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Category: Hull City
Find out the very latest news from Hull City, including the most up-to-date analysis of the team. Join the discussion with other Hull City fans.
Chelsea vs Hull City – Betting Tips and Predictions
After two consecutive defeats in the league, Chelsea got back to winning ways with a 3-0 home win over bottom-placed West Bromwich Albion on Monday. The Blues will be aiming to make it two wins in a row when they host Championship strugglers Hull City in the fifth round of FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. The West London side were dragged to the replay, and then penalties, by Norwich City in the third round, but they were quite comfortable in disposing of Newcastle United 3-0 in the…
Chelsea, Hull City, NewsNow, Predictions, Premier LeagueChelsea, Hull City
Who’s it going to be – Crystal Palace, Swansea or Hull City?
April 10, 2017 April 10, 2017 Vyom Chaudhary
The relegation battle in the Premier League has seen some teams fall off in the recent weeks and it seems to be taking one final look. Sunderland and Middlesbrough occupy the last two spots and are almost certain to suffer relegation. The likes of Leicester City, Bournemouth and Burnley, have pulled away of late while West Ham defeated Swansea in a crucial six-pointer on the weekend. As things stand, it appears that one out of Crystal Palace, Swansea and Hull City would accompany Sunderland and Middlesbrough to the Championship next…
Crystal Palace, Hull City, Premier League, Swansea CityCrystal Palace, Hull City, Swansea City
Relegation battle shaping up to be more interesting than the title-race
February 4, 2017 Vyom Chaudhary
It is shaping up to be a one-horse title race in Premier League this season. Following their 3-1 win over Arsenal, Chelsea have further cemented their claim on the title. Liverpool’s defeat to Hull City left them in a vulnerable position too. As things stand, the Blues have a formidable nine-point lead over second-placed Tottenham. It appears that Antonio Conte’s side would run away with the league title in the Italian’s first season in England. However, if you are looking for real suspense and drama, then you need to follow…
Crystal Palace, Hull City, Leicester City, NewsNow, Premier League, Sunderland, Swansea CityCrystal Palace, Hull City, Sunderland, Swansea
Hull shore up team with multiple deadline-day signings
February 1, 2017 Ricci Rox
Hull City began in the season with a bit of a squad crisis, a dire lack of summer recruitment and subsequent injuries ensuring that the Yorkshire club were understaffed for the new season, a situation which resulted in dismal results for the side, culminating in manager Mike Phelan’s sack just over a month ago. This January, however, the club have done a great deal at attempting to bolster a lacking squad, with a series of deadline day signings ensuring that the loss of talisman Robert Snodgrass to West Ham is…
Hull City, NewsNow, Premier LeagueHull City, Ranocchia, transfer
Deadline Day Confirmed Deals- Ranocchia joins Hull City, Pato moves to China and more
January 31, 2017 Sanket Kumar
With only few hours left in the January Transfer Window, let us take a look at the confirmed deals from the deadline day. Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia joins Hull City on loan Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia joins @HullCity on loan until the end of the season: https://t.co/dPhyWQE6yr pic.twitter.com/PjMp4hnfPt — Premier League (@premierleague) January 31, 2017 On the face of it, Ranocchia (28) looks like a bit of a coup by the Tigers. Ranocchia replaced Zanetti as Inter captain and was a key figure at Inter before Mancini’s arrival in…
Football League, Hull City, NewsNow, Premier League, Serie A, UncategorizedEmmanuel Adebayor, Hull City, Pato
Transfer Roundup 25th January- Hull accept Snodgrass bid, Niang to join Watford & more
Only six days to go before the Winter transfer window draws curtain so let us take a look at the top stories from today concerning the transfer activities across Europe: HULL CITY ACCEPT £10 MILLION BID FOR ROBERT SNODGRASS FROM A PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE Burnley have had a bid believed to be in the region of £10 million accepted by relegation-battling side Hull City for Robert Snodgrass. Middlesbrough and West Ham were also interested in Hull City’s leading goalscorer (9) with the former having submitted an equivalent bid albeit the add…
Burnley, Hull City, NewsNow, Premier League, Serie A, Uncategorized, Watford, West HamAC Milan, Hull City, Niang, Robert Snodgrass
Hull star set for exist as club lines up replacement
January 25, 2017 Ricci Rox
Hull City have accepted a £10M Burnley bid for star man Robert Snodgrass, according to a report from Sky Sports. Snodgrass, who reportedly rejected a contract extension back in December, perhaps due to a perceived lack of ambition by the Yorkshire club, could be set for a move to Tuff Moor. The 29-year-old Scottish winger has single-handedly kept Hull’s hopes of surviving the drop alive this season, with his nine goals and four assists across all competitions proving to be the difference on various occasions. Hull have previously rejected bids in…
Burnley, Hull City, NewsNow, Premier LeagueBailey, Burnley, Genk, Hull, snodgrass, transfer
Transfer Roundup 23rd January- New Zlatan Signs For Dortmund, Hull chasing Liverpool man and more
With just over eight days left in this dramatic winter transfer window of 2017, we take a look at the hottest transfer stories from today: NEW ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC ALEXANDER ISAK SIGNS FOR BORUSSIA DORTMUND The youngest Swedish goalscorer became the highest-earning teenager from his country after Borussia Dortmund completed his signing from Swedish side AIK Solna. The 17-year-old was linked with a move to Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid but joined the Bundesliga side for a sum believed to be £8.6m. LIVERPOOL WINGER SET TO JOIN HULL CITY FROM SPORTING…
Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga, Everton, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester United, NewsNow, Premier League, Serie AEverton, Hull City, Liverpool, manchester United
Transfer Roundup, 22nd January- Zarate Returns, Snodgrass Bid Rejected, Payet To Depart
With just 9 days left in the winter transfer window, the deals are taking place thick and fast while several transfer sagas are taking shape in tandem. Let us take a quick look at the transfer stories from today: MAURO ZARATE RETURNS TO PREMIER LEAGUE, JOINS WATFORD ON LOAN Former Birmingham, QPR and West Ham striker, who was plying his trade for Fiorentina, has been loaned to Watford and is understood to have arrived in England and has successfully completed his medical at Vicarage Road. SNODGRASS LEFT OUT OF HULL…
Hull City, NewsNow, Premier League, Watford, West HamHull City, Watford, West Ham
Chelsea – Kings of England?
January 4, 2017 January 4, 2017 Vyom Chaudhary
September 24th, 2016. The Men in Blue walk down the tunnel dejectedly, it is still only half-time, but an unknowing spectator would think they just got relegated. Three down. They were three down at half-time, goals from a brilliant front three of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil ensuring that their rivals would have bragging rights for months to come. Word on the street predicted doom for the new Italian manager. Fast forward three months later. 13 league games, 13 wins to match the Premier League record, 32 goals…
Arsenal, Chelsea, Featured Column, Hull City, Leicester City, Liverpool, NewsNow, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspurarsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool
League Cup fourth-round draw throws up mouth-watering clashes
September 22, 2016 September 22, 2016 Vyom Chaudhary
League Cup fourth-round draw, which took place on Wednesday night, has thrown up some very exciting ties. In the most exciting tie of the round, Manchester clubs will face each other for the second time at Old Trafford this season. City have already defeated United 2-1 in the league this season. In another eye-catching tie, last year’s runner-up Liverpool will host Tottenham at Anfield. There is also a London derby on the cards, as Chelsea will travel to London Stadium to take on West Ham United. North London club Arsenal…
Arsenal, Chelsea, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, NewsNow, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspurarsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, manchester United, Tottenham
Snodgrass continues to shine as Rhodes remains on the side lines
September 19, 2016 September 19, 2016 Stuart Campbell
From Middlesbrough’s team in each of their five English Premier League games this season, there has been one notable absentee, Jordan Rhodes. The 25-year-old striker played an important role for Middlesbrough as they were promoted from the Championship last season, whereby after joining the club from Blackburn Rovers in January he scored six goals in 18 appearances. Despite that, so far this campaign Rhodes has yet to make a competitive appearance in any competition, since as well as being unused in the Premier League, he remained an unused substitute in…
Hull City, Middlesbrough, NewsNow, Premier LeagueHull, snodgrass
Twitter thinks Leicester City might get relegated this season
August 15, 2016 August 14, 2016 Vyom Chaudhary
The new season of Premier League finally kicked off this weekend, but things didn’t go quite as planned for current champions Leicester City. The Foxes started their season with a 2-1 defeat at recently promoted Hull City and became the first Premier League champions to start their title defence with a defeat. The Tigers were the better team on the day and deservedly won the game in front of the home crowd. Following the game, many football fans have already started tipping the Foxes for relegation this season. The story is…
Featured Column, Hull City, Leicester City, Premier LeagueHull City, Leicester City, Premier League
Hull enjoy winning return to the Premier League
August 14, 2016 August 14, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten
Hull enjoyed a dream return to the Premier League, as they started the new season by producing a courageous performance to surprisingly defeat reigning champions Leicester. Hull overcome adversity to secure win Despite being managerless and having only 13 senior players available, Hull defied their current problems to record an unlikely but deserved victory over an uncharacteristically lacklustre Leicester, who became the first team to begin a Premier League title defence with a defeat, since Arsenal did so in 1989, when the Gunners lost to Manchester United. In stoppage time…
Hull City, Leicester City, NewsNow, Premier LeagueHull, leicester, Premier League
Hull urgently seeking successor to Bruce
July 30, 2016 July 30, 2016 Stuart Campbell
Hull’s City hierarchy are set to begin interviewing potential new managers, as they intensify their efforts to find a suitable successor to Steve Bruce, according to the Guardian. Since Bruce’s resignation, Hull are understood to have drawn up a shortlist of five managerial candidates, with one of those believed to be the former Everton manager Roberto Martinez. Martinez among a quintet of candidates Martinez, who also previously managed Swansea City and Wigan, was sacked by Everton at the end of last season. Nevertheless he left the club after enjoying an…
Hull City, NewsNow, Premier LeagueHull City, Roberto Martinez, Ryan Giggs, Steve Bruce
Injury crisis hampers Hull’s plans for the new season
Hull City have only 14 outfield players currently available ahead of the new season following the revelation that Moses Odubajo is to be sidelined for six months with a knee ligament injury, as reported by the BBC. Excellent 2015-2016 season for Odubajo After joining Hull for £3.5m from Brentford at the start of last season, Odubajo made 42 Championship appearances for the Tigers during a promotion winning campaign. Despite missing out on automatic promotion, Steve Bruce’s side secured their return to the Premier by winning the Play-Offs, as they beat…
Hull City, NewsNow, Premier LeagueHull City, Moses Odobajo
Championship Season Review – Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Middlesbrough
Hull City: 4th (promoted via play-offs) Manager Steve Bruce offered to resign after failing to keep Hull in the Premier League in 2015, but the club managed to convince him to stay on. That persuasion eventually paid off as the club returned to the top-flight at the first attempt by coming out on top in the play-offs. They were in the mix all season as a strong start immediately had them among the promotion contenders. The only early blemishes came in away defeats to Charlton Athletic and fellow pace setters…
Football League, Hull City, Leeds Utd, MiddlesbroughChampionship, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Middlesbrough
Four teams fighting for the Premier League’s jackpot
May 13, 2016 May 13, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten
Brighton, Hull City, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday will compete for the most lucrative prize in English football: promotion to the Premier League. Deloitte claim promotion to the Premier League this season will be worth at least £170 million, which in this case assumes the promoted side gets relegated after just one season in the top flight. It is estimated clubs can count on an additional £95 million in revenue per season in the Premier League plus £75 million in parachute payments across the following two seasons if they are relegated,…
Burnley, Featured Column, Football League, Hull City, NewsNow, Premier LeagueBrighton, Derby County, Hull City, Premier League, Sheffield Wednesday
Five Premier League players who were hit with drug bans
April 27, 2016 Vyom Chaudhary
In today’s major football news, Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has decided not to contest his positive drug result and he is now set to face a ban from UEFA. In view of this latest development, we take a look at five other Premier League footballers who have previously received drug bans. 5) Jake Livermore (Hull City) Before Sakho, Livermore was the most recent instance of a Premier League footballer failing a drug test. He was tested positive for cocaine following a 2–0 win against Crystal Palace in April 2015. On 15…
Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Featured Column, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City, NewsNow, Premier LeagueAdrian Mutu, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Kolo Toure, Liverpool, Mamadou Sakho, Manchester City
Manchester United to battle Arsenal for defensive duo
Manchester United have not given up in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos. Recently, Goal reported that the Brazilian defender has agreed on personal terms with Barcelona. However, according to the Sun, United and Arsenal are still hopeful in their pursuit of the 21-year-old. Marquinhos is behind his compatriots Thiago Silva and David Luiz in the pecking order at PSG and has struggled for first-team opportunities during his time with the Paris club. He has previously stated his desire to leave the Ligue 1 champions in his quest for regular playing…
Arsenal, Hull City, Ligue 1, Manchester United, NewsNow, Premier League, PSGAndy Robertson, arsenal, Hull City, manchester United, Marquinhos, Paris Saint-Germain
Twitter celebrates Olivier Giroud ending his Arsenal goal drought
March 8, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten
Olivier Giroud had failed to score a goal in his last ten appearances for Arsenal. However, the French striker hit the net twice in the Gunners’ 4-0 return win against Hull City in the FA Cup. Not surprisingly, Twitter celebrated the 29-year-old’s brace like crazy… Olivier Giroud scores his first goal in 774 minutes of football for Arsenal in all competitions. Drought over. pic.twitter.com/O3TZAqAD7K — Squawka Football (@Squawka) 8 maart 2016 1 – Olivier Giroud’s goal was the first that Hull City have conceded in a competitive home match since…
Arsenal, Featured Column, Hull City, Premier Leaguearsenal, Hull City, Olivier Giroud, Premier League
Arsene Wenger: “FA Cup win was vital for my future at the club”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he might not have continued in his job with the club if his side had failed to win the 2014 FA Cup final, accoring to ESPN FC. The Gunners faced the daunting task of ending their nine-year trophy drought when they encountered Hull City in the final of the cup competition at Wembley Stadium on May 17, 2014. The North London club didn’t get off to the best of starts and were down 2-0 within eight minutes of the start. However, they crawled…
Arsenal, Hull City, NewsNow, Premier Leaguearsenal, Arsene Wenger, FA Cup, Hull City
FA Cup Round Five Preview
February 20, 2016 February 15, 2016 Stephen Donovan
The last 16 of the FA Cup is when a number of clubs normally begin to feel that they may just have a chance of winning the famous trophy in May, and many of the big guns make up the names that remain in the competition, with six of the Premier League’s current top seven involved in the eight fixtures to be played over the course of this weekend. Having triumphed in each of the last two seasons, Arsenal are the team to stop and they begin proceedings with a…
Arsenal, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Hull City, Leeds Utd, Manchester City, Manchester United, Reading, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, West HamAFC Bournemouth, arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, FA Cup, Hull City, Leeds United, Manchester City, manchester United, Reading Watford, Shrewsbury Town, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United
Arsenal fans fear that their FA Cup campaign is already over [Tweets]
Arsenal fans don’t like referee Mike Dean. Earlier this season, following the game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, they even started a petition to prevent him from taking charge of the Gunners’ games in future. The petition managed more than 100,000 signatures. Statistics suggest that the North London’s winning rate under Mike Dean is less than half of their average rate. So when FA decided to put Dean in charge of the Arsenal’s FA Cup tie with Hull City, it didn’t go down well with the fans. They already fear…
Arsenal, Hull City, Premier Leaguearsenal, FA Cup, Hull City, Mike Dean
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Toby Forward
Toby Forward lives in Beverley in North Yorkshire, and is a parish priest in Hull, although he still manages to devote time to writing. He is married to a teacher, and they have two daughters.
Toby Forward originally trained as a teacher of English and R.E. and now combines his writing with working as a parish priest. Some of his stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 under the pseudonym Rahila Khan and Virago published a collection of these stories, which they withdrew from publication once the true identity of the author was revealed! He has had a teenage novel, Dead Young, published by Simon and Schuster. This is his first book for Transworld.
Author lives: West Yorkshire
Ruth Brown is the creator of some of Britain's best loved children's books, that have been shortlisted for many awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal. She has created a great many picture books for Andersen Press and is highly respected as an author and illustrator. She was born in Devon and now lives in London and Kent.
https://www.andersenpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/getimage.aspxpdfdirectDRm2feZrcyy7aB8ta5pWBAclassbookssizelargeid9781849397681-1-1.jpg
The Quayside Cat
(Hardback) - 21-01-2020
Down by the harbour the quayside cat, Jim, comes to talk with Old Tregarn about his days long ago at sea. Inspired by Old Tregarns tales, Jim longs for his own sea adventure. Before long the two cats have jumped aboard a ship, and so begins Jims daring adventure at sea . . .
Other Editions: Paperback
Age Range: 0+ years
Amazon | Hive | Waterstones
Copyright © 2017 Andersen Press. All Rights Reserved. Privacy/Cookie Policy.
You can find out more about cookies and changing your settings here. Read more...
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Wildlife Artworks
Earth, water and sky: a naturalist's stories and sketches.
Johnsgard, Paul A.
Austin: University of Texas Press, 1999. Octavo, paperback, line drawings. WAS $28. Paul Johnsgard is one of America's most prominent ornithologists and a world authority on waterfowl behavior. In these popularly written, often lyrical essays, he describes some of his most fascinating encounters with birds, from watching the annual mating..... More
Leclerc, Georges-Louis.
New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2011. Octavo, paperback and DVD, colour illustrations. WAS $35. Part of a series presenting historic volumes. Drawing from Georges-Louis Leclerc's 36 volume masterpiece, "Histoire Naturelle, Generale Et Particuliere", this title features 350 of Leclerc's magnificent original paintings, faithfully reproduced in full colour. A visual index..... More
For the love of nature: E.E. Gostelow's birds and flowers.
Mattingley, Christobel.
Canberra: National Library of Australia, 2010. Small octavo, dustwrapper, colour illustrations. WAS $30. Ebenezer Edward Gostelow (1866-1944) began his 50 year teaching career at the age of 15. He was a keen naturalist and took every opportunity to study the local plants and birds. Gostelow would liven up his blackboards..... More
Cayley and son: the life and art of Neville Henry Cayley and Neville William Cayley.
Olsen, Penny.
Canberra: National Library of Australia, 2013. Quarto, dustwrapper, lavishly illustrated throughout with colour and black and white illustrations. WAS $50. The first and only proper biography of both Cayleys. This skillfully researched and handsomely produced book charts the lives and works of this Australian father-and-son pair of bird artists. Neville..... More
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"Giants" and Typologies of Race: The Example of Dinaric Skulls
Many of those who are enamored with the idea of the existence of giants in the ancient past are also enthusiastic users (and misusers) of antiquated ideas about the existence and meaning of "race" among human populations. This follows a general pattern, I think, of 21st century "alternative" theorists uncritically embracing discredited concepts from the Victorian age. Want to believe in a flat earth? A hollow earth? No problem. Everything old is new again in the age of the internet.
The fetish that giantologists have for recycling out-dated concepts of race would give the flat earth people a run for their money in a competition for attaching the most weight to the worst idea. If I wanted to argue for the existence of giants and I wanted to still sound like a reasonable person, I would avoid basing my arguments for giants on racial typologies that went out style along with slavery, eugenics, and World War II-era Nazism. But giantologists, for the most part, seem to be largely unfettered by the desire to sound reasonable. Or the desire to understand the history, context, and implications of the racial concepts they are so quick to employ. Or the desire to be correct in facts, citations, quotations . . . you get the idea.
There are a lot of examples of modern giant enthusiasts throwing around the term "race" in reference to their assertions about giants (Google "race of giants" and you'll see what I mean). I don't think I've ever run across an example of a giant enthusiast actually defining what he means by "race," but I gather that the term is generally used to denote a population that is genetically different from other populations and has shared physical characteristics that can be reliably used to discriminate its members from those of other "races" (basically a 19th and early 20th century definition of "race"). Defining the shared physical characteristics for this "giant race" that we are supposed to believe existed has proven tricky for giant enthusiasts. Other than being tall, what shared features does this "race of giants" have? Double rows of teeth? No, not really (see this post, this one, this one, etc.). Six fingers and six toes along with "double rows of teeth"? Not so far (see this post). So what's left of our "giant" race once we kick those legs out from under the stool?
Not much. Some tall people here and there?
Ah, but wait: there's still all that bad 19th and earth 20th century scientific racism to mine for "evidence" in the quest to define a "race" of giants. It's old and out-dated, so it's fair game.
Fritz Zimmerman is in love with what he terms a "giant race called the Dinaric." His web pages contain many assertions about the giant "Dinaric people" of Europe and the Levant spreading into the New World, and it is to the "Dinaric race" that he attributes the construction of the Early and Middle Woodland earthen mounds of eastern North America. Here is his story from the Europe side:
"The Dinaric spread through conquest out of the Caucasus into central Germany to Northern France. From France, the Dinarics advanced into the British Isles. Another group of seafaring Dinarics is found throughout the Mediterranean. There is evidence that the Dinarics were in the Levant at the time of the Amorites. Several of the Dinaric skulls were found in Palestine and Israel, that at first were believed to be Peruvian skulls, however, identical skulls were found and it was realized that these unique head shapes represented a different type of people. One of these skull was found in Damascus, within the realm of the Amorites and Og."
There are several different issues to unwrap here. What does "Dinaric" mean? How do you identify a "Dinaric skull"? How do we know these "Dinaric people" were giants? I wasn't familiar with the concept of a "Dinaric race," so I put some effort into trying to understand what this was about. Spoiler alert: there's no substance in the idea that "Dinaric" skulls can be used to identify a "race of giants." That's predictable. But the issue is interesting to me for a couple of reasons. First, it's useful as an example of the strangely haphazard way that giantologists employ discredited racial classifications to support their belief systems about giants. And second, it illustrates once again the shallowness of the scholarship that is uncovered when you scratch the surface of the "research" on giants.
The Origin and Development of the Concept of a "Dinaric Race"
The concept of a Dinaric race began with Joseph Deniker, back in the heyday of racial cartography in the late 1800s. In his book The Races of Man (1900), Deniker describes the Dinaric race as one of six principal races among the living peoples of Europe:
Deniker's (1900) map of the races of Europe showing the distribution of the Dinaric race (modified to highlight the distribution in red). Base map source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Deniker%27s_Races_de_l%27Europe_%281899%29.jpg
"6. Dark, brachycephalic, tall race, called Adriatic or Dinaric, because its purest representatives are met with along the coast of the Northern Adriatic and especially in Bosnia, Dalmatia, and Croatia. They are also found in Rumania, Venetia, among the Slovenes, the Ladinos of the Tyrol, the Romansch of Switzerland, as well as in the populations of the tract of country which extends south to north from Lyons to Liège, at first between the Loire and the Saône, then on to the table-land of Langres, in the upper valleys of the Saône and the Moselle, and into the Ardennes. In all these parts the Adriatic race appears with its essential characters: lofty stature (1 m. 68 to 1 m. 72 on an average), extreme brachycephaly (ceph. ind. 85–86), brown or black wavy hair; dark eyes, straight eyebrows; elongated face, delicate straight or aquiline nose; slightly tawny skin. The same characters, somewhat softened, are met with among the populations of the lower valley of the Po, of the north-west of Bohemia, in Roman Switzerland, in Alsace, in the middle basin of the Loire, among the Polish and Ruthenian mountaineers of the Carpathians, and lastly among the Malorousses or Little Russians, and probably among the Albanians and the inhabitants of Servia." (pp. 333-334)
Brachycephaly refers to head shape: a skull that is brachycephalic ("short-headed") is relatively short front-to-back. Note the "lofty stature:" about 5'8" tall.
In his effort to classify the living peoples of the world based (in part) on their physical characteristics, Deniker wrestled with the same basic issues that confront any scientist trying to define discrete "types" among populations that vary continuously. In the introduction to the volume, he recognized that variability in language, ethnicity, and culture were not isomorphic with biological variability, and that "races" did not form discrete units that could be reliably used to recognize populations. The "Dinaric race," then, was defined as a hypothetical physical "type" that could be recognized most clearly among the living peoples of southern Europe.
Examples of people belonging to the Dinaric race, according to Hans F. K. Günther. Apparently, Fritz Zimmerman thinks these people are closely related to the builders of the Adena mounds.
The concept of a Dinaric race was expanded upon by Nazi eugenicist Hans F. K. Günther in his 1927 book The Racial Elements of European History. Günther's description of the physical characteristics of the Dinaric race echoes that of Deniker, emphasizing tall stature (about 5'8" for males), brachycephaly, brown skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. I've clipped some examples of Dinarics from Günther's book so you can see what he thought the "race" looked like.
To the physical descriptions of the races of Europe, Günther added an assessment of their mental characteristics:
"The Dinaric man is characterized by a warm feeling for nature, a strong love of the home, and a spirit of creativeness in fashioning the surroundings to be the ordered expression of himself in houses, implements, customs, and forms of speech. He does not, however, turn his gifts so much to the vaster undertakings, to leadership in the most varied spheres of life, or to restless progress and strenuous competition. He lives more in the present than does the provident, foreseeing Nordic. The boldness of the Dinaric is rather one of bodily achievements; a real spiritual urge to conquest, such as often characterizes Nordic men, seems to be rarer. Characteristic of the Dinaric is an inclination to sudden outbursts, to quick anger, and to combativeness -- characteristics, however, which but stand out from the general level of a disposition that is on the whole good-tempered, cheerful, and friendly. But it is not mere chance that the predominantly Dinaric south-east of the German-speaking area (like the East with its East Baltic strain) is marked by a particularly high percentage of convictions for dangerous bodily wounding, and in general by a relatively high percentage of criminal convictions.
The Dinaric nature has a range of development decidedly narrower in every direction than that of the Nordic. The signs are wanting of any great mental acumen, or of stern determination. The spiritual outlook is narrower, though the will may be as strong. On the whole the Dinaric race represents a stock which is not seldom somewhat uncouth, with a rough cheerfulness, or even wit, and is easily stirred to enthusiasm; it has a gift for coarse repartee and vivid description, showing a decided knowledge of mankind and histrionic powers as a racial endowment. Business capacity, too, seems to be not rare. The gift for music, above all for song, is particularly pronounced. The predominantly Dinaric Alpine district is where German folk-songs most flourish. The gift of tongues, too, would seem more frequent in the Dinaric race. The sociableness of this race is a rough and noisy one; as between man and man it is generally sincere and upright. For mental capacity I would put the Dinaric race second among the races of Europe."
So there you have it: the Dinaric race has a lot going for it but, according to a future Nazi (Günther didn't join the Nazi party until 1932), just doesn't quite stack up to the Nordics. I'll bet you didn't see that one coming.
In his first chapter, Günther provided an explicit definition of race:
"A race shows itself in a human group which is marked off from every other human group through its own proper combination of bodily and mental characteristics, and in turn produces only its like."
He followed this definition with a clear statement that "Ethnology yields hardly any example of such a true-breeding human group." In reality, Günther said, there is a lot of mixture between the races. In the eyes of the Nazis, that obviously sets up a problem for the "best" of the races (the Nordic race), as any mixture with other, inferior races dilutes its qualities.
Anyway, another person worth mentioning on the Dinaric race issue is Carleton Coon, a University of Pennsylvania anthropologist perhaps most infamous for proclaiming as late as 1962 that the "five races" of humans had formed prior to the evolution of Homo sapiens. In Chapter XII of his (1939) book The Races of Europe, Coon gave his conclusions on the Dinaric "race:"
"Dinaricism is not a quality pertaining to a single race, it is a condition. This condition is common in Europe; it is also common in western Asia. Furthermore, it is not confined to the white racial stock; the principle of hybrid inheritance which produces Dinarics in Europe has also produced Papuans in New Guinea, the Arii aristocrats in Polynesia, and many American Indians."
Look carefully at what Coon is saying in that passage: even if you can identify a Dinaric "type" (based on skull morphology, for example), that type doesn't have any historical meaning. "Dinaric" skulls are found in many parts of the world in populations that are not related to one another.
My take on all of this is that the originator of the concept of a "Dinaric race" (Deniker), Nazi racial scientists (Günther), and one of the last American physical anthropologists who openly embraced racial classification (Coon) all agree that the term "Dinaric race" doesn't really describe a single people, or even mark a population that has a single origin. This is in direct contradiction to Zimmerman's argument that Dinaric skulls are "unique" and therefore can be used as a marker of a distinct population (and a giant one, to boot). I very seriously doubt Zimmerman knows something about the "Dinaric race" that Deniker, Günther, and Coon did not.
So how do these brachycephalic, noisy, 5'8" peoples spread across southern Europe become both biblical giants and the constructors of earthen mounds in eastern North America? How do the people of the Balkans become the Amorites, and how do the Amorites get to Kentucky and Ohio?
A Dinaric Skull in the Near East?
Zimmerman attempts to connect the "Dinaric race" to biblical giants by saying that a Dinaric skull was found in Damascus, near where Og and the Amorites lived (see the quote above). He doesn't provide a reference in the page I quoted, but elsewhere he says that a Dinaric skull "near the Damascus Gate at Jerusalem" was "discovered by Prof. Retzius, who described it in the Proceeding of the Royal Academy of Science, 1902."
There are a couple of errors here, and a bit of sleight of hand.
First is the location: note that it's the Damascus Gate at Jerusalem, not Damascus as Zimmerman says above.
Second, I found the original publication by searching on a sentence that Zimmerman quotes, and it's not a 1902 document. The passage he quotes is originally from an 1879 book titled The North Americans of Antiquity by John Thomas Short. In the section on "Head Flattening," that book describes a discussion of an artificially deformed skull from Austria described by "Prof. Retzius" in "The Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Stockholm in 1844" (that's a reference line within the work, not the reference of the work itself, and it's 1844, not 1902). Here is an 1855 paper by Retzius describing that skull and other artificially deformed crania.
Third, the deformed skull from near the Damascus Gate, which seems to be key to Zimmerman's attempt to connect the "Dinaric race" to the Amorites, was discovered in 1856 by J. Hudson Barclay and described in an 1859 paper by J. A. Meigs titled "Description of a deformed, fragmentary human skull : found in an ancient quarry-cave at Jerusalem : with an attempt to determine, by its configuration alone, the ethnical type to which it belongs." That paper does not illustrate the skull, and if you search for the term "Dinaric" within it you'll come up empty (Deniker, the originator of the term, wasn't even born until 1852). If you look at that paper, you'll see a lot of discussion trying to figure out the "ethnical type" to which the skull belongs. It's fragmentary, undated, artificially deformed, and not a "Dinaric skull." So much for that.
Maybe there's some other component to Zimmerman's argument that the "Dinaric race" is related to the Amorite "giants" of the Near East. As far as I can tell, however, the notion seems to be based primarily on a misreferenced, misunderstood paper about an artificially-deformed, fragmentary skull that was published decades before the concept of a "Dinaric race" was even formalized. If so, it's nonsense.
"Dinaric" Skulls in the Eastern Woodlands?
With the link between the "Dinaric race" and giants severed, identifying "Dinaric" skulls in the Eastern Woodlands becomes largely moot. But it's an interesting part of the story and worth mentioning.
The crucial component of this part of Zimmerman's argument seems to be the description of Adena skeletal remains as "brachycephalic." As discussed above, brachycephaly was one of the defining characteristics of the Dinaric "type." Adena skeletal remains were described as brachycephalic by Charles Snow in the 1940s and 1950s, when the definition and identification of physical "types" was still popular in physical anthropology in the United States. Many of the Adena skulls that Snow looked at were artificially deformed, heightening the impression of extreme brachycephaly. Some of the Adena were also described as relatively tall, even up to 7' or so.
What the Giantologists Got Wrong
The equation here just doesn't add up at all. The Adena skulls are brachycephalic (enhanced by artificial cranial deformation), brachycephaly is one of the characteristics of the "Dinaric race" in Europe, there was an artificially-deformed skull discovered in the Near East in 1856, ergo the earthen monuments of eastern North America were constructed by biblical giants? Is that the whole story?
If you detect a few missing connections in that line of reasoning, I'm right there with you. How a racial category constructed around the 5'8" people of southern Europe became the link between Og of the Old Testament and the Adena is beyond me. It's silly.
I think the main rabbit hole in this case is the uncritical acceptance of the racial typologizing and classification that was a mainstay of anthropology in the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you're going to embrace the same racial "science" as the Nazis, you're kind of setting yourself up for failure. That's pretty obvious. There's even a discussion on Stormfront (a white supremacist website) that complains that having writing about things like the "Dinaric race" on the forum "will make Stormfront a laughing stock."
The example of the "Dinaric race" should be a cautionary tale to anyone looking to use pre-World War II racial typologies to reconstruct population history, which is what Zimmerman attempts to do. To anyone paying attention, the description of "Dinaricism" as "not a quality pertaining to a single race" by one of last prominent racist theorists in mainstream American anthropology (Coon) would seem to throw a bucket of cold water on the idea that a link between the populations of Europe and North America could be recognized based on the identification of "Dinaric" skulls.
But I guess that's just another pesky detail (like the real story of the "Jerusalem skull)," and real giantologistis are not going let such trivia stand in the way of a good story. The "good story," of course, is one we've heard before: it's the Myth of the Moundbuilders all over again (i.e., the notion that white people, not Native Americans, were responsible for building the earthen monuments of eastern North America). What's new here is the attempt to use discredited racial "science" to somehow bridge the gaps of space and time between the New World and the Old, and between a "race of giants" and normal human variation. Haphazardly invoking antiquated racial typologies doesn't make the case stronger.
I've always been fascinated how pseudoscience types will fixate on a single legitimate academic idea and twist it to their needs. Usually it's the newest, most newsworthy idea, like quantum physics. Other times it's something that was pushed by some great scientist in the past, like the subset of perpetual motion people who still ascribe to Newton's aether gravity theory (only 500 years after Newton abandoned it). And sometimes it's something completely random, like this Dinaric race thing. Have you ever run across Andrew Collins in your research into giants? He is, for reasons that were still unclear to me after reading one of his books, obsessed with the idea that the Swiderian culture represents a caste of half-neanderthal priests who controlled all of humanity from the paleolithic to the bronze age by claiming detailed knowledge about the Younger Dryas impact. They were, needless to say, giants and both the Watchers and the Annunaki.
No, I haven't read much Andrew Collins yet.
The Dinaric thing is interesting because it gets twisted past whatever reality even its original proponents thought it had. Pointing out the errors with the characterization of the Jerusalem skull as "Dinaric" (the concept wasn't even invented yet when the artificially deformed skull was described in 1859) and the mangling of the citation got me nothing except being called an "academic hack" because I pay attention to detail. So there you go.
spookyparadigm
Are they using old racist ideas to support giantology?
Or are they trumpeting giants as just one part of a rejection of professional science and modern society broadly?
I think the latter. For a lot of these people, the attraction of giants, Bigfoot, UFOs, ESP, etc. is that they are a part of "science" where they can say what they want without reality contradicting them. And that's usually because they are unhappy with the broader framework of society. Sometimes that's a romantic disappointment with industrialism. But quite often when it comes to pseudoarchaeology, it is a desire to reject the results of professional biology etc. in the 20th century that reject racial theory, creationism, etc.
I think the use of these old racial typologies by giantologists is opportunistic. In the example of the Dinaric skulls, I think the idea gets embraced because it seems to support the idea that you can link these various populations using cranial characteristics. Even overt racists don't think the idea has much merit, however, which is why it's so bizarre.
I've been curious about the whole, ancient mound building white dudes in the Ohio valley, mystery for a while. These two links cite and reference a 1775 possibly 1776 interview of Chief Cornstalk that wasn't published until 1816. The account states that:
"During this visit Captain William McKee, one of the officers
assembled there for Hand's intended campaign, had frequent
conversations with Cornstalk with reference to the antiquities of
the West, in which the old chief evinced much intelligence and
reflection. In reply to an inquiry respecting the mound and fort-
builders, he stated that it was the current and assured tradition
among his people, that Ohio and Kentucky had once been settled
by a white race, possessed of arts of which the Indians had no
knowledge that, after many sanguinary contests with the na-
tives, these invaders were at length exterminated. McKee in-
quired why the Indians had not learned these arts of those
ancient white people? Cornstalk replied indefinitely, relating
that the Great Spirit had once given the Indians a book which
taught them all these arts; but they had lost it, and had never
since regained a knowledge of them. What people were they,
McKee asked, who made so many graves on the Ohio, and at
other places ? He declared that he did not know, and remarked
that it was not his nation, or any he had been acquainted with.
The Captain next practically repeated a former inquiry, by ask-
ing Cornstalk if he could tell who made those old forts, which displayed so much skill in fortifying? He answered, that he only
knew that a story had been handed down from a very long ago
people, that there had been a white race inhabiting the country
who made the graves and forts; and, added, that some Indians,
who had travelled very far west, or north-west, had found a
nation or people, who lived as Indians generally do, although of
a different complexion."
Page 14 (labeled 258 in the text)
http://publications.ohiohistory.org/ohj/browse/displaypages.php?display%5B%5D=0021&display%5B%5D=245&display%5B%5D=262
Referenced and expanded on in part 2 of this link
http://solomonspalding.com/SRP/saga2/sagawt0c.htm
(The 2nd link also takes a hard look at and calls into question the use of Native American legends for promoting Mormonism in it's early days)
Here's what Brad Lepper wrote about the Cornstalk account: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/06/06/Earthworks_history_remains_muddled.html
Thanks for that link Andy. I've been collecting stuff on Cornstalk. Brad Lepper is a personal hero of mine and I wasn't aware that he had written anything on the subject. Maybe I should have put scare quotes around the word "mystery" :D a few things jump out at me though. The parable idea seems like a possibility but also kind of speculative. I understand that it's an attempt to clear up something that doesn't align with the archaeological record...and that's why it is necessary. And on the flip side of the accuracy of oral histories argument, it has always seemed strange to me that the Native Americans (the obvious builders of the mounds) and their method of record keeping through oral histories has (at least at one time) been accurate and reliable enough to track the 18.6 lunar cycle of the moon like at Newark (which would have taken nearly half a century just to check once) but not accurate enough to keep track of simple information such as who built them or if they themselves built the earthworks and mounds. Holy run on sentence...I'm glad there were still some parenthesis left after Treasure Force's Run on exclamation marks. Anyway, I appreciate what you're doing here on this blog, I've been telling my friends about it. Like I said before in another comment, it is nearly impossible to research my local area without running into the type of stuff that you are addressing here on this blog. As someone that is into the local history of the Ohio Valley area, when I run across things like these in the old histories it automatically makes one feel caught in the middle of two different schools of thought...just by living where I live and reading what the early settlers were writing about. I think a lot of other people could be feeling the same way about their local history as well.
Normandie Kent
I guess because not one white European knows why some of their ancient ancestors build the Stonehenge Megalith, that must mean some red race of Native Americans built it be lifting the giant stones over their head and placing them in a circle on the Salisbury Plains, it must have been them since no one remembers who an for why they were built.
Geoffrey Sea
What you are missing in the Adena story is the origin of the "Adena" and "Hopewell" false categories in the great hoax of the Walam Olum. Simply put, since there was no distinction between the peoples of the middle Ohio Valley during the early and middle Woodland periods -- they were all Central Algonquians of one continuous civilization -- it became arbitrary how to divide them into two "warring races." This was continuous from the 19th century through to the present.
Constantine Rafinesque, who was a bona fide scientific genius, got the inspiration to write a parody of the Book of Mormon and pass it off as a genuine "Lenape" sacred text. To be a proper parody, it had to include two warring tribes in Ohio, which in the Joseph Smith version had been descendants of Israelites and Egyptians. Rafinesque, who was probably Jewish himself, converted this comical narrative into a caricatured war between gentiles, supposed ancestors of the Cherokees and the Lenape.
Since the Walum Olum was not exposed as a fraud until the 1980s, it continued to play in the minds of feeble thinkers like Warren K. Moorehead, who never had formal scientific training. He modelled the Adena and Hopewell (the former named by his colleague William Mills) after the two tribes of Rafinesque's hoax.
Since the Adena (including what has been called Hopewell) were a heterogeneous group, some naturally had broad skulls while others had narrow skulls, throughout the period in question. Before radiocarbon dating, it was very easy to label a brachycephalic specimen as "Adena" and a dolichocephalic specimen as "Hopewell," with all kinds of subsidiary fictions about how the "Hopewell" were the elite overlords of the "Adena," how the "Hopewell" were white and the "Adena" red, etc.
All of this was projection of the "warring races" paradigm established by Joseph Smith for the convenience of inspiring a religion based on violence.
And the nonsense won't stup until we recognize that they were all Adena.
Dan Todd
I stumbled on your page after googling "Who are Dinaric people" after seeing a documentary about genes and it mentioned how the Dinaric Alps people are tallest in the world - sorry the Dutch are the tallest Men+Women but the Dinarics have the tallest men. This fascinated me because the most common DNA Y haplo in Europe is I2a, and I2a2 is the Balkan Sardinian haplo, the oldest in Europe and present in every population. Having read everything here, I have to say the German Nazi guys had crazy ideas but they had some interesting observations (sans the rankings). This group of people appears to have been autochthonous to Europe some 43,000 years ago, and apparently are part of the Yamnaya culture and/or Dispilo civilization in Northern Greece and the Balkans, probably the oldest civilization with writing, and predating the Sumerians. This is probably the famous Kurgans or Aryans, or Proto-Indo-Europeans some 6000 years ago. The height is likely due to the dominant T gene expressing itself over a long time. But the Levant thing is cool too. If you've ever travelled to the Balkans the first thing you think is they're like a friendlier group of Jews.
The point I want to make, and it's really laughable, is the extent to which the human mind is directed and misdirected by basic and elementary cosmetics is amazing. The Nazis seem to me like a bunch of weak little pansies who literally only cared about cosmetic or superficial appearance. Studies into the Spanish population in Spain show they are some 80% Gaelic or Celtic. Yet they don't look anything like the super pale Scotts and Irish. Physical exterior is hardly a tell of anything.
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Ram Museum not a political gimmick, says Mahesh Sharma
Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Oct. 18 (ANI): With the opposition parties training guns at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its attempts to flare communal tension in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh over the Ram Museum issue, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today defended the government's stand and said the museum in Ayodhya is not a political gimmick but intended to boost tourism. Sharma said that the decision to build the museum was taken almost a year ago, adding the government allocated Rs. 225 crores for the same. "The decision to construct the museum was taken a year ago and around two months ago Secretary-level officials from the Centre and the state visited the land. However, it would be unwise to level allegations against us," Sharma said. "This is to boost tourism, which has been the main focus of our Prime Minister. Development is a continuous process under which this work is being initiated. So, this is not a political gimmick," he added. Earlier today, the Congress Party accused the BJP of selling the name of Lord Ram to siphon off a victory in Uttar Pradesh. Rajya Sabha MP and the founder of Bajrang Dal, Vinay Katiyar, on the other hand, asked the BJP-led Central government to intensify its efforts to construct Ram temple in Ayodhya instead of giving 'lollipop' (Ram museum) to please the people, who are demanding the construction of the temple.(ANI)
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You are here: Home / Ingredient Watch List / Ingredient Watch List: Isobutane, the Alternative Propellant Considered Safer than Ozone-Destroying CFCs
Ingredient Watch List: Isobutane, the Alternative Propellant Considered Safer than Ozone-Destroying CFCs
July 29, 2018 // by Annmarie Skin Care// Leave a Comment
Have you heard that your aerosol hairspray may contribute to the decline of the ozone layer in the atmosphere? Back in the 1990s, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds were frequently found in aerosol sprays, air conditioning units, and as refrigerants.
When it was discovered that these chemicals were having a detrimental effect on the ozone layer, they were phased out in many products. In fact, the production of CFCs were actually banned in the U.S.
isobutane as a substitue
Manufacturers were encouraged to use safer chemicals, and today, hairspray, refrigerators, and other products are CFC-free. One of the alternative chemicals companies use in the same products is called “isobutane.”
Though demonstrated not to pose the same dangers to the ozone layer, this ingredient may still pose some minor health risks.
Ditch the Chemicals — 7 Ways to Color Your Hair Naturally
What is Isobutane?
Also called “methylpropane,” isobutane is a colorless and odorless gas derived from petroleum and natural gas. It's used as a replacement for CFCs in cosmetic products like aerosol hairsprays and cooking sprays. It's a foaming agent as well, which is why you'll find it in mousses and shaving creams.
It also has solvent properties, which means that it may also show up in your cleansing products, hair conditioners, and makeup.
The FDA has reviewed the safety data associated with isobutane, and has listed it as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), approving it as an indirect food additive and for use in the manufacture of foamed plastics.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) evaluated scientific data and concluded that isobutane was safe as a cosmetic ingredient, confirming their conclusion most recently in 2002. Most toxicity studies have involved the inhalation of the ingredient rather than its effects on the skin, since the ingredient is a gas and is mostly used as a propellant. These panels assumed that contact with the skin would be minimal, as the gas evaporates quickly.
The Skin Deep Database lists isobutene as a moderate hazard, mainly because it can encourage allergic reactions. Because it is a gas, however, tests are limited concerning its affects on skin. So far, any evidence of adverse effects on skin is limited to the liquid form, which is available only at very cold temperatures and can cause frostbite. Inhalation can cause coughing, wheezing, and labored breathing.
So far, we have no evidence that isobutene causes cell damage or cancerous changes. The gas is said to degrade rapidly in water and air, so it has a low potential for accumulating in the environment. It is a flammable gas, however, so it’s important that it be handled as such to avoid the risk of fire.
Safer, More Nourishing Choices
As long as you use your aerosol hairspray in a well-ventilated room and avoid breathing in the vapors, you're not likely to experience any lasting health problems from this ingredient. If you're like me, however, and don’t like the idea of spraying gases and other chemicals typically found in aerosol sprays around, you do have options:
You can make your own spray by mixing lemon juice (or other citrus juices) with water and putting into a spray bottle, or try boiling a few teaspoons of sugar in water and pouring that into a fine mister bottle. Both will help hold hair in place while making it shine.
Choose an organic non-aerosol spray. Many are infused with natural extracts like rosemary, nettle, and thyme, which smell a lot better than isobutene gas. With a little trial and error, you may find one you enjoy a lot more than that stinky aerosol.
Do you use aerosol hair spray? Do you have natural alternatives to share? Please share in the comments!
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Next Post: We Heart: Ojai Energetics Super CBD
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Reviews Add comments
“Hi-Yo, Silver! Away! A lone ranger and his unlikely companion Tonto fight against greed and corruption in the wild west, where rules are mere suggestions, woman are hopeless and horses can out-run trains. Review of Disney’s The Lone Ranger after the jump.
John Reid (Arnie Hammer) is a law-abiding man. He’s been off to the big smoke to be educated, and he’s now back in the wild west, ready to bring some much-needed law and justice to the place. John’s brother Dan (James Badge Dale) is a Texas Ranger who believes in a more traditional way of dishing out the law. Dan ropes John into becoming a ranger so that he can see how things really work, and the men head out on a mission which ends prematurely when the rangers are ambushed by recently escaped prisoner and notorious outlaw, Butch Cavendish (William Fichtner). John survives the attack thanks to the assistance of the mysterious Native American Tonto, and the two men set out on a mission for justice. They must navigate not only the wild west’s known outlaws, but the criminals that hide in plain site and use the construction of the railroad to both fuel and obscure their greed and criminal acts.
Adapted from the long-running radio series (with almost 3000 episodes) of the same name, and following on from several film versions of the story, the 2013 incarnation of The Lone Ranger leaves a lot to be desired. I can’t imagine that families listening to the radio show would have ever imagined something as dark, violent and convoluted as what Gore Verbinski has created. What started off as effectively a story of Cowboys and Indians and adventures in the wild west, has evolved into something entirely unsuitable for the family audience it was originally created for. The film is told by a now elderly Tonto, who is recounting the story to a young boy who has approached the Native American display which he stands in. If that boy could have seen what the audience had seen, I am sure he would have been rather disturbed. There is excessive violence, including the massacre of hundreds of Native Americans which is brushed off almost without thought. Despite it being done in a “humourous” fashion, I don’t find hitting women funny or appropriate. How about giving female characters something to do other than be rescued or be whores? The death of a horse, due to what I can only assume is dehydration and/or exhaustion, is also used to garner laughs. I found this particularly cruel.
If The Lone Ranger isn’t for families, then who is it for? I ‘m really not sure who the audience is supposed to be. The tone of the film is sporadic and uneven, unsure of what it wants to be most of the time. It’s too dark and violent for families, it takes itself far too serious to be a comedy (and it really isn’t very funny) and it’s too long and overwrought to be a cheesy action flick. The film switches between the genres seemingly at will, and as a result the final product feels fractured. Johnny Depp’s performance feels as scattered as the film, as he frequently switches between playing the character dead-pan and slapstick. Armie Hammer is serviceable, but lacks the presence to really excel a leading role. Helena Bonham Carter is again playing an off-kilter type, but at least her character has something interesting to do. Thankfully, the film is not without merit. The impressive action sequences involving train chases provided much-needed energy to the often flat film. While the gags with [Silver] the horse are incredibly cheesy, they did make me laugh each and every time. In addition, the photography effectively [and quite stylishly] presented a harsh and barren wild west. I felt the dry heat from the sun, as much as I felt the film’s long run-time.
By Sam McCosh
Starring: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner, Helena Bonham Carter
Release date(s): USA: July 3 2013; Australia & New Zealand: July 4 2013
Posted by Sam at 12:40 Tagged with: Disney, Films, Johnny Depp, Movies, Reviews
3 Responses to “The Lone Ranger”
Steve Parkes says:
It’s too dark and violent for families, it takes itself far too serious to be a comedy (and it really isn’t very funny) and it’s too long and overwrought to be a cheesy action flick.
Eck, sounds bad. The promo definitely gives it an action-comedy look. I’m surprised it got serious. I was expecting something like the light action-comedy fair of Pirates of the Caribbean (the first of which I thought was okay, but I didn’t care for the rest).
There are moments of light-action, but there are also very dark moments. I laughed a bit, but mostly I didn’t enjoy this at all.
(*Oh that’s “fare” not “fair”.)
Anywho, looks like LR is a relative flop at the box office.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/8890982/Lone-Ranger-bombs-whos-next
“Even when you have all the ingredients for what you think will be a four-quadrant, ‘everybody’ picture, sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.”
This is the End The Heat
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Mount Pleasant: The Victorian Village
By Mary-Julia C. Royall
Mount Pleasant: The Victorian Village is an intimate look at like in the area of the town now known as the historic district, during the slower-paced time before World War II. Called "The Village" by its citizens, this close-knit community along the edge of Charleston harbor was formed when five small English settlements merged in the nineteenth century to create the town of Mount Pleasant. The small town had its own identity and remained a "Victorian Village" due to its isolation from the outside world except by ferry. Rapid growth and change began with the opening in 1929 of the Grace Memorial Bridge over the Cooper River. The bridge linked cities to the north and south via Highway 40 (now 17), thus opening the door for tourism and commerce while creating local accessibility to Charleston.
Mary-Julia C. Royall, local resident, church musician, historian, and member of the South Carolina Federation of Museums, presents a view of Mount Pleasant that anyone interested in the town, whether a newcomer or lifelong resident, will find entertaining and informative. Vivid images capture Mount Pleasant at this fascinating stage in its history, and the accompanying text serves as a personal guide through time. Mount Pleasant: The Victorian Village is a unique look at a unique area of South Carolina.
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Please note that our website does NOT deliver to European and African countries, please visit our European website at https://argolf.fr
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A LOOK AT LUCAS GLOVER’S REVIVAL IN 2019
A year of revival is what you can refer to 2019 as being for ARGOLF Ambassador Lucas Glover. Just a year ago, Glover finished 135th in the FedEx Cup standings and lost his Tour card. However, he earned his status back through the Web.com Tour Finals last fall and went full charge into the new year. Glover’s hard work through the year secured him a position into the FedEx Cup Playoffs finishing 32nd in the regular-season standings – ultimately landing himself a spot in the Tour Championship for the first time since 2009.
Despite this finish and the immense progress in his game during 2019, Lucas still had some work to do last month in order to make it to Atlanta for the Tour Championship. It started in Boston at the Northern Trust where a T-43 finish required him to go low in Chicago at the BMW Championship to advance. He accomplished this with a T-7 finish in a dramatic finish to convert a testy two-footer for par on the final hole to secure his play in Atlanta.
back in the hunt at a Tour Championship
For the first time in 10 years, Glover was back in the hunt at a Tour Championship. It was ten years ago in 2009 when Glover set his personal best year with a tie for third and second place finish at the Buick Invitational and Quail Hollow Championship, respectively. Most notably, Glover then went on to win the U.S. Open at the Bethpage Black Course by two strokes over Phil Mickelson, David Duval, and Ricky Barnes. The year culminated with another win at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda and a second President’s Cup bid.
Glover credits several factors for the improvement to his game – a (fairly) new instructor, a new mindset and a new putter. Glover has been working with golf instructor Tony Ruggiero for the past three years who has not only brought the fun back into the game for him, but also a proper swing. That is clearly evident when you look at his stats compared to last year and see an impressive improvement in his scoring average advancing him from 126th to 17th in rankings on the PGA Tour. Glover recorded 16 top-20 finishes in 2019 with 7 of them placing him in the top-10.
Lucas Glover, ambassador of ARGOLF brand
Glover joined the ARGOLF family at the very start of 2019 and found the ARTHUR putter to be his weapon of choice for the greens. With an ARGOLF putter in his bag for the 2019 season, Lucas Glover’s putting game dramatically improved which undoubtedly contributed to the overall enhanced performance we witnessed this year. Glover’s stellar putting also accelerated him 73 spots in rankings for putts per round on the PGA Tour. Impressively enough, as ARGOLF Putters has boasted about the higher level of control and consistency in longer putts, it is proven with Lucas’ ranking at 4th on Tour for putts made between 15’-20’.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Lucas’ performance this past year,” said ARGOLF Founder Olivier Colas. “It is a privilege to work with such a seasoned and talented professional. We are looking forward to what this upcoming season has in store for him.”
Glover was a three-time High School All American before heading to Clemson University where he was named first-team All American in 2000 and 2001. In addition to three collegiate tournament wins, Glover also held the championship title at the South Carolina Amateur event for three consecutive years (1998-2000).
Upon his graduation from Clemson, Glover turned professional and joined the Nationwide Tour for two years before earning his PGA TOUR card in 2004. He secured his first PGA Tour victory in dramatic fashion at the FUNAI Classic in 2015 where he holed out a 35-yard bunker shot on the 18th hole to avoid a playoff.
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This site is being redeveloped. For all the latest ABC Science content click here.
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Can humans control the weather?
Can humans control the weather? For example by creating a device to track down a storm forming and delivering a solution there to avoid a severe storm happening.
Tropical cyclone Hamish off the coast of Queensland in March 2009 (Source: Source: NASA/GSFC, MODIS Rapid Response)
Audio: Air pollution reduces rainfall (The Science Show)
Olympian effort to track Games rain, Science Online, 13 May 2008
Clouds form over rainmaking technology, Science Online, 23 Nov 2007
Cloud seeding, Catalyst, 15 Oct 2009
The formation of storms seems very simple… Storms are created when a centre of low pressure develops, with a system of high pressure surrounding it. This combination of opposing forces can create winds and result in the formation of storm clouds, such as the cumulonimbus. Small, localized areas of low pressure can form from hot air rising off hot ground, resulting in smaller disturbances such as dust devils and whirlwinds. Is there any way that we can change the pressure?
There's nothing like a spot of rain to ruin a parade, especially when that parade is the 60th anniversary of communist rule. So with past records indicating that October 1 had a 30 per cent chance of rain, Chinese authorities sent planes into the air to seed clouds with silver iodide or dry ice — solid carbon dioxide — to ensure rain didn't reach Beijing.
The day went off without a hitch, but was it thanks to human intervention or just good luck? Can humans really manipulate the weather?
No, says climate scientist Professor Andy Pitman from the University of New South Wales, particularly when it comes to controlling large weather systems like storms.
If you're going to do something to stop a storm forming you need to be in exactly the right place at the right time, and the odds aren't in your favour, says Pitman.
The problem is we can't predict exactly where a storm is going to form.
"To stop a thunderstorm forming is analogous to identifying which human would bring swine flu into the country," he says.
Storms form in many different ways, depending on the type of storm.
For example, tropical cyclones form over the ocean and need a certain ocean temperature before there is enough energy to drive the formation of the storm, says Pitman. Whereas thunderstorms might be triggered by an existing front or by extreme local convection, rising currents of warm air in the atmosphere.
Storms also vary in size and don't tend to stay in one spot. A cyclone may be a thousand kilometres across, for example, while at the other end of the scale a thunderstorm cell may be only 100 metres by 100 metres across.
And even if we could pinpoint a storm's location our actions may not have much effect.
"It's very hard to see how anything that humans could do on a necessarily local scale could really make much of a difference," says Pitman.
For example, if you knew a cyclone was going to form over a particular place you could absolutely stop it forming by pouring large amounts of cold water into the ocean, he says.
"But you'd have to pour astronomically large amounts of water in just the right place and it's not technically feasible."
Strategies to stop a tropical cyclone from intensifying by changing the pressure of the cyclone system are still very much in the realm of science fiction, he says.
But Pitman argues there are often better ways of dealing with storms than trying to stop them altogether.
"Most of these storms don't do a lot of damage, in fact they do a lot of good," he says. "A big cyclone generates a whole lot of rainfall over the land so the trick is not to be vulnerable to the extremes of that cyclone."
Seeding the clouds
So if we can't stop storms, how feasible is it to generate or suppress rain through cloud seeding?
There are a variety of reasons why it doesn't rain: sometimes there aren't enough cloud condensation nuclei in the atmosphere, there could be too much dust, or maybe not enough water droplets have formed to make it rain.
In those instances where it's almost going to rain cloud seeding can sometimes provide the cloud condensation nuclei or other things needed to trigger precipitation, says Pitman, but the science behind it is still unproven.
However there are a few very good ongoing studies being conducted to substantiate the science, says Pitman, including one being conducted by Hydro Tasmania.
"There is some evidence that the cloud seeding over Tasmania has increased rainfall but it's a pretty small amount as far as I understand it," he says.
Pitman thinks future research may focus more on how we're inadvertently modifying the weather, rather than on how to control it, given the emerging evidence that fine particle pollution or aerosols can suppress rainfall.
"There will I think be a lot of work done over the next few decades on associations between aerosols and rainfall above and downwind of the big urban centres and I think there will likely be some link there."
Professor Andy Pitman was interviewed by Suzannah Lyons.
Tags: air-pollution, weather, cyclone, rainfall, storm
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Woman gets 2 years in prison for daughter's death in Maricopa
A Maricopa woman has been sentenced to two years in prison and a lifetime of supervised probation in the death of her 3-year-old daughter.
The Casa Grande Dispatch reports that Tina Morse has pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse for the 2015 death of Tiana Rosalee Capps. She was given credit for nearly a year of incarceration before the sentencing.
Prosecutor Shawn Jensvold told the court Morse was receiving a "light outcome."
Morse's attorney says she won't pursue a dependency case to regain custody of her three sons, who were 5, 4 and 5 months old when she was arrested on Christmas Eve 2015.
Two other adults lived with Morse in unincorporated Maricopa. One faces the death penalty for murder in Tiana's death and the other has been charged with child abuse.
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Biden Forced to Name Pence As His Running Mate; Drones on Colorado's Eastern Plains Have Been Checking Up on Gardner
Today, while in the Granite State, Joe Biden astonished all of New Hampshire’s highly dedicated, partisan Democratic voters by telling them that he’d consider naming a Republican as his running mate.
But when associate solitary reporter Priscilla Jameson, without missing a beat, demanded to know whom that would be, he said, within only three nanoseconds, “But I can’t think of one at the moment” (ps://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/12/30/joe-biden-2020-running-mate-republican-new-hampshire-sot-vpx.cnn).
Biden rambled on and on for more than five minutes, saying the job of being president requires someone who has the president’s back, and that Republicans, these days, if any of them want to be his vice president, will “simply have to step up."
But ASR Jameson persisted.
That’s when Biden, feeling trapped and unable to flee, blurted out, “Aw shucks, Priscilla, it will have to be former Indiana conservative talk show host Mike Pence.”
“He’s been on the job as Donald Trump’s lackey for more than three years, and since I had that job for eight years, well, anyway, as long as it’s Pence, at least it won’t be McConnell.”
Associate solitary reporter Johanna Jones promptly told Pence about Biden’s most recent gaffe.
Pence rarely laughs, but this time he did.
“Johanna,” he said, “I’d consider going with Joe until he loses in Iowa, which is certain, but only if he will agree to abandon his long-held Catholic faith in favor of The One True and Only Evangelical Faith.”
Denver GOP Chair Eddie Cook was enormously pleased about Biden’s statement. Cook is Colorado’s Evangelical Pastor-in-Chief.
In other news, residents of Colorado’s Eastern Plains have been greatly concerned, and sometimes frightened, by the mysterious apperance of drones which have been flying over their homes and ranches, but nobody knows who’s behind all that (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/01/us/drones-FAA-colorado-nebraska.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share).
Colorado’s junior senator, Republican Cory Gardner, who is part of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s leadership team, has asked Trump’s Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao (McConnell’s wife) to find out, immediately, what’s going on in Droneland. Gardner is from Yuma, Colorado, one of the many towns on the Centennial State’s Eastern Plains being threatened by the unknown drones.
Gardner is the most vulnerable GOP senator running for re-election.
Enter associate solitary reporter Lewis Thompson, the Moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Thompson, who is very astute as well as agile in all things which seem strange but really aren’t, just told us that the drones were sent by his boss, DNC Chair Tom Perez.
“Tom told me he just wants to see if Cory is paying attention to his rural roots,” Cook just told us.
“But he clearly isn’t, because all he really cares about is getting re-elected so he can stay in Trump’s Swamp for six more years."
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© 2019 ATELIER NG LUNG WAI
NG LUNG WAI
Biography | Artworks |
Ng Lung Wai (b 1971, Hong Kong) holds a master degree in architecture from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has 10-year rich experiences for museum exhibition projects. He turned into a professional artist and fully dedicate himself to making artwork after finishing the award-winning museum project - Heritage of Mei Ho House, privately run museum in a heritage building.
Challenging the status quo, Ng revolutionizes painting by folding acrylic paint to make a painting. In his recent highly acclaimed solo show, "All the Best" features a series of colourful canvases covered with vessels folded from sheets made of dried acrylic paint. With these works, he challenges what ‘painting’ can be. Is the act of folding paint to make an artwork and defining the space on a canvas, a painting?
His technique draws inspiration from the cultural and historical art form “zhézhi”, the art of paper folding that originated in medieval China, which the artist first learned when he was seven years old.
By assembling these vessels on canvases, Ng creates a unique form of abstraction and pointillism. The colours of his works are inspired by Tibetan and Nepalese prayer flags in blue, white, red, green, and yellow, which are hanging throughout the landscapes and architecture.
With keen interest in social and cultural history, he has been collecting vintage items and artifacts from different cultures for more than ten years. Making art through cultural processing, dealing with mental values and ways of living, he founds a new pointillism, Contextual Pointillism and takes his collection as cultural components and media for his portrait series. The artworks are highly praised by collectors and some of them have been shared with The King of The Netherlands.
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Golden Kuna for Best Large Company Goes to Atlantic's Cedevita!
The Croatian Chamber of Economy awarded the Golden Kuna Award yesterday, 21 November. The Award for business success and contribution to the Croatian economy as a whole has been conferred annually since 1993.
BEST IN THE LARGE COMPANY CATEGORY
Atlantic's Cedevita has won this valuable recognition in the large company category, in competition with companies such as Maistra, Končar distributivni i specijalni transformatori, Đuro Đaković montaža, and DS Smith Belišće.
The list of nominations was based on the calculation of established indicators; however, the overall business image of the companies, their impact on the development of the business activity to which they belong, and the contribution to the development of the Croatian economy as a whole, were all appropriately evaluated.
DEDICATION TO CEDEVITA'S EMPLOYEES
On behalf of Cedevita the award was received by the General Manager for SBU Beverages, Zvonimir Brekalo, from the hands of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović.
"Our Cedevita celebrates its 50th birthday this year," said Zvonimir Brekalo upon receiving the award. "I take this opportunity to thank all Cedevita employees without whose effort and passion this result would not have been achieved. A big 'thank you' goes also to our partners, suppliers, distributors and buyers, who have also woven themselves into this success. And finally, there are our consumers who have been choosing our brand for half a century. We view this award as both an honour and an obligation, I hope at least for the next 50 years."
The Golden Kuna Award in the Small Business Category was awarded to Pirić Montage; in the Medium Business the winner was Nanobit; in the Innovation category it was awarded to Rasco; Zagrebačka Banka was recognized as the most successful bank, while Croatia osiguranje won the award in the Insurance Company category.
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Human rights defenders are being threatened
Help us protect them
Combatting human trafficking: coordination is essential
Tunis, 28 February 2019 – For the victims of human trafficking, Tunisia could be their country of origin or their destination country, or they could be in transit. Since 2016, Tunisia has had a strong legal framework for combatting the phenomenon, but how can effective collaboration between the actors involved be ensured? On 23 January, National Day of the Abolition of Slavery, ASF and the Instance Nationale de Lutte Contre la Traite des Personnes (the national anti-trafficking body) organised an international conference to take stock of the issue.
“To combat trafficking, it is essential that the different actors involved collaborate and coordinate,” explains Zeineb Mrouki, ASF Project Coordinator in Tunisia (photo). “The Instance Nationale de Lutte Contre la Traite des Personnes is responsible for establishing a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to organise cooperation between governmental agencies and civil society. It should make it possible to identify victims, to signpost them to the appropriate services, and to assist and protect them.”
Ministries, law-enforcement and customs officials, social workers, labour inspectors, child protection officers, civil society, etc. came together to share their experiences of victim referral and to develop recommendations for the establishment of the future NRM.
Two main considerations emerged from the discussions: the need for the actors involved to be trained in the provisions set out in Organic Law No. 2016-61 on preventing and combatting trafficking in persons; and the need for each of the actors to bring their practices into line with the law.
Illegal aliens have, for example, the right to protection when they have been victims of trafficking. More often than not, however, they are expelled from the country by the police without recourse to that protection, because they are not identified and recognised as victims of trafficking. Furthermore, the techniques for investigating and for providing assistance to victims are not suitable for trafficking cases.
Since the law on trafficking came into effect, 780 cases of human trafficking have been recorded. More and more victims are pressing charges. To this day, however, nobody has been convicted of trafficking, either because judges don’t understand the law or because they favour shorter sentences. An appeal is therefore being made to the judges in charge of trafficking cases to use the tools that the law has given them.
“We also appeal to the relevant ministries, such as the Ministry for Health and the Ministry for Women, to implement the provisions of the law,” says Zeineb Mrouki. “Those include free health care and the provision of accommodation for victims.”
On 24 January, the day after the conference, awareness-raising sessions were organised in the city centre in Tunis, to inform the general public about the realities of trafficking and the rights of victims.
The conference and the day of awareness-raising were organised by the Instance Nationale de Lutte Contre la Traite des Personnes and Avocats Sans Frontières, with the participation of the Council of Europe, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Photos © ASF
Published in Economic, social and cultural rights | News | Tunisia
6 January 2020 Detained for 10 years for no reason
10 December 2019 Joint Statement: Case submission to the French NPC to establish transparency on the Perenco Group’s activities in Tunisia
14 October 2019 The long walk: Uganda adopts a Transitional Justice Policy
16 September 2019 Policy Brief : Reflexions on victim’s participation before the International Crimes Division in Uganda
29 July 2019 Keys for access to justice in the Central African Republic
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Home Cambodia Travel GuideWhere is Cambodia
Where is Cambodia
Cambodia is a country in the southern part of Southeast Asia, bordering with three other countries: Thailand (to the northwest), Laos (to the northeast) and Vietnam (to the east and south). Two rivers: the Tonle Sap and the Mekong cross the whole country from north to south, and meet in the capital city, Phnom Penh.
The three neighboring countries have had complicated relationships with Cambodia during different periods of history. Due to Cambodia’s geographical location and scarcity of international inbound flights, most tourists start their trip in Thailand or Vietnam, before extending to Cambodia.
Quick facts about Cambodia
Name of the Country
Asia (Southeast Asia)
15.8 million (2016)
181,035 sq km (69,898 sq miles)
Major Language
Major Religion
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang
Riel (approx. USD$1=KHR4,025, December, 2017)
Famous Figure
Norodom Sihamoni (Monarch)
International Call Code
Shape of Cambodia
Cambodia is shaped like a bowl, with highlands at the perimeter and a plain in the center. It is 181,035 square kilometers in area, comparable with North Dakota in the USA. With a long history and well-endowed environment, it has various World Heritage sites, historic, cultural, and natural places of interest, along with beaches for relaxation.
The Mekong River is the longest river in Southeast Asia, beginning from the Tibetan Plateau and flowing southeast, through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. In Cambodia, it passes through Stung Treng, Kratie, Kompong Cham, Phnom Penh and then goes into Vietnam. There is a cross-border cruise available between these two countries.
Located in the west of Cambodia, Tonle Sap Lake is an important water resource for all natural life in the area. Optional nature tours are possible from Tonle Sap to places near Siem Reap (distinct from Angkor Wat), such as a trip to the floating village in Kompong Phluk, a boat trip to a mangrove forest, or a bird-watching tour.
Phnom Aural is further to the southwest, the tallest peak in the country and part of the Cardamom Mountains. There are national parks to the south, in Kampot Province. Continuing west, you’ll meet the coastline, where Sihanoukville is the most popular location for backpackers.
The main cities in Cambodia
The main cities are fairly developed for tourism. Phnom Penh the capital is in the southern region, Siem Reap is north of Tonle Sap Lake and Battambang is east. Sihanoukville is northeast of the gulf of Thailand.
Siem Reap used to be a small village, but it has been growing as a gateway to Angkor Wat since the temple complex opened to the world. It already has a large number of hotels, restaurants and other businesses related to tourism. It is the most popular tourist destination in Cambodia.
Normally people stay in Siem Reap at least two days to see its highlights. One day is devoted to the must-see temples: Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei. Another day can be spent transferring to Kompong Phluk and exploring the floating village, which thrives on fishing.
You can have some special experiences at Siem Reap: Cycling or watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat; seeing the sunset on Bakheng Hill; enjoying the unique Apsara dance show over dinner; attending a cooking class; visiting the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, riding a quad bike in the countryside, and zip-lining ]over the tree-tops.
As the capital, Phnom Penh is the political and cultural center. It was founded in 1434 and was given the nickname “Pearl of Asia” because of its French-style buildings from the 1920s. But its own traditional and historical architecture still remains. It has about 1.5 million inhabitants.
Discover the history and Khmer-style architecture of Cambodia by going on a one-day city tour, including the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the National Museum and the Central Market. The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Memorial are outside the city.
Battambang is the leading rice-producing province in Cambodia and the second largest city of the country. It is home to some of the best-preserved French colonial architecture and temples, similar to the ones in Siem Reap.
If you plan to stay in Cambodia for a week or so, you can go to Battambang, about 3.5 hours by car from Siem Reap. It is worth exploring the colonial villas and shopping malls left by the French Colonial administration.
This city was named after the former king Norodom Sihanouk. There are various seaside resorts built for tourists. Some of them have a private beach, like Sokha Beach or Independence Beach, so named by the resorts. Victory Beach on the other side is full of budget travelers.
For a beach holiday, there are better choices in Thailand and Vietnam. The facilities in Sihanoukville are just basic, as well as the beaches. There are not many optional for special activities on the beaches.
The most popular places to visit in Cambodia
We would like to introduce some of the most popular places for you to visit, according to your own personal interests.
The Royal Palace
This is the palace in Phnom Penh where royalty lives and works. It was built in the 1860s in traditional Khmer architectural style. Only some parts of it are open to tourists, as other parts are still in use. The Throne Hall, Moonlight Pavilion, Silver Pagoda, and Khemarin Palace are open for viewing.
The Silver Pagoda is worth a longer visit; it has some precious royal collections of jewelry and Buddharupa. You can learn more about history from visiting it.
The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and The Choeung Ek Memorial
These are about 1.5 hours’ drive from Phnom Penh city center.
In 1975 the Khmer Rouge turned a high school – Toul Sleng – into the S-21 Prison. People were tortured there to force confessions, and then were executed at the killing fields of Choeung Ek. Now S-21 Prison has become a museum for exhibiting and remembering this dark history.
Choeung Ek was a Khmer Rouge place of execution from 1975 to 1979. It is best known as the Killing Fields. In 1988, the government built a Buddhist stupa there, where there are more than 5,000 human skulls, as a memorial to the poor and innocent souls.
This is the dark side of Cambodia’s history, a reminder of much innocent blood that was spilled.
Angkor Wat is near Siem Reap and was the palace complex for royalty in ancient times. It’s the largest such complex still remaining in the world, retaining some must-see temples.
Outer section:
Bantey Srei, built with pink sandstone, 25 km from the main temples. It is known for its magnificent and exquisite architecture, exhibiting the excellent building skills of that time.
Beng Mealea has been open for visits since the 1990s. Not many people know about it and it has fewer visitors. You can take your time to admire the incredible masterpiece, only part of which is properly preserved.
Inner section:
Angkor Thom, the former royal city;
Bayon Temple, the mysterious smile of Angkor;
Elephant Terrace, a platform from which the king inspected his people; and Ta Prohm, a jungle temple.
At dusk, you can climb up to Bakheng Hill, which has the best view for sunsets.
Tonle Sap Lake
You can go on a boat tour on the lake to explore the lives of the locals, who live in floating villages not far from Siem Reap city. They still practise traditional customs. Schools, shops and even a hospital are built on the lake.
If you are a bird-lover, we have a bird-watching tour with a bird expert at Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, also near Siem Reap. The lake offers a good environment for various water birds. On a small boat, you will have chance to see the birds’ nests up close.
Getting to Cambodia
The most popular gateway city for Cambodia is Siem Reap, as it holds the largest religious monument in the world — Angkor Wat. Siem Reap International Airport operates flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
To travelers coming from United States, Europe or Australia, we suggest you transit via Hong Kong, Singapore or other Asian International hubs.
Flight times from the main cities of the world to Cambodia
New York 20 h
Los Angeles 17 h
Sydney/Perth 12 h
London 16 h
Visit Cambodia with Asia Highlights
Get to know our tour packages and let us do the work for you. Our experienced Asia Highlights staff will help you design your vacation in Cambodia. We take care of all the details so you can just relax and have fun during your holiday.
Visit the links below today, to learn more about our tour packages and start planning your visit to Cambodia.
12-Day Cambodia and Vietnam Highlights
14-Day Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Tour
5-Day Siem Reap Tour at Depth
You might like to read
How to Get to Cambodia
Best Way to Get Around Cambodia
Best Time to Visit Cambodia
Adventures in Cambodia
The Most Beautiful Places in Cambodia
9 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Cambodia
Why You Should Visit Cambodia
Volunteer for Building Cambodia
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The future submarine project: one step, two step
8 Oct 2015|Andrew Davies and Mark Thomson
We’ve been at the PAC2015 maritime expo and conference this week. There’s only really been two topics of conversation on the trade floor: the future submarine and the future frigates. Admittedly those two projects amount to $60 billion in total, give or take, so it’s hardly surprising that they’re centre of attention.
As usual in defence matters, there’s a range of views about the strategic case for either or both, as has been reflected here on The Strategist. (Ships and submarines.) But we found near universal agreement on two fronts, which was pretty striking—when people talk defence, consensus is unusual and diametrically opposed views are common. The first was that the Abbott government’s August announcement about bringing the frigate and minor warship building projects forward would add unnecessary risk to the project. We’ve written a lot about that recently (and here), so we’ll only note that there’s no pressing need to hurry, with Anzac frigates being newly upgraded and the DDGs (air warfare destroyers) yet to be commissioned.
The second point of near unanimity was that the Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) for the future submarine project is woefully inadequate as a vehicle for collecting data, and that it won’t produce sufficiently detailed information for a well-informed value for money decision. The agreement on that point is so strong across the board—we note ex-DMO head Warren King today calling for an extra year in the CEP—that we thought we should explore the alternatives.
We find ourselves torn on the subject—perhaps for a surprising reason. As analysts who’ve spent years worrying about acquisition projects and good governance in the expenditure of public money, we agree about the CEP’s limitations. We’d prefer a systems engineering approach that systematically identifies risks and formulates strategies to avoid, manage or—if we must—accept them. Collecting information progressively, winnowing the possibilities and making trades between capability aspirations and engineering realities are the key elements of the Kinnaird two pass process.
One way of moving from the CEP to a more systematic approach would be to use the CEP as an ersatz Kinnaird first pass that eliminates only one of the competitors, leaving two in a second stage. At that point they’d be asked to produce detailed submarine designs, allowing for a more systematic evaluation of risks and more realistic cost and schedule estimates that could be used as a firmer basis for contracting.
That’d require time and money. But detailed design work has to happen after the CEP regardless, so the only extra time would be in evaluating two options rather than moving immediately to implementing a single concept. The extra cost might run to a few hundred million dollars, since it takes about a million engineering hours to design a submarine. Even so, that’s just 1.5% of a $20 billion project and it might be money well spent. Recall that Kinnaird and Mortimer recommended spending 10–15% of the project cost before contract signature as a prudent way of retiring risk early. Hurrying now could cause delays later, when they’ll be much more expensive to fix.
Pulling us in the other direction, towards a single step process, is the recognition that the future submarine is as much a strategic decision as it is an engineering one. After all, Australia’s in the market for a submarine design and build partner to help us build an enduring Australian submarine capability. But in the case of Japan, the deal would mean a lot more; it would represent a substantial strengthening of strategic ties between the two countries. Critically, it would send a strong signal to both Washington and Beijing that the two countries are willing to work together to bolster a favourable strategic balance in the region. That was probably a strong factor in the Abbott government’s original thinking.
From that perspective, there arguably isn’t much to gain from a two step process. If the name of the game is geopolitics, and if the government judges that a closer strategic relationship with Japan is in Australia’s interests, we should get on with the task of developing the submarine and the relationship.
Of course, that’s predicated on the domestic political aspects of the project being equal, and they’ve played a significant role in the evolution of the project to date. That’s pretty much why we have a CEP; the Japanese option seemed to offer less to Australian industry—enter the politics of jobs. Recent Japanese statements about their willingness to build locally should now have allayed that particular concern.
So when the government sits down to contemplate the CEP submissions, it needs to decide what’s more important: the fidelity of technical information, or making a decision about Australia’s strategic relations within Asia. Do we want an industrial partner or a strategic partner? If it’s the latter we should just get on with it.
Andrew Davies is senior analyst for defence capability and director of research, and Mark Thomson is senior analyst for defence economics at ASPI. Image courtesy of Flickr user Nadar.
Future Surface Fleet
competitive evaluation process
future submarine project
The Japanese SEA 1000 bid and Australian industry participation
The Competitive Evaluation Process—the new black!
Ships ahoy!
SEA 1000: the wrong way to boost strategic ties with Tokyo
Future Submarine Project—reduction of taxpayers’ risk
SEA 1000: the design challenge
Tony Abbott and Australia's defence
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Louis Tomlinson Reveals Track List For Debut Album 'Walls'
posted by Paris Close - Jan 13, 2020
Louis Tomlinson is getting fans pumped about his debut album.
In just a few weeks, Tomlinson will finally be unleashing his first album, Walls, upon the world on January 31. So far, the musician has released several tracks from the long-awaited project including singles like “Kill My Mind,” “We Made It” and “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart.” To amph up the excitement about Walls even more, the former One Direction member recently unveiled the full track listing for the effort on social media.
Tomlinson revealed the 12-track LP with help from artist Jay Kaes, who painted a mural for the announcement made over the weekend. “This is so sick ! Thanks so much @jaycaes for doing this, and to all of you for watching on the stream. Walls is coming 31st Jan,” Tomlinson wrote of the masterpiece on Instagram.
In tandem with dropping his debut LP, the “Two Of Us” crooner will embark on a Summer 2020 tour to promote Walls. (Grab tickets here.) When asked what fans can expect from his first solo effort in our exclusive interview, Tomlinson expressed, “I always try to operate as a writer, lyrically it's honest and it's real. At times, blunt. Musically, it's just live and as organic as I possibly could make it, and there's plenty of guitars on there, so I'm really happy with the way the record sounds.”
Louis Tomlinson's Walls Complete Track List:
1. "Kill My Mind"
2. "Don’t Let It Break Your Heart"
3. "Two Of Us"
4. "We Made It"
5. "Too Young"
6. "Walls"
7. "Habit"
8. "Always You"
9. "Fearless"
10. "Perfect Now"
11. "Defenceless"
12. "Only the Brave"
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From University of Bath
Buckingham Palace hosts Queen's Anniversary Prize ceremony
Members of the University attended Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education from Her Majesty the Queen.
Published on Friday 24 February 2012
Last updated on Wednesday 2 January 2019
View more announcements in University of Bath
It is the country’s most prestigious national recognition for a UK academic or vocational institution and we have been recognised for our influential research into child poverty and support for vulnerable people.
Part of the UK’s national honours system, the biennial award scheme is distinctive in recognising the institution rather than an individual or team. This ninth round of awards has extra significance as it forms part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Those attending from Bath, which also included Professor Ian Butler, Professor Jane Millar, Professor Graham Room and five students, were presented with a silver gilt medal and certificate signed personally by Her Majesty the Queen.
A new certificate was used for the first time this year and was approved by Her Majesty the Queen. The cellular pattern, inspired by a microscope view of the structure of the “Queen Elizabeth” rose, bred to mark The Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952, communicates both the educational theme of the Prizes and a personal link with The Queen.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, said: "This is a very proud day for all our staff and students.
"Over three decades, the University’s Department of Social and Policy Sciences has been engaged in original and applied research in the field of family wellbeing, promoting the interests of some of the most vulnerable in society, in particular lone mothers, children and the extreme poor.
"The Department has made a substantial and sustained contribution, by this innovative research, to the development and delivery of social policy in the UK and in other countries. Its work is recognised as exceptional and distinctive by policy makers and charities both in the UK and globally.
Professor Ian Butler added: "It meant a lot to us to be able to talk about our work and to demonstrate the critical role played by the social sciences in tackling such major problems as poverty, exclusion and vulnerability to such a distinguished and influential audience."
“This most prestigious award provides official recognition to all those involved in the research, and to the University as a whole, and is something we can all take great pride in.”
— Vice-Chancellor Professor Glynis Breakwell
The Department of Social and Policy Sciences’ research included path-breaking studies of poverty and social exclusion in Europe, lone mothers and employment, child poverty from the children’s own perspective, and wellbeing in developing countries.
Impact of the research includes informing UK legislation on tackling child poverty, the design of the tax credits system, advising the Welsh government on policies promoting child welfare, stimulating innovations in micro-finance, and helping to develop strategies for tackling extreme poverty in Bangladesh.
The University is one of just 21 institutions to be awarded this prize.
The University was previously awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2000 to recognise the invaluable services to industrial and scientific communities of the Centre for Power Transmission & Motion Control.
To celebrate this new award the Department of Social and Policy Sciences is hosting a Queen's Anniversary Prize conference on Friday, 30 March 2012.
The event will present some of the research that led to the prize and its importance in the times of austerity through which we are now living. It is open to academic colleagues, students, policy makers, practitioners and members of the wider public to attend.
Press Office press@bath.ac.uk 01225 386319
Find information for journalists, bloggers and online commentators
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7 Things To Do After a Orlando Car Accident
When you are involved in an Orlando Car Accident you will be overwhelmed in the immediate aftermath by adrenaline along with fear, confusion, anxiety, distress and many times pain. After a auto accident, it’s not always easy to make rational decisions. Many accident compensation lawsuits are lost because of something the driver failed to do. That’s why it is important to understand what you are expected to do once an accident happens in Florida. Even though the circumstances may make it difficult to remain composed, keeping calm is vital. According to our car accident attorney Orlando here are our 7 things you must do after an auto accident.
Call 911 and/or the Police
Saving lives should be the number one priority. The 911 call serves two purposes. First, it’s an official notification that an accident has occurred. Second, you can request medical assistance if there is an injury or fatality. However, even if no one was hurt, calling law enforcement, in most cases the Florida Highway Patrol, will provide important support in a potential lawsuit in future since the law enforcement officers will write a report that records their assessment of who was at fault. No matter if it is the FHP, Orlando Police Department or the Orange County Sheriff’s office, the police record will detail all key elements of the collision including names, vehicle registration, road conditions and witness statements.
Remain at the Scene
Leaving the scene of a car accident prematurely is referred to as a hit-and-run and is a serious offense especially if injury or death occurred. Even when the car accident doesn’t seem serious and there are no obvious injuries, it is best to play it safe by staying for longer to make an accurate assessment of the damage. If your physical state allows you to do so, make sure everyone else is alright and provide first aid where required. For individuals who seem seriously injured, don’t move them until emergency responders arrive.
Pictures create a visual record of the event. In decades past, a driver taking photos of a car accident they were involved in was not always possible since not everyone carried a camera with them. The ubiquitous camera phone has changed all that. Virtually everyone has a cell phone with a camera so there should be little reason not to take pictures of the accident. Do not just capture the vehicles but also any injuries you experienced. A video overview can also be invaluable. In addition, many drivers now use dash cams. The footage from these can go a long way to showing a driver was not at fault for an accident, or provide evidence that another driver cause the accident. Many law enforcement officers now have the ability to download a driver’s dash cam video at the scene of the accident. Just remember to keep the original video card with the dash cam video on it.
Reach out to the other drivers involved in the accident and exchange details including names, address, phone numbers, vehicle registration, driver’s license numbers and most importantly insurance information. If passengers were hurt, collect their details too. The goal is to capture as much information around the car accident as is possible. This could prove crucial if the case ends up in court.
Contact your Insurer
Talk to your insurance company at your earliest possible convenience and regardless of whether you intend to seek compensation from the other driver’s insurer. Most insurance policies require drivers involved in an accident to report to the insurer immediately while providing as much detail as they can. This is part of the “no-fault” provision of the Florida No-Fault law. Under the Florida No-Fault Law, every driver who operates a motor vehicle registered in the State of Florida, must have a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. A driver’s PIP coverage is meant to cover medical bills and lost wages the driver may suffer in an accident, no matter who caused the accident. This PIP will cover the first $10,000 of a person’s medical coverage, minus the deductible, and will come from the operators insurance, no matter who was at fault. Please note that while PIP is mandatory in Florida, it covers only medical bills and lost wages, not any damage that results from an accident whether that is damage to property or the car itself.
Take Safety Precautions
It’s not unusual for another vehicle to come crashing into the scene of a car accident. Many accidents are made worse when another driver slows to look at an accident and an inattentive driver behind crashes into them, sending both cars into the first accident scene. You can minimize the risk of harm to yourself and others by making sure neither you nor the other parties are exposed to the danger of a second accident. If the accident was minor, nobody was injured and the vehicles are drivable, move them off the road to avoid obstructing traffic. You can also minimize your risk of an accident by being attentive when you come upon an accident scene yourself. Slow, but be aware of drivers behind you and in front of you as well.
However, if the car accident led to injury, death or major property damage, the cars should remain in place until law enforcement arrives. Turn on the car’s hazard lights or place warning triangles on the road. Irrespective of whether the cars remain on the road or are moved off it, all persons should move out of the road.
Contact your Car Accident Attorney Orlando
Once an accident occurs, the insurers of the drivers involved will establish who is financially liable. Many times, the matter is closed with mutual agreement. In other instances however, one party may want the issue decided by the courts. Get in touch with an Orlando car accident attorney if there’s a likelihood of your dispute ending up in court. Quality representation from the best Orlando auto accident attorneys is crucial in ensuring you get what is rightfully yours.
You want to make sure you have the best lawyer for car accidents. The Badgley Law Group has many years experience handling Orlando car accident cases. Your choice of attorney could make or break your case. Do not take chances if you have been involved in a collision. Talk to our team of attorneys today.
CONTACT AN ORLANDO CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY!
You deserve to have your life restored to as close to the way it was as possible. While this is the goal of insurance, this is not always the case, and there are also drivers who are uninsured. If you feel you are not getting the justice you seek, CONTACT US today.
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‘Mr. New Windsor,’ longtime water and sewer consultant for town, dies — ‘a tremendous loss’
By Akira Kyles
Carroll County Times |
Then-New Windsor Mayor Jack Gullo, left, presents Jack Coe with the Mayor's Award in this undated photo.
New Windsor suffered a significant loss during this holiday season as the town’s longtime water and sewer consultant died the day after Christmas.
Jack Coe, 79, served the town for 60 years, according to New Windsor Mayor Neal Roop, who described Coe’s death as “a tremendous loss to our community in so many ways.”
Coe died at Frederick Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family, after battling an illness.
Coe was born in 1940 in New Windsor, and he attended New Windsor High School. After he graduated in 1958, he attended Frederick Community College, then served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965, according to his obituary posted on Hartzler Funeral Home’s website.
Coe was involved in New Windsor in multiple ways, not only as a water and sewer consultant, but also as the owner as master plumber for DP Smelser and Son Inc. in New Windsor; through JC Printing, a printing company he started with his wife; and as a life member of the New Windsor Fire House and Co. #1, where he served in multiple offices.
Jack Coe points out features at the wastewater treatment plant that was under construction in New Windsor on Aug. 17, 2010.
It is because of the many hats Coe wore that Roop described him as “a true asset to the town in many ways.”
Coe’s sons, David and Thomas, knew not only the importance of their dad to New Windsor, but also the importance of New Windsor to their dad.
“I like to think of him as Mr. New Windsor,” Thomas said. “He was very proud of the small town he lived in and grew up in. He had a real sense of community through his service with the Lions Club, the New Windsor fire department and several other civic organizations. He was really out to help people who needed help, whether that was through the fire service and providing fire protection or EMS care, whether that was the Lions Club and providing events for children and things like that; he always had an eye for trying to help people.”
“It was his life. He loved the little town, the community feel,” David said. “He was always there for the town, the community and the people.”
Both of Coe’s son’s career paths were influenced by looking up to him.
[More Maryland news] Jury awards more than $37M to family of Korryn Gaines in civil case against Baltimore County »
“My father is one of my most major mentors in my life, as I’ve gone to join the volunteer service in New Windsor and eventually progressing to the career fire service in Frederick County,” said Thomas, who serves as the New Windsor fire chief. “The way he operated with folks and his bedside manner and his calm demeanor in chaos were things that I watched as a small child and tried to emulate as I grew older, and it boded me well in my career path.”
“I was able to run calls with him and through them and developed like a special bond,” said David, who serves as lieutenant career firefighter for Frederick County. “I don’t think a lot of people — a lot of kids — have fathers or parents that let you experience that kind of stuff.”
According to Roop, Coe was respected by members of the New Windsor community.
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Coe’s interactions with the town were different compared to that of his family. According to Roop, Coe’s “sense of humor was drier than the Sahara Desert,” but according to David, he had a great sense of humor and even dressed up as a clown when he was younger.
“He would also keep us grounded through his humor and different things he would do to make us laugh," David said.
[More Maryland news] Civil rights attorney Ifill asked to surrender seat on Baltimore-bound Amtrak train as MLK weekend began »
Coe was survived by his wife, Judy Koontz Coe; two sons, Thomas E. Coe and wife Wendy, and David A. Coe, all of New Windsor; grandchildren, Natalie G. and Ryan E. Coe; sister Barbara E. Six and husband Stuart of New Windsor; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at Windsor Station, at 101 High St. in New Windsor on Sunday, Dec. 29, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., and a Lions Club memorial service will be held at 8 p.m., followed by a fire department memorial service. The family will also receive friends at Windsor Station on Monday, Dec. 30 from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Then there will be a military interment in Pipe Creek Cemetery.
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In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Windsor Fire Company, P.O. Box 247, New Windsor, MD 21776.
Most Read • Carroll County News
Top Maryland news
Latest Carroll news
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Aberdeen police make arrest in pair of armed robberies
By S. Wayne Carter Jr.
The Aegis |
Bobby E. Riley, of Aberdeen, is accused of robbing the Sunoco gas station and the Lucky Mart at gunpoint. (Courtesy Aberdeen Police Department)
Aberdeen Police have charged a man with two armed robberies that occurred in the city over the past week.
Bobby E. Riley, 41, of the 200 block of Walnut Lane in Aberdeen, is accused of robbing the Sunoco gas station at around 9:03 p.m. Dec. 21 and the Lucky Mart at approximately 11:50 a.m. Dec. 24. Both businesses are located on Route 40.
In both incidents, Riley brandished a firearm, Aberdeen police allege, then fled the scene in a Toyota Camry missing a rear hub cap.
On Christmas day, patrol officers located a vehicle in the 600 block of South Philadelphia Boulevard (Route 40) matching the description of the Camry used in the two robberies.
Around 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Riley was stopped in the same vehicle for a traffic violation and arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence, police said.
Police obtained a search warrant for Riley’s residence that same day and, during the search, evidence from both robberies was recovered, police said.
Riley is charged with multiple counts of armed robbery, robbery, assault and theft, according to electronic court records, and is being held at the Harford County Detention Center without bail as of 12:55 p.m. Friday. Court records do not show an attorney representing Riley.
Most Read • Harford County
The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region ‘Let’s Get Wild’ gala features safari theme and cuisine
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Orioles outright four off roster, re-sign Corban Joseph, Gabriel Ynoa to minor league deals
Four players were removed from the Orioles' 40-man roster on Thursday, with infielder Jace Peterson and left-hander Sean Gilmartin electing free agency after clearing outright waivers and right-hander Gabriel Ynoa and infielder Corban Joseph signing minor league contracts to return to the organization for 2019.
The moves were made to clear roster space for four players the Orioles needed to add off the 60-day disabled list by Friday, including outfielder Mark Trumbo, left-hander Richard Bleier, right-hander Pedro Araujo and outfielder Austin Hays.
Orioles announce 2019 FanFest to be held Jan. 26 at Baltimore Convention Center
The Orioles announced the 2019 edition of their annual FanFest event will be Jan. 26 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Ynoa was also on the 60-day DL and didn't pitch in the majors in 2018 as he dealt with shoulder soreness and shin splints, but was activated off the DL before he was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Ynoa, 25, made nine appearances (four starts) for the Orioles in 2017, and owns a 3.57 ERA in his minor league career.
Joseph, the brother of Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph, was an Eastern League All-Star this year after batting .312 with 49 extra-base hits for Double-A Bowie and had four hits in 18 at-bats over two stints in the majors.
Peterson was claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees to cover for injuries to Jonathan Schoop and Tim Beckham on April 24 and hit .195 in 93 games with the Orioles while playing all over the diamond. A veteran of parts of five major league seasons, Peterson, 28, will go back to the open market in the offseason.
Gilmartin will join him in free agency, having made 12 appearances for the Orioles with a 3.00 ERA. He began the year in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, and signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on July 13.
MASNSports.com first reported Peterson being placed on waivers.
Orioles/Baseball
Gabriel Ynoa
Corban Joseph
Sean Gilmartin
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Liverpool selected
Blast soldier Thomas Sephton 'died to save friends'
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-14749968
Image caption Pte Sephton was described by fellow soldiers as a "true hero"
A soldier who died after a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan gave his life to save his friends, an inquest heard.
Pte Thomas Sephton, 20, of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was injured in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province on 4 July 2010.
The 20-year-old, from Warrington, Cheshire, was taken to hospital in England but died the next day.
Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg, recording a verdict of unlawful killing, said the soldier had been "murdered".
Pte Sephton died of multiple organ failure at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital caused by blast injuries, Mr Rheinberg said.
An engineer and body armour expert had examined Pte Sephton's helmet and armour and found, although some of it was due to be replaced, it could not have saved his life.
The inquest, at Warrington Crown Court, heard that on the day he was wounded, the soldier had gone out to clear a route of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) around a patrol base on a highway known as "IED Road".
'Lost without him'
He was next to his best friend Pte Charlie Emina, who was providing cover while he used a metal detector to check for traps, when he noticed a wire as they crossed an irrigation ditch.
Pte Emina said that his colleague had shouted that he had found a wire and "the bush just exploded".
He saved the lives of his section on two occasions and on that tragic day he saved my life and gave his own
Pte Charlie Emina
The inquest heard that Taliban fighters use the wires to trigger the IEDs.
In a statement, Pte Emina described Pte Sephton as being like a brother to him.
"He loved his friends and family more than anything," he said.
"He was always first out of the gate on patrol and had pride doing his job for his country.
"He saved the lives of his section on two occasions and on that tragic day he saved my life and gave his own.
"He is a true hero to his friends, family and his country and as a nation we owe him a debt of gratitude. I love him with all my heart and I will be lost without him."
'Full of fun'
In a statement read to the inquest, Lt Col Andrew Hadfield, Commanding Officer 1 Mercian, said Pte Sephton was "courageous and selfless to the last".
He had a "big heart, and was full of fun and energy" who "punched above his weight in every way, whether militarily in in sporting activities or by just being a great friend and comrade".
"If any man lived the motto, 'Stand Firm Strike Hard', it was Tom Sephton," he said.
Lt Col Steven Cartridge said the Taliban "adapted and changed their tactics" in a bid to "defeat" the soldiers.
The final statement read to the court by Mr Rheinberg was from Lt David Payne, who described Pte Sephton as one of the bravest soldiers he had met.
"Sleep well now, I will never forget you," he said.
Funeral for Warrington soldier killed saving friend
Killed UK soldier is named by MOD
HM Courts Service
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TWIN siblings shared in their schools GCSE success as students at a Northumberland Academy were showered with stars.
Matthew and Rebecca Douglas achieved nine A*s, 11 As and two Bs between them as pupils at Bede Academy, Blyth, raised the bar recording the schools highest ever benchmark GCSE pass rate up 15 per cent on last years results.
Top performing boy Matthew, 16, of Blyth, who achieved seven A*s, three As and one B said:
“I’m absolutely elated.
“It’s been a lot of effort and I’ve relied heavily on Rebecca to push me when we’ve been working – she was the real driving force behind our revision sessions.
“It’s a bit overwhelming to be to top performing boy, I knew it was possible but I didn’t expect it and I’d like to thank the superb help I’ve had from all of the teachers here especially in the last few months.”
Matthew will be returning to study his A levels in Chemistry, Biology and Maths at Bede Academy in the hope of pursuing a career as a doctor.
Twin sister Rebecca, who is 40 minutes younger than her brother, gained two A*s, eight As and one B.
“I’m over the moon,” said the aspiring paediatrician who will also be taking her A levels at Bede Academy in the same three subjects as her brother.
“I knew Matthew would do slightly better than me as he has more natural ability but I’m very happy to come a close second.”
Continuing its rapid progression in students achievement the academy saw 66 per cent of grades hitting A*-C including English and maths, up from 51 per cent last year.
Principal Gwyneth Evans said:
‘We are encouraged by these results since they show improvement both in attainment and progress. Students have exceeded both the academy’s target and externally predicted results.
“The percentage of higher grades has increased in the majority of subjects with some exceptional departmental performances. The results are our best ever for English and maths, where we saw an improvement rate of at least nine per cent.”
In music, 89 per cent of grades were an A (up 16 per cent on last year), in chemistry a third of all grades were an A* while the figure was 17 per cent A*s for biology.
The overall top student was Kirsty Routledge who achieved seven A*s and four A grades.
“I’m so happy I think I am still in shock,” said the 16-year-old, from Blyth, who is set to study biology, chemistry and geography A levels at Bede Academy.
“I would have been happy to get all As so to get seven A*s is amazing.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, ever since year seven, but this is an amazing school and I couldn’t have done it without the incredible teachers that we have here.”
As well as Matthew, Rebecca and Kirsty, four other students achieved ten or more A grades or better:
Katie Barrett matched Kirsty’s 11 with three A*s and eight As;
Claire Brown, Evie Clark and Stephanie Cullum, all gained five A*s, five As and one B
Other high achievers were:
Lewis Dunsmure and Matthew Hunter with five A*s, four As and two Bs;
Elenore Gibson, with five A*s, three As and two Bs;
Beth Chadwick, with one A*, eight As and two Bs;
Neave Herridge, with two A*s, six As and three Bs.
Teachers have been celebrating with Joe Woods and his family after he became the first student at a Northumberland academy to get into Oxford University.
Joe, 18, of Rosebery (CORR) Avenue, Blyth, chose to join Bede Academy in Year 9 after being impressed by its facilities and now the school has repaid his faith by supporting him to achieve a place at St Peter’s College to read chemistry.
The former head boy who runs with Blyth Running Club gained an A* in maths, including scoring 100 per cent in three papers, and A grades in further maths and chemistry.
Principal Gwyneth Evans paid tribute to his commitment.
“Joe thoroughly deserves this. There were a number of occasions when I saw him leaving the academy after 7pm because he’d been doing extra work.
“He has the foundation of self-motivation and determination that he needs for Oxford and we are absolutely thrilled for him and his parents who have supported him throughout.”
After deciding he would apply last October, the academy arranged for Joe to have mock interviews with the Principal of Emmanuel College, Gateshead, and to meet an Oxford PhD student before he went to the city for his interviews.
“I worked pretty consistently until Christmas when I stayed back a lot to do extra work on top of homework, especially during the exam period. I revised for several hours a day but always had a break to do some sport or go running,” Joe said.
His mum Julia, who works for Barclays, praised his commitment and his decision to choose Bede Academy.
“If you can’t do well here you won’t do well anywhere, it’s been a partnership. We always said it wouldn’t be a bad thing if Joe didn’t get to Oxford but when you’ve worked as hard as he did and had the motivation to keep going paper after paper it’s fantastic that he’s done it.
“We don’t know where it’s all come from but I was 31 when I had him and was able to work part-time and put the children first. We’ve always talked to them, read to them, kept a routine, spent time with them and enjoyed them. We’ve always told them they could be whatever they wanted to be.”
Business owner dad Terry added:
“Joe was always quite confident and was ready for the exams a couple of months before they came. But it’s hard for the parents. Results day has been constantly in the back of our minds.”
Joe’s sister Georgina, 14, who also attends Bede Academy, said she was very happy for her brother.
“I look up to him and admire him and I’m happy all the determination and hard work has paid off. It’s made me think it’s possible to get to where you want to be.”
Joe’s success has come in only the second year of full A level courses at the academy.
Staff also celebrated the success of former head girl, opera singer and musician Ashleigh Charlton, who was a regular star of academy productions and events. She gained As in history and music and a B in English literature and will read music at Durham University.
Ashleigh, who plays five instruments, came very close to gaining a place at the Royal Academy of Music in London, going up against 500 international students, many in their 20s, when she was just 17.
Miss Evans said:
“Ashleigh has impressed everyone in the academy and many others from outside, including musicians who’ve come from London to teach extra lessons for us. She has shown complete dedication and I’m sure will have a successful career in opera.
“She has been a wonderful role model and an inspiration to younger students and has given a lot of her time to help them. We’re very proud of her and she will be hugely missed.”
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OK, so it’s going to be easy here to joke about Coldplay and Cliff Richard – but there’s some real science behind using music to help you sleep better.
A lot of sleep specialists will insist on keeping technology or smartphones out of the bedroom to keep you from worrying about missed messages or being tweeted awake in the middle of the night, but app designers have already created a heap of clever ideas to help you prepare for a restful night.
And then there’s the playlists which promise to help you catch some zzzz’s when you need it the most – this surprising list from the Huffington Post includes Damien Rice, The Postal Service, Iron & Wine and The Smiths just to make sure even hipsters get a great night’s sleep.
But when it comes to common consensus, it seems that classical music is the best cure for insomnia – in this article designed to help students cramming for exams, researchers from the University of Toronto have shown that music by the composers Brahms, Handel, Mozart, Strauss and Bach helped people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer because “they use rhythms and tonal patterns that create a meditative mood and slow brainwaves”.
And if all else fails, why not bed down with this track Weightless by UK band Marconi Union, which – thanks to its continuous rhythm of 60 beats per minute – synchronises with the heart and brainwaves to instil a sense of restfulness.
Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy said:
While listening, your heart rate gradually comes to match that beat. It is important that the song is eight minutes long because it takes about five minutes for this process, known as entrainment, to occur. The fall in heart rate also leads to a fall in blood pressure. The harmonic intervals - or gaps between notes - have been chosen to create a feeling of euphoria and comfort. And there is no repeating melody, which allows your brain to completely switch off because you are no longer trying to predict what is coming next.
The final word, though, ought to go to the Sleep Foundation, which reveals that most of us really think that silence is golden: 74% of Americans say a quiet bedroom is key to a good night’s sleep.
Research has shown that falling asleep to music can help you sleep longer and better. Find out which tunes are supposed to induce a restful night.
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Editorial & Research Team
To send a press release or to contact the editorial department, email pressreleases@biocentury.com.
Simone Fishburn, Ph.D., Vice President & Editor in Chief
Simone serves as Vice President and Editor in Chief, bringing experience from both industry and academia in translational science, where she focused for over 15 years on the scientific, commercial and strategic considerations for advancing laboratory discoveries to products for patients.
Since joining BioCentury in 2013, Simone has written and edited on innovation from idea to patient, most recently serving as Executive Editor. Previously, she was a director of translational research at Nektar Therapeutics and a senior managing consultant at Exponent Inc., where she specialized in projects for the biopharma industry. Simone serves as an adviser on multiple university translational programs, including initiatives at the University of California and Stanford University. Simone is also active in programs to advance women's careers; she is a board member of Women In Bio and served as its President in 2013-14.
Simone is a Fulbright scholar and performed a post-doc at the University of California San Francisco. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from the Weizmann Institute of Science, and an M.A. and B.A. in Pharmacology from Cambridge University.
Jeff Cranmer, Executive Editor
Jeff directs and edits the short-form articles at BioCentury, including financial, corporate, regulatory and clinical items, Emerging Company Profiles and Translation in Brief.
Jeff leads the coverage of breaking news, coordinating the flow of global news from North America, Europe and Asia.
Jeff joined BioCentury as Editor of BioCentury Extra in 2005 and became Managing Editor of BioCentury in 2010. He became Executive Editor in 2017.
Prior to BioCentury, Jeff served on the editorial teams of MarketWatch, Institutional Investor and Asia Times. He is co-author of the first edition of the Rough Guide to Laos. Jeff has an A.B. from Princeton University in English and an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Selina Koch, Ph.D., Executive Editor
Selina directs and edits the long-form analytical articles and infographics at BioCentury, covering scientific, corporate and strategic content across the biomedical ecosystem. Selina has domain expertise across a wide range of topics relevant to drug developers. Her first love is neurology. She has a deep understanding of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, as well as conditions affecting ion channels.
Selina joined BioCentury in 2014 after earning a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and conducting postdoctoral research at the University of California San Francisco. Her experiments investigated the role of synaptic plasticity in shaping the development of brain circuits. She holds a B.S. in Neurobiology and Behavior from the University of Washington.
Senior Editors & Bureau Heads
Erin McCallister, Senior Editor & Head, Clinical Development & Market Access
Erin guides BioCentury's clinical development, market access and reimbursement coverage. She has written extensively on novel clinical trial designs and drug pricing strategies, as well as M&A, corporate strategy, and the competitive landscape across multiple therapeutic areas.
Prior to joining BioCentury in 2008, Erin served as a program officer for the Great Lakes Protection Fund and a biologist at Dow AgroSciences. She holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Biology from Purdue University.
Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, Washington, & Head, Policy & Regulation
Steve has been BioCentury’s Washington Editor since 1993, covering political and policy issues affecting the life sciences sector. He also is BioCentury’s Senior Editor responsible for coverage of social issues involving biotechnology, as well as the former host of BioCentury This Week, BioCentury's public affairs television program broadcast in 2010-14.
Steve’s reporting about biotechnology and biomedical policy has been cited in The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New Scientist and other publications. In 2012, the FDA Alumni Association named Steve the Harvey W. Wiley Lecturer, making him the first journalist to receive the Wiley Award.
Steve is also a widely recognized scholar on espionage and the Cold War. He is the author of Bureau of Spies: The Secret Connections between Espionage and Journalism in Washington and Engineering Communism: How Two Americans Spied for Stalin and Founded the Soviet Silicon Valley.
Karen Tkach Tuzman, Ph.D., Associate Editor & Head, Discovery and Preclinical Research
As Head of Discovery and Preclinical Research, Karen guides BioCentury’s coverage of emerging biology and technologies. She has written extensively about immunology, synthetic biology and data science, covering innovative breakthroughs in industry and academia, and dissecting trends in company formation and investments around new science. She coordinates activities and interactions with BioCentury’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Karen joined BioCentury in 2015 after a postdoctoral research fellowship in Stanford University's Department of Chemical and Systems Biology. She holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from Weill Cornell Medicine and a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California Berkeley.
Lauren Martz, Senior Editor
Lauren has written on emerging technologies and therapeutics since joining BioCentury in 2007. As Associate Editor, she guides BioCentury’s coverage of CRISPR and has written extensively on cell and gene therapies, the microbiome and gene control, as well as IP issues affecting the industry. Lauren holds a B.S.E. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Temple University.
Paul Bonanos
Paul writes and edits stories on product development, company strategy and has a particular focus on venture financings and M&A. He is a frequent contributor to BioCentury’s financial column, where he provides synopses of trends in financing, insight into deals and analyses of the week’s market moves. Paul was the Editor of BioCentury Extra in 2014-17. He has written for a variety of publications about venture capital, biotech, information technology and music; among them are The Pink Sheet, Billboard, The Deal and GigaOm.
Stephen Hansen
Stephen is BioCentury’s Associate Editor in the U.K., where he serves as one of the company’s primary points of contact with European companies and investors. Stephen has covered clinical development, corporate strategy and finance in Europe, the U.S. and China for BioCentury for over a decade and is a frequent contributor to BioCentury’s quarterly Financial Markets Preview and annual Buyside View and European Finance reports. He holds B.A.s in Biology and History from Bethel University and an M.Phil. in History from Oxford University.
Val Kennedy
Based in Boston, Val covers finance and M&A for BioCentury. Prior to joining the company in 2019, she spent nearly a decade at MarketWatch covering the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. In addition to MarketWatch, Val’s work has been published by The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires and Reuters. She has also provided business commentary for CBS Radio, Fox Business News, PBS and New England Cable News.
Virginia Li
Virginia edits news and analysis stories for BioCentury and manages the Emerging Company series, which profiles the formation of innovative companies across the globe. Since joining BioCentury in 2014, Virginia has written and edited stories on M&A, product development and translational news and has been a frequent contributor to BioCentury’s quarterly Financial Markets Preview and annual Buyside View reports. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Cornell University.
Inhua Muijrers-Chen
With a background in molecular biology and cancer epigenetics, Inhua represents BioCentury in Continental Europe from her office near Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Prior to joining BioCentury in 2019, Inhua consulted for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the European Patients Academy for Therapeutics Innovation and the U.S.-based Sickle International Family Coalition; she also served as Life Science Lead at IT consultancy Appecon GmbH. She was an Assistant Professor of Applied Sciences at Zuyd University and did a postdoc at the Netherlands Cancer Institute.
Inhua holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Open University in collaboration with the University of Heidelberg, and a B.S. from Cornell University. She sits on the board of Unalone, a Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to patient empowerment.
Sandi Wong, Ph.D., Assistant Editor
Sandi manages BioCentury’s Distillery section, which features academic discoveries with commercial potential. Sandi also contributes news briefs on drug discovery and development, venture financings and M&A, and has written extensively about emerging companies, infectious diseases and therapies targeting the gut-brain axis. Prior to joining BioCentury in 2018, Sandi was a scientist at precision antimicrobial company Locus Biosciences Inc. and conducted postdoctoral research on the neonatal microbiome at Duke University. She holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California Berkeley.
Winnie Pong, Ph.D., Associate Editor, Data & Analytics
Winnie writes data-driven stories and supports the data analysis and visualization efforts of BioCentury’s editorial team. Before joining BioCentury in 2016, Winnie was a medical writer at DynaMed and a postdoctoral fellow studying cancer neuroimmunology at Washington University Medical School in St Louis. She holds a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Boston University and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Meredith Durkin Wolfe, Associate Editor, Data & Analytics
Meredith leads research analytics for BioCentury's editorial team, responsible for generating and analyzing the data that informs BioCentury's stories and accompanying charts and tables. Since joining BioCentury in 2008, her research has supported BioCentury's quarterly Financial Markets Preview and annual Buyside View and European Finance reports, as well as analysis articles on M&A, molecular targets and new modalities. Prior to BioCentury she worked in circadian rhythms research at Rush University and in market research with clients from a variety of industries. Meredith has an A.B. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago.
Senior Writers
Allison Johnson, Ph.D.
Since joining BioCentury in 2017, Allison has written extensively on innovations in drug development, including next-generation gene therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, allosteric modulation and single cell analysis. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pathology from the University of Michigan, where she studied blood-brain barrier permeability. She holds a B.S. in biochemistry from Juniata College.
Elizabeth Eaton
Elizabeth writes news and analysis briefs with a focus on company formation, venture financings, deals and legal proceedings involving industry. Before joining BioCentury in 2017, Elizabeth covered immunology, microbiology and ecology at Science News magazine in Washington, D.C. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Arizona, where she was a NASA Space Grant intern.
Hongjiang Li, Ph.D.
Hongjiang covers news on capital markets, policy and regulatory developments with a focus on China, writes on emerging companies and is a principal contributor and editor of BioCentury’s Distillery section. Before joining BioCentury in 2016, Hongjiang was a research scientist at the Institute of Science and Technology in Austria, Ghent University and the University of California Riverside. She holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Peking University, a PPM in Bioscience Management from Keck Graduate Institute and a B.S. in Biotechnology from Sichuan University.
Claire Quang
Claire covers translational science for BioCentury’s Distillery section. Since joining BioCentury in 2013, she has covered breaking news on venture financings, clinical development and M&A as a Staff Writer and has served as BioCentury’s Fact Checker and Copy Editor. She is pursuing an M.D. from the University of Nevada Reno and holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Chicago.
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TONY IOMMI And GEEZER BUTLER Attend Official Naming Of 'BLACK SABBATH Bridge' In Birmingham (Video)
The official naming of the "Black Sabbath Bridge" in honor of Birmingham's legendary heavy metal rockers took place earlier today (Wednesday, June 26) in the heart of the city's entertainment district.
Two BLACK SABBATH founding members attended the extraordinary event at the road bridge, which crosses the canal on Broad Street.
Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler cruised on to the scene aboard a narrowboat to unveil the new bridge signage from the canal below the bridge, with hundreds of BLACK SABBATH fans flocking to the city to watch.
Check out photos at Birmingham Mail.
Westside Business Improvement District (BID) has worked closely with the Canal & River Trust charity and Birmingham City Council to have the bridge renamed as "Black Sabbath Bridge."
As well as the new bridge name, a uniquely designed "heavy metal bench" incorporating images of the band's original four members is permanently based on the bridge, and this is expected to become a major new tourist attraction for the city.
Westside BID originally unveiled the bench to fans at a private ceremony at St Luke's Gas Street Church in February, which means today's bridge-naming event was also its public launch.
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: "We're grateful to the Canal & River Trust and Birmingham City Council for helping us to realize our ambition to pay this special tribute to BLACK SABBATH."
Ani Sutton, community engagement manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: "We're thrilled to be involved and look forward to seeing hundreds of people enjoying this event on the canal in Birmingham — which is also celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
"The bench looks fabulous and by working closely with Westside BID we have created a new location on a renamed bridge that not only can Brummies be proud of, but which will also draw tens of thousands of tourists to the city and the canal in the years to come."
Iommi said: "The bridge name and commemorative bench are both terrific and we're thrilled that everyone can now enjoy what has become a special location for BLACK SABBATH history."
Coun Waseem Zaffar, the cabinet member for Transport and the Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: "We are delighted to name this new bridge in honour of BLACK SABBATH, one of the greatest bands to come from Birmingham."
The unveiling coincides with a major Home Of Metal exhibition celebrating BLACK SABBATH and the band's legacy, which runs until September 29 at the Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery.
Fantastic occasion, Birmingham made us very proud!
-- Tony
Posted by Tony Iommi on Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Tags: black sabbath
To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).
SLIPKNOT Fans Blast 'Ridiculous' Ban On Spiked Collars And Wallet Chains At Glasgow Concert
MIKE LEVINE Says 'Physical Issues' Will Likely Prevent TRIUMPH From Touring Again
BRUCE KULICK: 'Joining KISS Changed My Entire Life'
HALESTORM Has Two New EPs Coming Out, Says LZZY HALE
MACHINE HEAD Fan Proposes To Girlfriend In Circle Pit During Phoenix Concert (Video)
Rest In Violence
The Sun and The Cold
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In surprising announcement, NYPD officials reveal details of London bombing
(The Associated Press circulated the following article by Tom Hays on August 4.)
NEW YORK -- The London suicide bombers cooked up their explosives using mundane items like hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that "these terrorists went to a hardware store or some beauty supply store" for ingredients, according to New York City police.
Details from the July 7 London bombings emerged Wednesday at an unusually wide-ranging briefing given by the New York Police Department to city business leaders.
The briefing _ based partly on information obtained by NYPD detectives who were dispatched to London to monitor the investigation _ was part of a program designed to encourage more vigilance by private security at large hotels, Wall Street firms, storage facilities and other companies.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly warned the materials and methods used in the London attack were easily adaptable to New York.
"Initially it was thought that perhaps the materials were high-end military explosives that were smuggled, but it turns out not to be the case," Kelly said. "It's more like these terrorists went to a hardware store or some beauty supply store."
The NYPD officials said investigators believe the bombers used a peroxide-based explosive called HMDT, or hexamethylene triperoxide diamine. HMDT can be made using ordinary ingredients like hydrogen peroxide (hair bleach), citric acid (a common food preservative) and heat tablets (sometimes used by the military for cooking).
HMDT degrades at room temperature, so the bombers preserved it in way that offered an early warning sign, said Michael Sheehan, deputy commissioner of counterterrorism at the nation's largest police department.
"In the flophouse where this was built in Leeds, they had commercial grade refrigerators to keep the materials cool," Sheehan said, describing the setup as "an indicator of a problem."
Among the other details cited by NYPD officials:
_ The bombers transported the explosives in beverage coolers tucked in the back of two cars to the outskirts of London.
_ Investigators believe the three bombs that exploded in the subway were detonated by cell phones that had alarms set to 8:50 a.m.
_ Similar "explosive compounds" were used in the attempted attack in London on July 21. However, the detonators were hand-activated, not timed.
Sheehan said the NYPD was troubled by information it had received about the bombers' links to "organizations," but he did not name any groups.
"We know those same types of organizations that they're affiliated with are very much present in New York City," he said. "That's something we're studying very, very carefully. ... This could happen here."
After the briefing, police spokesman Paul Browne said the department had clearance from British authorities to present the information about the July 7 attack, which killed 52 people.
The session at police headquarters in lower Manhattan was attended by officials from police departments and law enforcement agencies in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and other jurisdictions. The officials were in the city discussing plans to beef up security along Amtrak's New York-Washington route.
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LEAD THE WAY. AND LET THE WORLD FOLLOW.
BMW Connected Drive Services & Apps in the BMW M4 Coupé.
Communication, information and entertainment – experience mobility in a completely new way with the Services & Apps from BMW ConnectedDrive.
CONNECTED DRIVE SERVICES.
ConnectedDrive Services provides the driver with a wide range of information, entertainment and service features on the road.
These include BMW Online, which gives access to current, localised information such as weather, news, online search and also office functions.
This option also includes convenient, secure and unlimited access to smartphone apps such as BMW Connected. The equipment option ConnectedDrive Services offers many more such options, making every trip in a BMW a real driving experience.
BMW M LAPTIMER APP.
With the BMW M laptimer app, driving data from the racetrack can be accurately recorded, bend by bend, and then analysed with the aim of improving driving performance. The app uses BMW sensors to collect detailed data from the vehicle and shows selected results in the Control Display. The system is operated via the iDrive Controller. While it is recording, the BMW M laptimer app shows the GPS position, speed, forward acceleration, lateral acceleration (G-force), lap times and acceleration up to a certain speed (e.g. from 0 to 100 km/h). Depending on the vehicle equipment and model year, factors measured may also include the accelerator position, steering angle, deceleration, rpms and gear, as well as fuel consumption. The recorded information can be shared as a snapshot on social media while the data saved can be sent via email.
CONCIERGE SERVICES.
For anyone who has ever wanted to know what it is like to have their own personal butler, here is a chance: Concierge Services from BMW ConnectedDrive. At the touch of a button one is being put through to the BMW Call Centre agents who are available as ""personal assistants"" for the driver on the road.
Whether one is looking for a particular restaurant, the nearest cash dispenser or an emergency pharmacy – a BMW Call Centre agent is there to help and can send address details directly to the navigation system on demand. Concierge Services operates independently of the driver's mobile phone and is available at home and abroad round the clock, seven days a week at no extra cost. ConnectedDrive Services is required in order to use this function.
REAL TIME TRAFFIC INFORMATION.
Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) provides the most up-to-date traffic information at all times. Precise details of the time and duration of hold-ups are relayed virtually in real time. The data is drawn from such sources as movement profiles from the mobile phone network, the GPS data of vehicle fleets, smartphone apps and police reports. This data is analysed so precisely that it is possible to localise traffic congestion to the nearest few metres. This enables RTTI to provide information in real time on the current traffic situation on motorways, main roads, country roads and numerous urban routes, and to recommend sound alternative routes.
Only available in conjunction with the optional equipment ConnectedDrive Services.
INTELLIGENT EMERGENCY CALL.
Intelligent Emergency Call permits fast, targeted assistance round-the-clock as well as support by trained staff – in the driver's native language, even abroad. If a serious accident takes place involving activation of an air bag or the belt tensioners, an Intelligent Emergency Call is automatically issued. Relevant details such as the exact position of the car, the severity of the accident and the possible risk of injury to occupants are transmitted to the BMW Call Centre via the car’s built-in SIM card, i.e. independently of a private mobile phone. The BMW Call Centre will inform the nearest rescue coordination centre and provide assistance the over the phone until the rescue services arrive. The emergency call can also be triggered manually in case others on the road require help, for example.
BLUETOOTH OFFICE.
Bluetooth Office allows you to use time spent in the car more effectively. Via Bluetooth-enabled devices, daily work can be conveniently organised while on the go. E-mails, appointments, tasks and text messages are shown on the Control Display or read aloud over the audio speakers It is also possible to display calendar entries from the Apple iPhone via BMW Apps. A list of all compatible mobile devices is available at www.bmw.com/bluetooth.
The equipment option Internet gives web access on the car's Control Display. The URL is entered simply and conveniently using the iDrive Controller or using the bookmark list for fast access. With the data flat rate for internet use, one can surf the internet directly from your BMW nationwide (no roaming). The Control Display can be used for web surfing up while travelling at a speed of up to 4 km/h.
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BC Ferries advises that people make vehicle reservations in advance, and arrive 45 to 60 minutes early. Walk-on passengers are also advised to arrive 45 minutes early. (Black Press Media files)
Ferries filling up fast, sailing waits at some terminals
Victoria News Staff
Oct. 14, 2019 12:15 p.m.
Monday has seen a steady stream of traffic for BC Ferries, as Thanksgiving travellers heading home after the long weekend.
The Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay 1 p.m. sailing is 70 per cent full, as of noon, and the 2 p.m. sailing is 54 per cent full. The 3 p.m. sailing is currently 63 per cent full.
Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen’s 1 p.m. sailing is 100 per cent full, with a one sailing wait. The 2 p.m. sailing is 87 per cent full and the 3 p.m. is 51 per cent full.
READ ALSO: BC Ferries schedules 93 extra sailings for Thanksgiving long weekend
Duke Point to Tsawwassen’s 12:45 p.m. sailing is 100 per cent full, the 3:15 p.m. sailing is 72 per cent full and the 5:45 p.m. is 81 per cent full.
The Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay 1:15 p.m. sailing is 100 per cent full, with a one sailing wait. The 1:50 p.m. sailing is 59 per cent full and the 3:30 p.m. sailing is 65 per cent full.
Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest travel weekend of the year for walk-on passengers, meaning that at peak times foot passengers may also experience a sailing wait.
READ ALSO: BC Ferries’ new alcohol trial under scrutiny
BC Ferries advises that people make vehicle reservations in advance, and arrive 45 to 60 minutes early. Walk-on passengers are also advised to arrive 45 minutes early.
Parking lots will also fill fast, so people are asked to rideshare or take public transit to the terminals if possible.
For more information, visit bcferries.com.
Burns Lake Comfor to start fuel mitigation project on Oct. 15
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Ricky Gervais Jokes About Caitlyn Jenner In His Horrifically Offensive 2016 Golden Globes Monologue
By Kadeen Griffiths
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images
As soon as the cameras zoomed in, and Ricky Gervais' face filled the screen, I was already bracing myself for something. There's always something. And, of course, not even five minutes into his monologue, Gervais joked about Caitlyn Jenner and the trans community in quick succession. When are the comedians of Hollywood going to understand one simple fact? Caitlyn Jenner is not a joke. Her gender identity is not a joke, her transition is not a joke, and she should never be the punchline to any joke. At all. Ever. I mean, I wasn't expecting Gervais to be one of the comedians who understood this, but I certainly wasn't expecting him to prove that he didn't understand this so soon into the 2016 Golden Globes.
"I've changed," Gervais joked. "Not as much as Bruce Jenner, obviously." Cue the laughter, I guess? Because that's so funny? I'm not sure what the joke is supposed to be, exactly. "Now Caitlyn Jenner, of course. What a year she's had," he continued. "She became a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery in breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. She didn't do a lot for women drivers, but you can't do everything." Oh, OK.
Even worse, Gervais did not stop there on his quest to offend everyone in the room. He also dug into Jeffrey Tambor, who is currently famed for starring as a transgender woman in the Amazon series Transparent, with an incredibly inappropriate tangent. "At least Jeffrey Tambor did it in a dress. What a year he's had. What an actor, what a role. Every day he has to put on all of the women's clothes and the hair and makeup and let people film it. That takes balls, so, I don't know how he does it. I really don't. I've seen his balls, they're huge and long..." Again, I'm not sure what the joke is supposed to be here. That men dressed as women are hilarious and brave? And why did that require an entire interlude about Tambor's genitals? It just doesn't make sense, and it isn't funny.
I understand the merits of shock comedy. I really do. The point is to make people laugh at how outrageous inappropriate a comedian can be. But there's a difference between outrageously inappropriate and offensively inappropriate, and that's a difference that Gervais has yet to learn over the course of his numerous times hosting the Golden Globes. Even worse, it's a difference that really matters when it comes to a marginalized group like the transgender community. Just as Caitlyn Jenner is not a joke, so too is the entire transgender community not a joke, nor a group to casually use as a punchline, especially not in an opening monologue for an awards ceremony watched by so many people. These kinds of jokes about a community so often misunderstood by, or suffering at the hands of, others just make me cringe, as if I can physically remove myself from the horror of having listened to the joke. Gervais can, and honestly has, done better and been funnier. I'd like to see more of that, and less attempts to make his insult comedy more heavy on the insult than it is on the comedy.
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Britain’s most hated habits revealed
Not giving up your seat to a pregnant or elderly person and using a disabled parking space when you don’t have a blue badge are Britain’s most hated habits.
Research by the Charities Aid Foundation found that barging in at the front of a queue or walking past someone carrying a pushchair up some steps were also in the top five loathed kinds of behaviour.
The findings come less than a week before #GivingTuesday on 2 December, a global day of giving which encourages people to donate their time, money or support to good causes.
Coming just after the pre-Christmas consumer hype of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is a call to action to perform an act of kindness and redress the balance by keeping bad habits at bay.
The poll of 2,070 people in the UK found that other hated foibles include playing music so loudly that everyone can hear it through your headphones and using a family parking space at the supermarket when you don’t have children in the car.
Pressing the buttons to make the lift doors close before other people can enter and eating someone else’s food from the fridge rated high on the bad behaviour chart.
Putting bags on a train or bus seat next to you so that people have to ask to sit down and talking on your mobile at a checkout till make it into the top ten.
Other bugbears are not holding a door open for someone and not letting other drivers out at junctions.
Putting an empty milk carton back in the fridge and leaving the toilet seat up also drive some of us to distraction.
Yet despite our hatred of bad manners, 74 per cent admit to being guilty of at least one of the bad habits.
#GivingTuesday takes place for the first time in the UK on 2 December and the campaign is quickly gathering momentum with more than 600 businesses and charities signed up to take part.
The movement is being led by the Charities Aid Foundation working closely with software provider Blackbaud alongside 42 founding partners including the RSPCA, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Breast Cancer Care, Facebook and RBS.
Hannah Terrey, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Charities Aid Foundation, said:
‘’#GivingTuesday is all about giving something back and we hope we can get the whole nation thinking about charity and being charitable at the start of the festive season.
‘’It is fantastic to see so much enthusiasm for the #GivingTuesday movement from people across the country including some brilliant charities and businesses.
“We are delighted by the support we have received so far and want to encourage as many businesses, charities and individuals to take up #GivingTuesday and really run with it.”
Populus interviewed 2,070 UK adults online between the 31 October and 2 November. Data was weighted to be representative of all UK adults aged 18+.
Behaving badly: Britain's most hated habits
1. Using a disabled parking space when you’re not eligible to do so (91%)
2. Not giving up your train or bus seat for a pregnant or elderly person (90%)
3. Pushing in at the front of a queue or at a busy bar (87%)
4. Walking past someone struggling with a pushchair to go up or down stairs (83%)
5. Playing music so loud that everyone can hear it through your headphones (76%)
6. Using a family parking space at the supermarket when you don't have kids (75%)
7. Pressing the buttons to make the lift doors close before people can enter (73%)
8. Eating someone else's food from the fridge (73%)
9. Putting bags on the train or bus seat next to you so people have to ask to sit down (70%)
10. Talking on your mobile phone whilst at a checkout till (70%)
11. Not holding a door open for someone (67%)
12. Not letting other drivers out at junctions (62%)
13. Putting an empty milk carton/bottle back in the fridge (40%)
14. Leaving the toilet seat up (26%)
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Turf-cutting ceremony marks new era for sport at St Mary’s School and Homerton College
Last Thursday (7 November) marked the beginning of a new era for sport at both Homerton College and St Mary’s School, Cambridge, with a special turf-cutting ceremony to launch their ambitious new Long Road development.
Representatives of the school and the college gathered to cut the first sod of soil, commencing work that will transform the existing facilities at Long Road.
The ambitious development project will provide two new AstroTurf pitches, three netball and tennis courts, an athletics track and field facilities, plus a new pavilion with a kitchen and changing rooms. Alongside exceptional new rowing facilities on the River Cam for St Mary’s oarswomen, Long Road will greatly enhance opportunities for students to discover, experience and excel in a wide range of sport, delivering St Mary’s commitment to encourage sport for all, and enabling Homerton to boast among the best sports facilities in the University.
As well as benefiting St Mary’s girls and students of Homerton College, the new Long Road facilities will also be accessed by members of the wider community, as part of Cambridgeshire County Council's Health and Well-being strategy.
Working with Ingleton Wood Martindales Ltd., the Long Road scheme has been designed to minimise its environmental impact and the site’s overall carbon footprint. Measures include:
Installation of solar panels
Energy efficient lighting and floodlights
Protection of key wildlife corridors – particularly important for bats
Planting additional trees in the space
Dedicated conservation areas for enhanced outdoor learning
Anti-flood provision in the drainage scheme
With work now underway at Long Road, it is anticipated that students will be able to enjoy the enhanced facilities from September 2020.
Professor Geoff Ward, Principal of Homerton College, University of Cambridge reflected: “The student experience at Cambridge includes the opportunity to compete in extra-curricular activity at very high levels, and this has to include sport. Our agreement with St Mary’s over shared sports facilities means that Homerton will soon have the best such facilities in collegiate Cambridge. These things are not just for the champions, but for the students unwinding at the weekend who want to kick a ball about, or go for a run.”
Charlotte Avery, Head of St Mary’s School said: “Cutting the turf was a great opportunity to celebrate the culmination of working in partnership with Homerton College to reach this critical point. Long Road will greatly enhance sporting opportunities for St Mary’s girls and I look forward to returning to the ‘turf’ to see our aspiring sportswomen in action.”
Sport at St Mary’s
More about the Long Road Development
Established on a founding vision which is over 400 years old, our educational provision continues to be tailored for girls.
St Mary's School Cambridge
St Mary's School Cambridge directory information
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Tony Karon
UPDATED: Radical, Pro-Hamas “Flotilla” Seeks Media Win
Radical Europeans, far-left Americans and pro-Hamas Islamists may have little else in common, but they've come together for a week of agitprop called the "Freedom Flotilla" aimed at pressuring Israel to relax its naval embargo on Gaza. The question is will journalists report who the players really are and what they're up to?
Gaza Flotilla Crisis Yields More Coverage, More Bias
In the aftermath of Israel's operation to prevent pro-Palestinian radicals from violating the naval blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, media organizations are again focusing on Israel and its opponents in a way reminiscent of the onset of the second Palestinian "intifada."
Time’s Tony Karon Rewrites U.N. Resolution 242
Time.com senior editor Tony Karon wrongly suggests that U.N. Resolution 242 calls on Israel to withdraw to its 1967 boundaries. He cites the view of the Arab world and the "international community" to make his case, but ignores the explicit words of the resolution's drafters.
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The Second Amendment Had Nothing To Do With Slavery
Stephen Halbrook:
For 20 years now, a well-meaning law professor has been peddling the fiction that the Second Amendment – guaranteeing the right of Americans to keep and bear arms – was adopted to protect slavery. He first proposed this in a 1998 law review article and trotted it out again in a recent New York Times op-ed.
The trouble is: It’s untrue. Not a single one of America’s founders is known to have suggested such a purpose.
When the Redcoats came to disarm the colonists, the American patriots relied on the right to “have arms for their Defense,” as stated in the English Declaration of Rights of 1689.
In 1776, Pennsylvania declared: “That the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves, and the state.” Vermont copied that language in its constitution, which explicitly abolished slavery. Massachusetts and North Carolina adopted their own versions.
When the states debated adoption of the Constitution without a bill of rights in 1787-88, Samuel Adams proposed the right to bear arms in Massachusetts’s ratification convention. The Dissent of the Minority did so in Pennsylvania, and the entire New Hampshire convention demanded recognition of the right.
There was no connection to slavery in any of these historical antecedents.
In his articles, Professor Carl T. Bogus of Roger Williams University speculates that George Mason’s and Patrick Henry’s demands in the Virginia ratification convention could have been motivated to protect slavery. Not so.
Mason recalled that “when the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised … to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”
And Patrick Henry implored: “The great object is, that every man be armed.” The ensuing debate concerned defense against tyranny and invasion – not slavery.
New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island joined in the demand for what became the Second Amendment. The right to bear arms had universal support.
I’ve seen those claims before and dismissed them as the trivial contrivances they are.
The problem is that men tend to see history through their own eyes and the context they have in post-modern America, even if that isn’t the way historical studies works.
It’s also very difficult to understand American history without the framework of continental Calvinian doctrine and polity, and an understanding of the proper relationship of the three institutions ordained by God, i.e., state, church and family (Gary North also includes economics, or in other words, the market). You can add the fourth if so inclined.
Balance between institutions means implementing covenant in all of its blessings and curses. It means not allowing one institution to usurp the authority of God over the other institutions, and that necessitates something like the second amendment.
It wasn’t anything so pedestrian as slavery that created the second amendment. It was a necessary doctrine in a nation to be founded on Biblical principles, albeit imperfectly.
Honest men understand that and use it as a framework to understand American history. Dishonest men and imbeciles make up their own shit just because.
Religion,Second Amendment
On June 25, 2018 at 6:17 am, Duke Norfolk said:
“a well-meaning law professor”
I call B.S. on that nonsense. This is the cucked right once again giving the benefit of the doubt to the left. Providing cover for the mendacious, evil ways. Screw that. Call a spade a spade. He works for the Father of Lies, and intends to destroy civilization and all that is good. He’s a little weasel; among many.
On June 25, 2018 at 6:51 am, Frank Clarke said:
‘Bogus’, eh? I guess it bears repeating: whoever named him really knew what they were talking about…
On June 25, 2018 at 6:59 am, Gryphon said:
This is even more of a Stretch than the libtard’s usual claim that the
“Civil War”(tm) was about ‘Slavery’.
(sorry, War of Northern Aggression)
On June 25, 2018 at 10:05 am, Fred said:
Since nobody else has made the leap about this headline I will. The 2A is 100% about slavery, to not be made one. And this headline supports the mealy mouthed Soft Right. The most aggressive counter to the leftist liar’s augment is; I will not be made a slave. The 2A is about killing tyrants, and all who would enslave, I will never surrender my firearms.
The headline should read; The Second Amendment Is About Killing Tyrants And Preventing Slavery.
The guy at Fox is as big a propagandizer as the lefty guy. Never follow the men of the “American Right” who would enslave you on only a slightly longer timeline than the leftists. Follow God.
On June 25, 2018 at 4:41 pm, scott s. said:
I’m not sure I accept the assumption that firearm possession was a necessary or sufficient condition for the existence or continuation of slavery in the context of the 1780s. Certainly later, as Haiti and then Nat Turner occurred the threat of “servile insurrection” presented a case for wide-spread firearm ownership, though it seems likely that would be mainly among elites, who would not need such a guarantee rather than the ordinary citizen.
On June 26, 2018 at 8:34 am, Strick9 said:
This guy’s certainly out in left field (pun intended) with this theory. I have not seen his interpretation in any other historical tome, nor does the historical record bear this out. Henry Wiencek, in his book “An Imperfect God” written about George Washington and his slaves, delves quite extensively into the battle over including the right to own slaves in the Constitution. Nowhere does he allude to the 2A being used to protect slavery.
It’s a nonsensical theory but because he’s a “law professor” he should be taken seriously? I think not.
You are currently reading "The Second Amendment Had Nothing To Do With Slavery", entry #19514 on The Captain's Journal.
This article is filed under the category(s) Religion,Second Amendment and was published June 24th, 2018 by Herschel Smith.
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UCF’s New Smart Cities Master’s Program for Engineers is Nation’s First
By Kimberly Lewis June 21, 2019 Print Article
To meet the growing demand for an engineering workforce that understands and can implement advanced technology into our urban systems, the University of Central Florida this fall will offer a new smart cities master’s degree track in civil engineering, the nation’s first such degree offered with an engineering focus.
The new specialty track will be offered by the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science. Examples of emerging technologies include fields such as smart traffic- and parking-management systems, driverless public transportation, and systems that analyze data to automatically adjust for public needs.
Mohamed Abdel-Aty, chair of the college’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering and the lead of UCF’s smart-cities initiative, says the university is well positioned to offer the new track because many faculty members are already doing research in relevant topics. Some of that involvement includes:
The Federal Highway Administration in 2017 awarded $11.9 million to a team from UCF, the Florida Department of Transportation and MetroPlan Orlando to test several new transportation technologies; Siemens last year began working with UCF to implement a smart university infrastructure to improve the performance and efficiency of buildings and energy grids by harnessing the power of data; and UCF is a founding supporter of BRIDG (Bridging the Innovation to Development Gap), a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Osceola County to make wafers used in advanced sensors, optics, photonics and advanced-system miniaturization.
Also, UCF last summer hosted planners in academia, industry, the public sector and the community at the Data Science Summit: Smart Cities of the Future conference to address emerging trends in the use of futuristic technology in public spaces.
The smart city revolution is akin to how technology about 25 years ago revolutionized communications to evolve into what we today call the smartphone. That same evolution is now happening to cities as new technology is being developed to improve our transportation needs, water availability, sustainability and other essential components.
The emergence of smart cities comes at a time when the United Nations says 66 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, a jump from the current 54 percent.
“Fueled by the growth of smart cities nationwide, workforce demand is increasing for engineers and city planners who are prepared for the high-tech urban landscape,” says Abdel-Aty. “We are offering engineers a way to stay ahead of the curve, knowing that they will soon face the challenges associated with rapidly developing technologies applied to our field.”
Administrators envision that this track will bridge some of the gaps with other engineering disciplines and provide an opportunity for collaboration on research and education that is relevant to smart cities.
The 30-hour program was designed by UCF researchers and educators in transportation systems, environmental engineering, water-resources management and public administration in addition to other engineering disciplines. The faculty has collaborated for two years in a program known as the Future City Initiative at UCF to explore futuristic technologies to help cities meet challenges, sustainability and resiliency goals for cities.
The new program is for students with appropriate science or engineering baccalaureate backgrounds; both thesis and non-thesis options are available. Designed for the working professional, most smart cities courses will be offered online.
The application deadline for the new track is July 15. Admissions information can be found here.
See a flyer for more information about the program.
Story by Gene Kruckmeyer ’73, UCF Today and Kimberly J. Lewis, UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science
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Relief, drainage, and soils
Plant and animal life
Resources, power, and manufacturing
Transportation and telecommunications
Constitutional framework
Daily life and social customs
Martin Ottenheimer
Harriet Joseph Ottenheimer
Alternative Titles: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, Jumhurīyat al-Qumur al-Ittiḥādīyah al-Islāmīyah, République Fédérale Islamique des Comores
Comoros, an independent state comprising three of the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. A fourth island of the Comorian archipelago, Mayotte, is claimed by the country of Comoros but administered by France.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Moroni, ComorosBoats in the harbour of Moroni, Comoros. © Presse750/Dreamstime.com
The volcanic islands of the Comorian archipelago have been called the “perfumed islands” for their fragrant plant life and are known for their great scenic beauty. The four main islands of the archipelago—“four small effervescent stones, wedged between the nearby large red island [Madagascar] and the Mozambican coast,” in the words of the Comorian writer Sitti Saïd Youssouf—combine African, Arabic, Malagasy, and French influences and were once important in the significant Indian Ocean trade between East Africa and Asian ports such as India and Japan.
Comoros Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Although the early history of the islands is uncertain, they are thought to have been explored by Arab and Persian traders in antiquity and, like Madagascar, settled by small numbers of Malayo-Indonesian peoples, gaining a sizable population only when Bantu-speaking peoples from the African mainland settled there. Shīrāzi Persians are thought to have arrived later, establishing Sunni Islam as the dominant religion. The ensuing Shīrāzi sultanates established trade relations with other countries along the Indian Ocean and developed a thriving economy based on the sale of spices and slaves. The opening of the Suez Canal substantially lessened the islands’ importance as an entrepôt, though not their strategic value. European colonial powers agreed that the Comorian archipelago would come under French rule in 1886–87, and it became an overseas territory of France in 1947. Three of the islands gained independence in 1975.
Comoros is poor, witnessing an ongoing exodus of educated and skilled workers to France and a steady decline in gross domestic product. The capital, Moroni, located on the island of Grande Comore (N’gazidja), has most of the modern commercial and manufacturing facilities located in the country; in the absence of other possibilities, most islanders must rely on subsistence farming. With miles of beautiful beaches, tourists have always been drawn to Comoros. The islands’ history of political unrest, however, has hampered efforts to promote tourism.
The Comoros are a group of islands at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, about 180 miles (290 km) off the eastern coast of Africa. The islands from northwest to southeast include Grande Comore (N’gazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), and Mayotte (Mahore).
The islands emerged from the floor of the Indian Ocean as a result of volcanic activity. Coral reefs provide occasional barriers to the rolling seas of the Indian Ocean, and breakers mark some of the world’s best diving areas. Along the seashore, broad expanses of open sandy beaches are interrupted by isolated groups of coconut palms or mangrove trees. A few coastal areas are distinguished by the harsh dark tangle of recent lava flows, while others are covered by smoothly rounded rocks, eroded reminders of ancient volcanic activity.
Comoros: beachA beach on the island of Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Comoros. © Presse750/Dreamstime.com
Grande Comore is the largest and loftiest island. It rises near its southern end in an active volcano, Mount Karthala, which, at 7,746 feet (2,361 metres), is the country’s highest point. Karthala has erupted more than a dozen times in the past two centuries. The capital, Moroni, lies in the shadow of the volcano along the island’s west coast; the town of Mitsamiouli lies on the north coast. North of Mount Karthala is a wide plateau averaging 2,000 feet (600 metres) in elevation. The surface is generally rocky and the soils shallow. There are no perennial streams, and the coast, without large inlets, is ill suited for shipping.
Mohéli is the smallest island of the group. Composed largely of a plateau that averages about 1,000 feet (300 metres) in elevation, the island ends in the west in a ridge reaching more than 2,600 feet (790 metres) above sea level. The valleys are generally fertile, and the hillsides are covered with thick forests. A strong sea swell hampers shipping. Mohéli’s chief towns are Fomboni on the northern coast and Nioumachoua in the southwest.
Anjouan is a triangular island rising centrally in a volcanic massif (Mount Ntingui) that reaches an elevation of about 5,200 feet (1,580 metres). Although the soil cover is good, much erosion has occurred, and many areas are no longer arable. There are no good natural harbours. Moutsamoudou, on the northwest coast, is the chief town; its port facilities were modernized in the mid-1980s.
Southeast of Anjouan lies Mayotte, the oldest of the four islands. It is claimed by Comoros (a claim recognized by the United Nations General Assembly), but its status is unsettled, and it continues to be administered by France.
The tropical climate has two clearly marked seasons: a cooler, dry period between May and October and a warmer, humid season between November and April. In November the summer monsoon (kashkazi) brings the highest afternoon temperatures—about 91 °F (33 °C). The highest monthly rainfall occurs in January with about 11–15 inches (275–375 mm), and the rainy season is the season of greatest tropical cyclone frequency. Dry season daily maximum temperatures fall to their lowest, about 84 °F (29 °C), in July. The average annual rainfall varies between 43 and 114 inches (1,100 and 2,900 mm), being highest on the windward northeast sides of the islands.
Rain sinks so deeply into the hardened lava and porous rocks of Grande Comore that wells are difficult to drill. Traditionally, most of Grande Comore’s water supply has come from reservoirs filled in the rainy season and from freshwater springs along the coasts (foumbous).
Less than one-sixth of the land remains covered with forest, and rapid deforestation caused mainly by domestic firewood consumption threatens to reduce the islands’ forested land still more. A coastal zone of mangroves is followed inland by one of coconut palms, mangoes, and bananas up to about 1,300 feet (400 metres), above which a forest zone rises to about 5,900 feet (1,800 metres). Mahogany trees and orchids are primarily limited to the rugged slopes of the mountains. On the highest peaks only broom, heather, and lichens grow. Additional aromatic plants such as frangipani (Plumeria), jasmine, and lemongrass lend a delightful fragrance to the islands.
Comoros: vegetationPalm trees and other tropical vegetation, Comoros. D. Minassian/DeA Picture Library
Animal life, which is similar to that of Madagascar, includes land birds (guinea fowl and egrets) and species of both lemurs and fruit bats that are peculiar to the islands. Turtles abound along the coasts and are exported. The Comorian waters are one of the habitats of the coelacanth, a rare fish once thought to be extinct, the fossil remains of which date to about 400 million years ago. Besides these unique species, the islands are also home to civets, small lizards, and giant land crabs. The expanding human population has put a number of wildlife species under threat of extinction.
flag of Comoros
National anthem of Comoros
Official names
Udzima wa Komori (Comorian); Jumhūriyyat al-Qamar al-Muttaḥidah (Arabic); Union des Comores (French); (Union of the Comoros)1
Form of government
republic2 with one legislative house (Assembly of the Union [333])
Head of state and government
President: Moustadroine Abdou (acting), assisted by Vice Presidents: Jafar Ahmad Said, Abdulla Said Sharma Shabhan, and Mustagran Aboud
Comorian (Shikomor); Arabic; French
Official religion
Monetary unit
Comorian franc (CF)
(2018 est.) 821,1004
Population rank
Population projection 2030
Total area (sq mi)
Total area (sq km)
Density: persons per sq mi
(2018) 1,123.8
Density: persons per sq km
(2018) 433.9
Urban-rural population
Urban: (2018) 29%
Rural: (2018) 71%
Life expectancy at birth
Male: (2017) 62.3 years
Female: (2017) 67 years
Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate
Male: (2010) 51.6%
Female: (2012) 42.6%
GNI (U.S.$ ’000,000)
GNI per capita (U.S.$)
1Excludes Mayotte, an overseas possession of France, unless otherwise indicated.
2A constitutional referendum effective from May 23, 2009, returned greater powers to the central government.
3Includes nine indirectly elected seats.
4Excludes Comorians living abroad in France or Mayotte (about 150,000 people).
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Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Comoros
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Comoros - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Comoros - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
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Godot starts waiting in Birmingham
Reporter: Steve Orme
West Yorkshire Playhouse and Talawa Theatre Company's new production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot which features an all-black cast transfers to the Old Rep Theatre this week as part of Birmingham REP's off-site season.
Jeffery Kissoon and Patrick Robinson take the roles of Vladimir and Estragon - two men waiting for the elusive Godot - with Fisayo Akinada, Guy Burgess and Cornell S John completing the ensemble.
Trinidadian Jeffery Kissoon (Vladimir) works regularly with the RSC and will play Caesar in its all-black cast production of Julius Caesar this summer.
He performed opposite Kim Cattrall in Antony and Cleopatra at Liverpool Everyman last year and was an associate artist at Birmingham REP during the ‘90s playing leading roles in Othello, Macbeth and The Tempest.
Direct from appearing in War Horse in the West End, Patrick Robinson plays Estragon. He's previously performed at the REP, in 2007 playing Thomas Peters in Rough Crossings, a drama about 18th century slavery written by historian Simon Schama.
Talawa Theatre Company is recognised as Britain's foremost black-led theatre company. Since its inception it's mounted more than 40 productions including African, Caribbean, American and British classics and new writing.
The company is celebrating its 25th anniversary and Waiting For Godot is its final production under the leadership of artistic director Patricia Cumper.
Waiting for Godot is directed by Ian Brown with design by Paul Wills, lighting design by Chris Davey and sound design by Ian Trollope.
It runs at the Old Rep in Station Street, Birmingham from Tuesday until Saturday.
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Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day
Seven fun facts about the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
Today Chick-fil-A® joins fellow restaurants around the country in celebration of “National Fried Chicken Day.” The day celebrates one of the nation’s most beloved Southern entrées and the people and restaurants around the nation who serve it. Chick-fil-A, which is credited with inventing the chicken sandwich, is taking the day to reveal seven fun facts even the most dedicated fans may not know about the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich:
It’s Hand Crafted: Not only is the chicken sandwich made from 100 percent all-natural breast meat, with no fillers or additives, it’s also hand breaded from scratch daily inside the kitchen at each and every one of the more than 1,900 Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide.
It Took Four Years to get Just Right: The recipe and cooking method were developed by restauranteur and Chick-fil-A founder, Truett Cathy, who revolutionized the chicken sandwich. He spent four years experimenting with the recipe and perfecting the sandwich that is enjoyed by two million people daily. More than 50 years later, the recipe – which includes a blend of ingredients topped off with a toasted, buttered bun and two crucial pickle chips – still remains unchanged to this day.
It all Hinges on the Pickle: To get that just-right taste, cucumber slices are soaked for three days before ripening into the perfect pickles to top the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich.
It’s a Capital “A” for a Reason: The capital “A” in Chick-fil-A is capitalized on purpose. It’s meant to symbolize “top quality” or “Grade A” chicken used for its menu items.
It’s Pressure Cooked in Peanut Oil: The Original Chicken Sandwich, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is pressure cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil, which is naturally trans-fat free. Chick-fil-A removed all trans-fats from its menu in 2008, seven years before the FDA required restaurants to do so. Peanut oil is also naturally free of cholesterol and low in saturated fat.
“Like most things Truett did, he just made decisions that were good for our food and good for our customers,” says Shona Jonson, Chick-fil-A’s culinary senior manager. “I don’t know what you’d call it – serendipitous or magical – but the peanut oil makes our chicken sandwich nearly impossible to replicate.”
The unique pressure cooking technique also allows the chicken to cook faster while remaining moist and tender.
It’s Top Secret: The secret recipe for the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich is hidden in a safe at the Chick-fil-A Home Office in Atlanta, Georgia.
It’s Always Improving: While the Original Chicken Sandwich has remained unchanged for five decades, Chick-fil-A continues to adapt to the growing needs and health preferences of its customers. By the end of 2019, Chick-fil-A will exclusively serve chicken raised without antibiotics. The company and its suppliers have collaborated to ensure that suppliers never directly administer antibiotics within their operation at any time, making Chick-fil-A’s “No Antibiotic Ever” commitment the strongest in the industry. The company also removed high fructose corn syrup from the entire menu and artificial colors from its dressings and sauces.
Founded in the early 1960s by S. Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A produced sales of nearly $6 billion in 2014, which marks 47 consecutive years of sales growth. Chick-fil-A was recognized in 2014 as one of America’s “Top 20 Most Admired Brands” by The Harris Poll, “Top Fast Food Chicken Chain” by Consumer Reports and the only restaurant named to 24/7 Wall Street’s “Customer Service Hall of Fame.” More information on Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s website located at www.chick-fil-a.com.
Tagged In: Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich National Fried Chicken Day
How to take your Chick-fil-A sandwich to the next level
Prepared at our restaurants using the same tried-and-true recipe that our founder created in 1964, the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich is often hailed as a modern classic and remains our most popular entrée. In its classic form with two pickes on a buttered bun, the sandwich is near and dear to our hearts, but we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to try and shake things up!
It’s their pleasure
From a friendly, “my pleasure,” to remembering a customer’s name to an occasional extra packet of your favorite sauce, Chick-fil-A restaurant Team Members often find small ways to make sure guests have the best experience possible.
Beginner's Guide to Chick-fil-A
Welcome to Chick-fil-A — we’re glad you’re here. Whether you’re checking us out for the first time, hungry for tips on what to order or just curious about who we are, you’ve come to the right place. Our reach spans the U.S. and into Canada and the U.K. Our focus is on the people we employee and serve, but what we’re most known for is making a mean Chicken Sandwich.
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Hot Six, Janet Evanovich
St. Martin’s, 2000, 336 pages, C$8.99 mmpb, ISBN 0-312-97627-5
There used to be a time, I imagine, where murder mysteries were deathly serious things. The very British origins of the mystery genre may account for it: It’s difficult to imagine Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple bitching about her sex life or dealing with mobsters with a flip remark and a few four-letter words. These days, of course, things are different: comedy and chaos go well with all sorts of criminal activities.
Janet Evanovich’s Hot Six, as the cheeky title suggests, definitely isn’t your grandma’s cozy mystery. Protagonist Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter with a complex caseload and too many personal problems. As the novel begins, her dynamo grandmother moves in her apartment. A dog soon follows. Tasked with finding and bringing back a fugitive who taught her everything she knows, Stephanie can barely deal with the lack of sex, grandma worries, casual threats and multiplicity of crises that soon overwhelm her life.
One thing’s for sure, there’s no chance to be bored when you’re riding with Evanovich: As Stephanie Plum finds herself juggling with half a dozen subplots, the action switches tracks faster than you can catch your breath. Scenes crash into one another without warning, and you can often find the protagonist juggling two, even three things in the span of a single page. This isn’t a quiet way to spend an afternoon: This is an all-point-bulletin, fire-alarm running, acrobats-and-fireworks carnival of plotting. It’s exhausting and still somehow highly satisfying.
The good thing is that this speed-metal riff on criminal investigations is packed with terrific characters and slick writing. Evanovich writes clearly and packs more meaning in a short conversation that most other writers can achieve in entire chapters. This is partly a consequence of the speed at which her novel flies by, but it’s certainly effective: Once you start reading the book, it will be difficult to stop. There are plenty of laughs along the way and few speed traps as the pages breeze past without effort.
But my biggest surprise with Hot Six is how quickly I got drawn into a series despite having no clue about the character or the setting. While I suspect a number of running gags (hmm… The bad luck with cars? The bad shooting? The donuts?), Evanovich does an excellent job at holding the newer readers by the hand and showing the main series landmarks even as the action starts. I suspect that some of the book’s romantic tension may have been heightened had I read the previous books, but that’s not really a significant complaint. (More serious are the shifts in tone required whenever the author needs to show that her heroine is in real trouble, but that comes with the territory when you’re writing a comic crime novel.)
If I have a single complaint about the book, it’s that it leaves a sweet but empty impression. Looking at the book only days after completing it, I remember having a good time, but very few of the specifics. But is that so bad?
As the title indicates, this is the sixth book in the series (which has since grown to include a twelfth volume, with no signs of slowing down) and I can only presume that the chaotic, pedal-to-the-metal style of Hot Six is representative of the rest of Evanovich’s fiction. If so, I’ve got plenty of reading to do. (Of course, it also remains to be seen if Hot Six is too representative of the rest of the series…)
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Destination: Hollywood – Part 1 »
The Truth About Pilot Season
By Kyle | Published: March 23, 2015
Working in television isn’t what it used to be…
It’s that time of year again – pilot season. The time when dozens upon dozens of pilots get the greenlight and immediately begin casting. In true traditional fashion, the big networks (NBC, CW, ABC, CBS, and Fox) all order their pilots at around the same time which results in Hollywood being thrown into chaotic turmoil. A good casting director is always trying to find the best possible cast for their projects. Now imagine having to do that when you have various producers, studios, and networks breathing down your neck while also having to compete with every other casting director in the business who are also trying to find the “best actors” for their pilots. Needless to say, things get pretty crazy, but the upside to all of this is that the plethora of pilots brings with it a plethora of job opportunities for actors! For the most part…
Because of the overwhelming influx of pilots and roles, many actors think pilot season should be the busiest auditioning time of the year for them. Truthfully, even though pilot season is indeed quite busy, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be busy for YOU. This fact may be tough to swallow, but it’s one of the biggest misconceptions actors have about the season, and it’s important to understand why.
The nature of pilot season
The nature of pilot season has been shifting considerably over the past couple of years. The season used to only refer to the big networks and their projects, but with the explosion of cable channels like HBO and Showtime, as well as streaming services like Netflix and Amazon, the landscape of things have been forever altered. This increase of distribution outlets then affects the timing of when pilots are cast and helps to spread out projects over the course of the year. Granted, the beginning of the new year is still when most of the network pilots get ordered and cast, but that quantity has definitely dipped in recent years. Some networks have even adopted the “cable format” of episodics, and have been ordering more and more limited series and miniseries (shows with only 10-13 episodes), which are often cast later in the year rather than during the traditional pilot season. Many cable channels and streaming services then tend to cast at different times of the year (avoiding pilot season altogether) since they typically have much more flexibility compared to the networks who have to follow strict schedules and timelines.
Besides for the timing of when pilots are ordered and cast, the perception of television has also changed considerably over the years. There used to be a kind of classist divide between “TV actors” and “Movie Stars”, and once you’re put into one category, there was little hope of ever getting out of it. However, because of the constantly increasing quality of episodic television as a medium, those once defined lines have been considerable blurred, and many actors are finding great success jumping back and forth between both worlds. Many established “movie stars” have flocked to television in recent years (Kevin Spacey in House of Cards, Halle Berry in Extant, Kevin Bacon in The Following, etc), while many “TV actors”, especially ones from critically acclaimed series, are highly sought after for films when they are on hiatus from their shows. Melissa McCarthy stars in every other studio comedy when she’s not shooting her series Mike & Molly, while every other actor from Game of Thrones seems to be in a movie (Peter Dinklage was in X-Men: Days of Future Past, Lena Headey was in 300: Rise of an Empire, and Kit Harington was the lead in Pompeii¸ all of which came out in 2014). Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke is then coming out in the highly anticipated feature Terminator Genisys.
Needless to say, working in television isn’t what it used to be a decade ago, and there is far more synergy between the big and small screens. Because so many “namey” actors have been flocking to television, the selectiveness and competition in casting new shows is ridiculously tough. Talk to any casting director doing a major pilot, and they will probably tell you that they have offers out to people like Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhaal for their leads, and are focusing on finding a “star name” before they even consider auditioning actors. On top of that, it’s not just A-list actors jumping to the small screen. The world of scripted television, like Hollywood, is surprisingly small, and well-known actors coming off of other series are often the first ones to be tapped for new shows. Taraji P. Henson is the lead of the hit new series Empire (alongside Terrence Howard, an established film actor) after coming off of CBS’ hit procedural Person of Interest. Rainn Wilson is the lead of the new show Backstrom after his years on The Office, while Connie Britton stars in ABC’s Nashville after runs on Friday Night Lights and the first season of American Horror Story, and the list goes on. Given the extremely volatile nature of television, i.e. so many new series debut every year, but only a small handful will actually survive past a first season, let alone become a breakout hit, it is only natural that networks and studios would try and pad their shows with as much star quality as they can.
Getting back to the aforementioned misconception about pilot season, given all the changes in the television landscape, now do you see why pilot season might not necessarily be busy for you? Put differently, the top casting choices for any pilot are always star names and actors with extensive credits underneath their belts. The latter type of actors then aren’t always “straight offered” roles in pilots, and many actually still have to audition for things like everyone else. Considering all of this, how do you expect to even be considered during pilot season if you don’t already have the credits, name, or experience? How do you expect to compete?
Another determining factor for how busy you are during pilot season is who your reps are (assuming you have any). If you have relatively unknown, boutique reps with minimal power and influence in this industry, don’t expect a whole lot of action during pilot season. Once again, pilot season is a mad frenzy – the amount of phone calls and emails casting directors get skyrocket, and they only have so many hours in the day to respond to people. Naturally, casting offices will be more communicative with people they know and have long standing working relationships with so if your rep isn’t well known, and thus doesn’t have a lot of strong connections, they will be hard pressed to get you any kind of traction for pilots. If your reps fall under this category, don’t be quick to blame them for any lack of pilot auditions! So many actors think that once they get an agent/manager the auditions will just start pouring in, and that’s absolutely not the case for most. Cut your reps some slack this season and know that they are probably doing the best that they can. Conversely, even if you do have a big agent or manager on your team that also doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a lot of pilot action. Even the bigger agencies get bogged down during pilot season, and if you’re not already one of their top earners (and thus a priority on their roster), you might find yourself a little lost in the shuffle. Small fish, big pond.
Aussies, Brits, and types, oh my!
Of course, whether or not you go out for pilots isn’t 100% contingent on your reps. Until you’re a name, you’re a type. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to be categorized in this business – handsome leading man, quirky best friend, smoldering villain, schlubby funnyman, and many more. Because of this typecasting, you’re really only going to be considered and pitched for roles that match you. This is typically the case year round, but is especially prevalent during pilot season. Then, on top of this typecasting, you’re still going to face the abovementioned competition of auditioning against namey and more seasoned actors. For example, if your type is the handsome leading man, the roles in pilots that will probably be the most right for you will be the series LEADS, which means you’ll be vying for roles that are either going to be straight offered to a movie star, or actors coming off of other series. Once again, how are you supposed to compete with these kinds of odds?
Typecasting aside, other factors related to you as an actor that may affect you are your age and ethnicity. Age-wise, if you fall in the “in between” categories, i.e. you’re too young to play the mom/dad/police detective type roles, but too old to play high school and college aged roles, you’re probably going to be in a bit of a casting rut for a while. Getting stuck in this age purgatory can be a bit frustrating and unfortunately there’s little you can do until you physically age out of it. Finally, your ethnicity also plays an important component in pilot season. In an ongoing effort to make sure shows best reflect its diverse viewing audiences, pilots almost always have roles that are designated to be played by non-Caucasian actors. In fact, the demand for ethnic diversity is so high that pilot season tends to be significantly busier for non-Caucasian actors compared to their white counterparts. If you’re a Caucasian actor who isn’t already a household name in television or have an extensive resume, you’re going to be hard pressed to be considered for pilots as you will also have to face the overwhelming demand for ethnically diverse casting.
To add the proverbial nail in the coffin, if you’re just a typical homegrown American actor you’re also going to be at disadvantage to international actors during pilot season, specifically to Australian and British performers. The running joke every pilot season is that casting will only be open to seeing you if you’re a name, non-Caucasian, or a Brit/Aussie. As humorously reductive as that may sound, there’s a lot of truth to it. Pilot season is the one time of the year when casting directors can really throw a large net when searching for talent – especially for CDs who mainly cast television. If a pilot doesn’t have a household name attached in it, they have a top notch unknown actor on the verge of breaking out. When looking for this on-the-verge actor, casting directors tend to look beyond our borders for talent, with British and Australians being the natural choice (on account of them speaking English). Of course this shouldn’t come to that much of a surprise since this has been the trend for years. Andrew Lincoln from The Walking Dead, Charlie Hunnam from Sons of Anarchy, and Ruth Wilson from The Affair – all of them British, playing American characters, and all of them the leads of their respective series.
The Pilots
Although your team of reps and your “type” as an actor are crucial factors that affect your pilot season, it’s important to note that the pilots themselves also play a significant role. The types of pilots that are ordered each season vary, and each year there tends to be a “flavor of the month”. One year, pilots about witches seemed to be all the rage, next it was political themed shows, then it was period pieces, and the list goes on. Naturally, certain types of shows require certain types of actors. A pilot set in high school will most likely need a cast of young, diverse actors, while a pilot set in the Middle East might require actors who can portray those ethnicities. Because these “flavors of the month” come and go like most trends, it’s sometimes hard to gauge exactly how busy one will be during pilot season. One year might be the craziest, busiest season of your life while the next could be slow and average – a lot of it just depends on the material that’s out there!
Now that you have a better understanding of how pilot season has evolved over the years, as well as the types of actors that are typically sought after, you can better focus your efforts on having a meaningful season. You can still be very productive and busy during pilot season even though you’re not auditioning for pilots! Check out my follow up article on how to best make use of this time.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Acting, actor, actors, actress, agent, Agents, Auditions, career, casting, Casting Director, managers, TV Review. Bookmark the permalink. Comments are closed, but you can leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
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Audio, Features
Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II
04. May, 2011
On Sunday 1 May 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday, John Paul II will be beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; Cardinal Desmond Connell, Archbishop Emeritus of Dublin; and Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross, will participate in the beatification ceremony in St Peter’s Square. They will be joined by priests and religious and an estimated two million pilgrims.
In Dublin, on 1 May, to mark this joyous occasion, a Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, in St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, at 6.30pm.
Interview with Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath
To celebrate the beatification, Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath – who was part of the organising committee for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland in 1979 – has recorded a special audio interview with Brenda Drumm of the Catholic Communications Office. Bishop Smith shares his memories of the late Pope’s pastoral visit to Ireland: the planning and logistics involved; why Pope John Paul did not visit Northern Ireland; his special mention of Clonmacnois during his weekly audience after the visit concluded. Bishop Smith also talks about how Pope John Paul II’s early life shaped his papacy, how his words about Ireland turned out to be prophetic. He also talks about the witness he gave in his final illness and death and how strong an advocate he was for human dignity and life in all in stages. Finally, Bishop Smith shares his thoughts on the beatification process.
Click here to listen to the interview which is available in two parts:
Bishop Smith for website – part 1
Broadcast of the Beatification on 1 May 2011 by RTÉ and BBC
RTÉ 1 television will cover the beatification ceremony from St Peter’s Square in Rome, as Pope Benedict XVI beatifies his predecessor. Commentary will be by Father Dermod McCarthy with coverage beginning at 08.55am and concluding at 11.10am.
At 8.35am on Sunday 1 May RTÉ 1 television will show A Saint in the Making, a documentary remembering the life of Pope John Paul II, with contributions by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Sister Margaret McCurtin, Father Dermod McCarthy and Ms Gina Menzies. This will air just before the coverage of the beatification ceremony.
BBC broadcaster William Crawley will present two special programmes live from St Peter’s Square in Rome on 1 May: BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Programme from 07.10 to 07.55 and BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence from 08.30 until 10.15. Contributors will include lay pilgrims, Cardinal Brady; Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster; papal biographers John Allen, Marco Politi, Carl Bernstein, David Willey and John Cornwell. These broadcasts are also available on BBC digital, FM, Medium Wave and online.
Vigil Mass in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, on 30 April 2011
A special vigil Mass will be held in the College Chapel, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth at
7.30pm on Saturday 30 April to mark the beatification of John Paul II. Father Paul Prior will be the principal celebrant of the Mass which will be attended by the seminarians and staff of St Patrick’s College. The Mass will be followed by a Eucharistic Vigil until midnight.
During the Eucharistic Vigil a seminarian will read the text of the special address which Pope John Paul II delivered to seminarians during his visit to Maynooth in 1979.
Pope John Paul II and Ireland
To listen to a selection of the addresses and homilies of Pope John Paul II during his 1979 visit to Ireland – click here
To read all of his addresses and homilies in text format – click here
Memorial of Blessed John Paul II – 22 October
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has issued a decree establishing that the celebration of the memorial of Blessed John Paul II be inserted into the calendar of the diocese of Rome and the dioceses of Poland, and that it be celebrated every year.
Divine Mercy Sunday – 1 May 2011
Divine Mercy Sunday is the culmination of the novena to the Divine Mercy of Jesus, which begins on Good Friday, a devotion given to Saint Faustina (Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1905-1938) and is based upon an entry in her diary stating that anyone who participates in the Mass and receives the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist on this day is assured by Jesus of full remission of their sins.
The Devotion to the Divine Mercy was actively promoted by John Paul II, who canonised the Polish Saint and visionary, Sr Faustina Kowalska on 30 April in the Jubilee Year of 2000, and designated the Second Sunday of Easter as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy in the General Roman Calendar.
Cardinal Brady said, “Divine Mercy Sunday is a feast that was very close to the heart of the John Paul II. It points us the wounds of Jesus’ Passion, especially the wound in His heart, the source of a great wave of mercy and love poured out on humanity. John Paul often said that, in the Eucharist, he was uniting his own sufferings with those of Christ.”
Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II on Divine Mercy Sunday
1916 Commemoration (2011) – Archbishop Martin
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Gays, Boy Scouts and Catholics
by Steve Ray on May 26, 2013
Thoughts for Catholics impacted by the Boy Scouts of America membership policies, by Dr. Edward Peters
Steve Ray’s Comments Below.
Two groups of Catholics are directly impacted by the decision of the Boy Scouts of America to formally admit as scouts youth who profess a same-sex orientation, namely, Catholic sponsoring organizations and Catholic scouts and their families. As always (See Disclaimer no. 1 to the right), I speak only for myself in what follows.
ED PETERS 5/28/13 UPDATE
Part One, whether Catholic organizations may sponsor Boy Scouts.
Preliminary points. First, the Church’s absolute rejection of homosexual acts and her description of same-sex attraction as objectively “disordered” (CCC 2357) is not subject to question among Catholics. Second, the Church calls on persons who experience same-sex attraction “to fulfill God’s will in their lives” (CCC 2358) and to practice chastity (CCC 2359) which, for them as for all unmarried persons, connotes complete continence (CCC 2349-2350). Third, the Church warns society to avoid “every sign of unjust discrimination” against those who experience same-sex attraction (CCC 2358).
Now, the policy adopted by the Boy Scouts states in pertinent part: “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”
Immediate observations. First, the policy applies only to youth members (males aged 11 thru 17 and, I assume, single), not to adult leaders who, per the Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts v. Dale (2000)—a case that I think was decided correctly—are excluded based on a same-sex orientation.
Second, on its face the policy applies only to membership in the Boy Scouts and not necessarily to participation in all Boy Scout activities; intentionally or not, this narrow phrasing seems to leave open some questions about how a membership policy might be applied to reasonable concerns over participation in certain activities.
Third, nothing in the new policy or in Boy Scout literature endorses or advocates the gay life style; in fact all members are prohibited from using the Boy Scouts to promote “any social or political position or agenda”.
These three points being noted, the revised policy may be scrutinized from a Catholic point-of-view as follows.
To read the whole review, click HERE.
Steve’s Comment: Does anyone think that once the camel gets his nose under the tent that he won’t eventually end up inside the tent and chasing everyone else out? We may accept this decision (or we may not) but anyone who knows how the gay agenda works knows full well that they are not happy to be accepted — they want us all to celebrate their gay-ness. If we don’t we are the bigots.
Though I agree with Dr. Peters concerning the legal matters here, I must say that I don’t like the smell of the whole thing. Predictions are unavoidable because we don’t live in a vacuum and we have too much history and practical experience not to have logical predictions. What will be the gay’s next move on the Scouts — since they will never be happy to just leave things are they are? The camel is never interested in putting only his nose in the tent.
No one who loves traditional families, prolife and sanity among the sexes can be happy with this decision because on the face of it it legitimizes (whether is says so outwardly or not) the gay way of thinking. It will also make it very uncomfortable for boys who will be leery of stepping into a shower with an openly gay boy, or sharing a tent with him. But if he shows any hesitancy it will be HIM that is penalized and discriminated against.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. My guess is that it will have devastating effects on a very wholesome institution.
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Poland 2: Niepokalanow and Warsaw
by Steve Ray on August 23, 2019
After a good night’s sleep, everyone is feeling pretty good today and well-rested. We start the day by driving to the “City of the Immaculata“ which was founded by Saint Maximilian Kolbe and the name of it in Polish is Niepokolanow.
It was a beautiful drive for about one hour and when we arrived we started with Mass (homily here) before taking a tour of the site and a lot of history about St. Maximilian.
We came back to Old Town Warsaw where everyone had two hours to eat lunch and shop and enjoy the city center. Everybody had time to find nice cafés for lunch and see the sights of Warsaw. Then we toured the city and churches. Also, the Warsaw Ghetto where Jews were mercilessly contained under the Nazis and a lot of history related to World War II and the Soviets.
Then back to the hotel. From there we walked through the Royal Gardens and ate at the exquisite Belvedere Restaurant.
Did the Bible Always have Chapters & Verses?
No! The chapter and verse divisions in the Bible are relatively recent additions to the Bible. Originally it was written in Hebrew and Greek and there were NO chapter and verse divisions–in fact, most of the time there was not even spaces between the words!
Interestingly, in the book of Hebrews the writer is quoting the Old Testament and because it did not have chapters and verses and he was working out of a cumbersome rolled scroll, the writer said “Somewhere it says . . .” (Heb 2:6, 4:4).
Here is a paragraph from my book St. John’s Gospel:
“The different divisions of the material within the NT books are not ancient. The chapter divisions are usually attributed to Cardinal Hugo de San Caro, who in A.D. 1248 used them in preparing a Bible index, but he may have borrowed them from the earlier [Catholic] archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton.
The modern verses derive from Robert Estienne (Stephanus), who, according to his son Henry, made the divisions while on a journey on horseback from Paris to Lyons. They were first published in Stephanus’ Greek Testament of 1551 and first appeared in an English translation of the NT in William Whittingham’s version of 1557. The first complete Bible in English with our verses was the Geneva Bible of 1560” (Achtemeier, Harper’s Bible Dictionary, 699).
Today in Niepokalanow, Poland: Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s “City of the Immaculata”
Niepokalanow, Poland: Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s “City of the Immaculata”
Today we are in Niepokalanow where St. Maximilian Kolbe set up the “City of the Immaculata” and helped save Poland’s faith as it was about to descend into the tyranny of the Nazis and the Soviets. Today their Catholic Faith is exemplary. So, I thought I would share the story with you while we are there!
Click here for the whole story with lots of pictures….
The History of Niepokalanow:
Here, not far from Warsaw, is the Franciscan Friary founded by Saint Maximilian Kolbe. It was begun at a time when anti-Catholic rhetoric was at its height, leading up to the Communist revolution in Russia in 1917. Saint Maximilian decided to fight back, and on October 16, 1917 he and six others formed a group calling themselves the Knights of the Immaculata. His goal was to form a place in honor of the Immaculate Virgin. Obtaining land from Prince Jan Drucki-Lubecki, he was able to construct the monastery and it was consecrated on December 7, 1927.
Although Saint Maximilian was absent through much of this time, traveling to missions in Japan, he was able to help oversee its development. It grew rapidly up to the outbreak of World War II in 1939, having a large printing operation (publishing a daily Catholic newspaper), a radio station, as well as a seminary.
Saint Maximilian returned from time to time, and finally in 1936 he came back to serve as the spiritual father of Niepokalanow. As mentioned earlier, the German invasion of 1939 brought an end to all this: the priory was sacked and Father Kolbe, along with 40 priests, was arrested and held in detention. They were released a few months later, but the Gestapo kept close watch on Father Kobe and his printing operation. On February 7, 1941, Father Kolbe was again arrested and charged with aiding the Jews as well as the Polish underground. He was held in Warsaw for three months before being transferred to Auschwitz, where he gave up his life for a fellow prisoner…
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Search for missing teenager is called off
A FISHING community today spoke of its devastation as hopes of finding a teenager lost at sea faded.
Sonia Sharma
The official Coastguard search for the 16-year-old on board a trawler that collided with a passenger ferry in the North Sea was called off last night.
The boy, named locally as recent school-leaver Daniel McNeill, was on the North Shields-based Homeland prawn boat when it struck the Scottish Viking ferry on Thursday night.
Despite a massive rescue mission involving 20 fishing vessels and lifeboats lasting two days, there is still no trace of him and the Coastguard said there is no chance of finding him alive.
There are no plans to resume the hunt, but a flotilla of private fishing vessels was today continuing to scour the sea for their lost colleague.
The tragedy has crushed the close-knit community of North Shields.
One fisherman said: “Daniel was just helping out when this happened. He had just left school.
“Their other brother was on a different boat next to them because it’s a family business.
“He tried to save him but he couldn’t. It’s tragic.”
Jeff Davies, 66, a retired mechanic, said: “This is a huge tragedy. Living in a coastal town, we know only too well how cruel the sea can be.
“Quite naturally, there is a lot of sadness about what has happened.”
In a cruel twist, friends have told how Daniel was filling in for another crew member on the Homeland, owned by his 20-year-old brother Joseph, at the time of the accident.
It is believed the pair’s older brother was also fishing on a nearby boat when disaster struck and battled to save his siblings.
The incident happened off the coast of St Abbs in Eyemouth, Berwickshire, where trawlermen are refusing to abandon all hope of finding the teenager.
The Forth Coastguard on Scotland’s east shore said that despite a full search of the area where the collision happened, nothing had been found.
Fred Caygill, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), said: “The survivability period for someone in the water has passed.
“Different factors affect different people’s chances of survival, but it has been a long time.
“Some life jackets were found at the scene but it's not known if the missing person was wearing a life jacket.
“Life jackets are high visibility and have flashing lights on them.
“If he had been floating in the water we would have spotted him.”
Mr McNeill’s family, who were last night being comforted in their Tynemouth home, were too upset to speak.
The passenger ferry involved in the crash is run by Norfolkline, part of DFDS Seaways, which operates services between Rosyth, Scotland, and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
DFDS Seaways said the ferry was chartered by Norfolkline from Italian firm Visentini.
Visentini has launched its own investigation into the accident.
A spokesman said: “The owners are currently undertaking a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
“We will provide all necessary assistance to authorities investigating this tragic incident.”
A DFDS Seaways spokesman said the company was “deeply concerned” about the collision.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has also started an investigation.
A spokesman said: “We are conducting a preliminary examination at the moment.”
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UC legends Bob Huggins, Kenyon Martin, Kevin Youkilis headed for C-USA Hall of Fame
A trio of Cincinnati Bearcats legends were announced Monday as part of the inaugural Conference USA Hall of Fame class.
UC legends Bob Huggins, Kenyon Martin, Kevin Youkilis headed for C-USA Hall of Fame A trio of Cincinnati Bearcats legends were announced Monday as part of the inaugural Conference USA Hall of Fame class. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2019/07/08/conference-usa-hall-fame-ucs-huggins-martin-youkilis-inducted/1675936001/
Fletcher Page, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 3:02 p.m. ET July 8, 2019
Former UC men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins and former Bearcats' players Kenyon Martin and Kevin Youkilis will be inducted as part of the conference's celebration of its 25th anniversary.
The class is comprised of 20 student-athletes, three coaches and two administrators. The inductees will be honored throughout the 2019-20 academic year at C-USA championships and events.
“We are very pleased to honor this outstanding group for their many lasting contributions to their universities and to Conference USA,” said Judy MacLeod, Conference USA Commissioner. “They have provided many outstanding achievements and memories and we are proud to recognize their lasting legacy to our conference.”
Enquirer file/Kareem Elgazzar Former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins and his 1992 Final Four basketball team will reunite at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason on Aug. 11-12. Former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins and his 1992 Final Four basketball team will reunite in Cincinnati Aug. 11-12. (Photo: The Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar, Enquirer file/Kareem Elgazzar)
Huggins guided UC for 16 seasons (1990-2005), including its 10 seasons in Conference USA (1996-2005) and was named the C-USA men’s basketball Coach of the Decade (1995-2004). UC compiled a 123-33 C-USA record and a 259-70 overall record during the 10-season period, winning a share of eight C-USA regular season championships (five outright) and four postseason C-USA Championships (2004, 2002, 1998, 1996).
The other coaches inducted were Jeff Bower (Southern Miss football) and Wayne Graham (Rice baseball).
Martin was the 2000 Consensus National Player of the Year and the only three-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. He was named the C-USA Male Athlete of the Decade (1995-2005). He was C-USA’s only No. 1 overall NBA draft selection and played 14 years in the NBA.
Youkilis played four seasons for UC baseball and helped the Bearcats to a school-record 35 wins during the 2000 season. He was a two-time second team All-American (2001, 2000) and two-time first team All-C-USA (2001, 2000). He played 10 major league seasons, making three All-Star games and winning two World Series championships with the Boston Red Sox.
Other players inducted included Dwayne Wade (Marquette basketball), Graeme McDowell (UAB golf), DeAngelo Williams (Memphis football) and Anthony Rendon (Rice baseball).
Administrators inducted were Mike Slive (former conference commissioner) and Gene Bartow (former UAB men’s basketball coach/athletics director).
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Bengals' Tobin dismisses ESPN report
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VA » Health Care » Cincinnati VA Medical Center » About Us » Leadership Team
Mark Murdock | 513-861-3100
MHA, FACHE, Director, Cincinnati VAMC
Mr. Mark Murdock was appointed the Medical Center Director at the Cincinnati, Ohio, VA Medical Center on October 28, 2018. Prior to coming to the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Mr. Murdock served as the Medical Center Director at the Chillicothe, Ohio, VA Medical Center from September 4, 2017 to October 28, 2018. Mr. Murdock also served prior leadership terms as the Acting Director for the Chillicothe VA Medical Center, as the Associate Director of the Dayton VA Medical Center and was appointed the Assistant Director of the Dayton VA Medical Center on September 26, 2010. His VA career has included assignments as Health System Specialist, Surgical Service at the Dayton VAMC; and as the Program Manager, VISN 10/11 Tele-Nurse Triage Program, Dayton, OH. Before coming to the VA, following retirement from active duty, he worked for private sector companies and government contractors in the healthcare industry. Mr. Murdock retired as a Medical Service Corp (MSC) Officer from the United States Air Force in 1999. During his Air Force career, Mr. Murdock was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton OH, Charleston AFB, SC, Misawa AB, Japan, and Aviano AB, Italy. Mr. Murdock is board certified in healthcare administration by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in which he holds membership as a Fellow (FACHE), and is a member of the Greater Ohio Healthcare Leaders Forum (GOHLF). Mr. Murdock is also a graduate of the 2012 VHA Healthcare Leadership Institute (HCLI). Mr. Murdock is a native of Sackets Harbor, New York. Mr. Murdock is a graduate of Park University with a B.S. in Healthcare Management and holds a Master's Degree in Health Service Administration from Xavier University, Ohio. Mr. Murdock and his wife, Stephanie, have four daughters.
Jim Hall | 513-475-6301
PsyD, MBA, Associate Director
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Hall served as a Health Systems Specialist in the VISN 10 Network Office. Dr. Hall’s primary duties included leading Group Practice Management, Patient Centered Care and Whole Health programs across the eleven facilities within Network 10. Previously, Dr. Hall worked closely with the VISN Chief Medical Officer to lead implementation of T21 initiatives, including the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model, across VISN 10. Dr. Hall has also been the VISN 10 champion for Patient Experience. Prior to joining the VISN 10 Network Office, Dr. Hall was a staff psychologist with the National Center for Organization Development where he led large scale organization development initiatives and provided executive coaching services to VHA executives. Dr. Hall received a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in 2002 and Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in 1994.
Dr. Shilpa Rungta | 513-475-6302
Acting Chief of Staff
Dr. Rungta is currently serving at the Acting Chief of Staff at Cincinnati VA Medical Center (VAMC). Dr. Rungta has served with the Cincinnati VAMC, as the Service Chief and Lab Director of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine beginning in 2015. Dr. Rungta has also held several leadership roles at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center such as Residency Program Rotation Director for Surgical Pathology and Medical Director of rotations and at the University of Cincinnati as the Affiliate Clinical Associate Professor for the Department of Pathology. Prior to coming to the Cincinnati VAMC Dr. Rungta served as the Lab Director for the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for the VA Battle Creek Healthcare System and Chillicothe VA Medical Center. Dr. Rungta received a Medical Degree (M.B.B.S.) from the University of Mumbai, Padmashree Dr. D. Y Patil Medical College, in Navi Mumbai, India. She has an active license to practice in Ohio and Michigan and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology. She has also completed certification in Business Foundations from Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration and certification in Health Care Administration from Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati.
Ms. Jane Johnson | 513-475-6320
Associate Director for Patient Care Services
Ms. Jane Johnson, MSN, RN, VHA-CM was appointed as Associate Director for Patient Care Services in January 2019 at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Johnson served as the Senior Nurse Advisor for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 10) since 2016. Ms. Johnson has nearly 30 years of experience in Nursing and Quality Management Leadership roles. Previous positions include: Deputy Network Director and Deputy Quality Management Officer for VISN 10 and an accreditation specialist for the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Ms. Johnson also held several Quality Management leadership positions in industry before joining the Veterans Health Administration in 2007. Ms. Johnson is an Air Force Veteran. She attained an Associate Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northern Kentucky University in 1984, and a Master of Science in Nursing in Gerontological Mental Health from the University of Cincinnati in 1986.
Last updated November 4, 2019
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CBD Is Not A Cure-All: Here's What You Should Know about CBD and Pharmaceutical Drug Interactions
Danielle Simone Brand
Recent news about CBD’s interactions with pharmaceutical drugs has been making waves inside and outside the cannabis sphere, causing naysayers to wag their fingers about the potential dangers of this, or other cannabinoids. Juxtaposed against the CBD craze, with many advocates painting the compound as a panacea for everything from PMS to epilepsy, consumers or the canna-curious are left wondering about how to separate helpful cautions from fear-mongering.
Let’s tease out the specifics of this issue.
What’s CBD Good For?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a highly therapeutic, non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It’s been studied as a successful anti-epileptic, while a CBD-based pharmaceutical called Epidiolex is gaining market share for kids with intractable epilepsy. In a related pathway, CBD is known to calm the nervous system for those suffering from muscle spasms associated with Parkinson’s and ALS, and is generally known as a muscle relaxant.
For more everyday symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and inflammation, CBD is being used regularly by seven percent of Americans to tame stress, get a better night’s sleep, and help the body heal itself. As a topical ointment, it helps with sore muscles, headaches, and run-of-the-mill pain.
CBD is sold in numerous forms, including oils, tinctures, capsules, gummies, and even flower. Derived from hemp or marijuana (the former having less than .3 percent THC), CBD ss also infused into various foods and drinks available everywhere from dispensaries to coffee shops.
With the 2018 Farm Bill having effectively legalized CBD nationwide, along with its ever-increasing availability and market share, it’s no wonder that more and more people are learning about, buying, and consuming CBD. And with this flurry of new ways people are using CBD, come new concerns—and a need for more robust research.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of CBD Alone?
Depending on the dosage, and the variations between each person’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), CBD is sometimes associated with tiredness, diarrhea, and appetite changes. Not everyone tolerates CBD well, but those who do often report dramatic improvements in the quality of their physical and mental health.
What are the Potential Interactions with Pharmaceutical Drugs?
More than half of American adults take at least one prescription drug, and many of them — particularly seniors — are prescribed a cocktail of daily meds. We know that pharmaceuticals can interact with one another, as well as with other substances.
Take grapefruit, for instance: a healthy and seemingly harmless food that nonetheless affects a group of liver enzymes in the human body, and thereby alters the way drugs are metabolized. Consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice can augment the effects, or prolong the presence of, certain drugs in the body — which means that the drugs either may not work as intended or may present more severe side effects. That’s why a significant number of prescription meds carry a warning against consuming grapefruit.
Broadly speaking, CBD is thought to work in the same way. The liver enzymes concerned are in a group called Cytochrome P450 which are known to process drugs and toxins, including those found in about 60 percent of pharmaceutical meds. Because, in simple terms, CBD “occupies” those enzymes for a period of time, the cannabinoid taken alongside prescription meds can interfere with the drugs’ effects.
“Unfortunately, the very busy enzymes are the ones that deal with CBD (but not THC), so adding CBD can overload the capacity of those enzymes," Dr. Jordan Tishler, a medical marijuana doctor in Massachusetts, wrote in an email to Civilized. "Oddly this can cause increases or decreases in the medication levels. It’s somewhat unpredictable.”
However, according to Rosalia Yoon, PhD., research scientist at Apollo Cannabis Clinics, most of the information about CBD and drug interactions comes from molecular and animal studies. Others cite case studies to show that CBD has interfered with certain drugs’ actions, but clinical research is somewhat sparse, owing to a few factors: Primarily, federal prohibition has historically made it hard for researchers to get projects approved and funded, and secondly, people metabolize cannabinoids, including CBD, differently — so one person’s adverse dose may be another’s optimal dose.
Which Drugs Are Affected?
According to Dr. Tishler, there are a number of medications that CBD could affect, including benzodiazepines, blood thinners, cardiac medications, seizure drugs, and immunosuppressants used in the case of organ transplants. “Many of these medications need very specific levels," he said, in order to work safely and well.
Blood Thinners
CBD can augment and prolong the effects of warfarin, prescribed as a blood thinner, as well as those of ibuprofen. The risks of over-bleeding grow with the simultaneous use of CBD and these drugs.
Because CBD and THC both carry sedative properties on their own, combining them with sedating benzodiazepines like Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and Atavan could boost the effects of those drugs in a potentially dangerous way.
Anti-Seizure Meds
CBD is known as an antiepileptic in its own right. However, it must be closely monitored if combined with pharmaceutical anti-seizure meds because it can change the concentrations of the other drugs in the body, rendering the drugs less — not more — effective in preventing seizures.
CBD use alongside chemotherapy treatments can result in higher concentrations of the drugs for longer periods — which isn’t necessarily a good thing. In cancer treatment, the ratios and dosages are highly regulated for optimum effect and minimum toxicity.
However, CBD and THC are both known to alleviate pain from cancer and to slow the growth of cancer cells, so if well monitored, they can both potentially play a role in treatment.
At Which Dosages Does CBD Affect Other Drugs’ Performance?
The extent to which CBD affects the performance of these kinds of drugs is not entirely clear, nor is it evident what concentrations are risky. According to a report by Project CBD, it’s possible that lower doses of the cannabinoid (less than 100 milligrams) would not have much effect. For perspective, a fairly standard dose of CBD is somewhere in the range of 30 milligrams, though people can and do take much larger amounts for therapeutic purposes. Some cite the fact that, because CBD isn’t psychoactive on its own, people sometimes ingest very large servings without knowing.
When Could CBD Interactions Actually Be a Good Thing?
According to Dr. Bill Code, a physician who works with medical marijuana in Canada and author of Solving the Brain Puzzle, CBD can augment the effectiveness of painkillers like OxyContin by four to ten times, which means that pain patients seeking to taper off meds can reduce their dose without dipping into the pain zone. As long as this augmenting action of CBD is known and monitored, the cannabinoid can be instrumental in reducing pharmaceutical dependence.
Dr. Code told Civilized that if a patient adds a large amount of CBD to an existing painkilling regimen, “that’s a tiny bit risky,” because the CBD slows the breakdown of the narcotic. “So that’s why, when you’re doing this reduction of the narcotic, it’s better to have some THC in there, too,” he said. In fact, for pain relief — including the use of cannabis in conjunction with opioids — Dr. Code will often recommend a 4:1 ration of THC to CBD because the THC will not interfere with the liver’s processes the way cannabidiol does.
How Dangerous Is It?
It depends on whom you ask.
Yoon emphasized how limited the data currently is on CBD-drug interactions, but also cited a 2016 study by Ethan Russo, which found CBD to be, “safe and well tolerated in humans, even in complex drug regimens with opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, and anticonvulsants.” However, she said, because potential harm is present, it’s vital to work with a knowledgeable practitioner when seeking to combine certain classes of meds and CBD. The risk is particularly strong, she said, for the elderly, and for those with compromised liver or kidney function.
Dr. Tishler advises that patients taking the aforementioned drugs avoid products high in CBD. However, he added, trace amounts found in flower or many vape products are not likely to cause harm.
According to the report from Project CBD, the risks are on part with “mis-dosing the other drug(s) that a patient is taking.” The dangers likely increase with higher doses of CBD (particularly isolates, as opposed to full-spectrum compounds) taken in combination with a pharmaceutical “that has a very narrow window between its therapeutic and toxic levels.”
A patient's metabolism may also play a role: The slower one's metabolism, the longer the effects of the cannabinoid (or another drug) will last in the body, which could influence a patient's level of risk when taking multiple substances at once.
Do the Types of CBD and Modes of Consumption Matter?
In short, yes. Whole-plant CBD extracts in this case are safer because, with the entourage effect attributed to the mix of THC, CBD, and other plant compounds, a patient may need fewer milligrams of the product to achieve the desired effect. It’s perhaps counterintuitive that products containing some THC may actually be safer than CBD isolates and single-molecule CBD extracts for those taking prescription meds—but, according to experts on the subject, it’s because THC does not have the same effect on the liver enzymes that CBD does.
Inhaling cannabis also poses less risk for drug interactions than orally consuming it because of differences in the liver’s metabolizing process for the two routes. Timing may also matter. Though research on this subject is still in its infancy, there’s some evidence to suggest that consuming CBD several hours after taking a pharmaceutical may reduce its potential interactions.
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Home/Battles/Fort Sumter
The American Civil War officially started with the battle of Fort Sumter in South Carolina on April 12th 1861.
Fort Sumter Facts
Location: Charleston County
Campaign: Operations in Charleston Harbor (April 1861)
Date(s): April 12-14, 1861
Principal Commanders: Maj. Robert Anderson [US]; Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces Engaged: Regiments: 580 total (US 80; CS est. 500)
Estimated Casualties: None
Result(s): Confederate Victory
Fort Sumter April 13th 1861
The garrison of Fort Sumter was originally stationed in nearby Fort Moultrie under the command of Union Major Robert Anderson.
Fort Moultrie, was a poor fort for defense, and he predicted that his men would only be able to resist a Confederate attack for no more than a couple of days.
Fort Sumter was one of several forts that guarded Charleston Harbor South Carolina.
The other forts were Fort Moultrie, Castle Pinckney, and Fort Johnson. The strongest of these forts was by far Fort Sumter which was located on an island at the entrance to the harbor.
Meanwhile in the state of Florida a very similar situation was developing in Pensacola Harbor at Fort Pickens.
The two almost identical events had opposite results. South Carolina seceded from the United States on December 20th 1860. This made South Carolina the first state to secede from the Union.
Major Anderson therefore decided to move his garrison from Fort Moultrie over to Fort Sumter on December 26th 1860. He made this move without orders. He deemed the transfer necessary since Fort Sumter was a much stronger fort that could withstand a siege by Confederate troops.
The garrison of Fort Sumter was very small. As of March 24th 1861 it consisted of only 10 officers, 75 enlisted men and 55 laborers who were used to construct and improve the defenses of the fort.
Originally there were 205 laborers, however 150 of them were discharged on December 28th 1860.
Confederate South Carolina troops immediately seized Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinckney on December 27th after the Union troops had abandoned them.
The Charleston Arsenal was also taken by state troops on December 30th
Union Officers at Fort Sumter. In front row: Capt. A. Doubleday, Major R. Anderson, Asst. Secry. S. W. Crawford, Capt. J. S. Foster. From left in back row: Capt. T. Seymour, Lt. G. W. Snyder, Lt. J. C. Davis, Lt. R. K. Meade, Capt. T. Talbot.
Fort Johnson was taken by the rebels on January 2nd 1861. The Union garrison did not resist the Confederate seizure of these forts or the arsenal.
After Major Anderson transferred his men to Fort Sumter they quickly went to work improving it’s defenses.
In December 1860 the garrison at Fort Sumter only had four months supply of provisions.
They would need to be resupplied if they were going to hold out for any length of time in the event of an attack by Confederate forces.
Resupply of Fort Sumter
On December 31st 1860 General Winfield Scott issued an order to Colonel Dimick the commanding officer of Fort Monroe in New York to prepare the sloop of war Brooklyn.
He was ordered to put on board two hundred men with three months worth of supplies. They were to sail to South Carolina and reenforce Fort Sumter as soon as possible.
In order to keep this mission a secret it was decided to use a private passenger ship instead of the Brooklyn or any Union navy ship. The ship to be used was called the Star of the West.
It’s owner agreed to charter his ship to the US government for $1,250 per day. This ship routinely went to New Orleans on it’s regular route so it would not arouse suspicion when it sailed south.
The Star of the West
On January 5th 1861 First Lieutenant Charles Woods left Governor’s Island New York on the steamer Star of the West with 200 men and supplies for Fort Sumter. Three days later at midnight on January 8th they arrived off of Charleston Harbor.
In the darkness they proceeded to head in the direction of Fort Sumter. Near daybreak they were only three quarters of a mile away from the fort.
As they approached Lt. Woods noticed a red Palmetto flag flying near the areas the Confederate troops were known to be occupying. The steamer immediately came under attack by batteries stationed on the north end of Morris Island.
Confederates Firing on The Star of the West
They could see the American flag flying above Fort Sumter, however they were under a constant attack from the Confederate artillery. Fortunately all of the shells missed the Star of the West except for one shot that ricocheted into the ship but causing no damage.
Under this heavy bombardment by rebel forces Lt. Woods decided he could not safely reach Fort Sumter. He ordered the ship to turn around and leave Charleston Harbor.
The rebel battery continued to fire on the ship until they were out of the harbor. The Star of the West failing to resupply the fort, set sail back to New York arriving there on January 12th.
A Second Attempt to Resupply the Fort
A second expedition was sent to resupply the fort. Leaving New York on April 10th and arriving on April 12th this force was led by Captain Fox on the steamer The Baltic.
The force was originally suppose to consist of the steam tugs Uncle Ben, The Yankee, and the Freeborn, which were to meet up at Charleston Harbor with the steamer Harriet Lane, Pawnee, Powhatan and the Pocahontas.
The Uncle Ben, The Yankee, the Freeborn, Powhatan, and the Pocahontas never arrived at Charleston Harbor. This meant that only the Baltic, the Harriet Lane and the Powhatan were available for the resupply effort for Fort Sumter. The weather was bad with gale force winds and rain. Captain Fox on the Baltic decided to attempt to reach the fort despite the bad weather.
On approaching the fort the Baltic struck and became stuck on Rattlesnake Shoal, however they were quickly able to free the ship. The Baltic withdrew without reaching the fort.
Captain Fox made another relief attempt on the night of April 13th. It failed to reach the fort. The high seas and terrible weather coupled with the failure of the other ships to arrive doomed the expedition from the beginning.
Confederates Offer Terms of Surrender
At 3:45 pm on April 11th the commander of the Confederate forces in Charleston, South Carolina General P.G.T. Beauregard sent an envoy consisting of Colonel Chesnut, Colonel Chisolm and Captain Lee with a letter asking Major Anderson to evacuate the fort.
Major Anderson refused this demand stating that his obligations to his honor and his government prevented him from evacuating the fort.
At 4:40 pm as the envoy left the fort, Major Anderson said “Gentlemen, if you do not batter the fort to pieces about us, we shall be starved out in a few days”.
General Beauregard intrigued by this remark sent another envoy to the fort at 12:45 am on April 12th asking for clarification of the comment made by Major Anderson and again asking him to evacuate the fort and wanting to know when would be a good time for the evacuation?
General Beauregard also assured Major Anderson that the Confederates would not open fire on the fort unless they were fired upon first.
At 3:15 am Major Anderson gave his reply. He agreed to evacuate the fort, and that he would leave by noon on April 15th if transportation could be provided.
However he would stay and fight if he received further instructions from the US government, was resupplied, or if he thought that the Confederates were taking any hostile action against his fort or his government.
These terms did not satisfy the Confederates since Major Anderson was so willing to break the agreement if anything were to change. Therefore the envoy informed Major Anderson that the fort would be fired upon within the hour. They left Fort Sumter at 3:30 am.
The Civil War Begins with the Confederate Attack on Fort Sumter
At 4:30 am a signal shell was fired from the mortar battery on James island. Captain George S. James the commander at Fort Johnson was given the honor of firing the first shot starting the battle of Fort Sumter.
Fort Johnson Guns with Fort Sumter in the Distance
At about 4:45 am the other batteries surrounding Fort Sumter began to open fire as well. In total thirty guns and seventeen mortars fired from all of the batteries surrounding the fort from the north, northeast, southeast, and southwest.
This began the bombardment of Fort Sumter.
At 7:00 am Fort Sumter began to return fire. The first shot being fired under the charge of Captain Abner Doubleday who was second in command of the garrison under Major Anderson.
The soldiers in the fort were put on three shifts of two hours each firing the guns. Even the workmen who’s only job was to build up the defenses of the fort volunteered to act as cannoneers and also help carry ammunition to the guns.
The fort had a total of 78 guns, however there were only 700 rounds of ammunition for all of the guns. Only the guns on the casement tier of the fort were used, and of these only six were used due to the shortage of ammunition.
These guns were a smaller caliber and couldn’t hit many of the targets they were shooting at. They were able to fire on Fort Moultrie inflicting minor damage.
Fort Sumter Interior Damage, 1861
For Sumter received heavy damage from the shelling. This damage was primarily cause by seventeen mortars the Confederates were using. These mortars could shoot vertically over the walls and into the fort.
These mortars hit the fort with great accuracy. It was for this reason that Major Anderson decided not to use the guns on the top tier of the fort, and only use the casement tier guns.
If he put his men on the top tier of the fort the mortar fire they would be exposed to would have caused high casualties among the soldiers.
The brickwork of the fort was only minimally damaged however the interior suffered severe damage.
The Confederates were firing hotshot, which is a cannon ball that is heated to a high temperature with the intention of causing fires when it strikes something.
Fires burned most of the interior which included the barracks, quarters, gun carriages, and stairs.
Negotiations Take Place at Fort Sumter
On the second day of the battle of Fort Sumter April 13th at 12:30pm the flag flying over Fort Sumter had been knocked down by the bombardment. Seeing no flag flying over the fort General Beauregard sent Colonel Chisolm to the Confederate commander on Morris island General James Simons.
Beauregard ordered Simons to offer assistance in extinguishing the fires in Fort Sumter. Colonel Chisolm and Colonel Wigfall volunteered to go to Fort Sumter and offer assistance.
As Colonel Chisolm was preparing his small boat to go to the fort, Colonel Wigfall hoped in a different boat and proceeded to the fort. In the meantime the United States flag was re-raised over the fort. Colonel’s Chisolm and Wigfall were both ordered to return, Wigfall not hearing the order continued to Fort Sumter.
He was carrying a white flag to ascertain whether Major Anderson needed assistance. With fires raging, and the men under great stress, the Confederates wanted to give the garrison an opportunity to surrender the fort.
Fort Sumter April 1861
The now unauthorized offer from Colonel Wigfall even let Major Anderson decide the terms of the evacuation.
Major Anderson agreed only if General Beauregard’s original terms of April 11th would be met.
These terms of evacuation were “to evacuate the fort with his command, taking all arms and all private and company property, saluting the United States flag as it was lowered, and being conveyed, if he desired it, to any northern port”.
Colonel Wigfall agreed to the terms and Major Anderson hoisted a white flag above the fort. Shortly after Colonel Wigfall left the fort three more of General Beauregard’s aides Captain Stephen D. Lee, William Porcher Miles, and Roger A. Pryor arrived at the fort to offer any assistance and aid that they could to Major Anderson. Major Anderson explained that he had just made a deal with Colonel Wigfall.
They were unaware of Colonel Wigfall’s offer of peace with Major Anderson. They told Major Anderson they were not authorized to offer terms of surrender, they were only there to help put out the fort’s fires.
Major Anderson realizing there was a serious miscommunication happening threatened to raise the United States flag once again and resume firing his guns.
General Beauregard also unaware that this negotiation with Colonel Wigfall had just taken place was informed that a white flag had been hoisted above the fort.
He quickly dispatched his chief of staff Major David R. Jones with some other aides to the fort to offer virtually the same terms of surrender Colonel Wigfall had offered. Despite the miscommunication Major Jones’s offer of surrender was accepted by Major Anderson.
On April 13th 1861 Fort Sumter fell to the Confederacy. The bombardment lasted for thirty-three hours. While the fort was damaged none of the soldiers in the fort were killed however some were wounded.
It was only after the battle that upon lowering and saluting the United States flag, (which involves firing cannons) a soldier was killed another was mortally wounded and four were severely wounded when a cannon prematurely fired causing an explosion of a nearby pile of cartridges.
Fort Sumter Occupied by the Confederacy
On April 14th the Confederates put the garrison on the steamer Isabel which transferred them to the Union ship the Baltic, which was still waiting outside of Charleston Harbor after it’s failed resupply mission.
The garrison sailed for New York on April 15th.
The Confederate flag was hoisted upon the ramparts of Fort Sumter. The nearby forts cheered and fired their guns in salute of their victory.
An Ominous Moment
A curious event occurred on the evening of April 11th shortly before hostilities broke out. The Superintendent of the Citadel Academy Major P.F. Stevens who was in command of the Point and Iron batteries was observing Fort Sumter when he and several others noticed the United States flag above the fort suddenly “split in two distinct parts, dividing from the front edge to the back just along the lower extremity of the “Union”.
The flag flew like this for several minutes before it was hauled down and a new flag replaced it. Major Stevens asked “I wonder if that is emblematical?”
Several of his fellow onlookers remarked that it appeared to be an ominous sign. They could never have known how right they were.
After the Union Surrender
While the Union may have surrendered and evacuated Fort Sumter, the United States government wanted the fort back. Over the course of the war the Union proceeded to bombard the fort from land and sea.
These attacks crushed Fort Sumter’s walls, but the fort was never taken by the United States. The operations of General William T. Sherman after his march to the sea forced the Confederates to evacuate the fort in 1865.
On April 14th 1865 the same day the fort surrendered in 1861 Major Robert Anderson was given the honor to raise the same flag he was forced to lower four years earlier.
Civil War Battles
Charleston Harbor
Fort Taylor
Wilson’s Creek
Valley Campaign
Siege of Petersburg
Seven Days Battle
Second Bull Run
Red River Campaign
Peninsular Campaign
Kennesaw Mountain
Gaines Mill
Fort Wagner
Fort Pillow
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Best Online Colleges in Georgia
Every year, Site Selection magazine, a publication dedicated to commercial real estate and corporate expansion, publishes its ranking of the best state for business.
The state of Georgia has won that distinction not one, not two, not even three, but four times in a row over the past four years. So if you’re looking for a location to jumpstart your career, Georgia might be the place. The networks you can build there could pay off big time in the years to come, whether you’re looking for a job in one of the state’s 15 Fortune 500 companies, of even if you want to start your own business.
What kind of Online College in Georgia should you attend?
But should you consider online college? Well, by now, online education has shed most of its stigma, and in many ways, it has become the future of education. You can study and work at your own pace, you don’t have to worry about lecture halls filling up, and you can save a tremendous amount of money.
How much money can you make with a degree from an Online College in Georgia?
There’s no way around it—you’re going to save money by attending college online. And saving money on your education means you are improving your own return on investment, an important consideration that, unfortunately, not enough students make when choosing a college. In essence, you need to compare how much money you are going to pay to get a degree with how much money having that degree will get you later on.
To give you a sense for what that might look like, the median household income for Georgia residents is around $51,000. But that takes into account both college-educated and non-college-educated individuals. That means you can expect to earn upwards of $51k when you graduate.
What can you do with a degree from an Online College in Georgia?
The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to selecting an online degree in Georgia. These schools feature degrees from every sector—healthcare to criminal justice to business to agricultural sciences. Even more, you’ll find every level of academic achievement, too. Whether you’re ready to earn an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral, you’ll most likely find the right online degree for you in one of the schools below.
Here’s a quick guide from Zippia.com that illuminates some of the best career choices for recent college graduates in Georgia. They factored in job availability, pay, location, potential for growth and more:
K-12 Teacher
What are the Best Online Colleges in Georgia?
We’ve done you the favor of number-crunching all the data for you. We started with only the colleges and universities in Georgia that offered online programs. Now, that’s not the only part of our methodology. We also give heavy importance to affordability and academic quality. With these two considerations—return on investment and academic quality—you should be well equipped to make a decision regarding your education in the Peach State. Thus, we are proud to present the Best Online Colleges in Georgia!
College Choice Score: 100.00
Average Tuition: $185.00
The University of Georgia is a public research university that is the flagship institution of the University System of Georgia. It also houses a burgeoning online portal that consists of some of the most in-demand degrees in the country. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
This university confers two undergraduate degrees and 16 degrees at the graduate level. The majority of programs listed focus on education and technology, two of the fastest-growing industries in America. Most programs are available 100 percent online; however, some may require campus residencies. Students are encouraged to speak with an advisor about any residency requirements for their chosen degree program. Some popular degree programs include:
Master of Science in Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics
Specialist of Education in Educational Psychology, Concentration in Gifted and Creative Education
Like most of the online colleges and universities on this list, UGA has a vested interest in providing an excellent education through its virtual portal. Students have access to their professors, classmates, study groups and tutoring services through the school’s online learning management system. In addition, technical and student support services are available virtually 25 hours a day to ensure that students stay on track and graduate on time with a degree from this respected university.
Georgia College and State University, known as GCSU, is a public liberal arts institution that is a member of the University System of Georgia. It is also home to a thriving online education platform, one that is fast growing into an online graduate student’s best friend. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
In a split with most other online universities, GCSU has focused on graduate programs. There are currently 27 degrees at the graduate and postgraduate level that are available to be earned fully or partially online. The majority of these programs are centered on education; therefore, it is best suited for teachers who are already certified to teach in the state. You’ll find top degrees such as:
Master of Business Administration (Georgia WebMBA)
Master of Education in Secondary Education
This university knows that a student who takes on graduate work is most likely a professional who’s working in their field, so precautions were taken to ensure that school does not interfere with that obligation. Courses are taught asynchronously and in an accelerated timeframe. Additionally, students have access to around-the-clock technical support, student support services, and an online bookstore and library.
The University of West Georgia is a public, comprehensive research university that has consistently been named one of the best Southeastern Colleges by the Princeton Review. It also has one of the most comprehensive virtual portals for online education in the state. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
This school confers an astounding 32 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and specialist levels. There are also an additional eight certifications and endorsements available, including post-baccalaureate non-certification programs. Most of the programs are offered fully online; however, many of the undergraduate programs are hybrid degrees. Popular degree programs include:
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
Master of Business Administration (Georgia WebMBA Program)
Doctor of Education in Professional Counseling and Supervision
UWG is an eCore® partner, allowing students to complete their Core Curriculum requirements 100 percent online. It is an incredible option for students who need flexibility when it comes to studying. In addition, all other online courses taught by the school follow the eight-week term that eCore® is based on, allowing for accelerated learning for the most ambitious of students.
Georgia Southern University is a public research institution that is part of the University System of Georgia. It is home to one of the most incredible virtual education portals in the state. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC with independent accreditations by national and professional accrediting bodies.
This school confers 30 degrees online in both 100 percent online and blended programs. These programs are available at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. There is an emphasis placed on teaching and health and human services, both industries that are projected to grow at an accelerated rate for the next ten years. The top three degree programs are:
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (WebBSIT)
Master of Teaching in Special Education
GSU is part of the Georgia On My Line Consortium, a group of colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia that allows students to take courses from other institutions while earning their degree. With asynchronous courses and eight-week accelerated terms, students will find this program to be useful, as they will be able to complete their degree on time and with a schedule that fits their needs.
Savannah College of Art and Design, known simply as SCAD, is a private, not-for-profit institution that offers a variety of creative degree programs, all online. This school has been conferring degrees online for over a decade and has since been awarded the Instructional Technology Council’s Outstanding Distance Education Program award. It has also been nationally ranked for Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Teaching and Learning from the Online Learning Consortium. This college holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
SCAD offers five undergraduate degrees and nearly 20 graduate degrees. These programs are also arts-related, including programs in illustration, game development, fashion, and writing. It is also the only school on this list that provides the Master of Fine Arts wholly online. SCAD also provides administrative and counseling support services, ensuring that students never feel isolated while earning their degree. Other top degrees include:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Master of Arts in Business Design and Arts Leadership
Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Design and Game Development
This university is the proud home of eLearning, a collaborative online education management system that offers students the chance to connect with SCAD faculty and staff, all from the privacy of their own home. Courses are taught in 10-week terms and are delivered asynchronously to allow students to choose the study schedule that best fits their needs.
Kennesaw State University is a public, comprehensive research university that is a member institution of the University System of Georgia. It is one of the largest universities in the country and has a reputation for having a faculty in which 74 percent hold terminal degrees in their field. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
This university confers 12 undergraduate degrees, 14 graduate degrees, and one doctorate degree. There are also certificate programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It’s also possible for students to take part in hybrid programs and online elective courses to complement their on-campus studies. You’ll find popular degree programs such as:
Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology
Master of Business Administration – Georgia WebMBA Program
Master of Science in Engineering Management
KSU believes that online education will be the next frontier in professional education; this is why the school is putting a lot of effort into creating a comprehensive online portal. From student services and 24/7 technical support to providing access to instructors through email and creating an online bookstore, the school is innovating virtual education.
Valdosta State University, known as VSU, is a public, comprehensive institution that is also a member of the University System of Georgia. It is currently ranked for Exceptional Online Education in Georgia, a ranking provided by Accredited Schools Online; it is also ranked for online education by TheBestSchools.org and AffordableCollegesOnline.org. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
There are more than 40 online degrees conferred by VSU, including programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes certification programs and endorsements for teachers as well; however, it is important to note that teacher certification programs are only applicable for Georgia teachers. The school also offers a variety of support services, including academic advising, study groups, online tutoring, and more. Some of the most popular degree programs are:
Bachelor of Science in Office Administration and Technology
Georgia WebMBA Program
Curriculum and Instruction: Learning and Development, Educational Specialist
VSU is part of SmartPath Core, a pathway that delivers the Core Curriculum required by all Georgia universities as a foundation for undergraduate study. By undertaking the program, students cut the time they spend at the university virtually in half, allowing them to finish their degree faster than with traditional courses.
Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls College is a private, Christian, liberal arts institution that is currently ranked 3rd in best online colleges in Georgia, a ranking delivered by BestColleges.com. The school has a mission to expand its online degrees in the very near future and has committed itself to academic excellence for all of its programs. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
This university currently confers 12 degrees at the undergraduate level and two certificates, all of which can be earned wholly online. There are no graduate programs available from Toccoa Falls. Students will find that a majority of these programs focus on business, psychology, and ministry leadership. This school has an incredible online portal, one that continues to evolve as the years pass. Some of the top online programs inlcude:
Associate of Arts in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Non-Profit Business Administration
Courses are taught asynchronously through the school’s online education management system. In addition, students are offered the chance to serve in student government, participate in Service and Outreach opportunities, create study groups, and speak with a career counselor, all while earning their degree online.
Armstrong State University
Armstrong State University is a public, comprehensive university that has a growing reputation for being one of the best online colleges in Georgia. This school was established in 1935 and currently a variety of interesting programs to students from across the country. This school holds regional accreditation from the SACS COC.
This university offers degree completion programs at the undergraduate level, six graduate degrees, and a variety of certificates and endorsements for teachers. Degree completion programs are the most popular at this school, partly because it allows students to complete major core requirements by submitting prior college credit from a regionally accredited institution. The three top degrees here are:
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Degree Completion
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Radiologic Technologist to Bachelor of Science Degree Completion
Armstrong’s faculty is one of the highlights of the online portal because faculty members are only permitted to teach online courses once they’ve earned a certificate in virtual teaching. Students also have unparalleled access to their instructors, advisors, technical support, and other support services.
Fort Valley State University is a public, historically black university that is a member institution of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the University System of Georgia. It is one of the best online colleges in Georgia for students interested in receiving an online undergraduate education. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
This university offers four undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree, all in fields that are projected to grow over the next ten years. This small selection of programs has allowed the school to perfect its approach to online education, providing students with the opportunity to learn from online teaching-certified instructors in a variety of asynchronous and synchronous courses. Some of the stand-out degrees include:
Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling and Case Management
FVSU offers students both online and hybrid programs, ensuring that students can choose the degree plan that fits their needs best. The school also supports eCore®, Georgia’s state-approved online Core Curriculum, enabling students to move quickly through foundational courses to move into advanced concepts and subjects. Online advising, technical support, and online access to the school’s library and bookstore are also provided to students.
Middle Georgia State College
Middle Georgia State University is a public, comprehensive state institution that is a member of the University System of Georgia. It has one of the most formidable online portals in the state. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
This university confers four associate degrees, two bachelor’s degrees, and two master’s degrees for online students. There are also two aviation certificate programs that are also available. Students will find that the majority of programs focus on information technology and nursing, which are the most popular online programs in the country. MGA also offers other online features, such as advising and career service, online study groups, and access to the virtual tutoring center. A handful of popular degrees are:
Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
This school uses eCore®, the Georgia state-approved Core Curriculum for all students who are interested in earning an undergraduate degree. It encompasses the first two years of each degree with required courses such as English, math, science, and a foreign language. It is one of the best ways for a student to earn their first two years of an undergraduate degree.
Columbus State University is a public institution that has a strong focus on online education. This school is nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report in the top tier for online degrees. The school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
The university confers eight undergraduate degrees and 20 graduate degrees, most of which are wholly online. Some of these programs, however, may require a campus residency. Students are encouraged to speak with an admissions advisor to learn which programs do require campus attendance. You’ll find a strong selection of online programs such as:
Bachelor of Business Administration – International Business Track
Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator Track
Master of Education in Special Education – General Curriculum
Students who learn online are treated to CougarVIEW, the school’s online learning management system. It is here that students will find their asynchronous courses, academic advising, and tutoring services. In addition, students can also check out books from the online library and buy textbooks at the online branch of the school’s bookstore. All students have access to 24/7 technical support.
Clayton State University is a public institution that is a selective senior unit of the University System of Georgia. It is also home to Clayton State ONLINE, the school’s online portal, which offers a variety of degrees and programs to students. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
This university confers 15 degrees online; these come at the undergraduate and graduate levels. All degrees are 100 percent available to be earned online or within a student’s area of residence; there are no on-campus residency requirements. Orientation and exams take place online and students are free to fulfill practicum or internship requirements in their home city. You’ll find degrees such as:
Bachelor of Applied Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
This school offers students a great online education experience. Clayton State assigns each online student a personal advisor who will help guide them through their degree and offers assistance with any issue that might arise. The school also offers one-on-one tutoring for a variety of subjects as well as access to the Writer’s Studio, an online center that helps students craft the perfect research or thesis paper.
The University of North Georgia is a public, comprehensive institution that is a member of the University System of Georgia. It is one of just six senior military colleges in the state and is the only one to provide such a robust online portal. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
UNG offers a strong selection of online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Certifications and endorsements for teachers are also available. It is important to note, however, that some of these programs are not available to students who are not Georgia residents. Students are encouraged to speak with an admissions advisor about state authorization for online programs. Some of the top degrees include:
Master of Arts in International Affairs
Master of Education in Middle Grades Math and Science
This university offers students a wide array of online services and features, including eight-week terms, the choice between asynchronous and synchronous courses, an online help desk, technical support, and more. In addition, online students will have access to tutoring services, an online writing center, the online library, and the online bookstore. This is all to ensure that every UNG student receives the proper education, on campus or online.
Beulah Heights University
Beulah Heights University is a private Christian institution that is located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is recognized as one of the oldest Christian universities in the state. This school has a robust online portal that will peak the interest of students interested in religion. Beulah Heights holds regional accreditation from the SACS COC.
This university offers online degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels; certificates are also available. Most of the programs at Beulah Heights focus on religious and leadership studies, making it a great fit for students who are interested in attending seminary but do not have the time to attend school in a traditional fashion.
Beulah Heights offers courses in the 15-week format, much like traditional campuses, with a stated goal of creating eight-week courses in the future. Courses are taught asynchronously as well as synchronously, so students are advised to pay attention to the delivery method in the course listings when registering for courses. The three most popular degree programs are:
Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies
This school has a very strong online portal. It offers Blackbaud Portal, an online education management system, as well as Beulah360™, a comprehensive education technology platform that allows students to take on simulation labs and more, all while studying from home. Students will also have access to the online bookstore, library, writing center, and help desk, as well as their own designated email for conversations with faculty members and classmates.
Truett McConnell University
Truett McConnell University is a private, Christian, liberal arts institution that is run by the Georgia Baptist Convention. It is known for a having a suite of online programs that will fit any student’s needs. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
This university offers a selection of online undergraduate programs in areas that are in the most demand right now from our country. From business administration to psychology, these programs were built for online students, taking into account the unique needs of an online learner and building a program that will fit into their busy lifestyle. Students choose from degree programs such as:
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Truett McConnell offers a strong online portal to all students. Courses are taught asynchronously and there are never any residency requirements to be fulfilled. Students may also take advantage of online tutoring programs, technical support, academic advising, and more. Instructors are also certified in the art of online teaching, ensuring that online students receive the same excellent education as their on-campus peers.
Savannah State University is a public, state-supported, historically black institution; it has the distinction of being the oldest public HBCU in the state. The school is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and has a stated mission of preparing students to become agents of change by offering them online degrees. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
Savannah State’s portal differs from most online degree programs in that it only offers two programs: a foundational studies program, known as eCore®, that offers students the chance to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. The BBA is a degree completion program, meaning that students must have already received an associate’s degree prior to transferring to Savannah State. This online program is accredited by the AACSB International. The two stand-out programs are:
Foundational Studies (eCore®)
Bachelor of Business Administration in Management
This university believes in a good quality online education, and it makes every conceivable effort to bring this forth to its students. From asynchronous and synchronous course options, an online research library, access to instructors and advisors through email and other communication applications, and more Savannah State is going the distance for its online students.
Shorter University
Shorter University is a private, Baptist, liberal arts university that has one of the best online portals in the country. It has been nationally ranked as having one of the best online associate degree programs by Affordable Colleges Online. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
This school offers five associate degrees, six bachelor degrees, and six graduate degrees. There are also non-degree programs in general education that are available. Students can either begin their education at Shorter or choose to transfer in; only credits from a regionally accredited institution will be accepted. You’ll encounter top online degrees such as:
Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies
Earning an online degree from Shorter is a great experience. Class sizes are small and taught by a world-class faculty; nearly 70 percent of all faculty members have a terminal degree in their field of study. Additionally, online instructors have been certified to teach their courses through the portal, ensuring that students are given the best education possible.
Point University
Point University is a private, Christian, liberal arts institution. It is currently one of the only schools on this list that provides online degrees in Christian Ministries. This school has regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
As a Christian university, Point makes a concerted effort to provide valuable degrees to all students, even those who find themselves in need of an online education. To this end, the school confers eight degrees at the associate’s and bachelor’s degree levels, focusing on business, criminal justice, and psychology. This school features programs such as:
Associate of Arts in Christian Ministries
Point is one of the best distance learning institutions in Georgia for psychology, it’s most popular offering, which is no surprise when you look at the features that the school offers for online students. In addition to asynchronous courses that are taught in an eight-week format, students also get around-the-clock access to their courses through their smart devices, even if they’re not connected to Wi-Fi, an online bookstore and library, academic advising, and 24/7 technical support.
Albany State University is a public, state-supported institution that is a member of the University System of Georgia. It is also one of the only historically black universities to make it on to this ranking. This university is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
This school has 36 programs online; the majority of these are certificates and advising pathway, which refers to the foundational core a student would need for a four-year degree. There are two bachelor’s degrees; however, there are no graduate degrees available at this school. Online courses and degrees are available 100 percent online. Students will never have to travel to the campus for any reason; however, they are welcome to walk at graduation if they choose. Top online programs include:
Associate of Applied Science for Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Courses are taught in eight-week or 16-week terms. Online support specialists are available in every field of study that will guide a student from the beginning to the end of their time at Albany. Students will also have access to the latest technology, allowing them to connect with instructors and students online, check out books from the online library, get career counseling, and more.
Reinhardt University is a private, comprehensive liberal arts institution that was founded in 1883. It has a stated focus of committing themselves to preparing students to become leaders in the community; this focus has led the school to create an online portal where students can earn degrees. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
The online education opportunities at this school are few; however, this is because Reinhardt believes in learning to do one thing well at a time. Students will have three undergraduate options, with more promised in the future. Students can also find online courses in liberal arts subjects available as well. The top online programs include:
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration
Courses are taught asynchronously here, and there is a large emphasis placed on keeping in touch with classmates and instructors. Students routinely set up study groups in Skype or Google Hangout and most faculty members have state online office hours; they are also available through email or Skype. Technical support is always provided, and students can even download or rent their textbooks instead of buying them. All of this has made Reinhard one of the best online universities in Georgia.
Augusta University
Augusta University, based in Augusta, Georgia, has been one of Georgia’s major higher education institutions for nearly 200 years. It trains business leaders, healthcare providers, and other professionals at three campuses throughout Georgia. As a research university, it also contributes to innovations that affect the state of Georgia and beyond.
Augusta offers undergraduate degree programs in liberal arts, sciences, business, and education, as well as many graduate degree programs which include clinical work and other hands-on learning opportunities. It serves as a nexus of innovation in healthcare and education in the state of Georgia.
The school’s most notable offerings include its business, nursing, medical, and dental schools. Augusta boasts Georgia’s only dental school, and its medical school is the state’s flagship public option. These highly-ranked programs make Augusta one of the best options in the state, especially for students interested in caring professions.
Brenau University is a private, not-for-profit, comprehensive institution that was founded in 1878. It has been offering online programs since 2002 and is currently nationally ranked in the top ten for its online portal by GetEducated.com and U.S. News and World Report. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
Brenau offers three undergraduate degrees and four graduate degrees, and one specialist degree. The school also offers an associate’s degree in liberal studies. Most of the programs listed focus on business and education, making it one of the best online universities for teachers who are seeking professional licensure. Some of the most popular online degrees include:
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management
Educational Specialist in Early Childhood Education
Students will use the Canvas online education management system, one of the most popular systems for online education. Academic and career advising is also available. Students, in addition, will be able to access the library and the bookstore online, get technical support around the clock, and more.
Thomas University
Thomas University is a private, four-year, comprehensive university that focuses on professional development in fields such as business, education, and health and human services. It has been offering online programs for over a decade. This school holds regional accreditation by the SACS COC.
This university offers eight degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The school also offers an associate’s degree in Law Enforcement. In addition, it is possible for students to earn a Master of Science in Nursing. You’ll find that the most popular online options include:
Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
Like with other distance learning programs, Thomas University does not require on-campus residencies for graduation. Students will also be accepted on a rolling basis, allowing them to begin courses when it’s most convenient for them. Academic advising, around-the-clock technical support, and asynchronous courses round out the incredible features that Thomas offers to all of its online students.
Average Tuition: $1,139.00
Mercer University is the oldest private university in Georgia and was established in 1833. With a long and storied history as one of the best schools in the country, it’ll be no surprise that Mercer has brought that reputation online. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
There are a total of 14 wholly online degrees and nine hybrid programs for students. Degrees are at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, including a Doctor of Nursing and an Online MBA. In addition, popular online programs include:
Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
At Mercer, all online degrees and programs are completed 100 online through the school’s online portal. There are absolutely no on-campus residency requirements, not even for graduation. Students will also have online access to academic advising, library services, career services and even access to e-textbooks.
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Netspace-iiNet deal may never happen: Malone
By Tim Lohman
iiNet CEO Michael Malone has thrown cold water on speculation that his company’s acquisition of Netspace is a done deal, saying that an agreement with the ISP may not be made this year, if ever.
“We are a long way from a deal – we have talked with these guys on and off for 12 years, so I wouldn’t be assuming anything right now,” he told Computerworld Australia
Malone said that the current hold-up in negotiations came down to disagreement over iiNet’s valuation of Netspace, which lies between $60 million and $75 million.
“We use an industry specific metric called Discounted Cash-Flow -- in other words, it’s down to valuation,” he said. “We look at our projections of where we can take the business based on bringing Netspace’s customers on to our network. Based on that we can work out what the company is worth to us.
“If the [Netspace] guys want more than that, no deal. That’s why we’ve never reached a deal before: they think it’s worth more than we do.”
Aside from gaining additional customers, a deal with Netspace, should it occur, would provide iiNet with additional exchanges in Victoria and Tasmania.
“Normally when we acquire a company, like Westnet, the synergies – the place you save money – is in moving the target’s customers to our network,” he said.
“In the Netspace case, they have about ten exchanges more than we do in Tasmania and some in Melbourne we don’t have. They have already done the hard yards of building out on their own capital and at their own risk to do that. Otherwise the businesses are quite similar.”
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Coram Deo Academy is an accredited, non-denominational, private school serving Christian families at three locations in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. We desire to collaborate with parents in training their children to be ethical servant leaders and wise thinkers who will shape culture for the glory of God. Apart from Christ, we cannot have true wisdom.
"I love the conversations I have with my children. I love their love for history, for the world, for His Word. I love how they interact with strangers, for the kindness that they show, and for how they are learning to learn, learning to succeed, learning to fail, learning to be gracious. I truly think that this model is the best of all worlds ."
- CDA Parent
"The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the nearest by possessing our souls of true virtue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the highest perfection."
- John Milton
Coram Deo Academy is committed to the continued development of students outside the home and classroom. The lessons learned around the dinner table, discovered through biblical readings, and taught in the classroom need an extended platform for full development.
Map of CDA Campuses
Coram Deo Academy has four campuses in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex - Collin County (Plano), Dallas, Flower Mound and Mid-Cities (Bedford). Although each campus has its own personality, we are a unified district – one school with four campuses. Each campus has the same mission, vision, policies and curriculum.
CDA Senior Administrators
The senior administrators of Coram Deo Academy are all committed to Christian education. Each of them have sacrificed earthly compensation for the rewards of ministry from the LORD. They are all examples of servant leadership and excellent teachers in their own right. We are blessed to have them doing so much of the unseen work so that your students and their teachers can be free to teach and learn.
PRESIDENT - DR. ALAN MARSHALL, COL., USAF (RET.)
Dr. Marshall graduated from the United States Air Academy with Honors and a double major in Astronautical Engineering and Mathematics. He then went on to pilot training in Phoenix, Arizona and was selected as a first assignment instructor pilot. After various flying assignments, he eventually became a U-2 pilot and served as the squadron commander of the U-2 combat flying squadron supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. During his career, Colonel Marshall had the opportunity to visit over 40 countries including countries such as: Germany, Iraq, Australia, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, France, Afghanistan, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. He then served as the Chief of Operations for the Joint Center for Operational Analysis, Studies and Analysis Division, performing intelligence studies in Iraq and for various issues including the Global War on Terrorism. Dr. Marshall completed his 27-year military career as the Director of Safety for Air Combat Command conducting Safety accident investigations for combat aircraft in the U.S. Air Force.
Dr. Marshall’s teaching experience includes his time as an Assistant Professor and Course Director in the Department of Mathematics at the USAF Academy. He has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and at the Ph.D. level at Regent University. <CONTINUE READING>
CDA Board
The mission of Coram Deo Academy is to train ethical servant leaders and wise thinkers who will shape culture for the glory of God. The Board of Coram Deo Academy exists solely to extend the original mission and vision of the Academy into perpetuity through transparent, truthful and trustworthy policy governance.
Chip Koons - Chair Kim Newton - Director
Will Crocker- Vice Chair Andrew Schultz - Director
*Alan Marshall - President Jeff Steib- Director
Scott Henderson - Treasurer Jeff Vosburg - Director
*Suzette Crowhurst - Secretary *Alfred Cheng - Advisor
Jenny Henley - Director *Mike McCalley - Advisor
Loren Hsiao - Director *Christopher Norfleet - Advisor
Jason Johnson - Director *Jeff Salladin - Advisor
Luis Meade - Director
* These individuals have non-voting positions on the Board
Click here to learn a little bit more about our Board Directors and Advisors
Flower Mound Campus
List of 6 members.
Mrs. Polly Dwyer
Campus Administrator & Rhetoric School Principal and Logic - FM
Polly Dwyer is a Texan, born and raised. She attended the University of Oklahoma on a French Horn scholarship but fell in love with the art of teaching and changed her major. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in School Administration. She began her teaching career in Noble and Moore Oklahoma. She taught college undergraduates “Models of Instruction” for the University of Oklahoma and supervised student teachers for several years before moving home to Texas to teach science at Highland Park from 1989-1998. She obtained a second master’s in Life/Earth Science at the University of Texas, Dallas.
In 2002, she began teaching at Coram Deo Academy. The Dwyers chose to bring their three young children to CDA as it offered outstanding education with excellent teachers while still including parents in the educational process. Paul and Polly feel it is ultimately their responsibility to raise their children with their values. In doing so, their children are equipped to manage the world’s challenges by filtering the information through the biblical worldview.
Polly began teaching math, science and history at Coram Deo Academy in 2002. In 2005, Polly was promoted to be Logic School Principal. She was named the Flower Mound Campus Administrator and Logic/Rhetoric Principal in 2007. Polly serves with the Texas Middle School Association on the School To Watch committee and works with NAUMS (National Association of University-Model® Schools) on school accreditation committees and mentoring new schools. In 2016, Polly was named as the Distinguished Administrator of the Year for the Texas Private School Music Educators Association. She is thankful for the wonderful students, parents and teachers at CDA.
Polly is married to Paul and has three children, all who have either graduated or will graduate from CDA. Aubrey attends the University of Oklahoma School of Law. Jack continues his education at University of Oklahoma working on a degree in Marketing. Emma is currently a senior at CDA where she plays volleyball and enjoys her senior classes. Polly and her family attend Denton Bible church where the family volunteers in the nursery program. She is a member of the choir. She loves the arts, history and science. If you see her in car line, wave, because she loves greeting the CDA community.
Mrs. Yvette Cavender
Grammar School Principal - FM
Yvette Cavender began her partnership with CDA as a parent in 2004, when her children were in grammar school. Soon after, she began teaching second grade, and is now the Grammar School Principal at the Flower Mound campus. She has seen the benefits of classical education play out in the lives of her own children and considers it a privilege to collaborate with others in teaching and training students under CDA’s model.
Mrs. Cavender holds Bachelor’s degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Political Science and Economics. She is a certified teacher in the state of Texas.
Yvette lives in Plano with her husband Kendall. They have two grown children: Chapin is studying biophysics in New York, and Raegan is a teacher in Plano.
Mrs. Kristan Williams
Logic School Principal - FM
Kristan Williams has been with Coram Deo Academy on the Flower Mound Campus since August 2011. She began teaching 5th grade and moved into teaching mathematics to 5th, 6th and 7th graders before taking on her current position. Kristan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and is a lifetime certified teacher. Before coming to CDA, Kristan helped start a University Model School in the Woodlands, TX.
As the Logic School Principal, she hopes to rally around the Logic School children and become a mentor to them and their families.
Kristan has been married to her husband, Cory, since 1993 and they have three children. Her oldest daughter graduated in 2016 from Coram Deo and Kristan has two children currently enrolled at the Flower Mound campus.
Mr. Matt Holland
Dean of Students, Rhetoric English - FM
Matt discovered Coram Deo through students at his church, and was immediately impressed. For two years, he developed conversations with some of the staff, and he and his wife made plans to send their own children there once they were old enough. Then, in 2017, he received an offer to come work as the new Dean of Students in Flower Mound. This was an easy decision for their family, and our school has quickly become a wonderful community and place to teach and minister.
Matt received a Bachelor’s Degree in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas. He then went on to Dallas Theological Seminary where he received a Master’s in Writing and another Master’s in Biblical Studies.
He has been at Irving Bible Church for twenty years, where he and Camille met. They led the College Ministry for years and have also served small groups in high school and currently work with young adults in the 20’s and 30’s community. Matt’s writing has appeared on Relevant.com, in Youthworker Journal, and in the Christian Research Journal.
Matt and Camille married in 2008. Their son, Levi, is in the PreK class at Coram Deo, and their daughter, Annabelle, will start next year
“Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” -Psalm 19:14
Mrs. Kathleen Schaefer
Director of College Guidance and Academic Advising
Originally from Minnesota, Kathy left home to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs. She served in the Air Force as an Air Intelligence Officer at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina and worked in the education office as the testing coordinator after leaving the Air Force. Kathy was a board member and volunteer for a small, private, Catholic school where she served as the administrative manager for five years.
The Schaefers sent both of their sons to Coram Deo Academy because of the classical nature of the school--especially the use of the "Great Books" in literature and primary documents in history.
Kathy Schaefer has been with Coram Deo Academy since 2004. Her experience in the education office led to her interest in developing the testing program for Coram Deo Academy. She has worked in testing and college guidance throughout her time at CDA. Kathy also helped develop the CDA House System when she served as the assistant to the Curriculum Director in 2007.
Because of CDA’s mission and the quality and commitment of the teachers, Kathy loves working at Coram Deo Academy. She believes that by helping students navigate the college guidance process she is able to play a small part in the process of educating students and wise thinkers who will shape culture for the glory of God.
Kathy is married to fellow Air Force Academy graduate, Bob Schaefer. They have been married for 31 years and are enjoying their time together, now that both boys are married, with one living in Portland and the other in Denton. They are members of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
Coach Cody Bartlow
FM Athletic Director, Soccer & Track - FM
Dallas Campus
The Rev. Jon Jordan
Campus Administrator & Logic School Principal, Logic History - Dallas
Jon has worked with Coram Deo since 2010. Before serving as Dallas Campus Administrator and Logic Principal, he served as Dean of Students at the Flower Mound campus. He also teaches a variety of Logic and Rhetoric level History, Theology, and Greek courses.
Jon earned an M.A. in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary, and a Certificate in Anglican Studies from Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. He also holds a B.A. in History and Education from the University of Texas at Dallas.
After discerning whether to enter pastoral or academic ministry, Jon has found Coram Deo to be a perfect combination of the two. In addition to serving as a place to train the minds and hearts of the next generation of Christian leaders, CDA also provides a place to build relationships that will last a lifetime and beyond. He was ordained a Deacon in February 2019, and a Priest in August 2019.
Jon and his wife Vivien have two children, Zoë and Rowan. They worship together at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, where Jon also serves on the clergy team.
You can see several of his sermons and written works on his website: http://jonjordan.com.
2 Thessalonians 2:8: “with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”
Mrs. Michele Howard
Grammar School Principal - Dallas
Michele Howard joined Coram Deo Academy as a parent in 2005 at the Collin County Campus when her oldest son started Kindergarten. Because of their love for the biblical worldview in the CDA model, the Howard family helped start the Dallas campus in 2006. Michele then joined the Dallas staff in 2009 as the 3rd grade teacher when her youngest son started Kindergarten. In her 10th year she became the Admissions Coordinator in Dallas while continuing to teach. Michele is now the Grammar School Principal. With her background as a former parent, lead teacher, and admissions coordinator, her passion for classical education allows her to collaborate with teachers and parents under CDA’s model. Michele considers it a joy to shepherd young hearts for Christ and to help foster a love of learning at an early age in truth, beauty, and goodness.
Michele has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Business Education from Baylor University. She is also a lifetime certified teacher in the state of Texas. Before staying home with her children, Michele was a corporate trainer and manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is planning to pursue a master’s degree in the Spring of 2020.
Michele has been married to her husband, Rick, since 1996 and have three sons who all attended CDA in Dallas. They have been actively involved at Watermark Community Church since 1999 and have a passion for mission work and young married couples.
Mr. Drew Lott
Dallas Athletic Director & Facilities Manager, Boys & Girls Basketball - Dallas, Baseball - FM
Drew Lott joined CDA in 2019 as Head Baseball Coach and is now the Dallas Campus Director of Athletics, Facilities Manager, and the Flower Mound Head Baseball Coach.
Drew was born in Portland, OR and raised in Tacoma, WA and Lynden, WA where he graduated from Lynden High School. Drew then went on to attend Trinity Western University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Human Kinetics and History. He earned his Texas Educators Certificate from Region 10. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Drew Lott has coached successful club baseball since 2000. He has coached high school baseball at Lynden High School, Nooksack High School, and The Covenant School Dallas. He has coached at the collegiate level with Athletes in Action (NYCBL) and Mid America Nazarene University (NAIA).
Drew sees coaching as a platform for discipleship in the gospel by incorporating prayer and devotional times with each team he coaches. He enjoys teaching athletes how to commit to a team and become a great teammate, how to embrace the hard work required for skill development, and ways to master the mental side of sports.
Drew and his wife, Laura, have two young children. The oldest will attend Coram Deo Academy in the fall of 2019. His family worships and serves at Mosaic Church in Richardson, TX.
Collin County Campus
Dr. Robert Armstrong
Campus Administrator & Rhetoric School Principal (9-12) - CC
Dr. Armstrong graduated from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon with a degree in Physical Education. After graduating he planned to play professional soccer but ended up at Pine Cove Conference center where he met his wife Beverly. He then attended Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned his Master’s in Biblical Studies (1986) and a Doctorate in Christian Education (2018).
Dr. Armstrong has been involved with Christian education for over 30 years and has served as a teacher, coach, Dean, Admission and Marketing Director and 20 years as a Headmaster. His administrative leadership has been primarily in Classical schools with his most recent appointment as the Dean of the Humanities and Business Schools at Legacy Christian Academy.
Dr. Armstrong is married to Beverly, his wife of 40 years. They have three married children and 7 grandchildren. Beverly has her master’s degree in Humanities from the University of Dallas and teaches both High School and College level course. They met during the summer while serving as counselors at Pine Cove Conference Center in Tyler, Texas. They attend Grace Bible Church where Dr. Armstrong teaches an adult Bible Study class on Sunday mornings.
Mrs. Stephanie Garland
Grammar and Logic School Principal & Rhetoric English - CC
Stephanie Garland has been a parent at CDA since 2003, a teacher since 2007, and an administrator since 2013. After her eldest daughter had a particularly difficult year in public school, God directed her and her husband to Coram Deo Academy through, of all things, a nationally syndicated radio program. They enrolled their children at CDA and have never looked back!
Before teaching at CDA, Stephanie was a stay-at-home mom for thirteen years, which followed five years of teaching English and French in public high school. She attended the University of North Texas, where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Secondary Education.
Stephanie lives in Carrollton with her husband Greg, and they have three daughters.
Mr. Jason Stults
College Guidance, Rhetoric English & History - CC
Mr. Joshua Nokes
CC Athletic Director, Football, Baseball, Logic History - CC
Josh Nokes joined Coram Deo in 2018 by way of Savannah, GA, where he served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Savannah Christian Preparatory School. Additionally, he coached football and wrestling while teaching Advanced Placement United States History, and oversaw the consolidation and integration of the middle school athletic program within the SCPS Athletic Department. During his time there, the school had the highest ranking athletic department in Savannah.
Josh is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Secondary Education and a Masters in Business Administration. After college, Josh spent several years in discipleship ministry with K-Life Ministries in Fort Worth before beginning his teaching career in Carrollton. At Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, he developed an Advanced Placement American History program that saw a pass rate increase from 5% to 82% while also working as an assistant football coach with the team who made two state championship appearances and as head coach to the softball team who appeared in the semifinals. At The Covenant School of Dallas, he was the Athletic and Facilities Coordinator and was charged with preparing the football program to move from 6-man to 11-man football. In 2013, he had the privilege of being a part of the staff that won the TAPPS state championship in 6-man football. In addition, he served as the head baseball coach at Covenant, taking the team to the playoffs in his final year at the school.
Outside of a love of sports and developing young men and women for Christ, Josh is passionate about spending time with his wife of 13 years, Jessica, and their young team of boys: Beckett, Tate, Archer and Wilder. Other interests include cycling, reading, fly fishing, the great outdoors and working in newly/nearly married ministries through Watermark Community Church.
List of 11 members.
Mrs. Stacey Bunn
Stacey Bunn is the Payroll Administrator and Human Resources Manager of Coram Deo Academy. She has been with CDA since 2007. Prior to working with CDA, Stacey worked in Human Resources & Payroll at Manpower and Motorola. She graduated from Wright State University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Organizational Communications with a minor in Psychology.
Her eldest daughter struggled with a health issue during her 5th grade year that caused her to have excessive absences from school. During this time, she had to work closely with her daughter at home and with her teachers to accomplish her assignments. Then a current Coram Deo parent told her about CDA’s collaborative model – where parents are included in the educational process. Stacey and her husband were excited about joining a Christian community that shared their family values and excellent academics within a Christian worldview. All of her daughters have attended CDA at one time or another in their educational years. Stacey counts it a blessing to have been both a Coram Deo Academy parent and a member of the CDA staff for the last ten years.
Stacey’s husband of 25 years is a full time pastor at Trophy Lakes Church where the Bunn family faithfully serves in music, children’s and youth ministries.
Mr. Glenn Campbell
Director of Infrastructure and Facilities
Glenn Campbell serves as the Director of Infrastructure and Facilities for Coram Deo Academy (CDA). Prior to working at CDA, he worked for The Village Church – Flower Mound as Facilities Manager for thirteen (13) years. Glenn has over twenty-five (25) years in facility experience including electrical, commercial and church building maintenance, professional audio/video installation, health and safety, document control, construction, and environmental laboratory operations. Glenn’s heart toward his work easily aligns with CDA’s mission “to train ethical servant-leaders and wise thinkers who will shape culture for the glory of God,” which he accomplishes by improving facility operations that pose a hindrance to CDA’s mission.
Originally from California, Glenn moved to Texas with his wife, Genevieve, in 1995. They have been married more than twenty-seven years and are blessed with three beautiful children, ages 6, 8, and 20 whom they home school, the oldest graduating from home school in 2016. The Campbell family enjoys membership at The Parkway Church in McKinney, Texas.
Glenn is grateful to further glorify God by using his God given talents to advance the mission of Coram Deo Academy.
Mr. Doug Hix
Director of Development & Athletics, FM Football
Doug Hix has been with Coram Deo Academy since 2013. Doug served as Athletic Director, Head Football and Track coach before taking on his current position as Director of Development & Athletics. Doug came to CDA from SMU where he spent two years as the performance director for the Men’s Basketball team. Prior to that, he was the founder of San Diego-based Play Fast Athletics where he worked with athletes that have gone on to become the NFL rookie of the year, an NBA 1st round pick, Major League Baseball stars and an Olympian.
Doug is a native of Warsaw, Missouri. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Recreation Management from Pittsburg State in 1998 while also competing collegiately in track and football. Hix was a three-time All-American as a sprinter in track and an all-conference and school record-holding wide receiver in football. During his final two years at Pittsburg State, he started training players for the NFL. Hix was the owner and director of training for Play Fast Athletics from 2001-2012. He was also the editor-in-chief for Youth Fitness Magazine, which he founded in 2009.
Even greater than his passion for athletics, Hix has a true desire to help shape the lives of young people. Hix sees athletic competition as model for the spiritual struggle choosing between right and wrong that we, as Christians, go through every day.
Doug and his wife, Tricia, have three children who attend Coram Deo Academy. His family worships and serves at Gateway Church in Frisco, TX.
Mrs. Mandy Montoya
Mandy Montoya serves as CDA’s Accounting Manager. Prior to coming to CDA in January 2017, she worked as a Property Accountant for 6.5 years at Merit Energy Company in Dallas, Texas. Mandy graduated from New Mexico State University with a BBA in Accounting and Information Systems in December 2006. She went on to receive her Masters in Accountancy from Bowling Green State University in Ohio in 2008.
Mandy grew up in a small-town Baptist Church in rural New Mexico where her dad was the worship leader. It wasn’t until college, though, when she became involved in the NMSU Campus Crusade for Christ ministry, that Mandy came to realize what it truly meant to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior and have a relationship with him.
Mandy is married to her high school sweetheart, Christopher. They have 2 boys, Elias and Abram. They have been attending RockPointe Church in Flower Mound for over a year, where they are involved in a small group, several different Bible studies, and volunteer in the student ministry. Mandy believes that the Lord has been calling her to live, worship and work in one place, and she is very excited to continue this journey with CDA.
Ms. Tara Mosby
Assistant Director of Development
Tara Mosby serves as Coram Deo Academy’s Assistant Director of Development. Prior to coming to CDA in April 2019, she worked as a Digital Strategist and helped Christian nonprofits leverage online marketing to increase their impact. Tara is passionate about giving, and she loves to see Christians impact the world by being good stewards of their gifts and serving others. This passion easily aligns with CDA’s mission to "train ethical servant-leaders and wise thinkers who will shape culture for the glory of God."
As Assistant Director of Development, Tara’s goal is to share the work God is doing through CDA with parents, students, alumni, and the community. She hopes to inspire others to use their unique gifts to advance God’s kingdom and, ultimately, give God glory.
Tara graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations. In her spare time, she enjoys attending ballets, traveling to the mountains or the beach, and being outdoors. Tara worships and serves at One Community Church in Plano.
Mr. Toby Oaks
Dean of Schools, Rhetoric Theology - CC
Toby has been involved with training up wise thinkers and ethical servant leaders for over 25 years. Coming to faith in Christ as a college freshman at University of Texas at San Antonio, he began serving in campus ministry as a student. After graduation with a bachelor’s degree in English, Toby and his wife, Sonia, worked in campus ministries at New Mexico State University and then the University of Seville in Spain. Returning from overseas in 2007, he pursued and later completed a Master of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary while working part time in an operations role with Coram Deo Academy.
At CDA, he has taught numerous classes including 6th grade Latin/Grammar, 8th grade History, 10th grade Theology and 12th grade Apologetics. In 2010, he assumed the role of Principal of the CDA-Collin County Rhetoric School and in 2015 the Campus Administrator and the CC Logic/Rhetoric Principal. In June 2019, Toby assumed the role of Dean of Schools. He sees his service at CDA as part of his commitment to a lifelong vocational ministry of leveraging his gifts to help free up, empower and prepare others for God’s purposes.
Toby and Sonia have been married since 1994 and have two sons, Ryan and Nathan, who are both CDA students. They are members of Stonebriar Community Church where Toby serves as an Adult Fellowship Coordinator and Teacher.
Mrs. Lori Pellerin
District Testing Coordinator
Lori Pellerin was a grammar school teacher at the Flower Mound campus before moving into her current role as District Testing Coordinator. Prior to joining CDA, she served as a Title 1 Reading Specialist and a teacher in the public-school setting. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies and is a certified teacher with specializations in both reading and math.
Mrs. Pellerin and her family were led by the Lord to Coram Deo Academy in August 2010. She was drawn to the vision of CDA, the time it would allow her to spend with her children and the partnership that she would share with the teachers.
Lori, her husband Danny, and their two children have lived in Flower Mound since 2004 and love being a part of the CDA family.
Mrs. Barbara Rogers
As Admission Director for Coram Deo Academy, Barbara Rogers oversees new student admissions for all three campuses and supports reenrollment at the district level. Drawing upon her experience as a homeschooling parent and former college admissions counselor, Barbara has been shepherding new students into the fold of CDA since 2001 and assumed the role of Admission Director in 2006.
The Rogers’ family aspired to homeschool classically and turned to CDA for a stronger foundation when the academy opened its doors in 1999. With first-hand knowledge of the school’s Christian, classical, and collaborative program from the grammar through logic to rhetoric stages of learning, Barbara is passionate about helping families embrace CDA’s model. Her youngest of five is now a senior in college, providing a new vantage point in this parenting journey, and she enthusiastically affirms the investment of time, talent, and treasure is quite worth it!
Barbara received her BA in Drama from the University of Dallas. She has taught Shakespearean drama for CDA and directed an alumni production for UD. Her husband, Greg, keeps their family amused with his music, poetry and exhaustive knowledge of history.
Mrs. Jennifer Southerland
Assistant Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development
Jennifer Southerland serves as the Assistant Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development. She classically educated her children at home prior to discovering Coram Deo Academy in 2004. Four years later, she joined the faculty where she taught for 9 years in the Grammar School before joining the Curriculum Department. She considers her service at Coram Deo Academy her ministry as she combines her passion for serving CDA families with her love of classical education. She is currently working on her master’s degree with a concentration in classical education from the University of Dallas.
Jennifer and her husband, Kurt, have been married for 28 years, and have three sons, Ryan and Aaron (CDA alumni) and Jordan who will graduate from CDA in 2020.
Mr. Robert Terry
Director of Curriculum & Faculty Development
Robert Terry serves the school as Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development. He has been a part of Coram Deo Academy since 1999, the school’s first year, when he and his wife were two of the school’s first four teachers. Robert has taught Math, Euclidean Geometry, Logic, History, English, Theology, Philosophy, and Apologetics. Coram Deo Academy has been a source of personal and spiritual growth for Robert since 1999. Serving as Curriculum Director unites his love of books and learning with his desire to help parents and teachers educate young people for the glory of God.
Robert holds a Master of Philosophy and Religion from Harrison Middleton University in addition to a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Master in Accountancy from the University of Oklahoma.
Robert and his wife Elisabeth have four children. Their son, Thomas, is a graduate of CDA. They are Orthodox Christians who live in Denton and attend St. Maximus Orthodox Church as their home parish.
9645 Independence Pkwy
PreK-9
Flower Mound & Admin
4900 Wichita Trl
school@coramdeoacademy.org
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Ashburnham Witnesses Stumacher Début
by Marvin J. Ward
June 3, 2013 May 28, 2013 by Marvin J. Ward
Eric Stumacher at Streicher (Christopher Greenleaf photo)
If the music in last week’s recital [here] on the Frederick Collection’s 28th Spring Concert season sounded as though it had been written for the piano the performer chose, then this week’s recital went one step further. Apple Hill Chamber Players’s founder, executive and artistic director and pianist for 35 years, Eric Stumacher played music by Johannes Brahms on the Collection’s 1871 Streicher, which is quite similar to one Brahms had in his studio for the last 25 years of his life.
Stumacher opened with a fairly early work, the dazzling and monumental Variations [25] and Fugue on a Theme by Handel [an air in his harpsichord suite No. 1 that had five variations in its own score], Op. 24 composed in 1861, devoting the balance of the afternoon to Brahms’s last three published works for piano: Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117, Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118, and Vier Klavierstücke, Op 119.
The Handel Variations, like all such sets, are challenging to play. While they are coherent in that the same theme is treated throughout, they are also disjointed because the transitions between the individual variations cannot always be smooth. They have the feel of an exercise, a compositional challenge to be met, rather than of a polished architecturally structured or cyclical creation like a sonata movement, for example. As with the 20 pieces that comprise Brahms’ last piano works, there is considerable internal variety in the treatment of the theme and in the dynamics, and there are some enchanting effects, such as the bell ringing near the conclusion, which sounds infinitely purer and more authentic on this Streicher than it ever could on a Steinway, that also help make it appealing.
The entire performance was impressive and magisterial. Although Stumacher used scores, it seemed that he became progressively more and more comfortable and relaxed with the instrument as the recital progressed. On an early instrument nuances can be produced with little physical effort. It struck me that Stumacher was trying too hard in the Handel Variations—playing as if he were at the keyboard of a modern Steinway. By the second half, he had figured out how the instrument worked and got better tone when his effort was reduced, almost eliminated. It was a real pleasure to be able to hear these works just as the composer must have heard them, but I might have chosen at least one more traditionally structured work, a sonata, for example, or the Four Ballades, Op. 10 (1854, actually shorter than the Handel Variations), as the earlier work, to offer a greater variety in the overall program.
More on the instrument:
The 7’10” Frederick instrument, with a walnut case, fretwork (vine pattern with central lyre matching the pedal lyre) music stand, and standard ornate nameplate saying: “J.B. Streicher & Sohn in Wien, K. K. [Königliche Kaiserliche (Royal Imperial)] Hof & Kammer-piano forte-Fabrikant [Court and Chamber piano Manufacturer]” on the fallboard, has a keyboard compass of seven octaves (84 keys) and two pedals: una corda and sustaining. It is a wooden frame instrument with two iron bracing bars attached to the metal string plate and is parallel strung, with leather covered hammers and “Viennese” single escapement action, essentially the same type of construction as the instruments of Beethoven’s and Schubert’s time 50 years earlier. This gives a warmer and more transparent sound, with differentiation of tone color among the lower, middle, and upper registers, so while Brahms knew and played Bechsteins, Blüthners, and Steinways, all instruments with cast iron frames, this is credibly identical to the instrument at which he composed, and which he preferred.
More on the music:
Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117, Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118, and Vier Klavierstücke, Op 119, which, together with the Sieben Fantasien, Op. 116, formed the 20 short pieces that Brahms composed in 1891-1893, publishing two sets in 1892 and two in 1893, but the publications do not in any way represent the order of composition
These pieces show the influences of Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Schumann, and Wagner with occasional faint echoes of works by those predecessors. They are “character pieces” but some have an ABA structure. Most of them are intermezzos, but there are three capriccios (in Op. 116, not played), a ballade, Op. 118, No. 3, a romance, Op. 118, No. 5, and a rhapsody, Op. 119, No. 6, that brings the 20 to a close, so there is some variety, and, of course, there is considerable internal variety among the intermezzos.
Stumacher explained that Op. 117 is actually a sort of three-part lullaby, based on a Scottish triptych of poems, and it quotes a Scottish lullaby melody – Brahms himself spoke of this. Stumacher chose to play op. 119 to close the first half, a decision whose reasoning he explained, but for me, it seemed wrong, and, indeed, the audience was not certain when the end of the recital had been reached because Op. 118, No. 6 that closed it is an intermezzo – the word itself suggests something in the middle rather than an end.
Marvin J. Ward, a retired translator and teacher of French (Ph.D., UNC Chapel Hill), has been writing for Classical Voice of North Carolina for a decade and was founding Executive Editor of Classical Voice of New England through December, 2009. He is now a Five Colleges Associate based at Smith College.
1 Comment [leave a civil comment (others will be removed) and please disclose relevant affiliations]
I would like to counter the dismissive words found in this review about Brahms’ Handel Variations. If the reviewer had stopped at calling the music “dazzling and monumental,” everything would have been copacetic. Unfortunately, he didn’t stop, curiously labeling advantages as faults. Yes, these variations certainly are disjointed. They are disjointed just like the variations of the Goldbergs or the slow movement of Haydn opus 76 no.3 are disjointed. That is because they are supposed to be. Any set of variations worth its salt has contrasting movements. A “smooth transition” is exactly what you don’t want. A smooth transition in a set of variations is about as exciting as (paraphrasing S.J. Perelman) a rainy afternoon in Rochester. Sunsets are memorable because pink is side by side with chartreuse. Sets of variations, drawn out by a master, are memorable because a Siciliano may abut music of storm and strife, or a waltz may find itself sitting uneasily next to a fugue. As for this music being adumbrative of an exercise: what’s the problem with that? Western art music abounds with sublime stuff that has pedagogical intent. The wonder of a Bach invention, or a passacaglia by Biber is that these pieces are not only surpassingly beautiful, they are also lessons. You get aesthetic jollies and learn something about counterpoint or variations into the bargain. A real deal. The Handel Variations are indeed dazzling and monumental. Let’s stop it there.
Comment by Jonathan Brodie — June 1, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Sorry, this comment forum is now closed.
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Child Abuse Inquiry publishes Interim Report
Your centre for cases, reports, guides and commentary on key legal and market issues across the insurance industry.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recently published their first interim report, providing an overview of the Inquiry's work and highlighting emerging key themes.
The Inquiry has so far held five public hearings, a series of seminars and published two investigation reports.
The Inquiry Chair, Professor Alexis Jay, anticipates the Inquiry will have made substantial progress by 2020, with a further eight public hearings to be heard within the next 12 months.
The Interim Report lists 18 recommendations to be implemented by the Government, police and other institutions to better protect children from sexual abuse. Of these recommendations, two are of primary importance to insurers:
1. Public Liability Register
The Association of British Insurers has been asked to consider whether a register of public liability insurers could be introduced to assist claimants in child sexual abuse cases in locating the insurers. This is expected to operate in much the same way as the Employers Liability Tracing Office.
2. Redress scheme
The Government has been tasked with setting up a financial redress scheme for survivors of the Child Migrant Programme, where 130,000 British children were forcibly deported into domestic and labour servitude in Australia and other Commonwealth countries by the UK Government, and leading churches and charities from 1947 to the 1970s.
This government-enforced trafficking was bigger in scale, geographical spread, and went undetected for longer than perhaps any other institutional abuse to date.
The IICSA's recent report noted that the post war child migration was a "fundamentally flawed policy" and the Government "failed to ensure that there were in place sufficient measures to protect children from sexual abuse (as well as other forms of abuse and neglect)."
The IICSA panel called on the Government to establish a redress scheme without delay, with payments to be made within the next 12 months to provide an equal award to every applicant, as it concluded all were exposed to the risk of sexual abuse. In Australia, victims from the school in Molong won a settlement from the state and federal governments of more than $20m in 2015, but this is the first step in the UK's compensatory response to the abuse.
As this example highlights, whilst it is not part of the Inquiry’s function to determine civil or criminal liability of named individuals or organisations, the Inquiry may still reach findings of fact relevant to its terms of reference. As further recommendations are released, they are likely to serve as a trigger for insurers with potential exposure to carefully review their policies and consider the impact the findings could have on their capital and reserving position.
Insurers may find they are also expected to be active participants in the Inquiry process. Similar inquiries in Australia required insurers to give evidence and in some instances provide their files to the Inquiry. Evidence that Local Authorities may have allowed their fear of losing insurance cover to have influenced their approach to handling and investigating child abuse for example is likely to be considered.
There have also been reports of cases where insurers attempted to suppress information about abuse allegations. If such allegations are raised before the Inquiry, it is anticipated that evidence will be required from insurers and Local Authorities on these issues.
Whilst the Interim Report does not discuss the Limitation Act 1980, it acknowledges the Act is deemed by many as an obstacle to accessing justice for victims and survivors. The operation of the Act in child sexual abuse cases will be considered further by the Inquiry, particularly given that Scotland has recently legislated to remove the statutory time bar for cases in which the claimant was under 18 at the time of the abuse.
Mandatory reporting obligations
The Inquiry will hold a seminar on 27 September 2018 to consider whether mandatory reporting should be introduced into the UK. This was previously the subject of a consultation in 2016.
The introduction of a reporting obligation would mean certain businesses and professionals would have a duty to act and take appropriate action where there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse is (or has been) taking place. Civil claims for breaching such obligations are likely to be the natural consequence of these increased duties.
The consultation proposed only certain professionals are likely to be mandated to report. Exemptions may include the clergy and those voluntarily working with children such as scout leaders or military personnel in charge of cadet forces. Given the historic prevalence of institutional abuse in these areas, the Inquiry may consider broadening the scope of the duty to include them.
Impact of the Inquiry
The Inquiry could potentially have both direct and indirect consequences for insureds and insurers alike. Given the scope and the political sensitivity connected with the Inquiry it appears that a comprehensive investigation will follow. Both criminal and civil claims are likely to result in adverse media attention. Whilst this is likely to focus on the perpetrator, where civil claims are defended, insurers may well be exposed to negative press coverage.
In the shorter term, insurers will begin to see claims for compensation from victims who may not be willing to wait until the end of the Inquiry. Indeed, recent and continuing developments have created a favourable claims environment in which to bring claims, as evidential and procedural rules have been relaxed in order to ensure victims do not go uncompensated.
Inquiry Update - Professor Alexis Jay leads the Independent Inquiry…
Legacy - Further setback for Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Category… Aviation & space Brexit Civil Procedure Arbitration Construction & engineering Corporate services Cyber Disease Employment practices liability Energy Financial institutions, directors & officers Fraud Global legacy Marine Mining, industrials & power Motor Casualty Large Loss Product liability & recall Professional liability Property Reinsurance Specialty
Location… Africa Asia Pacific Middle East The Americas UK & Europe
Insight section… Legal developments Market insight
Author… Mark Hemsted (33) Vikram Sidhu (24) Judith Martin (23) Toby Scott (21) Damian Rourke (18) David Wynn (17) Nigel Brook (17) Dr Henning Schaloske (16) Jonathan Shaw (14) James Cooper (13) Vikki Melville Dean Carrigan Cheryl Yakey Neil Beresford Mark Sutton Laura Cooke Helen Bourne Karen Boto Tom White Gordon Keyden
More by the authors
Conditions right for employee stress and harassment claims to rise in 2020
Insurance predictions 2020
Child Abuse Inquiry publishes Accountability and Reparations Report
Will diesel emissions fuel a rise in personal injury claims?
Clyde & Co use expert evidence to engineer discontinuance of asbestosis…
Don’t let the bed bugs bite!
historical sexual abuse
iicsa
independent inquiry into child sexual abuse
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Home Selected Titles House Music
Now available to ship - you can get your copy in advance of the formal publication date in January 2020.
CHARLES ROZIER
Asked what he wished to convey in his poetry, Robert Lowell once said “I want to break your heart.” This book is nothing if not heart breaking, heartbreakingly wistful and poignant, heartbreaking in the way that the inexorable passage of time, with its inevitable losses and recuperations, can be heartbreaking.
Spanning almost thirty years, House Music chronicles seemingly quotidian moments in the lives of multiple generations of the photographer’s extended family. Training the camera on those closest to him, Charles Rozier brings the sensibility of a street photographer to his own domestic setting. This is a body of work that transcends convention and the particularities of Rozier’s own circumstances to create a story that speaks to universal experience.
House Music underscores the uncanny in the everyday, presenting a series of suddenly meaningful tableaux framed by the stage of ordinary surroundings. Circumstance and familiarity have made the photographer invisible – in very few images do we see any recognition of his actions by his subjects – but we are deeply aware of his presence. Though Rozier does not appear in these images, House Music is a self-portrait. It is also a book about beginnings and endings, over a long generation in which everything has changed, including the photographer himself.
Charles Rozier received an MFA in design from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where he also pursued a longstanding interest in photography. Over the next 40 years, in parallel with a design career, he remained committed to his photography and in particular to his ongoing project – this continuous series of unposed portraits of the people around him.The images were first exhibited in 2008, and have since been shown in over 25 exhibitions in the USA, China and Spain. Charles Rozier lives in Connecticut, USA.
Hardback £30.00 / $39.00
124 pages, 28 duotone and 38 colour plates
House Music photo book trailer from Charles Rozier on Vimeo.
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CURE Forum » General Discussions
Meeting Your Match
Started by Leida, June 19, 2015
1 reply for this topic
When it comes to cancer treatment, Patricia Kilroe is a minimalist. In targeting her invasive breast cancer, she’s determined to undergo enough treatment, but no more.
Kilroe relied on that philosophy in December, when she was diagnosed with non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and chose lumpectomy over mastectomy. Now that an invasive lesion has been found, she’s planning the same method of attack.
This time, though, Kilroe won’t be able to avoid a sentinel node biopsy – or radiation therapy. And that’s why she’s been scanning the Internet for clinical trials offering the gentlest course of treatment she can find that still seems to promise results.
“The current standard (for radiation) is at least three weeks, if not four or five, every day. It accumulates in your body and the side effects are pretty extreme, not to mention that you’re putting yourself potentially in the path of a future cancer by having that much radiation,” says the 60-year-old. “The trials I’m looking at now involve not necessarily less radiation, but less time and, in some cases, less quantity overall.”
For the busy San Francisco professor of writing and literature, looking for clinical trials has been a time-consuming and sometimes confusing affair. Like many others who have cancer, Kilroe has found she’s largely on her own in trying to find studies she’s interested in joining, and for which she’s eligible. Her doctors have rarely mentioned the possibility — falling into a common pattern that may, researchers surmise, reflect their motivation to keep patients at their own facilities, or simply their lack of time to search through lists of studies.
PATRICIA KILROE has been using an online clinical trial matching service to seek novel treatment options for her breast cancer.
Only with the help of an online clinical trials matching service, BreastCancerTrials.org — which has guided her through “a forest of unmarked trails” — has Kilroe been able to pinpoint some promising studies. She hasn’t sought to enroll, in the past on her doctor’s advice and now because she’s still exploring what’s available, but she’s been grateful to have help in narrowing the field.
“It is worth pursuing, because I want what’s going to be the standard of care, not what is the standard of care,” she says. “I’m not as trusting as somebody else might be that the standard of care is the best and only course of action.”
Luckily for patients like Kilroe, assistance in finding trials of cancer treatments is becoming more plentiful; it’s now being offered by about 30 clinical trial listing and matching services that are available online, at no cost to individual users. The less complex listing services, such as those on the websites of pharmaceutical companies, are basically lists of trials that give patients a general idea of whether they might be eligible based on their age, gender and type of cancer; but others match patients based on very specific personal and disease characteristics and geographic location, even making navigators available by phone or email to provide guidance.
For many traveling the road of cancer treatment, experts wager, these services represent the most effective way to get connected with clinical trials. Once patients have found studies that look promising, they can initiate conversations with their doctors, and/ or directly with the study teams.
“Taking the step to do that research — to make sure that all the options are explored, and to think about a clinical trial through all phases of the treatment spectrum — is definitely encouraged. And a service that might be able to sort through this morass of information to find trials that might be relevant to a particular patient is probably the most valuable aspect,” says Matthew Galsky, associate professor of medicine, hematology and medical oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital, in New York, who has studied barriers to clinical trial enrollment.
“Rather than relying on these services to find the trial that’s necessarily the one to help the most,” Galsky suggests, “the biggest benefit is from understanding what the options truly are based on the trials that are really matched to a patient’s particular disease state at that time.”
A Long-Lived Idea
America’s most comprehensive, searchable listing of clinical trials is ClinicalTrials.gov — sponsored by the National Institutes of Health — which in early May offered information about nearly 190,000 trials being conducted in 90 countries. But searching that site can be tricky.
“The great thing about ClinicalTrials.gov is that, because of some legislation, registration (of most trials) is mandatory, so it is a comprehensive listing. The downside is that it’s incredibly difficult to navigate, even as a physician when you know what you’re looking for,” Galsky says. “It’s even more difficult for a patient who might not know the proper terminology or what disease state they should be searching for. We get queries by email all the time from people interested in one of our trials, only to learn that the patient has much earlier-stage disease (than that being sought by investigators), or that the trial is completely not applicable to their current disease state.”
That, he says, demonstrates why matching services are needed. It may also explain why such services rose from the dust after many of them disappeared a couple of decades ago.
“These services have been around for 20 years, and their number is not that different than it was during whole dot-com craze in the mid to late ’90s, but many of those didn’t survive the dot-com bubble bust,” says Ken Getz, an associate professor at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development and founder and owner of CenterWatch, which provides a listing service and clinical research news. “As of late, we’re seeing a lot of new services that are doing a very sophisticated thing with a wealth of data online, and using some method of geographic location.”
CenterWatch was founded at the start of the trend and survived uninterrupted through the bust. The company’s database of 80,000 studies includes industry-funded trials not listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, as well as studies from the government-sponsored site.
“We have about 30 percent to 40 percent of all industry-funded trials, and that includes early-stage as well as later-stage trials,” says Getz. Patients can search by medical condition, therapeutic area or geographic location. Listings include the names and telephone numbers of principal investigators.
In addition, CenterWatch offers a free notification service that will email patients, if they’ve created an account, when a trial matching their requirements is registered.
Varying Models, Similar Goals
Kilroe started her own search by visiting ClinicalTrials.gov, but soon found herself feeling confused as she realized “it was hard to know which of these trials fit me.” She was directed toward BreastCancerTrials.org by a friend with a medical background.
It was exactly Kilroe’s dilemma that Joan Schreiner and Joanne Tyler hoped to resolve when they conceived the idea for BreastCancerTrials. org in 1999. Both patients with metastatic breast cancer, the women wanted to make the trial search easier for people like themselves.
Together with UCSF Breast Care Center investigators Laura Esserman, Debu Tripathy and John Park, they built a prototype at the institution, which operated as a National Cancer Institute/UCSF research project from 2005 until 2008, when it launched nationwide. The site currently operates as a program of QuantumLeap Healthcare Collaborative, a nonprofit organization affiliated with UCSF, providing users with up-to-date information on more than 600 breast cancer-related trials.
Only trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov are included, but each trial description is rewritten to make it easier for patients to understand. Patients can use the service simply to browse or, by setting up a profile, can find – and be alerted about — trials matched to their tumor types, biomarker status, treatment histories, geographic areas and more. And they can use the site to contact trial investigators directly.
Around the same time that the founders of BreastCancerTrials.org were devising their idea, EmergingMed appeared on the scene. Since then, it has seen more than 320,000 patients fill out detailed questionnaires in hopes of getting matched to trials. The site features the entire national database of trials for each disease type, curating information from ClinicalTrials.gov, medical centers, advocacy groups and trial sites and sponsors.
“For example, EmergingMed has over 780 studies available to breast cancer patients in the United States and Canada. EmergingMed manages a national database of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia trials for the Alzheimer’s Association, and 25 percent of the trials in the database are not in ClinicalTrials.gov,” says Courtney Hudson, EmergingMed’s CEO and co-founder.
It’s that model of creating tailored search sites for clients that supports EmergingMed and enables its free use by individuals. The company hosts its national database, matching service and concierge support for about 60 paying clients – advocacy groups, cancer centers and pharmaceutical companies — with customization to meet their needs. Even though customization allows clients to highlight the trials it sponsors, EmergingMed is designed to ensure that matching is unbiased for patients who use the service, Hudson says. On a first search via a customized service, patients might net an incomplete number of relevant trials, she says, but they can then, with one click, continue on to query the full national database of trials.
While EmergingMed’s model differentiates the site from nonprofits like BreastCancerTrials.org, it’s OK for patients to use either kind.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, because plenty of .coms have .org in their name – it’s not as reliable a screening as before, and, frankly, a lot of the .orgs may have far less content or information than the .coms,” Getz says. “As a patient, you want to be able to gather as comprehensive an information set as possible, and go to multiple sources.”
In fact, the idea of using more than one search engine to research clinical trials can’t be emphasized enough, Getz and Galsky agreed.
“Let’s say a major pharma goes to a (matching) service and says, ‘Here are six of the more than 200 trials we’re conducting; we want you to direct patients to these six,’” Getz says. “There may be a benefit to that, but I’d suggest that patients must be aware that they are not (necessarily) being matched to the universe of trials, but only to a selected number. Therefore, you should never just go with a single matching service. You need to try to broaden the resources you’re using to help you find a trial that may be right for you.”
Once a patient has succeeded in finding trials that look promising, Getz cautioned, the work isn’t nearly over.
“Some of the services will match, but don’t give a lot of information patients can use to evaluate the trial,” he says. “Patients then need to go to the research center, contact them for more information about the study and go through a more elaborate initial screening to see if they qualify for the trial. Patients have to self-advocate, do hard detective work and compile a list of potential trials to evaluate with their health care provider.”
While Kilroe is happy with the care she’s received from her health care provider, she would have felt a lot more supported, she says, if the provider had designated someone to answer her many questions and offer her information about the whole scope of potential care – including clinical trials.
Apparently, it’s not an uncommon concern. One of the main reasons that just 3 to 7 percent of patients with cancer enroll in clinical trials is that their doctors don’t mention studies as an option, or only mention trials that are enrolling at their own institutions, Getz and Galsky say.
“There’s anecdotal evidence that suggests that some physicians are worried about losing a patient to another specialist or care provider,” says Getz, who, with colleagues at Tufts University, is studying the issue. “Some argue that physicians don’t have the time to evaluate this information and make a referral with confidence.”
Alternatively, Galsky says, doctors might feel that a patient needs immediate treatment, and not want to wait out a trial enrollment process. Or “they might feel that the trial, while asking an important question, has a low likelihood of helping that patient directly,” he says.
Even when patients are fully aware that trials are an option, and have a means of finding some that look promising, they may face barriers to enrollment, Galsky continues.
“Trials are designed to enroll a very specific patient population, and that’s often done for safety reasons,” he says. “But at the same time, that pendulum has swung a little too far in the opposite direction. Trials are so restrictive that the vast majority of patients aren’t eligible — for instance because they have other medical problems or had another cancer in the past.”
Some patients many not want to travel, so the location of trials far from home can also be an issue.
Ultimately, these concerns affect not only patients, but investigators trying to develop treatments. A study Galsky conducted found that, of 8,000 clinical trials of cancer treatments launched over five years, 20 percent couldn’t be completed due to lack of enrollment.
The jury’s still out on whether clinical trial matching services are helping to close that gap.
Hudson, of EmergingMed, points out that about 26,000 of the cancer patients who have used its service have contacted trial sites to learn more. “Nearly 80 percent of people who find a match and talk to one of our clinical trial navigators contact a trial site,” she says.
Directors of a search engine run by the nonprofit Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) have found that 40 percent of those matched with trials by the site actually contact investigators; CenterWatch, meanwhile, has found that, of the nearly 250,000 patients and supporters who use the site to review trial listings each month, about 30 percent contact trial sites for follow-up information.
Finally, in a 2013 survey of people who subscribed to BreastCancerTrials.org’s Trial Alert Service, 50 percent of respondents reported that they took an action based on the information they received on the site. Thirty percent of those did so by contacting a research site, and, of that group, 40 percent enrolled in a trial, says Elly Cohen, program director for the matching service and an assistant professor of surgery at UCSF.
“If you ask the companies, they say yes, and research sponsors say that, in some cases, it has helped,” Getz sums up. “But in many cases, they can’t answer that question.”
Kathy I
I agree with the author's listing of the barriers to finding and participating in a clinical trial. One not mentioned though is the financial cost to the patient. I incur all out of pocket expenses, such as a weekly 250 mile round trip car ride, finding and sometimes paying someone to drive me, occasional hotel stays so I can be at the hospital for a 7am blood draw, insurance co-pays for what is deemed "routine or standard of care". (In my case, my insurance covers 90% at my home hospital and only 80% at the study hosp.) It is an investment in my future, but not everyone can afford that. The study coordinator recently hooked me up with the Lazarex Foundation (lazarex.org) and they will be helping me with some of the trial travel expenses. Also, now disabled because of my disease and the # of rounds of chemotherapy and how weak it has left me, does give me the time to commit to a 6-month, weekly treatment trial. I must say, i'm not sure I would have done it if I was still working. Is anyone aware of a particular search site for patients with ovarian cancer?
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How Inequality Statistics Can Mislead You
It doesn’t matter if my income grows 500% if it started out at four cents…
I am sure you have heard plenty of people make the argument that global capitalism “lifts all boats.” Yes, as productivity increases, the rich get much richer, but the poor get richer too. Fewer people nowadays are living on $1 a day than ever before. An American poor person today lives better in many ways than a rich person in 1850. If people are unhappy, it’s because they irrationally fail to appreciate that their lives are Actually Good.
In its most extreme, Pinker-esque version, the argument can seem absurd on its face: Telling people less well-off than you that they should be more happy is not actually going to make them happy and does nothing except help you rationalize your failure to help them. But the whole “everyone is getting richer, actually” thing is said by both critics of inequality and defenders of it.
Have a look at this chart:
Dylan Matthews of Vox has cited this chart in critiquing Oxfam’s portrayal of the world as divided between the extremely wealthy (who own nearly everything) and the extremely poor (who own nearly nothing). Matthews is not a defender of unchecked free market capitalism, but he does think this chart shows that everyone is getting meaningfully better off. He writes:
The rich really are getting preposterously rich. And there’s a real argument to be made — the political argument that Oxfam’s statistic is meant to make — that making taxes more progressive and directing the funds to, say, cash payments to poor households would lead to faster poverty reduction than has occurred under the current system. One analysis suggests that up to 50 percent of global extreme poverty could be ended if developing countries adopted higher top tax rates. But the rich getting richer doesn’t preclude the poor getting richer too, and while the middle classes in the US and Europe have seen less income growth than either the poorest people in developing countries or the richest people on earth, the world’s progress against extreme poverty is real and notable. It’s also, I’d argued, unhelpfully obscured by stats like Oxfam’s.
This chart is used a lot in inequality debates. It is referred to as the “elephant graph,” and credited to economist Branko Milanovic. It has been called the “hottest chart in economics.” Critics of inequality cite it to show that while the people at the very bottom and the very top are doing better and better, the people in the middle have seen much less income growth over time. But defenders of capitalism also use the chart, pointing out correctly that it shows everyone’s incomes growing. PBS’s Paul Solmon asked Milanovic about the chart, saying:
I’ve seen the elephant chart used in a classroom in a way that was suggesting, perhaps subliminally: “Hey, inequality isn’t really so bad because look how many people are benefiting from economic growth around the world. Global inequality is actually decreasing.”
Milanovic acknowledged in response: “You know, there is some truth to that… [If] you actually look at this chart, you basically don’t see any group of people who have a decline in income.” So capitalism is lifting all boats!
But do you notice something a little odd about the chart? Look at what it measures: percentage of income growth across people at different percentiles in the income distribution. Why would we care about percentage of growth, though? Surely what matters is not how much more money you have as a percent of what you used to have, but how much money you have, period. For example: Say the people at the bottom started off earning $0.05 a day, and the people at the top were earning $10,000 a day. If the people at the bottom saw income growth of 100 percent, they’d still only be earning 10 cents a day! Whereas if people at the top saw 50 percent growth, they’d be earning $5,000 more a day.
So this chart is virtually meaningless on its own in telling us anything useful about the real world. If the line were very high on the left side of the X-axis (i.e., people at the bottom had seen huge percentages of growth) and very low on the right side of the X-axis (i.e., people at the top had seen only very small percentages of growth), the chart would be used to say: Ah, you see, the poor are benefitting from capitalism even more than the rich are! Their incomes have gone up by 1000 percent! But if that’s the difference between $110, whereas for rich people it’s an addition of hundreds of thousands more dollars, then actually the rich are benefitting way, way more.
Percentages are misleading here, because X percent of a small number is a much lower amount than X percent of a large number. We can say “Ah, the incomes of the rich and the poor are growing at the same rate.” But for a poor person, the addition may be the cost of a bag of chips, whereas for the rich person it is the cost of a Maserati. By treating these percentages as comparable, we fail to see just how minuscule the “trickle” that is “trickling down” to the poor actually is. Yet people insist on finding meaning in the “percentage of income growth” rather than the raw amount. The Brookings Institution has a paper critiquing the elephant chart and arguing that the percentages are far more even than they look. They conclude from this that “the data do not support the idea that the poorest people are being left behind, nor that the richest are taking all the income gains.” But that’s nonsense: Even if the elephant graph were completely flat, the rich would be seeing increases in the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars while the poor would be seeing increases in the dozens of dollars.
Jeremy Lent, in explaining why Steven Pinker is largely full of shit, has pointed out that when you actually look at dollar numbers, rather than percentages, you can see that globally, poor people are not actually doing much better at all compared to how much better rich people are doing:
This graph shows the “percentage growth” on the blue line and the dollar-amount growth on the green line. As you can see, poor people did not actually receive many more dollars in this time, when compared with the number of additional dollars rich people received. And in fact, this chart doesn’t even begin to show you the scale of the problem. If you looked at the very tippy top of the distribution, some people would be earning millions more dollars. Lent points out that “at the current rate, it would take over 250 years for the income of the poorest 10% to merely reach the global average income of $11/day,” meanwhile the incomes of the people at the top would have outstripped them by multiple hundreds of times.
Any honest presentation of the income distribution will show that we live in a world where most people receive nearly nothing and a small number of people receive hundreds or thousands of times more. Have a look at this chart showing global income distribution in 2003 and 2013:
This is a much more realistic representation of the nature of the global economy: Most people get nearly tiny amounts, some people get gigantic amounts. This graph should really go up to the millions and hundreds of millions of dollars, which is where the line actually ends. That would reveal just how pitifully small the incomes of the majority of Earth’s population are next to the incomes of the super-rich.
Make sure to bear this in mind next time you see someone pointing out that “global extreme poverty is in decline.” What that means is that people are crossing from an extremely small amount of money to a slightly larger but still comparatively minuscule amount of money. Their incomes are still essentially nonexistent when we put them next to the incomes of the people at the top. The gap is just unfathomably wide. Those who talk about how capitalism is reducing poverty pat themselves on the back because hundreds of millions of people have gone from having $1.50 a day to $4 a day, from being malnourished to being able to afford a bowl of soup. “We’ve significantly reduced the number of famines!” they’ll say. The question, however, is not “Did the lives of the poor get better?” but “How much better would the lives of the poor be if we did not live in a world where a tiny number of people own nearly everything?” If you just look at whether things are “better” to determine whether they are “good,” then the Gilded Age was good because it was better than the Middle Ages.
There are problems with using “income” statistics in the first place. There is a strong argument that what we should really look at is wealth: the pile of money you’re sitting on, not just the amount of new money you get every year. How did the wealth of the poor grow over time compared to the wealth of the rich? How many actual assets do they have beyond mere subsistence? Here, you’ll find that 63 percent of the world population has under $10,000 in total wealth, and collectively own only 1.9 percent of the world’s wealth.
It’s very easy to obscure the extremes. Beware of statistics and charts that manipulate information in ways that disguise just how large the absolute gap between rich and poor is. Look, for instance, at this chart, from the otherwise-useful Credit Suisse global wealth report:
This chart disguises just how much wealth is contained in North America versus other regions. Look at the scale on the lefthand side. We go from 100 at the bottom to 1,000, then 10,000, then 100,000. On the chart, the gap between each interval is the same distance. But, of course, the difference between 100 and 1,000 is not the same as the difference between 1,000 and 10,000, or 10,000 and 100,000. The chart’s makers have used a logarithmic scale, where each interval is a multiple of the last (in this case, 10x). If we graphed this with absolute dollar amounts, the graph would look horrifying: We’d see that Africans have almost no wealth on average compared to North Americans, who have about 100x as much. (Jason Hickel has done excellent work showing how manipulative infographics are produced that disguise the true extent of global inequality. Truer representations are galling and make it very difficult to say that globalized capitalism is working out amazingly for everyone.)
We live in an extremely unequal world. But we also live in a world where it’s easy to bury the truth by manipulating the scale on your charts or failing to use the appropriate measurements. Do not believe the defenders of capitalism when they talk about how “rising tides are lifting all boats.” The question is: How much are they lifting your boat, versus how much are they lifting my boat? “Oh, well, your boat and my boat are both being lifted by 20 percent…” None of that bullshit, thank you very much. Be honest: Capitalism is delivering windfalls to the rich and crumbs to the poor. Yes, “extreme” poverty is declining, thank God. It should be! But most people still have nearly nothing, and some people have everything they could ever dream of 1000 times over.
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Carter: ‘Inappropriate’ for U.S. to Block Member of Terrorist Group from Entering Country
Karen Jeffers / April 04, 2014 / 3 comments
Jimmy Carter made the remarks on WTOP. Photo: Jim Ruymen/UPI
Former President Jimmy Carter yesterday said he is supportive of letting a known member of a terrorist group, Hamid Aboutalebi, into the United States as Iran’s newest ambassador to the United Nations.
Aboutalebi was a member of the Muslim student group who held 52 Americans hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran for more than a year beginning in 1979 during Carter’s presidency.
When asked in an interview if the United States should block Aboutalebi’s entrance to U.N. headquarters in New York, Carter told radio station WTOP: “You know, those were college students at that time, and I think that they have matured. …I think it would be inappropriate for the United States to try to block someone that Iran wanted to choose.”
While Aboutalebi claims that he was not part of the initial hostage takeover, he admits that he was a part of the organization that carried it out. According to Iranian-American activist Banafesh Zand, Aboutalebi served as a translator at a news conference hosted by the militant group just weeks after the takeover. He was 22 years old at the time.
The Muslim Students Following the Imam’s Line was the militant student group responsible for the crisis and, according to Bloomberg, Aboutalebi’s photo is still on their official website.
Unlike Carter, the State Department has raised “serious concerns” about the appointment and several members of Congress have also pushed back.
“It is unconscionable that, in the name of international diplomatic protocol, the United States would be forced to host a foreign national who showed a brutal disregard for the status of our diplomats when they were stationed in his country,” remarked Sen. Ted Cruz (R–Tex.) in a statement.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) is also wary, saying in a statement that “Iran’s attempt to appoint Mr. Aboutalebi is a slap in the face to the Americans that were abducted, and their families. It reveals a disdain for the diplomatic process and we should push back in kind.”
Since the hostage crisis, Aboutalebi served as the political director general of the Foreign Ministry and was Iran’s ambassador to Australia, Belgium, Italy, and the European Union. He protests that his past has not prevented him from conducting diplomatic relations with the West before now. The Department of State has yet to clear his visa request and legislation to suspend it was brought to the Senate floor by Cruz on Wednesday afternoon.
Karen Jeffers
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Tag Archives: Sikhism
Another Guru Nanak story
Another story of Guru Nanak, presented in its barest form, as found in a dry analytical study of the janamsakhis:
“Sharing Food with Others”
“…Nearby Trivandrum and on its north-west were situated two small towns by the names of Palam and Kottayam. [note 317] Guru Nanak came and halted here. There was also an old monastery of the yogis here. During the course of his discourse with the yogis, Guru Nanak explained the principle of sharing with others, especially the needy, whatever you have. The yogis gave him a sesame seed and asked if he could share it with others. The Guru took the seed, put it in a small earthen trough and pounded it. Then it was distributed among all [those] present. The place is now called Tilganji Sahib. Here also stands a gurdwara wherein Udasi mendicants used to live up to the 1960s….
Note 317: “…Dr. Ganda Singh has visited this gurdwara, and he has told the author that Palam and Kottayam are two small towns in the north-west of Trivandrum and that there is a gurdwara between these towns. That is why this place is called Palam-Kottayam.”
Janamsakhi Tradition: An Analytical Study, by Kirpal Singh, ed. Prithipal Singh Kapur (Amritsar: Singh Brothers, 2004), p. 143. ISBN 81-7205-311-8
The point of the story, of course, is that the yogis were trying to confound Nanak; they tried to show that sometimes it is impossible to share, for example when you have only one sesame seed. Harish Dhillon tells the story somewhat differently. Dhillon refers to siddhas not yogis; the siddhas are “arrogant”; Maranda grinds the seed up and dissolves it in water, giving everyone present a sip of water to drink. The First Sikh Spiritual Master: Timeless Wisdom from the Life and Teachings of Guru Nanak,, Harish Dhillon (Mumbai: Indus Source Books, 2005; Woodstock, Vermont: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2006), pp. 93-94.
This entry was posted in Liberal religion and tagged Guru Nanak, Sikhism on March 26, 2010 by Dan Harper.
A story of Guru Nanak from the janamsakhis
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, grew up as a Hindu in the Punjab in India, where Muslims and Hindus lived side by side. Nanak famously preached that there is no Hindu and there is no Muslim, because there is one God for all religions; and there is neither lower caste nor upper caste, for we are all simply human. The following story about Guru Nanak is probably not historically accurate;1 it comes from one of the janamsakhis, collections of tales about Nanak collected a century or more after his death in 1539. This story may wind up in my growing collection of stories for liberal religious kids.
Once upon a time, on one of his missionary trips or udasi, Nanak camped beside the Tigris River. Nanak had been teaching all day, and in the evening an old woman, a Muslim, came to visit him. Weeping, she bowed down at his feet. Nanak asked her to sit next to him and tell him her problems.
“I have been waiting for you for twelve years,” said the old woman. “It was twelve years ago that my son got onto a ferry boat at this very spot to travel to the other side of the Tigris. He was twenty years old, and he was going across the river to visit his sister. The ferry was well out into the river when it suddenly capsized. I watched in horror, trying to see if my son would be safe. Some of those aboard were able to swim to shore, but many were lost. My son was one of those who did not make it back to land.
“I waited all night by the side of the river to be sure,” said the woman, “and at last went home to sleep. I saw you in my dreams, a holy man who held up his hand so that a light shone upon me and filled me with warmth. I knew that you would come and bring back my son to me.”
“Where has your son been for the last twelve years?” Nanak said.
“He has been with Allah,” said the woman.
“Is he content and happy to be with Allah?” said Nanak.
“Oh, yes,” said the woman, “of course he has found perfect happiness with Allah.”
“Then surely you would not be selfish enough to ask your son to leave that perfect happiness to come back to this world,” said Nanak. “For as you know, in this world happiness is rare, while misery is a constant.”
The old woman was silent.
“And have you really been without your son all these twelve years?” said Nanak. “Has he not lived on in your memory? Can you not remember the way he played as a child, the trouble he got into, all the time you spent with him? He was so much a part of you while he was alive that he can never completely go away from you. You have lost his body, yes; but his soul and spirit will remain with you always.”
So it was that Nanak brought her son back to the old woman; though he had really never left her. She touched his feet and went on her way, her soul at peace at long last.
The source for this story is The First Sikh Spiritual Master: Timeless Wisdom from the Life and Teachings of Guru Nanak, by Harish Dhillon (Mumbai: Indus Source Books, 2005; Woodstock, Vermont: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2006), pp. 166-167. Although the bulk of the book is a popular historical biography of Nanak, Dhillon also retells several stories from the Nanak janamsakhis, stories which his grandmother told him when he was a child.
1 Not historically accurate according to Dhillon, pp. 155-156.
I have been able to identify only one English translation of a janamsakhi, the B40 manuscript in the possession of the British India Office, translated by W. H. McLeod and publsihed in Amritsar c. 1979.
This entry was posted in Religious education and tagged Guru Nanak, Sikhism, story book on March 24, 2010 by Dan Harper.
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Gavin and Beretta Repeat in St. Pete
Apr 05 2008 admin News Comments Off on Gavin and Beretta Repeat in St. Pete
Corvette Racing Makes History with First ALMS Win with Cellulosic E85 Ethanol Racing Fuel
Saint Petersburg 2008 Podium
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Corvette Racing made motorsports history today, scoring the first victory with E85R ethanol racing fuel in American Le Mans Series competition. On a sultry, sunny day, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta sailed to their second consecutive class victory on the waterfront street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla. The reigning champions won the GT1 division in the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg with a 4.754-second margin of victory in their No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R over Johnny O’Connell and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R.
“I think we demonstrated not only to our fellow competitors but also to the world of racing that E85R is a viable and powerful fuel,” said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. “We’re very pleased with how it turned out.”
The one-hour, 55-minute race began under caution with a single-file start on the 1.8-mile street circuit alongside Tampa Bay. When the green flag flew, pole-sitter Beretta made a fast break through traffic while O’Connell had to contend with a radio problem. Both cars stayed out during the first full-course caution at the 41-minute mark, then pitted on consecutive laps as the first hour of racing ended. Gavin replaced Beretta, Magnussen replaced O’Connell, and the two yellow Corvettes ran to the finish without another stop.
“Olivier made a great start, we had a fantastic pit stop, and we extended our lead when we could,” said Gavin, who tallied his 29th career ALMS victory today. “It’s been a very good weekend for Olivier and I. We’ve been fast all weekend, and we wanted to get back to winning form after a disappointing race in Sebring.”
The winning duo completed 79 laps around the 14-turn temporary circuit and finished eighth overall.
“This was our first race running cellulosic E85 ethanol, and we had great performance and great fuel efficiency,” Gavin said. “We could have done the entire race on one pit stop. There were question marks about that from some people, but it’s been proven it’s a great fuel to run and it’s doing a bit for the green issue.”
“The car was absolute dynamite today,” the Englishman declared. “Steve Cole, our engineer, did a great job with the setup. It was also a great first victory with our new crew chief, Mike West. Our former crew chief, Ray Gongla, was an integral part of the No. 4 Corvette crew and he’s sorely missed, but he’s back in the shop working hard and we’re thinking of him.”
Beretta extended his record as the all-time leader in ALMS victories with his 38th career win.
“Everything was good with the car and I just stayed out of trouble,” Beretta reported. “When the No. 3 Corvette pitted, it was a challenging moment because I was stuck in traffic. I had to stay off the wall, keep the car on the track, and try to run as quickly as I can to avoid losing time.”
“It was hot today, but the cockpit temperature was very comfortable,” he noted. “GM did a fantastic job with the air conditioning system to keep us cool. It’s warm, but that’s normal – we’re not sitting on a beach, we’re driving a racing car!”
The Aston Martin DBR9 of Borcheller and Ducote split the two Corvettes after their pit stops, but the green machine was sidelined after contact with a GT2 Viper. The damaged car retired after 48 laps.
“Normally when I’m out there on the track, I’ve got (crew chief) Dan Binks spotting for me, but today with our radio problem, I had no spotting,” said O’Connell. “I had to keep an eye on everything going on around me in traffic. Fortunately, everyone was reasonably well behaved.”
Magnussen agreed: “It was tough today without radio communication on most of the circuit. My Corvette was actually quite good, but it took some time to get the tires up to speed after the safety car periods, so that’s something I’m going to work on.”
The race was slowed by four caution periods, but the twin Corvettes emerged unscathed.
“There were many close calls, but I kept thinking about Doug Fehan’s three rules: Don’t hit anybody, don’t go off the track, and don’t break anything,” Gavin said. “As long as you keep those golden rules in mind, everything will be all right.”
Corvette Racing’s next event is the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series race on the temporary street circuit in Long Beach, Calif., on Saturday, April 19, at 4:10 p.m. PT. ABC will televise the one-hour, 40-minute event tape-delayed at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 20.
Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg GT1 Results
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Gavin/Beretta, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 79
2. O’Connell/Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, 79
3. Borcheller/Ducote, Aston Martin DBR9, 48 (accident)
GT1 Championship Standings (unofficial after two of 11 events)
Manufacturer/Points
1. Chevrolet 50
2. Aston Martin 36
Driver/Points
1. Jan Magnussen 46
Johnny O’Connell 46
Oliver Gavin 46
Olivier Beretta 46
2. Terry Borcheller 36
Chapman Ducote 36
3. Ron Fellows 30
4. Max Papis 26
5. Antonio Garcia 23
April 19, 2008, 4:10 p.m. PT, Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series, Long Beach, Calif.
TV: ABC tape delay, Sunday, April 20, 12:30 p.m.
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Embracing the Future Report Launch
The Hon. Roger Jaensch MP launched COTA’s Embracing the Future: Tasmania’s Ageing Profile Part II Report on Wednesday 30 October at Parliament House. The Report and its two Fact Sheets are available here.
Embracing the Future Part II includes information about older Tasmanian’s health, relationships, cultural diversity, income, housing, and employment. It focusses on social isolation and loneliness, highlighting populations who may be at risk of these while recognising that these are not normal experiences of ageing. Using 2016 ABS Census and other data, Embracing the Future Part II supports government and community to better understand, plan for, and appreciate the opportunities of Tasmania’s ageing population.
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Gaza, Israel and the Arab revolutions: why this time it's different
Written by John Rees
The Gaza crisis shows that those among the Syrian opposition who have put their faith in the Western powers are now allied to the forces intent on murdering Gazans and sustaining Israel
The Israeli attack on Gaza looks like the 2008 Operation Cast Lead in so many ways. Then the murderous fourth most powerful military state in the world, backed by the greatest military power in the world, killed 1,400 Palestinians who were unable to effectively defend themselves with their vastly more primitive arms. So it is today.
In 2008 the US presidential election was just over, as it is now. Then we were in the run up to an Israeli election, as we are now. Then the election victory was bought with Palestinian blood, just as Benjamin Netanyahu means to do today.
But this time there are even more significant differences. In 2008 Mubarak, defender of the peace with Israel, was in power in Egypt.
Today the powerful current of pro-Palestinian sentiment that runs through the Egyptian revolution is an important pressure on the newly elected Muslim Brotherhood President, Mohammed Morsi. As a consequence Morsi has condemned the Israelis, the Egyptian Ambassador has been withdrawn from Tel Aviv, the Israeli envoy has been sent packing from Cairo, the Rafah crossing opened and the Egyptian Prime Minister sent to Gaza on a three hour visit.
Turkey, an Israeli ally in 2008, is more critical this time around. The Turks’ ‘new Ottomanism’ foreign policy of trying to become the major powers’ conduit into the Arab revolutions comes with a price. That price is opposition to Israel, at least at the level of rhetoric. Prime Minister Erdogan called the Israeli action an ‘election stunt’ and added: ‘Before this election they shot these innocent people in Gaza for reasons they fabricated. The dominant world powers are now making the Gaza people and fighters pay, and as the Republic of Turkey we are with our brothers in Gaza and their just cause.’ Turkey is key to Western intervention in Syria and it cannot want a Gaza crisis that runs out of control.
The Syrian crisis causes a major problem for the Western powers as well. The US is reluctant to create an even deeper problem than it has already. So, although there will be nothing short of 200 percent support for Israel in public, Obama may be hoping that the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt can get their Hamas allies to accept a truce.
The gaping hypocrisy of the West is exposed by the juxtaposition of the Gaza attack and the Syrian crisis. On consecutive days William Hague, the UK Foreign Secretary, could be found denouncing Hamas and then swearing further support for the new Syrian opposition delegation as it visited London for talks.
So we, and an Arab audience of millions, are being asked to believe that the pro-Zionist William Hague, the Destroyer of Hamas, is at one and the same time the Saviour of the Syrian Revolution. The Gaza crisis simply shows that those among the Syrian opposition who have put their faith in the Western powers are now allied to the very forces that are intent on murdering Gazans and sustaining the Zionist state.
Then there is the looming crisis with Iran. When the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was caught unknowingly still on air at the end of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme’s ‘Thought for the Day’ slot saying the Gaza crisis was ‘all about Iran’ he was probably making one of the most honest statements that have come out of the BBC during the whole crisis.
As William Hague has said in the past he believes there is a new Cold War in the Middle East with the Western powers, the Saudis and Israel on one side and Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah on the other.
The Israelis, frustrated by the slow pace of US plans to attack Iran or intervene in Syria, certainly see further attacks on Palestinians as part of this wider conflict. But they are more isolated than before in the region. Egypt and Turkey cannot be relied on in the old way.
The Western powers, even as they stoke other conflicts with Syria and Iran, are worried by a third major crisis. For all these reasons the Palestinians and the international anti-war movement have everything to fight for.
We can and must fight to save Palestinian lives now. That means fighting our own government which supports, arms and finances the Israeli state. But in doing so we will be fighting a weakened pro-Israel bloc who we may be able to prevent killing even more Syrians than have already lost their lives to Assad’s murderous troops-and the lives of untold numbers of Iranians.
From the Stop the War site
By Lindsey German
Behind Trump's tantrums: the US, Iran and the continuing threat of war
By Chris Nineham
Cyprus: an attack on women everywhere
By Elly Badcock
Tagged under: Middle East Israel
John Rees is a writer, broadcaster and activist, and is one of the organisers of the People’s Assembly. His books include ‘The Algebra of Revolution’, ‘Imperialism and Resistance’, ‘Timelines, A Political History of the Modern World’, ‘The People Demand, A Short History of the Arab Revolutions’ (with Joseph Daher), ‘A People’s History of London’ (with Lindsey German) and The Leveller Revolution. He is co-founder of the Stop the War Coalition.
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The Native American And Native Americans
Essay on The Native American And Native Americans
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When Jesuits arrived in North America in the early seventeenth century, neither they nor their Native American neighbors had any idea of the vast cultural and religious boundaries that separated them. Throughout their encounters, the Jesuits failed to see the Native Americans as anything but inferior. This hindered their ability to understand the native culture and to accomplish their goal of converting Indians to Catholicism. The Native Americans had no frame of reference with which to regard the Jesuits and were therefore unable to develop a thorough understanding of European life. Through trial, communication and conflict French missionaries and Native Americans did eventually develop a limited understanding of each other’s language, religion and customs. However, that understanding was always developed within the context of their own culture and would never provide an accurate depiction of the other. Unlike the other European colonists that came before or after the missionaries, the Jesuits made a point to learn the native’s languages. This led to a deeper understanding of hunting techniques, burial customs and religious practices, which allowed the Jesuits to more accurately document native life. It also gave natives an opportunity to explain certain aspects of their culture that could not be translated to French without loosing it’s meaning. Jean De Brébeuf, who lived primarily with the Huron, describes a similar problem that the French missionaries had when…
Essay Native American And Native Americans
Native Americans tribes, although not cohesively unified in a single nation, established numerous communities based on their own traditions and cultures long before the arrival of Europeans in 1492. As Spain, England, and France fought for land claims in the Americas to further enhance their political and economic power, they brought new diseases, technology, political structures, social hierarchies, and religion—all of which the Native Americans were previously unexposed to. While all nations brought…
whites and Native people. Subsequently, the images of native people in the public changed over time as that competition increased. In 1781 when Thomas Jefferson wrote Notes of Virginia, slavery was so rampant that many American believed that it was the natural place for black people. However, in Notes of Virginia, Jefferson described how Native American’s by nature were brave warriors who instinctually protected their land and were a free group of people. Thomas Jefferson believed that Native American…
Now that we have gained new knowledge about the mistreatment of Native Americans, we have the responsibility to do something with this knowledge. To let this knowledge go to waste would be disrespectful not only to you (our instructor), but also to present day Native Americans who are being continuously mistreated by our government and our citizens. Using the knowledge we have gained from our readings and from lectures we are able to demonstrate our knowledge and new ideas by trying to make changes…
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Throughout United States history, Americans have treated Native Americans as unequals and forced suffering on Native American tribes. Events such as the Trail of Tears, the Sand Creek Massacre, and the Navajo Long Walk, just to name a few, will forever be a dark moment in American history. After the arrival of the Europeans, the population numbers of Native Americans are estimated from five million to fifteen million, with liberals preferring the higher estimates, and conservatives preferring the…
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Essay The Native American And Native Americans
The history of the North American continent started long before the first European explorers landed; however, the arrival of the Europeans changed the dynamic of the continents land and population forever. At the time neither the Europeans nor the Native Americans ever experienced a culture similar to each other’s. The conservative and religious nature of the Europeans contrast to the simple yet effective ways of the Indians. The Europeans settler’s lack of cultural sensitivity and acceptance led…
To the Europeans the land they called new world was not new to the natives that lived there all the ancestors of the Native Americans crossed over to north and south America via the bearing straights about 30, 000 years ago. These ancestors of the Native Americans were mostly Asian and by the time that the last glacier receded 10,000 years ago Native Americans had inhabited all the inhabitable parts of north and south America. And being where they where they lived relative isolation from the booming…
Essay Native American Culture : Native Americans
Native American Culture Native Americans are also known as American Indians. They have been living on this continent 48,000 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America. By the time that he discovered it there were over 10 million Native Americans living on this continent. When the Europeans arrived the Native Americans were very interested and worshiped them to some degree. However, the Europeans began to act greedy and mean and only cared about material things. So Native Americans began…
Essay Native Americans And Native American History
Native Americans have been overlooked when dealing with Colonial history due to a lack of evidence and bias. Early historians did not have access to evidence that came directly from Native Americans. Most of the evidence came from journals, diaries and other forms of record that belonged to the colonists, which described their encounters with Native Americans. This lack of evidence leads to pro-European bias because early historians only had the Europeans’ perspectives. The exploration of new evidence…
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Knowledge of Native Americans When I was young and still living in the Philippines, my knowledge about Native Americans are almost to none. The only Indians I knew are the Indians from India. We never had any class lecture or topic about American Indians. In fact, at that time, I thought white Americans were the original settlers in the America, and I could not remember any class teachings contradicting this assumption. When I was younger, I always watched Peter Pan, and Tiger Lilly, the Native American…
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Native Americans have suffered in many ways. The deprivation of their surrounding lands has either made them lose their identity, or the symbolized depiction of family and culture. When the Europeans arrived and settled, they changed the Native Americans way of life for the worst. These changes were caused by a number of factors including oppression, disease, loss of land, attempts to export religion and laws, which violated Native American culture. Each group, of Native Americans had its own laws…
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A Formula for Hate: Captain Planet & the Planeteer's HIV Episode
Body HorrorsBy Rebecca KrestonJune 28, 2013 10:45 PM
Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart! "Captain Planet and Planeteers" is a classic of 1990s television and may soon appear on the big screen as a live-action movie. The animated television series featured five earnest teenagers equipped with magical powers fighting eco-villains intent on destroying the ozone, rainforest and the wetlands and guided by the sage wisdom of Gaia, the spirit of Earth, and Captain Planet. Today, the program is recognized for its environmental "edutainment" pitch and the emerald-mulleted, square-jawed appearance of its titular superhero.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers title card from the first episode. Image: 1990 Program TBS Productions, Inc. and DIC Enterprises, Inc. Protecting the various ecosystems of the planet from floridly named villains - including Hoggish Greedly, Sly Sludge, Looten Plunder, and Duke Nukem - were not the only weekly missions encountered by the Planeteers. The quintet also found time to spread a public health message and drop some HIV/AIDS knowledge on its young viewers. The 11th episode in the third series of the six-year program aired an episode, "A Formula for Hate," on November 21, 1992 that focused on a HIV-infected youngster rejected by his community. The plot rundown is as follows: Verminous Skumm, one of the hallmark villains of the series, has discovered that a high school basketball star by the name of Todd Andrews, voiced by Neil Patrick Harris!, is infected with HIV. Skumm has broken into a physician's office, rifled through patient medical records and chanced on Todd's record and his recent HIV diagnosis. Whoa now! Can we say HIPAA violation? In the episode, Todd's physician explains to the young man and his mother - shakily voiced by guest star Elizabeth Taylor, the actress and longtime AIDS activist who passed away in 2011 - that HIV is spread through "using drugs with needles, unprotected sex or from that blood transfusion you had a few years back," surely a pivotal, uncensored moment in children's animated cartoons. Meanwhile in his sewage lair, Skumm makes photocopies of Todd's face with the word AIDS in bright red letters splashed across it, a sort of scarlet photocopy. His objective?
Once we let people know the kid has AIDS, we can panic the whole town. When people panic, they don't think. If they don't think, they stay stupid about AIDS and it can spread. And once it spreads far enough, we can take over the earth.
Skumm has "discovered the formula for hate" and has discovered a foolproof plan for world domination. Let's make this quick: Todd, bullied by his classmates and rejected by his community, makes a baffling choice to … wait for it … escape by canoe to a bayou swamp cabin. Following a hallucinogenic sequence of tormenting dreams, he makes the decision to return home and face his bullies only to discover his canoe has drifted away thanks to Skumm. The Planeteers and Captain Planet stage a rescue and bring him to a basketball game in which they educate the public on the realities of HIV transmission. The twenty-minute episode ends with a brief sermon by Gaia and the program's familiar refrain, " Remember the power is yours!" This episode is one of the earliest occasions that a cartoon addressed the issue of HIV/AIDS directly to children, broadcasting a message of compassion and understanding. At the time of the episode's broadcast in 1991, an estimated 3000 children were infected with the virus in the United States (1). Many were healthy enough to attend daycare facilities and schools raising concerns among parents and educators at a time in which little was known about the communicability of the virus. In 1987, five years before "A Formula for Hate" aired, the family home of the Ray brothers, hemophiliacs aged 8 through 10 infected with HIV from contaminated blood products, had been torched by arsonists furious at the Ray family's legal efforts to enroll their children in a local Florida school. In 1990, Ryan White, the poster child for pediatric HIV and a victim of HIV-based discrimination, died from complications of the disease. He had also acquired the infection from blood transfusions to control his hemophilia. "A Formula for Hate" is one example of a trend in the early 1990s to process the sweeping effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that left no stone unturned in its ruthless ubiquitousness, infecting even children. The subject is handled a bit clumsily - a rodent villain trying to take over the world using HIV as his weapon of choice, really? - but the overarching goal and message is sincere: educating young viewers on the importance of dignity and respect for children at the greatest risk of bullying and stigmatization. Protect yourself with knowledge and remember: with our powers combined, we can fight the stigma against HIV/AIDS! Resources On June 27, 2013, Sony Pictures announced that they are currently producing a live-action movie based on Captain Planet. Get ready, guys! Shawn Decker briefly recounts the story of the Ray brothers at his blog covering aspects of HIV infection. The author himself was expelled from school on account of his HIV-positive status. References 1) H Taras. (1988) AIDS in schools and day-care centers. West J Med.149(4): 451–452
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Transgender policy is a good one
Apr 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM Apr 29, 2016 at 10:01 AM
At first blush, the policy adopted by Bexley City Schools to extend dignity to children who are transgender or whose gender identity doesn't match their birth certificate might seem surprising. The policy sets guidelines to protect the rights and physical and emotional well-being of these students, prohibiting harassment, discrimination and bullying, and allowing them to enter restrooms, locker rooms and gender-segregated activities that are appropriate for their gender identity.
At first blush, the policy adopted by Bexley City Schools to extend dignity to children who are transgender or whose gender identity doesn't match their birth certificate might seem surprising.
The policy sets guidelines to protect the rights and physical and emotional well-being of these students, prohibiting harassment, discrimination and bullying, and allowing them to enter restrooms, locker rooms and gender-segregated activities that are appropriate for their gender identity.
It also says employees will call a student by the name or address him or her with the pronoun that fits the student's gender identity. It offers resources to students who are transitioning, along with age-appropriate education for students. And it opens training opportunities for staff members.
No doubt, this policy will trouble some. North Carolina in March passed a controversial law that bans people from using restrooms in public schools and other government buildings that don't correspond with their biological sex at birth. One Ohio lawmaker has proposed a similar measure for Ohio. Proponents of such laws typically claim they are seeking to prevent sexual predators posing as transgender people from invading restrooms, but they can point to no instances of such a crime. Nor do they explain how such a law would be enforced, short of invasive searches of everyone entering a restroom. In fact, transgender people have been using restrooms that match their gender identity for years, with no ill effects for anyone. Significantly, last week, a federal appeals court sided with a transgender teen who'd sued his school district for discrimination after being barred from the boys' bathroom.
Bexley's move certainly complements the prevailing spirit of Columbus, a major city that prides itself on its welcoming vibe and diversity.
In such a small district - three elementary schools, one middle and one high school - and in such a tight community, the fact that a girl or boy is transgender is probably not news to their classmates or other parents. Typically, kids have been playing together since before they started kindergarten together, and they'll likely graduate together. When people get to know each other, it's harder to demonize and dehumanize.
Still, the board policy adopted on April 11 is an important statement, one that "makes us forerunners in the state of Ohio," school board member Marlee Snowdon said.
No doubt other school districts will be watching to see how this works. Some adults might raise concerns about privacy, but the answer is to provide a privacy option for all.
Likely, this policy won't rattle most gender-typical kids. The millennial generation gets the distinction between biology and identity. It's simply not as big of a deal for them. But this policy does make a difference for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children, especially those going through the already emotionally turbulent and hormone-charged teen years, in that it sends a clear message that school will be an accepting place.
Key to this policy working will be how it is carried out.
Board member Mike Denison urged the district to raise awareness among students, parents and staff members about issues related to gender identity and expression. "For a lot of people," he said, "this is a journey, and it's something they're not necessarily against, but it's something they're unfamiliar with. I think the district should be prepared to do some explanation."
Bexley's new policy provides a chance to do what it does so well: Educate.
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HeadlinesJuly 01, 2014
Watch Headlines
Supreme Court Sides with Hobby Lobby in Blow to Birth Control Access
In a closely watched case, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled most private companies that claim religious objections can refuse to provide birth control coverage to employees as required by Obamacare. In a 5-to-4 ruling opposed by all three women on the court, the justices ruled requiring “closely held corporations” to pay for contraception violates a federal law protecting religious freedom. The title “closely held corporation” applies to about 90 percent of U.S. businesses. The ruling concerned two companies, Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood, which objected to certain methods of birth control on religious grounds, claiming they are akin to abortion, despite scientific consensus to the contrary. In a biting dissent, Ruth Bader Ginsburg objected to what she called “a decision of startling breadth,” which could open the door for corporations to opt out of practically any law they say conflicts with their religious beliefs. White House spokesperson Josh Earnest responded to the ruling.
Josh Earnest: “Today’s decision jeopardizes the health of women who are employed by these companies. As millions of women know firsthand, contraception is often vital to their health and well-being. That’s why the Affordable Care Act ensures that women have coverage for contraceptive care, along with other preventative care, like vaccines and cancer screenings. We will work with Congress to make sure that any women affected by this decision will still have the same coverage of vital health services as everyone else.”
We’ll have more on the decision with Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, after headlines.
Supreme Court Deals Setback to Public Sector Unions
In a setback for public sector unions, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in another 5-to-4 decision that thousands of home healthcare workers in Illinois do not need to pay fees to cover the costs of union bargaining. The court found requiring the workers to pay union costs violated their First Amendment rights. The decision does not affect private workers and leaves intact a precedent requiring public employees, like teachers, to pay union fees. Instead the justices considered the healthcare workers separately as “partial-public employees,” who work for individual patients but are paid by the state.
U.S. Sending 300 More Troops to Iraq; Kerry Calls War “A Grave Mistake”
The United States is deploying another 300 U.S. troops to Iraq to protect the U.S. Embassy and other interests amidst an onslaught by Sunni militants. The Pentagon says the move brings the total U.S. troop presence in Iraq to 750. In an interview with Chinese television Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry criticized the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
John Kerry: “I am on record historically not only in saying that it was a grave mistake, but in running against the president who ordered it and offering an alternative. So I am hardly capable of ducking that squarely. Yes, I think it was a grave mistake, and I think we are still working through many of the problems associated with it even today. There’s a huge residual hangover, a cloud that hangs over the region, as a consequence of that decision.”
Israel Bombs Gaza After 3 Missing Teens Found Dead
Israel has bombed more than 30 targets across Gaza and shot dead at least one Palestinian just hours after the bodies of three missing Israeli teenagers were found in the West Bank. The teens went missing 19 days ago, sparking a crackdown that has seen hundreds of Palestinians arrested and seven killed. On Monday, the teens were found dead near the city of Hebron; they had apparently been shot dead shortly after their capture. Israel has blamed Hamas, identifying two suspects it says are tied to the group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed “Hamas will pay.” Israeli government spokesperson Mark Regev also blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mark Regev: “Israel tonight mourns the three teenagers brutally murdered by the Hamas terrorists. And unfortunately, this atrocity is the direct result of the decision by President Abbas to unite with Hamas, allowing them to re-establish their presence in the West Bank. We call upon President Abbas to unequivocally and immediately break his alliance with Hamas. He can’t claim to be a partner in peace if he has a pact with these murderers of children.”
The Israeli military says it bombed Gaza in response to Palestinian rocket fire. Earlier today, forces killed a man they say was a Hamas militant who threw a grenade.
Ukraine Launches New Assault on Pro-Russian Rebels
Ukraine has launched a renewed military assault on pro-Russian rebels in the eastern part of the country after suspending a 10-day ceasefire. Russia has condemned the end of the truce and blamed Ukrainian forces for an attack on a bus that killed a Russian journalist on Monday. Anatoly Klyan is the fifth journalist killed in Ukraine since fighting erupted in April.
Obama to Take Executive Action on Immigration Reform
President Obama says he will take executive action to reform the nation’s immigration system. Speaking Monday, Obama said he would no longer wait for Congress after Republican House Speaker John Boehner told him the House would not vote on immigration reform this year.
President Obama: “America cannot wait forever for them to act. And that’s why today I’m beginning a new effort to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, without Congress. As a first step, I’m directing the secretary of homeland security and the attorney general to move available and appropriate resources from our interior to the border. Protecting public safety and deporting dangerous criminals has been and will remain the top priority, but we are going to refocus our efforts where we can to make sure we do what it takes to keep our borders secure.”
Obama’s remarks come as he has asked Congress for fast-track authority and additional funding to speed up the deportation of children fleeing violence and poverty in Central America. Obama has already deported about two million immigrants, more than any other president in U.S. history.
U.S. Court Revives Abu Ghraib Torture Lawsuit
A U.S. appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit by four former Iraqi prisoners who say they were tortured with sexual violence, electrical shocks and beatings at Abu Ghraib prison. The lawsuit accuses employees of the private military contractor CACI International of ordering military staff to torture prisoners in order to weaken them for questioning. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit last year, saying he did not have jurisdiction, but Monday’s decision reinstates the lawsuit and sends it back to that judge.
GM Recalls Another 8.4 Million Vehicles
General Motors is recalling another 8.4 million vehicles, most of them for ignition switch problems that can lead cars to suddenly shut down. GM says the vehicles have been involved in at least three deaths. In total, GM has now recalled more than 29 million vehicles in North America this year, more than the entire industry last year. Earlier on Monday, Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to handle victim compensation, said the company would pay at least $1 million for each person who died as a result of a previous ignition switch flaw tied to at least 13 and perhaps hundreds of deaths.
Chilean Court Rules U.S. Had Key Role in 1973 Killings of 2 Americans
In Chile, a court has ruled that U.S. military intelligence services played a “fundamental” role in the 1973 killings of two Americans in the days after Augusto Pinochet seized power in a U.S.-backed coup. The court ruling, released Monday, finds former U.S. Navy Captain Ray Davis, who was then commander of the U.S. military mission in Chile, gave Chilean officials information that led to the deaths of journalist Charles Horman and student Frank Teruggi. Davis died last year in Chile, where he lived even as a Chilean court approved his extradition, believing he was in Florida. Charles Horman’s widow Joyce Horman told the Associated Press she was “delighted” to see the case moving ahead but “outraged” that “through death and delay, a key indicted U.S. official, Captain Ray Davis, has escaped this prosecutorial process.” (Watch our interview with Joyce Horman last year around the 40th anniversary of the killings and the coup.)
Emergency Meeting Called as Argentina Misses Deadline to Repay “Vulture Funds”
Argentina has missed a deadline for repaying its debts after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling put it on track for a possible default. Last month, the court sided with U.S. hedge funds who purchased Argentina’s debt for bargain prices after its financial crisis and then refused to cut the value of their holdings, as most other creditors did. A U.S. judge then barred Argentina from repaying the majority of its creditors without also repaying the so-called “vulture funds,” which are led by billionaire Paul Singer’s NML Capital. The Organization of American States will hold an emergency meeting on the crisis this week after it was requested by Argentine representative Julio César Ayala.
Julio César Ayala: “There is no international legal precedence for the restructuring of sovereign debt. Today, Argentina is under siege. However, any country that may face a future debt restructuring could be in the same dilemma. Even if 99.9 percent of voluntary compliance with the debt exchange, the 0.01 percent of bondholders would be in the position to invalidate the entire restructuring.”
BNP Paribas to Pay Record Fine for Violating U.S. Economic Sanctions
France’s largest bank has agreed to pay a record $8.9 billion and plead guilty to criminal charges for violating U.S. economic sanctions. Officials say BNP Paribas engaged in an elaborate scheme over the course of at least a decade to hide billions of dollars in transactions with clients in Cuba, Iran and Sudan. The penalty also involves a year-long ban on some transactions.
Top New York Court Upholds Right of Towns to Ban Fracking
In an environmental victory, New York’s highest court has upheld the right of local towns and cities to ban the controversial drilling technique known as fracking. Fracking is currently barred statewide under a 2008 moratorium, but more than 75 towns have blocked it in case New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifts the ban. Fracking involves blasting chemicals into cracks in shale rock to extract oil and gas, a process critics warn can poison water supplies, destroy land and fuel climate change.
Trump Becomes Just Third U.S. President to Face Impeachment Trial as Case Moves to the Senate
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100 Days of Gratitude - Day 12: Extended Family
Posted by Dennis Whittle at 10:07 PM
Labels: Gratitude
Dennis Whittle
Dennis Whittle is Co-Founder and former CEO of Feedback Labs. He is also co-founder of GlobalGiving, where he was CEO from 2000-2010. He has served recently as Visiting Scholar at the NYU Development Research Institute, Robin Richards Donohoe Professor of the Practice and Social Entrepreneur in Residence at UNC-Chapel Hill, Visiting Lecturer at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School, and Visiting Fellow at the Center for Global Development. He is founder and President of The Whittle Group.
Previously, Dennis was an economist at the World Bank (1986-2000), where he lived and/or worked for many years in Indonesia and Russia. His team there also created the Innovation Marketplace in 1998 and the Development Marketplace in early 2000. In 1984-85, Dennis worked for the Asian Development Bank and USAID in the Philippines, where he was an extra in one of Chuck Norris's best movies, "Missing in Action" (1984).
In his formative years, Dennis was a short-order cook and busboy at several restaurants, including the late Oasis Restaurant in Leitchfield, KY and the late Porthole Restaurant in Chapel Hill, NC.
Email: dennis (at) denniswhittle.com
Follow on Facebook or via RSS Feed
Follow @DennisWhittle
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(c) Dennis Whittle. Design by Robert DuBois. Simple theme. Powered by Blogger.
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GOP delegates “go with the flow” as tropical…
GOP delegates “go with the flow” as tropical storm aims at convention
By Erin Udell | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: August 23, 2012 at 6:47 am | UPDATED: June 13, 2016 at 10:10 am
As dozens of Colorado delegates descend on Tampa, Fla., for the Republican National Convention, they may have to trade in their beach towels for disaster supplies.
Tropical Storm Isaac, which started in the Atlantic Ocean and has been brewing in the Caribbean, is poised to hit Florida early in the week, possibly shaking up the opening days the convention, where Mitt Romney is expected to receive the presidential nomination.
Colorado delegation chairman Sean Conway said he’s not too worried about how the foul weather might affect the meeting, which runs Monday through Aug. 30.
“My anticipation is, if the storm does hit, we’ll still have a modified convention schedule,” said Conway, who is a Weld County commissioner. “We can reschedule things. Our thoughts need to be with Floridians and the people of Tampa as they prepare for the storm.”
Tropical Storm Isaac is currently south of the Virgin Islands and moving west.
According to Rick Davis, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tampa, the storm is likely to become a hurricane.
By Tuesday morning — when delegates are kicking off the “We Build It”-themed day — Davis said Isaac is expected to be 100 miles west of Tampa in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The current forecast does not have a direct hit in the Tampa Bay area, he said.
“Even if it doesn’t have a direct effect on Tampa Bay, we could certainly see strong gusty winds, extensive showers and thunderstorms, possible flooding and tornadoes,” Davis said.
Davis said these conditions could be seen as early as Monday.
For a third-generation Coloradan who’s never seen a hurricane, Conway said the threat of a big storm is all part of the adventure.
“We’ll have many stories to tell if it does come our way,” Conway said. “Hopefully it doesn’t cause too much damage and we can say not only did we nominate the next president, but we rode out a hurricane, too.”
Conway said nine of Colorado’s 36 delegates are already in Tampa and have reported cloudy conditions.
Guy Short, a delegate from Weld County, arrived in Tampa on Aug. 20. Since then, he’s seen heavy rain and ominous clouds, but is still in shorts and a T-shirt because of the Florida heat.
“I’m going to go buy an umbrella today,” Short said. “That’s my preparation plan. I’m also getting some kind of rain coat. I didn’t even pack a jacket.”
With the rest of the delegation flying down in a couple of days, Conway said there is the possibility that some flights could be grounded by harsh conditions.
“The weather’s going to be the weather,” he said. ” At this point in time, all we can do is pay attention to the forecast and be in communication with our airline carrier.
“We’ll just go with the flow.”
Erin Udell: 303-954-1223, eudell@denverpost.com
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In the DNA? Irish band 'The Rua' hope to inherit Dana's Eurovision magic
The nieces and nephews of Derry's Eurovision Queen are being tipped to follow in her footsteps by entering the singing competition - 50 years after her historic win.
Irish band “The Rua” are the nieces and nephews of Derry's Dana.
Marianne Flood
Former Thornhill College pupil Dana (Rosemary Brown) shot to international stardom in 1970 with her hit song “All Kinds of Everything” and now “The Rua” are said to be making a bid for the 2020 final. The band is made up sisters Roseanna and Alanna Brown and their brother Jonathan, who recently worked with auntie Dana on her comeback album “My Time.”
Dana performing “All Kinds of Everything” in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest.
Fresh from a tour supporting boyband Westlife, they are making a name for themselves in the music business and hoping to have a strong shot at the Eurovision title.Dana retired from showbiz in the 1980s to raise her family and a decade later she entered the political arena when she ran in the Irish Presidential race and represented the country as an MEP. But as the Derry News recently revealed, she is now making a music comeback with her new single “Fallen.” Fans of Dana have been invited to attend a special sing-a-long event in the Guildhall Square later this month to commemorate her Eurovision success.
The makers of a BBC and RTE documentary are marking her historic win and high profile career and are hoping to recreate her famous return to the city after topping the competition in Amsterdam.
Producer Catriona Doyle, from Waddell Media, said: “On Wednesday November 20, an original 'Daughter of Derry' is coming home to the city and we’re calling on you to come and gather for her homecoming surprise.“Come to Guildhall Square and join in with a rendition of this national treasure’s favourite song.
“No singing ability required - just an appetite for a bit of craic and to represent the city!”The sing-a-long will take place on Wednesday, 20 November at 3.00pm.
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Williams gets standing ovation
Indian Wells crowd cheers on Serena Williams as she is pushed to the limit by Monica Niculescu
Williams gets standing ovation Indian Wells crowd cheers on Serena Williams as she is pushed to the limit by Monica Niculescu Check out this story on desertsun.com: http://desert.sn/1GCHUYb
Shad Powers, The Desert Sun Published 10:55 p.m. PT March 13, 2015 | Updated 12:12 a.m. PT March 14, 2015
Serena Williams enters Stadium Court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden during her return to the BNP Paribas Open on Friday night after a 14-year absence.(Photo: J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)Buy Photo
It was a moment 14 years in the making.
Serena Williams stepped on Stadium Court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Friday night to a standing ovation that lasted 40 seconds.
It was the ovation she deserved the last time she was on that court, in 2001 after beating Kim Clijsters in three sets for the title here. But as we all know by now, that crowd was not on Team Serena. This one was.
She smiled, gave a small wave and strode to her chair, trying not to show too much emotion. She had that look of "I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry." But she did. She teared up as she got to her seat on the side of the court. It was telling.
Serena Williams is filled with emotion as she enters Stadium Court during her return to the BNP Paribas Open on Friday after a 14-year absence. (Photo: J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)
Williams has kept a relatively emotionless stiff upper lip heading into this event when talking with media. But it was clear in her face before Friday night's match that this was a significant life moment for her.
"I was overwhelmed," she said about her pre-match tears. "At that moment it just felt so good to be out there. I felt like I made the right decision. I knew I wanted to do it, but up until that moment I didn't really know if it was the right thing to do. ... Receiving the love from the crowd here. That's when I knew it really was the right thing."
Her opponent, the crafty, soft-hitting Monica Niculescu, didn't read the "triumphant return" script that was handed out to everyone at the Tennis Garden. She had Serena frustrated, hitting the ball long, hitting into the net. Pleading with herself. Pleading with her racket. What's going on here?
Quite often when an underdog loses a hard-fought first set, he or she crumbles in the second set. You see a lot of 7-5, 6-0 or 7-6, 6-1 scores in the world of tennis. But again, Niculescu didn't follow the plan. She scratched and fought, forcing Serena to be the one to supply all the pace, as she tried to handle the knuckleballs being thrown back at her by the Romanian.
Eventually, after two tense hours, Williams was able to wade through 48 unforced errors to collect a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5 victory. Another standing ovation as Niculescu hit the final shot of the night into the net. This ovation was for both players.
In an ironic twist from 2001, it was the Indian Wells crowd that helped Serena shake off the early cobwebs. She was down 2-0 in the first set, and the stunned crowd's tone went from uncomfortable muttering to an encouraging roar. Cheering loudly with every winner, groaning with every errant shot.
Serena needed the boost. She tried firing herself up with yells and fist-pumps, hitting her racket with her hand, etc. Not the type of internal motivation usually necessary for her when facing the No. 68 player in the world. But she needed every bit of it on Friday night.
Serena Williams Returns to BNP Paribas
Serena Williams had a successful return during her first match after a 14 year absence from Indian Wells as she defeated Monica Niculescu in two straight sets on March 13, 2015. IN this photo Serena Reacts to a tough point during the first set. J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun, J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun
Serena Williams had a successful return during her first match after a 14 year absence from Indian Wells as she defeated Monica Niculescu in two straight sets on March 13, 2015. J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun, J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun
Serena Williams had a successful return during her first match after a 14 year absence from Indian Wells as she defeated Monica Niculescu in two straight sets on March 13, 2015. In this photo Serena takes a reflective moment after a missed point opportunity. J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun, J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun
Ball boys and girls line-up with hopes of getting an autograph from Serena Williams at the end of her first match of the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after defeating Monica Niculescu in two straight sets on March 13, 2015. J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun, J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun
Serena Williams during her match against Monica Niculescu during the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Williams won in two straight sets on March 13, 2015. J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun, J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun
Serena Williams reacts to a tough won point agisnt Monica Niculescu during the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Williams won in two straight sets on March 13, 2015. J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun, J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun
Boys and Girls line up in hopes fo getting an autograph from Serena Williams. Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun
Boys and Girls line up in hopes fo getting an autograph from Serena Williams. The Desert Sun
From Left Larry Ellison, John McEnroe and Bill Gates watch the return of Serena Williams at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells as she defeated Monica Niculescu in two straight sets on March 13, 2015. J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun, J. Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun
She called it one of the best nights of her career.
"I feel like I've already won this tournament," she said. "I don't feel like I actually have to hold up the trophy at the end of this. I feel like I'm already holding up the trophy and I never really felt that way before. Just being here is a huge win. It's a wonderful feeling."
Given a chance to speak to the crowd afterward, she thanked them for helping her create new memories.
It will take much longer than one night for these freshly minted memories to replace the ugly old ones.
But Friday for Serena was about starting that process. Even if she did get a 14-year late start.
Shad Powers is the sports columnist for The Desert Sun. Reach him at (760) 778-4627 or shad.powers@thedesertsun.com. Follow him on Twitter at @shad_powers.
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3D Printer Turns Recycled Plastic into Sporting Goods
A 3D printer developed by researchers at Michigan Tech and re:3D turns recycled plastic into high-performance sporting equipment such as kayak paddles and skateboards.
Recycling, 3D Printing, Materials
Researchers in Michigan have merged environmental-friendly production and 3D printing to create a high-performance 3D printer that can develop sporting goods from recycled plastic.
The Gigabot X printer—developed in collaboration between large-format 3D-printing technology company re:3D and Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech)—combines existing printing technology with a new twist, explained Joshua Pearce, professor of materials science and engineering and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan Tech.
Joshua Pearce poses with a 3D printer he and his team developed that was used to fabricate the skateboard under his feet. The printer developed by Pearce—professor of materials science and engineering and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech)—uses recycled materials. (Image source: Michigan Tech)
Costly Feedstock
“re:3D has been manufacturing the Gigabot—a low-cost high-quality large-format 3D printer that uses fused filament,” he explained to Design News. “Unfortunately, filament is marked up about 10 times over the cost of plastic feedstock. This makes 3-D printing large objects relatively expensive—and Gigabot users are used to using a lot of plastic.”
Gigabot X—a modified version of the machine invented by Pearce and his team-- allows for the use of much less expensive pellets of plastic, as well as to use recycled materials to produce new objects, he told us.
“We took it one step further and adapted the machine and found optimal settings for a wide range of waste polymers by directly recycling them,” Pearce said. The team also released free and open-source designs of the printer and products fabricated using it to help promote widespread use of the technology.
Gigabot X is not meant for home use; it’s an industrial-sized machine aimed at developing high-performance sporting-goods products, which have been challenging—if not impossible—to make in commercial-worthy versions using existing technology.
“You need to design the item specifically for 3D printing to get the best outcome,” Pearce said, explaining one of the key challenges to fabricating these types of products in this way. “In some cases we did post processing on the print to get the wanted form—as in curving the end of the snow shoes.”
A Special Extruder
To achieve their goals, Pearce and his team outfitted Gigabot X using an extruder system closely related to an industrial thermoplastic extruder, he said. To fit the printer, they scaled it down and mounted it as an extruder head on the Gigabot.
“The extrusion screw was designed with an increasing diameter down the length of the screw with a ratio of 2.5:1 from the start to the end,” Pearce explained to Design News. “The hopper was 3D-printed to allow for ease of modification and optimization of the design during testing. The system has two heating zones, one to melt the plastic shards/regrind/pellets, and the second one to have a controlled extrusion.”
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The Gigabot X 3D-printing process--called fused particle fabrication (FPF), or fused granular fabrication (FGF)—skips the step of making filament before 3D printing and saves one melt cycle, basically printing directly from shredded waste.
The idea to use recycled plastic in the printer served two purposes, Pearce said. With all of the damage plastic pollution is causing to the global environment, it is more environmentally friendly to use recycled materials, he said.
There is a practical consideration, too, Pearce said. “It also radically reduces the costs,” he said. 3D-printing filament costs $20-$50 a kilogram, while pellets cost $1-$5 a kilogram and shredded waste plastic that people can make themselves is nearly free, Pearce said.
While the printer itself is not cheap at a cost of about $18,500, the potential returns from being able to 3D-print products such as a skateboard deck, double-bladed kayak paddles, and snowshoes—all of which researchers demonstrated--will have its rewards for manufacturers, Pearce said.
“The Gigabot X enables users to make environmentally friendly products for a tiny fraction of equivalent commercial goods,” he said.
Pearce and his team plan are moving ahead with their research by using the Gigabot X to manufacture composites and a wider array of polymers to further expand the materials options for low-cost, large area 3D printing, he said.
Elizabeth Montalbano is a freelance writer who has written about technology and culture for more than 20 years. She has lived and worked as a professional journalist in Phoenix, San Francisco and New York City. In her free time she enjoys surfing, traveling, music, yoga and cooking. She currently resides in a village on the southwest coast of Portugal.
ESC BOSTON IS BACK!
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New Polymer Makes Batteries Self-Healing, Recyclable
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Home / About / News
The latest updates about Duke University Press.
New Journals in 2020: History of the Present & Romanic Review
This coming year, we're excited to welcome History of the Present: A Journal of Critical History and the Romanic Review to our journals publishing program. Both journals will begin publication with Duke University Press in late spring.
Black Sacred Music Archive Now Available
We are excited to announce the digitization of Black Sacred Music: A Journal of Theomusicology, published semiannually from 1987 to 1995 and now available online for the first time.
Now Available: Syllabi from Duke University Press
In the spirit of University Press Week's "Read. Think. Act." theme, we're thrilled to unveil a project that our team has been working on for months: staff-curated syllabi of incisive work on some of today's most critical issues.
Duke University Press Joins the NC LIVE HomeGrown Collection
Duke University Press and NC LIVE have partnered to add thirty of the Press’s e-books to the NC LIVE HomeGrown Collection, making them freely available to more than 200 libraries across the state.
2020 Pricing Now Available
Duke University Press 2020 pricing for individual journal titles, the e-Duke Journals collections, the e-Duke Books collection, our six e-book subject collections, Euclid Prime, and MSP on Euclid is now available online at dukeupress.edu/libraries.
Illinois Journal of Mathematics Now Available
We are pleased to announce the publication of Illinois Journal of Mathematics (IJM) volume 63, issue 1, the first issue of IJM published by Duke University Press.
Dean Smith to Be Next Director of Duke University Press
Dean Smith, the director of Cornell University Press, will be the new director of Duke University Press beginning July 1, 2019.
Open Access at Duke University Press
This series of four blog posts covers open access effort at Duke University Press. Topics in the series included Project Euclid, Knowledge Unlatched, Environmental Humanities, and The Carlyle Letters Online.
Duke University Press to bring James Baldwin’s Only Children’s Book Back into Print
Little Man, Little Man is the only children’s book by acclaimed writer James Baldwin. Published in 1976 by Dial Press, the book quickly went out of print. Now, at a time when Baldwin is more popular than ever, and readers, librarians, and booksellers are clamoring for more diverse children’s books, Duke University Press is proud to bring the book back into print. It will be available in August 2018.
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KS2 History
Tudor Explorers
The Tudors discovered the potato.
One of the eras looked at in KS2 history is that of the Tudors. This is the first of three quizzes on the topic and it concentrates on Tudor explorers who discovered new lands.
America was discovered at the very beginning of Tudor times. It was an era in which explorers went in search of new lands to settle and to trade with. Tudor exploration began in the 15th century and went on for over 200 years. During the reign of Elizabeth I, many sailors went in search of unknown lands and European knowledge of the rest of the world increased significantly. By the end of the Tudor period five of the seven continents had been discovered, though Australia was not found until the mid 1600s and Antarctica the early 1800s.
Find out what you know about the some of the Tudor explorers and what new things they found on their travels by playing this quiz.
Who was the first British man to sail around the world?
Martin Frobisher
Drake completed his voyage around the world in 1580 but is more famous for his defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588
In which year did Columbus discover America?
Columbus was an Italian working for the King and Queen of Spain
What was the name of the ship that Drake sailed around the world?
The Marigold
The Elizabeth
The Golden Lion
The Golden Hind
The ship was originally called Pelican, but was renamed by Drake 1578, halfway through a voyage
What was the name of the fabled City of Gold in South America?
Brittia
No such place ever existed but lots of explorers tried to find it
What was the name of the disease suffered by sailors who did not get enough fresh fruit and vegetables?
Scurvy is thought to have killed at least two million sailors between 1500 and 1800
What was the name of the first English settlement in North America?
The settlement was not successful and was abandoned - although nobody really knows what happened to the settlers
Who was Virginia named after?
Elizabeth was known as the Virgin Queen as she never married
What did the British take from West Africa and sell to the Spanish colonies in America?
The slave trade went on from the 1500s to the 1800s
Which of these plants was NOT discovered by the Tudors?
Wheat had been known for thousands of years but tobacco, potatoes and sweet corn were not known outside of the Americas
Where did John Cabot discover in 1497?
Newfoundland is now in Canada
Author: Amanda Swift
Print this quiz Report an error KS2 History Play this quiz again
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PORTS, COMMERCE AND TRANSPORTATION
In order to meet new federal and state mandates relating to air quality, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles proposed a progressive ban for the 16,000 drayage trucks entering the port complex every day. The progressive ban proposal barred the oldest, dirtiest trucks from entering the port first, followed by a series of annual bans that would ultimately require the truck fleet to deploy truck models no older than 2014. Although generally supportive of the ports’ environmental goals, the local trucking industry would be disadvantaged competitively if it were forced to purchase newer, more expensive trucks to meet the ports’ new requirements.
Englander Knabe & Allen was retained by a consortium of over 100 local trucking companies (eventually forming the Harbor Trucking Association) to advocate before the Port Commissions in LA and Long Beach to find a workable solution that would allow the ports to meet their stated environmental goals while allowing smaller and mid-sized trucking companies to continue doing business.
As a result of our efforts, the Ports adopted a new environmental program that allowed for older trucks to remain competitive while incentivizing those who wanted to invest and deploy newer, cleaner truck models. As a result, the trucking industry remained strong and the Ports were able to reduce harmful air emissions (NOx and SOx) by 90%—over two years ahead of schedule. In addition, the formation of the HTA has solidified the political strength of the port trucking industry on dozens of issues in the last few years, including additional environmental regulations, new tariff provisions and the expansion of port terminal facilities.
PORTS, COMMERCE AND TRANSPORTATION2017-12-212018-01-04https://www.ekapr.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ekapr-logo-440.pngEnglander Knabe & Allenhttps://www.ekapr.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ekapr-case-port-02a.jpg200px200px
CONSENSUS BUILDING CONSULTINGClient Success, Issues
RESTAURANT PERMITTINGClient Success, Issues
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Home . Blog
Welcome to Elan Hotel - A Greystone Hotel Blog
Welcome to the Elan Hotel - A Greystone Hotel blog! Stay up-to-date on everything that's going on around our boutique hotel at the crossroads of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, Los Angeles. Featuring events, things to do and special offers, our hotel blog will keep you current on all of the city's latest happenings, including nearby attractions such as the legendary Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive and more.
Los Angeles Events - Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band in Concert
About 3 year(s) ago by MediaConnect
Join an American legend as he says goodbye to the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena - a venue that he's played more than 30 times. Don't miss Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band live in concert, March 15-19. Continue readingLos Angeles Events - Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band in Concert
Los Angeles Things to Do - 7th Annual Pre St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl
Get started on your celebrations early this year at the 7th Annual Pre St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl, which takes place on Saturday, March 12. This fun-filled tour starts at Busby's West and visits many of the city's top Irish taverns. Continue readingLos Angeles Things to Do - 7th Annual Pre St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl
Los Angeles Luxury Hotel - Parking Package
Make it easy on yourself when you book our LA Parking Package, which features discounted valet parking with in-and-out privileges at our private garage. Take care of your parking needs, and enjoy a host of additional amenities and services. Continue readingLos Angeles Luxury Hotel - Parking Package
Things to Do in Los Angeles: Live Performances, Concerts & Theater
Wondering what's coming up in the next couple of weeks in LA? Check out the upcoming live performances, including Broadway musicals, rock concerts, theatrical events and more - and then make your plans for an LA getaway! Continue readingThings to Do in Los Angeles: Live Performances, Concerts & Theater
Los Angeles Events - LA Cookie Con and Sweets Show 2016
Discover two full days of sampling, seeing and creating at the Los Angeles Cookie Con and Sweets Show 2016. Taking place at the LA Convention Center on February 6-7, this fantastic convention features celebrity chefs, live demonstrations and more. Continue readingLos Angeles Events - LA Cookie Con and Sweets Show 2016
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Dvr-Shop.de
Angebote zu "Windows" (8 Treffer)
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! MythTV is a free home entertainment application with a simplified "10-foot user interface" design for the living-room TV, and turns a computer with the necessary hardware into a network streaming digital video recorder, a digital multimedia home entertainment system, or Home Theater Personal Computer. It can be considered as a free and open source alternative to Tivo or Windows Media Center. It runs on various operating systems, primarily Linux/Mac/FreeBSD.
UPnP AV MediaServers
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! UPnP AV MediaServers store and share digital media, such as photographs, movies, or music. These media servers use the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) protocols to communicate with other devices.UPnP AV MediaServers on their own provide UPnP AV ControlPoints to browse the music content of the server and request the MediaServer to start streaming that file to the ControlPoint for local playback. The UPnP AV other device categories and protocols outlines the various components.There are UPnP MediaServers available for most operating-systems and many hardware-platforms. UPnP AV MediaServers can either be categorized as software-based or hardware-based. Software-based UPnP AV MediaServers can be run on PCs (Personal-Computers), mainly on Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, Unix or Mac OS X. Hardware-based UPnP AV MediaServers may run on any NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices or any specific hardware for delivering media, such as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder). As of May 2008, there were more software-based UPnP AV MediaServers than there were hardware-based servers.
Creating a Digital Home Entertainment System with Windows Media Center
A Media Center PC (also called a home theater PC) is a personal computer running the Windows Media Center operating system, designed to be used in a home theater system. Media Center PCs are capable of replacing several traditional audio/video components. A PC running Windows Media Center can function as a CD player, a DVD player, a TV tuner, a hard disk digital video recorder (DVR), a digital music jukebox, and a digital photo viewer. All of these features are accessed from Windows Media Center's simple onscreen interface. The market for these Media Center PCs is due to explode. Parks Associates projects that by 2008, more than 7 million households will have one of these devices, creating a market worth more than $10 billion. They go on to project that Media Center PCs will account for 40% of U.S. home computer sales within five years. Even though the Media Center interface is simple to operate, not all activities are intuitive or easy to implement. Users need help determining which type of Media Center PC to buy, connecting and configuring the Media Center PC in their home theater system, and using the Media Center PC to perform both basic and advanced operations. This book brings the experience and expertise of The Green Button (the premiere Media Center website) and author Michael Miller to help users plan, use, and troubleshoot their new Media Center PCs -- and get the most out of Windows Media Center Edition.
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 PC For Dummies
* The fun and easy way to get up and running quickly withMicrosoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, the new operating systemversion specially outfitted for TV, DVD, video, music, and digitalphoto applications * Media Center PCs are the first PCs to feature an easy-to-useinterface and all preconfigured hardware and preloaded softwareneeded to create a complete integrated home entertainmentsystem * Explains how to integrate a home computer network with a hometheater system, control connected TVs with the Remote ControlInterface, record TV programs using a TiVo-like recorder, acquireand play back music files, organize digital videos and photos, playDVD movies, and much more * Written by the authors of Home Theater For Dummies(0-7645-1801-1)and Wireless Home Networking For Dummies(0-7645-3910-8), who worked closely with Media Center Editionproduct management at Microsoft to complete the book.
Mediaservers
©2020 www.dvr-shop.de
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Eastleigh News
Hedge End Independent calls it a day
by Stephen Slominski • April 2, 2012
Another Independent candidate has announced that he will not be standing in the Borough elections.
Following Sam Snook’s withdrawal last week, local blogger and Eastleigh News man Ray Turner has also decide not to contest the May 3 poll.
Ray had stood as an independent last month in Shamblehurst for a seat on Hedge End town council winning 12% of the vote and finishing just 44 votes behind the runner up conservative candidate Paul Redding on his first attempt as a candidate
Ray also polled twice as many votes as one Ukip borough candidate Michale O’Donoghue, pushing him into last place.
The van driving former civil servant had previously vowed to topple Lib Dem council leader Keith House in an attempt to break the Lib Dem hegemony told Eastleigh News:
“The Shamblehurst by-election was a good trial-run, it was good experience and I’m pleased I contested that seat, but it has confirmed that campaigning on top of driving for nine hours a day is too much for me to take on at the moment.”
While thanking those who had voted for him he went on to say:
“The situation is not helped by the lack of interest in local politics in Hedge End. The Town as a whole just doesn’t seem to be bothered that the Lib Dems have such a large majority.
“Hedge Ender’s, generally speaking, cannot see the problem. Any successful campaign thus has a big hurdle to overcome and will have to be a well-funded, full-time, 24/7 commitment. It’s beyond me at the moment I am afraid, unless I quit my job and plough lots of money into the campaign. It cannot be done by Social Networking alone.”
Ray still is still running a petition which is asking the government to address the situation whereby councilors can hold any number of posts in government.
Nominations for candidates in the Eastleigh local elections close on April 4.
Photo: Hedgeend blogger
Blogger vows to topple Lib Dem leader
The Hedge End Independent
The complete works of TGR Worzel
Stephen Slominski
I'm the News Editor and admin for this site. I am a BJTC trained Journalist and a life-long Eastleigh resident. View all posts by Stephen Slominski →
Tags:Hedge End Independents Keith House Lib Dems Ray Turner TGRWorzel
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6 comments for “Hedge End Independent calls it a day”
Disappointing news. Have we reached the stage where only the fit retired can stand for office? We need councillors of all ages and all walks of life to represent us. Get some helpers Mr. T., and build an A-Team so you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
Ray Turner
Thanks Maureen. Pleased to see that you’ve been reading the favourite quotes on my profile page…!
Anybody can stand for office, but if you are “in it to win it” it is a significant distraction from your usual work/home life. I can’t risk that distraction again, given the job that I currently do.
Would be a different ball-game though, if I ever change jobs, or retire…!
You’re right about helpers. That does make things easier. On the other hand, the support of Tory Central Office and local leafleting teams did not make a lot of difference for the Tory Candidate in Shamblehurst…
Sounds like you put yourself forward Maureen or are you just like countless others and want a very small motivated minority to do all the hard work it for you?
Keith Day
Any Hedge End folk who would like to serve on the town council and stand at future elections without joining one of the established parties are welcome to contact me ([email protected]) for advice and assistance. There is a small group of independents who would have helped Ray if he had decided to stand, but none of us are millionaires and don’t have the resources of the Conservatives and Lib Dems who do have rich supporters to underwrite their election debts.
QUOTE FROM RAY TURNER: “You’re right about helpers. That does make things easier. On the other hand, the support of Tory Central Office and local leafleting teams did not make a lot of difference for the Tory Candidate in Shamblehurst…” UNQUOTE
Ray. The “problem” in Torydom is not (directly) the LOCAL CANDIDATES, although they are culpable for other reasons. The “problem” is the succession of “convincing” but traitorous elites which have controlled the Party since Edward Heath. They have destroyed the foundation stone of conservatism, which is to uphold the Constitution.
This rotten elite with their freshly ironed old school ties, have (by degrees so small as to have gone unnoticed by the average Briton) surrendered control of our great nation into the hands of foreigners (in Europe) who hate our country and have ancient past scores which they are settling. Many of you will identify with our veterans who fought in World War 2 and who complain that we might as well not have bothered fighting the War.
Thus this rotten Tory elite have plunged the Conservative Party into an inexorable philosophical collapse. Such unbearable hypocrisy in Conservative policy has not gone unnoticed by true conservatives, vast numbers of whom have now stopped voting or now vote UKIP (me included).
This is why, despite lots of help at the local level, the Conservatives can never again win a General Election (unless they adopt UKIP’s core policy. It is why they have such difficulty winning at the local level in circumstances where one might perhaps imagine that a Tory victory would be easy. Perhaps one day they will realize that their core support can NEVER return unless they embrace once again, the core values which UKIP has taken from them. While UKIP may not itself take many votes, it exerts a corrosive effect on the Tory will, and causes massive Tory abstentions, pricking consciences in the thousands and leading to repeated collapse in the Tory vote.
As for the culpability of local candidates, theirs is to aid and abet this rotten, traitorous elite. So intent are local activists, on maintaining the “Conservative” label at all costs, including all the spurious prestige that comes with it, that they turn a blind eye to the gnawing truth that the Conservative Party has long since rotted away from the inside and that in the cold light of day, there is nothing left.
TRUE CONSERVATIVISM is now found only in UKIP. Not to say that this should repel people from Labour and the Liberal Democrat parties. No indeed! UKIP is the true home of all TRUE conservatives and it is to THIS party alone that local political activists (including candidates) should switch their allegiance while there is still time to save this country. Anything less is to stand in the same indefensible place as their leaders.
Only by causing the complete destruction of the monstrous thing which poses as the “Conservative Party”, will we ever stand a chance of seeing the blue phoenix rise from the ashes.
My message to all Conservative voters is simple: If you don’t like the idea of Britain being governed by foreigners, then VOTE UKIP.
The Wikipedia entry on Conservatism is an interesting read, in the light of your comment Peter.
Reckon you’re right actually. The Conservatives haven’t been practicing Conservatism for decades and are clearly still not doing so. Their NHS reforms are a good case in point.
Maggie, it seems, was Conservative in name only and that’s where the Conservatives started to go wrong…?
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Local Plan ‘on target’ say council
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Lib Dem Cllr: ‘My Fears for the Green Belt’
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Building a Strategic Partnership Between China and the U.S.
The U.S.-China High-Level Security Dialogue brings together influential Chinese and American experts to develop common strategies on traditional and non-traditional security challenges. This meeting, the third in the dialogue, was the first EWI-brokered, high-level, semi-official meeting between the two countries since U.S. President Barack Obama took office. It clarified policy approaches between the new U.S. administration and one of its most important strategic partners.
The meeting included frank discussions on pressing global security concerns that require the active engagement of both China and the U.S. Agenda items included:
Climate change, carbon emissions and a “green relationship” between China and the U.S.
The global financial crisis and its effects on security and social stability
Piracy and maritime security
Rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula
The stability of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region
The meeting included such high-level participants as:
Ambassador Ma Zhengang, EWI board member and President of the China Institute of International Studies
C.S. Kiang, Chairman of the Peking University Environment Fund
Major General Zhu Chenghu, Director General of the Academic Department of Strategic Studies at China’s National Defense University
Senior Colonel Xu Weidi, Professor at the Institute for Strategic Studies at China’s National Defense University
Tom Ridge, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Ambassador Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
General T. Michael “Buzz” Moseley, EWI Distinguished Fellow and former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Karl Rauscher, EWI Distinguished Fellow and Executive Director of Bell Labs Network Reliability & Security Office of Alcatel-Lucent
David Kilcullen, EWI Senior Fellow and former adviser to General David Petraeus in Iraq.
Mon, 2009-06-08 (All day) - Fri, 2009-06-12 (All day)
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The Road to Memphis by Mildred D. Taylor
Download The Road to Memphis Study Guide
(Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults)
Taylor's books about Cassie Logan and her family have been praised by critics because they provide readers with insight into racial tension in the Depression era, particularly in the segregated South. Taylor's descriptions and scenes are so credible that readers have often assumed that her books are autobiographical, that Taylor must have lived these stories. The problems that the Logans face are not sugar-coated; their friends sometimes die or must run away because they are the innocent victims of racial conflict. Most important, however, Taylor presents characters who stand up to oppression, making their voices heard. For the Logans, survival comes from family unity and education and by banding together with their neighbors.
The Road to Memphis is itself an important book because it lets readers see characters from Taylor's earlier books as they are on the verge of becoming adults. Cassie and Stacey are no longer able to hide behind their father, David Logan, and go on a journey during which they must confront racial hatred directly. As a result, as some reviewers have suggested, this is a bleaker book than some of the earlier Logan stories. The book is not without hope, however— Cassie catches a glimpse of a successful Black man, Solomon Bradley, and begins to make plans for her own future. At the same time, Taylor captures most of the confusion that young adults feel as her characters try to make important decisions and as Cassie begins to struggle with romantic feelings that might threaten her plans to get an education. The Road to Memphis recaptures much of the feeling of the earlier books and should interest readers who have read them, as well as those who have not.
Next:Characters
The Road to Memphis Homework Help Questions
Who are all the characters in The Road to Memphis?
Cassie Logan is the narrator. Other characters include Solomon Bradley (a lawyer), Cassie's brother Stacy, her friend Little Willie Wiggins, Clarence Hopkins, Moe Turner, and Clarence's girlfriend,...
In the book The Road to Memphis, what is the climax?
The climax consists of three events and occurs in Chapter 8. The group is in Memphis and seek help with Solomon Bradley, a successful business and newspaper man. Cassie becomes infatuated with...
When does The Road to Memphis occur?
The Road to Memphis is the fourth installment of a historical fiction series written by author Mildred D. Taylor. While the previous books are set during the Great Depression, The Road to Memphis...
In the book The Road to Memphis, how old are all the characters?
The central characters of The Road to Memphis, the Logan children, are all in their teens or early twenties during the time of the narrative. Cassie Logan, who is attending school in Jackson,...
What items did the friends take with them on the hunting trip in The Road to Memphis?
Cassie says that the thing about going on a coon hunt was that a body had to be totally prepared, and that included taking along every item of importance. The list of those items is very...
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The Archigram Archival Project
About Archigram
Archigram are amongst the most seminal, iconoclastic and influential architectural groups of the modern age. They created some of the 20th century’s most iconic images and projects, rethought the relationship of technology, society and architecture, predicted and envisioned the information revolution decades before it came to pass, and reinvented a whole mode of architectural education – and therefore produced a seam of architectural thought with truly global impact.
The name Archigram (Architecture+Telegram) was invented to describe a home-made magazine put together in 1961 by the young architects, Peter Cook and David Greene, joining first with Mike Webb. This free-form magazine was designed to explore new projects and new thinking which were overturning the strict modernist dictats of the 1960s.
For the second Archigram magazine in 1962, Cook, Greene and Webb invited Ron Herron, Dennis Crompton and Warren Chalk, all working at the London County Council’s architects department, to contribute. As the magazine grew and its circulation spread, the six began working together on specific projects, such as the ‘Living City’ exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in 1963, and the Archigram name soon stuck to them as a group.
The astounding projects which they created drew on the technologies of the ‘Space Race’, the dawn of the digital information revolution, and the US-led consumer boom, to develop new visions of what life and society might be like in the immediate future. The projects included the famous Walking City, Plug-in City and Instant City, which variously proposed the use of pods, capsules, megastructures, inflatable or temporary components, cars, furniture, clothes and gadgets to replace conventional building forms – in other words, the inventive use of new technologies to rethink society and its forms of habitation. (read more)
The Archigram Archival Project’s Website
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Brazil Region
Modification guide
Etihad Airways launches inaugural flight to Barcelona
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways has launched its first ever scheduled flights linking Abu Dhabi and Barcelona. The inaugural flight, EY49, departed Abu Dhabi this morning carrying a special delegation including dignitaries, media representatives, influencers and senior members of Etihad Airways’ management team.
The UAE national airline is celebrating the occasion in style by hosting a special event held at the historic Capella dels Angels, a sixteenth-century Gothic building which is now part of the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), attended by leading figures from the local government, diplomats, media, corporate partners and travel trade.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We have been tremendously excited about the launch of this service and what better time to arrive here than the month Etihad celebrates its 15th anniversary.
“Commercial and cultural links between the UAE and the Catalonia region are flourishing and Etihad is honoured to play a pivotal role in facilitating and enhancing the growth of trade and the strong demand for tourism. This is a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world, with something to offer the most discerning of travellers, and now for the first time, Abu Dhabi, our amazing home, is accessible from Barcelona with regular non-stop flights, featuring Etihad’s acclaimed inflight hospitality.
“On behalf of the Etihad Aviation Group, I extend our sincere thanks to the Barcelona Air Route Development Committee for their invaluable support with the new service, the launch event, and for their genuine welcome.”
The number of visitors from the UAE to Spain has been rising rapidly, thanks in part to a successful Schengen visa waiver programme introduced for UAE nationals in 2015.
The new route will initially be operated five times a week by a two-class Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily operation from 31 March 2019.
Barcelona is the second city in Spain served by Etihad Airways, complementing the airline’s existing daily service to Madrid. The new link will provide business and leisure travellers with convenient timings to travel between Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, also providing seamless onward connections through Abu Dhabi to major cities in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Australia.
Etihad Airways operates an extensive codeshare partnership with Air Europa (UX) allowing guests a seamless transfer with the Spanish airline’s services between Barcelona and Madrid. Etihad also codeshares with Air Europa beyond Madrid to 19 cities in Europe, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Barcelona, effective 28 November 2018:
Flt No. Origin Departs Dest Arriv Freq Aircraft
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.
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Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
A graphic novel can be defined as a book-length comic. They can be comprised of only one narrative or a collection of short individual stories. They contain sub-sequential visual art in rectangular patterns much like comic books. However, unlike comics, graphic novels aren't all typically funny. The major differences between comics and graphic novels is that they are longer, and comics can cover stories over the course of many issues while graphic novels are just one or two books (Difference Between Comic Books and Graphic Novels, knowledgenuts.com). Many graphic novels have drama, adventure, and even character development. This type of book has been growing in popularity due to its diverse format, as well as its appeal from having pictures.
First, here is the simplified history of the graphic novel. Newspapers were the reason for the initial comic strips to become popular in the 19th century. From there entire magazines for comics and superhero stories were made. Then these became book-length collections of previously published comics. Many historians say that the first actual graphic novel was A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories, written by Will Eisner and published in 1978. The novel contained adult content and was said to have had a major impact on the generation that grew up with comics in the 1940's and 1950's (Graphic Novels, ipl.org).
Graphic novels can be fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, or any other type of genre out there. However, there are four types that tend to be the most popular. The most popular type is the superhero story. Examples of these are Marvel and DC, with superheroes Batman or Spiderman. The next one is Manga, which means comic in Japanese. This style of comics are read top to bottom and right to left just like traditional Japanese. A third type is the personal narrative. These are sometimes referred to as perzines, and are autobiographical stories (What is a Graphic Novel, getgraphic.
Essays Related to Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
1. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
"Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood" is the life story of the vivacious, spunky Marjane Satrapi as she experiences the struggles and conflict between Iran's political society and the displeasure of its people in the 1980's. ... Marjane begins her story by a brief summary of why the veil was made mandatory for all women, but presented it much like a joke. ...
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Easton named Maryland’s newest Arts and Entertainment District
Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly M. Schulz recently announced Easton as one of two new Arts and Entertainment Districts in Maryland. Easton will join 26 existing Districts in the state in offering marketing and tax-related incentives to help current and prospective artists, arts organizations, and other creative enterprises, incentives that are aimed at developing and promoting community involvement, tourism, and revitalization.
“Maryland’s Arts and Entertainment Districts serve an important role in revitalizing communities across the state,” Secretary Schultz said. “This designation helps attract artists and creative businesses and gives counties and municipalities the ability to develop unique arts experiences that engage residents and attract visitors.”
Easton, Maryland, one of the State’s preeminent arts destinations, has long been known for its vibrant mix of fine art galleries, performance venues, museums and artists’ studios, as well as a burgeoning artisan scene. Now, the town hopes to build upon its already longstanding history with more opportunities for artists and arts organizations within the town’s borders.
“I think the destination of Easton as an Arts and Entertainment District further adds to our reputation as a center for a variety of art projects,” Easton Mayor Robert Willey said. “I would hope that people will take advantage of the opportunities that the designation provides and help to build on an already familiar label.”
The Easton Arts District will encompass over 110 acres including Easton’s Historic District, East End Neighborhood, and outlying residential and commercial neighborhoods. Within this district, developers and arts organizations will benefit from a property tax abatement for artistic-related improvements to their structures, and qualified residing artists will receive an income tax subtraction from the State of Maryland for all art created and sold within an Arts and Entertainment District.
In addition to the tax incentives, the newly-designated district will feature existing and new arts-related events, from the world-class Waterfowl Festival and Plein Air Easton, to the new Easton Arts District Culture Crossing, a monthly artisans market along the Easton Rails-to-Trails beginning July 13.
Spearheaded by Discover Easton, the Easton Arts District has been discussed over the years as an integral part of growing the arts economy in and around downtown Easton.
“The Easton arts community is one of the most robust in Maryland, and becoming a designated Arts and Entertainment District will allow us to continue to promote growth in one of the most successful industries in Talbot County,” Discover Easton Executive Director Ross Benincasa said. “This collaborative effort among our office, the Town of Easton, Talbot County and the Talbot County Arts Council will ensure that the arts do not stagnate in Easton, but instead continue to flourish and expand with new offerings and events.”
To learn more about the Easton Arts District and arts-related events in Easton, head to www.artsineaston.com.
Category: Local News, NEWS
« Jen Sterling to be featured in City Hall exhibition
Late inning heroics carry Baysox over Akron »
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Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick?
Who was St. Patrick? Learn more about the legend of Saint Patrick, and find out why we celebrate him every March 17th.
As you probably know, St. Patrick's Day is March 17, and every year, Irish and not-so-Irish people alike celebrate with food, drinks, and fun. But who was St. Patrick, and why do we celebrate him every March? Here's an in-depth look at the saint behind the holiday and the reasons why he remains so popular today.
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, but did you know that he wasn't even born in Ireland? He was born in Great Britain to Roman parents when Britain was part of the Roman Empire, sometime in the late fourth century CE. When he was 16 years old, St. Patrick was taken captive by Irish pirates and became the slave of a Druid priest in Ireland, where he spent six years working as a shepherd. It was during this time in captivity when Patrick's Christian faith developed and deepened. One night, he heard a voice in a dream that told him that the ship that would lead to his escape was ready. Attributing that voice to God, Patrick fled his captors and secured passage on a ship, which returned him home to his family in Britain.
Return to Ireland
After his return to Great Britain, Patrick had another dream. In this dream, a figure called Victorius delivered him a letter addressed to "The Voice of the Irish" and began to realize his calling of spreading Christianity to Ireland. Patrick first traveled to Auxerre, France, to begin his studies and enter the priesthood under the missionary St. Germain. After over 15 years of study, Patrick was consecrated Bishop of the Irish ca. 431 CE by Pope Celestine I and was sent to Ireland to spread the Gospel.
St. Patrick is credited with creating the Celtic cross, today an iconic symbol of Christianity in Ireland. Photo Source: Colleen Hughes
As a missionary in Ireland, Patrick performed baptisms, celebrated the Eucharist, ordained priests, and instituted orders of nuns and monks. Additionally, perhaps because of his familiarity with the Irish language and culture, Patrick often sought to incorporate traditional Irish pagan beliefs and rituals into his teachings on Christianity rather than trying to completely change them. For example, he celebrated Easter through the use of bonfires because the Irish were already accustomed to honoring their gods with fire.
In perhaps his most famous example of incorporating native Irish beliefs with Christian practices, Patrick combined the Irish pagan symbol of the sun with the Christian symbol of the cross, creating what is today known as the Celtic cross, an iconic symbol of Ireland and Irish faith.
Legends of St. Patrick
Much of what you've heard about St. Patrick can probably be chalked up to good old Irish storytelling. Legends of St. Patrick's life and teachings abound and often intermix with the truthful parts of his life story. Have you ever heard that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland? While it is true that Ireland is one of the few places on Earth without native snakes (others being New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland, and Antarctica), it is highly unlikely that St. Patrick is responsible for ridding the island of its reptiles. According to the legend, St. Patrick was undergoing a 40-day fast on top of a hill when snakes began attacking him, and St. Patrick successfully chased them all into the sea. Despite fossil records showing that there likely never were snakes in Ireland to begin with, this popular story of St. Patrick persists.
A popular legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock's three leaves to explain the Christian Holy Trinity. Photo Source: Pixaby/jeonsango
What is likely the most famous legend of St. Patrick, however, is the story that he explained the concept of the Christian Trinity through the Irish shamrock. Much as the shamrock is made up of three leaves, as do the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make up the singular Christian God, he allegedly explained to the Irish pagans. Even though this story likely never happened, the shamrock metaphor remains strong in Irish Christianity, and St. Patrick is often depicted holding a shamrock.
Why March 17?
Although the exact dates of his birth and death are uncertain, some scholars believe St. Patrick died on March 17, ca. 460 CE, and this is why we celebrate his feast day each year on March 17. St. Patrick died in the townland of Saul and is buried in nearby Downpatrick, in County Down. St. Patrick was never formally canonized by a pope, but he was declared a Saint in Heaven by many Catholic churches. Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland and around the world as both a holy day and as a secular celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
Featured Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons/Lyricmac
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AT&T spends $2.95B on Illinois networks, expands U-verse, business fiber reach
Apr 7, 2014 11:57am
AT&T (NYSE: T) continues to make progress with expanding its local network capabilities and its latest announcement that it invested almost $2.95 billion in its Illinois wireline and wireless networks between 2011 and 2013 is a testament to that trend.
Driven by its Project VIP initiative, AT&T extended the reach of its U-verse service to almost 122,000 new customer locations. On the business side, it extended its fiber network to 21,474 new businesses located at 636 multi-tenant business buildings and business parks.
Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the big cities that got a large portion of this investment during this two-year period was Chicago.
Between 2011 and 2013, the telco invested almost $2 billion on its wireline and wireless networks in Chicago. AT&T expanded the reach of U-verse Internet and video services to 108,000 new customer locations. At the same time, it extended its growing last mile fiber network to 20,703 business locations at 590 multi-tenant business buildings and business parks.
Illinois is just one of many states where AT&T has enhanced its network investments.
In its home state of Texas, the service provider spent more than $3.85 billion to make similar upgrades to enhance its networks in Dallas and Houston, for example. In addition, it recently announced similar network upgrade investments in Alabama, California, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.
- see the Illinois release
- and the Chicago release
U.S. fiber penetration reaches 39.3 percent of buildings, says VSG
AT&T invests over $3.85B to enhance Dallas, Houston networks, increases U-verse reach
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Beverly Employee Caught With Porn Gets Pension Reinstated
Thomas Scully, a Beverly Public Library employee who pled guilty to child pornography possession in 2009, is entitled to have his retirement allowance reinstated, a three-judge Appeals Court panel has ruled, overturning the judgment of lower courts on the grounds that his crimes were not directly related to his job, as reported by the State House News Service.
“While Scully’s conduct was reprehensible, in view of the narrow interpretation that consistently has been given to [state pension law] we are constrained to conclude that the mandatory forfeiture of Scully’s pension was not legally tenable,” according to the unanimous ruling, penned by Judge Ariane Vuono.
Vuono argued that the judges were required to interpret state law narrowly based on prior rulings. “Moreover, despite this consistent interpretation, the Legislature has not modified the statute,” she wrote.
The ruling reinstates the pension of Scully, the Beverly library’s former director of community service. Scully, who began working at the library in 1986, resigned in 2005 after police raided his home and discovered seven images of child pornography on his computer.
The discovery came during an investigation into allegations that Scully had an inappropriate relationship with a library patron who was 15 years old at the time.
Prosecutors alleged that Scully met the boy at the library and invited him to his home, where he regularly allowed him to view pornography.
The State House News Services reports that prosecutors charged Scully with possession of child pornography, distributing obscene material to a minor and indecent assault and battery. However, the assault charge was dropped and Scully struck a plea deal in which he admitted only to possession of child pornography.
After he resigned from the library, Scully applied for a retirement allowance, which he was granted. But after his conviction in 2009, the Beverly Retirement Board voted 3-2 to revoke his pension on the grounds that his crimes involved his relationship with a minor who he met at the library. The decision was later affirmed by the District Court and the Superior Court.
But the Appeals Court, in its ruling, argued that the lower courts misapplied state pension law, which requires forfeiture of a retiree’s pension after a conviction on a criminal offense “involving violation of the laws applicable to his office or position.”
“Scully contends that the record fails to establish a direct link between his convictions of possession of child pornography and his position at the library,” Vuono wrote. “While we do not ignore the severity of the offenses to which Scully pleaded guilty, we conclude that the facts underlying the convictions do not present ‘the type of direct link intended by the Legislature.’ “
“Initially, we note that there is no evidence in the record that Scully either stored or accessed child pornography on library computers. Furthermore, Scully did not use his position to facilitate the crime for which he was convicted,” she added. “Here, the criminal conduct at issue — possession of child pornography — occurred at Scully’s house and involved his personal computer. Although we do not condone Scully’s conduct, in particular his interaction with [the boy], a direct link between Scully’s position and the conviction for possession of child pornography must be shown.”
Vuono’s ruling was joined by Appeals Judges Cynthia Cohen and Gary Katzmann.
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Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030
Microsoft has announced an ambitious goal and a new plan to reduce and ultimately remove its carbon footprint.
Deep Genomics raises $40 million in series B financing
Deep Genomics – a leading artificial intelligence (AI) therapeutics company – has announced the closing of its Series B round with $40 million in new investment.
Volkswagen accelerates production of electric cars
Volkswagen will achieve its goal of 1 million electric cars per year two years earlier than planned – turning out a million battery-powered cars by 2023, instead of 2025. The company has also presented a future concept for autonomous charging via mobile robots.
Nearly half of U.S. predicted to have obesity by 2030
About half of the adult U.S. population will have obesity and about a quarter will have severe obesity by 2030, according to a new study by Harvard University.
First cross-country commercial freight run by a self-driving truck
Plus.ai has announced its first coast-to-coast commercial freight run, in collaboration with food company Land O'Lakes.
Drax aims to be world's first carbon negative company by 2030
Drax Power Station could become carbon negative by 2030, helping to remove millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.
Zero carbon "mini digital city" to begin construction
Bleutech Park, a new mixed-use development within Las Vegas, will feature a range of futuristic and sustainable technologies.
Offshore wind to become a $1 trillion industry by 2040
Offshore wind power will grow exponentially over the next two decades – boosting efforts to decarbonise energy systems and cut air pollution – according to a report published this week.
India-Pakistan nuclear war could kill millions and threaten global starvation
A nuclear war between India and Pakistan could, over the span of less than a week, kill 50-125 million people – more than the death toll during all six years of World War II, according to new research.
Bank employs AI-powered "digital DNA human"
Bank ABC has announced the launch of "Fatema" – a fully autonomous AI personality that will assist customers online.
3D-printed rockets to begin launching in 2021
Relativity Space aims to create the world's first entirely 3D-printed rockets, built within days rather than years. Funding has now been secured for its first commercial operations in 2021.
Robotic farming company raises $14.5m in funding
FarmWise, a robotic farming company, is developing AI software and high-precision automation to cleanly pick weeds from fields and eliminate the need for harmful chemical inputs.
Report warns of brain hacking technology
By 2040, neural interfaces could treat a wide range of physical and mental ailments – as well as being used for gaming, fitness and other areas. However, this technology poses risks to privacy and security, according to a new report.
Funding boost for longevity company
Juvenescence, which aims to extend human lifespans to 150, has raised $100 million in its latest funding round.
Robot restaurant opens in southern India
A new restaurant has opened in the southern Indian city of Bangalore where customers are served by a team of robots.
Energy storage market to exceed 1,000GW globally by 2040
Bloomberg New Energy Finance is predicting a 122-fold increase in global energy storage capacity in the next 20 years.
Latest updates »
22nd century
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Home🍹 LifeKickass women of VR interview 6: Ariana Alexander – Character Developer, Animator, AI expert
Kickass women of VR interview 6: Ariana Alexander – Character Developer, Animator, AI expert
"This industry is still brand new. We're only just beginning, so it's not too late to make a difference."
10th November 2015 Samantha Kingston 🍹 Life
Can you believe we’re already six interviews into our Kickass Women of VR series? You’ll find the others here – so many incredible ladies doing amazing things in the industry.
For this section of the series, we’re concentrating on the TimeFire VR team, who are busy building the world’s first virtual reality city. It’s called Hypatia, and it’s ridiculously cool.
This week’s interview is with Ariana Alexander, a multi-talented artist working across character development, animation and AI. When she first discovered virtual reality, she was so enraptured with wandering around and watching the leaves flow past her face that she forgot she was in a game and was killed almost instantly when monsters came for her. Well, we’ve all been there.
When it came to interviewing for a job as an animator with TimeFire, Ariana didn’t actually know she was applying for a job in VR. All she had was the job heading: ‘Oculus, Blender, Unreal (Scottsdale)’. “Oculus” meant something to her, so she sent the email.
In the intervening year, Ariana’s been “stumbling about and falling on my face figuring out how to be an amazing artist while working and learning closely with my teammates.” Here’s what happened when we caught up with her.
Hi Ariana! Can you tell us about your first introduction to VR?
As a Student Volunteer at SIGGRAPH, I had an opportunity to attend demos and talks that exist only for volunteers. One of these was a demo for the Oculus Rift and the Razer Hydra motion detection controller system. After the two representatives from Oculus and Sixense finished introducing themselves, they set up the toys. We all gathered round to watch as one of the two men and one of the Student Volunteer Chairs sat down at two computers placed side by side, each set up with a Hydra and an Oculus, and put on the headset to play some basketball.
After dropping the ball, he did what anyone would do when they drop a basketball in real life. He turned his head to watch the ball as it bounced past him.
As we watched, one guy picked up the ball and tossed it from hand to hand, moving the Hydra controllers he gripped in his hands as he did. He then attempted to make a pass. This was the most interesting part, because his partner failed to receive the pass. He wasn’t ready for it, and he dropped the ball. If that wasn’t cool enough, I mean, the guy just dropped the ball. With his hands. In a video game. But yes, the coolest part was when, after dropping the ball, he did what anyone would do when they drop a basketball in real life. He turned his head to watch the ball as it bounced past him. And voiced a “Whoa!” as he did so. We echoed him. Until this point no one had turned their head with their headset on, so it hadn’t clicked in my brain why this was cool. Then it all made sense. That was my first exposure to VR.
What inspired you to join the VR industry?
Initially, I wasn’t aware there was such a thing as a VR industry. My only goal in life was to be an animator. My opportunity to do this came after I responded to TimeFire VR’s Craigslist ad. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I hung around, and made a pest of myself. I asked a ton of questions, and I was very nosy. I stole their secrets for creating 3D assets in Blender, and cackled while plotting world domination in my corner.
After about a month or so of enduring this, when they realised they couldn’t get rid of me and I wouldn’t go away, they put me on the payroll. I learned more about the industry as a consequence of working in it. I had no idea what I was doing most of the time, but then again, no one did, so it didn’t matter. We would learn together.
How has working in the industry changed your first thoughts on VR?
Working in the VR industry has been one surprise after another. The reason for this, for me at least, is how far the technology has come in just a single year. When I first joined Timefire, VR was going to be a seated and tethered experience. Now, there are capabilities for 100% mobile VR with no wires and it streams through your cellphone.
I can go home and tell my family what I’ve been doing at work and they will actually understand what I’m talking about, because I can show them in VR. That has drastically changed our scope as a company, and we’ve had to shift gears over and over again as new software and hardware companies continue making things that will ultimately make VR more awesome. We’re not limited to a single platform anymore.
Have you been a part of projects that have blown you away?
It's huge to see all of the pieces come together in the same setting, pieces that I had a part in building.
Hell yes. I’ve been a part of an ongoing project for the past year now building a virtual city. The best part is that it’s actually starting to look like a city. It’s huge to see all of the pieces come together in the same setting, pieces that I had a part in building. It makes all those hours spent toiling away at my computer modeling, along with 2-3 other people all doing the same thing, all the more worth it.
Normally it takes a much larger team to accomplish what we have. I think a lot of people forget that one of the hardest and most time consuming things about anything in the arts, but especially Computer Graphics, is building the environment. Once it’s put together, it’s easy to take it for granted. I no longer have this problem.
What would you like to see happen within the industry and your career in the next year?
Right now, my career consists of developing a broad range of skills, from art production, to animation, to AI programming for non-playable characters (NPCs). However, in addition to that, I think what I want the most for my career is a chance to make amazing art for people who play our game to be inspired by, the same way I was inspired by games and animation in the years leading up to this point. I want the opportunity to make characters that people will remember for years to come. Characters that people connect with in some way, possibly.
I want people to turn to one another and say “Hey, do you remember that one goofy character from that VR game by Timefire? I fucking love that guy!” I want people to cry tears of joy from the overwhelming beauty of it all. I would hope they were tears of joy. It wouldn’t be good if they weren’t. As far as the industry goes, I would like to see it grow. I want to see more nerds like us here in Arizona. It’s lonely out here all by ourselves. And I can’t wait to see the impact VR has on education! Not just here, but everywhere!
Any interesting lessons learnt so far?
I think the most important lesson I’ve learned, and I’m sure my comrades would agree, is that you don’t need a degree to make VR. I don’t regret going to school because I gained other things from being there besides the knowledge that I found in class. Going to school helped me by forcing me to become good at adapting quickly to new situations. What you do need is a steady internet connection and enough time and determination to learn. The majority of the things that I’m doing now are largely self-taught.
Have you had any difficulties along the way with being a woman in VR?
I've heard horror stories about women who have been flamed online, and I can honestly say that I have been extremely fortunate in that regard.
Actually, no. What I do experience is 1) utter confusion – half the time, I have to struggle to explain what it is I do for a living to the average person – and 2) amazement/admiration at the fact that I do the things that I do. Most people when they ask what I do, expect me to say something along the lines of “I’m a sales clerk at such and such restaurant.” They don’t expect me to say what I usually say, which is “I’m a game designer for a virtual reality company.” And 3) overwhelming support. I’ve heard horror stories about women who have been flamed online, and I can honestly say that I have been extremely fortunate in that regard.
With 2016 set to be a huge year for VR, where do you see it heading in the next couple of years?
It’s going to explode. It’s going to explode all over everything. You’re going to be cleaning it out of your carpet for weeks. It’s going to be messy. In all seriousness, it’s going to be exciting. I have no idea what to expect.
Would you encourage other women to look into starting a career in the VR industry? Do you have any advice for them?
I would encourage other women to do what makes them happy, whether that be in VR or elsewhere. I think the best advice I can offer is to dive in and don’t be afraid to fail. It’s a part of life. The only thing you can do is try. Try like you mean it. This industry is still brand new. We’re only just beginning, so it’s not too late to make a difference.
Which women in VR do you admire?
Nonny De La Peña who does VR journalism, and Jody Medich with Leap Motion. Both are very awesome women who are doing extraordinary things that blow my mind
What have been your best experiences of VR so far?
I was fortunate enough to attend the Game Developers’ Conference (GDC) and crafty enough to sniff out the secret room where Oculus was conducting demos for the Crescent Bay. I got to see Lost twice, and it was beautiful both times. I think the best simulation I saw was the one that they saved for last. There’s just something about standing 4 feet tall in the middle of a cave on top of a mound of treasure, in plain view of a 50 foot dragon that really puts things into perspective. I mean, my feet are planted, so I can’t run. I can’t talk so I can’t negotiate. Because of my failure to take any action, the simulation ends with my vision, and essentially my body being engulfed in flames as the dragon rightfully torches my sorry ass for daring to set foot in his lair. I must be a glutton for punishment, because I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Want to hear more from Ariana? Follow her on Twitter: @aialexander3.
As always, we’ll be back with more inspiration from the awesome women taking the VR industry by storm.
All images: Ariana Alexander
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Kickass women of VR interview 2: Liv Erickson – VR Evangelist at Microsoft
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JNUSU moves Delhi HC challenging administration's 'malafide' decision on amendments to hostel manual, including fee hike
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BWF World Tour 2019 Finals: PV Sindhu's record in top-tier tournaments gives her edge as she aims to end inconsistent year with title
Sports Shirish Nadkarni Dec 10, 2019 08:24:24 IST
PV Sindhu's past record shows that her competitive juices begin to flow at a top-tier tournament.
The foregoing statistics serve to showcase Sindhu's outstanding big-match record. The flip side, however, is downright disheartening.
The Indian ace has not won a second title in the ongoing year in which she captured the World Championship gold.
Padma Vibhushan Pusarla Venkata Sindhu.
There can be no doubt that the exalted title would sit well on the shoulders of the 24-year-old reigning world champion, whose name has been recommended for the coveted award.
It is only the second time in India’s history that the country’s second highest civilian award is being given to a sportsperson; it would allow Sindhu’s name to be taken in the same breath as cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar (who was subsequently conferred the Bharat Ratna title), chess wizard Viswanathan Anand and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, all of whom were honoured in 2008.
Sindhu’s award, if it comes through, would be richly deserved for she has been a model of consistency at the highest levels since she first made her mark as an 18 year old by bagging the bronze medal in the 2013 World Championships in Guangzhou. She had bowed out in the semi-final to yet another teenager, Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, who would go on to capture the accolade of being the youngest women’s world champion.
The following year, Sindhu repeated her feat of winning the World Championship bronze, when she surrendered in the semi-final to Spain’s Carolina Marin who went on to win the first of her three world crowns (2014, 2015 and 2018).
2015 was the only year in the sequence, that began in 2013, in which the lissome Indian failed to bag a medal at the World Championships. But in 2016, a year in which the World Championships were not held due to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she powered her way to the silver medal, losing the final to the player who had become her nemesis: Marin.
Sindhu could well have worn the world crown at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow in 2017. But it was not destined to be. In a heart-stopping 110-minute final that is still considered one of the finest women’s title matches of all time, the gangling Hyderabadi was pipped at the post by the diminutive Nozomi Okuhara by a 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 scoreline in an encounter neither player deserved to lose.
With two World Championship bronze and a silver in her satchel, Sindhu entered the indoor arena of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park in China as a serious contender for the gold. But she was once again deprived of the honour, with Marin putting in a terrific, speedy performance to notch up a 21-19, 21-10 win and her third World Championship gold.
But there was no stopping Sindhu in 2019. She arrived for the World Championships in Basel on the back of an indifferent set of results. Yet the lanky Indian somehow managed to harness the power of her mind to the power of her strokes to beat three top players in quick succession – Tai Tzu Ying, Chen Yufei and Okuhara – to finally make the gold her own.
PV Sindhu celebrates with her trophy and gold medal after beating Nozomi Okuhara. Screengrab from Hotstar.
Somehow, her narrow victory in the quarterfinals (over Tai) served to drive Sindhu into a frenzy; and she “in the zone” during the course of her final two rounds in the tournament. Chen did not know what hit her as the lanky Indian produced an unstoppable hail of smashes to demolish the Chinese star by a 21-14, 21-7 margin.
Okuhara was even more bewildered in the final as the unstoppable express-train that Sindhu had become conceded just seven points per game while administering the worst pummelling that the indomitable Japanese had received in her career. It was sweet revenge for her 2017 World Championship final reverse, gained in the most authoritative manner conceivable.
Aside from the World Championships and the Rio Olympics, there have been two other top-level tournaments in which Sindhu has shown her true mettle – the BWF World Tour (formerly Superseries) grand finals, at Dubai in 2017, and at Guangzhou in 2018. The Indian was runner-up to Japan’s other tiny titan Akane Yamaguchi in 2017, but was at her awesome best the following year, when she took the gold.
It will be at the Tianhe Sports Centre in Guangzhou, scene of her first World Championship medal in 2013, and also one of her greatest triumphs in 2018, that Sindhu will present her credentials this week as the defending champion of the World Tour Finals.
It was in this very arena that she lifted the title last December, winning five straight matches and lowering the colours of such illustrious and higher ranked players as two former world champions – 2013 winner Intanon in the semi-finals, and 2017 champ Okuhara in the summit clash.
Earlier, in the group stage, Sindhu had scored over Yamaguchi (to avenge her loss from 2017), Tai (who had been the hottest player of the year with seven World Tour titles) and American Zhang Beiwen, to maintain a clean slate, going into the penultimate reckoning.
All the foregoing statistics serve to showcase Sindhu’s outstanding big-match record. The flip side, however, is downright disheartening. The Indian ace has not won a second title in the ongoing year in which she captured the World Championship gold. Her results in the five tournaments she has participated in since her Basel triumph in August have been defeats in two opening rounds and two second rounds, with one narrow quarter-final loss to Tai at the French Open in Paris being her best showing.
Sadly, Sindhu has been consistent in losing matches at early stages of these ‘relatively unimportant’ tournaments – like at the China Open, to a player outside the top-15, Thailand’s 17th ranked Pornpawee Chochuwong, whom she had beaten convincingly on all the three earlier occasions they had met.
PV Sindhu in action during the World Championships in Basel.
Even in 2018, she bagged the silver behind Tai in the Asian Games and again the runner-up spot behind compatriot Saina Nehwal in the Commonwealth Games. Her last title wins in the second tier tournaments (including some Super 1000 events) were at the 2017 Korea and India Opens, at the expense of Okuhara and Marin, respectively.
Putting that little bit extra into her training just before the major events will help Sindhu to bridge that gap – as she has managed to do on so many earlier occasions. Sindhu is not a Tai Tzu Ying or a Carolina Marin. It is simply not possible for her to maintain that high level of speed and fitness throughout the sorely taxing season.
Incidentally, Sindhu’s entry into an event that features the eight best and most consistent players in the world in all five events was on the strength of a technicality. Normally, on the strength of her 15th rank in the Race to Guangzhou standings, she would not have made the grade. However, her World Championship triumph guaranteed her a berth in the eight-woman field at the grand finals.
Sindhu’s past record shows that her competitive juices begin to flow at a top-tier tournament. The Indian shuttle queen’s fans can expect her to put in that extra effort before the World Tour finals, where she will enter the fray as the defending champion.
Tags : Akane Yamaguchi, Badminton, BWF World Tour Finals, BWF World Tour Finals 2019, Chen Yufei, Nozomi Okuhara, PV Sindhu, Ratchanok Intanon, Tai Tzu Ying
Tai Tzu Ying excited about joining Bengaluru Raptors for Premier Badminton League, looks forward to clash against PV Sindhu
Malaysia Masters 2020: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal knocked out from quarter-finals as India's campaign ends
PBL 2020: Reigning world champion PV Sindhu, World No 2 Tai Tzu Ying to headline fifth edition of Premier Badminton League
Malaysia Masters 2020: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal produce straight-sets victories to advance to quarter-finals
1BWF World Tour 2019 Finals: PV Sindhu's record in top-tier tournaments gives her edge as she aims to end inconsistent year with title
2Thailand Masters 2020: Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth hope to keep Olympic dream alive after disappointing start to year
3Australian Open 2020: Maria Sharapova’s first-round loss an indication of how far she has fallen
4Maharashtra Open: From Benoit Paire to Philipp Kohlschreiber, tennis stars to watch out at third edition
5Premier League: With transfer ban lifted, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard raises prospect of Edinson Cavani bid
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BERND KISTENMACHER 4 Titles
Head-Visions
BB 214CD
It was Klaus Schulze's 1976 album Moondawn that altered the trajectory of Bernd Kistenmacher's life when he heard it on the radio at the tender age of 16. The sequencer patterns, melody lines, and soundscapes triggered all of his aesthetic receptors. From then on, this was the only kind of music he wanted to hear. He became a relentless venerator of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, particularly the latter. But his heroes evolved; their music changed with the advent of digital sounds and midification. Kistenmacher was not happy with the way things were going. And if his idols were no longer making the music he loved them for, then he had to take up the challenge himself. His father had shown him how to play the piano when he was a child and he had always been fascinated by the technology of synthesizers, so Kistenmacher decided to become a musician. Synthesizers were prohibitively expensive, so he started to build his own modular system. But before he finished, he realized that this method would also be inordinately costly, and that it might not allow him to achieve the results he strove for. As soon as he was able to pay for one, Kistenmacher bought a Korg Mono/Poly, which would become the cornerstone of his career. That was in 1982. He acquired more and more equipment until, in 1984, he finally released his first cassette (Dancing Sequences). Kistenmacher was now using his analog gear to create the sounds that Schulze and Tangerine Dream had played at the zenith of their careers. Two further cassette productions followed (Music from Outer Space and Romantic Times), as did various concerts, meeting with approval from radio stations and audiences. In 1986, the time came for him to release his first LP, Head-Visions, reissued here. The cover art features a work by the Berlin sculptor Rainer Kriester. The reaction was overwhelming. Radio plays, concerts, music for fashion shows and television formats indicated to Kistenmacher that he was on the right track with his repetitive sequencer patterns, soft melody arcs, and layered soundscapes, driven forward by rhythmic basslines driving the music forward. Minor keys dominated. In other words: Bernd Kistenmacher.
BB 214LP
LP version. It was Klaus Schulze's 1976 album Moondawn that altered the trajectory of Bernd Kistenmacher's life when he heard it on the radio at the tender age of 16. The sequencer patterns, melody lines, and soundscapes triggered all of his aesthetic receptors. From then on, this was the only kind of music he wanted to hear. He became a relentless venerator of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, particularly the latter. But his heroes evolved; their music changed with the advent of digital sounds and midification. Kistenmacher was not happy with the way things were going. And if his idols were no longer making the music he loved them for, then he had to take up the challenge himself. His father had shown him how to play the piano when he was a child and he had always been fascinated by the technology of synthesizers, so Kistenmacher decided to become a musician. Synthesizers were prohibitively expensive, so he started to build his own modular system. But before he finished, he realized that this method would also be inordinately costly, and that it might not allow him to achieve the results he strove for. As soon as he was able to pay for one, Kistenmacher bought a Korg Mono/Poly, which would become the cornerstone of his career. That was in 1982. He acquired more and more equipment until, in 1984, he finally released his first cassette (Dancing Sequences). Kistenmacher was now using his analog gear to create the sounds that Schulze and Tangerine Dream had played at the zenith of their careers. Two further cassette productions followed (Music from Outer Space and Romantic Times), as did various concerts, meeting with approval from radio stations and audiences. In 1986, the time came for him to release his first LP, Head-Visions, reissued here. The cover art features a work by the Berlin sculptor Rainer Kriester. The reaction was overwhelming. Radio plays, concerts, music for fashion shows and television formats indicated to Kistenmacher that he was on the right track with his repetitive sequencer patterns, soft melody arcs, and layered soundscapes, driven forward by rhythmic basslines driving the music forward. Minor keys dominated. In other words: Bernd Kistenmacher.
Wake Up in the Sun
It was Klaus Schulze's 1976 album Moondawn that altered the trajectory of Bernd Kistenmacher's life when he heard it on the radio at the tender age of 16. The sequencer patterns, melody lines, and soundscapes triggered all of his aesthetic receptors. From then on, this was the only kind of music he wanted to hear. He became a relentless venerator of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, particularly the latter. But his heroes evolved; their music changed with the advent of digital sounds and midification. Kistenmacher was not happy with the way things were going. And if his idols were no longer making the music he loved them for, then he had to take up the challenge himself. His father had shown him how to play the piano when he was a child and he had always been fascinated by the technology of synthesizers, so Kistenmacher decided to become a musician. Synthesizers were prohibitively expensive, so he started to build his own modular system. But before he finished, he realized that this method would also be inordinately costly, and that it might not allow him to achieve the results he strove for. As soon as he was able to pay for one, Kistenmacher bought a Korg Mono/Poly, which would become the cornerstone of his career. That was in 1982. He acquired more and more equipment until, in 1984, he finally released his first cassette (Dancing Sequences). Kistenmacher was now using his analog gear to create the sounds that Schulze and Tangerine Dream had played at the zenith of their careers. Two further cassette productions followed (Music from Outer Space and Romantic Times), as did various concerts, meeting with approval from radio stations and audiences. In 1986, the time came for him to release his first LP, Head-Visions (BB 214CD/LP). The cover art features a work by the Berlin sculptor Rainer Kriester. The reaction was overwhelming. Radio plays, concerts, music for fashion shows and television formats indicated to Kistenmacher that he was on the right track with his repetitive sequencer patterns, soft melody arcs, and layered soundscapes, driven forward by rhythmic basslines driving the music forward. He embarked on a second album, Wake Up in the Sun, which was released only one year later and was similarly well received.
LP version. It was Klaus Schulze's 1976 album Moondawn that altered the trajectory of Bernd Kistenmacher's life when he heard it on the radio at the tender age of 16. The sequencer patterns, melody lines, and soundscapes triggered all of his aesthetic receptors. From then on, this was the only kind of music he wanted to hear. He became a relentless venerator of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, particularly the latter. But his heroes evolved; their music changed with the advent of digital sounds and midification. Kistenmacher was not happy with the way things were going. And if his idols were no longer making the music he loved them for, then he had to take up the challenge himself. His father had shown him how to play the piano when he was a child and he had always been fascinated by the technology of synthesizers, so Kistenmacher decided to become a musician. Synthesizers were prohibitively expensive, so he started to build his own modular system. But before he finished, he realized that this method would also be inordinately costly, and that it might not allow him to achieve the results he strove for. As soon as he was able to pay for one, Kistenmacher bought a Korg Mono/Poly, which would become the cornerstone of his career. That was in 1982. He acquired more and more equipment until, in 1984, he finally released his first cassette (Dancing Sequences). Kistenmacher was now using his analog gear to create the sounds that Schulze and Tangerine Dream had played at the zenith of their careers. Two further cassette productions followed (Music from Outer Space and Romantic Times), as did various concerts, meeting with approval from radio stations and audiences. In 1986, the time came for him to release his first LP, Head-Visions (BB 214CD/LP). The cover art features a work by the Berlin sculptor Rainer Kriester. The reaction was overwhelming. Radio plays, concerts, music for fashion shows and television formats indicated to Kistenmacher that he was on the right track with his repetitive sequencer patterns, soft melody arcs, and layered soundscapes, driven forward by rhythmic basslines driving the music forward. He embarked on a second album, Wake Up in the Sun, which was released only one year later and was similarly well received. Reissued here for the first time on vinyl, it connects seamlessly to its predecessor: Berlin School par excellence.
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Last Update December 18, 2017
Sarah Palin's oldest son, Track, arraigned on domestic violence charges
By Nicole Darrah, | Fox News
Track Palin, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's oldest son, was arraigned Sunday after being arrested a day earlier on charges of domestic violence. (REUTERS/John Gress )
Track Palin, the oldest son of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was arraigned Sunday after being arrested a day earlier on charges of domestic violence.
Palin, 28, was charged with first-degree burglary, one charge of fourth-degree assault and one charge of fourth-degree criminal mischief, KTUU reported. The news station also reported Palin is in custody at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in Palmer, about 20 miles northeast of Wasilla.
He was charged with misdemeanor mischief for allegedly causing up to $500 in property damage, according to the Los Angeles Times.
SARAH PALIN'S OLDEST SON ARRESTED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE
Palin’s arrest on charges of domestic violence isn’t his first. In January 2016, he was charged with assault, interfering with the report of a domestic violence crime and possessing a weapon while intoxicated in connection with the incident.
At the time, Palin’s girlfriend told law enforcement he punched her in the face, and said she was scared he would shoot himself with an AR-15.
The girlfriend reportedly had bruising and swelling around her left eye, and she said her right knee hurt after Palin kicked her there.
Track Palin, left, pictured with members of the McCain and Palin families ahead of the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sept. 3, 2008. (REUTERS/John Gress)
Sarah Palin, the vice presidential candidate alongside Sen. John McCain in 2008, took heat after the arrest for seemingly saying President Obama was at fault for her son’s issues following his service in the Iraq War.
“My son, like so many others, they come back a bit different. They come back hardened,” Sarah Palin said. “They come back wondering if there is that respect for what it is that their fellow soldiers and airmen and every other member of the military have sacrificially given to this country and that starts at the top.”
She added that military members look to Obama and question whether he knows the sacrifices they make to “secure America and to secure freedoms.”
'ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM': PALIN DEFENDS SON AFTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARREST
Track Palin served in Iraq for one year in 2008 as part of the Alaska-based 25th Infantry Division’s 1st Stryker Brigade, according to KTUU.
He also made headlines in Sept. 2014 after reports circulated that the well-known family got into a brawl at a house party in Anchorage in which Track, who had blood near his hands and mouth, initially appeared “belligerent” when speaking to a police officer.
Nicole Darrah covers breaking and trending news for FoxNews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @nicoledarrah.
Tucker Carlson: Trump must pledge to 'improve people's lives' to be sworn in for second term this time next year
CNN's Brian Stelter ignores network's Warren-Sanders debate uproar on his media show
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Home›Destinations›Australia and the South Pacific›South Pacific›Fiji›In Depth›The Natural Landscape
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The Natural Landscape in Fiji
A somewhat less-than-pious wag once remarked that God made the South Pacific islands on the 6th day of creation so He would have an extraordinarily beautiful place to rest on the 7th day. Modern geologists have a different view, but the fact remains that the islands and the surrounding sea are possessed of heavenly beauty and a plethora of life forms.
From its strategic position in the southwestern Pacific some 5,152km (3,200 miles) southwest of Honolulu and 3,175km (1,972 miles) northeast of Sydney, Fiji is the transportation and economic hub of the South Pacific islands. Nadi International Airport is the main connection point for flights going to the other island countries, and Fiji's capital city, Suva, is one of the region's prime shipping ports and headquarters of many regional organizations.
The Fiji archipelago forms a horseshoe around the shallow, reef-strewn Koro Sea, much of which was dry land some 18,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. More than 300 islands and islets range in size from Viti Levu (10 times the size of Tahiti) to tiny atolls that barely break the surface of the sea. The total land area is 18,187 sq. km (7,022 sq. miles).
The islands were created by volcanic eruptions along the collision of the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. Although the main islands are quiet today, they are part of the volcanically active and earthquake-prone "Ring of Fire" around the Pacific Ocean.
Most species of plants and animals now native to Fiji originated in Southeast Asia and worked their way eastward across the Pacific, by natural distribution or in the company of humans. The number of indigenous species diminishes the farther east one goes. Very few local plants or animals came from the Americas, the one notable exception being the sweet potato, which may have been brought back from South America by voyaging Polynesians.
In addition to the west-to-east differences, flora changes according to each island's topography. The mountainous islands make rain from the moist trade winds and thus possess a greater variety of plants. Their interior highlands are covered with ferns, native bush, or grass. The low atolls, by contrast, get sparse rainfall and support little other than scrub bush and coconut palms.
Ancient settlers brought coconut palms, breadfruit, taro, paper mulberry, pepper (kava, or yaqona in Fijian), and bananas to the isolated midocean islands because of their usefulness as food or fiber. Accordingly, they are generally found in the inhabited areas of the islands and not so often in the interior bush.
With a few exceptions, such as the tagimaucia found on Taveuni, tropical flowers also worked their way east in the company of humans. Bougainvillea, hibiscus, allamanda, poinsettia, poinciana (flame tree), croton, frangipani (plumeria), ixora, canna, and water lilies all give colorful testament to the islanders's love for flowers of every hue in the rainbow. The aroma of the white, yellow, or pink frangipani is so sweet it's used as perfume on many islands.
The fruit bat, or "flying fox," and some species of insect-eating bats are the only mammals native to the South Pacific islands. The early settlers introduced dogs, chickens, pigs, rats, and mice. Fiji has one type of poisonous snake, but it lives in the mountains and is seldom seen. You will see lots of geckos and skinks, those little lizards that seem to be everywhere in Fiji. With their ability to walk upside-down across the ceiling at night, geckos are adept at scaring the devil out of unsuspecting tourists. They are harmless, however, and actually perform a valuable service by eating mosquitoes and other insects.
Most land birds live in the bush away from settlements and the accompanying cats, dogs, rats, and ubiquitous Indian myna birds. Mynas were brought to Fiji early in the 20th century to control insects and are now nuisances themselves (these fearless, aggressive creatures will steal the toast right off your breakfast table!). For this reason, the birds most likely to be seen are terns, boobies, herons, petrels, noddies, and others that earn their livelihoods from the sea. But if you keep your eyes and ears at the ready, you may see and hear some of the 26 species of birds that are endemic to Fiji, such as the barking pigeon, red-headed parrotfinch, and giant forest honeyeater. Taveuni is famous among birders for its orange dove, while Kadavu has its shining musk parrot, fantail, honeyeater, and whistling dove.
The tropical South Pacific Ocean teems with sea life, from colorful reef fish to the horrific Great White sharks featured in Jaws, from the paua clams that make tasty chowders to the deep-sea tuna that keep the cannery going at Levuka.
More than 600 species of coral -- 10 times the number found in the Caribbean -- form the great reefs that make this a divers' mecca. Billions of tiny coral polyps build their own skeletons on top of those left by their ancestors, until they reach the level of low tide. Then they grow outward, extending the edge of the reef. The old skeletons are white, while the living polyps present a rainbow of colors. Corals grow best and are most colorful in the clear, salty water on the outer edge or in channels, where the tides and waves wash fresh seawater along and across the reef. A reef can grow as much as 5 centimeters (2 in.) a year in ideal conditions.
A plethora of tropical fish and other marine life fills most of the lagoons, which are like gigantic aquariums. Bookstores in the main towns sell pamphlets with photographs and descriptions of the creatures that will peer into your face mask.
Humpback whales migrate to the islands from June to October, and sea turtles lay their eggs on some beaches from November through February.
The Environment Today
Although pollution, rising seawater temperature, and a proliferation of crown-of-thorns starfish have greatly hampered reef growth -- and beauty -- in parts of Fiji, many areas are unmatched in their color and variety of corals.
Fiji has allowed some resort owners to blast away parts of the reef to create marinas and swimming areas, but it has laws protecting its lagoons, which are a major source of food for the locals. Fiji allows but restricts the use of spear guns, so ask before you go in search of the catch of your life.
Sea turtle meat is considered a delicacy in the islands, and Fijians are not above making a meal of turtles despite laws that make it illegal. Do not even think of bringing home one of their shells: Both sea turtles and whales are on the list of endangered species. Many countries, including the United States, prohibit the importation of their shells, bones, and teeth.
You can collect empty sea shells on the beach, but not if they still have live animals inside. Likewise, you can make a souvenir of a dead piece of coral lying on the shore, but you cannot take coral directly from a reef.
Tips: Be Careful What You Touch -- Fiji has laws protecting the environment, so do not deface the reef. You could land in the slammer for breaking off a gorgeous chunk of live coral to take home as a souvenir. The locals know what they can and cannot legally take from under the water, so buy your souvenir coral in a handicraft shop.
Frommer's AARP Places for Passion Buy Now
Frommer's EasyGuide to National Parks of the American West Buy Now
Frommer's EasyGuide to Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque Buy Now
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Vanthoor against all, all against Vanthoor?
The fifth round of the Blancpain GT Series will be held at Circuit Zolder in Belgium. The Sprint event will have its traditional points of interest, but there is one driver in particular who is looking forward to getting to the Belgium track… on foot.
Home races. Every driver finds them special. Depending on their nationalities, some drivers even have two. Or three. But rare is the driver who can step over his front porch and literally walk into the paddock of his home circuit only moments later. Laurens Vanthoor is one of those rare specimens. The reigning Blancpain GT Champion, and current leader in the driver standings, lives only a stone’s throw away from Circuit Zolder. It is impossible to underestimate the importance this race has for Vanthoor.
And yet, the 24-year-old Belgian has never won a GT event on his home track. The last two years – in the FIA GT Series and the Blancpain Sprint Series respectively – Vanthoor finished on the podium in the main race, but never on the top step. And it might be difficult this year as well.
Because even though Vanthoor and team-mate Robin Frijns won the most recent Blancpain Sprint Series round in Brands Hatch, the competition was never far away. Keep an eye out for the Reiter Lamborghini in Zolder. The Gallardo was always among the frontrunners on the former Grand Prix track and now that Peter Kox is at the wheel (Nick Catsburg is absent due to other commitments), it should be able to give the competition a run for its money. Remember that Kox won in 2013 (sharing the car with Stefan Rosina) and was leading the main race last year, until a problem with the jack at the pitstop forced him to retire.
But there could be other teams and drivers at the sharp end of the grid as well. BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil have finished on the podium at both the 2015 Sprint events – winning in Nogaro – and are only six points behind leader Belgian Audi Club Team WRT in the Blancpain Sprint Series team standings. The BMW Z4 GT3 should be a force to reckon with here as well.
Attempto Racing had a difficult start to the season, but the podium finish in Brands Hatch did them a lot of good. Drivers Rob Bell and Kevin Estre are on a roll as well, because only last week they took the Von Ryan Racing McLaren to an emphatic Blancpain Endurance Series win in Silverstone, sharing the car with Shane Van Gisbergen.
For the MRS GT Racing drivers, the Zolder race might be a bit special, since both Sean Walkinshaw and Craig Dolby have a not-so-ordinary link with Belgium: Walkinshaw has a Belgian mother and Craig Dolby is a former Belgian champion, by claiming the Formula Renault 1.6 title in 2006. Reasons enough to try and claim a good result.
Bentley Team HTP and the Ferrari-team of Rinaldi Racing had a strong start to the season, the latter performing well in the opening rounds of both the Sprint and the Endurance Series. The British round proved to be more difficult for both teams however. Just like their Rinaldi-colleagues Seefried and Siedler, Bentley-drivers Buhk and Abril need a good result to remain in the running for the title.
The same goes for Audi-teams ISR Racing and Phoenix Racing. Their drivers have regularly scored points, but without a strong performance and a possible podium finish, it will be difficult to get into the top-3 of the overall standings.
ISR Racing is performing well in the Silver Cup however. The Fjordbach twins won the opening round in Nogaro and now lead those standings, albeit with only a four-point advantage over Bentley Team HTP-drivers Lombard and Szymkowiak. The latter (one of two Dutch drivers present) will want to shine in front of the numerous Dutch fans who will be present in Zolder.
The GT Russian Team will bring both its Mercedes SLS to Zolder, not only to decide which car will win the Pro-Am Cup, but also to prepare for the next round of the Blancpain Sprint Series, the Moscow round on July 5th-7th. A good overall result – last year’s main race was won by an SLS GT3 – will surely provide an extra boost.
And last but not least, do not think that Laurens Vanthoor is the only Belgian Audi Club Team WRT-driver who can do well in Zolder. Frank Stippler and Stéphane Ortelli have both finished on the podium here, and Enzo Ide has even won the Zolder 24 hours once. Ide might live a bit further away from the track than Vanthoor, but he will have plenty of local support as well.
Track action starts on Friday June 5th, with both free practice sessions in the afternoon. On Saturday the qualifying session and the qualifying race take place, with a warm-up and the main race on Sunday June 7th.
Weekend Schedule
Friday 5 June
14:15 – 15:35 Free Practice 1
09:15 - 10:10 Qualifying Practice
14:45 – 15:45 Qualifying Race
Sunday 7 June
10:50 - 11:10 Warm Up
15:15 - 16:15 Main Race
Press Images & Results : www.blancpain-GT-series/pressmembers
Livetiming & livestreaming : www.blancpain-gt-series/GT TV/live
When to watch : http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/gt-tv/tv-schedule
Twitter : www.twitter.com/BlancpainGT
Facebook : Blancpain GT Series
Instagram : blancpaingtseries
Blancpain GT Series APP available on :
Blancpain - Innovation is our Tradition
Founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the watch brand bearing his name is the oldest in the world. Blancpain is currently engaged to the renewal of mechanical watchmaking and to passing on exceptional expertise from one generation to the next through constant investment in human resources, production facilities and research. This approach is its strength and the expression of our long-term vision, even though it goes against the tide of a certain tendency to seek immediate profit. From the creation of components through to watch design, Blancpain is distinguished by its ability to develop exceptional movements. Over the past ten years, the Manufacture has indeed developed no less than 35 new calibres.
Through its various models, Blancpain preserves its heritage of precision and elegance, while also displaying an innovative and occasionally provocative spirit. Its range encompasses the sportive L-evolution line, the legendary Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, as well as the classic Villeret collection, the high complication from Le Brassus collection and the Women models.
Pirelli – Official Tyre Supplier
Pirelli is a tyre manufacturer and world leader in the automotive industry. It has an exclusive relationship with over 50 racing series worldwide, including Formula One.
Pirelli has a long and illustrious history in endurance racing, and has also claimed a huge variety of class wins in GT racing all over the world. The design of the new Pirelli GT tyres meets the needs of GT racing while maintaining the performance characteristics that endurance drivers have appreciated in the past.The slick tyres used for GT racing are branded Zero: just like the slicks that have become a central feature of Formula One. The name P Zero is used in the highest categories of motorsport such as GT racing.
SRO Motorsports Group - The architect of modern GT Racing
SRO Motorsports Group was founded by Stephane Ratel and has specialised in the promotion, support and organisation of many national and international motorsport series since 1995.
In 2015, SRO promotes several championships and series, such as the Blancpain GT Series (with the Blancpain Sprint Series and the Blancpain Endurance Series, including the iconic Total 24 hours of Spa), the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the newly-created GT Sports Club and Ultracar Sports Club. SRO Motorsports Group has various franchise agreements, including the GT4 European Series.
SRO Motorsports Group runs also the SRO Race Centre by MMC, a high-level technical centre at the Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France.
SRO has offices in London, Paris and Liège.
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Rosey knows sports: A ring-leader for the Wizards
By Ben Rosenberg Nov 8, 2001 12:00 AM
The similarities are eerie. A quick glance at Michael Jordan’s stats from the first game in his second comeback last week in New York closely resemble his stats from his his first game in his first. That night in 1995 against the Indiana Pacers Jordan played 38 minutes, scored 19 on 7-for-28 shooting with six assists and five rebounds.
Jordan played 37 minutes last Tuesday night, scored 19 on 7-for-21 shooting with six assists and five rebounds. In his first comeback, Jordan dropped 55 in game five against the Knicks and won three consecutive championships.
Should we expect the same this time around? Fifty-five against the Boston Celtics this week? Probably not. Three Wizards championships? A resoudning no.
This time, Jordan has the rest of the Wizards as his supporting cast, a far cry from the great players he was accustomed to playing with in Chicago. Even if the 38-year-old Jordan can reclaim his greatness, which is questionable, the pieces around him are not comparable.
Richard Hamilton is a budding superstar, but he’s no Scottie Pippen. Jordan had Dennis Rodman, the league’s leading rebounder, under the boards in Chicago. In Washington, the top rebounders are Popeye Jones and Jahidi White. I’m not making this up.
And don’t forget the coaches. Jordan and company are no longer under the tutelage of Phil “Zen Master” Jackson, but rather Doug “I’m really just a figurehead” Collins. Jackson’s teams have always stepped up at key times to overcome issues of cohesiveness (Shaq and Kobe, Rodman and everybody). Jordan’s success will not be his alone. It will be a result of the other players around him – players that, as of now, remain large question marks.
Realistically, the Wizards should hold their own in the marathon that is the NBA season. Very few teams in the Eastern Conference are exceptional, and the bottom playoff spots should be wide open. I’d like to pull my own Jim Fassel here and proclaim “this team is going to the playoffs.” Come mid-April, the Wizards will march into the first round of the playoffs, which is a huge step in itself. But they will be convincingly beaten by a better team.
Jordan’s key advantage is his uncanny ability to make everyone around him much better. Take Pippen. While he flourished next to Jordan, he hasn’t accomplished anything in the NBA since. This year’s Wizards roster is filled with journeymen: Christian Laettner, Jones and young players Courtney Alexander and struggling child Kwame Brown. They all have room to grow, and who better to foster their growth than Jordan?
The bottom line is this: as president of basketball operations, Jordan was looking to bring a marquee player to the Wizards. Unhappy with any of his available options, he chose himself. He got his marquee player, and he can now play the game he loves for two more years.
The Wizards have made the best free agent acquisition in the history of the NBA. They spent the league minimum (a salary of only $1 million, which Jordan donated to charity) on a player that will help improve this team in every facet of the game. Jordan can get it done, so look for the Wizards to double last year’s win total of 19 and earn a playoff berth. Just don’t count on any rings just yet.
This article appeared in the November 8, 2001 issue of the Hatchet.
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Apple's Swiped Swiss Clock Design Cost £13.2 Million
By Eric Limer on at
Not long after the launch of iOS 6, it came to the Internet's attention that Apple's clock design was rather familiar. In fact, it had been lifted straight from the Swiss National Railway. Apple agreed to pay up, but it wasn't clear how much at the time. Now we know it was USD$21 million.
The number came out in a Swiss publication, but the actual terms of the settlement are still in the dark. 9to5Mac points out this equates roughly to a 10 cent take on each of the 210 million iOS 6 devices, though there's no way to tell if that's how they came to the number.
The Swiss National Railroad hasn't express much anger about having their iconic design used, but who wouldn't want to get theirs, flattered or otherwise? It's not like Apple didn't have the extra scratch. [Tagesanzeiger via 9to5Mac]
clock app
Eric Limer
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As of September 2015, updated Requirements apply to the Application of a CEP!
Handling of Foreign Particles in APIs and Excipients
The EDQM recently published a revised version of its certification policy document titled "Content of the dossier for chemical purity and microbiological quality". The revision takes into account the new regulatory developments in Europe that are reflected in many revised and, to some extent, new guidelines of the EMA, ICH as well as in some revised general chapters and monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia (see the summary of these guidance documents under "References" at the end of the policy document).
The aim of the policy document is to provide CEP applicants with a guideline for preparing the authorisation dossier and for compiling all the documents required for this. The dossier is to be divided into 3 modules:
Module 1: The authorisation history of the products is to be described which contain the active ingredient for which a CEP application is submitted. The following declarations are also to be submitted:
- a declaration of GMP conformity from all manufacturers involved in the manufacture of intermediate products and the final active ingredient,
- a declaration from these manufacturers that they are willing to be inspected before and after being granted a certificate of suitability,
- a declaration of the CEP applicant/holder about the use/non-use of material of human or animal origin. In cases where such material is used, compliance with the provisions of the EDQM Guideline "Content of the dossier for a substance for TSE risk assessment (PA/PH/CEP (06) 2)" should be demonstrated.
- a commitment to provide the EDQM, upon request, with samples of the final active ingredient and/or its impurities,
- a declaration to acknowledge the provisions of the Certification procedure and to agree to the exchange of assessment reports between the national competent authorities of the European Member States as well as the EMA experts.
Module 2: Part of this module (analogous to the CTD structure) is the Quality Overall Summary (QOS). The EDQM published a ready-to-use Word template for this. The template can be accessed on the EDQM website "Submit a new application" which contains the most important facts regarding the submission of a new application for a CEP together with links for the relevant documents. With the description of the active ingredient in the QOS, evidence must be provided that the pharmacopoeia monograph is suitable to control the quality of the active ingredient, particularly with regard to the impurity profile of the substance. Plausible justification is important for the cases where testing for possible impurities is omitted.
Module 3: Also this Module reflects the CTD structure, i.e. the content of subchapter 3.2.S.1 to 3.2.S.7 with further subdivisions corresponds to the content of a standard authorisation application for a medicinal product. Here are some examples of important points that must be considered in light of the regulatory developments:
- A CEP that covers different grades of active ingredient (different physical properties, such as particle size or certain polymorphic forms) cannot be issued if these grades also have different limits for impurities and if different analytical methods of determination are required for their control. A CEP for different grades of freedom from pyrogens or bacterial endotoxins is only possible when the relevant monograph foresees this. Otherwise, separate applications must be submitted for grades of the active ingredient that do and do not contain pyrogens or endotoxins ("General properties"; 3.2.S.1.3).
- Different production sites and manufacturing processes may only be described in one and the same application if it can be proven in a plausible manner that the quality (specifications and impurity profiles) of the relevant intermediate products and the final active ingredient is not significantly changed. Reprocessing steps are to be clearly described; reworking is not normally accepted ("Description of the manufacturing process and process controls"; 3.2.S.2.2).
- The selection of the starting material is to be justified as per the regulations of ICH Q11 and the EMA Reflection Pager on Starting Materials (EMA/448443/2014). Single step synthesis is generally not accepted unless the starting material itself has a CEP (see EDQM Guideline "Use of a CEP to describe a starting material in an application for another CEP"). Testing for impurities including solvents, catalysts and reactants and absence of a possible carryover into the final product is to be described ("Control of materials"; 3.2.S.2.3).
- Validation data for manufacturing sterile substances is to be submitted; the complete validation data (protocols and reports) is to be presented for the sterilisation process. Part 2 of the EU GMP guidelines applies to the manufacture of the active ingredient until immediately before the sterilisation stage; sterilisation and aseptic processing should be carried out according to Annex 1 of the guideline ("Process validation and/or evaluation" 3.2.S.2.5).
- Testing for all kinds of impurities (reagents, catalysts, solvents, by-products etc.) and their potential sources are to be described, particularly if the monograph does not contain suitable test methods. Analytical data and a minimum of significant validation data (incl. LOD/LOQ values) are to be presented ("Impurities"; 3.2.S.3.2).
- Data from formal stability studies are not normally required for active ingredients. However, when a retest period is requested to be mentioned on the certificate, these data must be collected and submitted as per the guideline "Stability testing of existing active substances and related finished products" and its Annexes ("Stability"; 3.2.S.7).
Overall the provisions of the new certification policy document are rather extensive. As mentioned at the start, the pharmacopoeia authority has reacted to the increased requirements in the newly published and revised ICH and EU guidelines. The policy document is now applicable with no transition period, which means CEP applicants who submitted their application without knowing about this document may receive from the EDQM a particularly long list of deficiencies along with the request to submit the relevant information required.
Global registration and Life Cycle Management for APIs
26/27 May 2020
API Regulatory Starting Materials
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Wednesday, 21 May 2014, 6:00PM
The Secret Mathematicians
Professor Marcus du Sautoy OBE
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From composers to painters, writers to choreographers, the mathematician’s palette of shapes, patterns and numbers has proved a powerful inspiration. Artists can be subconsciously drawn to the same structures that fascinate mathematicians as they hunt for interesting new structures to frame their creative process.
Professor du Sautoy will explore the hidden mathematical ideas that underpin the creative output of well-known artists and reveal that the work of the mathematician is also driven by strong aesthetic values.
Photographs taken at this event are available on the Gresham College Flickr page.
Professor du Sautoy is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford.
Formally a Fellow of All Souls College, and Wadham College, he is now a Fellow of New College. He was previously an EPSRC Senior Media Fellow and a Royal Society University Research Fellow.
His academic work concerns mainly group theory and number theory.
He has also written numerous academic articles and books on mathematics, the most recent being "The Num8er My5teries". Professor du Sautoy is also on the advisory board of Mangahigh.com - an online maths game website and has appeared on Channel 4 News and on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme promoting the service and is a regular contributor to the same network's 'In Our Time'.
In 2009 he won the Michael Faraday Prize from the Royal Society of London for "excellence in communicating science to UK audiences". Du Sautoy was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year's Honours List "for services to Science".
Extra Lecture Materials
Word Transcript
This is part of the series: The London Mathematical Society Lecture
Art and literature Mathematical puzzles Visual art Mathematics
Professor Marcus du Sautoy
When we are at school, we often get asked to make a choice: is it Shakespeare or the second law of thermodynamics, Debussy or DNA, Rubens or relativity, art or science? When I was at school, I found this demand of the education system to choose one of these two camps incredibly frustrating. When I went up to my secondary school, I started doing Music – I started playing the trumpet, singing in the local choir, taking part in theatrical productions that my school put on, and I loved the creative, artistic side of the education system. But I also fell in love with the world of science, the amazing power of science to look into the past, see where we have come from, and more excitingly, to look into the future, create new technologies. So, I found it frustrating that I had to somehow make a choice, and what I found was actually Mathematics was a useful link between the two. I chose, in the end, to become a mathematician rather than following the trumpet – I was not very good at my scales, better at my multiplication tables – but actually, throughout my years as a mathematician, I have actually spent a lot of time still working with creative artists and, as time has gone on, I have begun to realise more and more that this art/science divide is really a false dichotomy and that, actually, we are very much interested in similar sorts of structures but perhaps have different languages in order to try and understand those structures.
So, what I wanted to do in this presentation was to take five of my favourite creative artists from the 20th Century and to reveal to you that I think they are, in some sense, secret mathematicians because the sort of things that have fascinated them are actually the same sort of things that have fascinated me for years as a mathematician.
My first secret mathematician that I am going to take is going to come from the world of music, which I think is the art that is most associated with mathematics, and I have chosen a composer, one of my favourite composers. It is a French composer called Olivier Messiaen, who was very excited by mathematical ideas and very often thread them through his music, in a conscious way, but sometimes also in an unconscious way, and there is one particular piece which I really love. It was a piece that he wrote while he was in a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. It was called the Quartet for the End of Time.
In the prisoner of war camp, there was a rickety upright piano. He played piano, and he found three other prisoners, one a clarinettist, a violinist, and a cellist and he decided to write this piece of music which somehow captured the desperate time in the middle of the 20th Century. The first movement is called the Liturgie de cristal, and what he wanted to do was to create a kind of sense of never-ending time, a sense of unease, and what is interesting, he used a piece of mathematics in order to be able to do this.
So, the piece starts actually with the violin and the clarinet exchanging bird themes. He was very obsessed by bird themes, trying to notate them. But it was in the piano part where you find an incredible structure beginning to emerge.
This is the score for the piano part, and the rhythmic sequence is a 17-note rhythm sequence which just repeats itself over and over again throughout this first movement. So, as you see, it starts crotchet-crotchet-crochet, and then goes into a nice syncopated rhythm until you have 17 chords, and then the same rhythm repeats itself again. And this rhythm just repeats itself, 17-note rhythm sequence, again and again, throughout the whole piece.
But the harmonic sequence is doing something very different. The harmonic sequence is a sequence of 29 chords, which again are just repeated over and over again. So, if you see, it starts with these chords and ends 29 chords here, and then you see the same harmonic sequence starting all over again.
But Messiaen has done something very clever here. What he has done is to use some mathematics, which is actually something that I spend a lot of time researching, namely the mathematics of prime numbers, because 17 and 29 are both indivisible numbers and it is this choice of numbers which creates a rather strange effect because of course, after the 17-note rhythm sequence has finished, the harmonic sequence is still working its way through its 29 chords, so when the 29 chords are finished, the rhythm sequence is in a completely different place again. So what happens is, the choice of 17 and 29 keep the harmony and the rhythm out of sync so that you do not hear the same thing until it repeats itself 17 times 29 chords, which I think, by then, the piece is actually finished. But what is interesting is that you cannot necessarily hear these primes at work, but you do get a sense of structure yet unease.
Let us hear the primes 17 and 29 being put to use to create this sense of unease in the Quartet for the End of Time…
[Music plays]
Now the rhythm sequence starts again, but the harmonic sequence is still working its way through its 29 chords…
[Music continues to play]
And now the 29 chords have finished, start again, but the harmonic sequence and the rhythm sequence are in completely different places.
What is interesting for me as well here is that, quite often, the structures that both a scientist and mathematician and the artist are attracted to have often been found already in the natural world, and this example of things being kept out of sync to create this kind of effect is already at work in a very interesting species of cicada. So, this cicada played the same game that Messiaen did with the rhythm and the harmony. This cicada has a very strange lifecycle. You only find these cicadas in North America. They hide underground doing absolutely nothing for seventeen years, and then, after seventeen years, the cicadas all emerge, pretty much on the same day, out of the ground. They go up to the trees and they sing away. This is the sound of one cicada…
[Recording plays]
You have to multiple this by several million of these things. The sound of the forest is so unbearable that residents often move out of the area because they cannot bear it. There is even a website you can check to see whether your wedding might occur this year and to re-arrange the wedding not to coincide with these cicadas! They party away, they eat the leaves, they lay eggs, and then, after six weeks of partying, they all die and the forest goes quiet again for another seventeen years.
Now, it is an absolutely amazing lifecycle! I mean, firstly, how on earth does this cicada count a seventeen-year lifecycle? I mean, there is nothing in the natural cycle which has a seventeen-year cycle to it, so it is not too clear how on earth it does it. Very rarely do you see cicadas appearing in the sixteenth or eighteenth year, early or late. But, for me, the very curious thing is why has it chosen this number seventeen, again, that prime number that Messiaen used for the rhythm sequence in the Quartet for the End of Time. Is it just a coincidence?
Well, it seems not. There is another species of cicada in another area of North America which has a thirteen-year lifecycle, and as you move across North America, you either find seventeen-year cicadas or thirteen-year cicadas, but you never ever find a 12, 14, 15, 16 or 18-year cycle. So, these primes, 13 and 17, really seem to be helping this cicada in some way. So what is it that the primes are doing for the cicada?
Well, we are not actually too sure, but what we think is that, actually, primes are playing the same trick as Messiaen used in the Quartet for the End of Time because we think that there may have been a predator around in the forests of North America that also used to appear periodically, and the predator would try and time its arrival to coincide with the cicada to wipe them out. Now, the cicada found that, if it had a prime number lifecycle, it could keep out of sync of this predator much better than those cicadas which chose a non-prime number lifecycle.
For example, let us suppose the predator appears every six years in the forest, and let us take a cicada which appears every nine years. So, six and nine are both divisible by three, and this means that actually the predator and the cicada meet quite quickly. The second time the cicada emerges, year eighteen, is also a number divisible by six, and so, very quickly, these cicadas are going to get wiped out.
But if we change the cicada’s lifecycle to a seven-year lifecycle – so, seven is a prime number - but actually, it is appearing more often in the forest than the nine-year cicada, so perhaps it has got more of a chance to get wiped out. But no, now the primeness of seven keeps that cicada out of sync of the predator such that it isn’t until year 42 that the two fall into step.
So, the cicada is using exactly the same trick. The predator is a little bit like the rhythm sequence in the Quartet for the End of Time; the cicada is like the harmonic sequence, and because these things, the primeness of these numbers means that things will keep out of sync, which means that the cicada can survive much longer.
This is often at the heart of the things that we are responding to. We are trying to read the natural world, very often, and sometimes, it will be a scientific or mathematical language, or maybe a more creative language, which helps us to understand this world that we live in.
Now, very often, it is the artist who is plundering the mathematician’s cabinet of wonders for new ideas for their creative process, but sometimes, it works the other way around. So, there is an interesting example where, actually, it is musicians and creative artists who discovered mathematical structures before the scientists did.
There is a very famous sequence in mathematics which you might have seen before. Who can tell me what the next number in this sequence is? 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21… 34, exactly! So, this is a very famous sequence. My 11-year old girls came back last night and said “We studied the Fibonacci numbers today in school!” and they told me all about how these numbers appear in the natural world. So, you get the next number by adding the two previous numbers together, and so they have a sense of growth already embedded in them by their definition, and it is that sense of growth growing out of the two previous ones which is why Fibonacci, an Italian mathematician of the 11th/12th Century, spotted that these numbers are absolutely key to things growing in the natural world. For example, if you take a flower and you count the number of petals on that flower, amazingly, invariably, it is a number in the Fibonacci sequence, and sometimes you get a double of the number because you get sort of two copies of the flower on top of each other, and if it is not a number in the Fibonacci sequence, that is because a petal has fallen off your flower…which is how mathematicians get round exceptions!
Actually, Fibonacci also noticed these numbers appearing in the way that rabbits grow from one generation to the next. He realised – these are very idealised mathematical rabbits, but if you take a pair of rabbits, which takes a month to mature, and then they can have another pair of rabbits who, in turn, take a month to mature, Fibonacci was quite interested in, well, what are the numbers of rabbits you will have as the generations grow from one season to the next, and what he realised was that the Fibonacci numbers, these numbers where you take the two previous generations and add those together, to get how many will be there in the next generation. So, it gave him a very simple rule to be able to work out very quickly how many pairs of rabbits you will see.
Now, we call these the Fibonacci numbers, but they should not be called the Fibonacci numbers at all because he was not the first to discover these numbers. It was, in fact, poets and musicians in India who discovered that these numbers helped you count rhythms that are possible in a poem or in a piece of music. So, what they were interested in was: how many rhythms can you create with long and short beats?
So, the long beat is twice a short beat. For example, if you have four beats in a bar, how many types of rhythms can you make? Well, we could have four short beats [clapping], or we could have two long beats [clapping], or in between – we could mix them up, so we could have short-short-long, or short-long-short, or long-short-short [clapping].
They discovered there are five different rhythms that you can make with these long and short beats with four beats in the bar. But then they were intrigued: what about eight beats in the bar? And what they discovered was it was this same Fibonacci rule which gives you the number of rhythms you will get as you add an extra beat each time.
Actually, you can see this quite quickly because, if I want to know how many rhythms there are with five beats in the bar, what I do is to take the ones with four beats and add a short beat to those, or I could take the ones with three beats and add a long beat to those, and that will give me a way of generating all the rhythms with five beats in the bar.
These numbers, it was creative artists who were drawn to them for the first time, a hundred years before Fibonacci discovered them. So, certainly, Hemachandra writes about them and the different ways that you can generate these rhythms, so perhaps they should be called the Hemachandra-Fibonacci numbers. But an interesting example of how it is not always the scientist or mathematician who discovers these interesting mathematical structures first…
Now, I think there has always been this talk of a connection between mathematics and music. Leibniz, one of the inventors of the calculus, once wrote: “Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting, without being aware that it is counting.” Certainly, the things I have talked about so far have been about number and counting and rhythm, but actually I would say that connection between mathematics and music goes much deeper.
Here is Stravinsky talking about the power of mathematical language in his creative process… He wrote: “The musician should find in mathematics a study as useful to him as the learning of another language is to a poet. Mathematics swims seductively just below the surface.”
Many composers will use a sort of mathematical structure as an overarching framework in which to do their composition. Someone like Bach, for example, used a lot of ideas of symmetry in order to be able to do his themes and variations, and when we move to the 20th Century, Stravinsky was certainly somebody who used Schoenberg’s methods of taking the twelve notes of the chromatic scale and doing permutations of those and mathematical operations on them to create a palette of themes from which he would then compose.
Actually, another composer who used a lot of sort of Schoenberg’s ideas, and went well beyond those actually I think, I have just discovered, is an Emeritus Professor at Gresham College, Iannis Xenakis. He was a Greek composer who was very obsessed with mathematical ideas. This piece here actually is a piece called Metastaseis – it is the score for that piece. But if you looked at that, you would, at first sight, say, well, that is a piece of geometry, looks like hyperbolic geometry, not a piece of music. Xenakis was very interested in symmetrical ideas, and in fact, he dedicated a piece called Nomos Alpha to one of my mathematical heroes, Evariste Galois, who developed a language in order to describe symmetry.
He wrote this piece for a solo cello, which is based on a symmetrical object. Now, it is a three-dimensional symmetrical object, and I am intrigued to see what symmetrical object is going to be conjured up in your mind’s eye by the following piece of music…
Well, any symmetrical objects come to the mind…? That was in fact a cube, but even when I am told that that is a cube, I find it quite hard to hear where that cube is hiding inside that piece of music. But actually, it is probably a little bit of a cheat because I probably need to play you the whole piece because the way Xenakis used the cube is to do a kind of theme and variations. So, what he did was to put musical ideas that the cello can play – so you heard them already at work there, things like that the pizzicato or the glissandi, or turning the bow upside down and hitting the strings with the wooden side – and he put these on the eight corners of the cube, and then he had a second cube which would control the amount of time spent on these particular musical ideas, and then what he would do, in each variation, he would do a symmetrical move of the cube and then he would read off the new order from which these musical ideas had to be played.. So, actually, the constraints of the symmetries of the cubes are constraining the way that the cello is working its way through these different ideas, and then, inside that frame, he would then be creative.
It is interesting, Stravinsky, again, said “I can only be creative under huge constraints,” and I think many composers enjoy these mathematical structures in which then to force themselves into a new area of creativity.
Now, Xenakis is interesting as well because, not only being obsessed with mathematics and music, but he was also an architect, and he worked with my choice of second secret mathematician. Here are some plans that he did with this other architect I am going to choose. These are plans for a pavilion that was built in Brussels, and you can see they actually share a lot in common with that score for Metastaseis. But Xenakis worked with my second choice of a secret mathematician, who comes from the world of architecture, and I have chosen Le Corbusier.
Of course, architecture, again, is a place where you need a very careful balance between the creative world, artistic side, but also the side of engineering and mathematics – you need those buildings to stand up. But Le Corbusier was very interested in tapping into mathematical ideas for his creative process, and he actually tapped into a sequence of numbers we have seen already actually. So, he had these things called the serie rouge and the serie bleue, which would be a sequence of numbers which the buildings had to reflect the proportions of these numbers. If you look at these numbers, very quickly you should see that they have the same sort of rules as the Fibonacci numbers because you get the next one by adding the previous two together. So, it sort of has a little bit of time to settle down, but 0.43 plus 0.70 is 1.13. Le Corbusier believed that these Fibonacci-style ratios were actually reflecting ratios inside the body and that a building should reflect the ratios of the body, actually something which goes back to Vitruvius, the Roman architect, that a building will work well when its proportions are those that are the proportions of the human body.
Actually, these Fibonacci numbers can be used this way, growing numbers, to grow structures, so this is why we see it in the natural world and why they were very appealing to an architect like Le Corbusier.
For example, if we go back to those Fibonacci numbers, and I build a building with those proportions given by the Fibonacci numbers, so I start with a little one by one room, and then I add another one by one room alongside of that, now I know about one by two, so I add a two by two room onto the side of my first two rooms, and then I have got now a two by three structure, and I can add a three by three room. So, very naturally, you build up this shape which has a natural spiral inside it, and this is why we find these sort of spirals are associated with these Fibonacci numbers.
The ratios of this rectangle that is beginning to emerge, we started with just a square, but this rectangle, the proportions are tending towards a proportion called the Golden Ratio. The Golden Ratio is a ratio that we find all over the artistic world, something that people seem to be naturally drawn to as aesthetically pleasing. So, a rectangle that is in the Golden Ratio, if you take the ratio of the long side to the short side, that should be the same as the ratio of the sum of the two sides to the long side. So, a lot of architects have tapped into this, since Ancient times. So, the Ancient Greeks knew about this proportion, that they felt it was somehow the perfect proportion. You are meant to be able to find them in things like the Parthenon.
But interestingly, in music as well, I did a little bit of work with the Royal Opera House last year on the Magic Flute, exploring a lot of mathematics which runs through the Magic Flute. Now, Mozart was absolutely obsessed with mathematics, and he became a Mason towards the end of his life, and the Masons are also obsessed with mathematics, so there is a lot of mathematics hiding inside the score of the Magic Flute, but what was most exciting for me was to discover that if you look at the Overture, the Overture starts with a kind of chaotic Queen of the Night music, and then, suddenly, there is this triple-chord that happens and then you get Sarastro’s music coming out of there, which is much more ordered. If you look at the proportions of where the triple-chord occurs, the kind of music of the Queen of the Night, to the music of Sarastro, it is 83 bars up to the triple-chord, and then 130 bars after that. It is the closest numbers you can get to create the Golden Ratio. Now, I believe that sometimes people are drawn intuitively towards that kind of ratio, but I suspect that Mozart very deliberately put that ratio inside the Overture to the Magic Flute because it creates a moment of interesting tension at that particular point in a piece of music.
Debussy also tapped into the idea of the Golden Ratio being the right moment to do something dramatic in a piece of music.
So, Le Corbusier as well felt that, in a building, this idea of the Golden Ratio and these Fibonacci numbers gave you buildings which had a natural sense of growth and would be appealing buildings to live inside.
Now, it is interesting, this is one of the classic examples of a Le Corbusier building. You might say this looks horrific, but actually, I have talked to people who live inside these buildings, and the way that the rooms are laid out, they say, are incredibly pleasing, and this is said to be a wonderful building to live inside.
Of course, Le Corbusier was not the first architect to explore the idea of ratios being very important to the way that you grow a building, and in fact one of the classic examples of course is Palladio.
Now, Palladio was not as interested in Fibonacci-style numbers, but actually in whole number ratios. So, he liked to build his rooms such that all of the rooms were in perfect whole number ratios to each other, and I think this is the reason when you go into a Palladio villa, there seems to be something so perfect about the proportions inside there, and what actually it is tapping into is that those are proportions that we actually find very appealing in the musical world as well, and the basis of all of them are these whole number ratios – it is mathematics hiding behind there.
So, for example, if you take a Palladio villa and you put strings on the sides of the rooms, of the lengths of those rooms, and pluck the strings, you get three notes which sound incredibly harmonious together. A 1:2 ratio on the sides of the room actually corresponds in music to an octave, a 1:2 ratio inside the wavelengths. A 2:3 relationship, another proportion that Palladio loved, is the perfect fifth, the building blocks of the harmonic world of music. Some would say that Palladio’s villas are, in some sense, frozen music.
If you compare Le Corbusier and Palladio, who both enjoyed these kind of ratios, one growing out of Fibonacci numbers, one growing out of these whole number ratios, here are some of their notebooks…
Now, this looks to me like the notebook of a mathematician who is exploring what are all the different ways that you can put these rooms together. Palladio loved symmetry, so all of his rooms have a lot of symmetry embedded in them. Le Corbusier, he liked to mess a little bit with symmetry, so you see the way that he lays out his room are more asymmetrical.
Actually, throughout the 20th Century and 21st Century, you find a lot of different architects tapping into mathematical structures.
This is actually a Le Corbusier chapel which taps into hyperbolic geometry. If you go to Guggenheim in Bilbao, then Frank Gehry is using lots of ideas of manifolds to create this extraordinary effect.
Of course, here in London, if you go to the Olympic Park and see the building built by Zaha Hadid, Zaha Hadid is, again, another architect who loves using her mathematics. In fact, she studied mathematics in Iraq before she became an architect.
You see Le Corbusier is somebody who likes to mess a little bit with symmetry and I always think that this thing, Modulor Man, which has these proportions inside them, is a 20th Century version of Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man.
Of course, Vitruvian Man actually is a solution to an architecture problem. Vitruvius was writing about architecture in Roman times and he said this challenge, that you should be able to create a building which has the proportions of a circle and a square and, inside those proportions, you should be able to lay out perfectly the human body stretched out, with its arms stretched out, to make the square, and actually, many artists have tried to create - well, how do you put the square and the circle together and fit a human inside there? A lot of people tried to make it symmetrical and put the centre of the square and the centre of the circle together, but that always created a very disproportioned person inside. It was Leonardo’s kind of brilliance to move the square down, such that the centre of the circle is centred on the belly button and the centre of the square is focused on the genitals, and then it creates this kind of perfect figure.
It is interesting because I could easily have chosen Leonardo as perhaps the perfect example of somebody who combines the arts and the sciences. He really was the Renaissance man. So, if I was going to choose somebody as my secret mathematician from the world of visual arts, I was very tempted actually to go for Leonardo. But actually, I kept to my 20th Century mission, so actually I chose not Leonardo but Salvador Dali.
Salvador Dali is somebody who was very obsessed with the ideas of science and loved putting scientific ideas inside his paintings. In fact, he once wrote “I am a carnivorous fish swimming in two waters: the cold water of art, and the hot water of science,” and he always would love inviting scientists round to his house, rather than artists, because he found their sort of stories much more stimulating for his art.
So, if you look at his art, you find already a lot of mathematical shapes hiding inside there, very classical mathematical shapes. Here is The Sacrament of the Last Supper and the sacrament is being held inside a dodecahedron, this Platonic shape made out of twelve pentagons.
Actually, tapping into that idea, Plato believed that the Platonic solids were somehow the building blocks of the universe, four of them making up the atoms, but the fifth, the dodecahedron, was the shape of the universe.
Dali is not the first to love putting Platonic solids inside his canvases, and in fact, we should thank the artists of the Renaissance for actually helping us to rediscover some geometric shapes that had been lost since antiquity - so, again, somehow the artist helping us out, to rediscover things…
The Platonic solids, there are five of those, and here we can see, in this painting of Luca Pacioli, a mathematician, we have got the dodecahedron on the table here, but perhaps what is more interesting is this extraordinary glass structure floating in the top left hand corner, filled with water. This is an example of something called Archimedean solid. So, these are symmetrical objects where the faces do not all have to be the same. So, if you think about the classic football, made out of pentagons and hexagons, they are arranged in a symmetrical manner, so the football is as round as possible, but you are allowed to use hexagons and pentagons to build that shape.
This shape here, called a rhombicuboctahedron, is made out of these triangles and squares, and actually, for an artist, you know, this was the time when they were able to suddenly realise the three-dimensional world on a two-dimensional canvas, so it was a real show-off moment for an artist to be able to draw some of these shapes and show how good they were at perspective.
But actually, it very much helped mathematicians because we knew the five Platonic solids – they had been written about in Euclid’s Elements – but we also had known that Archimedes had discovered thirteen what are called Archimedean solids, made out of these mixtures of symmetrical faces, but actually, nobody knew quite what all of these shapes looked like, and it took really till the Renaissance for us to recover these shapes, and in particular, Leonardo was very helpful in illustrating some of these books and showing what these shapes actually looked like.
So, Dali was interested in very classical shapes, but he also got very excited about new geometric shapes that were appearing in the 20th Century. In particular, the world of fractals was one that particularly obsessed him. This idea of a fractal, this is a geometric shape which, when you zoom in on the shape, it somehow retains infinite complexity. It never gets simple.
An example of this is something called the Sierpinski gasket. So, you take a triangle, and then you embed other smaller triangles inside those, and then smaller triangles inside the other triangles.
For Dali, he used this idea actually in this painting, The Visage of War, where he takes the skull with three sockets, the two eye sockets and the mouth, and then, inside those, he puts another skull with three sockets, and you get this kind of idea of the infinite regress, a kind of fractal at work.
But there actually is another 20th Century artist who exploited the fractal world but actually not knowingly. Dali was somebody who sort of knew his mathematics, but this artist actually did not really realise what he was doing. This is Jackson Pollock.
Jackson Pollock, I think some people have sort of complained about Jackson Pollocks – I mean, they have sold for some of the largest sums of money that any painting in the 20th Century has sold for. A lot of critics have said, “But, you know, my kids could make that – it is just flicking a load of paint around!” and a lot of people have tried to fake these Pollocks. Actually, what Jackson Pollock was doing was actually something quite special and it is quite hard to mimic. Jackson Pollock’s paintings have this special quality that if you go close to a Jackson Pollock, you zoom in and you zoom in and zoom in, it is quite hard to tell what scale you are looking at this painting at.
Here are four different images, zoomed in gradually, on a Jackson Pollock. It is quite difficult to tell which is the complete picture, which is the next zoomed in one, which is the closest one. You probably can detect that at the top right hand corner you are starting to get a sort of pixilated painting, but I think the other three, it is quite hard to tell. Actually, the top left hand corner is the complete painting, and then we zoom in as we go anti-clockwise around the images.
But Jackson Pollock was actually creating these fractal structures as he was painting, and it is interesting that, in some sense, again, here we are tapping into the natural world because I have been to Jackson Pollock’s studio and around his studio in America are lots of trees. We were there at wintertime, and all of these trees have this fractal character to them: the branches, then smaller branches, then smaller branches, smaller branches. Actually, you can measure the kind of fractal dimension of these pictures, and they are very much in tune with the natural world around us. So, probably what we are responding to when we are seeing a Pollock is that we are somehow seeing nature abstracted inside these images, which is why they are doing something special for us.
Now, how was Pollock able to create something so unique? Well, actually, it is his style of painting because fractals are, in some sense, the geometry of chaos, and when Jackson Pollock was painting, very often he was drunk when he was painting, and also, he had incredibly bad balance, so actually, when he was doing his painting, he would sort of flick around like this and he was creating something which I would call a chaotic pendulum.
So, a simple pendulum creates a lot of patterns, but if you actually let the joint of the pendulum move, then you create something which has chaos in it, and the picture of chaos will be these fractals.
So, actually, this gives you a way to fake a Jackson Pollock because all you need to do it to take a chaotic pendulum, stick a pot of paint on the bottom, and let it go, and you will have a Pollock! Here is my attempt to fake a Jackson Pollock… This did not sell for very much on eBay, so I am still working on the technique. But it is interesting that that is how we have identified fake Pollocks, is because they do not have this fractal quality, and if you are attempting to make a lot of money out of doing this, then that is the secret: create a chaotic pendulum with a pot of paint on the end!
Dali as well, he was interested in these fractals which have interesting dimensions between one and two, but he was also very fascinated in new shapes that were appearing in the 20th Century, which go beyond our three-dimensional world. So, geometers had begun to understand that you can create geometries in four, five higher dimensional spaces, and this particularly excited Dali. Dali was also a very religious man, and I think this idea of the fourth dimension being something quite spiritual was one that really excited him.
Here we see his Crucifixion that he painted. He crucifies Christ on what is a cube unwrapped, a four-dimensional cube unwrapped into our three-dimensional world. So, if you think about a three-dimensional cube, if you unwrapped that, if you wanted to make what we call a net of a three-dimensional cube, so on a piece of paper, you will cut out six squares in a cross shape, and then you will wrap those up. We understood that if you wanted to make a four-dimensional cube, its net in three-dimensions actually would be made out of eight cubes, four stacked on top of each other, and four round the outside, and if actually you were able to live in a four dimensional world, you would be able to wrap these up to make a structure which would be the four-dimensional cube. So, here we see Dali, you know, that transcends our physical world, the four-dimensional cube, but if you unwrap it, you get this kind of cross-shape, intersecting cross-shape, which he crucifies Christ on.
Now, I am going to move to a more challenging part of the creative world for finding connections with mathematics, which is the world of literature, and actually my choice of my fourth secret mathematician, from the world of literature, was also quite obsessed with high dimensional shapes, but I am still unclear whether he was knowingly obsessed with them or whether actually he explored these shapes just for their own artistic interest, but actually they have a lot of resonance to me as a mathematician. Actually, my choice is Jorge Luis Borges. I chose him actually just recently, if you want to hear a little bit more about him, for this radio programme on BBC4 called Great Lives, where I get to choose somebody I am interested in and then a biographer came on and filled in some of the pieces. So I was quite interested in what mathematics books Borges had in his library because he was, clearly, he is an Argentinean writer who writes lovely stories – they are very short, ten pages long, but they are real gems, and inside those stories, he is continually obsessed with the ideas of paradox, of infinity, of the nature of space. There is one short story in particular which, if you are going to read any Borges, I would recommend you to read, which is called the Library of Babel.
Inside this story, it is about a librarian – in fact, Borges was a librarian himself in Argentina. This librarian is stuck inside this very strange shaped library, and he spends the short story trying to explore what the shape of this library is. The story opens with a description of the library from what he can see at the beginning of the story. He writes: “The universe, which others call the library, is composed of an indefinite, and perhaps infinite, number of hexagonal galleries. From any one of the hexagons, one can see internally the upper and lower floors.” So, this library is laid out a little bit like a beehive, these hexagonal rooms, but what he is intrigued about is: do these hexagonal rooms just go on forever, or do they go up and down forever? And he starts to explore the library, trying to understand the nature of the shape of this library, and what he is obsessed with, can it be infinite, or if it is not infinite, is there some sort of way out of it, and by the end, he comes to a kind of revelation. He says: “I venture to suggest this solution to the ancient problem: the library is unlimited and cyclical. If an eternal traveller were to cross it in any direction, after centuries, he would see the same volumes repeated in the same disorder.” What is intriguing to me is that he is actually come to the same conclusion that many of us have come to about the shape of our library, which most of us call the universe.
So, actually, it has been a challenge for many centuries, particularly the 20th Century, to understand, well, what is the shape of our universe – does it have a shape? If you ask somebody “What is the shape of your universe?” it’s quite a tricky question. Well, the Ancient Greeks actually did think it had a shape – they thought it was this dodecahedron, but now that does not really make much sense to us because, you know, well, what happens when you hit that wall? Is there something on the other side? I mean, surely we are not living in the Truman Show – there is not a camera crew on the other side filming us all in this kind of weird game-show. So, 20th Century scientists and mathematicians have been trying to answer, well, yeah, what is the shape of our universe as we go out into outer space? It could just be infinite. It could just go on forever. But, it also could be finite, but how could it be finite because, if it has not got a wall, we do not think it has a wall, how can it be finite? And actually, we have come to this kind of conclusion that, well, it could be finite because it could be kind of closed up and cyclical. So, we have been trying to explore, like the librarian, how could that work?
A rather nice example of this is to take a sort of two-dimensional universe. We live in a three-dimensional one, but let us start with a two-dimensional universe. So, some of you might be old enough to have played this game – I certainly am old enough. It is a game called Asteroids. If I showed my kids this, they would laugh that this was a game that you ever played! But the rules of this game are you have got the universe absolutely captured on the screen here – the whole universe is there and it is finite. But this has certain rules. So, if the spaceship goes off the top of the screen, it does not bounce back again, it just reappears at the bottom, and if you go off to the left, then you reappear again at the right. So, for a spaceship inside this universe, actually it feels like it just goes on forever, but after a while, it starts to realise, oh, I have seen that star before. So, actually, what sort of shape does this universe have? Well, you can talk about the shape of this universe because we can embed it in a three-dimensional universe and wrap it up because, if you think, the top and the bottom are joined up, and the left and the right are joined up, so actually, this universe has the shape of a torus. So, let us do this, let us join the top and the bottom of the screen up…we make a cylinder, so that it is just going round the cylinder, but the two ends of the cylinder are also joined up. So, if I join the two ends of the cylinder, the left hand and the right hand side of the screen, we get this shape called the torus, a doughnut, this shape with a hole in it. This finite universe, which did not have any boundaries, it was unlimited, can have a shape.
So, Borges is very interested in, well, what about a three-dimensional universe, this library that he talks about in the story? Well, that is something we have been trying to answer: how do you wrap up a three-dimensional universe such that it is finite but does not have any kind of walls you bounce off?
Well, you can do a version of Asteroids. Suppose that, you know, this is our universe here, and there is nothing outside of here, so when you go off to the right hand side of this lecture theatre, you come in the left hand side, and when you go out the top of the lecture theatre, you actually just reappear at the bottom of the lecture theatre. Well, that is the game of Asteroids, but we have got another direction that we can move in, so we could go out the back, through the screen here, and what would happen is that you would reappear at the back of the lecture theatre. So, here we are – this is a three-dimensional universe which is finite. There is nothing else beyond this. You thought you would be able to get out of this lecture, but actually, you are stuck here, in here with me, and every time you go out, you find yourself just reappearing. It is very strange – what does this universe look like because there is light coming out the back of my head, it is going through the screen here, and reappearing from the back of the lecture theatre, so I can actually see copies of myself going off to infinity, and this is what the universe would look like if you had something which was joined up in this way.
This is a three-dimensional universe, and if we had a four-dimensional world to wrap it up in, a bit like those cubes that Dali crucified Christ on, if we could wrap this up, we would get a four-dimensional version of the bagel, a four-dimensional torus. Actually, one of the great breakthroughs in mathematics which has happened in the last decade was made by a Russian mathematician called Grigori Perelman, who actually classified what all the possible shapes our universe could be if it is finite and wrapped up. But what is exciting for me is Borges is exploring, with his own particular language, a way of investigating that problem, about how can you wrap up the universe and be finite yet unlimited.
Actually, that story of Borges has been an inspiration for me in a project that I have been working on over the last couple of years. I did some work with Complicité on their show A Disappearing Number, which is about the relationship between Hardy and Ramanujan, and out of that has grown a new project, which I have been working with one of the actresses from Complicité, Victoria Gould. It is a project we have called X and Y, and we have used this idea of the Library of Babel, this kind of shape, as a kind of space in order to stage our piece of theatre, and in fact I have just come up from working on this piece today because we are going to be doing it during the festivals over the summer. So, hopefully we will do it – we did it at the Science Museum in the autumn, and we hope to be able to show it to people again soon here in London.
Actually, this project grew out of another project which was inspired by that short story of Borges. This was actually more a piece of choreography. I was working with a composer, Dorothy Carr, and her choreographer, Carole Brown, and sculptor, Kate Allen, and we took the story as an inspiration. Actually, it was during this piece that I discovered my fifth secret mathematician, but I am going to show you actually I ended up dancing in this piece, so this is me dancing the construction of a hexagon, followed by the proof of the irrationality of the square root of three – a first for dance and I think mathematics!
[Video plays]
Actually, let us move on quickly!
So, there, the choreographer as part of that project told me about Rudolf Laban, who is a choreographer, German choreographer, from the 20th Century, who was very obsessed with mathematics as a key to understanding pieces of choreography, and if you think, choreography is really geometry in motion, and he developed a very mathematical language, these shapes, in order to be able to notate a piece of choreography, and he would always insist that the dancer have very much a sense of the geometry of space around them. In particular, he loved making them think that they had Platonic solids, which their limbs had to always follow the lines of these Platonic solids. So, here we have a quote from Labin, he wrote: “Man is inclined to follow the connecting lines of the twelve corner points of an icosahedron, with his movements travelling, as it were, alongside an invisible network of paths.” So, a Labin dancer very much thinks of the three-dimensional geometric shapes surrounding them as they dance.
I talked a lot about the artistic side, tapping into mathematical structures, but I think there is a flipside to this, which is one that I find very appealing as a mathematician because I think that a mathematician is also driven by very creative instincts, aesthetic instincts, in creating their mathematics. One of the key moments for me at school to make the choice of becoming a mathematician was when a teacher, when I was about 12 or 13, suggested that I read a book by G. H. Hardy called A Mathematician’s Apology. G.H. Hardy actually was one of the heroes of this Complicité piece, A Disappearing Number, but he wrote this amazing little book – it is online and you can download it, and I really recommend you do if you want to try and understand what it is like to be a mathematician, because he writes about mathematics really being a creative art. Here is a description of a mathematician in the book: “A mathematician, like a painter or poet, is a maker of patterns. I am only interested in mathematics as a creative art.” It is interesting that Graham Greene wrote about this book that it was the best description of being a creative artist, after the diaries of Henry James. For me, I think that really is true. Hardy very much talks about the mathematics that gets used to create new technology is not real mathematics, so it is not what motivates a mathematician to create the mathematics they do. We create the mathematics we do, in some sense, to create something which is beautiful, to tell a story.
As an example, one of the theorems I sort of love of Pierre de Fermat is the following one. He was able to prove that if you take a prime number, and when you divide it by four, if it has remainder one, then, rather amazingly, you can always write that prime number as two square numbers added together. So, for example, 41, a prime number, divide it by four, you get remainder one, so yes, that is true, but now, Fermat says you will be able to write that as two square numbers. So, indeed, 41 is 4 squared plus 5 squared. Now, there are infinitely many of these numbers, prime numbers, which have remainder one on division by four, absolutely extraordinary – what on earth have they got to do with these square numbers?! For me, it is not so much this statement, the statement itself perhaps is not so interesting, but it is the journey that Fermat takes you on, or the other mathematicians who have proved this in different ways, to be able to connect the world of primes to the worlds of squares – I mean what on earth have these got to do with each other? But as you read the proof, it is a little bit listening to a piece of music where the composer sets up two themes which you feel have nothing to do with each other, but as the piece of music grows and changes and the themes develop, suddenly you see them interweaving until they become the same thing. There is a moment in this piece, in this proof, where you just feel, ah, now I see the two sides coming together, and it is the same kind of excitement I think that you get when you are listening to that point in a piece of music when you suddenly hear these things coming together.
So, I think there is a lot of storytelling at work and choices that are being made in what you do as a mathematician. So, for example, this is the kind of mathematics I create, as a research mathematician – I do not expect you to understand everything that is on here, but what I am obsessed with is the world of symmetry, and I am interested in creating new symmetries out of the knowledge we have to date. Now, actually, I could get a computer to generate new symmetrical objects – it is not very difficult. But what makes a mathematician is somebody who makes a choice, well, why are the symmetrical objects that I created exciting? I wanted to tell a story with these. These symmetrical objects combine two very different areas of mathematics: one is the world of symmetry; the other one is the world of something called elliptic curves, trying to solve equations like y2 = x3 – x, quite related to things like Fermat’s last theorem. Now, these two worlds did not seem to have anything to do with each other, and the excitement for me, when I discovered these symmetrical objects which united these two areas, was that there was a surprise and ah-ha moment. I could take, in a seminar, my fellow mathematicians on a journey and make them go “Wow! I did not realise that was going to happen!” And I think that is absolutely key in the way that we create our mathematics, and that is often driven by aesthetic judgement.
Of course, a lot of the mathematics we create then has an impact on the physical real world, and new technologies are often creating by discovering new symmetrical objects like this. But again, I think what is at work here is that both the creative artist and the mathematician are responding to things in the natural world, will create new things, but it is not surprising perhaps that ultimately they may have some impact again on our place in the natural world.
Now, I want to end with a quote, and I want you to think whether this quote is by a mathematician or an artist. “To create consists precisely in not making useless combinations. Invention is discernment, choice. The sterile combinations do not even present themselves to the mind of the inventor.”
Now, put up your hand if you think that is an artist talking about the creative process… Any votes for artists? Yeah, we have got quite a few there – very good.
How many people think that that is a scientist or a mathematician talking about their creative process? A few more going for that… Yes, by now, you should be a little bit not sure…
Yeah, how many people are not sure, could be both, either…?! Exactly! And somehow that is the spirit of this lecture, that this could be coming from both worlds. Perhaps the word “invention” gives it away a little bit. I may have mistranslated the French a little bit. But actually Stravinsky always used to talk about his works as “works of invention”. This was, in fact, a mathematician, a very famous French mathematician called Henri Poincaré, who was actually one of the first to start this idea of trying to understand what the shape of our universe might be if you wrapped it up. But I think it absolutely gets to the heart of what, for me, it means to be a mathematician, which is that it is a lot about the choices of the journeys that you take a reader on. It is not just enough that a theorem be true. It is also got to have an emotional heart to it and a story to it. And for me, what I have found exciting is that mathematics has provided this bridge between these two worlds of art and science and, in some ways, proves that that idea of the two cultures, that really, actually, it is different languages, the same one culture.
© Professor Marcus du Sautoy, 2014
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Can the Law Keep Up With Changes In Society?
3 February 2020 - 1:00PM
What Has Einstein Ever Done For You?
Homes Fit for Heroes: 100 Years of Council Housing
Webb Vs. Hubble: Battle of the Space Giants
How to Survive a Massacre in Europe’s Wars of Religion
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Breaking the Habit of Drug Abuse
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Addiction is a serious problem in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, our nation spends more than $600 billion annually on problems related to substance abuse, including costs connected to health care, crime, lost work productivity and drug-related fatalities. Drug treatment programs can reduce these costs, but a significant number of individuals will continue to habitually abuse drugs despite receiving treatment, resulting in thousands of lives lost. A vast amount of research has focused on the regions of the brain that are involved in addiction, but the high rate of relapse in those addicted to drugs tells us that we don’t have a clear understanding of what makes drug addiction such a difficult habit to break. We do know that the normal learning processes that are involved in the development of regular habits are also involved in the transition from recreational drug use to the persistent and inflexible drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors that are the hallmark of drug addiction.
To illustrate this idea, let’s say you move into a new house. You note that the light switch in your new kitchen is on the left side of the door. For the first few weeks, whenever you walk into the kitchen and it is dark, you consciously seek out and flip the light switch to the left of the door. At that time, your goal is to find the light switch to illuminate the dark kitchen and this goal controls your behavior. However, after having lived in that house for a few months, you will automatically reach to your left and flip the switch without even thinking about it. At this point, your behavior is not controlled by the goal. Instead your behavior is automatically triggered by simply walking into the dark room, with very little conscious effort on your part. In the early stages of abusing a drug, the drug-taking behavior is influenced by the rewarding properties of the drug.
In other words, your goal is to consciously seek out the drug and take it because it’s pleasurable to do so. However, as drug use progresses, the use of the drug will no longer be controlled by the conscious goal of getting high. Rather, the drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors have become automatic and can be unconsciously triggered by cues in the environment or internal cues (such as feeling depressed). It is at this point that the drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors become habitual. Indeed, recent studies in both humans and animals indicate that drugs of abuse are sought not only for their rewarding properties, but also out of habit. It is thought that habits are facilitated by drugs of abuse, because drugs of abuse act on the same regions of the brain that are responsible for the development of habits. Importantly, habitual behavior is defined as behavior that persists despite negative associations or harmful consequences.
Can we break the habit? Our laboratory has identified a small region of the brain, called the patch compartment, which we believe may contribute to the development of habitual drug use. The patch compartment is a region that has numerous connections with other areas of the brain, such as those regions that interpret reward, mediate motivation and contribute to habitual behaviors. The patch compartment is a hub of sorts, where all types of information regarding reward and habits comes together and is processed and then relayed to areas of the brain that control the execution of a specific behavior. Our research has indicated that the patch compartment is important for the development of habits.
Our initial experiments investigated whether normal habits were influenced by the patch compartment. We first trained animals to press a lever to receive a delivery of sucrose solution, over several weeks, until the animals reached a high level of lever-pressing for sucrose. Then, we trained the animals to associate the sucrose solution with a negative stimulus. In this case, we gave the animals sucrose followed by lithium, which produces gastrointestinal discomfort. After the animals had learned to associate sucrose with feeling ill, we then gave the animals the option to press the lever again to receive sucrose.
Amazingly, animals that had learned to associate sucrose with being sick still pressed the lever to receive sucrose. However, in animals without a patch compartment, there was no habitual sucrose consumption. Those animals learned how to consume sucrose, and then learned to associate the sucrose with being ill, just like the other rats. But when the patch-absent animals were given the option to press the lever to receive sucrose, they refused.
This tells us that the patch compartment is involved in the persistence of habitual behaviors. Our next step is to determine whether the patch compartment is involved in the development of habitual methamphetamine use. As we continue our research, we hope to find out more about the patch compartment and how it factors into habitual drug use. For example, is there some element in the patch compartment that can be targeted that will reduce habitual drug use? Could we someday have a compound that can be given to prevent persistent drug abuse? With the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, we seek to answer these questions.
This article was originally published in the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin Mercer Medical Moment on Wednesday, October 24, 2018.
Ashley Horner received her B.S. in Psychology from Vanderbilt University, a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Tulane University, and trained as a post-doctoral fellow at University of Utah College of Pharmacy. Dr. Horner’s research focuses on the pathways in the brain that participate in habit formation and drug addiction. She has been a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Mercer University School of Medicine since 2007.
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