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Growing repression in Damascus, 17 top officials sacked
by Jihad Issa
According to the 'Syrian Human Rights Association' the 17 bureaucrats lost their job because of their support for the 'Damascus-Beirut declaration' that calls for the normalisation of relation between the two countries. Making the sacking public is a warning against human rights activists.
Damascus (AsiaNews) New stage in the Syrian government's repression against any form of opposition. Yesterday 17 top government officials were sacked because, according to the Association des droits de l'homme en Syrie or ADHS (Syrian Human Rights Association), they "backed a petition that called for the release of two human rights activists arrested in May" and because they signed "Damascus-Beirut declaration" which calls for the normalisation of relations between Syria and Lebanon.
The dismissal is the consequence of a worsening political and social situation as internal and external pressures against the Baa'thist regime mount. The Baa'th party, which has governed the country for the past 40 years, and the government of President Bachar el-Assad are trying to maintain internal unity.
This explains the announcement by Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otariof the removal of 17 top officials (eight from the Education Ministry, the others from the Health, Energy, Finance, Agriculture and Information Ministries).
In the past, such measures were never made public. The fact that they were this time is a sign that the regime wants close ranks against anti-regime tendencies, Mohamad Majzoub, a former high official in the Education and Higher Learning Ministry, told AsiaNews.
In a statement highly critical of the government's latest move, the ADHS has called on friends of freedom to help stop abuses by the Syrian government, which "is unable to distinguish between faults requiring disciplinary action and freedom of thought. For this reason, the human rights group is organising a campaign against abuses committed in the last months in order to reawaken the conscience of Syrians.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Ammar Korabi, who chairs the National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria, criticised "the government's latest aggression on the freedom of citizens", calling on everyone, Christians and Muslims, to help "block the government' campaign against fundamental human rights".
Answering a question about the trial against many activists in the patriotic movement, he said that the court case against Kamal al-Libwani, who is accused for "having had contacts with the United States" and inciting "aggression against Syria", continued yesterday.
In Syria there are an estimated 20,000 political prisoners.
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el-assad
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al-libwani
Violence against Christians in Vientiane and Luang Phrabang
UN condemns Damascus bombings. Regime and rebels must end violence
Tens of thousands of Syrians in a “spontaneous” anti-American demonstration
Scepticism and fear among would-be rehabilitated Ba’athists
Brammertz expected amid post-Assad speculation
Pope: asking Jesus 'if you will’ is a challenge and an act of trust
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HomeCity Hall BlogWhy Black Pride matters
Why Black Pride matters
I grew up in Brixton, a multicultural heart of London. I was very much aware, from a young age, of the vibrancy of the different people and communities all living and working together in our small part of south London.
As a British Nigerian, I was also aware of the widely held misconceptions within some parts of the BME community that African and Caribbean people are not gay.
The sad reality is that there are many LGBT people from a BME background who live in fear. They’re afraid to come out to family and friends due to the ignorance of a small minority who hold outdated, prejudiced views.
The recent killings at an LGBT club in Orlando were an attack on the LGBT community. It was moving to see so many people standing in solidarity with the victims.
This attack also brings home an uncomfortable truth. LGBT people are still being killed in some parts of the world on a regular basis because of who they are, and who they love.
Here in London, there’s been a steady rise in the number of recorded homophobic hate crimes. It increased 16% between May 2015 and April 2016 compared to the previous 12 months.
This may be the result of more people having the courage to come forward and report these crimes. However, this increase reinforces the message that a lot more needs to be done to fight and address hate crime.
As a Roman Catholic, I know that the co-existence of faith, LGBT and race can raise different issues. However, the LGBT BME groups come from a range of different religious, cultural and economic backgrounds.
In a diverse city like London, I believe it is important for people from all faiths to embrace and celebrate the growing LGBT community, as faith is also important to many of them.
UK Black Pride is the only LGBT community Pride event designed, run and led by a diverse group of Black LGBT people. The theme for the event this year is ‘Transforming our Community’. This will help to give visibility to the discrimination and violence LGBT people still face.
UK Black Pride is also an opportunity for us to celebrate black LGBT culture, arts and music.
I’ll be speaking at the event about all the issues facing the BME LGBT community today. I’ll also be lending my support to the fantastic team of volunteers who work hard to help change the mind-set of those with prejudiced views.
Black Pride 2016 takes place at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens on 26 June.
To celebrate International Women's Day, we are sharing the work of Hounslow Action for Youth.
Deputy Mayor visits young volunteers from Lambeth
Team London Young Ambassadors are creating welcome packs for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in London.
How to create a happy & committed volunteer team.
Gina Kerr manages a happy and committed team of volunteers at Royal Trinity Hospice's 25 shops and online store.
Take Flight is a weekly aerial theatre programme for young people delivered by Scarabeus Aerial Theatre.
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My Thoughts...
I OWE MUCH TO THESE MEN (AND HAPPENINGS) WHICH COME IN THIS WEBSITE. HERE IS MY TRIBUTE TO THEM ALL. MY FIRST GENUINE CONTACT WITH TRUE GOSPEL WAS A BOOK FROM RICHARD WURMBRAND. HE TAUGHT ME TO SEARCH FROM THE HEART AND UNCONDITIONALLY. I WAS CATHOLIC, THEN. UNCLE ERLO HELPED ME TO FIND; OTHERS TAUGHT ME TO KEEP AND UPHOLD WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT. I THANK JESUS THAT I CAN LOOK AT HIM RIGHT NOW AS A REAL LORD AND SAVIOUR, BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW HIM THAT WAY. WHEN I FOUND THE LORD IN A REAL WAY, I HAD BEEN PREACHING THE GOSPEL FOR A WHILE ALREADY. I DIDN'T KNOW HIM. NOW I KNOW. MY PRAYER IS THAT THESE PAGES WILL BE AS BLESSED AS THE HAPPENINGS PUBLISHED HERE HAVE BEEN. "COME LORD JESUS..."
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FIRST INTERVIEW WITH DAVID BRAINERD - SEPARATIONS FROM CHURCHES - LETTER TO REV. MR. WHITMAN - CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR. CLAP - CHARACTER OF THAT GENTLEMAN - SERMON AT THE ORDINATION OF MR. ABERCROMBIE - LETTER TO MR. M’CULLOCH - VIEWS OF THE PROPHECIES RELATIVE TO THE CHURCH - SERMON AT THE ORDINATION OF MR. BUELL.
In September, 1743, Mr. Edwards, while attending the public commencement at New-Haven, first became acquainted with David Brainerd, then a missionary at Kaunaumeek. Brainerd, when a sophomore in college, in consequence of some indiscreet remarks, uttered in the ardour of his religious zeal, respecting the opposition of two of the faculty to the preaching of Mr. Whitefield, but which a generous mind would have wholly disregarded, had been expelled from the college. As this was the commencement, at which his class were to receive the degree of A.B., he came to New-Haven to attempt a reconciliation with the faculty, and made to them a truly humble and christian acknowledgment of his fault. “I was witness,” says Mr. Edwards, “to the very christian spirit which Brainerd showed at that time; being then at New-Haven, and one whom he thought fit to consult on that occasion. There truly appeared in him a great degree of calmness and humility; without the least appearance of rising of spirit for any ill-treatment which he supposed he had suffered, or the least backwardness to abase himself before those, who, as he thought, had wronged him. What he did was without any objection or appearance of reluctance, even in private to his friends, to whom he freely opened himself. Earnest application was made on his behalf, that he might have his degree then given him; and particularly by the Rev. Mr. Burr of Newark, one of the correspondents of the Honourable Society in Scotland; he being sent from New Jersey to New-Haven, by the rest of the commissioners, for that end; and many arguments were used, but without success. He desired his degree, as he thought it would tend to his being more extensively useful; but still, when he was denied it, he manifested no disappointment nor resentment.”
I have already alluded to the numerous separations of individual members, from the churches to which they belonged, which occurred about this period, and usually for the alleged want of piety, either of the minister or of the church. As these commonly took place without a regular dismission, it became a practical question of some interest, how the withdrawing members should be treated. Mr. Edwards, having been consulted on this subject, with reference to some of the members of the second church in Hartford, who had thus withdrawn, addressed the following letter to the minister of that church.
“To the Rev. Elnathan Whitman, of Hartford, Connecticut.
Northampton, Feb. 9, 1744.
rev. and dear sir,
Mr. P - was here this week, and requested my opinion, with respect to the proper treatment of a number of persons, who have absented themselves from your meeting, and have since attended public worship in W - - . I declined giving any opinion, except a very general one, to him; but, on reflection, have concluded to express my thoughts to you, as a friend, leaving you to attach to them such weight as you may see cause.
“As to differences, among professing Christians, of opinion and practice, about things that appertain to religion, and the worship of God, I am ready to think that you and I are agreed, as to the general principles of liberty of conscience; and that men’s using methods with their neighbours, to oblige them to a conformity to their sentiments or way, is in nothing so unreasonable, as in the worship of God; because that is a business, in which each person acts for himself, with his Creator and Supreme Judge, as one concerned for his own acceptance with him; and on which depends his own, and not his neighbour’s, eternal happiness, and salvation from everlasting ruin. And it is an affair, wherein every man is infinitely more concerned with his Creator than he is with his neighbour. And so I suppose that it will be allowed, that every man ought to be left to his own conscience, in what he judges will be most acceptable to God, or what he supposes is the will of God, as to the kind, or manner, or means of worship, or the society of worshippers he should join with in worship. Not but that a great abuse may be made of this doctrine of liberty of conscience in the worship of God. I know that many are ready to justify every thing in their own conduct, from this doctrine, and I do not suppose that men’s pretence of conscience is always to be regarded, when made use of to justify their charging the society of worshippers they unite with, or the means of their worship, or indeed the kind or manner of their worship. Men may make this pretence at times under such circumstances, that they may, obviously, be worthy of no credit in what they pretend. It may be manifest from the nature and circumstances of the case, and their own manner of behaviour, that it is not conscience, but petulancy, and malice, and wilfulness, and obstinacy, that influence them. And, therefore, it seems to me evident, that, when such pleas are made, those that are especially concerned with them as persons that are peculiarly obliged to take care of their souls, have no other way to do, but to consider the nature and circumstances of the case, and from thence to judge whether the case be such as will admit of such a plea, or whether the nature of things will admit of such a supposition, that the men act conscientiously in what they do, considering all things that appertain to the case. And in this, I conceive, many things are to be considered and laid together, as - the nature of that thing is the subject of controversy, or wherein they differ from others, or have changed their own practice - the degree in which it is disputable, or how it may be supposed liable to diversity of opinion, one way or the other, as to its agreeableness to the word of God, and as to the importance of it, with regard to men’s salvation or the good of their souls - the degree of knowledge or ignorance of the persons, the advantages they had for information, or the disadvantages they have been under, and what has been in their circumstances that might mislead the judgment - the principles that have been instilled into them - the instructions they have received from those, of whose piety and wisdom they have had a high opinion, which might misguide the judgment of persons of real honesty, and sincerity, and tender conscience - the example of others - the diversity of opinion among ministers - the general state of things in the land - the character of the persons themselves - and the manner of their behaviour in the particular affair in debate.
Now, Sir, with regard to those persons that have gone from you, to W - however you may look upon their behaviour herein as very disorderly, yet, if you suppose (the case being considered with all its circumstances) that there was any room for charity, that it might be through infirmity, ignorance, and error of judgment, so that they might be truly conscientious in it; that is, might really believe it to be their duty, and what God required of them, to do as they have done; you would, I imagine, by no means think, that they ought to be proceeded with, in the use of such means as are proper to be used with contumacious offenders, or those that are stubborn and obstinate in scandalous vice and wilful wickedness; or that you would think it proper to proceed with persons, towards whom there is this room left for charity, that possibly they may be honest and truly conscientious, acting as persons afraid to offend God, so as to cut them off from the communion of the Lord, and cast them forth into the visible kingdom of Satan, to be as harlots and publicans.
Now, it may be well to examine, whether it can positively be determined, when all things are taken into consideration with respect to these persons, who have absented themselves from your assembly, that it is not possible in their case, that this might really be their honest judgment, that it was their duty to do so, and that God required it of them, and that they should greatly expose the welfare of their own souls, in attending no other public worship but that in your congregation. I suppose these persons are not much versed in casuistical divinity. They are of the common people, whose judgments, in all nations and ages, are exceedingly led and swayed. They are not very capable of viewing things in the extent of their consequences, and of estimating things in their true weight and importance. And you know, dear Sir, the state that things have been in, in the country. You know what opinions have lately prevailed, and have been maintained and propagated, by those that have been lifted up to heaven, in their reputation for piety and great knowledge in spiritual things, with a great part of the people of New England. I do not pretend to know what has influenced these people, in particular; but I think, under these circumstances, it would be no strange thing, if great numbers of the common people in the country, who are really conscientious, and concerned to be accepted with God, and to take the best course for the good of their souls, should really think in their hearts that God requires them to attend the ministry of those that are called New Light Ministers, and that it would be dangerous to their souls, and what God approved not of, ordinarily to attend the ministry of others; yea, I should think it strange if it were otherwise. It ought to be considered, how public controversy, and a great and general cry in matters of religion, strongly influences the conduct of multitudes of the common people, how it blinds their minds, and wonderfully misleads their judgments. And the rules of the gospel, and the example of the apostles, most certainly require that great allowances be made in such cases. And particularly the example of the apostle Paul, with regard to great numbers of professing Christians, in the church of Corinth; who, in a time of great and general confusion in that church, through the evil instructions of teachers whom they admired, who misled and blinded their judgments, ran into many and great disorders in their worship, and woeful schisms and divisions among themselves - particularly with regard to ministers, and even with regard to the apostle Paul himself, whom many of them seem for a time to have forsaken, to follow others who set up themselves in opposition to him; though, as he says, he had been their father who begat them through the gospel. Yet with how much gentleness does the apostle treat them, still acknowledging them as brethren; and though he required church censures to be used with regard to the incestuous person, yet there is no intimation of the apostle taking any such course, with those that had been misled by these false teachers, or with any that had been guilty of these disorders, except with the false teachers themselves. But as soon as they are brought off from following these false apostles any longer, he embraces them without further ado, with all the love and tenderness of a father; burying all their censoriousness, and schisms, and disorders, at the Lord’s supper, as well as their ill treatment of him, the extraordinary messenger of Christ to them. And, indeed, the apostle never so much as gave any direction for the suspension of any one member from the Lord’s supper, on account of these disorders, or from any other part of the public worship of God; but instead of this, gives them directions how they shall go on to attend the Lord’s supper, and other parts of worship, in a better manner. And he himself, without suspension or interruption, goes on to call and treat them as beloved brethren, Christians, sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints; and praises God in their behalf, for the grace that is given to them by Christ Jesus; and often and abundantly exhibits his charity towards them, in innumerable expressions which I might mention. And nothing is more apparent than that he does not treat them as persons, with respect to whom there lies a bar in the way of others treating them with the charity that belongs to saints, and good and honest members of the christian church, until the bar be removed by a church process. And, indeed, the insisting on a church process with every member that has behaved disorderly, in such a state of general confusion, is not a way to build up the church of God, (which is the end of church discipline,) but to pull it down. It will not be the way to cure a diseased member, but to bring a disease on the whole body.
I am not alone in these sentiments; but I have reason to think that Col. Stoddard, from the conversation I have had with him, is in the like way of thinking. There came hither, the last fall, two young men belonging to the church at New-Haven, who had been members of Mr. Noyes’s church, but had left it and joined the separate church, and entered into covenant with it, when that church was embodied. This was looked upon as a crime, that ought not to be passed over, by Mr. Noyes and the rector. They declared themselves willing to return to Mr. Noyes’s meeting; but a particular confession was required of them in the meeting-house. Accordingly, each of them had offered a confession, but it was not thought sufficient; but it was required that they should add some things, of which they thought hard; and they consulting me about it, I acquainted Col. Stoddard with the affair, and desired his thoughts. He said he looked upon it unreasonable to require any confession at all; and that, considering the general state of confusion that had existed, and the instructions and examples these young men had had, it might well be looked upon enough, that they were now willing to change their practice, and return again to Mr. Noyes’s meeting. Not that you, Rev. Sir, are obliged to think as Col. Stoddard does; yet I think, considering his character and relation, his judgment may well be of so much weight, as to engage you the more to attend to and weigh the reasons he gives.
The objections, that these persons may have had against ordinarily attending your meeting, may be very trivial; but yet I suppose that, through infirmity, the case may be so with truly honest Christians, that trivial things may have great weight in their consciences, so as to have fast hold of them, until they are better enlightened: as in the former times of the country, it was with respect to the controversy between presbyterians and congregationalists. It was, as I have heard, in those days real matter of question with some, whether a presbyterian, living and dying such, could be saved. Some presbyterians, that have lived with us, have desired baptism for their children, who yet lived in neglect of the ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, because of a difference in some trivial circumstances of the administration, from the method of the church of Scotland. This matter being discoursed of, it was thought by Col. Stoddard in particular, that their neglect ought to be borne with, and they ought to be looked upon as Christians, and their children received to baptism; because, however trivial the foundation of their scruples were, yet through ignorance they might be honest and conscientious in them.
As to the church covenant, that these persons have entered into, wherein they have obliged themselves ordinarily to join in the worship of that church; I suppose none interpret the promises of a church covenant in such a sense, as to exclude all reserves of liberty, in case of an alteration of the judgment, in the affairs of conscience and religion, in one respect or another. As if a person, after incorporating with a congregational church, should become a conscientious episcopalian, or anabaptist, or should, by any change of judgment, come to think the means or manner of worship unlawful; and so in other respects that might be mentioned.
And if it be so that these persons, in some of their conversation and behaviour, have manifested a contentious, froward spirit, at the time of their withdrawing from your church; I confess this gives greater ground of suspicion of the sincerity of their plea of conscience; yet, as to this, I humbly conceive allowances must be made. It must be considered, that it is possible that persons, in an affair of this nature, may, in the thing itself, be conscientious, and yet, in the course of the management of it, may be guilty of very corrupt mixtures of passion and every evil disposition; as indeed is commonly the case with men, in long controversies of whatever nature, and even with conscientious men. And therefore it appears to me, that if persons in such a case are not obstinate, in what is amiss in them in this respect, and don’t attempt to justify their frowardness and unchristian speeches, they notwithstanding may deserve credit, when they profess themselves conscientious in the affair in general.
Thus, dear Sir, I have freely communicated to you some of my thoughts, with regard to some of the concerns of this difficult day, which prove a trouble to you; not however with any aim at directing your conduct, but merely to comply with the request to which I have alluded. I am fully sensible, that I am not the pastor of the second church of Hartford; and I only desire you would impartially consider the reasons I have offered. Begging of Christ, our common Lord, that he would direct you in your theory and practice, to that which will be acceptable in his sight,
I remain, Rev. Sir,
Your friend and brother,
jonathan edwards.”
In May, 1743, Mr. Edwards went, as he often did, to Boston, to attend the convention of the clergy, which is held the day after the General Election. He was on horseback, and had his eldest daughter on a pillion behind him. At Brookfield, they fell in company with the Rev. Mr. Clap, rector of Yale College, his wife and son-in-law, also on horseback, with several others, all traveling in the same direction; and Mr. Edwards, joining the company, rode side by side with Mr. Clap, during a considerable part of the journey. At the commencement of Harvard college in the following year, 1744, Mr. Clap stated, before a large number of gentlemen, both at Boston and Cambridge, that, while riding through Leicester, in May of the year preceding, he was informed by Mr. Edwards, that Mr. Whitefield told him, “that he had the design of turning out of their places the greater part of the ministers of New England, and of supplying their pulpits with ministers from England, Scotland, and Ireland.” This statement surprised those who heard it; yet, coming from such a source, it was believed, and extensively circulated. Mr. Edwards heard of it with astonishment, and without hesitation denied that he had said so. Mr. Clap, hearing of this denial, addressed a letter to Mr. Edwards, dated Oct. 12, 1744, in which he stated anew the alleged conversation, in the same terms; but before the latter received it, he had forwarded a letter to Mr. Clap, dated Oct. 18, 1744, showing him his mistake, and calling on him to correct it. On Oct. 29th, he wrote a reply to Mr. Clap’s letter of the 12th; and receiving another, dated Oct. 28th, before he sent it, he replied to that also in the postscript, under date of Nov. 3d. Mr. Clap, finding that Mr. Edwards’s contradiction of his statement was believed; and having heard, though incorrectly, that Mr. Edwards was about to publish such a contradiction; incautiously published a letter to his friend in Boston, in which he not only re-asserted his former statement, but declared that Mr. Edwards, in his private correspondence with him on the subject, had made a declaration, equally full and strong, to the same point. Mr. Edwards published a reply, in a letter to his friend in Boston, dated Feb. 4, 1745; in which he gave his two letters of Oct. 18, and Oct. 29, with the postscript of Nov. 3; from which it appears that, instead of admitting the truth of Mr. Clap’s statement, he had most explicitly and solemnly denied it; and, in order to show how Mr. Clap might have been led into the mistake, acknowledged that he himself supposed that Mr. Whitefield was formerly of the opinion, that unconverted ministers ought not to be continued in the ministry; and that he himself supposed that Mr. Whitefield endeavoured to propagate this opinion, and a practice agreeable to it; and that all he had ever stated to any one was, his own opinion merely, and not any declared design of Mr. Whitefield. He also admitted, that Mr. Whitefield told him he intended to bring over a number of young men, to be ordained by the Messrs. Tennents, in New Jersey. He then asks, whether this is the same thing as Mr. Clap asserted, and suggests a variety of arguments, which seem absolutely conclusive, that he could never have made such a statement.
Mr. Clap, in reply to this, in a letter to Mr. Edwards, dated April 1, 1745, enters seriously upon the task of showing that Mr. Edwards’s assertion - “that Mr. Whitefield told him, that he intended to bring over a number of young men, to be ordained by the Messrs. Tennents, in New Jersey” - connected with the assertion - that Mr. Edwards himself supposed, that Mr. Whitefield was formerly of the opinion, that unconverted ministers ought not to be continued in the ministry, and that Mr. Edwards himself supposed that Mr. Whitefield endeavoured to propagate this opinion, and a practice agreeable to it - was equivalent to Mr. Edwards’s saying, that Mr. Whitefield told him, “that he had the design of turning out of their places the greater part of the ministers of New England, and of supplying their places with ministers from England, Scotland, and Ireland.”
Mr. Edwards, in a letter to Mr. Clap, of May 20, 1745, after exposing in a few words the desperate absurdity of this attempt, enters on the discussion of the question - Whether he ever made such a statement to Mr. Clap? - with as much calmness as he afterwards exhibited in examining the question of a self-determining power; and with such logical precision of argument, that probably no one of his readers ever had a doubt left upon his mind, with regard to it; - no, not even his antagonist himself; for he never thought proper to attempt a reply; and in the public protest of the faculty of Yale college, against Mr. Whitefield, he and his associates in office say, in alluding to this very conversation, “You told the Rev. Mr. Edwards of Northampton, that you intended to bring over a number of young men from England, to be ordained by the Tennents.” Those who have an opportunity of reading these communications, will find, in those of Mr. Edwards, an example of a personal controversy, conducted throughout, and to a very uncommon degree, in the spirit of the gentleman and the Christian.
This occurred at a period of great excitement, when many ministers had been removed, and many churches rent asunder; and when the minds of men were of course prepared beforehand to believe every thing that favoured their own side of the question. Mr. Clap was in this case obviously mistaken; still he was truly a man of respectability and worth. He had a powerful mind, rich in invention, and stored with knowledge, was profoundly versed in mathematics, physics, and astronomy, as well as the principles of law, and proved an able instructor and governor of the institution over which he presided. He was elected by a board of trustees, exclusively Arminian in sentiment, and all his associates in office held the same tenets. At the same time, though he entered warmly into the controversy relative to Mr. Whitefield, from a full conviction that it was his design to occasion the separation of churches, and to procure as far as possible the ejectment of all whom he regarded as unconverted ministers; and was doubtless happy in supposing himself able to prove that such was his avowed design, on the testimony of one of his warmest friends; yet he was far from taking the low ground of orthodoxy assumed by many on the same side, but always adhered to the doctrines of grace, and ultimately became their champion. Some time after this, he showed his magnanimity, by introducing the Essay on the Freedom of the Will, as a classic in the college.
In August, 1744, Mr. Edwards preached the sermon entitled, “The True Excellency of a Gospel Minister,” at the ordination of Mr. Robert Abercrombie, to the ministry of the gospel, at Pelham. This gentleman was from Scotland, having been made known to Mr. Edwards by his correspondents in that country; and through his kind offices was introduced to the people at Pelham. The sermon was immediately published.
The reader will probably recollect, that Mr. M’Culloch, in his letter of August 13, 1743, had expressed the opinion, that the church of God, previous to her ultimate extension and triumph, was destined to meet with “more extensive and formidable trials,” than she had ever before experienced. Mr. Edwards, from a minute investigation of the scriptural prophecies, having been convinced that this, which was at that time the commonly received opinion of the church, was erroneous; expresses his dissent from it in the following answer.
“To the Rev. Mr. M’Culloch.
Northampton, March 5, 1744.
I return you thanks for your most obliging, entertaining, and instructive letter, dated Aug. 13, 1743, which I received about the latter end of October: my answering which has been unhappily delayed, by reason of my distance from Boston, and not being able to find any opportunity to send thither, till the ship was gone that brought your letter; which I much regretted. My delaying to answer has been far from arising from any indifference with respect to this correspondence, by which I am sensible I am highly honoured and privileged.
“Tis probable that you have been informed, by other correspondents, before now, what the present state of things in New England is: it is, indeed, on many accounts very melancholy; there is a vast alteration within these two years; for about so long I think it is, since the Spirit of God began to withdraw, and this great work has been on the decline. Great numbers in the land, about two years ago, were raised to an exceedingly great height in joy and elevation of mind; and through want of watchfulness, and sensibleness of the danger and temptation that there is in such circumstances, many were greatly exposed, and the devil taking the advantage, multitudes were soon, and to themselves insensibly, led far away from God and their duty; God was provoked that he was not sanctified in this height of advancement, as he ought to have been; he saw our spiritual pride and self-confidence, and the polluted flames that arose of intemperate, unhallowed zeal; and he soon, in a great measure, withdrew from us; and the consequence has been, that the enemy has come in like a flood, in various respects, until the deluge has overwhelmed the whole land. There had from the beginning been a great mixture, especially in some places, of false experiences, and false religion with true; but from about this time, the mixture became much greater, many were led away with sad delusions; and this opened the door for the enemy to come in like a flood in another respect, it gave great advantages to these enemies and opposers of this work, furnished them with weapons and gave them new courage, and has laid the friends of the work under such disadvantage, that nothing that they could do would avail any thing to withstand their violence. And now it is come to that, that the work is put to a stop every where, and it is a day of the enemy’s triumph; but I believe also a day of God’s people’s humiliation, which will be better to them in the end than their elevations and raptures. The time has been amongst us when the sower went forth to sow, and we have seen the spring wherein the seed sprang up in different sorts of ground, appearing then fair and flourishing; but this spring is past, and we now see the summer, wherein the sun is up with a burning heat, that tries the sorts of ground; and now appears the difference, the seed in stony ground, where there was only a thin layer of earth on a rock, withers away, the moisture being dried out; and the hidden seeds and roots of thorns, in unsubdued ground, now spring up and choke the seed of the word. Many high professors are fallen, some into gross immoralities, some into a rooted spiritual pride, enthusiasm, and an incorrigible wildness of behaviour, some into a cold frame of mind, showing a great indifference to the things of religion. But there are many, and I hope those the greater part of those that were professed converts, who appear hitherto like the good ground, and notwithstanding the thick and dark clouds, that so soon follow that blessed sunshine that we have had; yet I cannot but stedfastly maintain a hope and persuasion that God will revive his work, and that what has been so great and very extraordinary, is a forerunner of a yet more glorious and extensive work. - It has been slanderously reported and printed concerning me, that I have often said, that the Millennium was already begun, and that it began at Northampton. A doctor of divinity in New England has ventured to publish this report to the world, from a single person, who is concealed and kept behind the curtain: but the report is very diverse from what I have ever said. Indeed I have often said, as I say now, that I looked upon the late wonderful revivals of religion as forerunners of those glorious times so often prophesied of in the Scripture, and that this was the first dawning of that light, and beginning of that work, which, in the progress and issue of it, would at last bring on the church’s latter-day glory; but there are many that know that I have from time to time added, that there would probably be many sore conflicts and terrible convulsions, and many changes, revivings, and intermissions, and returns of dark clouds, and threatening appearances, before this work shall have subdued the world, and Christ’s kingdom shall be every where established and settled in peace, which will be the lengthening of the Millennium or day of the church’s peace, rejoicing, and triumph on earth, so often spoken of. I was much entertained and delighted, dear Sir, with your thoughts on that text in Isa. lix. 19. which you signify in your letter, and so have many others been to whom I have communicated them; and as to what you say of some dreadful stroke or trial yet abiding, before the happy days of the promised peace and prosperity of the church, I so far agree with you, that I believe that, before the church of God shall have obtained the conquest, and the visible kingdom of Satan on earth shall receive its overthrow, and Christ’s kingdom of grace be every where established on its ruins, there shall be a great and mighty struggle between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan, attended with the greatest and most extensive convulsions and commotion, that ever were upon the face of the earth, wherein doubtless many particular Christians will suffer, and perhaps some parts of the church.
“But that the enemies of the church of God should ever gain such advantages against her any more, as they have done in times past, that the victory should ever any more be on their side, or that it shall ever be given to the beast again to make war with the saints, and to prevail against them, and overcome them, (as in Rev. xiii. 7. and Rev. xi. 7. and Dan. vii. 21.) to such a degree as has been heretofore, is otherwise than I hope. Though in this I would be far from setting up my own judgment, in opposition to others, who are more skilled in the prophecies of Scripture than I am. I think that what has mainly induced many divines to be of that opinion, is what is said in Rev. xi. chap. xi. concerning the slaying of the witnesses, Rev. xi. 7, 8.ver. 7, 8. ‘And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast, that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit, shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city,’ &c.
The event here spoken of, seems evidently to be that wherein the enemies of the church gain the greatest advantage against her that ever they have, and have the greatest conquest of her that ever they obtained, and bring the church nearest to a total extinction. For a long time the church is very small, represented by two witnesses, and they had been long in a very low state, prophesying in sackcloth; but now they are dead and their enemies triumph over them, as having gotten a complete victory, and look upon it that they are now past all possibility of recovery, there being less prospect of the church’s restoration than ever there was before. But are we to expect this, dear Sir, that Satan will ever find means to bring things to pass, that after all the increase of light that has been in the world, since the Reformation, there shall be a return of a more dark time than in the depth of the darkness of popery, before the Reformation, when the church of God shall be nearer to a total extinction, and have less of visibility, all true religion and light be more blotted out of the memories of mankind, Satan’s kingdom of darkness be more firmly established, all monuments of true religion be more abolished, and that the state of the world should be such, that it should appear further from any hope of a revival of true religion than it ever has done; is this conceivable or possible, as the state of things now is all over the world, even among papists themselves, without a miracle, a greater than any power short of divine can effect, without a long tract of time, gradually to bring it to pass, to introduce the grossest ignorance and extinguish all memory and monuments of truth; which was the case in that great extinction of true religion that was before the Reformation. And besides, if we suppose this war of the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit with the witnesses, wherein he overcomes them and kills them, to be that last war which the church shall have with the beast, that great and mighty conflict that shall be just before the final overthrow of antichrist, that we read of in the 16th chap. the 13th and following verses, and in the 19th chapter how shall we make them consist together? In the 11th chapter the church conflicts in sorrow, clothed in sackcloth, and in blood; in the 19th chap. the saints are not represented as fighting in sorrow and blood, though the battle be exceedingly great, but in strength, glory, and triumph. Their Captain goes forth to this battle, in great pomp and magnificence, on a white horse, and on his head many crowns, and on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords; and the saints follow him, not in sackcloth, but coming forth on white horses, clothed in pure linen, clean and white, the raiment of triumph, the same raiment that the saints appear in, Rev. vii. 14. when they appear with palms in their hands, after they had washed their robes, that had been stained with their own blood, and made themselves white in the blood of the Lamb. In the conflict spoken of in chap. xi. the beast makes war with the witnesses, and overcomes them, and kills them: the same is foretold, Dan. vii. 21. and Rev. xiii. 7. But in that last great battle, just before the fall of antichrist, we find the reverse of this; the church shall obtain a glorious victory over the beast, and the beast is taken and cast into the lake of fire. Rev. xvii. 14. ‘These shall make war with the Lamb; and the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings; and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful:’ compared with chap. xix. 16, to the end, and chap. xvi. 16, 17. In that conflict, chap. xi. the beast has war with the witnesses, and kills them, and their dead bodies lie unburied, as if it were to be meat for the beasts of the earth and fowls of heaven; but in that last conflict, Christ and his church shall slay their enemies, and give their dead bodies to be meat for the beasts of the earth and fowls of heaven, chap. xix. 17. &c. There is no manner of appearance in the descriptions that are given of that great battle, of any great advantages gained in it against the church, before the enemy is overcome, but all appearance of the contrary. The descriptions in the16th and 19th chapters of Rev. will by no means allow of such an advantage, as that of the overcoming and slaying of the church, or people of God, and their lying for some time unburied, that their dead bodies may be for their enemies to abuse and trample on, and make sport with. In the 16th chap. we have an account of their being gathered together into the place called Armageddon; and then the first thing we hear of after that, is the pouring out of the seventh vial of God’s wrath, and a voice saying, It is done; and so in chap. xix. we read of the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies being gathered together, to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army; and then the next thing we hear of is the beast’s being taken, &c. The event of the conflict of the beast with the church, chap. xi. is the triumph of the church’s enemies, when they of the people, and kindred, and tongues, and nations, and they that dwell on the earth, shall see the dead bodies of the saints lying in the streets, and shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and send gifts one to another. But the event of that great and last battle, before the fall of antichrist, is quite the reverse of this, even the church’s triumphing over their enemies, as being utterly destroyed. Those events, that are consequent on the issue of the war with the witnesses, chap. xi. do in no wise answer to those, that are represented as consequent on that last conflict of antichrist with the church. ‘Tis said that when the witnesses ascended into heaven, the same hour there was an earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand! but this don’t seem at all to answer what is described, chap. xvi. and xix. The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath; and every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And it had been said before, that there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And in chap. xix. instead of slaying seven thousand men, it seems as if there was a general slaughter of all the enemies of the church, through the world. And besides, if we read this 11th chapter through, we shall see that the falling of the tenth part of the city and the rising of the witnesses, and their standing on their feet and ascending into heaven, are represented there as entirely distinct from the accomplishment of the church’s glory, after the fall of antichrist, and God’s judging and destroying the enemies of the church. The judgment here spoken of, as executed on God’s enemies, are under another woe, and the benefits bestowed on the church, are under another trumpet: for immediately after the account of the rising and ascending of the witnesses, and its consequences, follow these words, ver.14, 15. ‘The second woe is past, and behold the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.’ And in the following verses, we have an account of the praises sung to God on the occasion; and in the last verse we have a brief hint of that same great earthquake, and the great hail, and those thunders, and lightnings, and voices, that we have an account of in the latter part of chap. xvi. so that the earthquake mentioned in the last verse of Rev. xi.chap. xi. seems to be the great earthquake, that attends the last great conflict of the church and her enemies, rather than that mentioned ver. 13.
The grand objection against all this is, that it is said, that the witnesses should prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth; and when they have finished their testimony, the beast should make war against them, and kill them, &c. and that it seems manifest that after this they are no longer in sackcloth; for henceforward they are in an exalted state in heaven: and that therefore, seeing the time of their wearing sackcloth is one thousand two hundred and sixty days, i.e. during the time of the continuance of antichrist; hence their being slain, and their rising again, must be at the conclusion of this period, at the end of antichrist’s reign.
In answer to which I would say, with submission to better judgments, that I humbly conceive that we can justly infer no more from this prophecy than this, viz. that the one thousand two hundred and sixty days is the proper time (as it were) of the church’s trouble and bondage, or being clothed in sackcloth, because it is the appointed time of the reign of antichrist; but this don’t hinder but that God, out of great compassion to his church, should, in some respect, shorten the days, and grant that his church should in some measure anticipate the appointed great deliverance that should be at an end of these days, as he has in fact done in the Reformation; whereby his church has had a great degree of restoration granted her, from the darkness, power, and dominion of antichrist, before their proper time of restoration, which is at the end of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days; and so the church, through the compassion of her Father and Redeemer, anticipates her deliverance from her sorrows; and has, in some respects, an end put to her testifying in sackcloth, as many parts of the church are henceforward brought out from under the dominion of the antichristian powers, into a state of liberty; though in other respects, the church may be said still to continue in her sackcloth, and in the wilderness, (as chap. xii. 14.) till the end of the days. And as to the witnesses standing on their feet, and ascending into heaven; I would propose that it may be considered, Whether any more can be understood by it, than the protestant church’s being now (at least as to many parts of it) able to stand on her own legs, and in her own defence, and being raised to such a state, that she henceforward is out of the reach of the Romish powers; that, let them do what they will, they shall never any more be able to get the church under their power, as they had before; as oftentimes in the Scriptures God’s people dwelling in safety, out of the reach of their enemies, is represented by their dwelling on high, or being set on high; Ps. lix. 1. Isa. xxxiii. 16. Ps. lxix. 29. and Ps. xci. 14. and Ps. cvii. 41. Prov. xxix. 25.; and the children of Israel, when brought out of Egypt, were said to be carried on eagle’s wings, that is lofty in its flight, flies away towards heaven where none of her enemies can reach her.
I might here observe, that we have other instances of God’s shortening the days of his church’s captivity and bondage, either at the beginning or latter end, in some measure parallel with this. Thus the proper time of the bondage of the posterity of Abraham, in a strange land, was four hundred years, Gen. xv. 13.; but yet God in mercy delayed their bondage, whereby the time was much shortened at the beginning. So the time wherein it was foretold, that the whole land of Israel should be a desolation and an astonishment, and the land should not enjoy her sabbaths, was seventy years, Jer. xxv. 11, 12.; and these seventy years are dated in 2 Chron. xxxvi. 20, 21.from Zedekiah’s captivity; and yet from that captivity to Cyrus’s decree was about fifty-two years, though it was indeed about seventy years before the temple was finished. So the proper time of the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes, wherein both the sanctuary and the host should be trodden under-foot by him, was two thousand and three hundred days, Dan. vii. 13, 14. and yet God gave Israel a degree of deliverance by the Maccabees, and they were holpen with a little help, and the host ceased to be trodden under-foot before that time was expired. Dan. xi. 32, 34.
But in these things, dear Sir, I am by no means dogmatical; I do but humbly offer my thoughts on what you suggested in your letter, submitting them to your censure. ‘Tis pity that we should expect such a terrible devastation of the church, before her last and most glorious deliverance, if there be no such thing to be expected. It may be a temptation to some of the people of God, the less earnestly to wish and pray for the near approach of the church’s glorious day, and the less to rejoice in the signs of its approach.
But, let us go on what scheme we will, it is most apparent from the Scriptures, that there are mighty strugglings to be expected, between the church of God and her enemies, before her great victory; and there may be many lesser strugglings before that last, and greatest, and universal conflict. Experience seems to show that the church of God, according to God’s method of dealing with her, needs a great deal gradually to prepare her for that prosperity and glory that he has promised her on earth; as the growth of the earth, after winter, needs gradually to be prepared for the summer heat: I have known instances, wherein by the heat’s coming on suddenly in the spring, without intermissions of cold to check the growth, the branches, many of them, by a too hasty growth, have afterwards died. And perhaps God may bring on a spiritual spring as he does the natural, with now and then a pleasant sunshiny season, and then an interruption by clouds and stormy winds, till at length, by the sun more and more approaching, and the light increasing, the strength of the winter is broken. We are extremely apt to get out of the right way. A very great increase of comfort that is sudden, without time and experience, in many instances, has appeared to wound the soul, in some respects, though it seems to profit it in others. Sometimes, at the same time that the soul seems wonderfully delivered from those lusts, that are more carnal and earthly, there is an insensible increase of those that are more spiritual; as God told the children of Israel, that he would put out the former inhabitants of the land of Canaan, by little and little, and would not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field should increase upon them. - We need much experience, to teach us the innumerable ways that we are liable to err, and to show us the evil and pernicious consequences of those errors. If it should please God, before many years, to grant another great revival of religion in New England, we should perhaps be much upon our guard against such errors as we have run into, and which have undone us this time, but yet might run insensibly into other errors that now we think not of.
You inquire of me, Rev. Sir, whether I reject all those for counterfeits that speak of visions and trances. I am far from doing of it: I am and always have been, in that matter, of the same opinion that Mr. Robe expresses, in some of those pamphlets Mr. M’Laurin sent me, that persons are neither to be rejected nor approved on such a foundation. I have expressed the same thing in my discourse on ‘the Marks of a Work of the True Spirit,’ and have not changed my mind.
I am afraid, dear Sir, that I have been too bold with you, in being so lengthy and tedious, and have been too impertinent and forward to express my opinion upon this and that; but I consider myself as writing to a candid, christian friend and brother, with whom I may be free and bold, and from whom I may promise myself excuse and forgiveness. Dear brother, asking your earnest prayers for me and for New England, I am your affectionate brother, and engaged friend and servant,
The opinion here expressed by Mr. Edwards, was not the result of a slight and cursory examination of the subject in discussion. He had a considerable time before examined, at great length, the prophecies of Daniel and John, with regard to this very point; and, as we shall soon have occasion to remark, had been convinced that the opinion, then commonly received, that the severest trials of the church were yet future, was erroneous.
The Rev. Samuel Buell, whom I have already mentioned, as having preached at Northampton during the absence of Mr. Edwards, in January, 1742, with uncommon fervour and success, continued his labours, as an evangelist among the churches, upwards of four years; and at length accepted of an invitation from the people of East Hampton, a village in the S. E. corner of Long Island, to become their minister. At his request, Mr. Edwards went to East Hampton, and there preached his installation sermon, on the 19th of September, 1746, from Isaiah lxii. 4, 5..
ARRIVAL OF DAVID BRAINERD AT NORTHAMPTON - HIS SICKNESS AND DEATH AT THE HOUSE OF MR. EDWARDS - HIS PAPERS - DEATH OF JERUSHA, THE SECOND DAUGHTER OF MR. E. - HER CHARACTER - CORRESPONDENCE OF MR. E. WITH REV. JOHN ERSKINE - ABSTRACT OF MR. E. ‘S FIRST LETTER TO MR. ERSKINE - PLAN CONCEIVED OF THE FREEDOM OF THE WILL - DEATH OF COL. STODDARD - KINDNESS OF MR. ERSKINE - LETTER OF MR. E. TO HIM - SECOND LETTER FROM MR. GILLESPIE - LETTER TO MR. M’CULLOCH - LETTER TO MR. ERSKINE - LETTER FROM MR. WILLISON - LIFE AND DIARY OF BRAINERD - LETTERS TO MESSRS. ERSKINE, M’CULLOCH, AND ROBE - ORDINATION OF REV. JOB STRONG - ANECDOTE OF REV. MR. MOODY - LETTER OF MR. E. TO HIS DAUGHTER MARY - SECOND LETTER TO MR. GILLESPIE.
The reader will recollect, that while Mr. Edwards was at New - Haven, in September, 1743, he formed an acquaintance with david brainerd, then a missionary to the Indians at Kaunaumeek, and became his counsellor at a most interesting period of his life. In March 1747, Brainerd, in consequence of extreme ill health, took leave of his Indians in New Jersey, and in April came into New England; when he was invited by Mr. Edwards to take up his abode in his own house. He came there on the 28th of May, apparently very much improved in health, cheerful in his spirits, and free from melancholy, yet at that time probably in a confirmed consumption. Mr. Edwards had now an opportunity of becoming most intimately acquainted with him, and regarded his residence under his roof as a peculiar blessing to himself and his family. “We enjoyed,” he observes, “not only the benefit of his conversation, but had the comfort and advantage of having him pray in the family from time to time.” He was at this time very feeble in health; but in consequence of the advice of his physician, he left Northampton for Boston, on the 9th of June, in company with the second daughter of Mr. Edwards. They arrived on the evening of the 12th, among the family relatives of Mr. Edwards in Boston, and for a few days the health of Brainerd appeared much amended; but a relapse on the 18th convinced his friends that his recovery was hopeless. Contrary to their expectations, however, he so far revived, that on the 20th of July they were able to leave Boston, in company with his brother, Mr. Israel Brainerd, and on the 25th they reached Northampton. Here his health continued gradually to decline, until early in October it was obvious that he would not long survive. “On the morning of Lord’s day, Oct. 4,” says Mr. Edwards, “as my daughter Jerusha, who chiefly attended him, came into the room, he looked on her very pleasantly, and said, ‘Dear Jerusha, are you willing to part with me? - I am quite willing to part with you: I am willing to part with all my friends: though if I thought I should not see you and be happy with you in another world, I could not bear to part with you. But we shall spend a happy eternity together.” He died on Friday, Oct. 9, 1747, and on the Monday following, Mr. Edwards preached the sermon at his funeral, from 2 Cor. v. 8. entitled, “True Saints when absent from the Body are present with the Lord;” which was published in the December following.
Brainerd, after destroying the early part of his Diary, left the residue in the hands of Mr. Edwards, to dispose of as he thought best. Mr. Edwards concluded to publish it, in connexion with a brief Memoir of his life.
In the ensuing February, Jerusha, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, was removed by death. Her father, in a note to the Memoirs of Brainerd, thus alludes to this distressing event. “Since this, it has pleased a holy and sovereign God, to take away this my dear child by death, on the 14th of February, next following, after a short illness of five days, in the 18th year of her age. She was a person of much the same spirit with Brainerd. She had constantly taken care of and attended him in his sickness, for nineteen weeks before his death; devoting herself to it with great delight, because she looked on him as an eminent servant of Jesus Christ. In this time, he had much conversation with her on the things of religion; and, in his dying state, often expressed to us, her parents, his great satisfaction concerning her true piety, and his confidence that he should meet her in heaven, and his high opinion of her not only as a real Christian, but as a very eminent saint: one whose soul was uncommonly fed and entertained with things which pertain to the most spiritual, experimental, and distinguishing parts of religion: and one, who, by the temper of her mind, was fitted to deny herself for God, and to do good, beyond any young woman whatsoever whom he knew. She had manifested a heart uncommonly devoted to God in the course of her life, many years before her death; and said on her death - bed, that she had not seen one minute, for several years, wherein she desired to live one minute longer, for the sake of any other good in life, but doing good, living to God, and doing what might be for his glory.“
In the course of the year 1747, an epistolary correspondence was commenced between Mr. Edwards and the Rev. John Erskine of Kirkintilloch, afterwards the Rev. Dr. Erskine of Edinburgh, which was continued to the close of Mr. Edwards’s life. This gentleman, possessing superior talents, and having every advantage of birth, fortune, and education, made choice of the clerical profession, in opposition to the prevailing wishes of his family; and in May, 1744, took charge of the parish of Kirkintilloch near Glasgow. In 1753, he was translated to a parish in the borough of Culross, and, in the autumn of 1758, to one of the parishes in Edinburgh. Distinguished alike for his learning and piety, for his honourable and munificent spirit, and for his firm attachment to evangelical religion, he adorned every station which he filled by a faithful and conscientious discharge of its various duties - private, social, and public; - enjoyed the high respect of the wise and good, not only in Great Britain, but extensively in both continents; and died in 1803, in his 82d year, having been the correspondent, successively, of President Edwards, of his son Dr. Edwards, president of Union College, and of his grandson President Dwight, for the period of fifty - six years.
Mr. Erskine began the correspondence with Mr. Edwards early in 1747, through the intervention of Mr. M’Laurin of Glasgow, by sending him the “Remains of Mr. Hall” - a memoir, written by himself, of a most respectable and beloved fellow - student in theology, a young gentleman of uncommon promise. I have none of the letters of Mr. Erskine to Mr. Edwards, and not having been able to procure the first letter of Mr. Edwards to Mr. Erskine, written in the summer of 1747, must be indebted for the following account of it to the “Life of Dr. Erskine,” by the Hon. and Rev. Sir H. M. Wellwood. - “On this occasion Mr. Edwards expressed, with great tenderness and delicacy, his sympathy with one, who had lost his most intimate and estimable friend in the prime of life, the companion of his youth, and, for a considerable time before his death, the delightful and affectionate associate of his studies and of his piety.
“In a postscript to this letter, he mentioned his book on Religious Affections, then just published, and at the same time sent his correspondent a copy of it in a book of which it is not too much to say, that it is not only worthy of the talents and sincerity of its author, but that while it shows that he was neither forward nor rash in estimating striking or sudden impressions of religion, it contains more sound instruction on its particular subject, and lays down more intelligible and definite rules to distinguish true from false religion, and to ascertain by distinct characters the genuine spirit of vital piety, separated from all fanatical delusions, than any other book which has yet been given to the world.
“In the same postscript to Mr. Edwards’s first letter to Dr. Erskine, he gave him a general sketch of a plan which he had then formed, and which he afterwards executed with so much ability in his book on the Freedom of the Will; - a book which, whether his opinions be questioned or adopted, has certainly given him an eminent station both among philosophers and divines. ‘I have thought,’ he says, ‘of writing something particularly and largely on the Arminian controversy in distinct discourses on the various points in dispute, to be published successively, beginning first with a discourse concerning the Freedom of the Will, and Moral Agency; endeavouring fully and thoroughly to state and discuss those points of liberty and necessity, moral and physical inability, efficacious grace, and the ground of virtue and vice, reward and punishment, blame and praise, with regard to the dispositions and actions of reasonable creatures.’
“Such was the first idea of a work from which Mr. Edwards afterwards derived his chief celebrity as an author; but a considerable time intervened before he found it possible to make any progress in his design.”
The death of Col. Stoddard, which occurred at Boston, on the 19th of June this year, was a loss severely felt, not only by Mr. Edwards and the people of Northampton, but by the county and the province at large. He was eminently distinguished for his strength of understanding and energy of character, and had for a long period unrivalled influence in the council of the province. He was also a man of decided piety, and a uniform friend and supporter of sound morals and evangelical religion. Mr. Edwards preached a sermon on his death from Ezek. xix. 12. which was immediately published.
Early in the next year Mr. Edwards received from Mr. Erskine a number of books which he valued very highly, as containing the ablest exhibition and defence of the system of doctrines usually styled Arminianism, which had at that time appeared before the public. In the following letter he acknowledges the kindness of his correspondent, and at the same time alludes to the decease of his daughter.
“To the Rev. John Erskine
Northampton, Aug. 31, 1748.
I, this summer, received your kind letter of Feb. 9, 1748, with your most acceptable present of Taylor on Original Sin, and his Key to the Apostolic Writings, with his Paraphrase on the Epistle to the Romans; together with your Sermons and Answer to Doct. Campbell. I had your Sermons before, sent either by you or Mr. M’Laurin. I am exceedingly glad of those two books of Taylor’s. I had before borrowed and read Taylor on Original Sin; but am very glad to have one of my own; if you had not sent it, I intended to have sought opportunity to buy it. The other book, his Paraphrase, &c. I had not heard of; if I had I should not have been easy till I had seen it, and been possessed of it. These books, if I should live, may probably be of great use to me. Such kindness from you was unexpected. I hoped to receive a letter from you, which alone I should have received as a special favour.
I have for the present been diverted from the design I hinted to you, of publishing something against some of the Arminian tenets, by something else that Divine Providence unexpectedly laid in my way, and seemed to render unavoidable, viz. publishing Mr. Brainerd’s Life, of which the enclosed paper of proposals give some account.
It might be of particular advantage to me, here in this remote part of the world, to be better informed what books there are that are published on the other side of the Atlantic; and especially if there be anything that comes out that is very remarkable. I have seen many notable things that have been written in this country against the truth, but nothing very notable on our side of the controversies of the present day, at least of the Arminian controversy. You would much oblige me, if you would inform me what are the best books that have lately been written in defence of Calvinism.
I have herewith sent the two books of Mr. Stoddard’s you desired. The lesser of the two was my own; and though I have no other, yet you have laid me under such obligations that I am glad I have it to send to you. The other I procured of one of my neighbours.
I have lately heard some things that have excited hope in me, that God was about to cause there to be a turn in England, with regard to the state of religion there for the better; particularly what we have heard, that one Mr. West, a clerk of the privy council, has written in defence of Christianity, though once a notorious deist; and also what Mr. Littleton, a member of the house of commons, has written. I should be glad if you would inform me more particularly in your next concerning this affair, and what the present state of infidelity in Great Britain is.
It has pleased God, since I wrote my last to you, sorely to afflict this family, by taking away by death, the last February, my second daughter, in the eighteenth year of her age; a very pleasant and useful member of this family, and one that was esteemed the flower of the family. Herein we have a great loss; but the remembrance of the remarkable appearances of piety in her, from her childhood, in life, and also at her death, are very comfortable to us, and give us great reason to mingle thanksgiving with our mourning. I desire your prayers, dear Sir, that God would make up our great loss to us in himself.
Please to accept of one of my sermons on Mr. Brainerd’s death, and also one of my sermons on Mr. Buell’s instalment. I desire that for the future your letters to me may be directed to be left with Mr. Edward Bromfield, merchant in Boston. My wife joins with me in respectful and affectionate salutations to you and Mrs. Erskine. Desiring that we may meet often at the throne of grace in supplications for each other,
I am, dear brother, your obliged friend,
Fellow labourer, and humble servant,
P.S. I desired Mr. Prince to send to you one of my books on the subject of the concert for prayer for a general revival of religion the last year; and he engaged to do it; but I perceive he forgot it, and it was long neglected. But I have since taken some further care to have the book conveyed; so that I hope that ere this time you have received it.
In the conclusion of your letter of Feb. 9, you mention a design of writing to me again by a ship that was to sail the next month for Boston. That letter I have not received.”
Mr. Gillespie, imagining that the difficulties which he had stated in his former letter, were not satisfactorily cleared up in the answer of Mr. Edwards, addressed to him the following reply.
Letter from Mr. Gillespie.
“Sept. 19, 1748.
I had the favour of yours in spring last, for which I heartily thank you. I did not want inclination to make you a return long ago, as I prize your correspondence, but some things concurred that effectually prevented me, which has given me concern.
It was my desire to be informed, and my inclination to make you understand, how some passages in your book on Religious Affections did appear to me and some others, your real friends and well - wishers in this country, that determined me to presume to offer you some few remarks on the passages mentioned in my former letter; and desire of further information engages me now, with all respect, to make some observations upon some things in your letter. I hope you will pardon my freedom, and bear with me in it, and set me right wherein you may find me to misapprehend your meaning, or to mistake in any other respect.
You say, ‘You conceive that there is a great difference between these two things, viz. its being a man’s duty, who is without spiritual light or sight, to believe; and its being his duty to believe without spiritual light or sight, or to believe while he yet remains without spiritual light or sight: it is not proper to say, it is a man’s duty to believe without faith,’ &c. Now, dear Sir, the difference here, I am not able to conceive; for all are bound to believe the divine testimony and to trust in Christ, which you acknowledge; and the want of spiritual light or sight does not loose from the obligation one is laid under by the divine command to believe instantly on Christ, and at all season, as his circumstances shall require, nor does it excuse him in any degree for not believing. I own that a person who has no spiritual light or sight cannot eventually believe, if by light or sight is meant the influence or grace of the Spirit, by which one’s mind is irradiated to take up the object and grounds of faith, so as to be made to have a spiritual sight of Christ, and to act that grace; yet still, even when one, wants this, it is his duty, and he is bound to believe, for we know it is a maxim, ’ability is not the rule of duty.’ I also acknowledge, that no person who is, and always has been, without spiritual light or sight, is bound, nor is it his duty, to believe that he has actually believed, or to conclude he is really a partaker of the faith of God’s elect. I have some apprehension this is all you meant by the expressions I have noticed, and the reasoning in consequence of them; or else certainly different ideas are affixed to words with you and among us. There is indeed a great deal of difference betwixt its being one’s duty to believe, or to act faith, and its being his duty to believe he has believed, or has acted divine faith; i.e. you say you apply the particle without, respecting spiritual light or sight, to the act of believing, by which I suppose you intend, ‘all should believe, though none do really believe, without spiritual light or sight;’ in which I entirely agree with you. The word duty indeed, which you use when treating that matter, is ordinarily supposed to signify the obligation the person is under by the divine authority to believe, as applied to the matter of faith, and not to the act of faith put forth in consequence of such obligation. Had I not supposed you plainly meant by the expressions I quoted from the book, the duty or obligation to believe, and not an act of faith exerted, I should have made no remarks on them. It is indeed as absurd for one to conclude he has really believed without spiritual light or sight, as to say one should believe he had believed, without those things that are essentially implied in faith. But I must differ from you in thinking it is not very proper to say, it is a man’s duty to believe without faith, i.e. while he yet remains without spiritual light or sight, or to put forth an act of faith on the Saviour, however void of spiritual light or sight; for if this was not the truth, the finally impenitent sinner could not be condemned for unbelief, as the Holy Ghost declares he will be, John iii. 19, 20, 24. . and that notwithstanding the power of the Spirit of faith must make him believe. I should be glad to know the precise idea you affix to the words faith and believing. I do not remember a person’s reflecting on his act of faith, anywhere in Scripture termed believing. You remark, ‘That I seem to suppose that a person’s doubting of his good estate is the proper opposite of faith;’ and I own, as it is a believer’s duty to expect salvation through Christ, which, in other words, is to believe his good estate, Acts. xv. ll. Gal. ii. 20. Eph. ii. 4. Job xix. 25. doubting of it must be his sin, an effect of unbelief, a part of it, and thus the proper opposite of faith, considered in its full compass and latitude. Thus once doubting of his good estate by a true believer, and unbelief in one branch of it, or one part and manner of its acting, are the same thing. Faith and unbelief are opposed in Scripture, and what is the opposite of one ingredient in unbelief must be faith in one part of it, - one thing that belongs to its exercise. A person’s believing is owned to be his indispensable duty, and this comprehends or supposes his being confident of his good estate, and is properly divine faith, because it has the divine testimony now cited, on which it bottoms, Jer. iii. 19. The Lord says, ‘Thou shalt call me, My father, and shalt not turn away from me;’ which is evidently faith, and no less manifestly belief of one’s good estate, or being confident of it, because the expression must denote the continued exercise of faith, in not turning away from the Lord. Crying Abba Father, Rom. viii. 15. is faith in the Lord as one’s father, which must have a being confident of one’s good estate inseparable from it, or rather enwrapped in it. I suppose what I have mentioned is very consistent with what you say, ‘That faith, and persons believing that they have faith, are not the same;’ for one’s believing that he has faith, simply and by itself, has for its object the man’s inward frame, or the actings and exercises of his spirit, and not a divine testimony. This is not divine faith; but, as I have laid the matter, a being confident of one’s good estate has for its foundation the word of God, Heb. xiii. 5. , &c. ultimately, - at least; to be sure this is one way in which faith is acted, or one thing in its exercise. I am far from thinking unbelief, or being without faith, and doubting whether they have faith, to be the same thing in an unconverted sinner, whom your words, ’being without faith,’ must mean, and therein we entirely agree. But I must think, as to the believer, his doubting whether or not he has faith, is sinful, because it is belying the Holy Ghost, denying his work in him, so there is no sin to which that doubting can so properly be reduced as unbelief. You know, dear Sir, doubting and believing are opposed in Scripture, Matt. xiv. 31. Matt. xxi. 21. Mark xi. 23. and I cannot exclude from the idea of doubting, a questioning the truth and reality of a work of grace on one’s soul; for the Holy Ghost requires us to believe the reality of his work in us, in all its parts, just as it is, and never would allow us, much less call us to sin, or to believe a falsehood, that one is void of grace, when he has it, that good might come of it, i.e. that the person might be awakened from security, &c. 1 John iii. 3. ‘Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, as he is pure;’ I think intimates, that in proportion to the degree of one’s hope, that the Lord is his Father, will be his aim after sanctification, and his attainment of it; if so, to renounce this hope, to throw it up at any season, on any account, must be unlawful; whence I infer, for the believer to doubt of his gracious state, to call it in question for any reason whatever, so as to raze it, it is simply sinful, 1 John ii. 12, 15. ‘I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you, viz. Love not the world.’ Here forgiveness of sin is used as a motive or incitement not to love the world; and this reasoning of the apostle would lose all its force, were it incumbent on a believer, at some seasons, to think he was not within the bond of the new covenant, - he is bound ever to hold that conclusion fixed. The exhortation, not to cast away one’s confidence, certainly comprehends a call to persevere in believing in our interest in the Lord, and to practise it at all seasons, Heb. x. 35. Job’s friends endeavoured to make him question, whether the root of the matter was in him, and to conclude that he was a hypocrite. He resolved, though the Lord should slay him, he would trust in him, chap. xiii. 15 being confident of his own good estate, chap. xxvii. 3, 5. ‘All the while my breath is in me;’ and ver. 5. ‘Till I die, I will not remove my integrity from me;’ and we see, from the whole tenor of his book, what there he resolved, he actually did practise; he never entertained the thought of supposing the Lord was not his God, notwithstanding the grievous eruptions of iniquity in him, in quarrelling with the sovereignty of God, &c. And in the end, the Lord condemned his friends for speaking of him ‘the things that were not right,’ and pronounced that Job, his servant, had said of him the thing ‘that is right,’ Job iv. 1. ; from which, it is to be presumed, he was approved in guarding against razing his state . Also, 2 Cor. i. 12. what the apostle terms there, ‘his rejoicing,’ was what supposed his being confident of his good estate, that he was participant of a principle of grace, which made him capable of acting, as he did, with godly sincerity. All which, with other considerations, do satisfy me, that a believer never should raze his state on any account whatever; and that, as has been mentioned, doubting of his gracious state is sinful, one way of unbelief, its acting in him, though not the direct and immediate opposite of that acting of faith by which a person renounces his own righteousness and closes with Christ, yet the opposite of the posterior exercise of faith in him, and upon the promise, in certain respects. Your book is now lent, and therefore I cannot take notice, as you wish and I incline, of what you say on this head, p. 80, 81. more particularly than I have done. However, I have, I think, touched the precise point in difference between us.
You observe, I seem to intimate, ‘A person’s being confident of his own good estate is the way to be delivered from darkness, deadness, backsliding, and prevailing iniquity.’ And you add, that ‘you think whoever supposes this to be God’s method of delivering his saints, when sunk into an evil, careless, carnal, and unchristian frame, first to assure them of their good estate and his favour, while they yet remain in such a frame, and so to make thatthe means of their deliverance, does surely mistake God’s method of dealing with such persons.’ Here I think you represent the case too strong; for the words in my letter to which you refer, were, ‘I have heard it taught that the believer was bound to trust in the Lord in the very worst frame he could be in, and that the exercise of faith was the way to be delivered from darkness, deadness, backsliding,’ &c. And afterwards, I said, when questioning whether the believer should ever doubt of his estate on any account whatever, ‘I know the opposite has been prescribed; when the saint is plunged in the mire of prevailing iniquity.’ Now, as a believer may be thus plunged, and yet sin at that instant be his grief and burden, Rom. vii. 24. and he may have the hope and expectation of being relieved from it even then, Psalm lxv. 3. I do not think my words convey the idea you affix to them. Also you will observe, I do not say, ‘that a person’s being confident of his own good estate is the way to be delivered from,’ &c. but ‘that the believer was bound to trust the Lord in the worst frame,’ &c. This I mention, precisely to state my words, and they are, I think, very defensible; for the believer is called ‘to trust in the Lord for ever,’ Isa. xxvi. 4. . If so, when in the situation mentioned; for this is a trusting in the Lord as one’s God. The woman with the issue of blood, her touching Christ, and the success, is, I suppose, a call and encouragement to touch him by faith, for having the worst soul - maladies healed, Mark v. 25. . Trusting in the Lord for needful blessings, in the situation mentioned, gives him the glory of his faithfulness, and engages him to act in the believer’s behalf; thus to do, it is both duty and interest. Jonah, when in a course of grievous rebellion, and under awful chastisement for it, when perhaps he had actually disclaimed interest in the Lord, or was in danger of it, said, ‘he would look again toward the Lord’s holy temple,’ chap. ii. 4. evidently in exercise of faith in the Lord as his God, the Lord assuring him of his good estate and his favour, by the operation of the Spirit causing him so to act, and to be conscious of it; and, verse 7. ‘when my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.’ Here is my assertion exemplified in practice, by a believer, I may venture to say, in an evil frame, when the Spirit breathed upon him. Though a prophet, he deliberately disobeyed the express instructions of his Lord, chap. i. 2, 3. and in a careless frame, for he slept securely in the sides of the ship, during a tempest raised for his sake, and when the heathen mariners everyone called upon his god, chap. i. 5, 6. So far was he from dreading, as he had reason to do, that the Lord would plead a controversy with him for the part he acted, that dismal security, awful carelessness, and a carnal frame had seized him; for he declared to the Lord, that he said to him in his country, he would repent of the evil he had said he would do to the Ninevites, if they turned from their evil way, and assigned that for the reason why he fled to Tarshish, chap. iv. 2. ; and thus would rather that the Lord should want the honour, that would redound to his name by the repentance, though only outward, of the Ninevites, than that the whole city should be destroyed, one of the largest the sun shone upon, and the most populous, and that himself should lose the honour and comfort of being the instrument of its preservation, than that he should fall under the imputation of being a false prophet, for which there would yet have been no foundation. Horrid carnality this! for as it was dreadful selfishness, it may, in that view, be termed carnality, - astonishing pride! this ‘filthiness of the spirit’ is worse than that of the flesh; and, all circumstances of his conduct considered, he was not only in an ungodly frame, but in an inhumane one, and he sinned presumptuously in one of the highest degrees, we may suppose, in which it is possible for a believer so to act; notwithstanding it appears the happy turn was begun in him, under the influence of the Spirit, by renewing his faith in the Lord as his God, and being confident of his good estate; upon which he prayed, as already mentioned, and was heard by his God, see verses 7, 8. was delivered out of his then dismal and dangerous circumstances, chap. ii. 12. - Thus I have done more than I was bound to do, and have proved the point, not only in the manner in which I have expressed it, but in the strong light your words, a comment on mine, had set it; for one plain scripture instance, such certainly as that I have given, is sufficient, as agreed, to prove any thing. It is so far from being a mistaking of God’s method of dealing with such persons, as you suggest, (pardon me, dear Sir,) to say, that it is ‘the Lord’s method of delivering his saints when in a backsliding condition, first to assure them of their good estate and his favour, and so to make that the means of their deliverance;’ that I give you the words of the Holy Ghost for it is as express and full as anything possibly can be, Jer. iii. 12, 13, 14. ; verse 14. ‘Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you.’ This was, to be sure, the Lord’s intimating the new covenant relation in which he stood to the spiritual Israel among them; and verse 22 of that chapter, the Lord says, ‘Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings;’ and in the close of the verse, we have the Lord’s thus assuring them of their good estate and his favour, shown to be the effectual mean of the backsliding being healed: ‘Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.’ Hos. xiv. 4. ‘O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.’ Here the first words of the Lord’s message to his spiritual Israel, are, that ’the Lord was their God,’ and the expression, ‘fallen by iniquity,’ conveys a very strong idea, when applied to a believer, perhaps as strong, as is comprehended in your words, ’evil, &c. frame;’ and I must think this verse is so expressed to work on holy ingenuousness in them, for its revival when under the ashes of corruption. It would perhaps be no difficult matter to multiply scripture testimonies of such kind; but these adduced are, I think, full proof of the point, for confirmation of which they are brought. The love of Christ constrains the believer to return from folly, as well as to other things in other respects, 2 Cor. v. 14. . I might argue here from the efficacy of the love of God apprehended, the genius of the new creature, and nature in believers, and a variety of other topics, but choose, without expatiating, to confine myself to precise scripture testimonies. As to what you say, that ‘among all the multitudes you have had opportunity to observe, you never knew one dealt with in this manner, but have known many brought back from great declensions, that appeared to be true saints, but it was in a very diverse way from this: first conscience awakened; they brought into great fear of the wrath of God; his favour hid; the subjects of a kind of new work of humiliation; brought to great sense of deserving God’s wrath, while they yet feared it, before God had delivered them from apprehension of it, and comforted with a renewed sense of his favour.’ All I observe upon this is, that the way I have laid down, is obviously that which the Lord declares in his word, he takes, for bringing back his people from declensions, and thus that in it mercy is to be expected, whatever the Lord may be pleased to do in sovereignty, and he will not be limited; also, persons do not perceive everything that passes within them, far less are they capable to give a full distinct account of everything of each kind. Experiences of Christians are to be brought to the touch - stone of the infallible bar, and to stand or fall by it; the Bible is not to be brought to their test, and judged of by them. I own we may mistake the sense of Scripture, but it is so obvious in the passages I have quoted, that I cannot see how it can be misapprehended.
I cannot say anything now, about the other remarks I made on your book, touched on in your letter, because I have not now the book to look into. I understand the passages about prevalence of sin, so as to denominate a person not in a gracious state, better, by what you have wrote; and, if any difficulty shall remain after comparing your book and letter, I may come to propose it to you afterwards.
What you wrote about the case of temptation was very agreeable, and I thank you for it. I shall now state the case more plainly, because I want much your further thoughts upon it. It is precisely this. A person finds himself beset by evil angels, what if I remember right Voetius terms obsessio, and one in that situation obsessus; they incessantly break into his body and mind, sometimes by vain, at other seasons by vile thoughts, now by the thoughts of a business neglected, which was a seasonable thing to be done, then by a scripture text, or an engaging thought of some spiritual truth, when entrance is not to be had another way, and by a variety of other methods. They do all they can, perpetually to teaze, defile, and discourage; he is conscious of the whole transaction, and finds his spirit broken by it, and goes not about to reason with Satan, knows the expediency of this course, is aware Satan wants no better, than that he pray much and long against his temptations, and so wont pray himself out of breath, by his instigation; is convinced the remedy is to get them kept out of body and mind; trusts, in dependence on the Lord, to the use of medical, moral, and religious means for that end, because experience shows all of them are expedient and advantageous in their place; but all is in vain, no relief for him, relish of divine things wore off the mind, no comfort, is rendered callous by cruel constant buffetings, he cries, but the Lord hears not. By what I understand, this is a just representation of the case, and will lead you to the knowledge of other circumstances in it. What would you advise such a person to do? How shall he recover savour of spiritual truths and objects?
I wondered you said nothing in your letter, about what I mentioned in mine, respecting supposed immediate revelations of facts and future events, as special favours conferred on some special favourites of heaven. I give in to your sentiments on that point, expressed in the three treatises you have published, and greatly like what Mr. Brainerd said on the subject, as mentioned, I think, by you, in the funeral sermon on him, which I perused with a great deal of pleasure; and shall now mention some things, said in favour of that principle, of which people are very tenacious, that I may have your answers to them, which will be a singular favour done me, for certain reasons: for example, John xvi. 13. is affirmed to be an express promise of such a thing: - it is urged, the thing is not contrary to Scripture, and therefore, may be; - it is urged, John xiii. 24 - 27. is an example of it, an intimation what the Lord will do in such kind when it pleaseth him, till the end of time. It is pretended, and indeed this is the strength of the cause, that the thing is a matter of fact, has nothing to do with the Bible, therefore nothing about it is to be expected in Scripture, and simply to deny it in all cases, is daringly to limit the power of God. The Lord has not said he will not grant it, and how dare any say it cannot be? It is reasoned, there are numbers of well attested instances of the thing in different ages and places, facts are stubborn things, and to deny them all is shocking, an overturning of all moral evidence. It is insisted on, that the thing has been formerly; it is confessed, and why may it not be now? We are told, a considerable time before a thing happened, that it has been impressed on the mind in all its circumstances, which exactly happened in every point; if when asked, what one can say to this, he says, perhaps it was from Satan, to this it is answered, does he know future contingent events? The reply is at hand, it is not above him to figure a thing on the fancy long before, which he is resolved by some means to bring about; but to all this it is answered by advocates for immediate revelations, such reasoning tends to sap one of the main pillars of evidence of the divinity of the scripture prophecies.
I have, by what I remember, given you the force of the argument, to establish what has had, I too well know, very bad effects, as commonly managed, in Britain, as well as in New England; a history of instances of them would not be without its use, and materials for it are not wanting. I will long much to see what you say in way of reply to all this. I am sure you cannot employ time better than in framing it. I should have mentioned that the authority of eminent divines is brought to bear upon them, whose stomachs stand at swallowing things, like additions to the Bible, - Mr. Fleming, in the Fulfilling of the Scriptures, Dr. Goodwin, &c. But on this, it has been pleasantly observed, that the authority of the worthies in the eleventh of the Hebrews, would have done a good deal better. I have some apprehension this is a point of truth, which the Lord is to clear up in this age.
I have read your Humble Attempt, and with much satisfaction; was charmed with the scriptures of the latter day of glory set in one point of light. I do think humbly your observations on Lowman have great strength of reason. The killing of the witnesses, as yet to come, has been to me a grievous temptation; for which reason, I peruse with peculiar pleasure what you say on this subject; but if you answer the objection, ‘It would appear that the seventh trumpet is to sound soon after the resurrection of the witnesses, and the kingdoms of the world, &c. but that has not happened, therefore the witnesses are not killed;’ I say, if this you answer, I have forgot.
I should have also mentioned, that it seems evident, the doctrine of immediate revelations must be simply denied as unscriptural, and thus well - founded in no case; or it must be allowed in its full compass, and latitude, let the consequences of it be what they will, for if the thing is allowed possible, reasonings about its effects will not conclude nor avail; I can see no middle way between the two things. That principle taken for granted by almost all, in all times past, is, as I mentioned in my last letter, to me a surprising thing.
Mr. Whitefield arrived at Edinburgh Wednesday last, and was to preach on Thursday evening; but as I am fifteen miles from that city, of which two miles by sea, I have not yet heard of the effects of his preaching, or the number of the audiences; I wish they may be as frequent as when he was last here. May Divine power specially attend his ministrations! We need it much, as we are generally fallen under great deadness. I believe he will find use for all his prudence and patience in dealing with us, for different reasons. With great pleasure, friends to vital religion, and to him, are informed he is to make no collections at this time! I was glad to hear you write, that he laboured with success in New England, in rectifying mistakes he had favoured, about intimations made by the Lord to his people, &c. and heartily wish he may be directed to apply an antidote here, where it is also needed.
I have tired you with a long epistle, and shall therefore now break off. What you was pleased to favour me with, upon the difficulty started from Rom. viii. 28. was very acceptable, and I thank you much for it. I will expect a letter from you the first opportunity after this comes to hand; and in it all the news of New England, particularly some account of the state of religion with you. It gives me pleasure to think, I may write you my sentiments upon every thing without reserve. Please make my affectionate compliments to my friend Mr. Abercrombie, when you see him, or write to him, and tell him, I remember I am in his debt for a letter. I hope the ship I am informed of, for carrying this, is not sailed, and therefore it will not be so long in coming to your hand, after being writ, as my last.
I am, &c.”
Letter to Mr. M’CULLOCH.
Northampton, Oct. 7, 1748.
I thank you for your letter of Feb. 19, 1748, which I received the week before last. I had also, long before that, received the letter you speak of, which you wrote the spring before, dated March 12, 1747, which I wrote an answer to, and sent it to Mr. Prince of Boston, and committed it to his care; and am very sorry that you never received it. I am far from being weary of our correspondence. I ever looked on myself as greatly honoured and obliged by you, in your beginning this correspondence; and have found it pleasant and profitable; and particularly your last letter, that I have but now received, has been very agreeable and entertaining; especially on account of the good news it contains. I cannot but think many things mentioned in your letter, and the letters of my other correspondents in Scotland, which came with yours, are great things, worthy to be greatly taken notice of, and to be an occasion of much rejoicing and praise to all that love Zion: viz. The remarkable change in one of the clerks of the privy council; God’s stirring up him and Mr. Littleton to write in defence of Christianity; the good effect of this among men of figure and character; the good disposition of the king, and the Prince and Princess of Wales; the late awakening of two of the princesses, Amelia and Caroline, and the hopeful conversion of one or both of them; the hopeful, real piety of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his good disposition towards experimental religion and the dissenters; several of the clergy of the church of England lately appearing to preach the doctrines of grace; several of the magistrates, in various towns in England, exerting themselves with uncommon zeal to put the laws in execution against vice; and the eminent piety of the Prince of Orange, now the stadtholder of the Seven United Provinces. These things (at least some of them) are great in themselves, and are of that nature that they have a most promising aspect on the interests of Zion, and appear to be happy presages and forerunners of yet better and greater things that are coming. They look as if the tide was turning, and glorious things approaching, by the revolution of the wheel of God’s providence. I think we, and all others, who have lately united by explicit agreement in extraordinary prayer for a general revival of religion and the coming of Christ’s kingdom, may, without presumption, be greatly encouraged and animated in the duty we have engaged in, by the appearance of such a dawning of light from such great darkness; and should be ungrateful if we did not acknowledge God’s great goodness in these things, and faithfulness in fulfilling the promises of his word; such as these in particular, ‘If any two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything you shall ask, it shall be done of my Father which is in heaven;’ and, ‘Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.’ I have already communicated these things to some belonging to this town, and other places; some have appeared much affected with them; and one that belongs to another town, has taken extracts of these passages. I design, God willing, to communicate these things to my congregation, before the next quarterly day for prayer, and also to the neighbouring ministers, who, according to our stated agreement, will be met together on that day, to spend the former part of the day in prayer among ourselves, and the latter part in public services in one of our congregations; and shall also probably communicate these things to some of my correspondents in New Jersey and elsewhere, and I cannot but think they will tend to do a great deal of good, in various respects; and particularly will tend to promote the Concert for Prayer, in these parts of the world. I desired Mr. Prince of Boston to send you one of my books on the Concert, soon after it was published; who engaged to do it; but long forgot it, as I perceived afterwards to my surprise; but since that more thorough care has been taken about that matter; and I hope you, and each of my other correspondents in Scotland, have before now received one of those books.
I thank you, dear Sir, for sending me your thoughts on some things in the prophecies of the Revelation of St. John, and for being at so much trouble as to send it twice (supposing the first letter had miscarried.) This I take as a particular mark of respect, for which I am obliged to you. I received, as I said before, your former letter, (which contained the same observations,) and sent an answer to it, wherein I gave you my thoughts, such as they were, on those subjects. But if you have received my book on United Prayer, &c. therein you have seen more fully my thoughts on some things in the Revelation, that have a near relation to the same matter that you write about; the substance of which I before had written to you in a large letter, desiring your opinion of what I wrote.
The letter I think you received, by some intimations contained in yours of March 12, 1747. But you was not pleased to favour me with anything at all of your thoughts of what I had so largely communicated to you, to that end, that I might have your opinion. But I am not the less willing again to communicate my thoughts on your remarks.
As to what you observe concerning the number six hundred and sixty - six, and that number being found in the name of the present king of France; it is indeed something remarkable, that that number should be found both in his Latin and French names, as you observe; and I do not know but that the omniscient Spirit of God (who doubtless in his predictions has sometimes his eye on several things in which he knows they will be fulfilled) might have some respect to his name in the prophecy; but I can hardly think that this individual king of France, or any other particular prince in Europe, is what is chiefly intended by the beast, so largely described in the 13th chapter of Revelation, whose number is said to be six hundred and sixty - six. Of all the conjectures concerning the number of the beast, that I have lit on in my small reading, that of Mr. Potter’s seems to me the most ingenious, who supposes the true meaning is to be found by extracting the root of the number. But after all, I have ever suspected that the thing chiefly aimed at by the Holy Spirit, was never yet found out, and that the discovery is reserved for later times. Yet one reason why Mr. Potter’s conjecture does not fully satisfy me, is, the difficulty without adjusting the fractions in the root, when extracted. With respect to your very ingenious conjectures, concerning the period of forty - two months, or one thousand two hundred and sixty days, of the outer court and holy city’s being trodden under - foot of the Gentiles; you know, Sir, that that forty - two months, or one thousand two hundred and sixty days, spoken of Rev. xi. 2. has been universally understood, as being the very same period with the 1260 days of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth, spoken of in the next verse; and the one thousand two hundred and sixty days of the woman’s being led in the wilderness, chap. xiii. 6. and the time, times, and half a time, of her being nourished in the wilderness from the face of the serpent, ver. 14. and the forty - two months of the continuance of the beast, chap. xiii. 5. But it does not appear to me probable that these forty - two months of the continuance of the beast, means the sum of the diverse periods in which the plat of ground, whereon the ancient literal Jerusalem stood, was under the dominion of the Romans, Saracens, Persians, and Turks; but the space of time during which the reign of antichrist or the popish hierarchy continues; and as to the particular time of the downfall of antichrist, you see my reasons in the forementioned pamphlet, why I think it certain that it will not be known till it be accomplished: I cannot but think that the Scripture is plain in that matter, and that it does, in effect, require us to rest satisfied in ignorance till the time of the end comes.
However, I should be very foolish, if I were dogmatical in my thoughts concerning the interpretation of the prophecies: especially in opposition to those who have had so much more opportunity to be well acquainted with things of this nature. But since you have insisted on my thoughts, I conclude you will not be displeased that I have mentioned them, though not altogether agreeable to yours. I am nevertheless greatly obliged to you for your condescension in communicating your thoughts to me. If we do not exactly agree in our thoughts about these things, yet in our prayers for the accomplishment of these glorious events in God’s time, and for God’s gracious presence with us, and his assistance in endeavours to promote his kingdom and interests, in the mean time, we may be entirely agreed and united. That we may be so, is the earnest desire of, dear Sir,
Your affectionate brother and servant,
in our common Lord,
In perusing the following letter, while the reader will deeply regret the loss of that from Mr. Erskine to which it is an answer, he will feel a lively interest in the mass of religious intelligence which it contains, as well as in the interesting development which it gives of the character of Governor Belcher.
“To the Rev. Mr. Erskine.
Northampton, Oct. 14, 1748.
A little while ago I wrote a letter to you, wherein I acknowledged the receipt of your letter, and the books that came with it, viz. Taylor on Original Sin; and on the Romans: with your sermons, and Answer to Mr. Campbell; for which most acceptable presents I would most heartily and renewedly thank you.
I sent my letter to Boston, together with one of Mr. Stoddard’s Benefit of the Gospel to the Wounded in Spirit, and his Nature of Saving Conversion, with a sermon on Mr. Brainerd’s death, and some account of a history of his life now in the press, to be sent to Scotland by the first opportunity; whether there has been any opportunity or no, I cannot tell. I have very lately received another letter from you, dated April 4, 1748, which was indeed exceedingly acceptable, by reason of the remarkable and joyful accounts it contains of things, that have a blessed aspect on the interests of Christ’s kingdom in the world: such as the good effects of the writings of Mr. West and Mr. Littleton on some at court, and the religious concern in Mr. Randy’s and Mr. Gray’s parishes, the hopeful true piety of the Archbishop of Canterbury; this and the king’s disposition, not only to tolerate but comprehend the dissenters; and their indifference with respect to the liturgy, ceremonies, and episcopal ordination; the piety of the prince who is now advanced to the stadtholdership, and has it established in his family for ever; the awakening of the Princess Caroline; and the good disposition of the Princess of Wales. I think it very fit that those, who have lately entered into an union of extraordinary prayer for the coming of Christ’s kingdom and the prosperity of Zion, should inform one another of things which they know of, that pertain to the prosperity of Zion, and whereby their prayers are in some degree answered; that they may be united in joy and thanksgiving, as well as in supplication; and that they may be encouraged and animated in their prayers for the future, and engaged to continue instant therein with all perseverance. I think these things forementioned, which you have sent me an account of, are worthy greatly to be observed, by those that are united in the Concert for Prayer, for their comfort, praise, and encouragement. I intend to communicate these things to my own people, before the next quarterly season for prayer, and to the neighbouring ministers, who are united in this affair; and also to my correspondents in this province, and other provinces of America. I doubt not but they will have a happy tendency and influence in many respects. I hope, dear Sir, you will continue still to give me particular information of things that appear, relative to the state of Zion and the interests of religion, in Great Britain or other parts of Europe. In so doing, you will not only inform me, but I shall industriously communicate any important informations of that kind, and spread them amongst God’s people in this part of the world; and shall endeavour to my utmost to make such a use of them, as shall tend most to promote the interest of religion. And among other things I should be glad to be informed of any books that come out, remarkably tending either to the illustration or defence of that truth, or the promoting the power of godliness, or in any respect peculiarly tending to advance true religion.
I have given an account of some things, which have a favourable aspect on the interests of religion, in these American parts of the world, in my letters to Mr. Robe, and Mr. M’Laurin, sent with this; which you will have opportunity to see.
In your last letter you desired to be particularly informed of the present state of New Jersey college, and of things remarkable of a religious nature respecting the Indians. As to the former, viz. the state of New Jersey college: by the last accounts I had, it was in somewhat of an unsettled state. Governor Belcher had a mind to give them a new charter, that he thought would be more for the benefit of the society. Accordingly a draft of a new charter was drawn; wherein it was proposed to make considerable alteration in the corporation of trustees; to leave out some of the former trustees; and that the governor, for the time being, should be a trustee, and three or four of the council of that province. Those two things made considerable uneasiness, viz. leaving out some of the former trustees, and making it a part of the constitution that the governor and so many of the council should be members of the corporation. Some feared that this would not be for the health of the society; because the men in chief authority in that province have, for the most part been men of no religion, and many of them open and professed contemners of it. How this matter has been settled, or whether these difficulties are got over, I have not been informed. As to Governor Belcher himself, he appears thoroughly engaged to promote virtue and vital religion in those parts, which already has had some good effects; vice and open profaneness, by the means, is become less fashionable among the great men, and virtue and religion more creditable. The disposition of Governor Belcher may in some measure be seen, by the following extract of a letter from him, in answer to one I wrote to him on a special occasion.
’Burlington, New Jersey, Feb. 5, 1748.
You will, Sir, be sure of me as a friend and father to the missionaries this way, and of all my might and encouragement for spreading the everlasting gospel of God our Saviour, in all parts and places where God shall honour me with any power or influence.
As to myself, Sir, it is impossible to express the warm sentiments of my heart, for the mercies without number with which I have been loaded, by the God who has fed me all my life long to this day; and my reflection upon his goodness covers me with shame and blushing, for I know my utter unworthiness, and that I am less than the least of all his mercies. I would therefore abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. You are sensible, my good friend, that governors stand in a glaring light, and their conduct is narrowly watched by friends and enemies: the one often unreasonably applaud them, while the other perhaps too justly censure them. Yet in this I am not anxious; but to approve myself to the Searcher of hearts, from whose mouth I must hear pronounced, at the great and general audit, those joyful words, Enter thou, &c. - or that terrible sentence, Depart from me, &c. Join with me then in thankfulness to God, for all the blessings and talents he has intrusted me with, and in prayer that I may employ them to his honour and glory, to the good of the people over whom he hath placed me, and so to the comfort of my own soul: that I may always remember that he ruleth over men, must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’
In another letter which I have received, dated Burlington, N. J. May 31, 1748, he says as follows.
’I will prostrate myself before my God and Saviour, and on the bended knees of my soul, (abhorring myself in every view,) I will beg for a measure of divine grace and wisdom; that so I may be honoured, in being an instrument of advancing the kingdom of the blessed Jesus in this world, and in that way be bringing forth fruit in old age 30 . I bless God, my heavenly Father, that I am not ashamed of the cross of Christ; and I humbly ask the assistance of sovereign grace, that, in times of temptation, I may never be a shame to it, I mean that my conversation may always be such as becometh the gospel of Christ. And I tell you again, that all such as minister at the altar, and in the course of their ministry approve themselves faithful to the great Head of the church, will not only find my countenance and protection, but my love and esteem.
’As to our embryo college, it is a noble design; and if God pleases, may prove an extensive blessing. I have adopted it for a daughter, and hope it may in time become an Alma Mater, to this and the neighbouring provinces. I am getting the best advice and assistance I can in the draught of a charter, which I intend to give to our infant college, and I thank you, Sir, for all the kind hints you have given me, for the service of this excellent undertaking: and as St. Luke says of Mary, She kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart; so you may depend, what you have said about the college will not be lost with me; but, as far as God shall enable me, I shall exert and lay out myself in every way to bring it to maturity, and then to advance its future welfare and prosperity; for this I believe will be acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; a relish for true religion and piety, being great strangers to this part of America. The accounts I receive from time to time, give me too much reason to fear that Arminianism, Arianism, and even Socinianism, in destruction to the doctrines of free grace, are daily propagated in the New England colleges. How horribly and how wickedly, are these poisonous notions rooting out those noble pious principles, on which our excellent ancestors founded those seminaries! and how base a return is it of the present generation, to that God, who is constantly surrounding them with goodness and mercy! and how offensive is it in the eyes of that God, who is jealous of his glory, and will take vengeance on his adversaries, and reserveth wrath for his enemies! And from these things I am led to thank you for your book, wrote in consequence of the Memorial from Scotland, for promoting a Concert in Prayer. I am much pleased with this proposal and imitation to all good Christians, and with your arguments to encourage and corroborate the design. The two missionaries you mention, Messrs. Spencer and Strong, I am told are present at Boston. I have once and again desired Mr. Brainerd to assure them of my kindness and respect. But their affairs have not yet led them this way. I rejoice in their being appointed to carry the gospel, in its purity, to the Six Nations; and when Mr. Brainerd and they proceed to Susquehannah, they shall have all my assistance and encouragement; by letters to the king’s governors where they may pass, and my letters to the sachem or chief of those Indians.’
With regard to the missionaries, Governor Belcher mentions: ‘The commissioners in Boston, of the corporation in London, for the propagation of the gospel among the Indians in New England and parts adjacent, a little before Mr. David Brainerd went to Boston, the summer before his death, had received a sum of money from the estate left by the famous Dr. Williams, for the maintenance of two missionaries among the Six Nations: and having entertained a very great esteem of Mr. Brainerd, from the opportunity they had of acquaintance with him while in Boston, the committee intrusted to him the affair of finding and recommending the persons proper to be employed in this business.’ Accordingly he, after much deliberation, recommended one Mr. Spencer, belonging to Haddam, his native town; and Mr. Strong, belonging to this town, Northampton; who are undoubtedly well qualified persons, of good abilities and learning, and of pious dispositions. The commissioners, on his recommendation, accepted these persons; and after Mr. Brainerd’s death, sent to them; and they went down to Boston, and accepted the mission. But the commissioners did not think proper immediately to send them forth among the Six Nations; but ordered them to go and live, during the winter, in New Jersey with Mr. John Brainerd, among the christian Indians, there to follow their studies, and get acquaintance with the manners and customs of Indians; and in the spring to go with Mr. Brainerd to Susquehannah, to instruct the Indians on that river, before they went to the Six Nations. Accordingly they went and lived in New Jersey; but were discouraged as to their intended journey to Susquehannah; for they understood that the Susquehannah Indians greatly objected against entertaining missionaries, without the consent of the Six Nations, (to whom they are subject, and of whom they stand it seems in great fear,) and insisted that the missionaries should go to the Six Nations first. Therefore, in the spring, Messrs. Spencer and Strong returned to Boston, for new orders from the commissioners; who saw cause to order them to come and live at my house, till the time of an appointed interview of the governors of Boston and New York with the chiefs of the Six Nations, at Albany, in the latter part of the summer; when it was proposed that some, that should go to Albany with Gov. Shirley, should, on the behalf of the commissioners, treat with the Six Nations concerning their receiving missionaries. Messrs. Spencer and Strong did accordingly; they lived with me in the summer, and went to Albany at the time of the treaty; and the nation of the Oneidas, in particular, were dealt with concerning receiving these missionaries; who appeared free and forward in the matter. Messrs. Spencer and Strong, at that time, got some acquaintance with the chiefs of the tribe; who appeared fond of them, and very desirous of their going with them. But the grand difficulty then in the way, was the want of an interpreter; which occasioned their not going with the Indians at that time, but returning again to New England. Mr. Strong, also, was taken much out of health, which discouraged him from entertaining any thoughts of throwing himself into the fatigues and hardships of their undertaking, till the next spring. But the difficulty of the want of an interpreter is now got over; a very good one has been found; and Mr. Spencer was ordained on the 14th of the last month, and is gone with the interpreter, to go to the country of the Oneidas, about 170 miles beyond Albany, and about 130 miles distant from all settlements of the white people.
It is a thing, that has a favourable aspect on the design of propagating the gospel among the Indians, that many of late have been remarkably spirited to promote it, and liberally to open their hands in order to it. Mr. Brainerd’s going to Boston before his death, and people there having some acquaintance with him, and with his labours and success among the Indians, gave occasion to a considerable number in Boston, men of good substance and of the best character, and some of them principal men in the town, to form themselves into a charitable society, that by their joint endeavours and contributions, they might promote the instruction and spiritual good of the Indians; who have done some very liberal things for the Indians in New Jersey, and also for the Six Nations. The people of Northampton have also had their hearts remarkably opened, to contribute to the maintenance of Mr. Spencer’s interpreter; and one individual at Springfield, has been moved to devote a considerable part of his estate, to promote the propagation of the gospel among the Six Nations.
As to my writing against Arminianism; I have hitherto been remarkably hindered; so that probably it will be a considerable time before I shall have anything ready for the press; but do intend, God allowing and assisting, to prosecute that design: and I desire your prayers for the Divine assistance in it. The books you sent me, will be a great help to me; I would on no account have been without them.
I condole with you and Mrs. Erskine, on the loss of your noble and excellent father; which is doubtless a great loss to the church of God. But the glorious King of Zion, who was dead, is alive, and lives for evermore, and can raise up others in exalted stations to favour Zion; and seems to be so doing at this day, by things you give an account of in your letter. I have been the subject of an afflictive dispensation of late, tending to teach me how to sympathize with the afflicted; which I think I mentioned in my last letter to you, viz. the death of my second daughter, the last February.
Please to present my most affectionate and respectful salutations to your dear consort. That I and mine may be remembered in your and her prayers, is the request of
Your affectionate and obliged
Friend and brother,
Letter from Mr. Willison to Mr. Edwards.
“To the Rev. Mr. Edwards.
Dundee, March 17, 1749.
rev. and dear brother,
I thank you for yours of October last, with your two sermons, which Mr. M’Laurin sent me; which two sermons give me cause to sing of mercy as well as of judgment, that as on shining and successful youth is laid aside from labouring in the gospel, another is sent forth to it. Indeed, worthy Mr. Brainerd was one among a thousand, for carrying the gospel among the heathen, as appears by the account you give of him in your sermon, and by his Journals which have been published here, and prefaced by Dr. Doddridge, and dedicated by him to the Society at Edinburgh. We must be silent; seeing He who hath removed him is holy, just, and wise. We must also lay our hands on our mouths, with respect to the loss of our great and eminent men, such as Dr. Watts, Dr. Colman, Mr. Cowper, and others. But O, it is no loss to be absent from the body, to them who are present with the Lord. Great need have we to cry to the Lord of the vineyard, to send forth others in their room: it is easy for him to do it, from places we little expect. These are hopeful and promising accounts, which you have from your correspondents in Scotland, mentioned in your letter. May they all hold true, and be the forerunners of greater things, and the dawnings of the glory of the latter days. I may add to them, the rising of a burning and shining light of a church of England minister, in Dr. Doddridge’s neighbourhood, viz. Mr. Hervey; for he dates his writings from Weston Favel, near Northampton. He has lately published two volumes of Meditations on all kinds of subjects, in a most orthodox, Calvinistic, and evangelical strain, in which he takes all kinds of occasions of exalting and commending his glorious Master, Christ, in a most rhetorical way, and in a style I think inimitable, and in the most moving expressions, so that it is not easy to read him without tears. He freely taxes his brethren of that church, for departing from the doctrines of grace, and of justification by imputed righteousness, &c. which were taught by the Reformers, and their own articles and homilies. And notwithstanding this uncommon freedom, which he uses with his brethren, great men, &c. never had any books such a run in England, as his; for in a year and a half’s time, or thereabouts, there are five editions of them published at London, and still they are greedily bought and read, especially by persons of distinction; the style being a little too high and poetical for the vulgar. His name is James Hervey, A. B. Some say he is of noble descent, from the Earl of Bristol; but I am not sure of this. It is thought he is the man that Dr. Doddridge points at, in the life of Col. Gardiner, pages 37, 38. It looks well, that so many in England should become fond of sound evangelical writings. No doubt the books may have reached Boston by this time. Let us therefore still wait and pray in hope. I should be glad to do anything in my power, for promoting the Concert for United Prayer, and oh that it were spread both far and near; it would be a token of a general revival of religion to be fast approaching. I know nothing that hath a greater tendency to promote the aforesaid happy Concert, than the book you lately published about it (a copy whereof you sent me, for which I humbly thank you.) I wish it were universally spread, for I both love and admire the performance upon subjects so uncommon. I approve your remarks on Mr. Lowman. His reason for beginning the antichrist’s reign so late as the year 756, is weak, viz. because then King Pepin invested the pope in his temporal dominion over that province in Italy, called St. Peter’s Patrimony - when it is evident that the pope had usurped his tyrannical dominion over Christ’s church long before, which is the main ground of his being called antichrist; yea, the pope’s usurped power was greater before King Pepin’s time, than it is at this day - as for instance, in Pope Symmachus’ time, anno 501; in Pope Hormisdas’ time, anno 516; in Pope Boniface 3d’s time, anno 606; in Pope Constantine’s time, anno 713. Yea, Mr. Lowman himself gives a dreadful instance of the pope’s tyranny and usurpation, both over the church and the emperor, in page 97 of his book, which happened anno 726, thirty years before he begins antichrist’s reign; when Pope Gregory 2d excommunicated the Emperor Leo, for ordering images to be removed out of the churches, and forbad obedience or paying of taxes to him. Was not antichrist’s reign far advanced by that time? And we have several instances of the pope’s tyranny, similar to this, recorded by historians, before that which Mr. Lowman mentions; which more directly denominate him antichrist, than his temporal doings in Italy. We see how easy it is for the best writers to slip into mistakes and wrong schemes. I agree with you, that antichrist’s fall will be gradual, in the way you explain it.
I am sorry to hear of Arminianism growing in New England. But I rejoice to hear of Gov. Belcher’s zeal for religion in New Jersey; may the Lord spare him and bless him. As also I am glad to hear of the hopeful prospect of the gospel’s growing among the Six Nations of Indians; and of such a youth as Mr. Spencer being sent among them: may the Lord prosper him as he did Mr. Brainerd. I sympathize with you under that affliction of your daughter’s death; but it is comfortable she was helped so to live and die, as to afford such grounds of hope concerning her. And though she was the flower of your family, yet the remembering of the gracious hand, that painted the flower, will engage your worthy spouse and you to a becoming silence, like Aaron. As he will do what he will, let us join and say always, Let his will be done. I would fain be at this in my own case: may the Lord help me to more of christian submission and resignation. I am now entered into the 69th year of my age, and fallen under several distresses, whereby I have been shaken over the grave these many months past, and am laid aside from preaching. May the Lord assist me in my preparation for the dissolution of this tabernacle. I find it no easy matter to die, and to die in faith, and to die like Simeon with Jesus in his arms. I very much need your prayers for me. I am glad to hear, dear brother, that your parents are both alive, and that they hold the abilities of both body and mind so remarkably at so great an age; and particularly that your father, at seventy - nine years of age, and now near eighty, performs the whole of his ministerial work so constantly, without feeling it burdensome, and was able to travel forty miles to see you: his is indeed a wonder of his age, and would be reckoned so in this country, where few ministers come near to that age and vigour. May the Lord still spare him, with your mother, and make them still flourishing in old age; may they be blessed with much of God’s precious presence, and with the consolations and fruits of the Spirit, in their aged and declining days. I still kindly remember your worthy spouse and children remaining, and pray they may long be continued for comforts to you, and you continued for a blessing to them, to your flock, and to many others, as you already have been.
I remain, Rev. and dear brother,
Your most affectionate brother, and serv’t
In our Lord,
j. willison.”
“P.S. The Rev. Mr. Whitefield came to Scotland in September last, and preached about two months in and about Edinburgh and Glasgow. But some brethren who employed him, being challenged for it in synods and presbyteries, and debates arising thereupon, Mr. Whitefield returned to London. To give a view of the substance of these debates, and what passed thereupon in the synod of Glasgow, I have sent you herewith a printed pamphlet containing the same, with two other books, as a small acknowledgment of your favours.”
The three following letters went in the same packet to Scotland. The religious intelligence, which they communicated, will be found highly interesting at the present day. In the first of the three, is the earliest allusion, on the part of Mr. Edwards, which I have met with, to a most painful subject; the mention of which I have purposely forborne, that all which relates to it may be presented together.
Letter to Mr. Erskine.
“Northampton, May 20, 1749.
The day before yesterday, I received your letter of February 14th, with a pacquet, containing the pamphlets you mention in your letter; for which I am greatly obliged to you. I have not yet had opportunity to read these books, but promise myself much entertainment by them, from the occasions on which they were written, and the subject they are upon. The last letter I received from you before this, was dated April 6, 1748, so that I suppose the two letters you say you wrote to me, since those which I acknowledge the receipt of, have miscarried, which I much regret, as I much value what comes from your hand.
In one of your last letters which came to hand, you desire to be particularly informed concerning the state of religion, in these parts of the world, and particularly concerning the mission to the Indians, and the infant college in New Jersey. As to the affair of preaching the gospel to the Indians, Mr. Spencer went, the last fall, far into the western wilderness; to the Oneidas, one of the tribes of Indians called the Six Nations, living on Susquehannah river, towards the head of the river; to a place called by the Indians Onohohquauga, about 180 miles south - west from Albany on Hudson’s river, where he continued through the winter; and went through many difficulties and hardships, with little or no success, through the failing of his interpreter; who was a woman that had formerly been a captive among the Caghnawauga Indians in Canady, who speak the same language with those Oneidas, excepting some small variation of dialect. She went with her husband, an Englishman, and is one of the people we here call Separatists; who showed the spirit he was of there in that wilderness, beyond what was known before. He differed with and opposed Mr. Spencer in his measures, and had an ill influence on his wife; who I fear was very unfaithful, refusing to interpret for Mr. Spencer more than one discourse in a week, a sermon upon the Sabbath; and utterly declined assisting him in discoursing and conversing with the Indians in the week time. And her interpretations on the Sabbath were performed very unfaithfully, as at last appeared. So that Mr. Spencer came away in discouragement in the spring, and returned to Boston, and gave the corporation there, who employed him, an account of his unexpected difficulties and disappointments; and became obliged to them to wait three months, to see if they could procure a fellow missionary, and another interpreter, to go with him to the Indians; which I believe is not much expected. If these are not obtained within the limited time, Mr. Spencer is free from any further engagements to them. Mr. Spencer is now preaching at Elizabeth - town in New Jersey, in the pulpit of the late Mr. Dickinson; and I believe is likely to settle there. He is a person of very promising qualifications: and will hopefully in some measure make up the great loss that people have sustained by the death of their former pastor.
As to the mission in New Jersey, we have from time to time had comfortable accounts of it; and Mr. John Brainerd, who has the care of the congregation of christian Indians there, was about three weeks ago at my house; and informed me of the increase of his congregation, and of their being added to from time to time by the coming of Indians from distant places, and settling in the Indian town at Cranberry, for the sake of hearing the gospel; and of something of a work of awakening being all along carried on among the Indians to this day; and of some of the new comers being awakened; and of there being instances, from time to time, of hopeful conversion among them; and of a general good and pious behaviour of the professing Indians. But he gave an account also of some trouble the Indians meet with, from some of the white people; and particularly from Mr. Maurice, the chief justice of the province, a professed deist; who is sueing them for their lands under pretext of a will, made by their former king; which was undoubtedly forged. However, he is a man of such craft and influence, that it is not known how the matter will issue.
I have heard nothing new that is very remarkable concerning the college in New Jersey. It is in its infancy; there has been considerable difficulty about settling their charter. Gov. Belcher, who gave the charter, is willing to encourage and promote the college to his utmost; but differs in his opinion concerning the constitution, which will tend most to its prosperity, from some of the principal ministers that have been concerned in founding the society. He insists upon it that the governor, for the time being, and four of his Majesty’s council for the province, should always be of the corporation of trustees; and that the governor should always be the president of the corporation. The ministers are all very willing that the present governor, who is a religious man, should be in this standing; but their difficulty is with respect to future governors, who they suppose are as likely to be men of no religion, and deists, as otherwise. However, so the matter is settled, to the great uneasiness of Mr. Gilbert Tennent in particular, who it is feared will have no further concern with the college on this account. Mr. Burr, the president of the college, is a man of religion and singular learning, and I hope the college will flourish under his care.
I have taken a great deal of pains in communicating to others, in various parts, the pleasing accounts you and my other correspondents in Scotland gave me last year of things of promising aspect on the interest of religion, on your side of the ocean: which have been very affecting to pious ministers and people in New England, and also in the provinces of New York and New Jersey; and hope some considerable good has been done by such tidings; particularly in animating many in the duty of extraordinary united prayer for a general revival of religion, and promoting the Concert for Prayer proposed from Scotland; which prevails more and more in these parts of the world; which, together with some other things in some places, are cause of thankfulness, and bode well to the interests of Zion, (of which I have given a more particular account in my letters to Mr. M’Laurin, Mr. Robe, and Mr. M’Culloch, sent with this,) though it be in general a very dead time as to religion, and a time of the prevailing of all manner of iniquity.
I shall send orders to Boston, that one of my books on Mr. Brainerd’s life may be sent to you with this letter; if any of them are ready, as I hope they are, or will be very speedily.
I have nothing very comfortable to inform you of concerning the present state of religion in this place. A very great difficulty has arisen between my people, relating to qualifications for communion at the Lord’s table. My honoured grandfather Stoddard, my predecessor in the ministry over this church, strenuously maintained the Lord’s supper to be a converting ordinance; and urged all to come, who were not of scandalous life, though they knew themselves to be unconverted. I formerly conformed to his practice; but I have had difficulties with respect to it, which have been long increasing; till I dared no longer to proceed in the former way; which has occasioned great uneasiness among my people, and has filled all the country with noise, which has obliged me to write something on the subject, which is now in the press. I know not but this affair will issue in a separation between me and my people. I desire your prayers, that God would guide me in every step of this affair. My wife joins with me in respectful salutations to you and your consort.
I am, dear Sir, your obliged and affectionate
Brother and servant,
Letter to Mr. M’Culloch
The last letter I received from you was dated Feb. 10, 1748, to which I wrote an answer the latter end of last summer; which I suppose you received, because I perceive by letters sent me this spring, by some others of my correspondents, your neighbours, they had received letters I sent to them at the same time, and in the same packet. Your letters to me have been very acceptable; I should be glad to receive them oftener.
The letter I last received from you, and others that came with it, were peculiarly agreeable, on account of the good news they contained concerning Messrs. West and Littleton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, some in the royal family, the stadtholder, &c. These things I have taken a great deal of pains to communicate to others; and they have been very entertaining, and I hope profitable to many. I was at the pains to extract from all the letters I received at that time, those things which appeared with a favourable aspect on the interest of religion in the world, and to draw various copies to send to different parts, to such as I supposed would be most likely to be entertained and improved by them, and to do good with them; and I believe they have been of great benefit, particularly to excite and encourage God’s people, in the great duty of praying for the coming of Christ’s kingdom, and to promote extraordinary united prayer, in the method proposed in the Memorial from Scotland. I read these articles of good news to my own congregation, and also to the association of ministers to which I belong, when met on one of the quarterly seasons for prayer; and read them occasionally to many others; and sent a copy of one of the aforementioned abstracts to Connecticut, which was carried into various parts of that government, and shown to several ministers there. I sent one to Mr. Hall of Sutton, a pious minister about the middle of this province; who, according to my desire, communicated it to other ministers, and I suppose to his people. I sent a copy to Mr. Rogers of Kittery, I suppose about seventy miles to the eastward of Boston; who in reply wrote to me, and in his letter says as follows: ‘Yours of the 22d Dec. came not to my hand till the 19th of this; with which I was well pleased, and had some sweet sense of the sovereign free grace of God in the instances you mentioned, with some going forth of heart after further displays of it, in the mighty and noble of our nation, and the great ones of our own country; and indeed, that the kingdom of our exalted Redeemer might prevail in all the world. And, dear Sir, I am full in the belief, that so many of the Lord’s people agreeing upon a time to unite in prayer for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, and the coming of the Redeemer’s kingdom, is from the Lord; and cannot but hope the day draws near, when he will pour out water upon the thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; as also, that all his ministers and people, who are engaged in so delightful a work, for so noble an end, will give him no rest, till he shall make his Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a name and a praise in the earth.’
I sent another copy into New Jersey to Mr. John Brainerd, missionary to the Indians there, with a desire that he would communicate it to others as he thought would be most serviceable.
He writes in answer, March 4, 1748, as follows: ‘I received yours of Jan. 12, on Sabbath morning Feb. 5, and desire to acknowledge your kindness with much thankfulness and gratitude. It was a great resuscitant, as well as encouragement, to me; and I trust, has been so to many others, in these parts, who are concerned for the prosperity of Zion. The next Tuesday after, (as perhaps, Sir, you may remember,) was the quarterly day appointed for extraordinary prayer; upon which I called my people together, and gave them information of the most notable things contained in your letter. And since I have endeavoured to communicate the same to several of my neighbouring ministers, and sundry private Christians, as I had opportunity. I have also thought it my duty to send an extract, or rather a copy of it, to Gov. Belcher. I have likewise (for want of time to transcribe) sent the original to Philadelphia by a careful hand, that the Rev. Mr. Gilbert Tennent might have the perusal of it; where a copy was taken, and the original safely returned to me again. I cannot but hope that this letter, as it contains many things wherein the power and goodness of God do appear in a most conspicuous manner, will be greatly serviceable in stirring up the people of God in these parts, and encouraging their hearts to seek his face and favour, and to cry mightily to him, for the further outpouring of a gracious Spirit upon his church in the world. For my part, I think the remarkable things which your letter contains, might be sufficient to put new life into anyone who is not past feeling; and as a means to excite a spirit of prayer and praise, in all those who are not buried in ignorance, or under the power of a lethargic stupor. And it is looked upon, by those whom I have had opportunity to converse with, whether ministers or private Christians, that what God has done is matter of great thankfulness and praise, and might well encourage his people to lift up the hand of prayer, and be instant therein.’
Mr. Davenport, minister of a church in Elizabeth - town in New Jersey, writes thus upon it, in a letter dated April 1, 1749: ‘I thank you for sending your letter to our Brainerd open, that I might see it, which I took a copy of; and have found it again and again refreshing and animating. I read it to the ministers who met at my house for prayer, on the first Tuesday of February, and sent it afterwards to Long Island: Mr. Rivel took a copy of it, and read it in his congregation on the Island.’
I hope, dear Sir, these things will encourage you to continue your correspondence, and to go on to give me information of whatever appears in your parts of the world favourable to the interests of the kingdom of Christ. It will not only be entertaining to me; but I shall endeavour, whenever I receive such tidings, to communicate it for the entertainment and profit of God’s people, as I have opportunity. I must refer you, dear Sir, to my letters to other correspondents in your neighbourhood, for other particulars relating to the state of religion in these parts of the world. And hope, when you are before the throne of grace, you will not forget
Your very affectionate friend,
And brother and servant,
Letter to Mr. Robe.
Mr. M’Laurin, in a letter I received from him the last week, dated March 10th, 1749, informs me of a letter you had written to me, sent to him; which he had taken care of. This letter, by some means or other, has failed, and has never reached me. I intend to make inquiry after it, to see if it has not been left at Boston, and forgotten to be sent. I have reason to hope (though I have not received your letter) that you and your family are well, because Mr. M’Laurin and Mr. Erskine (the only correspondents from whom I have received letters this time) inform me of nothing to the contrary.
As to the present state of religion in these parts of the world, it is in the general very dark and melancholy. But yet there are some things which appear comfortable and hopeful; particularly, the Concert for extraordinary Prayer for the coming of Christ’s kingdom, is spreading and prevailing - and we hear of awakenings and revivals of religion in some places. We have had accounts, from time to time, of religion’s being in a flourishing state, in the Indian congregation in New Jersey, under the care of Mr. John Brainerd; of the congregation’s increasing, by the access of Indians from distant parts; of a work of awakening carried on among the unconverted, and additions made to the number of the hopefully converted, and the Christian behaviour of professors there. Mr. Brainerd was at my house a little while ago, and represented this to be the present state of things in that congregation. I had a letter from Mr. Davenport, (who is settled now as a minister over a congregation belonging to Elizabeth - town, in New Jersey,) dated April 1, 1749, wherein he says as follows: ‘Mr. Lewis told me, that there has been a remarkable work of conviction prevailing in his place, ever since last December. I think he spoke of about forty under soul concern, a considerable number of them under strong convictions, and some hopefully converted. I heard lately a credible account of a remarkable work of conviction and conversion, among whites and negroes, at Hanover in Virginia, under the ministry of Mr. Davies, who is lately settled there, and has the character of a very ingenious and pious young man; whose support, in his preparation for service, Mr. Robinson contributed much, if not mostly to; and on his death - bed gave him his books, &c.
Mr. Buell, of East Hampton, on Long Island, was here last week, and gave me an account of a very considerable work of awakening at this time in his congregation, especially among the young people; and also of a yet greater work at Bridgehampton, under the ministry of one Mr. Brown, a very pious and prudent young man, lately settled there. These congregations are both pretty large. He also gave an account of religion’s continuing in a very prosperous state at a part of Huntington, another town on Long Island, where there was a great and general awakening, last year.
An association of ministers, between this and Boston, seem of late to have applied themselves somewhat earnestly, to invent means for promoting religion. The following is a copy of something they have agreed upon for this end, as it was sent to me, by a minister that lives that way.
“The sum and substance of the answers, given by the association, to this question, What things shall be done by us, for preventing the awful threatening degeneracy and backsliding in religion, in the present day?
These, we apprehend, may be reduced to the following heads, viz. Those that respect ourselves personally; those which concern the association, as such; and those which relate to our people, in our respective churches and congregations.
I. As to what respects ourselves personally.
1. We ought surely to get a deep and affecting sense of this: Whether there is not in ourselves defection, and great danger of further degeneracy; for otherwise, we shall with little heartiness undertake, or earnestness endeavour after, reformation.
2. We are not to think it amiss, that we ourselves be excited to look, with a proper attention and concern, into our own estate, into our own experiences in the divine life, and into what little proficiency we make, or declension we fall into, ourselves.
3. We must by all means see to it, that we be sound and clear in the great doctrines of the gospel, which are the life of our holy religion; (we here intend, those doctrines which are exhibited in our excellent Westminster Catechism and Confession of Faith;) and that we all boldly and impartially appear in the defence thereof: at the same time we must take heed and beware of the dangerous errors which many have run into; particularly the Arminian and Neonomian on the one hand, and the Antinomian and Enthusiastical on the other.
4. We must be very faithful in every part of our ministerial works, and make conscience to magnify our office. In a particular manner, we must take good heed to our preaching; that it be not only sound, but instructive, savoury, spiritual, very awakening and searching, well adapted to the times and seasons which pass over us; labouring earnestly herein. We must therefore dwell much upon the doctrines of repentance and conversion, the nature, necessity, and evidence thereof; and much urge the duty of self - examination, and open the deceits of the heart; bringing the unconverted under the work of the law, that they may be prepared to embrace the offer of the gospel. Moral duties must be treated of in an evangelical strain; and we must give unto everyone his portion, and not shrink from it, under the notion of prudence; particularly, in the important duty of reproving sinners of all sorts, be they who they will. Again, we must not be slighty in our private conference with souls, and examining candidates for the communion, or other special privileges; and we must carefully and wisely suit our endeavours to the several ages and conditions of persons, the elder and younger; and in a very particular manner, we must set ourselves to promote religion among our young people. And, in a word, we must see whether we are animated to all these things by the grace of God in us.
5. We are impartially to see what evils are to be found among ourselves, and remove them. Let us be seriously thoughtful, whether (among our defects) we have not been, in some respect or other, the blameable means of discouragement to those who have been under religious concern; or whether we have not given strength and boldness to the ungodly, when we have been testifying against the extravagances and disorders of the late times.
6. We must be conscientiously exemplary in our whole behaviour and conversation. It is necessary that we be serious and grave, as what highly becomes gospel bishops. And especially, we must be very watchful over our frame and conduct on the Lord’s day. We must therefore look well to our sabbatizing, both at home and abroad, both before our own and other people. Our example is of vast consequence, in magnifying our office before recommended.
7. We ought to stir up the gifts which are in us, and to grow more and more, according to the sacred injunction, 2 Tim. i. 6.
8. We should follow all our endeavours with fervent prayer to God; especially our labours in preaching and teaching: the seed of the word is to be steeped in tears.
II. As to what concerns the association as such.
1. We must lay aside disgusts one with another, and study brotherly love, that it may revive and continue; we must endeavour to be as near as we can of one mind, and go on harmoniously; and then we shall be the more strongly united in all, but especially in our present proceedings. There must be respectful treatment one of another, of the persons and character of one another; and we must be careful of ministerial character; which is of greater consequence than at first sight may appear. And when we have occasion to dispute, let it be under a very strict guard, avoiding all censuring reflections.
2. That we manifest our approbation of the Westminster Assembly’s Catechism, as containing an excellent system of divinity; and we purpose to preach agreeably to the doctrines of the Bible exhibited therein.
3. As we must be very careful of our conversation in general as above said; so especially must we be respecting our conduct while together in association.
4. It is proposed that a course of our association be turned into fasts, upon this great account.
5. We agree to be more especially fervent, in continual prayer for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ.
6. Some special, new, and prudent care must be taken to guard our pulpits.
7. It is proposed, that we agree to endeavour to introduce the public reading of the Holy Scriptures. The manner and time to be left to discretion.
III. With regard to what may be done among the people we stand related to.
1. We conceive that whatever public exercises are to be agreed on, or whatever concerns the public, the people are to be informed and acquainted with our design.
2. That it be earnestly recommended to the people, to consider the worth of their privileges, and the danger of being deprived of them; which there is, partly by the spreading of evil doctrines among them, and partly by the conduct of too many people towards their ministers.
3. Let pragmatical, factious spirits, fomenting division, be duly frowned upon.
4. We must guard them against the temptations of their several employments, and the special seasons wherein they are most exposed.
5. We must consider what evils there are to be found among them, which do especially need reforming; as the profanation of the Lord’s day, which is enough to destroy all religion; tavern - haunting, company - keeping, chambering, uncleanness, profaneness, &c.; and we ought loudly to testify against them. And that what we do may be effectual, let us endeavour to convince their consciences of the evil of sin, and of these sins. - We are not to fail to warn people solemnly against the dreadful guilt of unthankfulness under God’s signal mercies, and of incorrigibleness under heavy and sore judgments. Could we in wisdom do it, we should also warn them against their oppressing the Lord’s ministers in their maintenance.
6. Let us endeavour to revive good customs and practices among them; particularly, the ancient good practice of catechising, family order, worship, and government, religious societies under good regulation, godly conference and conversation among Christians; and in brief, whatever is laudable and of good tendency.
7. Church discipline should be revived; brotherly watchfulness, and admonition; nor are we to forget to take special care of the children and youths of the flock.
8. We may do well to engage, as far as we are able, all persons of distinction and influence to unite with us in this work of reformation; e.g. justices, school - masters, candidates for the ministry; and especially to assist us by their example.
9. Solemn renewal of covenant hath been advised to, as very useful upon this occasion; (vid. Synod, 1679, for Reformation;) but we leave this to each one’s discretion.
Finally, in these things we should think ourselves bound to exert ourselves, and use uncommon fervency, to preserve what remains of religion, and prevent further decay.
October, 1748.
Thus far this association.
The members of this association, as their names were sent to me, are as follows:
The Rev. Messrs. Loring, of Sudbury; Cushing, of Shrewsbury; Parkman, of Westborough; Gardiner, of Stow; Martyn, of Westborough; Stone, of Southborough; Seecomb, of Harvard; Morse, of Shrewsbury; Smith, of Marlborough; Goss, of Boston; Buckminster, of Rutland; Davis, of Holden.
I must refer you, dear Sir, for other particulars relating to the state of religion, in these parts of the world, to my letters to my other correspondents in your neighbourhood.
My wife and family join with me in very affectionate and respectful salutations to you and yours. Desiring an interest in your prayers for us all, and for this part of the Zion of God,
I remain, dear Sir,
Your affectionate brother,
And obliged friend and servant,
In the Memoirs of Brainerd, under the date of Sept. 13, 1747, the reader will find mention of a Mr. Job Strong, a candidate for the ministry, whom Brainerd, immediately before his death, recommended to the commissioners in Boston, as a missionary to the Indians; and in the 4th Reflection on those Memoirs, an interesting letter of his, giving an account of the Indian mission at Bethel, in New Jersey, in Jan. 1748. This young gentleman, having ultimately declined that appointment, accepted proposals of settlement in the ministry, the following year, from a church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and invited Mr. Edwards to preach the sermon at his ordination, which was appointed for the 28th of June. Mary, the fourth daughter of Mr. Edwards, then a young lady of fifteen, went before her father to Portsmouth, to visit some of the friends of the family in that place. From her I learned the following anecdote. - The Rev. Mr. Moody, of York, a gentleman of unquestioned talents and piety, but perfectly unique in his manners, had agreed, in case of Mr. Edwards’s failure, to be his substitute in preaching the sermon. On the morning of the appointed day, Mr. Edwards not having arrived, the council delayed the ordination as long as they well could, and then proceeded to the church; where Mr. Moody had been regularly appointed to make the introductory prayer, which is the prayer immediately before the sermon. That gentleman, knowing that a numerous and highly respectable audience had been drawn together by a strong desire to hear Mr. Edwards, rose up to pray under the not very pleasant impression, that he must stand in his place; and offered a prayer, which was wholly characteristic of himself, and in some degree also of the times in which he lived. In that part of it, in which it was proper for him to allude to the exercises of the day, he besought the Lord, that they might be suitably humbled under the frown of his providence, in not being permitted to hear on that occasion, a discourse, as they had all fondly expected, from “that eminent servant of God, the Rev. Mr. Edwards, of Northampton;” and proceeded to thank God, for having raised him up, to be such a burning and shining light, for his uncommon piety, for his great excellence as a preacher, for the remarkable success which had attended his ministry, in other congregations as well as his own, for the superior talents and wisdom with which he was endowed as a writer, and for the great amount of good which his works had already done, and still promised to do, to the church and to the world. He then prayed that God would spare his life, and endow him with still higher gifts and graces, and render him still more eminent and useful than he had been; and concluded this part of his prayer, by supplicating the divine blessing on the daughter of Mr. Edwards, (then in the house,) who, though a very worthy and amiable young lady, was still, as they had reason to believe, without the grace of God, and in an unconverted state; that God would bring her to repentance, and forgive her sins, and not suffer the peculiar privileges which she enjoyed to be the means of a more aggravated condemnation. Mr. Edwards, who travelled on horseback, and had been unexpectedly detained on the road, arrived at the church a short time after the commencement of the exercises, and entered the door just after Mr. Moody began his prayer. Being remarkably still in all his movements, and particularly in the house of God, he ascended the stairs, and entered the pulpit so silently, that Mr. Moody did not hear him; and of course was necessitated, before a very numerous audience, to listen to the very high character given of himself by Mr. Moody. As soon as the prayer was closed, Mr. Moody turned round, and saw Mr. Edwards behind him; and, without leaving his place, gave him his right hand, and addressed him as follows: “Brother Edwards, we are all of us much rejoiced to see you here to - day, and nobody, probably, as much so as myself; but I wish that you might have got in a little sooner, or a little later, or else that I might have heard you when you came in, and known that you were here. I didn’t intend to flatter you to your face; but there’s one thing I’ll tell you: They say that your wife is a going to heaven by a shorter road than yourself.” Mr. Edwards bowed, and after reading the Psalm, went on with the sermon. His text was John xiii. 15, 16. and his subject, “Christ the Example of Ministers.” It was soon after published.
To his daughter, who prolonged her visit some time after the return of her father, he addressed, during her visit at Portsmouth, the following letter.
“To Miss Mary Edwards , at Portsmouth.
Northampton, July 26, 1749.
my dear child,
You may well think it is natural for a parent to be concerned for a child at so great a distance, so far out of view, and so far out of the reach of communication; where, if you should be taken with any dangerous sickness, that should issue in death, you might probably be in your grave before we could hear of your danger. But yet, my greatest concern is not for your health, or temporal welfare, but for the good of your soul. Though you are at so great a distance from us, yet God is everywhere. You are much out of the reach of our care, but you are every moment in His hands. We have not the comfort of seeing you, but He sees you. His eye is always upon you. And if you may but live sensibly near to God, and have his gracious presence, it is no matter if you are far distant from us. I had rather you should remain hundreds of miles distant from us, and have God near to you by his Spirit, than to have you always with us, and live at a distance from God. And if the next news we should hear of you, should be of your death, though that would be very melancholy; yet, if at the same time we should receive such intelligence concerning you, as should give us the best grounds to hope, that you had died in the Lord, how much more comfortable would this be, though we should have no opportunity to see you, or to take our leave of you in your sickness, than if we should be with you during all its progress, and have much opportunity to attend upon you, and converse and pray with you, and take an affectionate leave of you, and after all have reason to apprehend, that you died without the grace and favour of God! It is comfortable to have the presence of earthly friends, especially in sickness, and on a death - bed; but the great thing is to have God our friend, and to be united to Christ, who can never die any more, and from whom our own death cannot separate us.
My desire and daily prayer is, that you may, if it may consist with the holy will of God, meet with God where you are, and have much of his divine influences on your heart, wherever you may be; and that, in God’s due time, you may be returned to us again, in all respects under the smiles of Heaven, and especially, in prosperous circumstances in your soul, and that you may find us all alive and well. But that is uncertain; for you know what a dying time it has been with us in this town, about this season of the year, in years past. There is not much sickness prevailing among us as yet, but we fear whether mortal sickness is not now commencing. Yesterday, the only remaining son of Mr. C-- died of a fever, and is to be buried to - day. May God fit us all for his will!
I hope that you will maintain a strict and constant watch over yourself, against all temptations, that you do not forsake and forget God, and particularly, that you do not grow slack in secret religion. Retire often from this vain world, from all its bubbles and empty shadows, and vain amusements, and converse with God alone; and seek effectually for that divine grace and comfort, the least drop of which is worth more than all the riches, gaiety, pleasures, and entertainments of the whole world.
If Mrs. S - - , of Boston, or any of that family, should send to you, to invite you to come and remain there, on your return from Portsmouth, until there is opportunity for you to come home, I would have you accept the invitation. I think it probable they will invite you. But if otherwise, I would have you go to Mr. Bromfield’s. He and Mrs. B. both told me you should be welcome. After you are come to Boston, I would have you send us word of it by the first opportunity, that we may send for you without delay.
We are all, through the Divine goodness, in a tolerable state of health. The ferment in the town runs very high, concerning my opinion about the sacrament; but I am no more able to foretell the issue, than when I last saw you. But the whole family has indeed much to put us in mind, and make us sensible, of our dependence on the care and kindness of God, and of the vanity of all human dependences; and we are very loudly called upon to seek his face, to trust in him, and walk closely with him. Commending you to the care and special favour of our heavenly Father, I am
Your very affectionate father,
Your mother and all the family give their love to you.”
The following letter of Mr. Edwards to Mr. Gillespie, is in reply to the second letter of that gentleman, written in the autumn of 1748.
“Northampton, April 2, 1750.
I received your favour of September 19, 1748, the last summer, and would now heartily thank you for it. I suppose it may have come in the same ship with letters I had from my other correspondents in Scotland, which I answered the last summer; but it did not come to hand till a long time after most of the others, and after I had finished and sent away my answers to them, and that opportunity for answering was past. I have had no leisure or opportunity to write any letters to Scotland, from that time till now, by reason of my peculiar and very extraordinary circumstances, on account of the controversy which has arisen between me and my people, concerning the profession which ought to be made by persons who come to Christian sacraments; which is likely speedily to issue in a separation between me and my congregation. This controversy, in the progress of it, has proved not only a controversy between me and my people, but between me and a great part of New England; there being many far and near who are warmly engaged in it. This affair has unavoidably engaged my mind, and filled up my time, and taken me off from other things. I need the prayers of my friends, that God would be with me, and direct and assist me in such a time of trial, and mercifully order the issue.
As to the epistolary controversy, dear Sir, between you and me, about faith and doubting, I am sorry it should seem to be greater than it is, through misunderstanding of one another’s meaning, and that the real difference between us is so great as it is, in some part of the controversy.
As to the dispute about believing without spiritual light or sight, I thought I expressed my meaning in my last letter very plainly; but I kept no copy, and it might perhaps be owing to my dullness that I thought so. However, I perceive I was not understood. I cannot find out by anything you say to me on this head, that we really differ in sentiments, but only in words. I acknowledge with you that ‘all are bound to believe the divine testimony, and trust in Christ; and that want of spiritual light or sight does not loose from the obligation one is laid under by the divine command, to believe instantly on Christ, and at all seasons, nor excuse him, in any degree, for not believing. Even when one wants the influence and grace of the Spirit, still he is bound to believe.’ I think the obligation to believe, lies on a person who is remaining without spiritual light or sight, or even in darkness. No darkness, no blindness, no carnality or stupidity, excuses him a moment for not having as strong and lively a faith and love, as ever was exercised by the apostle Paul, or rather renders it not sinful in him, that he is at that same moment without such a faith and love; - and yet I believe it is absurd, and of a very hurtful consequence, to urge persons to believe in the dark, in the manner, and in the sense, in which many hundreds have done in America, who plainly intend, a believing with such a sort of strong faith or confidence, as is consistent with continuing still, even in the time of these strong acts of faith, without spiritual light, carnal, stupid, careless, and senseless. Their doctrine evidently comes to this, both in sense and effect, that it is a man’s duty strongly to believe with a lightless and sightless faith; or to have a confident, although a blind, dark, and stupid faith. Such a faith has indeed been promoted exceedingly by their doctrine, and has prevailed with its dreadful effects, answerable to the nature of the cause. We have had, and have to this day, multitudes of such firm believers whose bold, presumptuous confidence, attended with a very wicked behaviour, has given the greatest wound to the cause of truth and vital religion, which it has ever suffered in America.
As to what follows in your letter, that a person’s believing himself to be in a good estate is properly of the nature of faith; in this there seems to be some real difference between us. But perhaps there would be none, if distinctness were well observed in the use of words. If by a man’s believing that he is in a good estate, be meant no more than his believing that he does believe in Christ, does love God, &c. I think there is nothing of the nature of faith in it; because knowing it or believing it, depends on our own immediate sensation or consciousness, and not on divine testimony. True believers, in the hope they entertain of salvation, make use of the following syllogism: Whosoever believes shall be saved: I believe: Therefore, I shall be saved. Assenting to the major proposition, - Whosoever believes shall be saved, - is properly of the nature of faith; because the ground of my assent to that, is divine testimony; but my assent to the minor proposition, - I believe, - is, as I humbly conceive, not of the nature of faith, because that is not grounded on the divine testimony, but on my own consciousness. The testimony, which is the proper ground of faith, is in the word of God, Romans x. 17. ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ There is a testimony given us in the word of God, that ’he that believeth shall be saved.’ But there is no testimony in the word of God, that a given individual, in such a town in Scotland, or New England, believes. There is such a proposition in the Scriptures, as that Christ loves those that love him; and this, therefore, everyone is bound to believe and affirm: and believing this, on the divine testimony, is properly of the nature of faith, while for anyone to doubt it, is properly the heinous sin of unbelief. But there is no such proposition in the Scriptures, nor is it any part of the gospel of Christ, that such an individual person in Northampton loves Christ. If I know that I have complacency in Christ, I know it the same way that I know I have complacency in my wife and children, viz. by the testimony of my own heart, or my inward consciousness. Evangelical faith has the gospel of Christ for its foundation; but the proposition, that I love Christ, is a proposition not contained in the gospel of Christ.
Hence, that we may not dispute in the dark, it is necessary, that we should explain what we mean by a person’s believing that he is in a good estate. If thereby we mean only believing the minor of the foregoing syllogism, or similar syllogisms, - I believe; or, I love God; - it is not of the nature of faith. But if by a man’s believing himself to be in a good estate, be understood his believing not only the minor but the consequence, therefore I shall be saved, or, therefore God will never leave me nor forsake me; then a man’s believing his good estate, partakes of the nature of faith; for these consequences depend on divine testimony in the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yea, I would observe further, that a man’s judging of the faith or love which he actually finds in himself, whether it is that sort of faith or love which he finds to be saving, may depend on his reliance on scripture rules and marks, which are divine testimonies, on which he may be tempted not to rely, from the consideration of his great unworthiness. But his judging that he has those individual inward acts of understanding, and exercises of heart, depends on inward sensations, and not on any testimony of the word of God. The knowing of his present acts depends on immediate consciousness, and the knowing of his past acts depends on memory. Hence the fulness of my satisfaction, that I now have such an inward act or exercise of mind, depends on the strength of the sensation; and my satisfaction, that I have had them heretofore, depends on the clearness of my memory, and not on the strength of my reliance on any divine testimony. So likewise, my doubting whether I have, or have had, such individual inward acts, is not of itself of the nature of unbelief, though it may arise from unbelief indirectly; because, if I had had more faith, the actings of it would have been more sensible, and the memory of them more clear, and so I should have been better satisfied that I had them.
God appears to have given Abraham’s servant a revelation, that the damsel in whom he found certain marks, - her coming to draw water with a pitcher to that well, and her readiness to give him and his camels drink, - should be Isaac’s wife; and therefore his assenting to this, was of the nature of faith, having divine testimony for its foundation. But his believing that Rebekah was the damsel who had these individual marks, his knowing that she came to draw water, and that she let down her pitcher, was not of the nature of faith. His knowing this was not from divine testimony, but from the testimony of his own senses. (Vide Gen. xxiv. )
You speak of ‘a saint’s doubting of his good estate, as a part of unbelief, and the opposite of faith, considered in its full compass and latitude, as one branch of unbelief, one ingredient in unbelief; and of assurance of a man’s good estate, as one thing that belongs to the exercise of faith.’ I do not know whether I take your meaning in these expressions. If you mean, that a person’s believing himself to be in a good estate, is one thing which appertains to the essence of saving faith, or that saving faith, in all that belongs to its essence, yea its perfection, cannot be without implying it, I must humbly ask leave to differ from you. That my believing that I am in a good estate, is no part or ingredient in the essence of saving faith, is evident from this, that the essence of saving faith must be complete in me, before it can be true that I am in a good estate. If I have not as yet acted faith, yea if there be anything wanting in me to make up the essence of saving faith, then I am not as yet in a state of salvation, and therefore can have no ground to believe that I am so. Anything that belongs to the essence of saving faith is prior, in the order of nature, to a man’s being in a state of salvation, because it is saving faith which brings him into such a state. And therefore believing that he is in such a state, cannot be one thing which is essential or necessary, in order to his being in such a state; for that would imply a contradiction. It would be to suppose a man’s believing that he is in a good estate, to be prior, in the order of nature, to his being in a good estate. But a thing cannot be both prior and posterior, antecedent and consequent, with respect to the very same thing. The real truth of a proposition is in the order of nature first, before its being believed to be true. But, till a man has already all that belongs to the essence of saving faith, that proposition, that he is in a good estate, is not as yet true. All the propositions contained in the gospel, all divine testimonies that we have in God’s word, are true already, are already laid for a foundation for faith, and were laid long ago. But that proposition, I am in a good estate, not being one of them, is not true till I have first believed; and therefore this proposition, as it is not true, cannot be believed to be true, till saving faith be first complete. Therefore the completeness of the act of saving faith will not make it take in a belief of this proposition, nor will the strength or perfection of the act cause it to imply this. If a man, in his first act of faith, has ever so full a conviction of God’s sufficiency and faithfulness, and ever so strong and perfect a reliance on the divine testimony; all will have no tendency to make him believe that this proposition, I am in a good estate, is true, until it is true; which is not the fact, till the first act of faith is complete, and has made it true. A belief of divine testimony, in the first act of faith, may be to an assignable degree of strength and perfection, without believing the proposition, for there is no such divine testimony then extant, nor is there any such truth extant, but in consequence of the first act of faith. Therefore, (as I said,) saving faith may exist, with all that belongs to its essence, and that in the highest perfection, without implying a belief of my own good estate. I do not say that it can exist without having this immediate effect. But it is rather the effect of faith, than a part, branch, or ingredient of faith. So I do not dispute whether a man’s doubting of his good estate, may be a consequence of unbelief, and I doubt not but it is in those who are in a good estate; because, if men had the exercise of faith in such a degree as they ought to have, it could not but be very sensible and plain that they had it. But yet I think this doubting of one’s good estate, is entirely a different thing from the sin of unbelief itself, and has nothing of the nature of unbelief in it, i.e. if we take doubting one’s good estate in the sense in which I have before explained it, viz. doubting whether I have such individual principles and acts in my soul. Take it in a complex sense, and it may have the sin of unbelief in it; e.g. If, although I doubt not that I have such and such qualifications, I yet doubt of those consequences. for which I have divine testimony or promise; as when a person doubts not that he loves Christ, yet doubts whether he shall receive a crown of life. The doubting of this consequence is properly the sin of unbelief.
You say, dear Sir, ‘the Holy Ghost requires us to believe the reality of its works in us in all its parts just as it is;’ and a little before, ‘the believer’s doubting whether or not he has faith, is sinful; because it is belying the Holy Ghost, denying his work in him, so there is no sin to which that doubting can so properly be reduced as unbelief.’
Here I would ask leave thus to express my thoughts, in a diversity from yours. I think, if it be allowed to be sinful for a believer to doubt whether he has faith, that this doubting is not the sin of unbelief on any such account as you mention, viz. as belying or denying any testimony of the Holy Ghost. There is a difference between doubting of the being of some work of the Holy Ghost, and denying the testimony of the Holy Ghost; as there is a difference between doubting concerning some other works of God, and denying the testimony of God. It is the work of God to give a man great natural abilities; and if we suppose that God requires a man thus endowed to believe the reality of his work in all its parts just as it is, and therefore, that it is sinful for him at all to doubt of his natural abilities being just as good as they are; yet this is no belying any testimony of God, though it be doubting of a work of God, and so is diverse from the sin of unbelief. So, if we suppose that a very eminent Christian is to blame, in doubting whether he has so much holiness as he really has; he indeed does not believe the reality of God’s work in him, in all its parts just as it is, yet he is not therein guilty of the sin of unbelief, against any testimony of God, any more than the other.
I acknowledge, that for a true saint, in a carnal and careless frame, to doubt of his good state, is sinful, more indirectly, as the cause of it is sinful, viz. the lowness and insensibility of the actings of grace in him, and the prevalence of carnality and stupidity. ‘Tis sinful to be without assurance, or, (as we say,) it is his own fault; he sinfully deprives himself of it, or foregoes it; as a servant’s being without his tools is his sin, when he has carelessly lost them, or as it is his sin to be without strength of body, or without the sight of his eyes, when he has deprived himself of these by intemperance. Not that weakness or blindness of body, in their own nature, are sin, for they are qualities of the body, and not of mind, the subject in which sin is inherent. It is indirectly the duty of a true saint always to rejoice in the light of God’s countenance, because sin is the cause of his being without this joy at any time; and therefore it was indirectly David’s sin that he was not rejoicing in the light of God’s countenance, at that very time when he was committing the great iniquities of adultery and murder. But yet it is not directly a believer’s duty to rejoice in the light of God’s countenance, when God hides his face. But it rather then becomes him to be troubled and to mourn. So there are, perhaps, many other privileges of saints that are their duty indirectly, and the want of them is sinful, not simply, but complexly considered. Of this kind I take the want of assurance of my good estate to be.
I think no words of mine, either in my book or letter, implied that a person’s deliverance from a bad frame, does not begin with renewed acts of faith or trusting in God. If they did, they implied what I never intended. Doubtless if a saint comes out of an ill frame, wherein grace is asleep and inactive, it must be by renewed actings of grace. It is very plainly impossible, that grace should begin to cease to be inactive, in any other way than by its beginning to be active. It must begin with the renewed actings of some grace or other; and I know nothing that I have said to the contrary, but that the grace which shall first begin sensibly to revive shall be faith, and that this shall lead the way to the renewed acting of all other graces, and to the further acting of faith itself. But a person’s coming out of a carnal, careless, dead frame, by, or in the reviving of, grace in his soul, is quite another thing from a saint’s having a strong exercise of faith, or strong hope, or strong exercise of any grace, while yet remaining in a carnal, careless, dead frame; or, in other words, in a frame wherein grace is so far from being in strong exercise, that it is asleep, and in a great measure without exercise.
There is a holy hope, a truly christian hope, of which the Scriptures speak, that is reckoned among the graces of the Spirit. And I think I should never desire or seek any other hope but such an one; for I believe no other hope, has any holy or good tendency. Therefore this hope, this grace of hope alone, can properly be called a duty. But it is just as absurd to talk of the exercises of this holy hope, the strong exercise of this grace of the Spirit, in a carnal, stupid, careless frame, such a frame yet remaining, as it would be to talk of the strong exercises of love to God, or heavenly - mindedness, or any other grace, while remaining in such a frame. It is doubtless proper, earnestly to exhort those who are in such a frame to come out of it, in and by the strong exercise of every grace; but I should not think it proper to press a man earnestly to maintain strong hope, notwithstanding the prevailing and continuance of great carnality and stupidity, which is plainly the case of the people I opposed. For this is plainly to press people to an unholy hope, to a strong hope which is no christian grace, but strong and wicked presumption; and the promoting of this has most evidently been the effect of such a method of dealing with souls in innumerable multitudes of awful instances.
You seem, Sir, to suppose, that God’s manner of dealing with his people, while in a secure and careless frame, is first to give assurance of their good state while they remain in such a frame, and to make use of that assurance as a mean to bring them out of such a frame. Here, again, I must beg leave to differ from you, and to think, that none of the instances or texts you adduce from Scripture, do at all prove the point. I think it is his manner, first to awaken their consciences, to bring them to reflect upon themselves, to feel their own calamity which they have brought upon themselves by so departing from God, by which an end is put to their carelessness and security, and again earnestly and carefully to seek God’s face before they find him, and before God restores the comfortable and joyful sense of his favour; and I think this is abundantly evident both from Scripture and experience. You much insist on the case of Jonah as a clear instance of the thing you lay down. You observe that he says, chap. ii. ‘I said I am cast out of thy sight, yet I will look again towards thy holy temple.’ Ver. 5, 7. ‘When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee, even into thine holy temple.’ You speak of these words as expressing an assurance of his good state and of God’s favour; (I will not now dispute whether they do or not;) and you speak of this exercise of assurance, as his practice in an evil frame and in a careless frame; for he slept securely in the sides of the ship, manifesting dismal security, awful carelessness in a carnal frame. That Jonah was in a careless secure frame when he was asleep in the sides of the ship, I do not deny. But, my dear Sir, does that prove that he remained still in a careless secure frame, when in his heart he said these things in the belly of the fish; does it prove that he remained careless after he was awakened, and saw the furious storm, and owned it was the fruit of God’s anger towards him for his sins; and does it prove, that he still remained careless after the whale had swallowed him, when he seemed to himself to be in the belly of hell, when the water compassed him about, even to the soul, and, as he says, all God’s waters and billows passed over him, and he was ready to despair when he went down to the bottoms of the mountains, was ready to think God had cast him out of his sight, and confined him in a prison, that he could never escape, when the earth with her bars was about him for ever, and his soul fainted within him? He was brought into this condition after his sleeping securely in the sides of the ship, before he said, ‘I will look again towards thine holy temple,’ &c. He was evidently first awakened out of carelessness and security, and brought into distress, before he was comforted.
The other place you also must insist on, concerning the people of Israel, is very similar. Before God comforted them with the testimonies of his favour after their backslidings, he first, by severe chastisements, together with the awakening influences of his Spirit, brought them out of their carelessness and carnal security. It appears by many passages of Scripture, that this was God’s way of dealing with that people. In Hos. chap. ii. . we are told that God first ‘hedged up her ways with thorns, and made a wall that she could not find her paths. And took away her corn and wine, and wool and flax, destroyed her vines and fig - trees, and caused her mirth to cease.’ By this means, he roused her from her security, carelessness, and deep sleep, and brought her to herself, very much as the prodigal son was brought to himself: thus God ‘brought her first into the wilderness, before he spake comfortably to her, and opened to her a door of hope.’ By her distress he first led her to say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband;’ and then when God spake comfortably to her, she called him ’Ishi, my husband;’ and God did as it were renewedly betroth her unto him. This passage is parallel with Jer. iii. . They illustrate and explain each other, and show that it was God’s way of dealing with his people Israel, after their apostacy, first to awaken them, and under a sense of their sense and misery, to bring them solicitously to seek his face, before he gave them sensible evidence of his favour; and not first to manifest his favour to them, in order to awaken them out of their security 34 .
In Jer. iii. the prophecy is not concerning the recovery of backsliding saints, or the mystical church, which, though she had corrupted herself, still continued to be figuratively God’s wife. It is concerning apostate Israel, who had forsaken and renounced her husband, and gone after other lovers, and whom God had renounced, put away, and given her a bill of divorce; (verse 8. ) so that her recovery could not be, by giving her assurance of her good estate as still remaining his wife, and that God was already married unto her, for that was not true, and is not consistent with the context. And whereas it is said, verse 14. Jer. iii. 14. ‘Return, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a city;’ I am married, in the Hebrew, is in the preterperfect tense; but you know, Sir, that in the language of prophecy, the preter tense is very commonly put for the future. And whereas it is said, verse 19. ‘How shall I put thee among the children? And I said, Thou shalt call me My father;’ I acknowledge this expression here, My Father, and in Rom. viii. 15. is the language of faith. It is so two ways: 1st. It is such a language of the soul, as is the immediate effect of a lively faith. I acknowledge that the lively exercises of faith do naturally produce satisfaction of a good state, as their immediate effect. 2d. It is a language which, in another sense, does properly and naturally express the very act of faith itself, yea, the first act of faith in a sinner, before which he never was in a good state. As thus, supposing a man in distress, pursued by his enemies that sought his life, should have the gates of several fortresses set open before him, and should be called to from each of them to fly thither for refuge; and viewing them all, and one appearing strong and safe, but the rest insufficient, he should accept the invitation to that one, and fly thither with this language, ‘This is my fortress, this is my refuge. In vain is salvation looked for from others. Behold I come to thee; this is my sure defence.’ Not that he means that he is already within the fortress, and so in a good estate. But, this is my chosen fortress, in the strength of which I trust, and to which I betake myself for safety. So if a woman were solicited by many lovers, to give herself to them in marriage, and beholding the superiority of one to all the rest, should betake herself to him, with this language, ‘This is my husband, behold I come unto thee, thou art my spouse;’ not that she means that she is already married to him, but that he is her chosen husband, &c. Thus God offers himself to sinners as their Saviour, their God and Father; and the language of the heart of him who accepts the offer by faith, is, ‘Thou art my Saviour; in vain is salvation hoped for from others: thou art my God and Father.’ Not that he is already his child, but he chooses him, and comes to him, that he may be one of his children; as in Jer. iii. 19. Israel calls God his Father, as the way to be put among the children, and to be one of them, and not as being one already; and in verses 21, 22, 23. she is not brought out of a careless and secure state, by knowing that the Lord is her God, but she is first brought to consideration and sense of her sin and misery, weeping and supplications for mercy, and conviction of the vanity of other saviours and refuges, not only before she has the assurance of her good estate, but before she is brought to fly to God for refuge, that she may be in a good estate.
As to the instance of Job, I would only observe, that while in his state of sore affliction, though he had some painful exercises of infirmity and impatience under his extreme trials, yet he was very far from being in such a frame as I intended, when I spoke of a secure, careless, carnal frame. I doubt not, nor did I ever question it, that the saints’ hope and knowledge of their good estate, is in many cases of great use to help them against temptation, and the exercises of corruption.
With regard to the case of extraordinary temptations and buffetings of Satan, which you mention, I do not very well know what to say further. I have often found my own insufficiency as a counsellor in cases where melancholy and bodily distemper have so much influence, and give Satan so great advantage, as appears to me in the case you mention. If the Lord do not help, whence should we help? If some christian friends of such afflicted and (as it were) possessed persons, would, from time to time, pray and fast for them, it might be a proper exercise of christian charity, and the likeliest way I know for relief. I kept no copy of my former letter to you, and so do not remember fully what I have already said concerning this case. But this I have often found with such melancholy people, that the greatest difficulty does not lie in giving them good advice, but in persuading them to take it. One thing I think of great importance, which is, that such persons should go on in a steady course of performance of all duties, both of their general and particular calling, without suffering themselves to be diverted from it by any violence of Satan, or specious pretence of his whatsoever, properly ordering, proportioning, and timing, all sorts of duties, duties to God, public, private, and secret, and duties to man, relative duties of business and conversation, family duties, duties of friendship and good neighbourhood, duly proportioning labour and rest, intentness and relaxation, without suffering one duty to crowd out or intrench upon another. If such persons could be persuaded to this, I think in this way they would be best guarded against the devil, and he would soonest be discouraged, and a good state of body would be most likely to be gained, and persons would act most as if they trusted and rested in God, and would be most in the way of his help and blessing.
With regard to what you write concerning immediate revelations, I have thought of it, and I find I cannot say anything to purpose, without drawing out this letter to a very extraordinary length, and I am already got to such length, that I had need to ask your excuse. I have written enough to tire your patience.
It has indeed been with great difficulty that I have found time to write much. If you knew my extraordinary circumstances, I doubt not you would excuse my not writing any more. I acknowledge the subject you mention is very important. Probably if God spares my life, and gives me opportunity, I may write largely upon it. I know not how Providence will dispose of me; I am going to be cast on the wide world, with my large family of ten children. - I humbly request your prayers for me under my difficulties and trials.
As to the state of religion in this place and this land, it is at present very sorrowful and dark. But I must, for a more particular account of things, refer you to my letter to Mr. M’Laurin of Glasgow, and Mr. Robe. So, asking a remembrance in your prayers, I must conclude by subscribing myself, with much esteem and respect,
Your obliged brother and servant,
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Consideration of Ireland - 2784th Meeting, 100th Session Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination
2 Dec 2019 -
Delegation of Ireland
1. Minister David Stanton, TD, Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland, Head of Delegation
2. H.E. Ambassador Michael Gaffey, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, Geneva
3. Ms. Oonagh Buckley, Deputy Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland
4. Ms. Yvonne Philips, Private Secretary to the Minister, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland
5. Mr. John Hurley, Principal Officer, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland
6. Mr. Mark Wilson, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland
7. Ms. Ciara Carberry, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland
8. Mr. Cillian Delaney, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland
9. Ms. Sarah Mongey, Department of Justice and Equality, Dublin, Ireland
10. Ms. Mary Cregg, Department of Education and Skills, Dublin, Ireland
11. Mr. Neville Kenny, Department of Education and Skills, Dublin, Ireland
12. Ms. Rosemarie Tobin, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland
13. Ms Caroline Timmons, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland
14. Ms. Dairearca Ní Néill, Department of Health, Dublin, Ireland
15. Mr. Hugh Cronin, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Dublin, Ireland
16. Mr. Paul Geraghty, Department of Rural and Community Development, Dublin, Ireland
17. Ms. Martina Feeney, Director, Human Rights Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dublin, Ireland
18. Ms. Kyra Hild, Assistant Legal Advisor, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dublin, Ireland
19. Mr. Kevin Daly, An Garda Síochána, Dublin, Ireland
20. Ms. Jean McDonald, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, Geneva (Delegate)
21. Ms. Lorna Muddiman, Attaché, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, Geneva (Delegate)
22. Mr. David Mathews, Attaché, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, Geneva (Delegate)
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Back Bay Ringers Records With Nick and Noah
In October 2014, Back Bay Ringers had the opportunity to record a song with Nick and Noah for their upcoming “Winter” EP. A BBR small ensemble comprised of five members set up 3 octaves of bells in the recording studio, where a piano, bass guitar, and drum set were ready and waiting. We were soon joined by a talented jazz a capella group who were brought in to sing backup vocals. Since they were also recording a video, we had to look our best, in concert dress with red and green scarves. Nick and Noah, two very talented and professional young musicians, had composed an original holiday song entitled “Bells Are Ringing” that has the potential to be a new pop hit. The song features solo handbells for the introduction, followed by bell accompaniment throughout the number. The small ensemble greatly enjoyed not only collaborating with other musicians in a way we have rarely been able to, but also sharing a little about our instrument with both Nick & Noah and the vocalists during some down time between recording the video and the sound.
We’re looking forward to seeing and hearing the video for “Bells are Ringing”.
By Peter Grossmann|November 13th, 2014|News|
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Home » George Colgate
George Colgate
Energy Consultant,
George Colgate provides consulting on energy access issues to several isolated First Nation communities in British Columbia.
After a career as a mechanical engineer, George spent a number of years as manager of Xeni Gwet’in Enterprise, a subsidiary of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government. He founded the Enterprise in 1994 as a body that would help manage the First Nations’ infrastructure assets, construct new assets, provide economic development opportunities and develop renewable energy resources. “People would like to get away from diesel and be as energy self-sufficient as possible,” he says.
Unfortunately, he adds, there is no shortage of roadblocks. George has lived off-grid since 1970, and currently maintains his own off-grid residence with electrical energy produced from photovoltaic panels. Much of the Xeni Gwet’in community is in a similar position, but providing everyone with access to electricity has been a 15 year process - and it’s not quite finished yet. “People are very excited, and more so as we seem to be getting fairly close to this, but it shouldn’t take this long in this day and age.”
The delays are not about a lack of will on anyone’s part, George reckons. They are down to a succession of “benign hurdles”, such as over-complicated funding application procedures. Many agencies that are ready and eager to provide funds issue forms that could be simplified, he suggests - and shared between agencies so that communities don’t have to fill out multiple different applications. He is looking forward to other Summit participants’ experience and solutions to such issues. “I suspect British Columbia is not the only place where this kind of thing happens,” he says.
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Pari Spolter
From Natural Philosophy Wiki
(1930-01-30)January 30, 1930
Granada Hills, CA, United States
Iranian / USA
Gravity, Solar System
Born in Tehran, Iran, Pari Dokht immigrated in 1957 to the US, where a year later she married pediatrician Herbert Spolter. She earned her University of Geneva, licence es Sciences Chimiques mention Biologiques in 1952 at the University of Geneva, and her MS (1959) and PhD (1961) at the University of Wisconsin, just as she was beginning her family of four children.
(from Contemporary Authors) Working without the benefit--or perhaps without the hindrance--of an official academic position, Pari Spolter, Ph.D., has written a book that intends to challenge contemporary physics. With The Gravitational Force of the Sun, published in 1994, Spolter sets out to illustrate how the views of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein on the nature of gravity were largely misconceived, and to replace their equations with those of her own. Aligning herself with the early astronomer Johannes Kepler rather than with the two aforementioned thinkers, Spolter analyzes why, in her view, the mass of an object is not a necessary factor in its gravitational attraction. "Gravitational force of the sun is given as the product of the acceleration and the area of a circle with radius equal to semimajor axis of revolution," her book asserts. "This quantity is constant for all the planets, asteroids, and artificial satellites." Spolter also claims that the sequential mean distances of the planets from the sun follow an exponential law; this in turn leads her to conclude that gravity is quantized. Additionally, in two of her twelve chapters, Spolter seriously questions both Einstein's general theory of relativity, which is usually viewed today as explaining gravity, and the Victorian-era Michelson-Morley experiment which inspired Einstein's thought. Spolter chose to establish her own publishing company in order to produce her book, rather than sending it to the usual scientific journals and subjecting it to the process of peer review. She has stated, according to Rapport magazine, that her reason for doing so was a desire to avoid the risk of having her ideas stolen by more senior, well- connected scientists.
Critical response to her theories has been mixed and many of the positive responses have come from outside the university-based scientific mainstream. Scientifically knowledgeable reviewers in a number of publications, however, have hailed not only Spolter's determination but her erudition. T. E. Phipps, Jr., in Infinite Energy, wrote: "It is striking . . . how well informed [Spolter] seems to be in the field of astronomy or celestial mechanics." Phipps, remarking upon the stifling of independent thought that occurs in many academic environments, commented that, "as a physicist, [Spolter] may be somewhat lacking in formal preparation; but the topics she treats are so fundamental that more preparation might merely stand in her way."
This opinion is similar to one Spolter expressed to CA; she admitted that she had been taken to task for writing about a branch of science different from the one in which she was trained (her doctorate is in biochemistry rather than physics), but she averred: "I believe that my background gave me an advantage rather than a disadvantage. In a biochemistry lab, you first measure the ingredients, run the reaction, get the results, and then try to find an explanation for the data. In some branches of physics and cosmology today, the theoreticians first write complicated mathematical equations, and then try to fit nature to it."
Phipps commented that Spolter's book demonstrated both the strengths and the weaknesses of independent scientific theorizing, the strength being the opportunities it presents for originality, and the weakness being the fact that an isolated scientist is not readily available for intellectual exchange. "Still, her originality is so excessive that timid intellects like mine tend to recoil from some of her insights," Phipps declared. "Certainly, one longs to argue with her on some of her more cherished points." One point with which Phipps agreed strongly was Spolter's validation of the Bode-Titus theory that describes an apparent regularity in the spacing of the planets; for this reason, he wrote, her book "constitutes an important milestone in both physics and astronomy." Other reviewers, too, applauded both Spolter's independence and her insight: "She may be the grand mistress of all iconoclasts, but this volume presents impressive evidence on her side," attested Rapport's Brian W. Firth. "Spolter is widely and deeply read. . . . She raises many and far from trivial questions." A Book Reader contributor called Gravitational Force of the Sun "revolutionary thought that is sure to evoke derision from her colleagues. . . . Clear and thorough, this will blow dust off old, accepted laws of physics."
A Nexus reviewer declared that "Gravitational Force of the Sun is a well-argued, well- documented, thought-provoking volume," and called Spolter's contributions to scientific inquiry "important." New Energy News editor-reviewer Hal Fox proclaimed: "This is the most readable technical book that it has been my pleasure to review. . . . Each conclusion is buttressed by careful explanation of the facts. . . . We promise that you will be much less ready to accept the lecturing of physics instructors or the writers of textbooks as being the sole or ultimate truth!" Yale Scientific's Ankur Mehta also characterized the book as "delightful reading" and "stimulating" for its "simple and lucid style" as well as its novel ideas.
Phipps, concluding his review, asserted that overarching the specific rights or wrongs of Spolter's theories stood an important general truth, which was "that for all the boasted beauty of [contemporary physicists'] string theories and the brassily-resounding immodesty of our Theories of Everything we still stand barely toe-deep in Newton's ocean."
Spolter told CA: "Nature has fascinated, challenged, and aroused the curiosity of people throughout the ages. To discover laws, to understand the underlying mechanisms, and to uncover the hidden order in the operation of our solar system and our universe are genuine cravings that laymen, as well as scientists share. "I was engaged in scientific research in various laboratories for many years. The programs were funded by government grants. Like all other scientists, I was under pressure to publish papers frequently--and I did. Then, I was home with my two babies--a full time mother. As the children grew, I found time to do research and study on my own. I was very lucky--my husband supported me. I could take as long as it was necessary to thoroughly investigate a particular topic, and I was free to choose the subject of my own interest. I did not have a boss. The result was Gravitational Force of the Sun, published in 1994, and two more books in progress. "I enjoy my work. I have great enthusiasm for what I do. I have been criticized for writing a book in physics and astronomy, when I have a Ph.D. in biochemistry. I might mention that Isaac Asimov was also a Ph.D. in Biochemistry who wrote, among numerous other topics, books in physics and astronomy. Nobody questioned his qualifications for straying from the primary field of his academic background. That is because Asimov simply recycled the textbooks in physics and astronomy for general public consumption. He did not question the validity of the assumptions. He did not question the validity of the assumptions. He did not challenge the establishment, as my book does."
Articles: * Yale Scientific, spring/summer, 1994, p. 25.
Rapport, June-July, 1994, p. 32; September-October, 1994, p. 60.
Book Reader, fall, 1994.
Choice, May, 1994, p. 1457; October, 1994, p. 252.
Nexus, December-January, 1996, pp. 4-5; June-July, 1996, p. 60.
New Energy News, July, 1996, pp. 20-21.
TESLA: A Journal of Modern Science, first quarter, 1997, pp. 39-40.
Infinite Energy, January-February, 1997, pp. 46-47; July-August, 2001, pp. 4-5.
On Wisconsin, May/June, 1997, p. 40; January/February, 1998.
2011 - "Kepler's Second Law and Conservation of Angular Momentum"
2011 - "Kepler's Second Law and Conservation of Angular Momentum" (Read in full)
1997 - "Gravitational Force of the Sun - A New Theory"
1997 - "New Concepts in Gravitation"
1994 - "Gravitational Force of the Sun" (Read in full)
Retrieved from "http://wiki.naturalphilosophy.org/index.php?title=Pari_Spolter&oldid=26749"
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Home›Car Art›Artists and media›Artist Interviews›Camilo Pardo Ford GT designer
Camilo Pardo Ford GT designer
Artist Interviews, Car Art, Car design, Car types, Paintings
by Marcel Haan
As Chief Designer of the Ford GT and professional automotive artist, Camilo Pardo is very well known and gets plenty of media coverage wherever he goes. So what else is on his bucket list?
Camilo Pardo
Your work reflects so much liveliness and has a passionate appearance. Is that a reflection of who you are?
Yes, my artwork, paintings, fashion and furniture design, and all my automotive design all share the same kind of energy. So it's consistency for sure and it's my personality.
You are one of the few who has such a broad range of topics for your art. Do you do a lot of experimenting?
I started as a fine artist and have painted all my life. So that's my foundation. I went to design school to be a designer. When you are taught industrial design, you have a very good understanding of how everything is fabricated. If you get into automotive design, it's probably one of the most difficult products there is. It's much more relaxing to do furniture or fashion design and less demanding. You can do those to have a good time and enjoy yourself. Then the paintings are always improving because of the illustration techniques, which are necessary for all the other design areas. So really they are all tied together.
Ford GT by Camilo Pardo
So you actually started in fine art, did the designing aspect come second?
Well I always wanted to design cars as a little kid. To become an automotive designer, you have to take specific training. To become an industrial designer, you have to go to college. In that college they teach you all the foundations that everyone needs, whether you are a fine artist, a graphic artist, an interior designer, automotive designer or a product designer. You still have to take all the same fundamental classes of art, colour composition, design theory, 3D composition etc. You have to do very well in all of them to achieve any of the departments. So we all have the same foundation.
I grew up in the time when the most amazing cars were coming out; Mustangs, Corvettes, Cougars, Challengers, Shelbys, Ferraris
When did you start creating automotive art? Were you always into cars?
Yes, my mother was a painter and when I was young, she would let me paint and I painted a lot. I grew up in the late 60's, early 70's and those were the years when the most amazing cars were coming out; Mustangs, Corvettes, Cougars, Challengers, Shelbys, Ferraris, everything was amazing at that time. Those cars were just impossible to miss on the streets and had bright colours and were very dynamic. I don't know, I just had a natural gravity to those cars and racing. So with my interest in painting and cars, I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a car designer.
Car Art by Automotive Artist and Designer Camilo Pardo
The ultimate dream of any designer is to design a sports car. You were the Chief Designer for Ford GT. How was that for you?
When I was in college, we were all excited about Ferraris, Shelbys etc. and racing. So that was our dream. We admired people like Pininfarina and Bertone and basically, we wanted to work really hard, be the best in the class, graduate, get a job and be the best in the company and do some amazing sports cars which would give us international recognition. So that was our mission and our target and we were all very consistent. But you know, after teaching and watching young students give demonstrations in college and schools, I don't think that everybody dreams that anymore. They like cars, like SUV's and stuff and that's fine, but I don't understand how you can't love a Pininfarina or Ferrari. That is the ultimate and if you can get on a program where you do a concept car like that and then bring it in production, then you've basically achieved your goal in life. I was lucky. Everything worked out. I worked very hard and gained the confidence of my directors and vice presidents and they put me on a lot of great projects.
I am intrigued by that because you already achieved recognition at an early stage in your career. Do you have a particular formula to achieve success? You already mentioned the hard work you put in.
I graduated from college with an advanced portfolio and was on a project immediately after college. That was in 1985 and the vehicle never completed production and was cancelled. Then in the advanced studio, my director had me working on the GP90 which finished as a concept car. About five years later, my director put me on the Ford GT40 because I was always in the advanced studio and always pushing very hard. When I got onto the GT40 programme, I already had 15 years in the company. So it didn't come that early and that was when I finally got promoted to manager and chief designer. So it did take quite a while. Fifteen years is long time to reach those levels. You need to just work hard. It's hard to be the best.
Is that the advice you would give to young automotive artists and car designers? Keep working hard?
Yes. When I teach, that's what I tell them. When they pull me in for a demonstration or interview, I tell them exactly what they need to do to make it in a very competitive world of automotive design.
You use so many different colour schemes and there seems no end of variation that you come up with.
There are lots of colours available. That makes for a lot of different compositions and then you have race cars. You call this a Livery, which is the graphics of a race car. The Gulf GT40 is a livery. So that gave me other opportunities for my paintings. I just finished one which was the major car that ran in Le Mans in 2010. I had two of the Heritage, pretty much the Golf GT's and after having two of those, I thought well I'm not going to buy a 3rd one, it's getting a bit monotonous. I can continue with a signature series or I can do one of a kind for GT's in different colours. When I'm done driving them and showing them at different shows and doing magazines and video stuff with it, I can sell it to a collector. So I can continue doing that with Ford GT's forever.
There are so many different perspectives that you paint this car in. Is that because you know this design like no-one else?
Yes I know the design really well and I photograph it all the time if I am going to do a specific car for clients. Because I know the car so well, when I photograph it, I actually modify it. I redesign it a little bit but not too much. I just make it better. I do that with every car I paint. I modify it just a little bit but not to the level where anyone would notice. It looks better than in real life and it looks the way they imagine it.
Racing by Camilo Pardo
Can you give an example of which elements you modify?
The wheels should be a little bit bigger, the wheel open moons should be a little bit larger, the roof should be a little bit lower. It depends on the perspective. There are certain things that should be adjusted in order for the car to look its ultimate, very lean, very slick, the very best it can absolutely look in that photo or that image that you are going to turn into a painting.
The car paintings you create have so much energy. What is it that you want to express with your artworks? Is there something you want to tell your audience or the observer?
Yes, I like to express the energy growing out of the painting. Whether the car is moving or stationery, I still try to give it a degree of movement and drama. Most of the time, the vehicle is quite large in the composition and sometimes it's so large it doesn't even fit in the picture. It's like it's around you almost because it's so much in your face. Sometimes I do have background around the vehicle which helps create atmosphere.
Do you use oil or acrylic? Which techniques do you use the most?
For many years in high school, I learned how to use watercolour with an amazing watercolour structure. I took those water colour abilities into quash painting that we do a lot in design but which is now an historical method. I painted a lot of Formula 1 and loved the medium, it's fast. You have to be on top of it with the technique I use. But when you have finished the painting, you are still not done because you have to buy a frame and glass etc. It's too much work. Then I thought why do all that, why not just stretch canvas, with the edges all perfectly done etc. Then when you finish the painting, you are done. You just sign it, put a wire on the back and you hang it. Many contemporary pieces in museums are just the canvas with no frame. That's what I go for, a very contemporary canvas that you just hang on the wall. I went into oil as a little kid and painted in oils for years until 2009 when I wasn't with Ford anymore and began working independently. Oil is very toxic because you have to use turpentine, which is exposed all over the studio and it's really bad for you. It's also a lot of work cleaning the brushes. I can have the same effect with acrylic. There's a lot of people I admire who paint in acrylic. So I switched and now I use water and it's simple.
Automotive Art by Camilo Pardo
How do you come up with new ideas for an artwork?
Most of my work these days is a commission. So it's the customers idea, their car, what they want. Unless I do an exhibit for a gallery. Then I do 25 new pieces of whatever I want it to be. The last time I did an exhibit, it was all figurative.
If you do a commission for a car, does it restrict you in your creative expression?
No, I love painting cars. I get really excited when I go to a race. I photograph all the cars I want to do paintings of. When I see them around me, there are lots of compositions going on in my head continuously. I want to capture everything and I shoot like crazy with my camera.
Do you use the photographs as reference?
Yes, there's different ways of going about it. Sometimes I do a straight plan deal, looking straight down on the car. I usually just look at a lot of different pictures and then paint it on the canvas and sometimes I go through my photo's. I take photo's specifically for the angle for the reference for that painting. It's very on target specific.
Do you work together with other artists to inspire each other?
Yes I usually do. Right now, I am working with a girl on the other side of the studio and she does large portraits. She has a lot of energy and paints continuously. She does amazing work. I like to be in that environment where someone works a lot and does great work. It's very difficult to be in the studio with people who are trying to do as little as possible.
I can imagine that your days at Ford Automotive were very vibrant. All young designers working hard to get noticed.
Yes the designers work really really hard. It's a very competitive atmosphere. Every time there's a project, there's like three designers and they get told to go and sketch. Then they put up all the sketches, look at them and at the end of the week, they look at whose is the best. Eventually they pick the best ones to go into the model. Then they do a couple of models, then those two models will get developed and then eventually they go with one. So it's competitive all the way to the end.
Is that something you miss or are you happy not to go through that anymore?
It was life. That's just how it was. It's great when you win. It sucks when you don't.
I can imagine it brings out the best in you.
Well sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Not every painting is great. You do two good ones and you think you are on a roll and the next one is horrible.
What do you do when you create a painting you don't like. Do you destroy it?
I paint over it or work very hard to fix it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I just did two paintings recently and one I loved very much and the other, I liked but something was missing. So I spent some time away from it and then went back and tried to break it down and figure out why I didn't like it. The client was waiting for it, so I had to get on it.
Do you work on several projects at the same time.
Yes usually several. I'm just getting to the point now where I am working with another designer. This is interior design for a restaurant . She's a great designer and we can collaborate together very well. She knows I am very busy but I don't want to miss out on any work, so she can work with me. She produces a lot, so it's great.
What does a normal day in your life look like Camilo?
Well, I try to do the 9-5 stuff and do all my phone calls and talk to people who are at the office at that time. Those are also the hours I have to go and buy supplies, paint canvas, hardware etc. Then at night, with a bottle of wine, I can start my design work. I paint, get creative and try some experiments with some designs and sketch them out and do them on the computer, which is my creative part. I accelerate as it gets later in the day, which is totally opposite from people who only work from 9-5. The people I used to work with would get to work at 6.30 a.m. in the morning and get really excited . I don't feel like anything at that hour, I feel like hell. You have your 8 a.m. meetings and have to get your head together and organize and structure your studio. It's a lot of design and engineering together and then in the afternoon, everything starts rolling and sometimes it's hard to leave around 5 or 6 after being there all day. For most people like those guys, the engineers and all that, they kick butt, get heavy in the morning and throughout the day, and then when they go home, they don't want to do anything. They just want to go home, hug the kids, see their wife, have dinner, grab a beer and watch the game. That's the point where I am accelerating. I am the opposite. I start slow in the morning and then in the evening, I am going really hard. Their designs are not going to be better at 6 in the morning or 6 in the evening. It doesn't matter what time it happens.
That's very interesting. I can imagine in the evening you are less disturbed or distracted by others.
No, I don't care. I'd rather have a lot of people around.
Are you in a flow state of mind when you are designing?
I just work and if anyone gets near me, I put them to work. I give them something to do.
Do you still have something on your bucket list that you want to do?
I still want to do one more Shelby. There are some cars that would be great to do but I think every designer would love to do a Ferrari at some point. When I had friends there, they wouldn't hire me. I don't think they wanted me around because they wanted the whole pie to themselves. They would much rather hire a new guy from college with no background and no reputation than to have somebody who has designed a Ford GT and ready to go like hell. Wherever I go right now, if I go to any of the competitors, they immediately write about it and most companies don't want somebody who gets a lot of media. They want to keep it quiet. They want to control the media themselves. I get plenty of media, so wherever I go, I get a lot of media attention and that's not always good for them. I can make it good for them though.
To see more of Camilo Pardo's work, visit his website
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Founder and Owner of CarArtSpot, blogger and entrepreneur. With a passion for people and art. Every week Marcel interviews leading automotive artist and shares their stories at CarArtSpot.
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THE SUNDAY STAR, Washington DC, October 15, 1967
BOOKS: Final Volumes in Two History Series
By CARROLL QUIGLEY
THE STORY, OF CIVILIZATION. Part X: Rousseau and Revolution. By Will and Ariel Durant.. Simon & Schuster. 1,091 pages. $15.
HISTORY OF MANKIND: Culture and Scientific Development, Volume VI: The Twentieth Century. By Caroline F. Ware, K. M. Panikkar, and J. M. Romein. Harper & Row, 1,387 pages. $18.50.
The varied nature of historical writing is evident in the contrast between these two huge volumes. The Durant book could be read as a novel and is indeed, closer to the techniques of the novelist than it is to those of the professional historian.
The second volume, on the other hand, is sponsored by UNESCO and written by three well-known academic figures (of which the first only is yet alive); it would never be read for pleasure and largely lacks the qualities of "unity, coherence and emphasis" which my teacher told me were the basic essentials of good writing. Especially it lacks emphasis, since it largely consists of a series of well-informed essays on a variety of aspects of life in the 20th century, including some which might not be expected in a history book, such as recent advances in our knowledge of cell biology, or changes in domestic life, child-rearing, educational administration, and medical care. Many of these sections are so brief as to be little more than names with identifying phrases. All of them have undergone the criticism of "experts" from dozens of nations contributing to UNESCO, and the text was modified, to some extent, in answer to these criticisms, until the deaths of Romein and Panikkar in 1962-63 closed the door to textual changes, and reduced the "experts'" objections to lengthy notes, with explanations from the surviving author, at the end of each chapter. The majority of these objections are from countries of the Communist bloc and are generally of such a doctrinaire tone as to raise questions about the quality of social studies in their respective countries. As a consequence of this lengthy process, the text, which was finished by April 1960, is now published more than seven years later and does not take account of these last significant years. On the whole, the volume does not suffer unduly from this long delay.
Each of these books forms the final volume of a series, and each marks a distinct improvement over the early volumes of its series. "Rousseau and Revolution," covering the years 1756-1789, is the tenth and last volume in the Durant series, because Will Durant, at the age of 82, does not want to tackle the complex problems of the next historic period concerned with the French Revolution and Napoleon. The series began 32 years ago and has improved steadily as it moved along. The basic Durant point of view that history is largely biography is a 19th century attitude which does not provide very sophisticated history, but in the hands of a man like Durant, who is a diligent student, an avid gossip, and a facile writer, it produces an interesting and readable book.
Balanced Judgments
However unsatisfactory "Rousseau and Revolution" may be as history, in the sense that institutional arrangements are largely ignored, it will provide any non-historian with an entertaining and instructive account of a crucial period in Europe's past and will leave him, on the whole, with a vivid and sufficiently accurate impression of what it was like to live in that period just before and after our own American Revolution. The Durants have read widely, mostly in old books and especially memoirs, in the period. They provide a 15-page bibliography of these books and 38 pages of notes as references to specific points. Their judgments are balanced on the men and issues of the day and are probably as valid as those of most experts on the period. For the Durants know human nature, are interested in it, have examined much of the evidence, and are fully capable of making the subject interesting to others.
Although Rousseau's life forms the central framework of this volume, there are good chapters on other figures of the period: Voltaire in his old age, Mozart, Catherine the Great, Kant, Goethe, and Samuel Johnson. A major portion of the volume is concerned with culture (in the narrow sense): music, painting, literature, social life, philosophy, and the tastes of the day, almost all of it presented in biographical terms as the aspirations and efforts of particular persons in a particular historical context. Most of this strikes me as knowledgeable, fairly appraised and well-presented. To be sure, much of what I would regard as history is lacking — that is, the organizational and institutional patterns within which these people led their lives, including the economic system, the legal and constitutional systems, and the basic assumptions of the period which make its outlook distinctive, but just as a European of 1760 would live his life without being aware of these patterns in any explicit way so a reader of this volume can read it and live vicariously in the period without being aware of these institutional frameworks.
This is a book to be read by non-historians, for its vicarious experience, just as such persons have been reading long modern novels like Uris' "Exodus" or Michener's "Hawaii."
UNESCO Volume
From the vivid and biographical approach of the Durants, we turn to the impersonal, institutional, and statistical approach of the UNESCO volume. This is also the final volume of a series, in which the middle three volumes are still unpublished. It is far better than the first two volumes, especially volume II, which may well have been the worst history book to appear in a decade, a mélange of gross factual errors, omissions, and misinterpretations. But this volume, after a weak start, does a fairly good job on a very difficult task and under very adverse conditions.
Although the contributions of the three authors are not distinguished, I can see the influence of Caroline Ware (and of her husband, the well-known economist, Gardner Meer of Vienna, Va., in the second, and best, of the book's four parts.
Unfortunately, the Introduction and Part 1, which cover 19 chapters and 646 pages, start on a low level of quality and do not reach an acceptable level for three-quarters of their length. Much of this early portion is a World Almanac of facts rather than a history, since it merely enumerates events of the 20th century without making any effort to go into their relationships, causes, and significance.
Chapter I, as a historical introduction, tells us that there were two World Wars, with an economic depression between them, followed by a Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union after the second war. To this is added a mention of the decline of European hegemony and the rising tide of nationalism and anti-colonialism in this century. Few readers will obtain any increase of either knowledge or understanding from that chapter.
Part I concerned with "The Development and Application of Scientific Knowledge" is only slightly better. For example, Chapter X, "Transport," has eight sections on motor transport, air transport, pipelines, railways, the bicycle, etc. It adds to our knowledge a few lines on traffic congestion and pollution from exhaust fumes, tells us such things as that the London Underground opened in 1863 and the Budapest subway in 1896, but it has almost nothing to say on the social consequences of increased mobility. Such mobility, along with the influence of war, has had profound influence on the relations of the sexes, but all that we find here (p. 296) is the statement, "The automobile could affect patterns of courtship.
The final section of Part I, concerned with advances in the social sciences (Pages 527- 646) shows a marked improvement. Its four chapters provide a good sketch of the growth of social theories, changes in the home, an excellent section on the changing environment of the city, and an interesting description of the growth of the social services and social welfare.
Part II, “The Transformation of Society," covers 330 pages and, except for one section, is excellent. It covers changes in ideas, economics, social institutions, political institutions, military, religion, education and leisure. Of these the section on economic changes is outstanding, although it does not go quite far enough in its analyses to explain why the money flows of our society today can provide so many billions for equipment and capital construction but cannot find anything substantial for men or for amenities.
The section on military changes, here and elsewhere in this volume is poor, which is doubly unfortunate in view of the increasing importance of the topic. It sees the subject only in terms of weapons and technology, increased speed and fire-power, when the most significant changes of the century have been in ideas and in the ways in which weapons are used. The most important change in ground warfare in the century, the German shift from attack in lines with reserves thrown against the enemy strong points to attack in columns with reserves thrown against enemy weak points and ignoring the old bogey of avoidance of the dangers of crossfire (1917) is not mentioned. Similarly, the most significant event in the utilization of air power, that is the obsession of airmen with strategic bombing, in spite of its failure to produce results, and their constant reluctance to get involved in the much more productive activity of tactical bombing (at least in English-speaking countries) also goes unmentioned.
Parts III (on "The Self-Image and Aspirations of the Peoples of the World") and IV (on literature and the arts) are adequate but episodic, and fall again below the high level of Part II. As a result, it can hardly be said that the volume as a whole stands as a satisfactory fulfillment of "the pioneer effort of UNESCO to bring an international view to the writing of world history."
Perhaps, in the absence of any such as international point of view, the effort was doomed to failure. The preface admits that the "general approach" was criticized from three groups and three points of view: From traditional western liberalism; from the Marxist Communist camp, and from the Roman Catholic unchanging spiritual values.
I might add that many historians who owe allegiance to none of these three might also criticize the work as a whole on the grounds that its whole point of view is too strongly under the influence of 19th century positivism, materialism, and objectivism. But Part II, the core of the book, offers a brief and outstanding exposition of a very complex subject, the transformation of human institutions in the 20th century, and as such is worth the attention of any historian interested in the period.
Scans of original review
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English Lessons by Andrea Lucado -- Book Review #bloggingforbooks
About English Lessons (from the publisher)
"Could She Come to Love the Questions Themselves? The church wasn’t just a part of Andrea Lucado’s childhood. It was her childhood. It provided more than happy moments. It provided an invitation to know Jesus. When Andrea arrived in Oxford the year after she graduated from college, she expected to meet God there. What she didn’t expect was that God would be much bigger than she’d believed. In this engaging memoir, Andrea speaks to all of us who wrestle with doubt and identity. 'So many nights in Oxford,' Andrea writes, 'I felt like the details of my faith were getting fuzzier. Nights turned restless with questions. I questioned God’s existence, and the doubt was getting into my bones.' In English Lessons, Andrea takes us through the roads of England and, more importantly, the paths of the soul. Here she explores the journey of a changing faith and an unchanging God—and why growing up starts with realizing just how small we are."
I struggled with reviewing this book. As a Christian, a writer, a woman, and one who has traveled in England, I think I know what she's trying to say with this book. The problem is, she doesn't actually say it---and that makes it difficult to decide how to go about evaluating it. The book's subtitle, "The crooked little grace-filled path of growing up" alludes to the author's growth throughout the period of time the book describes. The problem is that she doesn't actually grow---or if she does, she doesn't make that very clear.
Here's what I was expecting when I picked up this book: The cover info implies a physical journey, as well as a spiritual one. I was expecting her to have visited "the roads of England" as the back cover states and to have "grown up" a little spiritually or emotionally during that journey.
Instead, I got 200 pages of a pampered Millennial rambling about her issues with "British culture"---opinions that were based on what she experienced within about a three-mile radius of her classes at Oxford Brookes. {If you don't see the issue with this, imagine someone basing their knowledge and opinion of American culture on only the people, conversations, food choices, accent, and political stances of the people in one state--like New Jersey---or Texas---or Oregon---or Minnesota.}
So fine---not every story has to have a deeply spiritual ending. She's still on her journey---I get that. We all are. My question is--what is the point of this book? It's not encouraging to a mature faith and it's not the greatest example to an immature one. I thought maybe all her mentions of drinking and hangovers would culminate in some choice to maybe lay off the liquor a little in the end---but...nope. I think it's one of those preacher-kid rebellion things where it makes her feel edgy and relatable to talk about all her boyfriends and drunken parties and hangouts with the atheist club. All of this would make a great backstory for a redemption tale. But, by the last page, I'm still not seeing a redemption tale.
Why are we publishing the diaries of a wandering preacher's kid? She's careful not to mention on her site's About Me page that she's Max Lucado's daughter so I get it that she doesn't want to stand on the fame of her father, but the thing is---the people who are going to pick up this book are people who have been reading her father for the last 20+ years. People older than me. Then they're going to be super annoyed that they're reading something that sounds like the whiny kids they just scooted out of the house and which should be very clearly marketed to the back end of the Millennial generation. This is a rant, yes. My point is---there is no solid point to this book. That bugs me. Moving on...
Andrea's back cover says, "What she didn't expect to find was that God would be so much bigger than she believed." She did not reveal a big God here. The constant whining about her circumstances got really old, really fast. 100 pages in, I was still wondering if she was going to have a growing up moment. I'd really had enough of the diva drama. Besides the fact that scores of intelligent women would highly covet the opportunity to study at Oxford and explore England without much responsibility for a year, her spoiled attitude {no microwave, no coffee maker, no instantly heated room, etc...} makes me wonder if this woman even realizes what a real problem is? You know---things like hunger, fear, abuse? It makes me embarrassed for her parents and undermines their credibility to have raised such a selfish drama queen. I kept thinking she was overdramatizing herself in order to come around later and talk about her big revelation and change---but nope. As she says, "I tried to have a very serious and contemplative moment with myself, but I couldn't....I looked the same. Maybe all the clothes I had on were European brands and maybe my hair had grown longer, but overall, still me." If the point of this book is to tell the story of how a spirit-filled girl spends a year in one place without having any sort of spiritual or emotional change, then let's make that plainly known from the outset, shall we?
Now for the redeeming bits...
The mature voice does show itself, if just now and then, in the second half of the book---although the chapter on My Frontlight in the first half of the book provided a great mental picture about how we often need to be carried by those spiritually stronger. I thought her insights in chapter eight were spot on. My favorite quote was this: "If the gospel can be portrayed by someone who isn't even a Christian, it must be an inescapable story. It must be an inescapable story, a thread that runs through everything and everyone." She really does share some great perspectives and truths when she's in the contemplative mood, but her diva-ness obscures a lot of them. Too bad. Sometimes less is more and we writers don't have to share every. single. thing. to be authentic.
Since anyone who has read this far probably already hates me by now, I'm going to go ahead and say this next part and then be done. The author talks a lot about huge cultural differences and how she feels alone. Everyone is "speaking a different language", even though it's all technically English. The problem here is proper education. She nails it on page 26 when she says, "It made me wish I had read more as a child and watched less Saved By The Bell." America's education priorities are ridiculous. {I am aware she was privately schooled. That means little in this case as many are modeled on the same failed system.} Why are we not preparing our children to maturely interact on a global level? Many of the Americans I've traveled with (and some older Canadians, for that matter) come across as very ignorant and irritated when the things we experience in England aren't simple or convenient enough for them. However, when one is traveling, isn't the experience of the new and unexpected the whole point? It's up to us to adapt, not for them to conform. The author's rambling, self-interested dialogue is grating and makes it difficult to understand the point of what she's saying. (13 pages of rambling about a spoon in her tea ends with, "I didn't get it and honestly I still don't." WHAT?!!) If this is how she spoke to the people "over there", I can see why the not-too-wordy British seemed a little standoffish.
In short, the book was full of way too many attempts at artsy poetic-ness and way too little substance. The book needs a resolution---some kind of take-away to make the reader feel like there was a reason for both the writing and the reading of it.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinionated opinions have been opined without coercion.
Posted by Mrs. Sarah Coller at 8:51 PM
Labels: 2010s
Christy Virgil March 29, 2017 at 10:15 PM
Gail Griner Golden at Gail-Friends April 4, 2017 at 6:21 AM
Thank you for your honest review. The idyllic painting on the cover drew me in, but I'd have been very disappointed by the contents. I'm amazed sometimes by what publishers consider worth publishing.
English Lessons by Andrea Lucado -- Book Review #b...
Tales of a Wayside Inn --- An Awesome and Rare Sur...
Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson -- Book Review
The Inkblots by Damion Searls -- Book Review #blog...
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Artistes & Celebs
Full Name: Pierce Brendan Brosnan
DOB: 16 May 1953
Birth Place: Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018)
Singapore Release Date: 09 Aug 2018
Mamma Mia! Sing Along (2018)
Singapore Release Date: 28 Sep 2017
The Only Living Boy In New York (2017)
Final Score (2017)
I.T. (2016)
Singapore Release Date: 13 Oct 2016
No Escape (2015)
A Long Way Down (2015)
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November Man (2014)
Johnny English Reborn (2011)
I Don't Know How She Does It (2011)
REMEMBER ME (2010)
Singapore Release Date: 18 Mar 2010
PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF (2010)
Singapore Release Date: 11 Feb 2010
The GHOST WRITER (2010)
Singapore Release Date: 20 May 2010
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A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth`s dominant species.
Subtitle: Chinese
Classification: PG13
Genre: Action / Drama / Science Fiction
Distributor: 20TH CENTURY FOX
Cast: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Judy Greer, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Director: Matt Reeves
Format: 2D, 3D, 2D ATMOS, 3D ATMOS, 2D D-BOX, 3D D-BOX
Writer: Casey Chong
Writer Ratings:
Watch this if you liked: "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes"
The resurrected "Planet Of The Apes" franchise was in the good hands of director Rupert Wyatt when he made "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes" back in 2011. The result was a better-than-expected reboot/prequel that made a lot of bananas (money, that is) at the box office. Since "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes" had set a high benchmark that surpassed many expectations, it's certainly interesting to see whether the much-anticipated sequel of "Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes" manages to live up with the promise that the first movie had successfully accomplished earlier. After all, fulfilling the same standards or perhaps achieving a higher level for a sequel is never an easy task for any director, but replacement director Matt Reeves ("Cloverfield", "Let Me In") is capable enough to embrace that challenge and delivers most of the promises.
Set 10 years after the events of the first movie where mankind is almost wiped out by the ALZ-113 global virus, the genetically-enhanced apes' colony, led by Caesar (voiced by Andy Serkis) is now living in the forest outside San Francisco. The apes have also evolved a lot where they live in harmony with their own set of rules (e.g. communication is limited to sign languages and apes do not kill each other). Until one day when a band of human survivors, led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke) stumbles upon the apes in the forest during a small expedition. Instead of rebelling against the apes, all Malcolm wants is to make peace with them. While Caesar is fine with the humans-and-apes cooperation, his lieutenant, Koba (Toby Kebbell) thinks otherwise. Nevertheless, it doesn't take long before the truce is broken and war eventually breaks loose.
Although this is the first time that Matt Reeves got to handle such big-budget production of this magnitude (his previous two movies, "Cloverfield" and "Let Me In", are modestly budgeted productions), his direction remains as confident and engaging as ever. Here, he shows a subtle balance of crowd-pleasing entertainment and a genuinely heartfelt drama. This reviewer is particularly impressed the way Reeves stages his picture in an unhurried but steady pace and takes his time to develop the storyline rather than getting all crazy showing off with a barrage of special effects and loud action set-pieces that often plague most big-budget sequels released in the summer season.
Speaking of storyline, the movie is again blessed with an engrossing screenplay just like the first movie. The central conflict between apes vs. humans and particularly the internal struggle within the ape community which eventually lead to war and revolution are especially well-written. Making the story all the more dramatic experience to watch for is the excellent characters development which filled with top notch acting all around. All the human actors, including Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman and Keri Russell, deliver fine, if unremarkable performances, but it was the motion-capture performances of the apes that steal most of the limelight. Andy Serkis easily upstages everyone here with his solid voice acting particularly the way he expresses himself through facial gestures and body language as the apes leader, Caesar. Equally captivating as well is Toby Kebbell, who gives a frighteningly grim performance as the rebellious Koba who distrusts the humans very much.
Not to forget also is the technical triumph where the motion-capture CGI animation of the apes which are far more lifelike and seamless than the one shown in the first movie. The action is also spectacular, even though a bit restrained, which is evidently shown in the climactic finale that Reeves could have gone all out staging the scene in a more exciting manner. By comparison, Rupert Wyatt did better in the first movie executing memorable action set-pieces especially in the now-legendary battle between apes and humans in the middle of San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge.
Still, Reeves deserves praise for showing great fluidity in camerawork that thankfully doesn't rely on shaky cam and rapid-fire editing to mimic a chaotic scenario. The editing is sharp, the cinematography is ace and of course, the pulse-pounding score by Michael Giacchino often evokes a sense of grandeur and dramatic aura.
Minor quibble aside, "Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes" certainly deserves a place as one of the better big-budget sequels ever made that stands head and shoulder with the equally spectacular first movie. For those who wanted a summer blockbuster filled with equal brain and brawn, this movie is definitely not to be missed.
Cinema Online, 03 July 2014
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro to star in Scorsese's new movie
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Sam Mendes has just created an epic film that will regarded as the best for years to come!
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Billie Eilish is the youngest artist to sing a James Bond theme song
"No Time to Die" will feature a song written by the 18-year-old and her brother
Jennifer Lopez, Robert De Niro among Oscar snubs of 2020
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The Benedict Cumberbatch-starring sequel will have to conjure up a new helmer
Effective 15 July 2011
G - Suitable for all ages
PG - Suitable for all ages, but parents should provide guidance to their young
PG13 - Suitable for persons aged 13 and above, but parental guidance is advised for children below 13
NC16 - Suitable for persons aged 16 years and above
M18 - Suitable for persons aged 18 years and above
R21 - Restricted to persons aged 21 and above only
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Culinary Arts Programs
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B.S. in Hospitality Management
Richmond Culinary Program Restaurant is Thriving
Restaurant management students in Richmond, VA have something to celebrate as the long-anticipated restaurant offshoot of the Culinard program, which opened its doors in May, is proving popular with locals. Situated at the busy junction of East Cary Street and South 14th Street, right beside one of the city’s major car parks, Kitchen on Cary is doing a roaring trade and offers budding cooks and caterers a great opportunity to test their skills.
Culinard is well known for its intensive immersion programs, with both day and night classes available to help students gain internationally recognized qualifications with impressive speed. Small class sizes and the presence of world-class chefs as instructors no doubt helps, while Virginia College features impressive professional kitchens. Its culinary arts and pastry programs are particularly popular; students from both programs will be working in the new restaurant.
The Kitchen on Cary team also includes recent Culinard graduates and professional staff, who provide supervision and hands-on training. With the area already celebrated for its excellent restaurants, it is competing by offering customers light, fresh food in a traditional American style. It has a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere and it serves dishes tapas-style, with wine and cocktails also available. Catering mostly to lunchtime diners, it has a commitment to using locally sourced ingredients that will help to bring a distinctive Virginian flavor to what is on offer. Larger dishes include Chesapeake Cioppino, Chicken Two Ways and Shenandoah Rainbow Trout.
Costing an estimated $250,000 to refit, the restaurant was originally supposed to open last October. It is directly financed by the college. Culinard also runs the Kitchen on George in Mobile, AL. All its students are obliged to spend at least 11 weeks working in a restaurant close to their place of study. Getting a placement is something that some students find difficult, despite the fact that the restaurants they work for do not have to pay to support them. A successful placement, however, can go a long way toward launching a career, especially if it results in good references. For this reason, culinary and restaurant management schools work hard to build up relationships with local eateries and to introduce them to promising students at an early stage.
Explore Richmond’s Culinary Landscape
The city of Richmond, Virginia is best known for its charm and history. In recent years, however, Richmond has been gaining popularity among aspiring chefs, culinary professionals and foodies of all types. If you are thinking seriously about entering the culinary field for a new career, then you might want to give some thought to attending one of the many excellent chef schools in Richmond. There are many locations that offer talented teaching staff and a range of subjects. Plus, the city of Richmond is a dream destination for food lovers. Here are just some of the incredible dining options in the various districts of the city.
You won’t find an abundance of chain restaurants in the Richmond district known as The Fan. Instead, restaurants choose to tackle unusual angles on classic dishes, which results in some tasty and creative meals. At Three Monkeys, chef combine Greek staples with classic American fare. At the Strawberry Street Cafe, an old-fashioned bathtub serves as the restaurant’s impressive salad bar. At Kuba Kuba, diners can enjoy spectacular and authentic Cuban dishes like scallop cechive as an appetizer and deep-fried plantains for dessert.
This area of Richmond is primarily considered to the business district of the city, but there are plenty of culinary choices for hungry visitors and students who happen to be in the area. For affordable food on a quick lunch break, head to King’s Fish for fantastic seafood dishes that are often under $5 for lunch. For a more upscale affair, make a special night one to remember by dining at The Tobacco Company Restaurant.
If you are a fan of history and art, there is a good chance that you will find yourself in Richmond’s Museum District. This part of the city is full of casual dining restaurants like the Zeus Gallery Cafe, which has daily specials on a chalkboard out front.
If you are in the mood for international cuisine, the West End is ideal. At Kenji Hibachi and Sushi, dig into some of the area’s best Japanese fare. House of Vietnam boasts an impressive and authentic menu, and Greek Islands has chefs hailing from Athens who create wonderful specials for their diners.
This district in Richmond includes a number of historic structures, and it is worth a visit for the architecture alone. While you are there, be sure to enjoy some of the fabulous cuisine. The Roosevelt is a traditional Southern establishment, and it is a beautifully refined place to enjoy upscale Southern classics. Patrick Henry’s Pub is a little more laid-back, and you can appreciate the British heritage of the area as you sip a lager in the basement bar or enjoy a chilled glass of rose with your tasty appetizers on the back patio.
When you choose the location for your culinary training, be sure to choose a location like Richmond. The city offers some incredible dining diversity in terms of origin, preparation style and price so that there is always something for everyone.
Upscale Dining in Richmond, Virginia
The city of Richmond is known as a destination full of neighborhoods, despite its large population. Each of these distinct neighborhoods has its own feel, culture and heritage, and loyalties are strong. With a location along the beautiful James River, the city is truly one of the most attractive and inviting in North America. Unlike nearby Washington, D.C., where immigrants from around the world have created a variety of affordable ethnic foods, this Virginia city has a more classic and traditional American culinary history. For this reason, it is possible to find dozens of incredible upscale restaurants, many of them without the price tag you might expect. Keep reading to find which of the top upscale eateries in Richmond would suit you best.
The Tobacco Company
This upscale eatery is one of the city’s best known destinations for fine dining. Many of the kitchen staff have worked at the Tobacco Company since it first opened more than 35 years ago, and they continue to provide high-quality food for diners. The menu is traditional, but dishes come from varying cuisines. There are also a few modern takes on old favorites, such as the fried yellow tomatoes topped with shaved fennel. Other specialties on the menu include the fried oysters, homemade lasagna and a classic Tuscan chicken.
Acacia Restaurant
This eatery, run by Aline and Dale Rietzer, focuses first and foremost on using locally sourced and topnotch ingredients. Some of the dishes may seem simple at first glance, but it is the quality and freshness of each component that makes it something special. The region is clearly emphasized when you head into the Acacia Restaurant, and diners can enjoy an unpretentious and almost rustic approach to food. Some of the many incredible dishes on the menu include the prosciutto wrapped mozzarella, crispy pork belly with an apple puree and butter poached lobster.
Julep’s New Southern Cuisine
Although Virginia is firmly rooted in the Southern United States, it can be difficult to find cuisine in the area that reflects that fact and is still upscale. Julep’s New Southern Cuisine connects the two themes seamlessly, and it provides modern twists on favorite Southern dishes. The chefs are inspired by the cuisine of cities like Charleston, Savannah and Atlanta, which helps to create meals like cheddar grits with Andouille sausage and a hearty gumbo filled with locally caught seafood.
Lemaire at the Jefferson Hotel
The Jefferson Hotel is one of the top hotel establishments in the city, and Lemaire is the upscale eatery within the Jefferson. Although the menu does a great job of appealing to the regional palate, there are also plenty of modern food trends to expose visitors to a new take on Virginian cuisine. A cinnamon butternut puree might be filled with lump crab meat and even the standard burger comes topped with a remarkable duck foie gras sauce. This formal eatery is a staple in the city’s culinary landscape.
Hondo’s Steakhouse
This region of the United States is famed for upscale steakhouses, and Hondo’s is a prime example that certainly does not disappoint. The dark leather interior sets the tone for a classic steakhouse meal, and the ingredients are sourced from the best places on Earth. Giant lobsters are sent from South Africa, crab comes straight from the Chesapeake Bay and the hearty steaks are shipped from Kansas City. Although the style is traditional and stays away from food trends, diners simple can’t argue with the quality at Hondo’s.
Choosing an upscale restaurant is often a way to celebrate a birthday, a business meeting or an anniversary. Any of these fine restaurants is the perfect place to dine in Richmond, Virginia when you’re looking for luxury.
When you’re ready to take a step toward making your career in culinary arts a reality, you have many options with Virginia cooking schools.
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COTC Honors Peace Officer Basic Training Graduates
Cottrell Award Recipient Announced at Ceremony
NEWARK, Ohio, November 26, 2019 — Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) held a graduation ceremony on November 21 to honor graduates of the peace officer basic training (POBT) program and name the Officer Thomas W. Cottrell Jr. Award for Character and Dedication to Public Service recipient.
The following students graduated from BAS Class #19-029 under Commander Jeff Sowards.
Clara Bernthold, Lancaster
Jordan Jones, Dresden
Hannah Looney, Danville
Sarah McCreery, Coshocton
Joshua Neely, Howard
Zachary Raaker, Etna
Benjamin Smith, Thornville
Kara Spence, Heath
Peyton Yost, Johnstown
"This is a special class," said Sowards. "All the graduates passed the state peace officer exam on the first try with an average score of 91.6, surpassing two of the top academies in the state." All of COTC's 2019 academies combined achieved an average score of 90.38, making COTC's POBT the second-highest scoring open enrollment academy in the state, he added.
Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer provided the keynote address. "This is a field of great honor and respect," he said before sharing lessons he has learned. "This isn't just a job, this is who you are. Try to treat everyone with respect, and dress sharply to get more respect. You may want to change the way things are done, but ask yourself why it's done in that way. Never take anyone's anger personally, and always take advantage of your training."
Melissa Osborn, Officer Cottrell's mother, presented the Officer Cottrell Award, saying, "Tommy loved a lot of things, but most of all he loved being a police officer. He chose to be an officer because of the compassion shown by an officer to him in his youth. This path can sometimes be difficult and feel thankless, but stay on your path because you will make a significant impact."
Zachary Raaker was the recipient of the Officer Cottrell Award. "It's an honor, and I'm very grateful," he said. "It's humbling to be able to align myself with someone held in such high regard."
Cottrell was a 2002 graduate of COTC's basic police academy. He was killed in the line of duty in January 2016. The Officer Cottrell Award is presented by the Cottrell family at each graduation ceremony. It is the highest honor a cadet can receive. The selection of the recipients is based on many factors including, but not limited to, academic success and overall leadership and character. The $1,000 award assists the recipient with equipment purchases and other expenses associated with beginning a career in law enforcement.
POBT prepares students to exceed the requirements of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. Graduates are recommended to take the state certification examination to become a peace officer in Ohio. Graduates' scores on the state certification exam ranked second in the state among open enrollment academies and fifth overall according to a 2018 report by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. Graduates also earn 27 credits toward an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement Technology. For more information, visit cotc.edu/POBT.
Pictured: COTC President John M. Berry, PhD; Zachary Raaker, Officer Cottrell Award Recipient; Melissa Osborn, mother of Officer Cottrell; Courtney and Brooklyn Cottrell, daughters of Officer Cottrell
COTC is a fully accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible programs of technical education in response to current and emerging employment needs. COTC is the only technical college in Ohio operating four full-service campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala
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The Blind Watchmaker
I recently read a book called The Blind Watchmaker written by Richard Dawkins. I was intrigued by the title of this book, as I am so fond of the story that it so cleverly refers to while at the same time refuting (see note 1). At the same time, I was particularly disturbed by the subtitle: " Why the evidence of evolution reveals a universe without design ". Really? If that is true, then I've got to rethink one of the basic beliefs that my faith relies on. This states that there is no designer, which certainly limits the role of creator that God claims for himself in Genesis.
I carefully read the book to determine what it convincingly proves and what implications these proofs have for my faith. Here is what I discovered...
The book seems to be a passionate and well-reasoned response to what Dawkins rightly perceives as overreaction to Charles Darwin's claims (often from fundamentalist Christians, for religious rather than scientific reasons) that is often over-amplified by a media that seeks confrontation over truth. Dawkins' argument is carefully made at almost every step, and was very helpful in explaining the theory of evolution using terms and analogies accessible to those of us not trained in biology.
The book provides a masterful and compelling description of how complex biological structures (the human eye) and behavior (echolocation in bats) could have come from random mutation of very simple DNA + protein systems driven only by natural selection. It clearly separates the randomness of mutation from the quite clearly nonrandom action of natural selection. It carefully answers a number of naive but common counter arguments to Darwin's theories.
Let the Christian or Jewish reader be forewarned that using his clever wit, Dawkins has sprinkled the text with Biblical references of varying appropriateness, references which are often treated as implicitly false and in any case useful only as analogies. At first, this gave me hope that Dawkins had read the scriptures and understood the arguments positing their truth. I later came to view them as pointless baiting of those who profess religion and so formed prickly-pears to be avoided while savoring the garden that forms the rest of the presentation. Such readers (in fact I believe all readers) will almost certainly prefer reading Finding Darwin's God by Kenneth R. Miller to either The Blind Watchmaker or to my review of it.
What does the book claim to prove?
The book sets out to prove that the existence of all known biological structures and behaviors can be explained using the scientific method starting with basic physical laws and principles and adding only random mutation and natural selection: in particular, that the explanation does not require a designer. "The basic idea of The Blind Watchmaker is that we don't need to postulate a designer in order to understand life, or anything else in the universe." (p. 147)
Does the book actually claim to prove that evidence found by studying creation reveals that it was not designed, that there was not a designer? It does not address this question directly on scientific terms, although it does address it philosophically. I can only assume that the subtitle was added by an overzealous marketing consultant, added to make the book sell better (amplification of confrontation over truth).
On page 15, Dawkins sets out the scope of his task: "My task is to explain elephants, and the world of complex things, in terms of the simple things that physicists can either understand, or are working on. The physicist's problem is the problem of ultimate origins and ultimate natural laws." This requires handing off the argument to another book from an expert in a different field, of course; and it does require the other expert to show that the universe, and all of the energy in it, came about independently of a Creator. This will have to be saved for another review. It also reminds me of another of my favorite stories (see note 2). Leaving aside this handed-off assumption, there are other potential weaknesses in the presentation as an argument against a designer.
Does the book prove this claim?
I found the arguments quite compelling as they wound their way from complex biological structures down to the mutation rate of DNA. The Blind Watchmaker adroitly leaps over several hurdles posed in opposition to the theory of evolution (complex organs like the eyeball appearing 'all at once', 'gaps' in the fossil record, species evolution, etc.). Then it runs into trouble by assuming that we got to DNA + RNA + proteins somehow. On page 128, "we shall keep in mind the fact that these very same ingredients, at least in some rudimentary form, must have arisen spontaneously on the early Earth, otherwise cumulative selection, and therefore life, would never have got started in the first place."
It is at this point that the argument runs past the realm of science. It is not that the claims cannot be true, but rather that their truth or falsehood is not known based on current scientific understanding: "how long would we have to wait before random chemical events on a planet, random thermal jostling of atoms and molecules, resulted in a self-replicating molecule? Chemists don't know the answer to this question." (p. 144) "My personal feeling is that, once cumulative selection has got itself properly started, we need to postulate only a relatively small amount of luck in the subsequent evolution of life and intelligence." (p. 146) "We can hope for nothing more than speculation when the events we are talking about took place four billion years ago and took place, moreover, in a world that must have been radically different from that which we know today." (p. 147) "We still don't know exactly how natural selection began on Earth. This chapter has had the modest aim of explaining only the kind of way in which it must have happened." (p. 165-166)
The way it must have happened?
What is left unproved beyond the formal claim?
Unproved: there was no designer. Dawkins is so eager to disprove a designer that he's willing to leave behind science to do it. He rejects the existence of a designer not using the scientific method on truth-seeking evidential grounds but rather on philosophical grounds. "To explain the origin of the DNA/protein machine by invoking a supernatural Designer is to explain precisely nothing, for it leaves unexplained the origin of the Designer." (p.141) "The same applies to the odds against the spontaneous existence of any fully fashioned, perfect and whole beings, including - I see no way of avoiding the conclusion - deities." (p. 317)
At this point, the argument reaches a fork in the road. Along one path, it could go forward seeking truth no matter whether we can explain everything or not. The Blind Watchmaker takes the other path, accepting as true only those things that can be explained. A key point to notice is that if the universe had a Designer with both the power and the knowledge to construct it, it does not seem likely that a subset of the creation (mankind) can ever come to posses the knowledge of how the Designer came to be -- and quite possibly not even the whole of the design of which we are a part.
In the end, the statement that universe was not designed rests on this choice of direction. The case of a creating and designing God is discarded as philosophically unpleasant by claiming that it explains "precisely nothing". Paraphrasing the proof to include the assumption results in something like the following: "If we assume that life in the universe can be explained in terms that humans are able to understand, then it must have happened as described here."
This is what causes the fork: the existence of a Designer may imply that there are things which are true but which we cannot explain. Deuteronomy 6:16 brings this to a point, proclaiming "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test..." I attribute my favorite paraphrase of this to Fred Brooks, who renders it "Don't try to do experiments on God." The essential foolishness of this will be clear to anyone who watches a small child trying to figure out how to get Mom to do what they want by trying various theorems and strategies; somehow, she always seems to see what the child is after and blocks the way to danger no matter that (in the eyes of a child) it is inconsistent with her earlier behavior. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to seek both the truth of and a full explanation of our universe. It is possible that we are as incapable of complete understanding as computation is of solving all problems (see Random Comments section below).
Note about Occam's razor: If Dawkins had presented a complete description of how evolution constructed DNA and its replication machinery, then he might have employed the inference to the best explanation, also known as Occam's razor, which states that if you have two explanations of a set of data, the one which has fewer assumptions is preferred. That is, if evolution alone explains life and all other observable phenomena and evolution + God explains life and all other observable phenomena, then we would prefer the evolution alone hypothesis because it has fewer assumptions. But he didn't do that; rather, he states that it must have happened in a kind of way that doesn't involve God because if we invoke God then we cannot explain everything (because we cannot explain God).
Note about provability: I am not saying that it will never be the case that science understands how DNA and its replication machinery came about; I'm just pointing out a serious flaw in the argument presented against a creator in The Blind Watchmaker.
Unproved: evolution was not directed in its course. Even if we grant all of his assumptions, my reading of Dawkins' argument leaves open the question of whether evolution on Earth took place due to directed or undirected selection. If it is indeed the case that undirected selection suffices to explain all of the complexity that we see around us, then that is the simpler solution in the absence of other evidence to the contrary.
Cast as an analogy: Assume that the mixture of gases found in the atmosphere on a remote planet indicates that there must be life on that planet. Theory shows that plant life could account for the mixture. This does not let you run the argument backwards to state that because the mixture can be explained assuming only plants, there must be no animals on the planet. This is especially the case when you have an eyewitness who claims to have seen other evidence of animals on that planet.
So, whether we grant all assumptions or not, The Blind Watchmaker does not prove that the universe did not have a designing Creator. It does not even address this issue on the grounds of all available evidence: it dismisses in passing, but does not address the evidence offered by "exceedingly improbable events".
What about miracles?
Chapter 6 treats the topic of miracles, and treats them as a perfectly natural (not supernatural) set of events at the extreme far end of improbability. "A miracle is something that happens, but which is exceedingly surprising." (p. 159) The only miracle that is taken seriously in the entire book is the origin of life; Dawkins attempts to show that it falls within reasonable likelihood and so we don't need to believe that it was caused by a supernatural event. In his view, the 'Argument from Design' has been "always the most influential of the arguments for the existence of a God." (p. 4)
This treatment ignores the other large body of positive evidence for miracles, that found in the old and new testaments of the Bible. Here is one reason that this is important: How can God make himself known to us except through "exceedingly improbable events"? How could he prove that it was really him? Moses was faced with this in Exodus 4, when he points out that the Hebrews won't take him at his word that he talked with God; God responds by providing miraculous proof. The test of whether a prophet spoke the word of God was whether all of their predictions came true; this matches Dawkins' description on page 159 in terms of the multiplication of a series of unlikely predictions coincident with their coming true. Jesus responded to John the Baptist's questions about his deity with "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." [Matthew 11:4-5]
If indeed God has made himself known to us through miracles other than creation itself (which I earnestly believe because of both historical evidence and personal experience), then the question of whether supernatural forces were required for the origin of life is moot. We can choose to believe God when he said that he created life, or not, as we choose to accept or reject his other claims and offers.
The evidence for miracles is presented most convincingly in the miracles and statements of Yeshua the Hebrew messiah (best known today by the name Jesus the Christ). This message is brought to us by his apostles, who experienced something after Jesus' death that turned them from a scattered band of commoners who had lost their leader into a group of evangelists willing to go to their deaths (literally) in order to proclaim the truth of Jesus' rising from the dead. One of the strongest opponents of early Christianity (Saul of Tarsus) testifies that he was converted from a dedicated hunter and slayer of heretics (Christians) into an apostle spreading the word by an encounter with the risen Jesus.
To treat the miracles described in the Bible as fodder for the explanation of evolution implicitly requires that they be dismissed as either nonfactual or as non-improbable. To implicitly treat them as nonfactual is to dismiss their factuality without examining the evidence for and against their literal truthfulness. Skeptics who have done this investigation have found the evidence compelling: C.S. Lewis set out to disprove the work on linguistic grounds and found that it could only be true (read, for example, Mere Christianity ). Lee Stroebel proceeded as an investigative reporter and came to the same conclusion in The Case for Christ .
To implicitly treat the miracles as probable is to fail to do the math, even given the lifetime of the universe: Dawkins can't believe that Elijah really raised living people from a valley of dried bones as described on page 128, for its improbability is exceedingly far beyond Dawkins' own example on page 159 of a statue of Mary waving its arm.
This makes no mention of the evidence on which my faith is grounded: the life, message, and miracles of Jesus of Nazareth. Because of this, the book is aimed at the wrong target to damage my faith directly.
Are the facts and arguments consistent with faith in a creating and designing God?
Don't let this be the book that keeps you from faith.
In fact, the explanations found in The Blind Watchmaker have perhaps helped me to better understand how God could have created a world in which live creatures each of whom has free will, yet which are designed in His image and in the end conform to His will.
In the end, Dawkins' computer-based program lacked the sophistication to select its own direction. Like his own choices, or the external, complex, butterflies and bees that Dawkins proposes to guide the evolution of his computer-creatures, perhaps the life in this universe was guided by an external, complex creator/designer who beheld and saw what was good. Thus, free-willed creatures could be formed into the mold the designer would have them fill, the development and behavior of each free from the influence from design, yet the character and outcome of the whole designed by the choices of the creator. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. The sheep and the goats converge to fill the same trade. The weeds and the wheat grow together until the time of harvest. Some are made so that they hear his voice and some so that they do not, yet each is called and each has the potential to know his voice and respond.
The strength of the arguments presented in The Blind Watchmaker and other sources, together with the evidence described in the section ("What about miracles?) is leading me to believe in evolution directed by an external designer. It forms a fascinating and compelling description of "how God did it."
What about Genesis ?
Starting on page 316, Dawkins takes us on a side journey in an attempt to denigrate the creation account found in Genesis: "It would obviously be unfairly easy to demolish some particular version of this theory such as the one (or it may be two) spelled out in Genesis. Nearly all peoples have developed their own creation myth, and the Genesis story is just the one that happened to have been adopted by one particular tribe of Middle Easter herders. It has no more special status than the belief of a particular West African tribe that the world was created from the excrement of ants." "We cannot disprove beliefs like this, especially if it is assumed that God took care that his intervention always closely mimicked what would be expected from evolution by natural selection. All that we can say about such beliefs is, firstly, that they are superfluous and, secondly, that they assume the existence of the main thin we want to explain, namely organized complexity." I address the demolition and special status here; the non-provability was discussed above (Dawkins switched from the scientific method to an old philosophical argument).
This topic is a bit difficult to address because of the variety of positions held by religious people. I'll answer it with respect to my personal position, which I adopted from Jim Abrahamson (www.apttoteach.org): when asked the common question "Do you take the Bible literally?" he responds, "No, I take it normally." By this he means that the several books of the Bible are different forms of literature, and each is therefore best read as the type of literature it professes to be. The love poetry in Song of Solomon is read as poetry: we do not state that his lover's breasts really are "two fawns of the same doe". The eyewitness testimony of miracles presented in the Gospels and Acts are read as historical, as they are introduced by statements asserting their actuality.
The question that remains is what sort of literature is Genesis intended to be? What is its purpose? Who was its audience? What culture is it set in? It is surely not intended as a Physics textbook, nor a Biology textbook. Some authors have attempted to present the beginning of Genesis as historical fact. In The Fingerprint of God , Hugh Ross attempts to square the account with available scientific evidence by taking the point of view of an observer on the surface of the Earth, following Genesis' statement that "The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters". While this may turn out to be true, such attempts strike me as contrived and defensive over-explaining. Please don't feel attacked if you hold such a view; indeed, I quite admire Ross' attempt to point out the consistencies between scriptural and scientific evidence. I'm only stating my personal opinion on a subject I feel is open. It seems to me that there are ditches on both sides of the road: trying to use science (descriptions of the creation) to deduce facts about the creator, and trying to use the Bible (descriptions of God and His relationship to man) to deduce facts about the creation.
Having not researched this myself, I am most convinced by the point of view I've heard expressed by Gerald Wooten (a friend who has studied the topic). He holds the view that Genesis was written to show the order of authority in the world to an audience that consisted largely of polytheists who worshipped many things (the sun, the moon, animals, lightning, the sea). Intending respect and without intending authoritative interpretation, I paraphrase the Genesis account as: "You worship the Moon? God made that. The sea? He made that too. The sun? Yep, even that! Thunder, lighting, sex -- He's got it all covered. The order He established is the inorganic, plants, animals, man, and Himself; man is to be the tender of the rest, as His agent."
In this light, Genesis does not attempt to explain the organized complexity of life, but rather the proper order and respect to be placed on life and living things. Taken this way, the Genesis account is not "obviously ... easy to demolish"; but we need some external validation of its truthfulness (because it doesn't open itself to scientific inquiry). Some external validation can be found in the words of Paul in his second letter to Timothy, chapter 3: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto good works." Jesus himself cites scripture as authoritative several times. I find validation for Jesus' authority on this subject in his miracles (described above), in the prophecies he fulfilled, and in his rising from the dead.
"Wouldn't it be neat..."
Wouldn't it be neat if we could explain everything in the universe, including how it began and how life formed?
Lets turn Dawkins' phrase around: to explain the mechanisms by which molecules can interact and form structures of increasing complexity, to explain how the simplest of these could have formed early replicators, to explain how these early replicators could have formed more complex replicators, and how these could have formed plants, animals, and humans, is to explain precisely nothing. Nothing that really matters. Not what love is, not our internal sense of what is right coupled with our behavior that is counter to it, not how we can find the strength to choose the right. Not the conversion of Saul, nor the behavior of the apostles that together testifies to the miracles of the Hebrew messiah, nor the miracles themselves, and certainly not how we are to be redeemed and brought into right relationship with God.
This leaves us alone with our knowledge, lacking the power to face our brokenness. It leaves us without a personal future beyond the grave. It implies a universe that is much smaller than the one I believe we live in; leaving us in a universe in which everything can be explained by theorems dreamed up by a subset of itself. It strips us of the hope we have to connect with our Creator.
This explanation does at least provide an alternative release from the guilt for our sins by removing the basis for determining what is sin ("My DNA made me do it: hey, I'm just trying to get my genes into the next generation the same as the next person. If you don't like the behavior, blame evolution.") This turns out to be the same temptation presented to Eve and then Adam in Genesis : to adopt the attitude that men and women should be the ones who make the rules; to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Now I've stumbled into another controversial interpretation of Genesis; it is probably best to stop here before I'm accused of being an anti-reptilian.)
I am more convinced by the arguments presented by Kenneth R. Miller in Finding Darwin's God ; this is a work that describes how undiluted evolution, undiluted physics, and undiluted faith can all work together in the search for truth. If you've read this far in my commentary, you will almost certainly want to read this book.
Random comments
A wonderful insight. Presented on page 195 is a remarkable insight that I think we do well to keep in mind, "I have become accustomed to receiving my share of crank mail, and have learned that one of the hallmarks of futile crankiness is over enthusiastic analogizing. On the other hand, some of the greatest advances in science have come about because some clever person spotted an analogy between a subject that was already understood, and another still mysterious subject. The trick is to strike a balance between too much indiscriminate analogizing on the one hand, and a sterile blindness to fruitful analogies on the other. The successful scientist and the raving crank are separated by the quality of their inspirations. But I suspect that this amounts, in practice, to a difference not so much in ability to notice analogies as in ability to reject foolish analogies and pursue helpful ones."
It does what I don't expect, so it can do anything! Early in the argument (starting on page 57), Dawkins becomes rightfully enamored with the incredible expressiveness of even simple formal systems, in particular the pictures produced by his computer program. This is the same amazement that each computer scientist is exposed to early in our education. Alan Turing showed that a quite simple symbol-manipulating machine is able to compute anything that has ever been computed or ever could be computed by computers like we have today. He called this machine the universal machine, but it is now known as a Turing machine. (The presentation in the education is often couched in a quite dry and formal framework and would benefit greatly by being recast in the terms found in The Blind Watchmaker .)
The particular computation embedded in Dawkins' program is formally known as an L system. An L-system is an automaton designed by Aristid Lindenmayer in 1968 to model cell development. Cells are represented by symbols and cell subdivision is modeled by replacing these symbols with strings of symbols. (See William McWorter's web tutorial for more information). Each symbol in a string can be associated with a graphical representation, and this has been used to model plants, terrain, and other complex objects in computer-generated images. Much of the content of the rest of the chapter is formally summarized as "L systems are expressive." (Now you see how budding computer scientists might miss the enthusiasm due such systems.)
The enthusiasm of young computer scientists is further dampened by the immediately-following instruction that there are limits to what can be computed. Even strikingly simple questions like "If I feed the string 'aabbccd' as input to a computer program, will the program ever finish?" are beyond the ability of computation to answer. This is known as the Halting Problem, and is a small tip of the iceberg. Basically, it has been proven that there are many more things that can be known than can be computed. There are many more things that can be constructed than can be constructed by a computer algorithm. Turing showed that this is true for computer programs, based on 1931 work by Goedel that showed that not all questions can be answered within a formal mathematical framework.
Dawkins extends the proper "If this program does something I didn't expect, then I cannot tell you what it can do" by adding the improper "and there is no telling what it cannot do." Because it is a computer program, its effects are in fact bounded by what can be computed (unless it interacts with an external, more expressive, designer -- as his programs do). It cannot answer the Halting Problem, and it cannot produce things that are not computable. Dawkins can be forgiven for his limitation, expressed on page 62, that "Unfortunately, I think it may be beyond my powers as a programmer to set up such a counterfeit world." It may turn out to be provably beyond the capabilities of any computer to produce such a world, no matter who did the programming. It is not true, as stated by Dawkins, that "It certainly could be done"; that is wishful thinking in the absence of knowledge.
We have no such knowledge of the boundary of what can be expressed by evolution. We don't even know if there is a boundary to its expressiveness. However, we also do not know that it does not have a boundary. If the system is in fact a binary data storage medium that operates using L systems (an analogy used by Dawkins starting on page 115 which should not be considered binding), then it must be limited by the same boundary as computation, unless it interacts with an external, more expressive, entity. I have no opinion on what the boundary for evolution (the expressiveness of DNA) is, but to say that because we do not know the boundary it must be infinite is premature at best.
Man's position in the universe. Dawkins is careful not to be arrogant with man's position, to the point that it is frightening in its implications. I'll not mention the particular instances because it is likely to stir up more heat than light. For some reason, though, his viewpoint reminded me of a story I heard on National Public Radio. A group of people has formed, calling itself the "Brights". From their web page,
A bright is a person who has a naturalistic worldview. A bright's worldview is free of supernatural and mystical elements.
By implication, this places those of us who profess a belief in a creating designer into another group, perhaps called "the Dims". On first hearing this, I was a bit offended. Upon deeper reflection, I found the term quite appropriate, in the following sense.
Whether one is strong or weak depends on what you're comparing yourself with; compared against a newborn, I am strong but compared against Superman, I am weak. The same goes for intelligence. The brights compare themselves against all the elements of creation: water, rocks, trees, bugs, chimpanzees and dolphins. When we consider only the created things, humans come out on top with respect to intelligence, so we could rightfully call ourselves bright. Christians, on the other hand, place themselves in a spectrum that includes God. This changes the scale quite a bit and places us in a small cluster of created things that is so far below the Creator that it is like a lamp against the Sun -- dim bulbs indeed! Still brighter than other created things, but the dominant feature to be seen is the dimness compared to the top of the range.
The question of whether the brights are smarter than the dims is perhaps an interesting statistical question that could be determined by IQ tests or the like. Fortunately, the Bible tells us that salvation has not to do with one's intelligence. Over the millennia, smart people and dumb people have been believers. Smart people and dumb people have been unbelievers. I see from an article in the Guardian that Dawkins counts himself among the brights. However the statistical count comes out, count me among the dims; all the smarts in the world won't save my soul, and the dumbest in heaven will rejoice more than the smartest elsewhere.
I never got to hear the end of the radio story because lightning struck the station and knocked it off the air for a few days.
Independent paths to the same solution. In my mind, Dawkins comes closest to arguing a lack of design when he presents the fact that there are often several independent evolutionary paths that lead to the same capability. Why would a designer intentionally produce the same effect by two completely different mechanisms? Surely, one of them would be superior and so would have been selected and used throughout the existing animals!
This argument rests on a hidden assumption: that we know the motivation of the designer and also that we know what is easy and difficult. For a human designer, it would indeed be a waste of valuable time to produce two or more independent solutions for the same problem. It would also be a waste of resources to construct both sets of solutions when one would do. Pushed the other direction, this provides evidence that any designer of the life we see around us was not subject to human limitations regarding attention or material to work with.
Note 1: William Paley, in Natural Theology , lays out the story in chapter one:
In crossing a heath, suppose I pitched my foot against a stone and were asked how the stone came to be there, I might possibly answer that for anything I knew to the contrary it had lain there forever; nor would it, perhaps, be very easy to show the absurdity of this answer. But suppose I had found a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happened to be in that place, I should hardly think of the answer which I had before given, that for anything I knew the watch might have always been there. Yet why should not this answer serve for the watch as well as for the stone? Why is it not as admissible in the second case as in the first? For this reason, and for no other, namely, that when we come to inspect the watch, we perceive -- what we could not discover in the stone -- that its several parts are framed and put together for a purpose, e.g., that they are so formed and adjusted as to produce motion, and that motion so regulated as to point out the hour of the day; that if the different parts had been differently shaped from what they are, of a different size from what they are, or placed after any other manner or in any other order than that in which they are placed, either no motion at all would have been carried on in the machine, or none which would have answered the use that is now served by it. To reckon up a few of the plainest of these parts and of their offices, all tending to one result; we see a cylindrical box containing a coiled elastic spring, which, by its endeavor to relax itself, turns round the box. We next observe a flexible chain -- artificially wrought for the sake of flexure -- communicating the action of the spring from the box to the fusee. We then find a series of wheels, the teeth of which catch in and apply to each other, conducting the motion from the fusee to the balance and from the balance to the pointer, and at the same time, by the size and shape of those wheels, so regulating that motion as to terminate in causing an index, by an equable and measured progression, to pass over a given space in a given time. We take notice that the wheels are made of brass, in order to keep them from rust; the springs of steel, no other metal being so elastic; that over the face of the watch there is placed a glass, a material employed in no other part of the work, but in the room of which, if there had been any other than a transparent substance, the hour could not be seen without opening the case. This mechanism being observed -- it requires indeed an examination of the instrument, and perhaps some previous knowledge of the subject, to perceive and understand it; but being once, as we have said, observed and understood -- the inference we think is inevitable, that the watch must have had a maker-that there must have existed, at some time and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer, who comprehended its construction and designed its use.
Dawkins provides a clear explanation of how the "Boeing 747 assembled by a hurricane" metaphor described in this story can be (and is) highly unlikely without damaging the arguments of evolution by natural selection (chapter 9, starting on page 234). The watch story is still a clever story, but no longer helpful.
Note 2: The joke goes as follow: One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost." God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!" But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam." The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of clay. God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own clay!"
This point of view matches what Paul says to the Athenians in Acts 17:27-28: "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being." It strikes at the more fundamental question of creation, asking what is the source of the energy in the Universe.
Copyright 2004-2009, Russell M. Taylor II
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Dahr Jamail on Talk Nation Radio (Part Two)
September 11, 2009 / By Dahr Jamail
Dahr Jamail continues to describe some of his personal reactions to interviewing U.S. soldiers. He points out that some 1.4 million Iraqi civilians are said to have perished since the 2003 U.S. invasion. The soldiers too are victims of the U.S. Military, ‘the green machine’ Jamail says. And the Military doesn’t care any more about them than about the Iraqi people.
Part two of our series on Dahr Jamail’s 2009 Book, “The Will to Resist, Soldiers who Refuse to Fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.” This book every would be soldier should read, exposes yet another big story about the Iraq and Afghan wars. It reveals the scale of the crisis for US service men and women who must fight in these unpopular wars, but who are exhausted, angry about the policy, or even wounded from previous deployments. There is no draft to force them, yet thousands of US military personnel are being forced to deploy and redeploy.
We hear about US Military personnel who are ’stop-lossed’ despite TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury or PTSD. Dahr Jamail explains why U.S. Congress must legislate against allowing the U.S. Military to keep on treating soldiers as they have no rights.
Produced by Dori Smith, Talk Nation Radio, Storrs, CT
Audio, Interviews, Multimedia
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Home Formats Articles Walls
An invitation to reflect on borders and walls in arts, politics, and history
Chris Blois-Brooke & Andreas Fredriksen
In 1989, the people of the German Democratic Republic imagined a new and different future. They demonstrated against a political system that had suppressed its people and denied them basic human rights. The Berlin Wall had been separating East and West Germany for 28 years when it finally came down.
ASSITEJ Germany has hosted an event, Directors in TYA – An International Exchange, every other year since 1976. The idea of an artistic exchange across borders is key to this event. In June 2019, Theater STRAHL invited directors from all over the world to come to Berlin and the theme of walls was the starting point for a collective process.
Walls exist everywhere. They create barriers; they are meant to keep people out or in. They stand symbolically for what some people believe is right. Walls exist also in our minds and in our hearts. They can give structure to thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Walls stimulate curiosity. What’s beyond this wall? What choices do we have? Which walls are ours to cross and which limits do we challenge? These are artistic questions and the questions of our children’s. This event in Kristiansand is intended to start a conversation about historical events, new plays, and changing perspectives on heritage and collective memory in diverse societies.
Humanitarian Crises
Interculturalism
Resettlement & Displacement
An Applied Theatre Practitioner with experience in international Drama Education, Community Theatre and Theatre for Development, Chris’ ongoing research interests centre around the documentation of Community Performance practice for the purposes of monitoring & evaluation, advocacy and training. Recent projects include facilitating participatory documentation of Community Circus, Dance, Theatre and Storytelling practice in Ethiopia, South Africa and Zambia, documenting large conferences around the world, as well as conducting Impact Assessment studies for organisations in the UK and USA. His other work includes Arts-based Curriculum Development consultancy, as well as authoring other Evaluative Research projects. ///// Andreas Fredriksen is a Photographer and Cinematographer based in Kristiansand. He holds a bachelor degree in Literature, Film, and Theatre from the University of Agder and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Drama and Theatre.
Sensory Performance Practice Part Two: Establishing A Safe Space
Sensory Performance Practice Part One: Where We Are And Where We’re Not
Co-Programming With Teenagers
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Economics »
🚛 Trade Warz
AuthorTopic: 🚛 Trade Warz (Read 10916 times)
Kickoff article for a new Official Thread on tariffs, trade, protectionism, et al.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/trade-conflict-heats-up-towards-a-full-scale-global-trade-war/5631391
Trade Conflict Heats Up, Towards a Full-scale Global Trade War?
By Nick Beams
Theme: Global Economy, Law and Justice
The Trump administration is expected to announce today how it will apply the tariffs on steel and aluminium outlined last week. While a full-scale global trade war has yet to break out, the major powers are manoeuvring for an impending conflict.
Yesterday, European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said the EU would take the case to the World Trade Organisation and work with others if Trump went ahead. The EU, she confirmed, has drawn up a list of products that would be subject to tariffs to the tune of €2.83 billion if the US proceeds. The targets could include certain types of bourbon, and food products such as peanut butter, cranberries and orange juice, as well as Harley Davidson motorbikes.
Malmström said she was reluctant to use the term “trade war” and the EU did not “want this to go out of proportion.” But she added:
“[W]e need to take certain measures if this [happens]. It risks a serious blow to the European economy and to our workers.”
The European powers hope to be excluded on the basis that they are strategic allies of the US, so the “national security” grounds on which Trump announced the measures do not apply to them.
However, this argument, which was advanced by the now former head of Trump’s National Economic Council, Gary Cohn, who resigned on Tuesday, is not cutting much ice as the “America First” economic nationalists assume greater control in the White House.
Trump used a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on Tuesday to single out the EU for attack.
“The European Union has been particularly tough on the United States,” he said. “They make it almost impossible for the United States to do business with them. And yet they send their cars and everything else …”
This was a clear threat that if the EU responds to the steel and aluminium tariffs, then the US will hit back with moves against cars.
Canada—the largest exporter of steel to the US—and Mexico have also called for exemptions from the tariff plan. The Trump administration said any such exclusion depended on the two countries bowing to US demands in the ongoing renegotiation of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC yesterday there was a mechanism for a “carve out” of countries from the tariffs. But that would only apply to the extent that the US was “successful” in renegotiating NAFTA.
In a television interview yesterday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross tried to sound a conciliatory note.
“We’re not trying to blow up the world,” he said. “There’s no intention of that.”
Yet the administration’s actions have very definite global consequences, as the US Chamber of Commerce, one of the country’s largest business lobby groups, noted.
“The US Chamber is very concerned about the increasing prospects of trade war, which would put at risk the economic momentum achieved through the administration’s tax and regulatory reforms,” an official statement declared. “We urge the administration to take this risk seriously and specifically to refrain from imposing new world-wide tariffs on steel and aluminium.”
The US actions have caused consternation in ruling political and financial circles around the world. Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe attacked the Trump measures and warned that escalation and retaliation would produce a “very big shock for the world economy.”
Lowe said the moves were “highly regrettable and bad policy” but were manageable for the world economy, provided they were confined to two industries. He expressed the hope that other countries would “just sit still and do nothing,” saying:
“That’s the hardest thing to do in some cases, because there’s a political imperative in some countries to kind of respond to what is seen as an unjust action.”
An emerging theme from opposition in the United States is not a repudiation of trade war as such, but concerns that the Trump administration has used a blunt instrument that hits US strategic allies rather than the real opponent, China.
In the Wall Street Journal, Greg Ip noted that the US was not the only country with a chip on its shoulder about trade. There were “countless others” when it came to China.
“For President Donald Trump, this could be an opportunity to lead a coalition against China’s predatory trade behaviour. Instead, he is threatening trade war with the countries that would make up such a coalition, over commodities that are much less vital to the US economy and national security than the sectors threatened by China’s expropriation of intellectual property.”
This approach was reflected in a letter from 107 House Republicans sent to Trump yesterday, expressing “deep concern” about the prospect of broad global tariffs on steel and aluminium.
Warning of “unintended negative consequences” for the US economy, the letter said:
“We support your resolve to address distortions caused by China’s unfair practices, and we are committed to acting with you and our trading partners on meaningful and effective action.”
Last August, the office of the US Trade Representative launched an investigation under Section 301 of the 1974 US Trade Act to determine whether Chinese actions in relation to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation were unreasonable and detrimental to US interests.
The investigation’s report is expected within weeks. Under the legislation, the president has the power to retaliate for what are deemed to be unfair trade practices. A US investigation conducted last year claimed the annual loss to the US economy from counterfeited goods, pirated software and the theft of trade secrets was at least $225 billion and could go as high as $600 billion. It designated China as the main culprit.
Bloomberg reported that
“under the most severe scenario being weighed, the US could impose tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports from shoes and clothing to consumer electronics.”
It cited two people “familiar with the matter” who spoke on condition of anonymity.
China has so far adopted a low-key approach to the steel and aluminium tariffs, largely because it is well down the list of countries that export the metals to the US. But it is almost certain to respond to measures under Section 301.
Signalling that his administration is gearing up for action, Trump declared in a Twitter post yesterday:
“The US is acting swiftly on intellectual property theft. We cannot allow this to happen as it has for many years!”
Financial Times economics columnist Martin Wolf this week noted that Trump’s action on steel and aluminium was unlikely to be the last.
It was “more likely to be the beginning of the end of the rules-governed multilateral trading order that the US itself created.”
This assessment is borne out by Cohn’s resignation after he had failed to at least moderate the measures. It is a sure sign that, whatever the final form of the steel and aluminium tariffs, their imposition signifies the start of a descent into global trade war on a scale not seen since the disastrous conflicts of the 1930s, which played a major role in creating the conditions for World War II.
The original source of this article is World Socialist Web Site
Copyright © Nick Beams, World Socialist Web Site, 2018
« Last Edit: March 09, 2018, 01:58:08 AM by RE »
Palloy2
Re: 🚛 Trade Warz
This breakdown of steelmakers exporting to US is interesting:
While the tension has been focused on China, in fact the BRICS countries are all exporters - Brazil 13.5%, Russia 8.0%, China 2.2%, India 2.0%, South Africa 1.0%, Total BRICS 26.7%. To that you could add Turkey 6% and maybe Vietnam 1% taking it to 33.7%, so fully one third of US imports could be withheld while WTO wrangles play out.
I imagine there is spare steel-making capacity in a host of other countries, and at a price that US producers couldn't compete with, otherwise why are they being imported now?
Since there's no good financial reason to have tariffs, they had to be put under the "national security" label, and unsurprisingly all US's allies started clamouring for national security exemptions and will get them in the end. Thus these tariffs will end up being anti-BRICS, further cementing the Chinese Cold War split on which WW3 will be fought.
"The State is a body of armed men."
Quote from: Palloy2 on March 11, 2018, 05:47:25 PM
You have to factor in Demand Destruction here. If the Konsumers cannot afford to buy the products made from steel, you need fewer steel producers.
The graphic is very informative. More effect on Russia and Brazil than any of the others besides Canada.
So...is Canada getting exempted after all? It seems very, very dumb to put a tariff on Canadian steel. But as David mentioned, the US put a big tariff on Canadian lumber already.
Quote from: Eddie on March 11, 2018, 06:06:49 PM
My feeling is that Trump is after China period.
This tariff bullshit is all some kind of war with the gooks, that is being orchestrated by the Generals baby sitting him in the White House. To view it in any other light or to try and makes sense of it is folly.
Trump is a graduate of Wharton, one of the most renowned educators of finance and economics as well as business practices in the world.
Does anyone seriously think that Trump isn't aware of these high school sophomoric views on tariffs being voiced here.
I think Trump is playing by the populist playbook that got him elected. The Trump base thinks tariffs are great...because JOBS!
It's bullshit. He probably does know it.
Frankly, The Wharton School pedigree doesn't impress me. Not every Wharton grad is some kind of wunderkind. And half of every Wharton graduating class..... graduates in the bottom half of the class.
Nearingsfault
According to the stories I read yes we are getting exempted but for 30 days so long as we knuckle under on everything trump wants on Nafta... But understand there is no way the sitting government can roll over and play dead on this. This whole thing is really gaining steam locally. As to his skill level I think 45 years ago when he went to school maybe he knew these things but spending 4 decades surrounded by yes men as you live in gold encrusted penthouses and consume junk food clouds your mind...
If its important then try something, fail, disect, learn from it, try again, and again and again until it kills you or you succeed.
🚢 Trump’s Travesty of Protectionism
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/03/09/trumps-travesty-of-protectionism/
Trump’s Travesty of Protectionism
by Michael Hudson
Photo by Tyler Merbler | CC BY 2.0
Trump’s series of threats this week was a one-two punch. First, he threatened to impose national security tariffs on steel and aluminum, primarily against Canada and Mexico (along with Korea and Japan). Then, he suggested an alternative: He would exempt these countries if they agree to certain U.S. demands.
But these demands make so little economic sense that they should be viewed as an exercise in what academia used to call power politics. Or in Trump’s world, Us versus Them, a zero-sum game in which he has to show that America wins, they lose.
It won’t work. Trump’s diplomatic ploy with Mexico is to say that he’ll be willing to exempt them from the steel and aluminum tariffs if they agree to (1) build the wall that he promised to make them build, and (2) give other special favors to the United States. He can then go to American voters and say, “See, we won; Mexico lost.”
This is unlikely to elicit a Mexican surrender. Its president already has said that building a wall makes no sense, and cancelled the planned diplomatic visit to Washington last week. Giving in to Trump’s election promise to American voters (or more to the point, indulging in his own ego trip about the wall) would be political suicide. Trump would crow that he made Mexico bow to his bidding.
Matters aren’t much better in Canada. While some Pennsylvania and Ohio steel companies probably will try to make Trump look good by hiring back a few hundred workers if and when the tariffs are announced, Canada and other suppliers would have to be laid off. Canadian resentment already has been building up for decades, ever since the auto agreement of the 1960s and ‘70s that favored U.S. suppliers.
But the real economic problem comes from within the United States itself. If new steel workers are hired, they may be laid off in a few months. Most important is the bigger economy-wide picture: The Chamber of Commerce and other groups have calculated that the loss of jobs in steel- and aluminum-using industries will far outnumber the new hiring of steel and aluminum workers.
NPR on Wednesday had a maker of beer kegs explain that if the cost of steel goes up, he can’t afford to match the prices of foreign keg manufacturers who buy their raw materials cheaper – and do NOT have tariffs raised on higher manufactures.
There are many good arguments for protectionism. These arguments are in fact much better than the free-trade patter talk used to indoctrinate college economics students. Of all the branches of today’s mainstream economics, free-trade theory is the most unrealistic. If it were realistic, Britain, the United States and Germany never would have risen to world industrial powers. (I review the fallacies of free-trade theory in Trade, Development and Foreign Debt.)
Economic history provides a long and excellent successful pedigree of good arguments for protective tariffs. Britain created its empire by protectionism, stifling manufactures in the United States as long as it pursued free trade. After the Civil War ended, America built up its industry and agriculture by protectionism, as did Germany and France. (I discuss the strategy in America’s Protectionist Takeoff: 1815-1914.)
But as each of these nations became world leaders, they sought to pull up the ladder and prevent other countries from protecting their own industry and agriculture. So they changed to “free trade imperialism.” The aim of industrial leaders is to convince other countries not to regulate or plan their own markets, but to let the United States engineer an asymmetrical trade policy whose aim is to make other countries dependent on its food exports and monopoly exports, while opening their markets to U.S. companies.
Since the 1920s the protectionist economies that came to support free trade have rewritten of history to white out how they got rich. The strategy of protectionism has been forgotten. Trump’s so-called protective tariffs against steel and aluminum are the antithesis to every principle of protectionism. That is why they are so self-destructive.
A really nationalistic trade strategy is to buy raw materials cheaply, and sell finished manufactured goods at a high value-added price.
The idea of industrial protectionism, from British free trade in the 19th century to U.S. trade strategy in the 20th century, was to obtain raw materials in the cheapest places – by making other countries compete to supply them – and protect your high-technology manufactures where the major capital investment, profits and monopoly rents are.
Trump is doing the reverse: He’s increasing the cost of steel and aluminum raw materials inputs. This will squeeze the profits of industrial companies using steel and aluminum – without protecting their markets.
In fact, other countries are now able to legally raise their tariffs to protect their highest-technology sectors that might be most threatened by U.S. exports. Harley Davidson motorcycles have been singled out. They also can block U.S. monopoly exports, such as bourbon and Levi blue jeans, or pharmaceuticals. Or, China can block whatever U.S. technology it decides it wants to compete with.
Trump’s tariff threats caused short-term aluminum prices to jump by 40 percent, and steel prices by about 33 percent. This raises the price of these materials to U.S. manufacturers, squeezing their profits. Foreign manufacturers will not have their materials prices increased, and so can out-compete with U.S. steel- or aluminum-using rivals. The global oversupply in fact may make the price of steel and aluminum decline in foreign markets. So foreign industry will gain a cost advantage.
On top of that, foreign countries can legally raise tariffs in their own markets – for whatever industries they deem will best gain from this advantage.
Trump’s tariffs will not induce new capital investment in steel or aluminum
America’s logic behind protective tariffs after the Civil War ended the Southern free-trade policies was that tariff protection would create a price umbrella enabling U.S. manufacturers to invest in plant and equipment. Britain already had made these sunk costs, so the United States had to include the cost of capital in its revenue.
That’s how America built up its steel industry, chemical industry and other manufacturing industry.
But no steel or aluminum company is likely to invest more or hire more U.S. labor as a result of higher tariff revenues. These companies may raise their prices, but neither investment nor trickle-down effects are likely.
For one thing, aluminum is made out of electricity, and America is a high-cost producer. Alcan – America’s largest supplier – has a rip-off deal with Iceland getting electricity almost for nothing.
For steel, it takes a long time to build a modern steel mill. No company will do this without an assured market. Trump’s tariff increases do not guarantee that.
America’s policy of breaking international agreements (we’re the “indispensable nation”)
Few companies, labor groups or banks in New York City have been willing to trust Mr. Trump in recent years. He should have called his book “The Art of BREAKING THE deal.” That’s how he made his money. He would sign an agreement with suppliers to his hotels or other buildings, and then offer only 80 cents (or less) on the dollar. He’d tell them, in effect: “You want to sue? That will cost you $50,000 to get into court, and then wait three or four years, by which time we’ll have made enough money to pay you on the cheap.”
Bank lenders had as much trouble getting paid as did Trump’s hapless suppliers. He made his fortune this way – so successfully that he seems to believe that he can use the same strategy in international diplomacy, just as he’s threatening to break the Iran agreement.
Will this work? Or are foreign economies coming to view the United States as “not agreement-capable”? In fact, will U.S. companies themselves believe that agreements signed today will still be honored tomorrow?
Trump’s national security ploy to bypass Congressional authority over trade policy
This is not the first time the United States has raised tariffs unilaterally. George W. Bush did it. And my 1979 book, Global Fracture, describes U.S. protectionism in the 1970s against other countries. America did it again and again.
But Trump has introduced some new twists. First of all, former U.S. protectionism had Congressional backing. But Trump has bypassed Congress, no doubt aware that steel-using and aluminum-using industries can mobilize Congressional support against Trump.
So Trump has used the one play available to the Executive Branch: the National Security umbrella. In a great mind-expansion exercise he claims that it would be a loss of national security to depend on neighboring Canada, Mexico, or allies such as South Korea and Japan for steel and aluminum. If he can convince a kangaroo trade court, this loophole is indeed allowed under WTO rules (GATT Article XXI). The idea was to apply to times of war or other great crisis. But U.S. steel and aluminum production has been steady for over a decade, and there seems to be no military or economic crisis affecting national security.
Suppose Trump gets away with it. Other countries can play this “national security” game. Any economic activity can be deemed national security, because every economy is an overall system, with every given part affecting all the others. So Trump has opened the door for overall asymmetrical jockeying for position. The most likely arena may be high-technology and military-related sectors.
Back in the 1980s this was called “Uncle Sucker” patter talk – acting as if the United States was the exploited party, not the exploiting actor in international trade and investment. Ultimately at issue is how much policy asymmetry the rest of the world is willing to tolerate. Can the United States still push other countries around as it has done for so many years? How far can America push its one-sided agreements before other countries break away?
Each foreign country threatened with loss of steel or aluminum exports has a more high-tech industry that it would like to protect against U.S. competition. The response is likely to be asymmetrical.
And here at home, how long will higher manufacturing industries back Mr. Trump and his policy that makes a travesty of “smart” protectionism?
Quote from: David B. on March 11, 2018, 09:56:48 PM
looks like this is back in the news and picking up steam. For clarification for non canadians; when every province agrees on ANYTHING in Canada its a big deal; they are all agreeing to counter duties. When the Conservative party grudgingly agrees their liberal rivals were right on ANYTHING its a big deal; leader of the opposition agrees with call for tariffs. Looks like we're doing this https://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult/cacsap-cmpcaa-eng.asp
Could be another trade masterstroke by the art of the deal guy but looking less likely
Trump: "we don’t have the judges”, meaning bought and paid for judges. So Trump will lose control of WTO.
https://www.rt.com/business/428460-us-appeals-chamber-wto/
Countries want to limit US veto power at WTO
Some member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) want to create an appeal mechanism that would prevent the US vetoing decisions it dislikes, according to Russian Economy Minister Maksim Oreshkin.
By September four seats will be vacant at the Appellate Body, the WTO appeals chamber, leaving three judges out of the necessary seven. Washington has blocked appointments to the chamber, thus engineering a crisis in the system of settling global disputes.
According to Oreshkin, without the appointments, the WTO appeals body would stop working next year. On Thursday, Oreshkin met with trade ministers from WTO member countries, and they discussed a mechanism that would allow the appeals chamber to work without getting a green light from the US.
"What we have discussed, have suggested is to create a mechanism without taking into account the US stance, which would allow us to settle cases which are reviewed at this appeal commission. We would work on this," the minister told reporters.
Since 1995, the WTO has expanded to cover around 95 percent of world trade, which has more than tripled to around $18 trillion per year in goods alone. US President Trump has taken a sharp stance on the WTO saying it’s a “catastrophe”. “We lose the cases, we don’t have the judges,” he said in February.
This is a moot point.
Trump will pull his pants down and blow a fart in their face, he has no regard at all for these political clubs.
To my mind this whole trade war is bull shit political posturing play acting to the dim.
The world is to interdependent; we are completely dependent on imports from others.
Too many politicians with too much time on their hands to bull shit, grab headlines, and fill the heads of the dim with more bull shit rhetoric.
It's all nonsense and one more reason I choose to be a Libertarian.
Thats not the way I see it Golden Oxen. Tarriff on German cars will only make them more of a status symbol. Threatening any oil and gas company doing business in Iran only sends all their oil and gas to china via russian drilling experience. I could go on, but you get the point.
Quote from: Agent Graves on June 01, 2018, 11:28:02 PM
Hi Agent Graves, Pleasure to finally talk with you and have the opportunity to welcome you to the Diner.
Yes, your drift is clear but only partially true In my view.
The world economy has become so integrated with such an amount of consumer goods available that an onerous tax on a BMW would only lead the show off class to perhaps switch to a Lexus or a Masserati, perhaps the ultimate Genesis luxury vehicle from South Korea or even the new high end Cadillacs that sticker for 70 grand.
We saw already in the last trade war actions a backdowns and list of exemptions listed within days after the foolish announcements had been made. Count me as still believing this is mostly political pandering to the dim, but of course your point that it does have some effect is certainly valid.
Again Agent Graves, Pleasure to meet you and welcome.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2018, 03:56:36 AM by Golden Oxen »
jdwheeler42
Or, alternatively, it is hyperintelligent, recognizing that global supply chains are about to break down anyway, and he wants to get the US ready for a more localized economy....
Okay, well, that's the reason why I don't oppose it....
Making pigs fly is easy... that is, of course, after you have built the catapult....
The globe and Mail is the more right leaning American friendly Toronto Paper. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-globe-editorial-donald-trump-insults-canada-and-tests-its-patience/
I don't really know how I feel about this ongoing train wreck. We need diversified markets and to foster more production at home. The orange one could be just the kick in the pants we need to understand deals with the US are not worth the paper they are printed on. A sure sign of Collapse as we all withdraw into our national echo chambers.
🚢 Trade Warz
Started by RE Economics
🚀 Outer Space Warz
Started by RE Geopolitics
🚛 Prometheus Rising
Started by RE Prometheus Rising
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Celebs.
Spotted with Doona™
Alexa PenaVega is an American actress and singer. Alexa is known for her roles in the Spy Kids film series and in the film Repo.
Married to actor and singer Carlos PenaVega.
Jamie and Becky Vardy
Jamie Vardy is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Leicester City and the England national team.
Married to Becky Vardy.
Michelle Hunziker & Tomaso Trussardi
Michelle Yvonne Hunziker is a Swiss-Italian television hostess, model and actress. Married to Tomaso Trussardi.
Tomaso ‘Trussardi is a CEO of ‘Trussardi’ company, an Italian fashion house since 1911.
Chris O’Dowd & Dawn O’Porter
Christopher “Chris” O’Dowd is an Irish actor and comedian.
Dawn O’Porter is a writer and television presenter.
Kimberly is an American singer, dancer, choreographer and television personality. Best known as a former member of the American pop/R&B girl group and dance ensemble”The Pussycat Dolls”.
Married to Max Rogers.
Todd Tucker
Todd Tucker has worked on music videos, live television, news programming, reality shows, and owns Tucker Productions LLC. Todd is best known as a star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Tucker is married to Kandi Burruss.
Alexandra Breckenridge
Alexandra Breckenridge is an actress and photographer.
Married to Casey Hooper, guitarist of Katy Perry.
Clara Mas is a Spanish topmodel.
Married to Victor Vicens.
Malena Costa
Malena Costa is a Spanish model.
Married to married to professional football player Mario Suárez.
Joy Osmanski
Joy Osmanski is a Korean-American actress, known for her roles in Santa Clarita Diet, The Loop, Samantha Who?, True Jackson, VP and more. Joy also manages a blog on living Downtown Los Angeles.
Married to actor Corey Brill.
Fikile Moeti
Fikile Moeti radio DJ and presenter on one of South Africa’s biggest radio stations called 5FM.
Married to Orrock Robertson.
Sam Faiers is an English television personality and model known for her roles in The Only Way Is Essex, Celebrity Big Brother and the Mummy Diaries.
Married to Paul Knightley.
Jessica Almenäs
Jessica Almenäs is a Swedish television presenter and reporter who can be viewed on many different shows, including Sweden’s So You Think You Can Dance. She also placed second in Miss Sweden 1998 and represented Sweden in Miss World 1998.
Ivan Rakitić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a central or attacking midfielder for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Croatia national team.
Married to Raquel Mauri.
Julie Taton
Julie Taton is a Belgian model and beauty pageant. She represented her country at Miss Universe 2003, Miss Europe 2003, and Miss World 2003 and was crowned as Miss Belgium in 2003.
Married to Harold Van der Straeten.
Jo-Ann Strauss
Jo-Ann Strauss is a South African model, public speaker and businesswoman. In 2001, she represented her country as Miss South Africa at the Miss Universe in Puerto Rico in 2001.
Married to Michael Held.
Alissa Laderer
Alissa Laderer is an actress, singer and model who has appeared in movies, radio, television, print and stage.
Pictured is Laderer’s daughter Poppy.
Federica is an Italian TV personality and model.
Married to famous football player Matri Alessandro.
Greame Smith & Romy
Greame Smith is a former cricketer and former captain of the South Africa cricket team.
Spouse of Romy Lanfranchi.
Ashley North is a celebrity stylist and men’s style expert.
Tina O’brien & Adam Crofts
Tina Michelle O’Brien is an English actress and model. She is best known for her role as Sarah-Louise Platt in the ITV soap Coronation Street.
Married to Adam Crofts.
Ashley Salter
Ashley became an American reality star, after participating in the TV show “The Bachelor”.
Spouse of college sweetheart Austin Brannen.
Chris & Desiree Siegfried
Chris and Desiree Siegfried married after meeting on “The Bachelorette”. Chris is a TV personality, mortgage consultant and former minor league Chicago Cubs baseball player.
Desiree is an author, designer, wedding blogger and bridal stylist.
Rubina Rovini
Rubina Rovini is an Italian chef who participated in the well-known TV show “MasterChef Italy”.
Aside from her passion for food, she is a blogger for Peu de Piment.
Claas Lehmann
Claas Lehmann is a world champion boater and also a heart surgeon from Hamburg, Germany.
Married to Sophie Heyer.
Artem Ivanov and Tatiana Bogacheva
Artem Ivanov and Tatiana Bogescheva are both Russian singers in the group “In Yan” project.
Janine Breukhoven
CEO of pretapregnant, the-mom and the-dad.com. Dutch reality star which vlogs about lifestyle, beauty, fashion and motherhood life.
Married to Bastiaan Breukhoven.
Fouziah Gous is a well-known Malaysian actress. Passionate about sharing personal beauty and health tips.
Married to Zhafran Yusof.
Anastasia Meskova
Anastasia is a Russian ballerina of Bolshoi Theater.
Married to Alexander Meskova.
Valentina Piccinni
Valentina Piccinni is an Italian photographer and art critic.
Olesya Sudzilovskaya
Olesya Sudzilovskaya is a Russian theatre and cinema actress, and a TV reporter.
Married to a businessman Sergey Dzeban.
Shinji Urabayashi
Shinji is the Consul General of Japan in Hagåtña, Guam. He has been worked in various Japanese Consul General positions around the world.
Also pictured is Jenny Yang, owner of GNC.
Darya Pinzar
Darya Pinzar is a Russian television hostess.
Married to Sergey Pinzar, who is a TV personality.
Marina Kim
Marina Kim is a Russian TV presenter, journalist and actress.
Chui Ling
Angel Wong Chui-ling or better known as Chui Ling to her many fans is a Hong Kong-born Malaysia-based TV and radio personality, host and columnist.
Married to businessman Peter Yew.
Tutta Larsen
Tutta Larsen is a known VJ and TV presenter, she worked at the MTV Russia, Stolitsa FM, Channel Mother and Child. She is the Founder and leader of her own subjective of television TUTTA.TV.
Married to Valery Kolosov.
Sergey Bezrukov is a Russian movie and theater actor.
Married to Irina Bezrukova.
Yana Raskovalova
Yana Raskovalova is a Russian jewelry designer.
Ksenia Sobchak
Ksenia Sobchak is a Russian TV anchor, journalist, socialite, and actress.
Married to actor Maksim Vitorgan.
Anastasiya Stotskaya
Anastasiya Stotskaya is a Ukrainian actress.
Carolina Sandoval
Carolina Sandoval, known as “La Venenosa,” is a TV presenter, journalist, broadcaster, writer, anchor and actress.
Galina Yudashkina
The daughter of the famous Russian fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin.
Married to Peter Maksakov.
Jasmin Shor
Sara Lvovna Shor, better known by stage name Jasmin, is a Russian pop singer, actress, model, and TV presenter.
Gaitana Essami
Gaitana Essami is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter.
Rotem Sela
Rotem Sela is a top model, actress and television hostess.
Married to Ariel Rotter, the owner of ‘Castro’ (Fashion industry).
Elena Kuletskaya
Elena Kuletskaya is an actress, known for MTV Russia Music Awards 2008, Shanghai Belle and Kto sverkhu.
Married to Stanislav Romanovsky.
Ece Erken
Ece Erken is a Turkish TV-hostess and actress.
Married to Serkan Uçar.
Ninet Tayeb & Yossi Mizrahi
Ninet Tayeb is a pop rock singer and actress who became widely known as the first winner of a singing reality show.
Yossi Mizrahi is a music producer and a guitar player at “The Collective” band.
Noa Tishby
An Israeli actress and a producer, Tishby got her first big break through at 16, playing the lead in the hit original musical “King David”, for which she won national recognition.
Married to Osher Günsberg.
Keren Peles & Noam Tor
Keren Peles is a singer-songwriter and a pianist.
Noam Tor is a business man and a model. Participated in the “Survivors” TV reality show.
Sergey Bezrukov & Anna Matison
Sergey Bezrukov is a Russian screen and stage actor, People’s Artist of Russia, the laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation.
Married to Russian writer, director and producer Anna Matison.
Tali Moreno & Eyal Kitzis
Tali Moreno is a news anchorwoman and reporter for channel news.
Married to actor, comedian and TV host Eyal Kitzis.
Efrat Gosh
Efrat Gosh is an Israeli singer-songwriter.
Married to Yuval Sigler, a journalist, editor and publisher at the “Time Out TLV” Israeli popular magazine.
Tamar Ish Shalom & Nadav Eyal
Tamar Ish Shalom is a journalist and news anchorwoman.
Nadav Eyal is a senior columnist for one of a daily newspapers and a Chief editor of international news.
Shaily Shindler & Liad Agmon
Shaily Shindler is a TV hostess and a fresh graduate of Fashion Design.
Married to Liad Agmon. Liad Agmon is Co-Founder, Director and CEO of ‘Dynamic Yield’ company (website optimization).
Yael Bar Zohar & Guy Zu-Aretz
Yael Bar Zohar is an Israeli actress, model and television host.
Married to Guy Zu-Aretz, an Israeli actor, musician, director and television host.
Yuval Scharf
Yuval Scharf is an Israeli TV, Cinema and theatre actress, who is also a model.
Married to Shlomi Shaban, who is an Israeli singer and song writer.
Nataly Dadon
Nataly Dadon is an Israeli model and actress.
Dan Shapira
Dan Shapira is an Israeli TV and theatre actor.
Married to Tamar Gerbi.
Dorin Atias
Dorin Atias is a well respected Israeli fashion critic.
James is an English actor, comedian, television host, and singer. He hosts The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Married to Julia Carey, an English actress and television producer.
Felipe Campanholi Martins
Felipe is a Brazilian soccer player currently playing for New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.
Married to journalist Nicole Carolina Martin.
Sepideh “Sepi” Haftgoli and Max Loong
Sepi is an American entrepreneur, producer, actress and host, TedX speaker, lifestyle/travel blogger, world traveler and Citizen, and holds a Juris Doctorate degree.
Married to Max Loong, a Swiss actor, host, and producer.
Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Peta is a New Zealand-born Australian professional Latin dancer.
Married to Maksim, a Ukrainian-American Latin–ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor.
Rochelle and Marvin Humes
Rochelle is an English singer and television presenter.
Married to Marvin, he’s an English singer- a former member of the boyband JLS- a DJ, and radio host.
Brandi Milloy
Brandi is a television host, producer, and food and lifestyle expert.
Married to Chris Simon.
Harry Kane is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team.
Also pictured is Kate Goodland, Kane’s girlfriend and childhood sweetheart.
Marc Bartra
Marc Bartra Aregall is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for German club Borussia Dortmund and the Spain national team.
Spouse of Melissa Jiménez, a Grand Prix motorcycle racing journalist.
Dvir and Yuli Benedek
Dvir is …
Married to Yuli, an Iraeli …
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Safe, reliable and affordable contraceptions every women must know. Make sure you choose them wisely. For more information, visit your gynaecologist.
In a study conducted by consulting gynaecologists in Navi Mumbai, it was found that the incidences of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adolescents and young adults is a cause for concern today. Referred to as the common metabolic disorder in the reproductive age group,...
Born to Sarah Thistlethwaite in Ohio, twins Jenna and Jilliana were holding hands at childbirth. Reinforcing the unconditional love between siblings, the twins shared the same amniotic sac in their mommy’s womb. This is one of the rarest twin pregnancies and this condition is known...
How the scent of a newborn baby has a positive impact on the mother. In a recent study conducted on a group of women, half were mothers who had just given birth, while the other half had never had a baby, all reacted favourably...
Roohi Mehra was worried when her 13-year-old daughter, Rashmi, started showing all the classic symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). But it was only when Rashmi’s symptoms got worse that they took her to a gynaecologist, who confirmed the family’s fears. Studies say PCOS...
A recent study led by Professor Anna Glasier, at the University of Edinburgh, suggests that morning after pill is less effective on women weighing more than 75kg and ineffective on women weighing more than 80kg. When we asked the Health & Nutrition panelist Dr. Avan...
Being pregnant may have its ups and downs but an itch is not really a symptom a woman wants during pregnancy. But some women do experience it all over their bodies, especially during the last trimester— a condition known as obstetric cholestasis. According to...
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Convenors: Nick Dines (European University Institute) & Paola Piscitelli (University of Witwatersrand; University of Hamburg)
Contacts: nicholas.dines@eui.eu, piscitelli.paola.planumnet@gmail.com
International migration to cities has long been an established topic of ethnography. Research to date, however, has largely centred on the cities of the Global North and has addressed a range of themes and discourses, such as racism, “cultural diversity” and “integration”, that play out in markedly different ways or simply do not translate smoothly in the cities and urban regions of other parts of the world and in the various mobility practices that are associated with them. This panel intends to bring together ethnographic research, both written and audio-visual, to explore the manifold relationships between international migration/trans-local mobilities and African cities.
African cities have historically been characterized by international mobility that has taken place alongside and sometimes preceded internal migration. During colonialism, urban development was often underpinned by the arrival of foreigners, whether through colonial settlement, as exemplified by the French Ville Nouvelles of Morocco, or forced migration, as in the case of historic slave communities in Cape Town. From the nineteenth century a range of international labour flows would shape African urban life, from the Lebanese diaspora in West Africa to the seasonal migration of foreign workers in South Africa’s mining regions during Apartheid. The post-independence era saw transnational migration continue towards the continent’s expanding cities, perhaps best illustrated in Abidjan where by the 1980s over a quarter of the Ivorian city’s population comprised people from other West African states.
Today, with rapid urban growth and major restructuring projects taking place across the continent, international mobility to African cities is as diverse and complex as it is everywhere else in the world: from sub-Saharan elites moving to Tunis and Sfax for private health and fertility treatment to the circular migration of petty traders between Maputo and Johannesburg; from the settlement of Chinese contracted workers in urban enclaves to the post-crisis relocation of Portuguese professionals to Luanda. International migration has often been a source of conflict, epitomized by the recurrent xenophobic attacks and counter protests in South African townships, while at the same time its economic benefits have been embraced by policy initiatives, as demonstrated by the African Union Agenda 2063’s vision for Pan-African free movement and integrated high-speed train networks.
Nevertheless, ethnographic research on international migration and mobility in African cities appears to be somewhat scattered and, besides a few notable comparative projects largely coordinated from South Africa or the Global North, it tends to focus on isolated cases. Moreover, a number of areas have received scant attention, such as the impact of international mobility upon regional urban development or secondary cities, which have often experienced greater migration-fuelled growth than Africa’s leading metropolises.
This panel aims to bring into conversation research on old and newly urbanized regions from across the African continent (including North Africa) in order to explore and confront a range of themes that encourage a rethinking of the ways in which the “migration-city nexus” gets experienced and understood in the world today. Proposals are welcome that draw on original ethnographic research adopting any data collection method (including audio-visual means) and that critically engage with scholarly debates on international migration in cities.
Possible themes include, but are certainly not limited to the following:
- South-South entrepreneurial and labour migration to African cities;
- Non-economic forms of South-South mobilities in African cities (health, education, etc.);
- North-South migration to African cities (from NGO workers to retirees);
- International migration, translocal mobilities and “right to the (African) city”;
- Encounters and conflicts between temporary/settled migrant and host communities;
- Local state and elite responses to international migration;
- Arrival infrastructures in urban contexts.
For people requiring assistance with a visa application, the University of Bergamo will supply an official invitation letter once their abstract proposal has been accepted.
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Encyclopedia of
Death and Dying » A-Bi » African Religions
In the religions of Africa, life does not end with death, but continues in another realm. The concepts of "life" and "death" are not mutually exclusive concepts, and there are no clear dividing lines between them. Human existence is a dynamic process involving the increase or decrease of "power" or "life force," of "living" and "dying," and there are different levels of life and death. Many African languages express the fact that things are not going well, such as when there is sickness, in the words "we are living a little," meaning that the level of life is very low. The African religions scholar Placide Tempels describes every misfortune that Africans encounter as "a diminution of vital force." Illness and death result from some outside agent, a person, thing, or circumstance that weakens people because the agent contains a greater life force. Death does not alter or end the life or the personality of an individual, but only causes a change in its conditions. This is expressed in the concept of "ancestors," people who have died but who continue to "live" in the community and communicate with their families.
This entry traces those ideas that are, or have been, approximately similar across sub-Saharan Africa. The concepts described within in many cases have been altered in the twentieth century through the widespread influence of Christianity or Islam, and some of the customs relating to burials are disappearing. Nevertheless, many religious concepts and practices continue to persist.
The African Concept of Death
Death, although a dreaded event, is perceived as the beginning of a person's deeper relationship with all of creation, the complementing of life and the beginning of the communication between the visible and the invisible worlds. The goal of life is to become an ancestor after death. This is why every person who dies must be given a "correct" funeral, supported by a number of religious ceremonies. If this is not done, the dead person may become a wandering ghost, unable to "live" properly after death and therefore a danger to those who remain alive. It might be argued that "proper" death rites are more a guarantee of protection for the living than to secure a safe passage for the dying. There is ambivalence about attitudes to the recent dead, which fluctuate between love and respect on the one hand and dread and despair on the other, particularly because it is believed that the dead have power over the living.
Many African peoples have a custom of removing a dead body through a hole in the wall of a house, and not through the door. The reason for this seems to be that this will make it difficult (or even impossible) for the dead person to remember the way back to the living, as the hole in the wall is immediately closed. Sometimes the corpse is removed feet first, symbolically pointing away from the former place of residence. A zigzag path may be taken to the burial site, or thorns strewn along the way, or a barrier erected at the grave itself because the dead are also believed to strengthen the living. Many other peoples take special pains to ensure that the dead are easily able to return to their homes, and some people are even buried under or next to their homes.
Many people believe that death is the loss of a soul, or souls. Although there is recognition of the difference between the physical person that is buried and the nonphysical person who lives on, this must not be confused with a Western dualism that separates "physical" from "spiritual." When a person dies, there is not some "part" of that person that lives on—it is the whole person who continues to live in the spirit world, receiving a new body identical to the earthly body, but with enhanced powers to move about as an ancestor. The death of children is regarded as a particularly grievous evil event, and many peoples give special names to their children to try to ward off the reoccurrence of untimely death.
There are many different ideas about the "place" the departed go to, a "land" which in most cases seems to be a replica of this world. For some it is under the earth, in groves, near or in the homes of earthly families, or on the other side of a deep river. In most cases it is an extension of what is known at present, although for some peoples it is a much better place without pain or hunger. The Kenyan scholar John Mbiti writes that a belief in the continuation of life after death for African peoples "does not constitute a hope for a future and better life. To live here and now is the most important concern of African religious activities and beliefs. . . . Even life in the hereafter is conceived in materialistic and physical terms. There is neither paradise to be hoped for nor hell to be feared in the hereafter" (Mbiti 1969, pp. 4–5).
The African Concept of the Afterlife
Nearly all African peoples have a belief in a singular supreme being, the creator of the earth. Although the dead are believed to be somehow nearer to the supreme being than the living, the original state of bliss in the distant past expressed in creation myths is not restored in the afterlife. The separation between the supreme being and humankind remains unavoidable and natural in the place of the departed, even though the dead are able to rest there and be safe. Most African peoples believe that rewards and punishments come to people in this life and not in the hereafter. In the land of the departed, what happens there happens automatically, irrespective of a person's earthly behavior, provided the correct burial rites have been observed. But if a person is a wizard, a murderer, a thief, one who has broken the community code or taboos, or one who has had an unnatural death or an improper burial, then such a person may be doomed to punishment in the afterlife as a wandering ghost, and may be beaten and expelled by the ancestors or subjected to a period of torture according to the seriousness of their misdeeds, much like the Catholic concept of purgatory. Among many African peoples is the widespread belief that witches and sorcerers are not admitted to the spirit world, and therefore they are refused proper burial—sometimes their bodies are subjected to actions that would make such burial impossible, such as burning, chopping up, and feeding them to hyenas. Among the Africans, to be cut off from the community of the ancestors in death is the nearest equivalent of hell.
The concept of reincarnation is found among many peoples. Reincarnation refers to the soul of a dead person being reborn in the body of another. There is a close relationship between birth and death. African beliefs in reincarnation differ from those of major Asian religions (especially Hinduism) in a number of important ways. Hinduism is "world-renouncing," conceiving of a cycle of rebirth in a world of suffering and illusion from which people wish to escape—only by great effort—and there is a system of rewards and punishments whereby one is reborn into a higher or lower station in life (from whence the caste system arose). These ideas that view reincarnation as something to be feared and avoided are completely lacking in African religions. Instead, Africans are "world-affirming," and welcome reincarnation. The world is a light, warm, and living place to which the dead are only too glad to return from the darkness and coldness of the grave. The dead return to their communities, except for those unfortunate ones previously mentioned, and there are no limits set to the number of possible reincarnations—an ancestor may be reincarnated in more than one person at a time. Some African myths say that the number of souls and bodies is limited. It is important for Africans to discover which ancestor is reborn in a child, for this is a reason for deep thankfulness. The destiny of a community is fulfilled through both successive and simultaneous multiple reincarnations.
Transmigration (also called metempsychosis) denotes the changing of a person into an animal. The most common form of this idea relates to a witch or sorcerer who is believed to be able to transform into an animal in order to perform evil deeds. Africans also believe that people may inhabit particular animals after death, especially snakes, which are treated with great respect. Some African rulers reappear as lions. Some peoples believe that the dead will reappear in the form of the totem animal of that ethnic group, and these totems are fearsome (such as lions, leopards, or crocodiles). They symbolize the terrible punishments the dead can inflict if the moral values of the community are not upheld.
Burial and Mourning Customs
Death in African religions is one of the last transitional stages of life requiring passage rites, and this too takes a long time to complete. The deceased must be "detached" from the living and make as smooth a transition to the next life as possible
In the village of Eshowe in the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, a Zulu Isangoma (diviner), with a puff adder in his mouth, practices soothsaying, or predicting, with snakes. It is impossible to generalize about concepts in African religions because they are ethno-religions, being determined by each ethnic group in the continent.
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because the journey to the world of the dead has many interruptions. If the correct funeral rites are not observed, the deceased may come back to trouble the living relatives. Usually an animal is killed in ritual, although this also serves the practical purpose of providing food for the many guests. Personal belongings are often buried with the deceased to assist in the journey. Various other rituals follow the funeral itself. Some kill an ox at the burial to accompany the deceased. Others kill another animal some time after the funeral (three months to two years and even longer is the period observed). The Nguni in southern Africa call the slaying of the ox "the returning ox," because the beast accompanies the deceased back home to his or her family and enables the deceased to act as a protecting ancestor. The "home bringing" rite is a common African ceremony. Only when a deceased person's surviving relatives have gone, and there is no one left to remember him or her, can the person be said to have really "died." At that point the deceased passes into the "graveyard" of time, losing individuality and becoming one of the unknown multitude of immortals.
Many African burial rites begin with the sending away of the departed with a request that they do not bring trouble to the living, and they end with a plea for the strengthening of life on the earth and all that favors it. According to the Tanzanian theologian Laurenti Magesa, funeral rites simultaneously mourn for the dead and celebrate life in all its abundance. Funerals are a time for the community to be in solidarity and to regain its identity. In some communities this may include dancing and merriment for all but the immediate family, thus limiting or even denying the destructive powers of death and providing the deceased with "light feet" for the journey to the other world.
Ancient customs are adapted in many South African urban funerals. When someone has died in a house, all the windows are smeared with ash, all pictures in the house turned around and all mirrors and televisions and any other reflective objects covered. The beds are removed from the deceased's room, and the bereaved women sit on the floor, usually on a mattress. During the time preceding the funeral—usually from seven to thirteen days—visits are paid by people in the community to comfort the bereaved family. In the case of Christians, consolatory services are held at the bereaved home. The day before the funeral the corpse is brought home before sunset and placed in the bedroom. A night vigil then takes place, often lasting until the morning. The night vigil is a time for pastoral care, to comfort and encourage the bereaved. A ritual killing is sometimes made for the ancestors, as it is believed that blood must be shed at this time to avoid further misfortune. Some peoples use the hide of the slaughtered beast to cover the corpse or place it on top of the coffin as a "blanket" for the deceased. Traditionally, the funeral takes place in the early morning (often before sunrise) and not late in the afternoon, as it is believed that sorcerers move around in the afternoons looking for corpses to use for their evil purposes. Because sorcerers are asleep in the early morning, this is a good time to bury the dead.
In some communities children and unmarried adults are not allowed to attend the funeral. During the burial itself the immediate family of the deceased is expected to stay together on one side of the grave at a designated place. They are forbidden from speaking or taking any vocal part in the funeral. It is customary to place the deceased's personal property, including eating utensils, walking sticks, blankets, and other useful items, in the grave. After the funeral the people are invited to the deceased's home for the funeral meal. Many people follow a cleansing ritual at the gate of the house, where everyone must wash off the dust of the graveyard before entering the house. Sometimes pieces of cut aloe are placed in the water, and this water is believed to remove bad luck. Churches that use "holy water" sprinkle people to cleanse them from impurity at this time.
In southern Africa the period of strict mourning usually continues for at least a week after the funeral. During this time the bereaved stay at home and do not socialize or have sexual contact. Some wear black clothes or black cloths fastened to their clothes, and shave their hair (including facial hair) from the day after the funeral. Because life is concentrated in the hair, shaving the hair symbolizes death, and its growing again indicates the strengthening of life. People in physical contact with a corpse are often regarded as unclean. The things belonging to the deceased should not be used at this time, such as the eating utensils or the chairs the deceased used. Blankets and anything else in contact with the deceased are all washed. The clothes of the deceased are wrapped up in a bundle and put away for a year or until the extended period of mourning has ended, after which they are distributed to family members or destroyed by burning. After a certain period of time the house and the family must be cleansed from bad luck, from uncleanness and "darkness." The bereaved family members are washed and a ritual killing takes place. The time of the cleansing is usually seven days after the funeral, but some observe a month or even longer. Traditionally, a widow had to remain in mourning for a year after her husband's death and the children of a deceased parent were in mourning for three months.
A practice that seems to be disappearing in African urban areas is the home-bringing ritual, although it is still observed in some parts of Africa. A month or two after the funeral the grieving family slaughters a beast and then goes to the graveyard. They speak to the ancestors to allow the deceased to return home to rest. It is believed that at the graves the spirits are hovering on the earth and are restless until they are brought home—an extremely dangerous situation for the family. The family members take some of the earth covering the grave and put it in a bottle. They proceed home with the assurance that the deceased relative is accompanying them to look after the family as an ancestor. Some Christian churches have a night vigil at the home after the home-bringing. The theologian Marthinus Daneel describes the ceremony in some Zimbabwean churches, where the living believers escort the spirit of the deceased relative to heaven through their prayers, after which a mediating role can be attained. The emphasis is on the transformation of the traditional rite, while providing for the consolation of the bereaved family. This example shows how these churches try to eliminate an old practice without neglecting the traditionally conceived need that it has served.
These burial and mourning customs suggest that many practices still prevailing in African Christian funerals are vestiges of the ancestor cult, especially the ritual killings and the home-bringing rites. Because a funeral is preeminently a community affair in which the church is but one of many players, the church does not always determine the form of the funeral. Some of the indigenous rites have indeed been transformed and given Christian meanings, to which both Christians and those with traditional orientation can relate. Sometimes there are signs of confrontation and the changing and discontinuance of old customs to such an extent that they are no longer recognizable in that context.
African funerals are community affairs in which the whole community feels the grief of the bereaved and shares in it. The purpose of the activities preceding the funeral is to comfort, encourage, and heal those who are hurting. Thereafter, the churches see to it that the bereaved make the transition back to normal life as smoothly and as quickly as possible. This transition during the mourning period is sometimes accompanied by cleansing rituals by which the bereaved are assured of their acceptance and protection by God. Because the dominance of Christianity and Islam in Africa has resulted in the rejection of certain mourning customs, the funeral becomes an opportunity to declare faith.
See also: Afterlife IN Cross-Cultural Perspective ; Buddhism ; Chinese Beliefs ; Hinduism ; Immortality ; Islam ; Mind-Body Problem ; Philosophy, Western
Anderson, Allan. Zion and Pentecost: The Spirituality and Experience of Pentecostal and Zionist/Apostolic Churches in South Africa. Tshwane: University of South Africa Press, 2000.
Berglund, Axel-Ivar. Zulu Thought Patterns and Symbolism. London: Hurst, 1976.
Blakely, Thomas, et al., eds. Religion in Africa. London: James Currey, 1994.
Bosch, David J. The Traditional Religions of Africa. Study Guide MSR203. Tshwane: University of South Africa, 1975.
Daneel, Marthinus L. Old and New in Southern Shona Independent Churches, Vol. 2: Church Growth. The Hague: Moulton, 1974.
Idowu, E. Bolaji. African Traditional Religions. London: SCM Press, 1973.
Magesa, Laurenti. African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life. New York: Orbis, 1997.
Mbiti, John S. African Religions and Philosophy. London: Heinemann, 1969.
Parrinder, Geoffrey. African Traditional Religion. London: Sheldon, 1962.
Sawyerr, Harry. The Practice of Presence. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996.
Taylor, John V. The Primal Vision: Christian Presence Amidst African Religions. London: SCM Press, 1963.
Tempels, Placide. Bantu Philosophy. Paris: Présence Africaine, 1959.
Thorpe, S. A. Primal Religions Worldwide. Pretoria: University of South Africa Press, 1992.
ALLAN ANDERSON
Chukwuemeka S Ugo
Acording to the scriptures, there is nothing like reincarnation, but the fact is that therea are many doctroines that make up or are found in Africa, they have several concepts but the real sense of every issue always stand out "Death is once and life is here and enternity.
malale shija
I is said that once a person is dead his soul is sent to the Heaven. in my opinion I can say that it is only the spirit which is sent to the god because it said to be holy.
HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
Weyara Edward A.
Sep 1, 2011 @ 12:12 pm
I will be glade to know the impact of funerals on rural livelihoods in Africa
Katlen
thank you so much! i am doing a zulu oral on funeral customs and you have nooo clue how much this means to me :)
looklife ndhlovu
Apr 15, 2013 @ 9:09 am
what causes avenging spirits are they evil powers or the ancestors
Elia Ngwako Kgatle
The question I have is that, as it is an important ritual whereby an OX must be slaughtered to properly send off the deceased to his\her new home, then what will therefore happen if the family cant afford to slaughter such an OX? and prior to the aftermath of that failure what can the family do to correct the mistake after the funeral if they happen to have money to buy an OX?
Feb 23, 2015 @ 3:03 am
What about cremation? I believe it would be so much cheaper, and also it wouldn't take weeks of sorting and so forth.
Say the person die today, there is a possibility that the person can get their ashes the same day even, and then have a memorial service or whatever. Even the rituals and all that stuff can still be done!
densmil
Jul 24, 2015 @ 7:07 am
why was some part of the family did not want to cremate their lost related? is tehere an advantages to do a cremation in what way?
Jul 27, 2015 @ 12:12 pm
I am researching the burial practices of African Slaves in the Americas.
Unfortunately, I cannot find much information. Can anyone supply me with leads.
Francis Azognab
Oct 28, 2017 @ 1:13 pm
What are the christian views of these concepts of the African Traditional Religion, especially that of death and funeral rites and rituals.What are the similarities and differences?
marlayshia
Jan 15, 2020 @ 12:12 pm
This is exactely what i needed sand i dont have nothing else to say so dnsbcvclbfvlchfrafvahv,jgfryvh jmvfjeva gj,gvbnz cmc cxd d sm frb rwm w g yth yt e hy h y y rt y ten hmyemm eh h n yt54 34 im 12 dcsam,knvnfkavnkevmnkf anfvav
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History Synod 1979, held in June, in Box Hill (Vic), declared the Church Order of the Reformed Churches of Australia (RCA) in use at that time as definitive (see Acts of Synod 1979,Art 62.3).
At subsequent Synods (1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994 and 1997), the Church Order underwent several amendments.
Synod 1994 appointed a Committee to propose extensive changes to the Church Order to suit the requirements of the churches (see Acts of Synod 1994, Art 23).
Synod 1997 provisionally adopted the revised Articles 1 to 25 of the Church Order (see Acts of Synod 1997, Art 24.3).
Synod 2000, held in May, in Launceston (Tas), provisionally adopted a major revision of the Church Order for use in the churches during the inter-synodical period (see Acts of Synod 2000, Art 32.7).
Synod further charged the Church Order Revision Committee (CORC) to receive submissions from the classes and to forward these to Synod 2003 so that the final version of the Church Order could then be ratified (see Art 32.13). Synod 2000 further changed the name of the denomination from Reformed Churches of Australia (RCA) to Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (CRCA) (see Acts of Synod 2000, Art 15).
Synod 2003 (see Acts of Synod 2003, Art 23.6) decided “To ratify the Provisional Church Order, as amended, on the understanding that:
1. In churches where women are ordained as deacons, the Church Order apply in full.
2. In churches where women are not ordained as deacons, the Session may elect to follow Article 33 of the old Church Order in place of Article 31 of the revised Church Order.”
The following Preamble and Church Order were approved by Synod 2000 for provisional use in the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia. Since their continued use is to be ratified by Synod 2003, any suggestions for change should be referred to the Church Order Review Committee by December 2002. In accordance with Art 32.13 of the Acts of Synod 2000, only suggestions recommended by a classis will be considered.
CONDENSED PREAMBLE
As churches together we agree that the following, while not forming part of the Church Order proper, is a summary of fundamental guiding principles related to the Church Order. (The full version of this Preamble – as originally approved by Synod 1997 and amended by subsequent synods – can be found in the Decision Book.)
1. Theological Considerations Even as the Word of God identifies Christ as the Head, the Shepherd, the Bridegroom and the King of the Church, so the norms for the government of his Church are given in the Scriptures. Here we are given the over-arching guiding principle that everything must be done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40). This principle, declared in the context of regulating the worship service, clearly has a far wider application than to worship alone. Our God is an orderly God, and his people are to mirror him in this respect also. Thus there are constant reminders that the Christian must live in an orderly manner, worthy of his calling to represent God before the world. This is as true in the context of the Christian fellowship (Eph 4:1) as it is in all walks of life (Phil 1:27; Col 1:10; Col 2:5; 1 Thess 2:12).
The Bible gives both specific and general guidelines to aid Christians in living decent and orderly lives within the Christian fellowship. Christ himself gives rules for dealing with interpersonal conflicts (Mt 18:15 ff) and his apostles give regulations on such diverse issues as the eating of meat offered to idols (Acts 15:29), dress code and grooming (1 Cor 11), and the selection of church officers (1 Tim 3).
In view of the biblical data we recognise that in apostolic times there were three types of regulations:
• Permanent principles and regulations governing the church for all times;
• Regulations that covered the church in a specific temporal and cultural context;
• Regulations that applied only to regional or specific local churches.
What is the import of all this for our Church Order?
1.1. In its Church Order the church must seek to reflect all principles and regulations that Scripture presents as binding for the church of all ages.
1.2. In its Church Order the church must also regulate such practices as are not prescribed in the Scriptures but which are required for the smooth running of the churches as a denomination. By and large these are regulated according to the practices and norms of society and “the light of nature” (Westminster Confession of Faith, Art 1:vi). Such regulations need take into account the legal requirements of society, and may have legal standing as the bylaws by which the church institution is regulated. While such regulations may be altered by the changing of times and customs, as long as they remain in force they are uniform and mandatory for the sake of denominational unity.
1.3. There are other situations that require regulation, but which do not call for a denominational uniformity and therefore are not included in the Church Order. These are often best regulated by regional or local church councils. Included here are matters of faith and worship which have no specific Scriptural guidelines and which must be regulated in a way which does the maximum justice to the liberty of conscience enjoyed by all God’s children.
2. The Purpose of the Church Order 2.1. The Church Order seeks to regulate all Scriptural requirements for the organisation and management of Christ’s Church, and;
2.2. The Church Order seeks to regulate all matters which require a common, uniform approach for the well-being of Christ’s Church as represented by the denomination.
3. The Nature of the Church Order 3.1. The Church Order is regulative. By means of the Church Order the denomination not only guides but regulates its ecclesiastical organisation and activities and by virtue of common agreement it is binding upon the churches and its members. Office bearers are committed to uphold and follow the Church Order.
3.2. While the Church Order is regulative, it does not require an unreasoned legalistic obedience. If a session, for reasons of impracticality, or for the peace and harmony of the congregation, desires in a particular circumstance to override an article of the Church Order, it shall apply to the classis for permission. When time constraints prevent classis’ consideration, the session shall apply to the moderamen of classis for approval. The moderamen shall report their decision to the next classis assembly.
3.3. The Church Order is not exhaustive in its scope. While it seeks to regulate where guidance is needed, it is not a document to cover all possible contingencies.
3.4. The Church Order is not a fixed document. It may and should be altered as times and circumstances dictate.
3.5. Many details of the Church Order are not determined directly by the Word of God even though we maintain that its fundamental principles are directly derived from Scripture.
3.6. The Church Order does not have the status of a creed. By this is meant that it can be changed without gravamen and it is not to be considered, in all its parts, as a summary of Scripture’s direct teaching.
3.7. The Church Order is not an aims / purpose / strategy document. Since these tend to reflect local conditions and situations, and conceivably change from time to time, it is more appropriate that these be dealt with by the local session, in conjunction with the congregation.
3.8. The Church Order should be differentiated from synodical guidelines which seek to give guidance in more specific areas of church life and practice.
3.9. The Church Order is not a doctrinal document and need not include material already dealt with in the Confessions.
CHURCH ORDER of the CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCHES OF AUSTRALIA – Adopted for Provisional use at Synod 2000 – (see Acts of Synod 2000, Art 32.7)
Article 1 – The Purpose, Basis and Subjects of the Church Order a. The Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, confessing their complete subjection to the Word of God, and the Reformed creeds as a true interpretation of this Word, acknowledging Christ as the only head of His church, and desiring to conduct the affairs of the churches in a fitting and orderly way (1 Cor 14:40), regulate their ecclesiastical organisation and activities in the articles which follow.
b. Within Reformed Church polity it has been the understanding that the Church Order is neither to be seen as a rigid system of rules, nor as a set of mere guidelines (refer Condensed Preamble 3.1 and 3.2).
c. Tensions may arise between the rights of the local congregations and the authority of the broader assemblies. For that reason the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia are committed to the position that
i. the Church Order is adopted by common consent and is therefore to be faithfully observed. No local church should take it upon itself to make revisions to the Church Order; rather, this is the task of all the churches together.
ii. the Church Order ought to be flexible enough to maintain the autonomy of the local church while at the same time holding to a common commitment in our denominational relationships.
d. The main subjects treated in this Church Order are:
Part I: the Offices of the Church,
Part II: the Assemblies of the Church,
Part III: the Task and Activities of the Church,
Part IV: the Admonition and Discipline of the Church.
PART I THE OFFICES OF THE CHURCH
Section A – General Provisions
Article 2 – General and Special Offices in the Church While recognising the general office and giftedness of all God’s people, the church identifies the special offices of minister of the Word and Sacraments, elder and deacon. These offices differ from each other in mandate and task.
Article 3 – Eligibility for Special Offices a. Communicant members of a congregation who meet the biblical requirements for an office bearer are eligible for office. The offices of minister of the Word and Sacraments and elder are restricted to men. The office of deacon is open to both men and women.
b. No one shall hold or exercise an office in the church without being lawfully called and ordained or installed.
Article 4 – Calling to Special Offices a. In calling and electing to an office, the session shall ordinarily1 present to the congregation a nomination of at least twice the number to be elected. When a nomination which totals less than twice the number is submitted, the session shall give reasons for doing so.
b. The session will give the congregation adequate opportunity to direct attention to suitable persons and to submit lawful objections concerning the nominees.
c. The election, in which only confessing members in good standing have the right to vote, shall, after prayer, take place according to the regulations of the local church.
d. After having announced on two successive Sundays the names of those who have been elected and appointed, and provided there are no lawful objections, the ordination or installation shall take place in a public worship service, with the use of appropriate sections of the relevant liturgical forms.
Article 5 – Signifying Agreement with the Form of Subscription All office bearers, licensed preachers and candidates for the ministry shall signify their agreement with the doctrines of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia by signing the Form of Subscription, and in other appropriate ways, as stipulated by the regulations of the session, classis, and synod.
Section B – Ministers of the Word and Sacraments Article 6 – Students for the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments The churches shall encourage suitably gifted men to seek the ministry of the Word and Sacraments and shall, where necessary, provide financial support.
Article 7 – Eligibility for Admission to the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments No one shall be called by the church to the ministry of the Word and Sacraments without having completed:
a. a theological training at the Reformed Theological College, including a vicariate as prescribed by synod and approved by the Vicariate Committee; or,
b. a theological training deemed to be the equivalent of that offered by the Reformed Theological College, including a vicariate as prescribed by synod. In such cases, the classis of the candidate’s church is responsible for recommending the candidate and shall follow the procedures as approved by Synod. (See Art 51)
Such person shall submit to a preliminary examination by a classis in accordance with synodical regulations. If the classis is satisfied with the examination, it shall declare the candidate eligible for call to the ministry.
Article 8 – Admission to the Ministry Without Prescribed Training a. In exceptional cases a man who gives clear evidence of such gifts as godliness, humility, spiritual discretion, wisdom and gifts of public address, may be recommended by his session as eligible for call to the ministry.
b. The classis, in the presence of the synodical deputies, shall examine these men concerning the required gifts. With the agreement of the synodical deputies the classis may resolve to proceed with the ordination in accordance with synodical regulations. (See Art 51)
Article 9 – Ministers Eligible for Call a. A minister in the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, or in a denomination recognised by synod as a Church in Ecclesiastical Fellowship, is eligible for call subject to regulations prescribed by synod. (See Art 52.b)
b. A minister in a denomination not recognised as a Church in Ecclesiastical Fellowship shall be declared eligible for a call by a classis only after a thorough examination of his theological training, ministerial record, knowledge of and soundness in the Reformed faith, exemplariness of life, and motives for seeking the ministry in the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia. The presence and concurring advice of the synodical deputies are required. (See Art 51)
c. The status of a minister who is not presently serving a congregation, and who is not a minister in special or general service, is that of a minister without charge. After a period of not more than three years, his status will be reviewed by the classis and the church where he has his membership.
Article 10 – Admission, Ordination and Installation a. A candidate for admission to the ministry who has been declared eligible for call, and who has received a call, shall submit to a final examination regarding doctrine and life in accordance with synodical regulations. This examination shall be conducted by the classis of the church issuing the call. If the preliminary and final examinations are conducted by the same classis, a synodical deputy from another classis must attend the final examination. With the agreement of the synodical deputy the classis may resolve to proceed with ordination.
b. The ordination of a candidate for the ministry shall be accompanied by the laying on of hands by the officiating minister. Other ministers of the denomination and elders of the local church may be invited to participate in the laying on of hands.
c. A minister, already ordained, shall not be installed until the classis of the church issuing the call or the Classis Contracta, as defined by Article 44.b, has received all the ecclesiastical documents required by regulations of the synod and has approved the installation.
Article 11 – Function of the Minister of the Word and Sacraments The calling of a minister of the Word and Sacraments is to proclaim, explain and apply Holy Scripture in order to gather in and build up the members of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Article 12 – Ministers in Regular Service A minister serving as pastor of a congregation shall:
a. preach the Word;
b. lead the congregation in prayer;
c. administer the sacraments;
d. solemnise marriages;
e. perform other pastoral duties as defined by the session;
f. share in all the tasks performed by session. (See Arts 23, 31)
Article 13 – Ministers in Special and General Service Ministers in general and special service, i.e., those called to an extraordinary task outside of or within the denomination, shall be under the supervision of a local or calling church as to their doctrine and life. The duties of such ministers shall be regulated by the appropriate committee or board.
Article 14 – Associate Ministers A minister without charge, or a minister in general or special service, may be appointed by the session of the church of which he is a member as its ‘associate minister’. The supervision of his doctrine and life shall be by that session. (See Art 13)
Article 15 – Release from Ministerial Office A minister who has been lawfully called shall not relinquish his office, except that the session may, for valid reasons, release him from office, provided that the classis and the synodical deputies agree. (See Art 51)
Article 16 – Worship Services in non-CRCA Churches A minister who plans to conduct regular worship services in the vicinity of one of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia shall first inform the session of that church. (See Art 52.a)
Article 17 – Temporary Release from Service a. A minister who, for valid reasons, desires a temporary leave of absence from service to a congregation must have the approval of his session, which shall continue to have supervision over him.
b. The session shall ensure that, if necessary, satisfactory arrangements for supporting him and his dependants be made for such a period.
Article 18 – Release from the Ministry in a Congregation a. A minister may be released from active ministerial service and declared a minister without charge by way of mutual agreement with his session, but only on weighty non-disciplinary grounds. The concurrence of the classis and at least two synodical deputies must be given. (See Art 51) This agreement shall effectively terminate his call with the congregation concerned. Such a minister shall remain under the supervision of the church of which he is a member.
b. Where the relationship between a minister and his congregation or session has deteriorated to such an extent that he can no longer fruitfully serve his congregation but where there is no cause for discipline, the minister may be released by his session from active ministerial service provided that the classis and at least two synodical deputies agree, in accordance with synodical regulations. (See Art 51)
c. The session of a minister who is released shall provide support for him and his dependants in accordance with synodical regulations. If a minister released in this way does not receive a call within a reasonable time, he may, at the discretion of the classis and with the approval of the synodical deputies, be released from the office of minister. (See Art 51)
Article 19 – Discharge from the Ministry a. A minister whose session finds that he clearly lacks the essential qualifications for the ministry of the Word and Sacraments, while he is neither eligible for retirement nor liable to discipline, may be discharged by his session from the office of minister, provided that the classis and at least two synodical deputies agree. Such a decision shall be final unless an appeal by the minister is sustained by synod. (See Art 51)
b. The session which discharged the minister shall provide support for him and his dependants in accordance with synodical regulations.
Article 20 – Resignation from the Ministry A minister who resigns from the ordained ministry shall not be released until this has been accepted by session and classis, with the concurrence of the synodical deputies. (See Art 51)
Article 21 – Retirement of Ministers a. A minister who, because of age or some physical or mental disability, is eligible for retirement may, with the approval of session and classis, retire in accordance with synodical regulations and the laws of the land.
b. A retired minister shall retain the honour and title of a minister of the Word and Sacraments. The church of which he is a member is responsible for his credentials and supervision, and shall take care that he and his dependants are adequately provided for in accordance with synodical regulations and the laws of the land.
c. Should the reasons for his retirement no longer exist, the minister emeritus shall request his session and the classis which recommended him for retirement to declare him eligible for call.
Section C – Elders and Deacons Article 22 – Election of Elders and Deacons a. Elders and deacons shall serve for a time determined by the session, as a rule not exceeding four years.
b. Retiring elders or deacons shall be succeeded by others unless the session, in consultation with the congregation, considers that circumstances and the welfare of the church make it advisable that they continue in office.
c. Elders and deacons previously ordained to that office shall be installed upon re-election.
Article 23 – Tasks of the Elders With the minister(s) of the church, the elders shall:
a. be examples to the congregation in all things;
b. oversee the doctrine and life of the members of the congregation and fellow office bearers;
c. faithfully provide pastoral care for the congregation; (See Arts 66.b, c)
d. supervise all aspects of the worship services;
e. supervise the catechising of the youth; (See Art 65.b)
f. equip and encourage God’s people in evangelism and other works of service; (See Art 74)
g. administer the sacraments (but only) in special circumstances;
h. guard the sacredness of the offices;
i. see to it that everything is done decently and in good order.
Article 24 – Tasks of the Deacons The deacons shall:
a. exercise the ministry of Christian mercy to those who are in material or social need, especially those who belong to the community of believers, both at home and abroad; in carrying out this task they shall minister by means of prayer, counsel and assistance;
b. stimulate the congregation to faithful, obedient stewardship of their resources on behalf of the needy; and encourage and instruct them in works of Christian mercy;
c. confer and cooperate with diaconates of neighbouring churches, as well as other agencies caring for the needy, so that gifts may be properly distributed.
PART II - THE ASSEMBLIES OF THE CHURCH Section A – General Provisions Article 25 – Assemblies The assemblies of the church are:
a. the session or church council,
b. the classis,
c. the synod.
Article 26 – Authority of Church Assemblies a. Each assembly, in keeping with its own character and domain, exercises the ecclesiastical authority entrusted to the church by Christ: the authority of sessions being original, that of classes and synods being delegated.
b. In matters that are properly the concern of a major assembly, such a major assembly has authority over a minor assembly – the classis has authority over the session, and the synod has authority over the classis.
Article 27 – Matters Legally Before Assemblies a. An assembly shall deal only with ecclesiastical matters in an ecclesiastical manner.
b. A major assembly shall deal only with those matters which concern its churches in common or which could not be brought to a conclusion in the minor assemblies.
c. Matters referred by minor assemblies to major assemblies shall be presented in accordance with the rules for classical and synodical procedure.
Article 28 – Decisions of Assemblies and Reconsideration of Such a. Decisions of assemblies shall be reached only after due consideration and, whenever possible, by common consent. Where unanimity cannot be reached, the minority shall abide by the judgment of the majority. The decisions of assemblies shall be considered settled and binding.
b. A request for revision of a decision shall be submitted to the assembly which made the decision. Such a request shall be considered only if neWand sufficient grounds are presented.
Article 29 – Appeals a. Assemblies and church members may appeal to the assembly next in order if they believe that a decision is in conflict with Scripture, the Confessions, or the Church Order. Appeals may also be lodged if a decision is believed to be detrimental to the well-being of the church, or if possible injustice has been done.
b. Synodical guidelines for lodging and processing appeals shall apply.
Article 30 – Procedure and Order in Assemblies a. All assemblies shall begin and end in prayer.
b. In each assembly there shall be a chairman whose duty it is to state and explain the business to be transacted; to see to it that the Church Order is adhered to; and to ensure that everyone observes due order and decorum in speaking. There shall also be a clerk whose task it is to keep an accurate record of the proceedings. In major assemblies a chairman and clerk shall be appointed for each meeting except that a clerk may be appointed for a stated period.
c. Each assembly shall make proper provision for receiving communications, preparing agendas and keeping minutes, files and archives, and conducting the financial transactions of the assembly.
Section B – The Session / Church Council Article 31 – Composition of a Session a. In every church there shall be a session which is responsible for the spiritual well-being of the church members and for the general government of the church. The session shall consist of three or more members and is composed of the minister(s) and elder(s). (See Arts 12, 23, 57, 58)
b. The diaconate shall be composed of the deacons of the church. Those tasks which belong distinctively to the office of deacon are the responsibility of the diaconate. The diaconate shall be accountable to the session for their work of Christian mercy. (See Art 24)
c. In smaller sessions, deacons may be invited to be present to assist the session in a non-voting capacity.
d. Sessions shall see to it that elders and deacons are adequately prepared for their office.
Article 32 – Support of Ministers and Church Workers The session, representing the church, shall provide support for its minister(s) and other employees in accordance with the agreed contract, synodical regulations, and the laws of the land. The session shall take care that those who are prevented from carrying out their duties due to illness or other legitimate causes shall be adequately provided for.
Article 33 – Frequency of Meetings and Mutual Censure a. The session shall ordinarily2 meet at least once a month, at a time and place announced to the congregation. The minister, or one of the elders, shall act as chairman.
b. At session meetings, at least four times per year, the office bearers shall exercise mutual censure, which concerns an evaluation of their life and duties as office bearers.
Article 34 – Need for Counsellor During Vacancy The session of a church which is without a minister shall request its classis to appoint a minister as counsellor. The session shall consult the counsellor about all important matters, especially the call of a minister. If a call is issued, the session members shall sign the letter of call. The counsellor shall also sign to indicate that proper procedures were followed. The counsellor shall attend session meetings whenever requested, and shall report to the classis on his work if classis requests it.
Article 35 – Achieving Congregational Status a. Groups of believers among whom no session can as yet be instituted shall be under the care and supervision of a neighbouring session designated by classis.
b. A session shall not be instituted without the approval of the classis.
Article 36 – Cooperation of the Congregation and Congregational Meetings a. The session shall seek the cooperation of the congregation in the election of office bearers and shall seek its advice on other matters, except those which pertain to the supervision and discipline of the congregation. For this purpose the session shall convene a meeting of the congregation at least once a year. The session shall conduct this meeting and determine its agenda.
b. On matters where a vote is required, only communicant members are entitled to vote.
c. Although full consideration shall be given to the advice of the congregation, the authority for making and carrying out final decisions remains with the session as the governing body of the church.
Article 37 – Disaffiliation or Disbandment a. A decision by the session regarding the denominational affiliation of the local church must be endorsed by a two-thirds majority of an officially constituted congregational meeting, where the church visitors are in attendance. (See Art 45)
b. In the case of disaffiliation, unless there are other regulations which take precedence, all assets, debts and liabilities will be divided proportionately according to the numbers leaving and staying.
c. In the case of a church being disbanded, unless there are other regulations which take precedence, all assets, debts and liabilities will be distributed in consultation with, and the approval of, classis.
Section C – The Major Assemblies: Classis and Synod 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 38 – Definition, Credentials and Voting a. The major assemblies are composed of office bearers who are delegated by their constituent minor assemblies. The minor assemblies shall provide their delegates with proper credentials which authorise them to deliberate and vote on matters brought before the major assemblies.
b. Meetings of all assemblies are public, unless they are declared restricted to office bearers only.
c. Prior to voting, an assembly may decide to withhold voting rights of delegates who are considered to have a conflict of interest, e.g., when there is a pecuniary interest, a close family member is involved, or where the integrity of an individual or the assembly he represents is under investigation.
Article 39 – Delegation of Deacons If a major assembly has to deal specifically with matters pertaining to the work of mercy, the minor assemblies shall delegate a deacon in addition to the ordinary number of delegates. (See Art 24)
Article 40 – Appointment of Convening Church A major assembly is convened by the church designated by the last meeting of that assembly. This church shall be responsible for preparing for the meeting.
Article 41 – Composition of Moderamen and Interim Committee a. A major assembly shall appoint a moderamen consisting of the chairman and clerk, and one or more of its other members as officers.
b. The moderamen of each assembly shall normally function as an interim committee, to act for the assembly in matters which cannot await action by the assemblies themselves. Such committees shall be given well-defined mandates and shall submit a report on all their actions to the next meeting of the assembly for approval.
2. THE CLASSIS Article 42 – Constituency of a Classis a. A classis shall consist of three or more neighbouring churches. The organising of a new classis and a change in the district covered by a classis require the approval of the synod.
b. When the number of churches in a classis becomes less than three the classis shall be disbanded. These churches shall:
i. join the nearest classis or, if distance makes this impractical, be considered as churches in an area where no classis exists and, in such cases, they shall act on issues normally involving classis participation in consultation with, and accountable to, the nearest classis;
ii. settle the financial affairs of the classis where necessary.
Article 43 – Meetings of Classis a. The session of each church shall delegate a minister and an elder to the classis. If the church is without a minister, or the minister is prevented from attending, two elders shall be delegated. Other office bearers who attend classis may be given an advisory voice.
b. A smaller classis may set the number of voting delegates at three from each session in order to facilitate the business of the classis meeting.
c. Classis meetings shall ordinarily3 be held at least once in four months at the time and place determined by the previous meeting of classis.
d. The ministers shall preside in rotation, or a chairman may be elected from among the delegates; however, the same person shall not preside twice in succession.
Article 44 – The Work of Classis a. A classis shall
i. deal with all matters properly presented to it;
ii. carefully watch that the churches discharge their calling and task faithfully and in accordance with the Church Order;
iii. give advice and assistance to the churches in its district, particularly to those which are without a minister or are in financial need.
b. For the period between its ordinary meetings, a classis may appoint the sessions of two or more churches to issue ministerial testimonies of leave and to approve calls of ministers. These sessions shall constitute a Classis Contracta, which shall: (See Art 10.c)
i. notify the other churches of classis of its meetings;
ii. not pass any resolutions to which lawful objections have been raised;
iii. report its actions to the next meeting of classis.
Article 45 – Church Visitors a. A classis shall appoint two or more office bearers (at least one of whom shall be a minister) as church visitors. At the discretion of the classis, a senior former elder may be appointed as one of the church visitors.
b. The church visitors shall visit all the churches in accordance with synodical regulations. Where this is not feasible, they shall arrange for other experienced ministers and elders to deputise for them. In the case of difficulties, the official church visitors shall be the ones to assist the church(es) concerned.
c. The church visitors shall, as a rule, use the questionnaire and regulations drawn up by synod, and ascertain whether the office bearers faithfully perform their duties, adhere to sound doctrine, properly promote the edification of the congregation and evangelism, and are involved in general Christian activities in accordance with the provisions of the Church Order and the decisions of the major assemblies. Where necessary, they shall in brotherly love admonish those who have been negligent and help with all advice and assistance.
d. Sessions or congregational members may call upon the church visitors whenever serious problems arise. Congregational members must first have raised the matter with their session.
e. The church visitors shall give a written report of their work to classis.
Article 46 – Classis Licensures A classis may grant a preaching license within its bounds to men who are gifted, well-informed, dedicated and able to edify the churches. When the desirability of their services has been established, the classis shall examine such men and license them in accordance with synodical regulations.
Article 47 – Joint Action of Neighbouring Classes A classis may take counsel or joint action with its neighbouring classis or classes in matters of mutual concern. Cases of joint action shall be reported to the next synod.
3. THE SYNOD
Article 48 – Constituency a. The synod is the assembly representing all the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia. Each classis shall delegate two ministers and two elders to the synod. If there are not enough ministers to meet the required number of minister delegates, an elder shall be delegated in place of a minister.
b. The churches of an area in which no classis exists shall send one delegate between them, who may be a minister or elder.
c. Professors of the Reformed Theological College who are members of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia or a Church in Ecclesiastical Fellowship shall be invited to attend the synodical sessions as advisory members.
d. Other advisers may be appointed by request of the synod.
Article 49 – Meetings a. The synod shall meet at least once every three years, at a time and place determined by the previous synod. (See Art 40)
b. The convening church shall call a special synod if so requested by three or more classes.
c. The chairman of the Synod shall be a minister, but the same minister may not preside at two successive meetings of the Synod. Otherwise, the election and duties of officers of the Synod shall be in accordance with rules prescribed by the Synod.
Article 50 – Task The synod shall deal with matters which could not be brought to a conclusion in its minor assemblies, as well as matters which concern the churches in common, such as the principles and elements of the order of worship, the designation of the Bible versions to be used in worship services, and the adoption and revision of the Confessions, the Church Order, the Liturgical Forms and the Book of Worship. When voting on matters of Confession and Church Order, a majority of two-thirds or more of the synod is required for approval. The synod shall not make any alterations in these matters unless the minor assemblies have had prior opportunity to consider the proposed changes.
Article 51 – Synodical Deputies a. The synod shall appoint deputies nominated by the classes, two from each classis, at least one of whom shall be a minister. A third, also a minister, shall act as alternate. The deputies shall serve for a term designated by the synod.
b. When the cooperation of the synodical deputies is required by the Church Order, the presence of at least two deputies from another classis or classes is prescribed, except in the case of Article 10.a.
c. Besides the duties elsewhere stipulated, the deputies shall, upon request, extend help to the classes or churches in the event of difficulties in order that unity, order and sound doctrine may be maintained. (See Arts 7, 8, 9, 15, 18, 19, 20, 83, 84)
d. Reports on the activities and findings of these deputies shall be given to the classis and to the subsequent synod. The classis or the deputies concerned shall be free to place such matters on synod’s agenda for action.
Article 52 – Inter-Church Relations a. The synod shall appoint a committee to correspond with other Reformed Churches at home and abroad so that the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia may exercise Christian fellowship with other denominations and may promote the unity of the church of Jesus Christ. (See Arts 9, 16, 62.b, 68)
b. The synod shall decide which denominations are to be received into ecclesiastical fellowship and shall prescribe the regulations which govern these relationships.
Article 53 – Reformed Ecumenical Assemblies a. The synod shall, if possible, send delegates to Reformed ecumenical assemblies in which the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia cooperate with other denominations that confess and maintain the Reformed faith.
b. The synod may present to such ecumenical assemblies matters on which it seeks the advice and/or participation of other Reformed Churches.
c. Decisions of Reformed ecumenical assemblies shall be binding upon the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia only when they have been ratified by its synod.
Article 54 – Relationship with the Reformed Theological College The synod shall appoint deputies for maintaining the relationship with the Reformed Theological College, Geelong, in accordance with the mutual rights and obligations stipulated in the agreement between the synod and the Board of Directors of the Association for Christian Tertiary Education.
Article 55 – Correspondence with Civil Authorities The synod shall appoint deputies for contact with civil authorities.
PART III - THE TASK OF THE CHURCH Section A – Worship Services Article 56 – Occasions for Worship Services a. The sessions shall see to it that the congregations assemble for public worship twice each Sunday unless valid reasons make this impractical. In such cases the advice of classis should be sought.
b. Additional worship services on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Ascension Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, as well as annual services of prayer and thanksgiving are left to the discretion of each church.
c. Special worship services proclaimed by the synod or its interim committee in times of great stress or blessing for church, nation or world shall be arranged by sessions.
Article 57 – Worship Services a. The session shall regulate the worship services. (See Arts 31, 59)
b. The session shall see to it that ordinarily the Bible versions, the liturgical forms and the Book of Worship approved by synod are used, and that the principles and elements of the order of worship approved by synod as a sufficient guideline, are observed.
c. Other biblically sound hymns and Scripture passages set to music may be used at the discretion of the session.
d. If liturgical forms for the sacraments are adapted, synodical guidelines are to be followed.
Article 58 – Conducting Services and the Preached Word a. The minister, or others appointed by session, shall conduct the worship services. (See Art 31)
b. When the session appoints persons other than the minister or those licensed to preach to present the sermon, such a sermon must be approved in accordance with synodical regulations.
c. When sermons other than those of ministers of the denomination and other synodically approved denominations are used for reading services, this will need the prior agreement of the session.
Article 59 – Preaching a. In the worship services the minister or the person appointed by the session shall explain and apply the Scriptures. (See Art 57)
b. So as not to neglect the teaching of the confessional standards, the minister or preacher appointed by the session shall regularly preach the Word of God as summarised in the Three Forms of Unity. Other
Reformed symbols may be used with the approval of the session.
Article 60 – Administration of the Sacraments a. Ordinarily the minister shall administer the sacraments.
b. In special circumstances, a person licensed to preach, or an elder appointed by the session to lead in worship and read a sermon, may administer the sacraments.
c. The sacraments shall be administered in public worship services using the prescribed forms or adaptations that conform to synodical guidelines.
d. In special circumstances the sacraments may be administered to those who cannot attend the regular services.
Article 61 – Baptism a. The covenant of God shall be sealed by baptism to children of believers and to children legally adopted by members of the congregation. The session shall encourage parents to present their children for baptism as soon as feasible.
b. Adults who have not been baptised shall receive baptism on professing their faith in a public worship service.
c. The baptism of a person who joins the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia from another Christian church is considered valid if it has been administered in the Name of the Triune God, by a person authorised by that denomination.
Article 62 – Admission to Communicant Membership a. The session shall examine baptised members who wish to become communicant members concerning their motives, doctrine and life. Subject to satisfactory assessment, baptised members shall become communicant members on professing their faith in a public worship service in accordance with the form for the public profession of faith prescribed by the synod.
b. Communicant members coming from another congregation of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia or from churches recognised as churches in ecclesiastical fellowship shall be admitted to communicant membership upon the presentation of certificates of membership attesting their soundness in doctrine and life. (See Arts 52, 68.a)
c. Persons coming from denominations other than those recognised as churches in ecclesiastical fellowship shall be admitted to communicant membership only after the session has satisfied itself concerning their motives, doctrine and life. The session shall determine in each case whether or not public profession of faith is required.
d. The names of those who are to become communicant members shall be announced to the congregation for approval at least one Sunday before the public profession of faith.
Article 63 – Lord’s Supper a. The Lord’s Supper shall be administered at least once every three months. b. The session shall provide for the Lord’s Supper to be administered in a way which it judges to conform to the Word of God and to be conducive to edification.
Article 64 – Offerings a. In the public worship services gifts of gratitude shall be received.
b. Offerings shall be taken at regular intervals for the needy and other purposes determined by the local church, classis or synod.
Section B – Faith Nurture Article 65 – Faith Nurture a. Each church shall minister to its children and youth, and others who so desire, by nurturing in them a personal faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. This shall include receiving them in love, praying for them, instructing them in the faith and encouraging and sustaining them in the fellowship of believers.
b. Each church shall instruct its youth, and others who so desire, in the Scriptures and in the Creeds and Confessions of the church, in order to prepare them to profess their faith publicly and to equip them to assume their Christian responsibilities in the church and the world. This instruction shall be supervised by the session. (See Arts 12, 23.e, 31)
c. Each church shall provide opportunities for continued instruction for its adult members, so that they might grow in their knowledge and love of Christ and become more mature in their faith. This instruction shall be supervised by the session. (See Art 31)
Section C – Pastoral Care and Oversight
Article 66 – In and Outside the Congregation a. The session shall ensure that pastoral care is extended to all members and regular attenders, with particular attention given to the sick, the distressed, the aged and the erring, and it shall encourage the members of the congregation to be faithfully involved in mutual care.
b. As shepherds of the flock, the minister and the elders shall visit all members and regular attenders, as a rule at least once a year, to encourage them to live by faith, comfort them in adversity and warn them against errors in doctrine and life. (See Art 23.c)
c. The session shall ensure that pastoral care is extended to country members and those members who live temporarily outside the congregation, such as members of the armed forces, sailors, students, nurses, patients in hospitals and those in prisons. (See Art 23.c)
Article 67 – Membership of Those Who Move a. Communicant members or members by baptism who move into a new locality should be encouraged to join the nearest congregation of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia.
b. Members who move to areas where there is no Christian Reformed Church are encouraged either:
i. to remain members in their original Christian Reformed Church and participate in a local Christian church, if advisable; or,
ii. have their certificates of membership issued to them in order to join the Christian Reformed Church, or church in ecclesiastical fellowship, nearest to their new place of residence; or,
iii. to join a faithful local Christian church.
Article 68 – Membership Transfers a. Communicant members or members by baptism who transfer to another congregation of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, or to churches recognised as churches in ecclesiastical fellowship, are entitled to the appropriate certificate of membership issued by the session. The session shall attach to it such notations as are necessary and shall, as a rule, send the certificate to the session of the church to which the member is moving. (See Art 62.b)
b. Certificates of membership shall be signed by the chairman and clerk of the session.
c. When a baptised or communicant member moves to another area without requesting a certificate, the session shall advise the session of the church nearest to the member’s new place of residence.
d. When baptised or communicant members choose to join a church not in ecclesiastical fellowship, the session should, upon request, provide an appropriate statement of membership for that specific situation.
Article 69 – Membership Records Each session shall keep a complete record of the arrivals and departures of members and shall record all births, deaths, baptisms, professions of faith, marriages and excommunications and other terminations of membership.
Article 70 – Solemnisation of Marriage a. Sessions shall admonish and instruct those under their spiritual care to marry only in the Lord.
b. Christian marriages should be solemnised with appropriate admonitions, vows and prayers as provided for in the form for the solemnisation of marriage prescribed by the synod. As a rule, marriages should be solemnised in a public worship service. In exceptional cases, the solemnisation may take place in a private gathering of relatives and friends.
c. Ministers shall not solemnise any marriage without prior approval by the session.
Article 71 – Funerals Although funerals are primarily family affairs, sessions should endeavour to have the Word of God preached at such times.
Article 72 – Kingdom Involvement The session shall diligently encourage the members of the church to be involved in activities which promote the Kingdom of God, such as the establishment and maintenance of Christian schools.
Section D – Missions Article 73 – The Mission of the Church In fulfilling the mandate given by Christ, each session shall stimulate the members of the congregation to be witnesses for Christ in word and deed, and to support the work of missions within Australia and overseas by their prayers, gifts and involvement.
Article 74 – Local Evangelism Each church shall, under the sponsorship and direction of the session, bring the gospel to unbelievers in the community in word and deed. (See Art 23.f)
Article 75 – Outreach, Aid and Development a. In order to encourage and assist the churches in their outreach, aid and development, the synod shall maintain a committee charged with this task.
b. Where a church or churches seek to send out long-term workers to participate in an outreach, aid or development project they shall, under the guidance of this committee, set up a workgroup representing the churches involved to determine the nature of the involvement and supervise the support of their workers.
c. Outreach, aid or development projects seeking classis or synod support must have the approval of the classis or synod.
PART IV - THE ADMONITION AND DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH Section A – General Provisions Article 76 – Purpose The purpose of admonition and discipline is to restore those who err to faithful obedience to God and full fellowship with the congregation, to maintain the holiness of the church, and thus to uphold God’s honour.
Article 77 – Nature a. All members of the church are responsible to watch over, encourage and admonish one another in love.
b. The session shall instruct and remind members of these responsibilities and foster a spirit of love and openness within the congregation so that those who err in doctrine or life may be led to repentance and
c. The session shall exercise the authority which Christ has given to his church regarding sins of a public nature or those brought to its attention according to the rule of MattheW18:15-18.
d. Where Christian discipline is necessary, it is to be exercised exclusively by spiritual means. Disciplinary measures shall be applied only after an adequate investigation has been made and the person involved has been given ample opportunity to present his/her case.
Section B – The Admonition and Discipline of Members Article 78 – Baptised Members Who do Not Confess Their Faith a. Baptised members who neglect to make public profession of faith should be encouraged to do so.
b. Baptised members who are delinquent in doctrine or life should be lovingly instructed and corrected in order to show them the error of their way. If after painstaking admonition they do not heed the session, they shall be removed from the church membership in accordance with synodical regulations. They should be warned that persistent delinquency in doctrine and life excludes them from the kingdom of heaven.
c. Baptised members who have been removed from the church membership and who subsequently repent of their sin shall be received again into the church only upon public profession of their faith.
Article 79 – The Discipline of Communicant Members a. Silent censure – Communicant members who have offended in doctrine or in life and who obstinately reject the admonitions of the session shall be barred from partaking of the Lord’s Supper, from responding to the baptismal questions, and from exercising all other rights of membership.
b. Removal of silent censure – Communicant members who have offended in doctrine or in life and who have responded favourably to the admonitions of the session shall be reconciled to the church upon sufficient evidence of repentance.
c. Excommunication – Communicant members who are under silent censure and persist in disregarding the admonition of the session and show no sign of repentance, shall finally be excommunicated from the church and regarded as outside the Kingdom of heaven. Before excommunicating anyone, the session shall make three announcements, referring to the person’s unchristian life, and encouraging the congregation to pray for and admonish the person concerned.
i. In the first, the name of the sinner shall ordinarily not be mentioned.
ii. In the second, which requires the approval of the classis, his/her name shall be mentioned.
iii. In the third, the congregation shall be informed that unless the sinner repents, he/she will be excommunicated on a specified date. The excommunication shall take place in accordance with the form for excommunication prescribed by synod.
d. Restoration of an excommunicated member – When a person who has been excommunicated desires to be reconciled to the church, the session, having satisfied itself as to the sincerity of his/her repentance, shall announce this fact to the congregation. If no valid objections are presented, he/she shall be restored to the fellowship of the church in accordance with the form for re-admission prescribed by synod.
Section C – The Admonition and Discipline of Office Bearers Article 80 – Temporary Relief of Duties a. In the case of serious accusation or suspicion, an office bearer may be temporarily relieved of duties by the session, but only with the agreement of the session of the nearest church in the same classis. If the neighbouring session does not agree, the session shall present the case to the classis.
b. This action shall not have a disciplinary character and shall be for a specified period during which the appropriate assemblies shall thoroughly investigate the accusation.
c. If the accusation is unfounded, the session shall return the office bearer to duties and publicly affirm the person’s good standing.
d. If the accusation is substantiated, the session shall apply special discipline.
Article 81 – Special Discipline a. Special discipline shall be applied to office bearers if they violate the Form of Subscription, are guilty of neglect or abuse of office, or in any other way seriously deviate from sound doctrine and godly conduct.
b. Special discipline consists of suspension and/or deposition from office. General discipline may not be applied to office bearers unless they are under special discipline.
c. The appropriate assembly (session or classis) shall determine whether an office bearer subject to special discipline shall be suspended or immediately deposed from office.
d. The session that places an office bearer under special discipline shall make every effort to bring the erring person to repentance by means of loving rebuke and admonition.
Article 82 – Suspension from Office a. An office bearer who is suspended shall be prevented from exercising the duties and privileges pertaining to office. General discipline may also be applied at the discretion of the session.
b. The suspension from office shall be lifted where there is sufficient evidence of true repentance and sanctification. It must further be evident that this would be for the true welfare of the church. Only the assembly that imposed the suspension may lift it.
c. A suspended office bearer who does not give heed to the rebuke and admonition of the session shall be deposed from office.
Article 83 – Deposition from Office a. In the case of elders and deacons, a deposition shall not take place without the consent of the classis. For ministers, the agreement of the synodical deputies is also required. (See Art 51)
b. A deposed office bearer shall not be restored to office without sufficient evidence of genuine repentance and sanctification. It must further be evident that the restoration to office would be for the true welfare of the church.
c. The judgment as to whether a deposed minister shall subsequently be declared eligible for call shall be made by the classis that deposed him, subject to the agreement of the synodical deputies. (See Art 51)
Article 84 – Discipline of Ministers in General and Special Service a. A minister who is a member of a church other than that with which he is connected by virtue of his office is subject to the admonition and discipline of the sessions of both congregations. Either session may initiate disciplinary action, but neither shall act without conferring with the other.
b. If the sessions disagree, the case shall be submitted to the classis of the church with which he is connected by virtue of his office. Only this classis has the authority to depose such a minister subject to the agreement of the synodical deputies. (See Art 51)
Article 85 – Authority of Major Assemblies in Abnormal Situations In exceptional circumstances, a major assembly may suspend or depose office bearers even when such action has not been initiated by the session. A major assembly may so act only when part of either the session or the congregation appeals to it for assistance and cooperation on such serious grounds as misgovernment by the session, neglect or abuse of duty, or the tolerance or promotion of false doctrine. The session shall be notified of such an appeal.
CONCLUSION Article 86 – Lording Over One Another No church shall in any way lord it over another church, and no office bearer shall lord it over another office bearer.
FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION
WE THE UNDERSIGNED, ministers of the gospel, elders and deacons of the Christian Reformed Church of Dee Why of the Classis of New South Wales do hereby, sincerely and in good conscience before the Lord, declare by this our subscription that we heartily believe and are persuaded that all the articles and points of doctrine contained in the four standards of the church, being the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dort and the Westminster Confession of Faith (as accepted by Synod 1957, Article 41, see Appendix), do fully agree with the Word of God.
We promise, therefore, diligently to teach and faithfully to defend the aforesaid doctrine, without either directly or indirectly contradicting the same by our public preaching or writing.
We declare, moreover, that we not only reject all errors that militate against this doctrine and particularly those which were condemned by the Synod of Dort, 1618 1619, but that we are disposed to refute and contradict these and to exert ourselves in keeping the church free from such errors.
And if hereafter any difficulties or different sentiments respecting the aforesaid doctrines should arise in our minds, we promise that we will neither publicly nor privately propose, teach or defend the same, either by preaching or by writing, until we have first revealed such sentiments to the Session, Classis or Synod, that the same may there be examined, being ready always cheerfully to submit to the judgment of the Session, Classis or Synod under the penalty, in the case of refusal, of being by that very fact suspended from our office.
And further, if at any time the Session, Classis, or Synod, upon sufficient grounds of suspicion and to preserve the uniformity and purity of doctrine, may deem it proper to require of us a further explanation respecting any particular article of the Belgic Confession of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dort or the Westminster Confession of Faith, we do hereby promise to be always willing and ready to comply with such requisition under the penalty above mentioned, reserving for ourselves, however, the right of appeal in the case we should believe ourselves to be aggrieved by the sentence of the Session or the Classis; and until a decision is made upon such an appeal, we will acquiesce in the determination and judgment already passed.
APPENDIX (see pp 117 119 of the Acts of Synod, 1957)
Synod accepts the Westminster Confession as the Fourth Formula of Unity of the Reformed Churches of Australia, with the understanding that:
1. on the points where the Westminster Confession goes further than the Belgic Confession, the office bearers and church members are bound only to the latter;
2. regarding the duty of magistrates in relation to the church and vice versa, the Reformed Churches of Australia hold the view as expressed in Article 36 of the Belgic Confession.
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Detroit Regional Chamber > shared services
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Plante Moran Unveils “New Ideas for Higher Education 2014-15”
Southfield, Mich., Aug. 14, 2014 – As college and university administrators welcome students back to campus,
Plante Moran has released “New Ideas for Higher Education 2014-15.”
The 28-page report taps into the expertise of several leading voices in higher education to explore some of their key issues, including accreditation, governance, shared services, technology transfer and consolidations. Told through a combination of Q&A and case studies, the report blends real-world experience with best practices to provide practical recommendations.
Plante Moran, one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms, connected with the Higher Learning Commission, Central Michigan University, Oakland County Information Technology and Innovation Alliance to prepare the “New Ideas for Higher Education 2014-2015” report. “No one has to tell higher education leaders that times are changing,” writes Vicki VanDenBerg, Plante Moran practice leader for higher education. “Many institutions are struggling to control costs while maintaining enrollment. When student debt sits at an unprecedented $1 trillion, it is time to find ways to become more nimble and to change ‘business as usual.’
“Institutions must look for innovative solutions to modify legacy costs or divest obsolete programs that are failing to provide strong performance measures. True forward thinkers must look for alternative revenue streams and programs.”
“New Ideas for Higher Education” features extensive interviews and analysis on five major areas, including:
• Accreditation: J. Lee Johnson, a CPA and college administrator, notes that the accreditation process has changed significantly over the past 15 years since he became actively engaged as a peer reviewer with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The advent of MOOCs – massive open online courses – along with distance learning, unbundling the role of faculty, the rise of the for-profit model and changing patterns of participation have conspired to fundamentally change the way that colleges and universities face the accreditation process. While Johnson, a senior vice president of business and finance at Siena Heights University, suspects a national accreditation process could be in the future, he doesn’t see the current peer review model going away – just giving rise to new metrics and standards.
• Governance boards: As a peer reviewer, Johnson knows that in order to understand an institution, he needs to look at their board minutes to see if they are setting the right direction, asking the right questions and understanding the mission. He points to a list of 10 habits of highly effective boards created by Richard Legon, president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, that advise creating a culture of inclusion, upholding fiduciary principles, considering strategic risk factors and focusing on accountability as tools for success.
• Shared services: Phil Bertolini is a big believer in the power of shared services. As chief information officer and deputy county executive of Oakland County, Mich., he has seen firsthand the power – and the cost savings – inherent in the shared-services model and encourages colleges and universities to explore the possibilities. Bertolini says that higher education leaders should inventory what services they have and evaluate what they need from a cost-benefit perspective as they begin the process. He recommends they also evaluate their team, determine if they have a realistic plan and develop a governance process. “Governments learned a very important lesson during the lean years and, rather than going back to the old days, they are learning to work with less and get more done,” Bertolini says. “With student debt reaching epic proportions in our country, it is only a matter of time before higher education institutions are challenged with looking at shared services as a critical cost-saving measure.”
• Commercialization and technology transfer: While colleges and universities have been increasingly engaged with technology transfer for the past three decades, Tom Harper says that there are several key strategies that will allow them to be faster and more efficient at the process. A senior manager in Plante Moran’s restructuring, operations excellence and supply chain management consulting practice, Harper says that institutions need to be aware of industry-specific commercialization requirements, such as quality systems in the development of medical devices, on the front side of technology transfer programs. Harper also recommends becoming an easy-to-work-with partner, creating a culture of entrepreneurship and communicating effectively.
• Consolidation: To merge or not to merge remains an increasingly important question for higher education leaders. While many focus on the numbers, Plante Moran says there are other factors to consider when looking at consolidation, including the difficulty of merging two different missions and cultures without alienating constituents in either community. Perhaps equally as important is defining a new, consolidated brand that respects institutional history while creating a unique position in the market.
“While no one has a crystal ball, it isn’t hard to see that a revised business model for higher education might include partnerships with other institutions – even those outside of academia,” VanDenBerg says. “There are certainly many arguments for and against running a higher education institution like a business, but most would agree that with today’s constrained resources, there’s an urgent need for more communication and idea sharing among diverse stakeholders, including faculty, staff, administrators and trustees.”
ABOUT PLANTE MORAN
Plante Moran is among the nation’s largest accounting, tax and consulting firms and provides a full line of services to organizations in the following industries: manufacturing and distribution, financial institutions, service, health care, private equity, public sector and real estate and construction. Plante Moran has a staff of more than 2,000 professionals in 21 offices throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois with international offices in Shanghai, China; Monterrey, Mexico; and Mumbai, India. Plante Moran has been recognized by a number of organizations, including FORTUNE magazine, as one of the country’s best places to work. For more information, visit plantemoran.com.
Tagged Higher Education, institutional partnerships, plante moran, shared services
Plante Moran Government Expert: “Local Government of the Future Debuts in 2013”
SOUTHFIELD, Michigan – March 4, 2013 – Plante Moran, one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms and a service provider to 400 government entities in more than 35 states, has released its Government Outlook for 2013. Beth Bialy, CPA, leads the firm’s government practice and notes that 2013 is the year the local government of the future debuts.
“Local government has shed 650,000 jobs since a peak in 2008, cities are drawing down their reserves to balance budgets, and property taxes and state funding support are simultaneously shrinking,” notes Bialy. “Smart local governments aren’t waiting for more bad news, they are taking action to debut the local government of the future now.”
Recession-imposed cost cuts have trimmed most local government budgets to the bone. Plante Moran’s Government Outlook 2013 reports that in this new era, local government will look to three core areas for efficiency and effectiveness to provide safe and healthy communities where families and business can thrive:
Using technology for efficiency and better insights
Staging a community for economic development
Collaborating with neighboring communities for cost savings and service delivery
In the information technology realm, lack of investment in infrastructure means the quality of data is at risk. Yet governments need proper data to make informed decisions. As the cost to maintain existing infrastructures and implement upgrades and innovations increases, governments need to re-evaluate the way they collect and share data while finding the right balance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The report cites Memphis, Tenn. as an example where the mayor’s office, the police department and the criminal justice department at a local college collaborated on a process that analyzed data and could predict crime “hot spots” based on historical and real-time crime data. The police department then used the data to more efficiently allocate resources and reduce serious crime by 30 percent and violent crime by 15 percent and quadruple the number of solved cases.
Similarly, the Alameda County Social Service Agency in California combined business intelligence software and analytical tools to create a lifecycle view of their clients’ interactions with the system. Insights from these patterns helped program administrators identity $11 million in fraud and waste reduction in the first year.
Services such as police and fire are often benchmarked by municipalities to improve services and potentially reduce costs. The process of benchmarking needs to continue and broaden in local governments of the future to areas such as library services, refuse/recycling, code enforcement and building inspections and human resources to find similar success. But Bialy cautions that governmental units need to understand the definitions of the categories and provide accurate data according to cost accounting requirements.
“As government IT upgrades remain on hold, the need for accurate and helpful data still remains. Adapting new ways of collecting and sharing data helps ensure data quality while using analytics to accelerate outcomes,” said Bialy.
When it comes to economic development, Bialy offers a familiar analogy.
“The staging of a community for economic development is key in attracting businesses. Just like a homeowner hires a staging expert to help her prepare her home to play well with potential buyers, local governments can prepare themselves for new partnerships and visiting businesses,
including foreign investors, seeking new locations,” she says.
Through the use of an economic development score card, communities can evaluate multiple factors, including new and traditional tax credit lures, labor availability and cost, and proximity to airports and major highways to decide what industries should be courted for potential new business.
Plante Moran’s Government Outlook 2013 also addresses the increasingly popular governmental solution of shared services.
“No matter where a municipality is in considering if shared services is an appropriate option, due diligence for determining and defining what the new approach will mean to service levels, costs and administration is critical,” says Bialy. “A well-designed plan for shared services requires an outline of the steps needed to reach implementation, including: creating a timeline, agreeing on governance issues, developing service agreements, drawing up an organizational chart, deciding on staffing, and allocating costs.”
To read the full report, which includes professional perspectives from leaders in the field including Bob Scott, CFO, and Pam Hodges, Controller, City of Carrollton, Texas; Alan Shark, executive director and CEO of the Public Technology Institute (PTI); Bob Kittle, owner of Michigan-based Munetrix; Carol Caruso, senior vice president of advocacy for the Greater Cleveland Partnership and Randy Cole, president of the Ohio State Controlling Board, visit http://www.plantemoran.com/perspectives/outlooks/Documents/2013-government-outlook.pdf
Plante Moran (www.plantemoran.com) is among the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms, providing clients with tax, audit, risk management, financial, technology, business consulting and wealth management services. Plante Moran has a staff of more than 2,000 professionals in 21 offices throughout Michigan, Ohio and Illinois, with international offices in Shanghai, China; Monterrey, Mexico; and Mumbai, India. Plante Moran has been recognized by a number of organizations, including FORTUNE magazine, as one of the country’s best places to work.
Tagged local government, municipalities, shared services
#DPC20 Chair Dennis W. Archer Jr. previews the Conference and Detroit’s next decade in Crain’s Detroit Business:
"There is no silver bullet that will guarantee Detroit’s competitiveness and success for the next 10 years. It requires leaders from all corners of the region contributing in unique and innovative ways. That is what the conference seeks to do." … See MoreSee Less
Defining Detroit’s next decade
www.crainsdetroit.com
Over the past decade, Detroit has been a city in yet another stage of its ongoing evolution. Major developments like the Hudson’s site and the Michigan Central Station redevelopment are taking shape…
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Feeling Foxy.
ANYONE who's anyone has a clothing line these days, from Courtney Love to Kate Moss, by way of Posh Spice and Mrs "is he rich? I hadn't noticed" Rooney.
Never one to let a trend pass me by without battering the life out of it, I have set up a little online shop with some of my more notorious sayings plastered across t-shirts, mugs, vests and a tote bag. The tote bag might be a bit much.
You might hate it, in which case I never suggested it and will have no recollection of this at all. Or you might like it, and have some suggestions for designs which I'll happily add. We'll see.
Have a look and see what you think.
Get your Fox on. Or off, if you get lucky.
Labels: Coleen Rooney, Courtney Love, Kate Moss, Posh Spice
"A million out of ten."
THE problem with visiting the Dr Who Experience is that you can't take a sofa with you to hide behind.
A second issue is that it is socially unacceptable to shove children out of the way to get to the front unless you have some of your own, in which case it is apparently fine.
It was clear, therefore, that if I wanted to play with Daleks and sonic screwdrivers I would have to find someone prepared to lend me one or more children to act as camouflage.
Luckily a friend of mine has several to choose from and this morning she arrived bearing in tow three girls aged from 11 to eight, all of them piling off the train in a state of high excitement, like child-sized exclamation marks.
The Experience starts with the current doctor Matt Smith trapped inside the Pandorica by his enemies and needing our help to escape. A crack opens up between "two parts of space-time which should never have touched" and you are sucked into an adventure, flying the TARDIS and dealing with Daleks.
It ends with a 3D confrontation with all the Doctor's deadliest enemies in which the children and I were holding onto each other in genuine terror. Then there's an exhibition of everything you'd want to see - the costumes of all eleven doctors and their sidekicks, K-9, Davros, and Peter Davidson's TARDIS interior, the one which looked like a salad bar. There were backstage explanations of the monster costumes and choreography and it was just as fascinating whether you watch the new episodes or hanker after those of your childhood, most of which I only listened to because I was behind the sofa.
You can pose on a greenscreen to have your image superimposed on a TARDIS flying through space, take the controls of a Dalek and speak with a Cyberman. By the time you are poured into the gift shop, a £9.99 Dalek toothbrush or complete set of action figures seems like a brilliant idea.
Afterwards I asked the girls which bits they liked the best, and they all agreed on the greenscreen and controlling the Dalek. The adventure part could have gone on longer - it was maybe only twenty minutes from Pandorica to rescue - but at £58 for a family ticket we felt like we got our money's worth.
I asked the girls to give it marks out of ten. One said "ten", the next said "eleven", and the last one said "a miiiiiilllion" so I guess that means they liked it.
And me? I got to see Tom Baker's scarf, and am now the proud owner of a £14.99 in-no-way-overpriced sonic screwdriver. I also have a shedload of cool points as far as three small children are concerned.
Just don't tell them I'm going back next week on my own so I can play in the Dalek.
* The Dr Who Experience runs until the end of November at Kensington Olympia. For tickets and info click this link.
Labels: blatant plug, Dalek, Dr Who
Letters to Lillys.
THE week started with a post which got more attention than any so far - one describing the details of 80 or so privacy injunctions taken out by high-profile individuals in British courts since 2006.
It increased traffic to this blog tenfold to more than 50,000 hits in a day, proof if any were needed that the public's attitude to privacy is that it's all very well but they'd still like to know what's going on.
The responses were overwhelmingly positive. But John wrote to say he thought it should have gone further and named names:
"You're very brave, aren't you? But you don't say a word about the single injunction we most need to know about -- the one that involves XXX. What is it that this XXX donor to the XXX Party doesn't want us to know? You don't even admit he exists. You're either a lily-livered coward like most of the rest, or you're a piece of shit. Only you know which...
"We live in a country that has taken rights like Habeas Corpus and just plain free speech, fought for over centuries, and thrown them away to suit the short-term ambitions of politicians, rich men and women and journalists who have forgotten what their job is supposed to be.... when there's a chance we ordinary people might actually get a glimpse into how the world ticks, there's no shortage of apologists to rush forward and tell us ordinary people, 'oh, you don't want to know about that. It's nothing but the silly antics of professional sportsmen and cretinous nonentities we have chosen to call 'celebrities'.' No, it isn't. It's about our need to know what the rich and powerful wish us not to know."
Ed: I didn't identify anyone involved because as a national newspaper journalist and blogger I'd be first in the dock if the lawyers caught wind. Were it not for the fact I like my job and paying my mortgage, I'd do it and tell the judge I held him and his law in almost total contempt. As it is I'm afraid journalists - myself included - are keeping their mouths shut as we are under more scrutiny than the average person. John is right when he says this is a bit cowardly, but I did my best with this post which has more detail than anything else I've read on the topic. The Independent followed it up the next day with a splash claiming more than 330 injunctions, most of which are actually anonymity orders related to children and vulnerable adults. The figure of 80-odd - 90 per cent of which I'd argue have a degree of public interest in them - stands. I could not agree more with John's final point.
Kevin, a reader from the US, wrote:
"One thing I don't understand, however, is that if you do indeed know about superinjunctions that are relevant to the public interest, can't you just send the information to someone outside of the UK confidentially and have them release it? I mean, if I broke a superinjunction, it's not like Britain would send the SAS after me, right?"
Ed: Thanks for the offer, but it could still be traced. And I think it's US Navy SEALs you need to be more worried about.
This post about rape being used as a weapon of war by Colonel Gaddafi's troops in Misrata got far fewer hits but plenty of praise from people insisting, in the face of all the evidence, it was the kind of news people preferred.
Kev said:
"I don't know what to say. Plenty of anti war types fly the no war in Libya without fully taking on board the murky facts. It's people like Lillys Miles who dare to inform the uninformed, or at the very least do their level best to make sure the matter doesn't get pushed aside. It appears I did have something to say. Thanks Foxster."
Darryll added:
"An excellent reminder of what the news SHOULD be about, no some 2-bit attention seeking slapper and a no-good 'family man'."
But Mark added:
"I would like to say that I'm more than happy to read a decently written piece on the horrors of Libya on one page then turn over to see who Ryan Giggs is shagging on the next. Otherwise the papers would be awfully depressing. As Tristram Shandy sort of said: 'There's enough room in this world for hard news and fluffy shite'."
Meanwhile this briefest of posts on Kate Middleton pictured next to a normal-sized woman sent most correspondents hurrying to the fridge. Lisa said: "That pic sent me diving head-first into a tub of Ben & Jerrys!" But Lucy said: "Don't start dissing the sisters Lillys, that really is best left to the Liz Joneses of the world. FFS it's not all about what we look like!"
Finally an open letter to Sharon Shoesmith earned a lot of backslaps but also criticism. Sharon said: "This is EXACTLY how I feel about this" and Bruce added: "Beautifully put, Foxy. Hope the shameless old boot gets to read it."
'Thfc' wrote: "Brilliant blog. Just proves that when politicians and managers fuck up, real people die." And Iain added: "Her lack of humility is beyond belief. A truly despicable creature."
But Vince said: "You should criticise Ed Balls more than Shoesmith. It's his fault she could claim unfair dismissal."
And Picturo was one of a few to fume: "Disgraceful attitude to a professional who I believe was doing her best. You encourage witch hunts and inhibit professionals."
Ed: Sharon Shoesmith's been on the wrong end of a national outcry, which I was not seeking to add to. However most people in that situation would ask themselves what, if any, responsibility they had for contributing to it. She doesn't seem to have done so, and her claim to be "over the moon" and "not in the blame game" showed why she became the public face of a social services scandal - a complete lack of empathy with the overwhelming public reaction to the death of Baby P, and a deep and total self-regard. In her shoes, even believing there was nothing I could have done to save him, I would accept the buck had to stop somewhere. I'd not expect any sympathy, and certainly not over £1m in compo.
Hope you all had a nice weekend, folks. Keep the comments coming to the usual email address, Twitter and Facebook.
Foxy out.
Labels: Gaddafi, injunction, Kate Middleton, letters, Obama, Sharon Shoesmith, superinjunction
Dear Sharon Shoesmith...
CONGRATULATIONS on your court victory proving then-minister Ed Balls did not follow the right procedures when he sacked you, after a damning report about the parlous state of a social services department you ran at Haringey Council in the lead-up to Baby P's abuse and death in 2007.
But you should still have been sacked. You did not beat a child yourself but by presiding over a department with a blatant disregard for common sense, the public good and duty of care you undoubtedly contributed to their pain.
That's not what we paid you for. We paid you to do your best to stop it.
You let Baby P down, and you let us down. Fighting a drawn-out court battle over technicalities of employment law is entirely within your rights and financial means, but that doesn't mean you should.
You can expect at least £1million in back pay, compensation and unpaid pension, which not a single person in this country apart from you believes that you deserve.
Donate it all to the NSPCC; it's the only way you'll ever be able to help children like Baby P, who had he survived could have claimed a maximum £33,000 in compensation.
And when you've done that, never bother us again.
Peter Connelly, Mar 1 2006 - Aug 3 2007
Labels: Baby P, compensation, letters, Sharon Shoesmith
D.I.V.O.R.C.E.
IT'S quite difficult to make Saudi Arabia look liberated; but Malta has managed it.
The tiny Mediterranean island is one of only two countries in the world where divorce is illegal, and in two days' time it will be holding a fiercely-fought referendum on whether to change the law.
I say fiercely-fought because the Roman Catholic church - which is tasked in the country's constitution with teaching its population right and wrong - says that allowing divorce will spell the end of the family and civilisation as we know it.
You can divorce in Saudi. You can do it in North Korea. You can even do it in Afghanistan or Iran. But not, it seems, in the middle of Europe.
Divorce is not a doddle, whatever politicians or priests say. It took me almost as long to disentangle myself from my ex-husband as I had actually been married to him for, it cost more than the wedding, and I didn't even get a frock.
There are people who think I should have stayed married to an abusive cheat. If I'd had children, I should have let them remain under his influence, and my promise to him should have held even if he broke his promise to me. Well, I disagree.
Divorce is great. Divorce is the freedom to admit you made a mistake, and not let it blight the rest of your life. I never wanted to do it but I had the right to say 'I am better than this'. It was difficult, awful, gut-wrenching, but my life now is a million times better than it was.
I didn't get divorced just for the hell of it; I did it because the alternative was no choice at all.
We should celebrate the fact it is socially acceptable. We should hire a hall, and a band, and have a party when we take that step. We should applaud single parents who raise children on their own, rather than demonise or penalise them. And we really ought to stop this fallacy that giving people choice is harmful, when in fact it is the ultimate freedom.
It's funny, because if a church ordered everyone in Malta to wear a burqa they'd kick off.
Give it six months.
Labels: bride, burqa, divorce, Malta, Saudia Arabia
Anyone else feel hungry?
And that's all I really have to say about that.
Labels: Kate Middleton, Obama, wrong
Bad Man 1, World 0
WHILE one slightly-bad man has failed to stop people talking about his sex life, another Very Bad Man has ordered women to be raped because they don't agree with him.
We've been preoccupied with what footballers, actors, businessmen and others - some in the public interest, some less so - get up to, and the fact we're not allowed to know.
But at least we get to argue about it. This weekend, buried away at the back of a newspaper, was the news that 1,000 women, girls and boys have been raped in Misrata on the orders of officers in the Gaddafi regime, which likes being argued with even less than lawyers do.
If you can remember what fire drill at secondary school looked like, that's about 1,000 people, perhaps a little more.
In Libya there's no rape counselling. There's not much help from the justice system, and the general culture throws great shame on the victim. The fear is that many of the wives, daughters and sons who have been raped will commit suicide.
Some of the rebel fighters, feeling solidarity with the women attacked along with their city, have offered to marry them to save their lives and their families' honour.
We don't have a mandate to go to war in Libya but nor are we pushing for one. We're not arguing about it in Parliament, the Press, the courts, or even down the pub. We ought to though because it's going to happen and it looks like it's going to be messy and half-arsed.
We have bombed it from above, we have bombed it from the sea, we have blockaded its ports, we have sent in Special Forces to select targets, and now we're dispatching helicopter gunships for more selective kills. All the while the Very Bad Man has done whatever the hell he likes. How long til a boot goes on the ground? Weeks, is my bet. Probably with strict instructions not to hurt anyone.
The women of Misrata, their husbands and their dads, want decisive action from other countries who notice what's going on and think it should stop. They want to be able to speak freely, whether its about their leaders, their laws or whether they think Ryan Giggs is a twat or not.
It rather puts Imogen Thomas' "emotionally exhausted!!" claims into perspective, don't you think?
Labels: Gaddafi, Imogen Thomas, news, Ryan Giggs, war
Do not read this.
WE all want to know what it is we're not allowed to talk about - so here it is.
Like a few other journalists, I've been sent a list of the current injunctions in the British courts. I'm going to tell you what's on it because its contents are provoking a constitutional ruckus and have already led to what has been called the biggest campaign of civil disobedience in recent times.
So I'm going to tell you everything I can without breaking the law. That's what journalists do, after all.
I have one caveat - the list is not perfect and it seems like there's several duplications on it. It's been drawn up by more than one member of the public with an interest in these things, rather than a journalist or lawyer with access to all the documents. Some of them may be speculative but on the ones I already know about its sources seem sound, so here goes.
It lists about 80 injunctions imposed since 2006. They include those already widely known - such as the footballer who had an affair with Imogen Thomas, the dumping of chemical waste by Trafigura, the one Zac Goldmith and Jemima Khan had against someone who hacked their emails, Fred Goodwin's fling with a colleague while his bank burned and the one Andrew Marr has since broken himself about his affair and possible lovechild - as well as a few others that come as a surprise even to me.
Of those 80, eight strike me as completely fair. Two involve children, and three private individuals who simply want to stay that way. The sixth is about personal pictures found on a stolen laptop and the seventh is a private medical matter. The eighth is the Goldsmith injunction.
Thirty one involve extra-marital affairs. Three are about alleged blackmail, which does not seem to have been reported to the police. Three are aimed at shutting up former employees, and six at keeping former wives or cuckolded husbands quiet. Three specifically mention prostitutes and one appears to be about financial matters.
Some are absurd: one involves allegations someone is losing their hair, while another is about a man who died after he got an injunction but it still can't be reported. One is about failures by a doctor who was criticised by a judge in a social services case, but cannot be identified.
Eleven involve allegations about a crime - either committing one, or the investigation of it. Two appear to relate to the alleged sexual assault of children.
Fifteen have been brought by sportsmen, twelve by stars of stage or screen, five by singers, and four by well-known business people. Most are millionaires, some multi-millionaires. Seven have been brought by women; the rest men.
The respondents are four of the major newspaper groups, two specific journalists, whistleblowers, and victims of misconduct of one kind or another.
I believe there would be a very strong public interest case in reporting about 20 of them. A further 17 are so well-known already, or cover behaviour that's already in the public domain, that I can't see a strong argument to ban the stories. About a dozen more are so-so, but could be argued one way or the other. The remainder I don't have enough information to judge.
And if you try to count all those figures up and get to 80, you won't - several on the list simply don't have enough information for me to tell you any more than that an injunction exists.
To those expecting me to tell you names, dates and places: I value my liberty, and so have had to disappoint you. I've told you all I can about the things other people don't want you to know, and I've always thought that's my job.
And to any injunction lawyers reading this with a beady eye in the hope of conning more cash out of their clients: I wish you luck, because I haven't broken the law and you know it.
Some of the people on the list have. The fact we are not allowed to know it, because they've got sucked into a flawed court system where the wealthy pay for their peccadilloes to be hidden, is an outrage.
"How much for a journo to get out of jail?"
Labels: Andrew Marr, celebrity, court, Fleet Street, Fred Goodwin, Goldsmith, hooker, Imogen Thomas, injunction, news, privacy, sex, superinjunction, tabloids
The very definition of a farce.
NEWSPAPERS in several countries not bound by an English injunction have identified on their pages a footballer who had an unreportable fling, but our media cannot show it.
The subject of an injunction has issued court proceedings in the UK against the US owners of Twitter, but they are not bound to comply and it has served only to disseminate his story to millions more than if it had just been published in the first place.
A journalist who named the subject of an injunction is facing contempt of court proceedings but cannot even be named himself under the rules of the original order even though he's accused of a crime, and a woman has been accused of blackmailing the subject of an injunction but barred from defending herself against the charge.
What is or is not in the public interest cannot even be properly discussed in a public forum, and a series of silly shagging stories are ramping up into a constitutional crisis with Parliament going head-to-head with the judiciary.
It's bizarre, it's ridiculous, and it's untenable.
We have arrived at the point where the authorities here - like those in Egypt not so long ago - are realising that the millions who use social networks have more collective power than the media, the courts and Parliament put together. A barrister speaking about it yesterday referred to Twitter in scathing tones as "the mob" and said they should not be the ones to decide what is private and what is not. But the important thing about democracy is that the mob rules whether you like it or not. And in a fight I know whose side I'd be on.
This has all come about because a few dozen people didn't have the wit to keep their trousers on. They are too stupid to realise that maintaining a good public reputation starts and ends with being honest - with themselves, with their families, and with the mob. Instead these fools are blaming other people for their indiscretions and being advised by very expensive lawyers to fritter six-figure sums in an exercise of futility when most people don't even care who they're shagging.
Sue the internet? You may as well sue the ink a newspaper uses, or the sky for raining on you. These people don't need lawyers, they need a slap and they need it yesterday.
Whether or not any of these stories were originally in the public interest was never debated before a judge imposed a gagging order stopping their revelation. The judge heard a solicitor say "our client has a right to respect for his privacy and family life under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act" and rubber-stamped it without question.
The judge should have asked: "Does your client show a respect for his own privacy and family?" If he does, then injunct away. But if he has hawked his privacy, disrespected his wife and children, what right has he to demand that other people accord him that honour? He is simply dodging the consequences of his own actions, something our court system was set up to stop. I do not respect him, and nor does the mob.
Privacy is a privilege as well as a right. We can all have it if we want it, but if we're to keep hold of it we have to accept its responsibilities and not squander it.
So if you've got an injunction, here's a tip: lose it. Lose the lawyer, and ask him to pay back every penny he's taken off you. Lose the sense of entitlement which makes you think you deserve special treatment by the courts, something which was outlawed in England in 1354, for heaven's sake.
Try being honest instead. It's the only way to end this farce and if you're very lucky the mob will love you for it. If you don't - well, mobs can get very ugly. Especially when it's them under attack.
Appalling, isn't it?
Labels: Andrew Marr, celebrity, court, Fleet Street, Fred Goodwin, Hugh Grant, Imogen Thomas, injunction, politicians, sex, superinjunction, tabloids, wrong
THE right to be anonymous is almost the only item on the agenda this week - whether you are a footballer, a TV personality or, yes, a blogger.
After this post on Hugh Grant's attack on the "out-of-control" tabloid press the responses were divided right down the middle and, apart from a few examples, entirely along gender lines. Women who got in touch were in favour of the Fox while men who did the same thought the Fox was out of line.
A few correspondents were unhappy that an anonymous blogger had written on the topic of someone else demanding privacy. Richard wrote: "Surely all that divides the 'fame' of you and Hugh Grant is scale, wealth and a penis... If I subscribed to your logic it would be in the 'public interest' of your 15,000 followers to reveal your name, no?"
Jay added:
"One thing remains conspicuously absent: Fleetstreetfox's identity... She fights for the right to name and shame celebrities while hiding her own name. I also think that if tabloid journalists didn't take it upon themselves to publish every little detail of 'who stuck what where' under the guise of public interest (read: selling more papers) then nobody would be issuing injunctions. The whole thing stinks of someone trying to justify their own bad behaviour. So, Foxy, why do you hide? Perhaps you value privacy after all, unless it's somebody else's."
Ed: This is a fair point. Those who engage in a public life, whether politicians, film stars or journalists, have to accept a degree of scrutiny. Privacy for non-public figures is fair enough. But the people in the news at the moment want secrecy, to withhold the truth for personal benefit. I am not doing that - I am telling the truth about my trade, as much as I know of it. If I were named the chances are I would be sacked, and the journalistic insight I could offer The Reader via this blog would be reduced to almost zero. That seems to defeat the purpose.
Secondly I do not seek to hide any personal shame, in fact I have a book to be published which is full of it, but if I were named then others (perhaps mistakenly) would be identified among its characters, which does not seem fair to them.
Thirdly, I am not using vast personal wealth to change the laws of this country without it being voted for by anyone. Lastly of course this would all be far less fun if you knew I was fat, boring, old Jane Smith of the Daily Globe; I believe you prefer it this way.
This post diverged from the injunction issue to cover the events in the Middle East, which just as with tabloid newspapers was welcomed for being more worthy but got far fewer hits on the site.
Kev said: "As you rightly point out, and at the risk of duplicating your efforts, it's news that is being pushed further away sadly."
David added: "Libya's not about saving the goodies from the baddies any more than Iraq ever was - it's only ever about getting our hands on the cookie jar. Syria = no oil to get excited about = no intervention..simples."
In an effort to sex things up there was this post about some of the scandals we'd never know if it weren't for the tabloids.
Alistair said: "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. If you want to avoid publicity, don't do a public job!"
Jaysus added: "Most journalists today are ruthless exploitative opportunistic hypocrites, turkeys don't vote for Christmas."
Ruth wrote:
"When the people who lap this stuff up have moved on to judging someone else's shortcomings, this man and his family will be picking up the pieces for years to come. The recent partial lifting of Fred Goodwin's injunction is a slightly different matter as the personal issues may have compromised the professional, with a practical impact on some members of the public. That is a matter of judgement. Similarly the Prescott affair: on the one hand should anyone care if he's shagging a colleague? No. Using a publicly funded grace and favour apartment to conduct his liaisons on 'company' time? Well, maybe. As for bent politicians, expose them, as they are the true hypocrites."
Niamh replied: "America doesn't call it the First Amendment for nothing. A free press has to be free! Well said. As usual!" And Annette said: "Jeffrey Archer would probably be a grand old statesman of Cameron's cabinet now if it wasn't for the tabloids. Instead, he perjured himself in Court, perverted the course of justice and did bird in Belmarsh."
The post on how everything always seems to be a woman's fault got, as could be predicted, a lot of female high-fives. Polly said: "My ex-husband 'excused' my deflating his expensive bike tyres after he had an affair! My fault obviously... Great blog!" Darryll added: "Short, sweet, straight to the point, and so true."
Greg was less impressed: "Sorry, just can't take the misandristic whining any longer. Self-pity is so unattractive."
Junky, who I think is a man, said: "Re blog. Brilliant. Am off to don a man-burqa as we speak."
Howard wrote: "What I think of your blog - bloody great. You're my top of the blogs and pushed Guido into second place."
Which is nice.
Enjoy your rapture parties, folks - and when you're hungover tomorrow, remember it only feels like the world is ending.
Labels: Fred Goodwin, Gaddafi, Hugh Grant, injunction, Jeffrey Archer, John Prescott, Libya, privacy, tabloids
Some stories never change.
SO Fred Goodwin's super-injunction has been revealed and it seems the banking crisis was caused by his affair.
That footballer injuncted Imogen Thomas because she was trying to blackmail him. Chris Huhne is on the ropes because his ex-wife wants revenge. Dominique Strauss-Kahn was set up by a chambermaid and if Gaddafi's regime ever tumbles you can bet your bottom dollar it'll be because one of his female bodyguards betrays him.
That's right girls, it's all down to us. We made Adam eat the apple and everything that's ever gone wrong since The Fall is our fault.
It is certainly not the fault of dick-crazed men incapable of accepting the consequences of their actions. Not at all.
Labels: Chris Huhne, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Fred Goodwin, Gaddafi, Imogen Thomas
Making phone-hackers look good.
HOW to lose a public relations battle in one easy step:
1. Use as your champions Sienna Miller (courted the Press, slept with someone else's husband, sues the Press), Andy Gray (ex-Sky Sports misogynist and serial cheat), Jude Law (swinger), Wayne Rooney (where to start?) and Mark Oaten (MP who blamed his baldness for the extra-marital affair he had with a rent boy he paid to pee on him).
Honestly. It's no wonder they were too stupid to change their PIN codes.
"Anyone there?"
Labels: Andy Gray, Mark Oaten, phone hacking, politicians, Sienna Miller, tabloids
Think of the things we'd never know.
THE tabloid press is under attack; not for the first time or the last.
We're used to it. It's healthy, and I don't mind in the least. Privacy is different to secrecy and the more that gets talked about the better for everyone.
Hugh Grant, Jeremy Clarkson, Jemima Khan, Kenneth Clarke and various other self-centred whingebuckets think tabloids are "out of control" and need to be brought to heel, quick smart, with some privacy laws which carefully delineate things the Press must stop doing.
So here's a few things we wouldn't know if it weren't for the punchy, fighty, mischievious, celebrity-poking, no-privacy-law-thankyou tabloids:
* The identities of the five men widely-known to be involved in the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
* That John Leslie is a sex-pig.
* That Chris Huhne left his wife following an affair mere weeks after parading his happy family in election leaflets, that she has since accused him of bullying her into taking speeding points, and as a result of this coverage Essex Police will question him over perverting the course of justice.
That the former leader of the Lib Dems is an alcoholic, that the head of the IMF has a long history of aggressive sexual behaviour, that Prince Charles' marriage was blighted by his long affairs, that Andrew Marr had a super-injunction, that Katie Price is anything but what she lets her TV show broadcast... the list goes on. And yes, the tittle-tattle which is what millions of people really buy the papers to read.
We're not perfect, we make mistakes, we cross the line sometimes. But we usually get pushed back pretty quick, and I'd far rather have an aggressive tabloid press than a supine spin machine for PRs' press releases.
Otherwise we'd all think Max Mosley was just a public-spirited, charming old grandad.
Labels: Andrew Marr, BBC, celebrity, Chris Huhne, court, Hugh Grant, injunction, Jeremy Clarkson, John Leslie, Max Mosley, Prince Charles, Prince William, royal wedding, superinjunction, tabloids
They're asking for it.
THE problem with politicians is they do not live in the real world but rather above it, like socially inept gods playing dice with our fate.
They see a chambermaid and think she's fair game; they get speeding points and think they're not a danger on the roads; they wonder whether to cut rape sentences as a way of getting the conviction rate up.
So far this week, thanks in large part to the tabloid press which Hugh Grant thinks we don't need and is "out-of-control", they have been taught that it is not a good idea to treat either chambermaids or ex-wives badly. Yes, Hugh, rich and famous men are "naughty by nature" but when these are the allegations made against them they should be screamed from the rooftops so the millions of people who buy newspapers can hear it.
And with a career in which I have spent far too long listening to the gory details of rape cases - drunk girls who didn't know what was going on, startled men accused of assault the next day, sexual predators drugging drinks in bars and parents holding down their own children so they can be attacked by strangers - I have to say yes, the rate of rape conviction, at six per cent of complaints made, is too damn low.
So our esteemed Justice Secretary Ken Clarke - a barrister once, many years ago - decided the best way to win votes would be to HALVE rape sentences, along with those for burglary and robbery, if the alleged rapist confesses early and so saves their victim the trauma of a trial.
Except the reason the rape conviction rate is low is not because victims don't want to go to trial. It's because if they do they will have their reputation traduced by a barrister like Ken, who will imply that because of their clothes, their behaviour, or lack of common sense they were inviting rape. It is the attitude of the 12th century, it is the attitude of strict Shariah law, and it's utterly damn disgusting.
If you want to get the rape conviction rate up, set out new guidelines in which the behaviour and sexual history of the victim cannot be used in court. I don't care if she slept with a million men, was drunk as a skunk and wore nowt but a thong - no-one deserves to be abused. Ever. Bring in anonymity for the accused until they are convicted, and you will remove the sympathy I've seen a thousand juries feel towards the man in the dock who says he thought she was willing and his is the life that's been ruined.
And if Ken Clarke wants to win back the millions of votes he's just pissed up the wall he should get himself down to one of the crown courts he's so keen to close and listen for a day. Alternatively, he should be locked in a room with a rapist and, when he gets out, see how he feels about someone insisting he was asking for it.
What's next? Free the paedos?
Labels: Chris Huhne, court, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Hugh Grant, Ken Clarke, politicians, rape, tabloids
That's the way to do it.
THE story of the Arabian Spring, which started with such promise in Egypt and spread across the Middle East, is now virtually unreportable. Stuck in a military quagmire in Libya and firmly oppressed by the British-educated despot in Syria, day after day there is no change in the patchy misery which brave souls manage to communicate to the rest of the world.
Death, destruction, the desperate despair of unarmed and untrained people losing the fight to be heard - an important story, but one which is too depressing to be on the front pages. To make it even more difficult, the journalists trying to tell the story are risking and losing their lives every day.
The 'international community', that shapeless thing which is often little more than a Punch & Judy show, quacks about how awful things are in Syria, drops a few bombs in Libya, and watches while millions of people ache for them to do something.
Yesterday the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applied for an arrest warrant for Colonel Gaddafi on allegations he murdered his own people. Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he had evidence that in the two weeks after the uprising began 700 civilians had been killed on Gaddafi's orders; the figure is thought to be at least 3,000 now.
He said: "These are not just crimes against Libyans, they are crimes against humanity as a whole... No one has the authority to attack and massacre civilians. We have a mandate to do justice and we will do it."
One of the victims, Mustafa Mohammad Shami, whose daughter and son were killed in one of Gaddafi's rocket attacks, said: "We will fight on. We want to see Gaddafi captured alive and prosecuted."
(Did you hear that, Obama? Captured alive and prosecuted. Not executed by Navy SEALs because it was easier.)
Perhaps it is just wishful thinking, political posturing in a toothless attempt to convince crazed dictators that they'll get a spanking if they're bad.
Perhaps, considering the United Nations pulled out of Bosnia in 1992, Rwanda in 1994, and Haiti a few months later only for millions of innocents to be massacred while we sat and watched, it will come to nothing.
Or perhaps - just perhaps - this time the pantomime of international politics will show it is worth the ticket price after all.
I'm keeping everything crossed, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Punch Judy
Labels: Fleet Street, Gaddafi, Obama, wrong
You're welcome, Hugh.
WHEN Four Weddings and a Funeral was released in 1994 Hugh Grant became an overnight star, a romantic, foppish, dopey hero on screen and in the minds of millions of fans around the world.
He got a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination, and went on to play the same romantic, foppish dope in quite a few other films.
A year later, just as he was becoming used to adulation, he was arrested for lewd conduct in a public place after being caught with hooker Divine Brown in a car off Sunset Strip. He was fined $1,100, given two years' probation and had to go on an AIDS awareness course.
The newspapers had a field day - the fop was really a cad, and it was such an about-turn in public perception that everyone was gripped to see what would happen to him and that nice pair of boobs Liz Hurley.
Meanwhile poor Hugh was complaining he had become typecast, saying: "People made two assumptions: One was that I was that character - when in fact nothing could be further from the truth... and the other frustrating thing was that they thought that's all I could do."
But his movies began to tank. Filmgoers associated him with scandal, and he couldn't quite pull off the bumbling-sweet-guy act any more.
Then film bosses realised that 'nice Hugh' had been sexualised, and offered him different work. He played womanisers, cads and rotters to critical acclaim and of course, with such a famous name, studios began shelling out millions of pounds to get him in their movies.
He enjoyed a string of beautiful girlfriends, quite a few multi-million pound houses, and a cavalcade of supercars. The films have dried up of late, but then he's so rich now he doesn't need to work.
In short, public humiliation in the international Press was the best thing that ever happened to Hugh Grant.
So I am not quite sure why he has thrown himself so wholeheartedly into the row about celebrity injunctions. He has not, to my knowledge, got an injunction out. He does dislike the Press quite profoundly, although his habit of telling photographers "I hope your kids die of cancer" is a little extreme.
He says the Press has no right to intrude on the private lives of people who have simply had the good fortune to be successful. In which he is right. Why would anyone write about him purely on the basis of his acting skills?
We do have a right though to write about criminals, and that is what Hugh was when he pleaded guilty to getting his winky out in a public place. He could not have injuncted it had he tried, because it was a matter of public record. I think it is this fact - that his sex life became public property and there was nothing he could do about it - which so riles him.
Since then, he has remained in the public eye purely and simply because of that episode - earning millions as a direct result of it - and persistently dates people who are famous or otherwise newsworthy. So his sex life has remained public property to some extent, something which must infuriate him seeing as he hasn't even been caught with a hooker again.
But why is he so in favour of injunctions? Had he been able to keep his greatest shame out of the newspapers, he would have faded into obscurity 10 years ago.
Perhaps he thinks he has got where he is today purely on the strength of his acting ability. If that's the case, where is his Oscar? Oh yes, it's in the same place as my Pulitzer.
The problem with the privacy debate is this - there isn't one. There is no massive groundswell of opinion, no campaign being backed by the public. In fact seeing as traffic on Twitter went up 14 per cent when someone tweeted the names of people linked to recent injunctions, the public seem to be pretty much in favour of openness on the topic.
This 'debate' is no such thing. It's just a slanging match with people like me on one side, who have a vested interested in reporting whatever we like, and on the other a dozen or so rich people who have all been embarrassed at some point and are having a whinge about it. The only reason Hugh Grant is getting air time is that he increases audience figures because he's famous, and he's famous because he was caught with a hooker.
I think Hugh should stop whining, get some perspective and enjoy driving around in the £143,325 Ferrari California which he would not have been able to buy were it not for the Press. That's what I'd do, and Divine Brown has the same idea.
She was an abused woman whose life finally improved after their joint arrest. She is off the streets, the £1m fees from newspaper interviews paid for her children to go to private school, and she is living happily in Atlanta with a fiance and a music production company.
She said she thanks God for sending her Hugh Grant, because it changed her life; and yet again has proved that a hooker often has a lot more heart and common sense than the clients who think a human can be rented by the hour.
If Hugh Grant, rather than launching an embittered one-man crusade, stopped to think about it or talk to anyone outside a Chelsea dinner party he might feel grateful to the Press. And he should ring up every journalist who's ever written about him, good or bad, and say thank you.
And when he's done that he should put a sock in it.
Boo hoo, poor me.
Labels: Divine Brown, hooker, Hugh Grant, injunction, Liz Hurley, superinjunction
WHAT is and is not in the public interest was the bee under most correspondents' bonnets this week, all of whom wanted to talk about whether or not the things we're not allowed to talk about should be talked about.
Still here? Then I'll begin.
We started out with this post on Max Mosley's failed privacy battle in the European courts which caused Ralph to ask:
"How many [prostitutes] have you met? And is what you state above everyone elses' experience too, who have known, or asked, prostitutes?"
Ed: I can only speak of my own experience; as to how many I'm not sure but I'd say it's 100-plus.
Bevin wrote:
"Great blog, as always! Everyone is entitled to have a private life that is just that, "private". And most of us can manage to keep it that way. But anyone who is 'famous' (or notorious) has a different relationship with the rest of the world and different rules apply. Not rules that mean you can do what you want without being held to account. Rules that mean you are more accountable.
What consenting adults get up to in the bedroom is their business. It becomes someone else's business when the rules are broken - when someone who is damaged and vulnerable is degraded. Ask any little girl what she wants to be when she grows up, and you can be damn sure it won't be a sex worker. It is even more important that such behaviour is exposed when the person in charge is 'famous' - money and power are no excuse for exploitation. It is even more galling that such people think their money and power can buy them a privacy and immunity from morality that us mere mortals don't enjoy."
Syed saw it differently, going to a great deal of trouble to rewrite the post in full. It's quite witty, highly defamatory in parts, and I'm afraid there's space only for a small bit to give you a flavour:
"Arrogance is normally defined as a sense of superiority or self-importance; but now we can add 'acting like a Fleet Street journalist’ to the dictionary description. They appear to be on a crusade to make sure we never forget Max Mosley’s German-speaking, military-themed, in-no-way-Nazi sex orgy which was caught on tape by one of the hookers he employed to mistreat him... And yes, a shagger gets an injunction, just as I would try and obtain myself if I knew that my sex life was about to be exposed by a colleague bearing a grudge."
Ed: I would never injunct the truth.
We moved on to political fraudster David Laws whose punishment for diddling £56,592 was seven days off work. Unsurprisingly every one who contacted me about this post was angry at him, his crime and the penalty.
Duncan said: "Any person who wants to be an MP should be imprisoned! Only people who can't do fuck all else choose it as a profession!"
Chief added: "Nick my money one day, shut a library the next. This is the stuff. Get them Foxy."
At the end of the week your correspondent was interviewed on the superinjunction issue by former director of BBC news Richard Sambrook. The reactions were less about what was said than the voice that was heard:
Mark said: "You sound like you are about 26, GSOH, NS, wears glasses with tiny beady eyes and like to wear stripey stuff."
Ed: No, yes, yes, no, and no.
Ben added: "Fleetstreetfox on the super-injunctions podcast. Bit too sensible sounding. I expected her voice to be a trumpet."
Ed: Um, sorry...
Michael said: "Love your blog... but are you Marina Hyde in disguise?"
Ed: No.
And finally, Mark summed it up better than me when he said: "The real point is that it is just wrong and corrosive to hide truth. Privacy is not immunity from gossip and consequences."
Editor's postscript: This round-up from the mailbag is normally done at weekends; apologies for the delay.
Labels: Fleet Street, fox, letters
A Laws unto themselves.
POLITICIANS are a wonderful bunch. For a mere £43million in salaries we are provided with endless scandals, ineptitude, and screw-ups. It's about the same annual cost as the Royal Family, with the added bonus there are 648 members of this dysfunctional bunch of humanity and no reasons to feel sorry for them.
If their £65,738 salaries were the only price of all this entertainment, I'd be happy to pay. But on top of that comes £93million they claim in 'expenses'.
Most goes towards paying staff, who are often relatives. Huge chunks go on constituency offices, generally rented from their party's local branch and so the taxpayer's cash goes into political coffers. Then there's the second homes they all get, allowing these highly-paid windbags to speculate on the property market while we pay for their mortgages, home repairs, furniture, and even food.
We all know the inglorious facts of the 2009 expenses scandal, in which leaked documents revealed how we paid for Prime Minister Dishface's wisteria to be trimmed, for former minister Elliot Morley's phantom mortgage, for Margaret Moran's £22,000 of repairs to her partner's home 100 miles from her constituency; for moats to be cleaned, tennis courts to be repaired, duckhouses to be installed.
MPs of every party and creed had their snouts in the trough, and when finally exposed mid-grunt by the Press they squealed in outrage at the intrusion while the rest of the nation looked on in disgust.
(Since then the committee of MPs investigating the scandal has decided it would far rather look into phone-hacking by the Press. How odd).
There were 26 resignations or well-timed retirements, and five convictions on fraud charges.
Yesterday one of the resignees, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Laws - who lied to the authorities, claimed more rent than his tenancy agreement was for, claimed rent higher than the market rate, rented from his lover, gave that lover £99,000 to buy the house in the first place, and wrongly claimed for building work, telephone calls and the wrong property, all to the tune of £56,592 - said sorry and as punishment was banned from Parliament for seven days.
They banned him from a subsidised bar, a river terrace, his mates and an historic palace for a week. Aside from putting a dent in his social life, what was the damn point?
Had you or I diddled £56,592 out of the public purse by claiming over the odds for housing benefit and paying it to a lover we'd be up before the beak before you could say "oink". There'd be no "sorry about that", no "shall I pay it back and we'll just forget about it?", and no prospect of a judge saying "tell you what, take a week off work and we'll call it quits".
Mr Laws apologised to Parliament and that was that. He hasn't apologised to us - we are not as important as politicians, after all. He said he'd had a terrible year, his motivation was privacy rather than financial gain because he didn't want to admit his landlord was his boyfriend, and that besides he could have claimed a lot more and didn't, so actually we should be grateful to him.
As a result the ever-entertaining Cleggy moralised: "The expenses scandals in the past were about individuals who were fleecing the system for financial benefit and I don't believe that was ever David's motive."
OK. Tell me, why else would anyone fleece an expenses system?
I don't care if Mr Laws is gay, straight or wobbly. If he felt like staying in the closet that's up to him but the best way of doing that was a) not to live with his boyfriend, b) not commit fraud for the benefit of his boyfriend, and c) not steal from the public purse, the use of which is often inclined to bring public scrutiny.
His homosexuality has been offered up like a speccy kid waving his glasses and saying "don't hit me!", making it appear unreasonable to criticise him. Had he offered such a defence in court a judge would have laughed in his face, and rightly so. Sexuality is not an excuse for criminality.
When there's too much talk about their expenses MPs are inclined to be snide about journalists and our ability to claim for all sorts of things. But we are like every other business in Britain - to make a claim I have to prove I spent the money in the course of my work. I have to produce a computerised receipt and a story from every dinner or drinks. It gets scrutinised by a scary man with a red pen who can demand I explain myself and if I've done anything wrong I can be sacked. The laptop and the phone don't belong to me and I certainly don't get my bloody furniture paid for.
MPs don't have to produce receipts. They don't have to prove they worked hard in return for their expenses. No-one is able to question or sack them except other MPs. And they get to keep the houses.
I'm quite keen on the idea of a dormitory for MPs. It would be a lot cheaper and they're bound to get up to even more shenanigans with which to entertain us.
Anyway in a week's time Mr Laws can skip back into work where his future's looking rosy. Dishface said the fiddling fraudster "is a very talented figure" who "has a lot to offer public life and I hope stays in public life". Vince Cable said: "I'm sure we'll see him back"; Michael Gove hoped "that we will all be able once more to make use of his talents before too long".
They want him back for his creative accountancy skills and because he is "the best brain we have", according to Cleggy; and also because he was replaced by talking squirrel Danny Alexander, a man so dumb yet on-message he gives every impression of being a humanoid Speak-and-Spell.
Yet seeing as Mr Laws was stupid enough to be caught with all ten of his fingers as well as his winky in the till, I quake for the intelligence of the other 647 - all of whom seem to think we're stupid.
This man is not behind bars.
Labels: Dishface, expenses, news, Nick Clegg, oink, phone hacking, politicians
The hunted in praise of the hunter.
CAMILLA Parker-Bowles spent years being the most hated woman in Britain.
At the wrong end of a newspaper free-for-all, she had long lenses shoved through her garden hedge, cartoonists mocking her looks, and columnists lambasting her morals. MI5 listened to phone calls with her lover and leaked them to the papers, which set up premium-rate phone lines so everyone could hear the heir to the throne tell her he'd like to be her tampon. When she went to the supermarket other customers pelted her with bread.
And this week she praised the Press for scrutinising every corner of modern life without fear or favour.
Presenting awards at the Press Club - and no doubt choosing her words carefully - she said: "I take enormous pride in our ability to question, debate and criticise all aspects of our society. I believe passionately in freedom of expression. I believe freedom of expression, so long as it doesn't contravene the law, or offend others, to be at the heart of our democratic system. In this, you [the Press] play a vital, if not pivotal role."
Then she said her personal motto with the papers was "no news is good news" - echoing neatly my belief that those who keep their heads down and their noses clean have no reason to fear a free Press.
I'm actually starting to warm to the old boot.
(It was still stupid to drive through a cuts riot in a £300,000 diamond necklace, mind)
Labels: Camilla, Fleet Street, phone hacking, royals
Bend over, Max Mosley.
ARROGANCE is normally defined as a sense of superiority or self-importance; but now we can add 'acting like Max Mosley' to the dictionary description.
He appears to be on a one-man crusade to make sure we never forget his German-speaking, military-themed, in-no-way-Nazi sex orgy which was caught on tape by one of the hookers he employed to mistreat him.
I bet his wife wishes he would just shut the hell up. Perhaps she ought to consider an injunction? Or a ball gag.
Today Mr Mosley was shafted by the European Court of Human Rights in his latest effort at reminding us what a pillock he is. He wanted newspapers to be forced to reveal their stories to the subjects of them two days before publication, so they could be injuncted by the wealthy - he wasn't too bothered about what someone without money might do in the same situation.
For the record, Mr Mosley, we already do just that. We generally always tell a spokesman, agent or member of the public what we're about to do, so they can have a right of reply or, if we've got something wrong, tell us before the presses start rolling. There is no newspaper editor in the country who wants to publish something that's not right - aside from the professional embarrassment, it's expensive and we do not have the same kind of money to burn as multi-millionaire ex-motorsports bosses.
There are a few occasions when we don't tell them, and this is when a) we've got them bang to rights and b) they'll cover it up. A criminal so warned will destroy the evidence before the police turn up; a corrupt politician will go unexposed; a paedophile will wipe their hard drive. And yes, a shagger gets an injunction.
The trouble with celebrities is that they think it's all about them. It's not. There's an entire world full of people out there who are affected by this kind of over-inflated and entirely wrong righteousness.
Aside from newspapers there are other people who get injuncted willy-nilly. Councils injunct parents in child adoption battles, businesses stop whistleblowers and MPs, and charity campaigners have been blocked from exposing corruption.
In my entire career I have never heard of an injunction which saved someone being wrongly defamed. Each and every one has been about a story which is 100 per cent accurate, and twice as embarrassing. What Mr Mosley wants is not a better-behaved Press but one in which public figures, whether they are politicians or celebrities or corporate chiefs, are off-limits.
Well, they're not. No-one, anywhere in the world, wants them to be out of firing range apart from those whose backsides are already raw from a public spanking by the Press.
At the time of his orgy Mr Mosley was the highly-paid, elected head of the international motorsports federation which represented not just 200m-odd Formula One fans but every single car owner on the planet. He was fair game, a public figure with a private shame, and had the original Nazi-theme allegations held water there would have been an indisputable public interest in exposing him. He believes that because it was later held not to be a Nazi orgy it was a private expression of his sexuality, and launched a personal battle to bring newspapers under his kind of control. He does not want your privacy to be protected - he wants secrecy for those caught with their trousers down. He wants powerful people to do as they please without criticism.
Well, let's set him straight. I do not know how many prostitutes Mr Mosley has met, much less bothered to speak to beyond agreeing the safety word, but I have interviewed plenty. They include £20-a-pop street walkers, small-time massage parlour madams, dominatrices and high-class hookers charging £3,000-a-night. Some hated their lives, most were resigned, and one or two told me brightly how it was their choice and they had very flexible working hours. Each and every one was damaged, each had an addiction of one kind or another, and all had been the victim of abuse. And that's before they started selling themselves.
So I criticise Mr Mosley for supporting that trade in unhappy women, because he has continued their abuse. I criticise him for the full awfulness of the orgy, which was far nastier than the spanking which was all family-friendly newspapers could report; I criticise him for being turned on by rape, for trotting it all out over and again despite what his wife must feel, and I criticise him for thinking that everyone who disagrees with him is a deviant.
And I refuse to take lectures in morality from a vile man with the ethics of a dictator who considers abuse to be a form of foreplay.
Labels: celebrity, hooker, injunction, Max Mosley, news, sex
A letter to the famous.
DEAR celebrities:
You are rich and famous, and seem to enjoy it. You like the free clothes, the frequent holidays, and appear to need the adoration. I do not mind this in the least, because I would not want your life for all the tea in China. I like riding on the Tube; I don't want to put my face on before I go to the shops; I prefer to do the walk of shame unpapped.
So please accept the following advice as being from somebody who is not jealous of your job but does know more about it than the average bear and can look upon it with an objectivity that perhaps you, your loved ones and paid sycophants cannot.
Here it is: fame is a pie, and you have to eat all of it. You don't get just to eat the cream off the top but have to force down the rest as well.
So when someone comes up to you in the street and wants an autograph, smile and say yes even when you feel rubbish. That's the person who pays your £2million mortgage, right there. If there are photographers hanging around they'll soon go away if you're boring. If you want to sleep with the world's most beautiful or interesting people, the rest of us will want to know about it. If you rely on a certain public image to make millions for film studios, record companies and football clubs then, I'm afraid, you ought to do your best to make sure it stands up to scrutiny.
Yes, it's tittle-tattle. But it's your fans that buy the newspapers to read about you, and thus feed the appetite for more. As a result they buy your music, your books, your tickets. Would you be happy in a world where you had no fans, no adoration, no wealth?
Be aware that if you are one of those celebrities who phones up picture agencies, who cuts a deal for a percentage of the syndication fee, who 'makes friends' with showbiz columnists, whose mortgage and self-worth rely solely on being a public figure, then you have ordered a bigger pie. For this you get more cream, but also more of everything else.
And if you do something you oughtn't - if you shag Wayne Rooney's hooker, enjoy spanking women while dressed up in rubber, get a colleague sacked when your affair turns sour, pretend to be a family man while cheating with a Big Brother trollop or try to stop an ex-wife writing a book about you, for example - it really is best just to cough to it.
The alternative of hiding the truth, of lying to your partner, of spending £100,000 on lawyers and bending the law to suit yourself and cover up repugnant behaviour is not viable in the long term. Half such stories, were they published, would have faded after a week and rarely been mentioned again. And the law, flawed as it is, generally snaps back if you push it too far.
If I didn't know better I'd say that super-injunctions had been invented by either a newspaper editor or a showbiz agent. They lead only to more gossip, more newsprint and a much bigger bollocking from your wife than you would originally have had.
All of us have things about our jobs we don't like, but have to put up with. Teachers, management consultants, hairdressers, dustmen, journalists. I hate doorstepping bereaved relatives, but I know that if anyone has to do it I'd be better at it than plenty of others, and it's the price I pay for those good days when I get a phone call telling me to get on a plane RIGHT NOW.
When the bad starts to outweigh the good, I'll change my job. You can do the same - you can send the pie back, if you like. Fame fades just like newsprint and if it is all too much of a pain you can retrain as a tree surgeon. Plenty of exercise, less need for injunctions, but fewer fans I'm afraid.
Alternatively, keep your dick in your pants.
Foxy.
Labels: celebrity, injunction, sex, wayne rooney
You're gonna need a bigger boat.
MAYBE it's the sense of smug entitlement. Perhaps it's the look in their eyes, or the fact that I pay a lot of attention to my gut instincts.
But for or some reason I can't look at this picture:
Without thinking of this:
Labels: royal wedding, sharks
YOU know it's been a busy news week when a Royal Wedding gets knocked off the front page.
How Kate and Wills must have cheered when Osama bin Laden was killed - just like about 40 per cent of you, who took exception to this post about the US mishandling not just the raid and its purpose but also its aftermath.
Comrade Nick Cohen said:
"Oh stop whining... 'Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.' George Orwell."
Anthony sarcastically added: "I am weeping over my tea at this great loss to humanity." And Stu responded: "Whereas ... I am weeping over my tea at this great loss of humanity."
Ed: Which neatly sums up the entire debate.
Gareth thought the death of a bad man can only be good:
"I understand this is an Op-Ed piece but I couldn't disagree more. How else do you think this should have been played out? Do you think they won't release the photo because of some incriminating evidence against the stated nature of death or could it be that it would be unwise release such an image to spread around the internet/media and further fan the flames of religious apartheid? Bin Laden is dead, and however it happened I am happy about it. For over ten years he was the (wrongly assumed) poster boy for all Muslim identity in America, and now he's not. And THAT, in my opinion, is a good thing."
Colin had a point when he asked:
"Why didn't the Seals think to chuck him a gun before shooting him. Legally that would have made everything fine, no?"
Peter thought the raid was about US vengeance:
"I have heard the description of the wounds to Osama's face, apparently, part of his forehead and an eye are missing and brain tissue is visible. I am not a ballistics expert, I do not own a gun but that type of wound sounds more like an exit wound than an entry wound. I fear he was shot in the back of the head execution-style. The Americans really should learn the difference between the words 'justice being served' and 'revenge'."
But poor Milesey was left scratching their head:
"I am becoming concerned. I keep agreeing with what you say..."
And Paul added:
"Been meaning to say, your blog on the #obl raid was inspired, great read and totally agree."
Finally, Del was thrilled to note your correspondent had been out on the lash during the week:
"Can't decide which I enjoy more, your boozy singalong jaunts home tweets or your hard-hitting, telling it how it is, blog."
Ed: I have a horrible feeling it's the singing.
Have a good weekend, y'all.
Labels: Abbottabad, Al Qaeda, Fleet Street, fox, Kate Middleton, news, Obama, Osama Bin Ladan, Prince William, royal wedding, scaredy chickens
Five wrongs don't make it right.
WHAT'S wrong with this picture? Is it the way Madonna is turning into Cher? Is it the slashed net curtains and fur gilet she's wearing? Maybe it's the 'oh God, Mum, did you have to?' expression on Lourdes' face?
Or is it the way a tranny is eyeing up a 14-year-old girl's behind while her mum drags her down a red carpet to get attention? Do you know, I can't decide. It's just ALL WRONG.
Wrong holding hands with Wrong wearing Wrong being watched by Wrong in circumstances which are Wrong.
Labels: celebrity, madonna, wrong
The best thing I have ever seen.
FINALLY - the reason why Obama killed the live feed from Abbottabad. They had found something better to look at:
From my twitter friend @Auld_Phart.
Labels: Abbottabad, Fleet Street, fox, Obama, Osama Bin Ladan
"Brilliantly executed."
FOR a Middle East peace envoy, Tony Blair really is an idiot.
As the Americans' version of the raid on Osama Bin Laden slowly unravels, making the leader of the free world look like a thug and his spin doctors a bunch of clumsy-fingered apes, our former PM has weighed in to the growing scandal about what, exactly, happened in Abbottabad.
Bear in mind that first we were told a helicopter was shot down, there was a raging firefight, Bin Laden used his wife as a human shield while spraying Navy SEALS with bullets from an AK-47 and there was a live video feed relayed straight to the White House situation room.
Just three days later we find the helicopter had a technical fault, no guns or explosives were found, Bin Laden was unarmed and special forces switched off the cameras on their helmets for 25 minutes after they entered the house.
And Tony Blair comes out and says, I presume entirely without forethought, the raid was "brilliantly executed".
Face, meet palm.
He added: "The Americans have given their account and I am sure that is accurate."
I hate using acronyms but frankly there is only one suitable response to this statement: ROFL*.
The truth is the Americans have handled this so badly they're actually starting to make Bin Laden look good.
The truth is the President of the United States of America is supposed to uphold democracy, freedom and the rule of law, not send pumped-up goons to shoot people dead without trial.
The truth is it doesn't take 25 minutes to get inside a house at 1am in which no-one has any guns, there are no booby traps or explosives, and shoot a man with kidney disease surrounded by women and children.
The truth is that the only things we know they found in the compound after Bin Laden was shot were, and I quote, "two buffaloes, a cow, and 150 chickens".
The raid has already been rebranded as "an act of national self-defence" by the White House, whose statements are starting to make Colonel Gaddafi sound sane. It added that "resistance does not require a firearm", a line I am sure police forces around the world are making a careful note of.
My grandad used to say the worst thing about the Second World War wasn't the Nazis in front of you, it was the Yanks behind. They've made an absolute hash of not just the raid but the PR upon which their national reputation depends.
Those pictures of a dead Bin Laden will leak - it's inevitable. Probably showing a bullethole in the back of the head, and accompanied by a grinning SEAL doing a thumbs-up and miming a sex act with the corpse, thereby proving those 25 lost minutes were spent re-enacting Abu Ghraib. An enterprising reporter will get a chat with the wife, who saw the whole thing and is sitting in Rawalpindi hospital guarded only by the highly-corruptible Pakistani security services. Conspiracy theories will bloom like algae on a stagnant pond and we'll find out the situation room was actually glued to The Only Way Is Essex all along.
But we will never, ever find out what exactly it is about chickens that is so threatening.
* Roll on the floor laughing, for the benefit of my mum.
Labels: Abbottabad, Abu Ghraib, Gaddafi, Osama Bin Ladan, scaredy chickens, The Only Way Is Essex, Tony Blair
WARNING: Graphic images.
REUTERS tonight filed pictures reportedly from the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, and within an hour the page had either crashed from or was taken down. Luckily I managed to grab them.
So if you click on the link below you will go through to my Twitpic feed where there are pictures we are told were taken in the hours after the raid - the unusual rotor section of the destroyed US helicopter, which has caused a lot of comment, and three very dead men none of whom, I'm afraid, are the world's No1 Wanted Terrorist.
The pictures were apparently sold to Reuters by a Pakistani security official who got into the house - presumably after Bin Laden's body had been taken away by the US Navy SEALS.
If you're of a sensitive disposition don't click on this.
Labels: Osama Bin Ladan, Reuters
Bin Laden's not dead, he's just resting.
SO the Americans found Osama Bin Laden by way of rendition, torture, and satellite spying, and they have celebrated his death with glee.
But if a reporter had tracked him down by posing as a fake sheikh or hacking his voicemails, would there be the same universal acclaim? No. We'd be criticising the methods used, which however morally dubious are hardly on the same scale as Guantanamo Bay.
He also wouldn't be dead, that's for sure. Maybe that psyched-up, pumped-up Navy Seal had no choice except to shoot, but it was not the brightest move. Alive, Bin Laden could have been many things - a rallying point for his followers, a bogeyman for the West, a legal headache (Do you put him on trial in New York? How do you select an unbiased jury? Execution or life imprisonment?) but dead he can only ever become a martyr for the thoughtless followers of his twisted cause.
Alive, mired in a long judicial process and with pictures released Saddam-style of his stay in jail, there was a chance Bin Laden would have been shorn of the charisma of a man on the run.
Instead he will now be a hero to some and the scenes of jubilation which greeted the news of his death carry a whiff of repugnance. People were shot, including an unarmed woman who married him in her teens, to get to Bin Laden. Was it worth it?
Not to say the mastermind of Al Qaeda was anything but a bad man, who deserved to endure the hell of airport security checks for the rest of his life. But it's like killing a cockroach - you stamp on them, and they just shed their eggs to make a million more.
Our leaders secretly hurt and kill, execute foreign heads of state, topple governments and all for oil, influence or some other pointless short-term cause. They spy on us in a million ways, and if you so much as say the word 'Obama' in a mobile phone call the spooks at GCHQ in Cheltenham will snatch your call out of the air and listen to it later. This post will be seen by someone there, simply for the number of keywords which it includes (I'll add 'semtex' just to shake them up). Some of this sneaking about has foiled terror attacks and saved lives, and some just led to people making phone calls to their mates saying "Do you know what happens if you say 'Obama'..."
Is that going to stop now Bin Laden's dead? Will it end when all his followers surrender? When do we get back the liberties we gave up to find and stop this bad man and others like him?
Long-term the only way freedom ever prevails over totalitarianism is that it is better. Force and might win wars but it's democracy, rights, and decency which win the peace. 'We' have to be better than 'Them', whatever the cost. That means we put criminals on trial, not send Navy Seals in to slot them and their teenaged wives. It means we welcome other faiths, not burn their holy books or ban clothing we disapprove of. Tolerance of others is the price we pay in return for being tolerated ourselves.
If you give people freedom, they never let go of it. But if you behave like tyrants, even when your cause is just, then you've lost. You've lost yourself, you've lost the argument, and you've lost the plot.
EDIT: The story of the raid has changed several times since this post was written. First his wife was a human shield, then not; first dead, then just shot in the calf. First Bin Laden was spraying gunfire, and now we hear he was unarmed. A fiver says that by the end of the week we'll find out it wasn't Bin Laden at all, but an innocent Brazilian just trying to catch a train.
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves."
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, letter to H.L. Pierce, Apr. 6, 1859
Labels: Al Qaeda, Guantanamo, Obama, Osama Bin Ladan, phone hacking
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Clover Point Rifle Range - BCA -A-05810.
Daily Colonist, February 28, 1971.
By Archie H. Wills
BOOZE AND BULLETS FLEW IN DAYS OF CLIFF HOUSE.
Clover Point is a delightful spot and would unquestionably have
appealed to a stranger attempting a landing on these uncivilized
shores in 1843. Douglas noted the patches of clover as he and
his party trudged across the Fairfield and Quadra sections on
the way to the site of Fort Victoria on Wharf Street.
He may have even noted many four-leaf clovers which may
have accounted for the fine run of good luck which, added to
his undoubted courage, vision and determination, aided him in
his stupendous task opening up and settling this Golden
Province of Canada.
Before Douglas landed at Clover Point at 4 PM, March 14, 1843, the Hudson’s Bay Company had carried out surveys of this area as far back as 1837. It was apparent to the company that the westward movement of settlers from the middle and eastern United States to Oregon territory would raise questions which could, conceivably, lead to war with Great Britain, and that wisdom suggested an alternative site to Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River, be found.
The Chief Factor of the Company, John Work, used the company’s steamer Beaver to explore the south end of what is now known as Vancouver Island. He had an able assistant in Capt. William McNeill, Master of the Beaver. They poked into the harbours of Sooke, Victoria and Esquimalt and reported that “Victoria has a fine harbour, accessible at all seasons, but not suitable for our purposes.”
Sir George Simpson, the Governor, decided to have a look for himself and, accompanied by Douglas, completed a six-week tour in 1841. The following year Simpson dispatched Douglas on another survey trip, and he reported that “the port of Camosack, including Victoria Harbour and the Gorge, is not faultless, but I despair of finding anything better.”
Simpson then handed to Douglas the important assignment of setting up the new base here and, with a party of fifteen men, he made his historic landing at Clover Point.
Douglas was Victoria’s first planner and, despite the fact that he didn’t have a university education, a prime requisite for such a job today, he acquitted himself very well. His pronounced initiative and resourcefulness, and a willingness to take the great risks, resulted in surprising achievements. Not only did he pioneer unusual developments for that period, but his desire to provide open spaces for future generations was almost a century ahead of his time.
For instance, in 1858, the year of the Fraser River gold rush, he reserved Beacon Hill Park for park purposes and prevented grasping hands from using it for farming. This reserve included not only what we now regard as the park bounded by Cook and Douglas streets and the waterfront and Haywood Avenue, but also the 10 acres extending along the waterfront from Cook to Clover Point. This section was leased from the Crown by the city of Victoria in 1947 for ninety-nine years and converted from an ugly mess into the fine open land which pedestrians now enjoy.
One of the four famous road houses in Victoria, the Cliff House, was constructed on a site overlooking Clover Point in 1857. These road houses for the benefit of the “boys,” who, even in those days, like to have a boisterous evening on their own.
The other road houses were The Colonist, at the corner of Douglas and Simcoe Streets where the Emily Carr Apartment now stands, the Halfway House on Esquimalt Road and the Willows Hotel, at the corner of Eastdown and Cadboro Bay Road. They were interesting places and featured mainly beer, with hard liquor, if desired. They were situated at strategic points.
In the early days the Caledonia Grounds were located on the level land on the western side of Beacon Hill Park, where today baseball and football are played and large displays like the presentation of the King’s colours to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1939 took place.
The Caledonia Grounds were fenced and admission charged, which would shock present-day defenders of no intrusion within the sacred precincts of Beacon Hill Park. Many hectic lacrosse games were played here between Vancouver, Victoria and New Westminster teams. These were games in which the blood flowed freely and the free for all’s outclassed anything we see today in the hockey feuds.
At halftime, or intervals between bicycle races and other sports events, the Colonist saloon was swamped by fans who wanted to cool their ardor and thirst with real schooners of beer, which aided not only cooling them but also stimulating their wrath for the remainder of the events.
The Willows roadhouse adjoined the Willows Exhibition and half mile race track and was well patronized by the droves of people who took in these events, as well as satisfying the wants of those who worked in the dairy farms in Oak Bay and the Willows.
The Half-Way House was a natural and did a roaring trade with the sailors, especially before the Royal Navy departed from here in 1905. When the Navy built the road from Esquimalt to Victoria, and prior to the construction in 1894 of the BC Electric’s tram line between these points, the blue jackets walked the distance, no hitchhiking then. It was a four-mile walk and although there were plenty of saloons in Victoria and several on Pioneer Street in Esquimalt, there were many thirsty throats by the time the walkers had completed half the distance and the Half-Way House became a necessity.The Cliff House had a character of its own. Sometimes it was good, sometimes bad and sometimes it was just so-so. It stood on the outskirts of the farms in Fairfield and between what is now Dallas Road, between May and Howe Streets. It had a variety of owners and on them depended the moral status of Cliff House, the name derived from the cliff leading to the long, shaley beach.
Cliff House had hitching posts and stables and there were always horses and vehicles parked outside while the owners were yarning and drinking inside. It was two stories in height and often questions were raised as to what went on in the rooms upstairs, because Victoria was a rough-and-tumble place in the early days and sailors, sealers, smugglers, white slavers, drug peddlers, breweries, opium manufacturers, (quite legal) and Indians provided plenty of high-jinks, which would be frowned upon today.
Cliff House took on added importance in 1900 when the Victoria Rifle Association launched a campaign to adapt Clover Point, from Cook Street eastward, to a rifle range.
This brought stern opposition from many quarters.
“It would look very much out of place in a park, the opponents cried.
At this time Canada was getting its first taste of what it meant to be a member of the British Empire. A contingent of volunteers from Victoria, the first to participate in a foreign war, was then in South Africa fighting the Boers and the supporters of the new range said: “we must be prepared for future trouble. We must teach our youth to shoot straight.”
This argument carried much weight because at that time the rifle was the main weapon, machine guns being quite primitive. So the warriors won.
On October 16, 1900, work started on the new range. The 10 acres required, were fenced off and butts constructed, starting at 300 yards and stretching out to 1000 yards, which was almost to Cook Street. Extensive earthworks were built for the target areas, the highest and largest pile of dirt acting as a receptacle for spent bullets. Not all bullets ended up in the bank, straight ones carrying on, well over the water, which caused boatmen to give the place a wide berth.
Cliff House took on a new lease of life when the range was opened and Dallas Road was continued from Cook Street east to Ross Bay Cemetery. After a shoot the rifleman gathered in the roadhouse and drank and gossiped, which cause them to vent their feelings on the trickiness of shooting, especially from the 1000 yard butts, as the bullets had to wing their way to targets over the water and through heavy updrafts.
“They might have found a better spot, none bothered by prevailing winds,” they exclaimed.
It was not a satisfactory site for real target shooting but it was a challenge for men trained for war. They had to use their initiative in allowing for the wind, the mirages, which settled over the targets, and the angle of sight.
By 1907 the Victoria Rifle Association was on the warpath again, complaining about the advantages which the Vancouver Rifle Association held when it came to staging competitions. Vancouver had sixteen targets, whereas Victoria had half the number, eight. Vancouver also complained about the weather conditions at Clover Point, because their scores suffered horribly and they always lost to Victoria.
Nothing was done to satisfy these complaints because the rendezvous for the critics was destroyed by fire. At 1:30 AM, on November 24, 1905, fire was observed at the rear of the Cliff House. The horse drawn fire Department responded, but there was no water supply for the engines and the aging building was destroyed. The firemen and their helpers managed to save the stables and outhouses, but later these were destroyed.
My first association with Clover point was as a bugler in the Victoria High School Cadets Corps. We held our shooting practice each Saturday morning, usually from the 300 yard butts. We walked or rode our bikes out Cook Street, which was a rotted, muddy roadway with a large pear tree in the centre of it. This tree was quite an attraction when the fruit was right, and vehicles moved on either side of it.
The custom was to fire our regulation number of rounds, then proceed to the target area and act as markers for the other shooters. It was a strange place and meant keeping your head down and becoming used to the whine of the bullets as they passed overhead. This came in useful when most of us went overseas in the First World War.
The targets were four-feet square and affixed to iron frames which moved up and down. We watched for a hole to appear on the target and hauled it down to place on a sticker and, to signal to the butts its position, using a four sided block on the end of a long pole, with one side painted black to indicate a bull’s-eye, and red for an inner, black and white for a magpie, and white for an outer.
Just before joining the Army in 1915 for overseas service I had been intrigued with the beauty of the streets and the Olympic Mountains and, as I was then a newspaperman and hoped to become a writer, I thought it would be nice to live on Dallas Road. The real estate boom had collapsed and there were some good property buys. I found that Cliff Denham, long-time manager of the Royal Victoria Theatre, was offering a lot he owned on Dallas Road and for which he had paid $3500, for sale at $1500. I bought it and soon after was in uniform.
On my return from the war, and with marriage uppermost in my mind, I looked over my lot, which was between Howe and Moss Street and discovered that upon it had stood the historic roadhouse, Cliff House. I decided to build upon the site and the house still stands and was sold for $18,500 last year. I had sold it in 1929 for $4500, when the house was too small for our growing family.
As part of the contract for building the house I had undertaken, in order to keep the cost down, to excavate the basement, fence the place, clear the grounds and put in the cement walks and basement floor. This proved rather rugged work as it all had to be done with pick and shovel.
The ground on which the Cliff House stood was easy to handle but when I tackled the site of the stables it was a different story. The switchgrass and other growth had covered the floor of the stables which I found consisted of large smooth rocks. Once removed they came in handy for a wall. There were countless bundles of bailing wire, which had come from the bales hay, and pieces of a harness.
I unearthed a large bundle and imagined it might contain a mummy or a skeleton, but, after much effort I found it to be but a six-foot bundle of linoleum. I did open up a series of tunnels, but did not penetrate too far due to the weakness of the supporting timbers. I have often wondered what these tunnels were for and where they might have led to.
During the time troops were stationed at the Willows during the 1914–18 war, including the 11th C.M.R’s, the 88th Battalion, 67th Battalion, the 103rd Battalion and, later, the Siberian Expedition of 1918, trenches were dug throughout the rifle range. To the consternation of many residents live bullets were used to teach the boys the first principle of warfare: “Keep your head down.”
Lieut. Col. Lorne Ross had considerable experience on the Western Front in the early days of the war and was sent here to organize the 67th Battalion, better known as the Western Scots. Ross introduced live ammunition in his training program, which horrified the sensitive souls here.
By 1923, Fairfield was becoming more settled and, the racket caused by the rapid fire on the Clover Point Range, proved annoying to residents who had lost sons in the war and, also, to veterans like myself, who had been through so much gunfire that they wanted a respite from it.
We started agitating against the practice, especially when the permanent forces, stationed at Work Point did all their firing there and of the danger to which children were exposed. The defense department had by this time equipped the fine new range at Heal’s in Saanich and we felt the troops should go there.
This didn’t meet with the approval of the Brigader in charge at Work Point. He said they didn’t have enough lorries to transport the men to Heal’s, which brought a testy reply from us, in effect: “Let them march there.”
This type of argument went on until Ottawa finally closed Clover Point range, demolished the fences and the red building at the foot of Linden Avenue, which was the caretaker’s residence.
This made it possible for residents to get to the beach at Clover Point and cut up the great piles of driftwood which had accumulated. It was the time when millwood was the main fuel in Victoria and some people cut all their requirements on the beach. Introduction of automatic furnaces ended that form of physical effort.
When the city of Victoria took over the rifle range in 1947 on a 99-year lease upon payment of $77 to compensate for the dollar-a-year payment, the trenches were filled in, the barbed wire and sagging fences removed, the masses of broom bushes were ripped out and the whole area levelled off and equipped with foot paths.
Today, it is an exhilarating walk, where you can listen to the surge of the sea, watch the boats, the bobbing kelp and the birds.
One of the most interesting sights I can recall at Clover Point occurred years ago, soon after the Hindus arrived. They brought with them the custom of publicly cremating their kin who died. This required considerable wood. On occasion bodies were cremated on the beach where ample wood was available, but sometimes the ceremony was carried out on the range itself.
After the six-foot lengths of wood were criss-crossed to form the funeral pyre, the body, wrapped in white sheets and a white turban on the head, was placed gently on the wood. Flowers were placed close to the body and the last rites were conducted according to the Sikh faith, outlined by Guru Nanak and promulgated in British Colombia by the Khalsa Diwan Society, which has temples in Victoria, Vancouver and other settlements where the Hindus live.
Friends of the departed watched as the wood was saturated with kerosene and the match struck, creating an intense fire which consumed the body and the wood.
When the targets were dismantled by the city, Parks Department faced the task of removing the huge earth banks behind them. It proved to be a lead mine. Large sieves were set up and the earth sifted through them and hundreds of thousands of bullets were recovered and sold.
Clover Point itself was restored to its former status as war property when the Second War broke out in 1939 and became an important cog in approaches to Victoria and Puget Sound after the defensive system which blocked the Japanese made their move on Pearl Harbor and entered the conflict.
A huge searchlight was mounted on what is now the road which circles the point and each night is penetrating and blinding beam scanned the waters out to Race Rocks. Any craft picked up by the beam had to be identified by the patrol vessels. Crews, which manned the searchlight, were housed in barracks nearby. These were later used to house families on relief.
The entire waterfront was blacked out. There were no streetlights and all windows were covered with plywood and black drapes. The air raid wardens patrolled the streets and, if they found a chink of light, they ordered the householder to subdue it.
After a freighter had been torpedoed just off of Race Rocks and a Japanese submarine shelled the Estevan lighthouse on the West Coast of our Island, everyone became super-cautious in obeying air raid orders, even to driving cars without lights, except for a quarter-inch slit on each headlight.
Today, the open spaces at Clover Point are used mainly for kite flying, frolicking and walking. The well-placed benches on the cliff are of great benefit to the older folk who love to sit there and discuss their pensions, their ailments and the “good old days” of their youth.
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The News Desk
Mike Rowe FB Post
By Bryce B., November 3, 2015 in The News Desk
Bryce B.
Member - 1Ker
Guys Forum Access (Ages 16+)
Mike Rowe posted this about someone getting offended by the term "hard worker"
What's on YOUR Wall?
'Hello Mr. Rowe! What's your take on MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry being offended by the phrase "hard worker"? How can such a label possibly be offensive to anyone?”
Lenny Kostecki
My take Lenny, for what it's worth, is that there is no longer a limit to what people can be offended by.
Melissa Harris-Perry appears to be put off by the suggestion that “hard work” is too often linked with success. She doesn’t like the fact that many hard-working individuals have not enjoyed the same measure of success as Speaker Ryan, who was being acknowledged on her show for his excellent work ethic. Here is her response, in her own words...
HARRIS-PERRY:HARRIS-PERRY: “I want us to be super careful when we use the language “hard worker.” I actually keep an image of folks working in cotton fields on my office wall, because it is a reminder about what hard work really looks like. But in the context of relative privilege, when you talk about work-life balance, the moms who don’t have health care aren’t called hard workers. We call them failures. We call them people who are sucking off the system.”
To me, it sounds as though Melissa is displaying images of slavery or drudgery in her office to remind herself of what hard work really and truly looks like. That’s a bit like hanging images of rape and bondage to better illustrate the true nature of human sexuality. Whatever her logic might be, it’s difficult to respond without first pointing out a few things that most people will find screamingly obvious. So let’s do that.
First of all, slavery is not “hard work;” it’s forced labor. There’s a big difference. Likewise, slaves are not workers; they are by definition, property. They have no freedom, no hope, and no rights. Yes, they work hard, obviously. But there can be no “work ethic” among slaves, because the slave has no choice in the matter.
Workers on the other hand, have free will. They are free to work as hard as they wish. Or not. The choice is theirs. And their decision to work hard, or not, is not a function of compliance or coercion; it’s a reflection of character and ambition.
This business of conflating hard work with forced labor not only minimizes the importance of a decent work ethic, it diminishes the unspeakable horror of slavery. Unfortunately, people do this all the time. We routinely describe bosses as “slave-drivers,” and paychecks as “slave’s wages.” Melissa though, has come at it from the other side. She’s suggesting that because certain “hard workers” are not as prosperous as other “hard workers,” - like the people on her office wall - we should all be “super-careful” about overly-praising hard work.
I suspect this is because Melissa believes - as do many others - that success today is mostly a function of what she calls, “relative privilege.” This is fancy talk for the simple fact that life is unfair, and some people are born with more advantages than others. It's also a fine way to prepare the unsuspecting viewer for the extraordinary suggestion that slavery is proof-positive that hard work doesn’t pay off.
Obviously, I don’t see the world the same way as Melissa, but we do have something in common. Like her, I keep a picture on my office wall.
That’s me, squatting next to the most disappointing toilet I’ve ever encountered, preparing to clean it out with a garden trowel. I keep it there to remind me of what happens when you need a plumber but can’t find one.
It's also a nice reminder that a good plumber these days has a hell of a lot more job security than the average news anchor. (With respect.)
Go To Topic Listing The News Desk
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An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural
Introduction | "R" Reading | Curse of the Pharaoh | End-of-the-World Prophecies
Index | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z
Geller, Uri (1946- ) Undoubtedly the “psychic superstar” of the century, whose name has become known in every language in every country. He has asserted that his powers are absolutely real, that he has never used cheating to achieve his results, and that in any case he is incapable of using sleight of hand to do conjuring effects.
Mr. Geller's major claim to fame is his ability to bend spoons using, according to him, only the power of his mind. He has also demonstrated, countless times, that he is able to ascertain the contents of sealed envelopes and to “see” while blindfolded. These are also part of the repertoires of many mentalists, and though Geller denies he uses their methods, it is interesting to know that he has attended conventions of magicians.
Reaching back as far as the sixteenth century, the handsome young Israeli, a former fashion model, borrowed and improved upon such basic demonstrations as Blindfold Driving and the Obedient Compass (see compass trick), though he claims that his performances are genuine, not using any trickery. Along with these numbers was a relatively current novelty in which a scrap of metal foil held by a spectator becomes too hot to hold, seemingly through the mental powers of the performer. Again, Mr. Geller says that his version of this demonstration is not a trick. (For the conjurors' method, see hot foil trick.)
In Israel, where the public was not quite as susceptible as in America, Geller was accused by a complaintant of doing tricks when he had promised to do genuine psychic feats. The Israeli court assessed him costs, and the price of the plaintiff's ticket was refunded to him.
But it was the newest marvel that he later performed——seeming to bend and break metal objects by mind power——that made all the news. That, it seemed, was original with him, unlike the other rather standard routines. However, in 1968 a conjuring magazine available in Israel published the instructions for a spoon trick that was indistinguishable from the Geller demonstration.
Insisting that his demonstrations were the real thing, in 1974 Uri Geller traveled the world with his story of having been given his powers through a distant planet called Hoova in another star system, and a UFO called “IS” or “Intelligence in the Sky.” The unsteadier portion of the public ate up all this stuff, which sounded very much like bad science fiction, flocking to his performances and making him unquestionably the most charismatic and successful mentalist in history.
The magicians, with very few exceptions, were quick to offer solutions to Mr. Geller's numbers. In 1985, Australian conjuror Ben Harris published a definitive book on metal-bending methods, and in Norway, magician/author Jan Crosby amplified that to include a method of doing the “watch trick” (in which a watch advances time by apparently supernatural means) and an analysis of the bent spoons records. In Sweden, Trollare och Andra Underhållare (“Magicians and Other Entertainers”), a book on the history of magic by author Christer Nilsson, expressed no doubts about the nature of Geller's performances. Writing on the requisites for an effective approach to conjuring, Nilsson said:
Certainly the first and last point to be made is that the quality of a performance is what decides whether it is good or bad. No one nowadays takes a magic trick as a fact; no one believes in black magic. Even though some commercial texts state the opposite, we know that Uri Geller is just another illusionist, nothing more.
But there was more to Uri Geller than just his unquestioned skill; he had the charm and charisma to convert admirers into worshipers. The portion of the public who believed him to be a real wizard were so fervent in their belief that they would defend their convictions even when confronted with incontrovertible evidence that he used conjuring methods. Scientist and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, who was at one time said by Geller supporters to have been convinced by his demonstrations, said of that aspect:
One thing, however, remains to be explained——the Geller effect. By this I mean the ability of one able though perhaps not outstanding magician (though only his peers can judge that) to make such an extraordinary impact on the world, and to convince thousands of otherwise level-headed people that he is genuine, or at any rate, worthy of serious consideration.
Dr. Clarke's observation is well drawn. Even the U.S. scientists who first encountered Mr. Geller were aware of his conjuring tendencies. Parapsychologists Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ, who studied Mr. Geller at the Stanford Research Institute (now known as Stanford Research International) were aware, in one instance at least, that they were being shown a magician's trick by Geller. They described it in their book Mind Reach, where they said that they
had every confidence that Uri could do that trick [the blindfold drive] as well as any of the dozens of other magicians who do it.
Targ and Puthoff issued a lengthy and quite positive scientific paper extolling the psychic abilities of Geller. Their protocols for this “serious” investigation of the powers claimed by Geller were described by Dr. Ray Hyman, who investigated the project on behalf of a U.S. funding agency, as “sloppy and inadequate.” In response to this criticism, Dr. Targ retorted, “Bullshit!” This is a technical term often encountered in parapsychology.
Geller has claimed that he is paid large sums of money ($1 million, nonrefundable, just to try) by mining companies to use his dowsing abilities for finding gold and oil, sometimes just waving his hands over a map to do so. He celebrates his claim that he has become a multimillionaire just from finding oil this way, though he declines to identify his clients. “It's nice to have money, because you don't have to worry about paying bills and mortgages,” he says.
Some of the other claims made by and for Mr. Geller are even more difficult to accept. In 1989, he says, he contacted the USSR Central Administration of Space Technology Development and Use for National Economics and Science and offered to repair, by his psychic powers, their ailing Phobos satellites. The project never took place. He also said he was contacted by NASA in the United States and asked to help unstick an antenna on the Galileo space probe by means of his powers; NASA's public relations office denied knowing anything about him. He offered to recover from the Moon, by psychokinesis, a camera left there by NASA astronauts; the camera is still there. In articles and books written about Mr. Geller, it has been said that he has created gold from base metals by alchemy, has discovered the location of the lost Ark of the Covenant, and has many times materialized and dematerialized objects.
A decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals on December 9, 1994, in a libel suit brought by Geller against James Randi and the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, said that “[James] Randi has set about attempting to expose various Geller feats as the fraudulent tricks of a confidence man.” The lawsuit was subsequently dismissed.
Uri Geller may have psychic powers by means of which he can bend spoons; if so, he appears to be doing it the hard way.
Click here to order a copy of the original hardcover edition of this Encyclopedia.
Copyright (C) 1995-2007 James Randi.
Created and maintained with the dictionary compilation software TshwaneLex.
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"Ambiguity is more convincing than certainty" -- me
What the critics are saying about "THE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS MAN"
"A book that smartly refuses to simplify anything. The mystery of UFOs persists, as does the mystery of J. Allen Hynek. Yet thanks to Mark O’Connell, the latter is now a bit less mysterious.” (The Los Angeles Review)
Little Green Men -- Part V
Kelly-Hopkinsville becomes a "cold case"; then an unexpected letter gets Dr. Hynek involved in the investigation...
It took nearly a year for Dr. Hynek to become involved in the Kelly-Hopkinsville incident, and when he did it came about in a manner that seemed both entirely random and yet entirely predestined.
By the time of the events on the Sutton farm, Project Blue Book had settled into an efficiently low-key operative mode, humming along beneath most everyone’s radar. In part this was because, in 1953, the program had received what Captain Ruppelt described as “a badly needed shot in the arm”[1] with the formation of a new Air Force unit, the 4602nd Air Intelligence Services Squadron (AISS). While this was far from its only function, AISS was in a perfect position to be the eyes and ears of Blue Book: With units stationed at bases throughout the country, AISS could send out agents to conduct timely investigations of UFO sighting reports, screen out the unreliable cases and then send the “important” cases on to Blue Book for further investigation.
On paper, it was a brilliant approach: it ensured that more UFO reports could be investigated while the trail was still fresh, it gave the AISS agents unique opportunities to hone their investigative skills, and it enabled Blue Book to concentrate on cases of scientific significance. In practice, however, it meant that decisions about which cases to investigate were being made by officers completely unfamiliar with the UFO phenomenon, and it meant that “Blue Book slowly became more and more irrelevant”[2] as fewer cases came its way.
It was the perfect set-up for Air Force Intelligence to intercept the very best UFO cases before they ever reached Project Blue Book.
By March, 1954, Lt. Olsson was gone and Captain Ruppelt, finally retired from the Air Force, was working on a book about his experiences as project chief of Project Blue Book. Captain Charles A. Hardin, the new project chief, was particularly adroit at maintaining a low profile, and he impressed no one with his approach to Project Blue Book. Ruppelt’s impression was that Hardin was anti-UFO, stating that “They bore him.”[3] Hynek’s take on Hardin was similarly dismissive: “(he) had ambitions to be a stockbroker.”
Hynek grew comfortable with the slower pace, however, and enjoyed his regular visits to the Blue Book offices. “I knew all of these men quite well, lunching with them regularly on my visits to Dayton, sometimes at the Officers’ Club and sometimes at nearby restaurants,” he recalled. “Occasionally, when one of the junior officers or a secretary had a birthday, I joined in celebrating it with a longer lunch than usual. But I knew my place; I was a consultant, not a director or policy setter.”[4]
Hynek was in no hurry. “I bided my time,” he said of this interlude. “Meanwhile, my attitude continued to change.”
“As time went on and reports accumulated, so that my data base was far more extensive than it had been in the Project Sign days, I came to realize that inherent in the better UFO reports there was much more than ‘fooled the eye or deluded the fool.’ There was a phenomenon consisting of new empirical observations that demanded far more attention that Blue Book was giving it.”[5]
During this period of relative inactivity, and still several months before the Kelly-Hopkinsville events, the Doctor received a letter from an admiring fan. “My dear Dr. Hynek,” the April 17, 1955 letter began, “I have recently had the good fortune to find your article, ‘Unusual Aerial Phenomena’... It is such an unusual discussion of the subject of ‘flying saucers’ that I am prompted to write you about it.”
The admirer, an amateur UFO investigator from New York City named Isabel L. Davis, got right to the point: “Ever since 1947 I have been seriously disturbed by the attitude that seems to prevail among scientists generally, the superficial character of their investigation and criticism, and the tone of patronizing mockery with which they tend to dismiss the reports. Your statement, ‘Ridicule is not a part of the scientific method and the public should not be taught that it is,’ expresses my feelings exactly.”[6]
Davis had since 1950 been cataloguing UFO reports on her own, and she wanted to know the exact dates and locations of ten of the cases Hynek had discussed in his paper. Hynek, as the notes written in the margins of the letter reveal, handily knew the details of each case; they had all occurred in the timeframe of 1951-1952, in locations from Jacksonville, Florida to Albuquerque, New Mexico. That Hynek was willing to share even a modicum of information from Blue Book files with an amateur investigator suggests a growing comfort level with the idea of operating ever so slightly outside the purview of the Air Force.
Clearly, Hynek was impressed by Davis, whom he later described as, “one of the most sincere and dedicated UFO investigators I have met.”[7] She had immediately earned his trust, and their cordial professional relationship would, in time, become crucial to the investigation of the Kelly-Hopkinsville incident.
Before the pieces could be assembled, however, another connection needed to be made, and it would have to wait for several more months, when Hynek took on a scientific project of national significance.
In January, 1956, Hynek took a leave from his duties at The Ohio State University to accept a position with the Smithsonian Institution Observatory at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The new position (which we will examine in detail in the next chapter) represented a giant leap in visibility and prestige, and left Hynek, in his own words, “with very little time for UFO investigations.”[8] Ironic, then, that in the course of performing his new duties, Hynek had the occasion to hire a talented electrical engineer from Hopkinsville, Kentucky named Andrew B. “Bud” Ledwith III.
“Purely fortuitous,”[9] was how Hynek described the events that followed. Recognizing their mutual interest in the Kelly-Hopkinsville incident, Ledwith shared his interview transcriptions and composite sketches with Hynek, and by the following summer, Ledwith had consented to share them with Isabel Davis as well.
Hynek’s fascination with the case is evidenced by the amount of space he devoted to its discussion in his books “The UFO Experience” (1972) and “The Hynek UFO Report” (1977). Even though Hynek described the case as one that “no sober scientist would care to be caught within ten feet of,”[10] few cases garnered as much attention from the him in one of his books, let alone two, and it is worth looking at both passages in detail:
“The Kelly-Hopkinsville case, if considered entirely apart from the total pattern of UFO sightings, seems clearly preposterous, even to offend common sense,” Hynek wrote in “The UFO Experience.” “The latter, however, has not proved a sure guide in the past history of science. Blue Book records on this event are sketchy, and little or no investigation was conducted. Still, the case is carried in the Blue Book files as ‘Unidentified.’ That much it certainly is.”
“I would not have given the Kelly-Hopkinsville case this much attention were it not for the fact that I know the principle investigators, Ledwith and Davis, well,” he went on, “particularly Ledwith, since he was in my direct employ for nearly two years on the satellite tracking program.
“There is an even greater reason: the ‘humanoids’ are themselves a prototype that has occurred again and again throughout the years, going back, as (Dr. Jaques) Vallée so convincingly points out in ‘Passport to Magonia,’ to the myths and legends of many cultures. It is highly improbable that the Suttons, ‘who did not have telephone, radio, television, books, or much furniture,’ were aware of UFO lore and could have known that many times in the past creatures like those they had delineated had been described. The resemblance to the ‘little people’ described by many cultures is striking.
“We are not, of course, justified in concluding that the Kelly creatures stemmed from the imagination alone or, conversely, that the source of ancient legends lies in the actual appearances of such creatures in the past or that real humanoids were seen. As in other aspects of the entire UFO phenomenon, the call is clearly for more study.
“The Suttons themselves were convinced that they had had a real experience, a pattern of reaction I have found consistently. Let the report of Isabel Davis underscore this:
“‘Finally, the Suttons stuck to their story. Stubbornly, angrily, they insisted they were telling the truth. Neither adults nor children so much as hinted at the possibility of a lie or mistake – in public or to relatives; there was no trace of retraction.’
“Davis further remarks on the absence of ‘protective rationalization’ used by UFO sighters, who, though personally convinced, wish to remain in the good graces of their fellows by saying something such as, ‘Of course, it must have been an airplane… I could have been mistaken’ – accompanying their disclaimers by an embarrassed laugh or giggle. As she states:
“‘The Suttons seem never to have been tempted to recant and get back in the good graces of society…Their costly refusal to give an inch to skepticism may not prove anything about the truth of their story, but it does tell us something about them.’”[11]
[1] The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, by Edward J. Ruppelt, Captain, USAF, 1956, Doubleday
[2] UFOS & Government, by Michael Swords, Robert Powell, et al, 2012, Anomalist Books
[3] The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial, by Jerome Clark, 1997, Visible Ink Press
[4] The Hynek UFO Report, by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, 1977, Dell
[6] Letter to Dr. J. Allen Hynek from Isabel L. Davis, dated April 17, 1955, from the CUFOS collection
[7] The UFO Experience, by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, 1972, Henry Regnery Company
[10] “UFOs 1960” speech by J. A. Hynek to Hypervelocity Impact Conference Banquet, on April 27, 1960, at Elgin Air Force Base
Posted by Mark UFO'Connell at 6:05 PM
Labels: alien, alien invasion, chimpanzee, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, flying saucer, goblin, invasion, Kelly-Hopkinsville, little green men, Project Blue Book, The UFO Experience, UFO
B. Dixon said...
Dr. Hykes is a very great and talented author for some reasons. His books that mostly refuse to simplify anything contain constructive content all thorugh.
The Close Encounters Man
You've seen the movie; now read the book!
My Little E.T.
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The Men in Black are really bad at their jobs
I've been a bit out of the UFO loop lately, for a variety of reasons, but I'm back to talk about a very important issue in UFOlogy ...
It's All About the Links
What a great day I had today. I was meeting my friend, Best Man and blogging mentor Axxx for lunch, but when I got to the restaurant I bumpe...
The Danger of Wanting "Tic Tac" UFOS to Be Real
The danger of wanting to UFOs to be real is on display everywhere, it seems. Wherever you look, people are believing all sorts of ridiculou...
High Strangeness Throughout the Ages
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Damn You, Carl Sagan! -- Part II
Damn you, Carl Sagan!
Total Eclipse of the UFO
Crying UFO Tears
UFO Outrage!
UFOs and Steven Spielberg
Little Green Men -- Part VII
Little Green Men -- Part VI
Bravo, UFO!
Little Green Men -- Part IV
Little Green Men -- Part III B
Little Green Men -- Part III
UFO Podcast-Palooza-a-Go-Go
Little Green Men -- Part II
Little Green Men -- Part I
Sincerity Is Not Synonymous with Accuracy
My Star Trek Scrapbook
Bob Larkin Star Trek Art
The Other Side of Truth
Synchronicity, Irish Style
The Big Study
SLOW SWAN SONG, Part Four
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Orthodox England
events 'blog
Category Archives: England
When we realize that we may not have much longer to live, it is time to set down for posterity the conclusions that we have reached from our experience of life about the Church, from which all else flows.
For us the Church means the Orthodox Church: there is no other. Outside the Church there are only breakaway fragments with their historic remains, either greater or lesser vestiges of the Church. Similarly, Christianity means Orthodox Christianity or, for short, Orthodoxy – it is the same thing. Outside Christianity there can only be vestiges of Christianity.
Ever since the fall of the Second Rome (New Rome or Constantinople) in 1453, Russia has been the Third Rome. Some little-believing Russians have interpreted this in a crude, nationalistic way. Such should keep their primitivism to themselves, with their wild ideas that the centralizing Ivan IV or even the odious atheist and executioner of millions, Stalin, might be saints. It is notable that such nationalism is always centralizing, as we saw in the case of the disastrous centralism of the Soviet Union, which was so detested by all its victims. There is no place for such nationalism in the Church, which confesses the unity in diversity of Trinitarian theology and culture.
Since the Apostasy of the Third and Last Rome in 1917, the world has been living on borrowed time, for a Fourth Rome there shall not be. This extra time has been loaned to us so that many new saints, mainly martyrs, could appear, that is, this extra time has been and is still for the sake of repentance. Only when there is no more repentance will there be no more saints, and only then will the world end. Moreover, through the Mercy of God, Who allowed the sacrifice of these saints, it is possible that the Third Rome may yet be restored.
As the Third Rome has not been restored as yet, this must be because the people have only half-repented. Thus, the revolting remains of the atheist monster Lenin lie in Moscow and his name and statues still pollute the whole of the Russian Federation. The areas around Saint Petersburg and Ekaterinburg are still called Leningrad and Sverdlovsk, named after those mass-murderers, just as very many other places and streets are named after other mass-murderers. And all this meets with acceptance by the masses of unrepentant.
Elder Nikolai (Guryanov) said: Russia will not be raised up until people realize who our Tsar Nicholas was’. Indeed, many of those who died for the Royal Martyrs have not yet been canonized and are still despised and denounced, including by so-called ‘theologians’. As mere rationalists, intellectually full but spiritually empty, they do not have the mystical sense of history which is vital to understand spiritual reality. And much else in the restoration of Christianity in Russia is, like such ‘theologians’, still very superficial and nominal. There is much gold in a few places with much corruption, superstition and careerism, and there is still very far to go elsewhere.
The Patriarchate of Constantinople
In 1917 the Tsar was betrayed by the Russian elite in 1917, which event the world calls in its way ‘the Russian Revolution’, though it was in fact nothing of the sort but rather a descent into hell on earth. After this, it was almost inevitable that the leadership of the tiny Patriarchate of Constantinople – and others allied to its worldly spirit – would take, as they saw it, advantage of the situation, so falling into temptation.
Thus, the temptation of its Greek nationalism, which had already led to the initial downfall of the Second Rome in 1453, meant that after the fall of Orthodox Russia the Second Rome would make an uncanonical bid to dominate the whole Church. This would mean once more compromising itself in syncretism, putting its racial pride above Christ, like the Jews of old.
This is what that Patriarchate had already done at the so-called Council of Florence almost 500 years before 1917, just as the Papacy of Rome had already done in the eleventh century. So New Rome tragically engineered its final downfall, just like Old Rome before it. Although the nationalism with which Constantinople is infected is only anti-Christian worldliness, that Patriarchate has fallen to this spiritual disease.
This disease broke out again nearly 100 years ago under the British-appointed Patriarch Meletios (at a cost of £100,000 in the money of that time) and, from 1948 on, under the US-appointed Patriarch Athenagoras and his successors, like the present one (at a cost today, it is said, of $25,000,000). We now see a Patriarchate of Constantinople (and its branch in the Ukraine) which advocates homosexuality – no surprise given that many of its representatives are more or less openly so and are friends with similar – and worse – circles in the Vatican. But we still hope for repentance.
The Western World and Europe
Creating itself 1,000 years ago on the ruins of Roman Imperialist paganism and Germanic barbarism, the Western world was from the start inherently built on racial pride. It claimed, through what it called its ‘theology’, in fact its self-justifying ideology, that God through the Holy Spirit had given it absolute authority over the whole world. Its leader, variously called pope, emperor, king and, today, president, had replaced God. God, apparently, has always whispered in their ears and told them what to do, ensuring that Western leaders have always been right, infallible.
In order to prove this spiritual delusion, ‘the West’ became the ruthless enemy of ‘the Rest’, and so the destroyer of all other world civilizations through organized violence with astonishing military technology, born of its aggressive and arrogant self-belief. It has always attempted to undermine the elites of other civilizations through its ideology and so sabotage the religious foundations of other civilizations (all civilizations are founded on religious belief) by secularizing them and so overthrowing them. This we can see very clearly in the history of Russia and, again today, in the classic case of the Westernization of the once glorious and famous, but now inglorious and shameless, Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Western ideology replaced God with man, for it is Anti-Trinitarian and therefore Anti-God, Anti-Patriotic and Anti-Family. It replaced God the Father with the idol of Money (Mammon), which is why the linchpin of its ideology is called ‘Capital-ism’. It replaced the Incarnation of the Son into social life with the ideology of Power and so created artificial Unions of countries where Power could be concentrated among the oligarchic few of the elite or ‘establishment’. And it replaced the Sanctification by the Holy Spirit of personal life with Sin, disguised with words like humanism, individualism, freedom and democracy. Thus, its idolization of the Anti-Trinity of Money, Power and Sin, which sum up its ideology. And it is precisely these idolatrous values, which began in Europe which will lead to the end of the world.
Europe is a purely artificial construct – it does not exist. In reality, Europe, meaning ‘the West’ is only the north-westernmost tip of the single Continent of Eurasia, meaning ‘the West-East’. Its Asian part is the foundation of all World Religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Today’s European Union is thus an isolationist myth, a power-grab of its elite, and it will not survive. Having now abandoned both its Roman Catholic and its Protestant forms of Secularism, its remaining atheist form of Secularism is bringing it to suicide. Europe can now only survive if it becomes part of a Northern Eurasian Confederation, that is, if it repents for its thousand-year long apostasy and returns to being part of Orthodox Christian Civilization.
England and My Destiny
‘Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones’.
King John 4, 3. 10
England is my home. My home is not Britain, which is an artificial invention of foreign political elites and establishments, whether pagan Roman, barbarian Norman or atheist Hanoverian. As the political construct of a foreign elite, Britain as a political unit is destined to disappear.
The three countries of the British Isles, England, Scotland and Wales, soon all to gain independence from the British Establishment elite, together with a fourth, the still-to-be-reunited Ireland, may yet one day, after independence, form a loose and voluntary Confederation. This will perhaps be called ‘Iona’, ‘The Isles of the North Atlantic’, as its peoples learn to live together in peace, respecting one another.
I have had a destiny, I have had to follow the law of my being. I have had a very long way to go. The great-grandson of a Suffolk ploughman had to become a Russian Orthodox priest, against all the odds of all the elites.
In common with St John of Shanghai, I have been internationally-minded and have been put on trial by nationalists and secularists hiding inside the Church, who have continually frustrated my hopes. I could have done so much more, but was not allowed to. A little like the island-Elder Nikolai (Guryanov), I have in my poor little way lived in isolation, as on an island.
Three Miracles
Nevertheless, as only the Truth sets free, I have always battled against injustices, even if I had had little hope of success either in my lifetime or ever. However, as God is great and many others have also fought against the same injustices, I have seen three extraordinary miracles worked in my lifetime.
After a near ninety-year wait, I have seen a Bishop at last appointed for our Diocese of the British Isles and Ireland, as the Church Outside Russia comes to be the Church of the English-speaking world. This I struggled for unceasingly.
After a near sixty-year wait, I have seen the English, Irish and all Western Saints accepted back into the Church. That was a tremendous battle in the pre-internet age against the bishops who were so hostile, even as recently as 2016. Now, with several of these saints included in the Russian Orthodox calendar, the dam has burst. Now others, in the USA, Switzerland and Russia, younger than me and with more time and means, have taken up the writing of their Lives and continue what we began.
After a near thirty-year wait, I have seen the miracle of unity, the reunion of all three parts of the Russian Church, for which, together with thousands of others, I battled. As a result, I have also at last seen a Russian Orthodox Exarchate formed in Western Europe (with another one in South-East Asia).
Everything comes to him who waits and persists, for patience is the mother of virtues. I thank God for these and many other, personal, miracles. What I have prayed for these fifty years, and what others before me have prayed for, has eventually come to pass, in ways and at times far beyond what I expected. God’s Providence is always far greater and far better than we expect. True, the historic injustice of the overthrow of England and its substitution by an alien Establishment, committed in 1066, and the historic injustice of the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas by the betrayal of the Russian elite in 1917, have not yet been righted through restorations, though even here I still have hope.
Today, against the deviations of nationalist and modernist Constantinople, we offer the White Russian and the Old English, the Imperial and the Fair, the Spiritual and the Free, the Noble and the Elegant, the Manly and the Womanly. Whatever they have done to me, it has not mattered, because I have always known that the last words in history will be Christ’s. And if we remain faithful to them, then all will be well.
This entry was posted in England, Europe, The Church, The Phanar, The Ukraine, The West and tagged Autobiography on December 19, 2019 by Father Andrew.
Brexit: The End of the Norman and Frankish Empires and the Return of the Nations
The Viking-founded British Empire was without doubt one of the most horrible and barbaric empires in the history of the world. We can think of brutal, State-sponsored Tudor privateer-plunderers like ‘Sir’ Francis Drake, slavery in Africa and the exploitation of the Caribbean which made the wealth of merchants in London, Liverpool and Bristol, the genocides in North America, in India under and after the thieving rogue Clive, in China (the opium wars) and in Oceania (the extinction of the Tasmanians). We can think of the 1854 invasion of Russia, the later occupation of Cyprus, the ruthless carve-up of Africa under the racist thug Rhodes, the genocides against the Sudanese and the Boers, and two European Wars, which Britain helped to create and spread worldwide, with their 70 million murders.
The British Empire traces its history as far back as the anti-English Viking looters, the Normans, who in 1066 ruthlessly conquered England (100,000 dead and the English elite exiled), then Wales, Scotland and Ireland, setting up what eventually became known as the British Establishment. Whatever their racial origin, those who have been co-opted into the elitist Norman Establishment look down on the people as ‘plebs’. The Establishment revived the word Britain, harking back to the bloodthirsty Romans. The foreign Normans engaged ‘the plebs’ in almost continuous and bankrupting wars with France during the Middle Ages. In the 16th century the foreign Tudors turned away as losers from Western Europe and continued plundering, now overseas, yoking the native peoples of many more lands.
In the next century, the Puritans under the tyrant Cromwell murdered the Christian King and ‘developed’ this empire, slaughtering a million Irish people. However, what would become the worldwide British Empire only took form after the notorious acts of bribery called the ‘Union’ with Scotland in 1707. After this, only now ruled by German puppet princelings, the plundering mercantile Establishment occupied India, Canada (and nearly all of North America) and Australia. That eighteenth century was that of the notorious East India Company, with its destruction of India, the age of the racist anthems, ‘Rule Britannia’ and ‘God Save the King’, the age of interventions in Europe to prevent others rivalling the Establishment (the Seven Years War, later the Napoleonic Wars and two World Wars).
It was also the age of the destruction of the Four Nations of the Anglo-Celtic Isles. (Union with Ireland was declared in 1801, again through bribery and corruption). Masses of impoverished English, Irish, Scots, and Welsh fled to the New Worlds as emigrants to avoid starvation (in Ireland famine), as native agriculture was annihilated, or to avoid early death in the appalling factories and slums of the Industrial Revolution. The future collapse of this nightmare began in the 1870s as Britain was little by little overtaken by Germany and the USA. One hundred years ago, in 1919, with the disastrous terms of the post-War Versailles ‘agreement’ dictated by the USA, it was clear that indebted Britain and its Empire were fading. This was evidenced by the independence finally ceded after war to most of Ireland in 1921.
Humiliated by the equally ruthless Japanese and American Empires in the Second World War, that bankrupting affair caused by the injustices of the Versailles Treaty, the British Establishment was forced into returning freedom to its colonies. As a result, the internal British Empire also began to collapse, with Scotland and even anglicized Wales and many in Northern Ireland and England seeking freedom from the London Establishment elite. The culmination came in 2016, 950 years after the Norman Invasion, when the ‘plebs’ were finally allowed by the Establishment, which had deluded itself into thinking that the plebs would never vote against them, to vote against the elitist European Union project. The real England wanted its freedom back, for Brexit is in fact also freedom from Norman England.
The democratic genie had finally been let out of the bottle in 2016: 950 years of Norman plunder was rejected. Despite the fact that a large majority of the population had been totally brainwashed by generations of the State-run BBC and other media, populated by journalists all carefully vetted by the Establishment, and many of them not racially English and so serving alien causes, freedom was dawning. However, the existence of Norman Britain is only a small part of the problem; the greater problem is the existence of Frankish Europe, which has spread its tentacles all over the world and of which Norman Britain is only part. However, as President Putin implied on 27 June, the Frankish European Union, with its social and economic liberalism – the worst of both worlds, will die just like the Soviet Union.
Thirty years ago, 75 years after the outbreak of the First World War, we began to see the long-awaited collapse of that Soviet Empire. It was the last piece of the 1919 settlement to fall. Next year will mark 75 years since the end of the Second World War. In the coming months and years we shall in turn see the collapse of the 1945 settlement. This includes the collapse of the American Empire, meaning the NATO-ized European Union and its vassals around the world, from Saudi Arabia to Georgia, from Japan to Lithuania, from Israel to the Ukraine. As for the Norman British Establishment, it is over: England, a reunited Ireland, Scotland and Wales are all returning. The only question that remains is: Will these and the other restored nations remain pagan as now, or will they repent and return to their Christian roots?
This entry was posted in Brexit, Britain and Ireland, DeFrankization, DeNormanization, England, EU slavery and tagged Freedom on June 28, 2019 by Father Andrew.
One Hundred and Twelve Saints of the English Thebaid
Introduction: The Fen Thebaid
The first great monastic site in history developed in the fourth century in the province of Thebes in Egypt and here thousand of monks and hermits lived the monastic life. Hence the word Thebaid can be used to describe a region inhabited by monastics not only in Egypt, for example, in Ireland (The Irish Thebaid), on Mt Athos (The Athonite Thebaid), in the wild forests of Russia (The Northern Thebaid), and in this case in the English Fens (The English Thebaid). Here there lived at least one hundred and twelve saints.
Fen is a common word of Germanic origin which means marshland. English place-names like Fenton, Fenchurch and Vange are all formed from this word. The well-known former marshland region called the Fens, or the Fenlands, is a very low-lying plain in eastern England around the coast of the Wash. It is constituted by almost all of Cambridgeshire, together with western Norfolk and southern Lincolnshire. In early English times these then wild and undrained marshlands represented a no-man’s land between East Anglia to the east and the East Midlands (East Mercia) to the west. Indeed, in the seventh century the Fens were very sparsely populated, attracting outcasts, some of British origin who gave their name to the town of Chatteris, who lived off fishing and wildfowling.
Altogether covering an area of about 1,500 sq mi (4,000 km2), the Fens were once characterized by at least six shallow but large lakes, called meres (e.g. Soham Mere, Whittlesey Mere, drained only in 1851), shores, called bech or beach (e.g. Holbeach, Landbeach, Waterbeach, Wisbech), streams (called ‘wells’), bridges and islands. Island sites are indicated by place-names ending in -y (e.g. Ely), -ey (e.g. Bodsey, Coveney, Higney, Ramsey, Thorney, Stuntney, Whittlesey) and -ea (e.g. Eastrea, Horningsea, Manea, Stonea).
Most of the Fens were drained only in the seventeenth century, though some more viable parts much earlier, even in Roman times, resulting in a flat, low-lying agricultural region. The drained Fens depend on a system of drainage channels and man-made rivers (dykes and drains) and pumping stations. With the support of this drainage system, the very fertile Fens became a major agricultural region.
The Fen Saints
In the early Christian (Orthodox) period of pre-Norman (English) England, monks and nuns sought the isolation for prayer and ascetic life that could be found in the marshy and impassable wilderness of the Fens. Their hermitages on Fen islands became centres of monastic life, disrupted by Danish pagan raids, but revived by the mid-10th-century monastic revival. After 1066 these refounded communities developed as big businesses with large estates and huge income.
Thus, the gravel islands of the undrained Fens were once awash with hermits, holy men and women, who strove to emulate Christ’s fasting in the desert. For example: St Audrey settled in ‘Cratendune’ before founding Ely; St Guthlac and his disciples occupied Crowland; Peakirk was home to his sister St Pega; Thorney was settled by the siblings, Tancred Torhtred and Tova, who were martyred by the Danes in 870.
These, and the retreats of lowlier anchorites, such as Boda of Bodsey, Godric and Throcken of Throckenholt, Edwin of Higney and the anonymous hermits of Singlehole on the former island of Eye near Peterborough, were destined to be transformed into rich farms by greedy post-Conquest abbots. They began to colonize the fenland on the edge of their domains and had no interest in the ascetic life and unceasing prayer, just the opposite.
Thus the Fens have been referred to as the ‘Holy Land of the English’ because of these monasteries, especially the so-called ‘Fen Five’: Ely, Crowland, Peterborough, Ramsey and Thorney. Even after the final fall of Orthodox England in 1066, the Fens later remained a place of refuge and resistance and it was here that the English hero Hereward the Wake based his liberation movement against the illegitimate and greedy Norman invaders, usurpers and occupiers.
St Felix, St Audrey and Ely
The founder of Fen Orthodoxy was effectively St Felix (+ 647), the Apostle of East Anglia. Coming from the east, Suffolk and Norfolk which he evangelized, he founded a monastery on the very eastern edge of the fens. This was in Soham (now in Cambridgeshire), once famous for its mere, but which was drained some 300 years ago. He baptised and became the spiritual father of at least four and possibly six, sainted daughters of the East Anglian King Anna, among them St Audrey of Ely (c. 636-679) and St Seaxburh of Ely, who had been born in Exning in west Suffolk, not far from Soham. After his repose St Felix’ relics long remained in Soham.
As an East Anglian Princess, St Audrey (the spelling of her name Ethelthryth was more or less pronounced ‘Eltry’ (Audrey) already in the seventh century) founded the double monastery in Ely (now in Cambridgeshire and only 14 miles to the north of Cambridge) in 673. Though married twice for purely dynastic reasons she had remained a virgin. As a young woman, she had lived almost as a nun on the Isle of Ely, as this was her own land, which she had received as her dowry and added to the Kingdom of East Anglia. St Bede the Venerable who recorded her life in detail relates how after her repose her incorrupt relics worked many miracles.
St Seaxburh (c. + 699), St Audrey’s sister and successor, had been married for real and been Queen of Kent. Both her daughters became saints. Once widowed she became a nun under St Theodore of Canterbury, founded convents and became an abbess in Kent. Following her sister’s repose she returned to her native East Anglia and became Abbess of Ely, devoted to her sister’s memory. She was succeeded as abbess by her daughter St Eormenhild (early 8 c.), who was in turn succeeded by her daughter, St Werburgh (8 c.).
Around Ely there formed a group of hermits and hermitesses. These included:
St Owin (+ 672), St Audrey’s monastic steward and a very practical man, lived in Ely and on an island in Haddenham near Ely, but later became a monk in Lichfield under St Chad.
St Huna (+ 690) was a priest-monk and the chaplain of St Audrey and also buried her. After her repose, he left Ely to live as a hermit on an island, later known as Honey Hill or Honey Farm, located just outside the town of Chatteris in Cambridgeshire. St Huna was considered a holy man and his grave on the small island was known for healings and miracles. Later St Huna’s relics were translated from Chatteris to Thorney, also in Cambridgeshire, at the time more a collection of hermits’ cells than a monastery, just as in Egypt.
St Wendreda (correctly Wendreth – late 7 c.) lived in March (Cambridgeshire). She may have been a sister of St Audrey and have grown up in Exning, where there seems to have been a holy well named after her. She became a nun on an island in what is now March (meaning the borderlands), where now stands a medieval church dedicated to her. She excelled in healing sick people and animals. Here she may well have become an abbess and she remains the patroness of the town to this day.
St Guthlac and Crowland
St Guthlac (673-714) was the English St Antony the Great and lived as a Desert Father in the Fens. He has a detailed life, written soon after he reposed by a monk Felix. He was the son of a noble of the English Kingdom of Mercia (The Midlands) and as a young man fought in the Mercian army. Aged 24, he then became a monk at Repton in Derbyshire in the East Midlands. Two years later he sought to live the life of a hermit, and comforted by St Bartholomew, in 699 he moved out to the island of Crowland (meaning the hump land, as it is on a dry area and earlier known as Croiland and Croyland) just over the border from Cambridgeshire in Lincolnshire. This was to become the second great centre of Fen holiness after Ely. Guthlac built a small chapel and cells on the site of a plundered barrow on the island and lived there until his repose on 11 April 714. Timbers are preserved in the present Crowland Abbey and some say that these were part of the cell in which St Guthlac lived. His relics could be buried in this area. Felix, writing within living memory of Guthlac, described his hermit’s life:
Now there was in the said island a mound built of clods of earth which greedy comers to the waste had dug open, in the hope of finding treasure there; in the side of this there seemed to be a sort of cistern, and in this Guthlac the man of blessed memory began to dwell, after building a hut over it. From the time when he first inhabited this hermitage this was his unalterable rule of life: namely to wear neither wool nor linen garments nor any other sort of soft material, but he spent the whole of his solitary life wearing garments made of skins. So great indeed was the abstinence of his daily life that from the time when he began to inhabit the desert he ate no food of any kind except that after sunset he took a scrap of barley bread and a small cup of muddy water. For when the sun reached its western limits, then he thankfully tasted some little provision for the needs of this mortal life.
His ascetic life became the talk of the land and many visited him during his life to seek spiritual guidance from him as an elder. He gave sanctuary to Ethelbald, future King of Mercia, who was fleeing from his cousin. Guthlac foretold that Ethelbald would become King and Ethelbald promised to build a monastery if his prophecy turned out to be true. Ethelbald did become King and, even though Guthlac had reposed two years previously, he kept his word and started building the monastery in Crowland on St Bartholomew’s Day 716.
His eighth-century life describes the entry of the demons into Guthlac’s cell:
They were ferocious in appearance, terrible in shape with great heads, long necks, thin faces, yellow complexions, filthy beards, shaggy ears, wild foreheads, fierce eyes, foul mouths, horses’ teeth, throats vomiting flames, twisted jaws, thick lips, strident voices, singed hair, fat cheeks, pigeons’ breasts, scabby thighs, knotty knees, crooked legs, swollen ankles, splay feet, spreading mouths, raucous cries. For they grew so terrible to hear with their mighty shriekings that they filled almost the whole intervening space between earth and heaven with their discordant bellowings.
Felix records Guthlac’s foreknowledge of his own death, conversing with angels in his last days. At the moment of death a sweet nectar-like fragrance came out of his mouth, as his soul left his body in a ray of light, while angels sang. Guthlac had asked that his sister St Pega (pronounced Pea-ga) be present at his funeral. Arriving the day after his repose, she found the island of Crowland filled with the scent of ambrosia. She buried his body on the mound after three days of prayer. A year later Pega had a divine calling to move the tomb and relics to a nearby chapel: Guthlac’s body was discovered incorrupt, his shroud shining with light. Of his disciples we can mention:
This St Pega of Peakirk (c. 673-719) was an anchoress on a barrow in what is now the tiny and tranquil village of Peakirk (‘Pega’s church’) near Peterborough (in historic Cambridgeshire) and not far from St Guthlac’s hermitage. As we have said, when Guthlac had realized that his end was near in 714, he invited her to his funeral. For this she sailed down the River Welland, healing a blind man from Wisbech on the way. Some think that her relics may be buried there to this day, beneath the chancel of a former small chapel, now known as St Pega’s hermitage and a private house, where she had lived.
Sts Bettelin (early 8th c.) was a disciple of Saint Guthlac and hermit who lived an ascetic life of unceasing prayer, received counsel from his elder on his deathbed and was present at his burial. After the death of Guthlac, St Bettelin and his companions continued to live in Crowland.
St Cissa (early 8th c.) was also a disciple of St Guthlac and became an Abbot of Crowland. His tomb was placed next to St Guthlac’s and like it this was also destroyed by the Danes. His relics were translated to the nearby monastery of Thorney in the tenth century.
The Fen Martyrs
When the Danes attacked East Anglia and the Fens in the ninth century, they martyred the East Anglian King, St Edmund (+ 869) in Hoxne in Suffolk and at least one hundred others. These included:
Abbot Theodore of Crowland Monastery in Lincolnshire and with him Ethelred, Askega, Swethin, Elfgete, Sabinus, Egdred, Ulric, Grimkeld, Agamund and other monks (+ c. 869). Some think that a skull conserved in Crowland Abbey, though sadly unavailable for veneration, may be that of St Theodore.
Abbot Hedda with eighty-four monks of Peterborough Monastery in Cambridgeshire, founded in 655, whose site is now occupied by the twelfth-century Peterborough Cathedral (+ c. 869). St Hedda’s ‘shrine-stone’ survives in Peterborough Cathedral.
The hermits Tancred, Torhtred and the anchoress Tova, three siblings, were martyred near Thorney Monastery in Cambridgeshire (+ c. 870).
Conclusion: Academia or Holiness
The Fens, the majority of which lie in Cambridgeshire, were once notable for the port of Cambridge, by the bridge over the River Cam. Situated at their southern limit, this location on the river by a bridge was the very reason for Cambridge’s existence. However, as we know, Cambridge has for centuries no longer been a port and rather became famed as a University, as a centre of rationalistic thinking and brainpower. In this way it opposed itself to the ascetic life of the Saints of the Fen Thebaid to the north. What a witness it would be if there were once more an Orthodox church in the Fens, expressing our veneration not of rationalism, but of asceticism, not of scientists, but of ascetic fendwellers, not of brainpower but of spiritpower. May God’s Will be done.
This entry was posted in Ancient Western Holiness, East of England, England and tagged Holiness on June 18, 2019 by Father Andrew.
The Remaining Holy Relics of the Native Saints of Great Britain
At the Reformation most holy relics in Great Britain were destroyed by fanatics or else taken abroad, only a few survived. However, some have been returned in the modern era. Below the writer Dmitry Lapa has compiled a list of the saints whose relics are still present (though sometimes concealed):
St. Alban (his shoulder bone was returned to St. Albans Cathedral, Herts, from Cologne in 2002);
St. Audrey of Ely (Etheldreda) (her incorrupt hand is available for veneration in the RC church in Ely, Cambs and a particle of her relics is in St. Etheldreda’s RC Church in Ely Place, London);
St. Augustine of Canterbury (a particle of his relics is in St John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester and another in St. Augustine’s RC Church in Ramsgate, Kent);
St. Bede of Jarrow (his tomb with relics has been preserved in the Galilee Chapel of Durham Cathedral since the eleventh century and not destroyed by the iconoclasts because his authority as a historian was great; a particle of his relics is also in St John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester);
St. Birinus of Wessex (a portion of his relics is believed to rest in Dorchester-on-Thames Abbey, Oxon where miracles occur, and some in Winchester Cathedral, though concealed);
St. Boniface of Germany (two relics of the saint and a piece of his tomb were brought to his birthplace in Crediton, Devon, from Fulda in Germany not long ago and placed in the local RC church; another particle of his relics is housed in All Saints’ Church in Brixworth, Northants);
St. Chad of Lichfield (several of his relics are venerated in the RC Cathedral in Birmingham);
St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (his shrine was buried under the floor of Durham Cathedral at the Reformation and elevated again in the nineteenth century, his relics as well as some personal relics survive and miracles occur; a particle of his relics is also in St John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester);
St. David of Mynyw and St. Justinian of Ramsey (what is believed to be their relics rest in the restored shrine of St. Davids Cathedral, Wales);
St. Eanswythe of Folkestone (her reliquary was uncovered during building work in 1885 in Folkestone church);
St. Edmund of East Anglia (a small particle of his relics is available for veneration in the RC church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk; his supposed major relics were returned to England from France in 1901 and rest in a reliquary in the Fitzalan Side-Chapel of Arundel Castle in West Sussex);
St. Edward the Martyr (his relics were discovered by an amateur archaeologist, J. Wilson-Claridge, among the ruins of Shaftesbury Abbey in Dorset and are sometimes available for veneration at St. Edward’s Brotherhood in Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey);
St. Frideswide of Oxford (her relics were mixed with the bones of a woman and buried under the floor of Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford after the Reformation; a couple of years ago somebody’s remains were found under the floor during repair work—some of them are believed to be St. Frideswide’s; their whereabouts are unknown: some say they were soon reburied either under the saint’s restored shrine or under her symbolic gravestone, and others say they were even interred in a local church graveyard);
St. Hedda of Winchester (his relics are in Winchester Cathedral, albeit hidden after the Reformation and the exact location is unknown);
St. Hibald of Lindsey (his supposed tomb with relics was discovered under the chancel floor in the church in Hibaldstow, Lincs, in 1866);
St. John of Beverley (his relics were hidden during the Reformation under the floor of Beverley Minster in East Riding of Yorkshire; today his grave is marked there and miracles occur);
St. Kentigern Mungo (his relics most likely lie in the tomb of the lower crypt of Glasgow Cathedral);
St. Melangell (the ancient bones of a woman, most likely Melangell, were discovered in the former apse of the church in Pennant Melangell in Powys, Wales, during a 1958 restoration project and later placed in the reconstructed shrine; miracles occur all year round);
St. Mildred of Thanet (in 1953 a portion of her relics, which for centuries had been kept in Deventer, Holland, was returned to England and enshrined in Minster Convent in Kent);
St. Swithin of Winchester (his relics were hidden during the Reformation and are still in Winchester Cathedral under the floor, somewhere near his former shrine);
St. Teilo of Llandeilo (his supposed head relic is kept in the chapel which bears his name in a specially constructed reliquary in Llandaff Cathedral in Wales);
St. Tewdrig, King of Glywysing and Martyr (his coffin with relics was rediscovered in the seventeenth century by the Bishop of Llandaff at St. Tewdrig’s Church in Mathern, Monmouthshire);
St. Urith (it can be said with high degree of certainty that her relics still lie under the church floor in Chittlehampton, Devon, a long way below the slab that covers them);
St. Winefride of Holywell (her finger-relic is kept in the RC Cathedral in Shrewsbury, Salop, and another particle of her relics belongs to Catholics in Holywell, Anglesey);
St. Wite (still intact in the church in Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset).
There are other places, where according to tradition saints’ relics may still be present. Among them are:
St. Bertram (Holy Cross Church in Ilam, Staffs);
St. Eata (the crypt of Hexham Abbey, Northumb.);
St. Oswald of Worcester and York (Worcester Cathedral);
St. Wilfrid of York (either Canterbury Cathedral or Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire);
Sts. Oswald of Northumbria and Hilda of Whitby (Durham Cathedral);
Those of some of the holy archbishops of Canterbury (buried around St. Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury, where their grave markers survive).
The supposed relics of St. Alfred the Great and St. Edburgh of Bicester have also been under investigation lately, but results are inconclusive.
This entry was posted in Ancient Western Holiness, England, Holiness and tagged Holy Relics on June 17, 2019 by Father Andrew.
Martyrs Under the Danes
The ninth-century Danish invasions of England produced a host of martyrs for Christ. As a result of the Viking incursions, monastic life in England and in other parts of Britain was virtually wiped out. Moreover, the Danish pirates returned in the late tenth century after the murder of St. Edward the Martyr and continued their ravages and carnage. The following martyrs laid down their lives for Christ over that period (compiled by Dmitry Lapa):
St. Alkelda, a princess who chose to become a nun and anchoress in Yorkshire but was strangled by two Danish women during one of the first raids (+ c. 867; feast: March 28; the church in Middleham in North Yorkshire is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Alkelda, whose supposed coffin with the relics was discovered under the church floor in 1878; local healing wells and another church, in Giggleswick, bear her name too);
St. Ymar, a monk of the monastery in Reculver in Kent, who was slain by the Danes in 830 (feast: November 12);
Abbot Beocca, Hieromonk Ethor and with them ninety monks of Chertsey Monastery in Surrey, now on the outskirts of London (+ c. 869; feast: April 10; a modern Orthodox service to the Martyrs of Chertsey exists);
Abbot Theodore of Crowland Monastery in Lincolnshire and with him Ethelred, Askega, Swethin, Elfgete, Sabinus, Egdred, Ulric, Grimkeld, Agamund and other monks (+ c. 869; feast: April 9);
Abbess Ebbe (Aebbe) the Younger together with her nuns in Coldingham Convent in what is now the Scottish Borders region of southern Scotland, which then belonged to the English kingdom of Northumbria (+ c. 870; feast: August 23; a contemporary Orthodox service to St. Ebbe exists);
Abbot Hedda with eighty-four monks of Peterborough Monastery in Cambridgeshire, founded in 655 and whose site is now occupied by the twelfth-century Peterborough Cathedral of Sts. Peter, Paul and Andrew (+ c. 869; feast: April 9; St. Hedda’s “shrine-stone”, which resembles a medieval reliquary but without a cavity in it, survives in Peterborough Cathedral);
The hermits Tancred, Torthred and the anchoress Tova, three siblings, were martyred near Thorney Monastery in Cambridgeshire, in the Fens (+ c. 870; feast: September 30; Thorney Monastery was refounded by St. Ethelwold of Winchester in the tenth century);
Bishop Herefrith of the province of Lindsey in what is now Lincolnshire, was most probably slain on the site of the town of Louth (+ c. 869; feast: February 27; his relics were translated to Thorney);
St. Fremund, a Mercian English prince who chose to live as a hermit on an island in prayer but was murdered by the Danes (+ c. 866; feast: May 11; his relics were kept in Offchurch in Warwickshire, then in Prescote in Oxfordshire, and finally in the village of Cropredy in the same county, and a portion of them was later translated to Dunstable Priory in Bedfordshire, and numerous miracles occurred);
St. Edmund, King of East Anglia, was martyred by the Danes in 869 and venerated both as a martyr for Christ and as a righteous king of holy life (feast: November 20; he is the first patron-saint of England);
St. Ragener, a soldier-martyr and probably St. Edmund’s nephew, slain in Northampton in about 870 (feast: November 21; his relics were discovered in St. Peter’s Church in Northampton in the twelfth century and many miracles were recorded);
St. Suneman, a hermit of St. Benet Holme Monastery (in honor of St. Benedict) near Ludham on the River Bure in Norfolk, was slain in the ninth century (no feast is known;
Hieromartyr Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, was captured by Vikings and then martyred by them in Greenwich near London in 1012 (feast: April 19);
St. Eadnoth, a monk from Worcester who was later Abbot of Ramsey in Cambridgeshire and Bishop of Dorchester and killed by the Danes in 1016 (feast: October 19);
St. Werstan, a monk of Deerhurst who lived as a hermit in the Malvern Hills on the Worcestershire/Herefordshire border and was martyred in the 1050s (no feast-day is known, Malvern Priory stands on the site of his cell).
This entry was posted in Ancient Western Holiness, East of England, England and tagged Martyrdom on June 17, 2019 by Father Andrew.
Wanted: A New Guy Fawkes
A great political struggle on the Brexit issue is going on in the United Kingdom. It is not the political struggle between the elite of the EU and the UK. It is not the struggle between Leavers (‘Brexiteers’) and Remainers (EU worshippers). It is not the struggle between the Prime Minister and Parliament. It is not even the struggle inside the two main political parties, which, true, are completely divided on Brexit, and always have been. No, the great struggle is between the Parliament and the People, for the former refuses to implement the wishes of the People, even after almost three years (some might say ever since 1973). ‘Representative democracy’ has once again failed to be either representative or democratic, but has shown itself to be an elitist tyranny – as the whole British Establishment construct and the whole EU project always have been.
Historically, Parliament as we now know it came into being in the seventeenth century. This was at the behest of wealthy and power-hungry aristocrats and capitalist businessmen (‘merchants’), interested in colonialist exploitation and slavery, and also rich farmers. Together they usurped and then murdered the Christian King, the defender of the People, so that they could gain even more power and make even more money on the backs of the exploited and enslaved. (Indeed, incredibly, a statue of one of the most bloodthirsty capitalist farmers, he who murdered the King and then killed a million Irish men, women and children, still stands outside Parliament unchallenged to this day). Thus, the utterly corrupted Members of Parliament were simply the puppets who carried out the orders of the moneyed elite. Many, it seems, still do the same.
Guy Fawkes, born in York in April 1570, was the son of Edward and Edith Fawkes (the names of our Old English saints). He was a provincial and devout, but naïve and idealistic Roman Catholic who challenged Parliamentary tyranny. However, he tried to do this by violence, by blowing up Parliament with gunpowder. And that was his undoing. For he was betrayed on 5 November 1605 and then tortured and in January 1606, aged 35, murdered. His name is the origin of the word ‘guy’, meaning man or person. It seems to us that we now need a new Guy Fawkes, a non-violent ‘guy’ who will blow up Parliament with words, as the pen is always mightier than the sword. Guy Fawkes has been described as ‘the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions’. We would say ‘the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions so far’.
This entry was posted in Brexit, Britain and Ireland, DeNormanization, England, EU slavery, Freedom, Struggle, The Elite, The Establishment, The Future and tagged Freedom on March 27, 2019 by Father Andrew.
The Future of Trafalgar Square
The time will come when, after nearly a thousand years, England will be free again. Then she will regain her independence from the pagan Roman / Franco-German (Norman-Hanoverian) myth of Britannia / Britain. And then, eventually, after much discussion, the problem of Trafalgar Square will have to be decided. At present the Square, its very name, its central Column and the many statues around it honour various aspects of nineteenth-century Imperialism. Thus, a statue of a certain Major-General Havelock stands in the south-east corner, a statue of the equally little known General Napier stands in the south-west corner and a statue on horseback of the dissolute, unpopular and obese alcoholic, King George IV, stands in the north-east corner. Until quite recently in the north-west corner there was an empty fourth plinth, but this is now used to exhibit temporary works of art.
In the free England of the future, let this Square be renamed ‘Alfred Square’, for in the centre will stand Alfred’s Column, with the statue of King Alfred the Great, England’s Darling and Lawgiver, standing on top. Around it will stand the four main statues: that of an Englishwoman from before 1066, standing as a the English Mother of the Nation; a statue of Langland’s Piers Plowman (+ 1380) as a symbol of the medieval common man, the backbone of the nation who suffered but remained faithful despite enslavement from above; a statue of the world-renowned English literary genius Shakespeare (+ 1616); and one of an ordinary infantryman, a Tommy Atkins, standing as a symbol of the lions who gallantly saved England despite being led by donkeys. And when will this be? When at last the four nations of this island archipelago have freed themselves from the deadweight of myths of the past.
This entry was posted in DeNormanization, England, The Future and tagged Freedom on March 26, 2019 by Father Andrew.
Orthodox Christian Eastern England
Foreword: For the Orthodox Christian Faith, the Coming King and the People of God in Eastern England, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and the Isle of Ely
Today, in this period of the last coming of Orthodoxy in the twenty-first century, Orthodox centres are being established in the large towns and cities of Eastern England. Today’s examples are not being inspired from Ireland (itself inspired from Jerusalem via Egypt), but from Holy Rus (itself inspired from Jerusalem via New Rome), but otherwise all remains the same. On this tenth anniversary of the establishment of our church in Colchester, we understand that we have only just begun. Much remains to be done and, building on the foundations of old, we ask God’s blessing on ourselves. Below we recall the history of our Orthodox Eastern England, our present and our hopes for the future.
There were certainly Orthodox Christians in what later became Eastern England (East Anglia and Essex) as early as the third century, if not before. A notable centre for them was the first Roman capital of Britain in Camulodunum (Colchester), which may have had its own bishop at that time. As proof the foundations of an early fourth century Orthodox church and its cemetery were uncovered here only in the 1980s.
However, the four ancient Orthodox centres of what had come to be Eastern England were established in the apostolic period of the first coming of Orthodoxy in the seventh century. The Faith came in the same way as the Eastern English had settled – by sea and waterway, around the coasts and along the many rivers. Whereas the foundations in Essex came about through the Apostle of Essex, St Cedd (pronounced ‘Ched’), the other foundations had been due, directly and indirectly, to St Felix, Apostle of East Anglia. This was centuries before the territorial divisions of East Anglia and the terms Suffolk, Norfolk and the Isle of Ely came into existence.
Although St Cedd was English and St Felix Burgundian and they spoke very similar languages, their missions to Eastern England were both Irish-inspired. Coming as a missionary from Burgundy in France in 630 and probably consecrated by Archbishop Honorius of Canterbury to preach in East Anglia, Bishop Felix has been inspired by the Irish St Columban. It was he who had founded the monastery at Luxeuil in Burgundy, where St Felix had met his sponsor St Sigebert, the future King of East Anglia. In England Bishop Felix also certainly met the Irish missionary Bishop Aidan from the Irish-founded monastery of Lindisfarne. And the Irish-speaking Bishop Cedd, arriving in Essex a generation later in 653, had learned his Orthodoxy from the same St Aidan of Lindisfarne. Here is what they began in each of the four parts of Eastern England.
This was the first region to be evangelized, from the southern diocesan centre founded in c. 630 by St Felix in the Roman coastal fortress known as Burgh. This centre was called Domnoc – probably from the Irish word Domnach, meaning the Lord’s house – and now identified as Felixstowe, so called in memory of the monastery of St Felix. Domnoc was near the estuary of the River Deben which led to the East Anglian royal palace at Rendlesham. This was near the royal burial site at Sutton Hoo and not far from the port of Dunwich (meaning perhaps ‘the port in the dunes’).
All these sites where St Felix was active are in what is now Suffolk, where he probably also founded a church along the River Stour in Sudbury. His diocesan centre was abandoned during the heathen invasion in 869 and transferred to Hoxne in the far north of Suffolk in c. 900, precisely where St Edmund, King of East Anglia, had been martyred in 869. This is represented today by Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where St Felix probably founded a monastery and is near the geographical centre of Eastern England. The fact that Suffolk was the first region in the east to be evangelized and where so many churches were built led to it being called ‘Salig Suffolk’ or Holy Suffolk.
Local Saints
Sts Sigebert (+ c. 636), Felix (+ c. 647), Jurmin (+ 654), Botolph (+ 680), Edmund (+ 869).
Holy Places
Iken, Hoxne.
Present (in bold) & Projected Orthodox Parishes in Urban Centres
Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Lowestoft, Felixstowe.
This centre was founded in c. 630 by St Felix in South Elmham (called ‘the old minster’), now in north Suffolk and established as a diocesan centre in 673. Nearby there was a church at Rumburgh dedicated to St Felix and two localities called Flixton, which also witness to his presence. St Felix was aided by an Irish monk sent to him perhaps by St Aidan. This was St Fursey (with Sts Dicul, later at Dickleburgh, and Sts Foillan and Ultan), who founded a monastery in c. 631 on an inlet from the coast in the Roman fortress at Burgh (Burgh Castle, now in the far north of Suffolk).
St Felix was very active in what is now Norfolk, founding churches along the river systems in the east at Reedham and Loddon, and in the north-west at Babingley, Shernborne and perhaps Flitcham. In 955 the centre in South Elmham was transferred to what is now Norfolk to a place which was called North Elmham in memory of its origin. The centre then briefly went to Thetford and today is represented by Norwich.
Sts Felix (+ c. 647), Fursey (+ 650), Withburgh (+ c. 743), Edmund (+ 869), Walstan (+ 1016).
East Dereham, Bawburgh.
Norwich, King’s Lynn.
Today’s Essex (previously this had included much of what is now London) was evangelized from the diocesan centre founded soon after 653 by St Cedd. This ‘cathedral on the marshes’, most of which still stands today, is on the east coast of Essex in the former Roman fortress of Othona (Ythanceaster) which is now called Bradwell-on-Sea. St Cedd was active elsewhere around the coasts of Essex but today’s Orthodox centre is in Colchester, founded on St Edmund’s Feast exactly ten years ago.
Sts Cedd (+ 664) and Osyth (+ c. 700).
Bradwell on Sea.
Colchester, Southend, Harlow.
The Isle of Ely (today the Marches of Eastern Cambridgeshire)
This was evangelized from the monastery founded by St Felix in Soham, today in eastern Cambridgeshire, and from nearby Exning on the western edge of Suffolk, the birthplace of St Felix’s spiritual daughter, St Audrey. However, it was only in 673 that she founded the monastery in Ely, possibly on the site of a chapel founded by St Felix earlier. Ely came to be the centre of a diocese in 1109.
Sts Felix (+ c. 647), Owin (+ c. 670), Audrey (+ 679), Huna (+ 690), Wendreda (+ 8 c.).
Holy Place with a relic of St Audrey
Ely.
Wisbech, Ely.
This entry was posted in England, Pastoral Matters and tagged Eastern England on December 2, 2018 by Father Andrew.
Little Britain or Great England?
Brexit is supposed to take place next year, nearly three interminable years after the UK voted for it. This delay, and indeed Brexit will not even then take place in full, has given rise to various viewpoints: some still say that Brexit will be a disaster; some still say that Brexit will be wonderful; yet others say that it will never take happen at all, as the Prime Minister has never believed in it, she has cast out of her incompetent Cabinet most who firmly believed in it. In any case, the real men of power and finance, in Washington, London and Brussels, who stand behind all these party political puppets all over Western Europe, do not want it and will not allow it.
Whatever the case may be, the real question is not here. The real question is:
As Great Britain is no longer an option, will there one day be a Little Britain, a country of cynical post-modernists and amoral degenerates who do not believe in anything, a country of Third World infrastructure and narrow and conformist minds, serfs of secularism?
As Little England never was an option, will there one day be a Great England (and consequently a Great Ireland, a Great Scotland and a Great Wales), a generous-hearted country, (which is what true greatness is)? Will we repent and make up for the past, wrought by an alien British Establishment which trod underfoot the people of these islands for over 950 years, and then invaded almost every other country of consequence in the world, oppressing their peoples and stripping their natural resources?
Here is the real question.
This entry was posted in Brexit, Britain and Ireland, England and tagged The Future on August 18, 2018 by Father Andrew.
Fr Nicholas Gibbes: The First English Disciple of Tsar Nicholas II and the First English Priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
A Talk given at Barton Manor near Osborne House on the Isle of Wight on 7 July 2018.
In this centenary year of the martyrdom of Tsar Nicholas II, his August Family, their servants and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, it would be well to recall their first English disciple and the first ever English Russian Orthodox priest, Fr Nicholas Gibbes.
Charles Sydney Gibbes, for short Sydney Gibbes, was born 142 years ago, on 19 January 1876. In the 19th century this was for all Orthodox the feast day of St John the Baptist, the voice that cried in the wilderness. His parents were called John and Mary – more English than that you cannot find. His father was a bank manager in Rotherham, just outside Sheffield, in Yorkshire. Amusingly, this would later be recorded by a Russian civil servant on Sydney’s residence papers in Russia as ‘Rotterdam’.
With no fewer than ten siblings, Sydney grew into a stereotypical, Victorian, Protestant young man of the educated classes. He received his education at Cambridge, where he changed the spelling of his surname to Gibbes, from Gibbs, as the adopted form is the older, historical one. This change was typical of his love of historical detail and accuracy. Sydney is described as: severe, stiff, self-restrained, imperturbable, quiet, gentlemanly, cultured, pleasant, practical, simple, brave, loyal, lucid, witty, crisp, vigorous, honourable, reliable, impeccably clean, with high character, of good sense and with agreeable manners. He seems the perfect Victorian English Yorkshire gentleman – not a man with such an unusual destiny.
However, as we know from history, underneath Victorian gentlemen lurked other sides – repressed, but still present. For example, we know that Sydney could be stubborn, that he used corporal punishment freely, that he could be very awkward with others, and he is recorded as having quite a temper, though these traits mellowed greatly with the years. My good friend from Oxford days long ago, Dmitri Kornhardt, recalled how in later life tears would stream down Fr Nicholas’ face when celebrating services in memory of the Imperial Martyrs, but how also he would very rapidly recover himself after such unEnglish betrayals of emotion.
Underneath the Victorian reserve there was indeed a hidden man, one with spiritual sensitivity, who was interested in theatre and theatricals, spiritualism, fortune-telling and palmistry, and one who was much prone to recording his dreams. Perhaps this is why, when after University he had been thinking of the Anglican priesthood as a career, he found it ‘stuffy’ and abandoned that path. Talking to those who knew him and reading his biographies, and there are three of them, we cannot help feeling that as a young man Sydney was searching for something – but he knew not what. The real man would eventually come out from beneath his Victorian conditioning.
Perhaps this is why in 1901, aged 25, he found himself teaching English in Russia – a country with which he had no connection. Here he was to spend over 17 years. The key moment came in autumn 1908 when he went to the Imperial Palace in Tsarskoe Selo and became the English tutor of the Imperial children. In particular, he became close to the Tsarevich Alexis, with whom he identified very closely. Why? We can only speculate that there was a sympathy or else complementarity of characters; together with Sydney’s bachelordom, this may have been enough for the friendship to develop. In any case, he became almost a member of the Imperial Family and a profound and lifelong admirer of what he called, as an eyewitness, their exemplary Christian Faith, close family life and kindness. His meeting with this Family changed his life forever and he only ever spoke of them with profound admiration.
In August 1917 Sydney found himself following the Family to Tobolsk. Utterly loyal to the Family, in July 1918 he found himself in Ekaterinburg, the city in the Urals between Asia and Europe, East and West, after their unspeakable murder in the Ipatiev House. He helped identify objects, returning again and again to the House, picking up mementoes, which he was to cling on to until the end, and still reluctant to believe that the crime had taken place. Coming almost half way through his life when he was aged 42, this was without doubt the crucial event in that life, the turning point, the spark that made him seek out his destiny in all seriousness. With the murder of the Family, the bottom had fallen out of his life, his raison d’etre had gone. Where could he go from here?
He did not, like most, return to England. We know that he, like Tsar Nicholas, had been particularly shocked by what he saw as the British betrayal of the Imperial Family. Indeed, we know that it was George Buchanan, the British ambassador to St Petersburg, who had in part been behind the February 1917 deposition of the Tsar by treacherous aristocrats, politicians and generals. This coup d’etat was greeted by Lloyd George in the House of Commons as the ‘achievement of one of our war aims’. (We now also know from the book by Andrew Cook that it was British spies who had assassinated Gregory Rasputin and also that the Tsar’s own cousin, George V, had refused to help the Tsar and His Family escape).
In fact, disaffected by Britain’s politics, from Ekaterinburg Sydney went not west, but east – to Siberian Omsk and then further east, to Beijing and then Harbin in Manchuria. Off and on he would spend another 17 years here, in Russian China. In about 1922 he suffered a serious illness. His religiosity seems to have grown further and after this he would go to study for the Anglican priesthood at St Stephen’s House in Oxford. However, for someone with the world-changing experience that he had had, that was not his way; perhaps he still found Anglicanism ‘stuffy’, I think he would have found almost anything stuffy after what he had been through – seeing his adopted Family wiped out. Finally, in 1934, in Harbin, Sydney joined the Far Eastern Metropolia of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
There is no doubt that he did this as a direct result of the example of the Imperial Family, for he took the Orthodox name of Alexis – the name of the Tsarevich, whom he naturally saw as a martyr. He was to describe this act as ‘getting home after a long journey’, words which perhaps describe the reception into the Orthodox Church of any Western person. Thus, from England, to Russia and then to China, he had found his way. In December 1934, aged almost 59, he became successively monk, deacon and priest. He was now to be known as Fr Nicholas – a name deliberately taken in honour of the martyred Tsar Nicholas. In 1935 he was made Abbot by Metr Antony of Kiev, the head of our multinational Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and later received the title of Archimandrite.
Wishing to establish some ‘Anglo-Orthodox organisation’, in 1937 Fr Nicholas Gibbes came back to live in England permanently. He was aged 61. Of this move he wrote: ‘It is my earnest hope that the Anglican Church should put itself right with the Holy Orthodox Church’. He went to live in London in the hope of setting up an English-language parish within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. In this he did not succeed and in 1940 he moved to Oxford. In this last part of his life in Oxford he became the founder of the first Russian Orthodox church in Oxford at 4, Marston Street, where he lived in humble and modest circumstances. In recalling the address of that first church, dedicated to St Nicholas, we cannot help recalling that today’s Russian Orthodox St Nicholas church in Oxford is not very far away from it.
Not an organiser, sometimes rather erratic, even eccentric, Fr Nicholas was not perhaps an ideal parish priest, but he was sincere and well-respected. In Oxford he cherished his mementoes of the Imperial Family to the end. Before he departed this life, on 24 March 1963, an icon given to him by the Imperial Family, was miraculously renewed and began to shine. One who knew him at the time confirmed this and after Fr Nicholas’ death, commented that now at last Fr Nicholas was seeing the Imperial Family again – for he had been waiting for this moment for 45 years. He was going to meet once more those who had shaped his destiny in this world.
In the 1980s in an old people’s home outside Paris I met a parishioner of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Count Nikolai Komstadius. He had met Fr Nicholas in 1954, in connection with the false Anastasia, but perhaps had seen him before, since his father had been in charge of the Tsarskoe Selo estate and he himself had been a childhood friend of the Tsarevich. I remember in the 1980s visiting him. In the corner of his room in front of an icon of the martyred Tsarevich there burned an icon-lamp. He turned to me and said: ‘That is such a good likeness, it is just like him and yet also it is an icon’. Not many of us lives to see a childhood playfriend become a saint and have his icon painted. Yet as a young man in his thirties Fr Nicholas had known a whole family, whom he considered to be saints. Indeed, he had been converted by their example.
There are those who have life-changing experiences. They are fortunate, because they stop living superficially, stop drifting through life and stop wasting God-sent opportunities and so find their destiny. Such life-changing experiences can become a blessing if we allow them to become so. Fr Nicholas was one such person, only his life-changing experience was also one that had changed the history of the whole world. For a provincial Victorian Yorkshire bank manager’s son, who had grown up with his parents John and Mary, he had come very far. And yet surely the seeds had been there from the beginning. To be converted we first of all need spiritual sensitivity, a seeking spirit, but secondly we also need an example. Fr Nicholas had had both, the example being the Imperial Martyrs. As that late and wonderful gentlewoman Princess Koutaissova, whom many of us knew, said of his priesthood: ‘He was following his faithfulness to the Imperial Family’.
In this brief talk I have not mentioned many aspects of Fr Nicholas’ life, such as his possible engagement, his adopted son, his hopes in Oxford. This is because they do not interest me much here. I have tried to focus on the essentials, on the spiritual meaning of his life, his destiny. Those essentials are, I believe, to be found in his haunted and haunting gaze. Looking at his so expressive face, we see a man staring into the distance, focusing on some vision, both of the past and of the future. This vision was surely of the past life he had shared with the martyred Imperial Family and also of the future – his long hoped-for meeting with them once more, his ‘sense of completion’.
This entry was posted in England, Fr Nicholas Gibbes, Imperial Martyrs, Orthodoxy, Oxford and tagged Destiny on July 10, 2018 by Father Andrew.
A Life for the Tsar: Gregory Efimovich Rasputin-Novy (1869 – 1916)
On 35 years of Service at the Altar in France, Portugal and England
The Persecution of the Church after the Greek Schism at Christmas 2019
What is Happening in Montenegro?
The US State Department Versus Christ
4 July 2020: The Consecration
Москва третий Рим? Взгляд священника Русской Православной Церкви из дальнего зарубежья
Moscow the Third Rome? A View from a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Far Abroad
Freedom in the Air
An Icon for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
The Fall of the Phanar: Why Now?
Greek Archbishop to proto-CIA: “Your directions will be executed faithfully.”
Q and A from Correspondence in November 2019
The Anti-Orthodox War Continues
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COMITÉ DE ÉTICA Y DE PREVENCIÓN DE CONFLICTOS DE INTERESES Proyectos Project Extension Campus III
What is the Institute of Ecology A.C.?
The Institute of Ecology AC (INECOL) is one of 27 Public Research Centers run by the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT). Since our inception in 1975, our mission has been to generate major advances in scientific understanding in ecology, biodiversity, and the management of natural resources, including agricultural pests and vectors of diseases, in order to conserve our natural heritage and promote the social and economic development of Mexico.
Our main objectives
• The study of the environment and the conservation of renewable natural resources.
• Attention to social problems, particularly those related to ecology, environment and agriculture.
• Development of environmentally friendly technologies and the training of students and young scientists with the aim of promoting and strengthening diverse activities directly relevant to our mission.
• Engaging with government, social and agricultural sectors in outreach activities designed to provide a mechanism for technology transfer and the dissemination of scientific information to the end-users of such technologies.
• Conservation of biological collections and the natural heritage of Mexico, one of the megadiverse countries of the world.
The Extension and Modernization project at the INECOL focuses on the Institute’s Scientific and Technological Infrastructure in Xalapa, Veracruz. This project has received 125 million Mexican pesos (ca. US$10 million) from the Mexican Congress Commission on Agriculture and Livestock Production (approved in December 2010).
This strategic project will allow the INECOL to elevate its position as one of the leading scientific centers around the world, and provide it with the capacity to generate solutions for addressing the needs of different sectors of Veracruz, particularly those linked to environmental and agricultural issues.
The Extension and Modernization project of the INECOL will be established on a plot of land of 4-75-53 hectares next to the Botanic Garden, formerly devoted to agricultural and livestock production. A new building for scientific facilities (laboratories, classrooms, videoconferences rooms) uses will be constructed, but also the idea is to restore the former cloud forest, to expand the Botanic Garden, and to protect the natural occurring springs found on the site.
The INECOL will acquire this land so it can establish a natural protected area and ensure the continuity of the local cloud forest. At the present time, the INECOL is surrounded by few properties where this forest is established, like the Cloud Forest Sanctuary, the Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanic Garden, the Centre of Education for Environmental Conservation (run by the government of Veracruz) and other private lands.
Architectural programme
1. Main Building
Research laboratories:
Teaching Laboratory for the “Scientific Career among Children and Young” program
Biological Collections
New Classrooms and Teaching Laboratories for the Graduate School
Offices for researchers
Videoconferences Rooms
Unit of Liasion and Technology Transfer (UVTC).
2. Pilot Plants (Pilot research facilities)
Parasitoid Breeding
Plant Tissue Culture
Cultivation of Edible Mushrooms
3. Greenhouses
4. Parking
5. Departments for Visiting Professors / Researchers
6. Wastewater Treatment Plant linked to an Algae Bio-Factory
7. Expansion of the Botanic Garden
Concept and components
The Extension and Modernization project will create the Campus III of INECOL, located next to its headquarters in Xalapa, Veracruz.
What does this project consist of?
The initial stage of the Campus III of INECOL, consists of the acquisition of a land of 4-75-53 hectares next to the Botanic Garden. On this land, a new and intelligent (sustainably built?) building will be constructed. Schemes of exploitation of solar power, energy saving, and low impact on the natural environment will be applied. The project has a high strategic value for the country, and is divided into the following groups:
Infrastructure for Scientific and Technological Research
a) Institutional laboratories of high technology in terms of phytosanity (bio-rational management of pests and vectors), molecular biology, chemical ecology, environmental nanotechnology and agro-nanotechnology.
b) Spaces to house valuable Institutional Collections, among which, the collection of the Herbarium XAL stands out and whose current collection of more than 300,000 plant and mushrooms specimens is a potential source of information for the bio-prospection of new materials and agents of biological control, among others. Other collections are the Entomologic Collection and the Wood Samples Collection.
c) Cubicles and common work areas for researchers and academic technicians.
d) Five small apartments for accommodation and longer visits for visiting researchers, professors and special guests.
Infrastructure for the formation of new scientific teams:
a) Educational classrooms, teaching laboratories and a video-conference room with capacity for the increasing number of students of the INECOL’s Graduate School.
b) Educational Laboratory for Children and Young, as part of the institutional Program for promotion of the scientific career for children and young. This Program is unique in the country and in the world in general, and will serve as a new model for science education in Mexico.
c) A Natural History Museum linked to the Institutional Collections and the Educational Laboratory for Children and Young. It will put the knowledge of Mexico´s biological richness within reach of the public, whose generation is the substantive activity of INECOL.
d) A modern auditorium with capacity for 120 people, to provide science forums and discussions, as well as being extremely useful for our institutional graduate courses.
Productive infrastructure linked to research:
a) Pilot plants and greenhouses with capacity for meeting, on an intermediate scale, the demands of the main users from natural enemies of fruit flies, edible mushrooms and native plants with commercial, educational and conservation purposes.
b) The office of the Unit of Liaison and Technology Transfer (UVTC), will serve as a link between INECOL, investors and stakeholders in the creation of science and technology-based enterprises.
On the land which will be acquired, other actions and facilities with high scientific value that are notoriously linked with society will be developed:
a) Establishment of the National Laurel Collection (Lauraceae) eg. Avocados; Citrus (Rutaceae) guava (Myrtaceae) and mangoes and tropical plums (Anacardiaceae), as germplasm banks for obtaining varieties and cultivars with a high market value.
b) A restoration project of the native cloud forest, through human intervention and by natural succession. It will be a practical contribution to the effort of conservation of the original vegetation.
c) The Water Educational Center, a vanguard project that will take advantage of the existence of a natural spring on the land to be acquired and which will educate visitors about the proper management of this vital resource and the importance of preserving the forests as “water factories”.
d) A waste water treatment plant linked to an algae or biodiesel bio-factory, as a clear example of a practical solution to the serious local problem of water pollution.
The INECOL is a scientific centre, dedicated for 35 years to the study of environmental issues, the management and conservation of renewable natural resources, and management of agricultural pests and disease vectors. This institute forms high level professionals and responds to the problems in society with competitiveness, through the generation and application of knowledge about biodiversity, animal behavior, including insect pests such as fruit flies, the development of technology and by providing highly specialized services. The Institute made of 9 academic networks, addresses vanguard topics oriented to study a wide range of aspects concerning the structure, evolution and current problematic areas of ecological systems, including agro-ecosystems, which are the fundamental support of the regional and national economy. The INECOL is working to generate high level scientific knowledge applied to the establishment of practical solutions to the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of natural resources and the agricultural pests and disease vectors, all this in benefit of Mexican society.
The institution is recognized for having played a fundamental role in the opening of the American market for the Hass avocado, produced in Michoacán. This important action has generated an economic flow of more than $2,000 million dollars to the country as well as permitting the creation of more than 25,000 jobs.
Presently the necessity for generating an integral modernization process of the institution is clearly visible. The institution indispensably requires having access to high levels of scientific research in the world, and for that it must have a new highly specialized scientific infrastructure, which permits the incorporation of new and high qualified academic staff, greater efficiency in the development of its substantive activity, and at the same time promoting a better mechanism of linkage with society through the generation of cutting-edge solutions to environmental and agricultural problems that are equally serious.
Since 2010 an enormous internal effort has been made to strengthen the institution, but if the same institution wants to transform itself into a highly competitive entity, generating patents and other innovative processes, and contributing to the solution of pressing environmental problems including agricultural pests, particularly in fruit culture that affects the State of Veracruz and the country in general, then it is necessary to create a new cutting-edge infrastructure associated and conducive to working with advanced equipment.
Objective of the project
The fundamental objective is to provide the institution with cutting edge infrastructure and scientific and technological installations with proper capacities for high level research, technological development and knowledge transfer applied to solutions for some of the serious environmental and agricultural problems that affect diverse sectors of society.
For INECOL
a) Providing the institution with a major and more efficient capacity to generate solutions to environmental and agricultural problems, among which the sustainable use of water stands out. Also, the conservation, restoration and management of cloud forest patches, and overall those related to pests and disease vectors, problems that, due to their magnitude, negatively influence the regional and national economy and of course the quality of life of Mexicans.
b) Strengthening the institutional capacity of genuine linkages for participation in environmental education, according to the Strategy of Environmental Education for the Sustainability of Mexico. It will also provide an opportunity to expand the living and preserved plant collections, located in the Institute’s Botanic Garden and Herbarium and to contribute with concrete facts in the maintenance, restoration and conservation of the cloud forest.
Regional/national impact
a) A total investment of more than $250 million pesos, with the consequent and important economic flow through to the region.
b) Modernization of a research centre to international standards, thereby substantially increasing the scientific potential of the INECOL.
c) The possibility to carry out cutting edge research in ecology and management of pests and agricultural diseases, it will be a fundamental step to position Veracruz as a protagonist of the scientific and technological development of the country.
d) Strengthening the culture of environmental protection, by encouraging interest in the Scientific Careers for Children and the Young in the region as an alternative life option (as an alternative career option?).
e) Partnering with the three levels of government, businesses (private sector), and civic organizations in a new project that breaks paradigms and will bring great benefits to society.
The Project of Extension and Modernization of Scientific and Technological Infrastructure of INECOL will have a highly positive impact on the indicators of knowledge generation, strengthening competitiveness, and high-level human resources training. It will contribute at the same time in the field of patent generation and other technological innovations.
Goals of the Project
To provide space and facilities commensurate with future projects and current needs with a surface of 13,400 m2.
Estimated cost of the construction
$155, 650,000 Mexican pesos (NOTE: At present, $125 million is assured).
Details of the New Building and external Installations to built on Campus III
Module A: Laboratories and classrooms for Graduate School, Natural History Museum, Educational Laboratory to promote the Scientific Careers among Children and the Young, Auditorium, Collections, UVTC offices.
Module B: Laboratories of Chemical Ecology and Molecular Biology; Phytosanitary Laboratories.
Module C: Laboratories of Agro-nanotechnology and Environmental Nanotechnology in partnership with the Research Center on Advanced Materials (in Spanish Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados -CIMAV), Biological Collections (Herbarium, Entomological, and Wood Tissues).
Each module covers 1500 m2. All the electric facilities, gases, data network, etc., installed on one side to facilitate their future maintenance.
New research projects
The new facilities will permit the increase of INECOL´s workforce. It is expected to add 25 researchers and 25 academic technicians (10 researchers and 8 academic technicians will be new personnel), as well as at least 50 students of the Graduate School, 50 undergraduate and social service students.
Some examples of specific research projects to be implemented in whole or in part in the new facilities of Campus III are:
• Application of nanotechnology in solving environmental pollution problems and the improvement of productive processes in the camp.
• Identification and creation of new nano-biomaterials.
• Application of nanotechnology in industrial processes.
• Development of a natural repellent (patented by the INECOL) against fruit fly species (this research is truly urgent due to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food who will soon prohibit the use of the pesticide, Malathion, in fruit orchards).
• Comprehension and identification of defense mechanisms used by fruits when attacked by fruit flies with the purpose of developing resistant varieties.
• Research of genomics of plant species from the families of Lauraceae, Rutaceae, Myrtaceae and Anacardiaceae aimed at the creation of cultivars/varieties of avocado, citrus, guavas and mangoes resistant to pests and diseases.
• Biological control of the golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis), one of the phytosanitary problems with major negative impact on potato crops all over the country.
• Consolidation of the project for identifying pathogens that cause massive death of bees (in partnership with the Department of Defense of the United States and other international agencies).
• Mass propagation of native timber trees and other useful plants (eg. medicinal plants) through tissue culture.
• Cultivation and commercialization of native strains of hybridized mushrooms
• Research about the comprehension of evolutionary and ecosystem restoration processes. (Phylogeography).
• Development of practical and viable schemes for the restoration of a cloud forest by testing different species assemblages.
• Establishment of schemes for the recovery of wetlands and springs in medium-altitude areas.
• Technological development for treating wastewater using algae.
Expected products
• Patents and technological innovations.
•Creation of new nano-biomaterials and their application in the processes of industrial manufacture and solving environmental problems.
• Cutting-edge scientific articles.
• Formation of high level human resources and to promote interest in the Scientific Careers among Children and the Young.
• Formulas/schemes to control some agricultural pests and vectors of diseases for example: fruit flies, the golden nematode and several defoliator worms.
• Articles of dissemination of Science.
All photographs showed in this document were taken in the Cloud Forest Sanctuary and the Clavijero Botanic Garden of the INECOL.
Martín R. Aluja Schuneman Hofer, PhD., Director of the Institute of Ecology
Clavijero Botanic Garden
Photographs © Instituto de Ecología, A.C.
Xalapa, Veracruz, México 2011
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Home News Education
Nassau program offers job opportunities for vets
More than 300 jobs will be made available Thursday to Long Island-based U.S. armed forces veterans and their families.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the New York National Guard are teaming up for a Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair, slated to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Farmingdale. Veterans, active National Guard and Reserve members and military spouses are invited to participate, according to a release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.
The event is slated to kick off at 8:30 a.m. with an employment workshop focused on résumé-writing, interview skills and critical job-search techniques. Led by human resources and other workforce professionals, the workshops “focus heavily on skills and tips that will successfully prepare [job candidates] for completing an interview,” according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Volunteer coaches will conduct mock interviews and help participants develop personal elevator pitches, the foundation noted. While the job fair is free for veterans and their families, advance registration is required for the workshop. For more information, visit the event website.
Nassau County executive Edward Mangano said veteran-employment efforts “should be our highest priority,” while Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa) noted “veterans have sacrificed so much to help our nation and our freedom” and thanked Cuomo and other event partners for arranging the job fair.
In addition to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the New York National Guard, event partners include the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, the Suffolk County Veteran’s Service Agency, the New York State Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion.
There was no immediate word on potential employers that may be participating in the event, although the governor’s release noted “more than 60 employers.”
Cuomo said the event was being held to “do everything we can” to support “dedicated service men and women who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.”
“We are setting the stage for veterans to succeed after they return home,” Cuomo said in the release. “I encourage Long Island veterans and their families to … learn more about how the state can help them advance their careers.”
TOPICS:armed forces veteransEd ManganoFarmingdalejob fairNassau Countynews
New patent, new goals for automated-text ace
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Green Bank inks four solar deals
Cohen awarded top trauma designation
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House Status: Adjourned until Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.
Senate Status: Adjourned until Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 02:30 p.m.
Section 9 »
18-109. Chase. The county of Chase is bounded as follows: Commencing at a point where the township line between townships seventeen and eighteen south crosses the western boundary line of Lyon county; thence south with the range line between ranges nine and ten east, to the township line between townships twenty-two and twenty-three south; thence west with said township line, to the southwest corner of section thirty-six, range five east; thence north on section line, to the northwest corner of section one, township twenty, range five; thence east to the range line between ranges five and six; thence north with said range line, to the township line between townships seventeen and eighteen south; thence east with said township line, to the place of beginning.
History: G.S. 1868, ch. 24, § 10; Oct. 31; R.S. 1923, 18-109.
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Learning Cyrillic Selected Stories David Albahari
Translated from the Serbian by Ellen Elias-Bursać
Format (cm): 20
Using the fine strokes of his familiar melancholic narrative, in Learning Cyrillic Albahari offers us an entire palette of finesses in this masterful portrait of identity. Against the background of the immigrant experience, the author presents us cameos which show the multi-faceted relationships of his characters with their surroundings. Here we have the intimate workings of the marital matrix, the gap (or exchange…) between generations, the relationship between a newcomer in the New World with the Native Americans, the struggle between the retention of one’s devotion to birthplace and the need to fit into one’s adopted homeland – the contrasts are stark and thought-provoking. Albahari’s short stories in this volume echo with the contemporary theme of our loss of and subsequent search for identity. Presented with his particular flare for the ironic and subtle, these stories are simply breathtaking.
David Albahari was born in Serbia in 1948 and emigrated to Canada in 1994. He is the author of thirteen novels and eleven collections of short stories. Description of Death, a collection of short stories won the Ivo Andric Award in 1982. His novel Bait won the NIN Award as the best novel published in Serbia in 1996. His books have been translated into twenty languages. Six of his books have been translated into English, including Goetz and Meyer, which won the ALTA award, and Leeches which has been described as “a bold response to Serbia’s bloodstained history.” One of his stories was selected for Best European Fiction 2010, edited by Aleksandar Hemon. David Albahari has translated into Serbian many books by contemporary British, American, Australian and Canadian authors, including stories and novels by S. Bellow, I. B. Singer, T. Pynchon, M. Atwood, V. S. Naipaul and V. Nabokov. He has also translated plays by Sam Shepard, Sarah Kane, Caryl Churchill and Jason Sherman. He was a participant in the International Writing Program in Iowa (1986) and International Writer-in-Residence at the University of Calgary, under the auspices of Markin-Flanagan Distinguished Writers Program (1994-95). He lives in Calgary, Canada, with his wife and their two children.
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Administrator Spotlight: Western Oregon's Chris Thew
Chris Thew spent most of his first year at Western Oregon focusing on athletic training duties with the Wolves' football program.
Part of a regular series.
Throughout the year, GNACsports.com uses this space to profile conference student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. Collectively, it is these individuals who make the GNAC one of the top NCAA Division II athletic conferences in the nation.
Name: Chris Thew
Institution: Western Oregon
Years at Institution: 1
Hometown: Cove, Ore.
Colleges Attended & Degrees: Eastern Oregon University (Undergraduate, Physical Education and Health), University of Nebraska at Omaha (Graduate, Athletic Training)
Sports In Which You Have Served As A Primary Athletic Trainer: Football and cross country.
What Prompted Your Interest In A Career In Athletic Training: Like many athletic trainers, I was drawn to the profession because of the thrill being involved in athletics and helping people participate in physical activity to the best of their ability. I grew up loving sports and knew from a very early age that I wanted to remain connected as long as I could. I found out about athletic training in high school and knew that was going to be the job for me. I love medicine and helping people, so I couldn't think of a better profession than athletic training.
Who Has Been The Biggest Influence On Your Career: I have had numerous people that have influenced me in my career, and I truly believe that there are always people to learn from throughout your career. The two most influential people in my career were both involved in my early education and helped inspire me to be my best. The first person was Ken Kladnik at Eastern Oregon University. He helped fuel the passion and drive to pursue athletic training through its ups and downs. The second person is Rusty McKune at University of Nebraska at Omaha. He helped drive me to continue to seek opportunities to learn and grow in education and experiences beyond what is provided at school. Without these two individuals, I wouldn't be who I am and where I am as a professional.
For You Personally, What Are The Most Satisfying Aspects Of Being An Athletic Trainer: The most satisfying aspect of athletic training to me is when I get to help an athlete recover from an injury and be just as successful, if not more, than they were prior to their injury. To help somebody through the physical and mental turmoil of injury is very rewarding.
What Are The Most Challenging Aspects Of The Job: The most challenging aspect of being an athletic trainer for me is the balancing act of being a husband, father and an athletic trainer. The volume of time that it takes to be a good athletic trainer can really grind on a family and I am extremely lucky to have a family that supports my career. It is also challenging to find a position that is equally supportive of your family life and I am lucky to have that at Western Oregon.
What Is The Most Misunderstood Aspect Of The Athletic Training Profession: I feel the most misunderstood aspect of athletic training is the perception that we are water-boys (girls) or personal trainers. People tend to not understand that we are medical professionals. We as athletic trainers have an extensive education combined with practical experiences that develop us to be an integral part of the overall healthcare of, not just athletes, but anyone involved in physical activity.
What Is One Key Element Of Your Job That Most People Would Not Realize: I think the what most people don't realize is that what they see on TV or at a sporting venue is only 10 percent of what we do as athletic trainers. People don't see the times that we show up to work before 5 a.m. to do treatments before morning practices or the late nights spent traveling. They also miss the hours spent helping athletes rehab their injuries or the hours of documentation that we have to do.
What Has Been The Biggest Change In Athletic Training During Your Career: I believe that one of the biggest changes in athletic training has been the educational process. Athletic training has really made strides to become more scientifically based which helps the profession continue to provide the most up to date practices. Hopefully, this continues to help athletic trainers to progress our profession in the medical community and our various job settings.
What Do You See As Primary Health Concerns Currently In College Athletics: I feel that the primary health concerns in college athletics, besides orthopedics, are with the mental, nutritional and cardiac health of the athletes. Treatment of the athletes’ overall health is becoming much more prevalent and important in getting positive outcomes. As an athletic trainer, it is important to not just focus in on the specific injury of an athlete when there could be other health aspects that might need to be addressed to truly help the athlete.
What Advice Would You Give To A High School Or College Student Interested In Pursuing A Career In Athletic Training: I would encourage anybody wanting to explore athletic training to spend some time shadowing in various job settings. It is a hard job to really grasp without actually spending time observing. Talk to athletic trainers, find out what drives their passion and what are their biggest frustrations with the profession. If the person finds the desire to join athletic training, then they need to jump in and enjoy the ride.
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Ex Microsoft marketing honcho targets tall apparel
By David Needle | January 12, 2011
One of the great things about being tall is that people look up to you -- and that's about it, everything else is a hassle.
Okay, just kidding, and heck at 5' 10" I wouldn't know. But there is one definite hassle to being tall, finding a good selection of clothes in the right size.
It's a problem that's been nagging 6' 3" Mark Tindall for years. Finally, the former Microsoft marketing manager, who jokes about his "freakishly long arms," said he decided to do something about it, co-founding [Longshot Apparel](http://www.tallshirts.com.), an online store that specializes in custom-fit shirts for tall men.
"I had spent my time, eight years, being at a large corporation and knew I wanted to do something new, said Tindall. "As it turns out I was laid off in July, which was fantastic."
Most people wouldn't think being laid off is "fantastic" but Tindall says he's excited about the potential of his new business.
"There's a lot of frustration for guys my height and taller buying clothes off the rack. It drives me crazy because as you go up in size to buy a shirt that's long enough in the sleeves, all the other dimensions increase and it doesn't fit. Basically, you can't wear the cool clothes everyone else wears," he says. "I've always wanted to take care of that problem."
I checked with one of my basketball pals, 6' 6" Lyle Smith (no I don't guard him, but I love his screens), who confirmed Longshot Apparel is targeting a real need among taller, relatively fit guys.
"There is a market for tall and in shape. I have found that all the big and tall stores are generally just that -- tall and big rather than tall or big," said Smith. "Sometimes I can find clothes there, but often times not. I have gotten a lot of my dress shirts from Nordstroms and have been fairly happy with them although they of course are not a tailored fit."
Smith notes there are other alternatives, like [J. Hilburn](http://jhilburn.com/), that provides an online guide to custom apparel and "Personal Style Advisor's" you can schedule an in-person fitting with depending on your location.
Longshot Apparel's shirts can of course be purchased from anywhere since sales are all online. Tindall says the shirts are all designed and manufactured in the United States from Italian fabric for men 6' 1" to 6' 8" tall.
"We had to start from scratch to redefine fit for the tall, lean guy," says Susan Clare, one of the partners and an ex-marketing executive from Adidas. We developed our own Tailored Taller formula. Other brands simply make the shirt bigger all over rather than addressing the specific needs of someone who is tall and fit."
For now the company has a limited choice of shirts that are priced at $175, but Tindall says he expects the selection to ramp up. They're also trying to allay buyer's fears about buying online and getting the wrong size. Each shirt comes with free ground shipping and a free return policy.
"We want to take a page from Zappos and reduce the friction that comes with buying online," says Tindall. "So 'Don't charge me shipping and restocking fees, send me three shirts and I'll send back the ones I don't like or don't fit.' That's fine with us."
It's all quite a ways from Tindall's experience at Microsoft where he was involved in consumer marketing, entertainment and devices as well as some of the big retail launches of Windows and Office.
**The ex-Microsoft guy hops on the open source bandwagon**
While his former colleagues wish him well, he admits "more than a few eyebrows were raised" in response to his decision to use open source software (including the Magento ecommerce platform) to run the Longshot Apparel site.
But Tindall says it really wasn't a hard choice. "Some of the better products for ecommerce are open source," he said. "When you work at a company like Microsoft, it's all about scale and that played into my decision of what software to use - how could I drive scale without a huge infrastructure? And one of the great things is how well these programs work with search engine optimization.
A browser optimized for tablets?
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The Early Years of the Military Lodge of Ireland 728 (1846 - 1922)
and Some of its Famous Brethren
by R.W.Bro. Noel H. Ingram PC (1990), reproduced from the Lodge of Research No. CC Transactions, 1991-1993, Volume XXII, pages 116-130 [Irish Masonic History has added several pictures which did not appear with the Paper]
A Warrant to establish Lodge 728 in the City of Dublin was issued by Grand Lodge in 1846 to Bros. Sir Edward Borough Bart.(1), James Kenny and Viscount Suirdale. The first meeting was held at Freemason's Hall, Dame Street on Friday 14th August, 1846 to open the lodge and install officers. There were nine brethren present. The title "Military Lodge of Ireland" came later.
Things were anything but good in that year of 1846 in Ireland. The country was facing a second winter without a potato crop.
In November of the previous year a public committee had been formed of prominent citizens presided over by the Duke of Leinster who was our Grand Master. The committee also included Daniel O'Connell.
It urged the Lord Lieutenant Lord Heytesbury to adopt a set of measures drawn up by O'Connell "to avert calamity". They included the immediate stoppage of the export of corn, the prohibition of distilling and brewing, the throwing open of the ports for free import of food, the establishment of food stores and provision for employment on works of public utility.
The suggestions were ignored and famine stalked the land.
In December 1846 some relief was provided by a committee under the Marquess of Kildare, son of Leinster and over £63,000 was collected.
One of the founder brethren of Lodge 728 was Sir Edward Borough, Bart. In Thorn's directory of 1847 he is listed as representing Armitt and Co., army agents and militia staff agents of 18 Leinster Street, Dublin. He was the lodge's first secretary and was WM for the first six months of 1847. He was to become Deputy Grand Master in 1869.
Sir Edward Borough, Bart.
Sir William Betham
Another early brother was Sir William Betham(2), a brilliant archivist, who was appointed Ulster King of Arms in 1820 and was also elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy. He died in 1853 and is buried at Monkstown. [R E Parkinson, editor of Lodge 200 and author of volume two of the History of GL of Ireland has an interesting opinion on page 154 of that book Ed.]
Lodge 728 held eleven meetings in 1848. Almost from the outset it was used as a vehicle for raising military brethren to the Third Degree. From 1846 to the outbreak of the Great War over 200 candidates were passed through and received their Master Mason certificates.
In July 1849 Bro. P. W. Redmond PM presented the lodge with three ivory mauls. These are still in use.
The early years were a bit of a struggle as the average attendance was only eight and sometimes meetings could not be held because of insufficient numbers. But from 1852 onwards emergency meetings were often held so that military brethren could be initiated without delay when they received a foreign posting.
On 26th August, 1853 Lt. Col. Sir Thomas George Hesketh Bart. of the King's Dragoon Guards was balloted for and admitted. Two evenings later he was raised to the Second Degree and to the Sublime Degree on the same night - five days to become a Master Mason!
On 17th March, 1854 Lt. Garnet Joseph Wolseley of the 90th Light Infantry Regiment was proposed for candidature at 21 years of age. He was later to become famous about which more anon.
Field-Marshal Viscount Wolseley
On 3rd August, 1854 Washington Sewallis Shirley 9th Earl Ferrars who lived at Salthill, Monkstown, County Dublin was admitted. Shortly after that the lodge started to hold its quarterly dinners at Salthill Hotel, Monkstown, long since demolished.
Lord Ferrars had a vicarious claim to fame - an ancestor of his - the 4th Earl was the last nobleman to be hanged in England. In January 1760 in a rage he killed his old land steward, was tried by his peers at Westminster Hall and hanged at Tyburn.
The Crimean War began in October 1853. Colonel George Browne one of the lodge's earliest members fought at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. Another brother, Hamilton Finlay also took part. He wrote a letter to the Lodge from Camp Headquarters, Sevastopol dated 7thJune, 1853 thanking the Brethren for their good wishes. It is recorded in full in the minutes.
On 18th January, 1856 Br Dr Joliffe Tufnell(3) was installed as W.M. In 1841 he had taken membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in England and entered the army as an assistant surgeon of the 44th Essex Regiment, then serving in India. On reaching Calcutta he took medical charge of all the troops as they arrived from England remaining at base until the last detachment had landed.
To this delay Bro. Tufnell owed his life, for while proceeding up country to Kabul the massacre of the 44th took place. One officer and seven men only surviving from the entire regiment.
He returned to England in October 1841 and served with the 3rd Dragoon Guards at Dublin and Cork.
He then settled in private practice in Dublin and became the first Fellow by examination of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, subsequently lecturing in military hygiene in St. Vincent's Hospital and The Royal City of Dublin Hospital, Baggot Street. He then went to study injuries inflicted in the Russo - Turkish war of 1854 and was in the Crimea in 1856.
His portrait hangs in the hall of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland on St Stephen's Green. He was President of that august body in 1874.
His writings on the subject of aneurysm were important and he devised a number of surgical instruments including a bullet extractor which was used widely during the Crimean War.
He died on 27th November, 1885 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.
On Friday 16th November, 1855 the lodge meeting was adjourned because of the death of Sir Edward Borough's eldest son from injuries received in the attack on the Redan redoubt in the Crimea.
In September 1856 a memorial was presented to Grand Lodge "for permission for this lodge to style itself the Military Lodge of Ireland". An early reply from the Deputy Grand Secretary Lucius H. Deering confirmed that Grand Lodge was pleased to grant such permission.
The secretary also reported that he had applied to His Grace the Duke of Leinster, the Grand Master for his approval for an application to be made to HM the Queen through the Secretary of State for Home Affairs for Her Majesty's sanction to prefix the word "Royal" to the name of the Lodge. The Grand Master replied that he had no objection to the lodge obtaining Her Majesty's sanction.
If the matter of obtaining permission for the Royal prefix was ever pursued I cannot trace any reference to it in the minute books. The idea seems to have rested with the Grand Master's permission to request sanction.
On 6th August, 1869 the brethren agreed that ten shillings be paid from lodge funds for the relief of a Mrs Margaret Griffith. The money was granted to help her to join her parents in Glasgow. The WM, secretary and Assistant Secretary all believed her to be the wife of a brother mason for whom she had been searching unsuccessfully in Dublin. A rather strange story!
For the first 23 years of the lodge's existence the vast majority of candidates were military personnel but from 1869 onwards there was a sprinkling of civilians. The financial balance in hand that year was £31.01s.09p.
At nearly all lodge meetings memorials were presented and monies paid from Lodge funds and the usual charity collections taken up and various donations made.
Sometimes there was a note of the reason for the request for help - in the case of a previous pupil of the Female Orphan School it was in order to emigrate to Canada, and in another case to assist in the purchase of a sewing machine for a deceased brother's widow. Occasionally a donation was approved for a particular applicant but he was told not to apply again!
At the Lodge meeting of 16th October, 1874 it was decided "that in consequence of the lamented death of our late Grand Master his Grace the Duke of Leinster, all business was adjourned as a mark of respect to the memory of him who presided over the Order in Ireland for more than sixty years and whose loss to the Order we believe to be irreparable".
At a meeting held on 18th December, 1874 it was agreed that a committee be appointed "to consider the subject of The Lodge for Study of Masonry and to report thereon". After one meeting it seems to have petered out. It would seem that there was some interest in research - or was it instruction? I can trace no further references to it in the minute books nor in the Grand Lodge records of that time.
On 11th December, 1901 HRH The Duke of Connaught accepted with pleasure his enrolment as an honorary member. The original letter from his ADC is in the minute book.
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught
and Strathearn.
Let us return to Lt. Garnett Wolseley who joined the Lodge at 21 years of age on St Patrick's Day, 1854. Viscount Wolseley, as he was later to become was born at Golden Bridge House, Inchicore, Dublin in 1833. He had already seen action and been wounded in the Burmese War of 1852-53 and been mentioned in despatches. In the Crimean War he was severely wounded and lost the sight of an eye, was again mentioned in despatches and received the Legion of Honour. He served in India during the Mutiny and in the Chinese War of 1860. In 1861, now a Lt. Col. he sailed for Canada and put down the Red River Rebellion without losing a man. This rebellion was led by the Canadian insurgent Louis Riel.
Bro. Wolseley, now a Major General and Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, next commanded the Ashanti Expeditionary Force. On his return he received the thanks of Parliament and a grant of £25,000. In 1882 he was gazetted Baron Wolseley of Cairo and Staffordshire (where his forebears came from) and was promoted to General.
Following the abortive mission to the Sudan in 1884 which failed to save General Gordon, Wolseley was elevated to a Viscountcy and then came over to Ireland where he served as C in C from 1890 to 1895. He was installed as W M of Lodge 728 in January 1893, serving for two terms, and did not miss a meeting in that time. In 1894 he was made a Field Marshal and was Father of the Lodge from 18.01.1895.
He shortly afterwards left Ireland for Whitehall to take over from 1895 to 1900 as C-in-C of the British Army.
He wrote a number of Army hand-books, "A Life of Marlborough" and "The Decline and Fall of Napoleon" and a novel called "Marley Castle".
He died in 1913.
Major-General Sir Hugh McCalmont
Col. Hugh McCalmont CB(4) of 16 Merrion Square became a member in 1894 when Wolseley was in the Chair. He was later to become Major General Sir Hugh McCalmont KCB, CVO., of Mount Juliet, Kilkenny, an estate of 1600 acres - his old home. Part of the estate is now a luxury hotel and leisure centre.
He also had a distinguished military career but in Ireland he attained fame as a racehorse owner and trainer, being the owner of one of the greatest sires of all time, The Tetrarch. He could play the piano and organ and compose music, and his memorial service at St. Georges, Hanover Square on 5th May, 1924 came to an end to the strain of one of his own marches.
Incidentally at the Lodge meeting on the night that Bro. McCalmont was balloted for with W.Bro. Wolseley in the Chair a letter was read from Br0. Pollocks asking for a subscription towards the claypigeon shooting club (not named) "which gives its earnings to Masonic charities". Ten shillings was granted. The lodge partook fully, with the help of Lady Wolseley and the Ladies' committee in running a stall comprising childrens' clothing and fancy goods at the Centenary Bazaar at the Royal Dublin Society in 1892.
On Friday 17th April, 1896 Field-Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria and Waterford, VC, Commander of the Forces in Ireland was balloted for and admitted. For the sake of brevity I shall not refer to his earlier military campaigns.
Field-Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar,
Pretoria and Waterford, V.C.
In November 1897 he is bracketed with Bro. O.M. Robinson as Junior Warden in the minutes, but he declined the invitation due to his many official duties. On 18th March, 1898 Field Marshal Lord Roberts wrote to the Lodge secretary regretting that he would be unable to attend at refreshment as he was leaving town. Other than his original admission, I cannot find that he ever attended the lodge whilst it was at Labour, but it would seem that he had no objection to attending refreshment!
In December 1899 Bro. Field Marshal Lord Roberts was appointed C-in-C of the Forces in South Africa. Just before he sailed, two days before Christmas 1899, he was informed that his only son Lieutenant, the Hon. Frederick Roberts had died of wounds at Colenso. He was posthumously awarded the V.C. This is one of only three instances of father and son both being awarded the Victoria Cross.
Lord Roberts was devastated by his son's death. He wrote to his wife that "the rent in my heart seems to stifle all feelings... I could not help thinking how different it would have been if our dear boy had been with me. Honours, rewards and congratulations have no value for me".
The war was going badly for Britain when Lord Roberts took command. There had been reverse after reverse, and in the High Command there was, let us not put a tooth in it, enmity between Roberts and Wolseley, there was a "Roberts ring" and a "Wolseley ring" in the army. Make no mistake about it, in the field these brethren were two of Britain's most famous fighting generals but there were serious differences of opinion between them as to the conduct of the war.
And to give some idea of War Office blunders regarding supplies: the army had just decided to change its standard rifle from the Lee Metford to the Lee Enfield. The two weapons were the same, except for the rifling, but no one had noticed that this changed the sighting. There was consternation at the War Office that December of 1898 because 25,000 reservists had gone to South Africa with rifles that fired eighteen inches to the right at 500 yards. All these rifles had to be re-sighted. Also some dum-dum ammunition was issued and had to be recalled. It was not used but other ammunition labelled "Dum-Dum", was captured by the Boers and caused an international furore. It was actually standard issue made at Dum-Dum in India.
Despite all these setbacks Roberts pressed on to relieve Kimberley and made the great advance to Pretoria in June 1900. He came home in 1901 victorious, and was created an Earl; he then served as Commander-in-Chief until the abolition of the post in 1904.
He died in the autumn of 1914, in his 83rd year whilst on a visit to his beloved India troops fighting in France with the British Expeditionary Force at St. Omer.
"Little Bobs", as he was referred to by Kipling, was but five feet two inches in height. He was immensely popular with his troops.
Brethren of Lodge 728 fought in almost every campaign from Balaclava to the battles of the Great War and many were decorated for bravery. Twenty-eight brethren served in the Great War.
After the Easter Rebellion of 1916 the surrender of the insurgents under Countess Marcievitz in the Royal College of Surgeons in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin was accepted by Major Henry de Courcy Wheeler. His Smith & Wesson revolver is on display in the National Museum. As a captain he had been balloted for on 18.04.1902 and the ballot was declared clear but I cannot trace that he ever joined the Lodge.
This completes an outline of the first 77 years of the history of The Military Lodge of Ireland 728, and some of the brethren who forged its history.
In 1986 Peace Love and Harmony Lodge 666 of Dublin, dating from 1864, amalgamated with Lodge 728 under 728's number, title and warrant. The chains of office of the worshipful master, senior warden and junior warden of 666 are worn by the officers of the amalgamated lodge. These chains, sometimes on display in the museum at Freemasons' Hall, are insured for £15,000. They were presented to Peace Love and Harmony Lodge in 1864 by Davenport Crosthwaithe, past Grand Deacon and Lodge 666's first worshipful master.
I shall end this paper by relating an interesting event. On the Junior Warden's collar there is a silver plate on which is inscribed:
"This Collar was seized and removed from
the Masonic Hall while the building was
being forcibly occupied by the Belfast
Refugees and Irregular Forces in April 1922.
Eight months afterwards, it was found
uninjured in the area of the building, having
been deposited there by some unknown
person."
Source References:
C. Woodham-Smith, The Great Hunger: Hamish Hamilton, London, 1962.
The Autobiography of William Carleton: MacGibbon & Kee, London. 1968.
Sir Charles A Cameron, History of the Royal Dublin College of Surgeons in Ireland and of the Irish Schools of Medicine, Fanning & Co, Dublin, 1916.
Dr A M 0'Sullivan, Historical and Topographical Notes on Mt. Juliet, Thomastown and and Central County Kilkenny, 1988.
Thomas Pakenham, The Boer War: Weidenfield & Nicholson Ltd, London, 1979.
Thorn's Directory of Ireland, 1847.
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. II, pp 424-5.
Having presented this paper I am indebted to a number of people. My thanks are due to R.W. Bro. Jack Magowan former WM of Lodge of Research No. 200 and also former Secretary of the Military Lodge of Ireland No. 728. It was he who encouraged me to write it. I also thank W Br Joe Mcllveen for helpful suggestions, W Br Barry Lyons, Asst. to the Grand Secretary for his ever ready assistance, our editor W.Bro. Victor McCaughan and W.Bro. William Watson for their advice. I thank W.Bro. Frederick Smyth, PM of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 for information on the Masonic origins of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts. Also I am very grateful to Mr Paul Doyle of the National Museum, Miss Mary O'Doherty of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the staff of the National Library of Ireland, the library staff of the Royal Dublin Society and the photographic section of the National Army Museum, London. All these people took time to assist me.
Footnotes: [added by Irish masonic History]
(1) Edward Richard Borough, 2nd baronet, Merrion Square, was elected a life member of the R.D.S. on 23rd February, 1843, and was a member of the botany committee 1843-4. His proposers were Sir William Betham and James Robert Stewart. According to Debrett (1877) he was born in l800, educated at Westminster school and Christ Church, Oxford, and succeeded to the baronetcy in 1837. He was the head of the firm of army agents, Armit (q.v.) and Company, South Leinster Street, and married in 1831 Lady Elizabeth St Lawrence, daughter of the 2nd earl of Howth. Sir E. R. Borough was Dublin city sheriff in 1841-2, and a governor of St Patrick's Hospital 1849-60. As chairman of the Dublin sanitary committee he officially supported publication of William Hogan's (q.v.) paper on lodging houses for the poor, 28th December, 1848. The R.D.S. executive council refused his request for a room in which to run a bazaar to raise funds for the Dublin sanitary association, 12th February, 1852, however he was given permission to hold meetings of the association in the R.D.S. theatre, 19th January, 1854. The grounds for declining his earlier request was that there were deep divisions within the society on the propriety of using the premises to hold bazaars for any purpose. However, on 5th November, 1857 he was also refused permission to hold the regular meetings of the sanitary association on the R.D.S. premises. A Justice of the Peace, and County Deputy Lieutenant, he owned 523 acres of property in County Roscommon and in Coolock, County Dublin. The R.D.S. listed his addresses as 18 Leinster Street (1858), 4 Nassau Street (1859-72), 28 College Green (1873-8) and Glenaveena, Howth (1866-78).
(2) Sir William Betham (1779–1853) was an English herald and antiquarian, the Ulster King of Arms from 1820 until his death in 1853. He had previously served as the Deputy Ulster from 1807 to 1820. Betham was born at Stradbrook in Suffolk on 22 May 1779, the eldest son of the Reverend William Betham and Mary Damant. He was knighted in 1812. Betham took an active part in the proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, from the period of his admission to it as a member in 1820. He became one of its governing body, acted as secretary, and made contributions to its publications.He died suddenly on 26th October, 1853 at his home in Rockford, County Dublin, having spent the previous day writing letters at the Office at Arms. He is buried in Carrickbrennan Churchyard at Monkstown, County Dublin. Betham’s original notebooks are now in the National Archives of Ireland and the Genealogical Office, Dublin has his sketch pedigrees based on his will abstracts.
(3) Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 57, by D'Arcy Power - THOMAS JOLLIFFE TUFNELL, (1819-1885), surgeon, fifth son of John Charles Tufnell, lieutenant-colonel of the Middlesex militia, by his wife Uliana Ivaniona, only daughter of John Fowell, rector of Bishopsbourne, Kent, was born at Lackham House, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, on 23 May 1819. He was educated at Dr. Radcliffe's school at Salisbury, and was apprenticed in 1836 to Samuel Luscombe of Exeter, then senior surgeon to the Devon and Exeter Hospital. Tufnell proceeded to London after studying at Exeter for three years, and entered at St. George's Hospital under Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie (1783–1862) [q. v.] and Cæsar Hawkins. He was admitted a member of the College of Surgeons of England in May 1841, and on 11 June in the same year he entered the army as assistant surgeon to the 44th regiment, then serving in India. He proceeded to Calcutta, and took medical charge of all the troops as they arrived from England, remaining for this purpose at Chinsurah until the last detachment had landed at Christmas. By this delay he was hindered from participating in the disastrous campaign in Afghanistan in 1842, in which the 44th regiment was almost annihilated. He returned to England in October, and was posted to the 3rd dragoon guards, with whom he served at Dundalk, Dublin, and Cork. In 1844 he was married, and determined to leave the service and settle in private practice. On 14th April, 1846 he accordingly obtained his transfer to the army medical staff at Dublin, and shortly afterwards accepted as a life appointment the post of surgeon to the Dublin district military prison. He was admitted in 1845 the first fellow by examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, and in 1846 he fitted up a class-room and lectured on military hygiene. He also lectured upon this subject at the St. Vincent and Bagot Street hospitals until his appointment as regius professor of military surgery in the College of Surgeons in 1851. He lectured in this capacity until 1860, when the chair was abolished by the government as a result of the foundation of the Netley military school. Tufnell again saw service; for in the war between Russia and Turkey, after passing down the Danube in 1854, he went to the Crimea with a Scottish regiment. He acted as an examiner in surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, but he resigned the post on becoming a candidate for the office of vice-president in 1873. He served the college as president in 1874–5, and he was for more than twenty years surgeon to the City of Dublin Hospital. He died on 27 Nov. 1885, and is buried in Mount Jerome cemetery, near Dublin. In 1844 he was married to Henrietta, daughter of Croasdaile Molony of Granahan, and widow of Robert Fannin. By her he left two daughters: Iva, married to Peter Leslie Peacocke; and Florence, married to Thomas Turbitt of Owenston.
Tufnell wrote: 1. ‘Practical Remarks on the Treatment of Aneurism,’ Dublin, 1851, 8vo. 2. ‘The Successful Treatment of Internal Aneurism,’ London, 1864, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1875. He also devised various surgical instruments.
[Biographical notice in Sir Charles Cameron's History of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 1886, p. 422; obituary notices in the British Medical Journal, 1885, ii. 1088, and in the Trans. Royal Medical and Chirurg. Soc. 1886, lxix. 18; Burke's Landed Gentry, 1898.]
(4) Major-General Sir Hugh McCalmont KCB CVO (1845 – 2nd May, 1924) was a British politician. He was elected as an Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for North Antrim in 1895, resigning in 1899 by becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead. McCalmont was commissioned into the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1865. He saw service in the Red River Rebellion in 1870, the Third Anglo-Ashanti War in 1873 and the Russo-Turkish War in 1877. McCalmont also took part in the South African War in 1879, the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1879 and the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882 as well as the Nile Expedition in 1884. In 1884 he became aide-de-camp to General Wolseley. He was elected as an Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for North Antrim in 1895 but resigned in 1899 by becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead. He became General Officer Commanding 8th Division in Ireland in 1902. He lived at Abbeylands sited within the townland of White Abbey, which the village of Whiteabbey takes its name, near Belfast, County Antrim until it was burnt down in 1914 in a firebomb attack by Suffragette radicals. In 1885 he married the Hon. Rose Elizabeth Bingham, daughter of John Charles Robert Bingham, 4th Baron Clanmorris of Newbrook.
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Kenneth Waters
Other Massachusetts Cases with Perjury or False Accusations
Kenneth Waters and his sister, Betty Ann Waters
On the morning of May 21, 1980, 48-year-old Katherina Reitz Brow was stabbed to death in her home in Ayer, Massachusetts. Her body was found at 10:45 a.m. — she had been stabbed more than 30 times and her linen closet had been ransacked. There were bloodstains throughout the house and the kitchen faucet was running. Her purse, some jewelry and an envelope where she kept cash were all missing.
Investigating officers responded to the victim’s house shortly after her daughter-in-law discovered her body. Crime scene investigators recovered hairs, blood and fingerprints in the house, including two fingerprints in blood — one on a toaster in the kitchen and the other on the running faucet — that were considered potentially tied to the perpetrator. The apparent murder weapon, a bloody paring knife, was collected from a wastebasket in the house.
Twenty-five-year-old Kenny Waters became a suspect because he lived next to the victim, with his girlfriend, Brenda Marsh. He worked at the Park Street Diner in Ayer, where Brow was a frequent customer. It was apparently known to diner employees that Brow kept a large amount of cash in her home.
Waters was questioned by police on the day after the crime and provided an strong alibi that he had worked until 8:30 a.m. on the day Brow was killed and a coworker had driven him home. He changed clothes and had been in the Ayer courthouse for a 9 a.m. appearance with his attorney. He said he left the courthouse after 11 a.m. and returned to the diner, where he stayed until 12:30 p.m. Officers examined his clothes and body and did not see any apparent blood stains or cuts. He was fingerprinted and questioned further but not charged. Four months later, officers asked Waters to submit to a voice stress test, which he did voluntarily and passed.
The case remained open for more than two years. In October 1982, a man named Robert Osborne, who was living with Marsh, Waters’ ex-girlfriend, approached the Ayer Police Department and allegedly offered to provide information on the murder in exchange for money.
Osborne said Marsh had told him that Waters confessed to her that he had killed a woman. It is unknown whether Osborne was ever compensated for the information he provided. Officers then interrogated Marsh and allegedly threatened to charge her as an accessory to murder and take away her children if she didn’t corroborate Osborne’s claim. She initially refused, saying Osborne’s statements were untrue. Eventually, however, she agreed to corroborate the details provided by Osborne. She told police that Waters had returned home on the morning of the murder with a long, deep scratch on his face. Based on these statements, Waters was charged with murder.
Waters’ trial began in Ayer in May 1983. Although police had collected and analyzed fingerprint evidence in the case and had used fingerprints from the toaster and faucet to exclude Waters and several other suspects during the investigation, these records were not provided by police to prosecutors. Therefore, the prosecution and defense proceeded with the trial under the false assumption that no fingerprints of value had been collected at the scene of crime.
The state’s case relied heavily on the statements of three witnesses. Marsh testified that she had seen the defendant with a scratch on his face and that he had admitted to her that he had killed Brow. Roseanna Perry, another former girlfriend of Waters, also initially told police that she had no information about the crime but after more than three hours of interrogation and threats of arrest, told them Waters had told her something about stabbing a woman and stealing her money and jewelry. She testified to this statement. A friend of Brow’s who worked with Waters at the Park Street Diner said Waters had sold her a ring that had belonged to the victim. She said she paid $5 for the ring and gave it to police. Workers from the packing company where Waters had previously worked stated that a knife similar to the one found at the crime scene had gone missing. The knife was manufactured by the company where the victim’s husband worked, however.
A forensic analyst also testified for the state about test results on blood from the crime scene. Blood types O and B were found in the apartment. The victim was type B and Waters and the victim’s husband were both type O. The analyst told the jury that 48% of the population has Type O blood. The analyst also testified that three hairs collected from the crime scene — including one in the victim’s hand and one on the murder weapon — did not match the victim or Waters.
Waters raised an alibi defense, saying that he was at work at the Park Street Diner until 8:30 a.m. and then at court until 10:45 a.m. His time card from that week, however, had gone missing and wasn’t presented as evidence. Although it has been revealed that police independently confirmed Waters’ work schedule during the investigation, this evidence was not disclosed.
Waters was convicted on May 11, 1983, and sentenced to life in prison.
Appeals and DNA Testing
Waters appealed his conviction several times between 1983 and 1999. Although Roseanna Perry recanted her trial testimony that Waters had admitted guilt, his appeals for a new trial and for federal habeas corpus relief were denied. Several times during this period, Waters and his representatives requested complete documents in the case from the Ayer police department, but were given the same incomplete documents used at trial. Critical evidence of Waters’ innocence, including the fingerprints and the timecards, was withheld.
After Waters’ conviction, his sister, Betty Anne Waters, sought to prove his innocence. She put herself through college and law school, all with the goal of exonerating her brother. In 1999, she located the Type O blood evidence collected from the scene of the crime and obtained a court order to preserve the evidence for possible DNA testing. In 2000, she began working with the Innocence Project on the case. Together Betty Anne Waters and the Innocence Project reached an agreement with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office to allow a private lab to conduct DNA testing on the evidence. The results excluded Waters and the victim’s husband, proving that Waters was not the perpetrator.
Reinvestigation and Exoneration
In March 2001, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab verified the DNA results, and Waters’ conviction was vacated two days later. After nearly 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Waters was freed while prosecutors considered whether to retry him.
The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office opened a new investigation of the case to determine whether to retry Waters. The reinvestigation was led by a state police officer, who found the police reports to be incomplete, and contacted Ayer police officers who had been involved in the original investigation. At this point, for the first time, the police turned over complete records from the case — including a police report confirming Waters’ work schedule and extensive documentation on the fingerprint evidence that had been collected before trial.
On June 19, 2001, the District Attorney’s office dropped all charges against Waters and his exoneration became official. Sadly, after only six months of freedom, Waters died in an accident on September 19, 2001.
Since his death, representatives of his estate have settled a civil lawsuit with the town of Ayer and its insurers for $3.4 million, and the case was the subject of a 2010 feature film, “Conviction.”
Summary courtesy of the Innocence Project, http://www.innocenceproject.org/. Reproduced with permission.
Posting Date: Before June 2012
County: Middlesex
Additional Convictions: Robbery
Sentence: Life
Contributing Factors: False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?: Yes
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« Smart Consumer: Keep fit on the cheap
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Laser-eye surgery for older folk
By admin | Published: August 28, 2012
Caption: Fergal Brehony, from Dublin, says getting Kamra is the best thing he’s ever done
Laser surgery for age-related sight defects is proving popular, writes John Cradden
IF YOU have to hold this newspaper at arm’s length, or squint your eyes while reading this on a screen, it could be well worth your while reading on.
A revolutionary new type of laser eye surgery has been introduced into Ireland over the past year that promises a lifelong solution to presbyopia, an age-related condition that affects all of us to some extent as we reach our 40s or older.
Put simply, as the natural lens inside the eye ages, it becomes less flexible, or stiffer, resulting in problems with things like reading words or focusing on objects up close.
Laser eye surgery to fix presbyopia is nothing new, and many older people fed up of fumbling with multiple reading glasses or contact lenses have opted for one of the well-established procedures available to help with the condition.
But the downside with these procedures, which use lasers to reshape the corneas to improve vision, is that any correction for reading vision may have to be done again in later years as the eyes continue to age.
The difference with the new procedure, called Kamra, is that it promises to offer a more permanent and much simpler fix for the condition.
It involves placing a tiny disk with a pin hole in the middle over the cornea.
William Power, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Blackrock Clinic, says the principle behind the idea is an age-old one but is well understood by professional photographers.
“Say you’re taking a photograph of a couple in front of you but you want the mountains behind them in focus as well, what you do is you narrow down the aperture, and that increases the range of the depth of focus. That’s the simple principle, and the same applies to Kamra.”
The inlay is also only inserted in one eye — the non-dominant eye that is used for reading.
Fergal Brehony (52) from Rathfarnham in Dublin, says that undergoing the Kamra procedure was “the best thing he has ever done”.
“For the majority of my life I had perfect vision. Then, like everybody else, once I hit around 40, I needed glasses.”
When he heard about Kamra earlier this year while at Blackrock Clinic, he needed little convincing.
“Even in terms of glasses, I am done now. There’s been an incredible benefit. I haven’t picked up my glasses since the day I had surgery.”
There was no pain or discomfort and, less than 24 hours afterwards, he was able to drive himself down to west Cork.
As well as offering a permanent fix to presbyopia, Kamra is also less of a compromise compared to other surgery procedures, according to Dr Arthur Cummings, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Wellington Eye Clinic and UPMC Beacon Hospital.
Conventional laser surgery involves trying to achieve something called monovision, he says, which means “making the one eye better for distance and making the other eye better for near. What the brain does is, it marries that information and keeps everything in focus, far and near.”
However, some people with perfect distance vision, but who need help with near vision, may not be able to cope with monovision (which can be demonstrated in the clinic or through contact lenses).
They often find, for instance, that while their near vision improves, their distance vision is affected.
‘That’s when Kamra makes sense,” says Cummings. “So you place the Kamra inlay into the reading eye, it improves the reading eye, but without the same loss of vision you get from monovision.”
Blackrock Clinic, which started doing Kamra about six months ago, has done the procedure on over 20 patients so far, while the Wellington, which has offered it for a year now, has done nearer 40.
“It’s growing month-on-month significantly,” says Power, who reports that most of his patients are in their 50s.
At Blackrock, over half of the patients have opted for Kamra in conjunction with conventional laser surgery.
“For a certain percentage of people, their distance vision, at that age, is also beginning to fade a little bit too, and what we find is that with a bit of Lasik, we can improve their distance vision and, with that, their near vision with Kamra also works better.”
This is what Chris Smith (52) from Sandymount in Dublin opted for.
He was fed up with years of fumbling around with multiple sets of reading glasses, and his distance vision had also deteriorated.
He says the two procedures together made a huge difference. “I can say that it has transformed my life. When you have to wear glasses, it compromises quality of life.”
Although the Kamra has been used in select clinics in the EU for up to five years, the company that has patented it has stepped up its availability over the past year.
There have been no reported problems with Kamra, although Power understands that it has failed to work for about one in 100 patients to date. But he points out that the procedure is completely reversible with no permanent damage, something that is likely to help its popularity among those squeamish about the risks of conventional laser surgery.
“You’re just back to square one,” he says.
The cost of the procedure alone is about €2,000 depending on the clinic, but the cost is reduced to about €1,000 if you have it along with a conventional laser surgery procedure, such as Lasik.
It’s not covered by health insurers, but you can offset it as a medical expense against your income tax at 20pc.
Both Brehony and Smith say it’s money well spent. Smith says that, in the longer term, he is likely to save money because of the number of times he was having to get new, stronger glasses every year.
“Apart from that, the improvement in the quality of life is the main thing.”
This article first appeared in the Irish Independent
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John Hemmer Archive
Screenings & Downloads
Meet John Hemmer
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The History of an Era
Teak Lewis at the Latin Quarter
1580 Broadway was the home of Lou Walters’ World Famous Latin Quarter and it was located between 47thand 48thstreets. It was and is a landmark three story wedge building that marks the northern boundary of Times Square. I say a wedge building because 48thstreet is longer than 47thstreet. The southern end of the building was famed for the signs where Broadway and Seventh Avenue crossed. The most famous sign was the neon Pepsi-Cola sign.
From 1936 to 1940 it had been the home of the Cotton Club after it moved from Harlem.
Lou Walters, the father of journalist Barbara Walters, opened the Latin Quarter in 1942. During his time at the club featured big name acts the likes of Frank Sinatra, The Andrew Sisters, Frankie Laine, Ella Fitzgerald, Patti Page, Sophie Tucker, Mae West, Diahann Carroll, and Milton Berle along with a line of chorus girls that concluded the show with a racy can-can dance.
Lou Walters left the business in the late 1950s. Earl Wilson, the columnist, described the new management in 1964 as “more expensive than the Copacabana, but then, the shows are bigger, ‘nakeder’ and longer.”
Teak Lewis as a patron at the Latin Quarter in New York City
I remember as a teenager my brother and I being taken there by my parents to celebrate either my Mother’s birthday or a Mother’s Day.
The entrance was all glass doors on 48th street with a huge canopy of light that spelled out “Latin Quarter”. Patrons climbed a flight of stairs toward two coat check rooms, while looking at the photos of the current attractions. Another flight took nightclub goers to the main level and presented additional photos of the coming performances.
It was a short walk to the Maitre d’s podium. He looked very impressive. As a teenager, I was even more impressed when I saw my step father shake his hand as if they were old friends. What I didn’t realize then was that he was being slipped a tip. The Maitre d’ snapped his finger high in the air and a waiter appeared out of nowhere to show us to our table.
I was a professional dancer by then and at a special audition for choreographer, Michael Kidd. I was hired to be in the chorus of Holly Golightly,a new show starring Mary Tyler Moore and Richard Chamberlin being produced by David Merrick. We played out of town in Philadelphia for four weeks and an additional four weeks in Boston. We then came into New York City as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Musical, only to close after three days of previews. Of course this was a great disappointment. My dream was to work on Broadway.
When I finally got hired as a dancer at the Latin Quarter, it was October of 1967 and I stayed with the same show until late August of 1968, ten months. It was then owned by E.M. Lowe. The production I was in was a revue that had played The Garden of Stars at Expo 1967 in Montreal, Canada. All of our costumes were made for us in Paris and were gorgeous. We performed at the Expo for three months. We had two weeks off before going into rehearsal to do the same show, but at the “Comedie Canadien”, a theater in downtown Montreal. We did that for another three months before going on a tour of the province of Quebec.
Teak Lewis (foreground) performs at the Latin Quarter in New York City, 1967
The week before we were to close, George Reich, who was the choreographer on this production as well, asked if I was interested in dancing at the Latin Quarter. E.M. Lowe was bringing the production to the New York City location on Broadway. Needless to say, I said “yes”.
We did three major production numbers and had a company that consisted of:
8 female dancers plus two lead female dancers
6 partially nude showgirls
1 male production singer
3 male dancers, plus a lead male dancer
I can recall being there with guest headliners such as Allan Jones, Red Buttons, The Everly Brothers, Rodney Dangerfield, Brenda Lee, Louis Armstrong and his AllStars, the Doodletown Pipers, and Georgie Kaye, among others.
Latin Quarter program for “Women’s World”, 1967
By the time we got to spring, our lead male dancer was getting tired of all the work. We did two shows a night and were off one day a week. By late spring I had become the alternate lead male dancer. But suddenly, I got the opportunity to join a new show going to the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico and I left the Latin Quarter at the end of August.
Early in 1969, the musicians were going to strike so they got a raise. Then the waiters threatened to strike, and they got a raise, but during a strike by the chorus girls, the nightclub was padlocked for non-payment of rent and closed. At the time, I was fortunately already in a touring company of Fiddler on the Roof.
When I was asked to dance at the Latin Quarter, I saw it as a second chance to fulfill my dream of Broadway, and ten months was a healthy run. Dreams do come true!
Learn more about Teak Lewis here.
(Blog post imagery courtesy, Teak Lewis)
Watch Teak’s oral history interview:
Meet the Entertainers: Teak Lewis from KirstenStudio on Vimeo.
Category: 1960s Choreography Dance Lou Walters' World Famous Latin Quarter Midcentury Nightclub Era Oral Histories Performing Arts
Tags: Allan Jones, Breakfast at Tiffany's the musical, Brenda Lee, Broadway, Copacabana, dance, David Metrik, Diahann Carroll, Doodletown Pipers, E.M. Lowe, El San Juan Hotel, Ella Fitzgerald, Expo '67, Fiddler on the Roof, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine, George Reich, Georgie Kaye, Holly Golightly, latin quarter, Lou Walters, Louis Armstrong, Mae West, Mary Tyler Moore, Micheal Kidd, Milton Berle, New York City history, Patti Page, performing arts, Red Buttons, Richard Chamberlin, Rodney Dangerfield, Sophie Tucker, The Andrew Sisters, The Everly Brothers, The Garden of Stars Expo '67
Teak Lewis
The History of An Era is part of a more expansive project that is John Hemmer Archive. The seed of the archive is the story of singer/performer, John Hemmer, his community and collection of memorabilia. He and his cohort entertained during the midcentury nightclub era in New York City and beyond. The project centers around a documentary, John Hemmer & the Showgirls and additional documentation of performer experiences. These recollections are captured in the film, oral history videos, the digitizing and cataloging of personal materials and written articles. These histories are also expressed through live panel discussions taking place at libraries, museums and festivals. The John Hemmer Archive seeks to become part of a formal institutional collection. Its mission is to make available to future generations, the opportunity to learn and celebrate mid-20th century live entertainment and the performers who delighted thousands of patrons before popular culture changed the nightlife society landscape forever.
Lou Walters' World Famous Latin Quarter
New York history
Nightclub Era
Clips Gallery on Vimeo
© 2020 Kirstenstudio, LLC.
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WHAT KENYANS WANT: MONEY, STATUS AND FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
Gone are the days when children were a symbol of wealth in Kenyan communities and everything that mattered was family. Money, status and social networks are what matter the most to Kenyans at the moment, according to a survey titled MAISHA, by Consumer Insight.
IT’S WHO YOU KNOW
“Knowing people” really counts in Kenya and it’s almost a guarantee to get things done, whether it’s for business related activities, a job placement or just connections in higher places.
“I always bank on the huge connections my uncle has in the police force anytime am on the wrong side of the law adding that he also relies in his social networks for business”, says Martin Karanja a businessman in Nairobi.
According to Maryanne Kaloki, a communications student at the United States International University (USIU), in today’s Kenyan world you might not be an influential figure in the society, but the people you surround yourself with can make you influential. “If I have connections with the who is who in Kenya, people will definitely respect me”, she says.
TRANSPARENTLY CORRUPT
If this is anything to go by, it should not come as a surprise to anyone that Kenya was listed as the fourth most corrupt country in the world by a report released by Transparency International yesterday. The first three positions were occupied by Sierra Leone 84%, Liberia 75% and Yemen 74% respectively.
HAPPINESS IS AN ATM CARD
The internet was also cited as the most used technology (100%) while ATMS was on top of the list (49% of those surveyed) of things that made life better, according to the study conducted online throughout 2012 and involving 1, 8889 respondents.
‘THE HUSTLE’
According to the researchers, the three factors (money, status and social connections) are correlated within the context of what they call ‘the hustle’— the never-ending search for money, networks, and status.
“Social networks are today part of money-making, with many people selling their wares online and striking deals. This is why they featured prominently in the list of devices, technologies and services that influence their life the most,” said Mr Ndirangu Managing Director, Consumer Insight
RATHER WEALTH THAN EDUCATION
Another study conducted in May this year by the same firm, revealed that the majority of Kenyan youth aged between 15-25 years old would prefer to become wealthy at the expense of their education. More than 605 of the 1,301 respondents expressed their desire to become rich regardless of the mode of acquiring the wealth.
Nairobi senator and philanthropist Mike Sonko was the symbol of wealth to most of the young people, who desired to be as wealthy as he is and to also own expensive cars as well.
SOCIAL NETWORK GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
Besides providing for business connections and the rest, social connections have also been proved to have an impact on the health of people. According to a study published a year ago by the journal PLoS Medicine, researchers at Brigham Young University and the University of North Carolina found out that people with poor social connections had on average 50% higher odds of death in the study’s follow-up period (an average of 7.5 years) than people with more robust social connections.
The research pooled data from 148 studies on health outcomes and social relationships — every research paper on the topic they could find, involving more than 300,000 men and women across the developed world.
← THE CURIOUS CASE OF KETHI KILONZO’S CANDIDATURE
ANOTHER BITE OFF THE APPLE – SAMSUNG IN A NEW WAR WITH APPLE. →
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Whether we realize it or not, books are not just a solitary activity. Book lovers love to share their thoughts about the books they are reading, and to recommend books to friends, family and colleagues. Seldom do we just shelve a book immediately after reading, never to think about it again. Instead, we share our reading choices on Social Media, mention it in conversation, or give it to a fellow book lover to read.
Book clubs have existed in some form since at least the 1630s when Puritan groups got together to discuss the bible, and have taken many forms since then. In 1727, Benjamin Franklin organized the Junto Literary Society to discuss philosophy, morality, and science. In 1840, the first bookstore sponsored book club in the United States began in Boston, and they have continued to grow and evolve.
According to Booknet Canada, as of September 2018, 7% of Canadian adult book buyers belong to a book club, 28% of readers belong to a book club or reading group (whether they buy books or not), and 8% of those surveyed said they found their last read through a book club.
Traditionally, book club picks were selected by members of the group, the library, or the book store, and members would meet in person to discuss the book. This changed in 1996 when Oprah Winfrey, the queen of daytime television used her power and influence to “get the whole country reading again”, and launched a televised book club.
Beginning with Jaqueline Mitchard’s The Deep End of the Ocean, she invited viewers to read the book, and then hosted the author on her show a few weeks later. In the 15 years of her original club, she recommended 70 books, many of which have become bestsellers.
In 2012, Oprah launched the 2.0 version of her book club in conjunction with her magazine, and television network, this time incorporating social media platforms. Later this year, she’ll be officially reviving her book club again, this time on the new streaming platform Apple TV+.
In many ways, celebrity book clubs are one of the best things to happen to publishers and authors since the founding of the book-of-the-month club in 1926. Prior to the onset of bookstore chains, a book-of-the-month club selection was one of the best ways to get wide distribution for your book.
Today, having a celebrity such as Oprah recommend your book can increase sales by the millions. Oprah has 15 million followers on Instagram and 4.4 million followers on twitter, and her endorsement is publishing gold. Recently, she announced The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates as her latest pick, and the book will almost certainly land on bestseller lists.
Two other celebrities influencing readers are actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Reese Witherspoon. Parker is a voracious reader, and recently completed a two-year term as honorary chair of Book Club Central for the American Library Association. She is also the editorial director for her own imprint SJP for Hogarth, where she acquires books that appeal to her own taste as a reader.
Witherspoon launched her book club in 2017, and it was born out of her love of reading. Witherspoon is an avid reader, and she casually started posting pictures of the books she was reading on her Instagram. The club grew into something more formal from there, and now has 1.1 million members.
Since 2017, Witherspoon has selected 28 titles, many of which have landed on the New York Times Bestseller list, Her 2017 selection of debut author Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing is currently #9 on the Globe and Mail Bestseller list, has spent 54 weeks on the NYT bestseller list, and was the top selling print book in the U.S. for the first half of 2019.
Would the book have been a bestseller regardless? Possibly, but it’s more likely that the 1.1 million U.S. sales can be attributed to the power of Witherspoon’s endorsement.
Witherspoon’s September 2019 pick The Secrets We Kept by Laura Prescott was inspired by the true story of the CIA’s mission to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the U.S.S.R. where nobody would publish it, juxtaposed with the love story between author Boris Pasternak and his mistress Olga.
Naturally the book has rocketed to bestseller status, and film rights have been acquired. The publisher reportedly paid $2 million for rights, signaling that they expected big things from it, but being a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick has almost certainly helped.
Normally, celebrities don’t influence me to read a book, but this one intrigued me, and I ended up really enjoying it. I learned something about a period in history I knew nothing about, and I was invested in the characters and the story. I confess I’ve never read Zhivago, but after reading this, I want to. It has also made me take notice of Witherspoon’s other picks, a number of which I’m interested in reading.
While enjoying this one title doesn’t mean that I’ll actively seek out future celebrity book club recommendations, as a book lover I appreciate what they do for discovery and exposure, and anything that gets millions of people reading and talking about books is good with me!
Posted By: Rachel Seigel at 12:00 AM
Tags: Adult Fiction
With the end of the year rapidly approaching, we asked staff here at LSC to choose their favourite books, movies, games, and/or music of 2019. And boy did they have some.
Nan M., our Plant Manager, chose Kate Mulgrew’s second memoir How to Forget (3544210), following 2015’s Born With Teeth. In How to Forget, actress Kate Mulgrew returns home to Iowa to care for her ailing parents, and discovers long-hidden family secrets after their deaths. Nan says the book hooked her immediately and Mulgrew, most famous for Star Trek: Voyager and Orange is the New Black, is a great writer.
Paul A. in Shipping chose Jojo Rabbit, directed by Taika Waititi as his top movie of the year. Based on the book Caging Skies, the film follows a young boy in Nazi Germany who discovers his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic, and who must face blind nationalism with the help of his imaginary friend – Adolf Hitler. Paul says, ‘Great acting, great story, above average production values and above all else, a human story with wicked social, moral and intellectual value. It will make you chuckle, think, and maybe tear up a bit too.’ His runner-up movies are Judy and Rocketman.
Cataloguer Ray G. chose two movies as his top of 2019. The Farewell is based on Lulu Wang’s What You Don’t Know radio essay and features a Chinese family returning to China to say goodbye to their matriarch – who doesn’t actually know she only has a few more weeks to live. Avengers: Endgame is, of course, the conclusion to the Avengers storyline (for now), where the Avengers have to restore balance to the world after Thanos snapped half of it into nothing. Ray also chose More Giraffes, Ali Gatie, and Guardin for best music of 2019, but loved too many games to choose just one.
From HR, Carrie P. chose Crawl – also Quentin Tarantino’s favourite movie of 2019 – and Downton Abbey as her top movies of 2019. While Downton Abbey continues the story of the wealthy Crawley family in the early twentieth century, Crawl is a creature feature horror movie about a girl and her father trapped by a hurricane in a house filled with alligators. Carrie’s favourite book of the year is Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, an adult fiction novel about a legendary rock band of the 70s – and the reasons why they broke up just when they were most popular.
In Selection Services, Children’s Product Manager Sara P. picked a board game as her favourite of the year: Ms. Monopoly, where female players collect $240 when they pass Go. Her favourite book is Holly Black’s Queen of Nothing, the third in the Folk of the Air series. Sara says Holly Black is the queen of writing about the Fae.
Michael C. in Marketing had three great book selections for 2019. If, Then by Kate Hope Day, in which three neighbours start seeing visions, almost ghosts, of their lives on very different paths. Are they hallucinations? Are they another world, another time? The book is emotionally focused on these characters and the existential ramifications these visions have on their lives, each reacting in a wildly different but completely believable way.
Recursion, by Blake Crouch was also one of Michael's favourites. As with his previous novel Dark Matter, Crouch explores the nature of self and reality through the tragedy and perseverance of his characters, while driving us through the chapters with action and intrigue. In this novel, a grief and guilt stricken police officer has to contend with the outbreak of a disease which implants an entire life's worth of new memories into people, memories they cannot stand to live with.
Finally Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language by Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch. McCulloch explores how the internet and mobile technology has created an entirely new facet to language. From the evolution of slang and text abbreviations, to memes and how digital communication has changed over the last 20 years, this book is a fun read for anyone who wants the TL;DR on 21st century language.
Back to Shipping, Patrick B. has a favourite book, movie, and music release. His book choice is Booker Prize shortlist nominee Quichotte by Salman Rushdie, a comic but tender love story about a TV-obsessed travelling salesman, his imaginary son, and their road trip to find love, as told by spy novelist Sam DuChamp. In movies, Patrick enjoyed Us, directed by Jordan Peele, where a family’s vacation at the beach turns to horror when they’re attacked by doppelgangers. For music, Patrick’s choice is the second studio album, South of Reality, by The Claypool Lennon Delirium, a psychedelic rock band comprised of Sean Lennon and Primus’ Les Claypool.
Accounts Payable Clerk Lee-ann B. already knows she’s going to love the new Star Wars movie, but her movie pick for 2019 right now is Motherless Brooklyn. Based on the Jonathan Lethem novel, and written, produced, directed, and starring Edward Norton as a private investigator with Tourette’s, Motherless Brooklyn is a neo-noir focused on Norton’s character’s quest to solve the murder of his mentor. Her best book choice is a tie between domestic suspense novel The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald and The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad, which Lee-ann says taught her a lot about the service of homing pigeons during World War II.
Kirk O., our CFO, said, "while looking for something to read I find that I can never go wrong with titles that have been nominated for consideration for the Man Booker Prize. I did wander down to my local library, Idea Exchange, to grab two titles that are nominated and were available. Both are new authors for me. The first was My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. I didn’t read this book so much as inhale the 238 pages in a few days. Engaging story with great characters taking place in modern day Nigeria. I highly recommend this book. I will also be looking for other titles that she has written. If I would compare her to anyone in style I would say it is Patrick DeWitt, another author I enjoy.
"The second title that I tackled from this list is The Wall by John Lanchester. Once again a well written book that I enjoyed immensely. Whereas the book above was as light hearted as a serial killer book could be, The Wall, set in the near future, takes on a much more serious tone. You can read this story with a thought to both migrants looking for a better life as well as the effect of climate change on future generations.”
Customer Experience Manager Jamie Q. has two favourite books for 2019 in Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Carson Ellis and Guestbook: Ghost Stories by Leanne Shapton. She said, “Carson Ellis beautifully illustrates a poem about winter solstice by Susan Cooper. The moody illustrations remind us of the origins of Christmas, and what a celebration light is after a dark winter. Shapton creates tales by combining writing, photographs, artifacts and other ephemera to express the cryptic imperfection of human life. It has the feeling of marveling over someone’s private cabinet of curiosities, or being in a dream.”
Last but not least, Elizabeth K. in Cataloguing chose a contemporary fantasy called The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H. G. Parry. In the book, Charley Sutherland is hiding an unpredictable ability: he can call literary characters out into the real world. He discovers he’s not the only one who can do this when the escape of various literary characters threatens the world itself, forcing Charley and his older brother, Rob, to save it.
Those were but a handful of the media we enjoyed this year. And now, with 2019 behind us, we can look forward to starting all new lists in 2020. As, we expect, will you.
Posted By: LSC Library Services Centre at 12:00 AM
Tags: Adult Fiction Adult Non Fiction Children’s Fiction AV Holidays
On average there are 240 mass market titles published every month. It can be a challenge and a huge time constraint to source these without going through multiple websites, publisher packages and catalogues. LSC has long offered comprehensive and customizable Mass Market Paperback and Graphic Novel services, with materials available for Adult, Teen, and Juvenile collections.
LSC is able to provide weekly shipments for these materials with no additional charges. This would enable the library to have titles on the shelf at an earlier date. These titles are available via Automatic Release Plan (ARP) or direct selection, and available with full cataloguing and processing if so desired. With some exceptions, the majority of both mass market and graphic novel items would qualify for full trade discount.
LSC has made the process a simple one for our customers by gathering all of the information together in one spot. LSC has dedicated selection specialists who compile all mass market titles in the Adult, Teen, and Juvenile collections and turns them into a monthly catalogue. This catalogue lists titles two months in advance of their publication date. A Graphic Novel catalogue is produced to the same specifications.
Via the LSC service, title specific and series ordering is possible. We manage existing series by working with the library catalogue and LSCs database for previous titles ordered. Based on the profile of each specific library, we are able to order at the branch level to continue series that have previously been purchased. New series will be ordered and continued, unless there is communication from the library that we should not continue with it (eg. The series is not circulating well at the library).
Within the catalogue the Adult section is sorted by genre. The first section of the catalogue highlights top selling Quick Pick titles for the month. Within the rest of the catalogue you will find sections for Fantasy, General Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction & Western. We also include a Backlist section for those libraries who would like to refresh the titles by longstanding authors such as Louis L’Amour, Debbie Macomber and the 2-in-1 special issues from your favourite Harlequin authors.
To make the catalogue more user friendly and of use to the selector we have listed previous ISBNs for all titles within a series. This is a quick way to find out if you carry the existing series, and where the series titles sits if you operate a branch-specific collection. For the Juvenile and Teen titles, we have also listed the age ranges for each title. Also noted, using an “FP code”, are titles which are first printings in the mass market binding. This allows for a quick selection process when there is no overlap wanted between hardcover and trade paperback bindings.
LSC has specific vendors and publisher catalogues who focus on Canadian and Indigenous authors, which are typically listed in the LSC produced monthly catalogues. All Canadian titles are marked with a Canadian flag which make them easy to distinguish throughout the catalogue. Selectors also do independent audit of materials available to ensure we have the full breadth of titles available to libraries. These titles are ordered based on the library profiles. While many of these titles come from well established publishers, a significant number of them will come from small publishers who do not have a regular output of these material types.
LSC deals with all of these small publishers because of our overall scope and because of our long standing specialist program focused on Canadian small presses. This heightens our awareness of such titles and allows us to include them where other vendors might not see them. LSC does not impose discount terms on publishers before allowing them to participate in LSC automatic release plans. Imposing discount terms on publishers has the direct impact of reducing the availability of titles from smaller Canadian publishers who do not match the discounts offered by large multinational publishers.
In the new year, LSC will be implementing optional de-colonized Indigenous subject headings to our catalogue. This will be the first step towards fully de-colonizing our cataloguing service. This vital process is not and should not be a simple process or serve as lip service towards actual reconcilable action. There are currently over 700 identified existing headings from the LC or Canadian subject headings that have more culturally reflective replacements, and over a thousand more awaiting updating. LSC will begin the process of using the corrected headings in new materials acquired and catalogued, and will expand to removing the headings from older records both internally and with client libraries in the future.
LSC can provide reporting on this collection as libraries require. If the library is doing their own selection, reports already available in the catalogue can be generated at a moment’s notice, and the Budget Maintenance feature will update your purchases against your set budget in real time. If you have an ARP, we can provide monthly updated ARP reports so that you can see the progress in spending for each ARP. These would all be broken out by collection and then by branch level.
ARPs are offered as a free service for this collection and has proven to be a popular one amongst existing customers. The library and selection specialist will work together to set up a profile specific to your library needs. Some options include ordering a range of titles based on the likes of your library and patrons; ordering a certain number of titles within a specific genre each month; Or giving a list of series that you would like to continue adding to your collection.
We have selection specialist dedicated to each of these materials. Mass Market Paperback items are not treated as a separate selection collection, but are an integrated component of the regular selection of fiction materials by those selectors. Graphic Novels are selected separately. Review of acceptable content for graphic novels according to each library’s intended audience is part of our process for all libraries receiving this collection type. The staff responsible for these collections are as follows:
Juvenile Mass Market
Sara Pooley, B.A. (Hons) M.L.I.S., Children’s Product Manager
Sara Pooley is responsible for the design and implementation of all LSC’s selection services that focus on Juvenile and Young Adult material. She produces Award Lists, Curriculum Lists and special replacement lists, including, the Children’s Bestsellers. After a two-year sabbatical during which she was the Health, Science and Education Librarian at London Public Library, Sara returned to LSC in May 2013 to retake her position in Selection Services as the Children’s Product Manager. Her work experience prior to LSC includes working as a children’s librarian and reference librarian in school and public libraries, in both England and Canada.
Adult Mass Market
Rachel Seigel, B.A. (Hons), Selection Specialist
Rachel Seigel is an avid reader and book enthusiast. She has over 15 years of experience doing children’s and adult fiction/non-fiction selections for elementary school, high school and public libraries spread across three Canadian wholesalers. She has chaired and served on a number of review and award juries, including most recently the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and Best Books for Kids and Teens through the Children’s Book Center. In addition, she has written four educational non-fiction books for children, is a frequent contributor to Canadian Children’s Book News and co-hosts a weekly Middle-Grade Literature Chat on Twitter (under the handle @rachelnseigel). She also regularly contributes to Publishing Crawl Blog (www.publishingcrawl.com) along with several other authors and industry professionals. Her degree is in English Literature from York University. She also has a Montessori Certificate from the Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute.
Angela Stuebing, Mass Market and Graphic Novels Product Manager
Angela Stuebing joined LSC in 2000. She has a background in Business and Marketing and over 15 years’ experience in the customer service field. Angela spent several years in the Customer Service Department, most recently as the Customer Service Manager, which has given her extensive knowledge of LSC’s Flexpak Operating System. In 2009, she moved to the position of the Mass Market and Graphic Novels Product Manager. She is responsible for creating and promoting LSC’s Mass Market Program and the Automatic Release Plans. Angela is a member of LSC’s Children’s Best Sellers Committee. Angela has a library technician diploma from Conestoga College.
Any of these options, or a combination of all of these, can be discussed with an LSC selector and set up immediately. While January is a great time to get the ordering started, we are flexible to work with you at any point throughout the year. We can happily provide references to libraries currently and historically receiving these collections from LSC.
Please contact Angela Stuebing (519-746-4420 ext.631) for additional information related to setting up an Automatic Release Plan.
Posted By: Angela Stuebing at 12:00 AM
Tags: Adult Fiction Graphic Novels Children’s Fiction
When I was 16, a friend of mine asked me if I’d heard of NaNoWriMo. It turned out that there was this event going into its second year called National Novel Writing Month, where the goal was to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Both of us were writers and at 16, my only real time concern was being in my last year of high school, so we decided we would both sign up and attempt this challenge.
NaNo (as it’s known to us Wrimos) was small back then, at least compared to today; its inaugural year in July 1999 featured a whole 21 participants. By the time I heard of it, I was one of 5000, and the event was being reported in the L.A. Times and the Washington Post. I won that year with a terrible novel about vampires, a talking cabbage, and a hellhound named Fluffy, because when you need to write 50,000 words in a month, reality is the least of your concerns. I’ve participated every year since, in both the original NaNo and in the spinoff Camp NaNoWriMo, which began in 2011 and allows me to choose my own wordcount goal rather than sticking to the 50K. I’ve also won every year, sometimes legitimately, sometimes by cheating... I mean, rebelling.
In 2003, NaNo’s founder, Chris Baty, wrote No Plot? No Problem (updated and revised in 2016), a guide to writing a novel, whether in 30 days or not. My copy hangs out on my overburdened bookcase along with Stephen King’s On Writing, Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, and Dreyer’s English. NaNo taught me a lot about writing a first draft quickly, including the fact that it will suck and that’s okay. As King says, you write your first draft with the door closed. And preferably locked, when you live with your parents or roommates who inevitably want to know what you’re doing (writing), why (because I want to), and if they can be characters in your story (no).
In past years, there’s usually been one or two news articles or blog posts questioning NaNo and whether it’s ruining the sanctity of the written word. They usually point out that a novel written in 30 days probably isn’t very good, and also such a singleminded focus on length won’t improve that. This is true. A novel written in 30 days will be awkward and ungainly, full of run-on sentences, illogical actions, and plotholes you can drive a truck through. Characters change names, appearances, and occasionally gender. Authors forget how to English (or whatever their language is), as proved by the hilarious NaNoisms thread that pops up every year for participants to chronicle their worst typos and brainfarts. At the end of the month, you have a novel that is certainly not in any state to be published, or even shopped around to agents.
That’s not the point. The point of NaNo is to get yourself writing. It’s to train yourself to sit down in your chair, put your hands on the keyboard, and write some words. Sometimes that’s only a sentence. Sometimes you drag out the first few (hundred) words and your muse finally engages and you’re off flying, words spilling out so fast your fingers can’t even keep up. Either way, you’re doing something many people say they’ll do but never carve out the time to actually do it.
Of course, there are plenty of novels out there that started as NaNovels and were beaten into submission, polished, and published by real live publishers. They include Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Wool by Hugh Howey, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, and many more. And this year, though I haven’t actively been searching for any, I haven’t seen any handwringing about how NaNo is destroying writing as an art. I have seen news articles, pep talks from famous authors, and library programs in areas like Burnaby, Montreal, and Cambridge’s Idea Exchange. I’ve seen another official NaNoWriMo handbook in Brave the Page, a juvenile nonfiction guide and inspiration for middle graders.
In the 18 years I’ve been participating in NaNoWriMo, I’ve written almost 1 million words. I’ve written halves of novels, full novels, short stories, novellas, 104K in a month, 50K in 6 days (Surgeon General’s Warning: not recommended unless you like uncontrollable tremors). Whether I finish a full novel or rebel by rewriting older stories (or by writing blog posts), NaNo has taught me to just put my head down, stop complaining, and get it done.
Tags: Adult Fiction Adult Non Fiction Children’s Fiction Children’s Non Fiction Graphic Novels
When it comes to categorizing fiction, mystery, thriller, and suspense are words commonly used to define genre, but if you’re anything like me, you might have trouble defining exactly what the difference is between them.
While the three do overlap a great deal, they are actually separate genres. To make matters more complicated, the terms tend to be used so interchangeably, that identifying where in your library they belong, or even making a recommendation to a patron eager for one or the other becomes a challenging task.
In recent years, the mystery, thriller and suspense genres have been grouped under the crime fiction umbrella. In these genres, authors write about a crime that has happened or is about to happen, there’s an investigation of some kind, and a resolution where at least some of the reader’s questions are answered. So with all of these commonalities, how do you know which is which?
Let’s start with mystery. A mystery story is one where a crime is committed at the beginning, and the rest of the novel is devoted to figuring out the truth about the crime. Regardless of what kind of mystery it is, there is someone investigating the crime. That person can be a traditional detective, a police officer, or an amateur sleuth with a day job.
The novel is also basically one big puzzle, with all of the “pieces” needed to put it together being contained within the novel. Readers of mystery novels typically enjoy trying to solve the crime alongside the investigator, and personally, I get a certain amount of satisfaction from figuring it out before the investigator does.
Shari Lapena’s novel An Unwanted Guest is an example of the locked room type of mystery that was perfected by the Queen of Crime Agatha Christie. In a locked room mystery, the murder is committed under circumstances where it would be seemingly impossible to get in or out of the crime scene, includes a number of suspects with no way to leave or be rescued, and the plot is resolved at the end.at the end. Christie's famous novel And Then There Were None is one of the bestselling crime novels of all time, and Lapena’s book has a similar feel.
The guests arrive Friday night for a weekend stay at an Inn in the Catskills and are immediately snowed in with no way to leave, no phone service or internet access, and no power. One of the guests is murdered, and naturally, the murderer has to be one of them. As the weekend progresses, the bodies start piling up, and it’s a race against time to figure out who the killer is before it’s too late.
Thrillers are a bit more difficult to define- especially since many thrillers can also be something else. The protagonist is in danger right from the outset, and the plots are extremely action driven. Thrillers are high stakes, non-stop action, contain plot twists, and move at a rapid pace. In these stories, solving the crime is less important than the obstacles placed in the hero’s way, and how they overcome them.
Thrillers can be psychological, crime, mystery, action, military, legal, or spy, and illicit an intense reaction from the reader. Series like Jack Reacher, and Alex Cross or Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects are examples of popular thrillers, the latter being a good example of the psychological subset.
Suspense novels are also tricky to define as they tend to be more subtle. Suspense novels are about the build-up and the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you know something is about to happen. Reading a suspense novel is like cranking the handle on a jack-in-the-box and waiting for the figure to pop out when the melody is done. You know before you start turning the handle that the joker is going to pop out, but you still jump when it does.
Adrian McKinty’s The Chain is a great example of a suspense novel. On a day that starts out like any other, Rachel receives a phone call informing her that her daughter was kidnapped while waiting for the school bus. The caller is the parent of an already kidnapped child, and informs her that she is now part of something called the chain.
Rachel has 24 hours to follow specific instructions that will get her daughter back which includes kidnapping another child to keep the chain going. If she fails to do what she's told or tries to involve the police or anyone else, they will kill her and her daughter and find a new target. Who is behind the chain is secondary to what Rachel must and will do to get her daughter back. It’s intense and terrifying, and the kind of novel you read in one sitting.
Regardless of which genre you prefer, there is one key component that is present in all successful mystery/suspense/thrillers and that’s suspense. The author makes the reader feel excited and/or anxious about what’s going to happen next. Suspense is what drives me to stay up all night reading because I can’t put it down, or has me so engrossed that I miss my bus stop (which I have numerous times) and don’t hear the phone or the doorbell when it rings. That feeling is what draws me to these genres over and over again, and why the world will always embrace them both on the page and on screen.6
Have you ever asked someone what they are reading only to have the answer be accompanied by a sheepish apology for reading it? “Oh, it’s my guilty read” they say, as though they were a 12-year-old caught reading 50 Shades of Grey.
Somewhere between learning to read and adulthood, the language we use to describe genre fiction changes and the general attitude towards it becomes outright snobbish.
Critics wrinkle their noses at ‘women’s fiction’, romances, or sci-fi as if they are somehow inferior to the ‘literary’ fiction’ title that is beautifully written but virtually unreadable.
And yet, while being nominated for an award or a strong media campaign definitely increases the popularity of some of these literary titles, for the most part, those aren’t the books that are receiving print runs in the hundreds of thousands, or flying off the shelves in bookstores and libraries.
In a 2014 New Yorker profile, bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, author of the recently released Mrs. Everything, noted the disparity in how books like those that she writes are treated in comparison to perceived literary titles. And yet, Weiner has a a degree in English literature from Princeton University, and her books have sold over 4.5 million copies.
To call Weiner's books fluffy and lightweight because she writes women's fiction is supremely unfair. Weiner’s characters are women with complex emotional lives who challenge stereotypes. Weiner writes these stories with charm and humour, and readers (including myself) respond in droves.
So why is there such a bias against genre fiction? One theory for the different treatment is the invention of the mass market paperback during WWII. Obviously, a hard cover book isn’t practical to stick in your pocket, and mass markets were cheap to produce, lightweight, and easy to carry around.
When paperbacks started outselling hardcovers, publishers started producing the more popular genre fiction in this new format to further bolster sales. As a result, genre fiction unfairly earned the reputation of being lesser than the realistic fiction being published in hardcover.
Speculative- fiction also suffers from a similar bias, with critics dismissing the genre as inferior and unbelievable. Believe it or not, when The Hobbit was first published in 1937, despite receiving a glowing review from Narnia author C.S. Lewis and The New York Times, Time Magazine didn’t review the U.K. or U.S. edition at all. When Tolkien published The Lord of the Rings books a little over a decade later, they received a similar reception, not receiving much critical notice until the sales of paperback reprints exploded on college campuses.
I’ve always been a strong reader with varied tastes and I’m also a huge genre fiction reader. I read Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Robert Sawyer, all of whom are among my favourite authors, and whom I consider to be really great writers.
Recently I read a really great romance called Waiting for Tom Hanks. The heroine of the story is obsessed with the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan rom-coms of the 90s, and is waiting for her own Tom Hanks (a sweet, sensitive, romantic hero) to come along. The story reads like a 90s romance movie, and it was a quick, fun read that will appeal to romance fans, and to anyone who has ever wished for their own romantic movie hero.
It’s the kind of book that is usually dismissed with words like “light”, “breezy”, and “fluffy”, or with the phrase “it’s totally unrealistic but…” and this is the kind of language that really drives me crazy.
When I read I want to be engaged ,and I want it to make me want to know what happens next. I want a good story with 3-dimesnional characters and good writing, and most importantly, I want to be entertained.
We all live busy, stressful lives and we have to work at fitting in time to read. Why shouldn’t that time be spent reading something we enjoy, and why should anybody be allowed to shame us or make us feel badly for reading it? Who cares if the book is commercial or if it’s not going to be nominated for a prestigious award?
There are an estimated 7.4 billion people in this world, and countless cultures and tastes. Not everybody enjoys John Grisham any more than everybody will enjoy Washington Black. For that matter, there are few books that my mom, my dad, my brother and I have all read and enjoyed.
I’m certain that my dad will love Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens because it will appeal to his sense of humour, but it’s definitely not something he’ll be passing along to my mom or my brother. My brother really enjoyed Kite Runner, but my mom couldn’t get into it and found it depressing.
Just like anything else, not all books are created equal. There are good books and bad books, but genre has nothing to do with it. Whether it be romance or mystery or sci-fi, if that’s what you like, read it, and don’t be embarrassed or ashamed of answering the question “what are you reading?”
I love a good sci-fi-dystopian thriller, and especially one that makes me think. Recently I read an advance copy of Rob Hart's forthcoming book The Warehouse and it's one that I can't stop thinking about.
Like most of you, I’ve grown so accustomed to the presence and availability of things like cloud technology and online shopping that I scarcely give using it a second thought. If I can order something online from the comfort of my home and get it cheaper and faster than shopping in a store I will.
Let’s face it. Bit by bit we are moving our lives online. From communication to shopping to entertainment, there is almost nothing the internet can’t give us. With some companies now offering same day delivery, we barely have to wait for anything. But what if Amazon/Google ruled the world and our survival depended on them? This is the world Rob Hart imagines.
In a near future dystopian world, a megacorporation called “The Cloud” is everything. Big box retailers and independent businesses have almost entirely disappeared. Outside of the Cloud people are starving and unemployed, crime is so high nobody wants to go outside anymore, and the world is in shambles.
Getting a job at the Cloud is the best option for survival. It provides employees with shelter, housing, and entertainment, all paid for with credits to be used in the Cloud. Need something right away? Order it on the Cloud and it will be delivered to your door immediately. There is nothing that the Cloud can’t give you as long as you work hard and follow the rules.
Assuming you pass the interview process and get hired, you’re sorted into an employment stream that management feels suits your abilities and experience. Maybe it’s not the one you were hoping for, but there are no bad jobs at the Cloud!
All employees wear a wristband tracker that is a cross between an Apple Watch and Big Brother. It knows where you’ve been, where you are and what you’re doing. It opens doors, tracks when your shift begins and ends, and you can never take it off. Well actually, you can for a brief period of time at night while it charges, but it also knows if you’ve had it off too long. And don’t think about trying to cheat the system by handing it off to someone else, because it's specifically coded to you.
Work performance is strictly monitored and ranked from 1 to 4 stars. Drop lower than 3 stars and next cut day, you’re out. No second chances, no explanations. Just out. Since there are pretty much no other options for work, you can imagine the pressure. Rank 4 stars and you live to work another day and get some perks or even a promotion.
Disagree with his bullying approach to doing business? The market dictates as Gibson would say. The Cloud customer wants the lowest price possible. If a company wants their product sold on the Cloud, work with them to bring the pricing down to what they ask. If not, the Cloud will engineer a cheaper version and drive you out of business.
The novel alternates between two different voices, with each chapter beginning with a blog post from Gibson. From his viewpoint, he and the cloud have solved many of the world’s problems and are working on solving more. If the outside world is a dystopia, life inside the Cloud is a utopia. Gibson is dying, and he teases readers with a forthcoming announcement about who his successor will be.
One of the voices belongs to Paxton, a former prison guard and man who was driven out of business when he couldn’t meet the deep discount that Cloud was asking for his product. His plan is to bide his time until his patent comes through, and then try again. When Paxton gets invited to be part of a special task force to uncover a drug smuggling operation within the cloud, he jumps at the chance.
The other voice is Zinnia, an industrial spy who has been hired by a mystery employer to penetrate Cloud’s technology and figure out how things work. It's a job she's done many times before, and it's money, so why should she care? As the story progresses, their missions converge in unexpected ways all leading up to a shocking conclusion.
This is not your typical dystopia. This is a cautionary vision of the future that makes a statement about the danger of corporate power and greed and it terrified me! Google and Amazon already know my interests and my shopping habits. They know what items I’ve looked at online and tailor advertising to those specifications.
Amazon already has a frightening amount of power over its customers and its suppliers. Physical retailers are disappearing, and the future pictured in this book doesn’t seem so implausible. The author also touches on sexual harassment in the workplace and #MeToo when a creepy supervisor threatens Zinnia's position unless she gives in to his advances.
This is book is receiving huge buzz. Film rights have been optioned by Ron Howard, excerpts have been printed in EW and online, and it was recently featured at Book Expo/BookCon in New York. If you’re looking for a thriller that is riveting, fast-paced, and will make you ponder the future, this is for you!
I have always enjoyed mysteries. I sleuthed alongside the Famous Five, Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden as a kid, and Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot and even Perry Mason as I got older. Mysteries play to our natural curiosity. We love suspense, but we also hate not knowing the answers to all of our big questions. People are inquisitive by nature and we love having something to puzzle over and figure out.
When I moved into the adult fiction space after having done juvenile purchasing for my entire career, the term “cozy mystery” was something I hadn’t really encountered before. After quickly Googling the term, I discovered that they were basically Murder She Wrote in a book, and I LOVED that show. The show has been off the air for decades, but the book series is up to #49 so Jessica Fletcher Lives on.
Today, cozy mysteries are one of the most popular sub-genres of the mystery category, and they sell like hotcakes! Writers like Rhys Bowen, Alan Bradley, M.C. Beaton, Joanne Fluke and Alexander McCall Smith are consistent bestsellers, and there are new series and authors breaking through every day.
Mysteries are appealing because as bestselling author David Baldacci explained, in these stories, questions get answered, bad guys get caught and punished, and unlike real life which is perpetually messy and full of loose ends, everything gets tied up in a neat little bow.
In a cozy mystery, readers not only get all of the above, but there’s the added satisfaction of seeing an everyday person work tirelessly to solve a crime and find the answers we crave. The protagonist of a cozy mystery could own a garden shop, a bookstore, or a bakery. They could be a mystery writer, a librarian, a nurse, or work in a coffee house. There is no limit to how the sleuth from a cozy mystery might occupy their time as long as they are amateurs and they have a flexible schedule with lots of free time to solve mysteries. These (largely) women have no special training as detectives, but they are smart, tenacious, and use logic and common sense to find and interpret clues.
Whenever I read one of these cozies, I always think about how great it would be to live in one. Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to just wander through an idyllic community like Cabot Cove solving mysteries like Jessica Fletcher. Even better, I’d like to be in a British cozy where all of the murders take place in a picturesque village with pretty gardens, old manors, or sweet little cottages. I imagine myself interviewing the victim’s friends, families and acquaintances, finding out information that they wouldn’t or couldn’t reveal to the police while sipping tea or lemondae and eating fresh-baked cookies or scones.
There will probably be a few red herrings or false leads that initially throw me off the trail, If I get stuck, not to worry- I can talk it out with my faithful animal sidekick named something clever and cute who will point a paw at the real clue, and together, we’ll get back on track.
I share the clues I’ve unearthed with local law enforcement, giving them leads when their investigation is at a stand still. Since they all take place in small communities where everybody is connected, they not only know me, but are probably a friend/relative who will gently admonish me for interfering in their investigation, but ultimately be glad for the assistance.
Since there is a killer on the loose, I know that there is some risk of danger, but I’m not that worried about it because I’ve taken self-defense classes and know how to take care of myself. By the time law enforcement rushes in to save me from my impending doom, I’ve already subdued the killer. If I’m really lucky, the killer was more than happy to explain exactly how and why they committed the crime. This person is no serial killer or psychopath. He or She is probably someone who lives in the community who felt completely justified in committing murder because the victim wronged him/her and probably a lot of other people too. In fact, nobody really liked the victim anyway, so they kind of did everybody a favour.
Now that the crime has been solved, and justice has been served, everything goes back to normal. The crime quickly fades from the collective memory of the people, I go back to my day job, and I can finally take time to pursue the romantic interest I met during the investigation. Not a bad fantasy right? In real life I live in a large city of nearly 3 million people, and I can’t imagine the city police being particularly receptive to some random person trying to crime-solve. But then, thats why we have books, isn't it?
At LSC, we endeavor to ensure that Canadian libraries have unparalleled access to Canadian content, whether that be materials by Canadians, about Canadians, or what is important to Canadians. Part of that commitment is improving access to materials by Indigenous Peoples. Thanks to some recent initiatives, we now have additional tools to help with that.
Back in June BookNet Canada announced a research project they had undertaken, to generate a list of materials specifically dealing with Canadian Indigenous topics. As a starting point, they used BISAC codes to isolate the sales data on materials associated with Indigenous or Native American/Canadian headings. They were then able to see how these materials have sold compared to other English language materials. Happily, from 2016, there have been consistent gains in sales for Indigenous themed material. Next, they pulled just the data from Junes 2018 to 2019, identified the top sellers and broke down the results into Fiction and Non-Fiction categories for Adult and Juvenile. The resulting four lists they are calling the Bestselling Indigenous Books in Canada.
They are quick to point out that only two of the forty items were not written by Canadian or Indigenous authors. They also point out that Canadian publishers are responsible for most of the items on the list. This is all to say, this list represents a collection of books in which Indigenous Peoples are telling their own stories, a critical and foundational aspect of decolonization.
For a more complete breakdown of their methodology, see their announcement post here. For your ease, we’ve put all four lists together into one single Slist, from which you can purchase the items directly. The Adult Fiction list includes recent favourites by Joseph Boyden and Thomas King, as well as brand new books like There, There by Tommy Orange, and Starlight by Richard Wagamese. The Non Fiction list is a fantastic list of items that would bolster any collection, including All Our Relations by Tanya Talaga, and Indigenous Relations by Bob Joseph.
The children’s lists consist of many items that I know are already being used in many elementary schools, including Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and The Sharing Circle by Theresa Meuse. As well as newer titles that will hopefully find their ways into the hands of more young Canadians, like The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette and Go Show the World by Wab Kinew and Joe Morse.
In addition to this, the UN General Assembly has designated 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. This resolution came about as “40 per cent of the world’s estimated 6,700 languages were in danger of disappearing— the majority belonging to indigenous peoples.” They hope to raise awareness of these languages and the cultures they represent internationally. You can see the full scope of their initiative here.
In Canada, 2011 census data shows that there are 60 active Indigenous languages, belonging to 12 root language families, spoken by 213,000 people across the nation. Canadian Geographic has put together a wonderful graphic mapping these languages, which can be viewed fully here (Image credit: Chris Brackley/Can Geo.)
To support this Year of Indigenous Languages, LSC has put together a list of recent and prominent Indigenous materials. This list of 101 items is a mix of Fiction and Non-Fiction, Adult and Juvenile, English and French. The items are all by Canadian Indigenous authors, again ensuring that people are telling their own stories. These items would form a powerful foundation to an Indigenous collection, and satisfies two of the UN’s five key action areas: “Increasing understanding, reconciliation and international cooperation”; and “Elaborating new knowledge to foster growth and development.”
LSC is committed to helping libraries decolonize and increase the representation in their collections. Indigenous languages are part of that commitment. We list Southern Cree, Inuktitut and Ojibway among the languages available through our World Languages program. We are constantly looking out for new materials from new and existing publishers, in Indigenous languages. As demand for this material grows, so will supply, and LSC will be there to help libraries build the best collections for their customers.
Yours, Fictionally
Posted By: Michael Clark at 12:00 AM
Tags: Adult Fiction Adult Non Fiction Children’s Fiction Children’s Non Fiction Graphic Novels Multilingual
One of the reasons my bookclub fellows and bookworm friends keep me around is for the book recommendations. They know I have the inside track on what is currently popular, but also what is coming. And that is a great perk of working in libraries: knowing months in advance what books are to be published. But who do librarians turn to for reader advisory? That’s where Loan Stars comes in.
Loan Stars, for those who don’t know, is an amazing reader’s advisory program. Run in conjunction by BookNet Canada and the Canadian Urban Libraries Council, this service aggregates the recommendations of working library professionals into monthly lists. And unlike some commercial lists, which focus on bringing existing books to the public’s attention, Loan Stars is focused on the future. Their monthly lists consist of the most recommended items that will be published within the following month.
How does it work? Anyone working in a library in Canada can sign up for a free CataList account. Then, so long as you are logged in, you will see a “recommend” button next to eligible titles. Click the button, and that’s it. At the end of every month, the super computers and clever folk at Loan Stars tally the results, and the ten books with the most recommendations are added to one of two lists: adult and juvenile.
This is a fantastic way to get the word out about books that people haven’t heard about yet. At LSC, we swim in the galley proofs that are sent to us by publishers, and from my days in libraries, I know the case is true there too. And it is a (nerdy) thrill to have the inside track on a book that no one else will be able to read for months. I’m sure we’re all the same, when you read a good book, all you want to do is tell people they should read it. Loan Stars is one of the best ways to tell colleagues across Canada what they should keep an eye out for, or get the jump on and order in advance.
We all use things like the New York Times Best Seller list, or Canada Reads to build our collections, but those are reactive lists, and much of the demand for those items is driven by patrons. Loan Stars gives you the chance to get ahead of the rush on items no one has heard of yet, but will want. What I like about it is, it’s not just the best sellers. Those books are going to be popular regardless, they barely need our help. These are recommendations coming directly from staff; their actual opinions, not just what they think will be popular but what they think should be popular.
Take a book like Vessel, by Lisa A. Nichols, or Grass, by Kuem Suk Gendry-Kim. These are not books that would usually end up on conventional lists. But enough of your peers across the country liked them so much, they ended up on recent Loan Stars lists. It has effected my personal reading; every month there is at least one book that catches me by surprise and that I immediately put on hold at my local branch. I don’t know if I would have found No Country for Old Gnomes, by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne, without it.
What’s on their lists for August? Some choice morsels include:
Translated from Gibberish, by Anosh Irani, is a collection of short stories exploring his life and experience as an immigrant. Knitting together his life through seven tales set in India or Canada, with wit and heart, Irani presents a raw – if not entirely truthful – autobiographical journey.
Snow, Glass, Apples, by Colleen Doran and Neil Gaiman, is a graphic novel adaptation of Gaiman’s original short story from Smoke and Mirrors, itself a twisted version of the story of Snow White. As only Gaiman can, the story weaves melancholy and pathos with vampirism and necrophilia. This volume pairs that with Doran’s crisp style which blends clean characters with conceptual layout design. This is their second collaboration, having recently also graphically adapted Gaiman’s Troll Bridge (one of my personal favourites).
Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me, by Anna Mehler Paperny, is a frank, honest, and at times absurd memoir detailing her time in a psych ward after her first suicide attempt, and her journey through the long-term treatment of living with depression. While not unique to the experiences of those whose life is touched by depression, Paperny’s perspective is a uniquely Canadian one in publishing. There are few books that touch on the Canadian Health Care system, the Canadian pharmaceutical system, the Canadian Mental Health system as it relates to depression, which are far more relevant to Canadian readers than anything coming up from south of the border.
Code Like a Girl: Rad Tech Projects and Practical Tips, by Miriam Peskowitz, is a great resource for kids who want to learn how to code, and offers step-by-step instructions for actual projects, like building a motion sensor for their room, or creating smartphone gloves.
And, I would be remise in my duty as a professional and a connoisseur of fine literature if I did not point out that Does It Fart: A Kid's Guide to the Gas Animals Pass, by Nick Caruso, absolutely made this month’s list. As well it is should.
Now, you’re asking yourself, “how do I read these monthly lists?” There are two ways. One is to sign up for the Loan Stars monthly email, which has the lists delivered direct to your inbox. However, if you want to be able to see the list and immediately purchase the items on it, LSC creates an Slist version of every Loan Stars list, so you can view and add the items to your cart in our catalogue. Here are the links to the most recent Adult and Juvenile Loan Stars lists for August, and you can find older lists under the “Special” heading in the Slist page.
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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982 / Nicholas Meyer > A lot has been said about The Wrath of Khan, but mostly that it stands, on its own, as the best that Star Trek has to offer. So, do we view the film as a movie in its own right or contextually as a Star Trek, sci-fi genre piece? Ultimately, it depends on tone. When a film follows genre thematics, it should be blessed in a similar light. But when it jumps the rope into competition with anything and everything, a whole slew of additional criteria come into factor. The Wrath of Khan attempts the latter, but doesn’t do it particularly well.
There’s a certain level of Star Trek lore one needs to know to fully appreciate the context of Khan, a character who had previously appeared in an episode of the original series some time ago. Not knowing the backstory doesn’t exactly hurt, but it does mitigate his “wrath” factor. The film, though, is broader than its title. It’s really about the characters—How’s Captain Kirk? What’s Spock up to? Again, all this requires some elementary knowledge of the players. Most of us have grown up to some degree with these characters amongst our midst, but often a lot of our peripheral knowledge comes off of caricatures in mainstream media (think Saturday Night Live, et al). Thus, the gravity of the storyline doesn’t hit home, and viewers like myself are left wondering what the big deal is. Essentially, it fails to resonate because its seriousness isn’t backed up by greater context, and its finale tries to touch upon aspects that a fan familiar with the world would appreciate considerably more.
→ Prometheus
← Punch
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Election Twitter: Nice try, but…
Posted on September 26, 2008 by mathewi
People have been talking for some time now about things that Twitter could be doing to add value to the service (apart from just managing to keep the servers up for more than a day or two at a time, which they appear to have accomplished), including mini-hubs about topics that are of intense interest among the Twitterati. The newly-launched U.S. election site is just such a beast, and while it’s a nice effort, there is so much that Twitter could — and should — be doing with it that it’s almost more of an advertisement for what they aren’t doing than for what they are.
The page’s main feature is a scrolling view of Twitter posts that include the names of the candidates, updated more or less in real time. At first, it’s very cool — much like Digg Spy, which shows you things that are being dugg. But it eventually becomes almost hypnotic, to the point where you lose track of what the actual messages are saying. You can pause the scrolling by moving your mouse over the feed, which wasn’t clear until someone pointed it out (on Twitter, of course) and you can click one of the keywords at the top of the page to see a subset of messages with that word, and you can filter the messages by candidate. But that’s about it.
I was hoping for some added intelligence or filtering. What about some trend graphs that show the rise or fall of certain keywords over time? What about a table or a tag cloud showing the most-used keywords for each candidate — like McCain and old, or Palin and dumb, or something like that? I guess we’re just supposed to be amazed that Twitter can produce a scrolling list of messages with certain keywords. The only problem with that, of course, is that others such as Twistori have been doing something similar for months now (and now the site has also launched this).
Twitter founder Biz Stone even mentions some other tools that are far more interesting in his launch post, including Politweets and Perspectv. I’m with Josh Catone at Sitepoint, who says that “it feels like Twitter took the easy way out, when they could have done something really special.” (maybe something like this)
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Site Progress
Contact & Enquiry
Register for Interest
Dato’ Ikmal Hijaz Bin Hashim
Independent Non-Executive Chairman
Mr. Chong Jiun Shyang
Mr. Pang Siew Heng
Mr. Ng Liang Khiang
Non Independent Executive Director
Ms. Wong Yean Ni
Ms. Cindi Sim
Mr. Simon Sim Yow Yung
DATO’ IKMAL HIJAZ BIN HASHIM, a Malaysian aged 67, is the Independent Non-Executive Chairman of MB World Group. He was appointed to the Board of MB World Group on 26 February 2016.
Dato’ Ikmal began his career in the Administrative and Diplomatic Service of the Government of Malaysia in 1976. In late 1991 he left the government services and joined United Engineers (M) Berhad as General Manager of Malaysia‐Singapore Second Crossing project.
In 1993, he became the Chief Operating Officer of Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan Berhad (“PLUS”) and in 1995 he was promoted as the company’s Managing Director.
In 1999, he was then appointed as Managing Director of Prolink Development Sdn Bhd (“Prolink”) and concurrently assumed the position of President for Property Division of the Group. He was subsequently appointed as Managing Director of Renong Berhad from 2002 until 2003.
In November 2003, Dato’ Ikmal was seconded to Pos Malaysia Berhad as Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director as well as Group Managing Director of Pos Malaysia and Services Holdings Berhad.
Then in November 2007 he was appointed as Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (“IRDA”) until February 2009. He then became the Chairman of Faber Group Berhad from 1 March 2009 until June 2014. His other previous directorship was with Scomi Engineering Bhd. from October 2013 to March 2018.
Currently, Dato’ Ikmal’s other directorship in public companies include EP Manufacturing Bhd, Nadayu Properties Berhad, and Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad.
He has no family relationship with any of the Directors and major shareholders of the Company and does not have any conflict of interest with the Company.
He has had no convictions for any offences within the past five (5) years and no public sanction or penalty imposed by the relevant regulatory bodies during the financial year. He does not hold any shares of the Company.
Dato’ Ikmal has attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the financial year.
CHONG JIUN SHYANG, a Malaysian aged 55, is the Independent Non-Executive Director of MB World Group. He was appointed to the Board of MB World Group on 28 March 2016.
Mr. Chong is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a member Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (“MIA”). Mr. Chong has over thirty (30) years of experience during his career in the accounting profession with various private and public listed companies.
He is currently the Group Financial Controller of Komarkorp Berhad, a public company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.
He does not hold any directorship in any other public listed companies. He has no family relationship with any Directors and major shareholders of the Company and does not have any conflict of interest with the Company.
Mr. Chong has attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the financial year.
PANG SIEW HENG, a Malaysian aged 58, is the Independent Non-Executive Director of MB World Group. He was appointed to the Board of MB World Group on 26 February 2016.
Mr. Pang is a businessman with over thirtynine (39) years of experience and is currently involved in a number of companies engaged in construction, property development, metal fabrication and engineering works.
He was involved in various large-scale property development projects which include Today Mall in Ulu Tiram, Johor, Hatten Malacca, Millennium Project in Puchong, Selangor, Bayu Marina Resort in Johor Bahru, and Gold Coast Morib International Resort in Selangor.
Mr. Pang holds directorships and has interest in several private limited companies, some of which carry out businesses similar to the Company.
He does not hold any directorship in any other public listed companies. He has no family relationship with any of the Directors and major shareholders of the Company.
Mr. Pang has attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the financial year.
NG LIANG KHIANG, a Malaysian aged 69, is the Executive Director of MB World Group. He was appointed to the Board of MB World Group on 26 February 2016.
Mr. Ng has over fourty-six (46) years of experience in construction, property development and project management. In 1972, after completing his secondary education in Muar High School, Mr. Ng began his career as Site Supervisor with Binajaya Sdn. Bhd. in Kuala Lumpur, where he spent twelve (12) years and held the position of Project Manager when he left.
Over the years, he has co-founded companies which are principally involved in, amongst others, property development, construction, and hotel management under SKS Group.
Mr. Ng is responsible for managing and leading the Group’s overall business operations.
He has had no convictions for any offences within the past five (5) years and no public sanction or penalty imposed by the relevant regulatory bodies during the financial year.
He does not directly hold any shares of the Company. He has deemed interest in 929,000 and 1,500,000 ordinary shares in the Company held by Ngsinar Sdn. Bhd. and his son, Ng Kok Boon, respectively, by virtue of Section 8 and Section 9(11)(C) of the Companies Act, 2016.
Mr. Ng has attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the financial year.
WONG YEAN NI, a Malaysian aged 41, is the Executive Director of MB World Group Berhad. She was appointed to the Board of MB World Group on 26 February 2016.
Ms. Wong graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy (Honours) from University Utara Malaysia.
She is an Accountant by profession and a Member Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (“MIA”) since 2007 with over fifteen (15) years of experience garnered from professional firms and commercial companies in the area of audit, taxation, consultancy and financial management.
Ms. Wong has the overall responsibility for overseeing the Group’s financial matters. She is also the designated Chief Financial Officer of MB World Group Berhad.
She does not hold any directorship in any other public listed companies. She has no family relationship with any of the Directors and major shareholders of the Company.
She has had no convictions for any offences within the past five (5) years and no public sanction or penalty imposed by the relevant regulatory bodies during the financial year. She does not hold any shares of the Company.
Ms. Wong is the director nominated by Kim Feng Capital Sdn. Bhd.. She has attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the financial year.
CINDI SIM, a Malaysian aged 31, is the Executive Director of MB World Group Berhad. She was appointed to the Board of MB World Group on 26 February 2016.
Ms. Sim obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, London and a professional qualification from the Association of Certified Chartered Accountant (“ACCA”) in 2010. She entered into the property construction and development industry upon graduation in 2011.
She was subsequently promoted to Business Development Manager with hands-on exposure to all major areas of the property development industry covering building planning and development, project management and execution and financial management.
Ms. Sim has the overall responsibility for overseeing a wide spectrum of matters related to the Group’s business operations.
Currently she is the Group Managing Director of SKS Group of Companies and holds directorships in various private limited companies which are involved in the property development, property investment and hospitality industry, some of which are similar to that carried out by MB World Group Berhad.
She does not hold any directorship in any other public listed companies.
She is the sister of Mr. Simon Sim Yow Yung, an Executive Director and a major shareholder of the Company. Apart from this, she has no family relationship with any of the other Directors and major shareholders of the Company.
Ms. Sim has attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the financial year.
SIMON SIM YOW YUNG, a Malaysian aged 25, is the Executive Director of MB World Group Berhad. He was appointed to the Board of MB World Group on 26 February 2016.
Mr. Sim graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, Australia and joined MB Builders Sdn. Bhd. (now known as SKS Southern Sdn. Bhd.), a property development company as Business Development Manager upon graduation in 2015.
He has the overall responsibility for overseeing the Group’s strategic planning, project management and business operations.
Mr. Sim does not hold any directorship in any other public listed company.
He is the brother of Ms. Cindi Sim, an Executive Director of the Company. Apart from this, he has no family relationship with any of the other Directors and major shareholders of the Company.
He does not directly hold any shares of the Company. He is a major shareholder of the Company by virtue of his deemed interest in 110,537,241 ordinary shares held by Kim Feng Capital Sdn. Bhd. the holding Company, pursuant to Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2016.
Mr. Sim has attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the financial year.
Copyright © 2016 MB World Group
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National Autism Association of North Texas > Food > On gender and disability
By pcaadmin
On gender and disability
The 60th Commission on the Status of Women is about to kick off at the United Nations. Sightsavers is marking this annual event with a series of blogs to highlight the importance of looking at development through a gender lens and ensure that disability (which will affect all of us at some point in our lives) is not overlooked.
This introductory blog is by Tracy Vaughan-Gough, Sightsavers’ Global Technical Lead, Social Inclusion
I’ve worked on women’s rights and gender equality for many years but until joining Sightsavers, the specific experiences of women with disabilities was not often a focus of my work. Why was this? It now seems that during that time, despite the strength of the women’s movement, women with disabilities were not visible.
Then, when I started working on disability rights I noticed that within the sector, gender differences were also not adequately addressed by mainstream organisations and appeared to be tackled only by a few strong women advocates.
I think that is now changing – helped firstly by the UNCRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), which highlights* the multiple discrimination experienced by women and girls with disabilities, and secondly by the consultative process that shaped the Sustainable Development Goals and brought to the fore the complexities of marginalisation. When we developed Sightsavers’ strategic framework on empowerment and inclusion, we had the opportunity to ensure that gender and disability was explicit across all of our work.
This was important to me, because as I learned more about the disproportionate burden of blindness on women, it became clear that gender was an important factor if we were to ensure equitable eye health programmes. For girls with disabilities, barriers to education are different to boys – how could we make sure we addressed this?
Sightsavers works with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), but more needs to be done to ensure that women are equally represented and participating actively in decision-making. Our social inclusion strategy has a specific cross-cutting objective to promote gender equality, and we are committed to ensuring that all programming in the future is gender-responsive as well as disability-inclusive.
It’s challenging to mainstream gender. While always seeking innovative approaches at Sightsavers we rely on tried and tested interventions like capacity building, sensitisation and advocacy, as well as developing project design tools and accountability mechanisms:
Our eye health projects should now have strategies in place to screen and treat more women than men to achieve gender equity (greater examination of sex-disaggregated data will help us test whether these strategies are working).
We are specifically designing and evaluating our projects with gender in mind. We’re also building internal capacity, raising awareness and enabling staff to think about gender as central to their roles.
Even this gender-related series of blogs I’m now introducing is an idea that came out of a recent gender training session for staff!
One of the principles underpinning our social inclusion projects is participatory planning, implementation and evaluation. We support men and women with disabilities claim the rights that they are entitled to, but we recognise that in many of the countries in which we work, the voices and meaningful participation of women with disabilities remains subject to context-specific gender norms.
For that reason it is particularly important to make sure that as children, girls with disabilities have equitable access to education. It’s also important that women with disabilities are supported to obtain the skills they may lack due to inequitable access to education or health – skills to assist them in generating a livelihood, or obtaining a job, or taking a leadership role in their local council or women’s group. We want to learn how to do this better, through reflecting on our own experiences as well as benefiting from the knowledge and expertise of others.
The priority theme of this year’s CSW is ‘Women’s empowerment and its link to sustainable development’. I believe the work Sightsavers is doing will contribute to this, because when women receive life-enhancing services such as cataract surgeries and trachoma treatments equitably, they are more able to contribute socially and economically to their families’ and communities’ development.
Upcoming posts in this series will include:
Rights during disasters: what about women with disabilities?
Meet Getty: Ghana’s nominee for the CRPD Committee
Women with disabilities: a call for better representation
Combating violence against women with disabilities
Health heroes: the women working to eliminate NTDs
Disrupting the patriarchy through disability rights
*Article 6 – Women with disabilities 1. States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination, and in this regard shall take measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by them of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. 2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the present Convention.
NTDs and inclusion – the importance of community participation
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over one billion of the world’s poorest people. Sightsavers, with additional funding from the UK
A brave new world of data
The groundbreaking Global Trachoma Mapping Project showed that public health can benefit from technology and standardisation to cut costs
Education for the Children
An open letter to the UN Statistical Commission and Inter-Agency Expert Group on SDG Indicators Praesent posuere antet fringilla vestibulum
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Article:1999/04/22 Marilyn Manson Concert, Other Denver Events Cancelled In Wake Of High School Shooting
Marilyn Manson Concert, Other Denver Events Cancelled In Wake Of High School Shooting
Article on Rock Is Dead (tour)
Apr 22 1999 4:45 PM EDT
As those close to Columbine High School try to cope with this week's tragic events, people in nearby Denver are trying to remain respectful and observe a period of mourning.
The National Rifle Association has announced plans to scale back its annual convention in Denver next week, and now promoters have cancelled a Marilyn Manson show set for the area later this month.
Responding to a request from Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, promoters have cancelled radio station KBPI's Birthday Bash, which was to have featured sets by Second Coming, Nashville Pussy, and Manson.
The station, which had planned to hold the show on April 30 at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, announced the move in a statement reading, "In light of recent events at Columbine High School, we as responsible members of the community, feel that we must do the right thing."
A spokesperson for the Mayor told MTV News that Webb believed a Manson concert would be "inappropriate" at this time, as the two teenage gunmen were fans of the band.
The show was to have marked the station's 28th birthday.
Shortly after the shooting, which left 15 dead (including gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold), reports surfaced in which the Columbine High School doctor claimed that the two young shooters were Manson fans. Responding to numerous press requests, Manson issued a statement that read, "It's tragic and disgusting anytime young people's lives are taken in an act of senseless violence. My condolences go out to the students and their families."
Retrieved from "http://www.mansonwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Article:1999/04/22_Marilyn_Manson_Concert,_Other_Denver_Events_Cancelled_In_Wake_Of_High_School_Shooting&oldid=87118"
Marilyn Manson articles
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User manual HP (Hewlett-Packard) Pro Mfp M521dn Laser Printer A8P79ABGJ
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HP (Hewlett-Packard) Pro Mfp M521dn Laser Printer A8P79ABGJ user manual
User manual for the device HP (Hewlett-Packard) Pro Mfp M521dn Laser Printer A8P79ABGJ
HP (Hewlett-Packard) Pro Mfp M521dn Laser Printer A8P79ABGJ
Device: HP (Hewlett-Packard) Pro Mfp M521dn Laser Printer A8P79ABGJ
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LASERJET PRO MFP
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M521 User Guide
Copyright and License Trademark Credits ® ® ® © 2013 Copyright Hewlett-Packard Adobe , Acrobat , and PostScript are Development Company, L.P. trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of without prior written permission is Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. prohibited, except as allowed under the and other countries. iPod is a trademark of copyright laws. Apple Computer, Inc. iPod is for legal or righthold
Table of contents 1 Product introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Product comparison .................................................................................................................. 2 Product views .......................................................................................................................... 4 Product front view ........................................................
Enable or disable the Very Low Setting ...................................................................... 29 Customer self-repair parts ........................................................................................................ 31 Accessories ........................................................................................................................... 33 Toner cartridge .................................................................................................
Use a printing preset (Mac OS X) .............................................................................. 73 Create a printing preset (Mac OS X) ......................................................................... 73 Automatically print on both sides (Mac OS X) ............................................................. 74 Manually print on both sides (Mac OS X) ................................................................... 75 Print multiple pages per sheet (Mac OS X) .........
Configure the scan to network folder feature ............................................................. 103 Configure the scan to email feature ......................................................................... 103 Scan to a network folder ....................................................................................................... 105 Scan to email ...................................................................................................................... 106 Scan
Use autoreduction for incoming faxes ...................................................................... 125 Set fax reprint settings ............................................................................................ 125 Set the fax sounds volume ...................................................................................... 126 Set the alarm volume, phone-line volume, and ring volume .......................... 126 Set stamp-received faxes ....................................
Printer sharing disclaimer ....................................................................................... 145 View or change network settings ............................................................................. 145 Manually configure IPv4 TCP/IP parameters from the control panel ............................. 145 Rename the product on a network ........................................................................... 146 Link speed and duplex settings .........................
Clear jams .......................................................................................................................... 165 Jam locations ........................................................................................................ 165 Clear jams in the document feeder .......................................................................... 166 Clear jams in the output area ................................................................................. 168 Clear jams
Solve walk-up USB printing problems ...................................................................................... 199 The USB Flash Drive menu does not open when you insert the USB flash drive .............. 199 The file does not print from the USB flash drive ......................................................... 199 The file that you want to print is not listed in the USB Flash Drive menu ........................ 200 Solve fax problems ..............................................
The product uses a fax over IP or VoIP phone service ................... 213 An error message displays on the control panel ......................................... 214 The No fax detected. message displays ..................................... 214 The Communication error message appears ............................... 214 The Fax storage is full message appears .................................... 215 The Fax is busy message appears ............................................. 215 A fax is re
Solve product software problems with Mac OS X ..................................................................... 229 The print driver is not listed in the Print & Fax or Print & Scan list ................................. 229 The product name does not appear in the product list in the Print & Fax or Print & Scan list ....................................................................................................................... 229 The print driver does not automatically set up the sel
1 Product introduction ● Product comparison ● Product views ● Control panel ● Print product reports ENWW 1
Product comparison M521dn M521dw A8P79A A8P80A Paper handling Tray 1 (100-sheet capacity) Tray 2 (500-sheet capacity) Optional Tray 3 (500-sheet capacity) Standard output bin (250-sheet capacity) Rear output bin (50-sheet capacity) Automatic duplex printing Supported operating Windows XP, 32-bit, Service systems Pack 2 and greater Windows Vista, 32-bit and 64- bit Windows 7, 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 2003 Server (32-bit, Service Pack 1 or greater), print and scan drivers only Windows 2008
M521dn M521dw A8P79A A8P80A Copy Copies at up to 20 ppm Copy resolution is 300 dots per inch (dpi) This document feeder holds up to 50 pages and supports page sizes from 127 to 356 mm (5 to 14 in) in length and from 127 to 216 mm (5 to 8.5 in) in width Flatbed scanner supports page sizes up to 297 mm (11.7 in) in length and up to 215 mm (8.5 in) in width Automatic duplex copying Scan Scans in black and white with resolution up to 1200 dpi from the flatbed glass Scans in color with resolution u
2 Product views ● Product front view ● Product back view ● Interface ports ● Serial number and model number location Product front view 1 2 12 3 11 10 4 9 8 5 7 6 1 Automatic document feeder 2 Document-feeder output bin 3 Walk-up USB port (for printing and scanning without a computer) 4 Control panel with color touchscreen graphical display 5 On/off button 6Optional Tray 3 7Tray 2 8Tray 1 9 Front-door-release button (access to the toner cartridge) 10 Output-bin extension for long paper 11 Standa
Product back view 1 2 4 3 1 Rear door and face-up output bin (access for clearing jams) 2 Dust cover for Tray 2 (for printing on legal-size paper) 3 Power connection 4 I/O ports and security lock Product views ENWW 5
Interface ports 1 2 3 4 5 1 Slot for a cable-type security lock 2 Local area network (LAN) Ethernet (RJ-45) network port 3 Hi-Speed USB 2.0 printing port 4 Telephone “line out” port for attaching an extension phone, answering machine, or other device 5 Fax “line in” port for attaching the fax phone line to the product 6 Chapter 1 Product introduction ENWW
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It is possible to bring together various modes of painting onto one canvas rather than to paint in one definite manner. Each mode attempts to tackle a specific task, but fails to encompass painting in its entirety. By combining modes, an artist liberates art from the power of temporary tasks, and by destroying the arbitrary character of each style grants a work marvelous wholeness … unites all extremities and paralyzes the dark emptiness!
Ilya Zdanevich wrote the above quote in 1917 in a text dedicated to the opening of Kirill Zdanevich’s first exhibition in Tiflis, his hometown. When explaining Kirill Zdanevich’s works, he referred to them as “orchestral” as a metaphor for an integration of different modes of painting. Almost prophetic for 20th century polystylistic art, this description sheds light also upon the specific character of the Georgian/Tiflis avant-garde.
Georgian avant-garde emerged in the early 1910s and lasted until the beginning of the 1930s when Soviet policy declared it as formalism, banning it altogether. Characterized by formal-conceptual radicalism and politically useful in the revolutionary 1920s, it was replaced by “social realism” with the beginning of the Sovier state so-called “normalization” process.
So, the Georgian avant-garde of the 1910-20s was brought to an abrupt end by its isolation and subsequent suppression. That is why it remains largely unknown even in Georgia, as it had become part of the confiscated history and deliberately was removed from memory.
Some artists who braved the risk, survived throughout the difficult years of state terror in early 1930s, but by 1936-1937 the avant-garde had ended, and the lives and works of many artists were lost. This brief period of 1910-1920ss is therefore the freest in 20th century Georgian art and at the same time most tragic, as it shared the political fate of Georgia annexed by bolshevics in 1921. That is why Tiflis avant-garde with its peculiarity is often misrepresented as Russian . Though still in 1919, Yuri Degen the poet, conversely remarked in journal Phoenix, “Caucasus gave to Russian Futurists Vladimir Mayakovski and brothers Ilya and Kirill Zdanevich.”
Georgia of 1910-1920ss managed to become one of the centers of South-Eastern Europe. The Russian futurist poet Kruchenykh called it the third center of culture. It had distinctly multi-national character. Kruchenykh wrote of this diversity and described that not only the representatives of many movements would read their works in “The Fantastic Tavern”, an artistic café of the time, but in different languages too. Beginning from the 1910’s, Tiflis brought together Georgian modernists with Polish, Armenian, German, Jewish, Russian artists and poets. There were neo-symbolists, Acmeists, Futurists, so called proto-Dadaists, Dadaists, Zaumniks and the creators of the concept of “Everything-ness”, expressionists, cubists, cubo-futurists and more. There was no conceptual confrontation between them, which is yet another unique aspect of Georgian avant-garde.
As the Russian poet Terentyev put in his poem It’s Marvelous, “We are united by our hostile love and celebration”. “Hostile love” is a dichotomy that defines the creative and conceptual debate of the time. It must have been the festive character of Tiflis that enabled the unity of confronted sides. This festivity owed itself to the fact that Tbilisi has always been a city of poets. Poeticism of the city implies that it was not just a city where poets lived but that the city itself dwelled poetically. In 1919 Tiflis was declared a city of poets in the café “International”. Moreover, it was claimed that poetry existed only there, “. . . and Tiflis became fantastic” said poet Robakidze. In 1917-1921, in the period of state independence, this small “fantastic” capitol opened its artistic boundaries wider.
Multinationalism/multilingualism is a common feature of 20th century urban culture, but as the Georgian neo-symbolist Robakidze wrote: “Western Europe is dear to us but we cannot cede the East for the West. Better to celebrate their wedding with a Georgian feast.” Though said in a different context, these words respond to the afore-mentioned Ilya Zhdanevich’s declaration from 1913 about the death of Futurism and the emergence of the new idea of “Everything-ness” in its place. His strive towards the East and at the same time the intricate correspondence with futurist Marinetti, inspired him to create a concept of the language of art beyond the space and time. The outcome of the idea of Eastern and Western unity, so important for the Georgian avant-garde, is expressed by Kakabadze in his manifesto “Done Pictures”: “We will not allow the division of the world into two provinces – the east and the west… we are standing in the centre of the life of the art world.”
Following the concepts of “Everything-ness”, “Orchestral painting”, “Done pictures,” the idea of non-linear time, of spatial integration of the past, present, and future, of the East-West, is obvious. As the poet Titian Tabidze said, “Rustaveli (poet of the 12c. – N. K.), and Mallarmé are to meet up in a Georgian artist. I see Rustaveli as the collector of Georgian words while Mallarmé as that of ... Presentism and Futurism.” For Western avant-garde the present is mainly the starting point of the future and the future is the determiner; the primacy of time and duration is evident. The Georgian avant-garde is more oriented on space considering the present as the result of the past, and the beginning of future. Kakabadze remarks, Georgian avant-garde sees a phenomenon not “from one peculiar angle in depth but as the whole essence in the space” some kind of panoramic vision plus perceiving time epically, so in simultaneity of space. That is the Western modernity oriented on time differs from a Georgian as dramatic differs from epic.
Georgian/Tiflis avant-garde is the polyphonic merge of Georgian modernism with its aristocratic conservatism, its artistry, with the extreme épater of multi-national and multi-lingual Tiflis avant-garde. Its nature was much determined by the city with its traditional aristocratic representation and at the same time with the extremely performative nature of the merchants and craftsmen, mostly of Asian origin, who were an enchanting influence for artistic Bohemians. Besides, the avant-garde character of the intellectual and artistic life of Tiflis oriented on innovations, amalgamated with deep roots of traditional Eastern Christian culture. This multi-layering of the innovative with the traditional, the overlaying of the local with Eastern and Western unity, determined the “fantastic” nature of Tiflis avant-garde.
The Group 410 wrote in their newspaper also titled, 410: “The Company 410 unites leftist futurists and establishes Zaum (the linguistic experiments in sound and language – N.K.). Its goal is to apply all great discoveries and place the world on a new axis ... We are rolling up the sleeves.”
Tiflis became the city of avant-garde artist books, art magazines, manifestos, artistic tavern exhibitions and lectures. The famous artistic taverns were: “Fantastic Tavern”, “Kimerioni”, “Argonauts’ Boat”, “Peacock’s Tail”, canteen “Hope”, “International” etc. “Fantastic Tavern” was created in 1918 where the “Futurist Syndicate”, later the Company “410” and Futurvseuchbishche” were founded. All in all about 200 lectures were delivered there from 1917 to 1920 on avant-garde, on Georgian history of art ... It was here that the first modernist pantomime and drama performances were played out.
In 1910’s were founded: the Georgian Artists Society, the 13 Georgian poets’ “Blue Horns”, the “Armor”, “Guild of Poets”, the group “Alpha-Lyra”, “The Union of Tiflis Poets”, the “Futurist Syndicate”, soon after transformed into the “Company 410”.
In 1915-1930 about 30 modernist and avant-garde art and literary journals were issued on the initiative of the poet-symbolists, Dadaists. The Futurist and Dadaist group “H2SO4” issued the famous almanac ‘H2SO4’...
In 1919 the avant-garde poets and artists jointly published the book “Dedicated to Melnikova,” an actress, reader of the “Zaum” poetry in Tiflis. It is a symbol of the Tiflis avant-garde: the multi-lingual book unites Georgian, Russian, Latin and Armenian texts. And importantly, it is a polystylistic book uniting different movements and different approaches - Symbolist and Acmeist poetry, Zaum; Cubo-Futuristic, symbolist and neo-symbolist graphics co-exist side by side. Characterized by poly-style, it also harmoniously combined two book models - an avant-garde artist book and standard, traditional one. The co-existence of these two opposing principles (those of a traditional - image on one side and text on the other and those of the avant-garde) enables a contrasting combination. The modernist narrative, composed of verbal-and-image metonymic sequences, exists side by side with avant-garde almost non-referential poetic texts and signs, typographic experiments, letters of different sizes, shapes, and thickness, sometimes shown upside down. This requires from the reader the permanent interpretation, the development of own method of reading and perception thus becoming the co-author rather than a passive reader.
Another feature of the book is an article about palimpsest-type manuscript of the 17th century titled “N 1283” written by the scholar Gordeev with one image of its miniature. Such unexpected insertion of old art in the avant-garde book is conceptually well-thought out and turns it into a book-palimpsest on the Georgian/Tiflis palimpsest avant-garde as Tiflis of that time was itself a city-palimpsest.
And our Tbilisi little by little is going down / but the earthquake is still coming late -
Titian Tabidze, To Melita – Dadaistic madrigal, 1923
A strong “earthquake” that started in the 1930’s brought the destruction of avant-garde by the Soviet government. Many artists were arrested, while others were shot to death or had to emigrate. As early as 1923, Acmeist poet Degen was shot in Baku. In 1922, Zdanevich immigrated to Paris. Robakidze stayed in Germany, Later the writer Javakhishvili, the poets Mitsishvili and Tabidze were shot. The artists Shevardnadze, Petre Otskheli, the stage director Akhmeteli and the conductor Mikeladze were also shot. Kiril Zdanevich was exiled for 10 years, poets Iashvili and Galaktion were forced to commit suicide. Those who survived kept silence.
Nana Kipiani
Journals/Newspapers
SALITERATURO GAZETI, 1931 # 1
How and when was done with georgian modernism
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Tag Archives: In Your House 4
The Wrestling Time Machine: October of 1995
Posted on August 30, 2019 by Bobby | Comments Off on The Wrestling Time Machine: October of 1995
Lay down some newspapers on the kitchen table, turn on your favorite Spooky Sounds cassette, get the pumpkins ready, preheat the oven to 300 degrees for roasted pumpkin seeds; that’s right, it’s…October of 1995!!!
Comments Off on The Wrestling Time Machine: October of 1995
Posted in 1990s, 1995, CHIKARA, CHIKARA, Extreme Championship Wrestling, Independent Wrestling, Professional Wrestling, The Attitude Era, The Monday Night Wars, The Wrestling Time Machine, World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment, Wrestling, Wrestling Time Machine
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Home > fencing
Falcons Clinch Top Trophy at 4th Annual Falcons Young Fencer Invitational
As they prepared for the 4th Falcons Young Fencer Invitational, held from 22-23 April at NIST, the NIST Falcons Fencing Club held high hopes. When it launched as the first international school fencing club in Thailand, no one knew exactly how popular the sport would be, nor just how rapidly many of the young athletes would progress in skill. Four years later, no doubts remain. The Falcons accumulated the highest total team points, earned through multiple gold, silver and bronze medals – including a first-place finish from world-ranked Falcons fencer Soravit “Ping Ping” Kitsiriboon (Class of 2017).
Nearly 200 fencers from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines converged on the NIST Sports Complex for the tournament, which included individual and team brackets for competitors ranging from under 10 to under 20. Representing 16 clubs in total, they included both first-time and returning fencers. In total 52 of the NIST Falcons represented the school in the under 10, under 12, under 14, under 17 and under 20 categories.
With the competition underway, the Falcons Fencing Club took an early lead, with 12 fencers finishing one round before their first medals. Grace Larkin and Tem Taepaisitphongse advanced in the under 12 girls event before falling in the semifinals to challengers from Singapore and Malaysia, earning them both bronze medals. In the team events the Falcons truly began to shine, pulling in two gold, three silver and three bronze medals – enough to earn the overall trophy and demonstrating just how successful the fencing programme at the school has become.
A final highlight was Ping Ping’s contributions. In addition to refereeing during the first half of the tournament, he went on to compete in the under 20 category and narrowly edged out Kanisorn Pangmoon of the 1st Army Area Fencing Club with a score of 15-12 to earn a gold medal. It also marked his final performance as a Falcons fencer, as next year he will move on to Duke University in the United States, where he has also been accepted as a member of the Blue Devils Varsity Fencing Team.
Congratulations to all of the Falcons fencers, and we look forward to seeing more successes in the future!
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Falcon Fencing Team Competes in National Tournament
As the popularity of fencing has grown among NIST students, the young Falcon fencers have been increasingly putting their training to the test. Following up on Ping Ping’s (Year 10) success at the 2014 Singapore Cadet Fencing World Cup—where he received a bronze medal—the NIST team took part in the 2014 Thailand Junior & Cadet Fencing Championship, held from May 10th to 13th at the Royal Thai Air Force Academy. Despite being relatively new to the sport, they performed well against more seasoned veterans, with several earning top-10 finishes in their respective categories.
The NIST Falcon Fencing Team was formed not only with the intent of promoting the sport in Thailand, but also developing good sportsmanship. Fencing has a long tradition of encouraging self-discipline and respect for others, and it also promotes physical and emotional health. While the fencers were pleased with their results, they profited more from learning to think and react quickly, make complex decisions, and work as a team. Led once again by Ping Ping, who earned a second bronze medal in a major competition, the Falcons earned a place among Thailand’s elite fencers.
1. Ping Ping Kitsiriboon (Y10): 3rd place – U17 Men Sabre, 5th – U20 Men Sabre
2. Susie Chongthaweephol (Y11): 5th place – U17 Women Sabre
3. Prim Lerthirunvibul (Y11): 9th place – U17 Women Sabre
4. Marisa Kitjatanapan (Y8): 10th place – U17 Women Sabre
5. Aim Sila-on (Y10): 14th place – U17 Women Sabre
6. Min Laohavisit (Y8): 15th place – U17 Men Sabre
7. Fa Taepaisitphongse (Y7): 16th place – U17 Women Sabre
8. Prize Lerthirunvibul (Y8): 17th place – U17 Men Sabre (32 round)
9. Reya Lamsam (Y11): 18th place – U17 Women Sabre (32 round)
10. Zim Jearrajinda (Y11): 21st place – U17 Men Sabre (32 round)
NIST to Host the First Annual Falcon Young Fencer Invitational
Paying Respect to the Sewol Ferry Victims
Long separated from its origins in duels between young European aristocrats, fencing has since expanded to become an electrifying sport that challenges both the mind and body. Following the success of year 10 student Soravit (Ping Ping) Kitsiriboon, NIST International School is expanding support for the sport as it hosts Thailand’s first Falcon Young Fencer Invitational on Saturday, 24 May 2014. The event, aimed to raise awareness of competitive fencing among youth in the region, is open to teams in four different age groups: under 10, under 12, under 14 and under 17. Running the whole day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, the event will take place at NIST’s Sports Complex, where over 100 fencers are expected to take part.
The NIST Falcon Fencing Club is the first international school fencing club in Thailand. Having become a member of the Amateur Fencing Association of Thailand (AFAT) in July 2013, it now includes over 30 fencers and has quickly gained recognition for its promising athletes, due in large part to the coaching. Leading the young Falcons is Head Coach Wiradech (Willi) Kothny, a decorated fencing aficionado who holds the distinction of being the only fencing athlete to win medals for two countries: Germany and Thailand.
A three-time Olympian, Kothny earned individual and team bronze medals in sabre fencing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Additionally, he has taken part in numerous other competitions throughout his career, earning a European championship, world championship and other awards. Returning to Thailand in 2002, Kothny began to build the sport in Thailand and revolutionize it through world-class coaching techniques, while continuing to earn medals in the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games and Asian Fencing Championships.
In June of 2013 Kothny joined NIST as the head coach, aiming to empower the NIST Falcons to compete on the national and international levels. His message to NIST students and others who would like to fence is simple: perseverance and a good education are the keys to achieving one’s goals, both on and off the fencing strip. He further believes that a positive attitude, discipline, respect and honor are traits that fencers should also develop to reach success. With a growing number of promising fencers at NIST and around the country, and the backing of an Olympian, Thailand may soon find more success on the international stage.
Thai Police to Enforce New Seat Belt Law
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From Albertville to Annecy
Petit St Bernard Pass
Petit St Bernard to Aosta, Italy
Comments, contributions, Criticisms - please click here
Ugine to Faverges
Our journey starts north of the Alpine city of Albertville, perhaps best known for its role as the host city for the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. Albertville is actually a small town, and seems to me to be an unlikely host city for the Olympics when compared with such places as Turin, Salt Lake City or Vancouver. In fact, a small amount of research indicates that many of the events took place outside Albertville itself, and some of these were a fair distance away in places that we shall be visiting at some stage on Rural Roads.
You may be wondering why there are no pictures of Albertville on this site. Well, quite frankly, I found it to be a scruffy town with not particularly interesting buildings. The Olympic park was bordered by a big retail park. Not terribly interesting.
We headed north from Albertville on the N212, turning onto the N508 at Ugine (here). We then headed in a north-westerly direction towards Annecy. The pictures begin shortly after leaving Ugine, though I can't be absolutely certain where each one is taken.
As the pictures show, we are driving in a broad flat-bottomed valley along a good single carriageway road. This is somewhat of a rarity in this part of France, most of the roads we drove on were anything but straight, with hairpin bends being very common.
The roundabout for which we can see the signs is situated just to the west of Faverges, here. A good look at the map shows that we have just been on a short bypass. I think the section of road east of here is signed as semi-autoroute.
As we continue towards Annecy, the valley continues to get wider, in order to accommodate Lake Annecy. You can see more about Lake Annecy on the next page.
Getting around this section
Albertville to Annecy - Ugine to Faverges
Albertville to Annecy - Faverges to Annecy
Albertville to Annecy - The return trip
Rural Roads Home
Copyright © 2006 Simon Davies
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Summer Preview 2014: Part Twelve
Our friend and regular guest blogger,
Summer is the time of the blockbuster film releases, and it's the same for books. I mean, who wants to lug War and Peace to the beach or the pool, when you can take the new Jacqueline Winspear, The Care and Management of Lies (Harper, July 1, 2014) with you? But you should know that Winspear has deviated from her Maisie Dobbs series with this latest, which is a standalone. In The Care and Management of Lies, also set in the Great War, Winspear looks at the women left to keep the home fires burning for their soldiers in France and Flanders.
Charles Todd, that mother/son team of writers, also has a new book coming out in the Bess Crawford series. In An Unwilling Accomplice (William Morrow, August 12, 2014), Bess continues her nursing/crime-solving career in France.
It's summer again, and so time for another in Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. This one, called The Heist (Harper, July 15, 2014), stars art restorer/spy/killer/lover Allon, along with his achingly beautiful wife, Chiara, and, probably, his foxhole characters/aides in Israeli intelligence. The publisher has been sparse with info about the plot of this book––though I know it involves a Caravaggio and spying . . . and a heist.
One summer novel I'm looking forward to reading is Andrea Maria Schenkel's The Murder Farm (Quercus, June 13, 2014). Set in Bavaria, it is the fictionalized account of the murder of a whole family in a farm setting. It sounds a bit like Truman Capote's In Cold Blood (but nothing can be that good), with the author looking at the case from many different angles. It's received mixed reviews, but it sounds interesting, so I'm game.
Author James R. Benn is returning, just as summer comes to an end, with another book in his Billy Boyle series. The Rest Is Silence (Soho Crime, September 2, 2014) features Boston cop-turned-World-War-II-soldier/sleuth Billy on another mission for his "Uncle Ike," a certain general. Billy has turned up all over the European Theater in the previous books in the series. Benn is turning into quite a good writer, and Billy and his wartime buddies are fun to follow. The reader may also learn a thing or two about the war, as Benn has written about little-touched-upon topics in his previous books.
Norwegian author Karin Fossum is releasing a standalone novel (not in her Inspector Sejer series) in August, called I Can See in the Dark (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, August 12, 2014). It's about a man accused of a crime, who knows he's innocent of that crime, but he is guilty of another crime the police don't seem to know about. So, how does a guilty/innocent man defend himself? It's an intriguing idea, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Fossum does with it.
Also coming out in June is an interesting book titled FaceOff (Simon & Schuster, June 3, 2014). Twenty-two popular authors have paired up to write stories contrasting their characters. An example––and most interesting to me––is John Rebus versus Roy Grace in "The Nick of Time," by Ian Rankin and Peter James. The other match-ups also look interesting. It'll be fun to read a book of short stories by these master writers and see how their characters face off!
And, finally, I'd like to recommend a book that I enjoyed very much. It's a graphic novel by New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, called Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant: A Memoir (Bloomsbury USA, May 6, 2014). The book recounts the last few years of her aging parents' lives and, while it sounds rather gloomy, it really isn't. Chast has insights about the aging process and how both she––an only child––and her parents coped with aging and death. I know it isn't a mystery or thriller, but I thought it might be of interest to some of the readers here.
Posted by Material Witnesses at 4:00 AM
Labels: Summer Preview 2014
Firecrackers for the Fourth of July
Review of Robert Galbraith's The Silkworm
Review of Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman's The Golem...
Answers to Friday's Quiz
Quiz: One of These Things Is Not Like the Other
Feeling Quizzical?
Not Quite Famous
Review of Jill Paton Walsh's The Late Scholar
Review of Brian McGilloway's Borderlands, the Firs...
Summer Preview 2014: Part Seventeen
Summer Preview 2014: Part Sixteen
Summer Preview 2014: Part Fifteen
Summer Preview 2014: Part Fourteen
Summer Preview 2014: Part Thirteen
Summer Preview 2014: Part Eleven
Summer Preview 2014: Part Ten
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Old Project Avalon Forum (ARCHIVE) > Project Camelot Forum > Project Camelot > Conspiracy Research
Webster Tarpley's Perspective
I have other threads on Webster Tarpley, but I didn't want to post these videos on any of those threads.
I think that Webster's analysis of world events deserves its own thread. I believe him to be one of the best sources of information. Here's his biography: http://tarpley.net/biography/.
Webster has appeared on Russia Today concerning the Dalai Lama's visit with President Obama.
From Webster's website http://tarpley.net/:
"Webster G. Tarpley
TARPLEY.net
"Video 1: Webster Tarpley joins Andrew Leung in London and host Peter Lavelle in Moscow to evaluate the role of the Dalai Lama and the current and future trends of the US-China bilateral relationship. Crosstalk will be broadcast numerous times today Friday Feb. 19 on Russia Today."
" update
"Video 2: Tarpley provides a wrap-up of the Dalai Lama’s visit with an estimate of possible consequences, including the likely radicalization of the succession process inside the Communist Party of China, where successors to President Hu JIntao and Prime Minister Wen JIabao are due to be selected at the XVIII Congress in the fall of 2012. Two factions can be thought of as contending for leadership. These are the eltiists, typified by ex-President JIang Zemin’s Shanghai Mafia, representing the rapidly growing coastal areas of China, who favor more economic globalization. Then there are the populists of Youth League faction, among whom Hu and Wen are counted, and who are more concerned about social tensions and income disparities between the coast and the relatively disadvantaged inland and rural areas, where some 600,000 peasants still struggle to improve their livelihood. Given the US policy of antagonizing China across the board, the succession process might be radicalized, and the People’s Liberation Army call for a broad-spectrum strategic counterpunch against the US might become reality. The State Department thinks that China will have to grin and bear it when it comes to US policies, no matter what they are. But China is now strong enough to have an array of other options."
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Re: Webster Tarpley's Perspective
I think Tarpley is excellent, thank you!
Webster has written an article entitled "The Battle for Baluchistan: Iran Nabs Top NATO Terrorist with Help from Pakistan," dated February 25, 2010 (http://tarpley.net/). In it he states some good news, in my opinion: "...The capture of Rigi represents a serious setback for the US-UK strategy of using false flag state-sponsored terrorism..."
Webster talks about this on Russia Today:
"March 03, 2010 The Greek government has announced new austerity measures aimed at slashing its huge budget deficit. It comes a day after the Prime Minister said that the country was fighting for survival. The new measures -- which will reduce annual pay and increase taxes -- were ordered by the EU in an bid to prevent a collapse of the Euro. But street protests have been raging in Athens against the plans. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department is reported to have launched a probe into leading American hedge funds. They're suspected of helping Greece cover up its debts to weaken the European currency. Journalist Webster Tarpley believes that was a plot hatched to prop up the dollar's supremacy."
Last edited by Seashore; 03-14-2010 at 11:34 PM. Reason: Add date
From http://tarpley.net/2010/03/10/letter...100-per-month/:
"Letter to Congressman Van Hollen: Reject Obamacare, Enact Medicare for All at $100 per Month
"Dear Congressman Van Hollen:
"I urge you to reject the Obama health care bill. This is not reform; it is a bailout of bankrupt insurance companies at the expense of average working people, obtained through coercion and extortion. Forcing Americans to buy insurance from private, for-profit, deregulated companies is clearly unconstitutional. The idea of a mandate to purchase insurance is a reactionary Republican invention, and we want no part of it. Furthermore, this bill’s $500 billion in Medicare cuts are a direct attack on the economic rights of Americans implemented under the New Deal and the Great Society, and will cause incalculable suffering and human tragedy. These colossal Medicare cuts will inevitably result in rationing, delay, and the denial of care, causing patients to die needlessly. The spirit of this bill is that of OMB Director Peter Orszag, the sinister Malthusian bureaucrat who is behind recent attempts to deny Americans Pap smears, mammograms, and PSA tests – as cost-cutting measures.
"Instead, we should set a national goal of extending US life expectancy by five years over the coming two decades. Funding for Medicare must be increased by making Wall Street pay their fair share with a 1% Tobin tax or Wall Street sales tax on derivatives and other speculative transactions, by clawing back the TARP bailout from the zombie banks, and by ending the Iraq and Afghan wars. Give every person the voluntary option to join Medicare For All at any age for $100 per person per month, with generous allowances and fee waivers for families, the unemployed, students, the working poor, and the destitute. Further savings can come through a fully funded national and international crash program of biomedical research to find cures for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and other dread diseases.
"In addition, health care requires more than insurance. We need to build 1,000 modern, state of the art hospitals with 500 beds each just to reach the minimum of targets set by the Hill-Burton Act of 1946. We need to train 250,000 doctors over the next ten years. These goals require serious investments, not subsidies to predatory insurance companies who are going broke because of their reckless derivatives bets.
"Your role in the Democratic leadership suggests that you are severely out of touch, paying far more attention to the needs of Obama and Pelosi than to the needs of your district. Stop armtwisting for this wretched sellout and listen to your constituents. Vote no on this bill.
"Webster G. Tarpley"
I too am a big fan of his very in depth research, particularly his books, the one of George Bush Senior and the recent one on Obama's background - fascinating!
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Discovery of 3 exoplanets in a system just 73 light-years away has scientists excited
July 29, 2019 by admin 0 Comments
We may have discovered thousands of exoplanets, but few have astronomers as excited as a newly discovered system located just 73 light-years away.
It could not only tell us about planet formation, it could lead us to the discovery of a habitable world.
Around an unusually quiet red dwarf 73 light-years away, the planet-hunting TESS satellite has identified three planets – one rocky world just a little larger than Earth, and two sub-Neptunes about twice Earth’s size.
And they seem to be linked in a chain of resonance, interacting gravitationally to produce a pattern in their orbital periods.
The star has been named TOI-270, and its planets TOI-270b (the rocky planet), TOI-270c and TOI-270d.
“TOI-270 is a true Disneyland for exoplanet science, and one of the prime systems TESS was set out to discover,” said astrophysicist Maximilian Günther of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.
“You can really do all the things you want to do in exoplanet science, with this system.”
To be clear, none of the three planets are likely to be habitable themselves. TOI-270b, a rocky planet about 1.25 times the size of Earth, is the closest to the star, whipping around in a complete orbit once every 3.4 days.
Although the star is a lot cooler than the Sun, and just 40 percent of its size, that is still too close for liquid water on the surface, one of the primary metrics for determining habitability.
Of the two sub-Neptunes – one 2.42 times the size of Earth, the other 2.13 times the size – the larger one has an orbit of 5.7 days; this is also too close to the star for habitability.
The smaller sub-Neptune has an 11.4-day orbit, which means that its outer atmosphere could be habitable temperature-wise; but it likely has a very thick atmosphere that creates a greenhouse effect, leaving the surface far too hot for survivability. (Sounds a bit like Venus.)
A diagram of the planetary orbits, with the habitable zone represented in dark green and the extremophile habitable zone in light green. (Günther et al., Nature Astronomy, 2019)
At that proximity, it’s also likely that all three planets are tidally locked, meaning the same side always faces the star, which doesn’t make ideal conditions for life.
Nevertheless, the system presents some rare opportunities.
Let’s start with the star itself. Most red dwarfs are turbulent, spitting out flares – but TOI-270 is older. And because it’s nearby, it’s also bright.
Also, because its planets pass between us and the star when they orbit, we may be able to learn about their atmospheres by studying changes in the star’s light.
This could help us learn more about how different planets form, and why some are rocky and small, and some are huge and gaseous.
We can’t do this based on the planets in our own Solar System, because it doesn’t have any sub-Neptunes – known as the “missing link” between rocky planets and gas giants.
“We’ve found very few planets like this in the habitable zone, and many fewer around a quiet star, so this is rare,” said planetary astrophysicist Stephen Kane of the University of California Riverside.
That orbital resonance we mentioned earlier also represents opportunity. That’s when planetary orbits have a pattern. So, for every five times the innermost planet, TOI-270b, goes around the star, the middle planet, TOI-270c goes around three – expressed as an integer ratio, that’s an orbital resonance of 5:3.
And for every two of TOI-270c’s orbits, TOI-270d has one, or an orbital resonance of 2:1.
“For TOI-270, these planets line up like pearls on a string,” Günther said.
“That’s a very interesting thing, because it lets us study their dynamical behaviour. And you can almost expect, if there are more planets, the next one would be somewhere further out, at another integer ratio.”
In other words, it could tell astronomers where to look for more distant planets in the system – and this is where it gets really interesting. The habitable zone extends farther back from the star, and there may be more planets therein.
And, the astronomers noted, although TOI-270d is unlikely to be habitable itself, it may have exomoons that are.
It really is a tremendously exciting system for future research opportunities.
“There are a lot of little pieces of the puzzle that we can solve with this system,” Günther said. “It is an exceptional laboratory for not one, but many reasons – it really ticks all the boxes.”
The research has been published in Nature Astronomy.
This article was originally published by Sciencealert.com. Read the original article here.
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About Scottish Left Review
The Scottish Left Review was established in 2000 by Jimmy Reid and others. It is a bi-monthly magazine that seeks to provide a focal point for thought and discussion for the Scottish left. It is a non-party, not for profit publication, drawing on the left of party and no-party affiliations throughout Scotland. It aims to provide a forum for those on the left of all parties and none.
In 2006, Scottish Left Review established the Scottish Left Review Press – which has published the best-selling ‘Is there a Scottish road to socialism?’ edited collection – and in 2013 it also established the Jimmy Reid Foundation.
Throughout an often difficult and challenging time for left politics in Scotland, the magazine has continued to hold true to its historical mission of acting as a respectful and rigorous forum for debate and discussion across the left with a view to espousing progressive politics and mapping out strategies to achieve them.
The magazine survives through a combination of pay for subscriptions for the hard copy of the magazine, advertising from unions and progressive organisation and donations from readers and supporters. As Scottish Left Review is free online, please consider giving a donation.
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V. Evaluation and Critique
In this concluding section we wish to give an evaluation and critique of Ellen White's Christology and will proceed in the following manner. Firstly, we will offer certain general observations as a background; secondly, we will discuss the total impact of Ellen White's Christology; thirdly, we will offer a specific critique; and, finally, we will present a summary and conclusion.
A. General Observations
We will make our general observations under three headings, namely, concerning Ellen White's theological development, her style and intention and finally, her use of sources.
1. Ellen White's Theological Development Relative to Christology
Ellen White commenced writing in 1846 at the age of 19 and continued until 1915 when she was 88 years of age. It should be observed that this covers a period of 69 years spanning two generations. I would place her Christological presentations into three approximate chronological periods, as follows: 1) 1850-1870; 2) 1870-1890 and 3) 1890-1915. The first period is illustrated by such works as Christian Experience and Views of Mrs. E G White (1851); A Supplement to Experience and Views (1854); and Spiritual Gifts (1858-1864). During this period there was an emphasis on visionary experiences and her descriptions of the pre-existent Christ could be termed graphic, literalistic and anthropomorphic. Her writings always featured Jesus, but were mostly set within the framework of her eschatological visions. It was only with the unfolding of her 'great controversy' theme in 1858 that her Christology broadened and began to be more prominently presented. The second period is illustrated by writings such as the Spirit of Prophecy series (1870-1884) and her Christology now showed clear signs of growth and maturity. The third period could be considered as inaugurated with Patriarchs and Prophets (1890) and is the period of Christological dominance in the writings of Ellen White. This is the period of elaborate, far-reaching and increasingly insightful pronouncements in her Christology. It is difficult to differentiate between the actual Christology of the second and third periods; the content is very similar but the volume is greater in the third. As far as the pre-existent Christ is concerned, during the first period Ellen White appears to present Jesus Christ as subordinate to the Father; in the second period she presents Christ as equal with the Father and eternal; during the last period Christ is presented as of the same substance and essence as the Father and one in whom is life original, unborrowed, underived.265
To what extent was Ellen White influenced by her contemporaries within Adventism with regard to her Christology? Froom showed that Arianism and semi-Arianism had manifested themselves in an unofficial way through the writings of John M. Stephenson (1854), Uriah Smith (1865)266 and Joseph Waggoner (1884).267 Froom also shows that James White, the husband of Ellen White, commenced his ministry with an anti-Trinitarian stance, but by 1877 came out clearly in the Review and Herald on the equality between the Father and the Son.268 Gane believes that early Adventism at least up to 1898 was even more strongly anti-Trinitarian and Arian than what Froom maintains. He remarks:
"As has been shown, there was prior to 1898 considerable diversity of belief on the subject of the nature of God. Bordeau in 1890 regretted this. But the present writer has been unable to discover any evidence that 'many were Trinitarians'269 before 1898, nor has there been found any Trinitarian declaration written, prior to that date, by an Adventist writer, other than Ellen G White."270
Two observations should be made in connection with Ellen White. Firstly, in spite of the fact that Ellen White exercised the gift of prophecy, one can believe that God speaks to people in the setting of their times and within the scope of their theological thought patterns. With a strong anti-Trinitarian atmosphere in her early environment even including her husband, it can be understood that Ellen White could present her views of Christ within her theological world and understanding. The second observation is that it is quite remarkable to observe the rich and profound anti-Arian Christology issuing forth from her pen starting as a gentle flow in the 1870's, becoming stronger in the 1880's and swelling to a torrent in the 1890's when all around her were influential men with differing views. Ellen White showed remarkable independence of thought in her Christological development.
2. Ellen White's Style and Intention
Bearing in mind Ellen White's lack of formal education271 it can be appreciated that her style of writing was at first simple, resulting in a feeling of inadequacy to present the grand themes of salvation.272 She commenced writing out of a sense of mission and calling. Ellen White was convinced that God had spoken to her and had placed a burden upon her to make known to others what He had revealed to her. Her earlier writings consisted of messages making clear what had been shown to her. In addition, she soon began to write 'testimonies' to individual members and small companies and churches. These messages were in the form of counsel, guidance, admonition and reproof and were generally of a hortatory nature. The emphasis in the beginning was not upon exegetical or expository writing but rather in the field of spiritual admonition.
Ellen White was not a trained theologian and, therefore, we cannot look for systematic treatment of spiritual truth. But as time went by her intention to admonish, exhort and guide the church flowered into a coherent presentation of Biblical themes. She excelled herself in the development of the Conflict of the Apes series as these grew from the earlier Spiritual Gifts into the Spirit of Prophecy and then, finally, into the five volumes of the Conflict of the Ages series. Ellen White carefully traced the history of the drama of the ages, weaving practical spiritual lessons into this recital. The end product has been spiritual and edifying for the church. It is in this setting that her Christological themes have been presented. They lie scattered throughout her writings and instead of forming a systematized network of truth are rather like scattered jewels waiting to be gathered and collected by observant wayfarers.
3. Ellen White's Christology in the Light of her Sources
It is helpful when making an evaluation of Ellen White's theology and particularly her Christology to bear in mind her use of sources.273 Through the years it has generally been thought that Ellen White only made use of sources when writing historical works such as The Great Controversy.274 Research in more recent years and bibliographic work on the inventory lists of her library books reveals that Ellen White had more than eleven hundred books by non-Seventh-day Adventist authors275 and read more widely than has generally been known. It is now known that she used sources in her writings covering all subjects.276
Of particular interest for this dissertation is the question of Ellen White's use of sources in the field of Christology. Here we think particularly of a book such as The Desire of Ages, dealing with the life of Christ. In the development of this book, whether drawing from her existing works or writing fresh material, Ellen White made use of at least twelve other sources.277 Reference has already been made to a comparison of the Christology of Ellen White and Henry Melvill, the Anglican preacher (1798-1871) from whom she drew heavily. This latter source has thrown considerable light on the apparent conflict in Ellen White's statements on the humanity of Christ.278
How does the question of Ellen White's use of sources affect our evaluation of her Christological contribution? The tension and antithesis apparent in Ellen White's Christology could arise, either from her use of sources with contradictory ideas, or from the very nature of the subject. After personal research and consideration I would favour the latter alternative. In fact, the general consistency in Ellen White's views over a considerable span of time is a testimony to her clarity of thought. The fact that different sources are used makes it all the more imperative for an author to use discretion and wisdom in presenting a uniform picture. It would be easy to offer a confused and contradictory Christological pattern, unless one was blessed with discernment. The knowledge of Ellen White's use of different sources has heightened our appreciation of her general Christological impact.
B. The Total Impact of Ellen White's Christology
In this section we will endeavor to evaluate Ellen White's Christological impact upon the church in three sub-sections, namely, the dominance of her Christology, the heart of her Christology and the tension of her Christology.
1. The Dominance of her Christoloqy
Many different subjects and themes are treated by Ellen White and various students might have conflicting ideas as to her chief concern. There are those who feel that her treatment of health and the body has priority. Others would see her burden for parents, children and the home as dominant. Others again might even feel that her counsel on last-day events has pre-eminence. We would like to suggest, however, that Ellen White's favorite theme and topic woven into everything else is Jesus Christ.279Not only is this theme found in a book like The Desire of Ages but it is intertwined with all types of subjects throughout her writings. In going through all of her articles in the Review and Herald from 1850 to 1915 we found Christological nuggets lying all around and often in the most unexpected places. Whether writing on temperance, the home, faith, Christian work or simply recording travel notes, the theme of Jesus surfaced. For Ellen White Jesus Christ was the manifestation of the Father, He was the Substitute and Surety, He was our sanctification and our righteousness and our Example. For her Jesus Christ was the centre and the heart of all Christian doctrine and ethics. No wonder she wrote:
"Christ, his character and work, is the center and circumference of all truth, he is the chain upon which the jewels of doctrine are linked. In him is found the complete system of truth. "280
2. The Heart of her Christology
Having described Ellen White's Christology and attempted to analyze it we now ask whether it is possible for us to place our finger on the very heart of it all. What is it that makes Ellen White's Christology live and move? What is the significance of Jesus Christ in her total thought and scheme? How does Jesus Christ fit into the cosmic sweep of time and eternity? I would suggest that lying in the very centre of Ellen White's thought, whether conscious or unconscious, is the reality of Jesus Christ as the Mediator, the Link, the Middleman and the Bridge between God and the universe. While this is true of the whole universe, for us it has special meaning for this world. In this connection there comes clearly to mind Ellen White's vivid picture of Christ who with His divine arm grasps the throne of God and with His human arm the hand of man.281 Here Christ draws God and man together in fellowship. In His very nature as both human and divine He illustrates this tremendous truth of unity between the finite and the Infinite.
Let us test this heart of Ellen White's Christology. She herself speaks of Christ as the eternal Mediator.282 Long before sin, Christ was the Mediator or Link between God and the universe. In the plan to create man for fellowship Christ was to the medium of creation. Once sin appeared in heaven and on earth Christ would in a special way be the Bridge to restore fellowship. Underlying her whole concept of the great controversy between Christ and Satan is the central fact of Christ's role as Mediator and Medium between God and creation. In opposition to this role Lucifer commenced his nefarious schemes of rebellion against God and His character. Now the issue of God's government and His law of love came into focus as the 'great controversy between Christ and Satan,283 began to unfold. When man fell into sin this called for an additional dimension of Christ's mediatorial function; thus "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). This dimension of Incarnation and atonement lay dormant in the heart of God from the days of eternity but was made manifest when sin appeared. Now during "the great controversy" Christ would engage in this special mediatorial work of restoring fellowship between a loving God and sinful man. In the process Christ will vindicate God's character, His law and His government. Christ as Mediator, Link, Middleman and Bridge between God and creation is marvelously illustrated in the eradication of the temporary aberration of sin. The heart of Ellen White's Christology is Christ the Mediator.284
3. The Tension of her Christology
Another important aspect of Ellen White's total impact is the force of the tension in her Christology. Not that she worked as a trained theologian with an intentional philosophy of antithesis and paradox. Nevertheless, it is interesting to discover that the whole world of theological tension comes into play in her presentation of Christ.285 She presents the helpless babe of Bethlehem and yet the mighty God of the universe; the combination of the divinity and the humanity of Christ; the paradox of Christ possessing the attributes of God and the fullness of the Godhead bodily and yet manifesting the weakness of humanity; taking upon Himself our sinful natures but still possessing inherently a sinless human nature; coming in the likeness of sinful flesh and yet Himself being without corruption, pollution or the taint of sin. Ellen White presents the marked contrast between Adam in Eden and Christ in the wilderness of temptation, and yet the tremendous similarity between Christ and Adam in relation to the absence of inherent sinfulness. She sees Christ relying on faith in His Father and the written word to overcome temptation in the wilderness and yet the necessity of divinity combining with His humanity in order to face the test. She pictures His miracles as an evidence of His Messiahship and yet His reliance on prayer to perform His miracles. She shows that Jesus Christ came down to the level of the sinner bearing the circumstances and results of sin and yet knowing no sin Himself. She indicates that Christ did not use His divine powers to alleviate His human position and yet He could read human hearts, forgive sin and manifest forth His divinity. Christ had to be more than a man or an angel in order to make atonement for sin and so Deity suffered and sank at Calvary and yet Deity did not die because God cannot die. The complexity of Ellen White's Christology is an indication of its depth and richness.286
C. A Specific Critique of Ellen White's Christology
We would suggest that in the very strength of Ellen White's Christology as one of tension and paradox, lurks also her greatest weakness. Because of the volume of her writing it is difficult for many to obtain a balanced overview of her Christological offerings. It is thus easy to see one side of the picture and to come away with a partial concept of Ellen White's Christology. Some have recognized that this makes it possible to select and use quotations of Ellen White to support differing concepts.287 Ellen White wrote under differing circumstances and on different occasions when a particular need arose. These very conditions have laid Ellen White open to the charge of contradiction.
As Ellen White was not a systematic theologian she did not attempt to systematize her Christology and place it in a neat bundle. This has resulted in loose ends lying around and each researcher can enter the field and decide for himself how he would like to stack the bundles. There is plenty of evidence as to the variegated results of such enterprises.288 Gil Gutierrez Fernandes has found that "a certain degree of ambiguity, however, seems to characterize her statements on the condition of Christ's human nature."289
Because Ellen White never attempted to gather her Christological material into a systematic whole we are left with some conflicting views.290 Those who have a high view of inspiration in connection with Ellen White would hold that any apparent contradiction is only apparent and not real, or that Christology is so complex that what appears to be contradiction is only divine. Others would say that because Ellen White used paradox different sources and was human she could end up with differing concepts. Still others would say that some of the contradictory ideas are due to her own theological growth and development, or to varying contextual circumstances. Much will depend in the end upon one's own philosophical and spiritual presuppositions in approaching the work of Ellen White.
D. Summary and Conclusion
We have presented Ellen White's views on the preexistence and eternity of Christ and of His unity with the Father in nature and character. We have pictured her doctrine of the Incarnation and its relation to the person and work of Christ. We discovered that for Ellen White, Christ did not lay aside His divinity when He took on humanity; He was fully God and fully man. While His deity was veiled, it functioned sufficiently for Christ to be God, in a similar way as His humanity functioned sufficiently for Him to be man. In relation to sin we found that Ellen White has Christ coming to earth in the post-fall nature of man with all the "innocent infirmities and weaknesses of man," together with the imputed sin and guilt of the whole world, thus bearing vicariously the guilt and punishment for all sin; and yet, in a nature that was sinless and without corruption, pollution, defilement, sinful propensities and tendencies or taint of sin. Furthermore, Ellen White sees all the manifold work of Christ bound and tied together as the great Mediator, Middleman, Link and Bridge between God and man.
Ellen White's impact on the Seventh-day Adventist Church and particularly on its theology has been significant. It is a pity that her Christology has not been more readily available to the general theological world. The scattered nature of her Christological writings over many years and covering many sources has made it difficult for non-Adventist scholars to get their hands on the comprehensive material. For one and all the challenge to dig deeper and to study more remains. After all, Christology is like a well that never runs dry.
265 E. R. Gane denies that there is any evidence of thought evolution in the Christology of Ellen White. In a thesis presented to Andrews University in June, 1963, entitled, "The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer," (already referred to in footnote 25), he says: "It has been demonstrated that there was an evolution of thought among Adventists generally on the nature of God. This took the form of gradual repudiation of Arianism and acceptance of Trinitarianism. But Ellen G. White writings do not reveal this type of thought evolution. The profound statements of her later period do not contradict anything she wrote in the earlier period. Instead they reveal a growing awareness of the deeper mysteries of the Godhead" (p.67). It is interesting to note that practically all of the quotations cited from Ellen White on Christology in Gane's paper come from the years 1890 and beyond. Alden Thompson, professor of religion at Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington, U S A, takes a different line from Gane. In a series of five articles in the Review and Herald, (December 3,10,17,24,21, 1981), entitled "From Sinai to Golgotha," Thompson discusses what he calls the Sinai-Golgotha principle. Simply stated, this principle, according to Thompson, illustrates how God takes His people from the commands of Sinai to the invitation of Golgotha, enabling them to respond out of love instead of from fear. Applying this principle to Ellen White's theological growth he sees a shift of emphasis in the way she told the great controversy story itself. In comparing Patriarchs and Prophets (1890) with Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, (1858), and The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, (1870), Thompson found that, in general, Spiritual Gifts gives a simple narrative; The Spirit of Prophecy expands it; Patriarchs and Prophets transforms it. In connection with the eternal nature of Christ, Thompson writes: "Both Spiritual Gifts and The Spirit of Prophecy reflect the tendency of some early Adventists to see Christ as a created being who was exalted to equality with the Father. But in Patriarchs and Prophets the statement of Christ's eternal relationship with the Father is clear and unmistakable" ("The Theology of Ellen White: The Great Controversy Story," Review and Herald, December 31, 1981). [back]
266 Froom quotes from Uriah Smith's Thoughts on the Revelation (1865) pages 14 and 59 to illustrate the Arian views of Smith. He then uses the second edition of 1875 and the third edition of 1881 to show how Smith moved from an Arian to a semi-Arian position on Christ. Froom maintains that even in Smith's book Looking Unto Jesus which appeared in 1898 he still propounds semi-Arian views on Christ and taught a derived Christ. See Froom, Movement of Destiny, pp.152-166. [back]
267 Froom discusses Waggoner's (the father of E. J. Waggoner) book, The Atonement, which first appeared in 1868, with a second edition in 1872 and an enlarged edition in 1884. Froom shows that Waggoner held and taught Arian concepts regarding Christ. See Froom, Movement of Destiny, pp.168-174. [back]
268 Ibid. , pp.175-177. [back]
269 Gane is referring to documents circulated by the Seventh-day Adventist leadership in the early 1960's in which it was stated that "many were Trinitarians" in our early history and that the Arian view was a minority one. See paper in next footnote, p.64. [back]
270 Cane, op. cit., p.65. [back]
271 The reader is referred to footnote 1. [back]
272 See Selected Messages, Book 3, p.90. See also Letter 40, 1892, and Letter 67, 1894 (both cited in Ford, Daniel 8:14, p. sA-257). [back]
273 The question of Ellen White and her use of sources has come up for discussion at regular intervals. It has generally been known that she did make use of certain historical works as source material in The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan, Battle Creek, Michigan: Review and Herald, 1888. She also drew from Conybeare and Howson, The Life and Epistles of Saint Paul, London: Scribner, 1851, in her Sketches from the Life of Paul, Battle Creek, Michigan: Review and Herald, 1883. For the Adventist defense of this usage see: F. D. Nichol, Ellen G. White and Her Critics, pp.403-467; A. L. White, The Ellen G. White Writings, pp.121-136. In recent years the subject has been researched more intensely. Ronald Numbers gave evidence in 1976 of Ellen White's use of sources in the field of health (see Ronald L. Numbers, Prophetess of Health: A Study of Ellen G. White, New York: Harper & Row, 1976). In a series of articles in the Review and Herald, Arthur L. White, former secretary of the White Estate, presented evidence as to how Ellen White prepared the Conflict of the Ages books (see Arthur L. White, "The E G. White Historical Writings," Review and Herald, July 12,19,26, August 2,9,16,23, 1979). See Molleurus Couperus, "The Bible Conference of 1919," Spectrum, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1979, pp. 23-57; Donald R. McAdams, "Shifting Views of Inspiration: Ellen G White Studies in the 1970's," Spectrum, Vol. 10, No. 4, 1980, pp.27-41; Douglas Hackleman, "GC Committee Studies Ellen White's Sources," Ibid., pp.9-15. For a recent critical approach see Robert D. Brinsmead, Judged by the Gospel, Fallbrook, California: Verdict Publications, 1980, pp.145-156; 361-383. Neal C. Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, has admitted that her use of sources is more extensive than was generally known. He writes: "Walter Rea, a former pastor in the Southern California Conference, has shown that E. G. White borrowed more extensively from contemporary sources than we had thought previously" ("The Ellen G White Writings and the Church," Review and Herald, July 9, 1981). See also Wilson, "This I Believe about Ellen White," Review and Herald, March 20, 1980. Recently a Roman Catholic attorney, Vincent L. Ramik, who specializes in copyright law, rendered a 27-page opinion on Ellen White's use of sources. He concluded that Ellen White was not guilty of copyright infringement/ piracy (see Review and Herald, September 17, 1981, pp. 3-7). For the most recent critical work see: Walter T. Rea, The White Lie, Turlock, California: M & R Publications, 1982. For recent critical evaluations of The White Lie see Jonathan Butler and Alden Thompson, "The White Lie: Two Perspectives," Spectrum, Vol. 12, No. 4, 1982, pp.44-55. For a recent sympathetic review see: Desmond Ford, Daniel 8:14, The Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment, Casselberry, Florida: Evangelion Press, 1980, pp.A-256-261. For a recent discussion of the topic by a representative of the White Estate we refer to Ron Graybill, "E G White's Literary Work: An Update," Aspire Tape, March 1982. See also a thorough discussion of the latest findings on the subject, Warren H. Johns, "Ellen White: Prophet or Plagiarist?" Ministry, June, 1982, pp.5-19. [back]
274 At the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Conference held in August 1919, at Washington, D.C., leaders of the church discussed Ellen White and her writings amongst other subjects. At that time it was thought that Ellen White's sources were confined to approximately twelve other books besides the Bible. See Warren H Johns, "Ellen White: Prophet or Plagiarist?" Ministry, June, 1982, p.16. [back]
275 See footnote 11 with regard to her library. Ellen White actually had three libraries—an office library to which her literary assistants had access, a personal library, and a library of 572 titles sold to her by C. C. Crisler in 1913. When she died in 1915 an inventory was made of all her possessions including her books. It is unlikely that she would have used many of the books bought from Crisler two years before her death. More than 800 of the books listed in the inventory are no longer to be found in the White Estate collection. See Warren H. Johns, "Ellen White: Prophet or Plagiarist?" Ministry, June, 1982, p.9). [back]
276 Johns writes: "Today we know that Ellen White used literary sources in her periodical articles, her unpublished manuscripts, her diaries, and her letters, in addition to the published books...I cannot think of any major subject where I have not located examples of 'literary adaptation!" See Ibid., p.16. [back]
277 Desmond Ford writes: "Desire of Ages drew upon at least the greater part of a dozen well-known commentators on the life of Christ" (Desmond Ford, Daniel 8:14, p.A-256). Amongst authors used were Geikie, Lightfoot, Fleetwood, Farrar, Hanna, Edersheim, Samuel Andrews and John Harris. See Johns, Ministry, June, 1982, pp.6,7; See also Arthur L White, "Completing the Work on The Desire of Ages," Review and Herald, August 16,23, 1979. [back]
278 See discussion involving footnotes 229-231 in this chapter. [back]
279 The Index to the Writings of E. G. White give an index of the various topics in the writings of Ellen White. It is very interesting to note the large number of entries under the title, 'Christ.' Notice the number of pages, of entries of some selected subjects: Sabbath-14; Ten Commandments-7; Health-3; Home-10; Advent-4; Christ-76. [back]
280 E G White, "Contemplate Christ's Perfection, not Man's Imperfection," Review and Herald, August 15, 1893. [back]
218 For selected reference see footnote 59 of this chapter. [back]
282 Ellen White says: "From everlasting he was the Mediator of the covenant," ("The Word Made Flesh," Review and Herald, April 5, 1906). [back]
283 There are some who believe that the heart of Ellen White's theology lies in "the great controversy between Christ and Satan" (see Joseph Ballistone, The Great Controversy Theme in E G White Writings, Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press, 1978). While the history of this world and of sin could very well be described in terms of 'the great controversy' we would suggest that the Person of Christ is much richer, deeper and greater than the aberration of sin. Christ's participation in "the great controversy" represents only one phase of Christ's activity in the sweep of eternity. [back]
284 We suggest that this presentation would harmonize with our discussion of the first chapter of The Desire of Ages regarding Ellen White's overriding motif in the work of Christ. That theme of the covenant as fulfilled in the Incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ would harmonize with Christ as the Mediator between God and the universe. [back]
285 It should be remembered that if Jesus Christ is very God and very man, then we are bound to face mystery, complexity and antithesis in Christology. It was Forsyth who said: "Beware of clearness, consistency, and simplicity, especially about Christ. The higher we go the more polygonal the truth is. Thesis and antithesis are both true" (P. T. Forsyth, The Person and Place of Jesus Christ, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, [n.d.], p.71). [back]
286 At face value the above could be taken as simply evidence of contradiction in Ellen White. However, there are a number of factors which make this unlikely. Firstly, there is the consistency with which Ellen White presents her style of paradox, tension and antithesis throughout her writings. It is not isolated to one aspect of her Christology but permeates the whole field. Secondly, this paradox is seen within the shorter confines of single articles, letters or chapters. Thirdly, in this chapter on Ellen White we have already explored shorter paragraphs and even sentences which are rich in purposeful tension and dialectic. Fourthly, it should be remembered that even theologians of note such as Barth and Pannenberg have been accused of similar paradox and tension. [back]
287 0ne non-Adventist friendly critic has written: "I mentioned that Mrs. White wrote voluminously. Those writings took place over a considerable period of time. They took place in specific contexts, and they stood in a definite relationship to each other. To use those writings correctly (so as not to misrepresent them) requires a great deal more skill than is generally being exhibited" (Geoffrey J. Paxton, The Shaking of Adventism, p.156). The author goes on to say that Ellen White has a wax nose and can be turned this way or that way by those desiring to score a point. [back]
288 Let us review some of these results. We have already mentioned that Gane found no theological growth in Ellen White's Christology while Thompson found the opposite (see footnote 265 in this chapter); William H. Grotheer has given a history of the conflicting opinions regarding Ellen White's Christology in "An Interpretative History of the Doctrine of the Incarnation as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church," (1972, see page 457); Desmond Ford interprets Ellen White one way on the nature of Christ and on righteousness by faith (see Documents from the Palmdale Conference, pp.36-59) while A John Clifford and Russell R. Standish interpret her another way (see Biblical Research Institute Paper, Conflicting Concepts of Righteousness by Faith, 1976); W. E. Read prepared a 17-page mimeographed pamphlet of Ellen White extracts on "The Sinlessness of Jesus," 1956; see a differing view by Albert H. Olesen, Think Straight about the Incarnation, An Examination and Application of Original Beliefs in Doctrine, [n.p., 1960?]; see also A. Leroy Moore, The Theology Crisis, Texas: Life Seminars, 1980; see Thomas A. Davis, Was Jesus Really Like Us? 1979. Many more examples could be given. [back]
289 See G. G. Fernandez, Ellen G White: The Doctrine of the Person of Christ, Ph.D. Dissertation, Drew University, 1978, p.73. [back]
290 Aside from the paradoxical elements as already presented in various parts of this chapter we mention one example. Commenting on Hebrews 5:7, Ellen White says: "He made his supplications to his Father with strong crying and tears. He prayed, not for himself, but for those whom he came to redeem" (Testimonies, Vol. 4, p.373); further, "He spent whole nights in prayer upon the lonely mountains, not because of his weakness and his necessities, but because he saw, he felt, the weaknesses of your natures..." (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p.379); similarly see Testimonies, Vol. 4, p.528. On the other hand, note: "He was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet he prayed, and that often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for his disciples and for himself (emphasis supplied), thus identifying himself with our needs, our weaknesses, and our failings, which are so common with humanity" (Testimonies, Vol. 2, p.508); for similar thoughts see Ministry of Healing, p.500; The Desire of Ages, pp.419,420. Do the two views complement each other or contradict? This is simply an example of material which will have to be handled with skill. Of course, the Scriptures also provide an ideal fruitful field for potential conflict of views. [back]
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Personal Finance Review: The Gambler Movie
Written by Odd Cents on September 26, 2016 in Reviews
I’m almost embarrassed to write this personal finance review just because the Gambler movie was released in 2014 and I’ve only just heard about it. I’ll admit that I’m not up to date on many movies, so this will probably not be the last review that is years behind.
I was having a conversation with my boyfriend and I told him that life is really messed up. We were talking about people having mortgages that they would struggling to pay back and would have to pay even after they were retired. The consensus was that people spent so much time at work, that they don’t get to enjoy the house that they are working so hard to pay for.
Then he suggested that I watch the Gambler movie. Actually, his exact words were “John Goodman said that in the Gambler. You should look for it.” The Gambler? Never heard of it. So over to good ol’ Google I went and found the movie, its reviews and I made a note to watch it over the weekend.
*WARNING: This post contains spoilers.*
The Gambler Movie
The 2014 release of the Gambler movie is a remake of a 1974 film with the same name. The newer version hits hard with some big stars like Mark Wahlburg, John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Michael K. Williams and Brie Larson. Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlburg) is an American university literature professor with a serious gambling problem. His mother Roberta (Jessica Lange) gives him money to pay off his debts, but he squanders it away.
Throughout the movie there are several scenes with loan sharks Frank (John Goodman) and Neville (Michael K. Williams) who lend Jim money to settle his debt to a gambling tycoon. They take the violent route to get their messages across, but Jim seems unbothered. Jim gets involved with one of his students rature students.
Top 5 Lessons from the Gambler Movie
I loved this movie because it had a great balance between the story line and an unintentional personal finance case study. You should not go out and gamble away your life’s savings in hopes of hitting it big. There were many lessons to be learnt from this movie. Here are the top five lessons that stood out for me.
Rich People Have Problems Too
Here was Jim. He was from a wealthy family, he had an enviable career as a professor in a university. But he had a very expensive addiction. He was a die hard gambler. As the story progressed, I realised that Jim was not financially rich – his family was. Somehow he got cut off for presumably his gambling addiction and so he lived his life without the financial backing. If you look at this on a broad scale, rich people have to manage their money, make good financial decisions and use wise tactics to grow their money. The difference between them and us is that they can pay someone to do those things for them. We create our own budgets and determine how much to spend. Failure to monitor money effectively can result in financial problems even if you’re rich.
Your Bad Financial Decisions Affect Other People
Jim’s life was threatened several times because he did not have the money to pay back his debt. And when he was nonchalant about paying back the money, the sharks threatened his family – his mother and his girlfriend. Do your bad decisions affect you? Yes. Do your bad decisions affect other people. Yes. In the real world, your bad financial decisions can affect those you love, especially if they signed to be a surety for a loan on your behalf. When you get into difficulty, some of the risk is shifted to them. Jim’s mother’s life was in danger because of decisions that she made. She found out because she noticed shady guys hanging around her house. Then she loaned him more money. Jim did not learn his lesson at all.
When You Borrow, You Must Pay Back
In a rare situation, debt may be forgiven, but in the majority of cases, when you borrow, you have to pay back. Jimbo borrowed a lot of money from the wrong people. This was not a case of going into the bank and getting an asset secured loan. This was a life secured loan – you either pay or you lose your life. But in these situations, the common factor is that you have to pay or you will lose. Defaulting on a loan may mean that you lose your car or your house. And that usually means you will lose your credit standing. Many people have simply walked away from their debt, but the risks and losses are great. The other lesson to learn here is that you should think carefully about who you borrow from, how much you borrow and what the terms are.
Get Help When You’re in Too Deep
The Gambler made me realise that the last thing you should do when you’re in a deep financial hole is to dig yourself an even bigger hole. Jim Bennett was screwed from the time he owed $260,000 and the biggest mistake he made was to ask for help and then squander the funds away. How many of you know of at least one person who has made a terrible financial mistake and then made an even bigger one. In the end Jim took a huge gamble and it paid off. But it does not always work like that in real life. It takes time and hard work to correct mistakes. You have to assess your situation and make a plan about how you will change it. If you feel as though you’re in over your head, ask for help.
Real Freedom Means No Debt
At the end of the movie, Jim enters into a very risky deal to win the money owed to his loan sharks. He decides to play a round of poker betting the last bag of money that he borrowed. Luckily for him, he won the game and paid back everyone that he owed with interest. The movie ends with Jim running. For me, this was symbolic of him being free from every financial burden that he placed on himself. It was freedom to start over on a clean page. Freedom from having someone breathing down your neck threatening to kill you. He knew that he did not owe a cent and no one could accuse him of such. This is the kind of freedom that I’m working towards. Jim knew where he wanted to be, what he had to do and how he was going to do it.
This is the ultimate lesson to be learnt.
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Call us now on (08) 9330 7443
Energetic Kinesiology
How I left nursing and found a new career path
O'Neill Kinesiology College Blog / How I left nursing and found a new career path
Have you been thinking of a career change but hoping to stay within the same industry and use the skills and knowledge you already possess? It’s definitely do-able.
At our College, we’ve seen students coming to us from a huge variety of occupational backgrounds: mining, teaching, IT, law. However, nursing is a very common one. We chat with two Kinesiologists who have nursing backgrounds: Carmen Rutter, who is still working in nursing and currently studying Kinesiology, and Kim Moore, who is a qualified Kinesiologist.
What was your career in nursing like and why did you decide to change professions?
Carmen: “I did my nursing degree straight out of school and I have been working in the industry for 18 years now. I’ve done agency nursing for most of my career, so I’ve been in all areas of medical-surgical. I liked nursing but it was never my passion. I’d hear about people working in something that was their passion and I thought ‘I need to do that, too.’”
Kim: “I worked at Princess Margaret Hospital and also at an agency. I then worked in a health-related field after having children. I loved nursing. Nursing is for people that want to help people. After my marriage ended, I wanted to go back to nursing but I needed my registration and it had expired. I knew I’d have to study again but I wanted a helping profession that used my existing skills and knowledge.”
Read more: 5 reasons why a career in natural therapies rocks
What were your first steps into Kinesiology like?
Carmen: “I lived in London for nine years and went along to an intro session. I left a little disheartened and I thought it wasn’t for me. Life brought me back to Perth, and I went to the Conscious Living Expo and had a Kinesiology trial. I had been stressed with work and I burst into tears during treatment. So, I decided to go to a Kinesiologist for work-related stress. I had seen stress in hospital patients and I knew I had to do something about it before it affected me down the line. I talked to the Kinesiologist and she asked why I didn’t consider studying it myself. I was sceptical because of my previous experience but I did go to the weekend introductory course at O’Neill Kinesiology College. I signed up straightaway. It had opened up a whole new world for me.”
Kim: “I had been looking at different career options and one day I thought to Google ‘non-verbal counselling’ and wondered if there was such a thing. I wanted to look into counselling for myself and also as a career. Well, Kinesiology popped up. I read it and thought ‘this is amazing’. It was exactly what I was after: holistic, healing and empowering for clients. I went to the open day [at O’Neill Kinesiology College] a few weeks later. I watched Gloria do a fantastic balance on someone with back pain. She got them on the table and did her thing; they got off and were already better. I enrolled that day.”
How did nursing help your Kinesiology career?
Carmen: “When it comes to learning about the body’s systems, you’ve already got that basis of knowledge. Kinesiology studies these in-depth but you’re not hearing these words for the first time.”
What were some new career ‘must-haves’?
Kim: “I wanted a career with all the good aspects of nursing but without the things I didn’t like – the stress, inflexibility, shift work, weekend work, nightshifts, and no holidays. I wanted to be in the health industry but somewhere where I had more control. In Kinesiology, it’s still health but you can work your own hours and the clients are happy. It’s very positive.”
What part of your studies have you found rewarding?
Carmen: “The biofeedback. You see the evidence with your own eyes. That’s the physical, but it’s also the world of the emotions; how Kinesiology changes relationships is incredible. There’s no aspect of life that Kinesiology can’t help with: stress, physical health, mental health – even goal setting.”
Free: download your course prospectus now
Is there anything that surprised you about Kinesiology?
Carmen: “The world of energy and energy medicine. It’s been around for thousands of years but it’s going to open up so many possibilities in the future. It’s about teaching people to be responsible for their health and that we do have the power.”
What would you say to others in nursing who are considering a career change?
Carmen: “I would definitely say to do it. If we can combine both [Kinesiology and Western medicine] going forward in the future – it’s not one versus the other – the potential impact on human health would be huge.”
Kim: “Kinesiology is so rewarding, and it heals both the client and you. I just think it’s fabulous.”
Follow your dreams and forge a new career path. Contact us today on (08) 9330 7443 or visit our course FAQ page.
© O'Neill Kinesiology College, 2020
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Japanese Submarines in Hawaiian Waters
Japanese long-range prewar strategy was suddenly upset on the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack. An entirely new role for submarines was hammered out. The new terms of war were not ideal for the submarine force, although there had been several decades of painstaking development of submarine materiel, personnel, institutions, and strategic and tactical doctrines. In general, more than twenty submarines were to precede the carrier strike force to Hawaiian waters and there check on possible U.S. fleet movements. If warships were sighted, the submarines were to track, but not fire on, the enemy warships until the start of the air strike. Thereafter, the submarines were to lurk outside Pearl Harbor and between the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. mainland to attack any warships attempting to escape from the air strike, to finish off any damaged ships trying to limp back to mainland ports, and to prevent any reinforcements from reaching Oahu.
Japanese submarines in Hawaiian waters were plagued by mishaps and failure. Naval planners anticipated that the nine fleet-type submarines of the 3d Submarine Group would have the best chance to attack the enemy. With their vantage point some forty miles from Pearl Harbor, these submarines formed a dense line capable of concentrated attack on U.S. warships off Oahu.
However, U.S. Navy antisubmarine warfare (ASW) forces were effective against the Japanese in about the only good news from Pearl Harbor on December 7. For example, I–68, some thirty miles from the entrance to Pearl Harbor, came under heavy depth-charge attack and suffered some damage. I–69, after launching an unsuccessful torpedo attack against a cargo ship on the night of December 7, was near Barbers Point in southern Oahu when it got caught in what the Japanese thought was an anti-submarine net. (I–69 probably became entangled in a stray U.S. towline or a harmless drill minefield used by U.S. Navy minesweepers for practice.) The submarine was also heavily depth-charged. Captain Nobuki Nakaoka, commander of Submarine Division 12, on board I–69, recalled later that a depth-charge explosion under the hull produced a very hard shock and the boat had to dive as deeply as possible. Leaks were dangerous, and it was impossible to use the ejection pump at such great depths. The Japanese sailors were determined to fight to the end, but they also abhorred defeat. Thus, they armed demolition explosives before making a final attempt to escape from their entanglement. At a depth of 250 feet (245 feet was this submarine’s safe maximum diving depdth), I– 69 slipped out of the net by going full astern and blowing its main tanks. I–69 was lucky to escape undetected on the surface after some forty hours of struggle.
Several other submarines of the 3d Submarine Group were also depth charged and had little success. I–72, for example, sank a small cargo vessel some 250 miles south of Oahu on December 8, and I–75 made a similar claim 100 miles south of Kauai on December 17. Having caused no damage to U.S. warships, plagued by failures and missed opportunities, the remaining submarines of the group left Hawaiian waters on December 17 to return to Kwajalein.
Some of these submarines later returned. I–72, for example, left Kwajalein for Hawaiian waters on January 12, 1942. After a few days of patrolling, I–72 sank oil tanker Neches (AO-5) south of Niihau Island on January 23. The incident was not without consequence, for Neches was the sole source of fuel at sea for aircraft carrier Lexington and its escorts. Because no other tanker was available, Lexington’s plans to attack Japanese forces on Wake Island were called off.
Some fourteen other Japanese submarines continued to patrol in Hawaiian waters after the air strike on Pearl Harbor. The three submarines assigned originally as an advance screening unit for the Carrier Strike Force joined four ocean-cruising submarines of the 1st Submarine Group to continue patrol operations in Hawaiian waters. Of these seven submarines, I–9, the flag submarine of Rear Admiral Tsutomu Sato, Commander Submarine Squadron 1, made a modest attack—it sank U.S. steamer SS Lahaina (5,645 tons) several hundred miles northeast of Oahu on December 11. The seven older ocean-cruising submarines of the 2d Submarine Group also continued patrols in Hawaiian waters until January 11, 1942. The flag submarine, I–7, launched its seaplane for a completely successful dawn reconnaissance flight to Pearl Harbor on December 17, despite the tightened defenses of Pearl Harbor. Thus the high command in Tokyo received a full report of the damage caused by its air attack.
The failure of the I-boats in Hawaiian waters in December resulted in part from directing operations from afar. The commander of the Sixth Fleet (the submarine fleet), Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu, filled the air each night shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor with radio messages from Kwajalein to his submarines around the Hawaiian Islands. Naval authorities in Hawaii were thus made aware of the number and, to some extent, location of the Japanese submarines. Consequently, U.S. ships and various merchantmen were routed carefully to avoid the Japanese submarine menace.
Five ocean-cruising submarines, each with a piggyback midget submarine Type A Target (Ko-hyoteki), did not become part of the grand plan to attack U.S. forces until the fall of 1941. The five submarines were on their assigned stations near the entrance to Pearl Harbor on the night of December 6 (Hawaii time). Despite trouble with the gyro compass of I–24’s two-man midget submarine, its commanding officer, Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, was determined to disembark in his little submarine as scheduled. In the end, Sakamaki’s mission was a failure, and his little submarine drifted beyond Diamond Head to become stranded on a reef near Bellows Army Air Field. He was washed ashore unconscious and captured on December 8, 1941, as the first prisoner of war; his stalwart crewman died in the heavy surf. The other four midget submarines were more easily launched before dawn on the day of the air attack, Nevertheless, almost no information was received from any of them after they sortied. Only Lieutenant (junior grade) Masaji Yokoyama in I–16s midget submarine sent a message—he reported, “Tora, tora, tora” (meaning surprise attack succeeded), at 2241 hours on December 7. Thus Japanese submariners believed that an explosion sighted near midnight was caused by a torpedo launched from Yokoyama’s midget submarine. But this is not confirmed by U.S. Navy evidence; moreover, it is obvious that the error-riddled operation was poorly executed and that reports of success were often based on modest evidence.
All five midget submarines were lost despite the efforts of the parent submarines. The five large I-boats patrolled the waters south of Oahu during the day of the air attack on Pearl Harbor; then they shifted to the south of Lanai, which was the designated area for recovery of the midget submarines. The area was searched in vain before the parent submarines left Hawaiian waters en route to Kwajalein on the night of December 11. In January 1942, there were only four U.S. Navy fast heavy carriers in the Pacific—Lexington (CV-2), Saratoga (CV-3), Yorktown (CV-5), and Enterprise (CV-6). Hornet (CV-8) reached the Pacific in March, and Wasp (CV-7) arrived in June. U.S. carrier strength in the Pacific was weakened considerably by the temporary removal of Saratoga when I–6 badly damaged the big carrier in an attack about two hundred seventy miles from Johnston Island on January 11. Samtoga did not complete repairs in Bremerton, Washington, and get back into action in the South Pacific until August 1942. Indeed, the strategic balance early in the Pacific war remained precarious with the loss of Lexington in early May in the Battle of the Coral Sea. A month later I–168 sank Yorktown and destroyer Hammann, tied alongside the severely damaged carrier. The strategic balance of carriers was barely maintained because the Japanese also suffered heavy losses of aircraft carriers, particularly at Midway.
During this time, hundreds of U.S. warships—including aircraft carriers Enterprise, Lexington, Saratoga, and Yorktown and their cruiser and destroyer escorts—steamed in and out of Pearl Harbor, but only Saratoga was hit by a Japanese submarine-launched torpedo. A few minor cargo vessels were sunk and no warships. Otherwise, some night bombardments of islands—Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, for example—were carried out, an indication that the submarines were about to conclude their patrols and start homeward. (On an I-boat’s return to home port, a depleted supply of deck-gun ammunition was viewed as evidence of warlike prowess.) None of these bombardments caused much damage, and U.S. intelligence officers, who knew that a bombardment was a fairly reliable indication that the submarine was departing the area, used this information for routing ships, as already noted. Thus Japanese submarines were a nuisance in Hawaiian waters, to be taken seriously, but in their operations they pretty well unmasked themselves and caused no strategic damage to the ability of the United States to respond to Japan’s attack on U.S. territory.
Posted by Mitch Williamson at Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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WWI U-Boats - An Unrestricted Campaign
1915 painting depicting the sinking of Lusitania by the U-20.
The German Army's conquest of a large part of Belgium gave a vital fillip to the U-boat war. When the front stabilised after the Battle of the Marne in August 1914, the German right flank rested on the Flanders coast at Nieuport. The Navy soon established a base complex at Ostend, with submarines and light surface forces based there and at Zeebrugge. U-boats were based at the inland port of Bruges and reached the open sea by canals to Ostend and Zeebrugge, allowing them to spend more time at sea in the Western Approaches and the Bristol and St George's Channels. British minefields and net barriers in the Dover Straits were not effective as U-boats soon learned to make the passage on the surface at night. To allow the British to continue believing in the efficacy of their Dover Straits anti-submarine barriers, U-boats based in Germany would 'show themselves' occasionally to Royal Navy patrols.
The Allies' answer to the unrestricted campaign was to increase the number of patrol vessels by impressing every available warship and hired commercial craft. A new type of utility warship, the 'Flower' class sloop, was taken off minesweeping duties and used instead to hunt for submarines. The Auxiliary Patrol was formed out of the large number of steam yachts, trawlers and drifters which were no longer performing any useful function. Armed with light guns, the patrol was sent on fruitless hunts for U-boats around the British Isles. In fact the sea is so large that the U-boats merely had to wait near a busy shipping route until an unescorted vessel came along. If a patrol vessel appeared it was usually possible to submerge without being sighted.
THE LUSITANIA
Nothing illustrates the ease with which U-boats could sink shipping than the tragedy of the liner Lusitania. Most British transatlantic liners had been taken over in 1914 for conversion to armed merchant cruisers or troopships, but with government approval the Lusitania was permitted to resume a limited passenger service between Liverpool and New York. The reasons for this were subtle and complex. First, the giant liner was a visible reassurance to the American public that it was still 'business as usual', and that Britain's position as Mistress of the Seas was not under serious threat. Second, the Germans had put up an ingenious answer to the British blockade, claiming that their U-boats had instituted a counter-blockade of the British Isles. If this claim had been upheld in an international tribunal the Germans would have been within their rights to sink any ship trying to reach the British Isles. However, to be upheld it would have to be proven to be 'effective', and by maintaining a scheduled service to and from New York the British Government was quietly keeping its options open. There was also still some hope that the Germans would never dare to sink a large passenger ship, for fear of alienating the US Government.
Much has been made of the fact that the Lusitania was carrying explosives, and indeed her manifest reveals that she was carrying 37.59 tonnes (37 tons) of small-arms ammunition and fuse nosecaps. It has even been claimed that she was armed, despite the lack of any evidence to show that she underwent conversion to an armed merchant cruiser. True, she had been taken up in August 1914 for that purpose, but she had proved such a glutton for coal that she was struck off the list a month later and returned to her owners. No other auxiliary cruiser carried passengers as well as a cruiser-armament, for the simple reason that the passenger accommodation was needed for conversion to naval use, and the unpredictable movements of a liner under naval control would have taken bookings down to zero very quickly. Nor did passengers and explosives mix; the passenger accommodation was a potential firetrap, and a liner had too little cargo space to make such a conversion worthwhile. The 37.59 tonnes (37 tons) of rifle ammunition and fuses formed the most inert type of munitions, almost impossible to detonate by a distant explosion. Whatever anyone thought, or knew, the Lusitania was carrying when she lay in New York is irrelevant, because the information about her future position could not be relayed to any U-boat on the other side of the Atlantic. When in due course the Lusitania was torpedoed by U.20 off the Old Head of Kinsale on 7 May 1915, it suited both sides to claim that the sinking was planned. The Germans claimed that as they knew about the small cargo of munitions, U.20 was entitled to sink her, while the British claimed it was a Hun plot to sink innocent ships. The truth is that K/Lt Schwieger's log shows beyond doubt that his encounter with the Lusitania was unplanned. He chose to patrol off the Old Head of Kinsale because it was a convenient landfall for ships arriving in British waters. When he saw the four funnels belching coal smoke he thought he was looking at a flotilla of destroyers in line ahead, and only when the target turned did he see she was a liner. As his orders stated that a number of troopships were expected from Canada, he made the reasonable assumption that this was a legitimate target. Any idea that he could have counted positions of guns is ridiculous, and recent photographs of the wreck show no guns. The ship's rapid sinking after what was reported by Schwieger as a second explosion is explained by modern chemists as a probable spontaneous combustion of air and coal dust - a phenomenon only vaguely understood in 1915.
Among the dead were 159 Americans, and this time the US Government's protests were stronger than before. A Note from Washington to Berlin demanded that U-boats must refrain from attacking passenger ships. The Germans did not handle the diplomacy well, maintaining that they had warned potential passengers of the danger. This merely fuelled suspicions that the ship had been torpedoed deliberately. The British did nothing to damp down these rumours, although if anyone had thought the 'conspiracy theory' through they would have concluded that German agents must be in control of the Cunard Steamship Company or even in command of the ship, if such a perfect interception was to be achieved.
Posted by Mitch Williamson at Friday, March 06, 2015
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This Day in Boston, 1896, Fannie Farmer's Cookbook is Published - Still a Best Seller
Fannie Farmer is still America's most famous cook.
Today marks the 120th anniversary of the singular cookbook that taught generations of Americans how to cook. First published on January 7th, 1896, as The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book by Fannie Merritt Farmer, later on known as Fannie Farmer's Cookbook, this book was much more than a mere collection of hundreds of recipes. It was an educative revolution in cooking.
The book actually sought to teach its readers how to cook, and what to eat. Included in the book were “lessons” on choosing foods and the science behind their best use and preparation. Through studying this book novice cooks could learn why to choose one vegetable over another, what makes milk turn sour, and why the temperature of the oil used in frying was crucial to the outcome of the dish. Simple recipes and instructions taught the basics of good cooking and proper nutrition. For more experienced cooks there were hundreds of more challenging recipes to expand their skills and palates.
Fannie’s book gave detailed instructions on achieving the correct temperature in an iron stove by proper selection of coal, soft wood like pine, and various hardwoods, along with adjusting the flue and damper and controlling the amount of oxygen for precise results. Fannie also taught her readers that there was actual science involved in cooking and baking. She was the first to give instruction on ensuring results by using standardized measuring cups and spoons to accurately measure ingredients.
In 1889 Fannie would graduate from The Boston Cooking School (Boston's first,) which was founded 10 years earlier by the Woman’s Educational Association of Boston in order “to offer instruction in cooking to those who wished to earn their livelihoods as cooks, or who would make practical use of such information in their families.” Fannie studied under Mary J. Lincoln, who researched and wrote Mrs. Lincoln’s Boston Cook Book: What to Do and What Not to Do in Cooking.
Miss Farmer teaches pupil Martha Hayes Ludden about precise measuring to achieve consistent results.
At The Boston Cooking School, Fannie had begun to understand the association between eating certain foods and maintaining good health. She then took a nutrition course at Harvard Medical School to learn as much as she could about healthful eating and proper preparation of foods. Having been one of the top students at the cooking school, Fannie would become assistant director there shortly after her graduation, and would go on to become head of the school a few years later. Meanwhile, she continued to study food and the science behind cooking at every opportunity.
Fannie began revising and expanding Mrs. Lincoln’s cookbook, building on her teacher’s detailed and methodical approach to recipe writing, and presenting a thorough discussion on the careful measurement of each ingredient in a recipe. In 1896, when Miss Farmer approached the publisher Little, Brown & Company with her book, The Boston Cooking-School Cookbook, they didn’t think it would do very well, so they would commit only to printing a limited run of 3,000 copies, and only if Fannie would cover the costs. It turned out to be the best-selling cookbook of the era, with over 4 million copies sold in Fannie's lifetime, and it remains a perennial favorite today. In the 120 years it has been on the shelves, Fannie Farmer's Cookbook has never been out of print.
Fannie Farmer's lectures were very popular despite the 30 cent admission.
After a number of years running The Boston Cooking School, Fannie left in 1902 to open her own Miss Farmer's School of Cookery, also in Boston, aimed toward training housewives rather than household service staff, professional cooks or teachers.
Together with her sister, Cora Farmer Perkins, Fannie also wrote a regular column for the Woman's Home Companion. Her cooking demonstrations and lectures became widely known, costing 30 cents for admission to the morning session and 25 cents in the evenings, as shown in the ad from this unknown periodical. The Boston Evening Transcript published her lectures, which were printed in newspapers all across the country.
In the preface to her cookbook, our Miss Farmer writes “At the earnest solicitation of educators, pupils, and friends, I have been urged to prepare this book, and I trust it may be a help to many who need its aid. It is my wish that it may not only be looked upon as a compilation of tried and tested recipes, but that it may awaken an interest through its condensed scientific knowledge which will lead to deeper thought and broader study of what to eat.”
The book was rather an education in cooking and nutrition, as well as keeping house, all bound in a single volume of 39 chapters, hundreds of pages, and hundreds of recipes from simple sauces and condiments to an elegant 12 course meal. The table of contents alone was 22 pages!
The book has been updated quite a bit from time to time as the field of cooking has evolved, with nearly 900 pages in the current edition, and roughly 1,900 recipes. After all, the way to make a classic veal stock hasn't changed, nor the way to debone a chicken, nor the proportions of flour, sugar and butter in a pound cake. Many of the original recipes remain in the book, unaltered, along with new ones.
I found Fannie Farmer’s recipe for Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies on several websites, including Just a Pinch Recipes, written by Debby Nelson, who writes “This recipe is from an old Fannie Farmer Cookbook I bought not long after I married. My Dad and my husband loved them so I would make them every year at Christmas and in-between. They are chewy and nourishing. Give them a try!”
I also found these cookies at Lynne Feifer’s 365 Days of Baking and More, where she challenged herself to bake something every day for a year and write about it on the Internet. This recipe also popped up at full tummies, where, for nearly eight years now, someone known only as Betsy has been writing about healthful, nutritious food choices and sharing recipes that “our whole family loves!” Both Lynne and Debby found this excellent, very popular cookie recipe still in the current incarnation, the 13th edition of Fannie Farmer's Cookbook, which was published 20 years ago, in 1996, celebrating the book’s 100th anniversary that year.
Click this link to find Fannie’s Last Supper, an excellent video that just may make you want to cook. It's a teaser for the 2007 PBS documentary of the same name, following folks who decided to throw a dinner party recreating the 12 course meal in Fannie's cookbook using only a wood stove to cook on. Now I'm looking for the DVD of that program, because that's something I'd like to see.
In the meantime, I'll settle for a plate of Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook. Thank you, Miss Farmer!
Posted by TheYearRounder at 11:59 PM
Key Words: Cookies, History
Location:Provincetown, MA USA Former Miss Farmer's School of Cookery was at 30 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116, USA
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poverty eradication and gender justice
The structure
National coalitions
Watchers publications
Statistics publications
Echoes in the press
Monitoring Commitments
Millennium Declaration
World Summit for Social Development
World Conference on Women
SW in the World
Global Interactive Map
Statistics by country
Beyond the current means of implementation
2016_spotlight_ch2_16.pdf
Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
By Stefano Prato, Society for International Development
The means of implementation (MoI) are the decisive test – one could even say the acid test – of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as they reveal the true extent of the commitment by all signatories, and particularly the so-called developed countries, to the aspirations set forward by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tracking progress on MoI requires a combined assessment of the SDG-specific means of the implementation, the elements explicitly targeted within SDG 17 and the status of implementation of the Financing for Development (FfD) Conferences, including, though not exclusively, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA)1.
It is however necessary to advance three important qualifications with respect to the adequacy of the currently formulated MoI, the political context within which implementation takes place, and the overall focus of any civil society-led monitoring process.
First, civil society organizations and networks engaging with the FfD process have strongly denounced the inadequacy of the AAAA to meet the challenges it was set against and have reclaimed the FfD acronym to mean Failing to Finance Development. Indeed, the combined MoI/AAAA framework falls short of the ambition of the 2030 Agenda. Instead, the discussion is increasingly dominated by the narrative of scaling-up resources (moving “From Billions to Trillions”), which is aimed largely at catalysing and leveraging private investments. This narrative is problematic on several grounds. For one thing, it places excessive emphasis on financial resources instead of on the removal of the structural barriers that relegate many countries – particularly many African countries – to conditions of commodity-dependence and unacceptably low levels of economic diversification, because of their inequitable positioning in the global organization of production. Moreover, it ignores the unacceptable level of financialization of the global economy and the need for profound systemic reform; a good example is the fact that commodity prices are primarily driven by financial markets (derivatives in particular) rather than by the reality of production. Additionally, and probably most importantly, this narrative subjects the implementation of a global public agenda to the mechanisms and conditions of private investments and their speculative markets.
The second qualification regarding MoI concerns the political context in which implementation and monitoring take place, specifically the emerging bias in favour of the direct participation of the private (mostly corporate) sector, increasingly blurred lines between public and private interest, and lack of consideration of often blatant conflicts of interests. The continued efforts by many Member States, across the global North-South divide, to ‘seduce’ the private sector into engaging in sustainable development reveal challenging political economies and expose the covert desire to maintain current power structures, rather than try to seriously change the current socially and environmentally unsustainable business model.
It is therefore essential to locate any progressive civil society effort to monitor the implementation of the SDGs and the MoI/AAAA in this evolving, and often regressive, political context. This highlights a third important qualification, which is that progressive civil society should avoid being trapped in the implementation of elements that contradict human rights and other fundamental values. On the contrary, it should only be tracking those commitments that advance its transformative agenda, one that is far more ambitious than what exposed within the SDGs. However, the 2030 Agenda is already generating significant co-optation mechanisms that aim to domesticate civil society’s engagement by fully aligning its agenda to that of the SDGs and undermining any structures that promote dissent. This calls for a more sophisticated strategy of resistance and proactiveness, one that engages with the process without accepting its limitations and pushes for a level of ambition that is far beyond the currently framed objectives and targets.
Such a strategy highlights the need to establish a clear conceptual framework to explore progress, or lack of it, with respect to the means of implementation. This initial report proposes the following categories to track the MoI/AAAA implementation:
Provision of financial (and technical) resources;
Removal of the structural barriers to socio-economic transformation of developing countries;
Democratization of economic governance;
Reform of economic, monetary and financial systems to increase their responsiveness and coherence with sustainable development;
Rethinking of the business model and the role of the private and corporate sectors.
These categories provide a better sense of the different areas within which progress could unlock the implementation of the SDG agenda and open new areas that requires active exploration beyond the limitations of the current MoI/AAAA agendas.
Provision of financial resources. While the ‘trillions’ narrative is problematic, financial resources remain critical, including international public finance, domestic resource mobilization and private finance, all of which are inadequately addressed within the current MoI/AAAA agenda.
With respect to international public finance, the MoI/AAAA negotiations exposed the continued attempt by developed countries to elude and downscale their historical responsibilities and previous commitment by emphasizing primarily domestic resource mobilization, South-South and triangular cooperation, migrant remittances and private flows. Not only did developing countries fail to secure new commitments regarding official development assistance (ODA), no timetable to advance progress was agreed, references to development effectiveness and untying aid commitments are unsatisfactory and the additionality of climate finance vaguely expressed. Furthermore, the initial implementation period has shown that ODA contributions are under increasing attack by conservative governments in many developed countries. The very definition of aid is evolving with the introduction of the Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) being developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to capture flows that are currently not included into the ODA definition. While this may sound good at superficial analysis, it involves significant risks in terms of undermining aid commitments by including flows that are claimed to be developmental but that in fact are not, and by providing perverse incentives to promote private investments through redirecting ODA to leverage private finance. Indeed, the concepts of blending public-private finances and redirecting development cooperation funds from poverty interventions to leverage private sector engagement and investment open the way to a renewed emphasis on new and more sophisticated forms of tied aid. Finally, the migration crises not only has again exposed the dramatic human consequences of persisting structural inequalities and development disparities, but has also resulted in the diversion of ODA by key donors to address the cost of the refugee crisis in their own countries.
With regard to mobilizing domestic resources, the fundamental challenge is to significantly reduce the increasing levels of outflows from Southern countries due to illicit financial flows (IFFs), debt service payments and the maintenance of foreign reserves in developed countries (see the box by Dereje Alemayehu below). However, while increased capacity to mobilize domestic resources is critical, it is not a panacea. Many developing countries, particularly Least Development Countries (LDCs), still require international public finance in the short/medium term in order to confront many of their development challenges.
Lastly, the overreliance on private finance and public-private partnerships despite little, if any, evidence of their effectiveness in public service delivery and the provision of public goods, risks compromising the state’s ability to protect, respect and fulfil human rights. Not only does this strategy involve higher costs than direct public procurement, privatizes gains while socializing risks, it changes the nature of public services and profoundly alters governance relations.
Removal of structural barriers to socio-economic transformation of developing countries. Financial resources, while important, are only a limited part of the means of implementation. The most critical dimension is related to the removal of the structural barriers that continue to trap many developing economies, especially many African countries, into heavy commodity dependence, as their role within the international organization of production is focused on providing primary agricultural produce and minerals. Many commodity-trapped economies expose small and unsophisticated local economies, with often significant disconnect between primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, and very significant import/export flows, as they export primary commodities and import virtually everything else. The openness of these economies also generates limited possibilities for industrialization and local value addition. The primary drivers of these conditions are extractive growth models that benefit rent-economies by local elites connected with international investors and the unfair trade and investment agreements (see chapter II - 17) It is therefore necessary to challenge the far-too-benign characterization of global value chains and expose their frequent focus on grabbing rather than adding value.
The MoI/AAAA lost an important opportunity to reaffirm the development terms that should direct trade and investment agreements. In particular, they failed to expose the increasing normative hierarchy between human rights and investors’ and other commercially framed rights that these agreements, and their Investor-State Dispute Settlements mechanisms, are fostering (see chapter II - 17).
The emerging emphasis on the global infrastructure agenda is another concern in this context. Rather than focusing on the much-needed infrastructural investments to strengthen local economies and promote (commodity-driven) industrialization, emphasis tends to be on large, often mega-projects driven by the ‘connecting mine-to-port’ logic that risks further ossifying the current extractive development models. Furthermore, the increased reference to infrastructure as an asset class could intensify the financialization of already weak economies and the revival of high debt stocks, with potentially grave levels of macroeconomic instability.
Another key dimension of the structural barriers to socio-economic transformation concerns technology. Despite agreement on the new Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), it is important to assess the actual impact of these initiatives in addressing the technology gap (see the box by Neth Daño below).
It is also important to emphasize that technology development is not a monopoly of the formal sector, nor is it transferred and diffused only by the private sector and industrialized countries, as the TFM architecture implies. Progress cannot be measured by the uncritical acceptance of the promises of new technologies and the blind faith that these would bridge current development divides, and should rather recognize the inherent risks in establishing new, or ossifying existing, levels of inequalities.
Democratization of economic governance. The progressive effort to shift the epicentre of global economic governance from the current Bretton Woods Institution-centred system in favour of a greater role of the United Nations was seriously undermined by developed countries during the MoI/AAAA negotiations. All attempts to promote this movement that did not succeed is the proposal for a Global Tax Body to strengthen international tax cooperation, including but not limited to eliminating IFFs and tax havens. Along the same lines, the Global Infrastructure Forum (GIF) exposes another revealing anecdote. Although provided for through the AAAA, any attempt to propose even a mild reporting mechanism to the FfD Forum was stalled and so de-facto opposed by developed countries in the course of the inaugural FfD Forum (New York, April 2016).
Indeed, a bizarre ‘Out of UN implementation’ narrative characterized the initial phase of the FfD Follow-up process: the UN can propose new initiatives, but their implementation should not necessarily take place within the UN itself. Accordingly, the OECD can advance its ‘inclusive framework’ with respect to tax cooperation claiming it responds to the UN call for scaling-up action in this field, and the GIF can be operationalized with no accountability with the process that has actually established it.
However, the greatest attack against (still timid) attempts to democratize global economic governance concerns the unproblematized promotion of multi-stakeholder partnerships at all levels. These shift governance mechanisms away from legitimate rights-based and people-centred accountability, by consolidating the primacy of stakeholders against/over rights-holders with no consideration of the profoundly different nature of public and private interests.
Reform of economic, monetary and financial systems to increase their responsiveness and coherence with sustainable development. Another key dimension of MoI concerns the pressing need to reform the economic, monetary and financial systems in order to increase their responsiveness and coherence with sustainable and equitable development. The challenge is greater than simply that of alignment. The reality is that many of the drivers of economic globalization and the marginalization that it generates are deeply rooted in the current monetary and financial systems. Furthermore, these systems have created the impression, and the reality, of a distinct space where state sovereignty – and therefore peoples’ sovereignty - does not apply. An example is Argentina’s final surrender to the predatory business models of the vulture funds in April 2016, which opened a new cycle of indebtedness (for Argentina) and a new phase of uncertainty on how to handle the next generation of debt crises (for many countries). Once again, attempts to find orderly mechanisms for sovereign debt restructuring processes in the context of the United Nations met the obstinate opposition of developed countries, and with them the legitimate affirmation of the principles for responsible lending and borrowing, which have been subject to lengthy negotiations in the context of the United National Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Beyond debt, the broader agenda of systemic reforms include the development of regulations to prevent financial crises and to limit their devastating effects, the reform of the monetary system (in terms of capital controls, financial safety nets, Special Drawing Rights, etc.), the governance reform of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and the increased alignment of their activities with development goals, the intractable issue of derivatives and their consequences in terms of commodity price volatility, and the management of climate risk as systemic risk with potentially devastating impact, among others. These issues are only mildly and inadequately addressed by the AAAA. Many of the SDG ambitions will therefore meet the harsh counter-realities generated by the powerful drivers of economic marginalization, unless many of these issues are seriously tackled.
Rethink the business model and the role of the private sector. Rethinking the business model to better align to the imperatives of human rights and sustainable development is a fundamental but completely overlooked dimension of the MoI. It requires, first and foremost, unpacking the often monolithic concept of the private sector into its various components in order to expose the current dynamics of corporate concentration and allow the tensions between global corporate players and local and smaller scale actors to unfold and become manifest. For example, such disaggregation will immediately highlight the conflicting objectives between the global hegemonic, homogenizing and often predatory global food system and the large array of local economic actors, including smallholders and small producers that compose local food systems. The concentration of economic power is a critical indicator to monitor, alongside with the progress (or lack of) with respect to the establishment of binding instruments to regulate the activities of transnational corporations.
To do this, it is essential to advance the development of needed regulatory frameworks to ensure business operations are fully consistent with human rights, including workers’ rights, incorporate externalities, ensure appropriate taxation of natural resources, re-establish proper relations between the real and financial economies, and promote responsible advertising and marketing, among others. Here significant tension remains between binding regulatory frameworks and voluntary guidelines, with the continued double standard of legally framing investors and other commercially framed rights without equally binding frameworks related to business conduct and responsibilities.
A separate discourse is related to the need to further regulate the increasing private delivery of public services to respect human rights, ensure that the fundamental nature of public services is not compromised, and contrast social stratifications that promote the intergenerational transmissions of inequalities. The public policy space needs to be protected from encroaching corporate capture at multiple levels, often through the continued promotion of multi-stakeholder partnerships that redirect governance away from rights-holders towards the pretence of a politically neutral understanding of stakeholders. This requires robust safeguards against conflicts of interest to ensure adequate protection of the integrity of public policy making processes and the trustworthiness of the scientific/knowledge process that generates evidence to support public policies.
The current MoI/AAAA will not provide the necessary instruments and resources to advance the aspirations and the extent of transformation that progressive civil society would like to foster. This fundamentally means that civil society cannot limit itself to the monitoring of the currently framed MoI targets and AAAA commitments, as these are largely inadequate, even if achieved, to support the extent of economic, social and political changes that we collectively aspire to. Hence the need to establish a far more ambitious progressive agenda that raises the bar with respect to the existing level of commitment. This report aims to provide an initial but potentially useful framework for future engagement.
United Nations (2015): Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. New York.
www.un.org/esa/ffd/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/AAAA_Outcome.pdf
Domestic Resource Mobilization and Illicit Financial Flows
By Dereje Alemayehu, Global Alliance for Tax Justice
In terms of financing, one of the major differences between the MDGs and the SDGs is that, while the achievement of the MDGs was implicitly and explicitly made dependent on external financing, in particular on Official Development Assistance (ODA), the SDGs are mainly expected to rely on domestic resource mobilization for their implementation.
While recognizing ODA as an important complementary source of development finance, in particular in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), African governments welcomed this shift of emphasis and committed themselves to enhance domestic resource mobilization to finance their own sustainable development. Over-dependence on resources supplied by external development partners is being increasingly considered as compromising African country’s commitment to pursue the development priorities they have set themselves.
However, domestic resource mobilization cannot succeed without tackling illicit financial flows (IFFs) and other forms of resource leakages through tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. Even the OECD admits that for every US dollar which comes to developing countries as ODA, three US dollars leave these countries as illicit financial flows. The arithmetic is simple: +1 -3 = -2. It won’t be possible to raise domestic resources adequately as long as outflows exceed inflows.
In their submission to the SDG consultation, called Common Africa Position,2 African governments reiterated the need for “global commitment to address issues of illicit financial flows” and for this to happen they demanded “an expeditious transition to a development-friendly international financial architecture.”3
African countries consider tackling illicit financial flows as a key measure to enhance domestic tax revenues. It was because of this that the African Union Commission and the UN Economic Commission for Africa were mandated to establish in 2011 a High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, headed by Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa.
After three years of case studies and continent-wide consultations the High Level Panel issued a report with findings and recommendations.4 Four of the key findings are:
a) IFFs from Africa are large and increasing (US$50-60 billion a year and increasing by over 20 percent annually along with the emergence of new and innovative means of generating them);
b) the commercial sector is the major driver of IFFs from Africa (over 60%);
c) eliminating IFFs is a political issue; and
d) the global architecture for tackling IFFs is incomplete and inadequate.
Emphasizing this political nature of IFFs and its solution, the report states:
“The range of issues related to IFFs makes this a technically complex subject. However, we are convinced that success in addressing IFFs is ultimately a political issue. Issues involving abusive transfer pricing, trade misinvoicing, tax evasion, aggressive tax avoidance, double taxation, tax incentives, unfair contracts, financial secrecy, money laundering, smuggling, trafficking and abuse of entrusted power and their interrelationships confer a very technical character to the study of IFFs. However, the nature of actors, the cross-border character of the phenomenon, and the effect of IFFs on state and society attest to the political importance of the topic. Similarly, the solutions to IFFs that are the subject of ongoing work in various forums at the global level attest to this political significance.”5
The Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) held in Addis Ababa in July 2015 was expected to deliver on development finance by challenging rich countries to fulfil their ODA obligations, by proposing global policy changes, regulatory measures and institutional arrangements to curb resource leakages which drain on development finance. It failed to deliver on all fronts. Many developing countries hoped that the conference would deal with IFFs as a political problem to be tackled in an intergovernmental process in which all UN Member States participate on an equal footing. However, the paragraphs referring to IFFs in the FfD outcome document are written more in a “we take note of” style. They don’t address IFFs as a central problem to be urgently resolved to enhance domestic tax mobilization. In the end, rich countries managed to “kill” the proposal put forward by the G77 plus China for the establishment of an intergovernmental tax body based at the UN. In fact they virtually ‘boycotted’ the negotiations, until and unless the paragraph was deleted.
The chances for addressing IFFs in follow-up negotiations in the FfD process, and to give a prominent place to IFFs in the means of implementation section of the 2030 Agenda and the SDG process appear to be very limited. Rich countries insist on considering domestic resource mobilization and IFFs as ‘technical’ issues that can be resolved through enhanced ‘capacity building’ of developing country revenue authorities, by multilateral and bilateral development agencies. This is merely a pretext to prevent the participation of African countries in norm setting and reforming international tax rules on an equal footing.
As the African High Level Panel Report on IFFs emphasizes, “the critical ingredient in the struggle to end illicit financial flows is the political will of governments, not only technical capacity”.6 But “political will of governments” does not come by itself; it needs international support and citizen mobilization to put pressure on decision- and policy-makers. The major reason for global civil society to support G77 countries in their call for the establishment of an intergovernmental UN tax body to tackle IFFs and tax dodging is because this creates an open process in which citizens can exert influence to generate this political will for measures and decisions which curb IFFs and enhance domestic resource mobilization to finance sustainable development.
Multi-stakeholder STI Mechanisms at the UN: Fad or Trap?
By Neth Daño, ETC Group
A string of new mechanisms dealing with science, technology and innovation (STI) and the science-policy interface have sprouted at the UN in recent years. Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) governments established a Technology Mechanism in 2010. The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) spun off the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) in 2012 (www.ipbes.net). The UN Secretary-General created a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) in 2013 (http://en.unesco.org/un-sab/content/scientific-advisory-board). Then, in 2015 the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development gave birth to the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/TFM).
These mechanisms all share one thing in common: inclusion of stakeholders beyond Member-States and government-endorsed experts.
In contrast to well-established expert bodies like the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) housed at UNCTAD and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the new STI mechanisms have a far less rigid attitude towards informal and non-conventional sources of knowledge and expertise. IPBES principles explicitly value the contribution of indigenous and traditional knowledge systems. The SAB and the TFM have indigenous and civil society expertise in their composition alongside eminent names in the scientific community.
An inclusive approach and the recognition of diverse sources of knowledge is key to ensuring that STI contributes to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The recognition of indigenous knowledge and local innovations are already enshrined in UN treaties and it is only logical that indigenous peoples are represented in mechanisms that provide scientific and technological support to the implementation of multilateral agreements. Civil society representation in STI bodies helps ensure that the views and interests of communities shape the direction of UN priorities and programmes in STI.
The inclusion of rights holders and civil society are hard-fought gains from decades of advocating to participate in decision-making on STI in global development. Since the 1990s, civil society initiatives have proactively set the pace of intergovernmental discourses in governance of new technologies at the UN. On the ground, civil society and social movements have worked with communities in the development, transfer and dissemination of environmentally sound, socially acceptable and inclusive technologies and innovations long before these became fashionable.
The concept of stakeholders, however, needs to be challenged. It is based on the flawed premise that business interests have an equal stake as the holders of rights such as those held by indigenous peoples and local communities in relation to traditional knowledge systems and biological resources. This justifies that giving a seat to civil society in a multi-stakeholder mechanism entitles business and industry to a seat at the same table. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development sits alongside an indigenous peoples’ representative in the 10-Member Group that supports the TFM. The transnational oil company Shell as the representative of business NGOs in the Advisory Board of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN-AB) of the UNFCCC is entitled to an equal voice with environmental NGOs. Which stakeholders should be represented is controversial. Parties to the UNFCCC agreed to have non-governmental constituencies represented in the CTCN-AB, but only environmental, research and business NGOs – a political compromise that left out the rights holders in climate technologies - women, youth and children, farmers and indigenous peoples.
Danger looms large in using stakeholder inclusion in global STI mechanisms to institutionalize a corporate sector role in the development, transfer and deployment of technologies to achieve the 2030 Agenda with no clear accountability. As civil society representatives lock horns with this sector in STI discourses around the table, UN agencies engage corporate-sector representatives in programme initiatives in between meetings. Members of the CTCN, for instance, tried to push for an engagement policy exclusively for the private sector but was blocked by the Advisory Board that transformed the policy so as to apply to civil society as a whole. While Advisory Board deliberations on the policy were underway, the CTCN went on with corporate-sector engagement funded by a bilateral donor. These non-transparent ‘back-room’ dealings indicate the creation of a stakeholder hierarchy in decision-making that casts shadows on the sincerity of the goal to “leave no one behind” in STI for the SDGs.
1 The Addis Ababa Action Agenda is the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July 2015. Cf. United Nations (2015).
2 Cf. African Union (2014): Common African Position (CAP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Addis Ababa (www.africa-platform.org/resources/common-african-position-cap-post-2015-development-agenda).
4 Cf. Report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa 2015 (www.uneca.org/sites/default/files/PublicationFiles/iff_main_report_26feb_en.pdf).
6 Ibid. p. 3.
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American Morning
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AM Wake Up Call
gary giordano
CNN Newsroom : CNNW : August 17, 2011 12:00pm-2:00pm PDT
worth and who was named as the beneficiary. also a judge ordering giordano to be remain in custody a couple of weeks. he said they were out snorkeling in this area near baby beach. a place according to locals, not used very often for that. it's secluded and rocky. there are local reports, authorities found a bloody hand print on rocks near where the pair was said to be snorkeling and investigators plan to start a fresh search for her. martin savidge joins us once again live from aruba. martin, a lot to talk about today. i want to begin with this travel insurance policy. might this provide police with some sort of motive and how is giordano explaining this to investigators? >> reporter: well, you're right. up until this point, brooke, many people have said gary giordano says she was lost in an accident at sea on the very spot where we're standing by the way. this is where he said the snorkeling incident happened. but now comes the insurance policy that apparently gary giordano took out just days before they came on this trip. we've spoken to authorities about it. they say it is travel
worth and who was named as the beneficiary. also a judge ordering giordano to be remain in custody a couple of weeks. he said they were out snorkeling in this area near baby beach. a place according to locals, not used very often for that. it's secluded and rocky. there are local reports, authorities found a bloody hand print on rocks near where the pair was said to be snorkeling and investigators plan to start a fresh search for her. martin savidge joins us once again live from aruba. martin,...
World Business Today : CNNW : August 20, 2011 1:00am-2:00am PDT
. after days of silence, suspect gary giordano is offering details about his vacation with robyn gardner. giordano was arrested three days later. his story was the woman disappeared while snorkeling in rough waters. he said he lost track of her and she suddenly was gone. police say the seas were calm that day. what about those travel insurance policies he bought just before their trip, one for him, one for her, each valued at $1.5 million? that is harder to explain. here with the latest is martin savidge joining us from aruba. just after robbin gardner disappeared giordano cooperated with police but once they arrested him he went silent. now he's talking again. what's he saying? >> reporter: well, that's right. a couple of days ago authorities said he wasn't cooperating and he wasn't talking. now he is talking. only sort of. because here's the way authorities describe it. he's picking and choosing what answers he wants to give. if they're going over new questions, new material, he gifts them an answer. but if they're going back over old stuff he just says i've answered that before. they
. after days of silence, suspect gary giordano is offering details about his vacation with robyn gardner. giordano was arrested three days later. his story was the woman disappeared while snorkeling in rough waters. he said he lost track of her and she suddenly was gone. police say the seas were calm that day. what about those travel insurance policies he bought just before their trip, one for him, one for her, each valued at $1.5 million? that is harder to explain. here with the latest is...
John King, USA : CNNW : August 18, 2011 11:00pm-12:00am PDT
cnn exclusive. cnn has obtained a transcript of a police interview with gar giordano before his arrest. he's the maryland man being held in the disappearance of this woman, robyn gardner. they were vacationing together. they'd met online. according to the "washington post" she was last seen around 8:00 p.m. august 2nd in a restaurant with giordano. he told police he lost track of her while they were snorkeling in rough water. giordano told police he feared for his life when he signaled her to turn back and didn't look for her as he turned to shore. the police say the sea was calm at the time. in the interview police also grilled giordano about his finances and about travel insurance policies he bought for himself and gardner before their trip. tonight there are also new details about photographs found on a camera that authorities confiscated from the couple's hotel room. martin savidge joined me now from aruba. martin, what did we learn from the transcript? >> reporter: it's really pretty amazing. we obviously wanted to talk to gary giordano. we wanted to talk to his attorney to get th
cnn exclusive. cnn has obtained a transcript of a police interview with gar giordano before his arrest. he's the maryland man being held in the disappearance of this woman, robyn gardner. they were vacationing together. they'd met online. according to the "washington post" she was last seen around 8:00 p.m. august 2nd in a restaurant with giordano. he told police he lost track of her while they were snorkeling in rough water. giordano told police he feared for his life when he...
Anderson Cooper 360 : CNNW : August 18, 2011 7:00pm-8:00pm PDT
exclusive. cnn has obtained a transcript of a police interview with gar giordano before his arrest. he's the maryland man being held in the disappearance of this woman, robyn gardner. they were vacationing together. they'd met online. according to the "washington post" she was last seen around 8:00 p.m. august 2nd in a restaurant with giordano. he told police he lost track of her while they were snorkeling in rough water. giordano told police he feared for his life when he signaled her to turn back and didn't look for her as he turned to shore. the police say the sea was calm at the time. in the interview police also grilled giordano about his finances and about travel insurance policies he bought for himself and gardner before their trip. tonight there are also new details about photographs found on a camera that authorities confiscated from the couple's hotel room. martin savidge joined me now from aruba. martin, what did we learn from the transcript? >> reporter: it's really pretty amazing. we obviously wanted to talk to gary giordano. we wanted to talk to his attorney to get th
exclusive. cnn has obtained a transcript of a police interview with gar giordano before his arrest. he's the maryland man being held in the disappearance of this woman, robyn gardner. they were vacationing together. they'd met online. according to the "washington post" she was last seen around 8:00 p.m. august 2nd in a restaurant with giordano. he told police he lost track of her while they were snorkeling in rough water. giordano told police he feared for his life when he signaled...
Anderson Cooper 360 : CNNW : August 19, 2011 10:00pm-11:00pm PDT
punishment tonight, the mystery in aruba. after days of silence, suspect gary giordano is offering new details about his vacation with this woman, robyn gardner. giordano was arrested three days later. his story was that gardner vanished while the two were snorkeling in rough waters. fearing for his own life he says he simply lost track of her and suddenly she was gone. police say it doesn't add up. the seas were calm that day, they say, and what about those travel insurance policies he bought just before their trip? one for him, one for her. each valued at $1.5 million. that is harder to explain. here with the latest is martin savage. he joins us from aruba. martin, just after robyn disappeared, giordano cooperated with police, but once he was arrested, he went silent. apparently now he's talking again. what's he saying? >> reporter: well, that's right. a couple days ago authorities said he wasn't cooperating and wasn't talking. now he is talking. only sort of, because here's the way authorities describe it. he's picking and choosing what answers he wants to give. if they're going ove
punishment tonight, the mystery in aruba. after days of silence, suspect gary giordano is offering new details about his vacation with this woman, robyn gardner. giordano was arrested three days later. his story was that gardner vanished while the two were snorkeling in rough waters. fearing for his own life he says he simply lost track of her and suddenly she was gone. police say it doesn't add up. the seas were calm that day, they say, and what about those travel insurance policies he bought...
, gary vincent giordano says late on the day august 2nd they were snorkeling together when she simply vanished. >> he couldn't stand any more and he signed him to let's go back and when he reached shore, she was nowhere to be seen. >> reporter: giordano called 911, and a massive search was launched. helicopters, a plane, boats, and divers. but days later, still no sign of gardner. >> the body goes outside a reef, it goes deep immediately. it goes very deep. you can see it there. it goes under the water. the current will take it away. >> reporter: the island paradise is of course with no stranger to mysterious disappearances. more than six years ago natalee holloway came to aruba after graduating from high school but never came home. despite years of searching, her body has never been found and the specter of her disappearance still hangs over aruba. as for gardner, her friends are not convinced that it was a coincidence. richard forester is gardner's on again/off again boyfriend. >> she's somebody who is concerned about getting her hair messed up. getting her makeup messed up. i can't
, gary vincent giordano says late on the day august 2nd they were snorkeling together when she simply vanished. >> he couldn't stand any more and he signed him to let's go back and when he reached shore, she was nowhere to be seen. >> reporter: giordano called 911, and a massive search was launched. helicopters, a plane, boats, and divers. but days later, still no sign of gardner. >> the body goes outside a reef, it goes deep immediately. it goes very deep. you can see it...
beneficiary of her $1.5 million accidental death policy. a policy he himself took out. gary giordano is his name. he's seen with gardner in this photo. the picture was released august 2nd. that's the day giordano told investigators that gardner disappeared while snorkeling with him. he's being held by police in aruba as a suspect in the case. martin savidge joins me from i rue ba. >> martin, we've reporteded that they each took out insurance policies before their trip. he definitely is the beneficiary of her policy? >> reporter: that's right, yes. this is the first time authorities have come out and admitted that information. it was about a week ago i got ahold of the statement that gary giordano told authorities. one thing they asked him about these insurance policies. he admitted they had the insurance policies, two $1.5 million each. they said who's the beneficiary? he said in my case the beneficiary is my mother. but what was left out of that statement was well then who's going to benefit say if robyn gardner turns up missing or dead. well, today the authorities said, you know what,
beneficiary of her $1.5 million accidental death policy. a policy he himself took out. gary giordano is his name. he's seen with gardner in this photo. the picture was released august 2nd. that's the day giordano told investigators that gardner disappeared while snorkeling with him. he's being held by police in aruba as a suspect in the case. martin savidge joins me from i rue ba. >> martin, we've reporteded that they each took out insurance policies before their trip. he definitely is...
policy he himself took out. gary giordano is his name. he's seen with gardner in this photo. the picture was released august 2nd. that's the day giordano told investigators that gardner disappeared while snorkeling with him. he's being held by police in aruba as a suspect in the case. martin savidge joins me from aruba. >> martin, we've reported that they each took out insurance policies before their trip. he definitely is the beneficiary of her policy? >> reporter: that's right, yes. this is the first time authorities have come out and admitted that information. it was about a week ago i got ahold of the statement that gary giordano told authorities. one thing they asked him about these insurance policies. he admitted they had the insurance policies, two $1.5 million each. they said who's the beneficiary? he said in my case the beneficiary is my mother. but what was left out of that statement was well then who's going to benefit say if robyn gardner turns up missing or dead. well, today the authorities said, you know what, it's gary giordano, which now you understand to the auth
policy he himself took out. gary giordano is his name. he's seen with gardner in this photo. the picture was released august 2nd. that's the day giordano told investigators that gardner disappeared while snorkeling with him. he's being held by police in aruba as a suspect in the case. martin savidge joins me from aruba. >> martin, we've reported that they each took out insurance policies before their trip. he definitely is the beneficiary of her policy? >> reporter: that's right,...
. gary giordano is his name. seen in this photo released today. the picture was taken august 2nd. that's the day giordano told investigators he went snorkeling with her. marty, we've reported before that they each took out insurance policies for $1.5 million before their trip. so he is definitely the beneficiary of her policy? >> that's right. yeah, this is the first time authorities have come out and absolutely admitted that information. about a week ago i got ahold of the statement that gary giordano told authorities. and one of the things they asked him very quickly was about these insurance policies. he admitted they had the insurance policies, $1.5 million each. and they said who's the beneficiary? he said, you know, in my case, the beneficiary is my mother. but what was left out of that statement was, then who's going to benefit if robyn gardner shows up missing or dead. it's gary giordano. now you understand to the authorities, this is huge. this is the motive that they believe is behind all of what has taken place here. they say if anybody was going to make money on this,
. gary giordano is his name. seen in this photo released today. the picture was taken august 2nd. that's the day giordano told investigators he went snorkeling with her. marty, we've reported before that they each took out insurance policies for $1.5 million before their trip. so he is definitely the beneficiary of her policy? >> that's right. yeah, this is the first time authorities have come out and absolutely admitted that information. about a week ago i got ahold of the statement that...
last time anyone saw robyn gardner was here at aruba's baby beach. this man, gary vincent giordano says late on the day august 2nd they were snorkeling together when she simply vanished. >> he couldn't stand any more and he signed him to let's go back and when he reached shore, she was nowhere to be seen. >> reporter: giordano called 911, and a massive search was launched. helicopters, a plane, boats, and divers. but days later, still no sign of gardner. >> the body goes outside a reef, it goes deep immediately. it goes very deep. you can see it there. it goes under the water. the current will take it away. >> reporter: the island paradise is of course with no stranger to mysterious disappearances. more than six years ago natalee holloway came to aruba after graduating from high school but never came home. despite years of searching, her body has never been found and the specter of her disappearance still hangs over aruba. as for gardner, her friends are not convinced that it was a coincidence. richard forester is gardner's on again/off again boyfriend. >> she's somebody who is con
last time anyone saw robyn gardner was here at aruba's baby beach. this man, gary vincent giordano says late on the day august 2nd they were snorkeling together when she simply vanished. >> he couldn't stand any more and he signed him to let's go back and when he reached shore, she was nowhere to be seen. >> reporter: giordano called 911, and a massive search was launched. helicopters, a plane, boats, and divers. but days later, still no sign of gardner. >> the body goes...
last seen august 2nd. the man she was with, gary giordano, said they disappeared shortly after they were together. tonight abc is reporting that police started talking to giordano shortly after they began talking, looked at his watch and said, she might be dead now. local fishermen told abc that he seemed very drunk when he reported her missing. martin savidge joins us live. when you talked to the aruban authorities, what do they make of this guy giordano telling searchers she might be dead now? >> when i first asked them, he laughed. he thought the minutia of the phrases were getting crazy. that said, he said we don't really see that as being so incriminating. keep in mind, the search had been going on for a couple hours, it was dark, she hadn't been found. they had divers in the water. she was not an expert swimmer. so for gary giordano to look at his watch after, say, two hours, and say, she is probably dead now. they look at it as a fatalistic comment and not a damning statement. >> we know he told investigators they didn't purchase alcohol at the restaurant. sorries said he was
last seen august 2nd. the man she was with, gary giordano, said they disappeared shortly after they were together. tonight abc is reporting that police started talking to giordano shortly after they began talking, looked at his watch and said, she might be dead now. local fishermen told abc that he seemed very drunk when he reported her missing. martin savidge joins us live. when you talked to the aruban authorities, what do they make of this guy giordano telling searchers she might be dead...
says she got carried out to sea while snorkeling. abc says according to a police report giordano asked three people for help that day. witnesses say he was covered in sweat but was very calm and he had a cut on his throat. martin savidge has been covering all the twists and turns from the story since the beginning. he joins us live from aruba. abc news is reporting this information about giordano's throat having some sort of a cut on it. what have they found out? >> reporter: well, this is the first i've heard of that. and i've talked to a lot of witnesses. i've talked to a lot of people and i've read the police reports. i have to point out that during the interrogation of gary giordano authorities did ask him do you have any wounds on you? he said he had a couple of scratches on his legs and he showed it to them. regarding a cut on the neck, you can take a look for yourself. there's his mug shot that was released. that was taken just a couple of days after the alleged drowning. and if you look at it quite clearly he's got a t-shirt, his neck is exposed. i don't see any mark ther
says she got carried out to sea while snorkeling. abc says according to a police report giordano asked three people for help that day. witnesses say he was covered in sweat but was very calm and he had a cut on his throat. martin savidge has been covering all the twists and turns from the story since the beginning. he joins us live from aruba. abc news is reporting this information about giordano's throat having some sort of a cut on it. what have they found out? >> reporter: well, this...
American Morning : CNNW : August 31, 2011 3:00am-6:00am PDT
following developments from aruba in the case of a missing american woman. gary giordano is the only suspect in the disappearance of robyn gardener. he's been held for almost a month in aruba. at a court hearing later today, giordano could go free. martin savidge is live for us in aruba. good morning, martin. >> good morning, christine. there's a new report out that says that gary giordano on the day he reported robyn gardener missing was stumbling along the beach and had blood coming from a cut on his throat according to witnesses. the reason that's important is some say look, those might have been defensive wounds, robyn gardener struggling with him. take a look at that mug shot photo. you can see his neckline clearly days after he was arrested and no indication that there was a scratch there. this just goes to show you that the eyewitness accounts coming in on this story vary all over the map and that's the problem the judge will have today. gary giordano goes before a judge, and the judge is going to make a decision whether there is enough evidence to continue to hold him in this
following developments from aruba in the case of a missing american woman. gary giordano is the only suspect in the disappearance of robyn gardener. he's been held for almost a month in aruba. at a court hearing later today, giordano could go free. martin savidge is live for us in aruba. good morning, martin. >> good morning, christine. there's a new report out that says that gary giordano on the day he reported robyn gardener missing was stumbling along the beach and had blood coming...
, this transcript with this man, gary giordano. he told police he bought travel insurance policies for himself and this woman. both worth $1.5 million each. no word who is listed as the beneficiary on her policy. authorities also got ahold of giordano's camera and say the photos of gardner are "explicit." he reported gardner missing august 2nd. he said they had gone snorkeling. he was arrested after his statements didn't quite add up. let's go to martin savidge live in aruba. martin, you got this big scoop. you got exclusively this police transcript. talk to me a little bit more about what you learned about this exchange and show me yourself on the cover of the newspaper because of the scoop. >> reporter: right. okay. let's start with the document itself. this is a transcript of an interview that was done with gary giordano on august 5th that would have been three days after the disappearance of robyn gardner. he's not being detained at that time. he's still cooperating with authorities. but it is a day that later he is going to be detained. what's clear about that document is that ear
, this transcript with this man, gary giordano. he told police he bought travel insurance policies for himself and this woman. both worth $1.5 million each. no word who is listed as the beneficiary on her policy. authorities also got ahold of giordano's camera and say the photos of gardner are "explicit." he reported gardner missing august 2nd. he said they had gone snorkeling. he was arrested after his statements didn't quite add up. let's go to martin savidge live in aruba. martin,...
. police started talking to giordano shortly after they began talking, looked at his watch and said, she might be dead now. when you talked to the aruban authorities, what do they make of him saying she might be dead now? >> at first, he laughed. he thought the minutia of the phrases were getting crazy. that said, he said we don't really see that as being incriminating. the search had been going on for a couple hours, it was dark, she was not an expert swimmer. so for gary giordano to look at his watch after two hours, and saying, she might be dead now, they look at it as a fatalistic comment and not a damning statement. >> they said he was so drunk investigators couldn't even talk to him. do we know anything about his demeanor or condition in the hours after gardner disappeared? >> we know first of all they didn't administer a breath analysis, so we don't know if he was legally drunk. investigators say there was no alcohol consumed at the bar, there was no alcohol on the bar tab which was the last place he was seen. but they did notice gary went a couple times to the car and then came b
. police started talking to giordano shortly after they began talking, looked at his watch and said, she might be dead now. when you talked to the aruban authorities, what do they make of him saying she might be dead now? >> at first, he laughed. he thought the minutia of the phrases were getting crazy. that said, he said we don't really see that as being incriminating. the search had been going on for a couple hours, it was dark, she was not an expert swimmer. so for gary giordano to...
that man gary giordano had taken out insurance policy of robin gardner. a bloody handprint was found on a stone where the couple had been snorkeling. marty savidge joins me from aruba with the latest. marty, what details do you know about a bloody handprint on a stone where they were allegedly snorkeling? >> reporter: this is coming to us from a couple of different sources. when i talked to investigators directly about them finding blood evidence at the scene there, they said only that they couldn't confirm it. they couldn't deny it. they called it interesting which of course would be a lot more than interesting. it could be absolutely key to their investigation. sources we talked to close to that investigation say it was blood on the rocks or blood on stones and some said it was actually a bloody handprint. the reason this all works out is they need to know if it was human, is it robyn gardner's blood or someone unrelated. that's what they want to find out right away. if he's telling a story that she's lost at sea in a snorkeling accident, that's not bloody. that would be a signific
that man gary giordano had taken out insurance policy of robin gardner. a bloody handprint was found on a stone where the couple had been snorkeling. marty savidge joins me from aruba with the latest. marty, what details do you know about a bloody handprint on a stone where they were allegedly snorkeling? >> reporter: this is coming to us from a couple of different sources. when i talked to investigators directly about them finding blood evidence at the scene there, they said only that...
case of an american woman who vanished while vacationing in >> police say that man gary giordano had taken out insurance policy of robin gardner. a bloody handprint was found on a stone where the couple had been snorkeling. marty savidge joins me from aruba with the latest. marty, what details do you know about a bloody handprint on a stone where they were allegedly snorkeling? >> reporter: this is coming to us from a couple of different sources. when i talked to investigators directly about them finding blood evidence at the scene there, they said only that they couldn't confirm it. they couldn't deny it. they called it interesting which of course would be a lot more than interesting. it could be absolutely key to their investigation. sources we talked to close to that investigation say it was blood on the rocks or blood on stones and some said it was actually a bloody handprint. the reason this all works out is they need to know if it was human, is it robyn gardner's blood or someone unrelated. that's what they want to find out right away. if he's telling a story that she's lost at
case of an american woman who vanished while vacationing in >> police say that man gary giordano had taken out insurance policy of robin gardner. a bloody handprint was found on a stone where the couple had been snorkeling. marty savidge joins me from aruba with the latest. marty, what details do you know about a bloody handprint on a stone where they were allegedly snorkeling? >> reporter: this is coming to us from a couple of different sources. when i talked to investigators...
giordano who she met on this internet dating website. back on august 2nd, he said she disappeared after they went snorkeling. he was arrested after the statements didn't add up and police want to hold him longer. let's go to martin savage. where does the case stand? i understand he's supposed to be in court. has he shown up yet? >> reporter: well, this is a critical part of the investigation today. it's at a point where a judge is going to hear the evidence. prosecution will say look, we need to keep him longer, we're just starting the investigation. we need to find out what happened to rob in gardner and you have the defense saying he was witness to a tragic accident. this was not a suspicious death. don't have any evidence against this man. he needs to leave and get back to the united states where he has a job and everything else. that's the hearing scheduled to go on behind us here at the courthouse. now we've learned before we came to air that the hearing is taking place at a police station which is about 14 miles down the road veneer where the beach is. apparently instead of he com
giordano who she met on this internet dating website. back on august 2nd, he said she disappeared after they went snorkeling. he was arrested after the statements didn't add up and police want to hold him longer. let's go to martin savage. where does the case stand? i understand he's supposed to be in court. has he shown up yet? >> reporter: well, this is a critical part of the investigation today. it's at a point where a judge is going to hear the evidence. prosecution will say look, we...
CNN Newsroom : CNNW : August 17, 2011 6:00am-8:00am PDT
giordano, 0 apparently took out travel insurance on her. >> reporter: this is something investigators are looking into very, very carefully because it would come down to motivation possibly, if their impact has been a crime has taken place. that is the question that gary gee dawn it know may have taken out an insurance policy. was it a travel insurance policy or something more like a life insurance policy? authorities aren't saying at this point. if he did take out an insurance policy, if there's money he would gain as a result of something perhaps happening to her, you could see as authorities may look at that as possible motivation that may be reason that the extension of detention of giordano was granted by a judge on the island. they're it look at that. something else, reports of a bloody palm print found out behind the nanke country club, this area part of the beach where gary giordano says he and robyn were the day she disappeared. i have to warn you, a lot of fishing going on out there, it can be a bloody sport at times. here are the three things you want to know,
giordano, 0 apparently took out travel insurance on her. >> reporter: this is something investigators are looking into very, very carefully because it would come down to motivation possibly, if their impact has been a crime has taken place. that is the question that gary gee dawn it know may have taken out an insurance policy. was it a travel insurance policy or something more like a life insurance policy? authorities aren't saying at this point. if he did take out an insurance policy,...
authorities about the insurance plan, they said yes, indeed. they knew that gary giordano had taken out insurance for himself and robyn gardner. they said he told us. this was information that came to light in the very first interrogation that they did of gary giordano. it was in the first statement he made. apparently he admitted he took out insurance. he called it and it's what authorities call it. travelers insurance. if you got sick or ill while traveling on a vacation you would be transported back to the united states. the real question is there an accidental death benefit and who would benefit as a result of that? the authorities don't talk about the amount and they don't talk about who would benefit. we talked to other people who again are close to this investigation and say that gary giordano told authorities that it wasn't he that was going to benefit but the money if robyn were to die would go to her mother. >> is he in custody now or what's his situation? >> reporter: he is in custody. prior to the first -- i believe it was 12 days that he was in custody, he was actually
authorities about the insurance plan, they said yes, indeed. they knew that gary giordano had taken out insurance for himself and robyn gardner. they said he told us. this was information that came to light in the very first interrogation that they did of gary giordano. it was in the first statement he made. apparently he admitted he took out insurance. he called it and it's what authorities call it. travelers insurance. if you got sick or ill while traveling on a vacation you would be...
gardner was last seen four weeks ago today with a 50-year-old man named gary giordano. he said she got carried out to sea while they were snorkeling. the police report said he asked three people on the beach for help that day. those witnesses reportedly said he was covered in sweat but was very calm and that he had a cut on his throat. martin savidge has been covered all the twists and turns of the story. he joins us from rusch. abc news is reporting this information about his throat having some sort of a cut on it. what exactly have they found out? >> reporter: well, this is the first i've heard of that and i've talked to a lot of witnesses. i've talked to a lot of people and i've read the police reports. i have to point out during the interrogation of gary giordano, authorities asked him do you have any wounds on you. and he said, well, he had a couple scratches on his legs and he showed it to them. regarding a cut on the neck, you can take a look for yourself. there is his mug shot that was released, it was taken a couple days after the alleged drowning. and if you look it a quite c
gardner was last seen four weeks ago today with a 50-year-old man named gary giordano. he said she got carried out to sea while they were snorkeling. the police report said he asked three people on the beach for help that day. those witnesses reportedly said he was covered in sweat but was very calm and that he had a cut on his throat. martin savidge has been covered all the twists and turns of the story. he joins us from rusch. abc news is reporting this information about his throat having...
John King, USA : CNNW : August 19, 2011 8:00pm-9:00pm PDT
american robyn gardner is starting to cooperate slightly more with police. but gary giordano is still being described as belligerent and refusing to answer any questions that he has already answered. giordano took out $1.5 million travel insurance policies for both himself and robyn gardner, but authorities aren't saying who the beneficiary of her policy is. >>> wall street ends an awful week with another awful day. the dow jones tumbled losing 1.6% of its value. the nasdaq and s & p 500 reported steep declines as well, all due to fierce about the u.s. economy and europe's debt crisis >>> a court hearing today over a lawsuit filed by the trustee appointed to recover billions of dollars from bernard madoff's upon ponzi scheme. the trustee suing the -- new york mets. they argued they knew nothing about it. there's other headlines. now back to "presumed guilty, murder in west memphis". >>> i came from an extremely dirt-poor family. >> damien echols grew up here in marion, arkansas, a mile or two from west memphis. his best friend jason baldwin lived nearby, and so did a boy named j
american robyn gardner is starting to cooperate slightly more with police. but gary giordano is still being described as belligerent and refusing to answer any questions that he has already answered. giordano took out $1.5 million travel insurance policies for both himself and robyn gardner, but authorities aren't saying who the beneficiary of her policy is. >>> wall street ends an awful week with another awful day. the dow jones tumbled losing 1.6% of its value. the nasdaq and s...
today or tomorrow. some observe oars say giordano may go free. despite an extensive search on the island, the woman has yet to be found. she was vacationing with giordano. he was arrested amid the doubt of his account of her disappearance. >>> playing the lottery may run counter to some church teachings, but a congregation in columbus, georgia isn't complaining much. someone, we don't know who, left a winning $80,000 lotto ticket in the offering plaet at the cathedral of prayer church. anyone know where that is? the financial officer says the church is thrilled and will use the money to fix the air conditioning system. it has been hot in georgia. it broke down three weeks ago after someone stripped the unit of its copper wiring. >>> now this, hurricane irene, follow the path experts predicted nearly to a tee. why are some still saying the hurricane center got it wrong? be right back. the same set of values that drive our nation's military are the ones we used to build usaa bank. from free checking to credit cards to loans, our commitment to the military, veterans, and their famili
today or tomorrow. some observe oars say giordano may go free. despite an extensive search on the island, the woman has yet to be found. she was vacationing with giordano. he was arrested amid the doubt of his account of her disappearance. >>> playing the lottery may run counter to some church teachings, but a congregation in columbus, georgia isn't complaining much. someone, we don't know who, left a winning $80,000 lotto ticket in the offering plaet at the cathedral of prayer...
ordering gary giordano held for another 16 days, ruling in is enough evidence linking him to robyn gardener. gardener vanished this month. turns out clothing found in a mine during a search does not belong to her. >>> bart is back up and running. protesters targeting san francisco's subway system. they're angry about several shootings involving bart police officers and the decision by transit officials to turn off cell phone service last week to stop demonstrators from organizing. officials were forced to close and reopen stations during the last -- during the evening rush hour last night. >>> latino groups planning protesting in atlanta, houston, charlotte, boston and miami, upset about president obama's decision to use local police officers to enforce immigration laws. more on that as the morning continues. >>> now your chance to talk back on one of the biggest stories of the day. the question this morning, is warren buffett's tax compromise good or just plain old politics? now that we've had a day to die gust buffet's plea to tax me more, please, it's time to ask that question.
ordering gary giordano held for another 16 days, ruling in is enough evidence linking him to robyn gardener. gardener vanished this month. turns out clothing found in a mine during a search does not belong to her. >>> bart is back up and running. protesters targeting san francisco's subway system. they're angry about several shootings involving bart police officers and the decision by transit officials to turn off cell phone service last week to stop demonstrators from organizing....
stable, condition. >>> gary giordano american arrested in connection with his friend's disappearance is held over on the yi land. martin savidge joins us live. >> it was hoped by the prosecution this is what they would get but surprised by the fact it wasn't an eight-day extension. it's 16 days and gives them more time to try to make a case if there is a case to be made at this particular point. the question is robyn gardner is now missing for exactly two weeks, according to gary giordano they were snorkeling off this beach. he comes out of the water. he does not see her. the fear is he reports that she has died drowning. but here is the point that the prosecutors have been investigate. ing. a number of women in the united states have come forward and made allegation of domestic abuse on the party of gary gee ar dan know. you add the fact no trace of robyn gardner and no case she was snorkeling and they have no idea what happened to her except the word of gary gee or dan know so they are not satisfied with that and this is key here. the probably what led to getting that extra time is
stable, condition. >>> gary giordano american arrested in connection with his friend's disappearance is held over on the yi land. martin savidge joins us live. >> it was hoped by the prosecution this is what they would get but surprised by the fact it wasn't an eight-day extension. it's 16 days and gives them more time to try to make a case if there is a case to be made at this particular point. the question is robyn gardner is now missing for exactly two weeks, according to...
giordano last night. he's the 50-year-old traveling companion of 35-year-old robyn gardner. she's been missing since august 2nd. our martin savage is live in aruba with the latest here. martin, they have expanded this search. exactly what are they looking for? do we know if they found anything, even, in the search of the home? >> reporter: well, this search was at the request of the aruban government here, because, of course, they're running this investigation on the island, trying to determine whether robyn gardner died as a result of some trageic drowning accidet or if there was something more to it here. aruban authorities concerned and why they're investigating gary giordano. clearly, what aruban authorities want to know is there anything in his home, maybe on his computers, that gives an indication as to what could have happened to robyn gardner, and whether there is some sort of l ulterior motive, something bad. or whether there was something that totally negates that and says that maybe he's right, maybe this was just a terrible accident. that's what they're looking for. they al
giordano last night. he's the 50-year-old traveling companion of 35-year-old robyn gardner. she's been missing since august 2nd. our martin savage is live in aruba with the latest here. martin, they have expanded this search. exactly what are they looking for? do we know if they found anything, even, in the search of the home? >> reporter: well, this search was at the request of the aruban government here, because, of course, they're running this investigation on the island, trying to...
for giordano to look at his watch and say, she's probably dead now, they look at it as a fatalistic comment and not incriminating. >> we hold investigators they didn't purchase alcohol before she disappeared, but abc says he was so drunk investigators couldn't talk to him. do we know about his condition in the hours after gardner disappeared? >> we know first of all they didn't administer a breath analysis. we don't know if he was legally drunk. authorities say that there was no alcohol consumed at the bar. there was nothing on the bar tab at the rum reef restaurant, the last place they were seen. there was a closed circuit camera that noticed a couple of times gary went to the car and came back. seemed mysterious. then authorities found cups in the car and they put two and two together that, oh, this guy doesn't like to pay for drinks in a bar. they find it cheaper to mix drinks in the car and consume it that way. we talked to former girls and he said he likes to b.y.o.b. they could have consumed a lot of alcohol without drinking it in public plain sight at a bar. >> the presence o
for giordano to look at his watch and say, she's probably dead now, they look at it as a fatalistic comment and not incriminating. >> we hold investigators they didn't purchase alcohol before she disappeared, but abc says he was so drunk investigators couldn't talk to him. do we know about his condition in the hours after gardner disappeared? >> we know first of all they didn't administer a breath analysis. we don't know if he was legally drunk. authorities say that there was no...
searched the home of the man held in robyn gardner's disappearance. they say gary giordano will appear in court on monday. giordano says he and gardner were snorkeling when he lost sight of her. island officials say there's no trace of gardner and no evidence at this point that she's dead. >>> so the economy, you've been hearing this term now, possible double dip recession. are you ready for it? the advice you need to hear to possibly recession-proof yourself. it's ten minutes past the hour. stay with me. if you don't have an iphone, you don't have airplay. which makes it easy to play music from your phone, on your stereo or see the photos you've taken on your tv. and if you want to share your favorite movie, that's easy too. airplay. just one more thing that makes an iphone and iphone. my son and i never missed opening day. but with copd making it hard to breathe, i thought those days might be over. so my doctor prescribed symbicort. it helps significantly improve my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. with s
searched the home of the man held in robyn gardner's disappearance. they say gary giordano will appear in court on monday. giordano says he and gardner were snorkeling when he lost sight of her. island officials say there's no trace of gardner and no evidence at this point that she's dead. >>> so the economy, you've been hearing this term now, possible double dip recession. are you ready for it? the advice you need to hear to possibly recession-proof yourself. it's ten minutes past...
CNN Newsroom : CNNW : August 13, 2011 9:00am-10:00am PDT
disappearance. aruban authorities say gary giordano will appear in court monday. giordano says he and gardner were snorkling when he lost sight of her. island officials say there is no trace of gardner and no evidence that she is dead. >>> and in the u.s., it's a crucial day for gop presidential candidates taking part in iowa's straw poll. the contest is a key test of a candidate's strength in this early voting state. and the outcome can make or break a campaign. voting is under way right now. results are expected tonight. we'll bring you live results. >>> and sarah palin isn't on the iowa straw poll ballot, but that hasn't kept her away, out of sight, from iowa. the former alaska governor made a surprising appearance there. cnn political reporter peter hamby is in ames, iowa, and joins us live. peter, what's she doing there? >> reporter: well, she was in des moines yesterday at the iowa state fair, which is a famous carnival full of rides and deep-fried junk food. it's also the center of the political universe this week. there was a debate the other night. every candidate passed thro
disappearance. aruban authorities say gary giordano will appear in court monday. giordano says he and gardner were snorkling when he lost sight of her. island officials say there is no trace of gardner and no evidence that she is dead. >>> and in the u.s., it's a crucial day for gop presidential candidates taking part in iowa's straw poll. the contest is a key test of a candidate's strength in this early voting state. and the outcome can make or break a campaign. voting is under way...
gardner's traveling companion in connection with the case. gary giordano reported her missing on august 2nd. >>> casey anthony must serve one year probation on a check fraud conviction starting next week. she was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter caylee. >>> an important lesson for 11-year-old twin boys in minnesota. nate smith scored an improbable 89 foot shot that earned him $50,000. >> i didn't know how to shoot and stuff, so i lined it up and -- >> your brother just made the shot? >> yeah. >> what did you think right away. >> i was like no he didn't. he said good look over on the bench. >> the problem is,the name on the ralph ticket was his twin nick who stepped outside. their father said it was more important that they fess up and be honest about the mixup, so it's unclear if they'll receive the money. now back to anderson. >>> a journalists unfair coverage of michele bachmann earns him a spot on the ridiculist. anananananannouncer ] this...is the network. a living, breathing intelligence that's helping drive the future of business. in here, inventory can be taught to lear
gardner's traveling companion in connection with the case. gary giordano reported her missing on august 2nd. >>> casey anthony must serve one year probation on a check fraud conviction starting next week. she was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter caylee. >>> an important lesson for 11-year-old twin boys in minnesota. nate smith scored an improbable 89 foot shot that earned him $50,000. >> i didn't know how to shoot and stuff, so i lined it up and --...
"360" bulletin. >>> a man detained in the disappearance of an american woman, gary giordano told police robyn gardner, disappeared while snorkeling. >>> the dougherty gang faces new charges tonight, a second colorado county filed attempted murder and assault charges after the siblings fired an ak-47 wednesday. they are also accused a bank robbery in georgia and attempted murder in florida. >>> in ohio a driver accidentally yanked a gas pump off its base. the customer lated returned to apologize and and remarkably the station wrote the whole thing off as one of those things. >> just one of those things. >> yes. >>> still ahead have you seen this picture, isha, separated at birth from a cat? the feline who thinks he's my doneleganger, they landed on this night's "ridiculist." the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. i have a dream today! [ male announcer ] chevrolet is honored to celebrate the unveiling of the washington, d.c., martin luther king jr. memorial. take your seat at the table on august 2
"360" bulletin. >>> a man detained in the disappearance of an american woman, gary giordano told police robyn gardner, disappeared while snorkeling. >>> the dougherty gang faces new charges tonight, a second colorado county filed attempted murder and assault charges after the siblings fired an ak-47 wednesday. they are also accused a bank robbery in georgia and attempted murder in florida. >>> in ohio a driver accidentally yanked a gas pump off its base....
days after 35-year-old robyn gardner went missing near baby beach. giordano told the police she vanished while snorkeling but is no longer cooperating with the investigation. >>> a florida judge ordered casey anthony to order one year of supervised probation. she has to turn to orlandy to start serving that probation no later than noon on august 26th. anthony was acquitted last month of murdering her daughter caylee who was convicted in 2010 on felony check fraud. >>> a second colorado county has filed attempted murder and assault charges after the sibling's fired an ak-47 at police during a high-speed car chase on wednesday. are also accused of bank robbery in georgia and attempted murder in florida. >>> and in ohio a driver accidentally yanked a gas pump off of its base yesterday. luckily fast-thinking attendants kept the place from blowing sky high. the customer later returned to apologize and remarkably the station owner wrote the whole thing off. saying it's just one of those things. that's latest and now back to anderson. >>> separated at birth from a cat? the feline, anot
days after 35-year-old robyn gardner went missing near baby beach. giordano told the police she vanished while snorkeling but is no longer cooperating with the investigation. >>> a florida judge ordered casey anthony to order one year of supervised probation. she has to turn to orlandy to start serving that probation no later than noon on august 26th. anthony was acquitted last month of murdering her daughter caylee who was convicted in 2010 on felony check fraud. >>> a...
different change in the feeling for the prosecution. they say that giordano is no longer cooperating and that he stopped talking to authorities. his attorney is not talking to them and they now classify him as a suspect in this particular case and they are also publishing his photo and telling people on the island, hey, if you saw this guy, what was he doing and who was he with? we need to know more information about him. >> he's now an official suspect? >> reporter: it is. i mean, it's kind of odd. i don't know whether it's a language thing or just a difference in the judicial system. up until now they simply said they had detained him, which of course they picked him up as he was trying to leave the kourn tree. now in a press release they named him, they say suspect. they don't necessarily say prime suspe suspect or anything else. he was the last person with her when she disappeared. they still want to know more from him. they hope to get help from the federal government and the united states. the fbi getting involved may search his home and get information about phone calls and comput
different change in the feeling for the prosecution. they say that giordano is no longer cooperating and that he stopped talking to authorities. his attorney is not talking to them and they now classify him as a suspect in this particular case and they are also publishing his photo and telling people on the island, hey, if you saw this guy, what was he doing and who was he with? we need to know more information about him. >> he's now an official suspect? >> reporter: it is. i mean,...
giordano to remain in custody until then. investigators have been searching for clues since this maryland woman disappeared on august 2nd. another search, we're hearing, could begin as early as tomorrow. giordano told police that gardner disappeared while they were snorkeling but he was arrested two weeks ago when his story didn't quite add up. >>> some subway riders in san francisco are still furious. they say the city's rapid transit system shut down their cell phone service during a protest. it's a story we talked about yesterday here. today there's an important update. the fcc is piping in. that's next. oh, i've just got major medical... major medical. ...but it helps pay the doctors. pays the doctors, boyyy! [ quack ] oh yeah? what about your family? ♪ we added aflac, so we get cash! it's like our safety net... ♪ to help with the mortgage or whatever we need! so my family doesn't feel the pain too. ha! [ male announcer ] help protect your family at aflac.com. [ pigeons ] heyyy! hooo!!! [ martin luther king jr. ] i still have a dream that one day on the red hills of georg
giordano to remain in custody until then. investigators have been searching for clues since this maryland woman disappeared on august 2nd. another search, we're hearing, could begin as early as tomorrow. giordano told police that gardner disappeared while they were snorkeling but he was arrested two weeks ago when his story didn't quite add up. >>> some subway riders in san francisco are still furious. they say the city's rapid transit system shut down their cell phone service during...
-year-old gardner of maryland last seen on august 2nd. her companion, gary giordano is still in custody on suspicion of involvement in her presumed death. he says he's done nothing wrong. >>> serious violence at a football game. have you seen this video? >> san francisco 49ers fans and oakland raiders fans beating each other up. throwing fists back and forth in the stands. this was at a pre-season game this past saturday. candlestick park. it gets worse. two men were shot and wounded in the parking lot after the game. football here. one of the men being treated for life-threatening injuries, a police sergeant told local papers that the man was wearing a t-shirt with a derogatory comment about the 49ers. the second man suffered less serious wounds we're told and another ban beaten unconscious in a stadium mens room. police are investigating whether team rivalry is to blame for the incidents. >>> after a week of total volatility on the stock markets, stocks pushed higher today. let's take a look at all that green. that's a well some sight, isn't it. the dow up 88 points as we're half an h
-year-old gardner of maryland last seen on august 2nd. her companion, gary giordano is still in custody on suspicion of involvement in her presumed death. he says he's done nothing wrong. >>> serious violence at a football game. have you seen this video? >> san francisco 49ers fans and oakland raiders fans beating each other up. throwing fists back and forth in the stands. this was at a pre-season game this past saturday. candlestick park. it gets worse. two men were shot and...
ten. arrested three days after 35-year-old robyn gardner went missing near baby beach. giordano told the police she vanished while snorkeling but is no longer cooperating with the investigation. >>> a florida judge ordered casey anthony to order one year of supervised probation. she has to turn to orlandy to start serving that probation no later than noon on august 26th. anthony was acquitted last month of murdering her daughter caylee who was convicted in 2010 on felony check fraud. >>> a second colorado county has filed attempted murder and assault charges after the sibling's fired an ak-47 at police during a high-speed car chase on wednesday. are also accused of bank robbery in georgia and attempted murder in florida. >>> and in ohio a driver accidentally yanked a gas pump off of its base yesterday. luckily fast-thinking attendants kept the place from blowing sky high. the customer later returned to apologize and remarkably the station owner wrote the whole thing off. saying it's just one of those things. that's the latest and now back to anderson. >>> separated at birth from a ca
ten. arrested three days after 35-year-old robyn gardner went missing near baby beach. giordano told the police she vanished while snorkeling but is no longer cooperating with the investigation. >>> a florida judge ordered casey anthony to order one year of supervised probation. she has to turn to orlandy to start serving that probation no later than noon on august 26th. anthony was acquitted last month of murdering her daughter caylee who was convicted in 2010 on felony check fraud....
. that the prime suspect in her disappearance gary giordano had a cut on his throat shortly after she disappeared. we'll talk about the latest details. >>> and we'll talk with congressman ron paul about his belief about the problems with fema and whether fema should be eliminated, is that the right thing to do? that and the ridicu-list at the top of the hour. >> it will be interesting to hear what he has to say. thanks, anderson. >>> and tonight in washington we're getting new details about the jobs program that president obama is set to announce. our chief white house court is here next. and cleaning up intake valves. so when you fill up at an exxon or mobil station, you can rest assured we help your engine run more smoothly while leaving behind cleaner emissions. it's how we make gasoline work harder for you. exxon and mobil. a living, breathing intelligence that's helping drive the future of business. in here, inventory can be taught to learn. ♪ machines have a voice. ♪ medical history follows you. it's the at&t network -- a network of possibilities... committed to delivering t
. that the prime suspect in her disappearance gary giordano had a cut on his throat shortly after she disappeared. we'll talk about the latest details. >>> and we'll talk with congressman ron paul about his belief about the problems with fema and whether fema should be eliminated, is that the right thing to do? that and the ridicu-list at the top of the hour. >> it will be interesting to hear what he has to say. thanks, anderson. >>> and tonight in washington we're...
Piers Morgan Tonight : CNNW : August 24, 2011 6:00pm-7:00pm PDT
on the disappearance of american robyn gardner. gardner's travel partner, giordano, is the beneficiary of the $1.5 million accidental death policy. those stories. now the hurricane targeting the northeast. where it's going to hit and when, at least as we know now. all that, at the top of the hour. more piers morgan in a moment.it . when my tempur-pedic moves... ...talk to someone who owns an adjustable version of the most highly recommended bed in america... ask me about my tempur advanced ergo. ask me about having all the right moves. these are real tempur-advanced ergo owners! find one for yourself. check out twitter. try your friends on facebook... see what they have to say...unedited. it goes up... ask me what it's like to get a massage ---any time you want. ...it goes down... ergo...nomics... ergo...nomics... tempur-pedic brand owners are more satisfied than owners of any traditional mattress brand. (in chinese) ask me why i never want to leave my ergo. ask me why i'm glad i didn't wait 'till i was too old to enjoy this. start asking real owners. ask me how to make you
on the disappearance of american robyn gardner. gardner's travel partner, giordano, is the beneficiary of the $1.5 million accidental death policy. those stories. now the hurricane targeting the northeast. where it's going to hit and when, at least as we know now. all that, at the top of the hour. more piers morgan in a moment.it . when my tempur-pedic moves... ...talk to someone who owns an adjustable version of the most highly recommended bed in america... ask me about my tempur advanced...
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October 14, 2014 by root | Next Generation in evolution, mesh network, numbering, open directory, open source, phone numbers
Hello, and greetings from the Central Office! It has been an exciting summer of travel. I had the opportunity to speak at HOPE and bSides Las Vegas, and was able to connect with hackers from all over the world. It’s always really exciting to meet and talk with really smart people, and based on the conversations I had this summer, I’m convinced that we’re really on the cusp of a technological revolution with one of the greatest convergences of computing and telecommunications the world has ever seen. The future is only going to get more exciting.
If you asked me in 1999 what I thought would be the most game-changing innovation in telecommunications, I would have said VoIP. There was a lot of really exciting stuff happening then, and the VoIP scene did in fact explode over the next few years. Broadband was beginning to become widely available, with speeds of 1.5Mbps or more at affordable prices. The release of the first version of Asterisk brought the exciting possibility of running virtual telephone switchboards completely untethered from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and shortly thereafter, Jeff Pulver’s FreeWorldDialup exploded onto the scene with a free, open, and public directory service that anyone could use to reach VoIP services all over the world. Amazingly, the FCC ruled—in a clear nod to encouraging technological development–that FreeWorldDialup was to be considered a “digital information service” and wasn’t subject to any of the regulations encumbering the PSTN. Creating a free, public directory resulted in all sorts of VoIP services being able to reach one another at no cost through virtual “tie lines” without ever touching the public switched telephone network (and generating no long distance charges).
Closer to home for hackers, in an unprecedented crossover of the phreak and hacker worlds, the Telephreak group melded computers with phones and released a full-fledged, grassroots, information and conferencing service that was accessible both via telephone and the Internet. Meanwhile, practically every instant messaging service from MSN Messenger to Skype to the (then-new) Google Chat added voice chat capability. It seemed that VoIP was an unstoppable force. The only thing missing, surprisingly, was the users. Despite technological advances and wide availability, VoIP remained the geeky domain of VoIP hackers, IT workers, and international students keeping in touch with their families and friends at home.
This is because as quickly as the explosion of broadband made VoIP possible, the world had changed even more quickly. The explosion in mobile phones made our society much more on-the-go, and calling people on the telephone from a fixed location was just too cumbersome. We began communicating in shorter bursts, and SMS became a more popular way than voice to communicate. While voice communications didn’t go away, the nascent VoIP provider market suffered from infighting. Vonage delinked its services from public directories, other VoIP providers suffered from consolidation, lack of differentiation and sometimes bankruptcy, and the market fragmented into retail and wholesale. The PSTN—with all of its attendant regulatory costs and regulatory headaches—maintained its status as directory provider for voice communications. Consumer VoIP services, software-driven, largely migrated onto hardware devices like magicJack, Vonage and Ooma. Skype was a glaring exception, having gained a foothold on university campuses worldwide and gaining popularity as a platform for video chat. On the consumer side of the business, it was simply easier to package and sell VoIP services if they were bundled with a relatively foolproof hardware product.
Although obsolete, Vonage devices are still for sale.
Meanwhile, in Central Offices everywhere, circuit-switched telecommunications gear began to be replaced by VoIP. The first big VoIP switch came with mobile phone carriers, which could easily transition long-distance service to VoIP trunks. Later, mobile phone carriers began exchanging traffic directly with one another via VoIP, as they exchanged SMS messages with one another over the Internet. Long distance carriers weren’t far behind, transitioning almost the entirety of their backbones from circuit-switched to VoIP trunks. To maintain quality of service, most “carrier-grade” long distance networks don’t use the Internet to transport calls, even though they use VoIP technologies. Instead, carriers operate their own private IP networks, separate and distinct from the Internet. Nonetheless, the cost of operating VoIP networks is much lower than operating circuit-switched networks, the capacity is greater, and—although it pains me to say it—reliability and cost of maintenance are both better. Late nights hunting down scratchy channels on recalcitrant DS-3s are, these days, a thing of the past.
While traditional POTS land line phones are still circuit-switched, connecting through the same 5ESS and DMS100 offices they did 20 years ago, land lines are largely migrating to VoIP as well. Based on the port-out rate at my Central Office, I would estimate the ratio of landlines is now nearly 50% VoIP. Although Vonage, magicJack and Ooma (among other services) have operated consumer VoIP service for years, even AT&T has gotten into the game with their uVerse product. Cable companies have, for years, offered landline replacement services (operating as CLECs), and these are all VoIP based. Eventually land lines are going to have to be all-VoIP; a 5ESS is practically an antique these days and has less computing power in sum total than my smartphone. It’s getting harder and harder to find replacement parts, and old-timers who still know how to maintain them are retiring at an alarming rate.
This giant piece of switching equipment, filling much of a building, has less computing power than my smartphone.
These days, with the growth of mobile phones, I see an opportunity for another wave of consolidation with VoIP. In order to use a SIP account, a MagicJack, and mobile phone service, I used to need three different devices. However, my $200 unlocked Android smartphone (a Moto G) now comes with four 1.4GHz processor cores, 16GB of solid state storage, and almost 1GB of RAM. When you consider that these specs roughly equal those of a well-equipped PC as little as 5 years ago (and actually exceed those of then-popular netbooks), it’s pretty eye-opening. So much can now be done in software.
Instead of using the magicJack hardware device, I can use their Android app. This is really handy in my new apartment, where mobile phone coverage is poor. Google Voice has its own smartphone app, which makes it practical for me to change my phone number once a month in order to take advantage of “new customer” deals with prepaid mobile phone providers (this is easily possible with an unlocked phone). My mobile phone service now costs me as little as $5 per month. And finally, I can enjoy wholesale rates on long distance calls through a SIP provider. Using the cSIPSimple app, I was able to migrate over the configuration from my SIP ATA, another hardware device. So, three different hardware devices have now consolidated into a single device that both costs less and does more than any one of the single individual devices I had before.
I think that smartphone apps are really the next wave in consumer VoIP and could actually have the Trojan horse potential to become the most disruptive threat the world of telecommunications has ever seen. After all, there isn’t any particular reason why you should need to have a telephone number anymore. They’re long, complicated, and hard to remember. However, in order for this to work, a free, universal and open directory service—which could entirely replace the PSTN—would need to be developed. This would be more or less along the lines of what Jeff Pulver originally envisioned with FreeWorldDialup. However, the market is Balkanized right now, with practically everyone playing in the space—from Google to Microsoft to Facebook—trying to own a “walled garden.” Everything old is new again, and the parallels to Prodigy, CompuServe and AOL two decades ago are astounding. Could the utility of a free and open network with a universal directory service supplant the tired, old model of telephone numbers, as the Internet did CompuServe? With the advent of IPv6 and the possibility of virtually unlimited Internet top level domains, I think that this is—for the first time—a real possibility. The only thing missing is the right software.
My favorite walled garden community was Prodigy.
Hackers are, as always, true visionaries who drive technology forward, and I think the reason why we often succeed where others fail is that we care about technology for its own sake. Jeff Pulver’s original vision for FreeWorldDialup ultimately failed when the nascent VoIP scene failed to maintain unity (and it really didn’t help that Jeff tried to turn FreeWorldDialup into a business, which ultimately failed). The opportunity is still there, though. Imagine a world where telephone numbers weren’t necessary, and long distance charges—which, honestly, are an absurd concept in the year 2014—were utterly abolished. The only things standing in the way of this vision are essentially every government in the world (for whom surveillance would become more difficult) and the entrenched interests of the telecommunications industry. Yeah, that. Most people would be too intimidated. Hackers and phreaks have never been afraid to speak truth to power, though, and have never been afraid to challenge the status quo. That’s why I’m confident that change is coming. It’ll be exciting to see what app hackers produce in the next few years.
And with that, it’s time for me to run to a meeting. I can’t really talk about what my employer is planning, but nothing good will come of it. Or maybe it ultimately won’t matter. The path forward is really up to you.
Deciphering Tracfone (Spring, 2010) →
← A New Connected World Of Mobile-Enabled Sensors (Winter 2014-2015)
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Bulgarian Prime Minister visits the Patriarchate of Jerusalem
26. May 2014 - 9:36
In the afternoon of Tuesday the 7th/20th of May 2014, His Excellency the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Mr Plamen Oresharski, while in an official visit to the state of Israel, visited the Patriarchate in the company of Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Mr Kristian Vigenin, Health Minister Mrs Tanya Andreeva, Agriculture Minister, Mr Dimitar Grekov, his wife, members of the Bulgarian Parliament, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Dimitar Mihaylov and other associates of his.
In the context of this visit, His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, awarded the Prime Minister with the Great Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher for his contribution to the Church and to prosperity in his country, with the wish that the medal shall remain a link between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the country and Church of Bulgaria. His Beatitude addressed the Prime Minister in English, see link: http://www.jp-newsgate.net/en/2014/05/20/6984
Touched, the Prime Minister thanked His Beatitude, adding that the honour conferred upon him through the medal is reflected onto the entire people of Bulgaria, and offering Him the icon of St Boris, the country’s patron saint.
His Beatitude offered the Prime Minister an icon of Theotokos and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem”, authored by the late Chrysostomos Papadopoulos.
From there, the Prime Minister proceeded to the Holy Sepulcher, where he was received by His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Hierapolis.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
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ARCA Town: News From Around the ARCA World
Looking Ahead to Rockingham and Mansfield...and More
Compiled From ARCA Series, Track and Team Reports
Venturini Motorsports Signs Crum for ARCA Team
Things are looking bright for the 2008 UARA-Stars Champion. In preparation for the UARA's first race of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway, 17 year old Jake Crum announced signing a letter of intent with Venturini Motorsports as a developmental driver in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to join Billy Venturini and everyone else at Venturini Motorsports,” said Crum. “The Venturini's have been around the sport and the series for a long time. I know their experience makes them a strong team and I am looking forward to being able to race for them.”
Crum will be joining the likes of Joey Logano, Sean Cassie and Alex Yontz in the Venturini shop, poised for an ARCA schedule later this year pending sponsorship.
“We were very pleased with Jake's performance at Bristol,” said team owner Billy Venturini. “He is an extremely talented young driver and we are looking forward to having him on board as part of our driver development program.”
Crum qualified 4th on Thursday but when the race started on Saturday night it did not take him long to takeover 2nd place. Crum ran there for most of the night. With 31 laps to go Crum made a play on leader Matt McCall and was able to pull ahead. His lead was short-lived when the front right tire blew several laps later. This sent Crum to the outside wall where he sustained substantial amounts of damage to the front right side of his car, ending his night early with a 20th place finish.
ARCA Returns to Rockingham Speedway; Thunderfest Kicks Off Fun
The ARCA RE/MAX Series will soon be headed back to Rockingham Speedway for the second annual Carolina ARCA RE/MAX 200 Sunday afternoon, April 19.
The event also marks the return of Thunderfest, an all-day ARCA extravaganza/festival Friday, April 17 to officially kick off the event.
Thunderfest, open to the public from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, features an early afternoon hauler parade through the streets of Rockingham, live music in the town square accompanied by ARCA RE/MAX Series driver autograph sessions, a variety of vendors and 11 hours of continual live broadcasting over the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) at arcaracing.com.
The ARCA Racing Network, via arcaracing.com, will also feature live streaming audio to include practice, qualifying and flag-to-flag race coverage in addition to live Timing and Scoring, all at arcaracing.com.
Entrants for the Carolina ARCA RE/MAX 200 already include nine-time ARCA RE/MAX Series national champion Frank Kimmel as well as veterans' Patrick Donahue, Ken Weaver, Tom Hessert, Alli Owens, Norm Benning and Bryan Silas. The entry list is also well stocked with well-financed rookies including Joey Coulter, Steve Arpin, Craig Goess, Tim George, Jr. and Robb Brent to name a few.
In last year's inaugural race, Joe Gibbs Racing's Joey Logano, in an all-out dominating performance, steered the Venturini Motorsports-prepared no. 25 Chevrolet to victory lane from the pole.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series initially raced at Rockingham Speedway on June 10, 1973 during which time Charlie Glotzbach won the 300-mile event from the pole.
ARCA RE/MAX Series on-track activities start Saturday, April 18 with practice from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM followed by Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 2:30. Driver introductions go off Sunday afternoon raceday at 12:30 PM followed by the start of the Carolina ARCA RE/MAX 200 shortly after 1:00. The race is also live on SPEED at 1:00 PM Eastern.
The UARA-STARS Late Model Series is also on the race card with a 70-lap race Saturday.
For more information about the Carolina ARCA RE/MAX 200 or to order tickets, please contact the speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit the website at www.rockinghamspeedway.com.
Rockingham Speedway Through the Years......
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the main attraction at Rockingham with 78 events up through 2004. Curtis Turner won the inaugural race at Rockingham on October 31st, 1965. The final event was held on February 22nd, 2004 during which Matt Kenseth held off a last-lap charge from Kasey Kahne by .010 seconds, recording one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history. Other winners at the "Rock" over the years include Fred Lorenzen, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin to name a few.
A joint venture between Darlington Raceway builder Harold Brasington and landowner Bill Land, North Carolina Speedway's first race was held in 1965. Over time, the track came under control of L.G. DeWitt, a local trucking company executive who, in 1969, supervised reshaping the original flat mile track into the present, high-banked one-mile oval.
Patrick Sheltra Cleared To Return To Competition
ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) driver Patrick Sheltra has been medically cleared to return to racing competition just in time for the ARCA RE/MAX Series to pick up with their second race of the season, the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Car Care at Salem Speedway next Sunday, April 5.
Sheltra, 22 was involved in a nasty accident in the closing laps of the series’ season opener at Daytona International Speedway last month where Sheltra suffered a compression fracture of his fourth vertebrae and a dislocated kneecap.
Sheltra’s determination and vigorous healing instructions have allowed the Indiantown, Florida native a speedy and successful recovery allowing him to return as the driver of the No. 60 Ferguson Pipe-ThePeoplesCars.com Dodge Charger.
“I’m ready to get back after it,” said Sheltra, who sits 14th in ARCA RE/MAX Series driver points marching into Salem. “I’m feeling real good and I feel more determined than ever to show that this incident hasn’t sidetracked my focus to winning races and trying to win the championship. Our team is stronger than ever and we’re ready to show that on the track!”
“I cannot continue to be appreciative and thankful for everyone’s support during the recovery process. The outpouring of emails, mail, phone calls and text messages were overwhelming and it showed me that there were a lot of people that cared about the accident and I was extremely humbled by that. I’m just thankful to be able to race again,” sounded Sheltra, nicknamed “Mr. Showtime.”
As for next weekend, Sheltra has four starts at the demanding Salem Speedway with a best finish of 11th, three times including two-in-a-row. Feeling energized, Sheltra is ready to acquire his first top-10 finish and hopefully a win at the Southern Indiana track.
“I would love to win at Salem,” noted Sheltra. “It’s a place that you can have a banged up car but if you can master the luck and have a good setup, you can take home the trophy. We’re going to win this year but what a Cinderella story it would be to pull it off pull it off next weekend.”
In addition to running a full ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule this year, Sheltra will also run a limited dirt schedule and also plans to run selected NASCAR Nationwide Series events with his Whitesville, Kentucky based Sheltra Motorsports team.
Count Down to the June 20th Inaugural Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA-RE/MAX 200
Tim Richmond was blessed with gifts that made him destined for greatness, both on and off the race track. With the support of a loving family, father - Al, mother - Evelyn and sister - Sondra, it was not long before that greatness was revealed.
He demonstrated he had star quality from an early age. He was a star athlete at his high school, Miami Military Academy. He set a conference record in high hurdles and was such an outstanding football player that his high school retired his jersey and named him Athlete of the Year in 1970.
He had a competitive streak that drove him to challenge himself when he wasn't in some type of competition with others, that included learning to fly at 16. He was also born with good looks and grew into a handsome young man. He could do just about anything he put his mind to without fail, and often without formal training. He exuded the attitude of success and confidence, and yet, for all his talent and charisma, he could be humble.
The life and times of Richmond, who would have turned 54 on June 7, will be celebrated with a major stock car race near his hometown on June 20th. The inaugural Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 will be presented at Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park. The track is in the heart of "Tim Richmond Country," less than 15 miles from his one-time Ashland, Ohio hometown. Richmond passed away due to complications from AIDS on August 13, 1989, nearly 20 years ago.
Richmond came from a successful family in Ashland. His father, Al, built a company that manufactured boring machines used for buried pipeline installation and coal mining. Mr. Richmond designed and built the machines himself, and became a highly successful businessman. That success allowed him to dote on the only son he and wife, Evelyn, had.
As a youth, Richmond had an interest in things that went fast starting with go-karts, as a boy and graduated to cars and airplanes as a teen. His parents gave him a Pontiac Trans Am for his 16th birthday. Surely an occasional street race or zipping up and down nearby Interstate 71 wasn't enough to satisfy his need for speed and performance. Still, it wasn't until age 22 when he got into his first real race car owned by a friend in 1976. He first drove a dirt Sprint car at Lakeville, Ohio. He showed some talent that season, but he wrecked several times, too.
The next season, his dad purchased a Supermodified, a unique pavement open-wheel race car featured at few tracks. One track in Ohio ran them on a weekly basis, Sandusky Speedway on Ohio's "north coast" near Lake Erie. Richmond went on to be the division's champion and rookie of the year.
In 1978, Richmond switched to USAC Sprint Cars and won a Mini-Indy Series event at Phoenix which grabbed the attention of IndyCar owners. Richmond made his first IndyCar start at Michigan in 1979 but finished last due to a blown engine. But his path had taken him into the major leagues of open-wheel racing.
In 1980, Richmond entered his first Indianapolis 500, and in a story book finish, Richmond finished ninth despite running out of fuel in the final laps. Johnny Rutherford won the race and had Richmond jump on the side-pod his car for a ride back to the pits as he was completing his victory lap. Both drivers were elated, and Indianapolis' sophisticated IndyCar crowd vocally celebrated both drivers' accomplishments.
A series of wrecks in the following races didn't discourage Tim, but his parents agreed they would be happy if he stopped racing altogether.
But his Indy performance had impressed many people, including Joe Mattioli, III, son of Pocono Raceway's owners Drs. Rose and Joe Mattioli. It was the younger Mattioli who brokered the deal that brought Richmond to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing.
Jake Crum has some ARCA races in his future.
Tim's fans keep his memory alive with a 2005 sign dedication at Evergreens Restaurant in Ashland, OH, one of his favorites. Left to Right..Judy Mack, Terry Mack, Amy Snodgrass, Sandy Richmond Welsh (Tim's sister), Linda Garman, Harley Garn, Jerry Garman, Chuck Grissinger and Todd Welsh. Linda & Jerry Garman are the owners of the Evergreens. (ARCA Photo)
Patrick Sheltra (Sheltra Motorsports Photo)
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HAMPTON'S MANSION GREY GARDENS FOR SALE
Almost every family has skeletons in the closet and relatives they wish would recede into the woodwork. Such was true of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her sister Lee Radziwill. As girls, their Aunt Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (Big Edie) and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale (Little Edie), their cousin, were equally part of the upper crust and Jackie and her sister enjoyed summer visits to their beautiful home and estate Grey Gardens in the wealthy Georgica Pond neighborhood of East Hampton. In those days, life was good. But when Big Edie’s husband left her for another woman, their lives were to undergo a desperate change.
Without the funds or ability to keep up the huge property, Grey Gardens began to fall into ruin. Eventually the two women became very reclusive, barely hanging on to survival. Exposed by the Enquirer and a cover story in New York Magazine about the filth, fleas, cats and raccoons sharing the home with the women, the health department intervened and gave the women the ultimatum of cleaning up or getting out. Unable to afford repairs and cleanup, it was at this point that Jackie O and Lee came to their aid. They went in together and had repairs made to the house, the overgrown vegetation cut back, and hundreds of bags of trash removed. The house passed health department inspection and the mother and daughter were allowed to stay - still reclusive, and still in a somewhat altered relationship with reality.
Filmmakers Albert and David Maysles heard about their story when engaged by Lee Radziwill to do a documentary about her and Jackie’s childhood. They found the Grey Garden women so interesting they filmed over an hour at the location with the mother and daughter. Lee was not happy at the direction the film had taken and ended the arrangement with the Maysles and destroyed the film. But that didn’t stop Albert and David and they went back to Grey Gardens to make a documentary in 1975 that may have been the first reality, unscripted film ever. It was recognized in 2010 by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance. In 2014, film critics named it the ninth best documentary film of all time. Although not entered, it was also shown at the Cannes Film Festival to much acclaim. It was a sad riches-to-rags story that drew attention around the world.
Edith Beale's Famed Bedroom
Big Edie died in 1977 and her daughter sold the house in 1979 for $220,000 to author and journalist Sally Quinn and her husband, Washington Post Editor Ben Bradlee. After the sale, Little Edie moved to Florida where she died in 2002.
When Sally and Ben purchased the dilapidated mansion, Sally went up to the attic for the first time and found a treasure trove of the home’s original furnishings and samples of fabrics that had been used in the once glamorous home. She scratched away old paint and found the original beachy colors. The couple began the year-long restoration that would bring the home back to its original glory, adapted to today’s lifestyle. A special feature they added were French doors in the back to open a view to the ocean across the restored original gardens. After the estate was completed, the couple spent every August there until Ben’s death in 2014. Quinn then started renting the house out for the summer at $250,000. Sally has recently put the estate up for sale.
Sited on just under two acres, the house contains approximately 6,000 square feet of living space with nine bedrooms, six baths and multiple venues for entertaining. Grounds contain a guest house nestled in the lush garden, a heated pool and a Har-Tru Tennis court. Listing agents are Michael Schultz and Susan Ryan of The Corcoran Group.
Filled with history and visited by Jackie Kennedy Onassis and her sister Lee Radziwill, the star of an award-winning documentary, an HBO film, a Broadway play and mentioned in song, Grey Garden is priced at $19.995 million.
Visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com for more historic, celebrity and spectacular homes and real estate news.
EDITH BOUVIER BEALE GREY GARDENS JACKIE KENNEDY ONASSIS MOVIE REAL ESTATE
Location: East Hampton, NY 11937, USA
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TranceAddict Forums > Main Forums > Chill Out Room > Random, non-adhesive, won't stick damn it, thread of randomness
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Mattsanity.
Supreme tranceaddict
Why overcome hate when the natural impulse is to embrace it? Humans are hateful by nature.
Dec-14-2012 00:06
Sleightful
tranceaddict
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/...ot.html?cmp=rss
Sushipunk
Flickering, I roam
Location: Chateau Verdafloor
Originally posted by Sleightful
Spacey Orange
Hypnautic Beats Addict
Location: Left Coast is the best coast.
Re: Teh gays
Originally posted by LAdazeNYnights
So I'm having a minor crisis of conscience or whatever-
A gay friend of my girlfriends is visiting her for about a week as of Thursday - she just sprang this on me today - and he'll be staying in her room, sharing her bed with her.
I don't really like the idea of any guy, straight or gay, in my gfs bed, seeing her undress before bed/in the morning, etc etc etc.
In fact I think it fucking sucks.
Is this unreasonable?
What do?
so what happened? are you shitting cum tonight or what?
My mixes:
Still up:1:2
Down:3:4:5
Moongoose
Location: Celje, Slovenia
Originally posted by Lira
Bought a 3-piece one this week. Should look awesome with my new Adidas
Ill need to buy a new one as well Tried all of them and they all fit me as a sack of potatoes, a suit should never look as awkward as that. The only salvageable items are a few of my favourite ties...and even they look a bit long now
I'm korean but I have your typical north american accent.
LAdazeNYnights
Crossing Swords
so my gay dude sleeping at my gfs place situation was resolved - in a rather odd way, though.
so i spoke with my gf about it and eventually she suggested she just ask him to sleep in the living room, which sounded like a great solution to me. she did that yesterday and then today he cancelled his trip [driving down from SF]. she described him as being a 'bitch'.
i'm not going to jump to conclusions regarding any sort of foul play, as i certainly don't believe that's the nature of it, but i do think that there's a certain class of gay guy (and no i'm not a homophobe - i hope this doesn't come out that way) that thrives on that sort of intimacy. That is, that validates their senses of self worth through these sorts of actions, feeling that by virtue of their being not-straight they can get very close to people, work their way into those sorts of situations.
i don't really see any other reasonable explanation as to why this guy, a supposedly good friend with whom she's lost touch over the past 8 or 9 months, would bitchily cancel his trip when told that he couldn't sleep in her bed.
it's a resolution, at least, but not one i can really wrap my head around.
so i spoke with my gf about it
Which is exactly what you should have done
The "Oh, if I have to sleep in a different room, then I won't bother with the whole trip" thing is a bit weird, lol. I'm just saying
Good on you for setting boundaries, and not being piss-weak.
Dykes_on_Jay
Ape me.
Location: Shenzhen LBC
i would have asked for a pic of his cock to compare to mine.
Freak Out T�ng Zh�
Be a Good One!
Location: Brasilia, Brazil and Manaus, Brazil
Maybe he's angry she doubted his friendship was genuine... or maybe he's a cunning liar. We'll never know, but I'm glad you sorted it out
Joss Weatherby
Location: The Pacific Northwest, of course
OrangestO
�30�
Registered: Feb 2010
Suprise! Another shooting:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...an-is-dead?lite
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UPMC Italy operates in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with various projects designed to enhance visibility in health care and disseminate a joint awareness of individuals as citizens, patients and caregivers.
Ricucire la vita
Winner of the 2004 Strega Award (Italy’s most prestigious literary award), Ugo Riccarelli’s latest book, “Ricucire la vita” (editore PIEMME) is a story of health and transplantation, written after a special encounter between a physician and a patient (the author).
Initially, Riccarelli did not want to write this book, which is the story of his personal experience as a transplant recipient. However, a meeting with Dr. Bruno Gridelli at ISMETT in Palermo, and discovering that in Italy’s controversial national health system one could access some services that were formerly available only abroad, convinced him to write the stories, which revolve around extreme health conditions, such as those requiring an organ transplant. All the characters in the book go through incredible life experiences. This is a seldom-explored territory and a chance to understand how an organ transplant is not just the result of the work of a surgeon, but the confluence of knowledge, variables, opportunities, and organization, in which the surgery itself represents only the final act.
Watch an interview with the author.
Officine Fotografiche – studenti di fotografia per UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at San Pietro FBF
A special project that involved students of a photography school in Rome resulted in an exhibition of some photographs at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at San Pietro FBF. At present the photographs are exhibited at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Villa Maria.
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BONHAMS & BROOKS HISTORIC FESTIVAL
at SILVERSTONE, 25th AUGUST 2001
(Day One)
This is was the first Bonhams & Brooks Festival, the newly merged auction house having taken over sponsorship from Coys who had been the title sponsor for the last seven years, so they had something to live up to.
By and large they succeeded, but only just in my opinion. Overall, I was disappointed with the attendance, a combination of the meeting being held over three days of the Bank Holiday weekend here in England, and also not having any 'name' drivers racing this year, which was a bit of a surprise. Previously we had been treated to the likes of Stirling Moss, Froilan Gonzalez, Roy Salvadori, Carroll Shelby et al appearing. This year we had just Nigel Mansell signing autographs on the Sunday and Jackie Stewart doing the same on Monday. We had an added bonus on Monday, but one we really didn't want. More about that on the Day 3 page.
Saying that, the action was top notch all through the Festival.
As usual, we'll start off with some paddock shots, then get into some racing shots. If you have ever been to Silverstone, you'll realise that photo opportunites are quite difficult for racing shots, simply because you are so far away from the cars on the track! However, I have a few shots.
We'll start off with David Piper's georgeous Ferrari 250LM, on the left. David has, I think, been racing this car virtually since it was brand new. On the right we have a Porsche 917K. Unfortunately, it was a static display for the Porsche Club of GB. Pity it wasn't out on the track!
I haven't seen this Brabham BT37 before. It wasn't racing either, which was a shame.
On the left, my favourites (well, I WOULD say that, wouldn't I?), the Formula Fords. And yes, it was THAT close over the whole eight laps of the Grand Prix circuit. It was fantastic for the FFords to get into this meeting for the first time. On the right, an ex-Ronnie Peterson March 711 (nicknamed the 'coffee table' car because of the odd mounted front wing).
A couple of pictures of the unique Brabham BT34 (the so-called 'lobster-claw' car). This was the car that gave Graham Hill his final Formula 1 win in 1971. Owner Ean Pugh has managed to get the cockpit signed by another of its' former drivers, Carlos Reuteman. Now, that's they way to collect autographs!
A couple of shots now of Ben Lieberts' Gurney Eagle. A fantastic looking car!
Lastly for Day 1, a shot of the ex-Jim Clark Lotus 32B, as used in the 1965 Tasman Series in New Zealand and Australia. On the right, the Porsche 956 of Martyn Konig, another great looking car, and it goes!!
Return to index page.
Last update of this page: 01 September, 2001 16:55:11
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Vivacqua Law
Lawrence G. Almeda
Ava H. Billimoria
John M. Card, Ph.D.
James M. Chan
Steven L. Crane
Margaret A. Dobrowitsky
Beth Filip
Jason M. S. Goodman
Vincent C. Ilagan
Thomas J. Krul
David D. Murray
Mark H. Svoboda
Dan L. Thompson
Raymond J. Vivacqua
Opinions and Counseling
abillimoria@vivacqualaw.com
3101 E Eisenhower Pkwy.
Software (including extensive experience in arguing Alice rejections)
Airline Reservation Systems
Cache Memory Systems
Solar Technologies
Juris Doctor, Wayne State University Law School (2008)
M.S.E. (Electrical Engineering), University of Michigan (2011)
B.S.M.E., Kettering University (GMI Engineering and Management Institute) (2002)
Ava specializes in patent preparation and prosecution, foreign patent prosecution, the preparation of freedom to operate and patentability opinions, and patent litigation. She has also successfully argued many cases before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. Ava has worked with large multinational corporations, midsize corporations, start-ups, and individual inventors. She is involved in her clients’ business and regularly assists them in evaluating and addressing their intellectual property needs. Ava enjoys visiting her clients and teaching their employees about intellectual property in the United States and worldwide.
Ava has degrees in both mechanical and electrical engineering. Her technical expertise includes automotive and aerospace technologies, software related technologies, LED lighting systems, and power systems. Before her legal career, Ava worked as an automotive engineer at Nissan Motor Company specializing in the areas of engine cooling and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Before joining Vivacqua Law, Ava was an attorney at a national law firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. She also worked at one of the largest patent boutiques in the United States.
Copyright © 2020 · All Rights Reserved · Vivacqua Law
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Brave New World -Through social media, we all become a voice
Randi Zucherberg
Through social media, we all become a voice and a distribution platform for the causes that we feel passionately about, and for the brands that we love.
I graduated from Harvard in 2003, and I went to kind of find my dream job in advertising and marketing, which, even for Harvard, was very rare. A lot of people at that time were going into consulting or investment banking. It was rare to be a creative person there. But I got a great job at Ogilvy & Mather, and I got staffed on a very new group: interactive and online marketing. At first, I was bummed because it didn't sound very glamorous. But I soon realized it was a blessing in disguise because that was where the entire advertising industry was headed, and when my brother and Facebook needed someone who knew online marketing, he had someone right in his family that he could call that knew what to do. I held out for a little while, but he finally--he was very persistent. He finally won me over.
So, I went out to California and I was blown away by kind of the energy and the passion that they had. It was just very different from anything I had seen in corporate America. A lot of companies in Silicon Valley get big, and they lose that fun culture, and then their employees leave and just go to the next fun start-up. So, if you want to keep the best talent, it's really important that people having fun in their work day, too. It's interesting because at a start-up, no one really only has one job. I started pretty early, and I was one of only a few non-technical people at the company, so I was doing everything: sales, business development, marketing. I mean, I pretty much did every job at the company instead of IT support. I think that was the one job I didn't do. And so, that's the beauty of working in a start-up is you get to see the entire business.
When you're looking at a company that has almost a billion people around the world logging on every day and being extremely engaged, that's incredibly valuable. You don't find that anywhere else. And the brands are going to go where the people are. Game developers, the E-commerce opportunities are all going to go where the people are. I do think that there's just incredible opportunity in mobile that's just starting to get unlocked. We've seen some recent announcements with Apple and Facebook that have been exciting and promising, and I think the ability to instantly access billions of people through mobile is going to be a tremendous opportunity. I think brands are going to have to get a little more creative. Advertising has always moved along with the time. I think that's the wonderful thing about humanity: there's an endless supply of creativity and creative energy, and we're just going to have to look more closely at what people are doing and kind of adapt our messaging to that.
I think a lot of brands are also starting to see philanthropy and kind of adopting a socially conscious attitude as a great way to connect with fans on Facebook. Instead of just putting a banner ad in front of them, now you can help a brand decide where they should allocate their philanthropy. Or watch them as they kind of give back and see where the products that you're buying are coming from. I think the more that you can give fans or customers a peek under the curtain and show them how products are getting made, the better. Keeping it short but kind of packing an emotional punch, either through humor or through just telling a story that really gets people, but you have to do it quickly because you don't have people's attention online very long. Facebook gives you a lot of information on who's viewing your page and what they're doing, and a lot of brands don't even check that very much. There's a lot of great information there.
I'm just excited for a world that brings people closer together. I know before Facebook, I lost touch with a lot of my friends from high school or from early in my life, and just through social media, I've been able to keep in touch and rekindle relationships with so many people. It's been really rewarding. Even when I had my son, social media made it so easy for me to kind of have a support group of other moms who were going through similar things. I imagine that people who are coping with all sorts of issues can lean very heavily on social media, which I think is incredible. And I just think that anything that makes the world a smaller place is really great for culture.
I think it's going to be easier for all of us who are all kind of distribution platforms on our own. Beforehand, you could never speak directly to a brand or to your favorite celebrity. Or you could never really advocate effectively for a non-profit unless you were giving them lots of money. Through social media, and all of us being a voice and a distribution platform, there's so much that all of us can do for the causes that we feel passionately about, and for the brands that we love. I think it'll be really exciting to see how those relationships grow over time.
WBF Sydney Live
WOMEN, DIVERSITY AND INVESTING | RANDI ZUCKERBERG
Keynote speaker Randi Zuckerberg is interviewed at the World Business Forum in Sydney on Thursday, June 1, 2017. Zuckerberg, former Director of Marketing and Facebook and Founder & CEO of Zuckerberg Media, speaks about dedicating the next...
Miguel D'Souza - AAP
DEMOCRATISATION OF TECH AND BEING IN A CONNECTED WORLD | JIMMY WALES
Keynote speaker Jimmy Wales is interviewed at the World of Business Ideas (WOBI) in Sydney on Thursday, June 1, 2017. Wales, founder of Wikipedia, US internet entrepreneur and technology visionary, speaks about new technologies which will bring on...
Jimmy Wales: How the ads only business model has been destructive for news.
Keynote speaker Jimmy Wales at the World Business Forum in Sydney, Thursday, June 1, 2017. Wales speaks on how the surge in programmatic advertising has affected news. Jimmy Wales is a U.S. Internet entrepreneur, wiki pioneer, and technology...
Arianna Huffington’s four pillars: Wellbeing, wisdom, wonder and giving back.
Keynote speaker Arianna Huffington appears via videolink at the World Business Forum in Sydney, Wednesday, May 31, 2017. She says her four pillars of her third metric are wellbeing, wisdom, wonder and giving back and how these are interconnected to...
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HomeNewsTool’s Catalog Finally Available via Digital Service Providers
Tool’s Catalog Finally Available via Digital Service Providers
August 2, 2019 News
On Monday, July 29th, Tool had the internet buzzing with two massive announcements: 1) the title of their forthcoming new album, Fear Inoculum, and 2) the news that on Friday, August 2nd — a.k.a. today! — the band’s catalog would go up on “all digital and streaming formats.” “High five. #tool2019,” the group concluded their Instagram post breaking the story. Turns out, the notorious prog-metal pranksters weren’t joking on the second regard: At the stroke of midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning, Tool’s debut EP, Opiate, and their subsequent full-lengths, Undertow, Ænima, Lateralus and 10,000 Days, all popped up on the major streaming and digital download platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube Music, Soundcloud and more.
“Our obsession with, and dream of, a world where BetaMax and Laser Disc rule has ended,” singer Maynard James Keenan said of the digital debut of Tool’s catalog, with characteristic wit. “Time for us to move on. But never fear. There’s a brand new thing we think you’re really gonna dig. It’s called Digital Downloads and Streaming. Get ready for the future, folks!”
You can stream Tool’s releases at the links below:
10,000 Days: https://smartURL.it/TOOL10000Days
Lateralus: https://smartURL.it/TOOLLateralus
Ænima: https://smartURL.it/TOOLAEnima
Undertow: https://smartURL.it/TOOLUndertow
Opiate: https://smartURL.it/TOOLOpiate
Fear Inoculum — the band’s first album in 13 years and fifth overall — is due, of course, on August 30th, just under a month away. Until then, enjoy their back catalog on repeat!
Hear First Song From Philip Anselmo’s Acoustic Project En Minor: “On the Floor”
Hear Korn’s Massive, Two-Sided New Song “Cold”
Tool, Killswitch Engage, Death Angel, I Prevail, More Nominated for 2020 Grammys
The nominees were announced this morning for the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, and once again, at least as far as metal and hard rock go, they don’t make a helluva lot of sense. Tool did […]
Tears, Techno and Time: Tool’s Justin Chancellor on Making “Emotional” New Album
For Tool fans (and fanatics) the big day is almost here: on August 30th the band will drop their new full-length album, Fear Inoculum, the long-awaited follow-up to their 2006 record 10,000 Days. Ahead of […]
WTF: Justin Bieber Posts Lyrics to Tool Song “The Pot,” Asks Fans to Identify
There’s been a lot of evidence over the years that Justin Bieber is a legit metal fan beyond sporting the occasional trendy Metallica or Iron Maiden T-shirt like every other pop and hip-hop star. He’s […]
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ZanaRayTV
Carol's Daughter Sells to L' Oreal
Some people's most trusted natural hair product has decided to sell its franchise. Carol's Daughter beauty products was founded in 1993 by Lisa Price. It grew to new heights with the support of celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith, Cassie, and Mary J. Blige to name a few. Price began making the products from home in the 1980s and developed her products while working on the set of The Cosby Show. Monday Lisa Price sold the company to L'Oreal. In the last year Carol's Daughter had net sales of $27 million.
PR Newswire:
L'Oreal USA announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Carol's Daughter. Headquartered in New York City, Carol's Daughter is a premier American multi-cultural beauty brand with a pioneering heritage in the natural beauty movement. Created by Lisa Price in 1993, the brand caters to a diverse, rapidly growing market and has established a loyal consumer following across the country.
Following a multi-channel distribution model, Carol's Daughter offers a comprehensive range of products that are available at specialty beauty stores, mass retailers, on HSN, through e-commerce and at Carol's Daughter branded stores in New York City. For the 12 months ending September 30, 2014, Carol's Daughter had net sales of US $27 million.
"Carol's Daughter possesses an expertise in the multi-cultural consumer segment, a rapidly expanding market that represents an important growth opportunity in the beauty industry," said Frederic Roze, President and CEO of L'Oreal USA. "This acquisition will enable L'Oreal USA to build a new dedicated multi-cultural beauty division as part of our Consumer Products business, and strengthen the company's position in this dynamic market."
Carol's Daughter will continue to operate out of their New York City headquarters under the brand's current leadership team. This acquisition further enhances L'Oreal USA's roster of American brands which includes Maybelline NY, Kiehl's, Essie, Urban Decay, Clarisonic and NYX.
"I have worked hard for the past 21 years nurturing my brand and am thrilled that we will have a new home with L'Oreal USA," said Lisa Price, Founder and President of Carol's Daughter. "L'Oreal has a proven track record of helping established companies achieve their full potential while staying true to the core of the brand and they have an understanding of the future of multi-cultural beauty. I could not be more proud to begin this next chapter of the Carol's Daughter brand with them. I know that my mother (Carol) is smiling as well."
The closing is subject to the standard regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
Will this accusation change your opinion of one of the most popular African-American beauty products?
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Drexel Medical Center
18 opening, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin held an open house Saturday at the new Drexel Town Square Health Center in Oak Creek. Allegheny Health Network. is a Board Certified Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Professor of Psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, and Medical Director of the Center for Traumatic Stress in. 2900 West Queen Lane Philadelphia, PA 19129 215-991-8340 215-991-8172 (fax). Starbucks®. Drexel University was founded in 1891 as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, by Philadelphia financier and philanthropist Anthony J. Having more than 4 years of diverse experiences, especially in NURSE PRACTITIONER, Aleshia Crump affiliates with Delaware County Memorial Hospital, cooperates with many other doctors and specialists in medical group Prospect Health Access Network Inc. Select from the institutions and programs here to view the available yearbooks. The Child Health Associate - Physician Assistant Program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus is a top 10 program with opportunities in our rural track and scholarship programs in the Denver - Colorado region. It was jointly created by the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare and Drexel University College of Medicine. We welcome 11 new residents a year to our dynamic training program in the heart of the city. Customer Service Barnes & Noble at Drexel University - Center City Bookstore. Large Selection of Official Apparel Exclusives Flat-Rate Shipping. PHOTOS BY A. The most effective health care hinges upon collaboration. Greetings from The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and welcome to the website for the Department of Pediatrics. What is a TCU unit? A comprehensive inpatient program for the individual who has had an acute medical or surgical event as a result of an illness, injury or exacerbation of a disease process. It is a general medical and surgical facility. Drexel Medicine - 219 N Broad St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 - Rated 4. Drexel Medical Center. Established in 1885, it was for most of its history the main teaching hospital associated with its namesake medical school, Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital. The curriculum in the first two years integrates the science of human biology and disease, recognizing that medicine is a multi-faceted discipline that pulls simultaneously from many aspects of science to focus on the medical concerns of individual patients. The only medical school in Kansas, KU is acknowledged as a leader in training primary care and rural physicians. She earned her MD degree from Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1982 and a Master degree in Acupuncture from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in 1988. The collection primarily supports the curricula of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and portions of the College of Medicine including materials in clinical medicine and basic sciences. Drexel found away to tarnish my academic career and my financial stability. Castellanos specializes in bariatric weight loss surgery, minimally invasive surgery and robotic. The assault happened on. We offer degrees in doctor of medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant, medical science in anesthesiology, genetic counseling, modern human anatomy. 1427 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Childrens Medical Center locations in Drexel Hill, PA. 4 reviews of Drexel Medicine, Opthamology "Came back in for a follow-up. Leanne Forman and William Frishman, the Internal Medicine Residency Program of Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College is committed to providing outstanding training in Internal Medicine. Drexel's medical school represents the union of two of the oldest medical colleges in the United States: the Medical College of Pennsylvania (formerly Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania founded in 1850) and Hahnemann Medical College (founded in 1848). A couple of policies can certainly restrict your choices to a fabulous certain menu of medical organizations in some quote to assist you to stay within your finance volume. Explore TMC One for Tucson Medical Center. The clinic will be located in West Reading, making it the first adult cystic fibrosis clinic in Berks County. Our Medical College was founded in 1839, and as such is one of the oldest medical colleges in the United States. Mercy Medical Center is a Baltimore, MD hospital sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore. What is the myHealth at Drexel Medicine patient portal? The myHealth at Drexel Medicine patient portal provides access to a secure, convenient and free way to manage your personal health information at Drexel Medicine. Eric Cassell, physician, clinical professor, and author is the most recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Humanities, presented by Baylor University’s Medical Humanities Program. The Independence Blue Cross. Finestone, MD Office for Continuing Medical Education provides lifelong learning opportunities in all areas of health care aimed at increasing the skills and knowledge of physicians and allied health care professionals. Mens Linea Dome Navy Blue White Stripe Button Down Long Sleeve Dress Shirt Sz L,ProSphere Boys' Drexel University End Zone Shirt (Apparel) (DREXEL),Long Arm Warmers Black Cotton Gloves Armwarmers Sun UV Covers Protection Psy A28. The faculty members of the department are enthusiastic teachers committed to world-class pathology education. Drexel University in the Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania Are you looking for a cheap Drexel University hotel, a 5 star Drexel University hotel or a family friendly Drexel University hotel? You just landed in the best site to find the best deals and offers on the most amazing hotels for your stay. Apply to Radiologist, Neurologist, Dermatologist and more!. Family Medical Center of La Grange is dedicated to patient wellness and awareness, efficient and quality care. Today, a Penn physician, scientist, nurse, technician or social worker will find another way to heal or help give the gift of more time and change the course of human life. Internal Medicine programs do not expect candidates to do rotations at their site in order to match at the program. Hershey Medical Center, where they complete at least eight months of internal medicine and six weeks of neurology rotations. 21st century is a biotechnology era. Call Aleshia Crump on phone. Since its founding in 1701, Yale University has been dedicated to expanding and sharing knowledge, inspiring innovation, and preserving cultural and scientific information for future generations. See if Drexel University is ranked and get info on programs, admission, tuition, and more. We support a shared mission of patient care, innovation, medical research and education. Lankenau Medical Center 100 East Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096 484. Medical Centers in Drexel Hill on YP. Drexel University College of Medicine Dean. Call us at (610) 853-9060 to learn more. 5762 Are you currently a patient in our hospital and have questions or concerns about your care? Call 352. We are the Perelman School of Medicine -- the Nation's First -- and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- the nation's first hospital built by a medical school. Meritus Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, not-for-profit, community hospital that has cared for patients for more. Walk in was $60 which was the cheapest I could find in the area. Drexel University in the Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania Are you looking for a cheap Drexel University hotel, a 5 star Drexel University hotel or a family friendly Drexel University hotel? You just landed in the best site to find the best deals and offers on the most amazing hotels for your stay. Howard University College of Medicine provides students of high academic potential with a medical education of exceptional quality and prepares physicians and other health care professionals to serve the underserved. Drexel Connect. Discovered by researchers at Drexel University as electrodes for energy applications, MXenes have become a research focus for KAUST. The Drexel University College of Medicine Legacy Center / Library Company of Philadelphia Fellow in the History of Women and Medicine supports research on topics related to the history of women's medicine and women in medicine in both the Legacy Center and the Library Company of Philadelphia. Official site of the American College of Physicians. week in health. The original mission of the institution was to provide educational opportunities in the "practical arts and sciences" for women and men of all backgrounds. Starbucks®. We support a shared mission of patient care, innovation, medical research and education. This website is provided as an introduction and guide for candidates interested in pursuing graduate nurse anesthesia education at the Frank J. Discovered by researchers at Drexel University as electrodes for energy applications, MXenes have become a research focus for KAUST. For The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Students. Our department is focused on the use of medical imaging to detect, diagnose and guide treatment of disease. About Drexel Medical Clinic Drexel Medical Clinic is a group practice with 1 location. The College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University. [email protected] The Drexel Student Health Center is located on campus at 3401 Market Street, across from the Drexel Athletic Center. The Drexel Student Health Center is staffed with faculty physicians and nurse practitioners from the Drexel University College of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine. SLUCare Physician Group, the academic medical practice of the School of Medicine, is a leading patient-centered, physician-guided provider of health care services in the St. Three human health colleges align under new structure. Get reviews, hours, directions, coupons and more for Drexel Pulmonary Medicine & Cystic Fibrosis Center at 219 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19107. The residences are situated adjacent to Saint Joseph's University and just steps from the SEPTA Overbrook Regional Rail Station, offering convenient access to University City, Villanova University, Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College. Reviews (520) 722-7033. 2126 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Drexel University College of Medicine, a new name just a few years ago, is the consolidation of two venerable medical schools with rich and intertwined histories: Hahnemann Medical College and Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. WYOMISSING, Pa. That said, in that study the combination of MCAT score and GPA only accounted for 54% of the variation in USMLE scores, so while there is a "substantial correlation" between the two, the USMLE step 1 score cannot be well predicted by just looking at undergraduate performance. Drexel Star. Full Title: Crozer Chester Medical Center, Drexel Hill, PA Document Type(s): Notice of Violation Bureau(s): Enforcement Description: A Notice of Violation is issued, pursuant to Section 1. Drexel University Online is a rip off. The official Roster for the Drexel University Dragons The official staff directory for the Drexel University Dragons Staff Directory - Drexel University Athletics. Primary Care Case Manager, RN at Drexel University College of Medicine. Our Internal Medicine residency welcomes 38 interns, 10 primary care/social internal medicine interns, and 17 categorical preliminary interns each year. Simulation offers the unique ability to assess the core clinical skill sets required to be a physician or health care professional. Our dedication to urban clinical excellence and contribution to Detroit's revitalization is unwavering. Hershey Medical Center, where they complete at least eight months of internal medicine and six weeks of neurology rotations. When the new. Donning throwback red jerseys and helmets inspired by uniforms worn in the 1970s, the Penn football team weren’t the only ones stylin’ and profilin’ on Friday evening against Dartmouth at Franklin Field. Among the 11 fellows appointed this term, one selected the Drexel University College of Medicine Legacy Center Archives as one of the collections she will visit and utilize as part of her research. She graduated with honors in 2015. Professor of Psychiatry. Last year, 22,489 out of 28,454 applicants were admitted making Drexel University an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance assuming you meet the requirements. Drexel Family Medicine is committed to providing personalized, lifelong care for entire families. The Department of Medicine hosted an all faculty reception on Sept. (Limit 150 words) -----. Had everything explained to me and they fixed my eye problem!". I finally stubble upon Drexel's Certification track programs. Though the medical mall is not owned or operated by Cass Regional Medical Center, the building architecturally complements the hospital and frames a focal point of the hospital campus, the Healing Garden. Drexel Medicine delivers exceptional, patient-focused health care to the Philadelphia region through our network of 230 teaching doctors from Drexel University College of Medicine. For more information, call Drexel Medical Practice at 828-580-4080. Our Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center works with patients and families as a team to. See what coverage options may be available to you. Located in the vibrant University City district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fifth largest city in the U. She earned her MD degree from Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1982 and a Master degree in Acupuncture from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in 1988. Premedical RequirementsProspective medical students must have earned 68 semester hours or the equivalent in an accredited US or Canadian college or university. We strive to create relationships through our commitment to patient-centered care. FAIRMOUNT MEDICAL CENTER. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Map & Directions Additional Information & Parking. Offering an array of programs for medical education, physician assistants, graduate students and more, the College offers all the training and experience students need to be successful. The clinic will be located in West Reading, making it the first adult cystic fibrosis clinic in Berks County. Drexel Student Health Insurance You might possibly think We are being your touch unfair to the NHS and yet that seriously isn't genuine, the Countrywide health and wellness services is a great organization which has produced available lifesaving treatments and good care to countless of us year following year. These include medicine, pediatrics, critical care, and genetics. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences seeks to graduate “Physician Citizens” committed to local, national, and global public service through excellent patient care, leadership, advocacy for change and innovation, and scholarly inquiry. Effective September 1, 2019, per Cass Regional Medical Center's medical staff rules and regulations, our physicians do not certify patients for medical marijuana use. Welcome to the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego. The location in Oak Creek will employ 150 people, with. FAIRMOUNT MEDICAL CENTER. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School: A unit of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School is the oldest and largest school of allopathic medicine in New Jersey. We know managing the details of your family’s health care can be stressful. Stale Request. Drexel's $7 million Center for Functional Fabrics, which opens Wednesday, is where engineers, designers and other scholars will develop models and mass-production techniques for “smart textiles that emit, transmit, communicate and actuate,” says director Genevieve Dion, in front of the Comez warp knitting machine. Drexel University College of Medicine. Drexel University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university founded in 1891 by philanthropist and financier Anthony J. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The teachers, physicians and professors helped to guide me through the process as I prepared for residency. Drexel Student Health Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Students who have completed their core clinical training and will be in the fourth year of medical education at their LCME- or AOA- accredited home institution in North America may apply for an elective experience at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine as a Domestic Visiting Student Applicant. A tradition of research Pushing frontiers of knowledge through an exceptional, state-of-the-art program in Graduate Medical Sciences. Reviews (828) 580-4080 Website. 8 year Engineering Scholars for Medicine. World impact. "The mission of The Independence Blue Cross Medical Simulation Center at Drexel University College of Medicine is to be a leader in the development and evaluation of curricula using simulation in teaching. Depression Center Outreach & Education. Foursquare uses cookies to provide you with an optimal experience, to personalize ads that you may see, and to help advertisers measure the results of their ad campaigns. Boston Medical Center (BMC) is a 514-bed academic medical center located in Boston's historic South End, providing medical care for infants, children, teens and adults. All of our attending physicians are board-certified in Anesthesiology and about a third are also board-certified in other specialties. Albert Einstein Medical Center Aria Health Brookdale Hospital Medical Center Case Western/University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center Christiana Care CMSRU/Cooper University Hospital Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center Crozer-Chester Medical Center Drexel University COM Hackensack University Medical Center Inspira Medical Center Lehigh Valley. Call our Camden County attorneys: 856-795-1444. At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, we're always learning, growing and exploring in our effort to deliver the highest quality, compassionate, family-centered care. Greetings from The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and welcome to the website for the Department of Pediatrics. Search for other Physicians & Surgeons in Philadelphia on The Real Yellow Pages®. Submit search. Looking for abbreviations of DCLAE? It is Drexel Center for Learning and Academic Excellence. Greetings from The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and welcome to the website for the Department of Pediatrics. Drexel University was founded in 1891 as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, by Philadelphia financier and philanthropist Anthony J. Eric Cassell Receives 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Humanities from Baylor’s Medical Humanities Program [9/28/2015] Dr. Hershey Medical Center to foster discovery and growth in the areas of education, research, and practice. Domestic Visiting Students. In 1983, Dr. Our health network includes five hospitals, more than 1,700 physicians and nearly 40 health centers and clinics. PM&R Interest Group: [email protected] Our hospital is a regional referral center for a 25-county area with a population of 2. TMCOne, Tucson Medical Center’s affiliated physician group, is a group of dedicated medical professionals providing state-of-the-art care in a variety of specialties, including internal medicine, family practice, endocrinology and breast oncology with quality and convenience as their cornerstones. Drexel University College of Medicine 102 reviews Philadelphia, PA 19129 (Alleghany West area) Develop, initiate and maintain multi - dimensional communication linkages with and between the program and all divisions of the university. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences seeks to graduate “Physician Citizens” committed to local, national, and global public service through excellent patient care, leadership, advocacy for change and innovation, and scholarly inquiry. Eastern Virginia Medical School. The latest Tweets from Drexel CoAS (@Drexel_CoAS). Restaurants near Drexel University, Philadelphia on TripAdvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 4 reviews of Drexel Medicine, Opthamology "Came back in for a follow-up. To get more information about our fellowship match program at the Internal Medicine Residency at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, visit our website. For more than 20 years, UPMC's Sleep Medicine Center has been dedicated to helping diagnose and treat sleep disturbances and disorders of all kinds. 2 likes · 40 were here. Stale Request. Van Heertum earned her medical degree from Drexel University. Drexel University College of Medicine has long-standing partnerships with several affiliate training sites. Mayo Clinic - Rochester, Minn. Every time you get sick it's straightforward to avoid therapy, but it's very important that you know the location in the Hospitals in Danao in case the. The University of Kansas School of Medicine integrates excellent education, scientific discovery, outstanding clinical programs and dedication to community service. There is no sales office at this station. The Sackler Faculty of Medicine is Israel’s largest medical research and training complex. Self-insured plans are funded by the applicable school, with claims administration services provided by Aetna Life Insurance Company. A 20-year academic agreement between Tower Health and Drexel. , publishers, announces the publication of its inaugural issue. " The Best Doctors organization, affiliated with the Harvard University of Medicine, is a leader in helping people get the best medical care. Drexel University announced plans to open a Sacramento, California campus in May 2008. President Samuel L. Walk in was $60 which was the cheapest I could find in the area. 2126 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Drexel University will not be responsible for bills acquired as a result of injuries not reported to the sports medicine department. The Penn State College of Medicine is part of one of the leading academic medical centers in the country. Drexel Medicine delivers exceptional, patient-focused health care through our network of teaching doctors from Drexel University College of Medicine. The two had an existing partnership. Crozer-Keystone Health System has many locations throughout Delaware County offering an array of healthcare and wellness services to the community. I also formed great friendships from my years at Drexel’s College of Medicine that continue today (it’s where I met my wife, Ann Zera Tan, MD ’04), and I continue to work together with our alumni today. The mission of the Francis A. But most importantly, we are committed to the success of our students. and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any. Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Diversity and Inclusion - Boston, Mass. Last year, 22,489 out of 28,454 applicants were admitted making Drexel University an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance assuming you meet the requirements. Center for Asian Health (CAH) Center For Bioethics, Urban Health, and Policy (CBUHP) Center For Inflammation, Translational and Clinical Lung Research (CILR) Center For Metabolic Disease Research; Center For Neurovirology; Center For Substance Abuse Research (CSAR) Center For Translational Medicine (CTM) Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center (CNAC). Two occupational therapy students from Temple University were looking to demonstrate a ramp they had built using three-ply cardboard. Center for Imaging Science. 22 reviews of Drexel Family Medicine "Solid experience with my first visit to Drexel Family Medicine. Finestone, MD Office for Continuing Medical Education provides lifelong learning opportunities in all areas of health care aimed at increasing the skills and knowledge of physicians and allied health care professionals. 4 reviews of Drexel University College of Medicine TravelHealth Center "Wow, I really wish I read the reviews before coming here. The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA has in a little more than 60 years grown to become an internationally recognized leader in medical education, research, patient care and public service. The School of Medicine and Public Health at UW-Madison, one of two medical schools in Wisconsin, trains tomorrow's health care leaders through education, research, patient care and service. Call our Camden County attorneys: 856-795-1444. 8 year Engineering Scholars for Medicine. Together with our social worker and dietitian, we deal with special topics including balancing Cystic Fibrosis treatments and nutrition with work and family. Our Regional Family Medicine Residency is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania and our National Family Medicine Residency has training locations in four states across the nation. The Sleep Medicine Center provides multiple resources for people having sleeping troubles. Yearbooks from Medical Colleges, Nursing Schools, and Allied Health programs The Drexel Med Legacy Center has digitized all of the yearbooks it holds from our predecessor institutions. Viewing your video from the CEAC or SIm Center is now possible on Mac, iPad, iPhone. We know managing the details of your family's health care can be stressful. Customer Service Barnes & Noble at Drexel University - Center City Bookstore. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is located in the most vibrant, exciting, and powerful city in the world. I finally stubble upon Drexel's Certification track programs. Clair Occupational Medicine Center 2000 Oxford Drive Suite 100 Medical Office Building - Suite 506 Drexel. Geva Theatre Center. Drexel Medical Student Interest Group. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Map & Directions Additional Information & Parking. Open Monday through Saturday. Rock Haven Road Harrisonville, MO 64701 816. LONG BRANCH, New Jersey — Monmouth Medical Center internist Kenneth Granet, M. Learn more about Careers at Drexel today. Hahnemann Library has reservable group study rooms and a space available 24-hours a day for Drexel University students, faculty, staff and residents. A Medical Group Practice located in Philadelphia, PA DREXEL INTERNAL MEDICINE. Class of 2018. Having more than 4 years of diverse experiences, especially in NURSE PRACTITIONER, Aleshia Crump affiliates with Delaware County Memorial Hospital, cooperates with many other doctors and specialists in medical group Prospect Health Access Network Inc. Visited after landing on my elbow badly. PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Police are reviewing surveillance cameras in the area of Drexel University after a female student reported being raped at an off-campus apartment. Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinics in Pennsylvania St. Broad Street are recognized as Patient-Centered Medical Homes by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Drexel Internal Medicine practices located at Rittenhouse Square, Fairmount, 205 N. Drexel University - MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine - Hourly Rate - Get a free salary comparison based on job title, skills, experience and education. Drexel University College of Medicine's education of women and minorities was considered innovative in the 1800s. Hershey Medical Center is the first in the region to implement advanced robotic technology for complex spine procedures Oct 7, 2019 Hershey Medical Center personnel provide free health screenings for Lebanon students. From the first day of classes straight through to graduation, our students work together in small groups, constantly sharing and refining their ideas, benefiting from one another and improving their ability to solve complex problems and communicate effectively. University of Virginia Department of Emergency Medicine has a well-established residency program with a rich academic tradition including fellowships in ultrasound, toxicology, medical education. Drexel Medicine has partnered with Allscripts Healthcare, under the name "Follow myHealth," to provide the patient portal to you. The UVM Medical Center and the Larner College of Medicine at UVM together offer over 42 residency and fellowship programs in a university based, academically focused setting that provides well-rounded medical training experience. Go to the Drexel Careers Development Center for information on residency planning, match results, FREIDA (lists of residency training programs across the country) and more. Our dedication to urban clinical excellence and contribution to Detroit's revitalization is unwavering. A debt of gratitude is owed to the dedicated staff who created and maintained the top math education content and community forums that made up the Math Forum since its inception. UCLA Medical Center-CA: Ophthalmology: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine: Ophthalmology: LSU - Shreveport: Ophthalmology: Sinai Hospital-Baltimore: Ophthalmology: U of North Carolina: Opthalmology: Nassau University Medical Center-NY: Opthalmology: Tulane University: Oral Maxillofacial Surgery: Drexel Univ COM/Hahnemann Univ Hosp-PA. drexel university college of medicine legacy center philadelphia address • drexel university college of medicine legacy center philadelphia • drexel university college of medicine legacy center philadelphia • drexel university college of medicine legacy center avenue of the arts south philadelphia. Medical & Health Drexel Discount Drug. Depression Center Outreach & Education. DPT Ranking. Southern Arizona VA Health Care System public web site. and Lucille A. Community focus. The medical center was created in 1996 from the merger of Boston City Hospital, the oldest municipal hospital in the United States and Boston University Medical Center. Drexel Medicine Convenient Care Center is a retail clinic located at 1625 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103. Reviews (828) 580-4080 Website. PA Program. Our hospital is a regional referral center for a 25-county area with a population of 2. We strive to have our entire program exhibit some of these same qualities, by providing exemplary evidenced-based patient care, cutting-edge transitional research and innovative medical education. is a Board Certified Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Professor of Psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, and Medical Director of the Center for Traumatic Stress in. Christopher's Hospital for Children, with a top bid of $50 million, following an all-day auction Thursday. The medical school has one of the nation's largest enrollments for a private medical school and represents the consolidation of two medical schools: the first US medical school for women and the nation's first college of homeopathy. Drexel offers well-regarded programs through the College of Engineering, and it has a medical school and a law school. In recent years, Penn Presbyterian has become a. Depression Center Outreach & Education. Drexel Institute; Drexel Institute of Technology; Acronyms. Free Online Module Covers Use of Opioids in Veterinary Medicine. Finestone, MD Office for Continuing Medical Education The Albert J. Students in the Emergency Medicine Residency at Penn State Health Milton S. from Jichi Medical University, in Tochigi, Japan in 2009, and graduated with an MPH from University of California, Berkeley, in 2019. A Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge did not grant that request Tuesday. Meritus Medical Center Joins New Innovations. Drexel has provided support and resources to Cruciani's former patients, including medical and counseling services and assistance with transitioning to new medical care providers. Skip navigation HG Logo and Link to Home. Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute. The Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh was founded in 1948. Hahnemann Library has reservable group study rooms and a space available 24-hours a day for Drexel University students, faculty, staff and residents. - Future doctors will one day study and train at the Drexel University College of Medicine's branch campus, located just. Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore. 22 reviews of Drexel Family Medicine "Solid experience with my first visit to Drexel Family Medicine. Owen Drexel is a 6-4, 275-pound Offensive Guard from Montclair, NJ. This business organization is involved in Hospitals, Clinics and Surgeons as well as other possible related aspects and functions of Hospitals, Clinics and Surgeons. Improving community and global health through education. Drexel University is one of the nation's premier academic and research institutions. We operate eastern Wisconsin's only academic medical center and adult Level I Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee. Drexler attended medical school at State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine. The Drexel Center for Women's Health provides outstanding, patient-centered care from your first call to your last visit. Two occupational therapy students from Temple University were looking to demonstrate a ramp they had built using three-ply cardboard. The assault happened on. That said, in that study the combination of MCAT score and GPA only accounted for 54% of the variation in USMLE scores, so while there is a "substantial correlation" between the two, the USMLE step 1 score cannot be well predicted by just looking at undergraduate performance. Research Excellence. We know managing the details of your family’s health care can be stressful. Connecting college and university students with entry-level nursing jobs, healthcare jobs and allied health jobs, internships, and career opportunities at leading global companies. A Medical Group Practice located in Philadelphia, PA DREXEL INTERNAL MEDICINE. The latest Tweets from Drexel Medicine (@DrexelMedicine). In recent years, Penn Presbyterian has become a. School of Medicine. 231 • New Orleans, LA. Compare 414 medical malpractice attorneys serving Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania on Justia. 35 Drexel University College of Medicine jobs available on Indeed. Welcome to Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Having more than 4 years of diverse experiences, especially in NURSE PRACTITIONER, Aleshia Crump affiliates with Delaware County Memorial Hospital, cooperates with many other doctors and specialists in medical group Prospect Health Access Network Inc. DSHC provides a range of health services in a confidential environment. He received his M. Last year, 22,489 out of 28,454 applicants were admitted making Drexel University an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance assuming you meet the requirements. The Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has an outstanding track record of medical accomplishments — such as creating one of the first coronary care units in the country — and it continues to provide leading-edge care as part of Penn Medicine. Training available via CoM-IT. Crozer-Chester Medical Center is located at the address 3001 Garrett Rd in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026. The Female Medical School of Pennsylvania, later renamed the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP), opened during an era of reform, just two years after the first woman’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York. Mercy Medical Center is a Baltimore, MD hospital sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. SGU Residency Postings for 2016. Our Mission At the University of Chicago, in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise to become leaders and innovators in science and medicine for the betterment of humanity. Greetings from The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and welcome to the website for the Department of Pediatrics. , in Conference Rooms 1, 2 and 3, located directly in…. A Medical Group Practice located in Philadelphia, PA DREXEL INTERNAL MEDICINE. Specialty Description. Our Yale Combined Medicine/Pediatrics, Yale Primary Care and our Yale Internal Medicine-Traditional Residency Programs are integrated into the core missions of our Yale Department of Internal. Premedical RequirementsProspective medical students must have earned 68 semester hours or the equivalent in an accredited US or Canadian college or university. Official site of the American College of Physicians. Drexel University was founded in 1891 as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, by Philadelphia financier and philanthropist Anthony J. The collection or accession number(s), found above the collection description (e. Human Resources supports the University of Chicago's mission by providing departments a strategic framework that includes HR solutions, workplace policies and guidelines, recruitment, training classes, programs, competitive benefits, and consultation services that assist University staff. Carver College of Medicine 451 Newton Road 200 Medicine Administration Building Iowa City, IA 52242 Phone: 1-319-335-6707 Patients: Please use MyChart or the Call Center if seeking medical advice from your doctor. Is Drexel University the best medicine school for you? Find out at US News. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services offers comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health services. Eastern Virginia Medical School. Tower Health and Drexel will assume operations at St. With us, it's personal. That said, in that study the combination of MCAT score and GPA only accounted for 54% of the variation in USMLE scores, so while there is a "substantial correlation" between the two, the USMLE step 1 score cannot be well predicted by just looking at undergraduate performance. Our Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center works with patients and families as a team to. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education offers two accredited, comprehensive and community-focused family medicine residency programs. Student health insurance plans are underwritten by Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna). Learn more about Boston Health Net. The Math Forum has a rich history as an online hub for the mathematics education community. Photo courtesy of the Legacy Center, Drexel University College of Medicine. com is a student-run website that helps medical students find and post sublets while doing away rotations. Every year, HMS needs anatomical donations for the education of medical and dental students, postgraduate physicians, and students of related disciplines. Requests for refunds due to unforeseen circumstances must be submitted in writing prior to the event and are evaluated on a case by case basis. VF finalizes sale of outlet center to Philadelphia firm. Albany Medical College students, faculty and staff gathered on March 15 to witness 137 fourth-year medical students learn where they will spend the next several years in medical training. Today, a Penn physician, scientist, nurse, technician or social worker will find another way to heal or help give the gift of more time and change the course of human life. The latest Tweets from Drexel Medicine (@DrexelMedicine). Pediatrics Residency.
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We Love DC
Your Life Beyond The Capitol
Food Truck Tracker
3:00 pm02 May 2011
National Geographic Live: May 2011
©Sunny Khalsa; courtesy National Geographic
May winds down the Spring 2011 National Geographic Live series of programs. If you’re looking for something to do in the evenings, we highly suggest you check out some of their offerings this season. And to provide further incentive, we are providing two lucky readers with a pair of tickets to an event of their choice this coming month!
To enter the drawing, simply comment below using your first name and a legit email address, listing the two events from the following program list you’d like to attend. (Note that there is one event not eligible and we’ve noted it for you.) Sometime after noon on Wednesday (May 4) we’ll randomly select two winners to receive a pair of tickets (each) to one of their selections.
(For ticket information, visit online or call the box office at (800) 647-5463.)
Music On…Photography Moby ($18) (SOLD OUT)
May 9, 7:30 pm
Moby has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, played over 3,000 concerts in his career, and has had his music included in hundreds of films, such as Heat and The Beach. He has been taking photographs for as long as he’s been making music. See his riveting images and be among the first to learn about his much-anticipated new project.
©Jimmy Chin; courtesy National Geographic
Dinka: Legendary Cattle Keepers of Sudan ($18)
Thirty years of work in Africa have carried award winning photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher across 270,000 miles and 40 countries to document more than 150 cultures. Their latest book, Dinka: Legendary Cattle Keepers of Sudan, portrays a vanishing way of life in war-torn Sudan.
On the Road With Andrew McCarthy ($20)
May 12, 7:30 pm (reception at 6:30)
Most famous as an actor, Andrew McCarthy is also a contributing editor for Nat Geo Traveler and was named 2010 Travel Writer of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers. Conversing with Don George, he’ll share his most memorable travel adventures.
Keali’i Reichel: The Kumu Sessions ($35)
Keali`I Reichel is one of Hawai`i’s most popular perfomers, and is also known for enthusiastically promoting Hawaiian culture to global audiences. A perennial on Billboard’s world music charts, Reichel has opened for Bonnie Raitt, Sting and Celine Dion. Join this star at a special performance featuring one dancer, and Keali`i’s evocative music and stories of Hawai`i.
Mini-Micros: A World Tour of Small Breweries ($85) (Not eligible for drawing)
May 17, 7 pm
PROST! Tip a glass with celebrated brewmaster and author Garrett Oliver as he returns this spring, this time with a lineup of “small wonders”—microbreweries that produce under a thousand barrels a year. These breweries may not make very much beer, but pack plenty of passion, creativity, and flavor into every drop. Accompanied by a variety of tasty treats.
Climbing Yosemite ($18)
June 2, 7:30 pm
Jimmy Chin, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer, is one of the most sought-after expedition photographers working today. For an article in the May 2011 issue of National Geographic, Chin traveled to Yosemite National Park, home to many daunting granite cliffs, including the legendary El Capitan. Hear about his challenges photographing this climber’s paradise.
All programs (unless otherwise noted) will take place in Grosvenor Auditorium at 1600 M Street, NW. Tickets may be purchased online at www.nglive.org, via telephone at (202) 857-7700, or in person at the National Geographic ticket office between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Free parking is available in the National Geographic underground garage for all programs that begin after 6pm.
Ben H. Rome
Having lived in the DC area for ten years, Ben still loves to wander the city with his wife, shooting lots of photos and exploring all the latest exhibits and galleries. A certified hockey fanatic, he spends some time debating the Washington Capitals club with friends – but everyone knows of his three decade love affair with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A professional writer, gamer, photographer, and Lego enthusiast, Ben remains captivated by DC and doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon.
This entry was posted in: Downtown, Education, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
Tagged events, live, museums, natgeo, national geographic, programs
29 thoughts on “National Geographic Live: May 2011”
Josh on May 2, 2011 at 3:17 pm said:
Would love to check out “Climbing Yosemite” and/or “On the Road With Andrew McCarthy”
Thanks for the drawing!
Preeti on May 2, 2011 at 3:21 pm said:
On the Road with Andrew McCarthy or Climbing Yosemite!
julia on May 2, 2011 at 3:34 pm said:
Kary on May 2, 2011 at 3:39 pm said:
Moby and Climbing Yosemite!
Pam on May 2, 2011 at 3:40 pm said:
I would love to see music on or on the road with Andrew McCarthy!
Brian on May 2, 2011 at 4:38 pm said:
Moby or Andrew McCarthy, please! Thanks!
Kate on May 2, 2011 at 5:04 pm said:
I would love to see the Dinka or the McCarthy.
Amanda on May 2, 2011 at 5:31 pm said:
Would love to see either Moby or Climbing Yosemite. Thanks!
Nancy on May 2, 2011 at 9:11 pm said:
On the Road with Andrew McCarthy or Climbing Yosemite with Jimmy Chin, please. Thank you!
Christine on May 3, 2011 at 1:46 am said:
Wow – would love to hear Keali’i Reichel play or Andrew McCarthy speak. Thank you!!
Isra on May 3, 2011 at 1:47 am said:
Keali’i Reichel or Moby please and thanks!
Kate on May 3, 2011 at 10:53 am said:
I would love to see the Dinka and Andrew McCarthy! Thanks :)
Christian on May 3, 2011 at 10:54 am said:
Mini-Micros: A World Tour of Small Breweries
Keali’i Reichel: The Kumu Sessions
Wendy on May 3, 2011 at 10:57 am said:
I’d love to hear Andrew McCarthy or Moby.
christine on May 3, 2011 at 10:58 am said:
I would be really interested in On the Road with Andrew McCarthy and Moby
Kathleen on May 3, 2011 at 12:12 pm said:
I would love to see Moby or On the Road with Andrew McCarthy! Thanks!
Sarah on May 3, 2011 at 2:15 pm said:
I would LOVE to see Andrew McCarthy or Dinka. Thanks!
Benjamin on May 3, 2011 at 11:52 pm said:
Both Music On…Photography Moby ($18) or Dinka: Legendary Cattle Keepers of Sudan sound interesting!
Pingback: Last Chance for May NGLive Tix! » We Love DC
Kate on May 4, 2011 at 9:33 am said:
Music on…Photography Moby or Climbing Yosemite!
Kim on May 4, 2011 at 9:36 am said:
I would love to attend On the Road with Andrew McCarthy or Climbing Yosemite with Jimmy Chin. Thank you!
Dustin on May 4, 2011 at 9:42 am said:
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to see Dinka: Legendary Cattle Keepers of Sudan or On the Road with Andrew McCarthy.
Heather G on May 4, 2011 at 10:03 am said:
Moby or Dinka sound interesting.
Michael on May 4, 2011 at 10:37 am said:
My picks are “On the Road With Andrew McCarthy” and “Climbing Yosemite” – thanks!
Sarah on May 4, 2011 at 10:37 am said:
Dinka or Andrew McCarthy.
daphne on May 4, 2011 at 11:19 am said:
“On the Road with Andrew McCarthy” & “Climbing Yosemite”!
I just read the Climbing Yosemite article last night and it was astounding. The photos made me jealous and gave me vertigo at the same time! Thanks!
Brendon on May 4, 2011 at 11:33 am said:
Dinka or Andrew McCarthy, please!
Chris Irwin on May 4, 2011 at 11:44 am said:
Yosemite or Dinka
ber on May 4, 2011 at 12:13 pm said:
Moby or Dinka
See Ben H.'s RSS Feed More By Ben H.
Having lived in the DC area for ten years, Ben still loves to wander the city with his wife, shooting lots of photos and exploring all the latest exhibits and galleries. A certified hockey fanatic, he spends some time debating the Washington Capitals club with friends - but everyone knows of his three decade love affair with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A professional writer, gamer, photographer, and Lego enthusiast, Ben remains captivated by DC and doesn't plan on leaving any time soon.
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S TROUBLING COLLABORATION WITH UK & US INTELLIGENCE
SOURCE: MINT PRESS
Amnesty International, the eminent human-rights non-governmental organization, is widely known for its advocacy in that realm. It produces reports critical of the Israeli occupation in Palestine and the Saudi-led war on Yemen. But it also publishes a steady flow of indictments against countries that don’t play ball with Washington — countries like Iran, China, Venezuela, Nicaragua, North Korea and more. Those reports amplify the drumbeat for a “humanitarian” intervention in those nations.
Amnesty’s stellar image as a global defender of human rights runs counter to its early days when the British Foreign Office was believed to be censoring reports critical of the British empire. Peter Benenson, the co-founder of Amnesty, had deep ties to the British Foreign Office and Colonial Office while another co-founder, Luis Kutner, informed the FBI of a gun cache at Black Panther leader Fred Hampton’s home weeks before he was killed by the Bureau in a gun raid.
These troubling connections contradict Amnesty’s image as a benevolent defender of human rights and reveal key figures at the organization during its early years to be less concerned with human dignity and more concerned with the dignity of the United States and United Kingdom’s image in the world.
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Posted on Jan 18, 2019 at 11:37
COVER-UP/DECEPTIONS/PROPAGANDA
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A Letter to the Public from World Report News
SEPTEMBER 19 2014 - MATTHEW R. BISHOP
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND CIVILIANS died in the 1991 Operation Desert Storm and Gulf War between the United States and Iraq. For the next twelve years after the war, the United States bombed and, along with the United Nations, sanctioned Iraq. The United States bombed every single water treatment facility in the country and prohibited Iraq from importing the materials necessary for rebuilding those facilities. They also bombed every major electrical generation facility and limited the capability to rebuild them. As a result, Five hundred thousand Iraqis died of water-borne illnesses in this period, most of them young children whose health was most at-risk. By the time the Bush administration began speaking to the public of war against Iraq in 2002, American policy had already caused the deaths of approximately 1.1 million civilians. That number, again, is 1.1 million, out of a country of less than twenty million in 1991 (most of those who died did so in the early nineties). That toll does not include any deaths in or after the year 2003.
Had Americans, en masse, known these numbers, seen the faces of those who had lost their lives, known their stories-- had they come to value and understand these lives as meaningful, and had they realized their government's policies had caused such awful devastation-- had all of this occurred, it is nearly inconceivable that a 2003 invasion of Iraq would have enjoyed any meaningful support from Americans. In greater likelihood, the U.S. would not have invaded Iraq. And today's awful consequences of that invasion would not be taking up our news headlines every single morning.
Today, the estimates of civilian death in the 2003-12 US-Iraq war number between 350,000 and nearly one and a half million. The median American, when asked, however, updated for 2012, will say that just over 10,000 civilians died in this war. The median American, in other words, underestimates the incidence of civilian death in the 2003-12 war by as little as three thousand five hundred percent and by as much as nearly fifteen thousand percent. In the first half of 2007, at a time when the Lancet journal was publishing reliable civilian death estimates between 600,000-700,000, the median American pegged the civilian death toll at 9,890.
Here is the most remarkable part of the story: In another AP/Ipsos poll in that same year, 2007, Americans answered that their estimate (less than ten thousand) was too high and was not an acceptable cost of war. Americans, in the majority, do not accept civilian deaths as a consequence of what they perceive as an unjust war. But even with this hard evidence, mass media channels still declined to publish civilian death numbers, and stayed even farther away from civilian death stories.
Along with a talented Board of Directors, I am starting an international news nonprofit called World Report News. Our aim is to get hard, reliable facts and data out to the American people in the very earliest stages of conflict and pre-conflict development. Our tri-fold goal is conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and mass education on foreign affairs and foreign policy. My colleagues and I built this company with one underlying thought: How can we make sure that this never happens again?
The answer, we decided, was to create a better world news company than the mass media channels offer. We want to create a service that can give Americans a tremendously higher quality of information without asking for a ridiculous time commitment-- acknowledging that most Americans are short enough on time as things are. We firmly believe that such a media channel will play an important role in education on war and peace affairs and, ultimately, could play an important role in real prevention, rapid policy response, and resolution to conflicts around the globe. If our model succeeds, what happened with the U.S. and Iraq over the past quarter century will not happen again.
I spent four years researching media, conflict, and mass popular movements in preparation for the design of this company. I recently graduated from The George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs with a M.A. in Global Communications-- this was a particular curriculum that allowed me to merge international relations, conflict prevention, and mass media communications into a single field of study. Prior to that I ran an international affairs journal and news company that succeeded in attracting hundreds of thousands of readers with just a few hundred dollars, and all-volunteer staff, and part-time work on my end, while I pursued my undergraduate degree in Ohio and also worked another part-time job. From that experience, and from my four years of study at both the undergraduate and graduate level, I realized that the need for this kind of organization is absolutely mammoth. Far larger than I had even hoped it would be. When I spoke with mass media executives on the matter, I was pleased to find that not only do they agree with my work and wish me luck-- they also endorse my beliefs and insist that such an audience numbers in the tens of millions.
Why wouldn't they seize such an audience, you might ask? Advertisers. Although there are dozens of identified barriers in mass media structures that we have designed our own organization to overcome, in the end, once all of them are done away with, the advertising CPM profit model requires mass media companies to only air content that third party companies will be okay with. This means not talking about the realities of war. No company wants to be associated with war. That's the bottom line. No auto insurance company wants to show its cute and funny commercial after you've just heard a story about a group of children playing on a beach whose bodies were just smeared on a concrete wall by a traumatized and deranged solider firing thousand-pound shells from an artillery system anywhere and everywhere for no damn reason. But that story happens, whether or not someone wants you to know about it. And the innocence of victims demands that we hold offenders accountable. That is why we are filing as a nonprofit and running the website completely ad-free.
But how can we expect to really make a difference?
We are recruiting senior level experts in all fields relevant to war and peace. International affairs professionals and conflict prevention workers have been working hard to identify with certainty which factors lead a society to violence. Instead of just covering war once it begins, we want to trace those causes, the root causes of conflict, before conflict makes itself evident. Our secondary goal is to cover conflict with greater depth, meaning, and accuracy than American mass media channels. Our primary goal is to prevent conflict before it begins by informing Americans and policymakers at an early-response stage of relevant realities and policy response options conducive to peace, and by tracing the root causes of conflict with relentless fervor everywhere that we find them.
We, the Board of Directors, have extensive experience in this line of work. Together, our experience stretches back more than one hundred fifty years and reaches across just as many countries. If you pick any random country from around the globe, the chances are that one or more of us has worked there in a full-time capacity for one year or longer. Our experience is in both international affairs and world news media. We constructed this board deliberately to bring international relations and world media together, as a reflection of our dedication to directly connect the audience with the source.
I am writing this letter to inform you of our plan, to engage you in our discussions about what this new network can accomplish, to explain what missing function we can fill for American and global society, and, of course, to ask for donations. We are a nonprofit, after all. You can follow this link to donate to the Kickstarter campaign, or follow this link to view in PDF form some of the organization's documents and to check out some footage of myself and board members making the case for the company. You'll find biographies, company info books, and all kinds of goodies on either link.
We aim to facilitate peace and deter war by applying peace media and fair media theory to actual practice. These theories contend that all parties to a conflict are human, that humans, in the majority, make rational choices, and that if we can discover the particulars of why humans make conflicting choices, then we can arrive at peace faster, more effectively, and in a more sustainable manner. Current American mass media do not take this approach and seldom examine foreign affairs with such depth. Our practice contends that greater depth is conducive to greater understanding, so that if we increase the quality of information, we should, at the same time, be encouraging empathy across division.
In short, peace is not always possible, but neither is conflict always inevitable. We aim to minimize the occurrence and severity of conflict primarily through freely provided reliable information and mass education. Our writers and editors consciously seek to fill the gaps in understanding that lead to war, instead of just accepting that those gaps are pre-existing and that war is unavoidable. Above all else, we read those polls cited in the beginning of this essay. Instead of deciding to ignore those numbers, we made the choice to respond to them. That decision requires nothing less than a brand new world news service using a totally different model. So that's what we've come together to create.
Thank you for your time. See you in the comments section!
Six Steps Short of War to Beat ISIS
By Phyllis Bennis - Reprinted from The Progressive
President Obama is right: There is no military solution.
Military actions will not set the stage for political solutions; they will prevent those solutions from taking hold.
Escalating military actions against this violent extremist organization is not going to work.
The bottom line is there is no immediate action that will make ISIS disappear, even if U.S. airstrikes manage to get the right target somewhere and take out an APC or a truckload of guys with RPGs or whatever.
You can't destroy an ideology — or even an organization —through bombing (look at the efforts to do so with Al Qaeda . . . lots of members killed in Afghanistan, but the organization took root in a bunch of other countries).
Arming the so-called “moderate” opposition in Syria doesn’t mean supporting the good guys. It means sending arms to the Free Syrian Army which, according to the New York Times, “went on to behead six ISIS fighters…and then posted the photographs on Facebook.”
A military strike might bring some immediate satisfaction, but we all know revenge is a bad basis for foreign policy, especially when it has such dangerous consequences.
As horrifying as the beheading of the two U.S. journalists was, revenge is never a good basis for foreign policy. We should keep in mind that Matthew Olson, the outgoing head of the National Counterterrorism Center, said last week that “there is no credible information that [ISIS] is planning to attack the United States,” and there is “no indication at this point of a cell of foreign fighters operating in the United States – full stop.”
Instead, we have to recognize that military solutions really don’t work. Have we forgotten the failures of the U.S. wars in the Middle East over these many years?
We need to keep our focus on the medium- and long-term solutions, something not so easy to do in a political year.
We have to recognize that military attacks are not only wrong in a host of ways (illegal in international law, immoral because of civilian casualties, a distraction from vitally needed diplomacy) but also that those strikes are making real solutions impossible.
We have to start by understanding just why ISIS is so powerful.
First, ISIS has good weapons (mostly U.S. and Saudi weapons that have flooded the region for more than 15 years). So we need to start thinking about the need for an arms embargo on all sides.
Second, ISIS has good military leadership, some of it provided by Sunni Iraqi generals who were kicked out of their positions in the military when the U.S. invaded and who are now providing training, strategy and military leadership to ISIS-allied militias and ISIS itself. These guys are a very secular bunch. They drink and smoke, and they will be unlikely to stick around ISIS if they believe they have any chance of recovering their lost jobs, prestige, and dignity. That could happen over time, but only if a really new government takes hold in Iraq, but it’s not going to be enough to simply choose a new prime minister and announce a new government made up of too many of the same old sectarian faces.
Third, ISIS has support from Sunni tribal leaders – the very people President Obama says he wants to "persuade" to break with ISIS. But these are people who have suffered grievously – first during the U.S. invasion, and especially in the years of the US-backed Shi’a-controlled sectarian government of Nuri al-Maliki. They were demonized, attacked, and dispossessed by the government in Baghdad, and many of them thus see ISIS at the moment as the only force they can ally with to challenge that government. And many of them control large and powerful militias now fighting alongside ISIS against the government in Baghdad.
Fourth, ISIS has support from ordinary Iraqi Sunnis, who (also largely secular) may hate what ISIS stands for, its extremism and violence, but who have suffered terribly under Maliki's sectarian Shi’a-controlled government from arrests, torture, extra-judicial executions, and more. As a result they also are willing to ally with ISIS against Baghdad, at least for now.
So, weakening ISIS requires ending the support it relies on from tribal leaders, military figures, and ordinary Iraqi Sunnis. The key question is how do we do that?
Step One: Stop the airstrikes. Because what we in the U.S. see as “hooray, we got the bad guys” is seen by many in Iraq, especially the very Sunnis the president wants to persuade to break with ISIS, as the U.S. acting as the air force for the Kurds and the Shi’a against the Sunnis. Thus the airstrikes defeat the important goal of ending popular support for ISIS, and instead actually serve to strengthen the extremist organization.
Step Two: Make real the commitment for “No boots on the ground.” In announcements during just the last few weeks, the White House has acknowledged sending close to 1,300 pairs of boots to the ground in Iraq. And who knows how many unacknowledged pairs of CIA and JSOC (special operations forces) sneakers may already be in Iraq? We need a call to “Stop the Slippery Slide Towards Even More Boots on the Ground!” The U.S. must also stop flooding the region with arms that only result in more violence against civilians, and end its policy of ignoring the violations of human rights and international law committed by its allies. We need enforcement of the Leahy Law (that prohibits assistance to foreign military units known to violate human rights) here at home.
Step Three: Organize a real diplomatic partnership to deal with ISIS. Even though the U.S. is carrying out airstrikes and deploying new troops in Iraq, everyone agrees there is no military solution. So diplomacy must have center stage. That means serious engagement with Iran, among other players. Tehran has more influence in Baghdad than Washington does. If we are serious about wanting to encourage the Iraqi government to accept a truly more inclusive approach, joint pressure from the U.S. and Iran holds the best chance. Even though Iran is predominantly Shi’a itself, the country’s leaders are very worried about the instability in their next-door neighbor resulting from the years of Shi’a sectarianism in Baghdad. The U.S.-Iran nuclear talks appear to be moving very well; this is the moment to broaden those talks to include discussion of a real “grand bargain” between the U.S. and Iran, to include all the regional crises.
Step Four: Initiate a new search for broader diplomatic solutions in the United Nations. That means working to build a real coalition aimed at using diplomatic and financial pressures, not military strikes, at the international level in both Iraq and Syria. All the regional governments have their own concerns. Turkey, for instance, knows that joining a U.S.-led military assault on Iraq could threaten the lives of its 49 diplomats and their families now held by ISIS. A real coalition is needed not for military strikes but for powerful diplomacy. That means pressuring U.S. ally Saudi Arabia to stop arming and financing ISIS and other extremist fighters; pressuring U.S. ally Turkey to stop allowing ISIS and other fighters to cross into Syria over the Turkish border; pressuring U.S. allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others to stop financing and arming everyone and anyone in Syria who says they're against Assad. We don't need another Coalition of the Killing (see Step One for why). Why not work to make it a Coalition of the Rebuilding?
Step Five: Push the UN, despite Lakhdar Brahimi's resignation, to restart real negotiations on ending the civil war in Syria. That means everyone involved needs to be at the table: the Syrian regime; civil society inside Syria including non-violent activists, women, young people, refugees, etc.; the armed rebels; the external opposition; the regional and global players supporting all sides – the US, Russia, Iran, Saudi, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, and beyond. This could provide a moment to work with Russia on Syria policy, thus building on the successful joint effort to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons and perhaps lessening tensions over Ukraine. An arms embargo on all side should be on the long-term agenda.
Step Six – Massively increase US humanitarian contributions to U.N. agencies for the now millions of refugees and IDPs in and from both Syria and Iraq. The U.S. has pledged significant funds, but much of it has not actually been made available to the agencies, and more should be pledged and given.
Phyllis Bennis is a Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies. Her books include Before & After: US Foreign Policy and the War on Terror.
“Obama’s Iraq Airstrikes Could Actually Help the Islamic State, Not Weaken It” in the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/08/08/how-obamas-iraq-airstrikes-could-help-the-islamic-state/
“Don't Go Back to Iraq - Five Steps the US Can Take Without Going Back to War” in Foreign Policy in Focus.
http://www.ips-dc.org/dont-go-back-iraq/
“If There’s No Military Solution, Why the Military Actions?” in The Hill.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/216435-if-theres-no-us-military-solution-why-the-military-actions
“Five Things the US Can Do to End the Syria Crisis” in The Nation.
http://www.thenation.com/article/179872/5-concrete-steps-us-can-take-end-syria-crisis
- See more at: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/09/187851/six-steps-short-war-beat-isis#sthash.5k2TNn9r.dpuf
Mental Health and the Conflict System
JOHN ENTINGH - 20 APRIL 2012
Mental health and world peace could enjoy a very intimate relationship. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”[1] It seems the very definition of mental health describes happiness for just about any culture or society, and does so without judgment on values. Historically the focus on world peace has been from a position of power rather than a perspective of mental health. Perhaps this is the very reason why world peace has proven so elusive. Is it possible that instead of building up military installations, the building up of mental health care would provide a safer and more peaceful world? The stark reality is that military might and wars have done little to attain world peace.
Nearly sixty years ago American political scientist Quincy Wright wrote:
War arises because of the changing relations of numerous variables--technological, psychic, social, and intellectual. There is no single cause of war. Peace is an equilibrium among many forces. Change in any particular force, trend, movement, or policy may at one time make for war, but under other conditions a similar change may make for peace. A state may at one time promote peace by armament, at another time by disarmament, at one time by insistence on its rights, at another time by a spirit conciliation. To estimate the probability of war at any time involves, therefore, an appraisal of the effect of current changes upon the complex of intergroup relationships throughout the world (p. 1284).[2]
Wright’s observation is as true today as it was then. Not long after these immortal words were penned, noted political scholar R.J. Rummel redefined war as an “international conflict.”[3] Perhaps this was from countries such as the United States invading sovereign nations without actually declaring war (e.g. Vietnam). Rummel’s definition became popular in an era of behaviorism, an era where every action was a behavior and every behavior had a stimulus. Rather than say “this is what caused the war,” it was politically correct to say “international conflict behavior” is stimulated by:
· opposing interests and capabilities (specific sociocultural differences and similarities between the parties),
· contact and salience (awareness),
· significant change in the balance of powers,
· individual perceptions and expectations,
· a disrupted structure of expectations,
· a will-to-conflict.
It is aggravated by:
· sociocultural dissimilarity,
· cognitive imbalance,
· status difference,
· coercive state power.
It is inhibited by:
· sociocultural similarity,
· decentralized or weak, coercive state power.
It is triggered by:
· perception of opportunity, threat, or injustice,
· surprise.
These causes, aggravations, inhibitions, and triggers of international conflict behavior have some surprising similarities to the facts surrounding mental health. Like international conflict behavior, so too are mental, neurological and behavioral disorders common to all countries and cause immense suffering. People with these disorders are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and increased mortality. These disorders are also the cause of staggering economic and social costs. There is absolutely no difference between the consequences of conflict behavior and the consequences mental health disorders. Worldwide, hundreds of millions of people are affected by mental, behavioral, neurological and substance abuse disorders every day. For example, estimates made by WHO in 2002 showed that 154 million people globally suffer from depression and 25 million people from schizophrenia; 91 million people are affected by alcohol use disorders and 15 million by drug use disorders. A recently published WHO report shows that 50 million people suffer from epilepsy and 24 million from Alzheimer and other dementias.
Aside from the debilitating disorders, many other disorders affect the nervous system or produce neurological sequelae (any abnormal condition that follows and is the result of a disease, treatment, or injury). Projections based on a 2005 WHO study show that worldwide, 326 million people suffer from migraine; 61 million from cerebrovascular diseases; 18 million from neuroinfections or neurological sequelae of infections. Adding substantially to the burden are 352 million people with neurological sequelae of nutritional disorders and neuropathies, and 170 million people plagued with neurological sequelae secondary to injuries. These numbers reflect millions of very unhappy people that at a bare minimum have cognitive imbalance, a factor that Rummel points out will aggravate conflict behavior.
More importantly, 877,000 people die by suicide every year, 86% of them in low and middle income countries, and more than half are aged between 15 and 44. Billions of dollars are spent each year to further conflict behavior and to kill people whereas just a small fraction of those billions could be devoted to saving millions of lives with increased mental health and in promoting human societies more prone to peace than to war. Consider, one in four patients visiting a health service has at least one mental, neurological or behavioral disorder, but most of these disorders are neither diagnosed nor treated. There is no getting around how mental illnesses affect and are affected by chronic conditions such as cancer, heart and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, left untreated, they bring about unhealthy behavior, non-compliance with prescribed medical regimens, diminished immune functioning, and poor prognosis. The consequences of ignoring mental health issues are the very facets of life that cause and aggravate conflict behavior. One needs no degree in psychology to know that “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community” will be a state that is hard to drive into conflict behavior.
The salient point here is that cost-effective treatments exist for most disorders, and if correctly applied, could enable most of those affected to become functioning members of society. Unfortunately, the strongest barriers to implementation of mental health services include a failure of awareness on the seriousness of mental illness and lack of understanding about the benefits of services. Stringent policy makers, insurance companies, and health/labor policies, along with the public at large, have instilled discriminate practices between physical and mental problems. It is this type of agenda that Rummel’s conflict behavior causes speak to on status difference and coercive state power. Most resources are devoted to urgent physical care, and the preventive power of mental health is marginalized. Indeed, most middle and low-income countries devote less than 1% of their health expenditure to mental health. As a result, mental health policies, legislation, community care facilities, and treatments for people with mental illness are not given the priority they deserve, which is a clear case of the conflict behavior cause of sociocultural dissimilarity. WHO is presently pushing for more global support of mental health, especially in developing countries; however, the connection to conflict behavior has been overlooked.
Stepping back to look at the two things that Rummel contends inhibit conflict behavior: 1.) sociocultural similarity; and, 2.) decentralized or weak, coercive state power; we have to ask if increasing mental health for all people would actually lead to these phenomena. WHO finds the facts. Nearly half of all mental disorders begin before the age of 14 (untreated family members contributing). Close to 20% of the world's children and adolescents are estimated to have mental disorders or problems, with similar types of disorders being reported across all cultures. Yet, regions of the world with the highest percentage of population under the age of 19 have the poorest level of mental health resources. This astounding social fact exemplifies the conflict behavior cause of perception of opportunity, threat, or injustice. Most of the low and middle income countries have only one child psychiatrist for every 1 to 4 million people. There is no sociocultural similarity in these facts. The highest suicide rates are found among men in eastern European countries known for coercive state power, yet mental disorders are one of the most prominent and treatable causes of suicide. Stigma about mental disorders and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care. In South Africa, a public survey showed that most people thought mental illnesses were related to either stress or a lack of willpower rather than to clinical disorders. Contrary to expectations, levels of stigma were higher in urban areas and among people with higher levels of education, which gives rise to Rummel’s conflict behavior cause of lack of awareness and the trigger of surprise. Human rights violations of psychiatric patients are routinely reported in most countries. These include physical restraint, seclusion and denial of basic needs and privacy. Few countries have a legal framework that adequately protects the rights of people with mental disorders. The largest sociocultural inequity is in the distribution of skilled human resources for mental health across the world. Shortages of properly educated and trained psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists and social workers are among the biggest hurdles to providing treatment and adequate care in low and middle income countries. WHO reports that low-income countries have 0.05 psychiatrists and 0.42 nurses per 100 000 people; whereas, the rate of psychiatrists in high income countries is 170 times greater and for nurses is 70 times greater.
WHO contends that are there are five key barriers that need to be overcome in order to increase the availability of mental health services: 1.) the absence of mental health from the public health agenda and the implications for funding; 2.) the current organization of mental health services; 3.) lack of integration within primary care; 4.) inadequate human resources for mental health; and 5.) lack of public mental health leadership. These five barriers to worldwide mental health are the exact things that Rummel argued would inhibit conflict behavior if overcome. This would mean that governments, donors and groups representing mental health workers, patients and their families need to work together to increase mental health services, especially in the low and middle income countries. WHO explains that the financial resources needed are relatively modest, as little as $2 per person per year in low-income countries and $3-4 in lower middle-income countries. In contrast, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports a world military expenditure in 2010 at an estimated $1.62 trillion in current dollars which represents a 1.3% increase in real terms since 2009 and a 50% increase since 2001.That comes to about 2.6 % of the world gross domestic product (GDP), or approximately $236 for each person in the world.[5]
There is little truth in the cliché that history repeats itself, simply because so many variables in the world are in constant flux. However, themes in history do repeat themselves, and striving for peace through conflict behavior is one of the most resilient. From looking at the facts, peace is indeed an equilibrium between many forces. History has demonstrated that conflict behavior will not be inhibited by anything less than sociocultural similarity (equal opportunity at a minimum), and a decentralized or weak, coercive state power (democracy in some flavor). A relatively inexpensive way to achieve both and also provide “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community,” is to further efforts that implement mental health, equally, on a global agenda. It is time to own up to the fact that conflict behavior adds little to peace and harmony, yet comes at a huge expense to resources. When we add to that knowledge the fact that happy people are easier to work and live with, then exploring an alternative such as expanded mental health in a world peace strategy becomes a little more attractive. For the bean counters, it seems like a hand down win. Rather than spend $236 per person on conflict behavior, maybe just $232 and give $4 to WHO for implementation of its global mental health plan. That seems like a very small price to pay for something that has such huge possibilities, especially since the money is being spent anyway.
There are two important considerations in the argument for investing in an extension of the mental health agenda. First and foremost is that this urging does not call for an immediate lying down of arms. The world is such that military peace keepers are indeed required. This would be a peace strategy that would be implemented in the long term and may well be a generation away from bearing fruit. But if we look back at the tens of thousands of years of conflict behavior, a strategy that takes a generation to implement does not seem so unreasonable. The point is that military spending can be significantly reduced and those resources better spent. The second consideration is that mental health is relative to individual needs. A popular field of research has emerged in “positive psychology.” We tend to think of only the destitute afflicted with mental health issues when that is not the case at all, as the stigma from the South African survey clarifies. Functioning people can suffer from mental health issues just as much as the destitute. In fact, the functioning can at times actually be more of a threat to world peace than the dysfunctional (e.g. Hitler), especially in a society with restricted mental health care. The goal is to lift the stigma and extend the view that going to a mental health center is the same as going to the gym. The only difference is that one keeps the body in shape and the other keeps the mind in shape. Take for example the manner in which the field of psychology not only boomed during World War II, but split. Prior to the great wars psychology was largely viewed as a clinical domain for the unstable. The realization came in the early 1900s that psychology had another function as well and that was the ability to determine an individual’s abilities and capabilities, or strengths and weaknesses. This helped military trainers assign troops to what they were best at, or discharge the person altogether.
After WW II, returning troops were in dire need of counseling services, not as much for trauma as for aptitude testing and job/education placement. Thus a new branch of psychology emerged as counseling psychology. The focus of counseling psychology is to assess people and direct them toward what the assessment warrants. It may be some form of treatment, but is often just informing the person of their strengths and weaknesses and what might work best for them, or what type of environment they may expect to thrive in. Many contemporary education and employment placement procedures fall under this domain of mental health services. Mental health is no longer an exclusive domain of psychologists. Mental health embraces all forms of helping professionals including social workers, certified counselors in numerous areas from weight loss to job placement, and family counseling. It is these types of social services that lift a society up more than dropping bombs on their infrastructure.
Beyond the conflict behavior argument, there is a clear employment agenda built into the mental health strategy. Millions of people worldwide will find employment on all levels, from the construction crews and architects that construct the facilities to the helping professionals that staff them, and the technology industry that equips them. Not only are the employable provided opportunities, but those suffering from mental health issues become employable through counseling and/or treatment. This strategy does not leave out the egos that enjoy winning wars, it merely has shifted who the enemy is. Mankind has a penchant for picking fights it can win; we now have one.
[1] Virot, P. WHO urges more investments, services for mental health., 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012 from http://www.who.int/mental_health/who_urges_investment/en/index.html
[2] Wright, Quincy, The escalation of international conflict. The Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 9 (December, 1965). 434-449.
[3] Rummel, R.J. Understanding Conflict and War: Vol. 4: War, Power, Peace, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1979
[4] UCDP/Human Security Centre Dataset. Retrieved March 26 from: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=34079
[5] Shah, Anup. World Military Spending. Global Issues: Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues That Affect Us All. May 02, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2012 from: http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending
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Mankind's Greatest Enemy
JOHN ENTINGH - 26 MARCH 2012
Mankind has no greater enemy than itself. Despite the clever and innovative machines that strong warriors devise, it is the small things the warrior overlooks that eventually win out. When Europeans came to the Americas, they did not land on a sparsely populated shore. Although there is no pervasive agreement between scholars, the population in the Americas when Christopher Columbus set sail is estimated between 60 to over 100 million people.[1] When the Spaniards and Portuguese arrived in South America archeological evidence suggests that 15 million people populated the Aztec Empire and six million in the Inca Empire alone. It was not superior weapons or even military prowess that allowed a boatload of Europeans to conquer such vast empires, it was microscopic organisms the invaders had no knowledge of, yet carried every where they traveled. It was Eurasian diseases such as smallpox, influenza, bubonic plague and pneumonic plagues that devastated the Native Americans who had never developed immunity. Even the most conservative estimates hold that the Native American death toll due to these diseases was at an astonishing 80% by the end of the 17th century, eight million people in 1650 alone.[2] Surprisingly the warring Europeans that had been devastated by the “The Black Death” between 1348 and 1350 failed to make the connection. The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30–60 percent of Europe's population, reducing world population from an estimated 450 million to between 350 and 375 million in the 14th century.[3] However, the ever clever man did not miss the potential biological agents had for waging war as technology grew.
By World War I (1914–1918), the Imperial German government developed what they termed biological sabotage using anthrax and glanders (an infectious disease that occurs primarily in horses, mules, and donkeys). Although the results were not as devastating as hoped,[4] world powers still gathered to take strong measures by banning bioweapons in the Geneva Protocol of 1925 (that nearly every country ignored).[5] By the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and World War II (1939–1945), biological weapons were in full use. The Japanese launched biological warfare on the Chinese, and shortly thereafter Nazi Germany was openly producing biological weapons. The new danger with Germany was that the prior loss of life by intentional biological weapons had been limited due to poor delivery systems, but the Nazis had developed rockets to overcome that drawback. This gave the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada a justification to initiate their own biological-warfare development programs in 1941 that resulted in the weaponization of anthrax, brucellosis, and botulism toxin (Fear of the German program turned out to be vastly exaggerated.).[6] This is how mankind’s clever mind works: We take something we know little about, turn it into a weapon that kill most of the world’s population, and say it’s for our own protection.
That statement is not as facetious as one may think. Step back and take a look at how nuclear weapons have played out. Perhaps the first nuclear weapons were justified to end World War II. But in any case, the point is, that the United States spent a great deal of resources to produce this weapon, for our own protection, and has been consumed ever since with protecting us from the very weapon they developed. Of course we have to recognize the argument that nuclear weapons were going to be made anyway. Regardless, the same situation applies to all nuclear states. We have yet to exclude Russians, Chinese, Israelis, Koreans, or Iranians from mankind. I hold my ground; mankind has no greater enemy than itself.
Case in point, a computer worm was discovered in June 2010 that is called Stuxnet. The malware is spread via Microsoft Windows, and targets Siemens industrial software and equipment. The Siemens industrial software and equipment infected is literally the equipment that runs the world as we know it. These industrial systems run everything imaginable, traffic light systems, subway systems, power generating systems (including the grid and nuclear plants), food processing plants, warehouses, emergency alert systems, every form of manufacturing, hospitals, police and fire departments, and even the air traffic control systems. The danger from this worm is that it preys specifically on industrial systems and has a very complex programmable logic controller (PLC) rootkit.[7] That means it can be programmed to target a specific operating system and take over the running of the program unbeknownst to even the most observant operator.
CBS 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft did a piece on Stuxnet[8] that revealed some startling information. One of the interviews was with Liam O’ Murchu, an operations manager for computer virus security company Symantec. O’ Murchu was one of minds behind figuring out Stuxnet and explains how the worm was programmed to target industrial systems such as that the Iranians use to enrich fuel cells for nuclear weapons. The target of the worm, along with the sophistication, leaves little room for speculation that this is anything other than state sponsored technological warfare. Evidently, the program was spinning centrifuges too fast for the enrichment to work properly and at the same time was burning the equipment up. To the plant operators, everything seemed okay, their diagnostics and readings were on point. Stuxnet has the ability to run the equipment at one speed, but report to the operators another speed. The danger of this worm is that any manner of equipment could be taken over the same way and the operators have no idea. Kroft also interviewed Sean McGurk, one time leader of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to secure U.S. systems from cyber attack. McGurk emphasized that very point: "You can download the actual source code of Stuxnet now and you can repackage it [and] point it back to wherever it came from." McGurk stated the biggest fear now was that a terrorist group or a rogue country could refashion the programmable malware to attack U.S. infrastructure like the power grid, adding: "They opened the box. They demonstrated the capability...it's not something that they can put back."
The most distressing point of the Stuxnet fiasco is the attitudes from the governmental bureaucrats. Kroft also interviewed retired Gen. Mike Hayden, former head of NSA and CIA, but denied being in office when the Stuxnet attack occurred, and denied knowing who was behind it. However, Hayden’s sentiments might well be an indicator of his colleagues. When Kroft asked him if it was a good idea to unleash something so dangerous to all: "This was a good idea, alright? But I also admit this was a big idea, too. The rest of the world is looking at this and saying, 'Clearly, someone has legitimated this kind of activity as acceptable.'" That sounds an awful lot like the justification for using nuclear weapons on Japan. Even worse, Hayden admits knowing “… there are those out there who can take a look at this...and maybe even attempt to turn it to their own purposes." That acknowledgement in and of itself shocks the conscious. The power brokers on high have no misunderstanding of how this type of cyber weapon can be turned back on the entire world, and simply shrug it off. Ralph Langner, another expert in industrial control systems, and who also was instrumental in analyzing Stuxnet, drove home the point about how easily this program could be reversed: "You just need a couple of millions…and it wouldn't take the resources of a government to find the right people…if I would be tasked with assembling a cyber force, yeah, I would know whom to approach. So that's not a real secret." Clearly the Iranian nuclear threat pales in comparison to that of U.S. and Israeli leaders that “legitimated this kind of activity as acceptable.”
Mankind has no greater enemy than itself.
[1] Alan Taylor (2002). American colonies; Volume 1 of The Penguin history of the United States, History of the United States Series. Penguin. p. 40.
[2] La catastrophe démographique (The Demographical Catastrophe), L'Histoire n°322, July–August 2007, p. 17.
[3] Austin Alchon, Suzanne (2003). A pest in the land: new world epidemics in a global perspective. University of New Mexico Press. p. 21.
[4] Koenig, Robert (2006), The Fourth Horseman: One Man's Secret Campaign to Fight the Great War in America, PublicAffairs.
[5] Ken Alibek and K Handelman (1999), Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World Trade From the Inside by the Man Who Ran It, New York, NY: Random House.
[6] Covert, Norman M. (2000), A History of Fort Detrick, Maryland, 4th Edition: 2000.
[7] Last-minute paper: An indepth look into Stuxnet. Virus Bulletin. http://www.virusbtn.com/conference/vb2010/abstracts/LastMinute7.xml.
[8] Kroft, Steve, (March 4, 2012), Former CIA head calls Stuxnet virus "good idea." http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57388982/fmr-cia-head-calls-stuxnet-virus-good-idea/
Isolationism in an Interdependent World
MATTHEW BISHOP - 2 MARCH 2011
It does not make sense to consider valid the rhetoric of U.S. isolationism in a world where the entire American structure depends on global work, global security, and global economy. Our oil comes from a host of different nations. Our food is exported around the world. Our financial services and higher education attract people from across the earth, while our businesses turn international and become cornerstones for other nations' economies. Our students travel the world and globalize themselves, or live abroad teaching English. Our lifestyle is global, whether or not we as individuals acknowledge ourselves as global, and to discuss isolationism is to ignore who we are and upon which structures our nation, our security, and our economy are built.
This essay focuses on the ideals of interventionism v isolationism as a whole, and not specifically in regards to the military. This essay is more concerned with foreign aid and crisis prevention, and does support "trimming down the military" in the many places where a military presence is not necessary and will not be in the near future. There are a host of reasons and underlying beliefs that isolationists or noninterventionists offer to explain why we should remain "uncommitted" or "uninvolved" in global affairs, and this paper will address them as it mentions them. These are:
1) The underlying belief that it is morally acceptable to remain uninvolved politically in regards to crisis areas or target issues with which U.S. companies are already involved with economically. (More common than this belief is the outright failure to realize that political disengagement does not mean commercial disengagement, and along with this failed realization proponents of isolationism also fail to realize that international commercial policies have extremely adverse and at times extremely violent effects among foreign populations.)
- In this case, isolationism is nothing but irresponsibility and a failure to accept the humanitarian burdens that go hand-in-hand with ethical business policies. To permit a company to work abroad, for example, and then to say that no human responsibility is involved, is to allow for forced labor, slave labor, dangerous working conditions, and in the worst cases the emergence or continuance of war or genocide. Foreign governments that depend on U.S. investment are less willing and less able to enforce human rights policies in the workplace. The responsibility, therefore, lies with the investor. This applies to private companies, but it also applies to organizations like the World Bank and IMF.
2) The underlying belief that each nation should be responsible for itself only.
- This is a fallacy in itself. Nations that depend on one another for trade, growth, and jobs, in being responsible for themselves, must acknowledge these connections and then be responsible for the well-being of others. The well-being of others, in turn, supports the well-being of the nation. Autarkic trade policies have failed in the past, are inconceivable in the present, and are not worthy of consideration in the near future.
3) The moral disconnect between nationals of one nation and nationals of another nation, leading to the belief that one American life is ultimately far more significant than the life of any non-American individual. Resulting from this belief is the argument that Americans should not involve themselves in cases of genocide or other widescale human atrocities and crimes against humanity, even, in a rather hypocritical situation, when Americans teach a "never again" story of the Holocaust in public schools. This also leads to the reluctance to attempt to even understand foreign problems, and the refusal to accept valid solutions for these crises even at minimal cost to the United States.
- This argument sustains itself on its own self-invented moral tenants, which are often racist, more often hypocritical, and always inconsiderate of human lives. It is a valid argument in a world where one human has absolutely no interest or obligation in saving the life of another human. It seems natural for any decent and caring human being to reject this argument outright by denying the truth of this worldview and by insisting that humans do hold a natural human obligation to help and care for one another.
4) An aversion to military intervention unless "state security" or "economic interest" is involved.
- Military policies toward situations that are already military or which involve genocide, crimes against humanity, etc., do legitimately merit military responses. The Law of Proportion should always be adhered to in these cases-- if only 2,000 lives are at stake, for instance, we should not risk 2,500 in saving them. Conversely, if 12,000,000 lives are at stake, it is a valid and defensible policy to intervene in real military terms.
- "State Security" and "Economic Interest" are generally defined by individuals and organizations in positions of power and, contrary to popular belief, they actually do reflect the interests of those organizations and individuals rather than the actual and legitimate interests of the nation. It was not in the interests of security to invade Iraq, it was the personal vendetta of GWB and his colleagues. It is not in the interests of security to maintain an aggressive and nuclear Israel on an American budget, it is in the interest of well-funded Zionist fundamentalist organizations like AIPAC. "Economic interest" policies frequently result in mass impoverishment, displacement, and starvation in other countries-- a well-explored example is American farm subsidy policies and international trade policies. These are rhetorical tools utilized by quasi-isolationists that do not account for the real reasons or consequences of American actions.
5) The idea that costs for foreign aid and interventionist programs could be better applied on the home front, and that causes abroad mirror causes at home that are not being given due attention. A common argument in this vein of thought goes something like this: "Why are we feeding children in Africa when there are kids starving here in the United States?"
- There have been no reported deaths due to starvation anywhere in the United States for many years now. The United States wastes more food than any other nation, and its residents are the most well-fed in the world. Meanwhile, one third of the human population lives malnourished, undernourished, or on the outright brink of starvation.
- This argument is valid in regards to certain issue areas. Surely Egypt does not need three billion a year to keep it from attacking Israel? Surely Israel does not need three billion a year to keep it from being destroyed by rock-throwing Palestinian teenagers? Surely Pakistan does not require three billion to fight the Taliban when they are actually training the Taliban? Surely Ethiopia does not deserve 2-3 billion to feed its people when it continually uses those funds to distinguish between political allies, who it will feed, and political enemies, who the state decides to let starve? An overhaul of foreign aid is needed. But there are many crisis areas in the world right now that deserve much more funding; Sudan/South Sudan and DR Congo come to mind the most. The overhaul should carry with it renewed efforts at transparency and requirements for inspectors. All things considered, however, this is the most valid of the arguments against isolationism, if only because so many funds abroad get wasted or lost in channels of official government corruption. This is a difficult problem, as many of the weakest governments, in need of the most aid, are also the most corrupt, so lending x amount of money in aid only actually delivers x-y amount to the people in need of that aid. This is why transparency and inspection must become pillars of a new foreign aid policy.
6) The reliance on the false idea that America invests a huge proportion of its resources to foreign aid.
- In fact, the United States frequently spends only around 1% of its budget on foreign aid, whereas the Department of Defense, in FY 2011, spent an amazing 19% of the United States Federal Budget. This should be the opposite, if we comprehend the now common knowledge that prosperity breeds peace and stability. Trimming down the military, which operates bases around the world that it does not require and maintains bases that are not even occupied, should be a much more pressing discussion than trimming down aid, the little of which we do give generally goes toward preventing large-scale civil wars, setting up refugee camps in war-torn areas, securing allegiances, and providing disaster relief. All of these efforts bolster our security by showing the world that America is not just some collection of heartless military operations that they should hate and fight against.
7) The belief that we can't solve other people's problems.
- Yes, we can. As a wealthy, strong, and ideally independent third-party mediator, we are actually in an ideal position to do so. We need to engage problems on the terms in which they actually exist, and not drag them through the machine of US partisan politics and so distort their reality. Distorting their reality prevents them from being solved. This is the only real conceptual requirement to address "other people's problems". A lot of problems are actually quite simple, and can be overcome by human cooperation. It is only the refusal to cooperate that creates and sustains problems. When we are cooperating and behaving as a single unit, we gain the power to help really mediate and solve "other people's problems." This should be the theory with which we approach mediation. Realistically it will require legal, structural, and budget reform within our own government and in regards to foreign policy, and will also require a dedicated effort on all sides of the political spectrum to actually understand and solve specific world problems, a motivation that Congress usually seems to be rather unfamiliar with.
8) The understanding that it is natural for parts of the world to pass through traumatic stages and that part of a nation's or the world's evolution is to evolve through phases of war and genocide
- This is a disgusting argument to anyone who fully comprehends it. We should not put an end to the summary mass execution of unarmed civilians because "it just happens" and we "have to get over it"? No, I won't get over it. I would not expect any Holocaust survivor to "get over it" and tell me that "it just happens". I would not expect anyone in the eastern DRC or South Sudan or Darfur, 1970's Cambodia or 1990's Rwanda to tell me that I should "just move on" and "forget about it, because it happens to everyone." It should not happen to anyone. People who use this argument have no idea of what they are talking about. There is nothing "natural" about walking for 300 meters on corpses without touching the ground. There is nothing "natural" about seeing baby brains smeared on the floor. There is nothing natural about being forced at gunpoint to pick up your father and throw him into an incinerator and watch him burn. The people who use this argument don't understand what "trauma" even is.
- The fulfillment of "Never Again" requires constant vigilance. This means that when genocide or crimes against humanity are witnessed, we are obligated to act. If one part of the world is experiencing a phase in its history ridden with war, crime, and inhuman atrocities, then it is the duty of another part of the world, experiencing peace, power, stability, and far-reaching influence, to stop that crime in its tracks.
9) "They should just move"
- That would be convenient. Cattle-herders cannot find land for their cattle in another person's property in another country. Farmers who struggle every day cannot leave a season's harvest to find another nation. Emigration and immigration policies often forbid moving in very rigid legal terms. These are the reasons people do not flee before conflict. Once conflict is upon them, the story changes. Conflict can confound these arguments. Conflict can burn the farmer's field, or kill his cattle, and can even burn his home and steal the money from his own pocket. So why don't people move in anticipation of this scenario?
It is in human nature not to move. Humans generally believe that good things happen to good people and that they themselves are more invulnerable to attack than others. In general, they overestimate the likelihood of positive events and underestimate the likelihood of negative events. They also understand the world as meaningful and as operating with certain rules, religious or otherwise, that prevent bad things from happening arbitrarily to good people. These beliefs and precepts create a certain naivety about reality-- "the soldiers might come nextdoor, but they have no reason to come here," or "Whatever happens is God's will, so I am staying here." There is often, as well, an element of denial. For instance, even when rural Jewish communities were warned of the Holocaust by survivors trying to alert them, they would refuse to believe that the Holocaust would reach them. After all, they were only a small rural community and were not bothering anyone-- why should anyone want to bother them?
Furthermore, a very significant part of human meaning and perception of life as meaningful derives from the value of close family and/or friends, or in some cases other human networks. These networks are almost always confined to close psychical spaces and uprooting oneself is extremely difficult; conversely, it is very difficult to uproot the entire network. All of these factors combined lead many individuals to dismiss "just moving" as a possibility at all, much less a viable option.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Rethinking Histories and Possibilities in US Grand Strategy
TRESTON WHEAT - 25 JANUARY 2012
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Acts of War and America’s Responses
Contrary to popular opinion, the world has not changed since September 11, 2001. All that is different is that Americans became aware of the animosity the rest of the world feels to the United States. Two stories from the twentieth century illustrate this. The first happened on September 6, 1901: the assassination of President William McKinley. Leon Czolgosz shot the President twice at the Pan-American Exposition after McKinley had been shaking hands with the people there. Although it appeared the President might recover from the bullet that ravaged his internal organs, he died a little over a week later. Czolgosz was an anarchist influenced by the ideas of anarchist Emma Goldman. His goal was the elimination of the US government. The second story happened almost a century later. Ramzi Yousef, an Islamist and the nephew to Khalid Sheik Mohammad, wanted to commit terrorism against the United States. On February 26, 1993, he and Eyad Ismoil drove a truck with over 1,300 lbs of fertilizer in the parking garage of the World Trade Center. Their goal was to blow up the base of the North Tower and knock it onto the South Tower; he wanted to kill tens of thousands of people. Luckily only six people died. His motivation was America’s support of Israel and the removal of American intervention in the Middle East. On September 11 al-Qaeda acted in the same way terrorists for the last century have. The destruction of the US government, American-Israeli relations, and American’s involvement in the Middle East motivated the hijackers. Furthermore, they were not the first to try and bring down the Twin Towers. Nothing has changed.
Historicizing Sub-State Violence in America
America has dealt with what academics call sub-state violence since the beginning of the 19th century. Thomas Jefferson, and later James Madison, had to deal with the Barbary pirates. The two presidents responded by sending the US navy to swiftly deal with the Barbary states, which were quasi-independent powers in the Ottoman Empire. Later in the 1800’s, America had to deal with the Civil War. Although this conflict is often characterized as a war between two state actors, the Federal government of the United States did not consider the Confederacy to be a legitimate government. For Abraham Lincoln, the Confederacy would be what people call sub-state actors today. A little known set of cases during the Civil War actually greatly affects the conceptualization of how Americans should view the War on Terror. The Supreme Court decided the Prize Cases in 1863 because President Abraham Lincoln blockaded the Confederacy without a formal declaration of war. The Supreme Court ruled “[a] state of actual war may exist without any formal declaration of it by either party, and this is true of both a civil and a foreign war.”[1] Furthermore, the Court ruled that “[t]o create this and other belligerent rights as against neutrals, it is not necessary that the party claiming them should be at war with a separate and independent power.”[2] The Prize cases established a legalist paradigm on how Americans should view war with sub-state actors.
On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda operatives attacked the United States by flying planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. However, even before those attacks, al-Qaeda was at war with the United States. Osama bin Laden released a fatwa in 1996 titled “Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Place.”[3] In the fatwa he writes: “Today your brothers and sons, the sons of the two Holy Places, have started their Jihad in the cause of Allah, to expel the occupying enemy from of the country of the two Holy places…And as you know, it is wise, in the present circumstances, for the armed military forces not to be engaged in a conventional fighting with the forces of the crusader enemy…unless a big advantage is likely to be achieved; and great losses induced on the enemy side (that would shaken (sic) and destroy its foundations and infrastructures) that will help to expel the defeated enemy from the country.”[4]
A fatwa is a religious declaration by someone within the ulema, religious scholars of Islam. Whether Osama was allowed to deliver a fatwa is nugatory. What is important is that he declared war against America, which means the US and al-Qaeda were in a state of war according to the Prize Cases even though America did not offer a formal declaration. America did not need to declare war for the country to be drawn into one.
Second, al-Qaeda is a sub-state actor; however, there does not need to be a legitimate government to create a state of war. As the Supreme Court ruled, the US could be at war with someone who is not a “separate and independent power.” This is usually the part of contention between those who say terrorism is an act of war verses those who say it is merely a crime. The Prize Cases settle this in a legal sense, although someone may disagree with the principle in theory. Yet, in the American context, the precedent set by United States law is that when a sub-state actor attacks the legitimate authority then the state is at war. This broad historical analysis establishes the framework that politically motivated sub-state violence has been and will always be an act of war. However, every particular case is different and deserves a different response.
How to fight the war…
Usually after establishing that terrorism is an act of war, academics or policy makers follow through with the “logical” step of saying the military needs to respond. However, even though terrorism is an act of warfare, this does not necessarily mean that a military response is necessary. Each case is specific and needs a specialized response. It would be reckless to send the military after an individual terrorist, but it would be more appropriate to use them against an international terrorist threat. People cannot generalize about terrorists and respond to them in the same way. As previously demonstrated, there is a long history of sub-state violence in and against America. Each time, the United States did not respond the same every time; a specified approach is necessary to deal with the threat of terrorism.
In response to individual terrorism, the United States has a tradition of responding with a trial and punishment. The previous mentioned case of Leon Czolgosz is an example from the 20th century, and Nidal Malik Hassan is an example from the 21st. Nine days after Czolgosz attempted to kill the president, he went on trial, and the prosecution finished their case in two days. He was found guilty and received the death penalty a little over a month later. Hassan was a soldier in the US military, who for[C1] religiously motivated reasons, opened fire against his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood while yelling “Allahu Akbar.”[5] He killed 13 people and wounded dozens of others before being brought down. At the end of November and beginning of December, the government began the proceedings to try Hassan. He has a trial coming in March. For individual terrorists, it is not necessary to respond with military action. Although it was a soldier who stopped Hassan, and civilians who stopped Czolgosz, the two just needed to be put on trial for their crimes.
Compare this to America’s response to September 11. After al-Qaeda brought down the Twin Towers andattacked the Pentagon, America went after the terrorists in Afghanistan with military force. This was necessary because the Taliban, the government of Afghanistan, shielded al-Qaeda from receiving justice. The United States needed to intervene in the country to neutralize the threat of al-Qaeda. This should raise the question as to why the two responses differ. Hassan and Czolgosz were individual terrorists, while al-Qaeda was an international terrorist organization that had cells throughout the world and the protection of a government. The only appropriate responses to the former examples were trials, while the latter needed a military response to bring down the Taliban and pursue al-Qaeda in the mountainous region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
These are not the only two responses to terrorism available, though. If America wants to stop terrorism, then the country needs to have an honest assessment of how to stop it. Contrary to the popular conception of the FBI or CIA stopping the terrorists in the nick of time, the vast majority of terrorist attacks are not thwarted that way. According to the Institute for Homeland Security Solution, “More than 80% of foiled terrorist plots were discovered via observations from law enforcement or the general public. Tips included reports of plots as well as reports of suspicious activity, such as pre-operational surveillance, para-military training, smuggling activities, and the discovery of suspicious documents.”[6] Roughly 40% of the cases of thwarted terrorism happened because of public awareness or informants sharing information.[7] Intelligence is another response to terrorism and trying to interdict the attacks.
Restructuring the System
Fundamentally, this will need a systemic and philosophical restructuring of how the government deals with terrorism. This shift will have to be similar to how America reorganized itself after World War II with the creation of the National Security Council, CIA, and the Department of Defense. The current war against radical jihadists and other types of terrorists is unlikely to go away in the foreseeable future. Therefore, America’s national security apparatus needs to create a multilevel response with a combination of hard and soft power. First, the FBI and local police forces need to continue and extend their intelligence gathering abilities. Before September 11, the FBI was primarily a force to collect evidence and prosecute criminals within the country. After the terrorist attacks, the government forced intelligence gathering upon the institution. A possible restructuring is to build up a part of the FBI to resemble the gendermaries of European countries, which would require specific training for agents and analysts to work to interdict terrorism more than just collecting evidence. This would be a para-military part of the government rather than either military or police. A model America could utilize is Britain’s MI5, which is the country’s internal security force. MI5 had great amount of success against both the Provisional IRA and the Real IRA. Along these lines, the government needs to decide if terrorists will be tried in military or civilian courts. Currently, if a terrorist is tried in a military court, the FBI has to hand over all their intelligence to the military and is no longer part of the process. This causes turf wars, frustration, and competition. Another restructure would involve allowing the FBI to still collect the intelligence, and for the Department of Justice to stilltry the terrorist, whether it is in civilian court or military tribunal. The Department of Justice would need a special department of military lawyers who could work with the FBI and bring individual terrorists to trial.
Next, America needs to reconsider how it engages in diplomacy within the State Department. Traditionally, the State Department conducted foreign policy within the Westphalian system. Foreign ministers would meet with other foreign ministers and reach conclusions. However, in this conflict, sub-state actors are equally important as state actors. The new approach should allow the Secretary of State and Ambassadors to negotiate and talk with sub-state actors, including organizations that are considered the enemy like the Taliban. More diplomatic power will allow possibly peaceful ends to the conflict with certain terrorist organizations. Here, Britain is another good example with the IRA. Eventually the British government came to a settled agreement with a sub-state actor to end a decades long war between the IRA and the UK. Finally, because this is a war, America should always be ready to utilize military force. This does not always mean invading another country with a battalion; it could simply mean the use of Reaper drones to neutralize a terrorist in a foreign country or a special operations team like the one that eliminated Osama bin Laden. Yet, the option of a full military operation needs to always be available if the terrorist threat reaches international proportions, like in Afghanistan. This last option needs to only be used when there is a danger large enough to threaten American interests abroad. A combination of intelligence gathering, police work, diplomacy, and military action, both hard and soft power, are necessary to interdict, stop, or remove a terrorist threat.
The varying cases of terrorism throughout American history necessitate that the US consider the nature of terrorism and how to respond to it when it occurs. Terrorists do not always act in the same way and have different organizational structures. There are “lone wolves” like Hassan and Czolgosz, cells like those lead by Ramzi Yousef, and international ones like al-Qaeda. America should be ready to handle each type of case differently and should not respond dogmatically to acts of terrorism. A static approach will ultimately fail in the end because the same solution cannot always work. America needs to use a combination of tools available, including trials, interrogation, intelligence, local communities, informants, and military action when necessary. The counter-terrorism establishment needs to be reasonable and flexible in how it tries to stop and prevent terrorism in the homeland and abroad.
[1] Prize Cases, 67 U.S. 2 Black 635 (1862)
[3] Osama bin Laden’s fatwa, originally published in Al-Quds Al Arabi, Aug. 1996: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html
[5] Fort Hood Soldier: I ‘started doing what I was trained to do.’ Nov. 9, 2009: http://articles.cnn.com/2009-11-09/justice/fort.hood.foster_1_gen-robert-cone-nidal-malik-hasan-soldier?_s=PM:CRIME
[6] Institute for Homeland Security Solution, Building on Clues: Examining Successes and Failures in Detecting U.S. Terror Plots, 1999-2009. Oct. 2010, pg. 1: https://www.ihssnc.org/portals/0/Building_on_Clues_Strom.pdf
Love and War: A Psychological Examination of the Conceptualization of War and the Enemy in the Human Mind
MATTHEW BISHOP - 20 JANUARY 2012
The power of war, like the power of love, springs from man's heart. The one yields death, the other life. But life without death has no meaning; nor, at its deepest level, does love without war. Without war we could not know from what depths love rises, or what power it must have to overcome such evil and redeem us.
- William Broyles Jr.
Image from DailyKos
This article is a psychological examination of how humans conceptualize war and aggression in general. William Broyles Jr.'s "Why Men Love War", an article that tries to understand why, as the author says, "There is a reason for every war and a war for every reason" is the foundation of this essay, and this paper serves to expand upon the ideas that Broyles develops. Rathus's work "Theories of Aggression" and Brown's "Manchild in the Promised Land" will also be used for this paper's arguments.
1: Theories of Aggression
Rathus arrives at the conclusion that there are five foremost ways in which psychologists understand war, and in which individuals react to or participate in war and aggression in general. These are the biological, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic-existential, and learning perspectives.
The biological assumes that aggression is natural in the human state and ultimately works for the betterment of the individual participating in aggression and that it can also exist for the betterment of the collective society involved in aggression. Sociobiology says that humans compete for survival and for their goals in life and that this leads to aggressive behavior in a very basic and natural way.
The cognitive perspective assumes that aggression is a result of conscious thought and decided intentions, and that aggressive behavior is present in those individuals who have experienced the most aggression in their own pasts. Aggressive individuals understand other individuals as aggressive and hostile even when they are not, and this can often result in aggressive acts including war.
The humanistic-existential perspective is the most optimistic. It understands war and aggression as something contrary to human nature. Aggression, this theory contends, comes in the form of defensive reactions against outside incursions. What causes those outside incursions is not addressed.
The psychodynamic theory contends that aggression usually manifests in small acts that in fact prevent larger acts. Small-scale, everyday aggression can prevent large or more devastating aggression simply by allowing the individual or the society to "let off steam". Even wars, in this perspective, are a result of the need to let off steam.
The learning perspective views aggression as a learned behavior passed down and inherited from one to another. Individuals that are treated in an aggressive manner, in turn, behave aggressively. Individuals who become aggressive are influenced by their own experiences, the experiences they view (this includes viewing violence in the media) and the experiences that they are otherwise aware of.
2: "Why Men Love War"
While any of the above theories might provide the motive for war, Broyles contends that there is something so unique about the experience of war that it draws men into it in the most instinctive and natural way. It is something removed from aggression, and the above theories of aggression can only begin the probing into the human mind in search of understanding war. The proximity to death and the resulting "epic" narrative of war is attractive. The otherworldliness of the entire experience, the uniqueness, is something almost fully irresistible. The ability to destroy life and property without punishment is attractive and allows men to be entirely destructive without consequence-- as is part of man's nature, the author contends. The bonds that exist in the world of war-- total allegiance to those who might save your life and total disregard for the lives of those who are trying to take your own-- is simple, instinctive, and profound in human nature. Controversially, Broyles spends a lot of time discussing the thrill of the kill-- it is not just that killing may be a part of nature, he contends, but it is instead the fact that people enjoy killing which is the general casus belli of every conflict in human history.
People are allowed to enjoy killing in wartime-- they are encouraged to do so, and there is no regard for regular civilian rules. Nor is there any indication that the enemy could ever exist in a civilian world-- they are demons to be vanquished, not people whose interests must be considered. As Broyles recalls in his own experience in Vietnam, "...we didn't burn houses and shoot people; we burned hooches and shot gooks."
The processes of dehumanization-- which Broyles only briefly alludes to in that single and profound statement-- that are inherent in and necessary for every war are also inherent in and necessary for every act of genocide and other large-scale forms of aggression (including structural aggression such as slavery and state violence). It is something easy to identify with in the us-them world of killing or dying, but it is terribly difficult to overcome. Many World War II veterans who fought in the Pacific during World War II still do not consider "Japs" to be humans, for example, or if they do then they are a lesser breed of human. It's been almost seventy years. But time is of no consequence in this. The experiences of the Pacific arena in World War II were so profound and required such a shift in the perception of the Japanese and the perception of self and of Americans that once these shifts occurred, they could not be undone. What Broyles describes as the "epic" narrative of war and the "proximity of life and death" is something that strikes so deep into the core of a human being that there is virtually no force able to exert more influence in the human mind. To many veterans, the Japanese were machines programmed to kill or die, and they still are. In war, everyone becomes a machine programmed to live or die. In some sense, no one is human. In another sense, Broyles would remind us, we are more human in war than in any other phenomenon of human history.
Broyles talks about war as something attractive to mankind, woven into the fabric of man's nature. And to overcome the instinct that creates war, we must always be conscious of that instinct in the first place. We must acknowledge it and react to it by resisting it, not by abiding by it. It is dark to suggest that we recognize this instinct-- it requires that we suspend the rules by which we are raised and admit that we are all capable of terrible, terrible things-- but then again, so does war. Yet recognition is necessary to overcome what ultimately propels every war in the history of our world. We must acknowledge that it is part of the nature of man, and then we begin to change the world around us by changing our own nature and resisting war.
A friend of mine, who suffers from severe PTSD after eight years in the Marines, cannot even understand Americans as human-- he sees nothing as human, and everything, at every point in time, on the brink of killing or dying. War is his reality, and leaving Somalia, Afghanistan, or Iraq never changed that reality. Coming back to America did not change that reality. I was in the mountains with him one day, and he looked down at the small people beneath us. He sat down and pretended to be taking out a sniper rifle, and started laughing. He'd make the motion of pulling a trigger and make the pop sound with his mouth. He'd count them. Then he started talking about how we should jump off a cliff, and see how far down we make it before we die. Death is as close to him as life is, I realized in that moment. To Broyles, this is the human state. To us, it seems unnatural. But to any man who had spent the last eight years doing what my friend had done, he'd have to agree with Broyles. To people like my friend, our own daily lives are a distortion of reality-- war is the only actual reality.
3: America Today
Claud Brown's "Manchild in the Promised Land" is a recollection of Brown's own childhood in 1940s-1950s Harlem. It is an article that seems far removed from World War II, Vietnam, or Iraq, but it is in fact very close to them all. People in 1940s-1950s Harlem were encouraged to fight. Reputations were based on fights won. People were described by how they fought, which hand they hit with, etc. Parents taught their kids that fighting was a way to win respect in the community and that is was necessary, and would be ashamed when their young children would run from fights. The world they lived in was simple, as the author recalls-- people are constantly trying to steal away "your manhood", which was everything necessary for life, and you had to defend it through physical violence. This is a sort of world that is well-known to any veteran. The enemy is trying to take away what is important to you. You must defend that thing by killing your enemy. Killing your enemy may involve terrible and seemingly inhuman atrocities, but it is necessary, because you must defend that thing which is important to you. That "thing" changes from war to war, but the basic concept remains the same.
It is also a world very similar to the world in which many Americans live today. It is the world of poor inner cities, rural dirt backroads, impoverished ghost towns, and competitive upper-class, fast-paced communities. It is the way in which a huge number of Americans are introduced to violence and the way in which they arrive at the conclusion that violence is acceptable, necessary, natural to the human state, or even inherently good or otherwise not worth resisting. Violence is a tool to achieve one's own ends or to defend that important thing. It does not come in the form of war, but instead in the form of small-scale violence. Yet this is the very same concept that must be present in the human mind for war to exist.
A year ago I stood outside the gates of Dachau. Written in twisted black iron upon those gates was a phrase: Arbeit Macht Frei, the German for Work will set you free. It is easy to remember the Holocaust and to proclaim that the Nazis were inhuman. Yet nearly 70,000,000 German humans watched while more than 12,000,000 humans were cremated, shot, or gassed in their own territories, and that is the fact of it. The Japanese humans killed more than 300,000 humans in the city of Nanking in a systematic raping in little more than six weeks. German and Soviet humans killed millions of humans as they advanced back and forth, sometimes for sport, sometimes to further a racist agenda. Allied humans killed millions more humans in the firebombings of cities in Germany and Japan-- almost every major city in those countries, in fact. Then, over the course of little more than a month, more than 210,000 humans would die in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The United States chose to drop these bombs because they decided a naval blockade would be inconvenient, and would drag on for a few more weeks-- they decided they were unwilling to wait those few weeks, so 210,000 people died.
Inside of Dachau there stood the only statue that has ever chilled me to my bones. It was a simple black iron statue of starved bodies, almost fully two dimensional, with their mouths open and crying. They were welded together in terrifying positions, reaching for heaven or each other. Some were stacked on each other, but an observer could tell that these figures had some last breath of life in them, that they were still waiting for some sort of deliverance. Under the statue there was a plaque which read Never Again.
But it happens every day. It is the thing in our minds that lets us separate one group of humans from another. That separation lets us hit someone else. When developed further, it lets us kill someone else. Then it lets us drop a bomb, or throw a body in a furnace, or twelve million of them. It is the same concept that takes root in the human mind-- that we are human, and they are machine. That we must defend what is important to us, and killing those machines is what is necessary to secure that important thing. These things happened again. They will always happen, unless, as Broyles advises, we understand that love and war emerge from the same place, and that it is only our conscious direction that could ever possibly decide that the one is more prudent than the other.
The Fourth Estate Annexation of Alternative Media: A Lesson in Media Literacy
JOHN ENTINGH - 4 JANUARY 2011
Alternative media is quickly becoming the primary source for news worldwide, and thus an annexation of the Fourth Estate. Americans and citizens of other developed countries view “mainstream media” as very different from how citizens of the many under-developed countries view westernized mainstream media. Americans typically cling to every word broadcast on the network evening news, yet these same words draw ire and rebuke from underdeveloped countries as capitalist propaganda. However, even Americans, and westerners on a whole, are slowly shifting to questioning the verity of information gleaned from mainstream media and turning to alternative sources of information such as the Internet, social media, and yes, even Arab media for news. Mainstream media is becoming more and more commonly referred to as “corporate media,” (Zinn). The biggest problem in America may be a simple human fallacy of self-awareness. Americans view themselves as the knights in shining armor on a crusade to save a world that is unable to fend for itself, a view mainstream media strongly supports. In reality, it boils down to cultural relativism where Americans honestly believe their flavor of democracy is the best form, and their way of achieving such is the only way (i.e., Iraq). This worldview is not only protected by how mainstream media covers terrorist events, but is actually expanded. As stated by Harold Zinn: "The media are a pitiful lot. They don't give us any history, they don't give us any analysis, they don't tell us anything. They don't raise the most basic questions..." (The World Traveler).
It is this exact lack of self-awareness that frustrates terror groups into action against the countries like the United States, whose presence they view as dangerous, and furthered by the “skillful use of media [which] has also created misconceptions about how terrorism works,” (Seib and Janbek, preface, p.x).The emerging trend is that since mainstream media has evolved into more infotainment than objective news (Nacos), alternative news sources are booming even given the fact that there is comparabely less profit (Olmstead, Mitchell and Rosenstiel). Companies one would have never imagined having an interest in news, such as Yahoo, are now using a broad Internet base to reach untolled millions (Helft). It is little wonder that on-line social media has also emerged as not only a source of news for millions in the world, but as a news gathering tool where “37% have contributed to news creation, commented on news or shared it via social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter,” (Schroeder). This interactive approach to gathering and reporting news via the Internet is what has allowed Al Jazeera English to gain a hefty global market share with its “Your Media” contribution page that allows anyone in the world with Internet to have participative media access (Al Jazeera English). One might reasonably ask if open media access will reduce future terrorist acts since getting their message out seems to be a motivating factor.
Other advantages of the trend toward alternative news sources are very profound. The masses are now getting the perspective of the actual people in and around events in distant areas of the world that historically were only gained through the networks and their reporters' interpertations and biases. The current openess of alternative media provides rich insight into the context of foriegn cultures and gives the public a realistic look into the environments from which political groups arise within these cultures.The disadvantages to alternative media are both obvious and obscure. The obvious disadvantage is that anyone can log onto a social media outlet or Al Jazeera’s “Your Media” and put out any type of twisted information they choose and there is little time for edits before the message goes viral or gets locked into the ethereal world of the web. Terror groups are well known for using this facet to their advantage in recruiting and inciting unrest (Anwar Awlaki, who was very proficient at internet recruiting, is a clear example). Beyond terror groups, the recent successes of the Arab Spring turned largely upon the Fourth Estates’ annexation of alternative media where social network sites were ostensibly used to organize the ousting of oppresive regimes.
The not so obvious disadvantges, as Zinn points out, are the subtle messages of propaganda all sides use that confuse the real issues at hand. The recent political developments in Egypt evidence this perspective. Following the 2011 Egyptian revolution and fall of Hosni Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood was legalized by and through propaganda (Yezdani, 2011). The Brotherhood supported the constitutional referendum in March which was also supported by the Egyptian army and opposed by Egyptian liberals (El Rashidi, 2011). But then in April 2011 the Brotherhood launched a new party called the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which has fairly well taken over an emerging governent (Gahnnam, 2011). According to the Anti-Defamation League, several former Brotherhood officials from the organization's 15-member Guidance Council have assumed key roles within the new party, and have used their positions in the FJP to reiterate the Brotherhood's long-standing hostility toward Zionism and support for terrorist organizations that serve as obstacles to peace and stability in the Middle East (2011). All of these developments were made possible and then furthered through the opening provided by the initial use of social networking technology (alternative media).
Nacos (2007) explains that the growth in alternative media as a news source has been exploited by terror groups for many years, but today we see how American politicians have developed campaigns on Facebook and Twitter as well.[1] From a perusal of the alternative media campaigns in this election year can one reasonably shift through the rhetoric and propaganda and understand the underlying agendas, or is the voting public in a democracy to be taken in as the Egyptians were? We have experienced mainstream media failure to call attention to this and similar phenomena in agenda setting arguably out of the fear for a revenue loss as viewers may well go to that alternative source for future news. Regardless of anyone’s fears, alternative media is the nascent news source in our growing world of technology, and the Fourth Estate has indeed annexed a valuable resource.
[1]U.S. Politics facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/uspolitics
REFERENCES Al Jazeera English. (n.d.). Your Media: Submit Your Contribution. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from Al Jazeera English: http://yourmedia.aljazeera.net/
Anti-Defamation League (2011). Brotherhood of Hate: Muslim Brotherhood's Hatred for Jews and Israel Flourishes in "New" Egypt. Accessed January 3, 2011 from: http://www.adl.org/main_International_Affairs/muslim_brotherhood.htm
El Rashidi, Yasmine, "Egypt: The Victorious Islamists", New York Review of Books, July 14, 2011
Ghannam, Angy (December 28, 2011) Islamists in Egypt's tourist spots win surprise support. BBC News. Accessed January 3, 2011 from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16348229
Helft, M. (2010, March 30). With Hirings, Yahoo Steps Up Its News Coverage. The New York Times .
Yezdani, Ipek (2011).'shariah in Egypt is enough for us.' Muslim Brotherhood leader say. Hürriyet Daily News. Accessed January 3, 2011 from: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=8220shari8217a-law-in-egypt-is-enough-for-us8221-tells-a-muslim-brotherhood-leader-2011-05-23
Nacos, B. (2007). Mass-Mediated Terrorism: the Central Role of the Media in Terrorism and Counterterrorism (2nd ed.). New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
Olmstead, K., Mitchell, A., & Rosenstiel, T. (2011). Online: Key Questions Facing Digital News . Retrieved October 29, 2011, from Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism; the State of the News Media 2011: http://stateofthemedia.org/2011/online-essay/
Schroeder, S. (2010, March 01). Social Networks Play a Major Role in How We Get News [Stats]. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from Mashable Social Media: http://mashable.com/2010/03/01/social-networks-source-news/
Seib, P., & Janbek, D. (2011). Global Terrorism and New Media. New York: Routledge.
Zinn, H. (n.d.). Third World Traveler. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/
The Difference Between Terrorists and Insurgents
26 DECEMBER 2011 - Guest Writer Treston Wheat
There are many similarities among the different types of sub-state violence, which has led some to erroneously equate all of them. Fundamental differences exist between an insurgency and terrorism and other forms of violence. When people try to equate sub-state violence no matter its source, they strip their analysis of any meaning. This is ultimately like saying that premeditated murder is the same act as vehicular homicide and that these are the same as self-defense. It denudes any actual thought concerning the nature of force by saying they are identical. Although insurgency and terrorism are both politically motivated violence, they have different strategic choices and organizational structures that demonstrate how they are different political phenomena.
The most fundamental difference between insurgency and terrorism can be found in the definitions of the words. The definition of terrorism is politically motivated violence or the threat of violence against non-combatants by sub-state actors ; the definition of insurgency, on the other hand, is a “struggle between a nonruling group and the ruling authorities in which the nonruling group uses political resources and violence” and is a “protracted political-military activity” that uses irregular military forces. Long term objectives can appear similar between insurgents and terrorists, like al-Qaeda and the Taliban wanting Shariah law implemented in states. Yet, it is the second-tier and short term objectives of insurgents and terrorists that separate them. One must separate the teleological objectives from the immediate objectives of organizations. Terrorism’s objectives are, according to Louise Richardson, revenge, renown, and reaction. Take for instance the suicide bombings in London in 2005; the four attackers did not believe theirs actions would lead to the establishment of the Caliphate. Rather, they wanted to seek revenge for Britain’s action in the Middle East and the country’s support for the war there. Terrorists measure the success of their attacks by how much attention it receives. In addition, they received the renown they wanted. The terrorists sidelined the G-8 summit and became famous across the world. Although they did not achieve the reaction they wanted, i.e. retaliation to increase hatred of the West, a reaction was part of their immediate objectives. Finally, terrorists plan for their attacks to “have far-reaching psychological effects beyond the immediate victim(s) or object of the terrorist attack.” Terrorism wants to spread terror amongst the population. The terrorist’s objective is therefore more about scaring civil society and making themselves known.
Insurgents differ from terrorists by their own immediate objectives, which are military by nature rather than media or revenge prone. An insurgent’s tactics will look to wear the enemy down through constant attacks against the regular forces while acquiring weapons and support from the disenfranchised population. Eventually, the insurgency tries to establish its own regular forces and fight the opposing government on equal footing. Furthermore, the insurgency wishes to give public services to the public while diminishing the government’s ability to do so. Hezbollah does this consistently by offering access to water and schooling in Lebanon when the government is not able to do so. Also, insurgents want to mitigate international support for the opposition by increasing their legitimacy in the eyes of other states. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority have gained international support and even acquired representation in international organizations like the UN. Yet, they try to undermine Israel by constantly pointing towards supposed human rights abuses and other maladies. Insurgents’ immediate goals are specific military aims while terrorists try to create attention with their acts for political causes.
Strategic choices and targets by insurgents and terrorists also demonstrate how they differ from each other. The terrorist by definition attacks non-combatants; the insurgent attacks combatants. Some forms of violence have legitimacy and some have illegitimacy. The target of force determines whether or not the act is right, legitimate, or wrong, illegitimate. A quick survey of terrorist attacks shows that their ultimate targets are non-combatants rather than those that fight on the battlefield. Al-Qaeda chose to target the World Trade Centers as a way to assault people for specifically being American, not because they were soldiers on the battlefield. Hamas suicide bombers go on buses full of Israeli civilians to attack the population rather than going after members of the IDF. Aum Shinrikyo pumped sarin nerve gas in the Tokyo subway to hurt ordinary Japanese instead of attacking the military. The Red Brigade in Europe kidnapped and killed specific members of the government, not soldiers in the Italian military. In each of these cases the terrorist organization’s target was a non-combatant to draw attention to their cause because they were symbolic of their problem with the current order.
Contrast this with the insurgent that attacks the soldier on the battlefield and goes after military targets. The insurgency in Cuba that put Fidel Castro into power and Mao Zedong’s campaign against the Japanese give examples as to how these are military operations against regular forces. The point of an insurgency is to eventually gain enough strength to have a regular army strong enough to conquer the ruling authority’s regular army. This is why insurgencies use guerilla warfare and enact a protracted war. They must maintain enough time to gain the strength to fight the government. Batista’s government failed before Castro could create a standing army, but Castro attacked military strongholds and soldiers. Some might point out that insurgents generally only deal with the military, both domestic and foreign, and that is why they do not target civilians. The primary difference is that insurgents’ primary target are combatants as part of their overall strategic initiative. They cannot gain recruits if they continually assault the population they supposedly want to protect from the ruling authority. As mentioned before, one of the immediate objectives is to gain support and membership from the local population. In contrast, a terrorist has an audience and tries to bring attention to their cause and can indiscriminately attack the population. These two forms of violence have different targets because of their different objectives. Insurgents want to take control of the area and control the population; the terrorist wants revenge, renown, and a reaction to her action.
One of the difficulties with this analysis is that people have to determine the difference between a combatant and a non-combatant. The quintessential difference is that a combatant operates on the battlefield with an established uniform and weapon according to international standards. An example that seems to blur the line between combatant and non-combatant is Nidal Malik Hassan who attacked soldiers at Fort Hood. He must be considered a terrorist because the soldiers he attacked were not on the battlefield. Also, his immediate objectives follow that of a terrorist rather than an insurgent. Hassan supposedly believed that the “War on Terror” was a war against Islam and believed Muslims should not be in the military. His motivations appeared to follow revenge for America’s actions in the Middle East. He was not trying to gain followers to fight the military on equal ground. This case shows it is possible to determine whether violence is by an insurgent or a terrorist based on their targets and objectives.
Besides the targets and objectives of an organization, the organizational structure differentiates terrorists and insurgents. Terrorists operate either in cells or as individuals. There are a plethora of examples of individuals acting as “lone wolfs:” Eric Rudolph, Scott Roeder, Timothy McVeigh, Anders Behring Breivik, et al. More often, though, terrorists operate in cells. This is a more modern phenomenon, where in the past terrorists had a hierarchical structure. Terrorist organizations now employ “leaderless networks.” The Earth Liberation Front employed this strategy where they had several cells throughout the country that had no “chain of command” and are merely connected by their radical environmentalism. In comparison, an insurgent organization mirrors itself to a military. Mao Zedong envisioned a clear hierarchy and military structure. He believed that an insurgency need military commanders, political commissioners, officers, headquarters, chief of staffs, and divisions based on areas. There is a clear military structure, but the insurgent differs from a regular army by having mobile forces that can move agilely across the country and attack points of weakness. Terrorists operate in cells and as individuals; insurgents have to operate as a paramilitary organization with specific people in command so that they can achieve success.
Because of the difference between terrorism and insurgency the response by governments, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency, have to be different. Although Bard O’Neill writes that all forms of sub-state violence are types of insurgency, even he explicates the need for divergent responses to dissimilar forms of violence. What he named conspiratorial and urban-warfare is synonymous to terrorism. The proper response for this kind of violence is intelligence gathering and police work rather than military operations. He offers the examples of Northern Ireland and Italy where terrorism decreased after the governments increased disciplined police forces. However, military force is not out of the question. Special operations against terrorists residing in other countries can help eliminate the organizations, as Israel has done several times. When a country engages an insurgency, the state must necessarily use alternate tactics. America could not have just used intelligence and police forces to bring down the Taliban government and fight the subsequent insurgency that occurred. The US had to send thousands of troops along with NATO to successfully fight off the Taliban led insurgents. Because of the varying nature of sub-state violence, understanding that terrorism and insurgency differ allows for governments to develop proper strategy to combat them.
Analysts need to differentiate between insurgents and terrorism because proper analysis leads to successful counterattacks. If one assumes that an insurgent is a terrorist, then they may try to arrest the offender rather than stop what will become a protracted conflict. If one assumes that a terrorist is an insurgent, then they may use military operations where simple intelligence gathering and police work would suffice. However, if one accurately assesses the situation, then the government can develop and implement an appropriate strategy for eliminating the sub-state actor. Governments that fail to understand the difference will implement incorrect tactics and fail to neutralize the threats to their country.
Fourth Estate Literacy: Understanding Our Mass-Mediated Culture of Fear
By Guest Writer John Entingh
This paper initiates discourse on mass-mediated terrorism literacy at its most basic level. Terror groups use wanton acts of violence to create a culture of fear in an attempt to gain mind control. The media then usurps the control and perpetuates the culture of fear for its own ends. More often than not, government entities manipulate the media’s control through a controlled release of information. Because terrorism is a very real danger to all, and new forms of media are vying for control, people need to have the ability to understand where the true threat actually lies. The core principle is that humans have a tendency to become desensitized by over-stimulation. Consistently perpetuating a culture of fear will inevitably desensitize human awareness to very real dangers. The most practical method for avoiding desensitization is through literacy of a mass-mediated culture of fear. In addition, by cultivating a culture of fear, the general public is distracted from asking critical questions on agenda setting. Without asking critical questions, agendas lack any sense of objectivity on all fronts. This brief introduction is not intended to be a comprehensive media-literacy course, only to initiate discourse on a growing phenomenon of the Fourth Estate and hopefully to encourage literacy of such. The general public has only one defense against cultivation, mind control, and the culture of fear, and that is Fourth Estate literacy.
Author: Treston Wheat
Conceptualization Of The Enemy
Domestic-International Policy Relations
Iraq/Afghanistan
John Entingh
Military Funding
Nationbuilding
Rathus
Terrorism And State Violence
"War On Terror"
\"War On Terror\"
William Broyles Jr.
About the Authors: Foreign Policy
Matthew Bishop is the founder of World Report and is conducting research in the history of political media in revolutions. He specializes in US foreign policy, Palestine/Israel, media politics, revolutions, and revolutionary politics
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Aston Martin's DBS Superleggera takes flight in photographer Nick Knight's futuristic world
Tags: Models
The new Aston Martin DBS Superleggera has made its debut with a starring role in a new film by the innovative image maker Nick Knight. Placed centre stage amidst a bold piece of contemporary cinematic art, the DBS Superleggera's poise and power are vividly re-imagined through Knight's unique vision.
Tuesday 26 June, London: The new Aston Martin DBS Superleggera has made its debut with a starring role in a new film by the innovative image maker Nick Knight. Placed centre stage amidst a bold piece of contemporary cinematic art, the DBS
Nick Knight is a long-standing Aston Martin owner with a passion for Superleggera's poise and power are vividly re-imagined through Knight's unique vision.
bold forms and striking imagery. A true pioneer in digital photography and filmmaking, Knight combines his mastery of image-making technology with a unique eye for portraiture, still life, fashion photography and the moving image. Working with the SHOWstudio creative team, who together have built up an impressive portfolio of fashion films, bringing together technology and traditional techniques to create a bold new aesthetic. Knight has collaborated with many of the world's most pioneering fashion brands, including Alexander McQueen, Jil Sander, and Christian Dior. His modern baroque imagery has redefined fashion photography, bringing the genre into the modern age.
At the start of the process, Knight sat down with Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman and his team for a briefing on the character and qualities of the DBS Superleggera. ‘I asked what the single key attribute of the car was,’ Knight says, ‘and the answer was ‘speed’. The DBS Superleggera is Aston Martin's flagship, a super GT that pushes the boundaries of performance and design. 'Torque is such an important feature of the DBS Superleggera, it's the delivery of the power that throws you back into your seat as you accelerate,' says Reichman, 'this power is what defines the DBS Superleggera. This car is about bold, athletic muscularity.'
Nick Knight's vision was to bring these emotions to the screen. 'Nick was one of the artists invited to take part in Aston Martin The Book. He photographed the Aston Martin Valkyrie and we were struck by how perfectly he captured the character of the car and at the same time showed it in a completely new way,' says Aston Martin's Director of Global Marketing and Brand Strategy Gerhard Fourie, 'we gave him as much freedom as possible to explore the car.'
The DBS Superleggera has been brought to life through Knight's dazzling use of photography and CGI, and the shoot was produced by PRETTYBIRD. A location shoot in a former steelworks provided key shots, environments and backgrounds, which were then blended in to Knight's trademark post-production. ‘I like to push the frontiers of non-narrative film,’ he says, ‘it's about weaving in a set of emotions and responding naturally to what you see.’ A hugely complex 3D model of the DBS Superleggera was then animated, with dynamic reflections that morph and flex in time with the soundtrack.
Fast-changing angles, 'impossible' computer generated camera moves and perspective shifts convey a sense of speed and power, with the DBS Superleggera bursting from this kaleidoscopic array of dynamic animated forms. Animation and reflection creates a sparkling and futuristic monochrome landscape that appears to shift and melt around the car. 'This vision of the car coming out of darkness is like a galaxy speeding towards us,' says Knight.
Nick Knight's portraiture work provides a unique insight into a personality, and the DBS Superleggera is no different. The dark and menacing imagery symbolises the car's colossal power output and torque. 'It is a brute in a suit,' he says, 'the DBS Superleggera is uncompromising, a thing of great beauty but also scary and powerful beyond imagination. It’s an unpredictable rogue.' The dark cinematic environments created for the film generate a sense of foreboding and anticipation. 'By being shown very little, the audience are compelled to use their imagination,' he says, 'the car’s dark brooding beauty is intensified by the suspense.'
'I believe we can look at film in a different way, throw out the linear approach and create a purely emotional way of presenting imagery,' says Knight, 'I think it’s totally appropriate for Aston Martin to trust completely in someone’s creative vision and push the boundaries.' Marek Reichman describes the film as a 'true embodiment of the DBS Superleggera's dynamic character. This car is uncompromising and so is Nick's vision.' Aston Martin will continue to collaborate with artists in future projects celebrating the creativity, craft, design, engineering and beauty that is at the heart of the brand. 'Artistic collaborations bring a fresh perspective,' says Fourie, 'Nick Knight's work is very arresting, thoroughly modern and above all, it embodies Aston Martin beauty.'
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An Unknown Woman
By Jane Davis
General fiction, Literary fiction | Paperback, eBook
Jane Davis
When you look in the mirror and ask the person staring back, "Who are you?", do you know the answer? At the age of forty-six, Anita Hall knows exactly who she is. She has lived with partner Ed for fifteen years and is proud of all they’ve achieved. They go out into the world separately: Ed with one eye on the future in the world of finance; Anita with one foot in the past, a curator at Hampton Court Palace. This is the life she has chosen - choices that weren’t open to her mother’s generation - her dream job, equal partnership, freedom from the monotony of parenthood, living mortgage-free in a quirky old house she adores. The future seems knowable and secure. But then Anita finds herself standing in the middle of the road watching her home and everything inside it burn to the ground. Before she can come to terms with the magnitude of her loss, hairline cracks begin to appear in her perfect relationship. And returning to her childhood home in search of comfort, she stumbles upon the secret that her mother has kept hidden, a taboo so unspeakable it can only be written about. The reflection in the mirror may look the same. But everything has changed. Authentic and heartbreaking, Davis’s intoxicating new novel is an exploration of identity, not as a fixed point, but as something fragile, shape-shifting and transient.
When you look in the mirror and ask the person staring back, "Who are you?", do you know the answer? At the age of forty-six, Anita Hall knows exactly who she is. She has lived with partner Ed for fifteen years and is proud of all they’ve achieved. They go out into the world separately: Ed with one eye on the future in the world of finance; Anita with one foot in the past, a curator at Hampton Court Palace. This is the life she has chosen - choices that weren’t open to her mother’s generation - her dream job, equal partnership, freedom from the monotony of parenthood, living mortgage-free in a quirky old house she adores. The future seems knowable and secure. But then Anita finds herself standing in the middle of the road watching her home and everything inside it burn to the ground....
Jane Davis is the author of six novels. Her debut, Half-truths and White Lies, won the Daily Mail First Novel Award and was described by Joanne Harris as 'A story of secrets, lies, grief and, ultimately, redemption, charmingly handled by this very promising new writer.' The Bookseller featured her in their 'One to Watch' section. Five further novels have earned her a loyal fan base and wide-spread praise. Regularly compared to more seasoned authors such as Kate Atkinson and Maggie O'Farrell, Compulsion Reads describe Jane as 'a phenomenal writer whose ability to create well-rounded characters that are easy to relate to feels effortless.' Her favourite description of fiction is 'made-up truth'. Jane lives in Carshalton, Surrey, with her Formula 1 obsessed, beer-brewing partner, surrounded by growing piles of paperbacks, CDs and general chaos. When she is not writing, you may spot Jane disappearing up the side of a mountain with a camera in hand.
Jane Davis is the author of six novels. Her debut, Half-truths and White Lies, won the Daily Mail First Novel Award and was described by Joanne Harris as 'A story of secrets, lies, grief and, ultimately, redemption, charmingly handled by this very promising new writer.' The Bookseller featured her in their 'One to Watch' section. Five further novels have earned her a loyal fan base and wide-spread...
Kiersten Hall
New Fiction from an Award-winning Author
'Simple, elegant and stunning' - Peter Snell, Bookseller
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SPONSORS POWER PARADE!
(October 4, 2019): In just over three weeks, one of the area’s most beloved seasonal traditions will march through the streets of York for the 70th year, made possible once again by more than a dozen area businesses.
Saved from extinction years ago by York Traditions Bank and Eventive (the event planning and production division of the York Revolution), the York Halloween Parade presented by York Traditions Bank will mark its anniversary with floats and entries themed around the parade’s seven decades.
The parade will march through downtown York on Sunday, October 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In addition to title sponsor York Traditions Bank, the 2019 parade is sponsored by Bricker’s French Fries, CGA Law Firm, Shipley Energy, Aetna, Image 360, York College, Glatfelter Insurance, Adult & Continuing Education Center of York County School of Technology, Etzweiler Funeral Home, Metzger Wickersham P.C., East York Veterinary Center, SportClips, Cricket Wireless, and CommunityAid, the official costume partner of the parade.
Menchey Music Services has also returned as a sponsor and is again offering $100 gift certificates to area bands marching in the parade.
“Everyone in York knows how much fun this great tradition is,” said Adam Nugent, Director of Eventive. “What we want them to know is the vital role that York Traditions Bank and the rest of these generous sponsors play in what we all look forward to each Halloween. They are the reason we get to spend this great Sunday afternoon with our friends and neighbors, and we are very appreciative of their support. The parade could not take a single step without them.”
The parade will again begin at The York Fairgrounds at 2:00 p.m. and travel east on Market Street from Richland Avenue to Broad Street in downtown York. The route will feature a number of vendors, as well as a Family Fun Zone on the corner of Market and George Streets from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The Family Fun Zone will include games and inflatables for the kids, music, and more!
Registration ends October 15, and area non-profits can again pick up free parade registration vouchers at York Traditions Bank locations.
For more information and to register, visit www.yorkhalloweenparade.com.
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Andrew D. Gordon, Keyboard player, Composer,
Recording Artist, Author, Educator
Andrew D. Gordon was born in London England and moved to Los Angeles in 1979. In 1991 Andrew started a music educational publishing company
A.D.G. Productions which has now published over 150 music instructional books with Andrew authoring over 60 books for piano/keyboards, woodwinds, guitar/bass, including such titles as “100 Ultimate Blues Riffs”, “100 Ultimate Jazz Riffs”, “Funky Organ Grooves”, “Outta Sight Funk & R&B Riffs” that are sold and used by teachers and students throughout the world. Besides the owner of A.D.G. Productions, he is a music professor at Cornel School of Contemporary Music at Shepherd University in Los Angeles teaching private piano students and group performance classes.
Andrew also teaches students from around the world via the internet using a webcam, high speed internet connection and skype for different styles of music such as: Blues, Jazz, Rock, Funk, music career counseling, songwriting etc.
Andrew is an exceptional all round experienced keyboard player, composer as well as a guitarist, and his experience has enabled him to compose, produce and arrange music for many artists, TV Shows, film, theater, commercials including TV shows such as General Hospital and Oceanquest. He has worked with such notable artists as Gary Wright, Johnny Guitar Watson, Edwin Starr, Mike Pinera. His band along with Frank Villafranca, saxophones and flute "The Super Groovers" has received worldwide airplay on many jazz radio stations with their two CDs Supergroovin' and Mainline Connection. Andrew is equally adept at playing and teaching in many styles including, Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Funk & R&B, Gospel, Country.
Andrew began his musical training at the age of 7, studying classical piano for 12 years. He has studied Synthesizer Programming at UCLA and was chosen to participate, by B.M.I., in their film scoring workshop, instructed by world renowned TV and film composer EARL HAGEN. Andrew also studied Jazz piano for 6 years with top jazz pianist MIKE GARSON.
Andrew is a proud member of ICAP International Committee of Artists for Peace.
Frank Villafranca, Saxophonist, Recording Artist,
Composer, Author.
Frank Villafranca was born in Buffalo, New York in 1956. He was the first to study music in his family other than his father, Joseph J. Villafranca who studied saxophone in high school and partly while serving in the army in World War II.
Frank began playing the saxophone later than usual and started lessons at age 14 in 9th grade in high school. As a saxophonist, Frank’s musical career started as an arranger/performer in the Boston area. He attended Berklee College Of Music, finishing his studies in 1979 to pursue work in a local and popular band “Sunshyne”. He arranged and composed for local groups in the Boston area while recording with "Fresh Tracks" studio where he acquired many TV and radio credits.
In 1984 Frank decided to make the trip to Los Angeles where he met Andrew D. Gordon. They performed in bands led by Andrew, showcasing his album "Silhouette". "Walking The Lonely Streets", a song from his groundbreaking album, was featured on "General Hospital". Meanwhile, Andrew created his music publishing company, www.adgproductions.com, where Andrew and Frank continue to work and perform together producing, recording and writing instructional, play along books & CD's. They currently perform as "The Super Groovers" and are releasing their second CD, "Mainline Connection" May 7th, 2013. An exciting new arrangement of the original "Walking The Lonely Streets" will be a featured song on this incredible new CD.
For eight years Frank worked with the “San Gabriel Seven”. Performing with SGS, Frank has had the pleasure and incredible experience of working with some of Los Angeles’s greatest musicians including Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb and Eric Marienthal. From the bands conception Frank recorded four CDs with them, their newest release, "Lost My Heart", with vocalist Ingrid James, from Australia.
Frank plays "Selmer Mark VI" alto and tenor saxophones, both low 100,000 series. His soprano sax is a curved "Yanagisawa". He has played "LaVoz" reeds since he began playing. Recently he has tried many different brands of reeds but returned to LaVoz. For over 20 years his mouthpieces were all "Beechler" Metal Bellite, Tenor: #8 with medium soft Lavoz, Alto: #7 with medium LaVoz and Soprano: #6 with medium LaVoz. Ligatures were all “Oleg” and he has also added several Oleg pro sax enhancers on tenor and alto saxophones. Recently, he added "SR Technologies" saxophone mouthpieces to tenor and alto, the “Europa” on tenor and “Legend” on alto. LaVoz are still his favorite brand along with the Jazz Select reeds 2H & 3S, from Rico. Since switching mouthpieces, reeds have been lasting longer and playing more easily. I find the hard rubber Europa and Legend, blow easily and work great for classic and contemporary jazz.
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Noamian howlers
Some comments on typical howlers contained in an excerpt from the most recent Chomsky:
“In the energy-rich Middle East, only two countries have failed to subordinate themselves to Washington’s basic demands: Iran and Syria. Accordingly both are enemies, Iran by far the more important.”
Actually, Syria would like nothing better than to subordinate itself to Washington, and has tied itself in pretzels trying to do so. Every effort has been blocked by the neocons for Zionist reasons, a fact inconvenient to Chomsky. Syria’s recent alliance with Iran isn’t one Syria wants, but is solely of necessity. Note how Chomsky ties Israel’s enemies together, reflecting the hidden Zionist point of view.
“For the United States, the primary issue in the Middle East has been and remains effective control of its unparalleled energy resources. Access is a secondary matter. Once the oil is on the seas it goes anywhere. Control is understood to be an instrument of global dominance.”
Smarter lite Zionists have given up on the claim that the war was about the oil itself, as that is laughable. The sophisticated story is that it was about ‘control of oil’, a slightly less laughable excuse to hide the real Zionist reasons behind the attack (reasons set out in crystal clear form in the ‘Clean Break’ document written by the very people who entered the American government and successfully completed a campaign of lies and deception to carry out their own plan). In fact, the war has gravely reduced American control over Middle East oil, something the oil companies knew for certain would happen before the attack took place. The war was the exact opposite of 100 years of Anglo-American policy in the Middle East, policy that had been spectacularly successful in controlling Middle East oil.
“Iranian influence in the ‘crescent’ challenges U.S. control. By an accident of geography, the world’s major oil resources are in largely Shiite areas of the Middle East: southern Iraq, adjacent regions of Saudi Arabia and Iran, with some of the major reserves of natural gas as well. Washington’s worst nightmare would be a loose Shiite alliance controlling most of the world’s oil and independent of the United States.
Such a bloc, if it emerges, might even join the Asian Energy Security Grid and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), based in China. Iran, which already had observer status, is to be admitted as a member of the SCO. The Hong Kong South China Morning Post reported in June 2006 that ‘Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole the limelight at the annual meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) by calling on the group to unite against other countries as his nation faces criticism over its nuclear programme.’ The non-aligned movement meanwhile affirmed Iran’s ‘inalienable right’ to pursue these programs, and the SCO (which includes the states of Central Asia) ‘called on the United States to set a deadline for the withdrawal of military installations from all member states.’
If the Bush planners bring that about, they will have seriously undermined the U.S. position of power in the world.”
Actually, Bush planners have brought much of that about. Make of it what you will, but when you see somebody walk smack dab into what is supposed to be his worst nightmare, and seems not to care in the least, perhaps that wasn’t his principle concern after all.
“Last July (2006), Israel invaded Lebanon, the fifth invasion since 1978. As before, U.S. support for the aggression was a critical factor, the pretexts quickly collapse on inspection, and the consequences for the people of Lebanon are severe. Among the reasons for the U.S.-Israel invasion is that Hezbollah’s rockets could be a deterrent to a potential U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.”
Wow! Let me repeat that last line, so it sinks in: “Among the reasons for the U.S.-Israel invasion is that Hezbollah’s rockets could be a deterrent to a potential U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.” How backasswards is that? In fact, we never heard of an attack on Iran until Israeli strategists learned – to their shock and horror – of the effectiveness in the Israeli psyche of the Hezbollah rockets. Hezbollah having rockets was blamed on Iran; hence the sudden and new need to attack Iran. Iran talk also helps to destabilize the Middle East by driving a wedge between Shi’ites and Sunnis, and serves as a distraction for the failures of the Israeli government (it is less embarrassing to blame the IDF loss on Iran than on Hezbollah).
“Despite the saber-rattling, it is, I suspect, unlikely that the Bush administration will attack Iran.”
Even stopped clocks are right twice a day, as is Noam here (but just wait for either President Giuliani or President Clinton).
“Meanwhile Washington may be seeking to destabilize Iran from within.”
This is the other time the clock is right, but the destabilization has been an utter failure, and has even strengthened conservative control in Iran (something which Chomsky notes later).
“The U.S. invasion of Iraq virtually instructed Iran to develop a nuclear deterrent. Israeli military historian Martin van Creveld writes that after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, ‘had the Iranians not tried to build nuclear weapons, they would be crazy.’ The message of the invasion, loud and clear, was that the U.S. will attack at will, as long as the target is defenseless. Now Iran is ringed by U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey and the Persian Gulf and close by are nuclear-armed Pakistan and particularly Israel, the regional superpower, thanks to U.S. support.”
Very typical Zionism. Chomsky implies that Iran in fact has a nuclear program, something the only people who would know, the official inspectors, have vehemently denied. Thus, if an attack on Iran occurs, Chomsky backs up the Zionist excuse.
The cleverest thing about Chomsky is that he manages to consistently maintain a seemingly ‘progressive’ line while studiously leading the reader away from the truth and providing the basis, by implication, for attacks on enemies of the Likudniks. He really is a genius.
at 7/31/2007 04:46:00 AM 0 comments
The traitors speak
Anthony Weiner, Jerrold Nadler, and, needless to say, Tom Lantos (all D–Tel Aviv, and all generally regarded as ‘progressives’), are quick to indicate they will block the Saudi arms deal. We’ll get to find out just how strong the American Establishment really is when it faces the awesome power of the Lobby.
Israeli fictional archaeology
Israeli archaeology is very creative (see also here and here).
Saudi arms deal and the power of the Lobby
The recent agreement of the American government to supply sophisticated arms to the Saudis is a massive, massive – did I mention massive? – defeat for Israel, and return to form of the American Establishment. Israel is trying to play down its importance, but the failure of the Lobby to, well, lobby, is indicative of the shift in power from the Israeli traitor agents to the traditional power centers in Washington. The Saudi deal represents the first AIPAC failure in years. Note the absolutely typical NYT counter-propaganda campaign based, laughably, in pure NYT style, on ‘one senior administration official’ and on ‘officials interviewed for this article’.
I note that the agreement still has to make it through the Occupied Territories, aka, the American Congress. It will be interesting to see if the Lobby instructs Congress to approve the increased funding to Israel, put in as a sop due to the Saudi deal, while rejecting the Saudi deal itself.
World-famous fiddler Nigel Kennedy recently performed a jazz concert in East Jerusalem, after having refused many offers to appear in Israel. He comments on the issue:
“It's no coincidence. I became aware of the Palestinian story while I was a student in New York. My girlfriend then was Palestinian, and, through her, I began to familiarize myself with and understand the problem even before the [separation] wall and the other atrocities. She had to return home every year or she would lose her citizenship, and, like it was for all of us students, that wasn't exactly her thing. Then I understood that it was simply a way to harass the Palestinians and prevent them from studying.
And today, I was really shocked when I saw the wall here. It's a new type of apartheid, barbaric behavior. How can you impose collective punishment and divide people from one another? We are all residents of the same planet. I would think that the world learned something from South Africa. And the world should boycott a nation that didn't learn. That's why I won't perform in your country.
The concert tonight is very emotional because I am performing for people who are imprisoned, to give them two hours of fun and show them that the world has not forgotten about them."
Without expressly mentioning the boycott, the Rolling Stones are also skipping Israel.
The Zionist hysteria about boycott/divestment relates to the importance of creating a ‘legitimacy crisis’ in Israel. Between its own media and the Jew-controlled American media, the average Israeli obtains a completely inaccurate view of world elite opinion about what Israel is doing. Negative comments from respected people, whose celebrity allows them to force through the censorship, are important, as there will not be peace until the Israelis themselves get over the lying view they have of their country and themselves, a view fostered by decades of an international misinformation and deception campaign.
Using human rights as an offensive weapon
Claus Jacobsen, a columnist on Newsvine, banned a couple of members of the website for using the term ‘anti-Semitic’ about an article he wrote, effectively calling them trolls (the social networking sites are pioneers at speaking the truth about Zionism, reflecting increasing American awareness of the truth). Jacobson said (emphasis in red; slight spelling editing by me):
“I believe the consensus will be, once their opposition is broken, that the term ‘anti-Semitic’ can only be used in the rare and extreme cases where actual persecution or discrimination of Jews is advocated.”
In today’s era of human rights we’re now seeing the use of phony human rights concerns as an offensive weapon used to stifle debate about real human rights abuses (in some cases, e. g., Darfur, phony human rights concerns are actually being used a method of encouraging military violence). I believe that it is perfectly legitimate to wonder why the Democrats, mostly funded by Jews, refuse to look out for the most basic interests of their own political party in issues like impeachment, Iran talk, and Iraq withdrawal. There is only one possible explanation for this, but if you raise it, you are immediately called an anti-Semite. This is bullshit. In fact, people who use this technique are, in my opinion, aiders and abetters of one of the greatest systematic campaigns of human rights abuse in the world, that being carried out by Zionists in the Middle East. You may feel yourself to be righteous when you pose as an advocate of human rights, but almost all discussion of the evils of anti-Semitism is just a method of stifling legitimate political debate. I hardly need note that describing the particular individuals involved is not an invitation to persecution of a larger group, but is in fact the opposite, placing blame where blame is due. The reason for the controversy isn’t a legitimate worry about prosecution or discrimination, but a concern that airing the facts will put an end to the real human rights abuses.
Of course, Americans and American wannabes are the most egregious of the offenders. It is difficult to take complaints of human rights abuse seriously from a country which is killing tens of thousand of innocent Iraqis a month, without even the vestige of an anti-war movement. In most cases, claims of anti-Semitism are really claims of anti-Americanism, with Americans rightly embarrassed that the greatest Empire in the world could so easily be destroyed through undermining by a tiny group of Jewish intellectuals and the Jewish Billionaires who fund them. Pointing this out is actually a compliment to the intelligence and derring-do of the people involved, much as we despise their motives, and an insult to the intellectually lazy and so-easily corruptible Americans, who squandered their Empire and now refuse to admit how it happened.
Too bad they're not human
This Onion piece would be funnier if this kind of thinking weren’t behind the American/Zionist campaigns of genocide in the Middle East. The United States would have never attacked Iraq if Americans felt the people who lived there were anything other than ‘Sand niggers’.
In missile range
Following up on a previous posting, the Israelis have suddenly, and miraculously, determined that Syria isn’t planning to attack. Israeli planners have to deal with the public relations effect of a Syrian missile counterattack before they can stage a faked reason for attacking Syria.
There is a good reason for the difference in the psychological ability of the Israeli public to withstand suicide attacks as opposed to missile attacks. The suicide attacks are seen, rightly or wrongly, as an inevitable part of living in Israel. On the other hand, the Hezbollah rocket attacks and any future Syrian rocket attacks are correctly perceived as being the direct result of voluntary wars entered into solely so some religious fruitcakes can live on stolen land and fill their swimming pools with stolen water.
Unless Zionist strategists can come up with some way to fool Israelis into believing that Israeli colonialism is inevitable, Israelis aren’t going to accept counterattacks that are the result of wars of choice. The ability of Arabs to fight back is the key. The psychological inability of the Israeli public to accept missile attacks that are the direct result of Israeli aggression could alone spell the end of the Project of building the Israeli Empire. Old fashioned Israeli common sense, as opposed to the murderous schemes of their American ‘friends’ (who live safely out of missile range), gives us reason for optimism.
Osama Osama Osama Iraq
Clever presentation of Bush’s latest speech.
Henry the K in Moscow
One of the themes here recently is how the American Establishment has retaken control of the American government without recourse to the traditional institutions of American political power. Congress, the Executive, and the Press are all Israeli Occupied Territory, so have to be worked around. Fortunately for Americans and the world, the American Establishment is so powerful that it has been able to bring power back under American control, and it is the neocons who are now frustrated.
A remarkable example of this recently occurred with respect to Putin. Zionist attempts to restart the Cold War (more on this later, with a reconsideration of the sinking of the Liberty) have left Putin understandably angry, and Putin’s visit to Bush in Kennebunkport was supposed to calm him down. Instead, Bush, his little mind still controlled by Christian Zionists, made things worse, and Putin left the U. S. absolutely furious. The American Establishment does not want to restart the Cold War – they have plans for Russia, but all of them involve globalism and economic cooperation – so they sent a delegation to Moscow, led by Henry the K (Henry the K is often wrongly described as a neocon, but he is really a gun for hire who follows power around), to try to calm Putin down (and no, it wouldn’t have been planned by Cheney, who wants Putin as furious as possible). The attempted diplomacy didn’t really work, but the effort is another demonstration of how the Establishment is having to work around Bush’s destructive Zionism, together with a demonstration that it is not in the interests of the Establishment to restart the Cold War (though Noam will no doubt hide the real culprits by blaming it on them). The Jew-controlled American press hid the Kissinger junket, as it does not fit the Official Story of what is going on.
Speaking of the Jew-controlled American press, the New Republic appears to have made up a phony series of negative ‘insider’ reports on the Iraq war, in order to undermine the anti-war movement, such as it is, when the deception was uncovered. Americans are going to be very angry when it become politically correct to admit the truth.
Lobby lessons learned
There is still the odd American who can’t accept the remarkable hold that Jewish Billionaire money has over the Democrats, but the facts are making the illusion of Democrat independence from the Lobby harder and harder to believe. The Jewish Billionaires have told the Democrats that they can’t stop the war – at least not until the Iraq is in three parts, as provided in Wurmser’s Zionist Plan for the Middle East – so the Democrats merely pretend to have an interest in stopping the war. Democrat supporters who voted solely on the basis that the Democrats were the only way out of the disastrous war are gradually becoming furious at the betrayal. Now John Conyers, a basically decent man, has been ordered by the Jewish Billionaires to stop all talk of impeachment, so he has obeyed. This caused such fury in Cindy Sheehan that Conyers had to have her arrested, not something he would want to do, but being a slave to the Lobby will make you act in uncharacteristic ways.
I have to ask my usual question: just what kind of evidence will be required for supporters of the Democrats to concede that the party is utterly corrupted by the Jewish Billionaires? This corruption is now so deep that Democrat apologists are reduced to sounding like John Birchers when talking about Sheehan (particularly ironic when the undeniable truth about the Democrats resembles an old John Bircher fantasy), whose only flaw is really caring about what she believes in. Since when is it a crime to act with integrity and forcefulness on the right side of an issue? All the Democrat machinations are being led by Rahm Emanuel, and are explained away as some kind of brilliant election strategy, as if doing the exact opposite of what your supporters want, in order to pander to people who will never vote for you, could be described as a ‘strategy’.
This summer's land grab, postponed?
We would have seen an attack on Syria by now if it wasn’t for the example set by Hezbollah last summer. Israeli strategists weren’t alarmed by the fact that Hezbollah had rockets, or that it could lob them into Israel, but were horrified at the reaction of the Israeli public, who freaked out. It is not an exaggeration to say that popular opinion forced the quick Israeli retreat. Not only is this troubling in itself, especially for a country which plans decades of land-stealing wars, but Hezbollah could hardly aim its rockets, and could only reach the closest part of Israel. The most advanced rocket technology, properly targeted, could cause a permanent end to the possibility of a Zionist Empire, and could even lead to the mass exodus from Israel that would represent the suicide of the country itself. Syria seems to have obtained the most advanced Russian rockets available, which, together with training from the Russians (and Iranians?), could terrorize the shockingly easily terrorized Israelis. The Hezbollah Strategy may have permanently changed Middle East history. Even if Syria is bluffing, do the Israelis want to risk it? Remember, the Arabs only have to win one war; Israel has to win them all. The most chilling possibility for Israel is that it wins the war, but so traumatizes its citizens that the most important and mobile of them, the knowledge workers, decide to leave.
In a sense, Israel is the victim of its own success. Decades of mythology, together with considerable military success, have led Israelis to consider themselves almost a ‘normal’ country. Normal countries are safe countries. The ability to withstand the psychological attack of suicide bombings did not translate into an ability to put up with rocket attacks, even incompetent rocket attacks. Israelis like to talk of ‘existential threats’ and being ‘pushed into the sea’ for propaganda purposes, but don’t actually believe any – snicker – Arab could actually do them any serious harm. Israelis are so comfortable now – the greatest army in the Middle East, a monopoly on nuclear weapons, and the backing of the Americans – that they have set themselves up for a big fall. The question of Israeli strategists: are Israelis prepared to risk civilian lives not for any backs-against-the-wall real threat to the country, but just so some religious nuts, most of them living safely in the United States, can build a Zionist Empire?
Murders of couples
The unsolved murder of a couple, Ann Barbara Durrant and Leif Bertil Carlsson, on Vancouver Island in 1972 has notable similarities to the unsolved murder of a couple, Lindsay Cutshall and Jason Allen, in Northern California in 2004 (there are also similarities to a murder in Arizona; for a comparison to the Zodiac, a subject which always comes up in unsolved murders of couples, see threads here and here and especially here). There was a lot of evidence, some of it strange, found at the Northern California murder scene. Given the reaction of his surviving family members, it appears likely that the main suspect in the first set of murders, Joseph Henry Burgess, is still alive.
Where would lovers of true crime be without California?
Bush has but 18 months to go, as good a time as any to make some predictions about what will happen, and not happen, before he is replaced by President Giuliani (and the current times subsequently become known as the ‘Golden Age of American Politics’). What gives for the last 18 months?:
The United States won’t attack Iran (or any other place of significance).
Bush and Cheney will keep up their weekly assault on the American Constitution, but, despite much bloviating from the Democrats and their blogging fellow travellers, neither will come even close to impeachment. It is not impossible that Cheney resigns for ‘health reasons’.
There won’t be any domestic terrorist attack on the United States. The idea that one would be necessary gives the American political system way too much credit, as it will go along with what Bush wants with or without another attack.
The Democrats will continue to wiggle around to try to fool Americans into believing that they want American troops out of Iraq. Americans won’t be fooled.
On the day Bush leaves office, there will still be more than 100,000 American troops in Iraq.
The next American elections will be rife with vote fraud, both the old kinds (which won’t have been stopped), and whatever new kinds Rove cooks up.
Bush will pardon Scooter.
at 7/21/2007 11:11:00 PM 0 comments
American Zionism jumps the shark
One of my newer themes is that Americans actually know a lot more than it is permissible to say. While the scope of censorship is narrowing every day, it is still strong enough to block almost all outright statements of the truth. Americans live in a world much like the old Soviet Union, where everybody knew what was going on, but truth had to communicated in secret, using a complicated code. The main bafflegab used by Americans is the anti-Semitism slur (they reach for it so instinctively it is almost humorous), but even that is soon going to look quite silly, or even quaint.
Anthony DiMaggio surveys the evidence that points to the fact that Americans are a lot hipper to the realities than it would appear, once we clear away the barriers put up by various levels of gatekeepers. Almost all the homilies about Israel spouted by the mainstream are pure bullshit, and the ubiquitousness of the bullshit is quite misleading:
“Unconditional support for Israel is relegated primarily to American elites, who, although a tiny minority of the U.S. public, speak with the loudest voice due to their dominance of American political, economic, and media institutions. The commitment of this loud minority to demonizing those who criticize Israel (a category which could easily be defined to include the majority of Americans) is as impressive today as it has ever been.”
Even the term ‘American elites’ defines the group too widely, as it is really limited to the Zionists and those they pay to speak for them. A large reason for my general optimism is that both the American Establishment and real American popular belief is headed towards the truth. Let’s give the average American some credit, as his/her appreciation of the facts is achieved in the face of absolutely no help whatsoever from the American mainstream media, which lies consistently about all matters concerning the Middle East and the American relationship to Israel.
The shit is really going to hit the fan when the Walt/Mearsheimer book appears. They have received a considerable advance (I’m waiting for some wag to suggest the figure of $6,000,000), so the publisher expects to sell a lot of books, which will entail a lot of discussion. As the main thesis is undeniable, but must be denied for Zionism to continue to thrive, I don’t expect that Alan Dershowitz will get any sleep for the next six months. Largely due to the Iraq war and the common American knowledge who is really responsible for that disaster, Zionism has ‘jumped the shark’ in the U. S., and the usual blanket attack by the usual suspects will only confirm what everybody already knows.
Thrill Kill Cult Watch: Movie Star Edition
From a short biography of American actress Natalie Portman (emphasis throughout in red):
“Portman graduated Syosset High School in Syosset, New York; June of 1999 and was a straight-A honors student. After high school she continued to maintain straight-A's through her time at Harvard where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology June 5, 2003. She is credited as a research assistant to Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz's Case For Israel. As of 2005 Portman is pursuing graduate studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.”
A connection with Dershowitz’s book is not something you want on your resume (is Portman the ‘research assistant’ referred to in the third column of page 32 of the article reprinted here?). Portman is, nevertheless, a ‘liberal’:
“On February 23, 2005, Israeli police moved her away from Jerusalem's Western Wall after protests by religious Jews who were praying at the holy site. She and the Israeli actor Aki Avni were kissing next to the Wall for a movie called Free Zone. This was deemed to be immodest for the holy site. Men who were praying heckled the couple until police stepped in and suggested they return later. The site is under the authority of Orthodox Judaism, and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, who is responsible for the site, said the actors' conduct violated the code of conduct.”
I’d be more impressed if she had been caught wailing near the kissing wall. This kind of thing proves you can hold liberal ideas towards organized religion and still be a part of the Thrill Kill Cult. Finally, and most eerily:
“Natalie's paternal family are Israeli descendants of Jewish immigrants from Poland, while her American mother's family is descended from Jewish refugees from Austria and Russia.”
Again, I ask the question: why do the Poles hate Muslims so much? The Thrill Kill Cult is entirely, or almost entirely, composed of American Jews of Polish descent.
The trials of TB Andrew
TB Andrew, who felt he could fly to Europe on a crowded airplane as he didn’t have the ‘bad’ TB, then had to sneak back through Canada on another crowded airplane when he discovered he had the ‘bad’ TB and the only place in the world which could treat him was in Denver, then was diagnosed by the Denver experts as having the ‘bad’ TB and was readied for the kind of lung surgery that was the only way to cure him, then announced that he didn’t have the ‘bad’ TB after all – are you still with me? – has announced that he is going to have the lung surgery, and in fact has apparently had it. You’ll remember that this is the kind of lung surgery mandated for the kind of infection he doesn’t have, but having it gives him ‘peace of mind’.
The Vodaphone Greece scandal
An article on the Vodaphone Greece scandal, which involved the secret monitoring by parties unknown of the cell-phone conversations of prominent Greek politicians. The first suspect is the American NSA, checking up on Greek politicians to make sure there were no ‘incidents’ at the Athens Olympics due to lax security (the Greeks are always suspected of being overly friendly to ‘terrorists’). The counter-argument to NSA involvement in this particular scandal is that the NSA didn’t need inside access to spy on such conversations.
The cleverest argument, based on Vodaphone’s odd inability to keep records in the middle of an investigation, coupled with the fact it shut down the system in a way which conveniently made investigation impossible, is that the entire spying story was manufactured by Vodaphone itself, to cover the fact that it had altered the Ericsson system to provide features for which did not want to pay Ericsson’s license fees (Vodaphone has also exhibited an inexplicable inability to understand what it had actually bought from Ericsson). When Ericsson discovered anomalies in a routine inspection caused by lost text messages, the rogue spying story was created, and the Greek engineer who died was murdered in a fake suicide as part of the cover-up (see here, and the comments here and here).
The Reputation of The Guardian, R. I. P.
The Guardian and The Observer are in the middle of a remarkable series of articles about Iran and the chances of an American attack on Iran, the latest of which is here (or here). All of them follow the Miller/Gordon style made famous in the NYT series of lies about Iraq (of course, Gordon is continuing the tradition by lying for the NYT about Iran). The style is hard to miss: the articles rely on a single-source anonymous tipster from Washington, i.e., a Zionist working for the Lobby, to spread an obvious pile of horseshit, with the fine-print qualifications in the articles not reflected in the headlines. The most recent relies solely on a “well-placed source in Washington”. It backs this up with a quote from a London thinktanker, who says (emphasis in red):
“"Cheney has limited capital left, but if he wanted to use all his capital on this one issue, he could still have an impact.”
This pattern of deception in The Guardian about Iran has become so obvious that it is creating a controversy of its own, with the paper receiving the worst insult in journalism, being compared to the New York Times.
As I’ve said before, the point of ‘Iran talk’ has nothing to do with an actual attack on Iran, but is a Zionist invention intended to increase Sunni-Shi’ite dissension, dissension which is being successfully exploited by Israel to work on building the Zionist Empire. Everybody who repeats ‘Iran talk’, whether lies about Iran or lies about the upcoming supposed American attack on Iran, is a Zionist fellow-traveler, as evil as Pipes or Dershowitz or Kristol or Perle.
Conrad Black escape plan
Conrad Black has no reasonable chance of succeeding on his appeal, will receive a good long sentence (he’s showed not one iota of contrition, and treated the proceedings, the prosecution, and even the judge, with complete contempt), and his bail hearing is on Thursday, when he might even be denied bail or have to wear some sort of ankle bracelet to prevent escape. This is his only chance to avoid dying in prison. His evil wife, the cause of all his problems, has no doubt been telling him that the Gestapo can arrive at any time (so true!; Amiel has expressly compared their plight to the plight of Holocaust victims!), so he is probably prepared.
He needs some stunt doubles to play him and Amiel at his hotel during the coming days, showing up at breakfast, etc., so as not to create suspicion. Most of his big assets are seized or subject to liens, but he has been spending literally tens of millions of dollars on his defense (actually, if he works his way to appeal, he will have spent more on defense than the prosecutors claim he stole!), and a guy like Conrad knows how to hide money offshore. All he needs is a small airstrip near Chicago and a small plane to fly him to Texas or Florida. Then its a hop, skip and jump to freedom in Central America or the Caribbean. There are a lot of officials who will look the other way in return for the friendship, and cash, of a rich gentleman like Black. Robert Vesco has been on the lam for years (he is said to now be in jail in Cuba). Conrad can live in the mansion next to Lord Lucan. Skipping the country is the only hope for a freedom fighter like Black – a man who stands up for the rights of the elites to pay for their wife’s jewels from money stolen from the commoners – to escape the nazis in the American justice system.
Glen Davis conspiracy theories
Remember the mysterious assassination of Canadian environmental philanthropist Glen Davis outside the Canadian offices of the World Wildlife Fund in Toronto? It turns out that Davis was the main benefactor to a number of Canadian environmental charities. He was so important that the charities may go out of business without his continued funding. The police have apparently made no progress in solving the crime (what you would expect if it was a professional hit). If they were serious about it, they would investigate what the charities he funded were blocking – mines, oil exploration, pipelines. Follow the money and you will probably find an environmental or conservation charity that was:
dependent on Davis remaining alive, and
preventing some large corporation from making money.
The donors versus the Jewish community
Abe Foxman, head of the ADL (and, naturally, of Polish Jewish descent), became frustrated with some questions from a Jewish audience and said (via jews sans frontieres, who also covers official Jewish denial of the genocide against the Armenians):
“I don’t represent you nor the Jewish community! I represent the donors.”
Exactly. This reminds me of the new genre of blogging stories, the ones where the liberal American-Jewish blogger enters the lions’ den of official Jewish opinion in some public forum, where he or she is lambasted by the official opinion leaders in attendance for taking a sane position on Israel. The joke is that the liberal blogger actually represents mainstream Jewish opinion, and the official opinion leaders represent only a handful of rich donors who are sponsoring this kill-all-the-Arabs-and-steal-their-land millenialist cult (btw, given the significance of the number 6,000,000 to Central European Jewish mysticism/numerology, is the Messiah supposed to show up when the Jews have arranged for the death of 6,000,000 Muslims?). Yet if you try to point out that the instigators of the problem are this tiny minority of very rich people, most of whom also benefit financially by connection to the Israeli arms industry, you are immediately called an anti-Semite. If there is hatred involved, it looks more like ‘Class envy’ rather than bigotry.
Self-hating
Former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler told a Conference on the Future of the Jewish People that Jews face a "gathering storm" with multiple threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Al-Qai'da, Hamas and international terrorism. Let’s see:
Iran is no threat to Israel, but is threatened by a nuclear attack from Israel, based on the two lies about Iran having a nuclear program and the Iranian President having threatened to wipe Israel off the map (both lies promulgated by Cotler, amongst many other Zionists).
Hezbollah is no threat to Israel unless Israel attacks Lebanon again, and Hezbollah was in fact created in response to the first illegal attack by Israel on Lebanon.
Al Qaeda is the code word for the villain behind ‘Islamofascism’, a concept developed with the ‘war on terror’ in Israeli think tanks in order to justify continued American sponsorship of Israel after the end of the Cold War. The anger behind groups like al Qaeda is largely caused by Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinians.
Hamas was financially supported by Israel in order to provide opposition to Arafat.
It appears that the entire “gathering storm” has been caused by the Jews themselves, giving new meaning to the term ‘self-hating’.
Uniquely dangerous
One reason why Zionism is a uniquely dangerous form of colonialist racism is that it is the only form of such racism that is attempting to re-jig all of international law in order to allow it to commit the war crimes and crimes against humanity which it finds necessary to build the Israeli Empire. Yet another evil conference at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya is attempting to eviscerate the Geneva Convention and the Hague Rules.
Famous first words
“The U.S. government has consistently blamed me for being behind every occasion its enemies attack it.
"I would like to assure the world that I did not plan the recent attacks, which seems to have been planned by people for personal reasons.”
See also here and here. The whole point of a terrorist attack is to associate an attack against civilians with a political complaint made against the country in which those civilians live. Failure to take immediate credit for such an attack defeats the whole purpose for the attack.
One-party state
Rudy Giuliani has been overdosing on Zionist foreign-policy advisors – really, really, really hard-core thrill-kill-cult Zionists – and in a showy way that is intended to be noticed. This isn’t a way to attract American voters or even Republican delegates. Rudy is using his ostentatious Zionism as bait to attract Jewish Billionaires and their political donations. He has correctly sized up the facts on the ground, and realizes that the most likely scenario is that he will be running against Hillary. The Jewish donations normally are directed almost entirely to Democrats, and Rudy is attempting to poach this money from her.
It may be difficult to comprehend, but Rudy, the candidate for Israel, is very electable. He’ll have oodles of money; the media, controlled by you-know-who, will stop writing nasty things about him and start dredging up nasty things about Hillary (and find some new ones); there is a considerable portion of the country who wouldn’t vote for Hillary if she was the last candidate on earth; he’s got 9–11 to continue to harp on (the ‘Family Guy’ episode where Lois wins over Mayor West by answering all questions, no matter what the subject, with ‘9–11’, sounds exactly like Rudy); he can pretend to have the trendy ‘moderate’ views on all the issues that don’t matter; and, of course, the vote fraud issues, particularly in the key states, have still not been fixed. Despite the fact he is obviously insane and surrounds himself with the lowest of low-lifes, it is not a given that the next president will be a Democrat (the media is flying this idea in order to rally the Republican troops).
If you thought Bush’s slavery to the Lobby was bad, just wait for the next election. Both candidates are going to engage in an orgy of Israeli butt kissing. The United States is now a one-party state, and that party is Likud.
A war against America
Read David Frum’s column from March 19, 2003 in which he calls the anti-war ‘paleoconservatives’, amongst other things, racist, anti-Semitic traitors. Funny how they also turned out to be right. Frum’s subtitle, “A war against America”, best describes what Frum and his neocon pals have been doing.
The Israeli attack on the UN peacekeeping outpost at Khiyam
Via the The Angry Arab News Service, Timor Göksel is interviewed by Linda Butler on his experiences as a peacekeeper in south Lebanon, and his theory for the Israeli attack on the UN peacekeeping outpost at Khiyam, an attack which resulted in the death of four UN peacekeepers (emphasis in red):
“But I personally don’t think the attacks were deliberate in the sense of targeting the UN per se. In a way, it’s worse: the Israelis just didn’t care. I mean, they knew those UN guys were there. The base was very clearly marked and they’d been hitting close to it all day, they’d been repeatedly warned. But they had their own agenda and if a couple of UN guys get killed, tough. It’s the same mindset that led them to shell the Fijian battalion headquarters in April 1996, when more than 100 mostly women and children were killed.*
Butler: But I don’t see, in this latest war, what would be gained in pounding the Khiyam post.
Göksel: Simply that the UN post was about 100 meters from the famous Khiyam prison, which had become a museum of the Israeli occupation of the south. Hizballah had turned it into a kind of shrine of anti-Israelism and the Israelis wanted it gone. So they destroyed it, and because it was solidly built it took a while to completely level it, and a lot of what was around was leveled too. Also, Hizballah anti-tank units in Khiyam had made it impossible for the Israelis to advance toward the Biqa‘. The reserve armored brigade the IDF had sent to clear the way performed dismally, by the way. One battalion left the battlefield without orders, another battalion commander resigned in the midst of battle, and the brigade commander was left alone in the field. Not a glorious chapter in the history of the IDF. So the Israelis, as usual, brought in the air force to do the job and if that means that some UN soldiers have to die, so be it.”
He also has an interesting comment on the Palestinian collaboration problem:
“Now, the Palestinians of course had a serious, built in problem, and nobody knew it better than Arafat. He said, ‘I know that people from my organization are reporting to the Israelis, but this is the price we pay for occupation.’ And it’s true – if a guy’s family is under occupation in Palestine it’s easy to turn him around. All you have to say is ‘That brother of yours in jail won’t get out for the next twenty years unless you provide us with such and such, but if you do he’ll be out next week.’ Or your father ends up in jail. You want him to stay in jail? You get the message. You do this or your family will pay the price. The Israelis do that beautifully, of course, which is why they were able to infiltrate, and still do, the Palestinian structure.”
Clare Short’s excellent speech
Clare Short’s excellent speech (or here) to the British parliament on her recent visit to the Occupied Territories, where she witnessed Israeli war crimes. It’s not long, and it’s all worth reading.
DC Madam’s phone record release
I’ll admit to being baffled by the release of the DC Madam’s phone records (wiki). Her explanation for the rush to release is incoherent, about as senseless as the prosecution arguments for why the numbers should have remained under a court-ordered gag. She has left herself open for legal troubles in the future (in fact, her problems have worsened by the acknowledgment that the release was necessitated by sloppiness in the procedure of spreading the information around), and seems to have lost all her leverage in her current criminal proceedings, leverage which she acknowledged she was happy to have. Could the records have been altered to remove the numbers of the big names, with this release just being part of the ‘sweating’ process? She’s already taken down one sanctity-of-hetero-marriage horndog (with a history of similar allegations, and whose apology came out so quick he must have had it ready). Is that supposed to be the warning to the rest of official Washington?
Sweating official Washington
Deborah Jeane Palfrey can now release or sell her phone records, the judge hearing the issue being baffled at what possible basis could have been behind the gagging in the first place, as it had no possible connection to the criminal charges she faces. The main argument that had succeeded in obtaining the temporary restraining orders was that the list could be used to harass witnesses, an obviously bogus claim made for the sole purpose of protecting the guilty Washington whoremongers. The prosecutors, who were given a rough ride in the judgment for their struggles at coming up with a plausible argument, would have fared better with a male judge, someone who would have understood the delicacy of the situation.
Now we are hearing the threats to release the records, an obvious ploy to sweat official Washington into throwing the criminal case out on a technicality or offering her an easy plea bargain. She can’t actually release the records because:
there could be a lot of innocent numbers on the list (or at least men who could claim innocence, with no way for her to prove otherwise), and the implications of a number being on the list are potentially defamatory, leading to all sorts of legal problems;
the only names that matter are the Washington hypocrites – politicians and bureaucrats who play the ‘family values’ card – and their names are only useful to Palfrey if they are not released, so they can be used as leverage.
There are very good reasons why this kind of list never sees the light of day. Once she gets her desired outcome the list will disappear.
Rising fury news
The British Transport and General Workers Union, the biggest general union in the UK, has called for its members to join the consumer boycott of Israel, comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa and Nazi Germany. The Israelis, brains addled by decades of seeing the world entirely in terms of anti-Semitism, are intellectually incapable of understanding what is going on, matching boycott with boycott, and seemingly believing all they have is a PR problem that can be dealt with by calling people names.
Omertà
It seems to be commonplace amongst Americans that Bush commuted Libby’s sentence in order to protect the Bush Administration from Libby spilling the beans. I think this is a misunderstanding of how a criminal organization like the Bush Crime Family operates, and a misunderstanding of what Libby was really up to. Just like the Mafia, the Bush Crime Family owes much of its success to the fact that everybody keeps their mouth shut. A consigliere like Libby keeps his mouth shut because he is a man of honor who follows the law of omertà. The deal has always been that Libby would lie in order to protect Cheney and the Bush reelection campaign. In return, Libby could use whatever arguments he could to beat the rap, failing which, Bush would do whatever was necessary to keep Libby out of jail. The commutation was a wrinkle caused by the judges who didn’t allow Libby’s lawyers to delay his going to jail long enough to wait for a politically opportune time for Bush to issue a pardon. Bush kept Libby out of jail because that was the deal he made with Libby, and that is the kind of promise a man of honor keeps. Libby couldn’t talk about anything because he is still working for Israel, and anything he might say could reveal his true motivations, and thus would be harmful to Zionist Imperialism.
The only hope for Barry Bonds is to hit the home run that is one less than the 755 of Hank Aaron, run around the bases, grab a microphone at home base, and announce his immediate retirement. He would go out with dignity, instead of being the the biggest asterisk in pro sports.
The real purpose of Iran talk
I think what really bothers me about Iran talk (talk about an upcoming illegal American or Israeli attack on Iran), even by those who talk about it ostensibly to attempt to prevent it, is that the extreme unlikelihood of the attack means that even the Zionist talkers have an agenda other than actually promoting the attack. The main goal of Zionist imperialism is to cause unrest in the Middle East to have everybody fighting each other in order to allow Israel to more easily steal the land it intends to steal. Iran talk causes unease in Iran, which provokes a reaction, which causes unease in Saudi Arabia, which provokes a reaction, and so on, leaving the entire Middle East unnecessarily rattled and disturbed. Iran talk just abets the Zionist plans, and even those who think they are doing good by talking it up might as well apply for a award from the ADL.
Sayanim Libby
Libby has been accused of being an intelligence agent for Israel's Mossad. That sounds about right. I believe the technical term is “Sayanim”, although Libby, due to his background and position, may be a step or two above a ‘sleeper agent’ (see also here, and from a dodgy source with good info, here; btw, have you noticed that the traditional ‘dodgy’ sources are finding more acceptance in the mainstream, due to the fact that they are the pioneers in certain areas of truth?). There has long been speculation that the Mossad has a hidden spy-chief in the upper reaches of the American government. Libby is the most spectacular example of the phenomenon of so-called ‘dual loyalties’ (so-called as his only real loyalty is to Israel), and the commutation of his ‘political’ sentence is part of the education process for the greater American public about this important problem.
The American 'Democracy Fund' for Iran
The $75 million American dirty information tricks campaign against Iran known as the ‘democracy fund’ has turned into a total fiasco. Every institution associated with it, even the once respected Farsi service of the V. O. A., has been tainted. Americans Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh seem to have been arrested in Iran as a direct result of it. Almost all the money goes to fat-cat salaries in institutions in the United States to produce the usual propaganda that would otherwise have been produced for free. The usual ex-pat Chalabi-types, wannabe Iranian puppet leaders of the future, circle the fund like flies around shit. Iranian dissident journalist Emadeddin Baghi said:
“The [democracy] money is a blade. Our government accuses us of receiving money from the Americans. All of a sudden, my normal human rights work becomes political. I have one question: Why do I have to suffer when this money is going to pay for someone else’s salary in Washington?”
Baked, not fried
Michael Ledeen’s column, perhaps reflecting the increasing hopelessness of his cause and the corresponding increase in size of his ScareJew, is sounding more and more like The Onion.
Terrorist social networks
The Official Story of the capture of the London terror cell is that it was assembled by the authorities through following tracks from the cell phone in the car that didn’t blow up. The terrorists were supposed to trigger the ‘bomb’ by phoning the cell phone, but despite repeated calls, the car failed to explode. The authorities tracked the calls back to one or two suspects, and then followed cell phone, email and text messages to round up the rest.
Most of the people rounded up were doctors, or associated with the medical profession, so the cell became known in the media as a conspiracy of doctors. The fact that the alleged main guy, the only one charged to date, was not a medical doctor puts a bit of a kink in the theory (correction: the guy charged was a doctor, but his alleged accomplice, the Human Fireball, not yet charged possibly because the police have been unable to interview him due to his injuries, was an aeronautical engineer). In fact, what linked the ‘cell’ was the fact that they were all Muslim professionals who were recent immigrants and associated with the same medical or educational institutions. These is no reason to believe that the mere fact they were in a social network with the one accused guy proved that they were part of any kind of terrorist group.
You can’t fault the police for following up the leads, but you can fault the authorities for rushing to judgment and turning this into a massive terrorist conspiracy before all the information was in. A large group of suspects is in custody. Their lives and careers are in ruins solely on the basis of having some kind of technological connection with the accused, a fact that can have many completely innocent explanations. Had the first suspect been a white Christian bank robber, none of this wider analysis of the cell would have occurred. The police may have followed up on his contacts, but they would not have automatically assumed that contact proved some sort of participation in a bank robbing conspiracy.
The fact is that Bibi Netanyahu’s ‘War on Terror’ is, and was intended to be, a war on Islam intended to assist Israel in stealing the lands it intends to steal. The suspects have been rounded up because they are Muslims, and not for any good reason. In fact, the British are now talking about putting restrictions on foreign-born doctors, which is a polite way of saying Muslim doctors, even though the doctor part of the alleged conspiracy is falling apart (even more bizarrely, American right-wingers are blaming it all on ‘socialized medicine’!).
Now, the one guy charged is bring linked directly to al Qaeda, knowing “one of the terror group's most high-profile bomb makers in Europe”. This in fact makes the whole story even less likely, as the terrorist background he is supposed to have is completely inconsistent with his failure to produce any kind of workable bomb.
The Zionist Power Configuration
From James Petras, superbly summarizing (or here) the American problem with the Zionist Power Configuration (emphasis in red):
“The US is the only country in the world where the peace movement is unwilling to recognize, publically condemn or oppose the major influential political and social institutions consistently supporting and promoting the US wars in the Middle East. The political power of the pro-Israel power configuration, led by the American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC), supported within the government by highly placed pro-Israel Congressional leaders and White House and Pentagon officials has been well documented in books and articles by leading journalists, scholars and former President Jimmy Carter. The Zionist Power Configuration (ZPC) has over two thousand full-time functionaries, more than 250,000 activists, over a thousand billionaire and multi-millionaire political donors who contribute funds both political parties. The ZPC secures 20% of the US foreign military aid budget for Israel, over 95% congressional support for Israel’s boycott and armed incursions in Gaza, invasion of Lebanon and preemptive military option against Iran.
The US invasion and occupation policy in Iraq, including the fabricated evidence justifying the invasion, was deeply influenced by top officials with long-standing loyalties and ties to Israel. Wolfowitz and Feith, numbers 2 and 3 in the Pentagon, are life-long Zionists, who lost security clearance early in their careers for handing over documents to Israel. Vice President Cheney’s chief foreign policy adviser in the planning of the Iraq invasion is Irving Lewis Liebowitz ('Scooter Libby’). He is a protégé and long-time collaborator of Wolfowitz and a convicted felon. Libby-Liebowitz committed perjury, defending the White House’s complicity in punishing officials critical of its Iraq war propaganda. Libby-Liebowitz received powerful political and financial support from the pro-Israel lobby during his trial. No sooner did he lose his appeal on his conviction on five counts of perjury, obstructing justice and lying, than the ZPC convinced President Bush to ‘commute’ his prison sentence, in effect freeing him from a 30 month prison sentence before he had served a day. While Democratic politicians and some peace leaders criticized President Bush, none dared hold responsible the pro-Israel lobby which pressured the White House.
The Presidents of the Major American Jewish Organizations (PMAJO) – numbering 52 – and their regional and local affiliates are the leading force transmitting Israel’s war agenda against Iran. The PMAJO, working closely with US-Israeli Congressman Rahm Emmanuel and leading Zionist Senators Charles Schumer and Joseph Lieberman, succeeded in eliminating a clause in the budget appropriation setting a date for the withdrawal for US troops from Iraq.
In contrast to the successful vast propaganda, congressional and media campaigns, organized and funded by the pro-Israel lobbies for the war policies, there is no public record of the big oil companies supporting the Iraq war, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon or the military threats of preemptive attacks on Iran. Interviews with investment bankers, oil company executives and a thorough review of the major Petroleum Institute publications over the past seven years provide conclusive evidence that ‘Big Oil’ was deeply interested in negotiating oil agreements with Saddam Hussein and the Iranian Islamic government. ‘Big Oil’ perceives US Middle East wars as a threat to their long-standing profitable relations with all the conservative Arab oil states in the Gulf. Despite the strategic position in the US economy and their great wealth ‘Big Oil’ was totally incapable of countering their political power and organized influence of the pro-Israel lobby. In fact Big Oil was totally marginalized by the White House National Security Advisor for the Middle East, Elliot Abrams, a fanatical Zionist and militarist.
Despite the massive and sustained pro-war activity of the leading Zionist organizations inside and outside of the government and despite the absence of any overt or covert pro-war campaign by ‘Big Oil’, the leaders of the US peace movement have refused to attack the pro-Israel war lobby and continue to mouth unfounded clichés about the role of ‘Big Oil’ in the Middle East conflicts.
The apparently ‘radical’ slogans against the oil industry by some leading intellectual critics of the war has served as a ‘cover’ to avoid the much more challenging task of taking on the powerful, Zionist lobby. There are several reasons for the failure of the leaders of the peace movement to confront the militant Zionist lobby. One is fear of the powerful propaganda and smear campaign which the pro-Israel lobby is expert at mounting, with its aggressive accusations of ‘anti-Semitism’ and its capacity to blacklist critics, leading to job loss, career destruction, public abuse and death threats.
The second reason that peace leaders fail to criticize the leading pro-war lobby is because of the influence of pro-Israel ‘progressives’ in the movement. These progressives condition their support of ‘peace in Iraq’ only if the movement does not criticize the pro-war Israel lobby in and outside the US government, the role of Israel as a belligerent partner to the US in Lebanon, Palestine and Kurdish Northern Iraq. A movement claiming to be in favor of peace, which refuses to attack the main proponents of war, is pursuing irrelevance: it deflects attention from the pro-Israel high officials in the government and the lobbyists in Congress who back the war and set the White House’s Middle East agenda. By focusing attention exclusively on President Bush, the peace leaders failed to confront the majority pro-Israel Democratic congress people who fund Bush’s war, back his escalation of troops and give unconditional support to Israel’s military option for Iran.
The collapse of the US peace movement, the lack of credibility of most of its leaders and the demoralization of many activists can be traced to strategic political failures: the unwillingness to identify and confront the real pro-war movements and the inability to create a political alternative to the bellicose Democratic Party. The political failure of the leaders of the peace movement is all the more dramatic in the face of the large majority of passive Americans who oppose the war, most of whom did not display their flags this Fourth of July and are not led in tow by either the pro-Israel lobby or their intellectual apologists within progressive circles.
The word to anti-war critics of the world is that over sixty percent of the US public opposes the war but our streets are empty because our peace movement leaders are spineless and politically impotent.”
The complete absence of a viable American peace movement needs an explanation other than the circular one that ‘kids these days’ are politically uninvolved. Zionism has so corrupted American politics that it has led to an apparent detachment from social and political involvement, which is really frustration in the knowledge that all ‘progressive’ institutions have been corrupted to the extent that they are not just useless, but counterproductive. This phenomenon fits into the larger theme that ‘progressive’ politics in the United States has been destroyed from within through the fact that many of the natural leaders of the left have been ruined by the ScareJew, which has forced them to the extreme right in order to justify support for the Israeli Empire, an Empire required by the fact that the coming new Holocaust can only be prevented by an ark for the Jewish people. Support for the Israeli Empire has necessitated support for increased American militarism, obviously an approach inconsistent with any possible peace movement.
Americans are much more savvy than we are inclined to believe, and younger Americans have the big advantage of internet awareness. Knowledge of the Zionist corruption of American ‘progressive’ politics explains why people are so frustrated and uninvolved (of course, the anti-Semitism slur is used by everybody to suppress the truth, so it is relatively rare to hear the real reasons for political uninvolvement). The American Establishment has a similar problem, and similar frustration, but of course has immense power, and is dealing with the problem by working around the usual institutions of government. The average person hasn’t got the influence to work around the existing protest movements and existing ‘progressive’ politics.
The preliminary step in fixing the problem – and the damage caused by the Zionists is so extreme it may take decades to fix, and may in fact depend on the natural and inevitable collapse of the State of Israel through its own internal racist contradictions – is to put the blame on the real perpetrators of the conspiracy against the American people and the peoples of the Middle East. This is a relatively tiny, and easily identifiable, group of rich Jews and rich Christian Zionists, together with their supporting functionaries, toadies, and apologists, including, sadly, most of the main spokespeople for the American ‘left’.
Lying leads to confusion
Everybody in the United States – except possibly for a few prominent columnists and bloggers – knows that a small group of Jews manipulated the American government into the disastrous plan of attacking Iraq, solely based on the interests of the Israeli right, and completely against the interests of the American Establishment and the American people. Of course, no one can actually say this out loud, a fact which leads to some hilarious confusion.
Here’s Steve Benen complaining about Marty Peretz's incoherent analysis of the Libby trial. Peretz, following Dershowitz, claims that the Libby prosecution is entirely political. A Republican President appoints a Republican prosecutor who brings the case up before a Republican judge, with an appeal on bail heard before three Republican judges – how can they possibly claim Libby’s prosecution is political? Normally, all these people would have handled Libby with kid gloves, and protected him from any legal harm. Yet we can see an unmistakable animus in both Judge Walton and the court of appeal judges, all of whom want to see Libby in shackles as quickly as possible. What gives?
We can’t speak the truth about how the American Establishment was shafted by the Jews, so we aren’t allowed to notice how the representatives of that Establishment are taking their fury out on Libby. Of course, Peretz and Dershowitz have to talk in code, as saying that the prosecution against Libby was anti-Semitic would entail an admission that Libby was being punished because of his role in a traitorous attack on the United States by a Jewish Cabal. Peretz wrote:
“. . . double standards are not only evident in arguments about the ongoing disputes between the Israelis and Palestinians and among the Arabs. There are double standards in conservative thought in America and in liberal thought, as well.”
What the hell is he doing talking about the Middle East in a preamble to supporting Libby’s commutation? Dershowitz wrote:
“What the judges did was also political, but that was entirely improper, because judges are not allowed to act politically.
They do act politically, of course, as evidenced by the Supreme Court’s disgracefully political decision in Bush v. Gore. But the fact that they do act politically does not make it right. It is never proper for a court to take partisan political considerations into account when seeking to administer justice in an individual case.
The trial judge too acted politically, when he imposed the harshly excessive sentence on Libby, virtually provoking the president into commuting it.
This was entirely a political case from beginning to end. Libby’s actions were political. The decision to appoint a special prosecutor was political. The trial judges’ rulings were political. The appellate court judges’ decision to deny bail was political. And the President’s decision to commute the sentence was political. But only the President acted within his authority by acting politically in commuting the politically motivated sentence.”
Again, without the hidden subtext, this is just incoherent. Dershowitz's piece is entitled “Double Standard Watch”. Double Standard? What the hell is he talking about?
Of course, Peretz and Dershowitz are completely correct. The entire treatment of Libby in the courts was political. The obvious hatred of Libby was inspired by the fury of the American Establishment at the perfidy of the Jews. Peretz and Dershowitz sound addled because they can’t admit the justice behind the fury. Analysts reading Peretz and Dershowitz argue that these guys have lost their minds as the analysts can’t be seen to notice the truth of the subtext. Jewish readers of both columns understand completely what “Double Standard” means.
Expect to see more of the same in the coming months. I would not be in the least surprised to see IRS agents hanging around the the offices of some of the most prominent Jewish Billionaires. The American Establishment is furious, and they have the power to do something about it. Apologists for Israel who like to throw the anti-Semite slur around are now going to get to see some of the real thing. Never forget that the American Establishment never uses the J-Word; they prefer the K-Word.
The new American revolt against conservatism?
Republican Presidential candidates usually run to the right to be nominated, then head for the center in order to be elected. I’ve noticed an odd trend in the current American campaigning, where leaks of a hidden past of supporting ‘liberal’ ideas like abortion rights are being used to prove that the candidates are actually more centrist than their current official pronouncements might lead you to think. They still all follow the hell-and-brimstone script handed to them by the Christian Right, but the perception appears to be that Americans, tiring of all the conservative moral battles, are headed leftwards, and candidates like and Giuliani and Thompson want to introduce a touch of ambiguity over just how right-wing they really are.
The more cynical view is that faux centrism is just being used to perpetrate the same old right-wing politics, with no real change on any of the important issues. Leaning to the center on the hot-button ‘lifestyle’ issues – and I don’t mean to belittle their importance – allows people to vote towards the center without affecting the continuing American move to the right on class issues.
Speaking of ambiguity, is hidden American liberalism going to skip over the woman President, and the gay President, and head directly to the first known bisexual President? I’m reminded of Lenny Bruce riffing on Rock Hudson. Of course, all the speculation seems derived from Andrew Sullivan – has there been a bigger blight on American opinion in recent years? – and it bears the whiff of a political dirty trick inspired by support for one of the other candidates.
More Israeli crimes
During the 1950s, the Israelis systematically, and expressly for political reasons, destroyed archaeological evidence of Arab occupation within Israel, including important religious sites. Meron Rapoport at Haaretz considers a new book by Raz Kletter (my emphasis in red and green):
“As the documents quoted in the book show, only a small part of this devastation occurred in the heat of battle. The vast majority took place later, because the remnants of the Arab past were considered blots on the landscape and evoked facts everyone wanted to forget. ‘The ruins from the Arab villages and Arab neighborhoods, or the blocs of buildings that have stood empty since 1948, arouse harsh associations that cause considerable political damage,’ wrote A. Dotan, from the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry, in an August 1957 letter that is quoted in Kletter's book. A copy was sent to Yeivin in the Department of Antiquities. ‘In the past nine years, many ruins have been cleared ... However, those that remain now stand out even more prominently in sharp contrast to the new landscape. Accordingly, ruins that are irreparable or have no archaeological value should be cleared away.’ The letter, Dotan noted, was written ‘at the instruction of the foreign minister,’ Golda Meir.”
“Kletter's book leaves the impression that the destruction was not accidental and that its perpetrators were aware of its significance. The ideological foundation of the devastation is set forth in the August 1957 Foreign Ministry letter sent at the behest of Golda Meir. After the author of the document, A. Dotan, requested the Ministry of Labor to ‘clear the ruins,’ he specified ‘four types’ of ‘ruins’ and the grounds for their destruction:
‘First, it is necessary to get rid of the ruins in the heart of Jewish communities, in important centers or on central transportation arteries; rapid treatment must be given to the ruins of villages whose residents are in the country, such as Birwe, north of Shfaram, and the ruins of Zippori; in areas where there is no development, such as along the rail line from Jerusalem to Bar Giora, one receives a depressing impression of a once-living civilized land; attention must also be directed to ruins in distinctly tourist areas, such as the ruins of the Circassian village in Caesarea, which is intact but empty ... Accordingly, the Ministry of Labor should assume the mission of clearing the ruins ... It should be taken into account that the participation of nongovernmental elements requires caution, as politically it is desirable for the operation to be executed without anyone grasping its political meaning.’”
Unfortunately, Kletter appears to be following Benny Morris in the new psychopathic way educated Israelis look on Israeli history:
“Kletter says he was surprised to discover the scale of the destruction, but that to some extent he understands those who were behind the operation. The decision not to allow the Palestinian refugees to return was unavoidable, he believes, if the idea was to establish a Jewish state here. Those were the rules of the game in that period, he says, and if the Jewish community had lost in 1948, the Arab victors would likely have treated the Jews in the same way. And because it was impossible to preserve hundreds of abandoned Palestinian towns and villages, there was no choice but to demolish most of them, Kletter maintains.
He also has nothing against the archaeologists who in the early years of the state were concerned almost exclusively with Jewish sites, or in the best case with Christian or Roman sites, and ignored Muslim sites almost completely. It is natural for researchers to be interested first and foremost in their own culture, Kletter says; and besides, relative to the political pressure exerted on them by people like Ben-Gurion, who declaredly wanted to erase the Arab past of this country, they behaved honorably. ‘Early Israeli archaeology has something to be ashamed of and much to be proud of,’ Kletter writes.”
The more truth that comes out about Israeli history, the worse and worse it looks. Israelis and the apologists for Israel are completely incapable of accepting the implications of the hidden history of Israeli war crimes that is slowly being uncovered.
James Fallows reveals that in early 2001, prior to the September 11 attack, one member of Gary Hart’s "U.S. Commission on National Security in the 21st Century" was vehemently pushing the idea that the main security threat to the United States was China, that a military showdown with China was inevitable, and that it should be dealt with immediately. That member was Dick’s wife, Lynne Cheney. Gary Hart – who would have made a superior President, which is why we got to hear about the Donna Rice hanky-panky – said: "I am convinced that if it had not been for 9/11, we would be in a military showdown with China today."
As we are now starting to see, the famous neocon hatred of China is directly connected to the Zionist desire to see the United States as militarized as possible. When the Jews bought Dick, apparently they got a two-for-one deal.
Partition, again
By far the most important reason for the American attack on Iraq was to remove a possible opponent of the Zionist Empire by breaking it into three small statelets. The partition was first raised in public by Leslie Gelb, who jokingly, but accurately, proclaimed that he proposed the idea as “part of the neo-conservative, Zionist, Jewish conspiracy”. The idea keeps reappearing, as if nobody had ever thought of it seriously before, and is always proffered as an idea made necessary by the Iraqis themselves, who just can’t live together peacefully.
The facts are quite different. Despite an attack meant to drive the country apart, a brutal occupation, and the ‘surge’ – a new war intended specifically to give to the Jewish Billionaries the partition that everything else has so far failed to produce – Iraq has held together remarkably well. There are ongoing problems with the ‘democracy’ foisted on the Iraqis by the Americans, but the idea of a united Iraq has survived all the Zionists can throw at it. The fact that the partition idea is being raised again is an early indication that the ‘surge’ is failing in its objective of splitting up the country, yet another in what appears to be a ongoing series of big Zionist losses.
The Israeli attack on the UN peacekeeping outpost ...
TB miracle
Chery Chryslers
You just can't trust the Scots
Benoit Wikipedia coincidence
Obligatory annual Iraq electricity posting
Silver Bullets and the Jackboot Industrial Complex...
Pace yourself: the 'Clean Sweep' strategy for defe...
Continuing amusement
What is the cost of Boris Berezovsky?
Electronic Pearl Harbor, not!
Ashraf Marwan
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That is impossible to sustain
"Henry Kissinger: Jews Are ‘Self-Serving Bastards’" I should immediately note that you can't trust anything said by Henry the K, as his lies tend to reflect what he perceives his audience wants to hear, but one comment, by Gaza Calling, to this typically Jew-centric Gawker posting was interesting (and the reaction of the commentators to someone having the audacity to point out one of the most obvious Jewish tricks to provide more colonialists for Israel so predictable):
"The line about "rescuing Jews stuck behind the Iron Curtain from Soviet oppression" is simpleton talk. In truth, Jews were among the most highly educated sector of the Soviet population and the whole issue about saving them was one of the biggest scams of the 20th century.
The smartest Russians, however, may have been those who stayed behind and through a backroom deal with Yelsin came into possession of all of Russia’s natural resources, making these "oligarchs" the greatest collection of thieves, perhaps, in all of history. That they were even more exclusively Jewish than were our neocons was only, of course, a coincidence, such as, for example, the Pope being Catholic.
If you want read some fascinating Kissenger talk about the ME from the 70s...read this in full...
[www.meforum.org]"
More interesting: read the document at the link, a December 1975 memorandum of conversation between U.S. secretary of state Henry the K and Iraqi foreign minister Sa'dun Hammadi. An example of the kind of lying, sprinkled with obvious truths, practiced by American diplomats, but packed full of zingers (my emphasis in red):
"Hammadi: We, of course, have different views, and I will tell you why. Iraq is part of the Arab world. We believe the United States has been the major factor in building up Israel to what it is today.
Kissinger: True.
Hammadi: It was created in 1948 and could not have lived up to this day without the United States.
Kissinger: The Soviet Union was active then, too.
Hammadi: True. That is why there were some strained relations with the Soviet Union. Our good relations with the Soviet Union are only more recent. The Communists were not popular with the masses then. But the difference is you believe Israel is there to stay. We believe Israel was established by force and is a clear-cut case of colonialism. Israel was established on part of our homeland. You don't believe that. But that is not the whole story. Israel is now a direct threat to Iraq's national security.
Kissinger: How to Iraq?
Hammadi: Israel has built up to a military power that can threaten Iraq, especially with the recent news that we read of the U.S. supplying sophisticated weapons. So it is not only the Arab world that is threatened, and Iraq being part of the Arab world, but Iraq itself. We think the U.S. is building up Israel to have the upper hand in the area. Even Lebanon—they say it affects Israel's security. A strong, powerful, nuclear Israel with the upper hand in the area. Whatever happens in the Arab world is interpreted as a threat to Israel. Even a change in government in Iraq would be interpreted that way.
Kissinger: My impression is if you change your government in Iraq, they won't object. [Laughter]. I understand your problem.
Hammadi: This is my painting of the picture now—up to 1980. You say the United States is bringing all its weight to bring about a settlement. But this is a settlement, not peace. A new wave of troubles and clashes will start because Israel is not a state to stay within what they are. Because if there is an opportunity, they will expand. The record shows it. And they are supported by the biggest power in the area. What the United States is doing is not to create peace but to create a situation dominated by Israel, which will create a new wave of clashes.
Kissinger: I understand what you are saying. When I say we are willing to improve relations with Iraq, we can live without it. But it is our policy to move toward better relations. I think, when we look at history, that when Israel was created in 1948, I don't think anyone understood it. It originated in American domestic politics. It was far away and little understood. So it was not an American design to get a bastion of imperialism in the area. It was much less complicated. And I would say that until 1973, the Jewish community had enormous influence. It is only in the last two years, as a result of the policy we are pursuing, that it has changed.
We don't need Israel for influence in the Arab world. On the contrary, Israel does us more harm than good in the Arab world. You yourself said your objection to us is Israel. Except maybe that we are capitalists. We can't negotiate about the existence of Israel, but we can reduce its size to historical proportions. I don't agree that Israel is a permanent threat. How can a nation of three million be a permanent threat? They have a technical advantage now. But it is inconceivable that peoples with wealth and skill and the tradition of the Arabs won't develop the capacity that is needed. So I think in ten to fifteen years, Israel will be like Lebanon—struggling for existence, with no influence in the Arab world.
You mentioned new weapons. But they will not be delivered in the foreseeable future. All we agreed to is to study it, and we agreed to no deliveries out of current stocks. So many of these things won't be produced until 1980, and we have not agreed to deliver them then.
Our policy is to move our policy towards peace and to improve relations with the Arab world. Iraq is not a negotiator, but I think the policy of Egypt and Syria to improve relations with us helps us to bring pressure for a settlement.
The Israelis like you better than [Egyptian president Anwar] Sadat because they like to put it in terms of a U.S.-Soviet problem. We don't want you to have unfriendly relations with the Soviet Union; we don't interfere in your relations with the Soviet Union. But basically, the Israelis prefer radical Arabs.
If the issue is the existence of Israel, we can't cooperate. But if the issue is more normal borders, we can cooperate.
We have moved toward normalization with others—except Libya. South Yemen, we will move towards.
Hammadi: We are on the other side of the fence. We have the right to ask many questions.
Kissinger: Please.
Hammadi: Given the record, what can make us believe the United States won't continue the policy of the last twenty years of giving unlimited support.
Kissinger: It depends on what you mean by unlimited support. One important change in America … Sabbagh was with me when I saw Faisal for the first time. I told him it would take a few years; we would have to move slowly. I have told all the Arabs this. It has now reached the point in America where attitudes have changed. When I testify to congressional committees, I face increasingly hostile questions about Israel. No one is in favor of Israel's destruction—I won't mislead you—nor am I.
But the support in the 1960s was $200-300 million. Now it is $2-3 billion. That is impossible to sustain. We can't even get it for New York. It is just a matter of time before there is a change—two to three years. After a settlement, Israel will be a small friendly country with no unlimited drawing right. It will be affected by our new electoral law, strangely enough. So the influence of some who financed the elections before isn't so great. This has not been so noticed. It will take a few years before it is fully understood.
So I think the balance in America is shifting. If the Arabs—if I can be frank—don't do anything stupid. If there is a crisis tied to the Soviet Union, groups in America could make it an anticommunist crusade.
Hammadi: So you think the U.S. policy after a settlement wouldn't be the same?
Kissinger: We want the survival of Israel but not dominating the area. No one can conquer the Arab world. Even if they take Damascus, Cairo, and Amman, you will be there, and Libya will be there. So if Israel wants to survive as a state like Lebanon—as a small state—we can support them.
Hammadi: What is the Israeli thinking?
Kissinger: First, they want to get rid of me. Because I made them go back. Second, in 1976, they want to provoke the Arabs—in Lebanon, in Syria—because they think if there is war they can win and create great turmoil. Third, they want to pass legislation in America to antagonize as many Arabs as possible. So we get the anti-boycott, anti-discrimination, anti-arms sales legislation. They hope the Arabs will go back to a situation like 1967-1973 when the Syrians and Egyptians adopt an anti-American line. So they can say they are the only American friend in the Middle East. What they want is what you predict—that they be the only friend. We want other friends, to reduce that argument.
Aide: Your Excellency, do you think a settlement would come through the Palestinians in the area? How do you read it? Is it in your power to create such a thing?
Kissinger: Not in 1976. I have to be perfectly frank with you. I think the Palestinian identity has to be recognized in some form. But we need the thoughtful cooperation of the Arabs. It will take a year or a year and a half to do it and will be a tremendous fight. An evolution is already taking place.
Aide: You think it will be part of a solution?
Kissinger: It has to be. No solution is possible without it. But the domestic situation is becoming favorable. More and more questions are being asked in Congress favorable to the Palestinians.
Hammadi: Do you think a Palestinian state is possible?
Kissinger: We don't exclude it as a matter of principle. You can't do it now.
Hammadi: What about Palestinians who are now refugees? The Palestine area is now crowded—Gaza and the West Bank.
Kissinger: They should have a choice, either to stay where they are or go to a Palestinian state.
Hammadi: You think some in, say, the Galilee area might choose to leave Israel and join the new Palestinian state?
Kissinger: In Galilee?
Hammadi: Arab Israelis.
Kissinger: I have told friends that peace isn't a final end. Wars begin elsewhere between countries that are at peace. Only in the Middle East do wars begin between countries that are at war. But we support the existence of Israel. We draw the line at the destruction of Israel.
Aide: The Palestinians already put aside this idea. This is my personal view. Because the Israelis are trying to buy land in the Galilee area, and there is resistance. The Communist Party in the area is using it in the municipal elections. Is this because the Israelis are looking to the creation of a Palestinian state and want to buy this land?
Kissinger: It could be in their minds. I am not familiar with it.
Aide: This is being used by the Communist Party in the area. The Israelis know you Americans are behind the idea of a Palestinian state.
Kissinger: We have to be careful and move gradually. The Israeli press accuses me. I have said we can't move to the Palestinians until they accept the existence of the State of Israel and Security Council Resolution 242. I have never excluded the recognition of the PLO; I have always tied it to recognition of Israel and 242. The implication is we will do something if they do recognize Israel and 242.
Aide: Kaddumi says: "How can we recognize Israel if they don't recognize the PLO?"
Kissinger: With all respect, what Israel does is less important than what the United States does."
Commies for the 0.01%
Dancing men
"I hate bullies and I love freedom fights"
Umbrella in the sun
"Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the W...
So it always goes
Mubarak in Amerika
The 1%, hard at work
Iran is on everybody's mind
It hits the fan
The Palestinian State
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Infrastructural challenges to better health in maternity facilities in rural Kenya: community and healthworker perceptions
Hildah Essendi1,
Fiifi Amoako Johnson1,
Nyovani Madise1,
Zoe Matthews1,
Jane Falkingham1,
Abubakr S Bahaj2,
Patrick James2 &
Luke Blunden2
The efforts and commitments to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals for maternal and newborn health (MDGs 4 and 5) in low and middle income countries have focused primarily on providing key medical interventions at maternity facilities to save the lives of women at the time of childbirth, as well as their babies. However, in most rural communities in sub-Saharan, access to maternal and newborn care services is still limited and even where services are available they often lack the infrastructural prerequisites to function at the very basic level in providing essential routine health care services, let alone emergency care. Lists of essential interventions for normal and complicated childbirth, do not take into account these prerequisites, thus the needs of most health facilities in rural communities are ignored, although there is enough evidence that maternal and newborn deaths continue to remain unacceptably high in these areas.
This study uses data gathered through qualitative interviews in Kitonyoni and Mwania sub-locations of Makueni County in Eastern Kenya to understand community and provider perceptions of the obstacles faced in providing and accessing maternal and newborn care at health facilities in their localities.
The study finds that the community perceives various challenges, most of which are infrastructural, including lack of electricity, water and poor roads that adversely impact the provision and access to essential life-saving maternal and newborn care services in the two sub-locations.
The findings and recommendations from this study are important for the attention of policy makers and programme managers in order to improve the state of lower-tier health facilities serving rural communities and to strengthen infrastructure with the aim of making basic routine and emergency obstetric and newborn care services more accessible.
Aim of study
Kenya is one of the sub-Saharan African countries lagging behind in reaching the fourth and fifth Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The two most recent (2003 and 2008) Demographic and Health Surveys in the country revealed that the maternal mortality ratio increased from 412 to 488 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with the highest proportions recorded in rural communities [1, 2]. A lack of basic infrastructure including quality water and electricity supply has been associated with poor quality health services in rural Kenya [1, 3]. Only 58 % of all hospitals in the country have an all-year supply of water, while one-quarter have uninterrupted electricity supply [4]. Residents in Eastern province face the most severe shortfalls in basic infrastructure; 40 % of facilities do not have either an uninterrupted electricity supply or a generator with fuel, and not surprisingly, only 42.8 % of women access a skilled attendant at childbirth, often citing long distances to a health facility as a major deterrent [5]. (See Fig. 1 for map of Kenyan provinces).
Map showing Kenyan provinces
Despite the clear lack of essential amenities needed to provide very basic health services in rural Kenya, especially in Eastern province [3], there has been little research to understand the challenges faced by health providers and service users in the provision and access of this care and their perceptions of key infrastructural barriers.
In this study, we use qualitative data collected using key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to explore how community members and their health providers perceive the challenges faced in accessing and providing essential maternal and newborn care services, the coping mechanisms adopted by both providers and service users and their effect on quality of care in two rural communities (Kitonyoni and Mwania) in Eastern Kenya.
Background and rationale for study
It is almost three decades since the launch of the Safe Motherhood Initiative in 1987 when policy-makers declared their intentions and commitments to reduce the high levels of maternal and newborn mortality in developing countries. But, maternal and newborn deaths remain unacceptably high, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where more than one-half (56 %) of all maternal deaths continue to occur [6] and more than 1,000 000 children die within the first month of birth [7] with rural communities bearing the highest burden [6, 7]. In these communities, poor women are confronted with infrastructural challenges, impeding access to health care and consequently, compromising health outcomes [8–11].
Countries with high maternal and newborn deaths need to invest in universal access to essential Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services. that can deliver lifesaving services and interventions facilities [12, 13, 14]. The functionality of health facilities providing maternal and newborn care has been assessed using a set of nine key life-saving interventions often referred to as “signal functions” [15, 16]. Lower-tier health facilities in rural areas require only seven signal functions to be working to qualify as ‘functioning’, but all of these functions require multiple infrastructural support to be operational. Many lack electricity, water, adequate health personnel and in general, rural areas have poor roads that act as barriers in the access and referrals for maternal and newborn care [6, 17–20]. (See Table 1 for the signal functions and their infrastructural requirements).
Table 1 The nine signal functions for maternity facilities and their infrastrutural needs
Poor infrastructural development in sub-Saharan africa, particularly in its rural areas has been cited as the main contributor to the poor progress made in the achievemnt of MDGs 4 and 5 [4, 17, 18, 21, 22]. Rural communities are mainly served with poor roads, inadequate health personnel and face inadequacy in the provision of essential services arising from lack of electricity and adequate water supply particularly in the lower-tier facilities [1, 18, 20, 22, 23]. These areas also experience shortages and unequal distribution of midwives, nurses and doctors, facilitating an inadequacy which puts a strain on the few health workers, overburdening and overstressing them and rendering them incapable of offering adequate and quality care [17, 18, 20, 24–27]. Poor access to affordable and clean energy and adequate water in health facilities in these areas has also been found to be a major contributor to high maternal and child morbidity and mortality in the region [28–33]. Lack of electricity makes it impossible to run cold chains that can store life-saving vaccines [32], while inadequate clean water impacts sanitation where infectious diseases may thrive and spread [27, 28, 34–36]. This situation makes timely and affordable access to the crucial maternal and child health services a challenge [18, 20, 31, 37, 38].
The study was conducted in the Kitonyoni and Mwania sub-locations of Makueni County, Eastern Kenya (Fig. 2). Kitonyoni which has a population of 2590 (1284 males and 1306 females) and comprises of 462 households covers an area approximately 27 square kilometres and is demarcated into 10 administrative villages. Mwania has a population of 3239 (1569 males and 1670 females) made up of 599 households and covers an area approximately 63 square kilometres and it is demarcated into 16 administrative villages. The two study areas which are about 38 km apart were chosen because they are part of a larger study assessing the impact of off-grid electricity on the wellbeing, education and health status of the rural poor in Africa. About 95 % of the roads connecting the two communities are untarred. The area is semi-arid with minimal rainfall between November and December during which the people grow maize, beans, green grams, chickpeas, cowpeas and pigeon peas for subsistence [39].
Map showing Kitonyoni and Mwania study sites
With regards to access to health care, Kenya operates a five-tier health care system. At the apex are the national referral hospitals which are teaching and research hospitals providing advanced diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative care. There are two such hospitals in the country – the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. The nearest such facility to the study area is the Kenyatta National Hospital, located more than 140 and 170 km from Kitonyoni and Mwania, respectively (Fig. 2). The second-tier Provincial Hospitals act as referral facilities to their district hospitals and provide specialised care including intensive and specialist consultations. The Embu Provincial General Hospital is the designated Provincial Hospital serving the Makueni District, located about 165 km from Kitonyoni and 190 km from Mwania.
At the third level are district hospitals which provide integrated curative and rehabilitative care and usually have the resources to provide wide-ranging medical and surgical services including caesarean section and blood transfusion. The Makueni District Hospital located in Wote is the nearest to both study communities, located about 27 and 45 km from Kitonyoni and Mwania, respectively. The fourth-tier of health care provision is the Health Centres which provide ambulatory preventive and curative services, focusing on local needs. The nearest Heath Centres to both communities are the Kathonzweni Health Centre (located 13 km from Kitonyoni and 34 km from Mwania) and the Kitise Health Centre (located 34 km from Kitonyoni and 5 km from Mwania). Dispensaries are the lowest-tier of health care provision in Kenya. These are usually small outpatient facilities managed by Community Enrolled Nurses and supervised by a Nursing Officer from the nearest Health Centre. Kitonyoni and Mwania are each served by one dispensary. With regards to essential maternal and newborn care, the nearest EmONC facility where maternal and newborn complications are often referred is the Makueni District Hospital.
The data for the analysis come from qualitative interviews conducted in Kitonyoni and Mwania with the primary aim of understanding challenges faced in providing and accessing essential obstetric and newborn care services. This data collection was part of a bigger study in the two communities investigating the impact of off-grid electricity on health and wellbeing. Data were collected through FGDs with mothers and partners and key informant interviews with health care providers and community leaders. In total, 12 FGDs (6 in each site) and 4 key informant interviews (2 in each site) were conducted (Table 2). Each FGD comprised between 10 and 12 respondents selected using both stratified and purposive sampling techniques from the 10 and 16 villages in Kitonyoni and Mwania respectively. Using the E4D sampling frame of all members of the two communities, one respondent from each of the FGD categories (Table 2) was sampled from each village and formed the groups. This selection process was adopted in order to ensure that all the villages were represented in the data collected. The KII health providers were individuals in charge of the two health facilities in the two study sites while the two leaders of the two communities comprised the other KIIs. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the University of Southampton’s Ethics Committee as well as from the Kenya Medical Research Institute’s Ethics Committee. Informed consent was obtained from participants before discussions were held. Data collection was undertaken between March and May 2011.
Table 2 Study respondents
The FGDs and key informant interviews were conducted using interview guides developed by the researchers. KII respondents were approached at their offices while each FGD conducted comprised participants sampled from each of the villages in the two communities in order to balance the views emerging from the service users. FGDs were conducted in the local Kamba dialect to enable respondents to freely express themselves, whilst the key informant interviews were conducted in English because the respondents could competently express themselves in English. All the interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English where necessary. The mothers interviewed were aged between 18 and 59 years, whilst the partners were between 18 and 60 years old. NVivo9 software was used for the analysis [40]. In some instances, verbatim quotations have been used to illustrate responses on relevant issues and themes.
Livelihoods of study communities
The main economic activities in the sub-locations include subsistence agriculture, beekeeping, small scale trade and subsistence goat farming. The area is typified of acute food insecurity during the long dry spells contributing to high dependency of a large proportion of the population on government or donor food aid [41].
Respondents’ characteristics
Table 3 gives a summary of the respondents’ personal characteristics. From this table, a majority of those responding in the study had either pre-primary or primary level of education. In addition, most of the respondents engage either in farming or in small business activities as a means of earning a livelihood, a situation that mirrors the community’s state of livelihood.
Table 3 Respondent characteristics
The state of maternal and newborn care
It emerged that health care providers and service users in Kitonyoni and Mwania are confronted with many infrastructural challenges in providing and accessing quality maternal and newborn care services. There was overwhelming consensus within and between the FGDs as well as the key informant interviews that the main challenges adversely impacting provision and access to quality maternal and newborn care include inadequate qualified health personnel, lack of adequate transportation and poor roads, lack of quality and adequate water and electricity as well as abject poverty in the communities. In each of the dispensaries that serve the two communities, there is one trained health personnel, supported by untrained health assistants (2 in Kitonyoni and 1 in Mwania). The trained health personnel in both facilities hold a Certificate in Nursing accredited as Kenya Enrolled Community Health Nurses. They are trained in the basic skills to manage normal pregnancies, childbirth and postpartum care as well as to educate and mobilise community resources to support health care provision at the local level. The facilities lack qualified doctors and highly qualified nurses to meet the challenging demand for high quality care, a situation reported to be adversely affecting provision and access to quality maternity and newborn care by both the service providers and users.
Both service providers and users reported the lack of capacity by the two health facilities to provide round-the-clock services due to inadequate staffing and lack of resources to operate at night. It was reported that the health facilities have to shut anytime the Enrolled Nurses attend meetings or when they are on annual leave. In case of the later, the facilities are sometimes shut for up to one month continually, a situation reported by service users as frustrating and inconveniencing as they are often forced to seek health care elsewhere:
“…like now if the nurse is on leave, the hospital here is closed for one month, so we have to travel all the way to Kitise and when it is an emergency we are referred to Wote. We go through many problems when transporting a patient to Kitise or Wote. If we do not do it, the person may die.” [Partner, FGD, 40–60 years, Mwania].
The inadequacy of health personnel affected service providers both professionally and socially as they were compelled to work extra hours to meet the demands of the community. This included working both during the day and also being called on at night or when on leave to attend to emergency cases arising in the community. It was easier for the service seekers in Kitonyoni to access services from the health worker in Kitonyoni, compared to those in Mwania, as nurse in Kitonyoni resided closer to the facility making it easier for the community to access her even at night. The service provider for Mwania however resided at Kitise, a distance of 5 km from Mwania, making it difficult for the community to access his services during out-of-office hours due to the unavailability of transport facilities.
These challenges sometimes compel service users to resort to alternative care, often from untrained Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). At times they opt for self-medication or decide not to seek care at all. Most women services users reported that seeking care from TBAs was a more desirable alternative because they are guaranteed the TBAs will always be available to provide care and support. However, the health personnel reported that the women sometimes encounter serious complications, which are often delayed because of dependence on TBAs. They reported that TBAs sometimes employ dangerous practices, such administration of herbal concoctions, manually changing the baby’s position in the womb which sometimes leads to antepartum haemorrhage as well as using very hot water to aid contractions, putting the life of both mother and child at risk.
Another major challenge highlighted by all those responding in this study is the lack of electricity, a situation that makes it difficult to provide round-the-clock services as well as many basic but essential maternal and newborn services. It was reported that the health facility in Kitonyoni generates lighting through the use of paraffin; there was no heating and onsite sterilisation facilities, while refrigeration was powered by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The Mwania health facility on the other hand has no lighting facility, relies on LPG for heating, refrigeration and sterilisation of equipment. The cost of LPG was reported to be co-shared between the community and the District Health Office. However, stock outs were reported to be common due to bureaucratic protocol in releasing funds and also in cases where the community is unable to meet its share of the cost, particularly when health care fees collected from patients are inadequate.
The lack of electricity as reported by the health personnel poses a major challenge when conducting deliveries, particularly at night. They pointed out that they often have to rely on torch lights, lamps or feeble lights from mobile phones when performing deliveries. The health providers expressed their frustration of attending to birthing women at night in the captions below:
“At night, I usually place the lamp either on a carton box like this one, or on another bed or somewhere raised. It is very challenging because I cannot keep on calling relatives of the mothers to come and assist me like with holding the lamp, because I am all alone here” [Nurse, Key Informant Interview]
“…sometimes I use a torch. It is very difficult to hold it and sometimes I am forced to hold the torch in the mouth as I conduct the delivery. This is because, if you have gloved yourself ready to conduct a delivery, it is difficult to hold the torch at the same time” [Nurse, Key Informant Interview]
A recognisance of the dispensaries and discussions with the health personnel revealed that none of the nine signal functions were in place at both facilities to cater for maternal and newborn complications. The lack of electricity was cited as the main challenge to providing any of the nine signal functions. It was mentioned that although most antibiotics can be given orally, e.g. amoxicillin tablets, those that require intravenous administration including uterotonics were not available at the facilities since they are required to be stored at temperatures of between 2 and 8° Celsius to maintain their efficacy. The health facilities could not provide these services due to the lack of electricity for refrigeration. Resuscitation and assisted delivery could not be performed at the two facilities due to the lack of oxygen masks and suction machines which also require electricity to function. In addition, the health providers lack the skill to perform complex resuscitations. Instead, they resort to rudimentary and traditional techniques, as described by a health provider:
“I do not perform resuscitation here because we do not have oxygen masks. There is no electricity here to operate these machines. I can only use the local methods…locally we make noise near the baby so that the baby can be shocked into waking up. For complex resuscitation, this is given through the umbilical cord, so if needed I usually call for help from health workers from Kathonzweni Health Centre, but this is very far…” [Nurse, Key Informant Interview]
The magnitude of lack of apparatus to provide basic maternal and newborn care services in the facilities was further described by a service provider in the quote below:
“…there are too many problems in this hospital, like shortage of drugs, lack of working materials e.g. delivery kits, suction machines [forceps or a ventouse suction cup] for babies who are asphyxiated [tired when being born], we do not have machines to suck the secretions, we do not have stitching kits and autoclaves to sterilise used instruments” [Nurse, Key Informant Interview]
In addition, service providers reported that the health facilities are not able to provide regular routine services requiring refrigeration such as immunisations, where medicines are required to be stored in cold chains. Although both facilities had refrigerators, they were not in operation most of the time due to gas stock-outs. In such circumstances, vaccines are either transferred to nearest facilities with functioning refrigerators or discarded and mothers referred to other facilities for immunisation of their children. This results in feelings of frustration from service users as expressed:
“…we are not able to immunise our children, we are told the drugs have to be put in a fridge [require refrigeration] but here there is no electricity, so they cannot keep the drugs here so we have to go to another facility…“[Mothers, FGD, 25–39 years, Kitonyoni]
Acute water shortage particularly in the dry season was also reported by both the service providers and users as a major challenge to providing and accessing maternal and newborn care services. As indicated earlier, the main source of water for the two facilities is rainwater. It was reported that the health facilities harvest abundant rainwater during the rainy season, but storage facilities are limited thereby resulting in severe shortages during the long dry season. The dry period as reported is characterised by long trekking to water sources, reliance on poor quality water and purchasing of water at exorbitant prices to cater for the needs of their households. At the health facilities, health providers are often forced either to go without water, or use poor quality water as they are often unable to afford purifying chemicals. In addition, the scarcity of water poses serious hygiene and sanitation problems in the two facilities, especially during the provision of delivery services. It was reported that water shortages sometimes becomes so acute that it is difficult to get water for hand washing, cleaning delivery surfaces (which is a normal table that sometimes acts as a bed for examining patients) and cleaning cutting equipment, exposing mothers and newborns to infections, a frustration expressed by a service provider in the quote below:
“After delivery, this place gets really soiled, there is no running tap water in here to clean the room, there is no water for mothers to take a shower after delivery…” [Nurse, Key Informant Interview].
The lack of electricity and quality water also adversely impacts the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel at the health facilities. It was reported that qualified personnel are often not motivated to work in such deprived areas as the lack of electricity and water not only impacts their work at the facility but at home, they are often compelled to use alternative sources of energy and poor quality water.
Accessing maternal and newborn referral services
The deprived state of the Kitonyoni and Mwania health facilities necessitates that pregnant and postpartum women seek referral services in better-equipped health facilities in the case of complications. Infrastructural challenges including the lack of adequate transport facilities and poor quality roads act as serious impediments to seeking referral care, often with adverse outcomes. This is compounded by poor road connectivity characterised by hills and rivers during the rainy season. The nearest referral district hospital (Makueni District Hospital in Wote) although located only 27 km from Kitonyoni and 45 km from Mwania, it was reported that on average it takes about three hours to travel to the facility due to the poor nature of the connecting roads, particularly during the rainy seasons. Due to the fact that there is no motorised ambulance serving the dispensaries, patients often use a combination of commercial motorbike, mini-bus and taxi to make this journey. It emerged that mini-bus operations were infrequent (operates only twice during the day). Taxi services were said to be very expensive (between Ksh. 2000 and Ksh. 4000; equivalent of $23-$46 for a one way journey) and often has to be called from Wote where the district hospital is located. In such circumstances, the woman or her family were not only faced with delays in getting to the hospital, but were also often made to pay for the double journey. As one young mother described:
“…like now, there are transport difficulties, in case there is a need for referral, we do not have a vehicle here, we have to call for taxi from Wote and it is very far and expensive” [Mother, FGD, 18–24 years, Mwania]
The health providers bemoaned that the difficulties of seeking referral services sometimes lead to fatalities or near-misses, particularly where mothers delay in seeking hospital care, as indicated in the quote below:
“When I first started working here, there was a woman who had been in labour for 2 ½ days without delivering… we decided to refer her, but there was no transport and the family did not have money for taxi. I decided to use my money to take a taxi because there was no matatu [public transport] operating. There was so much rain and we got there too late. The woman died shortly after delivery, but the baby survived” [Nurse, Key Informant Interview]
Such occurrences do have a devastating impact on the family, as one husband who recently lost a wife iterated sorrowfully:
“When I lost my wife, I was left with the baby and this is very hard life because I have to be both the father and mother. Now the baby is bigger [grown] but things were difficult in the beginning because I had to buy milk for the baby and I do not have a job” [Partner, FGD, 18–24 years, Mwania].
The respondents also recounted that the poor road quality and lack of adequate transportation further lead to hikes in transportation prices, particularly at night and during the rainy season. This is further made worse if the health of the woman is so bad that she cannot walk and a commercial motorbike has to be hired to take her to the main road. The patient’s condition as was reported by mothers is often exacerbated by the discomfort of the motorbikes due to the rough terrain. Considering that the cost of taxi from the two study communities to Wote ranges between 2000 and 4000 Kenyan Shillings ($23-$46), very few are able to afford. This is reinforced by a woman respondent in this quote:
“From here to Wote we have to pay Ksh. 2000 for taxi just to take you there. We cannot afford this, so if there is no matatu [public transport], we just have to resort to other means [alternative treatment]” [Mother, FGD, 25–39 years, Kitonyoni].
The health providers iterated that one of the major complications they face which requires speedy referral care is severe bleeding. They noted that a woman experiencing severe bleeding could die within two hours if not attended to, even if she is in good health. They reported that the health facilities do not have blood transfusion facilities, neither are they able to store oxytocin (as they are most effective when stored in cold chains, given the aridity of the area) to administer after childbirth to effectively reduce the risk of bleeding. It was reported that this often leads to fatalities and near-misses, as even in cases where women are referred to the district hospital, they are less likely to get to the referral facility within two hours due to the poor roads, lack of transport and exorbitant transport costs.
Poor transport facilities ultimately impacts not just referrals, but also access to the necessary hospital supplies, often resulting in stock-outs of essential medicines. In such situations, the health care providers are not able to offer essential services. Sometime they have to access supplies themselves using commercial motorbikes, in which case the dispensary has to shut for the time the providers are away from the facilities.
Community perceptions of transport infrastructure as a barrier to accessing care
It was evident from the study that financial cost, both health and non-health expenditures (e.g. consultation and admission fees, cost of medicines and transportation) are major barriers to accessing maternal and newborn care services in the study communities. Maternal and newborn care services expenditure as reported by respondents do exacerbate poverty not only through the expenditure incurred but also through loan negotiations to solicit for funds to pay for services. In some cases women forgo care to avoid the financial costs. In this regard, it was reported that only few relatively well-to-do households in the community are able to access health care from better-equipped facilities located in the district capital (Wote). Frequent drug stock-outs in the health facilities require that pregnant and postpartum women often have to purchase prescribed medication, a situation that is often not affordable for the poor in the community. One partner expressed his helplessness in this quote:
“…you are prescribed drugs to go and buy…With my meagre income I will struggle to pay for the services and sometimes one is forced to go back home with my wife without the treatment” [Partner FGD, 39–60 years Kitonyoni].
The aim of this study was to examine the infrastructural challenges of providing and accessing basic maternal and newborn care services in the remote rural communities of Kitonyoni and Mwania in Eastern Kenya. It is widely acknowledged that accelerating progress to the UN maternal and newborn health targets (MDGs 4 and 5) in low and middle income countries requires that barriers limiting access to essential and quality maternal and newborn care services are identified and addressed at all levels of the health system. The efforts and commitments to address this issue has focused primarily on providing access to life-saving interventions based on the nine signal functions proposed by the World Health Organisation [16]. The lowest-tier of health facilities which serve remote rural communities often lack the prerequisites to function at the very basic level of providing routine services. The basic needs of these facilities are not captured in the nine signal functions, thus it is imperative to identify and understand the challenges of providing and accessing basic maternal and newborn care services in these communities so as to alert policy makers and programme managers to their needs.
The findings from this study confirm that the challenges of providing basic and routine maternal and newborn care services are not restricted to those described in the nine signal functions. These challenges include personnel and infrastructural shortcomings such as poor quality roads and lack of transportation, lack of electricity and quality water as well as poverty, often exacerbated by the cost of accessing maternal and newborn care services. Although the factors identified in this study concur with others studies in sub-Saharan Africa [42–45], it has provided further insights into the challenges of providing and accessing basic maternal and newborn services in rural communities, which are often not covered in national level intervention strategies and programme actions.
The findings from this study clearly show that the needs of these communities are not only prerequisites for proving basic or comprehensive EmONC services, but also for providing routine services in lower-tier health facilities. The findings shows that these facilities are not capable of providing round-the-clock services as well as basic but essential maternal and newborn services including routine immunisations and ensuring hygienic delivery. This was attributed to inadequate skilled personnel and infrastructural challenges including the lack of energy to power cold chains and sterilise equipment. The unavailability of reliable water supply for performing clean births expose women and newborns to tetanus and sepsis, conditions highly associated with maternal and neonatal mortality [32]. Although the World Health Organisation recommends that maternal and newborn services should be available round the clock, it is evident that service provisions in these communities are contrary to these recommendations [23].
The findings further suggest that the unavailability of round-the-clock services compel women to seek care from unskilled providers such as TBAs. Although evidence in some studies show that TBAs are often crucial in filling the gap that the unavailability of qualified health providers can fill, some practices adopted by some of them sometimes lead to adverse outcomes [45]. The lack of electricity and quality water supply also affects recruitment and retention of qualified health personnel in the communities. Yet, the United Nations recognises that providing basic necessities such as clean water and reliable electricity can attract qualified health personnel to rural areas thereby improving access to crucial maternal and child health services [46].
The poor state of maternal and newborn care services in the study communities necessitates that women often seek referral services from the district hospital. The poor nature of the connecting roads and lack of adequate and reliable transportation are major impediments to accessing timely referral care. This is made worse during the rainy seasons and also at nights as transport providers hike their fares beyond what most members of the community can afford. The unavailability of ambulance services requires that pregnant women are conveyed by inappropriate transport including commercial motorbikes and taxis, often exacerbating their already poor health. Delays in getting pregnant women to the referral facility sometimes lead to fatalities and near-misses. The poor nature of roads and transport facilities also affects hospital supplies, often resulting in stock-outs of essential medicines.
These challenges are compounded by the level of poverty experienced in the communities and the high expenditure involved in seeking health care. This is often aggravated by loan negotiations that households have to undertake to solicit for funds to care for pregnant women and newborns. The challenges of providing and accessing maternal and newborn care services in these rural communities are interrelated such that they effect each other or act together to increase the vulnerability of an already poor and vulnerable community. This finding concur with other studies in rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa which reported that the poor continue to pay more for health-related services due to poor infrastructural development and under-resourced health facilities [47].
There is clear evidence that progress towards the fourth and fifth MDGs has been slow in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In some cases the progress has either stalled or is retrogressing as is the case of Kenya [2, 23]. Despite the recent spotlight on increasing urbanization, majority of Kenya’s population resides in rural areas and United Nations projections show that by 2025, a majority of the population (53 %) will still reside in rural Kenya [48] indicating the need to focus on improving the health of this segment of the population.
This study has shown that in rural communities where maternal and newborn deaths remain unacceptably high, the lack of the nine signal functions are not the only challenges to the low-tier health facilities providing services in these communities. Prerequisites such as reliable electricity, quality water and road networks, appropriate transportation facilities and adequate qualified health personnel are equally essential for providing basic routine services which these facilities are designated to provide. Thus, removing barriers to maternal and newborn care should not only focus on the provision of the nine signal functions and fee exemptions but also on improvement of infrastructure to facilitate provision and access to care as well as attracting skilled health personnel to rural areas. Improving infrastructure in rural areas also has the potential to reduce out-of-pocket costs for seeking skilled maternal and newborn care.
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The authors acknowledge the financial support from RCUK energy programme, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department for International Development (DfID) that enabled the collection of the data used in this Energy4Development study titled “Replication of Rural Decentralised off-grid Electricity Generation through Technology and Business Innovation” (grant no. EP/G06394X/1). The lead authors’ time was also covered by the grant, as well as proportions of the research time for all other authors. We would also like to acknowledge members of the Kitonyoni and Mwania communities where the data was collected, and Petra ten Hoope Bender (Independent Consultant Women’s Health and Development) for advice on the Signal Functions and their relation to electricity provision.
Department of Social Statistics and Demography, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, UK
Hildah Essendi
, Fiifi Amoako Johnson
, Nyovani Madise
, Zoe Matthews
& Jane Falkingham
Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, UK
Abubakr S Bahaj
, Patrick James
& Luke Blunden
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Correspondence to Hildah Essendi.
HE participated in the conceptualization of data collection, data collection and did the analysis of data, the literature review, wrote the first draft of the paper and reviewed the final draft. NM, ZM, JF,PAJ and AB conceptualised the study and participated in conceptualization of data collection, literature review, and review of the paper. FAJ participated in the literature review, writing of the manuscript and review of the final paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Essendi, H., Johnson, F.A., Madise, N. et al. Infrastructural challenges to better health in maternity facilities in rural Kenya: community and healthworker perceptions. Reprod Health 12, 103 (2015) doi:10.1186/s12978-015-0078-8
Service User
Poor Road
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danhalen
About Dan Halen
So far Dan Halen has created 658 blog entries.
Pro-shot footage of Metallica playing “Dream No More”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb772B31FXE Metallica played the crap outta their new song, "Dream No More" in Mexico City. Enjoy this not-cell phone shot footage!
By Dan Halen|2017-03-09T07:20:29-06:00March 9th, 2017|Rock News|0 Comments
A Helicopter Looks Like It’s Flying Without Its Blades Moving
Someone in New York posted footage of a helicopter that looks like it's flying even though its blades aren't moving. The camera's shutter speed was synched with the rotor, so that's why.
By Dan Halen|2017-03-06T05:56:02-06:00March 6th, 2017|AS SEEN ON THE RADIO|0 Comments
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler Didn’t Get “This Is Spinal Tap”
Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry revealed that frontman Steven Tyler didn’t get “This Is Spinal Tap” when he saw it for the first time. “This Is Spinal Tap” is a 1984 mockumentary and followed the trials and tribulations of the semi-fictional band Spinal Tap. Joe recommended “The Is Spinal Tap” to Steven, but he didn’t see [...]
By Dan Halen|2017-03-03T08:56:10-06:00March 3rd, 2017|Rock News|0 Comments
The Girl from “The Ring” Climbs Out of a TV at an Electronics Store
The new movie "Rings" comes out next Friday. It's the new sequel to the horror movie "The Ring" . . . where the girl with long dark hair climbs out of a TV. And there's a new YouTube video where the producers prank people by making it happen in real life. They pranked people at [...]
By Dan Halen|2017-01-24T07:02:10-06:00January 24th, 2017|AS SEEN ON THE RADIO|0 Comments
he Intro from “The Office” . . . with Donald Trump
Someone re-did the intro from "The Office", and replaced shots of Steve Carell with shots of Donald Trump. And all the other characters are conservatives like Mike Pence and Paul Ryan.
A Man Went Sledding with His Cat
WHO are these people with all the awesome cats I see online? The only thing my cat is good for is tripping me every morning and staring at me with disdain when I call her name. A video of a guy going sledding with his CAT blew up on YouTube over the weekend. It just [...]
Three Doors Down To Play Donald Trump Celebration Concert
Three Doors Down announced they will be playing a Donald Trump inauguration celebration concert on Thursday. They won’t be playing at the actual inauguration on Friday, but will appear at a concert called, “The Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration.” Other acts & celebs include Toby Keith, Jon Voight, Big & Rich and more. The [...]
By Dan Halen|2017-01-16T05:28:47-06:00January 16th, 2017|Rock News|0 Comments
Soundgarden, Def Leppard, The Offspring Will All Perform At Rocklahoma
Soundgarden, Def Leppard, Stone Sour, The Offspring and Ratt will all perform at the Rocklahoma Festival, which takes place May 26th-28th. The three-day festival features three stages and over 50 bands. Other bands performing include Seether, Three Days Grace, The Cult, Skillet and more. A special pre-sale begins today at 10 a.m. Central Time. Regular [...]
By Dan Halen|2017-01-10T05:54:15-06:00January 10th, 2017|Uncategorized|0 Comments
Metallica Will No Longer Play More Than 50 Shows A Year
Metallica frontman James Hetfield said the band will no longer play more than 50 shows a year. Hetfield said his body and voice need more time to rest compared to when the band first started touring. He said people keep telling him 50 shows a year is a lot, but it’s nothing compared to what [...]
WATCH: Jim Carrey Performs With Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper performed at his annual New Year's Eve benefit show in Maui and Jim Carrey joined him on stage for “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and "School's Out."
By Dan Halen|2017-01-09T06:47:55-06:00January 9th, 2017|Rock News|0 Comments
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Elton John, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Wells Fargo Arena, June 11th, 2020
Wells Fargo Arena · Thu, Jun 11, 2020 @ 07:00 PM
Elton John, the number one top-performing solo male artist, announced he’s coming to Des Moines to the Wells Fargo Arena on June 11 as part of his sold out Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour kicked off to sold-out crowds in September 2018 and has received rave reviews in every market. Taking the audience on a magical journey through his career, the show features some of Elton’s most beloved songs from his legendary catalogue including, “Bennie and the Jets,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer,” and “Philadelphia Freedom.” Elton’s music has taken him to many places, opened many doors and inspired many passions in his life. The audience will experience a rare glimpse into Elton’s life and the deeply personal meaning behind some of his greatest hits, with mesmerizing, never-before-seen photos and videos shown throughout the show from his incredible 50-year career.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, October 18 at 10am at www.Hy-VeeTix.xom. Tickets and VIP packages can be purchased at EltonJohn.com.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, October 10 at 10am local time through Monday, October 14 at 10pm local time.
A limited number of exclusive VIP packages will also be available starting Thursday, October 10 at 10am local time. These exclusive offers can include premium tickets, on-stage photo opportunities at Elton John’s piano, backstage tours, limited-edition lithographs, custom merchandise and much more.
The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour presale is powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan; a fan-first technology that was built to help artists combat ticket bots and get tickets into the hands of fans that intend to go to the event. Tickets for this event will be available through registration using Ticketmaster Verified Fan. Verified Fan registration is available now through Friday, October 11at10pm local time. Verified TM fan presale will begin Tuesday, October 15 at 10am and run through Wednesday, October 16 at 10pm local time, supplies are limited. For more information and to register in advance, visit EltonJohn.com.
In the course of his three-year FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD worldwide tour, promoted by AEG Presents, Elton John plans to visit North America multiple times. Please visit EltonJohn.com often for new concert announcements
ABOUT ELTON JOHN:
Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity as the number 1 top-performing solo male artist. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 1 diamond, 38 platinum or multi-platinum, and 26 gold albums, over 50 Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. He holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997”, which sold over 33 million copies. ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, reached the Top 5 of the UK album charts on its release in November 2017, becoming Elton’s 40th UK Top 40 album in the process. This release celebrated 50 years of his song writing partnership with Bernie Taupin. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history, having logged 67 entries, including nine No. 1s and 27 Top 10s.
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Rumors from the ATG NewsChannel 6/2/14
by Tom Gilson | Jun 1, 2014 | 0 comments
Featured Posts, News & Announcements, Rumors | Featured Posts, NewsChannel Originals
Hot off the presses! Innovative just announced that it has acquired VTLS!! According to the press release “As part of the transition, VTLS flagship products will be re-branded, incorporating the company name into the product name including VTLS-Virtua, VTLS-VITAL, and VTLS-Chamo Discovery.”
And be on the lookout for an interview with Innovative CEO Kim Massana in a future issue of Against the Grain!
Oh! And in case you missed it in today’s News You Need to Start the Week, Stanford University’s HighWire Press received a significant growth equity investment from Accel-KKR.
I have to confess that I am pulling for California Chrome (the horse!) to win the Belmont Stakes this Saturday, June 7! It has been way too long since we had a Triple Crown winner (Affirmed, 1978) . Plus everyone loves an underdog (or underhorse) which California Chrome is. Not from Kentucky or horse country in the East. Here’s hoping!
I must be into competitive races these days. Saw that in partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway(IMS),IUPUI University Library brings 100 years of track history to life through a collection of free online audio stories. The short oral histories offer race insights and commentary and are accompanied by photographs of some of the most important moments in the life of the Indianapolis 500 I have only been to one car race but I do know that the astute Bob Molyneux (Dr.Data) and awesome Stuart Grinnell (Ambassador) are big racing fans. And these oral race summaries expand on a one of a kind digital repository that captures the history of IMS through more than 14,000 images taken from 1879 to 2013. Thanks to grants from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library services and administered by the Indiana State Library, the photographs can be viewed on the IUPUI University Library’s website. Just Google: Digital Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
On the book side, was reading The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst by David Nasaw which is a fascinating book. But I had to put it down to read an old mystery that caught my eye. Minute for Murder was written by Nicholas Blake (1948), a pseudonym for Cecil Day-Lewis (the father of Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis, food writer and journalist Tamasin Day-Lewis, and TV critic and writer Sean Day-Lewis). Cecil Day-Lewis was poet laureate, succeeding John Masefield. I have been reading biographies, and I had deserted mysteries which are my real love, but this rekindled my love of mysteries!
People in the News 6/2/14
News You Need to Start the Week
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Major Changes Coming to MLB for Trade Deadline, Rosters
Frank Klose
When Spring Training breaks, there will be some new rules in MLB (Frank Klose/Sports Talk Philly)
The Phillies took full advantage of the "September call-up" rule last season, and also made some moves during the month of August to add players to their active roster. This year, however, the Phillies will not be able to do either to the extent they did last season. Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have agreed to a number of changes for the 2019 baseball season that will mean teams will have to do business much differently this season.
The first major rule change, the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline will become the trade deadline, period. That means there will be no more August trades through the waiver process. So for the 2018 Phillies, they would not have been able to acquire first baseman Justin Bour, pitcher Luis Avilan and outfielder Jose Bautista.
The 2008 Phillies notably acquired key reliever Scott Eyre and bench bat Matt Stairs in August deals. Both players helped the Phillies win the World Series. Neither would have been eligible to be traded in August under the new rules.
The move could make the July 31 trade deadline even more active, as teams try to set their roster for the postseason.
Additionally, the "September call-ups" will be greatly diminished. Teams may expand the roster in September to just 28 players, instead of having every player on a team's 40-man roster eligible. The Phillies in 2018 at one point had all 40 players active. That means 12 there will be fewer active players for the Phillies in September, 2019.
Additionally, major league rosters will expand to 26 players in 2020. The Phillies, who have moved to a 13-man bullpen, will now have the option for a second back-up infielder and second back-up outfielder, lessening the burden on some roster spots and the need for reserve players to play all over the diamond.
Finally, a $1 million bonus will be attached to the home run derby. Hopefully this means more players will be willing to participate.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic broke the news and Jeff Passan of ESPN had additional information.
Source: Major Changes Coming to MLB for Trade Deadline, Rosters
Filed Under: MLB, Roster Size, trade deadline
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Catalyst architecture1
Interview with Richardo Scofidio, Diller Scifidio + Renfro
Producer: Hans Kiib
THE HIGH LINE – A New Architectural Typology
At just over 10 meters above street level, the High Line extends three kilometers through three districts of Southwestern Manhattan in New York. It consists of simple steel construction, and previously served as an elevated rail line connection between Penn Station on 34th Street and the many factories and warehouses on Gansevoort Street. Today the High Line is a beautiful park covered with new tiles, viewing platforms and smaller recreational areas. The park bridge has simple, uniform, urban fittings and features a variety of flowering plants, grasses, shrubs and trees from around the world.
The High Line project has been carried out as part of an open conversion strategy. The result is a remarkable urban architectural project, which works as a catalyst for the urban development of Western Manhattan. The greater project includes the restoration and reuse of many old industrial buildings in close proximity to the park bridge and new projects being added to fit the context. The outcome is a conglomeration of non-contemporary urban activities along the High Line, where mechanical workshops, small wholesale stores. etc. mix with new exclusive residential buildings, eminent cafés, and galleries. With the High Line, a new urban architectural typology has been created that is aesthetically enriching and sets new standards for urban transformation and urban life.
“The park accommodates the wild, the cultivated, the intimate and the social. Access points are durational experiences designed to prolong the transition from the frenetic pace of city streets to the slow, otherworldly landscape above” (http://www.dsrny.com/, November 2012).
High Line, West Manhattan, New York
Initial program: Initially constructed as an elevated freight railroad, inaugurated in 1934. Closed as railroad in 1981.
New program: Elevated park space with footpath, recreational areas, viewing platforms
Architects: Restoration and new design: James Corner Field Operation Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Piet Oudolf 2007-2015
Client: New York City with support from Friends of the High Line and several private sponsors
Opened to the public: 1st and 2nd sections were opened to the public 2008 -2011, while the 3rd section was opened in 2014
Operation and maintenance: New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Cost: 300 million USD/ 242 million EUR
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« Rihanna and the n-word
Ngugi wa Thiong’o: The Language of African Literature »
The BET Fallacy
Tue Dec 27th 2011 by abagond
The BET Fallacy is my name for the false idea that blacks in America are somehow in control of their image – on television, in Hollywood, in the news, in the history books and all the rest.
Whites, with a straight face, will quote Chris Rock or point to a music video by some rapper to prove something about black people. Even Mark Twain thought minstrel shows, the BET of his day, were true-to-life.
The fallacy achieves its clearest, most laughable form when BET (a “black” television channel in America) is used to prove something about black people. As if black people owned BET, as if BET were a 24-hour-a-day National Geographic documentary on Black America.
Meet the owners:
A white man, Sumner Redstone, owns most of BET:
As of 2011 six companies produce 90% of what Americans read, watch and listen to:
Sumner Redstone owns the first two, thereby owning BET through Viacom. Here is who runs the other four companies:
Rupert Murdoch, Jeffrey Bewkes, Jeffrey Immelt and Bob Iger, in that order – white men all.
Meet the demographic:
Without a white audience it is hard to make it big:
Hip hop music did not make it big till it crossed over to white audiences. And when it did the image of blacks became far more stereotyped and degrading.
Alice Walker did not make it big till she was championed by white feminist professors. No accident that she says little about white people or racism in “The Color Purple”.
Rented Negroes: Most black talking heads you see on television are well to the right of ordinary black people.
What about blogs? Because of the low barriers to entry, they can present a truer picture of blacks: blacks can write for themselves and say almost anything they want. But their audiences are small and even they can present only part of the picture: to blog you need a computer, Internet service and, most precious of all, the time to write regularly. That means most bloggers are middle-class.
So most of what Americans read, watch or listen to is either:
Produced by white men (that is why most heroes in films are white men even though only a third of America is white and male) or it
Appeals to white people.
That means the image of black people becomes heavily stereotyped. Those stereotypes are not informed by the latest sociological studies but rather the needs of white people to feel good about themselves. Some of those stereotypes go way back to slave times.
For over 200 years White Americans have paid money to see blacks degraded. They find it entertaining for some reason. It started with blackface and the minstrel shows and continues down to this day.
For example: Some blacks say they want to reclaim the n-word, yet most black entertainers who use that word are mainly saying it to a white audience whose motives are very different.
Blacks according to American television
The Vast Talking Machine
Rented Negroes
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 20:17:30 mochasister
No wonder it is so hard to find positive images of just regular everyday Black people. This is one of the reasons why I haven’t been watching t.v. much this past year. This and the fact that every other show seems to be a damn reality program.
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 20:36:49 bruna
thats the way life goes
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 20:47:46 sam
good post. Like they always say: follow the money. There is the answer usually.
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 20:53:17 Ankhesen Mié
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 21:30:42 brothawolf
This is what I’ve been saying for years.
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 22:02:46 Shady_Grady
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 22:28:25 The Janitor
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 23:18:25 Matari
“Sumner Redstone owns the first two, thereby owning BET through Viacom. Here is who runs the other four companies: Rupert Murdoch, Jeffrey Bewkes, Jeffrey Immelt and Bob Iger, in that order – white men all.”
This would largely explain why I seldom watch ANYTHING broadcast on that IDIOT box. There’s very little worth watching!
(Oh.. No offense to idiots..)
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 23:32:08 Nom De Plume
I can think of many occasions where I have been stopped at a traffic light and heard some rap or hip hop song blaring, the bass turned up so high I could feel it vibrating in my chest. I look over not to see a black guy, but a young white one with his cap on backwards, leaning back in the driver’s seat with his wrist on the steering wheel. As far as hip hop and rap are concerned, young white males make up a huge percentage of the consumers of these genres. I think the age demographic is 18-24.
Some lurkers may be out there thinking, ‘Stop complaining and concentrate on making your own media better.’ The Black media cannot compete with the far-reaching white media because it lacks the MONEY and the POWER.
on Wed Dec 28th 2011 at 23:59:49 Truthbetold
I’ve been saying this for years in the privacy of my home: Most whites have not changed since the days we were in chains. And in this country especially, they never will. Most whites need to see blacks degraded and kept in line as a desperate means to say to themselves, ” Even though times are rough and we have trouble paying the rent, it’s still better than being a n****r.”
This is nothing more than an ego trip to feel better about how miserable they really are. Phony lives with trophy wives, big mansions that are cold and devoid of love and family. Don’t forget the need to show off ones’ wealth while losing your soul. That’s why they can never have a real, heartfelt conversation about the past and what really happened. Fakeness and political correctness are traits that are usually white. We tend to say it like it is; take it or leave it.
I stopped watching TV since the days of Friends. I cannot stand one more white show showing nothing but simple minded socialites going shopping. Or a single gal trying to find love in a big city. Now I stick to PBS. Or just listen to Ella Fitzgerald.
As long as there is a need to feel better about ones’ life, there will always be a show depicting minorities as baboons.
It’s the white American way.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 00:09:46 eshowoman
I have to strongly disagree with your assessment of Zora Neale Hurston. Read her journalism and anthological studies. She was the only person to write about paramour rights, the practice of white men sexually exploiting black women no matter what their marital status. She died penniless because she refuse to write what her white patrons wanted to read.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 01:54:30 Robert
Whites, with a straight face, will quote Chris Rock or point to a music video by some rapper to prove something about black people.
The Chris Rock routine White people love to quote is the segment he did with Black people vs Nigg*ers – http://vodpod.com/watch/1756476-chris-rock-niggers-vs-black-people# They love that one and quote it all the time to defend and justify their anti-Black racism, “See even a Black man says Black people hate Nigg*rs too just like we do!”.
They love a Black man saying that there’s a segment of Black people that are just, anti-social, lazy, predatory, wild, crazy violent, and willfully ignorant (basically all the stereotypes White people believe about Black people) and ruin it for the good Black people (with no explanation on what created this nihilistic sub-culture and of course omitting White people’s role in creating it) while giving them ultimate titillation by calling the “bad” Black people their favourite derogatory dehumanizing word – Nigg*r.
Chris Rock made a major contribution to White supremacy with that routine.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 02:24:32 Nom De Plume
@eshowoman @Bulanik @proudchocolategirl:
I read ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God,’ ‘Jonah’s Gourd Vine’ and Seraph on the Suwanee’ years ago. I stopped there, unfortunately. You guys have rekindled my interest in Zora. Looks like I have a lot more reading to do.
@truthbetold:
‘As long as there is a need to feel better about ones’ life, there will always be a show depicting minorities as baboons.’
And buffoons.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 04:01:22 Healthy1
By far some of your best work yet Abagond. Thanks!
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 04:12:47 CJ-Canadian
Warner brothers(owned by time warner) one of the most racist entertainment company in Anglo-America is on a racist roll. recently they whitewashed Akira currently remaking a the novel “all you need is kill” which is a novel about a japanese man Keiji Kiriya fighting aliens in an international force the racist brothers company choose tom cruise and changed the name to Billy Cage. They are also doing Argo where ben affleck is playing tony mendez the latino CIA agent who help freed the Hostages in Iran. they also make the latest sherlock holmes movie where Robert Downey Jr is dressed in yellowface. and the racist brothers company will be remaking deathnote and most likely they will whitewash this one.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 04:18:58 leigh204
and the racist brothers company will be remaking deathnote and most likely they will whitewash this one.
Remaking Deathnote? And will likely be whitewashed? What? Noooooooo!
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 05:17:19 brothawolf
Deathnote?! Aw, hell Nawl! First, there was Dragonball! Then, The Last Airbender! And now Deathnote? What’s next??
White people in Hollywood seem to be extremely obsessed with white skin.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 07:48:43 commentarybyvalentina
The thing about TV is that if you are a person of color and watch enough of it then you will begin to think of African Americans in the same way that Whites do. You will begin to believe all the propaganda about African Americans. All the stereotypes.
But this brainwashing is so insidious that rather than you being able to attribute your negative thoughts of other African Americans to TV (and other White media) it will seem as though those thoughts are naturally occurring in you.
In other words; your mind will have been colonized by television.
And just think about it; most people, African Americans included, begin to watch TV as toddlers as soon as we can sit up on our own. And that watching continues throughout our lives.
Actually I think PBS is worse than network TV. No media promotes White Supremacy like PBS. PBS worships all things European (Rick Steves Europe, British comedies, Masterpiece Theater). It pays homage to inherited White wealth (Antiques Roadshow). How many Black people have you seen on This Old House?
There are no national shows on PBS focused on African Americans. PBS is as racist as it gets. They just hide behind the Liberal label.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 08:34:49 The Cynic
I’ve never understood whitewash entertainment. Do these media guys really believe ppl will appreciate something more bc they actors are white?
Deathnote is my most favorite anime evr btw.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 08:53:15 teddy1975
I’m not sure, truthbetold, do you mean that minorities, are depicted as respectworthy, awe inspiring, grounddwelling primates, traditionally associated with the god of wisdom, science and measurement, respecting a guy’s right to go with the gal he’s going with, not walking around half-naked, forming collectively a fearsome defense organization against the enemies trying to kill them, but having gotten an undeserved reputation as merciless sexual predators, as result of being kept captive under inhuman conditions by white people?
Doesn’t sound that bad to me.
I guess you mean “as much worse than baboons”.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 09:26:10 anglesanddimensions
This is one.brilliant.post.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 12:25:14 Matari
@ Valentina
“PBS worships all things European (Rick Steves Europe, British comedies, Masterpiece Theater). It pays homage to inherited White wealth (Antiques Roadshow). How many Black people have you seen on This Old House?
ALL VALID and Excellent Points Val!
You’re right.
PBS is a white run organization privately funded by the super-rich, of whom are of course overwhelmingly white – as opposed to cable and regular TV which charges consumers directly, or indirectly, via advertising revenue paid for by us, the consumers
But – and this is a big but – PBS also presented Doug Blackmon’s Slavery By Another Name and other
(http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/banished/more.html)
shows/documentaries/series on RACE that no other network comes close to showing or exploring – in any way, shape or form.
So, regarding myself, I’d rather watch “some” shows on PBS, “NO” shows on regular network TV and “fewer” shows on the cable networks.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 12:27:24 dee
This is nothing new. BET has always bothered me; claiming to portray material that relates to my life, as it is “black entertainment”, when it’s just stupid stereotypes. It just makes me cringe.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 13:58:06 SarahW
This is really interesting, though not entirely surprising. It helps make sense of a lot of things, like why (as abagond pointed out before) it’s ridiculous of white people to think we can learn about African Americans from watching TV.
Are there any US TV shows you’d recommend, with African American leads which aren’t stereotyped?
In the UK, media ownership is a big issue at the moment, after the phone hacking scandal and all the news stories about the amount of political influence Murdoch has. We have, as far as I can find out:
Rupert Murdoch (Australian-American white man) – The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times, The News of the World until it closed, 40% of BSkyB (he wants to buy the rest but has been blocked by government because of the phone hacking scandal)
Jonathan Harmsworth, Viscount Rothermere (White British man, but non-domiciled so doesn’t pay tax in Britain) -The Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Ireland on Sunday, Metro, 20% share in ITN which makes ITV news
Richard Desmond (White (Jewish) British man) – Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Star Sunday, OK! magazine, Channel 5
Alexander Lebedev (Russian) – Evening Standard, Independent, Independent on Sunday, i newspaper.
David and Frederick Barclay (white British men) The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, The Spectator
The Guardian is owned by a trust which reinvests money in journalism rather than benefiting shareholders. The board are all white and about 1/3 women.
The BBC and Channel 4 are owned by the government.
If it’s going to be done, it should be done in the right way.
Although I do agree with what you have posted, for the most part, I also think it’s up to individuals, especially those who are black, to reject supporting things, such as BET. I don’t remember the last time I watched it, maybe when I was 15? Black people need to control their own image. Easier said than done, right? Sure, but something as simple as NOT supporting certain things that I’m sure most would agree to is garbage is a start. Not all the programs/movies that air on BET are garbage, of course, but it’s the principle of it all.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 15:01:19 Linda
The sad part about BET was that it was founded by a black man, Robert L. Johnson, who sold it for about 3 billion dollars.
Many US black-owned business, like the hair companies, also sold out to white companies for huge amounts of money…as usual…
Abagond, you are spot on. What bothers me the most about the hip-hop culture is that it is promoted as being “authentically” black.
I remember being in Germany (in ’90) and listening to a group of teenage German boys listening to “Two Live Crew” and NWA (Nig_ers With Attitudes)–I was shocked that these kids had even heard of these bands and they were singing the words, even though they didn’t understand the meaning…
We don’t live in a bubble and these hip hop artists need to understand that what they do and say DOES impact black peoples images around the world.
Remember the Cosby show? That show was respectable. It showed a married couple, professionals, who are raising decent children.
I know the show was squeaky clean but it showed a point, that blacks can be decent, hardworkng, educated people.
White America trashed it as being “too unrealistic.” No way can those people be real. Notice they did not say that about Leave it to Beaver, Maude or the Partridge Family. Those shows were ” wholesome. ”
BET became nothing more than a modern day minstrel show.
Lol@Truthbetold
You’re exactly on point. White America didn’t like that image of black people in their minds; it went against everything they “knew” black people to be. Cosby show, I loved it and watched it all the time growing up-our whole family did. The Cosby’s are plenty of black families in reality. They had issues, like any family would, but not all black people fit into the “loud, ghetto, sassy, kill, steal, gang banging” stereotype most people would have one to believe and, I think, most American white people see black people as.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 15:26:11 Dr. Grzlickson
These commenters are the sheep you just blasted a few posts back.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 15:51:00 sam
Like I’ve said before, I would love to see a movie about black americans living normal life doing normal things etc. instead of the usual: black woman = prostitute/junkie/both/singlemother/all of those, black man = pimp/junkie/both/prisoner, black teenager: gang member/school drop out/both/junkie/teenage mom/ all those.
That’s not surprising to me, white people are the biggest money contributors to rap music.
…but what you said about rappers….that’s where people are going wrong, in thinking that these rappers that make all this money, actually give a crap about the youth. They don’t–not even a little bit. They only care about making money. It’s like asking a white person to give up their “white privilege” —not in this lifetime. That’s why I think it’s up to individuals and parents to stop supporting the crap. Those rappers do what they do bc they know it sells.
All hiphop is not bad, but the rap music that gets continuous play is the “crap rap” music, not the conscious rap music. Conscious rappers DO care, it’s clear in their message via music. Common, The Rootz, Lupe, and Ms Hill to name a few —we don’t really hear their music on the radio for a reason, but they have something meaningful to say.
@SarahW:
None that I can think of, but if there are, they are few and far between. To my knowledge, there are two black-owned American television networks in existence – Oprah’s new cable network (OWN) and TV One. They do not do the trick for me. OWN, because of its programming, attracts a predominately white female audience. TV One’s black programming attracts a predominately black audience. As the post states, ‘Without a white audience, it’s hard to make it big.’ In both cases, positive black images are not being seen by the masses. Because of the money/power issue, there is no way OWN and TV One could ever compete with the huge white-owned networks. If Oprah included more black images in her programming, she’d probably lose a significant chunk of her dwindling white audience, and that truly would be the death of OWN.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 16:30:02 abagond
@ eshowoman, etc:
Thank you. Zora Neale Hurston, even from your own comment, is an excellent example of how white patronage affects black artists, but I took her out of the post since she is not as clear-cut and simple a case as the other examples I had.
Thanks Nom De Plume, I’ll have a look at the TV One website. The Cosby Show was before my time, maybe I’ll get it on DVD. I think I need to counteract all of the white american TV I’ve been watching, as well as learning not to trust it at all with regards to race.
To those of you in the UK, do you think British TV does a better job representing POC?
The government act that set up PBS in 1967 said it was to:
“provide a voice for groups in the community that may be otherwise unheard … help us see America whole, in all its diversity.”
But it left it without the business model to carry that out. So instead it has become the voice of its donors, who are mostly white and well-to-do:
“All hiphop is not bad, but the rap music that gets continuous play is the “crap rap” music, not the conscious rap music.”
totally agree…I like old rap music, like Dougie Fresh, it was fun back then, a band like Public Enemy was controversial but they had a message to send, unlike Two LIve Crew. I started to dislike hip hop when the “west coast-east coast” phenom came about…
I truly don’t expect hip hop to care about the youth because like their white American counterparts, it’s all about the money! it’s just sad…
“That’s why I think it’s up to individuals and parents to stop supporting the crap.”
makes sense but like I say, we don’t live in a bubble and these artists affect our image (as black people) all over the world…like with the dumb Dutch editor who thought she was complimenting Rhianna by call her style “ghetto bitch”
why would a Serbian or Korean parent care if their kids listen to a black group that call each other “nigga” and calls their own black women “bitches and hoes”…the parents might think the music is crap but the kid/parents are still exposed to the negative words and negative images of black people that the music introduced to them…
once again, reinforcing stereotypes…not uplifting.
SarahW
No. We get many of our shows from America and most of our films too which are full of anti-Black stereotypes. We seem to import most of the bad stuff from America and none of the good. Our domestic White supremacists look to America for inspiration. The Tories (our Republican party) are a good example. They are importing the most regressive policies and tactics from America and imitating the Republicans anti-poor language, for example how “benefits” became known as “welfare”. It’s only a matter of time before we have “food stamps” over here, we already have the food banks.
Our domestic shows are no different in my opinion. Ever noticed that when they want to show a white woman of what they consider low moral character they show her with a brood of mixed race children?
I feel that a lot of the things Abagond writes about Black people and White supremacy apply to us here in the U.K.
I often watch a cable network called The Africa Channel (theafricachannel.com). It’s like a breath of fresh air. I ordered it through my cable provider. So often the media shows us the worst images of the African continent – wars, political unrest, corruption, squalor. The Africa Channel has travel and reality shows, soaps, concerts, documentaries, news, and so many other things.
Hlomla Damdala, an actor and reality show host who often appears on the network, said that when they tried to pitch a soap called “Jacob’s Cross” to some European countries, they were told something along the lines of, ‘We are not interested. That is not the Africa we are used to seeing.’ I’m not into soaps, but Jacob’s Cross shows well-rounded black characters who are not what we typically see…Africans who educated, wealthy and powerful.
http://www.theafricachannel.com/aboutus.php
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 18:19:01 Herneith
@Dr. Grzlickson:
Where have been? Were you on vacation? Another question, who put the lick in your grz?
On a serious note, i don’t really watch tv, too many commercials for one, and:
1. Most of the shows are trash.
2. Most of the shows are trash
It is a pretty sad commentary on todays’ ‘entertainment’ complex when the best programs are the cartoons. As for BET, that is a real minstrel show.
@nom de plume: The same line which they use everywhere. “We are not selling african products and brands because no one will buy them”. Yes, and that is because they are not available in our stores.
They used this same argument against organic food for decades: there are no customers for it. When they finally figured out how they can make more money out of it than the producers, organic food broke in. As long as they can make more money selling the negative image of blacks (sell commercials on those programs etc), they will do it and they will claim: nobody wants to see blacks as normal humanbeings.
All that is dodoo. Somewhere behind of all this is the core thing: they are affraid that we would begin to see blacks as normal, everyday humanbeings and individuals. The whole system would begin to slip and slide. They could no longer play us against each other. They could no longer point at the PoC and hint: “see, those people…” etcetc.
It is in their interest to keep us all apart. Conquer and divide, rule by division.
Sure. We definitely do not live in a bubble, but until black people can control their own image, there is little more that can be done except for what I suggested, but some of us are so strongly opposed to this idea (not supporting the crap) bc they look at it as not supporting one another. I won’t support anything that is going to cause further detriment, and I’ll never understand, be on the same book, let alone page of someone who argues otherwise.
Also, I’ve never quite understood why some black people give so much concern as to how “other people” look at them. People who want to spit on you and think of you as nothing are going to think so regardless of what you do.
Of course, the negative imagery of blacks throughout the media certainly does not help, but most of that (the positive imagery) has to start somewhere close to home, at least it did for me. I’m much more concern with how we see ourselves, especially how the youth see themselves–this stuff truly affects their minds, can even break their spirits, if this was all they had to go off of—and unfortunately for some, that is all they think they have.
@Robert: “Ever noticed that when they want to show a white woman of what they consider low moral character they show her with a brood of mixed race children?” I hadn’t noticed, but I’ll look out for it. I didn’t ever think about the pervasiveness of racism and privilege till a few months ago, so stuff like this would have just slid straight past me.
“I feel that a lot of the things Abagond writes about Black people and White supremacy apply to us here in the U.K.” That’s interesting to hear – most of the antiracist blogs I’ve been following are very US based. I often wonder when reading posts whether things are slightly better here, but this comes more from wishful thinking than from facts. Do you think that the different histories of the two countries makes a difference to the forms racism takes today? A lot of the discussion in the US seems to focus on reparations for slavery and on the continuing impacts of segregation. I don’t think the UK is any better, I know it was heavily involved in the slave trade and colonised a quarter of the world, but I wonder what effect these differences have on the forms racism takes today. (Sorry if this is getting too off-topic, I’ll ask in the open thread instead if people prefer.)
@Nom De Plume: That sounds good. I got an internet radio recently and I’ve been listening to african radio stations, particularly West Africa Democracy Radio. There are interesting, in-depth interviews with Africans who are experts on AIDS, irrigation, conservation, womens’ issues and so on. The fact that I find this striking is pretty worrying; it shows how much I’m accustomed to seeing Africans presented as helpless victims who need westerners to solve all their problems.
This video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDWlMX2ToSc (part of an essay by Binyavanga Wainaina) sums up the white perception of Africa really well.
I don’t know. That’s strange to me bc I’ve always thought the Cosbys were extremely down to the earth. Maybe my definition of what down to earth is…maybe it’s different. A lot of what “down to earth” means to someone just comes with individual life experience though.
My “down to earth” may very well be their “uppity”.
Aba, what did I do? My comment is clean 😀
I am of the opinion that the majority of American whites have no interest in the lives of people of color. What we see (and don’t see) in the media reflect this. The mainstream media knows that the majority is primarily interested in their own lives, and it gives them want they want. Remember the post on The Missing White Woman Syndrome? The ugly truth is that missing American white women and girls are given massive media attention because the mainstream media KNOWS that the majority of viewers don’t really care when women and girls of color go missing. (They sure as heck don’t care when black men and boys go missing)! The majority places white females on really, really high pedestals. When is the last time you saw a missing white man or white boy covered to such an extent? (I don’t mean to digress. I’m just making a point). As far as the morning news and evening news shows are concerned, I read (and believe) that white anchors are put in these prime time slots because the majority of whites don’t want to get their news from a black person, and believe news coming from a white person is more credible. It’s all about ratings and money…and yes, racism.
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/the-missing-white-woman-syndrome/
Yes, I saw that “How Not to Write About Africa” video on this blog. The Mr. Wainaina sums it up pretty well.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 19:56:58 lifelearner
Because of the money/power issue, there is no way OWN and TV One could ever compete with the huge white-owned networks. If Oprah included more black images in her programming, she’d probably lose a significant chunk of her dwindling white audience, and that truly would be the death of OWN.
Speaking of the OWN network, the white audience has already left and guess who is saving the day, a Black reality show called “Welcome home Sweetie Pies”. You know how we black folk love to watch TV. (*being sarcastic)
http://www.thegrio.com/entertainment/oprah-wants-her-black-audience-back-for-own.php
@Abagond-continue dropping the knowledge and Harambee Kwanaa 🙂
@Lifelearner:
Speaking of the OWN network, the white audience has already left and guess who is saving the day, a Black reality show called “Welcome home Sweetie Pies”.
I caught an episode of Sweetie Pies. If I’m not mistaken, the matriarch of the show is a former Ike-ette (from the Ike and Tina Turner days). I wasn’t aware of the link you provided, but I heard the rumor that Ms. Winfrey is starting to focus more on black audiences in the hope of saving her….uhhh…network.
I watch it once in awhile not just for its serious message, but also to look at Djimon Hounsou
I’ve watched the vid several times, too – and not just for the narration! LOL!
@Nom de Plume and @Bulanik, sorry, didn’t realise it had already been posted here. It’s a great piece, in places it makes me laugh with embarrassed recognition of some of the common white failures.
It’s not about changing anyones mind (non-black), it’s about image…
through out the world, black women are seen as unattractive, “loose” women who are highly sexual…when our young women start hearing/seeing these stereotypes, what positive image will they have of themselves…some will brush it off for the crap it is but some will not…
in US, asians are viewed as smart, in Jamaica, asians are viewed as prosperous, throughout the world, Spanish women are viewed as beautiful…these are all stereotypes that people buy into…whether it’s right or wrong…
In subtle ways, we, as black people, are affected by these negative images and like you say unfortunately, the negativity starts at home amongst ourselves
@Abagond and Matari
PBS is definitely controlled by corporate donors. But they also get a sizable portion of their funding from the government, which is our tax dollars. And that makes their blatant racism even worse. I think PBS should be de-funded.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 21:09:15 Sandra Tetnowski
I am in awe of most of what I read on this page! Thank you
@ indigoblu:
You used the word “bitch”, which is moderated.
on Thu Dec 29th 2011 at 21:17:13 John
…except of course, the programming on BET is chosen by an aggregate black audience. The need forAdvertising dollars guarantees that the programming on BET reflects what it’s viewers want to see. It doesn’t matter who owns it because shareholders only get paid if people watch. So like it or not the programming on bet reflects the interests of it viewers….who are black. (probably teenagers mostly)
Don’t feel to bad though, same rules apply to white television, or rather shows that feature
and are directed mainly at whites. Most white people are just as ignorant as most black people are. if there happens to be a larger percentage of the black population that is ignorant at this point in time it’s only because more whites can afford a good education.
@ John:
BET was not always terrible. It went bad only AFTER it was sold to whites. It might as well have been sold to the Klan given what it has become.
@Aba
After reading it again, I figured that’s what it was, but I was only quoting someone directly whose comment had already went through, but no problem.
I agree, but in all fairness, there are those who simply need to stop “taking the bait”, so to speak. Again, money talks, so there are those who will put it over principle no matter what.
@ indigoblu
Their comment would have gone through moderation too.
Yeah, it probably wasn’t profitable as it was. Old BET was to spike lee as new BET is to Tyler Perry. As I said, there is plenty of junk TV by and for whites. Only difference is, us whites don’t have anyone else to blame for our stupidity.
How do you explain the programming? occoms razor suggests that there are just a lot of ignorant black folks out there. otherwise BET would be different no matter who owned it. Cash rules.
@ SarahW
That’s interesting to hear – most of the antiracist blogs I’ve been following are very US based. I often wonder when reading posts whether things are slightly better here, but this comes more from wishful thinking than from facts. Do you think that the different histories of the two countries makes a difference to the forms racism takes today? Do you think that the different histories of the two countries makes a difference to the forms racism takes today? A lot of the discussion in the US seems to focus on reparations for slavery and on the continuing impacts of segregation. I don’t think the UK is any better, I know it was heavily involved in the slave trade and colonised a quarter of the world, but I wonder what effect these differences have on the forms racism takes today.
In my opinion it’s no better. I would say it’s more hidden and underhand here the “polite racism” the British are famous for. What I read on U.S. based blogs like this sounds very similar to what I see here although for historical reasons there are slight differences.
Lee Jasper (LJ): The status of most Black youth in the UK is “young, drifting and Black.” Our sons and daughters suffer inordinately high levels of unemployment, locked out of opportunity and locked into a life of poverty and crime by a level of racism that is routinely denied by Government. These Black areas of deprivation are now producing the fourth and fifth generation of children born as third- class citizens in a so-called first-class democracy.
These historically deprived areas have been flooded with drugs and guns, they operate open drug markets. Add to this mix the cultural imperialism of America being forced fed to young people through MTV and a largely White-owned media rap industry that promotes the quintessential ghetto gangster lifestyle and you begin to see why we suffer the terror of “post code” wars. The continued escalation of youth violence in these areas is of serious concern. Post-code wars are created and maintained by post-code discrimination and racism.
FCN: What are the major concerns among young Black Britons today? Are they optimistic or pessimistic about their future? Why?
LJ: Major concerns of Black youth in Britain are the same concerns as all African youth living in Western nations. Concerns over lack of employment, no housing, poor education and police brutality, in particular, Black deaths in custody. Racism in the labour market ensure high rates of Black poverty and as a consequence of the cuts to public sector budgets, we are seeing Black workers being made unemployed and losing their jobs in big numbers.
Over 80 percent of the African and Caribbean community that are in work are employed in the public sector. They were the last in and the first to go. As a result we are seeing Black women and men being made redundant in droves, the consequent effects will be devastating. Poverty breeds crime and in the UK for every 1,000 White people, there are 1.2 people in jail, for Asians that figure is 2.4, for Black people the figure is seven. Put simply, British institutional racism is the most polite and insidious type of racism you will find anywhere in the world.
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/Perspectives_1/article_8456.shtml
Question to all:
When whites are no longer the majority in say…2050, do any of you think things will change in terms of perception?
I discuss this with my friends all the time. We’ve all come up with different answers.
I say no. Whites are crafty and sly by nature. They will try to “include” white-skinned hispanics and fair-skinned mulattoes/ mestizos to “up” their numbers.
Remember “passing” in the old south?
This will be no different.
As for BET, Aba is correct. Back in the day, BET was a good black network. It’s when whites took over, it changed for the worse.
Something to ponder folks:
Whites are more in tune to blacks as poor, downtrodden and animalistic. That’s why movies like Menace to Society, Baby Boy, et al are so fascinating. It portrays blacks as the lowest of the low.
Whites need this to feel go about their own racsim, it becomes justified.
Movies like How Stella got her Groove back, was ” shocking” to whites because they didn’t know that we deal with the same relationship issues that white women have.Plus all the women were smart, good-looking and decent natured.
Noooooo, we can’t have that. Whites can’t relate. So it’s a shocker.
Don’t worry about rementioning the “How not to write about Africa” video. Maybe those who haven’t seen it will check it out. The video is only a portion of the original piece. The original is much longer. Please see below.
http://www.granta.com/Magazine/92/How-to-Write-about-Africa/Page-1
I’d like to add on that just like most of the mainstream rappers out there their bosses and their cohorts in Hollywood generally don’t care about the youth either. It’s all about what sells even if it destroys, and this kind of entertainment that’s being put out is like fast food, the more you take it in, the unhealthier you become, especially in the mind.
There is a lot of hip-hop from very gifted artists from the grassroots level that includes thought provoking messages. Some of them do curse, but behind it all, you can hear lyrics that are relevant and important. You’ll find a lot of them online on several sites.
I agree. The white mindset will still be there influencing what gets played and reported. It will hang around like a parasite to its host.
@Non De Plume
If a white woman gets killed by a person of color, particularly a black or brown person whether it’s true or not, the news media will have a field day covering it and circulating it from coast to coast no matter where it happened. It will give life to that myth about black and brown people invading white neighborhoods to commit crimes, and white people in all their superiority will have reason to fear us inferior beings.
Not necessarily. Just because a group becomes smaller in number doesn’t mean it can’t hold a disproportionate amount of the money and power. As we’ve been discussing, money and power make it a lot easier to shape perception.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 00:16:55 indigoblu
You know, I do think perception would have to change, at least to some extent, to mirror more of the majority. It’s inevitable, but to what lengths, only time will tell.
As crafty and sly as whites can be in their nature, I think they’ve done too much damage, at least in the US, to try damage control at any point from now, by including say……. lighter skinned Hispanic people as “white”….though I wouldn’t doubt they’d try. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and a lot of white people are terrified of the mere thought of what’s sure to come–becoming a minority.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 00:26:19 Demerera
Brings to mind ‘Eastenders’ and Carol and Alan Jackson with their ‘mixed’ brood and how his character was portrayed as this barely literate and inarticulate individual. Of course, I am going back some years…I havent watched that show in that long.
Robert said:- Our domestic shows are no different in my opinion. Ever noticed that when they want to show a white woman of what they consider low moral character they show her with a brood of mixed race children?
I said:- Brings to mind ‘Eastenders’ and Carol and Alan Jackson with their ‘mixed’ brood and how his character was portrayed as this barely literate and inarticulate individual. Of course, I am going back some years…I havent watched that show in that long.
LOL Oh yes I forgot, same show but – even the black up and coming doctor couldnt hide his lust for the ‘tart’ with a heart or her illegitimate daughter.
You’re right, their bosses and hollywood don’t care either, but they’d have to care, including these rappers, if it started to hurt their cash flow–since that’s what they’re in it for anyway, but that’s asking for too much bc that would mean your average hiphop head’s “hunger” for this type of mess would have to change as well.
Sometimes I wonder though….obviously, the “crap rap” sells, but does that mean artist who are more conscious, if they got more play on the radio, wouldn’t be able to sell just as much? It seems more like a game. More like, we won’t give you much of a chance, if you aren’t rapping gangster, money, and “hoes” than it does “the things you rap about just won’t sell”.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 01:05:32 Robert
Demerera
Well guess what lol? Her loud mouthed aggressive daughter Bianca now has a mixed brood too and has just come out of prison for assaulting a young muscular Black guy who was sleeping with her mother Carol and her stepdaughter.
Yeah I remember that. The “tart with a heart” is back on the show now and her husband is a cuckold. He says “I’ll accept it just don’t tell me when you’ve slept with other men or tell me any of the details” *smh* lol.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 01:21:25 SarahW
@Nom de plume, thanks for the link. I got Wainaina’s autobiography for christmas, I really like it so far. He has a beautiful style of writing.
Btw, after seeing about a dozen posts from you here I finally realised what your penname means 😀
@Robert: It’s depressing to hear that it’s no better. I hadn’t heard of Lee Jasper before; I’m looking through his blog now. http://leejasper.blogspot.com/2011/11/lee-jasper-on-david-goodhart-and.html is really interesting. He talks about how black people are told they should assimilate into British culture which is problematic enough in itself (not that there even is one single British culture IMO), but then that the view of history in that culture completely glosses over colonialism.
“The reality is that the canon of formal British history refuses to acknowledge the scale of racism, oppression and exploitation that helped build modern Britain preferring to explain Britain’s economic ascendency in term of British ingenuity and entrepreneurship.
Developing an inclusive sense of British citizenship requires a proper acknowledgement of the historical crimes committed in the name of England and Empire.
This programme represents a new form of historical revisionism, one that seeks to airbrush racism from the face of British history. Not only do they deny the historical importance of racism and colonialism in the building of Empire, but also by extension they deny contemporary racism and its effects.
Stripped of their historical understanding they misunderstand the reality of racism today in terms of both its causes and effects. As such black disadvantage is seen as resulting from the personal moral and political failure of black people themselves. If you misunderstand the past you cant understand the present.”
This definitely rings true: as far as I can remember colonialism was barely mentioned in my school history lessons and it certainly wasn’t taught as being a terrible moral crime.
How do you all do those big quote things?
http://www.ehow.com/how_2054478_make-block-quote-html.html
Alligator brackets are these
outside of the word blockquote.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 02:11:01 abagond
@ Sarah:
It is like doing italics:
except you use “blockquote” in place of the “i”.
<blockquote> blah blah blah blah </blockquote>
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 02:29:16 Nom De Plume
Btw, after seeing about a dozen posts from you here I finally realised what your penname means.
I love your play on words!
@Brothawolf:
Another unfortunate thing that gets widespread media attention is black men being falsely accused of crimes they didn’t commit. Remember that case in South Carolina where a white woman (I think her name is Susan Smith) drowned her kids? She put them in a car and let it roll into a lake, When the kids were reported missing, she and others in her small town said the kids had seen with a black man. An apology was later issued to the black community, but it was too late. The damage had been done.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 03:07:15 MaMu1977
As a native New Yorkers, I’ll say this: until NWA and 2 Live Crew became major label acts, rap music wasn’t even a money maker in NYC (the city that *birthed* hip hop!) 98.7 FM and 107.5 FM were the two radio stations that featured “black” music in the Eighties; despite the popularity of the first generation of performers, both stations gave hip hop a 3-6 PM play slot due to “lack of interest”(as a fringe form of music, there were far more paying fans/customers of R&B.) Rap’s status was relatively low; between the New Wave, funk and the embers of doo wop/mutation of boy bands, it (rap) was just another new thing in a city of reinvention. But when payola made hip hop profitable, all bets were off.
P.S.-as a child who was raised by immigrants in an all-black environment, I’ll also say that there was no end to the amount of scorn/dismissal given to hip hop due to its reliance on samples. Funny that in a world with Michael Jackson, Prince and Rock James, rap music was seen as “unoriginal”.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 03:19:19 Jera
In terms of films that greenlit and the type of films that get greenlit, see Relativity Media… Just google them, their CEO, a young white dude. Lots of BIG name directors have to go through his firm in order to even get funding for films. So therein lies another hand on the scope narrowing our representation on the big screen.
Or, to give a very accurate summation of NYC’s attitude toward rap music prior to the infusion of money from white record labels, rewatch Krush Groove, Breakin’, She’s Gotta Have It, etc… (Hell, watch some of Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories.) You’ll notice that a lot of the rap fans were young and nominally in interracial groups, with quite a few of them being non-American (Kurtis Blow, Doug E. Fresh, Whodini and the Fat Boys, for example, are all of Caribbean descent.) In comparison, the African-American actors/directors made sure to include more traditional forms of music to maintain interest (for example, Sheena Easton’s attempt to merge hip hop with funk in Krush Groove.) Breakin’s crews had plenty of Latinos (at a time in which Puerto Ricans rarely found allies among African-Americans) Spike Lee more or less ignored rap until “Fight the Power”(compare the amount of times that the song was played in “Do the Right Thing” to the presence of rap in “She’s Gotta Have It” or “Joe’s Barbershop”.) And Charlie Murphy, despite being a young man in NYC during the birth of rap, brags about his days hanging out with Prince, Rick James, etc. (even though he would have been in the prime demographic for rap fans at the time.)
Hip hop may have had a lot of underground buzz, but it wasn’t even the most popular form of music in its birthplace until white people started pouring money into the genre (and seeing as how groups like ATCQ and Main Source and Brand Nubian were quickly subsumed and more or less rendered defunct when gangsta rap became the “profitable” form of rap, abagond’s post rings truer than I can stand.) Salt and Pros were seen as outlandish (when promoted by black people), Lil Kim brags about fellatio with no complaints from Puffy’s white money men. Slick Rick was “too hot for radio” when he did his first album(again, produced and promoted by black men), yet Dr. dre’s backers didn’t say anything when Snoop Dogg’s first album was named for a sexual position. Do I need to go on…?
@ MaMu
I think you mean Sheila E not Sheena Easton, but yeah, that is pretty much how I remember it and see it too.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 05:37:53 brothawolf
It was the talk of the school at that time…And it gets worse if the arrest, charge, trial, and verdict is reported. You know, white news outlets will cover the whole thing if there’s a black suspect and a white victim. Not to mention that they will paint white victims as saints and angels.
There’s a case in my state right now about a black dude arrested for the rape and murder of a white woman. You know that the media in South Carolina is in an uproar about this and will stay on it until a verdict is reached, and it will probably be national news. I know there are lots of hate responses to this article as expected.
As a side note, it’s no surprise that the prosecutor wants to pursue the death penalty on this dude.
But when it comes to this topic, this is all the white media cares about when it comes to black people, how goofy we act, how violent we act, and how insane we are without examining the causes behind it. This is what pisses me off everyday. Even though it’s because of the white media’s racism, it still doesn’t calm my frustrations. There is no excuse for this. None. And we have to tolerate this crap wherever we go. I’m getting a headache just thinking about it.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 08:37:32 sam
I remember seen Salt an Pepa on osme obscure cable channel in NYC back in the 80’s and wodering what this is all about. Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash and all those guys did it on their own, Afrika Bambataa and those guys up in Bronx and yes, latinos were right there, after all, graffitti art is direct from their mural arts.
As for rap, or rappin, I don’t know how many kids today, black or white, even know what that was before hip hop and commercial break trough. There was a Black Panther named H. Rap Brown, even Muhammed Ali was rappin but the white media called those raps as poems. I know that is was going on on the streets back in the 60’s but I do not know how old it is.
I do know that in 1600’s Paris France they did rhyming for a while, it was a hot thing back then in some circles. Perhaps there is some historical roots that go all the way back to the deep south, New Orleans, Louisiana. French were rhyming, blacks looked at that and thoughed, well, thats not too good, and put in some african beats and stuff… Who knows? Interesting anyways.
LOL. I am not surpised at the turn of events in this programme. Bianca is back in there is she? I briefly caught a glimpse of the programme some time ago and was dismayed to see the actor who was in Love Thy Neighbour (I forget his name now) who had become some charicature with his ‘Yeh Mon’ every few seconds.
I first saw Salt and Pepa on a programme called The Tube (Robert may remember this one) and I was spellbound as this was the first time I had seen female rappers. Shortly after came Roxanne with Hitman Howie T and then Roxanne Shante. I would say that it wasnt until 85/86 that Hip Hop/Rap started to emerge when I was a kid.
Going back to a point Robert made earlier about shows from the US being broadcast in other territories, I cant say it was all bad when I think of programmes like Soul Train and the then inspired Solid Soul with Juliet Roberts and Chris Forbes 🙂
Prior to that, thank heavens for pirate radio stations otherwise I would have been oblivious to the fact that there was so many people making such a fusion of rich, and diverse music as the mainstream radio stations refused to play what they deemed to be black music. I guess this is why DJ’s such as David Rodigan (who I must confess, I thought was Black for many years) are respected amongst some for choosing to play Reggae and on Radio London back in the late 70’s.
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 18:12:43 sepultura13
Here’s a prime example of what white people really thought The Cosby Show should portray:
Herneith said:
Truth spoken – and even a lot of the cartoons are sucking bigtime…the new incarnation of Looney Tunes is horrid!
From what I’ve seen of British TV, it’s just as bad with its racist portrayals of PoC. The League of Gentlemen, in one of its episodes, featured a caravan of Travellers, and the ringleader was some guy in horrible, old-time blackface – Papa Lazarou. There was also some incident on an Australian TV show, where five guys in blackface portrayed the Jackson 5 in a ‘reunion special’, except the one portraying Michael was ghost-white with powder…caricatures seem to be very popular.
MadTV was on point with this skit just as much as it was with their “Nice White Lady” skit parodies of white female saviors.
Come to think of it:
on Fri Dec 30th 2011 at 22:08:03 Herneith
Separated at birth:
Sumner Redstone:
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSSG2UP-gNPXq6snqAaSJwzjYsxBtOIajp1WjfeSeIfxVq8T8Lb
Nancy Kulp:
on Sat Dec 31st 2011 at 00:43:25 Happiness
Not only is it ridiculous that on these boards they are all white and male, where are the women…..Sexist and prejudiced.
On the board of Sky for example, they only have one woman as of last week….10-12 years ago, they had no women on their board, when you think about it that is just totally ridiculous….Talk about imbalanced.
And personally, I do not watch TV at all….
Cinema every so often and that is it.
on Sat Dec 31st 2011 at 00:44:37 Nom De Plume
Your vid is hilarious! I’ve always disliked those types of movies, and there have been many over the years. A white teacher/savior goes to an inner city school where the kids have bad attitudes and failing grades. The kids resent the teacher at first but eventually grow to love him/her. By the end of the movie, the kids’ grades improve, and all is good in the neighborHOOD. These movies bring to mind a TV show from the 80s called “The White Shadow.” The savior on this show is a white guy who coaches mostly black basketball (yes, basketball) players who love to sing in the shower.
The media fallacy here is the idea that black kids need white authority figures to save them. If you think we’re making this up, just type ‘white savior movies’ into the search engine of your choice.
on Sat Dec 31st 2011 at 04:40:11 Tia
I really enjoy this blog, and this is my first comment.
As someone of West Indian immigrant parents (I’m a native New Yorker, “first generation” kid), I’ve been thinking a lot lately about who truly represents me in the media.
I mean I can’t relate to BET, Tyler Perry, Spike Lee or such because they focus on Afro-American families with Afro-American history. The closest I came to seeing an Afro-Caribbean family was the film, “How She Move” with Rutina Wesley. I got a kick out of hearing the Caribbean accents of the mothers, because that is what I grew up with. I can’t relate to these country sounding accents I hear on Black shows, I’m a New Yorker. “Stomp the Yard” with its historically Black college thing does not appeal to me. I went to CUNY, a commuter school and never “stepped” (dancing) a day in my life. I never did Sunday dinner with “Big Mama”. I can’t speak on which Indian, let alone, African blood I have in me.
The only Caribbean people to get light are Jamaicans, and its always some cheesy stereotype with dreads, a rasta cap and “Hey, Mon.” My parents are Barbadian, my friend’s mom is Afro-Panamanian, there are Haitians, Trinidadians…so many islands and dialects that can be done.
I got a good laugh out of the In Living Color skit, “Hey, Mon” (despite the cliche-y title) only because immigrant families who aren’t wealthy have to hustle like crazy, I could relate because my parents were far from rich “back home” and are working class here in the US.
I’m an Atheist. As a Black Atheist, chritianity is the only option given in the media. I’m able to sit through Tyler Perry’s stuff, and I totally get that he’s appealing to a Christian audience. But rarely will I hear a Black character say ther is no “God.” I was not raised Atheist, but the only family member who shares that belief is my older brother, which is flattering because I view him as educated and decent.
Here in NY, its always (with the exception of this one old, Jewish guy) a Black (West-Indian to be exact) person preaching on public transportation about Jesus returning and such. Would people who agree enjoy it if I preached loudly in a public place that God does not exist. It would annoy the hell out of them, because no matter what I say, they have their own view.
BET dedicates most of Sunday to Gospel and shows about church. What if I’m Jewish? What will they show on Sabbath? I was raised Adventist, and they were big on “Saturday is the Lord’s day.”
So, yes Blacks aren’t truly being represented. Sure, my parents have no high school diploma and weren’t as educated, well to do or lovey-dovey as the Huxtables, but there ARE Black people lucky enough to have that upbringing. I may have a humble background, but it surely was not that series “South Central”! It may get rough in Brooklyn, but I never dealt with gangs or violence, nor was I forced in to it.
on Sat Dec 31st 2011 at 10:50:12 JT
First off, great post!
Second off, i would ask: while the evidence is indeterminably large for why the media portrays people of color with a stereotyped & villified lens, isn’t it possible that the media is attempting to wreak the same sort of damage on white people in the process.
While this might not make sense altogether i would beg to pay attention to what types of whites actually stream content (rich, corporate, those that profit from division and separateness).
If they decide through content how we perceive one another, would it not profit to portray the prototypical person of color as irredeemable, stuck on welfare, criminal, primal etc. Moreover, would it not profit to train white people to remain ignorant of others sufferings’, inequalities, discontents, histories etc.? This is to say that the media will also play a part not only in white-washing history, degrading the black man/woman but ALSO in maintaining whites as ignorant of others (to the dismay and resentment of people of color).
As a result: white people stay ignorant, implicitly racist,
as a result: people of color understandably resent white people.
Seems like a corporate/bourgeois dream come true. Keep entire populations enslaved by maintaining the divisions that are so obvious and so determine our everyday dialogue.
My question: is there another way to go forward?
I think it is with constant challenge to the dominant representations as well as through social and historical education that Abagond and others provide that is needed now. But i would also add that SOMEONE needs to construct models for new ways of inter-ethnic interaction. People of color-whites CAN interact respectfully and CAN unify. We are not doomed to perpetual opposition UNLESS we resign ourselves to this future.
Thus It needs to be said that without painting a way forward we continue to perpetuate old forms of interaction. New ways of interaction do not mean ignoring the past. Candour is required. Education is required. Self-awareness is required. Giving credence to one another is required that we are capable of growing and being more than what the media tells us we are. For me enjoying one another and what each person has to offer is the way moving forward.
@JT:
…the media will also play a part not only in white-washing history, degrading the black man/woman but ALSO in maintaining whites as ignorant of others (to the dismay and resentment of people of color. As a result: white people stay ignorant, implicitly racist, and as a result: people of color understandably resent white people
It’s a vicious cycle, isn’t it?
But i would also add that SOMEONE needs to construct models for new ways of inter-ethnic interaction. People of color-whites CAN interact respectfully and CAN unify. We are not doomed to perpetual opposition UNLESS we resign ourselves to this future.
Candour is required. Education is required. Self-awareness is required. Giving credence to one another is required that we are capable of growing and being more than what the media tells us we are.
Your words are beautiful. Others on this blog have mentioned solutions, and I agree that solutions are needed. Solutions, though, would involve upsetting a power structure that has been in place for centuries. Do you really believe that those in power (and those who enjoy white privilege) have a strong desire to give up their advantages, i.e, level the playing field, so that we can all live in a better world?
No. Those that guard white privilege will require it be pried from their cold, dead fingers before they give it up. I have no illusions for that from other white people. However, there are scenarios wherein they may not have such a choice. Other menaces to justice/truth throughout history have been vanquished. Why not today as well?
Despite the total power of the Catholic church in the 16th century, the protestant reformation occurred because Martin Luther drew upon the corruption of the Catholic church, and devised his 95 theses. Millions fought and died in the thirty years war for religious autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire. AND WON. We have secular states in large part because of their struggles in the 16th and 17th centuries and that founding document devised by ML.
Regardless, of the dictates of the white establishment, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his “I Have A Dream Speech…” the sit ins happened, Rosa Parks happened and Selma happened. Legally, (and admittedly from a social perspective, nominally) the structures of Jim Crowe were dismantled. We are under the eyes of the law equal in civil rights because of the struggles of those in the 50s and 60s. Do we think that they thought that they could overturn the system? I HIGHLY doubt it.
Yes these are exceptional and narrativized fragments of history. But yes they do inspire you and I to conceive that something better can come out of our society than that which exists today.
I am waiting for a contemporary 95 theses/”I Have a Dream…” speech from the next leader of black America to galvanize the rest of us whose fidelity is to justice.
One impediment among many:
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/just-world-doctrine/
I especially agree with the last five paragraphs.
‘I am waiting for a contemporary 95 theses/”I Have a Dream…” speech from the next leader of black America to galvanize the rest of us whose fidelity is to justice.’
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds as though you are suggesting that things are not progressing because some unnamed, modern-day black leader has failed to emerge from the shadows and give a speech or write a thesis. Is that what you mean?
Side note for lurkers: I have read comments on this blog and on others where some believe that pointing out impediments equates to defeatism, and a desire to just ‘wallow” in endless complaining . Not so. This thing is huge, it’s twisted and it’s ugly. It’s more complex than just allowing someone to sit in the front seat of a bus or drink from a previously banned water fountain. There are no clean, easy, concise, bulleted, Power Point solutions that will slay THIS monster.
Well, after rereading my post, i think i realized that it sounds fairly simplified like there is a magic solution or individual that can resolve things. Clearly things are much more entangled than that.
What i would like to say is that (unfortunately) the burden of devising the terms for rapprochement are on the black population. This is not to say that things could ever disappear or that wrongs could be undone that were inflicted by whites if the terms set by blacks were met. But that ongoing education and vigilance to remind people of injustices present, past etc. be coupled with a 95 theses styled approach to outlining what would be considered acceptable terms for at least passing reconciliation between people of colour and whites. Afterall, as you and others have pointed out, how can individuals stop doing something that they themselves don’t realize is wrong and are unfamiliar with what the expectations are? Are the ignorant supposed to just wake up and suddenly understand what it means to be a person of color in America?
It is only when someone is able to make that articulation that people will start to be more cogniscent of what is really going on and what terms need to be met before things could even start to possibly be okay.
Which is why i think that setting the terms in some sort of widely received manifesto (including reparations, etc.) might facilitate a process of going forward so the white people actually understand what is wanted from them.
on Sat Dec 31st 2011 at 20:57:52 Matari
What are your thoughts regarding THIS MESSAGE TO WHITE PEOPLE??
White People Act as Agents of Racism
As a result of these hurts, all white people have been conditioned to accept the lies of racism and to carry racist feelings. Some white people stop questioning these feelings and act out these “beliefs” in hateful and oppressive ways. Other white people intellectually reject the content of racist messages and try to treat people targeted by racism respectfully and as equals. But even when those of us who are white act with goodwill toward people targeted by racism or actively engage in fighting racism, attitudes connected with racism (unjustified fears, the seeking of approval, feelings of superiority, etc.) surface from time to time and must be battled in order for us to act consistently according to our best thinking.
We white people are pulled to act on the basis of the racism we’ve heard and seen, acting sometimes subtly and unawarely and other times overtly and harshly.
Racism Hurts White People
Racism greatly damages the lives of people targeted by it. Racism also hurts those of us who are white. (This is true of any group that acts out oppression at another group.) This is far from the damage inflicted on the targets of racism, but it corrupts our humanity and compounds the ways we already feel bad about ourselves. Not standing up against racism erodes our integrity and undermines our sense of goodness and self-worth.
White people become separated from the majority of the world’s people, know little about them, and miss close involvement in the lives of a rich variety of people. Racism also erodes relationships between white people – we do not want to be associated with “that white racist” or “that white liberal.” Racism leaves us feeling hopeless about actually eliminating racism and creating a just and equitable society.
White People Ending Racism and Healing from the Hurts of White Racism
United to End Racism and Re-evaluation Counseling have valuable experience and tools for white people to use in ending racism. We have learned that any and all “oppressor roles” (the role played by a person who has been conditioned to be an agent of oppression) are installed by hurting people very deeply. White people’s oppressive behavior arises from deep emotional damage. Sustained emotional work is therefore required for those of us who are white people to free ourselves from racism. To create a just society, white people must not only inform ourselves fully about racism and take action to end it, but must also heal from the damage caused by being exposed to racism and by having participated in it.
United to End Racism has found that white people taking turns listening to each other in pairs and in groups is an effective way to do this emotional work. Those of us who are white need to remember and to tell our stories about the racism in our lives and assist one another to release the intense feelings that underlie these stories. These stories can include early experiences with racism, the racist lies we were told, the times we acted out racism, and the racist attitudes that were held by the people around us, as well as the successes we’ve had in fighting racism.
To do this work, we white people need settings in which we can be open about racism without being blamed or shamed, where we know we are cared about and respected. Under these conditions, we can remember and tell what happened to us with regard to racism and release the painful emotions from these experiences. And we need to learn to do this work with one another as white people. It is the job of white people, not people targeted by racism, to do the work to both stop white people from perpetuating racism and to help white people heal the damage we carry.
More specifically JT, what are your thoughts concerning this:
“It is the job of white people, not people targeted by racism, to do the work to both stop white people from perpetuating racism and to help white people heal the damage we carry.”
I agree. But only to an extent. I (among other whites) will never know what it means to be a person of color in America. I can only come on here and speak with Matari, Nom De Plume, Abagond, Brothawolf etc. to have a glimpse into particular individuals experience of being a person of colour.
I cannot end racism because i do not know what constitutes racism in its entirety. Only those that have felt the blunt punch in the gut or the subtle sting of it can educate the rest of us what exactly it is comprised of and how those of us who are willing to commit themselves to making things better are able to.
If we acknowledge the crime that our forefathers committed as well as the advantages that catapulted us to where we are and show respect and interest in black history and culture then still we are not aware as to how something new can be constructed. How can we amend for things that lack amendments? I don’t know. But i know that i certainly know that I am not the one who can set the terms for that. It is PoC that have to write the contract and it is WP that should be compelled to sign. In my humble opinion.
You should know JT, that blacks and other folks of color have been telling white people about their racism for HUNDREDS of years, and yet this vast disconnect (way of seeing THINGS) between people of color and non people of color still persists.
“Only those that have felt the blunt punch in the gut or the subtle sting of it can educate the rest of us what exactly it is comprised of ..”
The fact is JT that there’s so much accumulated “evidence” in existence regarding the intricacies and complexities of how racism harms people that if no person of color were to ever again utter a word on the topic of RACE, white people today would still have more than an abundance of “EDUCATION” in the form of studies, research, documentaries, experiments, statistics, blogs, books, college courses, anecdotal experiences, speeches, historical documents and more.
So what is it – specifically – that black people need to do that we haven’t yet done – in order to compel white people to abandon their racism and privilege?
on Sat Dec 31st 2011 at 23:58:03 brothawolf
@Nom De Plume
These movies bring to mind a TV show from the 80s called “The White Shadow.” The savior on this show is a white guy who coaches mostly black basketball (yes, basketball) players who love to sing in the shower.
Oh, hell yea I remember the White Shadow, but I’ve never watched it lol. You’re right though, it is a white savior series. Montell Williams had his own series that is similar to Dangerous Minds called Matt Waters (I think that’s the name), and he was the main character as a Black Male teacher, but that show didn’t last but for a few episodes.
White savior movies is a reoccurring theme in Hollywhite. Dangerous Minds (they tried to turn that into a TV series, but it failed after one season lol), Freedom Writers, Avatar, The Last Samurai, The Blind Side, The Help, and probably other movies I can’t think of at the moment. If that wasn’t enough, most hero movies are white men. The only black male hero movies were bombs, comedies, or a white savior movie disguised as a black hero movie (Hancock).
on Sun Jan 1st 2012 at 00:08:21 vanishing point.
Change the narrative. It hasn’t worked. Using words like JT did, such as cold, dead fingers does nothing to move things along. Using Martin Luther, who hated Jewish people, as an example of change, is just not going to work either. When the white liberal continues to expect Black people to change white thinking,it just won’t work.
I personally don’t believe the concept of privilege is going to work either. People shouldn’t have to give up what should be universally good for all. Most white people do not buy the idea of privilege or that we have not earned our way.
Most people learn what they believe through experience, including education. I, like JT, can not always recognize or understand an alternative experience. But I am able to well enough to see that until we can manage to put this narrative into public schools at an early age, and teach our children to recognize and tease apart the messages they are receiving, we are not going to move forward by much.
Just my two cents for New Years:)
on Sun Jan 1st 2012 at 00:32:04 JT
I can’t guarantee that whites will abandon racism and privilege (it would be misleading to ever make such a claim since a vast majority of whites are oriented in this way). i can just propose what i think would be efficacious to go forward and do my best to support this effort. I believe a list of demands that would serve as the framework for a reignited civil rights movement could work if this list/manifesto/theses spoke to the experience of enough people of colour and was relatively brief.
W.E.B Dubois/Booker T. Washington are impenetrable to a modern society. A short and sweet civil rights constitution drafted would not be. The more accessible a text is (in length), the more dialogue would be generated from it. Think of a literary equivalent to the soundbite. It might not do justice to the issue but it would at least captivate a wider audience and FORCE people to take a position on these ultimatums. As it stands now the discourse on people-of-colour/white is muffled at best. Or reaches a fever-pitch when current events throw negative stereotypes out and force people to inhale that bullshit. Putting terms together in a declaration would at least make people confront how racist they are and deal with that very uncomfortable truth.
I know i have when i was younger made racist comments in passing that i didnt fully understand the context to or the hurt i caused to friends that were of color. Probably 3-4 times in total. But I got a shocking awakening from the prevalence of it in my community and my family. So i took initiative and learned about black history around 11-12. I was aghast with what i learned then and what i continued to see within my own family and community. So much so that i held numerous seminars within my classes on the matter of Reconstruction, Jim Crowe, and contemporary forms of systemic oppression. Got jeered at by classmates and teachers (or they told me to wrap it up early). Fought with family members over my support for affirmative action and the fallacies of a meritocracy. Fought with my own mother about statements she made about being sucked into civil rights support and spat out thereafter by people wanting to take advantage of white people and their empathy. Fighting racist statements in my own family being said had me being blasted for standing up against the ugliness. My brother called me a fucking twit and threatened me when i called his beliefs racist.
There are innumerable grievances, many of which outlined in this very blog, other blogs and numerous academic works. If they were to be condensed into a readable list of testaments to the experience of black people i think that they could go some way to establishing the terms for which dialogue can continue. A sort of list of ultimatums. The more this list is distributed the more people are placed relative to how they stand on issues such as the war on the black male (i.e. incarceration over questionable charges, persistent racial profiling, severe sentences) or reparations. As people are forced to confront where they stand, people are “outed” in terms of how they are racist. The first step to changing a character flaw is acknowledging that it exists. Something which most white people will not even admit to. Thus i think this is a logical step forward.
“People shouldn’t have to give up what should be universally good for all. Most white people do not buy the idea of privilege or that we have not earned our way.
Most people learn what they believe through experience, including education. I, like JT, can not always recognize or understand an alternative experience. But I am able to well enough to see that until we can manage to put this narrative into public schools at an early age, and teach our children to recognize..”
Most white people don’t have first hand experience living and working directly with black people. And yet somehow, there are a few white folks who can see past the veil. How is it that they can see, but you and JT and most whites cannot?
It’s going to take a lot more than “public schools …”
This is why I continually insist that WHITENESS is a DEMONIC/evil plague!
Whiteness promotes a definite lack of spiritual connectivity with “other” humans that fuels this inability to give up/stop mistreating people on the basis of their color.
on Sun Jan 1st 2012 at 00:47:33 teddy1975
Becoming their in-laws at a large scale?
“Most white people don’t have first hand experience living and working directly with black people. ”
not where I live. And I can tell you, after all these years, and after raising two children, that what everybody wants is the same thing, a decent place to live, good schools, a job that pays enough to get by and enjoy some extras. Everybody wants police to protect not harm, stores to welcome our business, ect. Calling what everybody wants privilege is not going to work. Investing in the restructure of education in public schools is much better than continuing on and on and getting nowhere..
I used to think that things could change, but now I am feeling differently. So, I am trying to figure out a different narrative, for myself… don’t know if that makes sense, but for me, for now, it’s all I have.
@vanishing point:
‘People shouldn’t have to give up what should be universally good for all. Most white people do not buy the idea of privilege or that we have not earned our way.’
I agree with you. I am of the opinion that many whites do not believe that white privilege exists, and that they have earned all the advantages they have. This, of course, supports the idea that those with fewer advantages have not worked as hard.
“…until we can manage to put this narrative into public schools at an early age, and teach our children to recognize and tease apart the messages they are receiving, we are not going to move forward by much.”
That would be great, but I can’t see that happening. There will be people who will object to their tax dollars being spent on a curriculum that casts white people in a less than favorable light, not to mention the possibility that kids may question the current power structure. Take Arizona’s recently passed Immigration Law for example. Governor Jan Brewer signed a bill into law that bans “ethnic studies” in her state. A school’s funding will be ‘withheld’ if it does not comply. The Arizona Legislature believes that ethnic studies:
“promote the overthrow of the U.S. government”
“promote resentment of a particular race or class of people”
“are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group”
“advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of people as individuals’
Apparently it’s okay for kids to be taught all things Euro-American, but teaching them anything else from a cultural standpoint is un-American and a threat. If people are not okay with kids learning about the contributions of people of other ethnicities and cultures, I doubt if they will be open to the kind of curriculum you are suggesting. ’ BTW, there are other states that are trying to follow Arizona’s lead.
IMO solutions involve the changing of hearts and minds and should start at home. Of course discussing these things in a forum such as this one can be helpful because it gets people thinking…and talking.
http://www.azleg.gov//FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/2r/summary/h.hb2281_03-18-10_houseengrossed.doc.htm&Session_ID=93
Nom de plume, I want to thank you for that link, have to think of ways to throw it back at them,
“This, of course, supports the idea that those with fewer advantages have not worked as hard. ”
to me, it means that those with fewer advantages have had to work twice has hard or more.
You’re welcome. Happy New Year to you…and to everyone!
Nom De Plume & all here tonight.
Happy New Year:)_to you… and to all the people who leave such thought provoking comments, you keep me alive!
on Sun Jan 1st 2012 at 04:41:45 John
Redd fox, Pryor, Paul mooney, Katt Williams all use(d) the n-word to titillate white audiences then? Lol I don’t think so.
on Sun Jan 1st 2012 at 05:37:45 abagond
There is a reason I said “most”. Clearly if their audience is mostly black the context is different. That follows from what I said.
Happy New Year to all and their loved ones. To a better world in 2012!!!
on Sun Jan 1st 2012 at 16:31:16 jevioso
This article and most of the commentary on it, show that our intellectual elite still have a very solid stronghold on the youth today. Question: back when BET was good, when it had intellectually stimulating shows, how many of you had bought stock in the company? Few if any, as I suppose. As the intellectual elite have brainwashed black people into thinking; you’ve been brainwashed to dismiss and disregard individuality. Ben Johnson created B.E.T. as an individual! He didn’t go to the churches preaching to the congregation for money; he didn’t do public financing in the hood asking people for contributions; he convinced financiers to give him money, with the promise of profit and success as a return, and he created a network that many black people embraced…but that they never owned. If you’re not invested in something, meaning you’re not consistently putting your money/energy/power in it for it’s success, you’re a consumer; you have no say in the “ideology” that company chooses to pursue…you do have the power of the purse though and that’s the only weapon you have.
Returning back to individuality, the same thing goes for shows like Bill Cosby’s show. Bill Cosby, regardless of how the black intellectual elite have managed to drag his name through the mud, was a comedic genius, you can’t demand genius out of every black person on television (that’s almost a racist view of looking at a man, when you think he is easily duplicated based on race)…they’re rare, if they weren’t, genius wouldn’t be valuable to society. And to be honest, the reason why there aren’t more shows like the Cosby show, is because too many black people don’t respect the amount of energy and effort that Bill Cosby put into creating that show to begin with, people don’t understand how much “philosophy” was actually applied in the creation of the show. They just think it was something he was “supposed to do”, rather than it was something he “individually” had a passion for and yet these same people are mad about the passionless and cynical shows that are on B.E.T. today.
Every decade our respect for successful black individuals who don’t sound like Martin Luther King or Malcolm X goes up, whereas our black intellectual elite smile passive aggressively because they’re power is based on our intellectual stagnation as a race. It’s amazing some of the “illuminati” rumors I hear of successful people I hear in hip-hop. Do I like their music? Not as much as I like my older music from the 90’s, but hey, people thought Ray Charles sold out on his race and the black church culture, to entertain white people back in the day, this has more to do with historical trends, than an active approach by individual black people to stab their race in the back (if that’s even possible). If we want to change the condition of the black community, we have to teach black people to value their own individual lives, and the individual lives of others: a black boy shouldn’t harm another black boy/girl because it hurts the black community – he shouldn’t hurt a black boy/girl, because that black boy/girl’s individual life is valuable to himself and respects life.
Who makes up this “most” then? Care to name a few names? From what I’ve seen black entertainers who would court white mainstream acceptance tend to tone down their use of the n-word, Probably because they recognize (correctly) that it makes average whites uncomfortable.
Wonder why I was moderated?
Maybe it’s your name.
on Sun Jan 1st 2012 at 22:10:40 Mamzer HaKodesh
Abagond, in your article you wrote of Black stereotypes, “Those stereotypes are not informed by the latest sociological studies but rather the needs of white people to feel good about themselves.”
This sums it up for me. I became aware at some point in my mid-late teens that most of the film and television I watched dealing with racism, especially those with Black actors portraying characters dealing with racism, were not really about dealing with racism or portraying our struggles. These films and shows were about making Whites feel better about themselves. The exaggerated smiles and movements were about making Whites feel relieved and feeling comfort at seeing Blacks as two-dimensional, easily predictable and controllable.
This would be preferable to the discomfort they might feel when dealing with someone who is rightfully enraged and uneasily placated. These productions help bury feelings of guilt, shame, fear, uncertainty…and awkwardness. Awkwardness. I think what many Whites feel when interacting with Blacks is awkwardness. Perhaps even monstrousness. The awareness that like in all the most popular legends and tales, there is a big bad monster in this story, and it’s them. What’s more, this is a monster inside the psyche and heritage that can scarcely be detected, but they know it there. it must be quite uncanny.
I recently watched a chunk of the film Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon; the film was about Nelson Mandela’s first years of office after his release from prison and subsequent election. Most of what I saw seemed to center on one South African White man learning to be a kinder, gentler white man and change his racist actions, and on Nelson Mandela traveling around getting Black Africans to be nice to White people and make them feel included. I must admit, I was deeply touched by the portrayal of Mandela’s kindness. I do believe that compassion and inclusion are central to anything worth building up, and this goes doubly for a country.
But, I could clearly see that this film was, as most other films I watch, not so much about South Africa’s struggles, or even Mandela’s struggles, but more about making whites living in any colonial land today, feel comfortable and soothed.
on Mon Jan 2nd 2012 at 23:25:17 Mel
@Tia, I’m an Atheist. As a Black Atheist, chritianity is the only option given in the media. I’m able to sit through Tyler Perry’s stuff, and I totally get that he’s appealing to a Christian audience. But rarely will I hear a Black character say ther is no “God.” I was not raised Atheist, but the only family member who shares that belief is my older brother, which is flattering because I view him as educated and decent.
You are my twin. My brother is the only one I know who also share my atheistic views. I get tired of seeing the same, singing, dancing, church-going movies aimed at black ppl, too., Nothing intellectually stimulating. Tyler Perry’s movies always end with the “broken” character finding herself in church.
@Jevioso, you are correct. The most successful black people are the ones who act “individually.”
on Tue Jan 3rd 2012 at 20:03:19 Tyrone
They call it “Idiot Box” for a reason. The vast majority of brainwashing that infects black people in this country and beyond comes thru television. All sane black people know that “media” is full of it, but, we don’t connect the dots. Black culture is loved by all races in this country, but, do we as black people have control over it? We see black faces on tv everyday, doesn’t mean anything. The folks who control the behind the scenes stuff have the power, not those in front of the camera. Madison Avenue in New York City controls advertising in this country. Not a lot of black folk on Madison Avenue, we see the results on a daily basis. Not a lot of black folk in charge at Walt Disney Corp, Viacom, NBC Universal, and News Corp, It Shows! In the past we only focused on the lack of positive black images in media, we never focused on the source of the problem, “Media.” So-called black leaders could never bite the hands that feed them, think Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Racism is rampant in network and cable news, yet, black leaders stay quiet. Time-Warner, Universal, and Sony distributed gangsta-rap for many years with no shame. Pimping lost black males who promoted black on black violence, hatred of blackwomen, drug usage and sell, criminality as cool and worthwhile, etc. Hollywood studios continually showing bulls**t images of black people as uneducated, welfare queens, hoodrats, dopeboys, rapist, awol fathers, prostitutes, dumb jocks, etc. Media matters black people, Think About It!!!
on Tue Jan 3rd 2012 at 20:14:55 Happiness
“Racism is rampant in network and cable news, yet, black leaders stay quiet.”
@Tyrone
Yes, that is because they are rented negroes….I saw that term coined here first though, but that’s why. They get paid so they say what they are paid to say. Bought and paid for.
on Tue Jan 3rd 2012 at 20:39:19 Nom De Plume
@Tyrone:
@Happiness:
Al Sharpton comes to mind. They gave him his own gig on MSNBC. Yes, he still speaks out against injustice on the show, but does it in a way that seems more like a performance than anything. I’ve even seen him do little skits. I haven’t seen any of the other talk show hosts “perform” in this way. Rev. Al still does a lot of good, but it seems as though he has sold (or rented) a part of himself.
Nom De Plume,
Yes, I noticed that from commenting in certain blogs as well, you could tell that someone had been to them and said something because they would remove their posts, maybe someone threatened their job or something. Journalists are some of the most susceptible to this, they write what they are told to write.
I think the main thing wrong with the world today is these undercover people going around bribing and buying people and making trouble. Shameful.
Shameful because some people can’t or won’t say what they have to say for fear that their bread and butter gets taken away…..Invisible shackles.
Happiness:
MSNBC is the most liberal cable news outlet on the “Idiot Box.” The NABJ(National Association of Black Journalists) started complaining about the lack of black faces on the network, in comes Sharpton to the rescue. Instead of hiring real black journalists, they decide to give Rev. Al his own show to shut up black folk…Insulting! You would assume that MSNBC would have no problem with diversity in the newsroom…Wrong! They were forced to hire Al, if they didn’t buck, Protests! Liberals want blacks to continue voting for democrats knowing damn’ well they they don’t give a blank about us anyway. Liberals slap us in the face, and we keep coming back for more. Think about all of the bs that black folk support in this country because of media bias…corrupt public schools, illegal immigration, radical islam, sports plantation(ncaa, nfl, nba, mlb, espn, fox sports), and so forth. Black people are dying in Africa because of radical islam, yet, Jackson, Sharpton, and Farrakhan have the nerve to defend radical muslims in this country while members of their own race are being killed in Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, and Kenya…Amazing! The same cast of fools support illegal immigrants from central and south america breaking the laws of this country because white democrats in DC say so. Meanwhile, black folks in Miami, DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago can’t get jobs because they’re not bilingual…Stealth Racism! Black folks in LA and other cities are killed by hispanic gang members, yet, rented negroes say nothing about it because they’re bought and paid for…Black Folk Suffer! Our own people are helping our enemies dig our grave…Shameful!!!
on Tue Jan 3rd 2012 at 22:29:09 Matari
“some people can’t or won’t say what they have to say for fear that their bread and butter gets taken away…..Invisible shackles.”
Invisible shackles??
It could also be called SELF- interest.
It’s more like going along to get along, but the further down that road you travel, the more you’ll COMPROMISE your principles and your CONSCIENCE. You’re highly likely to wake up one day to find that you’ve sold your soul for bread and butter that wasn’t worth – anything.
on Tue Jan 3rd 2012 at 23:03:20 brothawolf
Hollywood – the media in general is just another cog in the machine of institutional racism and white supremacy. It’s all connected. This is more than enough reason to create our own media and not try to change the mainstream. It is incorrigible because in the end they present what whites want to see, and they will continue to promote whiteness for profit.
Well, I really don’t hold it against anyone, although it is sad when you have an opinion or view but you can’t voice it because you are afraid that someone is going to take away your livelihood or worse, kill you.
Anyway, I’m off to bed now.
Night night.
on Wed Jan 4th 2012 at 03:32:57 Matari
“it is sad when you have an opinion or view but you can’t voice it because you are afraid that someone is going to take away your livelihood or worse, kill you.”
It is sad indeed, Happiness. But perhaps more importantly it reveals that the so-called “freedom” & “patriotism” banner the West (white supremacy) loves to wave is just an illusion – one that the people seem to gravitate towards.
If one isn’t free to to say, “no thanks,” or follow their God given conscience without dire consequences, then one isn’t truly free.
In America, the Land of the Free, one is only free to march in lockstep with the prevailing views/laws. Marching counter to the State – or conventional wisdom – is bound to have some really negative consequences … as you’ve pointed out.
When or if the state mandates that all citizens must have a 2-way TV (ala George Orwell’s 1984) in their dwelling (of course for their security and safety from THE TERRORISTS), and an ID chip (your papers) ever present on one’s person, there will be little doubt among the masses regarding the reality of their vaunted “freedoms.”
BET and the media in general (in their controlling people’s thoughts and whatnot) illustrates a bit of the who and how of where things are headed.
on Fri Jan 6th 2012 at 20:12:53 Tyrone
Matari:
If i was an actor in hollywood, i would be “Whitelisted.” I would be a modern day Nat Turner…Not Well Behaved! Conservatives like me in sports and entertainment can’t speak freely about our political bent to avoid being punished by the powers that be…Bulls**t! I don’t care what your political bent is, you have the right as a human being to be true to your beliefs. We can agree to disagree and still interact just the same. The fact that most americans are spoonfed one ideological bent by and large is dangerous. This is the greater threat that “media” brings to the table. Black people who aren’t hip to what’s going on are “Easy Marks” for the likes of MTV, ESPN, etc. LORA is our best defense…Listen…Observe…Remember…Analyze
on Sun Jan 8th 2012 at 04:48:45 abagond
good summary:
on Fri Jan 13th 2012 at 02:42:33 Derrick Witherspoon
You should do a post on the new show “House of Lies” with Don Cheadle and talk about the white supremacy in it.
on Sun Jun 3rd 2012 at 17:05:17 phoebeprunelle
Abagond, don’t let certain black BET supporters and black people who claim they worked for BET as interns hear you say any of this.
They will literally tear your head off and blatantly call you the nice n-word. They are going to get mad and say that a black man named Robert Johnson founded the company and that black people will believe anything other people tell them without researching it first.
What many of them fail to realize is that it matters not who founded the company if American black men and women look like whores, pimps, pushers etc. on that network to the rest of the world every day.
on Sun Jun 24th 2012 at 13:14:55 Palmer
I have to somewhat disagree with this. I grew up with plenty of positive images of black Americans on TV. Shows I remember watching were Smart Guy, Sister,Sister, Moesha, Family Matters, etc. and more adult shows like Living Single and Martin.
The negative stereotypes tended to be focused specifically on BET. I think this is more a problem of the music industry than the television industry, because the television shows on BET tended to just be recycled sitcoms similar to the shows listed above.
on Thu Aug 30th 2012 at 20:33:48 ThatDeborahGirl
I find your comments about Alice Walker and there being little to no mention of racism in “The Color Purple” absurd. It’s like people who read “To Kill a Mockingbird” and say there’s very little about racism in the whole book and focus on the ‘good’ white people vs. ‘the bad white people’ and the only “bad” white people are the Ewells to most white folks. They don’t realize that every white person in the book is guilty and racist as hell, even Atticus. Only Atticus has the guts to admit it.
Racism is darned near a character in the book because it’s palpable and shapes the entire world merely by the era it’s written in and the fact that the lynching of successful black man leaves his wife and daughters unprotected and alone in the world in a way that would never happen to white people. Racism isn’t explained It’s just assumed and I find, having read this again recently, that there’s not a page, especially towards the end, that doesn’t have some commentary on white folks, most of it negative.
I think the racism in “The Color Purple” gets by white people because it’s not obvious to them, but hell if you think about it, every day racism isn’t obvious to them so why they should be expected to get from a book what’s around them every day just isn’t likely.
White people see what they want to see but that’s not Alice Walker’s fault or Harper Lee’s either.
on Wed Jan 23rd 2013 at 02:33:11 Tai
Why do you sound so racist the facts are bet was found and ran by a black man untill like 2008 then at witch point he sold 51% of the compant not all of it and by the way white people are not the only ones who like it the whole world does so any thing that is on bet is because black people want them there thank you
on Thu Apr 11th 2013 at 23:56:31 Mainstream Music Movers | BROTHA WOLF
[…] does it matter who these people are? The people who control the largest media companies are all white males. They own at least 95% of the mainstream media networks. The content you see on the magic box are […]
on Fri Apr 12th 2013 at 01:16:51 King of Trouble
At Tai, like the fish?
So if people have a compliant about something they should shut up because the majority is right? That is what your comment seems like it is saying. Please correct me if I am wrong.
on Wed Jun 26th 2013 at 18:35:45 joeschmoe
I agree. lets make things equal. I can’t wait to see WET – White Entertainment Television, white Miss America, White History month, the NAAWP – National Association for the advancement of White People, college grants given only to white people, & maybe I’ll make a movie called “black men can’t skate”. Oh wait, those would all be horribly racist now wouldn’t they? I’m so sick & tired of the double standard & the black community blaming the white community for all of their problems. I totally, & completely support equality, true equality. It’s comments like I see on here, & the above mentioned “black only” things that PROMOTE racism. If somebody white uses the “N” word they are crucified, while blacks use it dozens of times per day in movies, in song lyrics, etc. Oh,wait…it must be the white man making these black folks use that word & put into their music. If a black celebrity called somebody “whitebread” or “honky” nobody would say a word. Somebody mentioned the lack of black journalists on MSNBC, but it would be fine if they were ALL black though right? Then it wouldn’t be racist, it would be justified. If there is ever going to be a hope for true equality in this country, then the double standard needs to be changed.
It’s entirely true that great injustices have been done to the black community in the past & we should be ashamed. But tipping the scales of racism & oppression in the other direction in an attempt to make up for sins of the past is still racism & if you don’t see it, then it’s not equality you seek but rather revenge.
In the words of the Great Dr. King “…..there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
Anything aimed at benefiting any one race, sex, sexual orientation, color, nationality, religion, or ethnic background is discrimination & is WRONG, PERIOD! To think other wise is only perpetuating & supporting the very thing you claim to hate so much.
@ joeschmoe
You are the one with a racist double standard:
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/white-privilege-mindset/
“I agree. lets make things equal. I can’t wait to see WET – White Entertainment Television, white Miss America, White History month, the NAAWP – National Association for the advancement of White People, college grants given only to white people, & maybe I’ll make a movie called “black men can’t skate”. Oh wait, those would all be horribly racist now wouldn’t they? “
WET = ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, History Channel, etc
White History Month = history as taught at high school in September, October, November, December, January, March, April, May
NAAWP = The Supreme Court, which just overturned a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Its only black judge is more against affirmative action than even its conservative white judges.
college scholarships – 75.7% of merit-based grants went to whites in 2007-2008.
“Black Men Can’t Skate” = “Precious”, “The Blind Side”, “The Help”, Tyler Perry films, etc
on Wed Jul 31st 2013 at 19:48:48 Titanium Dragon
BET was only purchased by Viacom in 2001. It was already garbage by then, so you can’t pretend like the fact that it is owned by white people means anything. Not to mention the fact that it has been run by black people – Robert L Johnson, followed by Debra L Lee, for its entire existence.
“Wah white people depict us negatively!” Ha! You wish. You know the #1 cause of the negative presentation of black people in culture? Black people.
“But but but! Whites love racist caricatures of black people!” Not really, no. While I know in your racist mindset (yes, you’re a racist) all white people must be racist, the truth is that most white people don’t live around racist caricatures of black people and really don’t have a huge amount of interest in them. You know who does?
http://www.thecab.tv/php/networkprofiles/10profileData/10_pdf/10BET.pdf
Black people.
Who watches BET?
African-Americans. They even note this to their advertisers, and tell their advertisers that they are an excellent venue for targeting black people.
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/12/21/2011-is-bets-most-watched-year-ever/114425/
BET knows its target audience.
So no, however much you might want to say white people are responsible for negative depictions of black people in popular culture, the fact of the matter is, blacks watch this trash and like it, and indeed, produce a great deal of it.
Much easier to blame someone other than yourselves for your problems. Everyone loves to do it, but it never fixes anything.
Maybe you should turn inwards and consider what is wrong with black people, rather than whining about everyone else. Consider what you, personally, can do. And no, whining about it isn’t what is going to fix things.
on Wed Sep 18th 2013 at 20:36:16 Follow The Money! | African-American Culture 101
[…] https://abagond.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/the-bet-fallacy/ […]
on Sun Sep 22nd 2013 at 23:17:37 DesiBjorn
Reblogged this on The Angriest Black Man in America and commented:
Excellent information.
on Mon Sep 23rd 2013 at 00:36:18 Queen Ciara-Adira
Reblogged this on Black Supremacy Love and Unity and commented:
on Fri Jan 31st 2014 at 22:05:12 LittleBabyBug Jones
not so sure about the part about reclamation of the n word. most poor black people wear the “n” word out. they see themselves as niggas and it flies outta their mouths effortlessly. most upper class or even working class blacks are extremely reticent to use it, and only use it (if they do at all) to refer to blacks who are totally lacking of class. kinda like how white people use “white trash” which always throws me when that term comes outta white peoples’ mouths. i hate the n-word, and i’m not too keen on saying white trash. to me it’s synonymous with redneck, but white people down south love associating themselves with the very non-too-flattering image of the redneck.
[…] The BET Fallacy: Using BET, Chris Rock, Rented Negroes or hip hop videos to prove something about black people […]
on Wed Mar 9th 2016 at 21:20:06 Jonathan
I love coming back to remind myself that TV is garbage for this exact reason. Worse than no representation is misrepresentation.
on Mon Aug 7th 2017 at 01:15:04 Lynne
Great insight! Great points.
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Books this year in recognition of Earth Day 2019 (49th year!)
Ann H. Logan Uncategorized May 16, 2019 October 8, 2019 7 Minutes
https://yaleclimateconnections.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1688ba4f33d819bf4152dceb9&id=b517f387aa&e=5fbaa68553
Bookshelf: 12 recommended reads in recognition of Earth Day 2019
Earth, humans, and climate get a special nod in this month’s collection of new books recognizing the 49th annual Earth Day.
By Michael Svoboda
Ever since the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970*, April has provided a launching pad for new works about the environment. This year that includes the release of three highly anticipated books: Bill McKibben’s Falter, Nathaniel Rich’s Losing Earth, and Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey’s Our Planet, the companion to the NetFlix documentary series. Also included in the list below are new histories of environmentalism, both mainstream and radical, and some off-beat reflections on the life-challenges posed by climate change.
The descriptions of the twelve works listed below are drawn from copy provided by the publishers.
Major new releases
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, by David Wallace-Wells (Tim Duggan Books 2019, 320 pages, $27.00)
In his travelogue of our near future, David Wallace-Wells brings into stark relief the climate troubles that await – food shortages, refugee emergencies, and other crises that will reshape the globe. But the world will be remade by warming in more profound ways as well, transforming our politics, our culture, our relationship to technology, and our sense of history. It will shape and distort nearly every aspect of human life as it is lived today. Like An Inconvenient Truth, The Uninhabitable Earth is both a meditation on the devastation we have brought upon ourselves and an impassioned call to action. For just as the world was brought to the brink of catastrophe within the span of a lifetime, the responsibility to avoid it now belongs to a single generation.
Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, by Bill McKibben (Henry Holt 2019, 304 pages, $28.00)
Bill McKibben’s groundbreaking book The End of Nature was the first book to alert us to global warming. But the danger is broader than that: even as climate change shrinks the space where our civilization can exist, new technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics threaten to bleach away the variety of human experience. Falter tells the story of these converging trends and of the ideological fervor that keeps us from bringing them under control. And then, drawing on McKibben’s experience in building 350.org, the first truly global citizens movement to combat climate change, it offers some possible ways out of the trap. Falter is a powerful and sobering call to arms, to save not only our planet but also our humanity.
Losing Earth: A Recent History, by Nathaniel Rich (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2019, 224 pages, $25.00)
By 1979, we knew nearly everything we understand today about climate change – including how to stop it. Over the next decade, a handful of scientists, politicians, and strategists risked their careers in a desperate, escalating campaign to convince the world to act before it was too late. The New York Times Magazine devoted an entire issue to Nathaniel Rich’s groundbreaking chronicle of that decade. Now expanded into book form, Losing Earth tells the human story of climate change in even richer, more intimate terms, carrying the story into the present day. Like John Hersey’s Hiroshima and Jonathan Schell’s The Fate of the Earth, Losing Earth is the rarest of achievements: a riveting work of dramatic history that articulates a moral framework for understanding how we got here, and how we must go forward.
Our Planet, by Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey and Fred Pearce (Ten Speed Press 2019, 320 pages, $35.00)
With a foreword by Sir David Attenborough, this striking companion to the groundbreaking NetFlix original documentary series presents never-before-seen visuals of nature’s most intriguing animals in their natural environments. From deep oceans to remote forests to the polar ice caps, Our Planet takes nature-lovers deep into the science of our natural world. Revealing the most amazing sights on Earth in unprecedented ways, alongside stories of the ways humans are affecting the world’s ecosystems – from the wildebeest migrations in Africa to the penguin colonies of Antarctica – Our Planet places itself at the forefront of a global conversation as we work together to protect and preserve our planet.
There Is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make or Break Years, by Mike Berners-Lee (Cambridge University Press 2019, 302 pages, $12.95 paperback)
Feeding the world, climate change, biodiversity, plastics – the list of concerns seems endless. But what is most pressing, what are the knock-on effects of our actions, and what should we do first? Do we all need to become vegetarian? How can we fly in a low-carbon world? Should we frack? Does it all come down to population? Mike Berners-Lee has crunched the numbers and plotted a course of action that is practical and even enjoyable. In There Is No Planet-B, you’ll find a big-picture perspective on the environmental and economic challenges of the day laid out in one place and traced through to the underlying roots. In this book you’ll find practical and even inspiring ideas for what you can actually do to help humanity thrive on this our only planet.
A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow, by Joshua S. Goldstein and Stefan A.Qvist (Public Affairs 2019, 288 pages, $26.00)
In this clear-sighted and compelling book, Joshua Goldstein and Staffan Qvist explain how clean energy quickly replaced fossil fuels in such places as Sweden, France, South Korea, and Ontario. Their people enjoyed prosperity and growing energy use in harmony with the natural environment. They didn’t do this through personal sacrifice, nor through 100 percent renewables, but by using them in combination with an energy source the Swedes call kärnkraft, hundreds of times safer and cleaner than coal. Clearly written and beautifully illustrated, yet footnoted with extensive technical references, Goldstein and Qvist’s book will provide a new touchstone in discussions of climate change. It could spark a shift in world energy policy that literally saves the world.
Climate in Motion: Science, Empire, and the Problem of Scale, by Deborah R. Coen (University of Chicago Press 2019, 464 pages, $40.00)
Climate in Motion presents the history of modern climate science as a history of “scaling” – the embodied work of moving between different frameworks for measuring the world. Looking back at the multinational Hapsburg monarchy of the nineteenth century, Deborah R. Coen argues that essential elements of the modern understanding of climate arose as a means of thinking across scales in a state. Habsburg scientists were the first to investigate precisely how local winds and storms might be related to the general circulation of the earth’s atmosphere as a whole. Linking Habsburg climatology to the political and artistic experiments of late imperial Austria, Coen grounds the atmospheric sciences in the everyday experiences of an earlier era of globalization.
The Environment: A History of the Idea, by Paul Warde, Libby Robin, and Sverker Sörlin (Johns Hopkins University Press 2019, 256 pages, $29.95)
In this fascinating book, Paul Warde, Libby Robin, and Sverker Sörlin trace the emergence of the concept of the environment following World War II, a period characterized by both hope for a new global order and fear of humans’ capacity for almost limitless destruction. It was at this moment that a new idea and a new narrative about the planet-wide impact of people’s behavior emerged, closely allied to anxieties for the future. Now we had a vocabulary for talking about how we were changing nature: resource exhaustion and energy, biodiversity, pollution, and – eventually – climate change. With the rise of “the environment,” the authors argue, came new expertise, making certain kinds of knowledge crucial to understanding the future of our planet.
The Ecocentrists: A History of Radical Environmentalism, by Keith Makoto Woodhouse (Columbia University Press 2019, 392 pages, $35.00)
In The Ecocentrists, Keith Makoto Woodhouse offers a nuanced history of radical environmental thought and action in the late-twentieth-century United States. Focusing especially on the group Earth First!, Woodhouse explores how radical environmentalism responded to both postwar affluence and a growing sense of physical limits. While radicals challenged the material and philosophical basis of industrial civilization, they glossed over the ways economic inequality and social difference defined people’s different relationships to the nonhuman world. A ground-breaking intellectual history, The Ecocentrists is a timely study of humanism and individualism in an environmental age that makes a case for skepticism and doubt in environmental thought.
Cultural ruminations
Cultural Sustainabilities: Music, Media, Language, Advocacy, edited by Timothy J. Cooley (University of Illinois Press 2019, 364 pages, $32.00 paperback)
Environmental sustainability and human cultural sustainability are inextricably linked. Reversing damaging human impact on the global environment is ultimately a cultural question, and as with politics, the answers are often profoundly local. Timothy J. Cooley, a professor of music and global studies, presents twenty-three essays by musicologists and ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, folklorists, ethnographers, documentary filmmakers, musicians, artists, and activists, each asking a particular question or presenting a specific local case study about cultural and environmental sustainability. The authors celebrate human engagement with ecosystems, though with a profound sense of collective responsibility created by the emergence of the Anthropocene.
Climate and Society: Transforming the Future, by Robin Leichenko and Karen O’Brien (Polity Books 2019, $24.95 paperback)
Geographers Robin Leichenko and Karen O’Brien frame climate change as a social issue that calls for integrative approaches to research, policy, and action. They explore dominant and relevant discourses on the social drivers and impacts of climate change, highlighting the important roles that worldviews and beliefs play in shaping responses to climate challenges. Situating climate change within the context of a rapidly changing world, the book demonstrates how dynamic political, economic, and environmental contexts amplify risks, yet also present opportunities for transformative responses. This informative an engaging book empowers readers with a range of possibilities for equitable and sustainable actions in a changing climate.
Reoccupy Earth: Notes Toward An Other Beginning, by David Wood (Fordham University Press 2019, 240 pages, $28.00 paperback)
Our habits are integral to the good life, to social norms and expectations, as well as to economic reality. Yet many of our individual habits, when aggregated together, spell disaster. Philosophy is about emancipation – from illusions, myths, and oppression. In Reoccupy Earth, the noted philosopher David Wood shows how an approach to philosophy attuned to our ecological existence can suspend the taken-for-granted and open up alternative forms of earthly dwelling. In walking us through a range of reversals, transformations, and estrangements that thinking ecologically demands of us, Wood shows how living responsibly with the earth means affirming the ways in which we are vulnerable, receptive, and dependent – and the need for solidarity all round.
*For an historical account of that first celebration, see Adam Rome’s The Genius of Earth Day.
Published May 16, 2019 October 8, 2019
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ACER > português > Eletricidade > Framework Guidelines & Network Codes > GridConnection
Grid connection covers all the issues to establish and maintain a physical connection between the transmission and / or distribution grid and the gr id users. Grid connection is used as a synonym for network connection, which is one of the areas for a network code according to Article 8(6) (b) of Regulation (EC) 714/2009.
The objective of European rules on grid connection is to develop a harmonised electricity grid connection regime that will support a more efficient and secure system operation (particularly important in the context of an increasing penetration of intermittent generation) and will contribute to creating a level-playing field for competition in Europe.
The network code on requirements for grid connection of generators entered into force on 17 May 2016. It is binding and directly applicable in all Member States as Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631.
The network code on demand connection entered into force on 07 September 2016. It is binding and directly applicable in all Member States as Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1388.
The network code on requirements for grid connection of high voltage direct current systems and direct current-connected power park modules entered into force on 28 September May 2016. It is binding and directly applicable in all Member States as Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1477.
All three network codes provide Member States three years from the date of their publication in the Official Journal of the EU to implement the requirements, save for a handful of requirements that become applicable sooner.
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Where were you when… ?
… Gough Whitlam was deposed as Prime Minister of Australia?
Some of you will be too young to remember the furor the Whitlam sacking caused. Some will not have even been born. But I was there, and I was shocked that such a thing could happen to an elected government.
We were all shocked again in 2010 when a second Australian Prime Minister was ‘sacked’. The fact he was sacked by his own party just made the betrayal even blacker.
Last night it happened again, with the sacking of Prime Minister Julia Guillard, but this time there was an element of poetic justice about it.
For those of you unfamiliar with recent Australian politics, let me give you a quick recap of events.
2007 – Kevin Rudd led Australian Labor to a huge victory in the polls. His Deputy was Julia Guillard.
2010 – Julia Guillard, helped by a faction boss called Bill Shorten, deposed Kevin Rudd as leader of the Labor Party, and hence as Prime Minister.
2013 – Bill Shorten [yes the same man] helped Kevin Rudd to regain leadership of the Labor Party, and become Prime Minister a second time.
Those are the bald facts. Woven in and around those facts are a number of disturbing trends. Foremost amongst them is the power of opinion polls.
A drop in popularity amongst voters, and Kevin Rudd’s abrasive leadership style amongst his colleagues led to his original sacking by the party. Julia Guillard’s plummeting approval rating led directly to her sacking. And all these popularity contests were decided by opinion polls.
In one sense, the rising power of opinion polls can be seen as democracy at work. These polls purport to take the ‘pulse’ of a nation, and as a curiosity they are fine. However I take issue with opinion polls being used as the drivers of political changes such as these.
1. Because by their very nature, opinion polls can only sample public opinion. If you know anything about statistics you will know that the smaller the sample size, the less reliable the results. Have you ever been approached by a pollster asking your opinion about politics? No, me neither. The only way anyone can ever know exactly what the voters are thinking is by asking them in an election where every single voter gets to be heard.
2. Because by their very nature, polls are hypotheticals and gauge only how a particular respondent is feeling on that day. Those feelings can be influenced by a number of factors, including the slant of the news media on that day. They are also not indicative of how someone will vote during a real election. I’ve been most unhappy with Labor for a very long time, but even I do not know how I would have voted if Julia Guillard had gone to the election as PM. You see I was not happy with her, but I am and will remain even more unhappy with Tony Abbott.
3. Because I do not believe that off-the-cuff public opinion should be allowed to decide such momentous changes. It’s the equivalent of a husband and wife having a spat about who should take out the rubbish, and then having an outsider forcing them to divorce over it.
In Australia, we do not have Presidential style elections where personality plays a big role in deciding who gets elected. At least, that is not how it’s supposed to work. We are supposed to elect our governments on the basis of party policies. The reality, of course, is never quite so clear cut.
I believe both Whitlam and Rudd were elected because we saw them as men of vision… and we felt we needed visionaries in the top job. As such, they were both viewed as more than just talking heads. We felt we knew them, and could trust them. And we believed they had a blueprint for a better future instead of just more of the same old same old. In that sense, our relationship to them was much stronger than what we normally feel for our politicians. It was a marriage of sorts, and in both cases, we should have been given the opportunity to decide whether we wanted to end the marriage or not.
At its heart, Julia Guillard’s demise was predicated from the moment she sacked Kevin Rudd. She was a good politician, and under different circumstances she would have made a great Prime Minister, but her every mistake was seen through the prism of what came before. And, of course, Tony Abbott made sure that those mistakes were amplified in the public eye. Sound bites and opinion polls did the rest.
As a Rudd supporter [and Abbott skeptic] I am glad to have him back, but I do wish our first female Prime Minister could have left under better circumstances. I also wish Kevin Rudd had a better chance of leading Labor to victory in the coming election. I think he will drag the Party back from the brink of disaster, but I don’t think he will have the time to forge a victory.
I don’t have a crystal ball but these are my predictions :
1. Labor will lose at the coming election, but only by a small margin.
2. After the election, Kevin Rudd will be deposed because those within the Party who still hate him will have no further reason to support him.
3. The Abbott government will quickly become very unpopular and will lose the next election.
4. With luck, Abbott will be replaced by Malcolm Turnbull.
5. For the next three years of opposition I believe Labor will be lead by Bill Shorten. I think he fell on his sword for the good of the Party and that sacrifice will be rewarded, eventually.
6. Somewhere down the track I believe Penny Wong will become the first ethnic, gay, female Prime Minister. She has both charisma and brains. More importantly she is perceived as having integrity. By the time a couple of elections have been and gone, we will need integrity even more than we need vision.
We live in interesting times, but at least I now have someone to vote for at the coming election. 🙂
p.s. The new pc is up and running beautifully. I can’t say that setting it up was a pleasure, but it was a lot less onerous than I thought it would be. More about that when the dust settles in the political arena.
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 27th, 2013 at 2:27 pm and tagged with Australia, Julia-Guillard, Kevin-Rudd, opinion-polls, politics, predictions and posted in Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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51 responses to “Where were you when… ?”
Stephanie Allen Crist
This is why America has such a hard time relating with the world: Even people, like me, who try to know what’s going on are too under-educated about other people’s politics to make heads or tails of it.
So, here’s my attempt to understand: A political party can boot out your leader while he/she is in office without a vote from the people. Is that what you’re saying?
Yup. That’s apparently the Westminster system. It was not ‘done’ in the past for reasons of etiquette/fear of voter backlash, but it is within the rules. And that historical tradition has now been broken. As a voter I am serious displeased.
Thanks for the confirmation. Yeah, I would be displeased, too. Whether you like the person or not, it seems that the voters (not the party and certainly not the polls) should be able to make the choice.
I’m not always pleased with President Obama, and I probably wouldn’t vote for him unless there was no better (in my opinion) choice, but nor would I vote to have him impeached (unless he did something a lot more wrong than anything he’s done).
Removing someone from office seems so extreme. If there’s criminal charges, then yeah, but general dissatisfaction doesn’t seem like a good reason. Sometimes the leaders with the best (historical) legacy pissed off their people during their terms. Look at President Lincoln–very little he did was popular, but most of it was the right thing to do.
“Sometimes the leaders with the best (historical) legacy pissed off their people during their terms.”
Yes! Visionaries are rarely appreciated at the time but history is the true judge. Getting rid of a leader because of personality issues smack of a popularity contest gone wrong. Government should be above such petty and changeable whims.
I totally and completely agree. The most trying times are unpopular times, and globally we’re experiencing some pretty trying times. Making decisions based on opinion polls doesn’t solve problems.
You know I’ve discovered a real paradox within myself. On the one hand I really, truly believe in democracy – both as an ideal and as a way of governing day to day. But… If all these polls and what have you are right, the majority are not necessarily either admirable or right.So where does that leave majority rule?
Well, as you’ve said, polls are not the same thing as votes. We can be unhappy with someone and still vote for them. So, the polls really don’t mean anything when it comes right down to it.
As for majority rule…it’s complicated. The majority isn’t always good or right or admirable, otherwise the U.S. would never have tolerated slavery and we wouldn’t need civil rights legislation in any democratic country.
Human beings are inherently imperfect. So are our governing systems. Some day something better will come along, both for democracy and capitalism, but right now these are our best options available, though neither are practiced in their purest forms (for good reason). Merging the best of multiple systems is the best we can do right now, until some genius somewhere along the way comes up with something better.
I agree. I visited relatives in Hungary during the Communist era, and I hated the reality of communism in practice. Secret police in blue uniforms on the streets, an undercurrent of fear all the time, and the very same greed that I hate about Capitalism. Not good. 😦
July 31st, 2013 at 8:32 am
Of the three, communism sounds the best on paper but is the worst in practice. Socialism sounds good on paper, too, but doesn’t work on a global scale. Capitalism doesn’t really sound good on paper, but it is the most functional economy on a global scale.
Unfortunately, Capitalism leads to dramatic disparities and we still haven’t figured out a good way to deal with that.
Luckily, a lot of people–some of them very welll financed–are exploring social entrepreneurism with the hope that they’ll be able to find truly functional solutions.
After what I saw and experienced in Hungary, I’m convinced that small ‘c’ capitalism is hardwired into the human psyche, but whatever Ayn Rand may say, Capitalism as practised by large corporations and multi-nationals is something else. In a sense it can’t avoid it. Competition is what makes capitalism work on a small scale. But when you ramp it up, the natural, inevitable result of competition is that some win, some lose. The winners get bigger and hence more powerful. And so on up the pyramid until to get a monopoly or near monopoly.
Perhaps that is the life cycle of capitalism. -shrug- Or perhaps governments are not doing what they’re meant to be doing – i.e. providing the competition to keep the corps in check. In theory at least, a triangle of govt. + general public + corps should balance each other and make for a very stable and robust system. The practice is never ideal though.
Ideally, they should. But nothing is so corrupting as money, except perhaps power.
Part of the inherent problem with capitalism–or any currently devised economic system–is that the system is reliant on artificial forces. Money, for example, is nothing more than an artificial construct.
Truly pure capitalism would account for everything, including indirect costs. Thus, pollution and poverty would be a cost of doing business a certain way, which would (ideally) make it too expensive to do business that way.
Our system just isn’t natural enough to function up to any sort of ideal.
Oh I like that idea! Clearly very hard to implement, but if we did have such a system the market would regulate itself in a way it definitely doesn’t do now.
That is the long-term goal of many economists, but, yeah, it’s a difficult idea to even conceptualize, let alone implement.
We try to improve the artificial system through even more artificial laws. For example, taxing polluters inserts the cost of pollution into the economic process. Taxing corporations and wealthy individuals to off-set poverty is another factor.
The problem with most of these activities is that they cannot account for natural checks and balances. For example, there are people who accumulate wealth by creating businesses that build up others; yet these businesses are taxed and penalize for their accumulation of wealth the same as businesses that do not. So, you rely on human nature to want to build up others. It still happens, because there are lots of people who really do care, but those who don’t still get away with weaker penalties for victimizing behavior.
Besides, there’s little in the way of global balance. International corporations will trash “third-world” countries, profit from their lower costs and weaker rules, and take the profits back into wealthier nations. It’s a travesty, but there is not an economic system in existence that can create the necessary balance to prevent it.
Human beings are still a long, long way off from our best ideals, and who is to say that are best ideals are even close to what would be possible if human nature didn’t have such a dark side.
Your reply started me thinking about freedom. When I was a kid, social stigma was still a very powerful thing, and it was linked to our laws. So, for example, divorce was frowned up and required 7 years of pain and anguish to complete. So few people took advantage of the ability to get divorced. Now, about 50% of marriages end in divorce, including mine. Were people ‘better’ people 50 years ago? No. The only real difference is that now we have the freedom to indulge both sides of our nature. For me the lesson is that everything needs a system of checks and balances – starting with humans. 🙂
Social stigma is still a very powerful thing, it’s just directed differently.
The legal freedom to divorce is certainly a factor in the changes, but it’s far from the only factor. The more freedom women have to survive without a spouse, the less likely women are to settle for unsatisfying marriages. The more acceptable it is for men to pursue their genetic disposition to spread their seed widely, the less likely they are to stay tied to one person throughout their lives. And that’s just two examples. There are many more factors.
But social stigma is still a very powerful force. Despite our circumstances, my husband–who doesn’t feel that force as much as many people do–feels the pressure to “go out and work,” because the roles of stay at home parents are so undervalued in U.S. society, and especially the role of stay-at-home dads is undervalued.
The pressure is there. We’ve just “innoculated” ourselves against divorce stigma. Divorce is the new normal.
Very true. I wonder if we will ever have an equitable balance between the needs of individuals and the needs of society as a whole?
I suspect we won’t, not without divine, or at the very least alien, intervention.
Or some kind of benevolent AI. 😉
I suppose it’s possible, but considering our relationships with our machines I have trouble imagining us creating, either on purpose or on accident, an AI that is benevolent.
We seem to create everything in our own image – hardly surprising as our imaginations are bound by our own human traits – so any AI we were to create would have to have the potential for the same faults as us… but perhaps on a larger scale. Now that is scary.
It is. But then again, if it’s truly an AI, then it’s possible that human beings didn’t create it at all–or at least not intentionally. In such a situation, who knows what we might get.
Good point. I believe a machine intelligence will arise at some point, but I agree that it will most likely be an accident, with unexpected consequences.
Have you read the Ender’s Quartet by Orson Scott Card?
Yeah. I absolutely loved the first book, not so taken with the rest.
Ah, but it’s in the rest where the AI comes into play. Jane is absolutely fascinating to me!
But, Ender’s Game was definitely more focused and the others kind of wandered about a bit more.
lol – yes they did. They were still good but for me they started to edge towards fantasy a wee bit too much.
lol aw, but fantasy is the good stuff! 😉
Yeeees… but I prefer sci-fi!
lol 😉 I know. And yet, you are eager for my fiction to be published?
There’s fantasy and then there’s fantasy. I adore Robin Hobbs fantasy because it’s somehow ‘realistic’, even though it has lots of magical elements to it.
I guess it’s all in the implementation. Lasguns and Faster-than-light travel are essentially no more real than magic, it’s how the author deals with these ‘power’ tools that makes the difference, imho.
The thing that truly annoys the hell our of me with [some] fantasy is that the magic just keeps getting bigger and bigger to solve every problem. It’s as if the magical is the important part of the story instead of how people[or other creatures] work within the constraints of the magic.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure you’d be a Robin Hobb kind of fantasy writer. 🙂
Yes, that makes sense. The way I look at fantasy is that any power system is going to function under “natural” laws. In order to write about it, you have to have a basic understanding of the natural laws and either come up with a fabulous reason for defying them without breaking them–the bumble bee is a good example of that. Or you need to use those laws to complicate things. Preferably the later or both.
I think I’ll have to get me some Robin Hobbs! 😉
In our system we don’t vote in the leader, we vote in the party. If they change leaders the party is still the same so they don’t have to ask us if it is ok. We don’t necessarily have to like it though!
Rudd is making it more of a popularity contest than ever before but it still won’t be K. Rudd on the slip come polling day, it will be the member of that party in our individual electorates.
What Metan said. Most elections, we don’t really care that much about who the leaders of the parties are, but sometimes we get fixated on personalities. Sir Robert Menzies was one, Whitlam was another. Even Keating had a certain charisma. And now K.Rudd. 😉
See, and I wouldn’t like that at all. I always vote for the people, not the party. Political parties are like corporations: soulless, conscienceless, and amoral by nature, not to mention subject to mindless groupthinking. People can choose to do the right thing, even when it’s unpopular or not in their party’s best interests, simply because it’s the right thing to do.
lol – we are talking about politicians aren’t we? Seriously though, I agree with you about the personal element. All of our most beloved Prime Ministers have been strong, dynamic people. But I also think it’s important to have that group dynamic to balance things out. Don’t forget, our Prime Ministers are not limited to 8 years in office.
From memory our longest service PM was Sir Robert Menzies, and he was in for… 26 years? Even the best of people can lose their heads after so long.
Term limits help, so I see your point. I don’t know, though. In the U.S., there are (almost always) two dominant parties. Rarely a third viable one pops up, but they don’t last.
These parties create an unhealthy dichotomy. They cater to their bases to ensure they win primaries, and then (often) get stuck in positions that are basically untenable for the bigger middle ground. Especially now, compromise is virtually impossible.
If someone were ever to come up with a truly functional system of government…well, then, human beings would still manage to screw it up.
Yup. We would screw it up without blinking an eyelid. 😦 Unfortunately I can’t think of a better way of doing things – unless perhaps we chose our elected politicians at random, sort of the way people are elected for jury duty. No parties, no allegiances and no ambition. Could such a government be fundamentally worse do you think?
It would make an interesting story. But, the problem would be that there would still be a strong bureaucracy in place, which is not elected.
lol – There’s always a fly in the ointment isn’t there? Maybe in time the bureaucrats can be replaced by AIs.
Only if they don’t share our flaws or have worse ones of their own–what are the chances?
I think your predictions might well come true! I am not a Rudd fan but after watching his press conference today I think that small margin that No 1. predicts he will lose by will get smaller and smaller….
I think Rudd will do well if he manages to keep away from the Kevin of old. I think Shorten won’t be too popular with his crowd for a while but there are many of them who have done things that they probably didn’t want to in the last few days.
I still have a mental image of Kevin with an old, crumpled, Death List, he just crossed Julia off and now he is after the next name on the list… Look out, Tony….
lmao – I was watching ABC 24 and apparently Rudd is already pulling the rug out from under Tony’s feet in Parliament. Abbott is not stupid but he’ll have to lift his game quite a bit if he expects to make some headway against the new-improved K. Rudd. 😉
Wow! My head is spinning…
There’s an old saying in the U.S. that the only poll that counts in the one on election day. But, of course, that is not entirely true. The constant up/down of the polls and the drum beat in the media make every day a popularity contest. Right now, that means almost nothing gets done in Washington. The Congress is deadlocked on “ideological” matters — AKA the need to oppose out weighs the obligation to compromise in order to govern. Here, it’s politics over governing. Sounds like you’ve got an interesting version of the same in Australia.
Politics vs government/compromise is very much what we have had for 3 long, miserable years. And yet, thanks to the independents, the government actually managed to get a lot of very good things done. It’s just that the good got lost in all the rhetoric. Sometimes I truly hate politics and politicians. 😦
What a fantastic over view of the whole sordid (and to me very uninteresting, although i know I should be) mess. I think what Julia did last night was a very brave and strong act. To be so comfortable with who she is to say and do what she did takes a very strong person. Knowing that in a few hours you might be out of a job.
Regardless of how I might vote today, tomorrow or last week, I have absolute respect for the leader as it is one of those god awful jobs that means you’re dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. You can’t please everyone, but have to do the best you can in an often bad situation.
The coming election will be very interesting indeed, new things are a coming for our little country.
Must admit I was impressed with her speech as well. And she has left an impressive legacy for her time in office. No one can take that away from her. Interesting times indeed. 🙂
Your elections sound even more fun than ours.We had a badly discredited Labour party in charge under a disliked Prime Minister who bankrupted the Country ( as Labour always do). At the election the Tories won but not by a margin big enough to give them overall control. In step the Liberal whores willing to sell their body to the highest bidder so they could form a Government. It was the Conservatives who sold out and formed a coalition. Trouble is, they had to backtrack on promises made during their campaign- nothing new there then.
Over the last couple of years the Tories have managed to betray all the disadvantaged by attacking the benefits system rather than those who abuse it. They have given austerity measures rather than close tax loopholes which allow for offshore tax havens, mainly because so many of them use them. Only now are they pushing companies like Starbucks into paying tax here and that’s because there’s been so much public outrage about it.
When, when, when will we get our own Penny Wong who might remember she works for the people not against them.?
I don’t know David. 😦 Maybe you need a politician with as many perceived things going against him/her as Penny Wong? Or maybe what you need is someone who is incapable of using spin. Fixing what’s wrong with politics would make an angel weep!
I so much prefer reading your take on it, although I feel over saturated in political events and news reporting, and would be happy to stick my head in a bucket of sand so I don’t have to deal with it any more. I think I need to escape to Taylors Arm where there’s no internet and the radio/TV very rarely goes on.
Let’s have Penny Wong on the job now… there is scope for what you believe she has to offer… and if the powers that would be, the factions and the Media could leave her the hell alone to get on with the job that would be nice too 😉
lol – I’d vote for Penny Wong right now too! Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the future.
Don't be shy! Cancel reply
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DadspinThis Children’s Book Is Messed Up
This Children's Book Is Messed Up: Caps For Sale
Matt Ufford
Filed to:children's books
Illustration: Sam Woolley (GMG)
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business is a children’s classic that was published in 1940. Written and illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina, it’s an adaptation of a folk tale about monkeys stealing hats, because humanity’s entertainment situation was DIRE before streaming video.
Slobodkina lived a long and fascinating life: She emigrated from Russia as a child, living in China for years before her family moved to America, where she became a prominent abstract artist and sculptor and feminist who, after meeting Goodnight Moon author Margaret Wise Brown, broke into children’s publishing as an author and illustrator. She also didn’t know shit about monkeys.
The protagonist of Caps for Sale is an unnamed and mustachioed peddler who walks around with a stack of hats yelling, “Caps! Caps for sale! 50 cents a cap!”—a line that lands well with an approximation of Conan O’Brien’s old-timey accent. I always do character voices when I read to my children, because (A) children’s books are more entertaining for ME the 37th time I read them if I’m doing voices, and (B) it’s probably good for their brain development or something. Here’s an excerpt from a New York Times article titled How to Read Aloud to Children:
Whenever you see dialogue, do voices. “How often does a child get the chance to hear their mom or dad using silly voices or strange voices?” says [Jim] Dale, who created 146 distinct characters while recording the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” audiobook … Neuroimaging research suggests that dialogue in a story activates a part of the brain known as the right temporo-parietal junction, a key region for what’s called theory of mind, or the ability to attribute mental and emotional states to others.
I was shocked to learn that some parents DON’T do character voices while reading aloud. May as well sign your kid up for Sociopath School.
Anyway, Caps for Sale. Our peddler “was not like an ordinary peddler carrying his wares on his back.” He didn’t have a cart of caps pulled by a donkey, or a suitcase he laid out on a sidewalk, or a Lidz franchise in the local mall. He stacked his entire inventory on his head:
First he had on his own checked cap,
then a bunch of gray caps,
then a bunch of brown caps,
then a bunch of blue caps,
and on the very top a bunch of red caps.
The accompanying artwork throughout the book tells a different story.
The brown caps are distinctly yellow, the blue caps are closer to green, and the red caps are flirting heavily with orange. Can I ask, please, what the FUCK? Like, if the lousy ink technology of the mid-20th century couldn’t deliver on brown, then the author should have written “a bunch of yellow caps.” Why was this not noticed by ANYONE who looked at a proof of the book? And how has it not been corrected in the SEVENTY-EIGHT YEARS since it was published? Fix the colors!
Parenting is hard, okay? The other day my daughter, age 3, woke up at 5:00 a.m. with a nightmare, and after I soothed her, I couldn’t fall back asleep. Later that morning, she screamed in my face because I made her sit on the toilet to pee (she was miserable and cranky because she was holding it in, for no reason at all). Then my son, age 2, also screamed in my face for reasons I no longer remember. (It was two days ago, and I can barely recall events from this morning.) My daughter, while flailing her arms to avoid getting dressed, inadvertently punched me in the eyeball, then sulked and refused to apologize for the next hour. My wife and I gave them a consequence: We canceled our plans to take them to a fun new park with a splash pad, which served as a de facto punishment for us, since we had to parent them in a duller environment with fewer things to do. At some point I changed a diaper filled with enriched uranium and souls bound for hell.
What I’m saying is: Color the brown hats fucking BROWN, man! Throw me a bone! Until recently, my son was so bad at identifying colors that, when we took him in for his two-year check-up, our pediatrician had to convince my wife and me that he wasn’t colorblind (just, you know, dumb). Now, is that Esphyr Slobodkina’s fault? No. But she and her HarperCollins cronies didn’t help.
Right, so the peddler is hungry, but no one wants to buy any hats, and he doesn’t have money to buy lunch, so he wanders out of town and falls asleep under a tree.
When he awakens, monkeys have stolen all of the caps except the peddler’s own checked cap. “Wait,” you’re thinking, “the landscape depicted in this book is rolling, cultivated farmland with only intermittent tree cover. That hardly seems like a place monkeys would live! How can you explain that?”
I can’t! My best guess is that the people responsible for this book didn’t really give a shit. It was 1940 and Europe was at war, and everyone in America was like, “How about that Hitler, huh? Think we should, uh, do something about him? What? Monkeys? Yeah sure they live everywhere.”
Are my monkey-related complaints over? THEY ARE NOT. The peddler demands his caps back from the monkeys, and their response infuriates me even now, even after reading the book dozens of times.
“You monkeys, you,” he said, shaking a finger at them, “you give me back my caps.”
But the monkeys only shook their fingers back at him and said, “Tsz, tsz, tsz.”
I have stopped reading that alleged monkey noise as it’s written, because I do not want my children to grow up as monkey-ignorant as Slobodkina clearly did. This is not to disparage her upbringing! Fleeing the Russian Revolution for China and then America displays a hardiness and adaptability worthy of respect. But she clearly never learned anything about monkeys, and then wrote a children’s book about them littered with inaccuracies that would get my children laughed out of preschool. So I read the monkeys’ dialogue as “Oo, oo, oo” or “Ee, ee, ee.” Esphyr can tsz my ass.
Lest I come off too harsh, I want to allow that there may be a cultural basis for Slobodkina’s “Tsz, tsz, tsz” — an internet search for “what did Russian children 100 years ago think monkeys said” proved inconclusive — but even if that’s the case, why didn’t an editor adapt it for an American audience?
Not that I am trying to battle for the supremacy of American animal noises. In French, a pig says, “Gron gron,” and when pronounced with a nasal inflection, it is probably better than our “Oink oink.” In Spanish, roosters say “qui-qui-ri-qui” instead of “cock-a-doodle-doo,” but the music of the phrase is similar enough. I see no such bridge from “Oo-oo-ee-ee” to “Tsz, tsz, tsz.” It’s bad and dumb, and I resent the dead people responsible for it.
At last, the peddler retrieves his caps — he throws his checked cap on the ground in frustration, and the monkeys do the same to mirror him — and he heads back into town calling, “Caps! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!”
He never ate lunch, and still has no money for food. The price of his nap was harassment from wild animals, and he will have to sell monkey-worn caps to non-existent customers in order to avoid starvation. Truly a lovely story for children.
Matt Ufford is a freelance writer and video host. Hire him and/or follow him on Twitter.
More from Adequate Man
This Children's Book Is Messed Up: The Story Of Babar
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, You're Fucked: 10 Tips For Avoiding Terrible Children's Books
Don't Read These Beloved Children's Books To Your Kids
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Nanotechnology: Current Status and Future Outlook
The US government goes as far as suggesting that in just another 10 to 15 years, nanotechnology will impact more than $1 trillion per year in products and services.
The idea of building and working with structures in the “nano”-scale world goes back to Nobel laureate Richard Feynman’s famous lecture on December 29th, 1959 at California Institute of Technology titled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom.” He envisioned engineering materials one atom at a time, a “bottom-up” approach.
An entity with a micron in diameter is (1/1000) of a meter and a “nano” sized object is (1/1000) of a micron, a dimension difficult to imagine and feel. For example, a human hair is about 50 to 100 microns (mm) in diameter, a white blood cell is about 10 microns, and a DNA is in the order of 10 nanometers (nm). Building brick by brick using atoms required tools unavailable in 1959. One approach is to hope that once these building blocks are unloaded on a land, they automatically form a desired building through the magical self-assembly properties observed in molecular world.
One breakthrough enabling technology towards bottom-up approach was demonstrated by IBM researchers in 1982. Binning and Rohrer invented the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and won the noble prize in 1986. The atomic force microscope (AFM) was shortly after invented by Binning and Rohrer as well. It is now widely accepted that scanning probe techniques, including AFM, constitute a key enabling tool for nanotechnology. Another key element in nanotechnology is chemical self-assembly, the self-organization of small molecular components to form complex functional structures. As the feature length scale reaches the 70 nm or less in lithography through implementation of tools such as F2 lasers, and the fact that biological scales are in the nano size ranges, the nanotechnology is seen to heavily interact/overlap with biotechnology and microelectronics.
James Canton, President of the Institute for Global Futures stated, "Never has such a comprehensive technology promised to change so much so fast... Inevitably, nanotechnology will give people more time, more value for less cost and provide for a higher quality of existence.” Also, based on a broad definition that considers most biotechnology the "wet side" of nanotechnology, Rice chemistry professor and Nobel Laureate Richard E. Smalley likes to say that "it holds the answer, to the extent there are answers, to most of our most pressing material needs in energy, health, communication, transportation, food, water, etc." Finally, The US government goes as far as suggesting that in just another 10 to 15 years, nanotechnology will impact more than $1 trillion per year in products and services.
This seminar attempts to instill a sense of understanding and appreciation for the significance of this revolutionary (nano-) technology of the 21st century, and elevate knowledge of the field for the technologists, managers, business people, entrepreneurs and the investment community. This is accomplished through dissemination of a balanced and high-fidelity information on scientific, existing and potential products, and business opportunities for the near-, intermediate- and long-term. This seminar aims to position the attendees to intelligently benefit from current and future nanotechnology products and other related opportunities in their technical and business activities.
Engineering, scientists, researchers who anticipate and would like to position themselves for an informed application of nanotechnology products
Instructors in universities or other educational establishments who would like to incorporate and/or prepare for rapid penetration of nanotechnology in their curricula.
Managers who are or will be in a position to decide on a paradigm shift to nanotechnology
General public with a keen interest and curiosity to understand the essence of nanotechnology
Venture capitalist who would like to filter out the hype from the facts
Individual investors interested in nanotechnology
Upon completing this course students should be able to:
Understand what nanaoscience and nanotechnology really are
Appreciate the importance of the nanoscale phenomena and the role they play in our future
Understand why nanotechnology is the next “big thing”
Differentiate between what is science fiction and what are really occurring in nanoworld
Comfortably and intelligently follow the progress in nanotechnology
Prepare yourself for the inevitable arrival of the nanotechnology wave in order to effectively use it for your future career options
Make intelligent and efficient choices of the variety of areas in nanotechnology you would like to develop your future profession
The science behind nanotechnology
Nano-Powders
Carbon nano-tubes
Bucky Balls/Fullerenes
Emerging products and Potential applications
Electronics/computer
F2 Lasers
Investment/Funding opportunities
Emerging/promising market sectors
Nanotechnology resources
Free discussion
Future outlook
Summary and conclusions
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| ERROR: type should be string, got "https://apnews.com/bd921ee86a5cd78c3801b56e839b1782\nSailPoint Technologies: 3Q Earnings Snapshot\nAUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ SailPoint Technologies Holdings Inc. (SAIL) on Wednesday reported third-quarter earnings of $3.7 million.\nOn a per-share basis, the Austin, Texas-based company said it had net income of 4 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 7 cents per share.\nThe results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 2 cents per share.\nThe identity governance software developer posted revenue of $75.9 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $70.6 million.\nFor the current quarter ending in December, SailPoint Technologies expects its per-share earnings to range from 7 cents to 8 cents.\nThe company said it expects revenue in the range of $84.5 million to $86 million for the fiscal fourth quarter.\nSailPoint Technologies expects full-year earnings in the range of 13 cents to 14 cents per share, with revenue ranging from $284 million to $285.5 million.\nSailPoint Technologies shares have dropped 14% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $20.13, a decline of 20% in the last 12 months.\nThis story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SAIL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SAIL"
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