in Belloc, Bergoglio, Crusades, Culture, Europe, European History, Feudalism, Uncategorized and tagged Belloc, Bergoglio, Catholicism, Christendom, Crusades, Europe, History, Immigration, Kings, Latin Kingdoms, Medieval, Middle Ages, Monarchy, Muslims, Syria, Vassals on December 26, 2017 by antoniusaquinas.
Francis: The Pope of Perversity
Last week, the purported head of the Catholic Church, Jorge Bergoglio, a.k.a. Pope Francis, popped off once again about the supposed danger of global warming to mankind. “Pope Francis” called climate change “one of the most worrisome phenomena that humanity is facing” while those who hold dissimilar views on the subject have “perverse attitudes.”*
It is interesting that Bergoglio used the term “perverse” to describe those who might see climate change as a hoax being used by global elitists to further enslave humanity. Webster’s New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition defines perverse in the following way:
deviating from what is considered right and good; wrong improper, etc. or corrupt, wicked, etc; perverted.
persisting in error or fault; stubbornly contrary.
obstinately disobedient or difficult; intractable.
characterized by or resulting from obstinacy or contrariness
It would be difficult to find a better term for Bergoglio and his wretched papacy than “perverse.”
It is apparent to any semi-cognizant person that Jorge Bergoglio, who has uttered a stream of mind-boggling heresies and has engaged in numerous scandalous activities, is not Catholic. Not only is it impossible for a manifest heretic to be pope, but Bergoglio’s papacy is invalid since he was neither ordained a priest or consecrated as a bishop in the traditional, Apostolic rite, but instead was given orders created after the Second Vatican Anti-Council, 1962-65.
If this was not bad enough, Bergoglio who was “elected,” in part, to clean up the Church’s abominable and still ongoing pedophile scandal has done virtually nothing to oust the perverts, rapists, and enablers involved in the child holocaust, but has “perversely” promoted a number of these deviants into high-ranking Vatican positions!
Bergoglio has sought to change two millennium of Church teaching, some of which goes contrary to the very words of Christ Himself, on marriage, divorce, and sodomy. Moreover, he has continued, like his post-Vatican II predecessors, to add novelties and make changes to the Church’s ancient liturgy and practices, most of which have been condemned by earlier popes and councils.
Despite all of this, Bergoglio has had the audacity to castigate those who do not go along with the phony baloney notion of climate change. He not only has lost all moral authority to do so, but, like many of the climate change hustlers, Bergoglio has no scientific credentials to make such pronouncements one way or the other. Nor does the office that he illegitimately occupies possess jurisdiction in this field.
The post-Vatican II popes have turned the august Chair of St. Peter into a pulpit for all sorts of crazed liberal causes with Bergoglio being the most radical of its proponents. Another favorite of the Argentine heretic is his championing of mass migration unto European shores.
That Bergoglio has been allowed to not only remain in office, but has not been challenged when he utters such nonsense shows the low degree of knowledge of the faith that exists among most Catholics. Popes have very limited authority and are only “infallible” in very specific theological areas. This is why popes of the past never wrote books, issued statements or made speeches on social issues. They are supposed to preach the Gospel.
The attainment of the sublime virtues contained in the Beatitudes as the goal of Christian living has under Bergoglio been replaced with a Leftist creed of social activism that includes climate change, mass migration, and income redistribution. Such a transformation is the very antithesis of what the office that he holds was originally constituted to accomplish.
Bergoglio’s support for global warming demonstrates again that the Catholic Church is now an organ of the New World Order. Politics, control, and social engineering are the tenets of the New Faith while the spiritual well being of souls is an afterthought. It is a rarity when “Pope Francis” ever preaches on Christian themes, and when he does it is usually laced with heresies, confusion and downright lies.
If any institution should be free of perversity, it is the Catholic Church and that its current head is the embodiment of it shows the depths upon which that organization has sunk. When Bergoglio and his crowd are either silenced or replaced, fraudulent ideas like global warming will become regrettable memories of a distant past.
*Nicole Winfield, “Pope Rebukes Climate Deniers as ‘Perverse’ in Bonn Message.” Associated Press. 16 November 2017
This entry was posted in Bergoglio, Catholicism, Global Warming, Left, Liberalism, NWO, Pope Francis, Uncategorized, United States and tagged Bergoglio, Catholicism, History, Liberalism, NWO, United States on November 24, 2017 by antoniusaquinas.
Christopher Columbus and the Falsification of History
The Los Angeles City Council’s recent, crazed decision* to replace Christopher Columbus Day with one celebrating “indigenous peoples” can be traced to the falsification of history and denigration of European man which began in earnest in the 1960s throughout the educational establishment (from grade school through the universities), book publishing, and the print and electronic media. It is amazing that, as of yet, the federal holiday commemorating the Genoese explorer’s world- changing voyage has not come under attack. It is doubtful that in the current radicalized leftist ideological atmosphere, the national government’s recognition of Columbus will survive much longer.
Most of what has been taught about Christopher Columbus and his holy and heroic patroness has been distorted, lied about, and politicized for the advancement of leftist causes, the most important of which is the smearing of the great European men of the past and to ridicule their descendants’ pride in their glorious heritage. The historical untruths have not stopped with Columbus and Queen Isabella, but are being spread about conditions of the pre-Columbian societies.
Instead of an idyllic land where the inhabitants lived in peace and harmony with one another until the evil, conquering white man appeared, life in the pre-Columbian Americas’ was, to say the least, quite grisly. A recent archeological discovery in Mexico City of the ancient Aztec Empire shows again what most knew, prior to the onslaught of leftist historical revisionism, that human sacrifice was practiced on a large scale.**
Archeologists have found more than 650 skulls where human sacrifices were conducted at the site of Templo Mayor, which was one of the primary temples of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. The new find substantiates the description of Andres de Tapia, a Spanish soldier who accompanied conquistador Hernan Cortes in 1521, and his account of the discovery of tens of thousands of skulls which were in the temple that became known as Huey Tzompantli. The number of skulls must have been vast for they “struck fear” in the hearty and seasoned Spanish explorers.
A depiction of human sacrifice in Mesoamerica
That the Spanish immediately ended this hellish practice is not much spoken about by history professors in their lectures to their gullible students, nor did the Los Angeles City Council refer to the satanic ritual during their announcement. Such inconvenient facts do not fit the liberal paradigm of the evil, marauding conquistadors subjugating the innocent Mesoamerican peoples to Spanish rule. Nor will there be much mention that Columbus’ discovery brought civilization to the pagans and more importantly – and horrifically for the politically-correct – Christianity to the indigenous peoples and a chance for eternal salvation.
The takedown of Columbus is also a swipe at the figure who made his exploits altogether possible. For Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand’s underwriting of the great Genoese Admiral’s voyage came only after they had completed their sacred mission of ridding the Iberian Peninsula of the dreaded Moors. Once accomplished, the Queen fulfilled her promise to finance Columbus. It has been contended by some scholars that the discovery of the New World under Spanish auspices was a reward by Divine Providence for the freeing of Spain of the Mohammedan menace.
Instead of enslavement and plunder that leftist historians accuse the Spanish Crown as motives for the exploration, the exact opposite was the truth, as candidly stated by Columbus himself: “she [Isabella] would continue the experiment for the glory of God and His Church, even if the islands yielded nothing but rocks and stones. She had spent more money . . . on enterprises of less importance, and would consider all she had disbursed well employed, for it would result in the spread of [Christianity] and the good of Spain.”***
Nearly every moral and ethical system ever devised has always condemned ingratitude. Acknowledgement and veneration of the glorious deeds of those of the past in which a civilization was built is a necessary duty for its preservation. When a culture’s icons are ignorantly defamed or replaced, it is a sure sign that it is in steep decline. The scuttling of the yearly commemoration of Christopher Columbus’ monumental expeditions by the city of Los Angeles is another ominous indicator of a deeply troubled and disintegrating society.
*Tyler Durden, “Los Angeles Changes ‘Columbus Day’ to ‘Indigenous Peoples Day.'” Zero Hedge. 31 August 2017. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-08-31/trump-was-right-it-will-never-end-los-angeles-changes-columbus-day-indigenous-people
**Reuters, “Tower of Human Skulls in Mexico Casts New Light on Aztec Sacrifices.” 2 July 2107. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tower-human-skulls-mexico-casts-new-light-aztec-sacrifices-n779106
*** Quoted in Rev. Frs. Alphonsus Maria Duran, M.J., and Paul Mary Vota, M.J., “Why Apologize for the Spanish Inquisition?” (Chicago: Miles Jesu, 2000), p. 10.
This entry was posted in columbus, Culture, human sacrifices, Indians, King Ferdinand, Mesoamerica, native peoples, spain, Uncategorized and tagged American History, Catholicism, christopher columbus, Culture, Europe, History, human sacrifce, Mesoamerica, Muslims, native americans, Political, Queen Isabella, United States, War on September 4, 2017 by antoniusaquinas.
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William Thomas Walsh
Augustus von Prima Porta (20-17 v. Chr.), aus der Villa Livia in Prima Porta, 1863
Charles Beard
“No-one who loves Brahms can be evil”
St. Pius V
Novus Ordo
Daniel-Rops
No Pope
John Wayne in The Searchers
John Wayne in The Searchers (1956)
St. Michael Archangel
Vatican II Anti-Council
Saints Peter & Paul
The Holy Crusades
(Joseph) Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953), French-born British poet, writer and polemicist, 1927. A Roman Catholic, Belloc was a follower of Cardinal Newman. He was highly prolific in his writing, covering a wide range of subjects. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)
Knock Apparition, 1879
Tomas Luis de Victoria
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Friday Football Forecast
Another Friday during football season. I suppose we’ll keep with the Friday Football Forecast, but I can’t guarantee that I’ll keep this feature up during October. There are more important things to discuss then.
Anyway, let’s get started, shall we? First off, we have the Colts. This will be short, because the team is off this week. Still, I wanted to write a bit about Austin Collie earlier in the week, but just didn’t feel I had enough for a full post. What better time than now, then?
For the unaware, Collie was placed on injured reserve following the Jacksonville game. I didn’t see the injury, but I’m told it looked fairly bad on the field. The conclusion was a torn tendon in his right knee, which all know from Robbie Hummel will take a year or two to fully heal. Combined with his concussion issues, it seems a foregone conclusion that Collie is done as a Colt.
This is a real shame, but I don’t blame the Colts. They are a football team, and if you can’t be a football player, it makes it hard to justify spending the money on you. Collie has seemed nothing but awesome every time I’ve heard him on radio or TV. He already gave up a few years of football for his Mormon missionary trip.* And now his football career is cut short on the other end because his body just apparently won’t hold up to NFL hits.
*I’m sure somebody has come up with a sex position with that name by now.
Doesn’t it seem a little bit ironic, though, that a knee injury is what will put Collie out of football? Or at least out of the Colts? He’s had, what, three or four concussions. You would think with all the added emphasis on head injuries, Collie would have already been looking at his coaching options. But, no, it was an old-fashioned knee injury. I know everybody responds to concussions differently, but this just seems like another point in favor of Roger Goodell being all talk when it comes to player safety. I really question how much longer he can be NFL commissioner, because it seems like everything he touches falls apart.
In happier news, Purdue is back on the field this week against Marshall. I said last week that I expect Purdue to win in a little bit tight contest. The bigger news for Purdue this week is they suddenly have hopes for playing for the Big Ten title.
I mean, seriously, have you seen the rest of the Big Ten? The only teams that haven’t had a major let down are Purdue, Northwestern, and Minnesota. Who would have guessed that before the season started? Add to it all the problems at Penn State and Ohio State, and suddenly it doesn’t seem like such a stretch. Wisconsin has not looked anything like the teams of recent years. Both Michigan schools were beaten handily by Notre Dame in Michigan.* Nebraska looked very mortal as UCLA, who recently dropped out of the poll, beat them without too much problem. Iowa has dropped a couple games nobody really saw coming in Iowa State and Central Michigan. Illinois was flattened by Louisiana Tech. Indiana is, well, Indiana. If I’ve counted correctly, that covers the conference.
*I know the Michigan score was closer than the Michigan State score, but you don’t get to turn the ball over five straight possessions and say “We were right there!”
In contrast, Purdue had their game in South Bend, and really should have brought the Irish into overtime. They played a couple directional schools in Eastern Michigan and Eastern Kentucky and did what they were supposed to do. No other schools can say that outside of Northwestern, who has been pretty good for a couple years, and Minnesota, who definitely has not. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Minnesota has been Purdue’s homecoming the past few years. Add to that Northwestern and Minnesota being in the other division, and Purdue might even be the favorite to be in Indy come championship time. Penn State and Ohio State aren’t eligible, which leaves Purdue to best Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The first two Purdue would have felt good about even before the season kicked off. Wisconsin, though, has been a pleasant surprise, at least as far as the Boilermakers are concerned. Stay tuned, folks, this might get interesting.
That brings us to Wabash. After such a disheartening loss, I am downright scared for this weekend. I don’t know the last time Wabash has lost homecoming, but I’m sure it’s been a very, very long time. Unfortunately, on this 100th homecoming, that might be the case. Carnegie Mellon has been steamrolling through NCAC teams, including Allegheny. I don’t want to tempt anything, but all I’m hoping for is that last week was just an especially bad day with especially windy conditions, which threw off the team. Maybe they’ll look like the team that was ranked seventh tomorrow,* but that would make the first time I’ve seen that team all year.
*Rather than seventeenth like they are now. And, frankly, that’s probably overrated.
So, sadly, most likely there won’t be any playoffs in Wabash’s future this year. I suppose you can’t go every year. But, hey, at least I can console myself with baseball playoffs while Wabash makes it way down the stretch.
Phear the 'Phant?
Our long (three-week) national nightmare is over. The real officials are swooping in to save the day.
Good news? I suppose. I haven’t seen the details of the deal, and I don’t particularly care. It’s hard to get too worked up about these things when your team is awful. But, it will be interesting to see if these officials get back into the game and end up being terrible. It’s entirely possible, I would imagine they’re pretty rusty. I guess we’ll get our first look tonight when the Browns take on the Ravens.
In sports that haven’t had a real labor dispute for almost two decades, the pennant races are really coming down to the wire, and thankfully, the big stories aren’t for the stupid second wild card. Although they are in the American League, which is disappointing. In any case, all three division races just got awfully interesting. The Yankees and Orioles both won big last night, leaving that division separated by just a game and a half. In the Central, the Tigers squeezed out a win, while the White Sox fell just short, giving the Tigers the game advantage. And out West, the real big story down the stretch. The A’s ran the Rangers off the field, cutting the Rangers division lead down to three.
The A’s have been a curiousity all year. For the longest time, it was just a thought of “Man, the A’s are actually doing halfway decent this year.” But everybody waited for the inevitable second half collapse.* The All-Star Game came and went. The A’s kept hanging around. Then everybody turned to look at the wild card standings and . . . the A’s? Really? It was already a nice story, but a playoff spot? Shut the front door. I mean, the Orioles had a really nice start last year and had some pieces, you could squint a little bit and maybe see that one coming. But the A’s?
*For an example, look at the Pirates. That’s just a sad story.
And now, with seven games left to go, we look at a division that everybody had just assumed belonged to the Rangers after the Angels disappointing season, and it looks entirely possible. Not the least of which is because they’ve got another game with the Rangers tonight* before finishing up September with three games against the not-nearly-as-inept-as-you-think-but-still-not-good Mariners. The Rangers get to tangle with the Angels, which I’m sure looked like appointment viewing at the time the schedule was released. Which, I suppose, still is, but not nearly for the reasons we first believed. The Angels can take this a couple ways. Either decide this season was one of the bigger busts in MLB history and just pack it in, or realize they’ve got three games left to make a mark and still get some revenge in the division and take some of these games. After that, we get the A’s and Rangers again, which will certainly be the appointment viewing we thought were getting in the last days of September.
*When they’ve already won two out of three.
While it’s not impossible otherwise, it starts with the A’s winning tonight. I would think they would want to at least be tied going into that last series with the Rangers. So, they win tonight, get the lead down to two games. Then, they just need to take two out of three from Seattle, which seems very doable. The Angels would also need to take two of three from the Rangers, which also seems doable. Then, essentially, we get early playoffs. Three games to decide who carries the AL West. If those games aren’t carried nationally somehow, the MLB needs to take yet another long look at how they’ve got their media deals drawn up.
If Oakland call pull this off, has there ever been a more unlikely division champion? I mean, I really can’t think of anybody close. The closest thing I can think of is the Rockies of a few years, but they did have some top shelf talent that people already knew about, at least with Matt Holliday. Most people probably couldn’t name five players on the A’s, and the players that people do know, most fans would have raised an eyebrow and said something like “I didn’t realize he landed out there.” Players like Coco Crisp and Jonny Gomes. Heck, I’ll bet most people forgot that’s where Stephen Drew landed after he pulled a version of his older brother with the Phillies.*
*Maybe it’s closer to JD Drew with the Cardinals, but I don’t remember that being particularly contentious. Just the Cardinals deciding they couldn’t live with all the injuries.
And how embarrassing if the Rangers slip to a wild card spot. Back-to-back American League champions. Looking like, if anything, they’re even better than the last two years. Their main competitors, the fully-loaded Angels, pissing away the season almost from day one. And they still manage to lose the division? And if they get into a one-game playoff with either the Yankees or Orioles, they may find themselves in a world of trouble. The Rangers have been fifty-fifty at best in do-or-die situations over the past few seasons. The Orioles especially seem to have a particular flair for playing with their backs against the wall in the past two seasons. If you remember, the Orioles came back from what seemed to be an impossible situation against the Red Sox in the “greatest night in baseball” last year. Everybody remembers the Rays comeback because it involved more runs, and it got the Rays into the playoffs. But the Orioles had to come up with two ninth inning runs after staging quite a few comebacks last year. And this year, well, they’ve done nothing but play their best in the clutch. The Rangers might go from World Series favorites to out of the real playoffs in the course of a couple days.
So, wake up, Oakland. If you want to keep this team, this is the time to show it. You fill that stadium for the Raiders whether they’re good or not. Hint: they’re usually not. It’s time to show your support for the scrappiest underdogs in baseball. This isn’t the La Russa era A’s, but it just might be far more entertaining.
You would think that winning a triple crown for a playoff team would be a slam dunk for MVP. I’m sure if you were to tell Miguel Cabrera that he would win the triple crown* and the Tigers would win the Central Division,** he would have gone ahead and assumed he would be the MVP. In fact, he wouldn’t be too out of line to start thinking about Cooperstown. Every triple crown winner since 1894 has found their way to the hall. There were two winners, Tip O’Neill and Paul Hines (in 1887 and 1878, respectively), who did not. The other twelve have, mostly comfortably.
*The first since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. In a related note, I definitely see why sportswriters went with Yaz with him.
**A very real possibility, but by no means a lock. The Tigers and White Sox are tied as of this morning for the division lead.
And, you know, if the Tigers do make the playoffs and Miggy does hold on to the lead in all those categories, he still might win MVP. But, if you asked most voters right this instant who their MVP is, the overwhelming response is Mike Trout.
It’s hard to argue with that vote, either. Cabrera is batting .329 with 42 home runs and 133 RBI. He leads the American League in batting average (by three points over Joe Mauer) and RBI (by nine over Josh Hamilton) and is only one homer back from Hamilton. Mike Trout, though, in his rookie season, no less, is batting .324 with a very respectable 28 home runs and 78 RBI. But, his case is not based on those numbers alone, obviously.
Trout is leading the league in three categories, too. Those would be runs, stolen bases, and WAR. Now, nobody can deny the value of runs. I mean, when you really boil down baseball to its basics, runs are the currency of baseball. That’s how you win and lose games. All the other stats are fluff to help you understand how runs are scored or prevented.
Stolen bases is another piece of fluff that has a complicated relationship with baseball understanding. Stealing a lot of bases has gone in and out of vogue, which I’ve written about before. Right now, I would generally say that a ton of speed is a bit on the downside of its cyclical popularity. And, he’s only stolen 47 bases, which wouldn’t have even cracked the top twenty some years in the 80’s. And that’s only two up on Rajai Davis, so it’s not like he’s blown the rest of the league away. Still, he is the leader, and that’s something to consider. I’m just not sure how much that’s really contributing to his overall MVP case.
The last number, WAR, I think is where Trout is really earning his hype. This is a “new school” stat, though I think most are familiar with it now. To paraphrase, WAR stands for “Wins Above Replacement.” The replacement in this sense is an absolutely average guy, your standard AAA call up or what have you. It gets figured a little bit differently in different places, but this stat aims to give you an idea of how many wins your team has gotten because you have this particular guy in the lineup as opposed to the average replacement. FanGraphs has Trout at 9.5. Baseball Reference has him at 10.5. Baseball Prospectus has him at 8.2. For perspective, an MVP level season is pegged at 6. That tells you the kind of season Mike Trout is having overall. For comparison, Miguel Cabrera’s WAR is 6.8 on FanGraphs.
So, yeah, but that measure, Miggy has had an MVP type year, but Mike Trout has had an MVP+ type year. And while the voting will be interesting to watch,* the more interesting discussion to me is how we as fans have changed.
*The biggest X-Factor to me is team performance. I know MVP is supposed to be an individual award, but look at when Sammy Sosa won the MVP over Mark McGwire. You can’t tell me that wasn’t because the Cubs made the playoffs and the Cardinals didn’t. They were in the race for home runs, and McGwire had more of those. But the Cubs had more wins. Anyway, more to the point, the Angels were supposed to be the Heat of baseball this year, splurging on Albert Pujols, CJ Wilson, and (later) Zach Greinke. The results have been less than impressive, with the extremely cheap A’s looking like they will finish ahead of the Angels. The Tigers, as mentioned earlier, may well win their division.
I suppose the most enjoyable is the widespread acceptance of “egghead” stats. Some sabermetrics are borderline useless, either for a need of revision or a lack of sample size to this point. But, most tell us things that the “traditional” stats either ignore or sell short. It’s a great way to see if your eyes match up to the paper. And it seems to me that WAR is the crown jewel of sabermetrics. It’s not quite standardized, true, but the three main sources are more or less in line with each other. It’s a simple concept to understand. And it’s a quick indicator of what kind of overall season a player is having. A player have a 4 WAR? He’s have a solid year. Oh, he slipped to 2 the next year? He’s just a bit above a scrub. Now, whether or not it’s just a down year or he’s becoming washed up, that’s a different matter. No paper can tell you that. But it’s a quick indicator of where a player is in that moment.
The writers certainly seem to have embraced that with this year’s MVP talk. Mike Trout’s value flies off the page with new stats. Without those new stats, we would be forced to look at the available numbers and conclude that Miguel Cabrera is the head-and-shoulders choice for MVP. I’m sure Mike Trout would still win Rookie of the Year, because his talent is pretty obvious. But you might miss just how good he is without some advanced numbers that take his all-around athleticism into account.
The bums may have lost, as they say in The Big Lewbowski, but the nerds will have their revenge.
Oops, I Did It Again
I suppose there are some elephants that can’t be ignored.
I know, I know, I usually make it a point not to talk about whatever is dominating the big sports media. And, frankly, that’s usually because it just doesn’t interest me. But, all the hubbub over last night’s game has my attention.
I suppose a good deal of that is because my wife and her family are all Packer fans, so I like to see them do well. I always kind of liked the Packers, anyway. I love the whole “neighborhood feel” of the team. It’s got a collegiate type of feel to it, at least to an outsider looking in. Maybe I’d feel differently if I were a real Packer fan or if I lived around Green Bay, but that’s the way it’s portrayed, and the team sure seems to embrace that image.
Fitting, then, that last night’s game seemed to be officiated by overwhelmed collegiate officials. I don’t know who the officiating crew was, nor do I know their background. But I do know that game was hard to watch last night. I’ve generally been on record that, for the most part, the refs haven’t been so bad. Have they been perfect? No, but neither would the “real” refs. More attention is being put on the calls that the current officials have messed up, so it seems like a bigger problem than it is. Generally, the officiating is a textbook puffed-up story.
But, last night was a different story. Twenty-four penalties were called in that game. The same number called in the Patriots-Ravens game, which was generally concluded to be a mess.* In all honesty, the first half wasn’t so bad. Which goes to show bad the second half was. At one point in the fourth quarter, and this was pointed out in the telecast, there four or five consecutive penalized plays. Three or four holding calls and a pass interference that should have gone the other way.** Dan Dakich made a very good point on his radio show yesterday. Really, the biggest problem with these refs is flow of the game. Sometimes the locked out guys were bad about this, too, but it seems to have gotten worse with the current officials.
*And will likely cost Bill Belichick somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000. Maybe more. It just depends on how big a hammer the league wants to bring down.
**This was also pointed out in the telecast. But, this is one I’ll (somewhat) defend the replacements on. The usual guys never seem to call offensive pass interference right, either. I don’t have a lot of faith that the replacements were the problem here. Though I do believe that play probably would have just gone unflagged with the normal guys.
Flow of game is something I’ve talked about here, too. Yeah, it’s good and somewhat important to get it right. But, really, the bigger job of refs is to make quick judgements so the game moves along. I’ve generally railed about this in regards to baseball, as the pace is already slowed so badly. More instant replay is just going to get in the way of that. But it’s a problem in football, too. Especially when it seems like every single play is discussed and reviewed to hell and back. Play thirty seconds, take three minutes to figure out what you just saw. It’s killer for a viewer. Everybody, players, coaches, viewers, officials, would be much better off just making their call and moving on.
Besides, it’s not like reviewing is actually helping anything.
This bring us to the big debacle that everybody is talking about. First off, Green Bay was robbed, but they can’t complain too loudly about it. If they would have bothered to score in the first half, this would have been a non-issue. Mike McCarthy said as much in his post-game press conference. But, that was a blown call. Plain and simple. Maybe it looked like a jump ball when everybody was in the air, but it was pretty clear to see once they hit the ground that the defender had control of the ball, and Golden Tate just had an arm and maybe his other fingertips wrapped around to touch the ball. Not exactly a situation anybody would have called “dual possession.”* And, yet, a bit later, here came an official with his arms to the sky. Directly following an official who was waving his arms, seemingly about to point the ball to Green Bay. Indecision ensued, leading to the pass being declared a touchdown. Seattle wins.
*As a bit of an aside, I got to see what sure looked to me to be a blown dual possession call right in front of me. My sophomore year, Wabash had what may well have been the best football team they’ve fielded since I’ve been watching. It also happened to be a year when Mount Union looked a little mortal, and before Wisconsin-Whitewater turned into a juggernaught. Wabash had run through their schedule unscathed and landed a top seed in the playoffs. In the second round, they drew Capital, a good team from Mount Union’s conference. It was a dogged game, but luck was not on Wabash’s side. They lost a touchdown when a runner was declared down, when I’m pretty darned sure I never saw his knee touch the ground. Late in the game, Wabash driving. A touchdown would take the lead and assuredly win the game. A field goal would send it into overtime. And we were in field goal range. Russ Harbaugh passed towards the sideline. The receiver and defender came down with the ball together, landing out of bounds. We were disappointed, because it would have meant a first down, but an incomplete would not be the worst thing. Suddenly, the official motions. “Capital ball.” I still to this day have no idea how that ruling was ever considered, let alone called. Wabash lost the game. Capital traveled to Mount Union the next week and lost by a last second field goal. If Wabash could have gotten Mount Union in Crawfordsville, there was a very good shot of moving on. And since Mount Union did end up winning that year, who knows what might have been.
Now, I have a theory on this one. I truly believe that they called it a touchdown to force the play to be reviewed. Sure, that one would likely be reviewed anyway, but a scoring play is automatically reviewed. The problem is, as I’ve read and heard on the radio this morning, dual possession is not reviewable. So, once the play was declared a touchdown, it was over, as everybody was relatively comfortably in-bounds and the ball didn’t hit the ground.
This is obviously not your standard ending to a game. Which is exactly when you don’t want the subs in. I do truly believe the regular refs would have been markedly better here. They probably would have managed the immediate scrum following the pass better and made a more definitive, quick call. No groping around trying to figure out what rules applied here, no two officials making different calls. Likely no two officials making calls at all, the regular refs having a better sense of who’s calling what. Truly, that is one of my biggest gripes in any sport. Officials making calls they are out of position for. That’s usually more of a basketball thing, but it certainly happens in other sports.
Will this finally be the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Maybe. Maybe this will finally be what ends Roger Goodell’s reign as commissioner. He may look the part, but his time sure makes him look like an empty suit. That’s a story for another day, though. In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how the negotiations between the NFL and the refs goes after this. There apparently was a wide gulf yesterday. I’d imagine the distance might be more in rowing range today.
UPDATE: I have since read that there is an automatic review in place this year for turnovers as well as scoring plays. I would say that negates my theory of why the officials erred on the side of offense, but I’m not entirely convinced these officials (maybe most replacement officials) were aware of this rule, either.
ANOTHER UPDATE: The information just keeps pouring in, even though this isn’t exactly breaking news. Last night’s officiating crew is the same one that did the St. Louis-Washington game that was also universally considered a disaster. That seems like a good example of being kicked upstairs, but whoever did the kicking didn’t quite have enough leg.
Well, geez, that didn’t go so well. I guess I should count myself lucky Purdue didn’t play this week.
I should preface all of this by saying I didn’t get to watch hardly any football this weekend due to a few factors. First, I had to take Kristine to the doctor, where we found out she has pleurisy. Then, not long after that, we were off to New Richmond to see some family at a memorial for my cousin Jay, a recent cancer victim. So, I didn’t see any college football that day, nor am I really complaining. Just so everybody knows where I’m coming from. Sunday wasn’t any better. I spent the day helping my mom put in new carpet in her living room, which let me watch the last ninety seconds or so of the Colts. Though, frankly, that seems like the only part I really needed to see.
So, now, circumstances laid out, this weekend sucked. Wabash lost 20-17 in overtime. As I detailed on Friday, this game should not have even been close. I had a feeling seventh was overrated for this team, and they went out and put a pretty fine point on it. This put on a ten-position fall to seventeenth. As our second biggest rival, it pains me to say this, but I have no idea how Wittenberg is not ranked, and furthermore, not ranked ahead of us. Next week is homecoming against Carnegie-Mellon. I know the “Law of Common Opponents” isn’t so much a law as a fanciful delusion, but that is the team that made Allegheny look like a (not-particularly-good) high school team. I don’t know the last time Wabash lost on homecoming, but I’m willing to wager it’s been an awful long time. It would be a shame if they lose on their 100th one. But, I’m worried about it.
The Colts, on the other hand, was a disappointment of a different sort. I’m not shocked that the Colts lost. That’s going to happen a lot this season. Heck, I probably should have even seen this coming, because the Colts have always seemed to have an inordinate amount of trouble with the Jaguars, even in the Manning years. It was more in the way they lost. How do you let a team break out an 80-yard play in that situation? Don’t you have your safeties back playing centerfield for just this sort of emergency? My goodness, I know these sorts of plays happen, but there is no way that play should happen in that situation. They break that out earlier in the fourth quarter? Fine, it happens. With a (slim) lead and less than a minute left? Inexcusable. I know our defense is bad, but my goodness, it’s still an NFL defense. I thought, anyway. I’m told the defense even looked pretty good up until that point. That was just a good shot to the gut.
The only bright spot in the Colts letting the receiver run wild was that receiver was Cecil Shorts, a (presumably) proud product of Mount Union. I don’t necessarily like how Mount Union runs its football program,* but it’s always awfully nice to see D3 athletes succeeding in the pros.
*Maybe it isn’t deserved, but it definitely has a reputation for having pretty low standards for its students. And football players in particular. Reading up on Pierre Garcon’s path to the school seems to add fodder for this argument.
It has to get better next week, right?
Okay, so, I guess it’s finally time to pony up and talk some football. The good news is I think I’ve got good news to deliver.
I don’t know how long it will last, but I sincerely believe the Colts will have a winning record after this week. The team didn’t look half bad last week against the Vikings, and really, the offense wasn’t atrocious against the Bears. And even in that Bears game, the defense got off to a good start. Now, that didn’t last too far into the game, but they did get some sacks and a pick six to start that game. And now, Jacksonville rolls into town. They haven’t won a game yet after squaring off with the Vikings* and Texans. Now, there’s no shame in getting beat by Houston any more, even if it’s by twenty points. Heck, there’s a lot of respected people picking the Texans to go to the Super Bowl. I don’t buy that hype, but it’s there. Anyway, yeah, the Jags were pummeled in that game and lost a heartbreaker in Minnesota.
*Who, again, the Colts just beat last week. And beat more convincingly than the late field goal winner would indicate.
The Colts have just seemed a more solid and consistent team to me. Yeah, the Bears were manhandled in Green Bay. But I think the Bears are a lot closer to the team that blew out Indianapolis than they are to the team that looked like a high school team against the Packers. Plus, this game is in Lucas Oil Stadium, and, simply put, the Colts just have the better offensive players. I will take Andrew Luck over Blaine Gabbert any day. I would also take Reggie Wayne, even in this stage of his career, over any of Jacksonville’s receivers.* The Jags do have Maurice Jones-Drew, who I feel we’re going to look back on when he retires and shake our heads that he was stuck on crappy teams. And the defenses, well, neither defense has looked great. But I have faith in Freeney and Mathis disrupting Gabbert more than the Jags bothering Luck.
*To be fair, Reggie Wayne has not looked half as washed up as many were predicting he would. Maybe getting a real NFL quarterback was just the shot in the arm his career needed.
That is not to say, of course, that Luck won’t feel any pressure. This offensive line is just plain bad. He will be scrambling for his life. But I think he has the ability to make something of his scrambles. Much, much more so than Gabbert, anyway. And, in a bright spot, the Colts actually kept Minnesota’s much-vaunted running game more or less in check. Jacksonville is going to want to run MJD has much as they can. This, I think, will tip in the Colts favor as well.
A lot of people seem to think this game will be low scoring, and I get that. It wouldn’t surprise me. But since both teams are bad, and especially inept at defense, I’m going to go a little higher. Let’s call a Colts win, oh, 31-21. That feels about right to me.
Turning to college, Purdue is off this week, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised with them. They had two squash matches in Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Michigan and did what they were supposed to do. They also went up to South Bend and really gave Notre Dame a scare. That game should have gone into overtime. It hurt a bit that the defense collapsed like a flan in a cupboard, but still, it was a million times better than last year’s game at Purdue. Marshall is up next. I really don’t know much about this year’s Marshall team. We all know they had an amazing run last decade, but I haven’t heard much about them this year. They did only lose by a field goal to an Ohio team that a lot of people think will end up undefeated. Based on that, I’m guessing Marshall is a pretty decent team. I think Purdue will win, but it may be frustratingly close.
On a related note, since when does Purdue kick off all their home games at 3:15? The answer is TV, I’m sure, but gosh, that’s just an awkward time for a game. I get noon or one, I get later one, like five or six, but three? I’m not a fan.
And last, but certainly not least, my beloved alma mater.* Wabash has looked a little shaky the first two games. Sure, they beat Hanover and Denison by comfortable margins, 33-12 and 35-2, respectively. And that’s good. They’re sitting at number seven in the D3Football.com poll, which is the poll I’ve always taken as gospel. But there have been sooooo many penalties this year. And the offense, despite averaging 34 points a game, has looked out of sorts each game. It’s clicked towards the end each time, but it seemed, to liken it to a push mower, to take a few pulls to get it started. Lots of priming.
*Though that love may be a little one-sided. I suppose I’m not the only one that feels that way.
The positive to take from that, I suppose, is both of those games were on the road. This week is the home opener against Allegheny. Allegheny was once a prominent force in NCAC football. Then, Wabash joined the conference. It’s been awhile since they were a serious contender, and it doesn’t look like this is the year to change that. They beat Wooster by a field goal, 17-14, before getting crushed by Carnegie Mellon, 37-7.
To put it simply, Wabash doesn’t get crushed. In all the years I’ve watched Wabash football, they were stomped one time, and that was by the eventual national champions in Wisconsin-Whitewater. That was at their place in about two feet of snow, and half our team had the stomach flu, including the All-American quarterback, so we had to see if our otherwise-injured-former-All-American quarterback had anything. He didn’t. Simply put, one blowout against the team in eight years of watching them, and there were a lot of circumstances leading up to it.
Wabash wins this one, likely fairly easily. I’m not too concerned about the score, but we’re going to peg it at 35-7, just for the sake of round numbers. I’m going to be more worried about things like penalty yards and the like.
This looks like an excellent year for Wabash to go 10-0 and maybe grab a top seed in the playoffs. Their schedule is, as always, favorable. Wittenberg is not ranked, though they’ve romped in every game they’ve played. And that game is in Springfield. That is the only worry.
The other game I would typically worry about is the Bell Game. But, not to put too fine a point on it, DePauw is in shambles. They’ve already fired their coach after starting 0-2 on the heels of a 4-5 season. This will make the fifth coach in nine years at DePauw. But, the school insists this isn’t about football. But you have a losing coach at a time when you’re trying to really upgrade your stadium. That’s a tough sell, Dannies. A real tough sell. Anyway, between that chaos and the game being in Crawfordsville, I’d like to go ahead and chalk that up to another easy win. If you’re keep score at home, the past two years, Wabash as won by a combined score of 92-7. Ding dong.
We’re just about to kick off week three of the NFL season. Sounds like a great time to talk about hockey.
As you may have heard, the NHL is officially in a lock out, and all games through September have been wiped out. Those are just preseason games, but it’s still something cancelled. Not great news for a league that just had a whole season wiped out because of a lock out in 2004-2005. And, for whatever it’s worth, this is coming off the heels of lockouts in basketball and football. Who would have thought, oh, twenty years ago that baseball would the model of stability in professional sports?
From my understanding, much like football, the players are not seeking anything new. They’re just asking for the continuation of the status quo. Which, for the curious, gives players 57% of hockey revenue. The owners first decided they wanted something more like 43%. That offer has since risen to 47%. So, a pretty substantial cut.
What I don’t understand is why. Well, let me rephrase that a little bit. I know the owners want more money in their pocket. Still, according to Sports Illustrated, hockey revenue has grown substantially. Like, a whole billion dollars substantially. I think the vast majority of businesses would be absolutely thrilled at a billion dollars worth of growth and would do anything necessary not to rock the boat. Now, I’m sure owners would also point out that player salaries grew by a million dollars on average.
Of course, the players have an easy retort to that one. The owners are the ones that ultimately decided what to pay the players.
Now, I know there are market forces, and nobody wants to be found guilty of colluding to keep player salaries artificially deflated. Still, player salaries would not have grown so much if the owners were absolutely against it. The same argument holds true in other sports. Owners and general managers just can’t seem to help themselves but to give out big (and not necessarily well-thought) contracts. Then they can’t seem to understand why they haven’t ended up with a bigger slice of the pie.
Still, as the argument went during the NFL and NBA lockouts, these are millionaires arguing with billionaires. The real victims are the fans and citizens of NHL cities.
I suppose I don’t know just how feasible it is, but I think a lot more teams really ought to go the Green Bay route. I am of the firm belief that, even though these teams have individual owners, professional sports franchises are just as much a civil entity as a corporate one. Maybe more so civil than corporate. Yeah, players make too much money. But they wouldn’t be able to do that if we as a society weren’t so willing to give these teams our money. We want to feel proud of our local teams, our local stadiums. We want to puff our chest out and say “We have the best team/stadium/fans in the country.” And, well, you just can’t do that without your team. So when crass business gets in the way of that, we are the losers. The owners and players are going to make out of this deal, whatever this deal turns out to be, just fine. But, without the games, there are going to be a whole lot of lost fans.
*This is a view I’ve held for an awfully long time, but it has been crystallized a bit from reading Paul Lukas.
It takes a long time for a league to bounce back from a major interruption. Hockey really has just recovered from the last lockout in the past couple years. There are still people who haven’t forgiven baseball for 1994.* Why would you want to rock the boat?
*A lot of those people are also idiots, but they’re out there.
The only thing I can see in this case is everybody feels like the winter sports go on way too long anyway. Eighty-two games is just a ridiculous schedule for hockey and basketball. I think both leagues would be well served to cut back to, say, a fifty game schedule* and not have fans bat an eye. But, the owners want that gate, and I’m sure the players don’t mind the game checks.**
*Or something in that neighborhood, whatever works out nicely to balance the schedule or whatever.
**They might mind the increased injuries, though. That may be a bigger concern in football and hockey than in basketball, though.
So, in conclusion, get it together, owners. You’re going to end up looking like the bad guys here when you’re still going to make plenty of money under the current deal. Generaly speaking, and maybe to a man, your hockey teams aren’t your main business. They’re just something you bought as an expensive hobby, status symbol, or possibly out of a sense of civic duty. Your real duty as an owner is to get games on the ice. The players will play, I’m not worried about that. If you want to miss a few games, fine, but you better have this worked out by December. Or else, or something.
Rambling Writings
What to write about today. It was nice to get out some baseball related thoughts yesterday, but I’m not sure I have anything new yesterday. I found myself awfully interested in, well, myself on Monday when I wrote about how I write. That was the most intrigued and excited I’d been about writing in a while. I don’t know if everybody else had that same reaction, but it was satisfying enough to me, I think I’m going to try it again.
Really, as much as I like to say I missed my calling of teaching history,* what I really missed out on was teaching writing. True, I’ve not really been published,** but I think I have a very good feel for writing and writers. And, I suppose, that has a lot to do with my own education.
*Don’t get me wrong. That’s still totally true.
**I’ve done a fair amount of self-publishing, though. This blog included.
I alluded to it in an aside on Monday. I had amazing writing teachers in college, mostly Dr. Joy Castro and Dr. Thomas Campbell. They each taught and, I’m sure in related fashion, wrote in different styles. Dr. Castro taught short fiction, Dr. Campbell taught personal essays. I loved them both greatly and for different reasons. But, in the end, much of the teaching was the same. You take the day’s story or essay, discuss it as a class, and everybody grows. Plus, there’s the benefit of having the author there to clarify ambiguous points and to point out something if it were missed. Or defend choices that were made, whatever the case may be.
But, in the end, there was an important rule in all of it. The author doesn’t get to speak until the class has finished their discussion. It’s a bit of an exhilarating feeling being the author in these situations. It’s about the closest thing you can get to a fly on the wall. And that only gets better as the class goes on. At first, the other students are more conscious of your presence, but as the semester wore on, they generally ignored you were there until you got to say your piece. Some stories were hits, some stories were failures, some stories were just okay. All of the feedback, positive or negative, was very worthwhile. I can’t speak for everybody, I suppose, but I never felt like it got personal. All the reasons for feedback were reasoned out and explained. I don’t think anybody came away with hurt feelings if they put in a bad story. They just learned how to do it better or maybe just to take an idea and stick it in the back pocket for a while.
I ended up minoring in creative writing. I would have been a double major in it and history if I had the chance. I had always loved writing and did it often in high school. But, I had no guidance but my own. Covington was (and is) a very small high school, offering only more or less what the state requires. For those that don’t know me, I ended up taking half days my senior year and spent the afternoons taking a class at DACC in the afternoons.* I don’t think that hurt my cause when applying to Wabash, but really, the only reason I did that was because I had pretty well taken everything Covington had to offer. I’d satisfied the demands of getting an academic honors diploma, so what was going to benefit me more, filling up my afternoons with home ec and study halls, or take a higher level class a few days a week?
*DACC is Danville Area Community College, the local junior college to my hometown. For the even more curious, I took Introduction to Humanities first semester, and Speech second semester. I took one speech (actually Rhetoric) class at Wabash and loved it and loved my professor. Unfortunately, I could never really fit more rhetoric into my schedule later on. That’s always made me a bit sad to think about.
One of those things that apparently the state didn’t require was a writing class. Sure, we wrote papers in history and English classes. But those were formal* papers. Full MLA formatting and all that. There was no place for creative writing, either through a club or class or anything like that. And that’s something I think I truly missed.
*Semi-formal, anyway.
I honestly don’t know how common high school level creative writing classes are. Maybe they’re at most schools, maybe it’s only bigger schools in bigger towns. I don’t know. But it’s something I truly missed in high school that I think would have been beneficial, given the right teachers and the right group.* It’s always been a bit of a dream of mine to go back and teach writing at Covington. Give the next generation(s) something I didn’t have. An outlet I didn’t have.
*Who knows. I was painfully shy and generally uncomfortable with myself in high school. Maybe I would’ve pretty well bombed creative writing because I didn’t mesh with everybody. But, I don’t think so. I was always quick to take the reigns when I had a chance to write creatively. Even if sometimes my scenes went on a little long. I’m sure you couldn’t imagine.
Now, chances are I wouldn’t be grooming the next Vonnegut or anything. There would probably be more thinly-veiled Twilight and Fifty Shades* fan fiction than anything. But, there is great benefit to teaching kids how to become authors. It will help in their other papers. It greatly aids their reading, as they’ll begin to really learn the mechanics of storytelling themselves, which you can apply across media. And, maybe most importantly, when you write something good, and damned near every story has at least something good about it, it’s a huge confidence booster. It really lets you know that you have some talent to foster and grow. Even if its meager, it’s something.
*Yikes. That could get dicey at the high school level, but I’ll bet a lot of high schoolers have read it.
And to the other kids, it’s a great boon to learn how to discuss. If you come into college already knowing how to intelligently discuss a work, whether it be fiction or not, you are ahead of the game. This is a great way to ease into that sort of discussion. And it will come off as more immediate, more meaningful when you’re discussing something written by your peers instead of some author that died a hundred years ago. It’s a way to make kids care about what they’re reading and what they’re discussing. I know I didn’t read most of what was put in front of me in high school. I just picked up from people discussing the book around me what the general direction was and made a couple points. Also an important skill, but one that maybe doesn’t need to be picked up in school.
Okay, this is getting a bit long, and I’m not sure I really made any points. But I put some thoughts out there, maybe a few of them are worthwhile. Discuss it amongst yourselves.
Hey, Sports!
Sixteen days left in the regular season. I hear what you’re saying. “Wait just a minute, Aaron. You’re going to write about baseball for a change?” We sure are. The title isn’t always a misnomer.
Anyway, quit interrupting. Sixteen days left in the regular season. Try as I might, there won’t be any ignoring the awful second wild card any longer. Let’s take a quick recap of the standings.
As of today, nobody has clinched a playoff spot just yet. The Reds are the closest, with a magic number of five. The Giants follow them with eight. In fact, they are the only teams with a single digit magic number. The Nationals are sitting at eleven. Over in the American League, every division is more or less a toss up. The Yankees are only a half game above the Orioles, who have to be the surprise team of the year. The White Sox and Rangers are only three games over the Tigers and A’s, respectively. The A’s, not coincidentally, have to be a very close second for surprise team of the year. And if you want to argue them above the Orioles, I can make that argument, too.
In the wild card, Atlanta seems determined to extend the Chipper Jones Farewell Tour. The Cardinals have a white-knuckled grip on the last spot to try to end said tour, but they’re only up a single game on the Dodgers, and the Pirates and Brewers are only two and a half back. In the AL, the A’s and Orioles are practically tied, with the Angels three games back.
This should shape up to be a pretty refreshing playoff. The Reds make a second playoff trip in three years, following a fourteen year absence from the postseason. Their last appearance, though, ended in a curb stomp from the Phillies. This time around has got to go better. Besides, this year they’re flirting with the best record in baseball, just a win behind the Nationals at the moment. There’s no more “just happy to be here.” It’s time to win in Cincy.
Speaking of the Nationals, they’re a big story in themselves. You could see it coming a bit with the moves they made the past couple years. I think every baseball writer to a man* liked Washington’s moves better than the Marlins, and the records have borne that out. But, there’s some historic import to this run. Dating back to their time north of the border, the franchise has only ever made one other trip to the playoffs. And that was mostly due to a fluky, strike-altered season that saw the season split into halves in 1981. I’ve written about it before, but just to reiterate, the Expos never won an outright division title. This would be a first, and a first for the franchise in Washington. And, you know, when it’s only the second time in your franchise’s forty-four year history, that’s still an achievement.
*That does include the women writers, too. I’m sure there are those who would jump all over that sentence for being sexist, and I understand the argument. But “to a person” just doesn’t flow as well. And, to me, it’s much the same difference between saying “the history of mankind” and “the history of humankind.” One captures the imagination. One feels needlessly PC.
Also in the history department, we have the Orioles and A’s. The A’s drought hasn’t been quite so long. Still, the Moneyball era ended six years ago. The book itself was released in 2003. This particular squad wasn’t expected to do anything by anybody. Not even their own front office. Billy Beane pretty well said they were aiming to be good when they’re slated to move in a few years. It was just holding on until then. But, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that. Sometimes plans can go awry in a good way, I suppose.
Turning to Baltimore, they would be breaking a fifteen year drought. As a bit of an aside, the coach of that last playoff Oriole team? Davey Johnson, who you might remember is now coaching the Nationals. 1997 was also their last division championship.
I have to say, it’s awfully nice having some proud franchises back on the map. And, you know, maybe this is Washington’s chance to step into respectability.
In the more-recently-successful franchises, the Giants are the team that catches my attention. Why? Tim Lincecum. That is really the only reason, but it’s a pretty darned good one, I think most would agree. After spending most of the year mired in mediocrity,* he seems to have recently regained his form. And just in time for the playoffs. If you’re going to get hot, this is precisely the time to do it.
*At best.
Also hanging out in the back of my mind are the Rangers. Is the third time the charm? They’re still a very, very good ball team. It would not surprise me in the least if they have another great run in them. It has been a joy to see Yu Darvish stay strong pretty well all year. As many Cub fans will note, a lot of Japanese players* have amazing starts before fading hard in the second half. Darvish seems to have avoided that. We’ll see if he can keep it up through the playoffs, too.
*Japanese ballplayers not named Ichiro, anyway.
As for my personal teams, the Cubs were a lost cause pretty well all year. But, boy, Anthony Rizzo is everything as advertised and more, isn’t he? There are reasons to be hopeful for the future. The infield is pretty well figured out, and the outfield isn’t awful, just young. Give this team a few years to season and the Northsiders will have something.
The Pirates, on the other hand, have been maddening. They had a great first half, but, boy, what a swoon in the second half. Still, they stayed strong longer than they did after last year’s good first half. And they still have a chance to finish the year with a winning record. They’re sitting at 74-72, which means they’ve got a game for every day left in the season. Sure they can win at least half of them, right? Heck, they’re still not out of the playoff race. Maybe they’ll really catch fire here and still sneak in.
The Pirates and Orioles both making the playoffs in 2012? Maybe the Mayans were on to something.
Okay, I think I might’ve figured out a new way to do this blog thing. It isn’t exactly earth-shattering, but it’s a method I’ve resisted up until now.
Since clearly I can’t keep anything resembling a schedule if forced to write “after-hours,” I’m going to have to start writing these from my desk at work. This is how the magic happened at Watchfire, and how this blog was born, actually. I was tearfully bored at work and needed something to distract myself from the mind-blowing tedium of answering phones. After all the unpleasantness at the end, though, I was still able to keep a pretty darned consistent schedule. I think that was because my days were still pretty routine. I would get up in the morning, check my usual sites,* eat some breakfast or early lunch, depending on when I woke up, write the blog, and then spend the next however many hours looking for jobs.
*For the curious, here are the sites I check every week day, and in what order (excluding e-mail): ESPN, Grantland, Sports Illustrated, Joe Sports Fan, Uni Watch, Irregular Webcomic!, Darths & Droids, XKCD, Erfworld, A Softer World, Left Handed Toons, and Invisible Bread. And on Mondays, throw in Awkward Zombie and Aikonia after ASW. You might note that most of these are on the “Sites I Like” page.
My daily perusal and writing took about two hours, usually. Longer at Watchfire, since there were interruptions from calls. Now, though, I’ve settled into a job I like much, much better. Still, I’ve found there is a decent amount of down time while I wait on computers to do their thing. A natural place to slide in some sportswriting, yes?
The problem, as has been mentioned before on this blog, is that Alcoa has Weebly as a blocked site. This means that I’ll have to start writing my blogs on a word processor first. This one, and I’m guessing most future posts, was written in Google Documents.* This is how a lot of very respectable bloggers do their thing, and of course, how reporters generally do their thing. This method has been suggested to me before, usually when a connection problem has eaten a post-in-progress and forced me to rewrite or just post an apology. To this point, I’ve rejected the idea.
*Which, actually, is now called Google Drive for reasons that aren’t entirely clear to me. I mean, I get what they’re trying to do, but I don’t see where it’s really going to help or change anything.
I’ve done it that way before, but it’s just never felt like a natural progression to me. I wouldn’t call my writing style unfocused, but I would certainly say it is tangential. I don’t do a whole lot of editing to my writing in any form, and practically none for the blog. A lot of this has to do with editing on the fly. Judging from my peers, I can turn out writing pretty quickly. But there is a lot of thought going on while I’m writing. There is careful, if quick, thought put into word choice. I usually have a mental outline of where I want a paragraph to go and how I want it to flow into the next paragraph. The finished product doesn’t always flow to where to the mental outline pointed,* but it lets me give my writing a pretty strong form on the fly.
*In fact, it usually doesn’t. But that makes it that much more interesting to me and most likely for you, the reader, too.
This is a style that has worked for me all my life. I always struggled when I had to turn in first drafts, and then later turn in my finished work. There was rarely much difference. Sure, I might have found a grammar mishap here and there, but even those were rare. When I go back and read my old stuff, I cringe when I find those mishaps. But my ideas, my flow, I’m generally happy with. And I’ve had that reflected back to me, mostly in writing classes.* Almost everything I wrote got comments about how easy it was to read and how clearly things flowed.
*Another aside. I warned you that I love tangents. I love reading tangential writers, too. I dig footnotes like no other. It is probably the main reason I love reading Joe Posnanski so much. Anyway, I adored my writing classes. I would imagine most writing courses function this way, but the ones I took at Wabash were basically semester-long workshops. Each student either is assigned or picks days to discuss their work, in my case, either a short story or personal essay. So, you would distribute your work the class before it was to be discussed, and then you would spend the next session hearing a class discuss your work the same way they would discuss any other work in another class. It was very enlightening, and in my case, very encouraging.
This flow, this clarity, I think is a direct product writing almost everything I do in one shot. Because of this, it just made sense to me to write my blogs in the Weebly editor itself. It also made writing long posts (like this one is quickly turning into) more natural, and likely more fun. It let me see how the post would look on the site, and in a way, let me experience it as a reader would. That way I would have an idea when I should put in another picture to break up the text or to liven up the article besides. Believe me, nothing livens up or adds humor to an article than just the right picture. Something the folks over at Cracked understand all too well.
So, I resisted the very thing I’m doing right now. But, alas, there seems to be no other way to get me to work on schedule, at least at the moment. I sure hope that my slight discomfort in writing in a processor first will be far, far outweighed by the enjoyment of whatever readers I have left.
At least I broke down and did this before the playoffs, right?
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Tag Archives: coal seam gas
Barnaby To Fight Miners
From the Australian:
Billionaire Gina Rinehart turned up at Barnaby Joyce’s post-election party in Tamworth. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: The Australian
OUTSPOKEN Nationals frontbencher Barnaby Joyce has vowed to protect prime farm land from mining and coal-seam gas, and ensure that an inland railway line connecting Brisbane and Melbourne is built by 2026.
Mr Joyce said he would maintain his steadfast support for protecting prime farmland from mining and CSG, despite having a close friendship with influential mining magnates. Billionaire Gina Rinehart attended Mr Joyce’s election night party. He said prime farmland and aquifers should be “off limits” to mining and CSG, while “people’s quiet enjoyment of houses should be protected”.
In the battle between good agricultural land and mining, farmland should “win every time”. He said he had been “more vociferous than others” in parliament about these issues, and he pledged to remain so in government.
Mr Joyce supported the need for effective and transparent regulation and monitoring of the resources sector.
In regard to CSG production, he said farmers should earn a percentage of the value of production of gas on their land.
Tags: barnaby joyce, coal seam gas, csg, gina rinehart
Barnaby Calls For CSG Moratorium On Prime Ag Land
Take note, Green-inclined voters.
Barnaby is right.
Tags: agricultural land, alan jones, aquifers, barnaby joyce, coal seam gas, csg, food security, prime cropping land
US Government Confirms Link Between Earthquakes And Hydraulic Fracturing
From what your humble blogger has read, it appears that Barnaby Joyce is one of the few politicians in the country to adopt a commonsense position on the increasingly heated Coal Seam Gas debate.
Unlike others who have sought political advantage by jumping boots and all into one or the other of the opposing camps, Senator Joyce has instead, typically, taken the pragmatic view.
That we need to be cautious, and more thoroughly investigate the science, before taking any unnecessary risks with the environment and in particular, with our vital “food bowls” (ie, alleged threats to aquifers, prime agricultural land).
Now this from Oilprice.com:
On 5 November an earthquake measuring 5.6 rattled Oklahoma and was felt as far away as Illinois.
Until two years ago Oklahoma typically had about 50 earthquakes a year, but in 2010, 1,047 quakes shook the state.
In Lincoln County, where most of this past weekend’s seismic incidents were centered, there are 181 injection wells, according to Matt Skinner, an official from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the agency which oversees oil and gas production in the state.
Cause and effect?
The practice of injecting water into deep rock formations causes earthquakes, both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Geological Survey have concluded.
The U.S. natural gas industry pumps a mixture of water and assorted chemicals deep underground to shatter sediment layers containing natural gas, a process called hydraulic fracturing, known more informally as “fracking.” While environmental groups have primarily focused on fracking’s capacity to pollute underground water, a more ominous byproduct emerges from U.S. government studies – that forcing fluids under high pressure deep underground produces increased regional seismic activity.
As the U.S. natural gas industry mounts an unprecedented and expensive advertising campaign to convince the public that such practices are environmentally benign, U.S. government agencies have determined otherwise.
According to the U.S. Army’s Rocky Mountain Arsenal website, the RMA drilled a deep well for disposing of the site’s liquid waste after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “concluded that this procedure is effective and protective of the environment.” According to the RMA, “The Rocky Mountain Arsenal deep injection well was constructed in 1961, and was drilled to a depth of 12,045 feet” and 165 million gallons of Basin F liquid waste, consisting of “very salty water that includes some metals, chlorides, wastewater and toxic organics” was injected into the well during 1962-1966.
Why was the process halted? “The Army discontinued use of the well in February 1966 because of the possibility that the fluid injection was “triggering earthquakes in the area,” according to the RMA. In 1990, the “Earthquake Hazard Associated with Deep Well Injection–A Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” study of RMA events by Craig Nicholson, and R.I. Wesson stated simply, “Injection had been discontinued at the site in the previous year once the link between the fluid injection and the earlier series of earthquakes was established.”
Twenty-five years later, “possibility” and ‘established” changed in the Environmental Protection Agency’s July 2001 87 page study, “Technical Program Overview: Underground Injection Control Regulations EPA 816-r-02-025,” which reported, “In 1967, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) determined that a deep, hazardous waste disposal well at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal was causing significant seismic events in the vicinity of Denver, Colorado.”
There is a significant divergence between “possibility,” “established” and “was causing,” and the most recent report was a decade ago. Much hydraulic fracturing to liberate shale oil gas in the Marcellus shale has occurred since.
According to the USGS website, under the undated heading, “Can we cause earthquakes? Is there any way to prevent earthquakes?” the agency notes, “Earthquakes induced by human activity have been documented in a few locations in the United States, Japan, and Canada.
The cause was injection of fluids into deep wells for waste disposal and secondary recovery of oil, and the use of reservoirs for water supplies. Most of these earthquakes were minor. The largest and most widely known resulted from fluid injection at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, Colorado. In 1967, an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 followed a series of smaller earthquakes. Injection had been discontinued at the site in the previous year once the link between the fluid injection and the earlier series of earthquakes was established.”
Note the phrase, “Once the link between the fluid injection and the earlier series of earthquakes was established.”
So both the U.S Army and the U.S. Geological Survey over fifty years of research confirm on a federal level that that “fluid injection” introduces subterranean instability and is a contributory factor in inducing increased seismic activity.” How about “causing significant seismic events?”
Fast forward to the present.
Overseas, last month Britain’s Cuadrilla Resources announced that it has discovered huge underground deposits of natural gas in Lancashire, up to 200 trillion cubic feet of gas in all.
On 2 November a report commissioned by Cuadrilla Resources acknowledged that hydraulic fracturing was responsible for two tremors which hit Lancashire and possibly as many as fifty separate earth tremors overall. The British Geological Survey also linked smaller quakes in the Blackpool area to fracking. BGS Dr. Brian Baptie said, “It seems quite likely that they are related,” noting, “We had a couple of instruments close to the site and they show that both events occurred near the site and at a shallow depth.”
But, back to Oklahoma. Austin Holland’s August 2011 report, “Examination of Possibly Induced Seismicity from Hydraulic Fracturing in the Eola Field, Garvin County, Oklahoma” Oklahoma Geological Survey OF1-2011, studied 43 earthquakes that occurred on 18 January, ranging in intensity from 1.0 to 2.8 Md (milliDarcies.) While the report’s conclusions are understandably cautious, it does state, “Our analysis showed that shortly after hydraulic fracturing began small earthquakes started occurring, and more than 50 were identified, of which 43 were large enough to be located.”
Sensitized to the issue, the oil and natural gas industry has been quick to dismiss the charges and deluge the public with a plethora of televisions advertisements about how natural gas from shale deposits is not only America’s future, but provides jobs and energy companies are responsible custodians of the environment.
It seems likely that Washington will eventually be forced to address the issue, as the U.S. Army and the USGS have noted a causal link between the forced injection of liquids underground and increased seismic activity. While the Oklahoma quake caused a deal of property damage, had lives been lost, the policy would most certainly have come under increased scrutiny from the legal community.
While polluting a local community’s water supply is a local tragedy barely heard inside the Beltway, an earthquake ranging from Oklahoma to Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas is an issue that might yet shake voters out of their torpor, and national elections are slightly less than a year away.
Tags: coal seam gas, csg, earthquakes, fracking, pragmatism, us geological survey
Labor Underwater On Coal Seam Gas
Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 14 Sept 2011 (apologies for delayed posting):
Labor governments underwater on Coal Seam Gas
The National Water Commission has delivered a damning indictment of the Labor government’s record on water reform. Perhaps the most damning revelation is that “COAG has not yet responded to the Commission’s recommendations in its previous biennial assessment, released in 2009.”
In its review the National Water Commission has found that the regulation of coal seam gas developments is not being fully integrated into water planning arrangements. The Commission notes that while the NSW government has introduced reforms which require coal seam gas developments to obtain water licences, Queensland’s arrangements “remain outside water planning and management frameworks.” The Commission has found that the coal seam gas industry could extract around 300 GL per year from groundwater systems over the next 25 years, compared to the 540 GL per year currently extracted from the Great Artesian Basin.
Well yet another Labor Party belly flop. They have been so busy in their concern for CO2 that they seemed to have ignored H2O. COAG has not yet responded to the Commission’s recommendations in its previous biennial assessment, released in 2009. The Labor party is just so busy frolicking that up to 300 GL (300,000,000,000 litres) a year of water from one of the nation’s most precious resources, the Great Artesian Basin, that it seems to have been given away without water licences to coal seam gas operators. Some farmers have lost up to 95% of their groundwater in NSW. Just another one of the mad paradoxes of Labor in its varying guises of incompetence.
We should not be surprised that Anna Bligh is putting the mining royalties over water security. That is what happens when you start heading towards $85 billion in debt.
The Nationals passed a motion at their recent Federal Council which called on the government to ensure that the regulation of coal seam gas developments “are properly evaluated under national water planning processes.” But this government can’t even bring itself to respond a report released in 2009. How can we expect that they can manage the complicated impacts of an industry which will potentially increase the water extracted from the Great Artesian Basin by over 50%?
The National Water Commission also finds that the Commonwealth Government’s progress on recovering water for the environment has been “disappointingly slow”.
This government has delayed the release of the draft Basin Plan three times this year. If it can’t even release a report, what confidence can people have that this incompetent government won’t mess up the Murray-Darling Basin which produces 40 per cent of Australia’s food.
Tags: barnaby joyce, coal seam gas, food security, media release
Why I Hang Farther To The Left Than Bob Brown
Got your attention with that headline?
Because on the topic of Australia’s last remaining real source of wealth – “our” natural resources – and, on the directly related topic of who should own them, you may be shocked to learn that your humble blogger hangs waaaaaaaay way out there on the so-called “left”.
With the likes of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Russian Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin.
And the government of Norway – which consistently ranks as the happiest nation on earth, and, the most prosperous.
[You see, when you are not beholden to group-think, and the false Left vs Right paradigm, then you can author what the Fairfax media called a “tribute site”, dedicated to supporting the debt-and-deficit views of a so-called “extremist” “far right” politician, and yet, hold “far left” views on other specific issues. Independent, issue-by-issue critical thinking is a wonderful thing.]
Explanation to follow.
First though, a little background via this media release from Senator Barnaby Joyce, 17 August 2011 (my emphasis added):
Some towns are more equal than others
The Queensland Labor party obviously believes that all towns are equal but some towns are more equal than others.
I note that Queensland Natural Resources Minister Rachael Nolan is already backtracking from the Labor party’s decision to only ban mining within 2 kilometres of towns with more than 1000 people.
Ms Nolan also attacked the Federal Coalition saying that:
This government does not believe that landholders are entitled to the resources beneath the ground. They have never been and to change that now would represent a massive windfall to the agricultural class, to the detriment of those who own the resources now – that is, all of us.*
Ms Nolan is wrong. It is concerning that a Minister does not seem to understand the basic aspects of her portfolio.
Farmers in Queensland owned the petroleum and gas resources under their property until 1915, when the Queensland Government took them off them to protect the resources for the crown during World War I. From my latest investigations I think World War I has finished but the resources were never handed back to farmers.
To quote from section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1915:
… it is hereby declared that petroleum on or below the surface of all land in Queensland, whether alienated in fee simple or not so alienated from the Crown, and if so alienated whensoever alienated, is and always has been the property of the Crown.
Resources have been taken in other states in even more recent times, with the last being the NSW Coal Acquisition Act in 1981.
If Ms Nolan does not believe me, perhaps she would believe former NSW Premier Neville Wran, who stated in his second reading speech on the Coal Acquisition Bill 1981:
The proposal is not without precedent. In 1938 a Tory government in the United Kingdom acquired all coal then in private ownership. In 1953 the Menzies Government resumed all minerals, then in private ownership, in the Northern Territory.
In 1971 South Australia followed suit and acquired privately owned minerals. All petroleum in New South Wales was vested in the Crown without compensation, by the Petroleum Act, 1955 …
* Ludlow, M., Dunckley, M and Kerr, P. 2011, ‘Mining ban expands’, Australian Financial Review, p. 5.
As a fine, upstanding, and outstanding representative of the interests of the rural community, Senator Joyce advocates strongly for the rights of farmers and rural landowners. Especially of late, in their critical challenges with mining interests seeking to explore for Coal Seam Gas (CSG) resources beneath their land, placing our food and water security at risk.
I strongly support the rational, objective, common sense basic position put forward by both Senator Joyce and the Greens – that agricultural land should be very carefully protected against any risks from the mining sector’s activities.
Indeed, I support going even further than either Barnaby or the Greens on this issue.
There are no “resources” more vital to human existence, than water #1, and food #2.
If proposed mining activities pose any plausible risk to water and/or food security, then protection of our water and ability to grow our own food must always take top priority.
To argue otherwise, you must either be an idiot. A troll. Suicidal. And/or genocidal. There are no other options.
Where I differ with (or perhaps hold a more nuanced position than) Senator Joyce – and most definitely differ with the Australian Greens – is over the question of how best to maximise the benefits for all Australians of our Great South Land’s natural resources.
Senator Joyce is quite rightly concerned with the rights of rural landowners.
The Greens appear to be concerned with the protection of agricultural land – as should we all. But in truth, the Greens are far more interested in taxing the crap out of the mining companies, whilst paying hypocritical lip service to the quasi-religious notion of “stopping catastrophic climate change”.
I am interested in the national (human) interest.
So, I advocate for nationalisation of Australia’s mineral, petroleum, and natural gas resources.
In our world of facile, intellectually-lazy “labelling” of every one and every thing (in lieu of reasoned, nuanced thought), that viewpoint places me right out there on the “extreme left”. Yes, right alongside “evil” socialists like Hugo Chavez.
And the government and people of Norway – the happiest and most prosperous nation (per capita) on earth.
Why is Norway so happy and prosperous?
One very big contributing reason, is that the Norwegian government nationalised their North Sea oil reserves decades ago, and has retained tight control over this vital resource sector ever since, including via the 67% government-owned StatOil. Profits are returned to a now-massive sovereign wealth fund, on behalf of all the citizens of Norway.
(This is used to finance what many would label a “welfare state”; the generally-understood definition of which I do not broadly support – another nuance, for another time).
Beginning in 2007, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez moved in the same direction. He began an ongoing nationalisation drive, stripping foreign-owned companies of control over vital national resources, especially Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, along with food and key industrial production.
(The fact that it was predominantly US multi-national petroleum companies who lost out as a result of Chavez’s actions goes a very long way towards explaining the true reason why he is painted as an “evil” “insane” “socialist” villain by Western politicians and lapdog mainstream media … and thus, why you probably believe Chavez is all bad, and all wrong. How dare he be more concerned with the national interest of Venezuelans, than with the profits of multi-nationals or the deceitful ideologies of “free trade” and “globalisation”!)
In Australia, we have a ridiculous, unintelligent, ill-considered, short-sighted, shallow, and polarised “debate” over national resources.
Many argue for a mining “super profits” tax, to help “spread the wealth” of our here-today-gone-forever-tomorrow mineral resources, via a sovereign wealth fund.
Others mount high-minded, impressive-sounding arguments against this.
Many argue for restrictions on foreign ownership of Australia’s resources, including prime agricultural land.
Those who argue against restrictions on foreign ownership of vital Australian resources include the treasonous “independent” Reserve Bank:
The Reserve Bank has warned that the economy’s increasing reliance on mining exports has left it more vulnerable to global downturns but suggests foreign ownership of the sector could help reduce those risks.
A paper co-authored by RBA assistant governor Philip Lowe and presented at the bank’s annual conference highlighted the benefits of foreign investment in mining at a time of intense political scrutiny of the industry’s ownership and profits.
The Greens correctly point out the fact that it is foreign-owned interests who benefit most from our country’s “poor white trash of Asia”, quarry-to-the-world status:
In June, Greens leader Bob Brown used a National Press Club address to slam the size of mining payouts to offshore investors and demand higher taxes on the industry to ensure Australians received their fair share.
He released research showing that $50 billion in mining company dividends would end up in overseas hands over the next five years — far more than the government’s watered-down mining tax would collect for taxpayers over the same period.
“Most of Treasury’s planned super-profits tax is now due to end up in the deep, deep pockets of millionaires in Switzerland, London, Calcutta and Beijing, rather than in Australian schools, hospitals or railways,” Senator Brown said at the time.
The Greens’ solution?
A bigger mining tax.
This sort of small-minded, tax-and-spend idiocy typifies the problems with our country.
Our politicians huff and puff a lot of high-minded hot air. While doing sweet FA, or at best, tinkering around the edges of critical issues.
Because most do not really have the national interest at heart.
They mostly have only their own interest at heart.
It does not have to be this way, dear reader.
Look at the example of Norway.
Then look at Bob Brown’s comment I’ve bolded in the above quote.
And ask yourself a simple question –
“Why dick around with half-arsed ‘solutions’ like mere “bigger taxes” on foreign-owned interests who are profiting off our national resources? If you’re serious about our national interests, then why not go the full monty – just like Norway and so many others – and nationalise our vital national resources?!”
Let us be quite clear.
My views on the topic of foreign “investment” (ie, ownership) of vital Australian natural resources, is far more than just “far Left”.
It is not automatically an anti-capitalist, anti-“free market” (a myth which has never existed, by the way), anti-liberty, anti-democratic, or anti-freedom position.
Instead, it is a nuanced viewpoint.
I strongly support the rights of Aussie landowners to have their livelihoods protected against risks from mining exploration/extraction.
I strongly support the absolute, unequivocal primacy of protecting agricultural land and water resources, over and above the interests of mere mining profits (you can’t eat and drink coal or iron ore, or the profits from them either).
I strongly support just and proper compensation for landowners wherever their property and/or livelihood may be impacted by the activities of other industries.
I strongly support the right of all Australians and their descendants, to enjoy peace of mind thanks to assured, long term water and food security, above all other “economic” considerations.
And, I strongly support the right of Australian citizens and their descendants, to have their interests protected (by their elected government) against the redistribution of wealth from the soil of our land, into the already-bloated bank accounts of foreign interests.
At the end of the day, that is the very heart of the matter.
All the confusion, and rhetoric, and theory, and ideology, and spirit-sapping noise over the relative alleged pros and cons of mining/agriculture/taxes/”free”-markets/socialism/capitalism … is all just a great big load of intellectual onanist #JAFA crap, that only serves to achieve one thing, whether intended or accidental.
It keeps our nation divided into warring tribes, all squabbling over red herrings … while the Big Fish make off with our big fish under the cover of theoretical, ideological, and philosophical darkness.
Why piss about arguing over the merits/demerits of a mere “tax” on foreign-owned mining companies?
Why piss about arguing over how big or small such a “tax” should or should not be?
If you really believe your own rhetoric … that Australia’s natural resources are vital to our national interest … then why not back your conviction with action, put your balls on the block, and simply nationalise the lot?
Despite what you have been led to believe, this is not a far out, “extremist” idea at all.
See for yourself the long list of countries – many of them iconic so-called “capitalist”, “free-market” countries like the USA and the UK – who have all nationalised key resources, infrastructure, and/or industries, for their national interest.
Of course, to do so here in Australia would require a government of adults. Not the current crowd of self-serving, incompetent halfwits … on both sides of the House.
Which is why I also advocate that we change the electoral laws, to only allow real adults to run for public office.
And, it is why I advocate above all for fundamental monetary reform. A complete decentralisation of the power of “money” and “credit”. Thus rendering moot the inane, archaic, 19th century, debunked-by-reality “free market” “capitalist” arguments of the RBA and the banking sector et al that we “need” “foreign investment”. Because when the RBA, the banking industry, #JAFA economists, and/or politicians say that we “need” foreign “investment” “capital”, what they are really saying is this –
“You ‘need’ to remain slaves … to foreign credit-suppliers”.
You see, dear reader, the reason why I advocate these “far out” solutions, is because I am Australian.
I believe national sovereignty stands in the way of transnational tyranny.
And I believe that to continue selling the farm, and/or what is under the farm, into the hands of foreign interests (whether ‘national’, ‘multi-national’, or ‘private’) under the guise of “foreign investment”, is both 100% unnecessary, and not in our national interest.
To quote another infamous political figure … “I make no apologies for that.”
And in timely overnight news, the gold price jumps on revelations that the “evil” “leftist” Mr Chavez will nationalise Venezuela’s gold industry –
Gold settled at record highs today after Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez said he planned to nationalise the country’s gold industry.
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez said today he plans to nationalise the country’s gold industry in a move to take over production and grow international reserves.
Speaking on state television via telephone, the leftist leader said he would be introducing a new decree to put exploration and extraction of gold into the government’s hands.
It will be “a decree to take the gold sector,” which still remains in the hands of a “mafia and smugglers,” Mr Chavez said.
“We don’t only have oil wealth, we have here one of the largest reserves of gold in the world … Let’s convert it into our international reserves because gold is increasing in its value.”
Mr Chavez also plans to move the country’s existing gold reserves out of European banks and into vaults owned by the country’s central bank. Venezuela’s official gold reserves, of 365.8 tonnes as of June, make it the 15th largest gold holder in the world according to the World Gold Council. The Latin American country is well behind the US, which leads the pack with 8113.5 tonnes, and second place, Germany, at 3401.0 tonnes.
Vast oil reserves.
A gold industry.
A President with brains and balls.
Lots and lots of pretty women.
Venezuela’s lookin’ better ‘n better all the time 😉
By the way, how does Australia compare with Venezuela for official gold reserves?
Badly.
Less than 80 tonnes, compared with Venezuela’s 365.8 tonnes.
Yes, all thanks to our stupid/treasonous Reserve Bank, who sold off most of our reserves early this century in a blunder to top all their (many) blunders:
Just over ten years ago, Australia’s central bank the RBA sold off most of the countries gold reserves under the belief that the price of gold would continue to remain flat, and that as an asset, it would no longer play any role in the future financial system, or any crises that may result.
A paper written by the central bank which recommended selling off the gold reserves conceded that that asset whilst the assets served as “insurance against a breakdown in the international financial system”, it was not necessary to hold.
The central bank’s justification for reducing its gold reserves so drastically was that gold represented a poor investment, and Australia had successfully integrated itself into global financial markets, and that it need not worry about access to those markets during a financial crisis.
Since the sale of the gold reserves the global financial systems has experienced severe stress on a number of different occasions, starting with the implosion of the technology bubble at the start of the millennium followed by the September 11th terrorist attacks, and more recently the global financial crisis in 2008.
The price of the precious metal over that time frame has risen spectacularly and the asset has begun to play an increasingly important role in the global financial system since the financial crisis.
The central bank argued that continuing development of financial system meant that circumstances which would require Australia to call upon our gold holdings for economic reasons looked increasingly remote.
Idiots.
Or traitors.
In either case, the RBA should be disbanded.
End the RBA.
Follow the lead of Hugo Chavez.
Tags: coal seam gas, csg, food security, foreign investment, mining tax, MRRT, nationalisation, RBA
Barnaby Brings The Elephant Into The Room
From the Australian Financial Review via Queensland Country Life (emphasis added):
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce asked a question at a federal Senate inquiry during the week that went to the heart of the issues surrounding coal seam gas miners’ controversial use of land.
He asked representatives of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, including former Santos vice-president Rick Wilkinson: “You are giving landholders $10 million to $15 million a year [in compensation] while you are collecting $8.5 billion a year. You would have to say that’s a pretty good deal, right?”
Although there are countless protests about gas miners’ impact on prime farming land and water tables, Senator Joyce’s question brought the elephant into what was an already packed room, reports The Australian Financial Review .
In Australia, where miners have the right to walk on to a property and take out what they like from the ground, compensation packages are relatively frugal.
Texas land owners in the US control the subsurface and, as such, control much bigger cuts of the exploited resources.
Some critics hope for a moratorium on CSG projects until environmental effects are better understood.
But that is unlikely to happen where governments estimate the gas industry based in just one region such as Gladstone could generate 18,000 jobs and up to $850 million a year in royalties.
Cotton Australia’s Michael Murray revealed in the Senate inquiry that specific requests from the federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Tony Burke, to protect the Condamine Alluvium were knocked back by the Queensland government.
He said that the requests by the minister were amendments of an environmental impact statement provided by a gas company seeking to start exploration in the area.
The reason why Australian farmers – and our precious agricultural land – are treated like dirt by the mining industry, is a complex and nuanced reality.
One which can be summarised easily.
And brutally.
That reality is this.
Our nation is a quarry.
A quarry to be exploited.
By the mega-wealthy international banking class.
And by the myriad of bottom-feeding parasites, who live very well indeed off the not-inconsiderable crumbs that fall from the table of the banksters’ globalised feeding frenzies.
As I always say, in a world where nothing is as it appears – Life is actually quite simple.
If you want to know what is really going on …
Follow The Money.
Tags: agriculture, barnaby joyce, carbon tax, clean energy, coal seam gas, csg, santos
Barnaby: The Bush Has Been Rorted
Senator Joyce writes for the Canberra Times:
Australia must invest in the regions that are the source of our wealth. It is nauseating to hear the pejorative “pork barrelling” used for what is strategic investment. We must think of the benefits of regionalism logically: where are the coal mines, the iron ore mines, wheat paddocks, cotton fields, the cattle and many of the tourism attractions?
Why is a bus network in a capital city “nation-building investment” but a road in regional Australia welfare?
Ask yourself a very simple question: how many of the consumer items that reflect your standard of living came from overseas? So who is sending something in the other direction to pay for all of this?
While only one-third of Australians live in regional areas, over half of our exports come from regional Australia. If a person with $2 goes to a table of four and kicks off a series of transactions that move the coin around the table, then broadly speaking the gross domestic product of that table would be $10. The person with the coin is often regional Australia and, if they didn’t turn up, the GDP of the four remaining people would be zero.
People often lose sight of the fundamental economics of Australia by failing to think of the source of our wealth, not just its location. My shire of Balonne in western Queensland produces $600 million of cotton, over $100 million of grain, about $30-40 million worth of cattle each year, as well as sheep, wool, grapes, onions, kangaroo meat, wild pigs and free range eggs. about $750 million of annual renewable income from about 5000 people.
Investing in the areas that produce this wealth would seem to me to be a pretty smart thing to do, especially if we want to pay off our $197 billion in gross debt, plus a similar amount in state government debt.
Canberra, if we don’t start paying off debt rather than just accumulating it you might not have a job.
Parts of Queensland and NSW are currently living with the coal seam gas boom.
In some areas the roads are getting wrecked. There are people charging over the land in white Toyota wagons with red flags on what looks like a fishing pole strapped to the bullbar.
Some of their wells are producing $1million a day in gross income. For this, farmers get anywhere between a slab of beer at the worst and up to about $10,000 a year at the best. So the farmer gets less than 1 per cent of the income stream from the wells that sit on their place, affecting the land’s value and in some instances completely compromising how the farm works.
Are there new houses in these regions? No, generally not, just trucked in demountables called ”dongas”, lined up like barracks. It looks like you’ve been invaded by an army. Their lifestyle is not very good and their contribution to the community is generally not very good either.
When the wool industry came they developed the pubs, the roads and the towns. The money stayed local and was spent locally. With wool production in regional Australia we were the richest nation on earth.
With the cattle industry we had the development of Northern Australia and genuine progress in the income of indigenous people in some areas and genuine dignity in having their own business and the prospect of greater independence for their communities.
But in some areas, if the coal seam gas industry left tomorrow, the only legacy they would leave is potholes. Sure, state coffers would be upset, but in some areas of regional Australia they couldn’t give a toss, in fact they would be better off without them.
Royalties must be reinvested in the regions that generate the income stream; not all royalties, but a substantial proportion. Taxation rates must be adjusted so that we can develop regions. People must be encouraged to fly in, stay and live, not fly in and fly out.
Australia must have a genuine vision for a much wider development of our regions, otherwise what we are will be as good as it gets and over time we will become tired, worn out and diminished.
Tags: barnaby joyce, cattle industry, coal seam gas, csg, regional australia
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#CardCorner: 1973 Topps Bob Locker
Written by: Bruce Markusen
Related Hall of Famers Related Stories
Hall of Fame staffers are also baseball fans and love to share their stories. Here is a fan's perspective from Cooperstown.
An entire book could be written about weird and peculiar baseball cards. If such a book were to make it to print, it would simply have to include Bob Locker’s surreal 1973 Topps card.
A first glance at Locker’s card reveals an obvious case of airbrushing. The home white and blue colors of the Chicago Cubs have been layered on to an existing photo that shows Locker pitching for the Oakland A’s in a 1972 game. We figure that it must be 1972, since the A’s used sleeveless vest uniforms in 1970 and ’71, which would have made it more difficult to airbrush the Cubs’ uniform onto a photo from one of those seasons. In 1972, the A’s switched to a pullover jersey featuring sleeves, making it easier to make the transition to the Cubs’ look. Since this is an action shot, something that Topps featured prominently in its 1973 set, Topps also had to airbrush Cubs colors onto the center fielder in the picture. That outfielder just so happens to be Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.
Yet, the presence of Cubs colors onto Locker’s uniform is not what is most noteworthy about this card. What is notable is the lack of Cubs pinstripes from the airbrushed uniform. I’m guessing that it would have been exceedingly difficult to draw minute pinstripes onto Locker, so Topps decided not to even try.
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Even more unusual is the complete absence of a number on the back of Locker’s jersey. With Locker’s back twisted to face the batter almost directly, we clearly see that he has no number, making for an odd appearance. For some reason, Topps decided not to airbrush the number in the color of the Cubs’ traditional blue. Rather than stay with a mismatched green number on the Cubs’ blue and white uniform, Topps simply chose to obliterate the number, leaving us with a numberless jersey. In a way, it’s a throwback to the days from the early part of the 20th century, before the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees became the first clubs to permanently add numbers to the backs of their players’ jerseys.
In trying to dissect this card further, I became determined to pin down further details about the card. Where was this photograph taken? Based on the fact that the batter is wearing a road gray uniform, the A’s must be the home team. It has to be a shot from the Oakland Coliseum, where Topps photographers took many of their pictures during the 1970s. (That group of photogs included the great Doug McWilliams, whom we have profiled in past editions of Card Corner) The next questions involves the identity of the opposition team in the photograph. Who were the A’s playing on this sun-soaked day at the Oakland Coliseum in 1972? For that, let’s enlist the help of the Hall of Fame’s skilled Curatorial Department.
Initially, I thought that the batter facing Locker was wearing the road uniform of either the Baltimore Orioles or the Minnesota Twins. Curator of History and Research John Odell immediately ruled out the Orioles, explaining that Baltimore’s road uniforms featured orange on the bottom of the waistband and black on the top of the waistband. Clearly, the player in the photograph has a waistband with the colors in reverse: orange on the top and black on the bottom. So it can’t be a player with the Orioles.
Traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago Cubs after the 1972 season, Bob Locker sports an airbrushed Cubs uniform on his 1973 Topps card. (Milo Stewart Jr. / National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
John then offered some speculation that the player might be a member of the Texas Rangers. Senior Curator Tom Shieber, an expert on baseball uniforms, confirmed that the waistband of the photo matches the waistband the Rangers used in 1972.
Tom then took it a step further, trying to determine players on the Rangers who batted right and happened to be African American, like the player in the picture. Tom came up with four possibilities: infielders Dave Nelson and Tom Ragland, and outfielders Ted Ford and Elliott Maddox. (Two other members of the Rangers, the switch-hitting Vic Harris and Lenny Randle, also had the ability to bat right-handed, but they would have batted left-handed against the right-handed throwing Locker. Based on that logic, we can rule out Harris and Randle.)
Not satisfied to narrow the list to a final four, Tom continued to research the matter. He determined that Locker faced the Rangers in two games at the Oakland Coliseum during the 1972 season. They happened to be in both ends of the same doubleheader, occurring on July 30. That was the same day that Topps photographed Nelson for his 1973 Topps card, lending further credence that the Locker photo was taken that same day. And by the way, Reggie Jackson played center field in both games, confirming that he is the airbrushed player in the background of the photo.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Locker faced only one batter, the aforementioned Maddox, whom he struck out. So it could be Maddox. In the nightcap, Locker faced only one of the four players mentioned above, Nelson, whom he struck out for the final out of the game. So it could be Nelson, or it could be Maddox. Based on a visual scan, I would guess that it is Maddox, who had a long, lean build that seems to fit the player on the card, but that’s strictly a guess on my part.
The reverse side of Bob Locker's 1973 Topps card. (Milo Stewart Jr. / National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
Now that we’ve unlocked the mysteries of this card, let’s begin to unlock Locker, who was a very good relief pitcher with a reputation for a high level of intelligence. Locker’s pro career began in 1960, when he signed with the Chicago White Sox. Locker received a higher monetary offer from the New York Yankees, but he opted for the White Sox because he felt they offered a shorter path to the major leagues. Five years later, Locker found the end of that path, making his debut for the Sox in 1965. In between, he managed to obtain a college degree in geology. He also missed two full years of baseball while fulfilling an obligation to the ROTC.
In the spring of ’65, Locker made the Sox’ Opening Day roster. By then, he was already married with children, and had put in his two years of military time. He also prided himself on physical fitness. That spring, Locker drew snickers from his veteran teammates by wearing a 10-pound weighted canvas vest that looked like a bullet-proof jacket used by members of a SWAT team. When Chicago reporters asked him about the vest, Locker offered some unconventional logic that was a little hard to follow, but ultimately made some sense. “You see,” Locker told Edgar Munzel of the Sporting News, “most of the players come to camp about 10 pounds overweight, while I never gain an ounce. The fellows with the extra weight are strengthening their legs just carrying it around during these workouts before they finally take it off. Since I never am overweight, I saddle myself with those extra pounds to put me even with them.”
Locker’s unusual preparations also involved the way that he approached opposing hitters. He carried around with him a large set of index cards, which provided information on hitters and umpires. Locker wanted to know the strength, weaknesses, and tendencies of every batter and umpire in the American League.
As a minor leaguer, Locker had worked as a starter, but the White Sox put him in the bullpen. They told him to ditch his other pitches and throw his sinking fastball almost exclusively. At one point, manager Eddie Stanky threatened Locker with a fine if he gave up a hit on any pitcher other than a sinker. Locker himself compared his sinker to a knuckleball, because of its unpredictable pattern of movement. At times, Locker’s sinker was a devastating pitch.
Right from the start, Locker proved effective in middle relief. By 1966, he moved into a late-inning role, sharing the closer’s role with Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm and veteran reliever Eddie Fisher. In 1967, he became a workhorse, leading the American League with 77 appearances and logging a little more than 124 innings. He remained effective in 1968, when he appeared in another 70 games.
Then came the disaster of 1969. In April and May, Locker lost his feel for the sinker, and saw his ERA rise over 7.00. Concerned that Locker might be hurt, or simply was over-the-hill at the age of 31, the White Sox impatiently traded him on June 8, sending him to the expansion Seattle Pilots for journeyman right-hander Gary Bell.
With the Pilots, Locker felt right at home. In Chicago, he had developed poor pitching mechanics, a problem that he would alleviate in Seattle. He also became friends with two other relievers, Jim Bouton and Mike Marshall, both of whom were known as independent thinkers and highly intelligent men. A player who liked to read and spend time in deep thought, Locker found two like-minded individuals in Bouton and Marshall.
Locker pitched well for the Pilots, but changes followed in 1970. The Pilots relocated to Milwaukee, where Dave Bristol stepped in as the new manager. Bristol changed Locker’s role, reducing him to mop-up man status. In midsummer, the Brewers sold Locker, practically giving him away to the A’s for a small sum of cash.
With the A’s, Locker would continue to cement his reputation as a unique character, one who had habits far different than most of his teammates. Locker avidly followed the philosophies professed in the 1970 bestselling book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Locker encouraged his A’s teammates to read the book, a fable about a seagull learning to live, and make it a model for their own way of life.
Locker would also become active with the Players Association, where he greatly admired the leadership provided by Marvin Miller, the onetime representative for the U.S. Steelworkers. “He was one of the most soft spoken, yet insightful people, I had ever met,” Locker once said, “and [he] was willing to sacrifice his position with the Steelworkers to take on a difficult task for the players.”
On the field with the A’s, Locker would achieve the greatest fame of his career. At first, he served the A’s as a set-up man to relief ace Mudcat Grant, before performing the same role for Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers. Locker’s ability to throw strikes and keep the ball down made him a reliable pitcher in the late innings, one whom manager Dick Williams turned to again and again.
Locker was never better for the A’s than in 1972. Pitching 78 innings, Locker posted an ERA of 2.65 and even saved 10 games on days when Fingers needed a rest. With Fingers and Locker and left-hander Darold Knowles leading the charge, the A’s had one of the game’s best bullpens – a major factor in the team winning the American League West title.
Eddie Stanky, pictured above, played for the St. Louis Cardinals for two seasons of his 11-year-long career. He became a big league manager after retiring, and was Bob Locker's skipper on the Chicago White Sox from 1966-68. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
Bob Locker served as a set-up man for Athletics' relief ace Jim "Mudcat" Grant while he was in Oakland, and would later do the same for Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
With Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers, Bob Locker and Darold Knowles (pictured above), the 1972 Oakland A's had one of the best bullpens in baseball. (Doug McWilliams / National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
Bob Locker played on the Chicago Cubs in 1973 and 1975. (Doug McWilliams / National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
A late-inning workhorse for the Cubs, Bob Locker totaled 106 innings with an ERA of 2.54 and 18 saves in 1973. He soon usurped the closer’s role from Jack Aker, pictured above. (Doug McWilliams / National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
Locker would struggle in the Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers, but the A’s still managed to advance to the World Series. Appearing in one Fall Classic game, Locker logged a scoreless third of an inning, as the A’s won their first Series title since their move to Oakland.
As well as Locker pitched for the A’s in 1972, he was now 34 years old and part of a deep bullpen. Believing that they could trade from that depth, the A’s sent Locker to the Cubs in a wintertime deal for young center fielder Billy North. The trade allowed Locker to return to his original major league city, but now with the National League Cubs. Initially, Locker wanted no part of the trade. He liked playing for the A’s and enjoyed making his home in the Bay Area. He threatened to quit the game outright, rather than report to the Cubs’ camp in Arizona.
Thankfully, Locker changed his mind. He reported to Spring Training, but quickly came down with a sore arm. “My arm was so weak I couldn’t break a pane of glass,” Locker told famed Chicago sportswriter Jerome Holtzman. Working through the pain, Locker’s armed bounced back. He pitched beautifully in his second Windy City go-round, becoming a late-inning workhorse for manager Whitey Lockman. He also added a change-up to his repertoire, a pitch that prevented teams from keying in on his sinker. Accumulating 106 innings, the veteran righty sported an ERA of 2.54 and saved 18 games while wresting away the closer’s role from Jack Aker.
Although Locker had shined for the Cubs, he asked the team to trade him back to Oakland, so that he could be near his home in the Bay Area. On Nov. 3, the Cubs obliged, sending him back to the A’s for sidearming reliever Horacio Pina. But Locker would never appear in another game for Oakland. The heavy workload of 1973 took a toll on Locker’s right arm. He came down with a bad elbow, necessitating surgery. As a result, he missed all of the 1974 season.
Of Bob Locker's three seasons in Oakland, his best came in 1972, when he posted an ERA of 2.65 for 78 innings. In this team photo, Bob Locker sits in the last row, fourth from the right. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
After the lost summer of ‘74, the A’s sent him back to Chicago yet again as part of a deal for Hall of Famer Billy Williams. Locker reported to Spring Training in 1975, his elbow feeling fine, but his shoulder now hurting. Locker struggled in April and May, as he issued more walks than he collected strikeouts. In late June, the Cubs released Locker, ending his long career.
Locker left the game with a 2.75 ERA, 95 saves, and a total of 879 innings. He also became a rarity for his era – a pitcher who never made a single career start, his 576 appearances all coming out of the bullpen. In an era before specialists, Locker was exactly that – and a good one.
Choosing not to remain in baseball, Locker settled in to life in the Bay Area, where he lived with his wife and worked in real estate and exterior design for nearly three decades. In the early 2000s, he retired to Montana, where he became an inventor and writer. Locker essentially taught himself how to write professionally, without the benefit of formal training. To date, he has published three books, including Cows Vote Too and Esteem Yourself. The latter is a volume meant to inspire young people. Clearly, the books have nothing to do with baseball.
A man of many talents and supreme intelligence, Locker has led a life that is anything but typical of a major league ballplayer. It’s been an unconventional life for the man who, most fittingly, starred on one of the strangest baseball cards ever made.
Bruce Markusen is the manager of digital and outreach learning at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Related Hall of Famers
Inducted:
Right Fielder
Hoyt Wilhelm
Left Fielder
Dick Williams
#CardCorner: 1987 Topps Mike Easler
1987 Topps card featuring the original Hit Man, Mike Easler.
#CardCorner: 1973 Topps Jim Hickman
Jim Hickman’s 1973 Topps card has a simple design, a very basic black frame outline and that memorable position silhouette in the lower right-hand corner.
#CardCorner: 1972 Topps Billy Cowan
Billy Cowan wears the Halo.
#CardCorner: 1984 Fleer Jay Johnstone
Jay Johnstone and the "Brockabrella."
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Optical spectroscopy of type Ia supernovae
Matheson, T. and Kirshner, R. P. and Challis, P. and Jha, S. and Garnavich, P. M. and Berlind, P. and Calkins, M. L. and Blondin, S. and Balog, Z. and Bragg, A. E. and Caldwell, N. and Concannon, K. Dendy and Falco, E. E. and Graves, G. J. M. and Huchra, J. P. and Kuraszkiewicz, J. and Mader, J. A. and Mahdavi, A. and Phelps, M. and Rines, K. and Song, I. and Wilkes, B. J. (2008) Optical spectroscopy of type Ia supernovae. Astronomical Journal, 135 (4). pp. 1598-1615. ISSN 0004-6256. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090407-112718983
We present 432 low-dispersion optical spectra of 32 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) that also have well-calibrated light curves. The coverage ranges from 6 epochs to 36 epochs of spectroscopy. Most of the data were obtained with the 1.5 m Tillinghast telescope at the F. L. Whipple Observatory with typical wavelength coverage of 3700-7400 Å and a resolution of ~7 Å. The earliest spectra are 13 days before B-band maximum; two-thirds of the SNe were observed before maximum brightness. Coverage for some SNe continues almost to the nebular phase. The consistency of the method of observation and the technique of reduction makes this an ideal data set for studying the spectroscopic diversity of SNe Ia.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/135/4/1598 DOI Article
http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1538-3881/135/4/1598/ Publisher Article
Calkins, M. L. 0000-0002-2830-5661
Song, I. 0000-0002-5815-7372
© 2008 The American Astronomical Society. Received 2007 August 28; accepted 2007 December 26; published 2008 March 13. We would like to thank the staffs of the F. L. Whipple and MMT Observatories for their extensive assistance and support during this project. We would also like to thank Dan Koranyi and Barbara Carter for providing assistance with the observations. The CfA time allocation committee has been extremely generous in supporting SN observations at FLWO, especially in allowing the day-by-day monitoring of so many SNe. This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY05-51164 to the KITP and AST-0606772 to Harvard University.
NSF PHY05-51164
NSF AST-0606772
supernovae: general; surveys
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Trump Address on government shutdown
By belltowersmu, January 21, 2019
Katherine Pecora, Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Jan. 18, President Donald J. Trump addressed the country about the ongoing government shutdown. As with most speeches this president makes, it is up to the public, aided by the media, to fact check what he has said. The trend for him to make misleading or simply untrue statements is unlike the country has ever seen.
“The federal government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only: because Democrats will not fund border security.” This is a lie. Democrats have offered $1.3 billion in funding for border security measures such as enhanced surveillance. Democrats have refused to support a wall that Trump often touted in campaign speeches for a variety of reasons. One of the primary reasons is the racist connotation to the wall. The partial government shutdown began in December, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. The Senate unanimously passed a bill that would have kept the government open, but did not fund Trump’s wall. Due to criticism from the far right, Trump decided not to support the senate bill. Trump even stated that he was “proud to shut down the government” and vowed he would not blame democrats for it.
“Senator Chuck Schumer, who you will be hearing from later tonight, has repeatedly supported a physical barrier in the past, along with other Democrats.” This is a misleading statement. According to the New York Times, in 2006 Sen. Schumer and 26 senate Democrats voted to authorize about 700 miles of fencing along the southwest border. Most Americans agree that border security is an important issue, again the opposition to the current “wall” is the racial connotations.
“America proudly welcomes millions of lawful immigrants who enrich our society and contribute to our nation, but all Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration. It strains public resources and drives down jobs and wages.” This statement is misleading. Many economists argue that immigrants are in many ways the glue that holds our workforce together. Specifically looking at Washington State, many immigrants, documented and undocumented, work in the eastern part of the state harvesting fruit seasonally. This is grueling work that American citizens, and more specifically Washington state workers, do not take.
“The wall will also be paid for, indirectly by the great new trade deal we have made with Mexico.” This is a lie. The revised North American Free Trade Agreement now known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has not yet passed congress. If this agreement is to pass, the benefits from this will likely be in the form of lower tariffs for American companies or higher wages for workers. During the campaign, Trump often touted that Mexico would pay for the wall.
“One in three women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico.” This statement is misleading. The trek to the U.S. southern border is notably dangerous. According to Doctors Without Borders, “68.3 percent of migrants and refugees entering Mexico reported being the victims of violence during their transit towards the US.” Nearly one third of these women said they have been sexually abused, and this is a large reason that women have chosen to travel in caravans. In this statement, Trump has overlooked the sexual abuse and violence that leads women to leave their native country and travel to the U.S. Conflating traditional immigration and refugee status overlooks the very real issues that disproportionately affect women who seek asylum or refugee status. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: “Refugees are generally people outside of their country who are unable or unwilling to return home because they fear serious harm.”
Another stark reality is that southern border apprehensions have fallen since 2000. The graphic from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows the numbers of apprehension in fiscal years.
“Over the years, thousands of Americans have been brutally killed by those who illegally entered our country, and thousands more lives will be lost if we don’t act right now.” This is a lie. In America, you are more likely to be murdered by an American citizen than an undocumented immigrant. To suggest or believe otherwise is to spread or believe a lie. Undocumented immigrants make up roughly 3 percent of the population for Trump’s statement to be true it would mean that 3 percent of the population was responsible for just under a quarter of all homicides between 2002 and 2016. In contrast, murders committed by white supremacists more than doubled in 2017, far right radicals were responsible for 20 out of the 34 extremist murders in 2017 according to the Anti-Defamation League. Much of this is due to the fact that white supremacists are emboldened and this is often tied to statements and actions taken by the president. Last May, Trump quietly cut $10 million ($7.7m) in funding to groups which fight right-wing extremism in the US.
So, in the grand scheme of things why does this matter? People who believe and spread this information are spreading lies or misleading information. Looking strictly at the numbers immigration is not at historic highs, and to suggest otherwise is a lie. All this being said, border security is an important issue and our House and Senate are adept to handle the issue. America is a country based on immigration, without it we would not be where we are today. The president is making a mountain out of a molehill while spreading false and misleading information.
Categories: News, Op_Ed
Lacey carjacking suspects arrested
Dealing with your “first death:” Former Belltower EIC Katie Hargrave’s advice to graduating student athletes
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August 20, 2019 Activism, Environment, News No Comments
Scientists are constantly warning about the disastrous effects of pollution on the planet, so young people have started taking initiatives to help in the saving of our environment.
One of the solution-seekers is the 18-year-old Fionn Ferreira, an Irish wunderkind, who won the grand prize at the 2019 Google Science Fair for creating a method to clean the oceans from microplastic.
His project uses a novel but effective methodology, that involves magnets to attract microplastics from water. Namely, Ferreira found that a magnetic liquid called ferrofluid attracts the tiny plastic particles and eliminates them from the water.
The young scientist said that he was looking forward to applying his findings and contributing towards a solution to this issue.
The Google Science Fair invited 24 young scientists from around the world, chosen from 100 global entries to its Mountain View, California campus, and Ferreira’s grand prize is $50,000 in educational funding.
He said that he got the idea when he found a rock covered in oil near his remote coastal town in Ireland’s southwest, as he noticed small bits of plastic stuck to the oil.
Those microplastics are a result of beauty products, various textiles and larger bits of plastic after breaking down, and as they are less than 5mm long, they escape water filtration systems and end up polluting waterways, where marine animals find them and ingest them.
Additionally, they also end up in us, especially in people who drink bottled water.
A recent study has found that every year, people in the US alone eat, drink and breathe between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles, depending on their age and sex. People who drink bottled water add up to 90,000 plastic particles to your estimated intake.
Since plastic and oil stick together, Ferreira wondered if it would be the same in case he used ferrofluid, which controls vibration in speakers and seals off electronic devices from debris.
Microplastics and ferrofluids attract as they have similar properties, so he added ferrofluids to water and stirred in a solution chock full of microplastics.
As soon as the microplastics found the ferrofluids, they adhered together. At this point, he dipped a magnet to the solution, which attracted the combined ferrofluids and microplastics, and left only clean water behind.
After a little over 950 tests, the method was found to be 88% effective in eliminating a variety of microplastics from water, surpassing his original hypothesis of an 85% removal rate.
He explained that testing resources can be scarce since he lives in a remote part of Ireland, but this did not stop him from accomplishing his goal.
He also added that he would like to encourage others by saying you don’t have to test everything in a professional lab. This was the reason why he built his own equipment.
However, no matter how proud he is of his project, he claims that it does not solve the issue completely, as the only way to eliminate plastic from the water is to stop using plastic altogether.
Watch: Seal Rescue Ireland May Change Your Mindless Plastic Consumption Habits https://t.co/jii72Z3uLu #climate #organic #energy pic.twitter.com/hILH79ELKt
— Eco-friendly Tips (@JoyfullyECO) July 25, 2018
www.ecowatch.com
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Samsung Galaxy Nexus hands-on
Jonathan S. Geller @boygenius
We’ve been playing with a Samsung Galaxy Nexus for the last day, and after shuffling between a Motorola DROID RAZR, an HTC Vivid and an HTC Rezound, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a welcome change in many ways. It’s obviously the Google reference handset for Ice Cream Sandwich, and in almost all cases, it is the best Android handset we’ve seen far as hardware and software go. Android 4.0 is the most cohesive release from Google yet, and while it’s not that straight forward out of the box, you do eventually get the feeling that this phone has a distinct personality as opposed to many other Android phones, which often seem to blend together. Be sure to check out our hands-on photos in the gallery below, and hit the break for more thoughts.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus we were sent from Google is an HSPA+ unit as opposed to the 4G LTE handset for Verizon, and while the device came with a T-Mobile SIM card that worked on T-Mobile’s 4G network, we’ve been using it with an AT&T SIM card and have been able to use the device on AT&T’s 3G network as well. This looks like one of the few pentaband UMTS devices in the United States; one UMTS device to rule them all, we suppose.
As far as Ice Cream Sandwich goes, it’s the most cohesive release from Google ever. The phone finally feels like it has a personality, even if it’s that of a robot from a TRON-like world. Android 4.0 also feels like an actual operating system, not just one designed for tablets and smartphones, but that’s due to the amount of options and flexibility the OS gives users, not necessarily because the OS is more powerful than competing platforms. Ice Cream Sandwich at times feels like a frozen onion, one that’s a bit hard to thaw, and then you have to peel back each layer to get to exactly what you want.
In terms of hardware, the Galaxy Nexus is definitely a unique handset. It has a huge 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display but it’s still easier to handle than a device like the DROID RAZR because it’s much more narrow. One-handed operation still isn’t as comfortable as it should be, however. The curved body of this phone is great and it feels solid, but the back of the case is still built from cheap-feeling plastic similar to other Samsung phones, and it spoils the feel of the device in your hand.
BGR’s full review of the Galaxy Nexus will be published in the next few days.
Tags: Details, Galaxy Nexus, gallery, hands on, Images, impressions, photos, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, specs
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The Critical Essays of a Country Parson
Авторы: Andrew Kennedy Hutchison Boyd
of verbiage of which these volumes consist. Before we go on to sketch out the story of Montgomery’s life, we should like to give our readers some notion of the great features of it during by far the longer part of its continuance.
For nearly fifty years, beginning when he was little more than two-and-twenty, Montgomery was editor, proprietor, printer, and publisher of the Sheffield Iris newspaper. He lived an odd kind of frowsy life, over a bookseller's shop, in one of the dirtiest streets of Sheffield. He was never married; but he lived all that time with three respectable women, who kept the bookseller's shop already mentioned, and whom he regarded as his sisters, though they were not in any way related to him. We form a very kindly impression of them ; and after the smirking impudence of Mr. Holland’s portrait, we turn with great satisfaction to that at the beginning of vol. vi., which shows us the pleasant homely features of Sarah Gales. Every evening, in the company of these worthy individuals, Montgomery smoked a single pipe. He was very fond of cats : he had always at least one pet of that race, which in the evening was wont to leap up into his lap and share his tea. From nervousness or indolence, he never could shave himself. Unlike most men who write much, to whom
The fair undress, best dress, which checks no vein,
is an essential both of comfort and of progress in their work, Montgomery always wrote, at every period of his life, when fully dressed in outgoing attire. The habit was probably acquired in his early days of editorship, when he sat in a room which opened into the shop, and always thought it necessary to appear in person to receive advertisements and orders of all kinds. He was keenly sensitive to cold, and went about shivering in a thick great-coat, even in the dog days. He was fairly educated, but had not the faintest claim to scholarship. He never was on the Continent; and but once in Scotland, and once in Ireland, in the last seventy years of his life. His newspaper began with a large circulation, being erected on the ruins of another put down by Government prosecution ; and at first his political views were extreme enough, but they became more and more moderate; he had not the push and energy needful for the conduct of a popular newspaper, and though his journal—a weekly one— was always respectably conducted, its circulation latterly grew small. He had no reporter; he rode about and collected accounts in person. He had a feeble frame, an over-sensitive mind, spirits almost equally depressed, a most sincere and amiable heart. Intense honesty, guileless simplicity, humble and unaffected piety, were characteristic of James Montgomery. His poetry we shall estimate hereafter: his prose was very prosy indeed ; his conversation in no way remarkable. In his letters and speeches he had an inveterate tendency to say everything in the greatest possible number of words. He was a true philanthropist; wealth and energy were all he wanted to have been another “Man of Ross.’ He was weak, no doubt, in many respects; but we do not wonder that all who knew him loved him. His poetry breathes a serene and simple piety, and he was as good as he wrote. But we have gathered from these seven volumes all that is worth recording of Montgomery's life, and we proceed to give our readers a sketch of it. On the coast of Ayrshire, ten miles north of Ayr, in a flat, sandy, uninteresting country, stands the ugly town of Irvine. There James Montgomery was born, on the 4th November, 1771. Much of the Ayrshire coast is very bold and striking; but for miles on either side of Irvine, the coast, and the country for a mile or two inland, is weary sand. So Montgomery was drawing on an imperfect recollection when he described his native shore as either rugged or romantic:—
The loud Atlantic ocean,
On Scotland's rugged breast,
Rocks, with harmonious motion,
His weary waves to rest;
And gleaming round her emerald isles,
In all the pomp of sun-set smiles.
On that romantic shore, -
My parents hailed their first-born boy;
A mother's pangs my mother bore,
My father felt a father's joy."
The poet’s father, John Montgomery, was born at Bally-Kennedy, in a parish bearing the euphonious name of Ahoghill, in the county of Antrim. His mother, Mary Blackley, was a native of the same place. They had four children—three sons, of whom James was the eldest, and a daughter, who died before the poet's birth. John Montgomery became a preacher among the Moravian Brethren, and was appointed minister of a small congregation at Irvine, where he remained for several years. The Brethren's church had, and has, but few members in Scotland, and after John Montgomery left Irvine, his congregation became extinct, and his humble chapel was turned into a weaver's shop. When his more distinguished son, at the age of wellnigh fourscore, revisited Irvine, he went to see the chapel where his father had preached. He found it thus desecrated—but there he enjoyed a foretaste of posthumous fame: he saw a tablet, which had been inserted in the wall, bearing an inscription that under that roof had been born James Montgomery, the poet. And although he had left Scotland with his parents at the age of four years, he recognised the features of the place. He remembered especially two large stone balls at the entrance to the gaol, placed there—he had been told—that the heads of malefactors might be knocked against them at entering. On leaving Irvine, Montgomery’s parents settled at Grace Hill, a Moravian settlement in the parish of Ahoghill; and here the poet received the first rudiments of education from Jemmy McCaffery, the parish schoolmaster. When he was seven years old, his father took him to Fulneck, in Yorkshire, where were a Moravian settlement and school. In 1783, John Montgomery and his wife went as missionaries to the West Indies, and their two younger sons, Robert and Ignatius, were sent to join their brother at the Brethren's school at Fulneck. When any Moravian minister devotes himself to the missionary work, his children are adopted and maintained by the brotherhood. The Moravian establishment at Fulneck consisted of a handsome range of buildings, in a pleasant retired situation, and looking upon a rich country. Fulneck is about six miles from Leeds. The air is salubrious; and the land attached to the institution, originally a tract of rough moorland, has been brought to fertility by the labours of the Brethren. The school was an excellent one; and its fame attracted many pupils whose parents were not of the Moravian community. Here James Montgomery remained during ten years, “distinguished for nothing but indolence and melancholy.” His odd appearance and over-sensitive temper made him a mark for the ridicule of his more vigorous companions; and here he laid the foundation of that shrinking, morbid disposition which went with him through life. He was very pale, very near-sighted, had “an abundant supply of carroty locks,’ and a scorbutic taint in his blood thus early manifested itself. Robinson Crusoe was the work which fired his youthful fancy; though even so innocent a work of fiction was tabooed by the stern discipline of the Brotherhood.
* Poetical Works, vol. ii. p. 166.
On being interrogated what first led him to court the Muses, Montgomery replied, “The master one day took several of the children out, and read Blair's Grave to them behind a hedge. My attention was strongly arrested, and a few lines made a powerful impression on my mind. I said to myself, if ever I become a poet, I will write something like this. I afterwards resolved, oddly enough, that I would write a round poem: this notion was perpetually in my head, an idea of round being my idea of perfection.” This he illustrated by referring to a glass
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The Wife of Martin Guerre
One of the greatest short novels of the 20th Century
Detail from "The Lady and Unicorn" tapestry in the Musée National du Moyen Age in France
The Wife of Martin Guerre, Janet Lewis’s most celebrated novel, emerged from the gift of a good book from husband to wife.
Sometime in the 1930s the renowned poet Yvor Winters gave his wife and fellow writer Lewis an old law book, Samuel March Phillips’s Famous Cases of Circumstantial Evidence, thinking that she might find it helpful after she mentioned that she was having trouble with one of her plots.
From that thoughtful, writerly gift grew the three novels of Cases of Circumstantial Evidence, of which The Wife of Martin Guerre is by far the most famous. Already the author of one historical novel, The Invasion, Lewis was drawn to the story of Bertrande de Rols, married at age eleven to the young son of a powerful landowner. “One morning in January, 1539,” Lewis writes, “a wedding was celebrated in the village of Artigues.”
It is no wonder that novels of such enduring mystery could come from a woman with a long and fascinating life of her own.
From that simple opening line Lewis spins a short novel of astonishing depth and resonance, a sharply drawn historical tale that asks contemporary questions about identity and belonging, about men and women, and about an individual’s capacity to act within an inflexible system.
Lewis’s plot closely follows the string of events cited in Phillips’s 1874 legal history. Because of a dispute with his father, ambitious Martin Guerre leaves his wife Bertrande and their young son, intending to return when he can fully claim his inheritance.
He finally returns, eight years later, to a woman who has grown in maturity and in her sense of belonging to the world around her. Or does he? The man who comes walking down the road looks like Martin Guerre, knows things that Martin Guerre would know. But there is something in the way he speaks to his wife, a note of kindness, in fact, that makes Bertrande wonder. Is it Martin Guerre after all?
From this question grows that most unusual of literary forms—a short novel that does its work so efficiently that it feels as substantial as a novel many pages longer. It is no surprise, then, that The Wife of Martin Guerre has drawn comparisons with the greatest short novels in American literature.
The 20th century’s Billy Budd,” the New York Times calls it. Larry McMurtry, no stranger to novels both short and long, writes in the New York Review of Books that Martin Guerre is a “masterpiece… a short novel that can run with Billy Budd, The Spoils of Poynton, Seize the Day, or any other.”
Every few years another writer or critic will weigh in, urging readers to “rediscover” Lewis as she has been rediscovered so many times before.
So what is it that gives The Wife of Martin Guerre such continuing interest? Much of it is rooted in Lewis’s portrait of Bertrande, a woman who grows steadily in confidence as the novel progresses, and who possesses a fierce moral sense that guides her actions even at great personal cost. Lewis’s portrayal of the legal system, while fascinating in its own right, also acts to amplify the moral issues at play. The law operates around questions of evidence, oftentimes incomplete or circumstantial, which nonetheless must be resolved by absolute conclusions of guilt or innocence. At the same time, the law often fails to address what is right, or what a woman like Bertrande knows in her heart to be true.
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First Home Owner Grant: What You Need to Know
Are you a first-time home buyer that’s finding the First Home Owner Grant all very confusing? You’re not alone. We’ve answered the most important questions you’re probably asking yourself about the grant, to help make life a little easier while you search for your new home:
The First Home Owner Grant was introduced in 2000 as a way to offset the effects of GST on home ownership for people who are purchasing their first home. It is a national scheme which is funded by the individual states and territories and administered under their own legislation.
Are you eligible for the First Home Owner Grant?
To qualify for a First Home Owner Grant in the ACT or NSW you must meet the following criteria:
Each applicant is a natural person and not a company or trust.
At least one applicant is a permanent resident or Australian citizen.
Each applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
All applicants and/or their spouse/de facto have not owned a residential property, jointly, separately or with another person, in any State or Territory of Australia before July 2000.
All applicants and/or their spouse/de facto have not previously owned a residential property jointly, separately or with another person in any State or Territory of Australia, and occupied that property for a continuous period of at least six months.
This is the first time an applicant and/or their spouse/de facto will receive a grant under the First Home Owner Grant Act 2000 in any State or Territory (unless subsequently repaid).
What makes a property eligible?
The First Home Owner Grant applies to new or substantially renovated properties with a value of less than $750,000. A new or substantially renovated property is:
a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence; or
a substantially renovated home that, as renovated, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence; or
a property which is subject to an “off the plan” purchase agreement.
The home must not have been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence. For a renovation to be considered as ‘substantial’, they must have affected most of the rooms in the building.
Further requirements to be met:
New home: The home must be complete and ready for occupation at the time of the application for the grant.
Off the plan purchase: The land must be intended for the site of a new home and must be built before completion of the agreement.
Vacant land purchase: Foundations of the property must be layed within 26 weeks of completion of the purchase, however there is no limit on the time of construction. Agreement or transfer of vacant land must be for the whole of the land. If the land is a parcel of land where two or more homes are to be built, the agreement or transfer must be for that part of the land which has exclusive occupancy.
Once all these criteria are met, the owner must live in the new home for at least 6 months. If you move out before 6 months the grant must be repaid.
How much is the grant?
ACT: As announced in the 2015-16 budget, the FHOG was reduced to $7,000 tax free for grants on or after January 1st 2017.
NSW: The FHOG in NSW offers a $10,000 tax free grant for homes that meet all criteria.
Are stamp duty concessions available?
Yes, in the ACT for properties under $468,000 you can expect to only pay $20, and for properties up to $590,000 you’ll be paying $14.70 for each $100 over $468,000.
For amounts in NSW, click here.
Does your income affect your eligibility for the grant?
No, the grant is not affected by your income, however it does affect your concessional duty amounts.
9 Ways to Make Your Home More Environmentally Friendly
Federal Government Announces First Home Super Saver Scheme
What would you ask the person building your dream home?
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Home→Yeti Unleashed
Yeti Unleashed
BY: RICHARD EDDE
Dr. Harry Olson, an American paleoanthropologist, and his wife, Dixie, have returned from the mountains of Mongolia with two live Yeti, a male and a female. A team of scientists in Harry’s anthropology department at California Pacific University are now trying to uncover a link between human and Yeti genetics. But when the Yeti escape, Harry’s in a race against time to recapture the animals, knowing only too well how the terrible consequences will be if the creatures make it off the desolate high-desert facility and reach a human city…
TAYLOR JONES SAYS: In Yeti Unleashed by Richard Edde, Harry Olson and his wife Dixie have come back to the US from Mongolia with two live Yeti, a male and a female, which are being held at a secure facility in the high desert in Nevada. Scientists are studying their DNA, trying to find out how closely related the Yeti are to humans. But the Yeti escape, and Harry has to recapture them before they get closer to humans than they are supposed to be, and he ends up with a massacre.
The story is well written with a lot of additional subplots and plenty of fast-paced action. It will keep you on your toes all the way through.
REGAN MURPHY SAYS: Yeti Unleashed by Richard Edde is the second book in his Yeti series. This time, Harry Olson and his assistant Dixie, who is now his wife, have brought two live Yeti back from Mongolia to be studied at a research compound in Nevada. While the facility is run “by the book,” accidents can always happen, and people make mistakes. Now the Yeti have escaped, and Harry is determined to recapture them before law enforcement can slaughter them—and before the Yeti can slaughter any humans they might encounter.
Filled with fascinating science and mind-boggling possibilities, Yeti Unleashed tells a chilling tale of human misjudgment and the sometimes fatal consequences a mistake can have.
Deep in a recess on a remote salient of the Altai Mountains, a large, hairy creature sauntered to the opening of the cave in which it lived. Large snowflakes swirled as an angry blizzard howled and covered the ground in deep drifts. A blue-gray sky filtered through dense clouds, caused the landscape to appear as if viewed through a blue filter. Except for the wind screeching outside the cave, no other sound echoed in the mountains. The towering hulk stood in the opening and stared into the muted world beyond. A thick vapor belched from its maw while its eyes glowed deep red, flickering as it looked around.
After a long moment, it stretched out its huge, muscular arms and shrieked a shattering growl. Then it stepped from the cave, ambled through the deep snow, and disappeared into the mist.
In the small village of Tenduk, located atop a high plateau in the mountainous Altai region of Mongolia, the Buddhist monastery was the center of daily activities. Most of the village merchants earned their meager living by selling their wares to the monks who worked and prayed in the ancient cloister. Roofed with terra cotta tiles, the monastery was a large multi-storied affair with many smaller living quarters terraced around the main temple building. The buildings–interconnected through a series of steps and stairways made of rocks and a few rickety wooden bridges–enabled the monks to pass easily between the various levels. The main stone-and-mortar structure was in the form of a stepped pyramid of three rectangular stories, three circular terraces, and a central pagoda forming the summit.
The plateau was part of a valley in the Altai Mountain range, its rugged, snow-capped peaks providing shelter from bitter winter storms. The steppe, as the plateau was called, formed part of the Mongolian-Manchurian grassland, covered over a quarter million square miles, and forged a crescent around the Gobi Desert. Its dominant flora consisted of medium to tall grasses, monopolized by feather grass. The steppe was where Mongolian nomads grazed their herds of camels, goats, and yaks, where they had done so for generations.
The formation of Altai mountainous region began almost two hundred millions years ago. During this period, the earth’s crust was extremely unstable and fluid so the area formed the bottom of a deep sea where numerous layers of sediment accumulated. From about 150 million years ago the region experienced a process of denudation. As a result of the active tectonic processes which took place during the Paleozoic period and which were accompanied by violent volcanic activity, the sea disappeared from the area and the land rose in height. Mainly, the tectonic process, with its vault lifting, formed the modern structure of the Altai region. The most up-thrust occurred in central Altai with a maximum rise of three to four thousand meters.
Traditional Mongols worshipped heaven or the clear blue sky and their ancestors. They followed ancient northern Asian practices of shamanism, where human intermediaries placed themselves in a trance then spoke to some of the numerous infinities of spirits responsible for human luck or misfortune. In 1578, Altan Khan, a Mongol military leader with ambitions to unite the Mongols and to emulate the career of Chinggis, invited the head of the rising Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism to a summit. They formed an alliance that gave Altan legitimacy and religious sanction for his imperial pretensions and that provided the Buddhist sect with protection and patronage. Altan gave the Tibetan leader the title of Dalai Lama, which his successors still hold. Altan died soon after, but in the next century the Yellow Sect spread throughout Mongolia, aided in part by the efforts of contending Mongol aristocrats to win religious sanction and mass support for their ultimately unsuccessful efforts to unite all Mongols in a single state. Monasteries were built across Mongolia, often sited at the juncture of trade and migration routes or at summer pastures, where large numbers of herders would congregate for shamanistic rituals and sacrifices. Buddhist monks carried out a protracted struggle with the indigenous shamans and succeeded, to some extent, in taking over their functions and fees as healers and diviners and in pushing the shamans to the religious and cultural fringes of Mongolian culture.
Abbot Bo Zhing greeted the new day as he had for years–sitting in his favorite chair on a ledge, his face pointed toward the rising sun. A deep rugged valley dropped away from his perch, its vegetation dappled in hues of gold and yellow. It was a brisk morning, in spite of the sun’s warming rays on his kashaya, his brown robe of Tibetan origin. He sat under a small pagoda, arms folded, chanting his morning prayer.
“I am a link in Lord Buddha’s golden chain of love
that stretches around the world.
I must keep my link bright and strong.
I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing,
and protect all who are weaker than myself.
I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts,
to say pure and beautiful words, and to do pure and
beautiful deeds, knowing that on what
I do now depends my happiness and misery.
May every link in Lord Buddha’s golden chain
of love become bright and strong
and may we all attain perfect peace.”
His prayers completed, Abbot Zhing rose and walked with measured steps to the small dining hall where he would greet his fellow monks. There was much excitement among the men the past few days for there had been a sighting of a strange beast higher in the mountains. Ever since the American scientific expedition earlier in the year, speculation mounted that a family of large creatures lived in the remote mountains near the monastery.
Zhing remembered well the overcast day when a small group of scientists from the expedition arrived, their leader inquiring about an ancient skull they heard was kept there. The skull was an artifact that the monks had kept in a deep secure vault for generations. What it was, exactly, no one seemed to know. There were rumors, of course. Zhing had heard them during his many years as a monk in Tenduk. This part of Mongolia was rife with stories of strange creatures that roamed the mountains. Proof of their existence was always vague, inconsistent.
Hesitant at first, Zhing finally acquiesced and showed the skull to the leader of the expedition, Dr. Harry Olson. The man and his small party said they were a team of scientists, digging for early human fossils in the Altai Mountains and had unearthed a group of bones that were neither human nor animal. He hoped the skull might shed light on the mystery. The doctor and his colleagues were very polite, took measurements of the skull, and left.
Then tragedy struck.
Four evil men, one with a long scar on his face, pursued the expedition team to the Tenduk monastery, demanding the whereabouts of the scientists. They murdered the senior abbot, Lama Yang. Why, Zhing did not know, but it was a brutal and senseless killing. Much later, he learned that one of the female scientists was taken captive by a large animal and dragged deep into its mountain lair. With the help of the Mongolian Police, it took the all the expedition could muster to effect her eventual rescue.
Zhing knew it was the Yeti of his youth.
Before the scientists left Mongolia, Zhing talked by phone with the expedition leader, Dr. Olson. He promised the scientist to notify him if and when he or his fellow monks came by any information of creatures lurking in the mountains. The scientist needed the information for his research, and Zhing liked the man’s easy manner, his seemingly genuine pursuit of knowledge.
For decades there had been rumors and supposed sightings of the famous Yeti, a large, hairy, shy beast that roamed the remote regions of the Altai. According to legend, the animals lived in caves in the high altitudes and ventured to the lower altitudes in search of food, mostly vegetation growing in the valleys. Through the years, sightings were common but the physical evidence of such a creature was never found.
The Yeti were reputed to be six-foot-tall, bipedal creatures, covered in reddish brown fur, with anthropomorphic facial features, including pronounced brow ridges, flat noses, and no chin. And, unlike the Himalayan Abominable Snowman, their behavior was considered far more human than ape-like. They were said to inhabit the mountains of central Asia and the Altai Mountains of southern Mongolia. Modern accounts documenting footprints, as well as native traditions dating back hundreds of years, attested to the existence of the Yeti, including the exchange of trade goods between remote Mongolian villages and the creatures. Drawings of Yeti also appeared in an ancient Tibetan apothecary handbook, with the following comment:
The book contains thousands of illustrations of various classes of animals including reptiles, mammals and amphibia, but not one single mythological animal, like its medieval European counterparts, which often listed many fantastic animals in its medical books. Being that every creature in the Tibetan medicinal book are well-documented actual species, with the exception of the Yeti, gives some validity to the creature’s existence.
Speculation that Yeti may be something other than legendary creatures was based on purported eyewitness accounts, alleged footprint finds, and interpretations of long-standing native traditions, which had been anthropologically collected.
Now, there was talk. Excited talk. Even whispers among the monks. Zhing needed to know if this talk could be substantiated with sightings and facts or was all just idle chatter. Today in the dining hall he would find out.
Hopefully.
He strolled into a large, brightly lit room filled with wooden tables and straight back chairs. The buzz from the monks gradually diminished at their seeing him standing at the head of the tables.
“Namasta, my brothers,” Zhing said.
“Namasta,” was the uniform reply from the men seated at their tables.
“Brothers,” Zhing began, “I have heard talk recently of the Yeti. I am here to learn if the talk is founded in fact. Have any of you actually seen such a creature?”
No one ventured a raised hand.
“Have any of you talked with someone who claims having seen such an animal?”
The dining hall erupted in one continuous buzz, everyone speaking at once and raising hands.
Zhing spent the better part of an hour listening to his brother monks describe their experiences and, in the end, decided that there was enough credible evidence to call Dr. Olson. Later, he walked down to the village butcher shop to use the region’s only phone.
Dixie was near panic. Sobbing, her tears mixing with the dust caked on her face, turned the mess into a dried-mud facial. It was difficult to open her mouth with the dried mud, and the dust choked her–breathing was difficult. It was surreal being in this place. Like a dream. No, a nightmare.
She knew she was going to die.
At first, when the large creature grabbed her and carried her off, she put up a fight, but its strength easily overpowered her. Its hot, fetid breath, smelling of rotten garbage, quickly overwhelmed her senses, while its eyes, piercing, red, glowing, were like embers in a dying campfire. Most of all, she remembered its fangs, long, pointed, and stained yellow and brown.
At first, she waited in fear for the beast to sink those long canines into her neck and was surprised when the monster only dragged her to a cave and deposited her in a small room. Later, it tied her to the wall, using crude straps made of dried vines, and there she hung, like a piece of crude art. The monster knew what it was doing, acting almost human.
Imprisoned and in a state of exhaustion, she watched the creature and its comrades…was that the right word?…come and go in silence. Was it a hallucination that they seemed to be an extended family? One male creature appeared dominant over the others, acting as their leader, while a smaller female was never far from his side. In her tortured mind, she thought they completed a family unit, although the exact nature she could not say. But they did appear to be some sort of primate unit, for they knew each other and worked together. They grunted some sort of language that only they understood and, to her surprise, seemed to show affection for each other. At one time, she thought she saw the male caress his mate.
The creatures came and went without paying her much attention. They seemed content to have her confined and helpless, hanging there. They gave her no food or water. As the hours dragged on, she weakened to the point of losing consciousness, and it was as if she were in a dream, looking down upon her body. But then, one of the hairy beasts would amble into the little room, shove its ugly face into hers, and snarl, its hot breath smelling of rancid meat. But not one of them harmed her. It was as if they were studying her, like in the movie, Planet Of The Apes. Or, maybe, she was just a piece of art, stuck on the wall for them to enjoy.
Nearing total collapse, she lost her fear of being devoured and accepted her predicament. She remembered the moment she realized she would not survive, because no one in the expedition had the faintest idea where she was. When the end came, she hoped it would be quick. She thought of her parents, her dead brother, and Harry. She would miss Harry and realized she was in love with him. Not overtly religious, but spiritual in her own way, she felt that there was some sort of soul’s existence after death, although exactly what it was she couldn’t say. But she knew it would be a good existence–of that she had no doubt.
That and Harry were the only thoughts that gave her any comfort.
By the second day of her imprisonment, the creatures hardly noticed her as they came and went. The excruciating pain in her arms was replaced by a numbness, a fact for which she was grateful. Sometimes the large male sauntered up to her, stared for a moment or two, then turned and left. He didn’t snarl anymore. None of them touched her, except one of the young females did feel her breasts, as if they were something she had not seen.
By the third day, she developed frank hallucinations. Dehydrated and weak, she was near collapse with only short lucid periods interspersed with those of unconsciousness. At one point, there were bug-eyed snakes spewing from the cracks between the rocks and their tongues flicked at her, mouths hissing. When a tongue touched her, it burned and left a mark. She tried reciting the twenty-third Psalm but couldn’t remember the words…
Dixie woke with a start, gasping for breath, pulse pounding.
It was the nightmare again. The nightmare that would not go away. That time as prisoner of a group of Yeti deep in a Mongolian mountain cave now served as the womb of her sordid dreams, birthing nightmares that visited on a regular basis.
She reached out and noticed Harry was not beside her. The clock read two a.m. She sat on the edge of the bed, filled a glass of water from the carafe, took a deep breath, and tried to quell her racing heart. Since returning from the ill-fated Mongolian expedition, she had finished her doctorate in anthropology, after which she and Harry were married. Harry had been her professor and mentor at California Pacific University. Now, she was an assistant professor in her own right, a position her new husband secured for her.
Sitting in the dark bedroom, she noticed a small shaft of light emanating from their study on the far side of the house. She donned her robe and sauntered down the hall ,where she found Harry bent over his desk, a cluster of papers spread out before him. At the sound of her approach, he turned and smiled.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he said. He sat in his pajamas, held out a tanned hand, took hers, and pulled her to him. “Did I wake you? I tried to not make any noise.”
“No, you didn’t. It was the nightmare again,” she said, running a hand through her tussled hair. “I must look a sight.”
Harry pulled her onto his lap and laughed. “You look marvelous, honey.” He kissed her on the cheek and smiled. “I love the way you look. Now, it was the nightmare again?”
“Of course. It’s always the same. I’m back in that damned mountain cave and those creatures have strung me up and are pawing over me. I can see their eyes–like glowing coals–and smell their breath. The smell of rotting flesh and death.”
“Baby,” Harry said, brushing a strand of blonde hair from Dixie’s cheek, “you had a horrific experience and were close to death. It’s no wonder you’re having nightmares. It’s called post-traumatic stress. But I think it will get better with time. I really do.”
“You don’t think I’m losing my mind?” Dixie climbed off Harry’s lap and sat in a chair near the desk. It was quiet in the house, except for the ticking of the old grandfather clock in the hallway.
“Absolutely not,” Harry said. “If I thought that, I’d have had you examined by a psychiatrist. No, Dixie, no. What you’re going through is a perfectly normal reaction, given all that happened.”
“But it’s been almost a year,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn’t want to break down and cry or become hysterical.
“But the nightmares aren’t nearly as frequent. You’ve said so yourself. That speaks volumes.”
“I hope so. I sure wish Professor was here.”
“Me too,” Harry said, leaning back in his chair, the concern on his face relaxing. “His sudden death was quite a shock to everyone. I couldn’t believe it when it happened. The man was like a father to me.”
“And me,” Dixie said. “I didn’t realize I could miss him as much as I have.”
“His heart attack was completely unexpected. But I guess, when you’re older, anything can happen. I was glad that he was able to see us married. I know that made him happy.”
Doctor Julius Kesler had been chairman of the Anthropology Department at California Pacific University and Harry’s boss. He was the lead scientist of the expedition, led by Harry, into the Altai Mountains of Mongolia in search of hominid fossils. Dixie had been Harry’s chief assistant. Dr. Kesler, or Professor, as his associates affectionately called him, took Harry under his wing, and Harry responded to the man’s tutoring by becoming a rising paleoanthropologist and heir-apparent to Professor’s position whenever the man decided to retire.
But the expedition was interrupted and prematurely ended when a ruthless relic hunter and his band of armed security forces arrived on scene, intent on stealing what the team uncovered. However, everyone’s plans did an about face with the appearance of large creatures known previously only through legends. In the end, they turned out to be Yeti, akin to the Abominable Snowman, Almas, or Bigfoot, and terrorized anyone who came close to their habitat.
The fate of their expedition made international news and catapulted Harry’s reputation into the stratosphere. Early one morning, one of the Yeti seized Dixie and carried her to their lair deep within a system of mountain caves, where they kept her bound and imprisoned. In a desperate bid to find and rescue Dixie, Harry, along with aid from the Mongolian Police forces, tracked the Yeti to the cave system. After fending off several attacks by the large creatures, Harry and the police found and rescued Dixie and began their exit from the large underground cave.
But the Yeti followed.
In a daring escape that involved blowing up part of the cave system, Harry and Dixie made their way to the surface. The final, violent confrontation with their pursuers ended with one man dead and their leader arrested.
Back in the States, Harry’s fame spread through academic circles. He appeared on talk shows, lectured at various universities, wrote a paper with Dr. Kesler. Amidst all the hoopla, he and Dixie were married and she finished her doctorate. After a honeymoon and some much-needed rest, Dr. Kesler argued that they should return to the Altai and bring back tangible evidence of the Yeti’s existence. After receiving a call from the monastery abbot, informing them of the Yeti’s whereabouts, they once again mounted an expedition to locate them.
They were successful beyond their wildest dreams. Not only were they able to find a group of the creatures, with the help of local labor, they managed to capture a pair of Yeti. They returned to the States with a male and a female, which they kept at a special facility in the Nevada mountains. It had been dangerous work but sedating the two animals, using tranquilizer darts, made the work easier and somewhat safer. They secured cages and placed the Yeti on a freighter going to San Francisco. Sadly, a few months later, Professor Kesler succumbed to a fatal heart attack while working in his university office. Harry and Dixie were stunned.
“He was a great man,” Dixie said, her voice near a whisper. “And a good man.”
“One thing is for sure,” Harry said, “it won’t be easy to replace a man like him. He was a giant in our field. And so well liked. With all the competition, that’s unusual in academia.”
“I remember him as a kind person, always patient with students and faculty alike. I miss him, honey.”
The couple sat in silence for a few moments, then Dixie sighed. “I tell you this, sweetie, two trips to the Altai are about all my nerves can stand. I’m not sure I’m up for another. I couldn’t believe Professor left you his house here in San Mateo. It was unbelievable.”
“Yes, it was. I was overcome. I never suspected anything like this and Professor never spoke about it.”
“He had no other family?”
“Not that I am aware of,” Harry said. “He spoke once of a lost love but he never married. Never had any children.”
“No brothers or sisters?”
“I guess not. If he did, they have died, quite possibly. What little money he had accumulated he left to the university.”
“It’s such a lovely house,” Dixie said. “I love the view of the bay.”
“More than I ever could afford.”
“Well, now that you are chairman of the department, you deserve a house like this. I’m glad the president followed Professor’s wishes and made you chairman. You’ve worked hard for a lot of years.”
“I never expected to get the job under these conditions–with him dying, I mean. It’s an honor, to be sure, but I’m finding out that there’s a lot of work involved. And internal politics.”
“Yeah, that new archeologist wants his own lab. What’s his name?”
“Bernard Wickingham. That’s Dr. Wickingham, excuse me.”
“He does seem to be eaten up with self-importance,” Dixie said, now offering a smile. “Pretty stuck on himself, I’ve noticed.”
“I’ve told him time and again that there’s no available space for a lab. And being the newest faculty member, there’s no money either. I’ve told him, ‘get a grant and we’ll see.’ But he doesn’t seem to understand.”
“Well, honey, he’s new. Time may mellow him. It did you.”
Dixie laughed and winked at her husband. She loved poking the bear now and then.
“Very funny, my dear. Very funny.”
But she could see the corners of his mouth turn up in a faint smile. She stood. “Coming to bed soon?”
“Yeah, in a little bit. I’m about finished here.”
Dixie bent over his chair and peered over his shoulder. She put a hand on the back of his neck and massaged his tense muscles. “What’s all this?”
“Something I found in Kesler’s files,” Harry said. “Something profoundly unusual.”
“It has to do with the Primate Research Facility. You know how Professor and the woman who is the head of the DNA lab, what’s her name?”
“Dr. Rawlings,” Dixie said. “Chloe Rawlings.”
“Yes. Professor and Dr. Rawlings took on a long-term project to decipher the Yeti’s complete genome. It was one of a number of things we were studying with the animals.”
“So?” Dixie said, leaning farther over his shoulder to study the papers on the desk.
“If I’m reading these notes correctly, they may have discovered a segment of mitochondrial DNA identical to that found in humans.”
“Harry, are you serious?” Dixie’s tone was now clipped with an anxious edge.
“I can’t be for sure, but I need to speak with Dr. Rawlings then make a trip to the facility and check it out. It’s been over a month since we’ve been up there.”
“You’re saying that there is a segment of Yeti DNA in our own genome?”
Harry nodded. “I don’t know. These notes aren’t that obvious. It seems that there are two identical segments of DNA, one in the Yeti and the other in the human genome.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What would that mean?”
“I’m no genetics expert, honey, but it might mean we are related to the Yeti in some way. Similar to the way humans and Neanderthals interbred thousands of years ago.”
“Wow,” was all Dixie could say.
“That’s why I need to get up to the research facility soon.”
“Well, when you do, I want to go along. I want to look at our Yeti again.”
“I would have thought–”
“I need to, honey,” Dixie interrupted. “Each time it gets easier. It’s just in my dreams that they come for me, that they take me away.”
Harry turned in his chair, pulled her onto his lap, and caressed her cheek with his hand. Her blonde hair fell in tussled curls above her shoulders and her dark eyes were moist.
“I understand, sweetie. Let’s go to bed.”
He turned off the desk lamp, and Dixie followed him into to their bedroom where she fell into his arms and a contented sleep.
© 2017 by Richard Edde
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Indian Women’s team to play Iran in Hero Gold Cup opener
The Indian Women's national team. Photo courtesy: AIFF Media
The Indian Women’s National Team will be facing the Islamic Republic of Iran in their first match on the opening day of the Hero Gold Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhuwaneshwar.
The four-nation tournament, the first such competition for the Senior Women’s National Team in India is being organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in association with the Government of Odisha. Along with India and Iran, the tournament will also feature the Senior National Women’s National Teams of Myanmar and Nepal.
AIFF General Secretary Mr. Kushal Das mentioned “the primary objective is to provide the best of exposure to the Women’s team as they prepare for the second round of the Olympic Qualifiers in April.”
“The Hero Gold Cup is meant to provide additional opportunity for the Indian Women’s National Team to face other powerful teams in a competitive format. While our team has been playing in Friendlies overseas, we feel hosting such a competition will boost the growing popularity of girls’ football in India. Football followers in India deserve a chance to witness our National teams in action,” Mr. Das stated.
“I need to thank the Government of Odisha and the SAI for their help,” he added.
For the record, Myanmar are ranked 44 in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, followed by Iran on 60, and Nepal on 108, while the Indian women, coached by Maymol Rocky, are on 62.
It was in November that the Blue Tigresses qualified for the second round of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers for the first time. As part of the optimal development and preparation of the squad, the team has already kicked-off a campaign involving a series of friendly matches against National Teams, where they have won their last four matches, two each against Hong Kong and Indonesia.
Mr. Vishal Kumar Dev, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Sports and Youth Department of the Government of Odisha highlighted Odisha Government’s commitment for promotion of sporting activities.
“It was a pleasure that AIFF came forward with the proposal for the Women’s Gold Cup. Odisha’s commitment towards sports, and especially promotion of women’s football is well-known. Having hosted a successful Hockey World Cup, the Kalinga Stadium stands ready to welcome the women’s teams for the Four-Nation Gold Cup,” he stated.
Hero Gold Cup – Fixturs
Myanmar vs Nepal (4pm)
India vs IR Iran (7pm)
Myanmar vs IR Iran (4pm)
India vs Nepal (7pm)
IR Iran vs Nepal (4pm)
India vs Myanmar (7pm)
Bhuwaneshwar, Featured, Hero Gold Cup, India WNT, Iran WNT, Kalinga Stadium, Myanmar WNT, Nepal WNT
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January 15, 2020 Press Releases, Themis Project
New Report Documents the Decline of Anti-Choice Group, Concerned Women for America
On January 15, 2020, CfA released a new report, "Fake Feminists for Hire," revealing how the anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ group Concerned Women for America (CWA) has been declining over the past decade, while simultaneously partnering with well-funded dark money groups to amplify conservative causes that appear to be unrelated to its mission.
December 23, 2019 Corporate Responsibility, Federal Accountability, Google, Press Releases
CfA Releases New Report Revealing Google’s Longstanding Ties to Koch Political Network
On December 20, 2019, CfA released a new report documenting the deep, and longstanding alliance between Google and the Koch political network.
December 20, 2019 Corporate Responsibility, Google, Press Releases
Google Transparency Project Releases Database of 3,000 Grants Awarded to Academic Researchers by Google
On December 20, 2019, CfA released a new database of 2,951 financial awards made by Google to academic researchers working in both public policy and non-public policy-oriented disciplines. The database is a comprehensive, user friendly archive of all of the grants that Google discloses on its website.
December 17, 2019 Federal Accountability, Press Releases, Themis Project
Watchdog Calls on HHS to Stop Providing Title X Funding to Anti-Abortion Group Obria
On December 17, 2019, CfA sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Alex Azar, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs, Dr. Diane Foley, asking HHS to end Title X funding for The Obria Group, Inc., and its affiliated Obria Medical Clinics of Southern California (collectively Obria), an anti-choice religious ministry masquerading as a healthcare group.
December 16, 2019 Congress, Corruption, Ethics, Federal Accountability, Press Releases
Watchdog Files FEC Complaint Against Sen. Joni Ernst for Creating Dark Money Group to Aid Her Campaign
On December 16, 2019, CfA filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) seeking an investigation into Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Iowa Values, a dark money organization set up to support Sen. Ernst’s reelection campaign.
December 5, 2019 FOIA, Press Releases, Themis Project
Watchdog Releases More than Seven Thousand Government Documents About Anti-Abortion Groups and Crisis Pregnancy Centers
On December 5, 2019, CfA released the Themis Project’s Government Records Archive, containing more than 7,000 government documents consisting of tens of thousands of pages about anti-abortion advocacy organizations, crisis pregnancy centers, and government efforts to curtail reproductive rights.
November 22, 2019 Press Releases
Campaign for Accountability Files Motion Seeking Dismissal of Frivolous Lawsuit Brought by Devin Nunes
On November 22, 2019, CfA filed a motion in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia seeking to dismiss a frivolous and nonsensical lawsuit filed against CfA by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA).
November 21, 2019 Press Releases, Themis Project
CfA Releases Documents Showing How Trump Admin Pulled Strings To Award Grant to Anti-Birth Control Group, Obria
On November 21, 2019, CfA released new documents shedding light on how officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services intervened to secure federal family planning funds, known as Title X funding, for Obria, an anti-abortion and anti-birth control group based in California.
November 21, 2019 Corporate Responsibility, Google, Press Releases
Watchdog Calls for Criminal Investigation of Google VP for Potentially Lying to Congress about Company Blacklists
On November 21, 2019, CfA asked the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, to refer Karan Bhatia, Vice President for Government Affairs & Public Policy at Google, to the U.S. Department of Justice for investigation into whether Mr. Bhatia may have provided false testimony to the committee during a hearing concerning Google’s manipulation of search results.
Watchdog Releases Legal Filings Showing Americans United for Life Involved in Doctored Planned Parenthood Videos
On November 18, 2019, CfA published court documents revealing that Americans United for Life (AUL), a 48-year old national anti-abortion organization, advised the controversial anti-choice front group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) in its release of deceptively edited videos designed to harm Planned Parenthood. According to documents filed in a lawsuit against CMP, AUL provided extensive support to CMP during its deceitful scheme including 300 communications with CMP’s head, David Daleiden.
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New York Immigration Coalition v. Rensselaer County Board of Elections
About this Case
New York Immigration Coalition and partners are suing the Rensselaer County Board of Elections and several Rensselaer County officials over the County’s plan to improperly divulge voter registration information gathered by the Rensselaer County DMV to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in violation of both New York and federal law.
New York Immigration Coalition, Common Cause/New York, Community Voices Heard, Citizen Action of New York, and Jenifer Benn are suing the Rensselaer County Board of Elections and several Rensselaer County officials over the County’s plan to improperly divulge voter registration information gathered by the Rensselaer County DMV to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), requires states to allow their citizens to register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or ID card. Under the NVRA, the fact that a person registered to vote at the DMV or any other agency is confidential; disclosure of that fact is prohibited.
On July 17, 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the “Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act” (also called the “Green Light Act”), which allows New York residents to obtain driver’s licenses without providing evidence of legal residence status in the United States. Those licenses would state that they are “Not for Federal Purposes.” The Green Light Act also enhanced privacy protections for driver’s license applicants by prohibiting disclosure of any records related to driver’s license applications to anyone other than the applicant, including immigration enforcement agencies (and specifically including ICE). Most of the Green Light Act’s provisions become effective on December 14, 2019.
Two days later, on July 19, the Rensselaer County Board of Elections announced at a press conference that they would begin providing ICE with voter registration information, including names and addresses, of all individuals who register to vote at the DMV. The purpose of the disclosure would be “to ascertain if any of these people are in the U.S. illegally.” ICE is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws, but it has no role in administering voter registration or elections. ICE does not offer citizenship verification services to local election officials.
New York resident Jenifer Benn, along with several community groups, including Common Cause/New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Community Voices Heard, and Citizens Involved, sued the county for unconstitutionally burdening the right to vote under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, and for voter intimidation under Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In their Complaint, the Plaintiffs alleged that Rensselaer County’s plan to turn over voter registration information to ICE would subject U.S. Citizens to risk of unlawful arrest and detention, given ICE’s recent highly publicized history of erroneously arresting, detaining, and even deporting U.S. Citizens based on false information. According to the Plaintiffs, the County’s plan and conduct will intimidate eligible citizens from registering to vote at the DMV, in violation of the Constitution and the VRA.
The County defendants have moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing, among other things, that the Plaintiffs have failed to satisfy the appropriate legal standards to prove voter intimidation.
CLC has filed a friend-of-the-court brief explaining that the County Defendants’ interpretation of the law is patently incorrect, and that Rensselaer County’s disclosure of voter registration information to ICE is a modern form of voter intimidation, strikingly similar to tactics used throughout our nation’s history to disenfranchise eligible voters.
Rensselaer County’s conduct undercuts one of our most fundamental rights, the right to vote. The County’s intimidation of eligible voters sends a clear message to plaintiffs and to the American people more broadly that participation in the democratic process may come at a steep price, and that exercising a constitutional right may lead to increased and unlawful scrutiny from immigration enforcement agencies on voters and their families. Rensselaer County’s actions are designed to intimidate, to deter political participation, and to undermine the functioning of American democratic processes. It is paramount that our political system safeguards the right of all Americans to have their voice heard in the electoral process.
Motion for Leave to File Amicus Curiae Brief
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Filed Under: boil, main-dish, north-american, spicesherbs, Under 20 Mins
Spanakopita Lasagna
Sunny flavours of the Mediterranean combine in this comforting lasagna. This recipe doesn't call for a heavy meat sauce, opting instead for good-for-you spinach and tasty feta.
Recipe by Marilyn Thorpe
Food Styling by David Grenier
Prop Styling by Lara McGraw
227 g pre-washed spinach
1 cup crumbled feta
½ onion, roughly chopped
1 bunch fresh parsley, stems removed
4 cups tomato sauce
500 g cooked lasagna noodles (9 noodles)
2 cups grated mozzarella
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large pot of boiling salted water, blanch spinach for 30 seconds. Drain and squeeze dry.
Whisk 3/4 cup feta into eggs.
In a food processor, chop spinach, onion and parsley.
In a bowl, combine egg mixture with chopped vegetables and oil.
Pour a layer of tomato sauce in a 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Cover with a single layer of noodles. Spoon ½ spinach mixture evenly over noodles. Cover with another layer of sauce, then another layer of noodles. Spoon out remaining spinach mixture over noodles, and cover with another layer of sauce.
Top with remaining feta and mozzarella and bake for 40 minutes.
516 calories, 28 g fat, 20 g protein, 48 g carbs, 3 g fibre. Excellent source of vitamin A, folate, calcium and iron.
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Who will gather the biggest…
Who will gather the biggest crowd? Bon Jovi, Metallica?..
In recent years, all sorts of art exhibitions have been successfully held in Moscow, and many of them were received with unprecedented excitement. Three years ago, people waited in line for hours to look at paintings by the famous Russian artist Valentin Serov. The capital is expecting something similar to happen this spring and summer, as the number of interesting upcoming exhibitions is higher than ever. Still, there will be plenty to do in the capital if you’re not a big fan of art.
This spring’s art marathon will begin at the Moscow Kremlin museums, which have been displaying the treasures of Chinese emperors since March. The Forbidden City in Beijing, which is also the largest palace complex in the world, has brought around a hundred items to the Kremlin. They’ll tell us about the lives of Chinese emperors in the 18th century. A throne with carved dragons, luxurious ceremonial clothes of emperors and empresses, golden bowls, musical instruments — you can see all of this, along with other items that were essential to court life, through May 30th.
There will also be a major exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts through May 20th. The famous Tate Gallery will be presenting works from one of the most important movements in 20th century British art. In the 1970s, when conceptualism and abstract art were in style, a group of British artists favored figurative art. But their work can’t be described as traditional, and what happens to human bodies and space in these works will definitely surprise the exhibition’s visitors. The two big names of this movement are Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud (the grandson of the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud).
According to the experts, there will be unprecedented excitement around the works of Ilya Repin – one of the most famous Russian artists of the pre-Revolutionary era. The Tretyakov Gallery on Krymskiy Val will be housing 300 paintings by Repin across three floors through August 18th. The lines really might be outrageous, so it’s best to purchase the tickets on the website ahead of time. There will also be an opportunity to see the iconic works that are featured in school textbooks throughout Russia – “Barge Haulers on the Volga,” “They Did Not Expect Him,” “Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks,” portraits, and historical paintings. The Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg will send over a painting that us colossal in both size and concept – “Ceremonial Meeting of the State Council” is almost nine meters in length, and each portrait (there are 81 of them in the painting) is painted from life, as Repin and his two students were given permission to attend council meetings.
Another highly anticipated exhibition will feature works by the prominent Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. In mid-April, famous paintings by this artist, who lived a long life (80 years old) that was full of trials and hardships will be brought to the Engineering Building of the Tretyakov Gallery from Oslo. The artist’s childhood and young adulthood were filled with suffering, as he was plagued by illnesses, deaths in the family, loneliness, depression, psychiatric hospitals, jokes about his art, and romantic misfortunes from an early age. All of these things are reflected in his art. Both the public and his colleagues didn’t recognize him as an artist until he was in his 40s, although some of his most innovative works, such as “The Scream” (1910), were painted long before then. Today, Munch, who passed away in 1944, is among the top 10 most expensive artists in the world.
In 2012, one version of “The Scream” was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for nearly $120,000,000. The exhibition is expected to feature about 70 paintings, 30 graphics, along with photographs and memorial items primarily from the Munch Museum in Oslo, as well as from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. One of the more significant exhibits is “The Scream,” a version of which is kept at the Munch Museum. The exhibition will run through July 14th.
And there is another interesting exposition for Muscovites and the city’s guests this summer. There were a lot of art collectors in Russia during the pre-revolutionary era, and one of them is the Moscow merchant and philanthropist Sergei Shchukin. He was the first collector in Russia to start buying the works of Monet, Gauguin, Cezanne, and Picasso, and ordered the famous paintings “Music” and “Dance” from Matisse. There are a lot of real masterpieces in his collection, and the only collector who could possibly compete with him is the merchant and businessman Ivan Morozov. Their collections were nationalized and unified into a Museum of New Western Art after the revolution, and then split between the Pushkin Museum and the Hermitage. Now, several decades later, historical justice will be restored in Moscow and Saint Petersburg – the collections will be shown separately. Moscow will kick things off with a collection from Shchukin and his brothers, who also collected art, while the Hermitage will start with Morozov’s collection. “Shchukin. A Collection’s Biography” will run at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts from June 17 to September 15.
The repertoires of Moscow’s theatres are including more plays that stress gestures and dance over the spoken word. This is a distinct trend of our time. The Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre recently hosted a premiere of the unusual play by the famous Russian choreographer Alla Sigalova “20th Century. Ball.” The play contains almost no words, but nearly everybody in the theatre’s troupe has a part in it. Channel One’s CEO Konstantin Ernst worked on Sigalova’s play with her, marking the first time a venerable TV producer has worked in theatre. He was the source of inspiration behind many of the project’s ideas. A whole century of Russian history is shown through the prism of music and dance – tsarist Russia, soldiers, sailors, the revolution, the thirties, World War II, the youth and students of the 1957 festival, Gagarin’s flight into space, and all the events leading up to President Boris Yeltsin’s farewell speech, during which he announced his early and voluntary resignation as Head of State on New Year 2000. The music selection for the the play features everything from Alexander Vertinsky’s romances to “Kalinka-Malinka” and songs by Vladimir Vysotsky. Actress Irina Pegova, who will be performing several roles in the play, can without a doubt be called the Queen of this ball. In the first part of the play, she appears spectacularly on stage as a female officer in a leather jacket.
The Bolshoi Theatre is waiting for the premiere of the opera “Mermaid” by the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. The libretto was written by the Czech writer Jaroslav Kvapil. Dvořák’s only opera to be shown abroad is extremely popular in the post-Soviet space. It will be directed by Timofey Kulyabin, who already has experience at the Bolshoi: he directed “Don Pasquale” in 2016.
May and June will be a great time for fans of the opera. On May 23, renowned performers who have graced some of the best stages all over the world will join forced in Moscow. The talented and brilliant Aida Garifullina and Ildar Abdrazakov will be on stage together at the Crocus City Hall Concert Hall, accompanied by a symphony orchestra. Aida Garifullina is the voice of the Vienna State Opera. Ildar Abdrazakov is one of the most sought after operatic basses of our time. Since his successful debut on La Scala in 2001 at the age of 25, the Russian singer has been a regular participant in productions at the world’s leading opera houses – the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.
On June 4th, the State Kremlin Palace will host a joint concert by Anna Netrebko, Andrea Bocelli, Yusif Eyvazov, and Olga Peretyatko. Getting all of these opera stars to perform on one stage seemed impossible, because their schedules fill up years in advance. Still, the impossible happened: the concert will include both classical arias and popular melodies. This unique project will undoubtedly make history. The performance is already being compared to the concert by three legendary tenors Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti, which took place in Rome in 1990. Andrea Bocelli is a legend — an Italian singer who has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records several times. He has recorded 16 solo albums that sold over 90 million copies all over the world. Anna Netrebko has won many titles and awards and is the uncontested primadonna of the modern opera scene who performs in some of the most famous concert halls all over the world. Her concerts are always some of the most highly-anticipated events of the season. Anna’s husband Yusif Eyvazov, a tenor, sings at the world’s leading opera theatres, such as La Scala, The Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Covent Garden, Paris Opera, and others.
Music fans are also in for exciting concerts. In July, 27-year-old Ed Sheeran, who is one of the UK’s most commercially successful modern day singers, will be coming to Moscow. He has already received four Grammy awards, including Best Song of the Year (“Thinking Out Loud”), Best Vocal Pop Album (“Divide”), and Best Solo Pop Performance (“Shape Of You”). This song became a real hit, and Ed Sheeran was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire medal for his accomplishments on December 7th, 2017.
The Grand Sports Arena at Luzhniki will also be hosting performances by several legendary groups this season. On May 31st, Bon Jovi, a group that is known throughout the world for more than a dozen hits, will kick things off. The rock legends have already performed in Luzhniki back in 1989. Perhaps, just like 30 years ago, thousands of fans will sing along with Bon Jovi when he performs his famous hit “It’s My Life.” On June 13th, Moscow will once again be visited by KISS, the hottest band in the world. On June 15th, the famous rock band Muse from the UK will light the stage on fire with hits such as “New Born.” And on July 21, the US band Metallica will have their turn in Moscow, and will definitely be playing hits like“Nothing Else Matters” and “The Unforgiven.” The thrash metal veterans first performed in Moscow in 1991. So which concert will have the most spectators? keep in mind that about 103,000 people were at the Grand Sports Arena during the 1980 Olympic Games. In 1990, the last concert of the then-popular Russian singer Viktor Tsoi, which was attended by 72 thousand spectators, was held here. After the reconstruction, which was specially conducted for the 2018 World Cup, the capacity of the stadium in Luzhniki is 81,000 people. Which of the western stars will be able to pack the stadium to full capacity this year?
Category: LIFE&CULTURE 22.04.2019
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Yuri Grymov: Politicians should go to the theatre
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How much is the fish?
Time to break records: shooting stars in autumn
To the park, everyone!
The main exhibitions of 2019
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Wilcox, Max E. The Cleveland Southwestern & Columbus Railway Story (ca. 1962).
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Apple has to reapply for single brand retail, initial proposal reveals gaps
The brand filed its application last month
Apple, the maker of popular iPad and iPhone devices, will have to submit a fresh application for opening single brand retail stores in the country, as certain gaps have been found in the initial proposal.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has explained the gaps to the company and wants them to submit a fresh application, seeking more information on their proposal for further processing, according to sources.
Last month, the company had filed its proposal seeking permission for single brand retailing and sell its products online.
Apple had not mentioned the amount of investment and number of stores it wants to open.
An e-mail query sent to Apple remained unanswered.
The Commerce and Industry Ministry could exempt the company from local sourcing norms as the US-based giant makes 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting edge' technology products, The sources said.
The government had last year relaxed the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for single brand retailing.
The government had said that it may also relax the sourcing norms for entities undertaking single brand retailing of products having 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting edge' technology and where local sourcing is not possible.
Single brand retailers are also allowed to take e-commerce route for such trading.
At present, 100 per cent FDI is permitted in the sector. But beyond 49 per cent, the FIPB permission is required.
The company sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in countries, including China, Germany, the US, the UK and France.
It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.
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Announcing the release of Suzy Turner ebook sets for Christmas
I’m super excited to announce that The Raven Saga and The Morgan Sisters by Suzy Turner are now available as ebook boxed sets – just in time for Christmas! Both sets are priced at a reduced cost making them perfect Christmas gifts for lovers of YA urban fantasy. If you have friends or family who love Harry Potter, then these sets are perfect for you! I was honored to help proof one of the books in The Raven Saga, so I can tell you first hand that it’s an exciting read.
The Morgan Sisters
Books 1-4 of The Morgan Sisters
THE GHOST OF JOSIAH GRIMSHAW
Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange ‘tattoo’ suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realize there’s more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined.
Sent off to London for two weeks of ‘work experience’, the Morgan Sisters soon find themselves being initiated into the ancient Praxos Foundation, one that protects the innocent while fighting evil, both human and supernatural.
At the same time, Lana Beth and Emma Jane must also investigate why the sweet but sometimes pesky ghost of Josiah Grimshaw just won’t leave them alone.
DAISY MADIGAN’S PARADISE
When tragedy falls upon 15 year old Daisy Madigan, she escapes to the only place she feels safe, the cemetery of Abney Park. There, in the company of the dearly departed, she realizes she is changing, growing stronger and faster by the day. But in the darkness lurks a terror even she can’t imagine facing.
THE TEMPORAL STONE
It’s been a couple of months since Emma and Lana entered the Praxos Academy and life has been hectic ever since. What with regular A level classes combined with learning all about the supernatural world, control classes, self defence and fight night, the girls are constantly busy.
But when their world seems to stop right in front of them, they and their fellow Watchers, have a huge mystery to solve. A mystery which will lead them on a long road trip across south west England where they will meet all kinds of strange creatures, some intent on causing harm and others desperate to put a stop to the problem.
LOOKING FOR LUCY JO
It’s their first Christmas since entering the Praxos Academy and 16-year-old sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane Morgan are looking forward to some serious R&R. But when their little sister mysteriously disappears from her bed on Christmas Eve, all thoughts of fun disappear with her. Emma and Lana must do everything in their power to locate her and bring her home safely. Easier said than done, they are forced to go on yet another journey, this time taking them out to the murky depths of the North Sea as well as to the far reaches of southern Portugal.
˃˃˃ “I would go so far as to say that this could be the beginnings of a series as good as those by J.K. Rowling!”
˃˃˃ “I loved the bad guys, the graveyard antics, the talking dead, the superpowers of the kick-a** ninja chicks, and the rite of initiation the sisters go through”
The Raven Saga
Books 1-3 of The Raven Saga
After the inexplicable disappearance of Lilly Taylor’s parents, she has no choice but to move to Canada where she unravels some frightening yet intriguing family secrets…
Her whole life had been based on a lie. Lilly had grown up in a loveless home with a father who she had barely ever seen and a mother who was… well, not very motherly.
After they mysteriously disappear without a trace, Lilly is sent to Canada where she finds a whole new way of life. A life filled with love and people who care for her. But that’s not all she discovers, Lilly also finds out that she isn’t who, or what, she thinks she is.
Lilly has a very special ability and it’s just a matter of time before her true self starts to shine. And when it does, her life will never be the same again.
Raven is a fantasy novel for children and young adults set in the beautiful province of British Columbia.
DECEMBER MOON
On her 15th birthday, December Moon discovers she is the descendant of a family of witches, kept in the dark her entire life in an effort to protect her. But when Lilly, her best friend, finds herself in danger from one of the world’s most evil vampires, December will do everything in her power to stop him. December Moon is a fantasy novel for children and young adults set in BC, Canada.
THE LOST SOUL
December and Lilly have got their work cut out for them. Not only are they desperately trying to figure out the identity of the Lost Soul, and track him down, they’ve also got to investigate why Powell River’s newest resident has got all of their men falling at her feet.
But when they learn that the Nephilim might be involved, it becomes clear that they’re all in extreme danger…
Although Suzy is a Yorkshire lass at heart, she left her home town of Rotherham, UK, to move to Portugal with her family when she was ten. The Algarve continues to be her home, where she lives with her childhood sweetheart, Michael, two neurotic dogs and a cat who thinks she’s a princess.
Shortly after completing her studies, Suzy was offered the position of trainee journalist for a local English newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she moved on to become assistant editor for the region’s largest English language publisher. Since then she has also worked as the editor of one of the Algarve’s most loved monthly lifestyle magazines. Early in 2010 however, Suzy began working as a full time author. She has since written several books: Raven, December Moon, The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga), Daisy Madigan’s Paradise, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, The Temporal Stone, Looking for Lucy Jo (The Morgan Sisters), Forever Fredless and And Then There Was You (for adults only!).Website: http://www.suzyturner.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/suzyturner
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks
Facebook Romance: http://www.facebook.com/suzyturnerromance
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/suzy_turner
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks
YA Blog: http://www.suzyturner.blogspot.com
Chick Lit Blog: http://www.fictiondreams.com
12/08/2014 12/08/2014 box set, Christmas 2014, suzy turner, the morgan sisters, the raven saga, ya urban fantasy
Published by Bryna Butler
Fantasy fangirl and author of the Midnight Guardian and Mothman Mysteries book series. View all posts by Bryna Butler
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Brave New Girls: Adventures of Gals and GizmosJuly 9th, 2019
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Endangered archives blog
16 posts categorized "Music"
Call for applications now open
Do you know of any collections that are currently at risk and need preserving? The Endangered Archives Programme is now accepting preliminary applications for the next annual funding round – the deadline for submission of preliminary applications is 12 noon 19 November 2018 and full details of the application procedures and documentation are available on the EAP website.
Digitising in Cuba
The Endangered Archives Programme (EAP) has been running at the British Library since 2004 through funding by Arcadia, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin, with the aim of preserving rare vulnerable archival material around the world. The Programme awards grants to relocate the material to a safe local archival home where possible, to digitise it, and to deposit copies with local archival partners and with the British Library. These digital collections are then available for researchers to access freely through the British Library website or by visiting the local archives. The Programme has funded over 350 projects in 90 countries world-wide and has helped to preserve manuscripts, rare printed books, newspapers and periodicals, audio and audio-visual materials, photographs and temple murals.
There three main types of grant:
Pilot projects investigate the potential for and/or feasibility of a major grant. A pilot can also be a small digitisation project. They should last for no more than 12 months and have a budget limit of £15,000.
Major projects gather and copy material. This type of grant may also relocate the material to a more secure location/institution within the country. These projects usually last 12 months, or up to 24 months and have a budget limit of £60,000.
Area grants will be awarded for larger scale projects. They are similar to a major grant, but larger in scale and ambition. Applicants must demonstrate an outstanding track record of archival preservation work and be associated with an institution that has the capacity to facilitate a large-scale project. The EAP will only award a maximum of two area grants in each funding round. They can last for up to 24 months and have a budget limit of £150,000.
A further type of grant will be introduced in 2019:
Rapid-response grants can be used to safeguard an archive which is in immediate and severe danger. These grants are intended for the most urgent situations where a delay in the decision process could result in extensive damage to the material. These grants are not subject to the time restrictions of the yearly EAP funding cycle and can be applied for at any time. They must last for less than 12 months and have a budget limit of £15,000.
If you know of an archive in a region of the world were resources are limited, we really hope you will apply. If you have any questions regarding the conditions of award or the application process, do email us at endangeredarchives@bl.uk
Posted by Jody Butterworth at 3:45 PM
Africa, Americas, Arabic, Asia, Australasia, Digital images, East Asia, Literature, Manuscripts, Maps, Middle East, Music, Newspapers, Oceania, Periodicals, Photographs, Rare books, Religious records, Sound and vision, South Asia, South East Asia, Traditional music, Visual arts
World Radio Day: Recordings from the Endangered Archives Programme
World Radio Day has been held annually on 13th February since 2012 following its proclamation by the UNESCO Conference. The following year the United Nations General Assembly formally endorsed this proclamation and adopted it as an official ‘International Day’ to be celebrated on the anniversary of the establishment of United Nations Radio in 1946.
It is celebrated as a way of showing the continuing importance of radio around the world. The UN Secretary General António Guterres, speaking in the build-up to World Radio Day 2018 states,
“Radio reaches the widest audience in the world! In an era of dramatic advances in communications, radio retains its power to entertain, educate, inform and inspire. It can unite and empower communities and give voice to the marginalized” 1
Whilst the Endangered Archives Programme is more widely known for digitising vulnerable collections of manuscripts, books, newspapers and other written or visual based mediums, we have also funded a number of audio digitisation projects. Several of these are available to listen to now on BL Sounds, including two important collections of digitised radio archives from Iran and Micronesia. For this post celebrating World Radio Day we thought it would be a good opportunity to highlight these two collections and feature a few of the recordings from the thousands that are available for you to listen to freely.
Micronesia - Endangered Micronesian recordings (EAP115)
This eclectic collection of sound recordings from Micronesia were digitised with the help of the Micronesian Seminar (MicSem), a research-pastoral institute founded by the Catholic Church in 1972. The project team were made aware of hundreds of audio tapes sitting on the shelves of government radio stations throughout the region that were in danger of being lost. These tapes contained a rich and diverse collection of recordings played on local radio from the 1950s right up until the early 21st century. Many had already been lost or destroyed, some through theft and others damaged in natural disasters. These low-lying islands are regularly threatened by typhoons and some are already seeing the consequences of climate change. Many of the islands have already lost land mass due to erosion caused by rising sea levels, some are likely to disappear completely within the coming decades, and others have even been lost altogether within living memory. The threat of typhoons, rising sea levels and the usual factors that endanger vulnerable archives – poor storage conditions, theft, pests, humidity, decay and degradation of the original medium, etc. – uniquely placed these radio archives in need of preservation.
The project mainly digitised recordings from government radio stations in Majuro, Marshall Islands; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap, Federated States of Micronesia; and Koror, Palau. The project team also digitised recordings from a number of private radio stations, including V6AJ on Kosrae, and some from former Palau national congress Senator Alfonso Diaz’s private radio station (WWFM). Other sources for recordings include private individuals and the Liebenzel Mission and Catholic Church media studio in Chuuk.
The recordings feature a wide variety of musical styles and chart the evolution of music in the region, with recordings ranging from traditional music, religious chants and hymns, to acoustic rock and reggae songs. Given the importance music has on the islands, these recordings can give some context into the cultural evolution of these island societies.
Over 7000 recordings available to listen to here.
025A-CEAP115X2X71-002ZA0
CEAP115/2/71/2 - Danpei Youth Christian Association, Ai Koun mehlel kapakap nan mwehdiwelo
CEAP115/4/80/2 - Unnamed girls from Woleai, A happy celebration song
025A-CEAP115X1158-006ZA0
CEAP115/1/158/6 - Mobil Team Youth, Non ai nonom on fanufan
CEAP115/2/122/6 - Black Ruru, Ese wor mwo emon lukun en
Iran - The Golha radio programmes (Flowers of Persian Song and Poetry) (EAP088)
Abdolvahab Shahidi with accompanying musicians © Golha Project
The Golha radio programmes were broadcast on Iranian National Radio between 1956 and 1979 and consist of a mixture of musical pieces, poetry, and literary commentary. They were the brainchild of Davoud Pirnia, a one-time Assistant Prime Minister who harboured a deep love for Persian culture and its rich literary and musical traditions, and who devoted himself to producing the Golha programmes upon his retirement from political life in 1956. The foremost literary, academic and musical talents of his day offered Mr. Pirnia their collaboration and support, and many of the greatest Iranian vocalists of the twentieth century saw their careers launched on these radio programmes. The programmes constitute an unrivalled encyclopaedia of classical Persian music and poetry. Over 250 poets were introduced to the general public at the time of these broadcasts and they helped to reintroduce and preserve Persian classical music and poetry.
Prior to the digitisation of the Golha radio programmes, these recordings were previously inaccessible to students and scholars of Persian poetry and music. The original tapes were scattered between a number of different archives and private collections with no single archive containing all recordings. The Iranian government withheld access to their archives of music broadcast before the 1979 Islamic revolution, especially those which feature female voices (which all of the Golha programmes contain). Because of the regime's ideological stance to this type of music in particular, it was unlikely they would have committed the resources needed to preserve these recordings. Thanks to the hard work of the EAP088 project team, this important collection of recordings is now saved and freely available both on BL Sounds and the Golha website.
The first of these series of programmes, Golha-yi Javidan (Immortal Flowers of Song and Verse), began its broadcast on March 21 1956 and it concluded, as did all further episodes, with
“This has been an immortal flower from the peerless rose garden of Persia Literature, a flower that shall never perish. Good night”
(In ham goli bud javidan az golzar-e bi-hamta-ye adab-e Iran, goli ke hargez namirad. Shab khosh!).2
1296 recordings available to listen to here.
025A-CEAP088X1X02-001ZA0v2
CEAP088/1/2/1 - Gulha-yi Javidan 1
CEAP088/1/4/29 - Gulha-yi Sahra'i 29
1 World Radio Day Message from UN Secretary General, Mr António Guterres
2 LEWISOHN, J., ‘Flowers of Persian Song and Music: Davud Pirnia and the Genesis of the Golha Programs’, Journal of Persianate Studies (2008) 1, 79-101
Robert Miles, EAP Cataloguer
Posted by Jody Butterworth at 6:30 AM
Middle East, Music, Oceania, Song, Sound and vision, Traditional music
An Abundance of Bulgarian Bagpipes
I am sure that I am not the only one who, every-so-often, talks about work over the dinner table. The reason for my excitement was because of the new EAP website that, for the first time, allows for keyword searches and also offers the ability to zoom into the images to really capture the finer details that were lost before. To illustrate what the new platform can offer, I chose the word ‘bagpipe’, to see what could be unearthed. My husband, who plays several types, suddenly lost all interest in his meal, which became colder and colder as he scrolled through the 1940s photographs of Bulgarian bagpipes (gaida) that had appeared on the computer screen.
EAP103/1/3/10/56
What I hadn’t expected was my own newly found interest in Bulgarian pipes and desire to learn more.
The gaida is made from goatskin that is placed in salt for several days and then reversed so that the fur is on the inside, which apparently helps prevent the build-up of moisture as the musician blows into the instrument. The hindquarters are removed and sewn up, the two front leg holes are used for the blow pipe (duhalo) - to inflate the bag, and for the drone (ruchilo), which is the longest pipe made of three sections providing a continuous and harmonious note to accompany the melody, played on the chanter (gaidanitsa). This has seven holes and is connected to the neck opening. Both drone and chanter contain single cane reeds.
EAP103/1/3/9/28 Parts of a bagpipe (l-r) chanter with bead decoration, drone pipe, blow pipe
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bagpipes were traditionally played by men to while away the time in the rural countryside taking care of their herds. Boys were expected to learn by ear and then go off and practise during the long working day. However, Maria Stoyanova, who fell in love with the gaida, was the first professional female player and has become one of the country’s most gifted instrumentalists. She started by sneakily playing her father’s pipes while no one was around to hear.
To be a good player you need to have gaidarski prŭsti or ‘bagpiper’s fingers’. This refers to the ornamentation that flourishes the melody and provides individuality to a folk tune.
Although the bagpipe has its roots in rural life, the website word search also brought up studio photographs of people in traditional dress and holding a bagpipe. I am not convinced that either of these two sitters can actually play the instrument. In the first example the sitter does not know where to place his hands and the second sitter, may have just been nervous of the camera but, to me, he seems to be holding the instrument with quite a bit of trepidation.
EAP103/1/2/1/55 A studio photograph
EAP103/1/3/2/137 A studio photograph
It is the sequence of photographs in a maker’s workshop that I fell in love with. You see the interior of the room, with piles of wood blanks waiting to be made into dones, finished bagpipes waiting to be sold, and the maker at his bench. A row of notched wooden sticks seem to indicate where the seven finger holes should be placed. But it is the last photograph in the series, which is just so wonderful – the maker just having played his newly finished instrument. The face is somewhat blurred and I would like to believe this is because the photographer has a slightly shaky hand after hearing the beautiful sound, but what hasn’t been lost is the pride on the maker’s face.
EAP103/1/3/5/92 Inside a maker's workshop
EAP103/1/3/5/90 Working at his hand-driven lathe
EAP103/1/3/5/96 (detail) Finger hole marking templates
EAP103/1/3/5/95 The finished instrument
There are two types of gaida. The smaller, slightly higher pitched instrument (djura) performs a slow melancholic song, without an obvious beat, known as bavna pesen, often played at a wedding, when the bride’s family hands over their daughter to the groom. In complete contrast it can also play upbeat dance tunes called horo for weddings and other festivals. The second type of instrument is larger (known as a kaba) and originates from the Rhodope mountains. There is even an orchestra made up of 100 kaba gaida, and when I listened to them on the internet, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I have a feeling that I know where we will be spending our next summer holiday...
But do have a play on the new website for yourself and see what the keyword search will uncover for you.
Rice, T. (2004) Music in Bulgaria: Experiencing music, expressing culture Oxford; New York, Oxford University Press
Rice T. (2011) "Evaluating Artistry on the Bulgarian Bagpipe" in Ethnomusicological encounters with music and musicians: essays in honor of Robert Garfias Surrey, England: Burlington VT Ashgate Publishing
Video of a televised concert of 333 bagpipe players - old and young, boys and girls
Europe, Music, Photographs, Traditional music
New collections online - April 2016
In April six collections were made available through the EAP website and BL Sounds. The variety of subjects, locations, and types of record really highlight the broad range of projects that the Endangered Archives Programme is involved in.
EAP190: Digitising archival material pertaining to 'Young India' label gramophone records
1427 recordings can be listened to on BL Sounds
Related record label ephemera, including catalogues and advertisements
Young India record and sleeve
The project digitised gramophone records, disc labels, record catalogues and publicity material from ‘The National Gramophone Record Manufacturing Company Ltd. Bombay’, which issued records under the ‘Young India’ label between 1935-1955. The company produced over 10,000 titles on 78-rpm, 10 inch diameter shellac discs with two songs per disc. The recordings of film, popular, classical and folk music, as well as educational material were issued mainly from amateur or up-and-coming artists. They feature music from different regions of India, sung in many different languages. The recordings have never been reissued on audio tape or CD and are therefore now available for many people to listen to for the first time. We have already received some great feedback about this collection, including one person who recalled his music teacher many years ago telling the students about Young India and how he used to be a tabla player for the label and regular D V Paluskar accompanist. He was delighted to find that he could now hear the actual music that his teacher talked about all those years ago. Hopefully, with this collection now available for anyone to listen to worldwide, many more people will discover or rediscover the recordings from the Young India label.
EAP468: To preserve Indian recordings on 'Odeon' label shellac discs
Odeon record label advert
This project digitised shellac discs, record labels and associated ephemera from the Odeon record label. Odeon label shellac discs were issued in India between 1912-1938. The company produced over 2,000 titles of north and south Indian music. About 600 titles [1,200 songs] have survived and are with private collectors
Odeon label shellac discs were issued in India in two phases: during 1912-16; and during 1932-38. During the first phase, Odeon's first Indian recordings were made in late 1906 on a grand tour that took the engineers from Calcutta to Benares, then on to Lucknow, Cawnpore, Delhi, Amritsar, Lahore, Bombay and finally back to Calcutta. In all, they recorded some 700 titles, which were duly shipped back to Berlin for processing and manufacture in what was then the established worldwide pattern. Disc records manufactured and pressed in Germany were shipped back to India by 1908. Gramophone records were the only mode of public and family entertainment in that period. Because of the diversity of language and cultural taste, Odeon's engineers recorded a great deal of regional music for local consumption. In a time before film music swept regional variations away, Odeon's activities allowed Indians to listen to the music that would otherwise have been irretrievable. Very few disc records from this period have survived.
In the second phase, the Odeon disc manufacturing company operated during 1932-38. Its operations were mainly from Mumbai and Madras and the company produced over 2,000 titles in north and south Indian music. At this time, radio and film songs had just entered the entertainment era. Disc manufacturing and distribution activity continued until the outbreak of World War II. Because of the embargo imposed on German goods, the company had to wind up their business in India, leaving behind hundreds of titles. The musical genre recorded on these discs include drama songs, speeches, folk music, classical music, drama sets, skits and plays, vocal and instrumental music.
EAP462: Preservation of Kaya district colonial archives and assessment of the potential and feasibility of recovering other former district capitals' collections, Burkina Faso
EAP462/1/1/6 - Telegrams
This project digitised a wide variety of documents related to the administration of the Cercle de Kaya colonial district. They are of interest to a wide range of historical study fields: population, politics, economy, development, customary law. These documents provide an insight into the local intricacies of the administration, politics, economy and social life of the district.
The material in Kaya though was at risk of neglect, physical deterioration and destruction. The documents were stacked on shelves and on the floor in a shed behind the administrative buildings, exposed to dust and moisture and at the mercy of rats, termites and mildew. More recent documents continued to be piled haphazardly on top of the old colonial ones. These colonial archives that for decades had been piled up in a shed in the former colonial district capital, Kaya, were packed up and transported to the Centre National des Archives (CNA) in Ouagadougou. At the CNA, the documents were thoroughly dusted and subsequently sorted, selected and subjected to an initial analysis. The documents were sorted into 4,200 files, with an average of 20 documents per file. Of these, about 40% were from the period 1919-1960 and eligible for digitisation.
Unfortunately, very little metadata was provided with this collection so file descriptions and titles are very limited. If you would like to volunteer your time to making this collection a more usable resource, please get in touch with us.
EAP650: Grima in Caloto Viejo: archiving Afro-Colombian history
This project made an inventory of the historical, notarial and judicial collections held in Caloto’s alcaldía (town hall), Colombia, and digitised a sample of the most valuable and damaged documents.
First founded in 1543, Caloto Viejo (Old Caloto) was the administrative capital of a wide region northeast of Popayán that included Native American groups, European settlers, their enslaved Africans, and maroon communities formed by escaped slaves. By the 1940s this rural region had not yet experienced industrialisation, yet many of Caloto Viejo’s towns had become autonomous districts. Now only the head of a small municipality, Caloto still houses the pre-modern documents of Caloto Viejo.
Caloto Viejo’s documents are crucial for Afro-Colombian history. Caloto and adjacent regions of the Cauca constituted the nineteenth century heartland of slavery, with Julio Arboleda’s massive Japio estate in Caloto the towering symbol of landholding power. The archives of Caloto are important for tracing the wider history of elites, native Americans, and Africans, and essential for salvaging the local history of important Afro-Colombian towns such as Puerto Tejada or the scholarly unknown maroon community of Caricacé with unique linguistic traditions, whose documentary history exists only in the endangered collections of Caloto.
EAP688: Digitisation of the Deed books in Saint Vincent for the slavery era, 1763-1838
EAP688/1/1/72 - Deed book 1822-1823
This project digitised surviving Deed books for Saint Vincent from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
The Eastern Caribbean Court House, St Vincent, holds numerous historic manuscript documents connected with the colonial administration of the island. The earliest records date from 1763, when Saint Vincent was ceded to Britain at the end of the Seven Years’ War, until 1838, the date when Apprenticeship for slaves ended in the British Caribbean and slave emancipation was fully implemented in accordance with the Emancipation Act of 1834.
The Deed books include important material for researchers. After 1763, Saint Vincent was drawn into the orbit of slavery in the British Empire. Its sugar plantation sector expanded rapidly after that date and the island became (along with other Windward Islands such as Dominica, Grenada and Tobago) a new, expanding frontier for British slavery. The Deed books, compiled in the offices of the island’s Colonial Secretary and the Registrar, proved a comprehensive record of all land and property transactions carried out during the seventy-five years when slave plantations were the main type of investment and employment on the island. The Deed books are large bound volumes that are available for every year in the period from 1763 to 1838. The land and property details recorded in these records provide the names of investors, along with their occupation and residence, and precise financial details, either in sterling or in the island’s currency. The information on investors includes whites and free blacks, men and women, and absentee residents (in other West Indian Islands or in Britain) as well as those living in Saint Vincent. The financial information is wide-ranging. Credit transactions are included. Mortgages, annuities, loans and bonds are all specified, with the names of the parties involved. The Deed books contain much material on slave sales between individuals connected with Saint Vincent and they also have information on slave manumissions. Where sugar plantations are identified in these records, the numbers, and sometimes the valuations, of slaves are given. This is particularly useful for researchers for the period from 1763 to 1815 because it was not until after the end of the Napoleonic Wars that slave registration was commonly carried out throughout the British Caribbean.
EAP749: The narrative and ritual texts, narrative paintings and other performance related material belonging to the Buchen of Pin Valley, India
EAP749/2/3/9 - Statue: Kunda (Wylie sku 'dra)
The Buchen are performers of specialist rituals, travelling actors, healers and exorcists, and disciples of the 14th/15th century Tibetan ‘crazy saint’ Tangtong Gyalpo. They reside in the culturally Tibetan Pin Valley in North India and are most famous for performing an elaborate exorcism ritual called the ‘Ceremony of Breaking the Stone’.
Buchen enact dramatisations of popular folk-tales, Buddhist morality plays which illustrate principles of karma and ideas of impermanence and are frequently enlivened with comedy. Buchen spread the teachings of Buddha through entertainment. These performances are related to the Tibetan Opera and to a tradition of lay religious performers called lama manipa, who retell the life stories of Tibetan saints whilst pointing out key scenes on narrative painted cloth scrolls (thangkas) with a metal pointer. Buchen theatrical performances contain a similar manipa-like introduction.
This project digitised or took images of a variety of texts, paintings and objects associated with these traditions, including images of masks, clothing, instruments and objects used in performances; thangkas; handwritten decorated and unbound Tibetan books (pecha).
EAP749/3/2/1 - Drowa Zangmo Thankga
EAP749/3/4/1 - Meme Buchen in full costume
Americas, Asia, Buddhism, India, Music, Printed texts, Rare books, Religious records, Slavery, Song, Sound Archive, South Asia, Traditional music, Visual arts, West Africa
Stories they tell: clues from endangered archives
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Documents, manuscripts, photographs and sound recordings that capture much of the world’s memory are preserved in vulnerable collections around the globe. If they perish, part of history is irrevocably lost. In the past, efforts to preserve these collections and make them available for scholarly interpretation often meant removing them to the safety of western libraries. Though well intentioned, these actions frequently had unintended consequences. Preserved and available to scholars, the materials became inaccessible to the communities whose history they captured. This had a twofold effect: it impaired the communities’ ability to write their own history and at the same time, by detaching documents from original context, led to the loss of an important layer of historical information.
EAP039 Buddhist manuscripts from the library of the remote Gangtey monastery in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan © Dr Karma Phuntsho
The Endangered Archives Programme uses digitisation to preserve records and to make them freely accessible to all, without removing original materials from their custodians. Whenever possible the projects help the keepers to secure the survival of the original documents. Because the materials are often too fragile to be handled on a regular basis, the digital surrogates frequently provide the only point of access not only for scholars worldwide, but also for local readers. By making digital records available to all, the programme ensures that the history they capture is open to wide audiences, multiple perspectives and diverse interpretations.
EAP334 Locating and digitising manuscripts in Wolof Ajami script, written by members of the Muridiyya Sufi order founded in Senegal in 1883 © Dr Fallou Ngom
The “From Dust to Digital” volume, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Endangered Archives Programme, showcases the historical importance and research potential of the digitised collections. The open access online version of the book is designed to ensure that not only the primary sources, but also the research they have inspired, are freely available to all. The book brings together 19 articles from the 244 projects that the programme has supported since its inception. We asked the authors to focus on the digitised collections, but gave them complete freedom in choosing specific questions they wanted to explore. The intention was to ensure that the volume illustrates a wide range of research that the EAP collections make possible.
The chapters discuss inscriptions in Libya; manuscripts in India, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mali; archival records in Bulgaria, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Nigeria, Senegal, Palestine; photographic collections in Argentina, India, Russia and Cameroon; and sound recordings from Guinea, Iran and the Russian Federation. The articles tackle the fundamental problems of transcribing and translating – sometimes for the very first time – languages that have nearly fallen silent. They investigate historical transmission of texts and explore the processes underlying collection formation. They bring to light unknown events and cast new light on historical phenomena. They provide vivid insights into local and even personal histories.
EAP526 The priests of May Wäyni monastery with their manuscripts, Ethiopia © Professor Michael Gervers
Many of the contributions stress the importance of the original context for our understanding of the materials. The physical location of inscriptions within a landscape; the ceremonies preceding a reading of a manuscript; the place that a manuscript or a photograph holds within a larger collection, are all important for our interpretation of these documents. Without them we can only see a part of the story.
Most of the sources discussed here were not previously subjects of scholarly attention. We hope that this publication will open new debates and inspire scholars to explore the archives preserved by the Endangered Archives Programme. We also hope that open access to both the primary sources and to the articles in the “From Dust to Digital” volume will encourage future authors to make their research freely available to all.
Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library, with Ambassador of the Lao Embassy, H.E. Mr. Sayakane Sisouvong and the 3rd Secretary, Mr Moungkhoun Chansavath at the book launch held at the Library on the 17th February 2015.
Gabriela Ramos and Evelyne Mesclier browsing through the publication.
Dr Maja Kominko
Cultural Grants Manager at Arcadia and the editor for the publication “From Dust to Digital”
Africa, Americas, Arabic, Asia, Buddhism, Digital images, Government records, India, Islam, Manuscripts, Music, Periodicals, Photographs, Printed texts, Religious records, Slavery, Sound Archive, Traditional music
Flowers of Persian Song and Music
Today is Persian New Year known as Nowruz. It celebrates the first day of spring and so to mark
the occasion we have another guest blog, this time from Jane Lewisohn who was
the grant holder for EAP088, a project about Persian poetry and music.
The Golha (‘Flowers of Persian Song and Music’) radio programmes were broadcast on Iranian National Radio for 23 years from 1956 through 1979, comprising approximately 850 hours of programmes made up of literary commentary with the declamation of poetry, which was sung with musical accompaniment interspersed with solo musical pieces. The programmes were the brainchild of Davoud Pirnia, a one-time Assistant Prime Minister, enthusiastic patriot and scholar who harboured a deep love for Persian culture and its rich literary and musical traditions. He retired from political life in 1956, for the next eleven years he devoted himself tirelessly to producing of the Golha programmes. The foremost literary, academic and musical talents of his day offered Mr. Pirnia their collaboration and support. The greatest Iranian vocalists of the twentieth century saw their careers launched on these radio programmes. Besides having such a rich pool of talent at his fingertips, Mr Pirnia had the support of the Director of the Iranian National Radio (1950–1960s), Nusrato’llah Mu‘niyan who transformed the radio from a commercial advertising platform for entertainers and a parking place for relatives of political elites into a respected and influential vehicle for the preservation and promotion of Persian culture. The Golha programmes became exemplars of excellence in the sphere of music literature, setting standards that are still looked up to in Iran today, referred to by scholars and musicians as an encyclopaedia of Persian music and poetry. Most of the great ballads and songs in modern Persian literature were commissioned specifically for these programmes.
Davoud Pirnia © Golha Project
Mr. Pirnia produced five different categories of programme: ‘Perennial Flowers’ (Golha-yi javidan, up to 157), ‘Particoloured Flowers’ (Golha -yi rangarang, 481), ‘A Green’ (Barg-i sabz, 312), ‘A Single Rose’ (Yik shakh-i gol, 465), ‘Desert Flowers’ (Golha-yi ṣaḥra’i, 64), each featuring choice selections from the lyrics of the great classical, and contemporary Persian poets, combining song, declamation with musical accompaniment, learned commentary and Persian folk music.
The Golha marked a watershed in Persian culture. Heretofore, due to the conservative socio-religious bias, serious music had been practised behind closed doors. Where performed in public spaces, performers were branded as street minstrels. Due to the high literary and musical quality of these programmes, public perception of music and musicians in Iran shifted and its participants became referred to—for the first time—as maestros, virtuosos, divas and adepts of a fine art, no longer inhabiting the lowest rung of the social ladder.
The Golha programmes were so popular that people organized their schedules around listening to the broadcasts. The Golha programmes also evoked a neo-classical revival in Persian song and verse of the late Qajar period which were re-interpreted and performed by modern musicians and vocalists, and likewise promoted Persian vernacular music that was carefully researched, recorded, and broadcast, thus helping to preserve both the vernacular and classical traditions of Persian music and poetry which were under threat from influences outside and within Iran that wished to modernize the society.
The most important effect of the Golha programmes on Iranian society, (illiteracy was 85% in the 1950s –1960s), was that they accustomed people to hearing good poetry and good music, re-introducing over 560 Persian poets from the ancients to the moderns, thus reinvigorating interest in classical Persian literature. The Divans of poets never properly edited and published before suddenly became in high demand!
When Pirnia retired 1967, several other musicians, scholars and poets, succeeded him. In 1972, Hushang Ibtihaj, a well-known modern Persian poet, took responsibility for the programmes, changing their name, consolidating all the various types of ‘flowers’ into one programme called ‘Fresh Flowers’ (Golha-yi tazeh, 201). Ebtehaj patronized the revival of interest in Persian music of the Qajar period (1794-1925); as a partial result of Ebtehaj’s vision, a movement to preserve and cultivate the traditions of Persian urban art music is still alive and flourishing in present-day Iran.
Concert © Golha Project
The “Golha Project” began in early 2005 with a pilot project supported by the Iran Heritage Foundation, the British Institute of Persian Studies and the Department of Music at SOAS to see if was possible to collect, archive and digitalise the Golha programmes. Following the success of the pilot project, over the next two years, with the support of the Department of Music at SOAS and British Library Endangered Archives Programme (EAP), assisted by many generous private and institutional collectors in Iran, France, Germany, Canada and the United States, all the Golha programmes were collected. In July 2007, a digital copy of the complete Golha archive was deposited in the British Library’s World Sound Archive.
In 2008, the second phase of the Golha project was launched, supported by the Iran Heritage Foundation, the British Academy, the Parsa Foundation, British Institute of Persian Studies and the Department of Music at SOAS. To construct a searchable, relational database for the Golha programmes which includes bio-bibliographical data on the performers and authors, photographs, musical notation of the songs and transcriptions of the poetry. The database is searchable through a purpose-built website allowing one to search it by programme name, number, singer of the avaz and tarana, song writer, poet of the avaz, first line of the song or poem sung, name of the song, instrument, musician, composer, name of poet whose poetry is sung or declaimed, poetic genre, dastgah or avaz and gusha of the music performed, etc.
The searchable relational database for this important archive, has become a unique cultural resource for students and lovers of Persian culture and a teaching tool for Persian music and Persian literature in many Universities in Europe and North America, was launched in August 2012, with the support of Iran Heritage Foundation, and is available Completely free for all to access at. www.golha.co.uk.
Since 2005, many other archives and important collections have been collected by or donated to the Golha project, including folk recordings, private recordings and additional archives of radio programmes, comprising thousands of hours of twentieth-century Persian music. Some of these resources have already been digitalised, but over 1000 reel and cassette recordings still need to be digitalised, archived, indexed and included in the Golha database. It is our hope that in its future phases, the Golha Project will find the support it needs to make this intangible cultural heritage of Iran freely available to all there by the revealing the important role Iran’s cultural heritage has played in shaping world culture.
For more information on the Golha project please refer to
http://www.iranheritage.org/golha_project/default.htm or jane@golha.co.uk.
Jane Lewisohn director of the Golha Project
Research associate Music Department SOAS, University of London
http://www.golha.co.uk/
Posted by Jody Butterworth at 12:04 PM
Music, Song, Sound Archive, Traditional music
Syliphone - an early recording label from Guinea
It is with great pleasure that we have Dr Graeme Counsel as our guest blogger this month. Graeme has worked tirelessly to digitise music from Guinea. Do read this fascinating account of his time there and how the Syliphone Label came to be formed.
My three EAP projects focused on the archiving of the music of the Republic of Guinea. In 1958 Guinea embarrassed France by voting “Non” to an offer of autonomy in a confederation of states and instead chose complete independence. Under the Presidency of the young and charismatic Sékou Touré (1958-1984), Guinea was one of the leading proponents of pan-Africanism and the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union).
Sékou Touré saw the development of a national identity as key to the progress of his nation. The development of culture was thus central to his government, and Sékou Touré took control of music production in Guinea through a broad cultural policy called “authenticité”. Under the policy, all private orchestras were disbanded, with the government creating new state-sponsored orchestras in each of Guinea’s 35 prefectures. The musicians of the orchestras were instructed to modernise their local musical traditions via the new Western instruments which were a feature of their groups. The government bought them their musical instruments, paid them a wage, and created national arts festivals in which their groups performed. Under authenticité all foreign music was banned from the radio, and here the government filled the gap by building a state of the art recording studio and creating its own recording label, Syliphone. The music of Syliphone was recorded on magnetic tape at the studios of Radio Télévision Guinée (RTG). Some of the music was released as 33.3 rpm and 45rpm vinyl discs; all of it was broadcast by the RTG on one of the largest radio transmitters in West Africa. Sékou Touré sent his orchestras and ensembles on tours throughout the region and continent, where they were a sensation. The result of all of these efforts and the authenticité policy was a remarkable period of creativity which saw Guinean musicians as pioneers in the creation of African popular music. Guinean music had become the voice of a new Africa.
Radiodiffusion Télévision Guinée (RTG) offices in Boulbinet
My first EAP project was to reconstruct the entire Syliphone catalogue of 750 songs released on 160 vinyl discs. The government’s own archive of this collection had been destroyed in the counter-coup of 1985, when jet planes bombed the national broadcaster, home of the offices of the RTG. Since the mid 1960s the RTG had housed the sound archive, the actual contents of which were something of a mystery. My Syliphone project proceeded extremely well and in September 2008, in time for Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence celebrations, I presented to the government the complete collection of Syliphone music digitised to compact discs. The collection was exhibited at the Musée National and in recognition the government awarded me their highest academic honour, the gold medal of the Palme Académique en Or. Such a high profile gave me considerable leverage. The swathes and labyrinths of red tape and bureaucracy required to access the RTG, a difficult place to gain access to, were slowly swept away, and I will never forget the first time I entered the sound archive. What I had heard and imagined the archive to consist of, perhaps 50 audio reels, turned into an Aladdin’s Cave of perhaps 1,000 reels. All I could do in the few weeks that remained of my project was to digitise and preserve as many of them as I could. I applied for a 2nd EAP project to archive the remainder, and returned in 2009 to complete the project.
Shortly after I left Guinea in 2008, Guinea’s long serving President Lansana Conté died. This heralded a coup and a new military regime, which was in power when I arrived in August 2009 and which was becoming increasingly unpopular. Guineans had suffered under one party/military rule since 1958 and the protests grew increasingly violent. On 28 September 2009 the Guinean army attacked an opposition rally and 187 civilians lost their lives with nearly 2,000 injured. Following this tragedy I realised that working at the RTG would be impossible. It was likely that the army would split, that civil war may result, that anything could happen, and when it did that the RTG (with its national TV and radio broadcasting monopoly) would be taken over by armed force. This has been the history of Guinea’s conflicts, and thousands were leaving the capital as the situation grew very uncertain. I was one of the last foreigners living downtown when, with the full support of the EAP and under the direct advice of the British and Australian governments, I had to leave and abandon the project. Shortly after the President and leader of the military junta was shot in the head, though he survived...
In 2010 Guinea’s first democratically elected government was in office, and in 2012, with a third EAP budget, I returned to Guinea to complete the archiving at the RTG. I worked as fast as I could, given my previous experiences, and the fact that the government had already suffered one coup attempt. In 2008 I archived 69 audio reels of music. In 2009 I had archived 229 reels, and from September 2012 to January 2013 I archived 827 reels and achieved the completion of the archiving project. In total 9,410 songs were preserved and digitised. 99.9% of the material was Guinean music, with the bulk recorded during the era of President Sékou Touré. The archive is thus a testament to his government and to the policy of authenticité. It captures an important era of African history, that of the independence period, when anti-colonial and anti-imperial rhetoric abounded and governments and artists alike looked to Africa’s history and culture for inspiration.
To celebrate the completion of the project the Ministry of Culture held a soirée. Many dignitaries were present including all of the chefs d’orchestre of the National Orchestras. There was a large media presence and the event was broadcast live on many radio stations. The Prime Minister sent his congratulations. Many speeches were given and the event concluded with performances by two orchestras – Keletigui et ses Tambourinis and the all-female orchestra Les Amazones de Guinée. Here is a video excerpt of their performance.
The RTG archive contains many unique recordings which have never been heard outside of Guinean radio. A large proportion of the music has not been broadcast in over 20 years, as it was politically sensitive and subject to censorship. The list of artists and musicians represented in the archive is a who’s who of Guinean and African music. There are many unreleased recordings by major stars such as Kandia Sory Kouyaté, Bembeya Jazz National, Fodé Conté, and Kadé Diawara, in addition to hundreds of unreleased recordings by Guinea’s National and Regional orchestras, troupes and ensembles. There is also a wealth of material by famous Guinean artists who, as they were never commercially recorded, are virtually unknown outside of Guinea. Some of these include Farba Tela (an inspiration to Ali Farka Touré), Mama Kanté, Binta Laaly Sow, Koubia Jazz, and Jeanne Macauley. The archive collection also features thousands of traditional songs from all of Guinea’s regions and ethnic groups. Ethnomusicologists will find a treasure trove of material to assist their research.
All songs are catalogued in the British Library's Sound and Moving Image Catalogue and are available to listen to in the reading rooms. They can also be accessed at Guinea’s national library which is housed in the Musée National complex in Boulbinet, Conakry. The complete catalogue of the RTG recordings is available for download from my website – www.radioafrica.com.au.
Africa, Music, Sound Archive
Dongjing musical scores feature on Music in the British Library
Today I have the pleasure of featuring as guest blogger on the new Music in the British Library blog. My post discusses dongjing music scores (and other records including video and audio recitals of performances and interviews) received as part of two EAP projects:
EAP012 Salvage and preservation of dongjing archives in Yunan, China: transcript, score, ritual and performance
EAP209 Survey on surviving donging archives in Jianshui, Tonghai and Mengzi
The new Music in the British Library blog will be featuring news about the Music Collections here at the Library as well as announcements of events, activities and music-related projects. Well worth a look.
Posted by Lynda Barraclough at 10:38 AM
China, Music
Endangered archives blog recent posts
June Accessions
Making dongjing records available
Tweets by EAP
Gods and Demons
Government records
Palm leaf manuscripts
Printed texts
Religious records
Sound Archive
Wood-block prints
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Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine Campaign at NOVA
More than 1,800 people attended a campaign event for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton July 14 at the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center at NOVA’s Annandale Campus. Clinton visited NOVA along with Virginia’s junior U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, the former mayor of Richmond and Virginia governor, who Clinton eventually chose as her running mate in late July. During the campaign event in Annandale, … Continue reading Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine Campaign at NOVA
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Shared Services Center’s Initial Operations to Benefit VCCS Colleges
This summer, Virginia’s community colleges will open a shared services center in Botetourt County, a central component of a longer-term Virginia Community College System (VCCS) effort to increase efficiency by removing administrative burdens from Virginia’s 23 community colleges and the Richmond-based system office. NOVA will be an active participant. Among the expected benefits are an increase in efficiency through standardization, greater customer focus including student … Continue reading Shared Services Center’s Initial Operations to Benefit VCCS Colleges
Annandale Plays Pokémon GO to Interact With Students
The Mark R. Warner Student Services Building (CA) is a hub of activity on the Annandale Campus. The building houses the Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Starbucks and numerous offices that cater to students’ needs – making it a one-stop shop for students. In mid-July, however, staff started to notice a different buzz and realized that students – with their noses buried in their smartphones – … Continue reading Annandale Plays Pokémon GO to Interact With Students
Giles-Brown Appointed as MEC DMS Program Director
Leigh Giles-Brown has been appointed as the new diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) program director at the Medical Education Campus (MEC). Giles-Brown has several years of experience working as an ultrasound educator and professional sonographer. Prior to joining the MEC, she was an assistant professor for the DMS program at Howard Community College (HCC) in Columbia, Maryland, for two years. There, she was an ultrasound instructor, … Continue reading Giles-Brown Appointed as MEC DMS Program Director
Woodbridge Partners With GW to Offer Degree Completion Programs
The Woodbridge Campus has partnered with the George Washington University (GW) to offer two bachelor’s degree completion programs – cybersecurity and integrated information, science and technology (IIST); with an anticipated launch of the Cybersecurity Program in fall 2016 and the IIST Program in spring 2017. This collaborative effort will provide a direct pathway for NOVA transfer students with an associate degree into these bachelor’s degree programs at GW. The … Continue reading Woodbridge Partners With GW to Offer Degree Completion Programs
MEC and Virginia Hospital Center Hosts Camp Med 2016
For the 12th consecutive year, the Medical Education Campus (MEC) and Virginia Hospital Center partnered to offer middle school-aged students the opportunity to learn from local health care professionals. For two sessions, held July 27 to July 1 for rising 6th and 7th graders, and July 25 to 29 for rising 8th and 9th graders, Camp Med is a widely popular week-long summer program for students interested in the health care … Continue reading MEC and Virginia Hospital Center Hosts Camp Med 2016
Manassas Campus Campers Take Flight
The Manassas Campus hosted the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Aviation Career Education Summer (ACE) Academy the week of July 11 to 22. OBAP staff and Manassas faculty planned an exciting two-week camp for 20 area youths ages 13 to 18. During the two weeks, students participated in an array of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities. Additionally, they took exciting off-site field … Continue reading Manassas Campus Campers Take Flight
NOVA Team Ensures Safety and Coordination for Clinton Visit to NOVA
On July 14, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential candidate, visited the Annandale Campus for a one-hour speech, along with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. The College was notified of the candidate’s planned visit a few days before it occurred. Once NOVA learned of Clinton’s proposed visit, a range of daily activities (many lasting until late in the evening) commenced to ensure the safety and security … Continue reading NOVA Team Ensures Safety and Coordination for Clinton Visit to NOVA
NOVA Hosts STEM Summer Academy for High School Students
NOVA hosted a sophisticated multicampus STEM academy for high school students in June. This ambitious project was generated by the work of the NOVA College-wide STEM Initiative (NCSI) team. NCSI initiative was launched in fall 2014. With funding provided by the College and chaired by Dr. Ia Gomez, Manassas Campus associate dean of science and applied technologies, faculty members from STEM disciplines from each NOVA campus have been … Continue reading NOVA Hosts STEM Summer Academy for High School Students
Fisher Gallery Presents “Évoluer” Art Show
The Margaret W. and Joseph L. Fisher Art Gallery at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Center Concert Hall and Arts Center will exhibit unique drawings and painting by Tanya Ziniewicz in the show “Évoluer.” The show will be on display in the gallery from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, September 11 with an artist’s reception on Saturday, August 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. “Évoluer” is made … Continue reading Fisher Gallery Presents “Évoluer” Art Show
Schlesinger Center to Exhibit Raye Leith’s Drawings in “Blueprints”
The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at NOVA’s Alexandria Campus is honored to exhibit the works of artist Raye Leith in her show, “Blueprints,” on display in the Forum and Passage galleries from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, September 11. An artist’s reception is scheduled for Saturday, August 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Leith has been painting and drawing for five decades. … Continue reading Schlesinger Center to Exhibit Raye Leith’s Drawings in “Blueprints”
Auto-Escalation Provides Hybrid Retirement Plan Offers Savings
To encourage employees to maximize their retirement savings, the Hybrid Retirement Plan was designed with an auto-escalation feature. Every three years, employees’ voluntary contributions to their Hybrid 457 Deferred Compensation Plan accounts will automatically increase by 0.5 percent until reaching the maximum of 4 percent. The first automatic escalation takes place January 1, 2017. Employees may opt out of the increase during the fourth quarter … Continue reading Auto-Escalation Provides Hybrid Retirement Plan Offers Savings
Flyers: August 1, 2016
Click read more to view all of the flyers from the upcoming edition. Continue reading Flyers: August 1, 2016
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Catching Up With 3 Rare Disease Families
Posted June 19, 2014 by Ricki Lewis, PhD in Uncategorized
“If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras,” goes the medical mantra. The 7,000 rare diseases are unicorns.
Four-year-old Eliza O’Neill’s viral videos, the subject of my last two blog posts, continue to dominate the news media with another appearance on The Today Show June 17. Hopefully, her family’s fight to fund gene therapy for her rare disease, Sanfilippo syndrome type A, will focus more attention on the entire rare disease community – 30 million people in the U.S. alone.
That’s a lot of families.
Four years ago, I spent the summer getting to know the families whose stories became my gene therapy book. Thanks to social media we’ve stayed in touch, and I’ve met many others. All continue to astonish me. Here’s a catch-up with three families featured in past posts.
Laura King Edwards ran the Thunder Road half marathon blindfolded, in honor of her sister Taylor. Beside her is Dr. Steve Gray, PI of gene therapy trials for two brain diseases.
RUNNING BLIND TO BATTLE BATTEN DISEASE
Laura King Edwards posted at DNA Science a year ago about her younger sister Taylor, now 15, who was diagnosed with ceroid lipofuscinosis, neuronal type 1 – aka Batten disease – when she was 7. Recalls Laura:
“In the worst hour of our lives, we learned that my bright-eyed, golden-haired, intelligent sister – a second grader who loved to sing and dance and run and play – would go blind, have seizures, and lose the ability to walk, talk, and swallow food. She would deteriorate … confined to a wheelchair. She would have to have a feeding tube. Eventually, she would die – blind, bedridden, and unable to communicate.”
Laura eloquently captures her sister’s life and her family’s efforts to help fund a gene therapy clinical trial at her blog, Write the Happy Ending. A post from last week is particularly heartbreaking. Rather than charting her sister’s decline with brain scans or mobility tests, Laura notes that in the 6 weeks between haircuts, Taylor lost the ability to walk. Last week, she had to be carried up the stairs to the hairdresser. This week, she’s in the hospital.
To better get into her sister’s head, Laura runs races blindfolded.
“I do the runs for a variety of reasons. I’ve always been a runner, and running helped me face Taylor’s illness when she was first diagnosed. After watching her run the first of two 5Ks with her Girls on the Run team despite battling Batten disease (and she was already blind at that point), I started running in her honor. I mainly run for Taylor to raise awareness, but my runs have also raised money for Taylor’s Tale. The Thunder Road half marathon I ran with Dr. Steve Gray in November raised money for the (gene therapy) project at the University of North Carolina.
I’ve run 18 races for Taylor. Thunder Road was the only race I ran blind, but I went on 18 blind training runs to get ready for it.
During my months of training to become a blind runner and far more so in the months following the race, my sister slipped farther down the chasm of Batten disease. It is a deep, dark chasm. There are no footholds for climbing out, and some days, no light reaches her ledge. And yet, each day she teaches me something new about courage; each day, she imparts some great piece of wisdom without having to say anything at all.
My next challenge is to run a race in all 50 states for Taylor to continue spreading awareness of Batten disease and build support for the rare disease community. I’m kicking it off this summer!”
HANNAH’S HOPE AND LOVE BALL
Ten-year-old Hannah Sames also has a very rare inherited disease of the nervous system, giant axonal neuropathy (GAN). DNA Science told her story about a year ago too.
In GAN, intermediate filaments composed of a protein called gigaxonin overgrow and run askew, hampering nerve function. Hannah is very slowly losing mobility, and suffers from kidney stones and visual loss, as the lack of gigaxonin in various body parts makes its presence known in ebbing motor and sensory functions.
Dr. Gray (behind Laura in the photo above) began working on gene therapy for GAN before he took on the Batten disease project, and the GAN trial is set to begin within the next few months at the NIH Clinical Center. The trial is largely possible due to the constant networking, meeting-holding, and fundraising efforts of Hannah’s family – parents Lori and Matt, and sisters Reagan and Madison. Their Hannah’s Hope Fund (HHF) was born in the days following the diagnosis in 2008. The highlight is the annual ball, held in February in snowy Albany, NY, near the Sames (and my) home. From Lori:
Doris Buffett’s Sunshine Lady Foundation donated $500,000 in matching funds to Hannah’s Hope Fund for GAN.
“The Hope and Love Ball began 5 years ago when friends, Todd and Beth Silaika and Tim and Lee Wilson, approached us with the idea. The first formal gala in 2010 netted $90,000 and was a Valentine theme, fitting for February. Other themes followed: Monte Carlo, Mardi Gras, Midnight in Paris, and Candyland this year, which netted more than $165,000.
In 2010, HHF was awarded a $500,000 all-or-nothing matching challenge grant from Doris Buffett’s Sunshine Lady Foundation. The deadline to raise the funds was the night of the Ball. Snow kept Ms. Buffett (Warren’s sister) away the evening when more than 450 HHF supporters celebrated the success of the $1.2 million, 6-month “Hope for a Million” fundraising campaign. Ms. Buffett was the highlight of the event the following year.
To date, HHF has raised $6 million in 6 years, grassroots, with the vast majority of funds spent on the GAN gene delivery Investigational New Drug (IND) work. The FDA placed the protocol on “Active” status at the end of May, awaiting IRB approval of the GAN gene delivery system. Then trial recruitment can begin.
Unfortunately, Hannah, the inspiration of HHF, has a homozygous deletion mutation. She isn’t a candidate for the phase 1 trial because only missense mutation patients will initially be included. Hannah is awaiting the results of a non-human primate study aimed at inducing tolerance to an intracellular transgene in the CNS. If tolerance is achieved, it will likely be 10 months to a year before Hannah can receive gene delivery.”
(Hannah doesn’t make gigaxonin at all, and so introducing it into her spinal cord, via healthy genes in viral vectors, could trigger an explosive immune response. The other kids who will be in the trial make abnormal forms of the protein, and so their immune systems are already alerted that gigaxonin is a “self” protein.)
BIKE THE BASIN FOR CURING BLINDNESS
Michael and Mitchell Smedley and their friends brainstormed the Bike the Basin event.
A few months ago at DNA Science, Kristen Smedley told how she and her husband Mike assembled a research team to pursue gene therapy for the CRB1 form of Leber congenital amaurosis, which has robbed their sons Michael and Mitchell of sight.
But the boys are more interested in having fun than recruiting researchers, so they dreamed up the hugely successful Bike the Basin event, a half-mile race at the Northampton Civic Center Basin in Bucks County, PA. Kristen continues.
“Back in summer 2011 when the Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation launched, I asked my kids to come up with a fundraiser that could get their friends involved and start getting the word out about our big mission. I wanted my boys to take the lead because while it’s nice that so many people want to help them due to their blindness, my guys need to be able to show the world that they can help themselves.
We gathered about 15 of their closest friends at my kitchen table and the boys pitched their idea of a bike event fundraiser. The kids brainstormed ideas of how to make it work (with parents taking notes and serving lots of ice cream) and Bike the Basin was born!
Just under three months later, the first event raised $20,000. The first three BTB events raised just over $200,000 combined, and the goal for 2014 (Oct 5th) is $250,000. We’ve raised about $80K so far!”
Hannah and her sisters and parents.
The families who raise funds for gene therapy clinical trials begin with their own relatives in mind and perhaps as a way to channel their anxiety and fear into something productive. But their generosity extends much farther.
As rare disease-based communities form and strengthen, certain individuals emerge as catalysts. Laura King Edwards, Lori Sames, and Kristen Smedley are three.
Gene therapy will almost certainly be too late for Taylor, and possibly for Hannah. But the Smedley boys may one day be able to see. And Eliza O’Neill may find her way into a clinical trial before Sanfilippo syndrome darkens her sunny childhood, thanks to the efforts of the media to share her story, and the kindness of so many strangers. But Eliza is one child, representing one unicorn. There are so many more.
Whatever the future holds, the efforts of these brave families will reverberate for years to come, measured in the numbers of lives improved or saved.
Ricki Lewis, PhD
Ricki Lewis is a science writer with a PhD in genetics. The author of several textbooks and thousands of articles in scientific, medical, and consumer publications, Ricki's first narrative nonfiction book, "The Forever Fix: Gene Therapy and the Boy Who Saved It," was published by St. Martin's Press in March 2012. In addition to writing, Ricki provides genetic counseling for parents-to-be at CareNet Medical Group in Schenectady, NY and teaches "Genethics" an online course for master's degree students at the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical Center.
23andMe ADA deficiency autism Batten disease bioethics breast cancer Canavan disease connectome CRISPR CRISPR-Cas9 cystic fibrosis DNA evolution FDA Foundation Fighting Blindness Francis Collins gene editing gene therapy genetic counseling genetic disease genetic testing genome editing giant axonal neuropathy HD hemophilia human genome Huntington's disease Inferno Leber congenital amaurosis microbiome NORD Parkinson's disease PKU prenatal testing rare disease Rare Disease Day rare diseases retinitis pigmentosa RPE65 Sanfilippo syndrome Saving Eliza Spark Therapeutics spinal muscular atrophy stem cells Wayward Pines
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[HanCinema's Film Review] "Gate"
By William Schwartz on 2018/03/10 at 19:24 PST
2018/03/10 | Permalink
So-eun (played by Jung Ryeo-won) has a problem. Everyone in her apartment building has been getting ensnared in bad contracts from loan shark Min-wook (played by Jung Sang-hoon) and his gang of obvious crooks, so So-eun decides to take a stand against them. Neighborhood ex-cop Gyoo-cheol (played by Im Chang-jung) also insists on helping, though that ridiculous yellow track suit and subservient attitude makes him rather non-threatening.
Really, non-threatening is probably the single best word to describe "Gate" overall. This is a heist movie staffed by buffoons, most of whom are too stupid to even realize that they're in a heist movie. Several bad ideas for dealing with the loan shark problem are addressed and attempted before the entourage of main characters finally realizes that Min-wook is just as dumb as they are and can easily be robbed.
"Gate" is, compared to the typical heist film, characterized by its lack of complexity. In slicker movies, the bad guys have complicated vaults with like a dozen different security measures. In "Gate" no one bothers with those things because do you have any idea how inconvenient that kind of set-up would actually be in real life? The main innovation of modern banking is convenience. If your fake illegal bank can't at least have a pretense of convenience, it is a bad bank.
In screenwriting terms this realism does create a bit of a problem though. When heists are this easy, it's hard to create dramatic tension. Indeed, I worried about the main characters quite a bit more during the earlier part of "Gate" because Min-wook is a thug who will gleefully defy the letter and spirit of any agreement out of sheer spite. By the final act, though, he's practically comic relief, and the only villains who outrank him have almost no characterization.
The plot in "Gate" works a lot better if you think of it as a vehicle for delivering gags rather than storytelling in and of itself. Take the portion of one plan that involves indecent exposure, that goes wrong for predictable reasons. Or the extremely contrived accident, complete with overwrought acting. My favorite was the bit where one character has to call mom for help, in about the last situation you'd ever think to call your mom for help. The entire climax is just a series of wacky cornball moves that improbably cut off all possible obstacles to escape.
While this makes "Gate" a lot funnier than the typical heist movie, that's mostly because the typical heist movie is trying too hard to be cool to do much in the way of jokes. Still, the movie has a decent sense of humor, and the ensemble has pretty good chemistry. Their ultimate victory just feels too easy, is the main problem. There's more ambiguity about whether So-eun will ever make up with her ex-convict father Jang-choon (played by Lee Kyung-young) than there is about the actual heist. Yes, I am describing that plot point only just now in the antepenultimate sentence of this review. It's that irrelevant.
Review by William Schwartz
"Gate" is directed by Shin Jai-ho and features Jung Ryeo-won, Im Chang-jung, Jung Sang-hoon, Lee Kyung-young and Lee Moon-shik.
William Schwartz
Staff writer. Has been writing articles for HanCinema since 2012, having lived in South Korea since 2011. Started out in Gyeongju, then to Daegu, then to Ansan, then to Yeongju, then to Seoul, lived on the road for HanCinema's travel diaries series in the summer of 2016, and is currently settled in Anyang. Has good tips for utilizing South Korea's public bus system. William Schwartz can be contacted via william@hancinema.net.
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"[HanCinema's Film Review] "Gate""
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(게이트 - 2017)
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CVX.V - CEMATRIX Corporation
Previous Close 0.3800
Open 0.3800
Bid 0.3700 x 0
Ask 0.3800 x 0
Day's Range 0.3600 - 0.3800
52 Week Range 0.1600 - 0.3900
Avg. Volume 75,336
Market Cap 21.936M
EPS (TTM) -0.0160
Earnings Date Mar. 30, 2020 - Apr. 05, 2020
1y Target Est N/A
Baystreet
Bear Creek, Ballard, Cematrix at 52-Week Highs
Bear Creek Mining Corporation (V.BCM) hit a new 52-week high of $2.95 Thursday. No news announcements ...
CEMATRIX Corporation to host Investor Webcast on December 17, 2019
CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 11, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation”) today announced that it will host a webcast investor presentation on Tuesday, December.
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces Appointment of Directors
CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 05, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that, at the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the.
Introducing CEMATRIX (CVE:CVX), A Stock That Climbed 36% In The Last Year
The simplest way to invest in stocks is to buy exchange traded funds. But one can do better than that by picking...
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces Two Infrastructure Contracts Worth $6.1 Million; Provides Updated Guidance for 2019 and 2020
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CEMATRIX (Canada) Inc. (“CCI”), MixOnSite USA Inc. (“MOS”) and Pacific International Grout Company (“PIGCO’) has converted $6.1 million in U.S. infrastructure contracts from its verbally awarded project total. One contract was awarded to CEMATRIX’s recently acquired U.S. subsidiary, PIGCO and the other was awarded to CEMATRIX’s other U.S. acquired subsidiary, MOS. The MOS project, valued at $0.7 million CDN, was also a load reducing fill project located on the East coast of the U.S.,” stated Jeff Kendrick, CEMATRIX President and CEO.
CEMATRIX Corporation Third Quarter Results
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 07, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation” or the “Company” or “CEMATRIX”) announces the release of its consolidated financial.
CEMATRIX Corporation Contracts Three Infrastructure Projects Totalling $2.4 Million
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 29, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CEMATRIX (Canada) Inc..
CEMATRIX Corporation Secures a New $4.4 Million Infrastructure Project
Stocks in play: CEMATRIX Corporation
Announced that its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CEMATRIX (Canada) Inc., MixOnSite USA Inc. and ...
CEMATRIX Corporation Secures New Infrastructure Projects Contracts To Date Increase to a Record $33.0 Million
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 04, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) announces that its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CEMATRIX (Canada).
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces Closing of Letter of Credit with Business Development Bank of Canada and Closing of Acquisition of Pacific International Grout Co.
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) is pleased to announce that it has closed the letter of offer, originally offered to CEMATRIX on August 30, 2019, as amended on September 6, 2019 with the Business Development Bank of Canada (the “BDC”) for a total of $2,800,000 (USD) (the “Financing”). The proceeds from the Financing have been used to complete the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Pacific International Grout Co. (“PIGCO”) which was initially announced on January 21, 2019 and updated on March 11, 2019, June 26, 2019, August 14, 2019 and September 9, 2019 (the “Acquisition”). Accordingly, the Acquisition is now completed, subject to receiving final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.
CEMATRIX Corporation Retains Bristol Capital for Investor Relations Services
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V)(CTXXF) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) CEMATRIX announced today that it has entered into an investor relations agreement with Bristol Capital Ltd. ("Bristol"), a leading investor relations and capital markets advisory firm servicing Canadian and US microcap and small cap companies across international markets, to provide investor relations and communication services. Bristol will provide investor relations services to the Corporation, including the development of new and improved investor materials, introductions to Bristol's direct network of investment professionals, coordination of public events and proactive investor relations campaigns to increase the Corporation's exposure in the investment community.
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces Signing of Definitive Agreement for Acquisition of Pacific International Grout Co.
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) is pleased to announce that the share purchase agreement (the “Definitive Agreement”) between the Corporation’s US subsidiary, Cematrix (USA) Inc. (“Cematrix USA”) and Pat Stephens (the “Vendor”), for the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares (the “PIGCO Shares”) of Pacific International Grout Co. (“PIGCO”) which was initially announced on January 21, 2019 has been executed and is anticipated to close on October 1, 2019 (the “Closing Date”), with an effective date of August 31, 2019.
CEMATRIX Corporation to Present at the MicroCap Leadership Summit
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / September 9, 2019 / CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V)(CTXXF) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) CEMATRIX announced today it has been selected to present at the fourth annual MicroCap Leadership Summit, hosted by MicroCapClub, on Friday, September 27, 2019, at the Westin Chicago Northwest Hotel in Itasca, Illinois. The CEMATRIX presentation will be made by CEO Jeff Kendrick. The MicroCap Leadership Summit utilizes a small group format whereby the company will present to approximately 50 retail and institutional microcap investors throughout the day.
CEMATRIX Amends Incentive Options granted to Directors and Employees
CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 28, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation”) has extended the maturity of 1,925,000 incentive stock options by two years. Included.
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces Closing of Fully Subscribed $2.3 Million Private Placement
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) is pleased to announce that further to its press releases dated July 4, 2019 and August 14, 2019, it has completed the second and final tranche of the fully subscribed $2,300,000 non-brokered private placement. The final tranche is for 1,620,000 units (each, a “Unit”) at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of $324,000 (the “Private Placement”). Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant (each a “Warrant”). Each Warrant is exercisable into one common share for a period of two years at an exercise price of $0.30 per common share.
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces Closing of First Tranche of the Private Placement and Intent to Close Acquisition of Pacific International Grout
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated July 4, 2019, it has completed the first tranche and majority of the $2,300,000 non-brokered private placement for 9,880,000 units (each, a “Unit”) at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,976,000 (the “Private Placement”). Each Unit is comprised of one common share and share purchase warrant (each a “Warrant”). Each Warrant is exercisable into one common share for a period of two years at an exercise price of $0.30 per common share.
CEMATRIX Corporation Second Quarter And First Half Results See Large Gains Over 2019
CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 08, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation” or the “Company” or “CEMATRIX”) announces the release of its consolidated financial.
CEMATRIX Corporation Secures New Infrastructure Projects
CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 06, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) announces that its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CEMATRIX (Canada).
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces New Contracts
CALGARY, Alberta, July 18, 2019 -- CEMATRIX Corporation (TSXV: CVX) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) announces that its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, CEMATRIX (Canada).
CEMATRIX Corporation Announces Private Placement
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V) (the “Corporation” or “CEMATRIX”) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 11,500,000 units (each, a “Unit”) at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $2,300,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Corporation (a “Common Share”) and one warrant (each, a “Warrant”). In connection with the Offering, subject to applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange policies, the Corporation may pay a finder's fee and finder's warrants of up to 7% of the gross proceeds of the Offering to certain qualified, non-related parties who act as finders in connection with the Offering.
CEMATRIX Corporation Provides an Update on the Proposed Acquisition of Pacific International Grout Company
CEMATRIX Corporation (CVX.V) (the “Company” or “CEMATRIX”) is pleased to provide an update on the proposed acquisition of Pacific International Grout Company (“Pacific”) which was previously announced on January 18, 2019.
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Racism Versus Kindness, With Waffles
YanLev
It seems like it was a lot longer than just over a year ago when Dylann Roof walked into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina and shot nine people in cold blood because he didn't like the color of their skin. But it was just over a year ago, on June 17, 2015. Later that day, he was taken into custody, alive and unharmed. The police even bought him a snack from Burger King.
Fast forward a little over a year later, and we see the stark video of Terence Crutcher being fatally shot by a police officer after his car broke down. I'm not going to speculate on what happened, but the videos are pretty upsetting. I've written my thoughts about police shootings and what's going on in the country today over here, if you want to read them. But this article isn't about that.
This is about what happened to me, late in the evening the day after I'd heard the news of the church shooting. The nation was still reeling from the tragedy, and I couldn't understand how we could live in a world where we put a man on the moon almost 50 years ago, but we're still fighting over something as stupid as skin color. And I didn't want to think about it anymore.
Which is when something amazing happened.
At around 10:30 that night, I had a sudden craving for waffles and grease as usually happens to me on days ending in -y, and it was my stepson's last night home before heading to his dad's for the next two weeks of summer, so I let him stay up late and the two of us hopped in the car and drove to Waffle House. We were living in Texas at the time, and our favorite Waffle House wasn't far from our home.
When we got there, we walked in and sat down in our usual booth, next to the bar where lonely people sip coffee. And there was a lonely person there, sipping coffee. He smiled and raised his cup to us as we sat down. I smiled back and nodded as I sat down. Trey, my stepson, smiled, then gave the man a little wave and said, "How are you?"
Conversation ensued.
The man's name was Pete. He was a weathered soul, with a thick face and a loud voice. He rode a duct-taped old bicycle and was, as he described, "basically homeless" and living "in a cubby" somewhere nearby. He smiled a lot and wore a cowboy hat.
He and Trey talked back and forth between bar and booth, the old man getting louder and smiling more as Trey got louder and kept smiling back. I don't remember everything they talked about, but the events of the day were lightly touched upon in a vague way. I hadn't told Trey about them, and neither did Pete. But they did talk about what makes people different, and why people who get mad about our differences are stupid.
Eventually, the conversation slowed and we turned our attention to our waffles and our grease. When Pete stood to leave, he came by our table and reached out his hand to shake Trey's. I can't remember what he said to the boy, but I'll always remember what Trey said back to him, because it's a value I've worked really hard to instill in him, and I was proud.
He said, "People like all different things, and it's nobody's business what I like or you like. And it's not our business to bother about what they like, if nobody's hurting anybody."
At that, Pete smiled and exclaimed to the universe at large that Trey had a grown head on a kid's body. Then, he shook my hand and told me I was doing a good job. And then he paid for our meal.
Old cowboy Pete. Sipping coffee alone at the Waffle House, virtually homeless and riding a duct-taped bicycle paid for our meal.
We all walked out together, where we shook hands again and smiled, and it was all one of those Perfect Moments you read about that happen sometimes, but that never happen to you.
This one happened. And I can't think of a better end to a horrible day than that.
Filed Under: shooting
Categories: Crime, Opinion
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My Alarming, Inspiring Encounter with the Late Stephen Hawking
After having a seizure in my arms at a meeting in Sweden, the paralyzed physicist lectured on how we live in a “superspace” with infinite dimensions
By John Horgan on March 14, 2018
Stephen Hawking, who briefly experienced zero gravity during a flight in 2007, said in 1990 we are living in an “infinite-dimensional superspace.” Credit: Jim Campbell Aero-News Network, Flickr
In 1990, while on assignment for Scientific American, I had a close encounter with Stephen Hawking, who just died at the age of 76. I had bulled my way into a symposium, sponsored by the Nobel Foundation, on “The Birth and Early Evolution of Our Universe.” Thirty of the world’s top physicists and cosmologists, including Hawking, had gathered in a rustic, isolated resort in northern Sweden to ponder the riddle of the cosmos.
I arrived late on the first day of the meeting, just as everyone was heading outside for a cocktail party. Hawking, already paralyzed by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, led the procession in his motorized wheelchair. We were within sight of picnic tables bearing reindeer jerky and a potent local brew called wolf’s blood when Hawking’s wheelchair jammed in a rut. His nurse, Elaine Mason (whom Hawking later married), tried to budge the wheelchair, without success. Fixing her eyes on me, she asked if I would carry “Stephen” the rest of the way.
Hawking, when I scooped him up, was disconcertingly light and stiff, like a bundle of sticks. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and found him eyeing me suspiciously. I was uneasy too, even more so moments later when Hawking’s body shuddered violently. His face contorted into an agonized grimace and he emitted a terrible gargling noise. I froze, thinking, Stephen Hawking is dying in my arms!
Mason, noticing Hawking’s distress, and mine, hustled up to us. “Don’t worry,” she said briskly, gathering Hawking into her arms. “This happens to him all the time. He’ll be all right.” Hawking suffered several other seizures during the symposium. Each time I was sure that this was the end.
Hawking not only survived. He was a powerful presence at the meeting. He exuded, somehow, a mysterious, mischievous charisma. He seemed more amused than distressed by his physical plight. His Mick Jagger mouth often curled up at one corner in a grin. He communicated with his left forefinger, laboriously selecting letters, words or sentences from a menu on his computer screen. Many of his utterances were jokes, which a voice synthesizer delivered in an incongruously deep, authoritative voice. He liked responding to colleagues’ cosmic conjectures with one word: “Trivial.”
A high point of the symposium was Hawking’s lecture on quantum cosmology, a field he helped create. Quantum cosmology assumes that at very small scales, matter and energy and even the fabric of space and time flicker between different states. These space-time fluctuations might give rise to wormholes, which could link one region of space-time with another one very far away, or to “baby universes.”
Hawking had stored the hour-long speech, titled “The Alpha Parameters of Wormholes,” in his computer. He had merely to tap a key to prompt his voice synthesizer to read it, sentence by sentence. In his eerie cyber-voice, Hawking discussed whether we might someday be able to slip into a wormhole in our galaxy and pop out the other end in a galaxy far, far away. Probably not, he concluded, because quantum effects would scramble our constituent particles beyond recognition.
He wrapped up his lecture with an upbeat riff on string theory. Although all we see around us is the “mini-superspace” that we call space-time, “we are really living in the infinite-dimensional superspace of string theory.” This ending choked me up. Trapped in a crippled body in this world, Hawking’s imagination could still roam through other realities with infinite degrees of freedom.
Toward the end of the symposium everyone piled into a bus and drove to a nearby village to hear a concert in a Lutheran church. When the scientists entered the church, it was already packed. The orchestra, a motley assortment of blond-haired youths and wizened, bald elders clutching violins, clarinets and other instruments, was seated at the front of the church. Their neighbors jammed the balconies and seats at the rear of the building.
The scientists filed down the center aisle to pews reserved for them at the front of the church. Once again, Hawking led the way in his wheelchair. The townspeople started to clap, tentatively at first, then passionately. These religious folk seemed to be encouraging the scientists, and especially Hawking, in their quest to solve the riddle of existence.
Hawking was a leader of this quest. As early as 1980 he predicted that physics was on the verge of a final theory, which would unite relativity and quantum mechanics into one tidy package and “describe all possible observations.” It would tell us why the big bang banged and spawned this particular cosmos, which allowed for our existence.
In his mega-bestseller A Brief History of Time, Hawking famously declared that a final theory “would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we should know the mind of God.” I could be critical of Hawking. I sometimes doubted whether he actually believed in the possibility of a theory of everything, but his vision thrilled me. He was a giant, a man of immense imagination, courage and ambition. Science will be less exciting without him.
Further Reading: I described my encounter with Hawking in my book The End of Science. The poet Nestor Diaz de Villegas has written a poem based on my story about carrying Hawking in my arms. See also my review of “Theory of Everything,” the 2014 film about Hawking’s life, and my post “How Physics Lost Its Fizz.”
John Horgan
John Horgan directs the Center for Science Writings at the Stevens Institute of Technology. His books include The End of Science, The End of War and Mind-Body Problems, available for free at mindbodyproblems.com.
Physicists Probe Validity of Einstein's Gravity on Cosmic Scales
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Scientific American Space & Physics is a roundup of the most important stories about the universe and beyond
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Tag Archives: Wynton Marsalis
Film, History, Images, Media, Music, Sports, Writings
Jack Johnson was one of the most significant Americans of his time, brazenly erasing racial and sexual codes, triumphing in the ring when white boxing fans craved nothing more than a “Great White Hope,” and inspiring frantic legislative action (banning fight films, the White Slave Act) to make him less, well, free. That’s what it takes to get Congress to move swiftly.
Jack Johnson looms large in a new volume on boxing.
I write about Johnson and about the two significant documentary films made about him, scored by Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis, in a new volume edited by Gerald Early, The Cambridge Companion to Boxing. In my “Yesternow: Jack Johnson, Documentary Film, and the Politics of Jazz,” I describe how these two trumpeters and fight fans sparred with each other over the meaning of the blues, and their interpretations of Johnson reveal how complex a figure the great heavyweight champion was and is. I’m in great company with writers I admire like Early (Tuxedo Junction: Essays on American Culture and many others), including Lewis Erenberg on Muhammad Ali in the early 1970s and Shelley Fisher Fishkin on sports writer Ralph Wiley. There are essays on the big names you would expect (Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson) but also examinations of women in boxing, Jews in boxing, and on the way the sport has been written about in its time and over time. And much more.
Gerald Early, well known to PBS viewers as a frequent collaborator with Ken Burns recently appeared on public radio in St. Louis to talk about his love of sports and the new boxing volume.
Tagged Gerald Early, Jack Johnson, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis
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Venezuelan WTO Request Accuses US of ‘Discriminatory Measures’ Against Petro Coin
Venezuela has requested consultations with the U.S. government in connection with “discriminatory” sanctions against its national digital currency.
Venezuela has filed a complaint with the WTO that the U.S. imposed “discriminatory measures” against its national digital currency, the Petro
Venezuela has taken issue with United States sanctions, including those levied against transactions in the country’s national digital currency, the Petro (PTR), according to a World Trade Organization (WTO) consultation request, published Jan. 8.
The request, dubbed “United States — Measures relating to trade in goods and services,” was originally filed on Dec. 28. In the document, the delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela requests consultations with the U.S. government regarding “certain measures imposed by the United States in relation to trade in goods and services.”
In particular, the document describes five key areas through which the U.S. purportedly introduced “coercive trade-restrictive measures [...] on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.” One of the fives areas describes “[d]iscriminatory coercive trade-restrictive measures with respect to transactions in Venezuelan digital currency.”
In this section, the Venezuelan government alleges that the U.S. government subjects Venezuelan financial services and financial service suppliers to the above measures, “under which suppliers receive treatment less favourable than that accorded to like services and service suppliers of WTO Member States not subject to the measures.”
The document also alleges that:
“[...]inasmuch as digital currencies originating in the United States are not subject to the same prohibitions as Venezuelan digital currencies, the United States is according less favourable treatment to Venezuelan financial services and service suppliers than to like domestic financial services and service suppliers, in violation of Article XVII:1 of the GATS.”
Venezuela thus requests consultations with the government of the U.S. and modification, replacement and amendment of the measures identified in the compliant.
In February 2018, the Venezuelan government launched the pre-sale of its national oil-backed cryptocurrency Petro (PTR). The country reportedly introduced the currency in an attempt to attract foreign investors and skirt U.S. and EU sanctions, as well as overcome catastrophic hyperinflation in the country.
Later in August, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced that the Petro will be used as a unit of account within the country, creating two official currencies. In December, the country took one more step towards mass adoption of the Petro by reportedly automatically converting pensioners’ most recent monthly bonus into the cryptocurrency.
Today, Jan. 10, Cointelegraph reported that the Venezuelan government has published a new decree that introduces taxation for operations with cryptocurrency and foreign fiat currencies. The decree states that all citizens who deal with cryptocurrencies or foreign fiat currencies are now obliged to report their income and pay taxes in the same currency they have operated in, and not in the sovereign bolivar.
#Transactions
#Petro
Maduro Orders State-Run Firm to Sell 4.5M Oil Barrels for Petro
US Congress Looks at Role of Crypto and Internet in Funding Hate Crimes
New Hampshire’s Second Bill to Accept Bitcoin as Tax Payment Fails
Canadian Regulator Issues New Guidance for Cryptocurrency Exchanges
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Payton Pritchard Will Richardson Shakur Juiston Eddie Stansberry Anthony Mathis C.J. Walker Nassir Little Sports Men's basketball Men's sports Basketball Men's college basketball College basketball College sports
Oregon Pac-12 Hawaii Big West
No. 13 Ducks stop a 2-game slide with 89-64 win over Hawaii
By ANNE M. PETERSON - Dec. 07, 2019 10:17 PM EST
Oregon's Chris Duarte shoots over Hawaii's Samuta Avea, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Guard Will Richardson had a simple explanation for the difference between halves in No. 13 Oregon's victory over Hawaii.
“Just the energy,” he said, “and picking up the intensity on defense."
Payton Pritchard had 20 points and a season-high 11 assists, and the Ducks snapped a two-game losing streak with an 89-64 victory over the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday.
The teams were tied at 34 at the break but Oregon (7-2) opened the second half with a 20-1 run to pull away. The Ducks led by as many as 27 points down the stretch.
Oregon coach Dana Altman also used that word “energy'' for the Ducks' second-half takeover.
“We were standing around, kind of like in practice this week. We didn't have a great week in practice, and we were pretty stagnant, I thought, in that first half. The second half I just thought we played with a lot more energy,” Altman said. “Payton hit two big 3s to start, and it just kind of got us going. We needed a kick-start there.''
Eddie Stansberry led Hawaii (6-3) with 24 points, including a career-high seven 3-pointers. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Rainbow Warriors.
The victory snapped a five-game Hawaii winning streak over the Ducks in the all-time series. The last win for Oregon came in the 1974-75 season.
Oregon had dropped its last two games, against No. 8 Gonzaga on Nov. 28 and No. 6 North Carolina the next day at the Battle for Atlantis in the Bahamas.
Oregon was without starting forward Shakur Juiston because of a lower leg injury. He was averaging 8.8 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.
Freshman C.J. Walker started in Juiston's place. He finished with a career-high 18 points. Richardson added 16.
“I thought they came out ready to play in the second half. I thought we were slow starting in the half on both ends of the floor. They went on a run over the course of the first few minutes and we never really responded, or got ourselves back on track after that. All credit to them, they came out the right way in the second half, and we need to be better coming out of the locker room. There's no moral victories in being tied with them at halftime," Hawaii acting coach Chris Gerlufsen said.
The Rainbow Warriors were coming off a 58-41 victory over Hawaii Pacific.
Hawaii jumped out to a 13-5 lead over the Ducks early after Stansberry's 3-pointer. Pritchard's 3 midway through the opening half pulled the Ducks into a 17-all tie, but Oregon was not able to go ahead until Anthony Mathis' 3-pointer made it 22-20.
Oregon's lead was short-lived, though. Stansberry answered with a 3 of his own to put Hawaii back in front.
Pritchard's layup and free throw put Oregon ahead 32-28 with a little more than two minutes left in the half, but the teams were tied up at the break.
Stansberry had 14 of his points, including four 3-pointers, to lead all scorers at the half. The senior guard went into the game averaging 18.8 points.
Pritchard opened the second half with a pair of 3s to kick off the Ducks' big run that gave them a commanding 53-35 lead.
Hawaii has been led this season by Gerlufsen while coach Eran Ganot is out on medical leave. Ganot stepped away before the season opener.
Hawaii: It was Hawaii's first game against a ranked opponent in two years. ... The Rainbow Warriors play their next five games at home. ... While Hawaii had that winning streak against the Ducks, the two sides hadn't met since 1999.
Oregon: Oregon says Juiston is week-to-week. ... The Ducks have played the most difficult schedule in the nation thus far this season, with four opponents in the top 15. ... Portland Trail Blazer Nassir Little was at the game and stayed afterward to shoot a bit on the court at Matthew Knight Arena.
FAB FROSH: Walker, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Florida who was considered a five-star recruit, emerged during the tournament in the Bahamas.
“I thought his activity was pretty good. He can improve his rotations on the ball screens, but he's pretty bouncy around the basket and had some nice finishes," Altman said.
Walker said he knew he was going to have to step up with Juiston out.
“After my first couple of games, I got my feet wet a little bit, got used to it. I know I had a couple low scoring games my first couple of games, but after that I started to get used to it, and running the offense right," he said.
Hawaii:The Rainbow Warriors host Samford on Dec. 15.
Oregon: The Ducks play at Michigan on Saturday.
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