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About Us > Our Team
Our ASE Certified Marysville Mechanics are here to help you!
Steve and Brenda Moa
Steve started as a commercial fisherman in Puget sound fishing and working on boats and then moved to the Bering sea doing the same. During the off season he was a diesel tech working fleet mechanic who worked on cars, big trucks and excavators even. In 1996 he and his partner opened Bud's and aimed to be the best Transmission shop in town. He started as a tech and co-owner and eventually worked his way out of the shop and into the office full-time in 1998. Brenda and Steve were married in 2004 and they enjoy fishing, hunting and camping with friends in their free time. Brenda joined the Bud's team in 2012 when they took full ownership.
Branden is our youngest tech on site. He has been in the automotive industry for 11 years and plans to continue for years to come. ”. He started in a machine shop; worked his way into lube shops, then on to a dealership where he eventually moved to independent shops. Branden is very passionate about Subarus. They are his favorite make, not only because he owns one and loves to maintain and upgrade it, but because he has so much experience with them he can service them with “ease and confidence. When he gets free time he likes to collect and ride dirt bikes and quads. Of course that falls back into the tinkering and maintenance blood of a mechanic.
Mike has known Steve for many years and he was able to come to work for us through that connection. Mike has almost 30 years of experience in the automotive field and brings a huge amount of experience to the team. Mike is a happy person and is almost always smiling and it’s very contagious. In his time off during the winter he has a really great gaming room, were he enjoys playing video games, and watching some TV with his wife and their 4 dogs. He loves the outdoors the most and as soon as it is sunny he is camping with their trailer and quad riding with his wife. He also enjoys tinkering in his shop with wood stuff and building stuff for their place. Mike learned about engines from his father and they started rebuilding his first car from the ground up when he was 9 years old. By the time he was old enough to drive the car was completed!
Travis has been a great addition to the company; his sunny disposition brightens our morning meetings and brings smiles to his customers’ faces. In his spare time he enjoys spending quality time with his family, with his 3 wonderful kids they keep him busy. He likes taking them hiking, playing golf and has recently gotten into archery. He really enjoys watching Walking Dead. Travis is also an avid football fan and every Seahawks game they are cheering for the home team, Go Hawks!!! Travis has been a Service Advisor at several locations throughout his career and Travis studied automotive tech at University Technical Institute. He brings that wealth of knowledge to Bud’s family along with some customer service training through our team. He also has a lot of great and new ideas.
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How to choose state of incorporation for start-ups: a comparative study of Delaware, Nevada and Wyoming legislation. Part II
In this part I am discussing the ability of Delaware, Nevada and Wyoming courts to handle corporate law cases.
State Court System
Delaware has been praised for its court system.12 Delaware has a separate Court of Chancery, dating back to 1792, which is a business law court where judges are appointed on merit, not elected. This Court has no juries, and decisions are issued in a form of written opinions. Delaware business case law is abundant and there is much precedent for corporations to refer to when considering what actions they can and cannot take. Delaware business law (statutes and precedents) has come to be considered as the “national corporation law” since all lawyers are well familiar with it, having studied it in law school, and the most well-known business-related decisions have come out of Delaware courts.13
However, there is also some criticism about the effectiveness of the Delaware courts and unclear standards they set. It has been said that "the [Delaware] law governing the responsibilities of directors has become so muddled that, incredibly, one can't get a consistent answer to the most basic corporate law question of how many fiduciary duties directors have - if you ask Delaware lawyers, the answer can range anywhere from two to five!"14 Uncertainty about case law is exacerbated by the high reversal rate for decisions from the Court of Chancery of approximately 25%.15 Also, the length of litigation of cases has been extensive: for example, certain cases involving “fairness” considerations took an average of 8.7 years to resolve.16 Frequency of litigation is also alarming: in 1999 and 2000, there were 1,280 complaints filed, of which 78% were related to breaches of the fiduciary duties.17
Nevada created a business court system in 2006 based on the Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina models. The business court system was created specifically for the purpose of attracting new businesses by minimizing the time, cost and risks of commercial litigation.18 It exists within the district courts of Washoe and Clark counties, where several judges are selected to primarily handle business cases, even though they also handle criminal and civil cases. Judges are selected based on their experience in business litigation. As per Nevada Secretary of State’s website, the court system offers “early, comprehensive case management, active judicial participation in settlement, priority for hearing settings to avoid business disruption, and predictability of legal decisions in commercial matters.”19 However, no written precedent exists as the court rules do not allow the publishing of opinions. A creation of a separate chancery court like the one in Delaware would require a constitutional amendment. 20
Wyoming does not appear to have a court or judges exclusively dedicated to business litigation, although it is probable that Wyoming has sufficient precedent relating to LLCs, given that Wyoming was the first state to adopt an LLC statute in 1977. Therefore, given the criticisms of the Delaware courts, lack of published written opinions in Nevada business court system and the fact that Wyoming does not appear to have a court specifically dedicated to business-related matters, it remains uncertain which of the three states should be preferred in terms of litigating business disputes.
12 See Lewis S. Black, Jr., Why Corporations Choose Delaware, (2007), available at http://corp.delaware.gov/ (last visited Mar. 25, 2010).
13 See id.
14 William J. Carney and George B. Shepherd, The Mystery of the Success of Delaware Law: the Mystery of Delaware Law's Continuing Success, 2009 U. Ill. L. Rev. 1 (2009) (quoting Paul T. Schnell, From the Editor - M&A at Year-End, M&A Law, Glasser LegalWorks, N.Y., Jan. 2005, at 3-4).
15 See id. (referring to Norman Veasey et al., The Role of Corporate Litigation in the Twenty-First Century, 25 Del. J. Corp.L. 131, 135 (2000)).
16 See id. (referring to Kahn v. Lynch Commc'n Sys., Inc., 638 A.2d 1110 (Del. 1994) (nine years); Rabkin v. Philip A. Hunt Chem. Corp., 498 A.2d 1099 (Del. 1985) (6.5 years); Rosenblatt v. Getty Oil Co., 493 A.2d 929 (Del. 1985) (8.3 years); Weinberger v. UOP, Inc., 457 A.2d 701 (Del. 1983) (eleven years)).
17 See id. (quoting Robert Thompson & Randall Thomas, The Public and Private Faces of Derivative Lawsuits, 57 Vand. L. Rev. 1747, 1761 (2004)).
18 Nevada Secretary of State, Why Incorporate in Nevada, available at http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=152 (last visited Mar. 25, 2010).
20 See Arnold M. Knightly, New Business Court Called Unnecessary, reviewjournal.com (Jan. 30, 2009), available at http://www.lvrj.com/news/38688889.html.
Posted by Business Law Post at 7:11 PM
Labels: general corporate
How to choose state of incorporation for start-ups...
Work-for-Hire: what’s the big deal about it?
Proposed IRS Regulations on Series LLC
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The Son of Temperance
Available issues: 23
1879 Vol. I, No. 1 (May 1879)
1879 Vol. I, No. 2 (June 1879)
1879 Vol. I, No. 3 (July 1879)
1879 Vol. I, No. 4 (August 1879)
1879 Vol. I, No. 5 (September 1879)
1879 Vol. I, No. 6 (October 1879)
1879 Vol. I, No. 7 (November 1879)
1879 Vol. I, No. 8 (December 1879)
1880 Vol. I, No. 9 (January 1880)
1880 Vol. I, No. 10 (February 1880)
1880 Vol. I, No. 11 (March 1880)
1880 Vol. I, No. 12 (April 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 1 (May 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 2 (June 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 3 (July 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 4 (August 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 5 (September 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 6 (October 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 7 (November 1880)
1880 Vol. II, No. 8 (December 1880)
1881 Vol. II, No. 9 (January 1881)
1881 Vol. II, No. 10 (February 1881)
1881 Vol. II, No. 11 (March 1881)
Brantford [Ont.]: publisher not identified [1879-1881] (Toronto : Hunter, Rose)
Temperance--Periodicals
Tempérance--Périodiques
Includes advertising matter.
Issues reproduced: Vol. I, No. 1 (May 1879)-Vol. II, No. 11 (March 1881)
http://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_06011
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Signarama Ranked as a Top Franchise for Veterans in Entrepreneur Magazine's Annual Franchise List
WEST PALM BEACH, FL, November 14, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Signarama, the world's leading sign franchise, has been recognized as a Top Franchise for Veterans by Entrepreneur magazine and was placed on its Franchise 500® list. Placement on these lists is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees. The Franchise 500 list ranks Signarama at 212 for its outstanding performance in areas that include unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. The brand ranked 35 in the magazine's Top Franchises for Veterans category.
"We are honored to be recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a Top Franchise for Veterans," said A.J. Titus, Signarama brand president. "We greatly admire all of our Signarama veterans for all that they have accomplished, not only during their time of service with the military but for their commitment to our organization."
With more than 800 locations in 60 countries, Signarama places a high value on adding veterans to its team. Beth Powers of Signarama Novi, Michigan, has been a franchisee since 2018 and served in the U.S. Army. Being able to support and work in the community that she lives in is what she loves the most about her business.
"Veterans know discipline, structure, hard work and leadership," said Powers. "Being an entrepreneur gives you the ability to use all those skills together to build something of your own. There are always opportunities to grow and learn about developments in the industry. I've found that my skills and experiences from the military are a great foundation to get started in the right direction."
A member of United Franchise Group's affiliated companies and brands, Signarama offers branding and messaging solutions in addition to comprehensive sign and graphic services, including business signs, vehicle wraps, digital signs, and advertising and marketing services. Franchisees receive comprehensive training and resources to help them grow in a highly competitive market.
ABOUT SIGNARAMA
Signarama, the world's largest sign franchise, offers branding and messaging solutions in addition to comprehensive sign and graphic services to consumers and commercial customers – from business signs, vehicle wraps and digital signs to advertising and marketing services. Signarama is part of a successful system of business-to-business franchise brands and development services under the United Franchise Group (UFG). As part of a $49-billion-plus worldwide sign market, Signarama has been at the forefront of the sign industry for more than three decades. With more than 800 locations in 60 countries, the company expects to have more than 1,500 locations worldwide by the end of 2020. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit: signaramafranchise.com
Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com
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Home Sport Hearts Hearts midfielder reveals he has been given different armband following captaincy injury...
Hearts midfielder reveals he has been given different armband following captaincy injury jinx
By Darren Johnstone -
Hearts midfielder Peter Haring admits he is honoured to have been entrusted with the captain’s armband, despite the misfortune afflicting his predecessors in the role.
Following injuries to club skipper Christophe Berra and successive stand-ins John Souttar and Steven Naismith, the Austrian is now the fourth player to lead the Ladbrokes Premiership leaders out in matches.
Given the fate that has befallen those who have previously taken on that responsibility, Haring could have been forgiven for being less than enthused when manager Craig Levein told him of his plans.
Superstitious kitman Gordon Paterson has even taken the precautionary measure of issuing Haring with a red armband instead of the yellow one that is normally worn.
Hearts’ momentum has undoubtedly been impeded by the aforementioned set-backs.
Berra sustained a serious hamstring injury in August and is hoping to return next month; Souttar is out until at least the end of January with a hip issue, while Steven Naismith recently picked up a knee problem. There is also Uche Ikpeazu’s absence in attack with a foot complaint.
However, Haring, a summer recruit from Austrian side SV Ried, is refusing to consider the captaincy being cursed.
“I’m not really concerned,” said the 25-year-old, who will captain the team in today’s visit of Kilmarnock as Hearts look to respond to last weekend’s 5-0 loss at Celtic.
“It’s normal for me to wear the armband. When the gaffer gave it to me I was a little bit surprised. It’s an honour and I’m proud to wear it.
“Although our kitman Goggsy, he gave me a red one because he told me he didn’t want to give me the yellow one. I don’t even know where the yellow one is.”
Haring, who has been hampered by a hernia complaint that may eventually require an operation, was handed the armband ahead of the recent controversial goal-less draw with derby rivals Hibernian, although there were conditions attached given the team’s dearth of forwards for the match.
He added: “In the morning before the Hibs game I went to his (Levein’s) office.
“First of all he gave me the armband and told me I was going to be captain.
“I was surprised but I said to him him it was a really big honour for me and that I’m thankful for that.
“Then he told me he wanted me to play striker, so that was the main theme.”
Haring, who arrived as a defender but has established himself as a central midfielder – scoring five goals in the process, added: “I said ‘yeah, why not?’
“I could see what he was thinking and I said I would give my everything wherever I play and I said I would try to help and do my best.
“Of course, it is not my best position and on the pitch, especially at the beginning of the game, it felt weird because
“I am not a striker and I wasn’t always sure about where I had to go and what I had to do. I don’t think I will play as a striker too often but it was a nice experience.”
Haring admits there is no definitive timetable on when he could go under the knife to mend his niggling hernia injury.
He added: “I felt it more during the Celtic game at Murrayfield (in the Betfred Cup semi-final)
“It’s gotten better since then and I now I don’t really feel it.
“I can handle it much better now because I know what I have to do to recover. I feel good and I’m fit enough to play and we’ll just see how it feels.
“I will see if I still need an op. At the moment I feel good and I feel ready to play. As long as I can play I’ll do that.”
Christophe Berra
Craig Levein
John Souttar
Peter Haring
Previous articleDunfermline star Kallum Higginbotham expecting tougher derby after claiming Falkirk ‘let fans down’ last time
Next articleMatch-winner for Hearts against Hibs, Prince Buaben seeking derby pick-me-up for Falkirk against Dunfermline
Darren Johnstone
http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2018/11/09/hearts-midfielder-reveals-he-has-been-given-different-armband-following-captaincy-injury-jinx/
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Julia Ward Howe: Author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”
The famous author of, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Julia Ward Howe, was born in New York City in 1819. Her father was a successful Wall Street banker, Samuel Ward and her mother was a published poet, Julia Rush Cutler, who was a granddaughter of William Greene, Governor of Rhode. Howe was the third of seven children. When she was five, her mother died shortly after giving birth to her seventh child and her father’s influence dominated the childrens’ lives.
From an early age, Julia Ward was educated by tutors and private schools. She learned French from early childhood and began to learn Italian at 14. She was also able to speak German and read Latin and Greek. She was an intelligent child who utilized her family’s library to culturally expand herself, when women were very limited in their educational endeavors.
Her family home had an extensive library and art gallery. At her library she became acquainted with writers such as Balzac and Sand without her father’s knowledge. The writer’s liberal and modern views contrasted with her father’s Calvinistic vision.
In 1843, Julia met and married Samuel Gridley Howe who was famous for his work on behalf of the Greek Revolution, reform work for prisoners, and support of education for the blind. However, their marriage did not go well. They were separated after 9 years of marriage in 1852. Her husband wanted her to attend to “wifely duties” like rearing children and reading philosophy. She brought her two youngest kids to her sister’s place in Rome. Not too long after her return, she anonymously published her work “Passion Flowers,” a collection of poems. The poems were sensational by talking about the intimate affairs of a ‘real’ man and woman and the author’s identity quickly became an open secret.
Around that time, she found a new resolution for her depression from her husband. She became involved in the reform movement and supported various issues like abolition, womens’ rights, prison reform and education. From her activities, she also met the Boston intellectual elite such as William Ellery Channing, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and Theodore Parker.
While her husband strongly objected to her outside works, he also depended heavily on his wife as editor and writer for his newspaper, The Commonwealth. Although Julia was prevented from some of the work she liked to be involved in, she tried her best to free herself from her husband’s demands and developed her own interests.
When her poem, Battle Hymn of the Republic, was published in 1861 after she and her husband visited Washington D.C. and there met Abraham Lincoln at The White House, she became an instant celebrity and the poem became a national anthem of sorts.
In 1870, she first proclaimed Mother’s Day, which she envisioned as a day of solemn council where women from all over the world discuss about the means to achieve world peace. From 1872 to 1879, she helped Lucy Stone and Henry Brown Blackwell in editing Woman’s Journal.
In 1874 after her husband died, she focused more on her interests in reform. She founded the Association of American Women which advocated for womens’ education. She also worked for various organizations like the New England Womens’ Club, the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, the New England Suffrage Association, and the American Woman suffrage Association. In 1908, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters as the first woman.
Julia Ward Howe died in 1910 at her home, Oak Glen in Rhode Island, at the age of 91. Her funeral services were held at Church of the Disciples and at Symphony Hall by overflowing crowds. In 1916, her children collaborated and published her biography and it won the Pulitzer Prize.
Maya Angelou: America's Most Visible Black Female Autobiographer
Writer and African American activist, Maya Angelou was born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas. She spent her difficult formative years moving back and forth between her mother’s and grandmother’s.
During her early years in Stamps, she experienced brutality from racial discrimination. But, she also learned the unshakable faith of African-American society and their values.When she was 8, her mother’s boyfriend raped her. The mother’s boyfriend got killed by her uncles later, but the event caused her to go mute for almost 6 years.
During her teens and early twenties, her love for the arts made it possible to win a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco’s Labor School. The arts for this little girl filled with her with isolation and experimentation. At 14, she dropped out of school and became San Francisco’s first African-American female cable car conductor.
She later finished high school and gave birth to a son, Guy, at age 16, a few weeks after graduation. To support her son, as a young single mother, she worked as a waitress and cook. But nothing could stop her passion for music, dance, performance and poetry; which would soon take her center stage.
From 1954 to 1955, she toured Europe and Africa as part of the musical, Porgy and Bess. She studied modern dance with Martha Graham who was a prominent American modern dancer, often compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts. She was also on a variety of TV shows with Alvin Ailey, who is a founder of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in NY and is credited with popularizing modern dance.
In 1957, she recorded her first album, Calypso Lady. In 1960s, she returned to New York City to join the Harlem Writers Guild. There, she began her life as an actress in the historic Off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks and wrote and performed Cabaret for Freedom. She became involved in black activism. In 1957, she recorded her first album, Calypso Lady.
In 1960s, she returned to New York City to join the Harlem Writers Guild. There, she began her life as an actress in the historic Off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks and wrote and performed Cabaret for Freedom. She became involved in black activism. In 1960, she went to Egypt to serve as editor of the English language weekly, The Arab Observer. The next year, she moved to Ghana to teach at the University of Ghana’s School of Music and Drama. She also worked as feature editor for The African Review and wrote for The Ghanaian Times. During her time abroad, she mastered various languages; French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and the West African language Fanti, and she began to take her life, her activism and her writing more seriously. In 1964, she came back to America with Malcolm X, who she met in Ghana, to help him establish his new Organization of African American Unity.
However, not too long after their arrival in the United States, Malcolm X was assassinated. The organization dissolved and Dr. Angelou was asked to serve as Northern Coordinator for Southern Christian Leadership Conference by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1968, around her birthday, King was assassinated.
With the help of her friend, the novelist James Baldwin, she published her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in 1970. The novel tells of her first seventeen years. It earned enormous popular success internationally and was nominated for a National Book Award.
Without her intention of writing a series, she wrote five additional volumes.
Drawing from her own life experience in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she became the first African American woman who publicly shared her personal life and she is highly respected as a voice for African Americans.
She has served on two presidential committees, received the Presidential Medal of Arts in 2000, and the Lincoln Medal in 2008. She also has received 2 Grammy Awards. In 1993, President Clinton requested her to compose a poem and read at his inauguration. Her poem, On the Pulse of the Morning, was broadcast live all over the world. Dr. Angelou will not stop energizing our spirits and bodies as well as healing our hearts by her words and actions.
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Search for assets
Payment of vested pension benefits to the deceased’s life partner
Category Pension products | Source Annual Report 2018/27
The two children and sole heirs of a customer did not agree with the fact that the bank’s vested benefits foundation had paid the customer’s vested pension benefits to his life partner following his death. The bank’s vested benefits foundation argued that the payment had been made in accordance with its pension plan regulations. It went on to clarify in detail that the beneficiary was actually the customer’s life partner, with whom he had cohabited continuously for over five years. Since the parties were unable to reach an agreement, the customer’s descendants referred the matter to the Ombudsman. The latter found no misconduct on the part of the bank and its pension foundation in making the payment to the customer’s life partner.
The bank’s pension foundation had paid the deceased customer’s full vested pension benefits of several hundred thousand Swiss francs to his life partner. According to the customer’s descendants, the beneficiary was not their father’s life partner, but a friend and companion who received a wage in this capacity, and hence the pension assets should not have been paid to her. In their opinion, the foundation had not clarified the facts in this case with sufficient care. With these assets, the beneficiary received twice as much as they did as sole heirs since she had already been generously provided for under the estate. They further claimed that their father’s intention was not for the beneficiary to also receive all of the Pillar 2 assets.
From the pension plan regulations cited by the foundation, the Ombudsman learned that, in the absence of any spouse or children in education, the pension assets are paid out to a person having lived together continuously with the pension fund member for at least 5 years prior to his or her death.
As the Ombudsman understands it, these beneficiary rules are to be applied independently from inheritance law, which is consistent with the statutory regulation, meaning that any arguments put forward by the descendants concerning their position as heirs, their father’s wishes regarding the estate, and the gifts received by the beneficiary by way of inheritance, are probably not significant in this case. Although the Ombudsman could understand the descendants’ disappointment, in his opinion the payment was made to the beneficiary correctly if the latter was indeed cohabiting with the deceased father as defined in the regulations. The fact that pension assets that are not paid out in accordance with inheritance law rules are much greater in terms of amount than the actual estate is probably not unusual and does not change the legislator’s desired ability to support the individual with whom the insured person was cohabiting.
Whether or not the beneficiary was actually cohabiting with the complainants’ father and had done so for a continuous period of 5 years prior to his death was not for the Ombudsman to decide. According to the documentation submitted, the parties, both represented by lawyers, had exchanged detailed communication on this issue, the decisive criteria and the available evidence. As a neutral mediator, the Ombudsman is unable to gather evidence and conduct investigations as part of formal proceedings, for example as a court would be able to. He did state however that it was his understanding that a common household was not necessary for the assumption of a cohabitation. At the very least where the pension plan regulations in question do not expressly stipulate this, which, as far as he could tell, was not the case here. There were several documents and indications which, in the Ombudsman’s view, suggested that the beneficiary was in fact the deceased customer’s life partner. He considered that the fact that the deceased gave her 1,000 CHF a month could not be raised as an argument against a cohabitation. Therefore, based on the documentation available, the Ombudsman could not see any compelling indications that the vested pension benefits had been paid to the beneficiary wrongfully.
With this scenario, the arguments that might have convinced the bank’s vested benefits foundation to arrange payment of the assets to the descendants failed. In light of the fact that the bank’s vested benefits foundation and its legal representative had refused their claim absolutely and in great detail in multiple letters, the Ombudsman could also not see the bank changing its position. Attempts at mediation therefore seemed unpromising and left him with no choice but to close the case with a reply.
The descendants are of course at liberty to try taking legal action to pursue their asserted claim. The Ombudsman did recommend that they seek legal advice however if they wished to consider this course of action and, in particular, that they enquire about the potential costs involved in this process.
He regretted that he was unable to provide the descendants with a different response but hoped that his explanations had been helpful to them nonetheless.
Delayed liquidation of a Pillar 3a account
Withdrawal of Pillar 3a assets for payment into the pension fund
Change of interest rate for a Pillar 3a account
Categories of cases
Abuse and fraud (5)
Account / Savings account / Counter (4)
Charges and commissions (6)
Fixed-rate mortgage (4)
Investment advice and asset management (5)
Other loans (2)
Payment transactions (6)
Pension products (5)
Proof of identity (6)
Stock exchange and custody accounts (5)
Archive of cases
Swiss Banking Ombudsman
Phone (08.30 – 11.30 h)
+41 43 266 14 14 Deutsch / English
+41 21 311 29 83 Français / Italiano
© 2020 Swiss Banking Ombudsman
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PETS/ANIMALS & WIRELESS
According to Cindy Sage, BioInitiative Group re: RF ID (Radio Frequency Identification): “There are some provocative new studies suggesting that tumours are developing at the site of the implanted chip and therefore could represent a health risk for chipped animals, children and the sick”.
Please refer to her video below at track 36.35
The BioInitiative Report - Biological Standards for Wireless [103].
Cindy Sage, an environmental consultant, talks about The BioInitiative Report: A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF), which she edited with a team of international scientists.
They document serious scientific concerns about current limits regulating how much EMF is allowable from power lines, cell phones, and many other sources of EMF exposure in daily life. The report concludes the existing standards for public safety are inadequate to protect public health.
Microchips get activated by radio frequencies and according to Powerwatch: “Pets can also be susceptible to EMFs in the environment. They are, by and large, shorter lived, but there is enough evidence of e.g. dogs sleeping next to night storage heaters developing cancer that it is worth while making adjustments for them, too” [104].
Please see page 3 on the following downloads from Powerwatch [104]).
http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/library/downloads/emf-property-01-2017-04.pdf
Above information is worth having in mind when considering new gadgets as below example:
"See what your dog sees with new wireless dog collar" [105]:
“Perhaps the most advanced dog collar we've seen yet. Where you might expect a name tag, the attachment has what is essentially a smartphone”
Dancing Cows become sick due to ground current on dairy farms [106].
http://www.magdahavas.com/ground-current-videos/
Cows in the Netherlands was sick from the 5G testing by Teknologiskenyheter, Norway (Technological News, Norway) [107]:
"Saturday 28 January this year (2017) five Dutch dairy farmers in Stitswerd, Groningen, had an experience out of the ordinary. Without warning several hundred cows began to run riot around the field. The cows jumped into each other and hit the fences.
One of the farmers say the cows seemed to be extremely troubled and he was genuinely afraid for their health. Unfortunately, it was not the first time that all five farmer had seen their cows behave this way, and these mysterious events seem to happen only around the small town Stitswerd in the region of Groningen. There are no reports to suggest that this has happened elsewhere in the Netherlands.
It was thought that the incident was due to the attacks of birds of prey and the cows simply got a panic attack, but this was quickly dismissed when the farmers became aware that the cows behaved the same way at the same time on five different farms. A veterinarian was also consulted, but could not find an explanation. Another possibility was that an earthquake scared the cows, but none of the farmers felt anything and no monitoring stations registered any tremors. Moreover, the cows in Groningen should be used to the small earthquakes because gas drilling is very widespread in the province.
The most logical conclusion is that panic attacks are caused by the testing of 5G Wi-Fi in the region. Groningen is the first flat land region where 5G was tested. Finland and South Korea are also testing 5G, but they carry out all the tests in urban areas. The reason why 5G are tested on a flat, open land, is to see what strength signal 5G can deliver when it is not interrupted by mountains or buildings.
5G delivers far better network speed and capacity than current 4G solution. However, one can logically conclude that the dangerous side effects of 5G is larger than 4G, although this has not been proven yet.
All wireless devices emit electromagnetic radiation in a low gigahertz frequency - this radiation is considered to potentially be dangerous to humans. Depending on the level and length of exposure to health risks range from insomnia and headaches to tumours.
Most of us are exposed to electromagnetic radiation continuously, day and night, from a variety of sources such as mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, PCs, power lines etc.
I must say that cows in Groningen are less accustomed to electromagnetic radiation when they live in one of the most remote parts of the Netherlands. Thus it may be that they can feel the harmful effects more than most of us. It is also possible that the cows are generally more sensitive to electromagnetic radiation than humans. Just as some animals can feel tumultuous weather before a single drop of rain has hit the ground. One can also imagine that a sudden increase of electromagnetic radiation under 5G test, affected cows badly and scared them or caused acute headache.
These speculations have not been confirmed by the companies that tested 5G in Groningen, in fact they have not mentioned anything about the possible adverse effects during testing. Whether these speculations are correct or not is up to the scientists to answer, but it is a fact that electromagnetic radiation is dangerous to humans (and cows). 5G is the next big thing and all telecommunication companies want to be first to market, but at what cost?
Do we really need 5G if it means we have to expose ourselves to increased amounts of electromagnetic radiation?" [107].
Original text in Norwegian:
http://www.teknologiskenyheter.no/Energi-elektro/tekno/kyr-liker-visst-ikke-5g-gjor-vi-det
BEES, BIRDS AND MANKIND Destroying Nature by ‘Electrosmog’ [108].
Available as a pdf read on:
http://wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/Bees_Birds_Mankind.pdf
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There is body of evidence to suggest that the increasing level of EMF has a biological effect on our health.
Some of the most comprehensive and significant recent independent studies of scientific data in the field of EMF are The BioInitiative 2007/resp. 2012 Reports which were prepared by 29 independent world-recognized scientists and health experts from around the world.They compromise 4000 papers and are global milestones with respect to a comprehensive review of biological and health effects of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation [2].
According to The BioInitiative the Reports cover the following:
"The science, public health, public policy and global response to the growing health issue of chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation in the daily life of billions of people around the world. Cover brain tumor risks from cell phones, damage to DNA and genes, effects on memory, learning, behavior, attention; sleep disruption and cancer and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Effects on sperm and miscarriage (fertility and reproduction), effects of wireless on the brain development of the fetus and infant, and effects of wireless classrooms on children and adolescents is addressed. Mechanisms for biological action and public health responses in other countries are discussed. Therapeutic use of very low intensity EMF and RFR are addressed" [2].
For full report please refer to their website: www.bioinitiative.org
The RF Color Charts by BioInitiative as shown below summarize many studies that report biological effects and adverse health effects relevant for cell towers, Wi-Fi, ‘smart’ wireless utility meters, wireless laptops, baby monitors, mobile and cordless phones. Please refer to the power density/exposure limit at which the adverse health effect is happening. Please see the Charts showing the studies here or below:
1 μW/m2 = 0.0001 μW/cm2
μW is pronounced microwatts and can be measured with the following example devices:
HF38B Analyser Acoustimeter Cornet ED88Ta Elektrosmog Meter
RF bandwidth 800 MHz - 2.7 GHz 200 MHz - 8000 MHz RF bandwidth 100 MHz - 8 GHz
As can be seen from the below slide by Associate Professor Olle Johansson, Karolinska Institute, Sweden the current public safety limits for most of the countries in the world are at 10,000,000 μW/m2 equivalent to 1000 μW/cm2.
BioInitiative’s recommended safety limits revised is 3 μW/m2 equivalent to 0.0003 μW/cm2 (μW/cm2 = used in the RF Charts).
Source: Slide by Associate Professor Olle Johansson presented at the Open Mind Conference 2014, Copenhagen [3].
In a press release The BioInitiative issues new warnings on wireless and EMF exposure and further states:
"The existing FCC/IEE and ICNIRP public safety limits and reference levels are not adequate to protect public health" [4].
“New safety standards are urgently needed for protection against EMF and wireless exposures that now appear everywhere in daily life” [4].
On May 11, 2015, a Field International Electromagnetic Scientist Appeal was submitted to:
The United Nations (His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General)
The World Health Organization (Honorable Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General)
The U.N. Environmental Programme (Honorable Achim Steiner, Executive Director)
U.N. Member Nations
calling for Protection from Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Field Exposure.
The International EMF Scientist Appeal was initially signed by 190 scientists from 39 nations - by 29th January 2017 that number had risen to 224 from 41 nations, and it should be noted that all of the 224 signatories have published peer-reviewed papers on the biological or health effects of non-ionizing radiation, which is part of the EMF spectrum that includes Extremely Low Frequency fields (ELF) used for electricity, or Radio Frequency radiation (RFR) used for wireless communications. (5)
To read the Appeal: https://emfscientist.org/index.php/emf-scientist-appeal
To hear the Appeal announced by The International EMF Scientist Appeal's Spokesperson Dr Martin Blank [6]:
Dr. Blank has had over 30 years of experience conducting EMF research at Columbia University and is a past president of the International Bio electromagnetic Society.
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Showing posts with label apple. Show all posts
A Mute Singer
There was a time when his voice was heard...
far away from great blue horizon...
where tangerine sun spreads and shines...
and heavenly moon glows with divine...
The songs which they used to listen...
lit them up enchanting with glisten...
The songs of longing…
The songs of ecstasy...
The songs of living...
The songs of happiness…
The songs of winning…
The songs of kindness…
The songs of mercy...
He used to search for someone...
He used to roam for someone...
He used to sing for someone...
And one day…
He found that someone…
Now his songs became more lyrical...
The lyrics became more meaningful...
The meaning became more mystical...
Someone was there to listen...
Someone was there to discover new paths...
Someone was there to thread new trails...
His songs were different now...
His songs were pleasant now...
His songs were magical now...
But one day...
That someone told him...
Your songs...
I like your songs...
They might not like it...
I understand the words...
They might not take it...
I feel the rhythm...
They might not follow it...
With a pause...
He lost the charm...
He forgot the words...
He was out of melody...
He was out of life...
The longing was gone…
The ecstasy was gone...
The happiness was gone…
The victory was gone…
The kindness was gone…
The mercy was gone...
The life was gone...
He got lost...
far away into dark black horizon...
where tangerine sun used to spread and shine...
and heavenly moon glowed with divine...
And one fine day...
That Someone asked...
Where is that singer ?...
Where are the songs he used to sing ?...
Where is the melody ?...
Where are the words ?...
And a they told...
His melody is mute...
His lyrics are mute...
His voice is mute...
He is mute...
He lost his vivacity...
But he got his identity...
Now they call him...
(dedicated to Steve Jobs - during the first time he left Apple. Read he: Jobs, someone: Apple, they: the Apple board)
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The Heartbreaking Reason Uzo Aduba From OITNB Is Running the Boston Marathon
Home / Fitness /
Dec 9,2018 Comments Off on The Heartbreaking Reason Uzo Aduba From OITNB Is Running the Boston Marathon Fitness, Workouts Celebrity Fitness, Fitness Inspiration, Marathons, Orange Is The New Black, Running, Workouts
There are many reasons people choose to take on 26.2 miles. This story from Women’s Health chronicles the emotional reason Uzo Aduba from Orange Is the New Black is running the Boston Marathon.
To say that Orange Is the New Black actress Uzo Aduba has been impacted by cancer is, unfortunately, a serious understatement. She’s lost an aunt to leukemia and a cousin to breast cancer, and she has another aunt currently fighting breast cancer. Just this past October, she also lost the woman she calls her “second mom” to the disease.
But Uzo is big on making something good come out of all of this suckiness. “What I also want to carry with me is all of these people were such lights ¡ª bright, bright lights that were dimmed far too early,” she says. “I want to remember that joy, that passion for life, that strength, that positivity that they all had ¡ª which is crazy because they all have it, every single one of them ¡ª and just turn it into [something good].”
So Uzo is teaming up with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to run her second-ever marathon (she ran the TCS New York City in 2013). On April 20, she’ll run the Boston Marathon in honor of her friends and family affected by cancer and to fund research to, in her own words, “kick cancer’s ass.”
Uzo shared the video below with WomensHealthMag.com to help explain why she’s lacing up for Boston later this month. It is an absolute must-see. Have a look, then learn more about Uzo’s journey.
Why Uzo Is Running Boston“I’m doing it for someone who really, truly, when I was growing up, helped me to realize my dreams and who isn’t with us anymore. And she was an amazing woman. . . . When [she passed] this past October, I needed to do something. I didn’t want to stay in my apartment and cry; I didn’t want to stay in my apartment and ask ‘Why?’ and wonder. I don’t think I have the biggest voice in the world, but I, Uzo, if I can make a small difference, I would like to try and do that.”
RELATED: 4 Women Share What It’s Like to Have Colon Cancer
The Woman Behind Every Step“Her name is Andrea Trasher. I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry, I don’t mean to cry. . . . She had breast cancer. . . . [She was] like a second mom. Andrea Trasher supported my whole life. When I was little ¡ª she has a family, mind you ¡ª . . . [she] would come to my house with her family. Both of my parents worked around the clock, and I’m one of five, and she would pick me up, take me to skating, drive an hour, sit there with me for like three hours, come back, drive another hour. And this was years of doing this. [She would] make all my skating costumes for me, I mean for free, because she believes in me.
“And it continued my entire life, through college, supporting me through my concerts, my recitals, when I moved to New York coming to support me in my theater, plays, my musicals. . . . When she passed this past October and her family asked me to come and sing at her funeral, I was like, ‘Absolutely.’ This was someone who has been here for me since I was a little kid. And if you look at the beginning of the video when I’m walking out the door and there’s a program sitting on the counter and it’s kind of out of focus, that’s her. That’s actually the program from her funeral. I wanted to put that in there because I just wanted to give a slight nod, like, ‘This is who this is for.'”
Why Running a Marathon Is NBD“Twenty-six point two miles to me feels like a hill compared to the mountain that not only my friends and family have fought and are fighting every day. . . . I have seen these women who are intelligent, smart, fighting, strong, convicted, focused women who gave the fight of their life for their life every single day to live and to be with their families, to be with their kids, to be with us, to be with me. And so that’s a mountain compared to what I’m being asked to do right now. Twenty-six point two miles is a hill; it sounds like a baby hill compared to that.”
RELATED: Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Running Ready
The Song Uzo Will Be Listening to When She Crosses the Finish Line on Boylston Street“When I think of Andrea ¡ª talk about a fighter ¡ª when she passed away, the song that was most played on her iPod was ‘Brave’ by Sara Bareilles. I love that song so much. I run to that every single day, and I’m going to run to it ¡ª I already told myself ¡ª when I’m coming through the finish line. . . . I’m going to listen to that song because that’s the song she was fighting [for] her life with, that was her motivator getting through every single day of treatment, every single round of chemo, that was what she was listening to constantly. And I listen to that when I’m training now, and I can hear her telling me, ‘Keep going.'”
How Running Has Been Cathartic“When I’m training, I run with music, but actually running [the New York City Marathon], I didn’t run with it; I wanted to really take in the experience. And that’s the same thing that I want to do with Boston ¡ª take it in ¡ª except for that very end. There was, I would say, a solid month after [Andrea] passed away, when I first started, where I could only listen to ‘Brave’ on a loop. As soon as it would stop, I would just rewind it again. And I could feel her with me, and I could feel my grief leaving, the heaviness of it. And I think it was when I started to change the music on my iPod during my run, that was when I started to feel like acceptance had set in. I was at peace with it, and I was able to let her go.”
How Supportive Her Orange Is the New Black Family Has Been“Taylor [Schilling], who is one of my dearest friends, she has just been so supportive. Thursday, she texted me, ‘How’s it going? How are you feeling? Getting excited?’ Because we’re Boston girls, she and I. . . . Danielle [Brooks], when I ran New York, she was so lovely, came to the finish line and surprised me there. And even today, my Netflix corporate family has been so supportive in sending emails and cards and donating, as well.”
What She Thinks Her Emotional State Will Be Like on Marathon Monday“I really just want to focus at the start because the beginning of the race is a strong downhill. And it’s a tough course ¡ª we all know Heartbreak Hill, which is a steady incline uphill at a late point in the race when your body is already near quitting. I really want to focus. And then, for me, I would say the last five miles, I really just want to say thank you to those who are here and those who are gone and really just honor those people who have done so much for me in my life. And that last mile, like I already said, I want to put my earbuds in and just listen to ‘Brave’ the entire way through. And I don’t know what that’s going to be like, and I can’t spend too much time thinking about it because it feels overwhelming even to think about and I’m not even running. I don’t know. I don’t know what that’s going to be. I just hope I’m strong enough to take it. I think I am.”
RELATED: 7 Things No One Ever Tells You About Running a Half-Marathon
Image Source: Women's Health
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Jeff Aziz
Advisor, English Department
jeffaziz@pitt.edu
CL 501C
Jeffrey Aziz received his Masters and his PhD at the University of Pittsburgh.
Jeff prefers to see culture in the round, exploring the manner in which literary, religious, artistic, dramatic, and scientific representation are richly connected and interdependent. An undergraduate at heart, he is interested in many disciplinary areas. He teaches courses on Shakespeare, early modern literature, drama, museum studies, religious studies, and the cultural history of science, medicine, and anatomy, often in curious combinations. He is interested in the history of radical liberatory movements from the late medieval to modernity, from the Anabaptists to the modern political Left. His interest in the artistic/literary representation of the human body extends from religious allegory and iconography, to the body in drama, to medical/anatomical bodies. He designed and introduced the literature program’s Apocalypse and Literature and Science courses.
Jeff directs and teaches in a Pitt Panther Programs study abroad, Prague: Monsters, Madmen, and the Modern City.
Jeff has worked to promote the place of the humanities in the university and to encourage collaboration across the disciplines. He was a founding member of the Humanities at Pitt and served on the Dietrich School Humanities Council. He currently serves in the Working Group on the Medical Humanities. He is an affiliated member of the Medical Humanities and Jewish Studies faculties, and is a Faculty Fellow of the University Honors College.
The Bible as Literature
Detective Fiction
The Dramatic Imagination
Introduction to Critical Reading
Introduction to Popular Culture
Introduction to Shakespeare
Literature and Science
Literature, Media, and Science in the Age of Shakespeare
Project Seminar (“Representing the Devil”)
Masterpieces of Renaissance Literature (The Renaissance in England)
Shakespeare’s Sexualities (Women in Shakespeare)
First-Year Seminars (“Pirate Democracy”; “An Anatomy of Anatomy”; “Robot Revolution”)
Copyright 2020 UMC Webteam
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Extreme Heat Wave
An extreme heat wave was brought about on May 23rd–26th 2010 by the high pressure system over much of east-central North America. This system introduced high temperatures in large areas of the central, northern, and northeastern U.S. and Ontario and Quebec, Canada. In the U.S., hundreds of daily high maximum and high minimum temperature records were broken across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota on the 24th and 25th. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the temperature soared above 90°F (32°C) on the 24th, breaking the previous record of 88°F (31°C) set on this date back in 1875. On May 25th, the towns of Timmins and Kapuskasing in northwestern Ontario each experienced their warmest May temperature since records began in 1955. The temperature reached 94.3°F (34.6°C) in Timmins, which is 28.1°F (15.6°C) above normal for this time of year. By the 26th, the heat wave shifted eastward and hundreds of additional temperature records were broken, particularly across New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Vermont, along with many other areas farther to south and southwest.
Prior to the onset of the Southwest Monsoon rains, northern India and Pakistan baked as a heat wave scorched the region near the end of May. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported record temperatures for several days during the last week in May. A maximum temperature of 128.7°F (53.7°C) was recorded in Mohenjo-daro on May 26th. This was the warmest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan and possibly the fourth warmest temperature ever recorded anywhere in the world.
On the 27th May 2010, the maximum temperature in the city of Multan in Punjab Province reached 122°F (50°C), breaking the old record of 120°F (49°C) previously set in 1956. Temperatures were also well above normal in India—the highest in more than 50 years. The temperature reached 120°F (49°C) on May 26th in Jalgaon in Maharashtra state while India’s capital city, Delhi, topped out at 113°F (45°C. At least 18 people died in Pakistan and more than 260 perished in India due to the heat, according to local media reports. This was the first extreme heat wave to hit the Pakistani region since 1998.
An extreme heat wave in the U.S. Pacific Northwest during the last week in July 2009 led to numerous reports of record temperatures. High temperatures reportedly reached 92°F (33°C) in the typically cool region of Astoria, Oregon on July 28th, shattering the old daily record of 82°F (28°C). According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on July 29th was 102°F (39°C), the highest temperature ever recorded at that locale during the 118-year period of record. With abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions already in place, the summer wildfire season is expected to be above normal, primarily due to lightning strikes, according to a U.S. Forest Service bioclimatologist.
At the beginning of July 2009, Britain continued to experience its warmest heat wave in three years, with a level three heat wave alert (the second highest alert) issued for the first time since 2006. Britain’s health service reported more than 300 calls for heat-related illnesses. The heat wave also affected Belgium, Germany, and France
In Australia, 2009 brought more of the same: extreme heat waves. Temperatures there remained above normal as an area of high pressure stalled over the Tasman Sea. In southern Australia, temperatures in Adelaide spiked to 45.5°C (114°F), making it the location’s hottest day in 70 years. By Friday 30 Jan 2009 Melburnians had endured three successive days of temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius for the first time in recorded history. Over the three days the mercury reached 45.1; 44.3 and 43.4 degrees. Organizers of the Australian Open tennis tournament enacted an “extreme heat policy” for the first time in history. Two deaths were reported in Melbourne.
An extreme heat wave affected parts of the U.S. from mid-July through early August 2008. In Denver, CO temperatures were above 32°C (90°F) for 24 consecutive days (as of August 5), breaking the previous record set in 1874 and 1901 with 18 consecutive days.
In California, Santa Ana winds brought warm air across parts of the state, prompting new daily maximum temperature records on the 12th April 2008. According to reports, El Cajon and Vista, California, suffered temperatures that rose to 34.4°C (94°F), surpassing the previous record of 31.7°C (89°F) set in 2000 and 30°C (86°F) set in 1994, respectively.
Regina, the capital of the Canadian prairie province of Saskatchewan, saw a new daily maximum temperature record on April 14 2008 when temperatures hit 28°C (82°F). The previous record was set in 1963 when temperatures soared to 26.7°C (80°F).
An extreme heat wave swept across southern areas of the state of California, 25 fatalities were attributed to the heat with temperatures soaring past the 40°C (104°F) mark. The excessive heat resulted in the declaration of an ‘electrical emergency’ by energy officials during the week of Sept 2 2007 and thus left about 55,000 people without electricity for two days
A heat wave affected Japan on August 16 2007 prompting temperatures to set a record high. In the city of Tajimi temperatures reached 40.9°C (105.6°F) breaking the previous record of 40.8°C (105.4°F) that was set on 1933. Seven fatalities were attributed to the heat.
24 July 2007, and an extreme heat wave is sweeping central and south-eastern Europe killing at least 25 people, with soaring temperatures sparking forest fires, and damaging crops. In Romania, an industry group estimated the agriculture sector had suffered more than £1billion in damages due to severe drought. The government has declared a state of disaster in 34 out of 42 counties so far and was paying farmers some compensation. Greece’s Fire Service reported 115 fires, and firefighters had struggled to contain a blaze at an old army base near Athens, where temperatures reached 41°C (105.8°F).
An extreme heat wave which commenced in late-May 2007 across areas of South Asia continued into early June. During the first half of June, a total of 37 fatalities were reported in India with 110 in Pakistan as a result of temperatures reaching 45°C to 52°C (113°F to 126°F). Minimum temperatures rarely fell below 30°C (86°F) in India providing little relief.
A heat wave affected areas across southeastern Europe during late June, prompting electricity demand to soar to record levels. About 40 deaths were attributed to high temperatures soaring past 40°C (104°F). Hot, dry weather experienced in southern Europe contributed to over 130 wild fires which have destroyed thousands of acres of land and killed two people (BBC News/Associated Press). Northern Africa suffered as well, with temperatures over 40°C (104°F) which contributed to the spread of several fires.
An extreme heat wave affected areas across western and central Russia during May 2007, breaking several temperature records. In Moscow, temperatures on the 28th reached 32.9°C (91.2°F), the highest temperature recorded in May since 1891 (31.8°C/89.2°F). This is the first time in 128 years that the Russian capital has suffered a sustained 30°C (86°F) or higher temperatures. This heat has prompted Russia’s energy administrator to restrict the use of non-residential energy for the first time in summer.
© global-greenhouse-warming.com. All rights reserved.
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Rules for off-payroll working from April 2020
The rules for individuals providing services to the public sector via an intermediary such as a Personal Service Company (PSC) changed from April 2017. The new rules shifted the responsibility for deciding whether the intermediaries’ legislation applies, known as IR35, from the intermediary itself to the public sector receiving the service.
In the Autumn Budget 2017 the government announced plans looking to extend these rules to off-payroll working in the private sector. A consultation on the proposed changes was published in May 2018 and the government announced at Autumn Budget 2018 that it would extend the public sector reform to all engagements with medium and large-sized organisations. The new rules will come into effect from April 2020 and are expected to raise over £1.1bn for the public purse in 2020-21.
A 5% allowance is currently available to those who apply the off-payroll working rules to reflect the costs of administering them. This allowance will be removed for those engagements with medium and large-sized organisations. The allowance will continue to be available to small firms who will be exempt from the new rules.
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When we were kids, we were devotees of anything that had to do with the Muppets. We loved Kermit and his gang and the Fraggles. Emmet Otter's Jug band Christmas plays in our home every Christmas Eve (much to my Dad's dismay). Heck, our last two dogs were named Merlin (after the wizard AND the dog in Labyrinth) and Fozzie. Henson productions that delved into the realm of fantasy and fairytale were even more compelling: the Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, the Storyteller series filled our brains with thoughts of art, magic, and monsters. When Jim Henson passed away in 1990, when I was thirteen, the world felt like a less happy place. Luckily his work has been continued by his children, and this weekend, my siblings and I had the great fortune to see a screening of the movie Labyrinth with Brian Henson sitting right in front of us. Henson, who is now chairperson of the company, introduced the film, and, together with the Froud Family (Brian, who conceptualized the monsters, goblins and faeries of the movie, Wendy, who sculpted them, and Toby, who was the baby in the film but is now an amazing puppeteer and sculptor in his own right), discussed the making of the film afterwards. What a magical evening!
I own several of the books by Brian Froud. I remember getting Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book as a Christmas gift when I was in high school, and now own the Goblins of Labyrinth, too. It was awesome to hear them talk of the rather mundane way such a fantastical work took shape. Little did they know that we had recreated a goblin/David Bowie scene from the movie using a Cabbage Patch Preemie in place of their son. It's recorded for posterity. It's a tribute to the imagination that took root in us in Germany, when we were undistracted by American television. Brian Henson also voiced Hoggle, one of the main characters in the movie, who we've imitated for the last twenty-five years.
Working Hoggle's face
Hoggle
But I was excited to meet them mostly because of their work on the Storyteller series. As a kid, that series was like turning on a light switch inside of my imagination. Or maybe setting off fireworks in there. Brian Froud also helped conceptualize the series, while Henson was the voice of the Dog, the storyteller's companion who also helped to spin those delightful yarns.
The Dog from the Storyteller series, puppeted and voiced by Brian Henson
Afterwards, we were lucky that Brian Henson came out into the audience and was willing to stand there for photos with fans. I had wanted to give him a notecard with the Hans-My-Hedgehog illustration on it, but didn't want him to think that I was hitting him up for a job, which was not the point. A few people had tried it in advance. So we told him how happy my mom would be to see the photo, and then I thanked him for helping to give us all an imagination as children. He smiled and thanked me and added, "We were just having some fun." Thank you Jim, thank you Brian, thank you to the Froud family...your fun changed our lives and gave us verdant, luscious imaginations. It made creativity and art sit at the forefront of our imaginations. For that, we will be forever grateful.
Hans-My-Hedgehog Illustrations is the name of Jessica Boehman's blog and illustration shop. It is named after her favorite fairy tale about a hedgehog boy who becomes king of the forest. All other pages redirect to:
www.jessicaboehman.com
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UK company develops 'petrol from air' technology
A small company in the north of England, Air Fuel Synthesis, has created synthetic petrol using only air and electricity, according to The Daily Telegraph. Experts said the new technology was a potential game-changer in the battle against climate change and a possible solution to the world’s energy crisis.
An Air Fuel Synthesis team member supervising the petrol from air process
The technology, presented to a London engineering conference this week, removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The ‘petrol from air’ process involves taking sodium hydroxide and mixing it with carbon dioxide before electrolysing the sodium carbonate that it produces to form pure carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is then produced by electrolysing water vapour captured with a dehumidifier.
The company then uses the carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methanol which in turn is passed through a gasoline fuel reactor, creating petrol.
Company officials say they had produced five litres of the petrol from a small refinery in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside.
The fuel that is produced can be used in any regular petrol tank and, if renewable energy is used to provide the electricity it could become “completely carbon neutral”.
The £1.1m project, in development for the past two years, is being funded by a group of unnamed philanthropists who believe the technology could prove to be a lucrative way of creating renewable energy, and has the backing of Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Company executives hope to build a large plant, which could produce more than a tonne of petrol every day, within two years, and a refinery size operation within the next 15 years.
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) chief executive Stephen Tetlow hailed the breakthrough as “truly groundbreaking”.
“It has the potential to become a great British success story, which opens up a crucial opportunity to reduce carbon emissions,” he said. “It also has the potential to reduce our exposure to an increasingly volatile global energy market.”
Dr Tim Fox, the organisation's head of energy and environment, added: “Air capture technology ultimately has the potential to become a game-changer in our quest to avoid dangerous climate change.”
Peter Harrison, the company’s chief executive, told The Daily Telegraph that he was “excited” about the technology’s potential, which “uses renewable energy in a slightly different way”.
Mr Harrison, a civil engineer from Darlington, said: “It is an opportunity for a technology to make an impact on climate change and make an impact on the energy crisis facing this country and the world. It looks and smells like petrol but it is much cleaner and we don't have any nasty bits."
Update: On 20 October, Air Fuel Synthesis’ founder and principal investor, Professor Tony Marmont, said that he and his business colleagues would not want the oil industry to take a stake in the firm even though it is actively seeking investment partners to finance the next stage of development.
Professor Marmont, who used to work for Shell, put up half of the £1.2m used to set up the company. He said he was close to a deal with a major soft-drinks company interested in using the petrol to power its carbon-neutral vehicles.
"I would shudder at the prospect of an approach from the oil industry. My reaction would be 'I don't want to know' because I'd be fearful they would buy into the business and work to shut it down," he said.
"We've had calls offering us money from all over the world. We've never had that before. We've made the first petrol with our demonstration plant but the next stage is to build a bigger plant capable of producing one tonne of petrol a day, which means we need between £5m and £6m."
Air Fuel Synthesis
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Healy Corp - Public Relations Services and Communication Strategies
Equity One, Inc.
equityone.com
Equity One, Inc. (NYSE: EQY) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns, manages, acquires, and develops shopping centers and retail properties in supply constrained suburban and urban communities. The REIT’s portfolio comprises 126 properties, totaling about 12.6 million square feet of gross leasable area.
Forterra, Inc.
forterrapipeandprecast.com
Forterra, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRTA) is the country’s largest manufacturer of water-infrastructure pipe and related products. It serves the U.S. and eastern Canada, where it’s the market leader in water-transmission, distribution and drainage systems, covering the “first mile to the last mile” of the water-infrastructure grid. The company went public on Oct. 20, 2016. It’s the only company its size that makes both water drainage pipe and precast structures and water-transmission and distribution pipe
GridUnity
gridunity.software
GridUnity is a privately held start-up that helps electric utilities incorporate distributed energy resources (e.g., solar, wind, battery storage) onto the grid — efficiently and reliably. Based in Summit, N.J., its proprietary data analytics platform helps utilities predict and manage demands of the power grid, as well as automate the interconnection application and approval process.
GRM Document Management
grmdocumentmanagement.com
GRM Document Management is the third-largest records and information-management services provider in the U.S. – and the largest in China. The privately held company, based in Jersey City, N.J., has tripled annual sales since 2010. With 1,000 employees globally, GRM helps companies meet regulatory requirements on records retention via a physical and digital platform. The company serves an array of Fortune 500 companies. Via a licensing deal with Staples, GRM also helps small and mid-sized businesses efficiently manage their records and business processes (operating as Staples Records and Cloud Management).
IMAX Corp.
imax.com
IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) is one of the world’s leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in immersive motion picture technologies. IMAX’s theater network is among the most important theatrical distribution platforms for major Hollywood films. While IMAX is committed to its historical roots in museums and science centers, the company is rapidly expanding its commercial theater network globally.
MonetaGo
monetago.com
MonetaGo is a technology startup that works with banks to implement private-permissioned blockchain solutions. Launched in 2014, MonetaGo provides a complete blockchain framework – at the cutting edge of fast-changing technologies that process, settle and track transactions.
go.sap.com
SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) is a global leader in enterprise software, helping companies of all sizes and industries run better. SAP technology helps people and organizations work more efficiently and use business insights to stay ahead of the competition. It serves about 320,000 businesses and public-sector clients. With a market cap of nearly $100 billion, SAP generated €22 billion (or roughly $23.4 billion) in full-year 2016 revenue.
Sean Healy, +201-857-2520
sean@healycorp.com
2020 © Healy Corporate Communications
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VIDEO: Def Leppard guest on Tavis Smiley’s PBS program
Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott and bassist Rick Savage were the featured guests on Tavis Smiley’s PBS series on Friday, and video of the pair’s appearance is available.
Def Leppard recently launched a summer tour of North America with KISS that will see the pair of classic rock acts hit more than 40 cities across North America before wrapping up in Houston, Texas on August 31.
Th UK rockers regrouped in February for their first writing session of new material to be used for the follow-up to 2008’s “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge.”
The initial meetings yielded a batch of about 12 songs in varying stages of completion, while a second session last month increased that number to 15.
Def Leppard originally thought they would release new music as an EP, but now belive they have enough material for a full album, which they plan to self-produce and make available in 2015.
Def Leppard guiitarist shares wedding photo
VIDEO: Def Leppard preview Tavis Smiley interview on PBS
PHOTOS: Def Leppard guitarist wears Gene Simmons KISS gear
Def Leppard guitarist gets married
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David Gilmour shares legendary Pink Floyd album cover details
David Gilmour shares his insight into the creation of the cover art for Pink Floyd’s 1987 album, “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason”, in the latest episode in the band’s limited-edition podcast series, “The Lost Art Of Conversation.”
The guitarist reveals that the creative process began with his simple sketch of a single, empty bed, which was transformed by artist Storm Thorgerson into the epic image of around 500 hospital beds as captured on Saunton Sands in Devon.
A schoolmate of band founders Syd Barrett and Roger Waters, Thorgerson went on to design covers for Pink Floyd throughout their career.
The group’s first studio project without Waters, “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” was a Top 5 record in several countries, including the UK and US, where it went on to sell more than 4 million copies.
The four-part podcast series is in support of Pink Floyd’s forthcoming box set, “The Later Years 1987-2019”; Due December 13, the package includes an updated version of “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason”, an expanded edition of 1998’s live album, “Delicate Sound Of Thunder”, a series of 1987 & 1994 live recordings and unreleased studio material, and full versions of the group’s 1989 Venice Concert and 1990 appearance at Knebworth, as well as an extensive series of video projects.
David Gilmour revisits first Pink Floyd tour without Roger Waters
Pink Floyd stream Sorrow live video from Delicate Sound Of Thunder 2019 remix
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason expands UK tour and adds European dates
Pink Floyd launch new podcast series
Search Pink Floyd at hennemusic
Labels: David Gilmour, Pink Floyd
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Filmmaker Rebecca Louisell on new film about trans teen of color
... there is still more that can be done to portray young trans people of color and the variety of their lived experiences.
Rebecca Louisell (photo courtesy of the filmmaker)
Writer-director Rebecca Louisell recently spoke with Her Film Project about her upcoming film Tomás and Ines, portrayals of trans people, and using film to educate. Learn more about her film and her work below.
Tomás, a transgender teenager growing up on Minneapolis' South Side falls for Ines, a nerdy girl who claims to be straight. As his family falls apart, Tomás has to decide whether to stick around for those he loves or save himself.
Currently in development and seeking financing for a budget that would fall in the SAG ultra low budget to modified low budget range. Planning to move into pre-production in early 2017 and production in the spring.
Writer-Director REBECCA LOUISELL (Why I Smile, "LA Picker," Genderfreak)
Producer TEODORICO SAJOR (Embedded, Why I Smile)
Cinematographer ELIZABETH YARWOOD (The Couple Downstairs, Why I Smile, "The Wonderly Way")
Composer JORDAN BALAGOT (Ascendance: The Angels of Change Documentary, Genderfreak, I Do)
Your main character, Tomás, is a trans teen. Transgender individuals are often targeted in society for murder, harassment, incarceration, and abuse and typically don't receive respectful or realistic treatment in film or media. Do you have a desire to "subvert the popular narrative" as far as how trans people are portrayed?
I’m very interested in subverting the popular narrative as far as portrayals of trans people, especially trans youth, LGBT youth of color and young people from the Midwest. While the narrative for trans people has changed some recently, especially with TV shows such as Transparent, Orange is the New Black, I Am Cait and I Am Jazz and films such as Tangerine, there is still more that can be done to portray young trans people of color and the variety of their lived experiences. This is something that is important to me. It comes out of working with LGBT young people for many years, some of whom were transgender and/or genderqueer, identifying as part of the LGBT community myself, and being married to a trans person.
Are you teaming, or creating connections, with any groups focused on transgender issues or policies? Do you have plans for your film to serve in any educational or social consciousness-raising capacity?
Last month, I did a workshop with a group called Transforming Families MN in Minneapolis. We did a table read and the workshop participants gave input on the script and what they thought worked and what didn’t yet work. The group was made up of youth and adults, and they all had interesting, smart and thoughtful feedback. So that was amazing. I hope to workshop the script with other groups but it depends on if the groups are willing and can make the time.
As far as concrete plans to utilize the film in an educational or social consciousness raising capacity, I am not focused on that at this time. I want to make the best work I can and I hope that the project is nuanced and gets inside people’s hearts and heads – gets them feeling first, then thinking. That said, my thesis short film Genderfreak was ultimately included on an educational collection that went out to gay/straight alliances in the US and Canada in collaboration with Frameline.
You mentioned to me by email that you'd like to film Tomás and Ines in your home state of Minnesota rather than Los Angeles. Why is this important to you?
The biggest reason is that there is a lack of stories told about growing up in the Upper Midwest. It’s an interesting place, not everyone knows that much of the Midwest, especially the Upper Midwest, are blue states. Minnesota has a long history of populist politics from the small farmer and labor movement of the early 20th century. There’s a complexity between the groups that intersect there. In addition, I’ve always loved the Minnesota landscape. As I was considering switching careers to become a filmmaker, I noticed through watching films such as Sweet Land, North Country, and A Simple Plan that the landscape photographs extremely well. So I’ve been thinking I would like to shoot something in Minnesota for as long as I’ve known I wanted to become a filmmaker. I realized this story might even be more interesting and unique if it’s set in Minnesota rather than LA, and I would like to be able to tell a story that shows how the heartland of America is becoming more and more diverse.
You have a few key creatives on board your team now: a producer, cinematographer, and composer. Could you discuss how you went about assembling your team?
We have all worked together on previous projects. Liz (Elizabeth Yarwood, cinematographer) and I went to USC together and worked on an advanced documentary project wherein we had to travel to northern California and to San Diego, so I think our friendship is rooted in lugging heavy equipment up and down stairs. Also in eating a lot of turkey sandwiches, since that was the cheapest healthy option we could find for meals. I met Teo (Teodorico Sajor, producer) through a writing group and we had a lot in common as far as our purpose in making films, so I ended up directing his short film Why I Smile. Liz shot it and Jordan and Teo wrote the song. Then Liz wrote the web series "LA Picker" which we produced together, and I directed it and she shot it. Jordan (Jordan Balagot, composer) and I met through a mutual friend and at the time I was looking for a composer for my thesis film. Jordan was interested in the project and it turned out we worked really well together professionally. Later we started dating and now we’re married. We still work together when we can. While we were doing Why I Smile I realized that I was lucky to be able to work with people I care about, who respect me as an artist and a person and who I have fun with. So whenever I can, I rope them into helping me, even on small projects, but especially on big ones. We’ve become a team that takes turns taking the lead and supporting one another.
Your script for this film has twice reached the second round of the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and also placed in the top 10% of the Academy Nicholl Fellowship entries. Can you discuss how your script has developed throughout that process?
I’ve been working on the script for a while now, and so far it’s just gotten better. This is in large part due to the writing groups I’ve been a part of over the last few years and the smart people who read the script and gave notes. I’ve also spent a lot of time working the script. Another huge leap for the script occurred when a friend of mine hooked me up with a script consultant who grew up queer in East LA and used to affiliated with a gang - Tomás’ brother’s storyline was strengthened from their feedback. Most recently, the workshop I did last month with Transforming Families MN, a Minnesota group that works with families who have a transgender or gender fluid family member, gave incredible feedback that I am currently incorporating into the script to transition it from being set in East LA to being set in Minnesota.
It's been said by some that humans are the storytelling species, that it is narrative that we latch onto and consume because that's simply how our brains function. What is your motivation to tell stories?
I want to represent women, people of color and the LGBT community in the diversity of their experiences. In college when I was studying art, one of my professors said that as artists, we have a drive to create. I do have a drive to create works that are beautiful, well crafted and entertaining, and I am a bit of an idealist. Before becoming a filmmaker I worked with young people, and since I myself grew up LGBT and as a woman, changing the way we tell stories about groups that still face oppression and misrepresentation is important to me.
Rebecca Louisell is a writer/director working in narrative, documentary and digital spaces. Louisell graduated from Carleton College with a background in fine art photography and mixed media, then worked with youth before returning to graduate school for film and television production at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts. While at USC, Rebecca received several scholarships and a College Television Award. Her MFA thesis film Genderfreak premiered at Outfest and showed at thirty festivals worldwide. Most recently, she directed Teodorico Sajor’s spoken word poem short film Why I Smile and nine episodes of the comedic web series LA Picker.
Twitter: @blouisell
Website: rebeccalouisell.com
Photo and video courtesy of R. Louisell
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FOOTBALL MEMORIES
MY HIBS HISTORY
Stay connected for the latest news and events from the Hibernian Historical Trust.
A FLICK THROUGH THE ARCHIVES | PART 4
We continue our series of occasional articles highlighting unique artefacts within the Hibernian Historical Trust archives.
HARRY SWAN PLAQUE
A bronze plaque commemorating Harry Swan’s tenure as Chairman of the club from 1933 to 1963. For many years the plaque had adorned the wall of the boardroom in the old Centre Stand but has since been rededicated by Harry Swan’s daughter Betty in the boardroom of the new West Stand in a ceremony attended by all the then directors.
A debenture shareholder since 1924 when funds were required to renovate the stadium, Swan was elected to the board of directors in 1931, the first non-catholic to hold such a position, and was appointed as chairman in 1933. At that time, Hibs had only recently been promoted from the Second Division and were still finding life in the top league difficult. However, Swan would soon make what many thought to be a bold and rash prophecy when stating that given ten years he would make the club great again. Although he would be out by a few years, it would be a promise eventually fulfilled when Hibs, then generally regarded as the best side in the entire country, would win three league championship between 1948–1952, missing out on another only on goal average, while also becoming the first British club to compete in the recently inaugurated European Cup.
A visionary, as early as the late 1940’s Swan had predicted the advent of floodlit football, shirt sponsorship and competitive European competition, Hibs having a significant part to play when the innovations were eventually accepted as part of the modern game in later years. It was after a particularly lousy local derby against Hearts in the early 1960s that had been blighted throughout by crowd trouble that Swan was recorded as saying that; ‘perhaps we the chairmen, have a responsibility to consider all-seater stadiums, something that he felt would alleviate the problem. This was almost 30 years before the all-seated stadium would become the norm.
A man well ahead of his time and a legislator of proven ability, the well respected Harry Swan, who was Chairman of the SFA between 1952 and 1956, fully deserved the reputation as the architect of the modern Hibs.
SCOTLAND ROSEBERRY JERSEY WORN BY LAWRIE REILLY
This Scotland jersey was worn by the Hibs centre-forward Lawrie Reilly in the game against France at Hampden in 1949, a 2-0 victory, both the Scotland goals scored by the former Dundee player Billy Steel who was then with Derby County. Lining up that afternoon at outside left it would be only Reilly’s third cap, his first goal for the full Scotland side coming in the famous 3-1 victory against England at Wembley just a few weeks previously. The goal would be the first of six that he would score against the ’Auld Enemy’ including a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw between the sides at Wembley in 1953 that would earn the Hibs player the nickname ‘last-minute Reilly’. A one-club man, Reilly, the only one of the ‘Famous Five’ to be born a Hibs supporter, would make 38 full appearances for Scotland between 1948-1957 scoring an impressive total of 23 goals, and remains to this day not only the club’s most capped player but Hibs record league goalscorer (excluding wartime fixtures).
The game against France in 1949 would the ninth time that Scotland had worn the Primrose and Pink racing colours of the keen sportsman and former Honorary President of the Scottish Football Association Lord Primrose, who had been Prime Minister of Great Britain between 1898 and 1899. Perhaps the most famous occasion that the colours had been worn however had been in Scotland’s 4-1 defeat of England at Parkhead in April 1900. Lining up for Scotland that afternoon was the future Hibs goalkeeper Harry Rennie, then with Hearts. Rennie would hold the record as Hibs most capped player until his total of eleven would be overtaken by Lawrie Reilly in a 5-0 defeat of Belgium at the Heysel Stadium in 1951.
ORIGINAL MINUTE BOOKS FROM 1892 AND 1893
Original minute books recently rebound, dating from 1892 and 1893. The opened pages show extracts from a committee meeting held in Buchanan’s Temperance Hotel in the High Street on 7th March 1892. On one side there is a list of several supporters who had pledged money to the recently reformed club, including a certain Philip Farmer.
Due to circumstances including the loss of several of their best players to the recently formed Celtic, and not least the loss of the lease of the ground at the first Easter Road Park, the club had been temporarily forced to cease trading in 1891. Reformed in 1892 just in time to take its place in the newly inaugurated Scottish Second Division in 1893, Hibs would finish that first season as champions. At that time, however, promotion and relegation were not automatic, relying instead on election and third-placed Clyde were promoted to the top division in Hibs place. However, after winning the championship for a second consecutive season this time they could not be denied and the club took its rightful place in the First Division
Loaned to the Historical Trust by Sir Tom Farmer, the minute books are currently on display in the Easter Road Boardroom
MATCH WORN MICKEY WEIR JERSEY CIRCA. 1990-91
The autographed number seven jersey was worn by Mickey Weir circa 1990-91. Signed by manager Pat Stanton from Portobello Thistle in 1982, Weir was just one of a number of promising young players at Easter Road at that time. A lifelong Hibs supporter, Weir would make his first team debut in a 3-2 home defeat by Dumbarton on 15th September 1984, one of nine appearances that he would make for the first team that season. The tricky ball-playing Weir would soon become a great favourite with the Easter Road fans, but a contractual dispute with the club in 1987 would lead to a move to First Division Luton Town for a fee believed to be in the region of £200,000. Unable to settle at Kenilworth Road, however, within a few months the player would return to Easter Road. Often a match winner himself, the intelligent Weir was also well capable of laying on goals for others, as proved when he provided the cross for Keith Wright to score the only goal of the game against Rangers in the 1991 Skol Cup semi-final at Hampden. In the final against Dunfermline, it was a foul on the diminutive Weir that allowed Tommy McIntyre to open the scoring from the penalty spot, the eventual 2-0 scoreline giving the Easter Road side the League Cup for only the second time in the clubs history.
After fourteen years and well over 200 appearances for Hibs, after a short spell on loan at Millwall Weir would join Motherwell on a free transfer where he would eventually take on the role of coaching the youngsters. Later he would join former teammate Keith Wright as assistant manager at Cowdenbeath before finally hanging up his boots to end what had been an illustrious playing career.
Today Weir, who is still held in high esteem by all those who were fortunate enough to have seen him at his very best, is regularly to be found at Easter Road as a match day host.
If you can add to any historical article, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, the Hibernian Historical Trust would love to hear from you.
You can kindly contribute by contacting us HERE.
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Chemists/Dispensaries
Ballarat Homœopathic Pharmacy
(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)
On 8 May 1872, a notice appeared in the Ballarat Star advertising the opening of a new homœopathic chemist shop. The advertisement had been placed by C. Pleasance. It informed the readers that he had previously worked with Messrs Gould and Martin in Collins Street, Melbourne, and that he would be commencing business as a homœopathic chemist on 11th May at 5 Sturt Street in Ballarat.
A later advertisement stated that he had been assistant to Gould and Martin for several years. He announced that he 'intends devoting himself to the preparation of homœopathic medicines only; that their purity can be thoroughly relied on'.
The owner of the new shop was Charles Pleasance. Prescriptions for homœopathic medicines were made by Dr William J.R. Ray who had arrived in Ballarat in 1872 before moving to Bendigo, and by Dr William Ray who arrived in Ballarat in 1873.
For a period during 1873 and 1874 Dr Günst, the famous homœopath based in Melbourne, advertised that he would provide homœopathic consultations at the pharmacy every Saturday.
From 17 February 1874 Dr William J.R. Ray advertised that he had returned from Bendigo and that he had resumed practice in Ballarat. Consultations were provided from the homœopathic pharmacy.
There is evidence that the name of Charles Pleasance was associated with the pharmacy until September 1874. However, by March 1875 when Charles Pleasance married his wife Carrie Gibblings at Ballarat, the wedding notice stated that he was living in Melbourne. It is likely that he had re-joined the homœopathic pharmacy in Melbourne, now owned by Mr Martin and re-named Martin & Co.
By 1876 the Homœopathic Pharmacy in Ballarat had been purchased by Robert Dixon Bannister. Despite the fact that Mr Bannister was on the register as a pharmaceutical chemist of Victoria, there is no evidence to show that he was at all interested in running the Pharmacy. Instead, he devoted his time to running an Australian Juvenile Industrial Exhibition, followed by working with the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880.
While Mr Bannister was otherwise engaged, Mr Alfred Perkins, the pharmacy assistant, was left to run the business. The problem with this was that Mr Perkins was not a qualified chemist, although he had been studying for the last 5 years in order to pass the necessary examinations. In May 1882 Mr Perkins was charged under the Pharmacy Act of Victoria. The clause applied to 'any person not being a registered pharmaceutical chemist, who carries on or attempts to carry on business as a chemist and druggist or homœopathic chemist, or either'.
During the trial Mr Perkins stated that Mr Bannister had not been carrying on business there personally for the last 2 or 3 years and had not been in Ballarat since the Melbourne Exhibition. Mr Perkins also stated that the business was currently for sale.
Mr Perkins was not charged, on the grounds that while he had sold the medicine, he had not dispensed the medicine. Mr Gaunt stated that Mr Bannister had been contacted by telegram. It was reported that 'steps would at once be taken to obtain the services of a qualified gentleman until Mr Perkins had qualified himself by passing the necessary exams'.
In the event, it appears that the business was sold. On 5 July 1882 Martin & Co announced that they had taken over the business at 5 Sturt Street. They assured the public that they would have a qualified and competent manager to run the pharmacy. Several other advertisements for the pharmacy appeared over the months, the last one being on 7 April 1883. Subsequently No. 5 Sturt Street was taken over by a jeweller.
© Barbara Armstrong
www.historyofhomeopathy.com.au
copyright © 2020 Barbara Armstrong. All rights reserved
Webmaster Peter Torokfalvy
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Search our News Archive
[01] Cyprus Independence Day celebrated with military parade
[02] Foreign Minister's speech at Intergovernmental Conference for Cyprus in Brussels
[03] Annan: Peace talks will continue if no solution is found by December
[04] Verheugen: Progress Report will be positive for Cyprus
[05] President appoints new Chief and Deputy Chief of Police
The 42nd anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Cyprus was celebrated yesterday on the island with a grand military parade.
The parade salute was received by the President of the Republic, Mr. Glafcos Clerides, the Defence Minister, Mr. Socrates Hasikos and the National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Athanasios Nikolodemos.
The Greek government was represented by the Greek Deputy Defence Minister, Mr. Lazaros Lotides, who is on an official visit to Cyprus.
President Clerides said this year's military parade left the "best impression about the National Guard and Cyprus' defence forces."
The President defended his decision for the non participation of the new Russian made MIL-Mi35 helicopters at this year's military parade, by saying the helicopters are on the island and will be showed if and when necessary.
On his part, the Defence Minister Mr Hasikos, stated that the military parade had demonstrated once more that the National Guard was well prepared. He added that the arms displayed were a means through which Cyprus could defend its freedom and should constitute a deterrent.
National Guard Commander Lieutenant General Athanasios Nikolodemos expressed his content for the parade characterising it as "bright and excellent."
The Greek Deputy Defence Minister, Mr. Lazaros Lotides, commented positively on the potential of the Defence Forces of the Republic, adding that the Cyprus problem is in a critical phase at a time when the circumstances are particularly favourable for Cyprus/ accession to the EU. He also emphasized that the Greek Government supported the Cyprus Government's efforts in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and hoped that Cyprus would soon be a full member of the EU.
"Our preference and first choice remain the goal of a reunited federal Cyprus, member of the European Union with all the safeguards of a modern, democratic and effective state, able to speak with one voice within the Union and effectively implement the acquis in the whole of its territory".
Cyprus Foreign Minister, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides, outlined the above vision for Cyprus at the Tenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference for the Accession of Cyprus to the EU at a ministerial level, which took place in Brussels yesterday.
In his speech, Mr. Kasoulides referred to the continuous work being carried out by the Government, Parliament and civil society in order to render Cyprus ready for the Copenhagen European Council, and emphasized that Cyprus had an additional reason to be ready on time and join the EU, namely that the "accession to the Union would have a catalytic effect on the settlement of the Cyprus problem".
With regard to the UN-led peace talks, the Cyprus FM said that no breakthrough had been achieved and cited the UN Security Council's reaction of last July, which observed that the Turkish side was less constructive in the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Kasoulides also made reference to the EU harmonisation process, saying that "Cyprus has indeed made very considerable progress not only in the accession negotiations, where only two chapters remain to be finalized, but also more generally in its efforts to comply with all the requirements in order to be an effective member of the European Union".
Speaking on the Chapter of Agriculture in particular, the Cyprus Minister communicated his satisfaction for the provisional closing of a part of that chapter, on the veterinary and phytosanitary sectors, and expressed confidence that Cyprus would be able to quickly proceed with the agreement on all outstanding issues, once the EU concludes its new Common Position on Agriculture.
On the Chapter of Environment, which constitutes the second chapter remaining to be finalized, Mr. Kasoulides assured of Cyprus' intention to honour its commitments pertaining to that particular chapter.
Besides Mr. Kasoulides, present at the meeting were the Chief of the Negotiating Team for Cyprus' accession to the EU, Mr. George Vassiliou, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Theophilos Theophilou and other officers of the negotiating team.
On the EU camp were, the Danish FM, Mr. Per Stig Moller, acting as the President of the European Council, the Enlargement Commissioner, Mr. Gunter Verheugen, the Director General of the Enlargement D-G, Mr. Eneko Landaburu, the Head of the EU negotiating team with Cyprus, Mr. Leopold Maurer and other officials.
The UN will continue its effort towards the attainment of progress to the Cyprus problem, said UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, replying to press questions at the UN headquarters on Monday.
Mr. Annan said he expects President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to meet with him on 3 and 4 October in New York for an assessment of the progress that has been made since their last meeting in Paris.
Replying to a question on what will happen if Cyprus enters the EU without the participation of the Turkish Cypriots, the Secretary General said that this would make things more difficult since the problem of the divided island would persist, such that, there would have to be a continuation of the efforts for a solution. "If a solution is found, then the EU must decide on its action", he added.
Regarding whether the instructions he gave the two leaders in Paris have been perceived and if there has been some progress, Mr Annan stated that he would have a better sense after the briefing by his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr. Alvaro de Soto. Mr Annan expressed, however, the hope that the two leaders had made some progress and that at the next meeting with him, they would be able to inform him on how the process should be continued.
EU enlargement Commissioner, Mr. Gunter Verheugen, expressed the opinion that the Progress Report on Cyprus, which will be issued by the European Commission on 9 October will be positive, and confirmed that Cyprus meets the political as well as the economic criteria for accession to the EU.
Mr. Verheugen stated the above in a meeting he had in Brussels with the Cyprus Foreign Minister, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides and the Chief Negotiator for Cyprus/ accession to the EU, Mr. George Vassiliou.
The Commissioner said that the EU would stick to the timetable it has set out on membership talks and enlargement. The next step, he said, will be the publication of the Commission's annual progress reports on 9 October for all applicant countries. The European Council in late October in Brussels will invite the ten most advanced applicant countries to conclude their membership talks by December, he added.
Mr Verheugen also said that Cyprus would be judged like all other applicant countries on the basis of its achievements and progress in the accession negotiations, without any distinction.
Cyprus President Mr. Glafcos Clerides has appointed, on Monday, Mr. Tasos Panayiotou as the new Chief of Police and Mr. Andreas Stephanou, as the new Deputy Chief of Police. Mr. Panayiotou, who until now had served as Deputy Chief, succeeds Mr. Andreas Angelides who resigned on 25 September.
The newly appointed Police Chief thanked President Clerides and assured him of his intention to carry out his duties for the benefit of the Cyprus people and be worthy of the President's expectations.
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Red Sport International
(Redirected from Sportintern)
File:Spartakiade.JPG
Poster of the 2nd International Spartakiad of the Sportintern, held in Berlin in the Summer of 1931.
The International Association of Red Sports and Gymnastics Associations, commonly known as Red Sport International (RSI) or Sportintern was a Comintern-supported international sports organization established in July 1921. The RSI was established in an effort to form a rival organization to already existing "bourgeois" and social democratic international sporting groups. The RSI was part of a physical culture movement in Soviet Russia linked to the physical training of young people prior to their enlistment in the military. The RSI held 3 summer games and 1 winter games called "Spartakiad" in competition with the Olympic games of the International Olympic Committee before being dissolved in 1937.
1 Organizational history
1.2 Establishment
1.3 End of autonomy
1.4 Social composition
1.5 International competitions
1.6 Dissolution
2 List of Spartakiads
3 Gatherings of the RSI
The notion of a separate working class national athletic federation emerged first in Germany during the decade of the 1890s, when a Workers Gymnastics Association was established by activists in the socialist movement in opposition to the nationalist German Gymnastics Society (Turnen).[1] Other "proletarian" sports organizations emerged soon thereafter in that country, including the Solidarity Worker Cycling Club, the Friends of Nature Rambling Association, the Worker Swimming Association, the Free Sailing Association, and the Worker Track and Field Athletics Association, among others.[1] By the time of World War I, the German proletarian sports movement included more than 350,000 participants.[1]
Following the bloodbath of World War I, the German workers' sports movement began to reemerge, with a new competitive orientation beginning to take the place of individualistic club activities.[1] The international social democratic movement also experienced a rebirth after its connections had been severed by war. In 1920 the social democrats established an International Association for Sports and Physical Culture, echoing its efforts in the pre-war period.[1] This organization was rechristened as the Socialist Workers' Sport International (SWSI) in 1925.[1]
In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917 the international socialist movement divided into two antagonistic camps, socialist and communist — a division exacerbated with the establishment of the Communist International (Comintern) in 1919. Parallel political organizations sprung up in every country and a state of bitter enmity prevailed.
Nikolai Podvoisky, first head of the Red Sports International, as he appeared as a young man.
The idea of a rival Red Sport International (RSI) was the inspiration of Nikolai Podvoisky, who at the 2nd World Congress of the Comintern in the summer of 1920 discussed with a number of delegates from around the world the idea of establishing an organization to coordinate the physical training of youth.[2] Podvoisky, a military specialist in charge of Soviet Russia's military training organization, believed systematic physical training to be beneficial for the needs of the Red Army for healthy and fit youth in its ranks.[2] An international sports organization was also seen as a potential ideological counterweight to the Olympic games of the "bourgeois" International Olympic Committee as well as the activities of the rival International Association for Sports and Physical Culture of the socialists.[3]
Podvoisky gathered interested delegates who were already in Moscow for the Comintern Congress and the group constituted itself a founding conference for an international sports organization.[2] It is worthy of emphasis that the Comintern did not itself directly found the Red Sport International, the group being established through independent initiative and the Comintern being preoccupied with other affairs.[4] The group issued a public manifesto declaring the establishment of a Red Sport International and elected a governing Executive Committee, consisting of representatives from Soviet Russia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, France, Sweden, Italy, and Alsace-Lorraine.[2] Podvoisky was elected President of the new organization.[2]
The establishment of an international sports organization in Soviet Russia in 1921 was not without its utopian elements, since no official Soviet sport organizations existed in famine stricken post-civil war Soviet Russia at that time.[5] Germany, on the other hand, had a well-developed workers' sport movement at this time.[3] Consequently, Sportintern from its outset maintained a strong German flavor and it was there in the city of Berlin that the 2nd Conference of the organization was held in July 1922.[3] The only national "proletarian" sports organization to join the German group at that early dates was the Czechoslovak Federation of Workers' Gymnastic Leagues, said to represent 100,000 athletes.[3]
The Comintern moved closer to the fledgling Sportintern in November 1922 when, in conjunction with the 4th World Congress, the governing Executive Committee of the Communist International decided to name a representative to the "independent" proletarian sport organization.[3] The Communist International of Youth (KIM) did not take action until the meeting of its governing Bureau in Moscow in July 1923, when it issued a general recommendation of support for the Sportintern and the national sports organizations affiliated to it as a useful "proletarian class instrument."[6] It did not, however, delve into the contentious issue of in what manner and to what extent these two international bodies should be related.[6]
The governing Executive Committee of Sportintern met in Moscow in February 1923 and decided to establish a satellite bureau of the organization in Berlin, with a view to increasing participation among Western European workers' sports organizations.[7] The maneuver proved successful in helping to build the organization, triggering a split of the French Workers Sports Federation later that year and the affiliation of 80% of its membership with the Red Sport International.[8] The RSI's increased place in the public eye motivated the governing body of the rival international socialist sports authority, meeting in Zurich in August 1923, to discuss issuing an invitation to Sportintern to help organize a joint "Workers' Olympiad" — a proposal which was narrowly defeated, despite indications that a majority of individual members of the socialist organization favored joint participation.[8]
End of autonomy
In October 1924 the Red Sport International held its 3rd Congress in Moscow.[9] At this time the organization decided to enlarge its governing Executive Committee to include four members of the Executive Committee of the Communist International of Youth — an organization which saw the national affiliates of Sportintern as comprised overwhelmingly of young workers and sought to insert its influence in the organization.[9] As the membership of Sportintern was formally "open to all proletarian elements which recognize the class struggle" it was not an explicitly communist organization, a situation which the KIM saw as a significant shortcoming.[9]
The RSI was a large and growing organization in this interval, with some 2 million affiliated members in the Soviet Union, joined by others sections in Germany, Czechoslovakia, France, Norway, Italy, Finland, Switzerland, the United States, Estonia, Bulgaria, and Uruguay.[10] As the size of the organization grew, so, too, did pressure to bring the organization's ideological character under tighter centralized Communist Party control.
Nikolai Podvoisky was himself a voice for such an insertion of such ideological hegemony, declaring in a lengthy speech to the 5th Enlarged Plenum of the Comintern, held in the spring of 1925, that Sportintern should henceforth adopt as its motto:
"Convert sport and gymnastics into a weapon of the class revolutionary struggle, concentrate the attention of workers and peasants on sport and gymnastics as one of the best instruments, methods, and weapons for their class organization and struggle."[11]
At the same time the international communist movement moved to further politicize the RSI, efforts were made to make political hay over the refusal of the Socialist Workers' Sport International to conduct joint activities, such as its decision to bar the Red Sport International from participation at the July 1925 "Workers' Olympiad" held in Frankfurt under its auspices.[12]
It was in this period, 1924 to 1925, that the Red Sport International effectively became an auxiliary of the Communist International.[13] This control was effected by the subordinate youth section of the Comintern, the Communist International of Youth, although the Comintern reserved for itself ultimate authority to decide issues of great importance.[14] As the Comintern was itself in the process of being absorbed as an instrument of Soviet foreign policy in this interval, the RSI likewise gradually lost its ability to function independently as an international entity.[14]
In the words of French sports historian André Gounot:
"...The RSI's dependence on the Comintern was accompanied, almost inevitably, by the Soviet section's dominance within the RSI. The interests of the Soviet Union and Soviet sport were decisive factors in the RSI's decisions and actions — even if, as was frequently the case, they were incompatible with those of European worker sport."[14]
The last International Congress of the Red Sport International came in 1928 and was marked by no serious discussion of contemporary sporting issues.[15] Instead the 1928 gathering consisted of a mechanical attempt to apply the Comintern's ultra-radical Third Period slogan of "Class versus Class" and its corollary theory of social fascism to world sport — splitting the fissure between the two camps of the European workers' sport movement wider than ever.[15]
Social composition
Membership of the various national sections of the Red Sport International was by no means monolithic. According to the RSI's own study of the issue, members of the organizations were predominantly male, but hailed from a variety of communist, socialist, syndicalist, and anarchist tendencies, including many of whom who were members of no party.[16] Although many of these were of the working class, also included were white collar employees, students, and government workers.[16] Membership records of the French section, for example, indicate that approximately 80% of participants were from the working class, with the remaining 20% members of other social groups.[17]
No details exist for the exact Communist Party membership of any national section of the RSI, although in the considered opinion of a leading historian on the topic, "it is safe to assume that this group represented a minority of the whole membership of each section."[18] The Czechoslovakian federation, thought to include the largest Communist Party contingent from outside the USSR, is believed to have included something in the range of 20 to 30% who were members of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.[18]
The fact that members of other parties or no parties participated in the national sections of the Red Sport International is testimony to the limited impact that RSI programmatic rhetoric had upon grassroots participants.[18] It was rather the fun and excitement of training and competition that bound together local groups and their national units more than ideological proclivities.[18] The difference in perception of the organization between its rank-and-file participants and the Moscow dominated leadership of the organization has led one scholar to conclude that the RSI was a "split organization, living in two universes," bureaucratic in political discourse but remaining well within the less intense social democratic workers' sports tradition at the individual club level.[19] In this view politics was merely a piece of a broader participatory sports movement.[19]
The international workers' sports organizations of the socialist and communist movements did not necessarily object to some of the most noble goals of the International Olympic Committee (IOC),[20] but they did each share fundamental reservations about the modern Olympic games that were the inspiration of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a hereditary French nobleman.[21] First and foremost, the Olympics of the IOC stressed competition between nations — regarded by the radicals as a manifestation of national chauvinism.[20] Rather than the accentuation of national rivalry and patriotic feeling, international competition should focus on the actual athletic effort in a setting designed to build the ethic of internationalism, both the socialists and communists agreed.[20]
The IOC games also were based upon rigid entrance standards, while the international festivals of the worker athletic movement instead attempted to build mass participation through pageantry, artistic and cultural activities, and unifying political presentations.[20] Moreover, the sort of athletes dominating the IOC games were objectionable to the radicals on the basis of social class, dominated as they were by the privileged children of the rural aristocracy and the bourgeoisie.[20] Such international competitions should be open to the participation of less privileged national and social groups, without distinction to race or creed, in the view of the radical sports organizations.[20]
Therefore the Red Sport International and its socialist rival, the organization emerging as the Socialist Workers' Sport International, conducted a series of their own workers' sports festivals in distinction to and competition with the Olympiads of the IOC. Four such events (called Spartakiads in honor of the heroic slave leader, Spartacus) were sponsored by the RSI. Two of these were held in 1928, and one each in 1931 and 1937.
While a major national workers' sport festival had already been held in Czechoslovakia in 1921, it was the socialist organization in 1925 that conducted the first pair of Workers' Olympics events — Summer Games in Frankfurt attracting 150,000 spectators and competitors from 19 country, and Winter Games in Schreiberhau (today's Szklarska Poręba, Poland), attended by athletes from 12 countries.[22] No national flags or anthems graced the closing or opening ceremonies, replaced instead by universal use of the red flag and singing of "The Internationale."[22] "Soviet and other communist athletes were excluded from these games, however, and there was therefore little actual unity of the workers' sports movement for all the universalist pageantry employed.
From the middle 1930s the political line of the world communist movement changed. The so-called Popular Front against the threat of fascism rendered cooperation with socialists and others through unified workers' athletic festivals not only a possibility but the tactical order of the day. Plans were laid for a so-called 3rd Workers' Olympiad to be held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain in June 1936, under joint auspices of the RSI and the SWSI. The time and place proved inauspicious, however, coinciding with outbreak of hostilities in the Spanish Civil War.[23] This forced postponement of the event, which was rescheduled for the next summer in Antwerp, Belgium.[23]
The 3rd Workers' Olympiad proved to be less successful than previous endeavors, but it still managed to attract 27,000 participating athletes, and put 50,000 people in the stadium for the final day of competition.[23] An estimated 200,000 people turned out for the traditional closing parade through the city.[23]
With the Soviet Union becoming immersed in the first months of 1937 in a massive and xenophobic secret police campaign against perceived underground espionage networks remembered as the Great Terror, the Red Sport International was summarily dissolved by the Comintern in April of that year.
List of Spartakiads
1st Summer Spartakiad Moscow 1928
1st Winter Spartakiad Oslo 1928
2nd Spartakiad Berlin 1931
3rd Workers' Olympiad Antwerp 1937 Held jointly with the international Socialist sport organization.
Gatherings of the RSI
Source: Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization?" pg. 28.
1st Conference Moscow July 19-29, 1921
2nd Congress Berlin July 29-31, 1922
1st Enlarged Plenum of the EC Moscow Feb. 7-13, 1923
3rd Congress Moscow Oct. 13-21, 1924
2nd Enlarged Plenum of the EC Moscow Jan. 28, 1925
3rd Enlarged Plenum of the EC Moscow May 17-22, 1926
4th Enlarged Plenum of the EC Moscow Nov. 10-16, 1927
4th Congress Moscow Oct. 23-24, 1928
5th Enlarged Plenum of the EC Kharkov May 31-June 2, 1929
6th Enlarged Plenum of the EC Berlin July 14-17, 1931
RSI Conference Amsterdam Sept. 2-3, 1933
RSI Conference Prague March 7-8, 1936
Socialist Workers' Sport International
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 James Riordan and Arnd Krüger, The International Politics of Sport in the Twentieth Century. London: Routledge, 1999; pg. 107.
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 E.H. Carr, A History of Soviet Russia: Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926: Volume 3, Part 2. London: Macmillan, 1964; pg. 957.
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Carr, Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926, vol. 3, pt. 2, pg. 958.
↑ André Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization? Structures and Characteristics of the Red Sport International, 1921-1937," Journal of Sport History, vol. 28, no. 1 (Spring 2001), pg. 23.
↑ >Carr, Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926, vol. 3, pt. 2, pp. 957-958.
↑ 6.0 6.1 Carr, Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926, vol. 3, pt. 2, pg. 960.
↑ Carr, Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926, vol. 3, pt. 2, pp. 960-961.
↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Carr, Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926, vol. 3, pt. 2, pg. 963.
↑ Quoted in Carr, Carr, Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926, vol. 3, pt. 2, pg. 963.
↑ Carr, Socialism in One Country, 1924-1926, vol. 3, pt. 2, pg. 965.
↑ Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization?" pg. 25.
↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization?" pg. 27.
↑ 15.0 15.1 Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization?" pg. 28.
↑ 16.0 16.1 Internationaler Arbeitersport: Zeitschrift für Fragen der internationalen revolutionären Arbeitersportbewegung. Aug. 1931, pg. 303. Quoted in Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization?" pg. 29.
↑ Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization?" pg. 38, fn. 29.
↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Gounot, "Sport or Political Organization?" pg. 29.
↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 Riordan and Krüger, The International Politics of Sport in the Twentieth Century, pg. 109.
↑ Christopher R. Hill, Olympic Politics: Athens to Atlanta, 1896-1996. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press, 1996; pg. 5.
↑ 22.0 22.1 Riordan and Krüger, The International Politics of Sport in the Twentieth Century, pg. 110.
↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Riordan and Krüger, The International Politics of Sport in the Twentieth Century, pg. 113.
Pierre Arnaud and James Riordan, Sport and International Politics: The Impact of Fascism and Communism on Sport. Taylor & Francis, 1998.
Barbara Keys, "Soviet Sport and Transnational Mass Culture in the 1930s," Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 38, No. 3, (July 2003), pp. 413-434.
Nikolai Podvoisky, (article on the establishment of RSI), Pravda, October 15, 1924.
James Riordan, Sport, Politics, and Communism. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press, 1991.
David Alexander Steinberg, Sport under Red Flags: The Relations between the Red Sport International and the Socialist Workers' Sport International, 1920-1939. PhD dissertation. University of Wisconsin — Madison, 1979.
David A. Steinberg, "The Worker Sports Internationals, 1920-28," Journal of Contemporary History, vol. 13, no. 2 (April 1978), pp. 233-251.
Robert Wheeler, "Organized Sport and Organized Labor: The Workers' Sports Movement," Journal of Contemporary History, vol. 13, no. 2 (April 1978), pp. 191-210.
(Proceedings of the July 1921 Conference), Internationale Jugend-Korrespondenz, No. 7 (April 1, 1922), pg. 11.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Red_Sport_International&oldid=5076200"
Sports organisations established in 1921
Defunct sports governing bodies
Sports governing bodies in Europe
Politics and sports
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Morris Moves Positive Productions Into Mainstream
By: Elena Sinnemaki
The persistent hum of barbershop clippers did little to drown out the buzz that began circulating among the four Marines waiting their turn to go underneath the shears.
Their chatter had little to do with which one was getting the next “high and tight”, but rather who among them was going to be the first in line for tickets to an upcoming concert from a super rock group. There were high fives and a lot of trash talking about mosh pits, great rock groups and the “awesome women” these groups attract. As one of the Marines noticed that the barber had finished cutting the hair of what at first appearance could have been a fellow Devil Dog, he stopped talking long enough to yell out, “Hey man, thanks for remembering us!”
The smile on the man’s face conveyed his appreciation for the kind words, but then Broderick Morris, president and executive producer of the entertainment firm Positive Productions, knows the value of deeds over mere words and is back pitching his message to a new batch of service members about to enter the barbershop he is leaving.
It’s been six years since Morris turned the Okinawa concert scene on its ear with the girl group “Total”. With that as his springboard, the promoter has brought in a succession of stars that reads like a “Who’s Who” of the entertainment industry. Try actor/rapper LL Cool J or Motown’s best selling group “Boyz II Men”. Grammy Award winner Monica and double Grammy winner Brian Setzer and his Orchestra also made Okinawa stops courtesy of Positive Productions. The list goes to include one of R&B’s hottest duos, K-Ci & JoJo, female favorite Usher, rappers Noreaga, Red Man, Keith Murray, and more.
“There is a lot to be said about walking in someone else’s shoes,” Morris began as he explained why he expanded his concert promotions from mainland Japan to Okinawa. “I was a Marine stationed here and used to gripe like everybody else concerning the lack of entertainment on the island. I felt that if I ever got into a situation where I could do something about it, I would.”
Morris remarked that he began a two-pronged strategy he felt was tailor made for Okinawa. “There is a big reason you see a lot of concerts being held in Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama. The risk is not as great for the promoters because they have a built-in audience base of 20 million people. Many of the promoters, and to be honest, a lot of the groups, consider Okinawa out of the way. So I had to take the initial financial risks to show that there was an audience on Okinawa for concerts.”
“Then I began selling concerts to the military bases to help shoulder some of the risks. That was the case with LL Cool J and Boyz II Men and thanks to MCCS we were able to pull it off. We are all very grateful to MCCS for believing in us and giving us the chance to prove ourselves.”
Though he had successes with mostly Hip Hop and R&B groups, Morris said he started adding Latin, Country, and Rock groups to his promotions because his business evolved with the times. “I remember on one visit to Okinawa, I was a guest on ACTV’s JAM TV show. The host Alice Smith and I took several phone calls from viewers and one of them struck home. She said that she supported several of our concerts because she just enjoyed music – all kinds of music. But she wondered why we didn’t bring any rock groups over. There were other questions about Latin groups and Country groups. I told her to be patient and that we would… and you know how I am about keeping my word.”
He kept his word alright! First came The Brian Setzer Orchestra. “That was an important first step for me because Rock and Hip Hop are promoted in different ways. Brian Setzer loved the promotion we did and the reception he received here. That caught the attention of the people who make things happen in the states,” Morris continued. “So when it came time to go after the first tier groups, like Green Day, people knew I meant business for Okinawa.”
Morris said even landing Green Day for its August 8th concert in Okinawa took some additional persuading. “Green Day wanted to know about the venue (Okinawa City Zoo Park) and the aesthetics, so we had to shoot some video of the surrounding areas, the lake, the trees and the ocean. They are big on protecting the environment and they loved what they saw.”
The ticket demand for the Green Day concert, which will feature special guest “Weezer”, has been so great that Morris has set up special advance ticket sales to ensure that many in the U.S. Military community get the opportunity to buy tickets. “We’ve arranged with USO officials to hold a ticket sale on May 4th at the Kadena USO from 11am-1pm and 4pm-8pm. They will be at the Camp Hansen USO on May 5th from 11am–1pm and 4pm–9pm.” Other advance ticket sale dates include May 6th at the Naha City Tower Records from 4pm-9pm and May 7th at Sam Goody’s record shop in Okinawa City’s Plaza Mall from 4pm-9pm.
Morris commented that Positive Productions’ relationship with the Japanese and American media has been a big help. “We get outstanding support from AFN, MCCS Ch. 7, ACTV, and Japan Update, as well as from RBC, Okinawa Times, Ryukyu Shimbun, F.M. Okinawa, and many of the island magazines.”
The hype of Green Day hasn’t hurt the buzz on Morris’ other upcoming concert – the encore appearance by K-Ci & JoJo on May 14th at Dance Club Matsushita in Naha City. (Tickets for this concert are on sale at Kadena ITT, MCCS Tours Plus, Positive Productions Okinawa Office, 890-2221, and through ACTV.) The return of K-Ci & JoJo is especially poignant for Morris. He was given a Gold Record and honored by the duo’s record company last year for his efforts in promoting K-Ci & JoJo through a sold-out tour and more than $160,000 in CD sales. It looks like 2000 will be more of the same with the mainland shows already sold out. So explains his concentrated focus on Okinawa.
“There are a lot of things we want to achieve in Okinawa for 2000. We want to help bring top-notch talent as our way of contributing to the overall effort of Okinawa to successfully host the G-8 Economic Summit. I also want to reiterate the support and love I have for the military and their families here – especially those single Marines up in Hansen and Schwab,” Morris explained. He added, “I always try to enlist the help of commanders, regardless of branch of service, when trying to bring quality concerts to their troops. I’d like to get more involved in such events as AmericaFest, but that is really up to the organizers. I’m here to stay, whether they use us or not.”
While walking around well into the night with Mr. Morris as he passed out flyers for all of the upcoming concerts, it became very evident that this was only the beginning of great things for Positive Productions and for all of Okinawa. “Oh, I’m having fun now,” he commented with a smile. “We’ve only just begun to rock the island.”
And, well, he keeps proving how he is about keeping his word.
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John Malalas
Chronographia
c. 570 CE
translated by Jason Colavito
The Chronicle of the historian John Malalas (c. 491-578 CE) of Antioch is the oldest surviving Byzantine world chronicle. It draws on the earlier world chronicles of Julius Africanus, Eusebius, Panodorus, and Annianus, and served as a source for later chronicles, particularly in the Slavic lands. It is, however, an idiosyncratic chronicle that differs from those that appeared both before and after it. Unlike Annianus and Panodorus (but like Eusebius), John rejects the existence of ancient kingdoms before Noah's Flood and therefore has relocated stories of primeval Egypt to the period after the Flood, reorganizing Manetho's list of kings to place the first post-diluvian monarchs before those originally ascribed to the time of the gods. John also follows an older Christian tradition of rationalizing pagan mythology as the deeds of human kings. He, however, offers idiosyncratic and at times unique material that he has interpolated into an older account that is the underlying source for both his chronicle of Egypt and that of the Excerpta Latina Barbari, a lost Greek chronicle that had been translated poorly into Latin for the Merovingian kings in the eighth century. The sections on the dawn of Egyptian history from both texts run in parallel below in my translation, except for folio 38a of the Excerpta, which has been adapted from the translation of I. P. Cory. The story begins with the death of Picus Zeus, a composite king merging the first Latin king Picus with the Greco-Roman deity Zeus (Jupiter), both sons of Saturn (i.e. Cronus), and rendering the composite into a human monarch.
THE CHRONICLE of John Malalas
14. After the death of Picus Zeus, his son Faunus Hermes [1] reigned in Italy for a period of thirty-five years. He was a clever man, willing to learn, and the first to undertake the mining of gold [2] in the West and the art of smelting. […] [3] When Hermes learned that his brothers were plotting against him, he withdrew, taking with him a massive amount of gold, and he went down to Egypt, to the sons of Ham, the son of Noah. They received him with honor, and he remained in that place, but he treated everyone arrogantly and donned a golden robe. He practiced philosophy among the Egyptians and proffered oracles to them. His was a highly rational nature, and the Egyptians worshiped him, calling Hermes a god because he foretold the future, provided them with answers from God about things to come, and provided them with money. Therefore, they named him the Giver of Riches, and they thought of him as a golden god.
15. When Hermes went down into Egypt, Mestrem, [4] one of the sons of Ham, was ruling over Egypt. When he died, the Egyptians made Hermes king, [5] and he reigned arrogantly over the Egyptians for thirty-nine years.
After him, Hephaistos reigned over of the Egyptians for 1,680 days, from which emerges the figure of four years and 38 days. [6] For in those days, the Egyptians knew not how to measure years, but they counted the cycle of the days as years. They called Hephaistos a god, for he was a warrior with knowledge of the mystical arts. When he went into battle, he fell with his horse, and his wound left him with a limp. [7]
Hephaistos promulgated a law requiring that the women of Egypt be monogamous and observe the rule of chastity, and any who were caught in adultery were to receive punishment. He received grateful thanks for this, for this was the first law about chastity received among them. [8]
Hephaistos, by a mystical prayer, received tongs [9] from the air to be used in the manufacture of iron implements. This gave him overwhelming power in war. They raised him up to be a god, since he had promulgated the law on chastity, had acquired food for men by the manufacture of implements, and had provided safety and power in war; for before his time, men fought one another with clubs and stones.
Excerpta Latina Barbari
238.4-19, ed. Frick (= fol. 21a)
1. After his death, his son Faunus reigned in Italy for thirty-five years. This made him into an impious and very busy man. 2. Then he went down into Egypt and remained in that place and assumed the imperial robes. And he was seen to be wise by the Egyptians, and he deceived them through magic and frauds. He confided suspicious things to them and made prophecies. He learned the speech of birds and the messages of the hoopoes, the neighing of horses, as well as the divination of the dead, and many other evils. 3. And then the wise men among the Egyptians perceived him to be a mathematician and very loquacious, so they glorified him as Hermes the Three-Times-Most-Blessed, because he knew all languages so well everywhere, and they admired him as a wealthy and rich man, and as a servant of the gods. 4. He reigned there for thirty-five years. There are from Adam to the beginning of the reign of Picus, who is understood to be Serapis, and who was the son of Cronus, 4,100 years.
1. After the death of Hephaestus, his son Helios reigned in Egypt for a period of 4,407 days, from which emerges the figure of twelve years and 97 days. For in those days, neither the Egyptians nor any other people knew how to calculate (correctly), but some counted the revolutions of the moon and others the number of days as years. The method of counting by the twelve months came about subsequently, when men were made to render taxes to kings.
2. Helios, the son of Hephaistos, was powerful and gloriously generous. He was informed by someone that some Egyptian woman, one abounding in wealth and merit, had fallen in love with someone and had begun committing adultery with him. When he (Helios) heard, he wanted to catch her, so that the law of his father should stand unbroken. Having made certain that the time of their congress was drawing nigh, he took soldiers. Her coupling took place at night. He burst in on her when her husband was absent, found her with her lover, and removed her. He ordered her to be paraded around the whole of Egypt, after having pronounced severe judgment on her. He punished the adulterer with death, and he received grateful thanks for it, and all of Egypt adopted chastity. [10] Of this, the poet Homer, in his (poetic) manner, tells this story when he says Helios condemned Aphrodite for coupling with Ares at night. [11] By “Aphrodite” the libidinal force is to be understood, which King Helios had condemned. The truth, as it has been explained to us, was recorded by the most learned chronicler Palaiphatos. [12]
3. After the death of Helios, son of Hephaestus, Sosis [13] ruled over the Egyptians. After him reigned Osiris; Horus followed Osiris, and Thoulis [14] followed Horus. This last one subjugated the whole of the surrounding land, as far as the Ocean, under his power with a large force. In returning, he made a journey through Africa and arrogantly approached an oracle. Having made a sacrifice, he beseeched the oracle in these words: “Tell me, Lord of Fire, Truth-Teller, Blessed One, you who bend your ethereal course: Who, prior to my reign, had the power to subject all to him? And who shall have the power to do so after me?” The oracle responded: “First God, and then the Word, and with them the Spirit. All things were generated together, and they go toward the One, whose power is eternal. Make haste to depart from here, Mortal, and complete your worthless life.” He at once left the temple, and he was killed by his own men, who had plotted against him.
Manetho recorded these accounts of the most ancient and archaic kings of Egypt, and from his writings it appears that the five planets once had other names. For the other name of Kronos, they once called it the Shining One; Zeus was the Torch (Phaethon); Ares was the Fiery; Aphrodite the Fairest; and Hermes the Brilliant. [15] The most learned Sotates [16] explicated these names in later times.
4. After this time, Sostris [17] reigned over the Egyptians, the first of the sons of Ham to do so. He prepared an expedition against Assyria, which he subjugated under his power, along with the Chaldeans and Persians, all the way to Babylon, as well as Asia, all of Europe, and even Scythia and Moesia. When returning from Scythia to Egypt, he selected fifteen thousand men in the flower of their youth whom he relocated to Persia and ordered them to settle there, giving them whatsoever land they selected. From that time to this, these Scythians have remained in Persia. They are called Parthians by the Persians because in the Persian language it means “Scythians.” The Parthians retain the clothing, language, and laws of the Scythians, and they are very formidable in battle, as is recorded in the writings of the very learned Herodotus. [18]
5. In the days of the aforementioned king Sostris, there lived Hermes Trismegistus, [19] the Egyptian, a man of stupendous wisdom, who pronounced the ineffable name of the God of Creation to be that of three most excellent persons, but in truth one God. And so he was called Hermes Trismegistus, that is, the thrice-greatest, by the Egyptians. For in various of his writings to Asclepius he is found making mention of the nature of God in this manner: “If the Providence of Divine Will had not been given governance over all, through which this thing was revealed to me, you would not have been seized with such passion to ask me about it. For it is not possible for these Mysteries to be proffered to the profane, but give it your intellect’s attention. There is only one intelligent Light, before there was intelligent light; and there was always Intellect, the light of the intellect. There was nothing else, other than this unity, existing always in itself, and likewise comprehending everything with its intellect, light, and spirit. Outside of this, there is neither god, nor angel, nor demon, nor any other being. For it is the Lord and God of all, and all things exist beneath and within it. For its Word, which came forth from it, was entirely perfect, and worked itself on fecund nature, and fell on the fecund water, and it made the water fertile.” Having said this, in these words he prayed: “I swear by you, O Heaven, the great work of the wise Divinity, may you be propitious. I swear by you, O Voice of the Father, which was the first that He uttered when He established the entire world with His counsel, Voice of the Father, which He first uttered, His only-begotten Word.” These things were reported by the most holy Cyril, in his book Against the Emperor Julian: namely, that while Hermes Trismegistus was ignorant of the future, he nevertheless professed the consubstantiality of the Trinity. [20]
6. Further, the king Sostris, after achieving victory, returned to Egypt, where by fate he died. After him, a Pharaoh, who was Maracho, [21] obtained the throne; from him are descended the succeeding kings of the Egyptians. [22]
284.26-28, 286.1-15, ed. Frick (= fol. 38a)
Of all kingdoms, we find that of the Egyptians to be the most ancient; of whose beginning we purpose to write, according to the relation of Manetho.
The first dynasty was that of the Gods, who are classed by themselves; and I reckon their reigns thus:
I. Some say the God Ifestus reigned in Egypt 680 years.
II. After him, the Sun, the son of Ifestus, 77 years.
III. After him, Osinosiris, 420 years.
IIII. After him, Oros Stoliarchus, 28 years.
V. After him, Typhon, 45 years.
The sum of the reigns of the Gods amounts to 1550 years.
Then succeeds the kingdom of the Demi-gods, thus:
I. First reigned Anubes Amusira, who composed the writings of the Egyptians, 83 years.
II. After him, Apion Grammaticus, who reigned 77 years. In his reign commenced the kingdom of Argos, under Inachus.
I. Afterwards, the kings of the Encynii, by whom must be understood the Demi-gods. They reigned 2100 years.
II. Mineus and seven of his descendants reigned 253 years.
III. Bochus and eight others reigned 302 years.
IIII. Necherocheus and eight others reigned 214 years.
etc.
Notes
This story is first told in fragment 5 of the lost sixth book of Diodorus Siculus, without mention of Egypt. The underlying Christian source has sought to merge Faunus Hermes with Hermes Trismegistus, following a Hellenistic or Roman myth that the Hermes identified as the Egyptian god Thoth had fled from his original home in Europe to Egypt (Cicero, De natura deorum 3.22). Since this passage is the source for the restoration of the parallel section (fragment 5) of the lost sixth book of Diodorus (via a fragment of John of Antioch, who identifies the passage as treating material also found in Diodorus when he concludes his quotation of Malalas with the words "That most learned of chronographers, Diodorus, has written an account of this Picus."), it is not possible to say whether Malalas or Diodorus first linked Faunus to the planet Mercury.
This reference is unique to John and appears to reflect his interest in mining and perhaps also reflects the association of Hermes Trismegistus with alchemy, although the identification of Faunus Hermes with Hermes Trismegistus is only implied. The Excerpta makes it explicit, and presumably so too did the underlying source text.
I have omitted a long digression about Herakles that appears subsequent to the section on Hermes in the Excerpta but is here interpolated into the narrative of Hermes.
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, Mestrem (Mizraim) was the first king of Egypt after the Flood, his name being that of Egypt in Hebrew. Early chronologists, starting with the Christian forger of the Book of Sothis of Pseudo-Manetho, equated Mestrem with Menes, the first human king of Egypt in the genuine work of Manetho. Malalas, however, does not accept the existence of pre-Flood dynasties and has moved Mestrem / Menes from his traditional position to appear before the first divine kings of Manetho, Hephaistos and Helios.
The word used here is βασιλεύς (basileus), which meant “king” but was also used informally from the third century as the Greek title of the Roman emperors. It only came into formal use as the official imperial title with the meaning of “emperor” in the 600s, several decades after John wrote.
Malalas is following the Christian tradition of reducing the impossibly long reigns given by Manetho through the expedient of declaring his years to be either months, weeks, or days, whichever happened to fit the chronology he hoped to achieve. The specific calculations appear unique to him.
Malalas adds details from the Greek myth of Hephaistos to attempt to better assimilate him with the Egyptian god-king of Manetho.
Chastity was a particular obsession of Malalas, and he has interpolated references to chastity laws throughout his chronicle where they do not appear in parallel authors.
Greek myths about Hephaistos as blacksmith of the gods have here been interpolated into the Egyptian narrative of Manetho, though the identity of the tongs is unclear. The word used for it is unattested outside of the this passage until the Middle Ages, where it is used for medical instruments. Gerald Verbrugghe reads it to mean that Hephaistos received "a brilliant idea" rather than a physical implement. The story may have alchemical allusions.
Although this account of the origins of chastity appears unique to Malalas, it may have an antecedent in the lost text of Manetho, likely via the rationalizing Egyptian history of Palaephatus (see below), since a similar story appears in the Arabic Akhbar al-zaman (2.3) four hundred years later, but different enough not to be dependent on Malalas. The story refers to the fifth king of Egypt after the Flood: "‘Adīm invented the punishment of the gibbet. A woman was found guilty of adultery with a craftsman, so the king had them both crucified, back to back, and wrote above them their name and crime, with the date of their execution. This punishment frightened men and turned them away from adultery." The parallel passage in al-Maqrizi's Al-Khitat (1.10), attributed to Ibrahim bin Wasif Shah al-Ustad, identifies the woman as a member of the king's court. The two tales are quite similar, particularly if the censorious Malalas omitted the crucifixion out of respect for Christ.
Homer, Iliad 8.256-366.
Palaephatus was a rationalizing author who wrote euhemeristic accounts of mythology in the decades after Aristotle, whose student he was said to be. A book of Egyptian history was attributed to him, from which the accounts must come, since they bear no resemblance to the accounts of Greek mythology in his surviving works.
Sosis does not appear in the extant king lists of Manetho, where his place is occupied by Agathodaemon. The Excerpta give this king as Sosinosiris, likely a corruption of Sosis and Osiris, since Osiris reigns next according to Manetho and John of Antioch gives the same as Sos and Apis, the latter identified with Osiris. Malalas and the Excerpta have omitted Cronus from his accustomed place in the list of Manetho for the obvious reason that they identified him as the father of Picus Zeus and long dead in Italy.
A corruption of Typhonis, or Typhon, the Greek name for Set. The order of Set and Horus has been inverted from the Egyptian original. John of Antioch (fr. 6[9] FHG [4.543]) and the Chronicon Paschale (p. 83, ed. Dindorf) repeat the story of Thoulis at the oracle, presumably from Malalas. The Suda (s.v. Thoulis) gives the same story but adds that the oracle belonged to Serapis and that the island of Thule was named for him. The references to the Trinity mark this as a Christian forgery, perhaps originating in the Book of Sothis or some similar source.
The names of the planets parallel those found in Pseudo-Aristotle's De Mundo 2 (= Aristotle 392a32-392b4), c. 250 BCE, speaking of the sphere of fixed stars: "The position nearest to this sphere is occupied by the so-called circle of the Shining star, or Saturn; next is that of the Beaming star, which also bears the name of Jupiter; then follows the circle of the Fiery star, called by the names both of Heracles and of Mars; next comes the Glistening star, which some call sacred to Mercury, others sacred to Apollo; after that is the circle of the Light-bearing star, which some call the star of Venus, others the star of Hera" (trans. E. S. Forster). However, the list differs from the Egyptian planetary names given by the third century writer Achilles Taitus in the surviving fragment of his commentary on Aratos (Isagoge, in Petavius, Uranologion p. 136), where the Greek terms are presented alongside Egyptian names. "It is by euphemism that the Egyptians call Saturn Phainon, apparent, seeing it is the most obscure of the planets; the Egyptians also call it Nemesis. The second planet is Jupiter, which the Greeks call Phaethon, and the Egyptians Osiris. The third is Mars, which among the Greeks is Puroeis, and among the Egyptians the star of Hercules. The fourth is Mercury, Stilbon among the Greeks, and the star of Apollo among the Egyptians. The fifth is the planet Venus, which the Greeks call Heosphorus" (trans. Frances Rolleston). Consequently, it appears that the list given by Malalas is from a Greek source claiming to be Egyptian, likely the Book of Sothis.
An unidentified figure, perhaps a corruption of the Book of Sothis, and possibly conflated with the Alexandrian poet Sotates executed by Ptolemy II.
Given in the Chronicon Paschale as the better-known Sesostris, whose world-conquering exploits were recorded by Herodotus and Diodorus. Manetho, however, places Sesostris in the twelfth dynasty. Malalas has re-positioned him, or, rather, in writing thematically rather than as a strict chronologist, he felt free to skip to the important figures.
Herodotus, Histories 2.102-109.
Identified with Faunus Hermes in the Excerpta but apparently divided into a separate figure in Malalas, where the original underlying chronology, derived from the Alexandrian chroniclers, has been interrupted and upended.
The quotation apparently comes from the now-lost so-called Third Sermon of the Hermetic writings addressed to Asclepius, a key figure in Hermeticism. John Malalas attributes his knowledge of the quotation to St. Cyril, and the fragment appears in Contra Julianum 2.35, ed. Migne, col. 556 A. It is translated as Fragments XVI-XVIII in Mead's Thrice-Greatest Hermes.
Other manuscripts give this as Naracho, an uncertain figure not attested elsewhere before Malalas. Some have connected him to Pharaoh Necho of 2 Kings 23: 29-30, while others suggest Necherocheus from Manetho's third dynasty, who also appears by name in the Excerpta as the first of his dynasty. Later, Malalas says that his information about Naracho comes from a chronology of Theophilus, bishop of Antioch, because (and here Malalas is wrong) Manetho only wrote of the period before Naracho. Manetho covered the period to the end of the thirtieth dynasty, while Malalas makes Naracho a contemporary of Abraham, long before the Exodus.
Cedrenus (Chronicle 1, p. 20 = ed. Niebuhr, p. 37), who follows Malalas almost verbatim on Egyptian history, gives this final statement more clearly this way: "After him (Sesostris), there was a king Pharaoh, who is said to be Naracho. He reigned for many years--fifty in fact, as they say. The kings who descend from his lineage are called Pharaohs after him" (my trans.).
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Legality of the Vietnam War
Note: In April, 1968, I was an infantry lieutenant with the 1st Air Cavalry Division leading a 20,000 man operation (Pegasus) to relieve the U.S. Marines who were under a 66 day long siege at a place called Khe Sanh. The Tet Offensive of 1968 proved to be a military disaster for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, but people like Walter Cronkite and others in the liberally oriented media misled the American public into believing America was losing the war in Vietnam. Anti-war protesters proclaimed that the war was not a war because Congress had not declared war, that the war was a civil war which the U.S. should avoid, that the war was immoral, and that the war was "illegal."
When I returned to "the world" in January, 1969 and saw how the media portrayed American armed forces’ actions in Vietnam, and when I heard many law students and "legal experts" cry that the war was illegal, I wrote this paper one year after I was at Khe Sanh.
You may find some of the arguments about U.S. involvement in Vietnam enlightening as you hear more and more about Kosovo. Consider the issues about the President using troops in an undeclared war, the nature of the internal conflict--civil war or genocide, and the lack of congressional and public support. Sound familiar?
THE LEGALITY OF THE VIETNAM WAR
Professor G. K. Reiblich
Current Constitutional Problems
The United States is presently engaged in an armed conflict in Vietnam which has already exceeded the death toll of the Korean conflict and is draining manpower and money which many people believe could be put to better use here at home. It is difficult for part of the American public to see why this nation is sending troops to fight a de facto war in a foreign country when it appears that the war, being on the other side of the world, is not in the interest of our national self-defense. What is even more frustrating to many Americans is that there seems to be no immediate end to the war in sight. As a result of the aforementioned observations, popular dissent has become evident and has manifested itself in many forms--peace marches, war protests, draft card burnings, refusals to induction into the military, newspaper editorials, congressional dissenting, and even litigation against the Government of the United States by individuals who do not wish to participate in what has been termed an "illegal war".
The purpose of this paper is to explore the Vietnam conflict in this context--its legality. The legality of the Vietnam conflict has two distinct aspects: the justifiability of the United States intervention under international law with which I will deal in the first part of this paper, and the constitutionality of such action under domestic law which is treated later on.
Although United States commitment of troops in actual combat in Vietnam is relatively new, the present conflict in Vietnam has its origins in over fifty years of French colonial rule in Indochina. French control over the Indo-Chinese peninsula began with military conquest beginning in the 1850's and gradually extended over half a century to include all of what is now Laos,
Cambodia, and Vietnam. In 1899, the French organized the area as the French Indo-Chinese Union consisting of the French Protectorates of Laos and Cambodia, and the French colony of Cochin-China in the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam, and the French Protectorates of Annam in central Vietnam, and Tonkin in northern Vietnam. The Japanese supplanted French rule in the 1940s, and their rule lasted until the capitulation of the Japanese forces in 1945.
The Potsdam Conference of 1945 gave the Indochina territories taken from the Japanese to Great Britain for the areas south of the sixteenth parallel and to the Republic of China for the areas north of that parallel. Meanwhile the Vietminh (League for the Independence of Vietnam), led by Ho Chi Minh, proclaimed the independence of the democratic Republic of Vietnam and established a government for all of Vietnam with its seat at Hanoi.
The British who controlled southern Vietnam rearmed the French and relinquished authority over the area to them while the Chinese retained military control over the north and permitted the Vietminh to function as a de facto civil regime. On March 6, 1946, the French Government recognized the Republic of Vietnam as a free state but not as an independent state and agreed with the Vietminh Government to enter into friendly negotiations on the future status of Indochina. Negotiations between the Vietminh and the French were unsuccessful; and by December 1946, the French Indo-chinese War had begun which ended in military defeat for the French Union Forces at Dienbienphu and in political capitulation at the Geneva Conference of 1954.
Prior to the Geneva Conference, the French Government agreed on June 5, 1948 to recognize an independent "State of Vietnam" within the French Union with former Emperor Bao Dai as its head. This "State of Vietnam" was recognized by the United States on February 7, 1950 as an independent state within the French Union. The Soviet Union recognized the Vietminh regime in North Vietnam as The Democratic Republic of Vietnam during the same year. Each regime, Bao Dai's in the south, and Ho Chi Minh's in the north, claimed authority over the whole of Vietnam.1
With the defeat of The French Union Forces at Dienbienphu came the Geneva Conference. The Geneva Accords of 1954 established the date and hour for a cease-fire in Vietnam, drew a "provisional military demarcation line" with a demilitarized zone on both sides, and required an exchange of prisoners and the phased regroupment of Vietminh Forces from the south to the north and The French Union Forces from the north to the south. The introduction into Vietnam of troop reinforcements and new military equipment (except for replacement and repair) was prohibited. The armed forces of each party were required to respect the demilitarized zone and The territory of the other zone.
Applicable sections of The agreement are as follows:
Agreement Between the Commander in Chief of the French Union Forces in Indo-China and the Commander in Chief of the People's Army of Vietnam on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam Signed at Geneva, July 20, 1954
Provisional Military Demarcation Line and Demilitarized Zone
A provisional military demarcation line shall be fixed on either side of which the forces of the two parties shall be regrouped after their withdrawal, the forces of the People's Army of Vietnam to the north of the line and the forces of the French Union to the south.
The provisional military demarcation line is fixed as shown on the map attached (see Map No. 1).
It is also agreed that a demilitarized zone shall be established on either side of the demarcation line, to a width of not more than 5 kms. from it, to act as a buffer zone and avoid any incidents which might result in the resumption of hostilities.2
Article 1 clearly designates the military demarcation line which is to be honored by both parties to the agreement. Incidents which might "result in the resumption of hostilities" are to be avoided.
Chapter II, article 10 reads:
The Commanders of the Forces on each side, on the one side the Commander in Chief of the French Union Forces in Indo-China and on the other side the Commander in Chief of the
People's Army of Vietnam, shall order and enforce the complete cessation of all hostilities in Vietnam by all armed forces under their control, including all units and personnel of the ground, naval, and air force.3
The Geneva Accords spell out that there will be a cessation of hostilities and the commanders of the two zones respectively will enforce the terms of the agreement and respect the demilitarized zone and the territory of the other zone. The adherence of either zone to any military alliance and the use of either zone for the resumption of hostilities or to "further an aggressive policy" were prohibited.
The International Control Commission was established composed of India, Canada, and Poland with India as Chairman. The task of the Commission was to supervise the proper execution of the provisions of the Cease-Fire Agreement. General elections that would result in the reunification of Vietnam were required to be held in July 1956 under the supervision of the Internal Control Commission.4
During the five years following the Geneva Conference of 1954, The Hanoi regime developed a covert political-military organization in South Vietnam based on Communist cadres it had ordered to stay in the south, contrary to provisions of the Geneva Accords. Thus, we see an immediate and substantial violation of the Geneva Accords. The activities of this covert organization were directed toward the kidnaping and assassination of civilian officials--acts of terrorism that were perpetrated in increasing numbers. In the three year period from 1959 to 1961, the North Vietnam Regime infiltrated an estimated 10,000 men into the south.
This was clearly in violation of the Geneva Accords. It is estimated that 13,000 additional personnel were infiltrated in 1962 and by the end of 1964, North Vietnam may well have moved over 4,000 armed and unarmed guerrillas into South Vietnam.5
South Vietnam was now under armed attack from the north. The term "armed attack" has significance in the SEATO Treaty (to be discussed) in determining whether intervention by The United States was justified under certain provision of the treaty; however, to avoid dwelling on semantics, let us assume that thousands of armed and unarmed personnel infiltrated from North Vietnam to the south could be considered an "armed attack" in the broadest sense of the term. Acts of kidnaping, assassination of civilian officials, and other acts of terrorism should also be included in the concept of "armed attack" since guerrilla warfare is characterized by these acts rather than a blatant "troops on line" type of show of force characteristic of an invasion or attack in conventional warfare.
The Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, here after called the SEATO alliance, was signed at Manila on September 3,
1954. The parties to the treaty were Australia, France, New
Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was entered into force as to The United States on February 19, 1955. Apparently, the parties to the treaty realized that the treaty area--the general area of Southeast Asia--was still in a state of turmoil; and in order to protect the interest of those countries who were trying to govern themselves and remain free from Communist aggression and exploitation, and in order to promote a general state of peace in the treaty area, the parties to the SEATO alliance expressed their goals in the treaty:
The parties to this Treaty, Recognizing the sovereign equality of all the parties, Reiterating their faith in the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments, Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, they uphold the principle of equal rights and self- determination of peoples, and Declaring that they will earnestly strive by every peaceful means to promote self- government and to secure it and are able to undertake its responsibilities, Desiring to strengthen the fabric of peace and freedom and to uphold the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, and to promote the economic well- being and development of all peoples in the treaty area, Intending to declare publicly and formally their sense of unity, so that any potential aggressor will appreciate that the parties stand together in the area, and
Desiring further to coordinate their efforts for collective defense for the preservation of peace and security,
Therefore agree as follows:
The parties to the treaty have stated their desire to "strengthen the fabric of peace and freedom and to uphold the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, and to promote the economic well-being and development of all peoples in the treaty area"; and they wish to declare publicly their "sense of unity so that any potential aggressor will appreciate that the parties stand together in the area...". They are trying to ensure peace in an area which had just experienced the Indo-Chinese War.
Article I goes on to state:
The parties undertake, as set forth in the Chapter of the United Nations, to settle any international disputes in which they may be involved by peaceful mean in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.6
Article IV, paragraph 1 reads:
Each party recognizes that aggression by means of armed attack in the treaty area against any of the parties or against any state or territory which the parties by unanimous agreement may hereafter designate, would endanger its own peace and safety, and agrees that it will in that event act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes. Measures taken under this paragraph shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United Nations.7
This provision, supra, is where the term "armed attack" becomes critical because if South Vietnam was in fact subjected to an armed attack as indicated by the findings of the International Control Commission, then the United States is merely fulfilling its obligation as expressed in the SEATO alliance to "act to meet the common danger". On the other hand, if South Vietnam was not subjected to an "armed attack", then paragraph 2 of Article IV would be controlling.
If in the opinion of any of the parties, the inviolability or the integrity of the territory or the sovereignty or political independence of any party in the treaty area or of any other state or territory to which the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article from time to time apply is threatened in any way other than by armed attack or is affected or threatened by any fact or situation which might endanger the peace of the area, the Parties shall consult immediately in order to agree on the measure which should be taken for the common defense.8
Apparently, South Vietnam and the United States were under the impression that South Vietnam was subjected to an armed attack by North Vietnam cadres. As I have noted earlier, an armed attack does not have to have the formality and magnitude of large forces invading other large forces or civilian areas. Small units, characteristic of guerrilla warfare, can conduct an armed attack and even create a state of war.
Corpus Juris Secundum defines war:
War, in the broad sense, is a properly conducted contest of armed public forces, or in a narrower sense, a state of affairs during the continuance of which the parties to the war may legally exercise force against each other..... It is not necessary, to constitute war, that both parties shall be acknowledged as independent nations or sovereign states, but war may exist where one of the belligerents claims sovereign rights as against the other.9
It seems clear that the acts of aggression (infiltration of armed troops to the south) and terrorism by North Vietnam can be termed as an "armed attack" and could be legally acted upon by the United States as a party to the SEATO alliance. The authorization for such action would be paragraph 1 of Article IV of the treaty.
South Vietnam, not a member of the SEATO alliance, but within the treaty area (area of Southeast Asia) could act in its own interest of self-defense to ward off the attack from the north. The United Nations Charter recognizes the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against any member of the United Nations. Article-51 of the Charter of the United Nations reads:
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of The United Nations, until The Security Council has taken the measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.10
According to Article 51, the United Nations encourages self-defense of its members against an armed attack; and although South Vietnam was not a member of the United Nations; it would be absurd and inconsistent with international goals of world peace and security to assume that South Vietnam would not have the right to take individual or collective self-defense against an armed attack. The United Nations Charter nowhere contains any provision designed to deprive non-members of the right of self-defense against an armed attack. The State Department Memorandum concerning the legality of United States participation in The Vietnam war has stated:
The Republic of Vietnam in the South has been recognized as a separate international entity by approximately sixty governments the world over. It has been admitted as a member of a number of the specialized agencies of the United Nations.. The United Nations General Assembly in 1957 voted to recommend South Vietnam for membership in the Organization, and its admission was frustrated only by the veto of the Soviet Union in the Security Council. In any event there is no warrant for the suggestion that one zone of a temporarily divided state-- whether it be Germany, Korea, or Vietnam-- can be legally overrun by armed forces from the other zone, crossing the internationally recognized line of demarcation between the two. Any such doctrine would subvert the international agreement establishing the line of demarcation and would pose grave dangers to international peace.11
Thus, it is consistent with principles of international law concerning maintaining world peace and security that South Vietnam defend itself against aggression from North Vietnam. Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations encourages self-defense against armed attacks, and the SEATO alliance encourages action by any of its members to maintain peace and security in the treaty area (thus the United States involvement).
Opponents to the legality of the Vietnam war have contended that South Vietnam violated an important provision of the Geneva accords by refusing to hold general elections in July of 1956; therefore, the cause of South Vietnam has no greater legality to it than does the cause of North Vietnam which violated the Geneva Accords by infiltrating armed personnel to the south. This contention can only be held invalid when the circumstances are analyzed.
The Geneva Accords contemplated the reunification of the two parts of Vietnam by containing a provision for general elections to be held in July, 1956 in order to obtain a "free expression of the national will." The Accords stated that "consultations will be held on this subject between the competent representative authorities of the two zones from July 20, 1955 onwards." South Vietnam did not sign the cease-fire agreement of 1954 and did not adhere to the Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference. The South Vietnamese Government at that time gave notice of its objections in particular to the election provisions of the Accords.
Whether or nor the provisions were binding on South Vietnam is questionable, but even assuming they were, the South Vietnamese Government's failure to engage in consultations in 1955 with a view to holding elections in 1956 involved no breach of obligation. The conditions in North Vietnam were not conducive to making possible any free and meaningful expression of popular will.
General Giap, Defense Minister of North Vietnam, in addressing the Tenth Congress of the North Vietnamese Communist Party in October 1956, publicly acknowledged that the Communist leaders were running a police state where executions, terror, and torture were commonplace. A nationwide election would not have represented what the people wanted as no one in the north would have dared to vote except as directed; and since a substantial majority of the Vietnamese people living north of the seventeenth parallel would have voted Communist, the country would have been relinquished to the Communists without regard to the will of the people. The purpose of the elections was to get a "free expression of the national will", and this purpose would not have been met had the elections been held.12 The acts of terrorism conducted by personnel from the north on persons in the south also would have negated a free expression of the will of the people in the south had they voted.
At this point, let us focus our attention on the President of the United States and his power to commit troops to the aid of a foreign country. The SEATO alliance was a treaty advised and consented to by the Senate of The United States. The President as Commander in Chief of The armed forces and as chief executor of the laws of the land is authorized to commit troops to Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the SEATO alliance and principles of international law (i.e., maintaining peace and security in a treaty area).
The actions of the Congress, particularly the Joint Resolution of August 10, 1964, also authorize the President to commit troops to Vietnam. Whereas two United States naval destroyers were attacked by Communist forces in The Gulf of Tonkin, both the Senate and the House of Representatives resolved to approve and support whatever actions the President, as Commander in Chief, deemed necessary to take to repel armed attacks against United States forces and to maintain peace and security in Southeast Asia. The Southeast Asia Resolution states:
Whereas naval units of The Communists regime of Vietnam in violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law, have deliberately and repeatedly attacked United States naval vessels lawfully present in international waters, and have thereby created a serious threat to international peace.....
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of The United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further
aggression.
The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the maintenance of international peace and security in Southeast Asia.
Consonant with the Constitution of the United States and the Charter of The United Nations and in accordance with its obligations under the Southeast Asia Collective Defense
Treaty, the United States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determines, to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force,to assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in defense of its freedom.
The resolution shall expire when the President shall determine that the peace and security of the area is reasonably assured by international conditions created by action of the United Nations or otherwise, except that it may be terminated earlier by concurrent resolution of Congress.13
By the Congressional Resolution, Congress has merely reaffirmed what the Constitution of the United States has said: the President is Commander in Chief of the armed forces and chief executor of the laws of the land (treaties included of course).
The SEATO alliance (one of The laws of the land) is being acted upon when the President sends troops to the "treaty area" to help restore peace and security. Thus, in this way, the President is acting in the capacity--chief executor of one of the laws of the land and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (another law of the land) spells out the people's will that the President "take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force" in order to maintain international peace and security in Southeast Asia.
The Constitution of the United States gives certain powers to the President. Article II, section 1 says, "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America." Article II, section 2 says, "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States." Article II, section 3 says, "... he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed."14
While there has been dispute over the extent to which inherent or implied powers of his office allow the President to use force without prior statutory authorization in other areas--notably to aid civil authorities or to protect states from domestic violence--the authority of the President to use the armed forces, at least in the absence of restrictive legislation, in order to enforce within the United States substantial federal interests evidenced by the nation's laws is now generally accepted.15
In In Re Debs, where certain railroad officials were obstructing railroad traffic and the flow of mails, the Supreme Court said, "The entire strength of the nation may be used to enforce in any part of the land the full and free exercise of all national powers and the security of all rights entrusted by the Constitution to its care. The strong arm of the national
government may be put forth to brush away all obstructions to the freedom of interstate commerce or the transportation of the mails. If the emergency arises, the army of the Nation, and all its militia, are at the service of the Nation to compel obedience to its laws."16
The President as Commander in Chief can use troops not only to enforce the national’s laws and protect substantial federal interests, but he can use troops to defend the nation against a sudden attack without a declaration of war from Congress.
Though the war-declaring clause was intended to give Congress the power to initiate war in most cases, there is the view that at least in the case of a sudden attack the President was able to respond without prior congressional sanction, even though such response would amount to making war. The rationale for conceding the existence of this power in the President no doubt lies in the recognition that where the defense of the country itself is at stake, there is simply no room for procedural restrictions which might hamper the republic’s ability to survive intact. Thus viewed, the power need not rest on any specific provision of the Constitution; as a necessary concomitant of sovereignly itself, the inherent right of national self-defense gives the President full power to defend the country against sudden attack with whatever means are at his disposal as Commander in Chief.17
The Prize Cases approved of the expanding power of the President to make war without prior authorization under the theory of defense during the Civil War. The Supreme Court said, "If a war be made by invasion of a foreign nation, the President is not only authorized but bound to resist force by force. He does not initiate the war, but is bound to accept the challenge without waiting for any special legislative authority. And whether the hostile party be a foreign invader, or States organized in rebellion, it is none the less a war, although the declaration of it be unilateral."18
The court upheld the validity of Lincoln's proclamation of a blockade of the Southern ports. The President was recognized as possessing unlimited power to wage war in defending against a war begun through invasion or rebellion, and he was to be the sole judge of when such invasion or rebellion amounted to "war," thereby authorizing assumption of his full defensive powers.
What is the relation between the President's use of troops in the interest of national self-defense as exemplified in the Prize Cases and the President's use of troops engaged in a de facto war in Vietnam as authorized under provisions of the SEATO alliance and The Gulf bf Tonkin Resolution? The trend today is to consider "self-defense" of a nation to extend beyond the nation's immediate boundaries. The State Department Memorandum, supra, suggests that a direct attack is no longer a realistic prerequisite for exercise of the President's power to act unilaterally in national self-defense. Because of the delicate balance of power among nations as well as the frightening technology of modern warfare, an attack on a foreign country may just as surely threaten our security as a direct attack on United States territory.
The twentieth century and the experience of two world wars have created the idea of linking American defense with extraterritorial security interests. National security became world security and there emerged the thesis of collective self-defense. The United Nations Charter explicitly recognizes inherent right of individual or collective self-defense, and the United States proceeded accordingly in the years following World War II to conclude a number of regional and bilateral security agreements. By the agreements, the United States generally agreed to regard an attack on a member nation as threatening its own safety and to assist in defensive measures. The SEATO alliance is one such agreement.19
There are recent examples of overseas conflicts where a president has exercised his constitutionally given authority to use the nation’s troops--the invasion of South Korea during President Truman’s administration, the Arab threat to Lebanon during Eisenhower’s, the sending of missiles to Cuba during Kennedy’s, and the disorder in the Dominican Republic during Johnson’s administration. These examples are not true cases of where the President sent troops abroad in the interest of national self-defense, but they are better designated as the exercise of the President's power to protect American interests abroad. On the other hand, where the President has sent troops to Vietnam, it is a somewhat different story.. Even if to some people the SEATO alliance provision to maintain peace and security in Southeast Asia (an area on the other side of the world in relation to the United States) does not appear to be in the interest of self-defense of the United States, certainly it is convincing that the sending of troops to Southeast Asia (after American warships had been deliberately and maliciously attacked in international waters) is in the interest of self-defense. Thus, the self-defense argument, perhaps not as strong as the argument that we are engaging in a war to help South Vietnam rid itself of aggression, is still tenable. Apparently the Congress and President of the United States think so as implied by the Southeast Asia Resolution.
Critics of the President's sending troops to Vietnam say he has usurped congressional authority to declare war. Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution says that Congress shall have the power to declare war. The President has not infringed on that power; Congress may declare wars when the situations arise, but in cases of conflicts of a lesser magnitude than a large scale war, the President has traditionally taken action without a formal declaration of war.
In an article, The War in Vietnam: Unconstitutional, Justiciable, and, Jurisdictionally, Attackable, the war in Vietnam is bitterly criticized; none-the-less, the article points out that the President has, on some one hundred twenty-five occasions, without congressional declaration of war, ordered the armed forces to take some action or to maintain some position abroad. It also points out that "the one use of force upon which the current war might be supported is the Korean war, which was a long sustained and large-scale foreign military operation fought without a congressional declaration of war."20
Another argument in favor of the President sending troops abroad without congressional declaration of war is that the President is the nation’s leader in international relations. In United States V. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp., the Supreme Court held that a Joint Resolution of Congress authorizing the President to determine whether or not the sale of United States arms and munitions of war to foreign countries engaged in war inhibited peace in the warring countries was a constitutional delegation of legislative power to the Executive.
"It is quite apparent that if in the maintenance of our international relations, embarrassment--perhaps serious embarrassment--is to be avoided and success for our aims achieved, congressional legislation which is to be made effective through negotiations and inquiry within the international field must often accord to the President a degree of discretion and freedom from statutory restriction which would not be admissible were domestic affairs alone involved. Moreover, he, not Congress, has the better opportunity of knowing the conditions which prevail in foreign countries; and especially is this true in time of war."21
The President as the nation's leader in foreign relations must on occasion act to protect American interests abroad; and as the SEATO alliance acknowledged America's interest in peace and security in Southeast Asia, the President by sending troops to South Vietnam is protectinq these interests.
Another critic of the Vietnam war, Stanley Faulkner, in an article, The War in Vietnam: Is It Constitutional?, comments that the President does not constitutionally have the right to commit troops to Vietnam.
"The powers of the President, both in war and in peace are not absolute. The framers of our Constitution did not enumerate the powers of the President until after the powers of Congress were detailed in article I. The issue as to where to place the power of declaring war was carefully deliberated by the framers. "22
As has been noted earlier, the President has traditionally taken measures in situations somewhat less than a large scale war without a declaration of war from Congress. Faulkner's reasoning has no bearing on the Vietnam war because there is no declaration of war by Congress. The President is acting not under a declaration of war, but rather he is acting in the capacity as leader in international affairs and is protecting our national interest abroad as other presidents have done in the past.
Faulkner believes that the Supreme Court should scrutinize the acts of the President with respect to Vietnam to determine their legality. He believes that the court should not hide any longer behind the "thicket" of the "political question." He cites the Youngstown case as a leading example of judicial scrutiny of executive powers. President Truman issued an order to seize steel plants during a nationwide strike. The Korean conflict was on and he believed the strike would jeopardize national defense. The plaintiffs, leaders in the steel industry, reguested the Supreme Court to enjoin Secretary of Commerce, Sawyer, from enforcing an Executive Order to seize steel plants. The court held that the President does not have undefined powers and that he exceeded his enumerated powers in the present case.23 The decision in the Youngstown case is not applicable to the President's sending troops to Vietnam as the case decided that he could not seize steel mills on strike rather than he could not send troops to engage in combat overseas. There is a difference between seizure of private property and sending troops abroad under provisions of an international treaty and a congressional resolution.
In determining the legality of United States involvement in the Vietnam war, either in the context of international law or the constitutionality of the President's sending troops there without a declaration of war from Congress, one must examine the problem in the context of its time. The world situation, the international goal of peace and security, the struggle of small new nations to govern themselves, the concept of war--both large scale international war and small scale guerilla war, the expanding powers of the President in international relations--all of these factors influence why the United States is involved in the Vietnam war; and they influence one’s attitude toward the war’s legality or illegality.
Whatever The arguments may be for the war’s legality or illegality, the Vietnam war and the United States involvement therein is something that cannot be decided in a legal context. The legality of The war is simply a nonjusticiable issue. Who should decide if the war is legal or illegal? The Supreme Court of the United States? If so, the Supreme Court would be passing judgment upon actions of the other two branches of our Federal Government, the Legislative and the Executive, in an area--international relations--which the Supreme Court has already acknowledged the President to be the leader (Curtiss-Wright case, supra).
The Supreme Court has recognized its limitations and has refrained from deciding a political question when another branch of the Federal Government can take action. In particular, the Court has refused to decide recent cases which involve the legality of the war in Vietnam. In Mora vs. McNamara, 389 U.S. 934 (1967), the petitioners were drafted~into the United States Army in late 1965, and six months later were ordered to a West Coast replacement station for shipment to Vietnam. They brought this suit to prevent the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army from carrying out these orders, and requested a declaratory judgment that the present United States military activity in Vietnam is "illegal". The Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari.24
Until some "arch tribunal" declares the United States involvement in the Vietnam conflict to be illegal, under present international law principles and our constitutional law principles, the legality of the war in Vietnam can only be affirmed.
1. Daniel Partan, Legal Aspects of the Vietnam Conflict, 46 Boston, University Law Review 281, 283 (1966).
2. Geneva Accords Richard A. Falk, Editor, The Vietnam War and International Law, Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey (1968) at p. 543.
3. Id., p. 545.
4. Memorandum of Law, Dept. of State, The Legality of United States Participation in the Defense of Vietnam, 75 Yale Law Journal 1084 (1966) at p. 1097.
5. Id., p. 1085.
6. Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, Sept. 8, 1954, (1955) 1 ACED 81, TAS. No. 3170 at p. 82.
7. Id., p. 83.
9. 93 CGS, War and National Defense, 1 at p. 6 (1946).
10. Memorandum of Law, Dept. of State, supra note 4, at p.1097.
11. Id., p. 1090.
13. Southeast Asia Resolution, Pub. L. No. 88-408, (H.J. Res. 1145), 78 Stat. 384 (1964).
14. Constitution of the United States, Library of Congress, Lester S. Jayson, Supervising Editor, U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington: 1964.
15. Note, Congress, The President, And the Power to Commit Forces to Combat, 81 Harvard Law Review l77l (l968) at p. 1775.
16. In Re Debs, 158 U.S. 564, 582 (1895).
17. Note, Congress, The President, And the Power to Commit Forces to Combat, supra note 15, at p. 1778.
18. Prize Cases, 67 U.S. (2 Black) 635, 668 (1863).
19 Note, Congress, The President, And the Power to Commit Forces to Combat, supra note 15, at p. 1782.
20. The War in Vietnam: Unconstitutional, Just~able, and Jurisdictionally Attackable, 16 Kansas Law Review 449 (1968) at p. 470.
21. United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp.,
299 U.S. 304, 320 (1936).
22. Stanley Faulkner, The War in Vietnam: Is It Constitutional? 56 Georgetown Law Journal 1132 (1968) at p. 1132.
23. Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952).
24. Mora V. McNamara, 389 U.S. 934 (1967).
CITATION OF AUTHORITIES
In Re Debs, 158 U.S. 564 (1895).
Mora V. McNamara, 389 U.S. 934 (1967).
Prize Cases--Frigate Amy Warwick; Schooner Creashak; Barque Hathaway; Schooner Brilliantine, 67 U.S. (2 Black) 635 (1863).
United States V. Curtis-Wright Export Corp., 299 U.S. 304 (1936).
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. V. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952).
Constitution of the United States of America, Library of Congress, Lester S. Jason, Supervising Editor, U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington: 1964.
Geneva Accords signed July 20, 1954
Richard A. Falk, Editor, The Vietnam War and International Law, Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey (1968).
Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, Sept. 8, 1954, (1955) 1 ACED 81, TAS. No. 3170.
Southeast Asia Resolution, Pub. L. No. 88-408, (H.J. Res. 1145), 78 Stat. 384 (1964).
93 CGS, War and National Defense 1 at p. 6 (1946).
Stanley Faulkner, The War in Vietnam: Is It
Constitutional?, 56 Georgetown Law Journal 1132 (1968).
Memorandum of Law, Dept. of State, The Legality of United States Participation in the Defense of Vietnam, 75 Yale Law Journal 1084 (1966).
Daniel Partan, Legal Aspects of the Vietnam Conflict, 46 Boston University Law Review 281 (1966).
Note, Congress, The President, And The Power to Commit Forces to Combat, 81 Harvard Law Review 1771 (1968).
The War in-Vietnam: Unconstitutional, Justiciable, and Jurisdictionally Attackable, 16 Kansas Law Review 449 (1968).
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« Ruggers return Saranac Lake Democrat joins...»
Airbnb boom continues in the Adirondack Park
By ANTONIO OLIVERO - Staff Writer (aolivero@adirondackdailyenterprise.com) , Lake Placid News
LAKE PLACID - New numbers from Airbnb show Essex County is leading a rapid growth of Adirondack visitors booking lodging through the popular online peer-to-peer vacation rental service, though its boom is not limited to just the Tri-Lakes region.
Between Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, St. Lawrence and Warren counties, the calendar year 2016-17 (June 1 to June 1) resulted in 52,400 guest arrivals across the eight counties, with a high of 19,800 in Essex County. That's more than a third of the total bookings across the eight counties.
The total is more than four times as many guest arrivals across those same eight counties as in the period from two years prior; 12,400 guests booked in 2014-15.
With Airbnb hotspots in Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Keene, Keene Valley and Wilmington, Essex County's growth to nearly 20,000 arrivals this past year, from 5,000 arrivals in 2014-15, reflects a growth of 296 percent.
Each of the other seven counties in the Adirondack Park has trumped Essex County's percentage growth in that timeframe. Hamilton and Herkimer counties, which had barely any Airbnb listings in 2014-15, have seen guest arrivals via the service explode, albeit largely thanks to smaller sample sizes.
Both Hamilton and Herkimer registered just 100 guest arrivals in 2014-15, compared to 800 and 1,400 this past year - growth of 700 percent and 1,300 percent, respectively.
Franklin County also saw an explosion, jumping 417 percent from 1,200 guest arrivals in 2014-15 to 6,200 this past year.
Airbnb growth in Clinton County was behind Franklin, as guest arrivals there grew 320 percent in that span, from 1,000 in 2014-15 to 4,200 in 2016-17.
In terms of sheer numbers, the county behind Essex was its southeasterly neighbor Warren - home to popular vacation destinations up and down Lake George. Warren County had the second highest number of guest arrivals in 2016-17 at 15,200, a growth of 322 percent from 3,600 in 2014-15.
Warren and Essex counties comprised more than two-thirds of all bookings in the eight-county Adirondack region in 2016-17.
Essex County is also where those renting their homes and properties are making the most money.
In its Adirondack Growth Report, Airbnb said an average group size of three to four people stay for an average of two to three nights across the eight counties, "highlighting how (the) Adirondack Park is attracting families."
In Essex County, that resulted in average earnings of $5,400 per vacation rental listing over the course of 2016-17. Fulton County was next highest at $5,300, followed by Franklin at $5,000, Hamilton at $4,500, Warren at $4,200, Clinton at $3,700, Herkimer at $3,000 and St. Lawrence at $2,800.
"Host payouts in these eight Adirondack Park counties have increased from $1.7 million in 2014-15 to $7.4 million in 2016-17," the report reads, "an increase of 335 percent."
Essex County also led the Adirondacks in total hosts who registered at least one booking in this past calendar year, both in terms of percentage and overall numbers. With 340 booked hosts in 2016-17, Essex had more than a third more booked hosts than any of the other seven counties (Warren was next closest at 250). That reflects a growth of 240 percent for Essex County between 2014-15 and 2016-17 - despite already having the highest number of booked hosts in 2014-15, at 100.
Essex County's percentage growth in booked hosts in that time span, 240 percent, was only eclipsed by Herkimer County, in part due to Herkimer's initial smaller sample size. Herkimer grew from 10 booked hosts in 2014-15 to 45 in 2016-17 (350 percent).
Clinton County saw the next most growth in booked hosts in that span, from 30 to 100 (233 percent), followed by Fulton and St. Lawrence counties, which each grew from 20 to 60 booked hosts, a rate of 200 percent.
Franklin was next at 188 percent growth in that span, from 40 to 115 hosts. Warren was next, growing from 90 hosts to 250 hosts (178 percent), while Hamilton County was last, as it doubled its booked hosts from 10 in 2014-15 to 20 in 2016-17.
These increased numbers mean more revenue in terms of bed (aka occupancy) tax for counties such as Essex and Franklin, which each added vacation rentals to their bed tax laws in 2015. Last summer, each county entered into agreements with Airbnb to have the online service collect taxes from individual listings in each county.
A stipulation remained, though, that Airbnb would not provide the identities of who was paying the local tax.
That missing detail remains something Essex and Franklin counties want to tackle. In conjunction with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism - which is partially funded by the bed tax - the counties are looking into software programs such as STR (Short Term Rental) and Taxcrawler to identify who is paying the tax and who isn't.
Airbnb began collecting the 3 percent occupancy tax on all of its vacation rentals in Essex and Franklin counties last fall, adding in the tax to the final price vacationers pay.
The San Francisco-based service has been around for nearly nine years and claims it operates in 65,000 cities and 192 countries.
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Urban Video Project
Movie Roundup
Alt Theater Guide
Westcott Theater
SubCat Studios
Sound Garden
Scarier Dome
Carolyn Kelly Blues Band
Gear Factory
Manlius Art Cinema
Wampum Beads
Spiotta
Writers Gallery
The 8 Best Salt-City Flicks
A cinematic roundup of movies that showcase Syracuse, its history, and its surroundings.
Words by Madison Flavin
Syracuse lacks the dream-factory studios, the endless parade of A-listers exiting black SUV’s, and those iconic letters announcing “Hollywood” on its hills. But that doesn’t mean the Salt City lacks movie-making mojo. Although its filmmaking economy remains in its infant stage, Syracuse and the surrounding Central New York possess a long list of silver-screen props. “We have a great heritage of movies in Central New York,” says Stuart Lisson, director of electric media at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. “A lot of people don’t realize that.”
Consider the evidence: the first film projection took place in Syracuse in 1896. Edison planned to bring the projector to New York City for its debut, but Eugene Lauste, a former associate of Edison, sidestepped the itinerary and brought the magical moving-pictures machine to Syracuse first. Then there’s the town of Chittenango, the birthplace of Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz. It hosts an annual Oz-Stravaganza! (formerly Oz Fest) that celebrates the 1939 movie classic every June (cue the blue gingham and the red shoes). There’s also Seneca Falls, which claims to be the real-life inspiration for Bedford Falls, the fictional village in Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life. On campus, Syracuse University’s Bird Library houses composer Miklos Rozsa’s Oscar, which he won for his score to 1959’s Ben-Hur.
But Oscars aside, Central New York’s forests, lakes, rolling hills, and valleys, its gritty Rust Belt city scape, and its history provide ample material for cinematic storytellers. So if you want an introduction to the area, start with these eight films. They demonstrate the Salt City and surrounding area’s strengths — quirky characters, a campus filled with history (not all of which is sunny), a passion for sports, and, like all places (even L.A.), some seriously flawed folk.
1. Adult World (2013)
Aspiring poet takes sex-store job, challenges ensue.
Filmed on the Syracuse University campus, Adult World stars Emma Roberts (Scream Queens) and John Cusack (Say Anything) in a coming-of-age drama that demonstrates professors can be seriously messed up. Roberts plays Amy Anderson, a post-collegiate aspiring poet with a job at an adult bookstore. Cusack plays Rat Billings, a poet, college professor, and jerk. The Carrier Dome, Maxwell Auditorium in Maxwell Hall, Phoebe’s Restaurant & Coffee Lounge on East Genesee Street, Recess Coffee, and The Gear Factory all make guest appearances in the film. “It made me feel a sense of pride watching the movie,” says Eric Vinal, Syracuse’s film commissioner. Vinal credits Adult World with changing the game for the Syracuse filmmaking community by spreading positive word-of-mouth about the region.
2. American Dresser (2016)
Two friends, two motorcycles, one soul-cleansing journey.
Easy Rider taught us that two friends on motorcycles with a cross-country quest can illuminate a country’s cultural issues and carry a film project. That same formula is reimagined in this film, which features Keith David (The Princess and the Frog) and Tom Berenger (Platoon) as two life-long friends, who embark on a cross-country motorcycle roadtrip to face their inner demons. The film’s supporting cast includes Harry Dean Stanton (Alien), Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Gina Gershon (Bound), and Penelope Ann Miller (The Artist). “We’re going to make Central New York the new Hollywood,” Berenger told The Post-Standard during the shoot. The production team filmed scenes at the New York State Fairgrounds, during the annual New York State Fair, and at the Ramada Inn at Carrier Circle, Heidi’s Restaurant in Liverpool, Pooch’s Leisure Bar in Solvay, the Geddes Town Hall, the Limp Lizard in Liverpool, and the Crossroads Tavern in Manlius. The production crew became the first to use the new sound studio in Dewitt, and the filming attracted a lot of interest. Locals gathered to watch the day-to-day action on set, and The Post-Standard provided extensive daily coverage. An open casting call sought out people to play character types ranging from “salty old bar patrons” to “motorcycle cops” and “rough-looking truck drivers.” Wayne Goppelt of West Monroe landed a spot. “I’m not worried about getting paid,” Goppelt told The Post-Standard. “It’s just a good time.”
3. Brother’s Keeper (1992)
A sensational murder trial fueled by community, class, fratricide.
Winner of the Audience Award for Documentary at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival, this film by the team of Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (they also directed Paradise Lost together) focuses on the murder trial of Delbert Ward, a milk farmer and one of four functionally illiterate brothers, who was accused of murdering his brother, William. The four brothers shared a shamble of a farmhouse and worked on land that belonged to generations of their family in Munnsville, a town 40 miles from Syracuse. “The strength and the beauty of this film is that the story is told by members of the community. We hang out in kitchens and bedrooms, barns and diners and see for ourselves who these people are,” says Richard Breyer, co-director of the graduate program in documentary film and history at Syracuse University. “Also we are witness to a dramatic trial with characters that could easily be out of a Dostoevsky novel.” The town rallied to support Delbert, but the visiting press put the salacious details of the story on blast (the brothers shared a bed, and semen was found on clothing and on William’s leg) and characterized Delbert as an uneducated hick. “The film certainly illuminates to everyone that there are rich, rich stories within easy reach of campus,” Breyer adds. “It is also noteworthy that a number of persons featured in this documentary are SU alumni.” And if that doesn’t convince you, it earned a 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ tomatometer.
4. Crooked Arrows (2012)
A lacrosse film featuring 350 local Haudenosaunee.
Starring Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) and Gil Birmingham (Twilight), Crooked Arrows chronicles an Onondaga Nation lacrosse team and their coach as they rediscover their spiritual roots on the road to an unexpected state championship. The ensemble features four members of the Onondaga Nation in starring roles as lacrosse players. Though the film was shot in Boston, Syracuse Haudenosaunee community assisted with the movie. The production company hired Neal Powless, director of Syracuse University’s Native Student Program, as a cultural consultant. Powless said the first script was “really culturally insensitive and inappropriate. And that’s putting it nicely.” He helped rewrite a more culturally sensitive script that included nine script overhauls and 12 rewrites. For the state championship game at the end of the film, Powless helped bus 350 Haudenosaunee extras from the Onondaga Nation to Boston. Powless’ work helped earn him the title of co-producer for the film. “Everyone has a gift to share for the betterment of the group,” Powless says.
5. The Express (2008)
A biopic of the first Black Heisman winner.
In the early 1960s, SU football player Ernie Davis became the first Black athlete to win the Heisman Trophy (and joined a long line of outstanding SU athletes to wear the number 44 on their jersey). The sports drama The Express captures Davis’ time at SU and features Rob Brown (Finding Forrester) as Davis and Dennis Quaid (The Rookie) as then-SU football coach Ben Schwartzwalder. The Express filmed on the SU campus for two days. Scenes were shot on the Quad and by the Abraham Lincoln statue in front of Maxwell Hall. The film’s production designers utilized archival footage to recreate Archbold Stadium, where SU football games were played in the early 1960s. SU professors and students served as extras in the film.
6. Impossible Choice (2012)
When love beats bigotry.
Produced, written, and directed by Ronald Marquisee of Cicero, New York., Impossible Choice employs a cast of local actors to tell the story of love’s triumph over bigotry. Over the course of one Central New York summer, two young men, one of them the son of a fundamentalist Christian preacher, fall in love. “For me, the important thing was to carry a whole bunch of messages,” Marquisee says. Most of those messages involve the importance of acceptance and the price of intolerance. For example, the film includes a “play within a movie” when, in one scene, the real-life deaths of gay teens Matthew Shephard and Tyler Clemente are acted out. After years of experience doing industrial video and commercials, Marquisee decided to challenge himself by making a nearly two-hour feature-length film. Having a 60-member cast, all of whom had day jobs, produced its own scheduling challenges, and Marquisee sometimes considered abandoning the project. A lifelong fan of the Erie Canal and co-author of Cruising America’s Waterways: The Erie Canal, Marquisee shot several of the film’s riverboat scenes at various points along the famous canal. He shot one of the film’s smaller scenes involving two street dancers at the gazebo on the shores of Skaneateles Lake.
7. The Lovely Bones (2009)
A candy-hued ghost story.
In 1981, while a freshman at SU, Alice Sebold was raped when walking through Thorden Park. One of the police officers who responded to her crime report called her “lucky” to survive the attack and that became the title of her memoir about the crime. Two decades later, in 2002, Sebold returned to similar territory with The Lovely Bones, a novel about a teenage girl who is raped and murdered. It also explores how her death changes those who loved her. The book became a New York Times bestseller and ultimately an Oscar-nominated film directed by Peter Jackson and starring Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn). In a review of the movie for the New York Times, critic A.O. Scott said that it was “a serial-killer mystery, a teenage melodrama, a domestic tragedy and a candy-hued ghost story — a cinematic version of the old parlor game in which disparate graphic elements are assembled into a single strange picture.” Although inspired by an event that took place in Syracuse, the film includes no shots of the city or Thorden Park. Instead, Chester County, Pennsylvania and New Zealand serve as the setting for the lives of Susie’s grief-stricken family and for her dog-friendly, psychedelic version of heaven.
8. Slap Shot (1977)
Paul Newman plays hockey.
Syracuse loves more sports than basketball, and the proof resides in this cult classic of the sports film genre. This cuss-happy drama stars Paul Newman as the coach of a struggling small-town hockey team that decides to use violence to boost their popularity. The movies features scenes shot at the Onondaga County War Memorial. About 2,500 locals served as extras for those scenes, which mostly consisted of watching the film’s characters fight on ice. “We had arguably one of the greatest actors of all time, playing in one of the greatest sports movies of all time, and part of it was filmed in our building,” Syracuse Crunch president Howard Dolgon told the Post-Standard in 2014.
Lou Magazine by the Multimedia Projects class S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
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Home > PhV > A set of images.
Archibald Burns
Cardinal Beaton's House, the Cowgate, Edinburgh
[Picturesque Bits from Old Edinburgh]
10.6 x 8.5 cm
National Galleries of Scotland
Courtesy of the National Galleries of Scotland, Gift of Mrs. Riddell in memory of Peter Fletcher Riddell 1985 (PGP R 814)
LL/7670
The Cowgate, Edinburgh
Salt print
Timber-fronted houses, Cowgate
Edinburgh City Libraries and Information Services
Library Item, 9541
LL/41024 [Further details available]
Canongate Tolbooth
PhV Archibald Burns
PhV Documentary: 19th Century Architectural Studies
PhV Documentary: 19th Century Documentary Projects
Contents - Themes & Fragments
PhV Architecture - Archibald Burns: Edinburgh
PhV Cityscapes - Urban - Archibald Burns: Edinburgh
PhV Cityscapes - Urban - Early examples of using photography to provide a social commentary
PhV Documentary - Archibald Burns: Edinburgh
PhV Documentary - Documentary photography
PhV Documentary - Early examples of using photography to provide a social commentary
PhV Early social commentary - Archibald Burns: Edinburgh
PhV Early social commentary - Early examples of using photography to provide a social commentary
PhV Housing conditions - Archibald Burns: Edinburgh
PhV Scotland - Archibald Burns: Edinburgh
PhV Scotland - Introduction to photography in Scotland
PhV Scotland - Scotland: Edinburgh
PhV Urban life - Archibald Burns: Edinburgh
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Robert Morales on the team's relentless drive toward an NBA championship
Tag Archives: Chris Paul
Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts praises wherewithal of Clippers
Posted on April 30, 2016 by Robert Morales
Austin Rivers had his left eye nearly shut from an errant elbow from Portland’s Al-Farouq Aminu in Saturday’s Game 6 at Moda Center in Portland. Rivers took 11 stitches/AP photo by Craig Mitchelldyer
Coach Terry Stotts’ Portland Trail Blazers had just eliminated the Clippers with a 106-103 victory in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series Friday at Moda Center. Portland won 4-2.
The first question him came from a reporter who wanted to know what Stotts thought about the Clippers’ heart. After all, not only were the Clippers without Chris Paul and Blake Griffin – their two best players – Austin Rivers took an elbow to his left eye in the first quarter. Rivers took 11 stitches, came back and finished with 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
Indeed, Stotts was impressed.
“Well, I’m glad you brought that up,” Stotts said. “I want to congratulate the Clippers and Doc (Rivers). Obviously, the injuries that they had was a setback, but they really competed hard.”
Stotts said he was disappointed that Paul and Griffin didn’t get to finish the series, both of them going down in Game 4.
“Obviously, they had championship aspirations and they weren’t playing at full strength, so I really admire what they were able to do,” he said. “We knew they were going to play hard, we knew they were gong to compete and they did, so I’m thrilled with the win. But my hat’s off to them.”
Doc Rivers, who just finished his third season as head coach of the Clippers, won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008. But he said he has never felt better about a team than he does this one.
“No, I told them, I’ve been around a long time,” he said. “What I loved about this group is they didn’t care. They never looked for an excuse, they never … you know, guys didn’t play. Blake went out, CP (Paul) went out. I mean, they never doubted it. They believed they could do it.
“Obviously, they didn’t. But, man, that team had more heart than any team I’ve ever seen. It was amazing to coach them.”
Posted in Results | Tagged Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Terry Stotts | 4 Replies
Five things to take from Clippers’ 106-103 Game 6 loss at Portland
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan reacts after the Clippers’ Game 6 loss at Portland, which ended the Clippers’ season/AP photo by Craig Mitchelldyer
– Austin Rivers showed about as much heart as a player can show in this loss that eliminated the Clippers from the playoffs, Portland winning the first-round series 4-2. Rivers had his left eye nearly destroyed by an errant elbow from Portland’s Al-Farouq Aminu with 6:46 left in the first quarter. Rivers was a bloody mess. At that point, Rivers had five points. He took 11 stitches, came back at 5:03 of the second quarter and finished with 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
– Sixth-man Jamal Crawford scored a game-high 32 points. But he shot just 1 of 9 in the fourth quarter to finish 10 of 25 from the field. Considering he played 38 1/2 minutes, it was still a gutty performance by the 36-year-old Crawford.
– As a team, the Clippers were a tough group. Keep in mind that both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin – their two best players – were not on the floor for the second consecutive game. Paul fractured the third metacarpal in his right hand in Game 4 at Portland and Griffin’s partially torn quad tendon began acting up in the same game.
– DeAndre Jordan pulled down 20 rebounds. He is the first player to have at least 15 rebounds in five consecutive playoff games since San Antonio’s Tim Duncan did it in 2008 against the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. Jordan had 18, 16, 15, 17 and 20 rebounds over the last five games of the six-game series.
– What this loss means is that the Clippers will go another season without advancing to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history. That dates back to the 1970-71 season when the team was the Buffalo Braves.
Posted in Results | Tagged Austin Rivers, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers | Leave a reply
Jamal Crawford’s 22 points have Clippers within two points at halftime of Game 6 in Portland
Jamal Crawford/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers
Missing Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Clippers did very well to trail the Trail Blazers by just 50-48 at halftime of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night at Moda Center in Portland.
Not only are the Clippers without their two best players, guard Austin Rivers took a vicious elbow to his left eye from Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu with 6:46 left in the first quarter. Rivers suffered gashes over and below his eye and took stitches in both areas. He returned with 5:03 to play in the second quarter.
Clippers sixth-man Jamal Crawford led all scorers with 22 first-half points. Jeff Green, who started at one of the forward spots, scored eight.
Portland guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum scored 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Paul is out with a fractured third metacarpal in his right hand. Griffin is out with a partially torn left quad tendon.
The Trail Blazers led the series 3-2.
Posted in Results | Tagged Al-Farouq Aminu, Austin Rivers, Blake Griffin, C.J. McCollum, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers | 2 Replies
Austin Rivers cut over and below left eye after taking elbow from Portland’s Al-Farouq Aminu
Austin Rivers/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers
As if things weren’t bad enough for the depleted Clippers, guard Austin Rivers went down in heap with 6:46 left in the first quarter of Game 6 on Friday when he took caught a vicious right elbow to his left eye delivered by Portland forward Al-Farouq Aminu.
Rivers was down for several minutes, bleeding profusely. He eventually got to his feet and was escorted to the locker room.
Rivers was replaced by Pablo Prigioni. Rivers took stitches above and below the eye and was considered probable to return, according to the Clippers.
The Clippers are already missing point guard Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to injury.
Posted in Results | Tagged Al-Farouq Aminu, Austin Rivers, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers | Leave a reply
Doc Rivers praises Trail Blazers for their play through five games
Doc Rivers shouts a a referee during in game against Golden State in February at Staples Center/AP file photo by Danny Moloshok
When the Clippers looked good in taking a 2-0 lead over Portland with victories in Games 1 and 2 at Staples Center, the word “sweep” became the first-round series buzz word. Considering the Clippers were 24 games over .500 (53-29) during the regular while Portland was just six (44-38), it was understandable.
When the series shifted to Moda Center in Portland, the Trail Blazers defeated the Clippers in Game 3 with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul still playing, and they were leading the Clippers in Game 4 ahead of Paul’s injury in the third quarter and Griffin’s in the fourth on their way to tying the series 2-2.
Rivers gives the Trail Blazers a tip-of-the-cap for playing better than many might have thought they would.
“I think they have played wonderfully,” said Rivers, whose team lost Game 5 on Wednesday at Staples Center with Paul and Griffin on the shelf to fall behind 3-2. “I think they have played better defense than they did in the regular season, for sure. Offensively, they really haven’t played great, but they haven’t had to. We haven’t played great offense, but a lot of that is because of their defense, so you have to give them credit.”
Portland allowed 104.3 points during the season, 20th in the NBA. Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts intimated it’s been about focus.
“I think everybody’s really locked in,” he said before Game 6 at Moda Center. “We’re more consistent. We haven’t had a lot of areas where for two, three, four minutes we had a lot of letdowns.”
Posted in Results | Tagged Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Terry Stotts | Leave a reply
Clippers coach Doc Rivers jokes about Blake Griffin’s PRP injection: ‘We took Advil’
Blake Griffin/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers
While Chris Paul (fractured hand) was on the bench helping Doc Rivers coach the team during its 108-98 Game 5 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday at Staples Center, Blake Griffin (partially torn left quad tendon) was in another part of the arena taking in the game. Griffin was spotted afterward on crutches slowly making his way through the hallway near the Clippers’ locker room.
It turns out Griffin had a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection, a popular procedure often used by NBA players to speed up recovery. The injection is made into the injury.
Rivers, a former player, joked about it post-game.
“Yeah, whatever that stuff is, yeah,” he said. “We took Advil. We didn’t have the stuff they have now.”
Game 6 is Friday night at Moda Center in Portland. The Trail Blazers are up 3-2.
Posted in Results | Tagged Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers | Leave a reply
Tweets by @RMoralesPT
zarif on Blake Griffin trying to figure out what it all means in Western Conference standings
Boston BOS on Jamal Crawford’s 22 points have Clippers within two points at halftime of Game 6 in Portland
Boston BOS on Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts praises wherewithal of Clippers
Carngo on Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts praises wherewithal of Clippers
Sergii lominov on Courageous Austin Rivers might now be looking at sweet payday
Courageous Austin Rivers might now be looking at sweet payday
Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan has been a demon on the boards
Doc Rivers, on trying to win Game 6 at Portland: ‘It is daunting …’
J.J. Redick: Clippers must ‘figure out’ way to win Game 6 at Portland
Five things to take from Clippers’ 108-98 loss to the Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard’s big fourth quarter helped seal Clippers’ fate
Clippers coach Doc Rivers would love to be able to lean on his mom
DeAndre Jordan, J.J. Redick help depleted Clippers to 50-45 halftime lead over Blazers in Game 5
Don’t expect Trail Blazers to exhale with Clippers’ stars unable to play
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Arabs Rise for Rights, Armed Conflicts, Democracy, Featured, Global Geopolitics, Global Governance, Headlines, Human Rights, IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse, Middle East & North Africa, North America, Peace, TerraViva United Nations
Fractured Opposition Could Derail Syria Talks
By Jim Lobe Reprint | | Print |
The Syrian independence flag flies over a large gathering of protesters in Idlib. Credit: Freedom House/cc by 2.0
WASHINGTON, Oct 18 2013 (IPS) - Despite U.S. and Western pressure on the opposition to take part in U.N.-sponsored talks aimed at halting the two-and-a-half-year-old Syrian civil war, most experts here believe the rebels are unlikely to show up any time soon. And even if they do, the results will be unlikely to change much of anything on the ground.
The so-called “Geneva 2” negotiations, which are aimed at reaching an agreement on a political transition to eventually replace President Bashar Al-Assad, are supposed to take place toward the end of next month.
“Today, Geneva 2 is a figleaf designed to conceal the fact that most Western countries are coming to the conclusion that they don’t want to see any side win." -- Joshua Landis
But analysts here believe the disarray within the opposition and its increasingly apparent inability to represent rebel factions — particularly radical Islamist factions, two of the most prominent of which are linked to Al-Qaeda and have always rejected international negotiations designed to end the conflict — that are leading the actual fighting on the ground could make the conference irrelevant, if it indeed takes place.
“More and more, the armed groups on the ground are renouncing ties to the political opposition and are explicitly opposed to a Geneva conference,” Mona Yacoubian, a Middle East specialist at the Stimson Centre, told IPS here.
“It’s very difficult to assert that holding it within the next six weeks is a realistic alternative, but it’s also a very important goal to work toward, understanding that there really are no appealing alternatives in the face of a situation on the ground that continues to get worse,” she said.
Indeed, with well over 100,000 people estimated to have been killed and another two million who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, the increasingly sectarian conflict in Syria appears more and more intractable, even as the Assad government appears to be cooperating with U.N. efforts that got underway last month to destroy its formidable chemical arsenal.
“We are at a stalemate, and anybody who looks at this objectively today sees that Syria is being effectively partitioned,” according to Joshua Landis, a Syria expert at the University of Oklahoma and publisher of the widely read Syria Comment blog.
Grief Veils Eid for Syrian Refugees
U.N. Chief Hopes to make Headway with Special Coordinator for Syria
Syrians Struggle with a Life of Sorts
While Assad continues to rule over the western and southern half of the country, the north and east are being run by various rebel militias – some of which find themselves increasingly in conflict with each other.
Kurdish militias have gained control of the country’s northeastern corner, although recent clashes between them and radical Islamist factions – many of them dominated by foreign fighters – have sent thousands of refugees over the border to Iraqi Kurdistan.
“Today, Geneva 2 is a figleaf designed to conceal the fact that most Western countries are coming to the conclusion that they don’t want to see any side win,” Landis told IPS. “And, rather than say we don’t want to see a winner, they’re looking for a political solution, but that will be extremely difficult to broker.”
Syria’s deputy prime minister, Qadri Jamil, said Thursday during a visit to Moscow that the talks should take place Nov. 23-24, but his Russian hosts, who, along with Washington, have been pushing hard for the conference to take place, declined to endorse those dates.
Echoing Landis, Jamil, who, despite his government post, has insisted he will take part in negotiations as part of the opposition, stressed that the conflict has reached a “military and political dead end.” The negotiations, he said, offered a “way out for everyone: the Americans, Russia, the Syrian regime and the opposition.”
Opposition backers in the region – most importantly, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar — had hoped that a chemical attack against rebel positions in suburban Damascus that Washington claimed killed more than 1,400 people would trigger a U.S. and Western military intervention that would shift the balance of power on the battlefield decisively in the rebels’ favour.
But when that failed to materialise – due both to the clear reluctance of President Barack Obama to involve the U.S. in yet another Middle Eastern civil war and unexpectedly strong public opposition, as well as the 11th-hour agreement between the U.S. and Russia, Assad’s most important external backer, on a U.N. plan to dismantle Damascus’ chemical arsenal – those hopes evaporated.
Indeed, by recognising and even praising Assad’s cooperation in dismantling his weapons, the U.S. appears to have boosted the Syrian president’s diplomatic position even as it continues to insist publicly that his replacement by a transitional government with full executive powers remains the goal of the Geneva negotiations.
But, according to a new report released Thursday by the International Crisis Group (ICG), the most credible political opposition that could take part in the talks, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, lacks sufficient influence inside Syria to truly represent the various rebel factions, including even those who are not tied to Al-Qaeda.
Described by the ICG as a “hodgepodge of exiles, intellectuals and secular dissidents bereft of a genuine political constituency, as well as Muslim Brothers geographically detached from their natural base,” the Coalition, like its regional backers, had relied heavily on Western military intervention similar to that which eventually overthrew the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.
But “(f)or the Obama administration, such direct military intervention never appears truly to have been in the cards,” according to the report. “Instead it saw the priority as getting the opposition to unite and present a more broadly appealing vision of the post-Assad future.”
“In contrast, the opposition saw value in those tasks … only insofar as they were accompanied by substantially more Western support. Washington waited for the opposition to improve itself; the opposition waited for Washington to empower it. Both shared the goal of a Syria without Assad, but neither developed a strategy to achieve the goal that took account of the other’s constraints, triggering a cycle of frustration and mistrust that discredited the political opposition and Western governments alike in the eyes of the uprising’s rank and file.”
Even more damaging, according to the report, has been the lack of coordination among its regional supporters which in turn helped spur the rise of extremist groups – most of them financed by private funding from the Gulf states — within the rebel ranks. The Supreme Military Council (SMC), which is represented in the Coalition and has become the recipient of most humanitarian and military aid and training provided by Western countries, including the U.S., “enjoys scant leverage on the ground,” according to the report.
Instead of creating a new group, however, the Coalition’s foreign backers should urgently improve their coordination, especially on the military front; press Gulf states and Turkey to curb private support for radical groups; and urge the Coalition to focus more on providing basic services and strengthening activist networks in rebel-held areas — in part to better challenge and confront jihadi groups – and on “reaching internal consensus on workable negotiation parameters” for the Geneva track which “remains the best hope for ending the war.”
“I assume Assad will send someone to Geneva, and the Coalition will, too, because no one wants America to blame them for boycotting,” Landis said. “But it will all be a fig leaf for what is becoming the de facto partition of Syria, because that’s what’s happening on the ground.”
Jim Lobe’s blog on U.S. foreign policy can be read at Lobelog.com.
Syrian National Coalition
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Vikings Reveal Stadium Design
Daniel House gives you the specifications and takes a look inside the new Minnesota Vikings stadium design.
How can we not be excited for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium that is set to open in 2016? On Monday evening HKS and Mortenson construction unveiled their plans for the new stadium. The stadium shaped like a Vikings ship, gives a nostalgic feel to a storied franchise. The endzone includes glass doors that open and close for exposure to the Twin Cities skyline. The concourses will be roughly 48 feet wide and include 1,200 HD TV's throughout the stadium. One of the main issues at the Metrodome was you could never leave the game to use the restroom or you would miss a critical play. Now that problem is resolved and provides fans with an addition to their game day experience. The stadium will hold 65,000 seats, including some of the closest seating views in the NFL. It also will be expandable to 73,000 seats for a Super Bowl. The roof will be fixed, but includes a ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof that will provide light into the stadium. It is the largest glass roof in the world and will connect fans to the beautiful city of Minneapolis. The endzone areas will include some of the largest HD video boards in the NFL and will bring in-game highlights to a new level. The stadium will also be a multi-purpose building and will provide jobs and revenue to the state. The stadium has the capability to host more events than any other large stadium in the world, including NFL football and a Super Bowl, MLS soccer, NCAA basketball and baseball, high school sporting events, motocross, concerts, conventions, marching band competitions. In turn bringing exposure to the city and tourism to Minnesota.
How will the new stadium effect fans who currently are season ticket holders? There really will be no change if you keep your season tickets through the Vikings quest to TCF Bank Stadium in 2014 and 2015. The Vikings have said they will attempt to place season ticket owners in a seat relative to their location at Mall of America Field. The main question mark will be the pricing of a stadium with 7 levels and 2 general admission areas with some of the best views in the NFL. The Vikings discussed a Stadium Builder's License (SBL) to help fund some of the additional construction costs of the project. This would significantly raise the price for season ticket holders and would result in a one-time fee ranging from $8,000 to $32,000 pet seat. The Vikings would lose fans if this were to happen and most of the seats would be corporate business purchases. The Vikings sent an email in December educating fans about SBL's and received a less than pretty reception. We haven't heard much about this topic and won't likely be informed until the end of the 2013 season, when prices for all sections are released. I wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings announced the decision, but the SBL pricing would be reflected in some of the box and luxury suites. This would provide the common fan with affordability to attend a game at the new stadium.
It certainly will be interesting to see state of the art construction in the Twin Cities area. With Target Field, TCF Bank Stadium, and Siebert Field already in the metro area, the state of Minnesota will have some of the best facilities in the nation. Naming rights are currently being discussed and fans are really hoping that the stadium is named after storied former head coach, Bud Grant. TwinCities.com's Charley Walters recently reported that 3M was the "front-runner" to be the naming rights holder of the stadium. The dream name being discussed by fans is Bud Grant Field by 3M. The Vikings want fans to have an active role in the process of building the facility and will definitely be hearing the voices of fans asking for Bud Grant's name to be placed on the world class facility.
You can feel the positivity buzzing throughout Vikings fans and certainly among those close to the organization. I can wait to the feel the chill of the team taking the field for the first time at the world class stadium. Pride will be flowing and a much needed blend of football and a state of the art facility will be brought to Minnesota once and for all.
Is it 2016 yet?
Posted by Daniel House at 5:47 PM
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Bionic Heart
Tycoon Games 2009
This title is a combination of visual novel and classic adventure game set in a sci-fi future. It features 24 possible endings, fully voiced characters, and a manga art style. London, 2099. The earth isn't what it used to be anymore. Incredible climate changes have corrupted the weather, causing a permanent rain on most of the Earth's surface. You play the role of Luke Black, a 36-year-old bio-informatic engineer. He is one of the lead programmers at Nanotech, a big nanotechnology research company. But one night, his life is changed forever when he encounters Tanya. Who is she? What does she wants from Luke? Purchase the full version to see all 24 different endings and explore all the possible paths! It's a truly dynamic adventure that will keep you entertained for hours. The game is fully voiced and features beautiful manga art, brilliant dialogue and character relationship that will change the final outcome of the game.
Screenshots Level Demo 185MB (uploaded by Itch.io)
Full Demo 173MB (uploaded by scaryfun)
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The Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Exemptions for Disabled Persons) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002
This Scottish Statutory Instrument has been made in consequence of a defect in S.S.I. 2002/450 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that instrument.
The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 124 of, and paragraphs 21, 22(1)(d), and 25 of Part III of Schedule 9 to, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(1) (“the 1984 Act”), as read with section 22 of the 1984 Act and section 21(1)(b) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970(2) and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, and after consultation with representative organisations in accordance with section 134(2) of the 1984 Act, hereby make the following Regulations:
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Exemptions for Disabled Persons) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 and shall come into force on 15th January 2003.
Amendment of the 2002 Regulations
2. The Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Exemptions for Disabled Persons) (Scotland) Regulations 2002(3) shall be amended as follows:–
(a)In regulation 6 the number “6,” where it appears after “under section 1,” shall be omitted;
(b)In regulation 7 the number “6,” where it appears after “under section 1,” shall be omitted.
LEWIS MACDONALD
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, amend the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Exemptions for Disabled Persons) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 by omitting the references contained in regulations 6 and 7 to section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
1984 c. 27; paragraph 21 of Schedule 9 was amended by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22), Schedule 8, paragraph 80(4); paragraph 25 of Schedule 9 was amended by the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54), Schedule 9, paragraph 93(45)(b) and by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Schedule 8, paragraph 80(6). The functions of the Secretary of State were transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46).
1970 c. 44; section 21(1)(b) was amended by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27), Schedule 13, paragraph 11.
S.S.I. 2002/450.
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Tag Archives: book of strange new things
Folio Season #12: Swift, Flanagan, Faber, Harvey, Self
England and Other Stories – Graham Swift (Simon & Schuster UK)
It’s good to see an established author do something new, and for a writer who claims never to have written short stories until fairly recently, this is an impressive first foray for Swift, scalewise anyway: there are 25 stories here, as though the floodgates have opened. For the most part these are very short, low-key character-centric pieces; if there aren’t Joycean epiphanies, these stories generally involve some shift in their central character or narrator’s state of mind, a reassessment of their priorities or assumptions; the gnomic titles (‘People Are Life’, ‘Remember This’, ‘Was She The Only One?’) indicate a general tone of wistfulness and uncertainty. A man who writes his wife a love letter after they’ve made their first will together will come to regard the letter with shifting emotions as the years pass; a man conducts a secret affair with his best friend’s wife; the death of a fork-lift driver prompts his friends to consider the meaning of the word “tragedy”. There’s a pleasing interest in work: barbers, coastguards and windowcleaners are among the characters here, too, and their occupations are more than just set-dressing – the way the barber of ‘People Are Life’ interacts with a bereaved client is the story, for instance.
You have the sense, perhaps because of their brevity, that most of these arrived fully formed in Swift’s mind and are here on the page relatively unmediated. Maybe that’s unfair, but it means that there is a winning freshness to most of them, even if one or two (the account of a schoolboy’s seduction by a peer’s mother in ‘The Best Days’, for instance) seem a little pat. Only a pair of historical stories – one set in Victorian times, the other in 1649 – are the odd ones out here, and could, I feel, have been excised.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Richard Flanagan (Knopf US)
I predicted that this would win last year’s Man Booker, despite not having read it at that point; the description of a serious literary novel that mixed history, war and poetry seemed a pretty safe bet, even on a strong longlist. Sometimes I wish I bet on literary prizes; other times, I wish I got round to reading important books sooner. This is a terrific, troubling book, set around the experiences of Australian surgeon Dorrigo Evans in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in 1943. With Evans’s fellow Australian prisoners weakening and dying, despite his efforts to minister to their appalling wounds, the Japanese still demand hundreds of men to build the rail route from Thailand to Burma that will become known as the ‘death railway’. Evans’s story is just one of those Flanagan tells: we also see into the lives of those Evans left behind, his fellow prisoners and the prison guards, before and after the war, all their hopes and fates rendered in a prose that’s lush and descriptive without being overweening; when it comes to the scenes in the camp, with its rivalries, punishments, desperate attempts to save lives and unsparing descriptions of death, dying and torture, the prose tends towards straightforward descriptions, brutal and direct – this is one of a couple of books on this list packed with almost unreadable violence (and it’s more powerful than the horrors of James Ellroy’s Perfidia, as it’s based on real events and accounts) – and there’s a great melancholy even after the survivors return to civilian life, leavened with tiny moments of beauty and transcendence; in the camps themselves, an artist prisoner, perhaps based on Ronald Searle, makes beautiful drawings of the horrors he’s seen. This is a deserving prizewinner, one I’m slightly surprised not to see on the Folio shortlist: a terrific book which will stand out in my memory for a long time.
The Book of Strange New Things – Michel Faber (Hogarth US)
Peter Leigh, pastor turned missionary, is on his way to spread the word of Christ to the most remote people in existence: an alien race living on a distant planet nicknamed Oasis. The Oasans are a simple people whose agricultural skills supply the human visitors to their planet with plentiful foodstuff; in return they ask for two things from the Earthmen: medication, of any kind, and a preacher to tell them more about the Bible – or, as they call it, The Book of Strange New Things. Reminiscent of Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow, in which a religious mission to a distant planet goes bizarrely wrong, Faber’s book is at once less eventful and much odder. Peter, unique among the human beings sent to Oasis by the mysterious USIC corporation, is not single: his wife, Bea, remains on Earth, where in the months Peter is away, life gets exponentially worse: natural disasters, food shortages, riots and economic collapse speed across the planet with startling swiftness; initially pining for his return, she starts to warn him he should stay away. This is no hardship for Peter, finding the most rewarding challenge of his life in preaching to the Oasans, whose meekness, simplicity of desires and hunger for biblical stories seems certain – to the reader, anyway – to mask some unpleasant secrets; but the aliens’ real secret will prove to be an assumption in which Peter realises he has been unwittingly complicit. Peter, a former alcoholic and drug addict turned reformed character, is still prey to the unthinking selfishness of his former life; his piety and his deep religiosity are so believable, however, that I found references to his criminal past unconvincing, even if Bea, present in the text mostly through the email-like correspondence she sends Peter, is plausibly a woman who could have helped save Peter. There are several SF-inflected books on the Folio list; perhaps because Faber has, all through his career, written books which straddle the literary and the genre (from his Victorian pastiche The Crimson Petal and the White to his SF novel Under the Skin), this is by far the most accomplished and interesting, the SF elements (weird languages, flora and fauna) balancing the religious material. One very minor quibble: the slightly odd transatlantic tone that both the book and its characters utilise (Faber uses the word “stonkingly” but Peter doesn’t know what “a lush” is) doesn’t always ring true. But this is a fresh and rewarding book, and an almost purely pleasurable reading experience.
Dear Thief – Samantha Harvey (Atavist US)
Samantha Harvey’s third book is an epistolary novel, in the sense that it’s presented as a single letter from its narrator to Nina, sometimes called Butterfly, the ‘thief’ of the title. Exactly what Nina has stolen will become clear as this stately-paced, beautifully written but ultimately, I felt, rather cold novel unfolds. With Nina robbed of her right to reply, all the reader has to go on is the onesided description of her from a narrator who’s at once furious with her and still entranced by her after a friendship spanning three decades has collapsed. Nina is intriguing, beautiful, mercurial, and also a drug user, albeit of a uniquely considerate kind (she locks away the paraphernalia of her heroin use so that the narrator’s young son won’t find it). She’s also ruthless, and in a book like this – a descendant of what used to be called the Hampstead Novel, in which the middle-class nuclear family is the assumed default and the striven-for ideal – it’s predictable from early on that the most catastrophic thing for Nina to steal is the heart of Nicolas, the narrator’s partner: coming into their lives, she forms a triangle among the adults, and our narrator finds herself on the far vertex of this shap, abandoned and bitter. While the ultimate shape of the novel is not entirely surprising – that no clear resolution is reached, the ending involving instead a kind of suspended wistfulness, is par for the course – it’s the set pieces along the way that are memorable and fascinating: as the narrator’s grandmother dies, she herself out on the far reaches of the Thames finding a stack of old bones; one day, a freak atmospheric effect makes of the landscape a kind of gold-glowing hallucinatory fog in which the characters move semi-obscured. It’s much less calculatedly “literary writing” than in Harvey’s debut The Wilderness, which I wrote about many years ago; sometimes the effects here are rather obvious, and there’s a certain po-facedness to the whole novel, but the quality of the writing and the depiction of female friendship lift this well above the average.
Shark – Will Self (Grove Press US)
Speed-reading somewhat through the back half of Shark, the second in (heaven help us) a “loose trilogy” of modernist novels by Will Self themed around experimental psychiatry, psychological disorder and the state of Britain in the twentieth century, I started to wonder not quite what the point of this project was (as I had while reading its precursor, Umbrella, in 2012), but exactly how Self wants it to be read. There are, as with Umbrella, no chapters or paragraph breaks, and the narrative moves, as it were, into and out of the voice and mind of its main characters, moving from one POV to another quite far removed without so much as a line break to indicate the transition. The tentpole characters here are psychiatrist Zack Busner, two former soldiers named De’Ath, descendents of Umbrella’s Audrey De’Ath, and Genie, sometimes Jeanie, a 1970s… hippy chick. The effect is dreamlike and hallucinatory, with equal emphasis on very precise detail, typically intricate wordplay and punnery, and sweeping narration. Is the reader, as I found myself doing, meant to move his eye across the page and just let these leaps and surges of narration carry him along? There’s plenty to enjoy here; nominally, the book gets its title both from the film Jaws and an real-life incident in World War II where a shipful of soldiers on the bombed warship Indianapolis is massacred by a vast gathering of sharks; drawn into these large-scale symbols are the characters’ other experiences and preoccupations: Jeannie’s caesarean section is intermingled with an autopsy related from the fiction of Jaws, for instance. In the end, this book – like Umbrella – left me rather cold: I can appreciate the massive intellectual effort that’s gone into not just one but two, soon three, such books, but as to why a writer as articulate and adept as Self has embarked on this project a hundred or so years after modernism’s imperial phase (like at least one other modernist text from the twentieth century, it’s circular, its final sentence fragment feeding into its opening line) remains a little baffling. Nonplussed by that, I suppose one has to take Shark on its own merits, in which case it’s diverting and never less than engaging, if often problematic: the female characters, including the rather hopeless Jeanie and her abusive alcoholic, nymphomaniac Mumsie, are not Self’s most convincing or rounded creations. I hadn’t intended to read Shark until it came up on this list; having finished it, I can’t say I’m much bothered about reading the third instalment when it comes round.
73 books down, 7 to go, and 10 days until the prize is announced. I’m going to make it! Next week, in the final roundup before the prize is announced on 22nd March — well, you can see from the list below what’s still outstanding: Sarah Waters, Kamila Shamsie, Smith Henderson and more.
This entry was posted in Books, Folio Season and tagged book of strange new things, dear thief, england and other stories, folio 2015, folio prize, graham swift, incarnations, michel faber, narrow reoad to the deep north, richard flanagan, samantha harvey, shark, shark self, susan barker, swift england, will self on 13 March, 2015 by admin.
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Sarah Peterson - Registrar
Sarah Peterson serves as Registrar. Sarah is a school psychologist in Unit 5 serving NCHS. She is married to Eric Peterson who is head coach for the Varsity Sharks and is a professor at ISU. She is mom to Aidan and Morgan as well as two dogs: a basset hound and a boxer/pointer mix.
Dave Cheley - Ice Comissioner
Dave has been on the board since 2017-2018. Dave is a Level 3 USA Hockey certified coach and has been coaching youth hockey at the Pepsi Ice Center for many years. He is from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada and learned to play hockey on the Northern Ontario ponds and open air rinks up north. He’s played hockey through high-school and into men’s league programs for many years.
In addition to coaching hockey, Dave is a Boy Scout Leader and volunteers at many school functions. Dave has been a private pilot for many years and enjoys fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities.
His son Tyler (14), hopes to be a future Shark. His wife (Pam) works at State Farm and is also involved in many of the same activities as Dave.
With his experience in hockey, business and many other activities, Dave has been a valuable contributor to MCYHA. He continues to help build the Sharks organization in the years to come.
Erika Cheeseman - Secretary
Erika Cheeseman on the MCYHA board for the 2017-18 season and serves as Secretary. Erika is an Elementary Program Reading Aide for the Olympia School District and the only female of an all boy family. Her husband, Scott, has been a Bloomington Fire Fighter for the past 18 years and a volunteer firefighter for Danvers for the past 20 years. Two of her sons Kyle Cheeseman and Jake Cheeseman have played for the Shark. Jake plans to continue playing for the Sharks while attending University High School. Erika's oldest son, Cody, is in the paramedics program at ICC and will move onto Fire Science after receiving his paramedics license.
Patrick Mahoney - Member at Large
Patrick continues to work with our MCYHA families and extended hockey community. He is originally from Manito, IL. Patrick played high school hockey in Pekin, IL and went on to play amateur hockey for the Pekin Stars. In college he played varsity hockey at Illinois State University and was captain of the team his senior year. "I have a passion and energy for the game of hockey and continue to play in various men's leagues. Over the last ten years, I have coached Mini Mite, Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam house teams. I was fortunate to be named the Emil Ludy Bloomington Youth Hockey Coach of the Year in 2008/2009. I'm also a USA Hockey Level IV CEP certified coach."
My wife's name is Suzy "Mrs. Coach" and we have three children - Kyle Spencer (20), Peyton (15) and Reese Mahoney (14). I'm very involved in supporting my family. Peyton is involved in Boy Scouts and baseball and Reese is involved in piano and sewing when they are not playing the great sport of hockey.
In our MCYHA Program, I plan to focus on:
* Player and coaching development
* Parent support and engagement
* Partnership with our board in executing our mission statement
* Developing MCYHA into an elite high school hockey program
Chad Sailer - Vice President
Chad has been involved in the Bloomington Youth Hockey program as a coach for the house league since 2008. He has enjoyed his time as a volunteer for the program and has been very impressed with the skills his kids have learned because of the program and volunteers involved. His goal is to try and continue to provide hockey opportunities to kids at an affordable cost and ensure a similar program exists after Bantams. The expectations he shares with his teams include respect, working hard, and having fun. He's been responsible for developing practice plans for the house league and was voted coach of the year in 2016. Chad is hoping his oldest son will have the opportunity to play for the Sharks in 2020.
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Sulchek, Todd
Todd Sulchek Professor Bioengineering
IBB Building, Room 2309
todd.sulchek@me.gatech.edu
http://www.me.gatech.edu/sulchekBBL/
Ph.D. (Applied Physics), Stanford University, 2002
M.S. (Applied Physics), Stanford University, 2000
B.A. (Physics and Mathematics), Johns Hopkins University, 1996
Dr. Sulchek developed improvements for high-speed atomic force microscopy before focusing on measurement in biological systems. Dr. Sulchek started at Georgia Tech in June 2008 as an Assistant Professor. Prior to his current appointment, he was a staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. He was promoted to full Professor in 2019.
Bioengineering and Micro and Nano Engineering: Atomic force microscopy, pathogen adhesion and endocytosis, cell biomechanics, single molecule biophysics, drug delivery and targeting, cell membrane mimetics, biosensors
Dr. Sulchek's research focuses primarily on the measurement and prediction of how multiple individual biological bonds produce a coordinated function within molecular and cellular systems. There are two complementary goals. The first is to understand the kinetics of multivalent pharmaceuticals during their targeting of disease markers; the second is to quantify the host cell signal transduction resulting from pathogen invasion. Several tools are developed and employed to accomplish these goals. The primary platform for study is the atomic force microscope (AFM), which controls the 3-D positioning of biologically functionalized micro- and nanoscale mechanical probes. Interactions between biological molecules are quantified in a technique called force spectroscopy. Membrane protein solubilized nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) are also used to functionalize micro/nano-scale probes with relevant biological mediators. This scientific program requires the development of enabling instrumentation and techniques, which include the following:
Advanced microscopy and MEMs;
Nanomechanical linkers, which provide a convenient platform to control biomolecular interactions and study multivalent molecular kinetics;
Biological mimetics, which provide a simple system to study cell membranes and pathogens.
Ultimately, this work is used to optimize molecular drug targeting, improve chem/bio sensors, and develop more efficient pathogen countermeasures. Dr. Sulchek continues to work closely with talented researchers across disciplines at Lawrence Livermore National Lab and other institutions. Students will be trained in areas of bio/nanotechnology with applications in cutting edge academic, government, and corporate research centers.
Figure 1: Visualization of force microscopy measurement of several antibody fragments used in cancer therapies that are attached to the AFM tip. They are depicted unbinding from cancer-indicating protein targets immobilized upon a flat surface with the application of a picoscale force.
National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2011
Lawrence Livermore National Lab
Excellence in iPublication Award, 2006
Physical Biosciences Fellow, 2003-2006
Consultant for Project Impact, in making affordable intraocular lenses, 2004-2005
C. Blanchette, et al. 2008. Quantifying Size Distributions of Nanolipoprotein Particles (NLPs) with Single Particle Analysis and Molecular Dynamic (MD) Simulations. Journal of Lipid Research 49, 1420.
T. Sulchek, R.W. Friddle, and A. Noy. 2006. Strength of Multiple Parallel Biological Bonds. Biophysical Journal 90, 4686.
T. Sulchek, et al. 2005. Dynamic Force Spectroscopy of Parallel Individual Mucin1-Antibody Bonds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 102, 16638.
L. A. Pinnaduwage, et al. 2003. A Microsensor for Trinitrotoluene Vapour. Nature 425, 474.
T. Sulchek, et al. 2000. High-Speed Tapping Mode Imaging with Active Q Control for Atomic Force Microscopy.Applied Physics Letters76, 1473.
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Bestselling Female Singer of all Time
Madonna is much more than a singer. She is also a songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, film producer, film director, fashion designer, and children’s book author. Her music career is up there in terms of success and longevity. Of course such a long career is not without its share of ups and downs.
Madonna Trivia: 21 Essential Facts about the Bestselling Female Singer of all Times
1. Her birth name is Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.
2. Madonna was born on August 16, in 1958. Rock legend Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977.
3. Madonna means my lady in Italian. Her father is Italian- American.
4. Many of her earlier song lyrics (such as Papa Don’t Preach) are reactions to her own father, who she was mad at after remarrying. Madonna lost her mother in 1963.
5. Her sexual videos and lyrics pissed a lot of religious people off, especially her video for Like a Prayer. The video features a black man wrongly accused of a crime that white men committed. In the video, there are burning crosses, Madonna bringing a saint to life by kissing as well as her developing stigmata.
The song is considered to be one of the best videos of all times. Like a Prayer changed the views of music critics as they began to see Madonna more as musician rather than a mere pop singer and an entertainer.
6. Two of her videos (Justify My Love, What It Feels Like For A Girl) were banned from both MTV and VH1. Justify My Love is featured on her greatest hits album The Immaculate Collection whereas What It Feels Like For A Girl is featured on her album Music (from 2001). Both songs were successful, despite the bans.
7. Madonna’s fifth studio album Erotica (1992), which bears a parental advisory sticker, features the song Erotica. And although Erotica’s video wasn’t banned like the two songs above, it was aired only after midnight on MTV.
8. She has a shirt that says “Kylie” (in reference to Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue).
9. In 2003, at MTV music Awards, she performed on stage with Britney Spears & Christina Aguilera. She kissed both Spears and Aquilera on the lips which was talked about for days afterwards.
10. The movies she stars in almost always bomb at the box office and her performances are bashed by both critics and movie-goers alike.
An exception to this is 1992’s A League of Her Own — a baseball comedy/drama centered around the first female baseball league. Madonna’s co-stars in the film include Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, director/writer Gary Marshall, Jon Lovitz and Rosie O’ Donnell. The movie is rated at 7 on IMDB.com and it more than doubled its budget at the box office.
11. She holds a Guiness World Record as the best-selling female artist ever as she has sold over more than 300 millions of albums.
12. Her first husband is twice Oscar-winning actor/director Sean Penn. They made a movie together in 1986, called Shanghai Surprise. It was a box- office failure. It is also rated at a very low, at 2.7 on imdb.com
13. Despite the negative criticisms about her acting, she actually holds a Golden Globe for her performance in Evita which is a musical she starred alongside Antonio Banderas. She has 5 other Golden Globe nominations but they are for Best Song.
14. She won several Grammys.
15. Her second husband is director/writer Guy Ritchie who’s best known for his cult classics such as Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). In 2002, he directed Madonna in Swept Away, which also failed at the box-office. It remains Ritchie’s least successful movie to date.
16. It was rumored that Madonna and Guy Ritchie broke up because Madonna spent too much time on her fitness routine and not enough time for him.
17. Her song Vogue’s lyrics is full of references to Hollywood stars including Marlon Brando, James Dean, Grace Kelly, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.
18. She released 11 studio albums. Her debut album, Madonna, was released in 1983 and her most recent Hard Candy was released in 2008.
Hard Candy features the song 4 Minutes, a duet with Justin Timberlake. The song also features producer/singer Timbaland. Both Madonna and Timberlake are among the writers. Timbaland and Timberlake are among the co-producers of the single.
19. The album Hard Candy reached number 1 in over 35 counties.
20. In the James Bond film Die Another Day (2002, starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond), she performs the title song Die Another Day. She also has an uncredited role in the film.
21. Her songs are used in many films including The Wrestler, Get Smart, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Devil Wears Prada, Crossroads, With Honors, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Red Corner & more.
A lot of popular TV shows use Madonna songs too. Cold Case, Glee, Miami Vice and Will and Grace are only some of these shows.
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Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler
And you thought heavy metal fans were nasty …
Some of the most controversial album covers ever
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Not Easy Grow Up
All By Self
Not Easy Grow Up is the story of Micah who has cerebral palsy and his family's efforts to give him a quality life. Produced from over 500 hours of intimately documented video footage of Micah's first thirty years, filmmaker Ron Taylor takes you on a journey of the heart through the reality of his son's life.
This film will positively effect popular perceptions about the quality of life for children with disabilities and their families. Ron’s 34-year documentation of his son Micah portrays a new nurturing paradigm. As important as the facts and themes in his son Micah’s development, there are lessons in human relationships that reveal a more inclusive, loving society that all parents, professionals, and educators can enjoy.
Ron documents every significant aspect of his son Micah’s development with Cerebral Palsy, portraying the realities of family life including educational experiences from preschool to high school and beyond graduation. Evolving technologies, attitudes and social services that are available for children with disabilities, appear in this documentation of Micah's life over the last 34 years. Filmed 11 years in Boulder Colorado, 13 years in Palm Beach Florida, 6 years in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and 4 years "back again" in Boulder, this artfully constructed film advances our understanding of the evolving practices and attitudes that provide reciprocal benefits to family and friends, caregivers and professionals, and supporters in the disability movement.
Micah connects
This film answers most questions about nurturing children with special needs, and it celebrates a family's transformative life that models lessons for all nurturers. It shows the love and devotion that parents and educators can apply to the nurturing of all children. Ron's answer is simply that most parents strive to meet the unique potentials of their children so that the children can be the best that they can be. Even the nurturers realize the reciprocal benefits in their personal growth and fulfilling careers that come with this kind of caregiving.
It takes a special village
I am always interacting with my son and the other participants in this film through my personal, documentary-style of my being a One Man Crew. I achieve a realism and spontaneity that attains an artistic touch beyond the professionalism of lights, camera, action!
My son and I have a special relationship as every nurturing partnership is! The presence of the camera and the many viewings of this film, as it has matured over the years, has enriched Micah's self awareness and will enlighten contemporary audiences.
It is my absolute pleasure to recommend the movie “Not Easy Grow Up” by filmmaker Ron Taylor. “Not Easy Grow Up” tells the true story of Micah, a young man with significant disabilities making his way through the world. Micah’s story is inspiring, of course, but the movie is about so much more than his journey. It is the story of the people in Micah’s life – his family, his friends, his caregivers – and the efforts they make to ensure that Micah can experience all life has to offer in spite of his many challenges. Those stories are at times touching, funny, heartwarming, and occasionally sad. If it indeed takes a village to raise a child, “Not Easy Grow Up” takes the viewer into a village that is both unique and yet entirely relatable. The “villagers” in the movie are compelling characters who instantly endear themselves to the audience, and viewers are pulled into multiple interwoven story arcs that remain compelling throughout.
Micah has received services from Imagine! for many years. So, I know his story and what a remarkable person he is. That is why I feel qualified to say how impressed I am with Ron’s ability to tell Micah’s story in such a way that everyone can understand and feel like they are participants in Micah’s journey, not just those of us with an everyday view of this world.
Fred Hobbs
Director of Public Relations
Lafayette, Colorado
www.imaginecolorado.org
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The Parrsboro Film Festival announces awards for 2016
PARRSBORO, OCT. 30, 2016
What a weekend: 25 films, live presentations and chances for the audience to interact with film makers (live and via Skype)!
Highlights included the first Featured Film Maker: Halifax-born, Los Angeles-based Ben Proudfoot, whose documentary Rwanda & Juliet also won the festival's 2016 Audience Favourite Feature Film.
Other winners were:
Bertholet Charron, by Catherine Bussiere
(Audience Favourite Short Film - under 5 minutes)
The Wake of Calum MacLeod by Marc Almon
(Audience Favourite Short Film - under 20 minutes)
Cast No Shadow - Feature Film
Director: Christian Sparkes
Writer: Joel Thomas Hynes
Starring: Mary-Colin Chisholm, Joel Thomas Hynes, Gavin Snow
Stone - Short Film
Director/Producer: Ben Proudfoot
Cinematographer: David Bolen
Filmmakers Gather on the Fundy Shore for Parrsboro Film Festival
PARRSBORO, OCT.21, 2015--Five filmmakers, two film subjects, one award-winning actor, and an ever-growing audience will gather in Parrsboro this weekend to watch and discuss Atlantic Canadian films at the 5th Annual Parrsboro Film Festival.
"It's as much about the individual people involved as it is their films," says Lori Lynch, a founding member of the Parrsboro Film Festival. "Over the course of four to five years, real relationships have been made with people in the film industry."
Saturday, Oct. 24 is the festival's busiest day for visiting filmmakers and film participants. For example, director Greg Jackson will talk about Bunker 6, an apocalyptic drama he shot in the Debert Nuclear Shelter, and actor Mary-Colin Chisholm will discuss the award-winning feature Cast No Shadow, a coming-of-age story about the vivid fantasy life of a 13-year-old boy with an abusive, alcoholic father.
Film-festival favourite Jason Young returns to Parrsboro to screen and talk about Wild & Dangerous: The World of Exotic Pets, his film about people's sometimes deadly relationship with wild pets such as boa constrictors and lions.
And on Saturday night, Bill MacGillivray screens and discusses his entertaining and insightful 85-minute documentary Danny, about Newfoundland's larger-than-life former premier, Danny Williams.
Saturday's line-up begins with Life's Work: Six Conversations with Makers at 10:20, with two of the artists profiled in the film--stone carver Heather Lawson and sculptor Steven Kennard--on hand to talk about their roles.
Saturday afternoon features My Week on Welfare, a film about Jackie Torrens's experience living on welfare and exploring its stereotypes in 2015--decades after she lived on social assistance as a teenage mother.
The theme of being a participant in and creator of film continues on Sunday, when Ariella Pahlke discusses her award-winning documentary Burning Rubber, a quirky film in which she brings together her neighbours--rural men who enjoy squealing tires in fast cars--with some international artists. Pahlke will talk about her experience as filmmaker and--at one point--her on-screen lesson in how to burn rubber.
"I feel personally very strongly that we should be supporting filmmakers," says film-festival organizer Helen Tyson. Toward that end, the festival is seeking sponsorships for filmmakers. It also has a mandate to screen and support Atlantic Canadian film.
"To me, a film festival I want to be associated with involves individual people and small film-making companies. It's about supporting the industry and the people in Atlantic Canada and in our area," says Lori Lynch. "We want to show our stories."
The full, three-day line-up is available at www.parrsborofilmfestival.com .
The Parrsboro Fim Festival runs Oct.23-25. Doors open at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 with refreshments followed by a 15-minute silent film accompanied by a nine-piece jazz band. Movie-goes can buy single tickets or weekend passes, which include the annual Festival Dinner at the BlackRock Bistro and after-hours parties at Parrsboro's Main & Station. For the first time, the Film Festival is also seeking business sponsorships to help support Atlantic Canadian film and filmmakers.
Small-town film festival celebrates Atlantic Canadian film & filmmakers
PARRSBORO, OCT. 5, 2015—Call it the little film festival that could. The Parrsboro Film Festival launches its fifth annual celebration of Atlantic Canadian cinema in October with an original lineup of films, filmmakers, music, and more. And it’s all happening in a town of 1,300 where residents cared enough about movies to acquire theatre seating, a giant screen, a professional sound system—and a popcorn machine.
“There’s a whole pile of interesting Atlantic Canadian films that aren’t getting screened—films with a strong connection to Atlantic Canada,” says Helen Tyson, who helped found the film festival five years ago. “We wanted an opportunity to show films that don’t get as much screen-time as blockbusters.”
Five years later, the Parrsboro Film Festival is going strong. This year’s lineup includes Relative Happiness, a quirky and comic romance set in rural Nova Scotia; Heartbeat, Andrea Dorfman’s feature film starring poet and musician Tanya Davis; and Cast No Shadow, an award-winning drama that will be introduced at the Festival by Mary-Colin Chisholm, who won best actress at the Atlantic Film Festival for her role in the film. The full, three-day line-up is available at www.parrsborofilmfestival.com.
“These films will struggle to be widely shown, yet they’re more sensitive and touching than the big blockbusters everyone will pay to see,” says Lori Lynch, who came up with the idea for a Parrsboro Film Festival five years ago. “They’re very raw. They’re very pared down. That’s what I like about the films made here: they’re about people and emotion.”
Several filmmakers will also be in attendance to talk about their films: Jackie Torrens will speak about her film, My Week on Welfare; Ariella Pahlke will talk about Burning Rubber, her award-winning documentary about art meeting rural Nova Scotian car culture; and Jason Young will lead a discussion about Wild & Dangerous: The World of Exotic Pets, a film that explores the bizarre and sometimes deadly fascination with “pets” such as lions, wolves and snakes.
“I think that takes it to another level,” says Lynch of the Film Fest’s ability to draw filmmakers to talk about their films. “You feel like you’re on the inside of what’s going on when you hear it from the person who wrote it, or directed it, or acted in it.”
“This is why this festival is always going to work. It’s fun,” adds Tyson, who says her goal is to fill all 76 available seats at the festival.
The Parrsboro Film Festival runs Oct. 23-25. Doors open at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 with refreshments followed by a 15-minute silent film accompanied by a nine-piece jazz band. Movie-goers can buy single tickets or weekend passes, which include the annual Festival Dinner at the BlackRock Bistro and open-to-all after-hours parties at Parrsboro’s Main & Station. For the first time, the Film Festival is also seeking business sponsorships to help support Atlantic Canadian film and filmmakers.
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中文ENGLISHKOREAN
Welcome to the Little Oak Children’s House!
The Little Oak Children's House was founded by Dr. Gan Wang, an anthropologist who obtained her degree at Yale. After returning to China, she searched for a suitable Chinese preschool for her child but was not satisfied with most of the Chinese preschools. She founded the Little Oak Children's House in March of 2001, the first small-scale preschool ever licensed by the government in Beijing
The first Little Oak opened in Huiyuan International Apartment with 3 teachers and 6 kids, consisting of both Chinese and Korean children. The second Little Oak opened in Zhuxiyuan in early 2002. In that same year, half of the parents decided to support the school by becoming shareholders of The Little Oak. Therefore, the Little Oak became a school founded by parents and owned by parents.? This endeavor not only helped The Little Oak survive SARS but also allowed it to relocate to a bigger school building. In March of 2004, The Little Oak moved to its current location near the East Third Ring Road, and more than 90% of the children moved with the school.
The Little Oak now has more than 180 kids from China as well as other countries. The school is a two-storey building, with its own outdoor playgrounds, garden, indoor gym, music room, arts studio, block rooms, computer station, and school library. For the children and teachers of The Little Oak, it's a dream come true.
Along the years, the Little Oak has developed innovative and responsive services for children and families that value progressive educational methods as well as Chinese cultural heritage. The programs emphasize relationship and effective partnership with the parents. In the school, community-building, family charity, employee volunteering, environmental and food safety alert, as well as progressive methods in early childhood education are practiced.
Today, the Little Oak not only provides early childhood services to families, but also provides research-based training and advisory programs to early childhood professionals and parents. It works on publishing projects in children's books too.
Copyright © 2011 Xiaoxiangxhu Nursery. All Rights Reserved.
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About the IACHR
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OAS » IACHR » Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression » 6 - Chapter V - Indirect Violations of Freedom of Expression
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6 - Chapter V - Indirect Violations of Freedom of Expression
Every person has the right to freedom of investigation, of opinion, and of the expression and dissemination of ideas, by any medium whatsoever.
American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man
Article 13 - American Convention on Human Rights
Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression
DISCRIMINATORY ALLOCATION OF OFFICIAL PUBLICITY[1]
1. The murder of investigative reporters, a state's closure of a newspaper, vows of violence against journalists by security forces, or the refusal to allow certain television programs to air, are strong examples of direct violations of the right to freedom of expression. However, underlying these blatant violations are more subtle, and oftentimes more effective, indirect ways in which States curtail freedom of expression. Because such indirect violations are often obscure, quietly introduced obstructions, they do not compel investigation, nor do they receive the widespread censure that do other, more direct violations.
2. To call attention to these types of violations, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression has undertaken to study the use of official publicity as an indirect restriction on the free circulation of ideas. The discriminatory allocation of official publicity is only one possible manifestation of an indirect restriction to the right to freedom of expression. However, the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression believes that this topic merits special attention in the Americas, where media concentration has historically promoted the abuse of power by governments in the placement of their advertising revenue.
B. Official Publicity
3. There are two types of government publicity: unpaid and paid. "Unpaid" publicity includes press releases, the texts of legislation or legislative body meetings, and information which carries government support but which may be paid for by a private party. There are often legal obligations for national media sources to release this publicity, as a condition of the media outlets' use of the state's available frequencies and airwaves. Such conditions are usually included in states' fundamental broadcasting and press laws. "Paid" publicity includes paid advertising in the press, on radio and on television, government-produced or -sponsored software and video material, leaflet campaigns, material placed on the Internet, exhibitions, and more.[2] Governments use paid publicity to inform the public about important issues (i.e. ads pertaining to health and safety concerns), to influence the social behavior of individuals and business (such as encouraging voter turnout in an upcoming election), and to generate revenue through various programs (oftentimes through state-owned industry). The use of the media to transmit information is an important and useful tool for states, and provides much-needed advertising profits for media outlets.
4. Media outlets' production costs are high, and the most lucrative way to cover these expenses is through extensive advertising. Traditionally, government advertising budgets have comprised a substantial percentage of media outlets' total advertising investments. Generally, exact numbers of advertising expenditures are not available to the public. Yet, there are reports from many media outlets that they receive 40-50% of their revenue from the government. Government publicity can often provide the means for voices that, without the aid of government funding, would not be able to survive financially. The increasing consolidation and cross-ownership of media outlets means that smaller newspapers, radio and television stations are facing harder competition for available advertising revenue. The other major providers of revenue, large corporate advertisers, often only place ads in media sources that are favorable to their business interests, avoiding those outlets that report on financial scandal, environmental damage, or labor disputes. Government publicity can offset the vast communications resources controlled by corporate or wealthy interests, in that it can amplify the voices of local journalists and media, smaller media, and those media critical of corporations.[3]
5. Often, a large portion of domestic government expenditures are on advertising. There is very little public information about the criteria used in making allocation of advertising decisions. States distribute advertising to various media outlets often without legal restraint or overview. This results in selectivity of publicity placement. A state's decision to continue or to suspend advertising in a media source will have profound effects on the annual advertising revenue of that source.[4]
6. Historically, a sizable part of the productive capital of media outlets in the Americas has originated in the allocation by the States of official publicity. This fact, combined with the discretional selectivity of publicity placement, creates the danger of self-censorship to avoid the financial hardships that might be faced by the media sources which are denied official publicity. A recent study of media ownership structures in 97 countries has found that:
(…) monopolies or concentrated ownership of the media industry that provide control over information to any individuals or organizations, public or private, will reduce the effectiveness of media coverage, and it now regularly intervenes in content decisions.[5]
7. In the framework of distribution criteria, there are both negative and positive discriminatory allocations of publicity. Negative allocation would be given to an individual or media outlet in order to induce them to not report unfavorably on those in power. Positive allocation requires the recipient to engage in favorable expression in order to receive government revenue.[6] Both positive and negative discriminatory allocation can constitute an infringement on free speech; negative allocations are content-based forms of coercion that force media outlets to be silent on issues of public interest, whereas positive allocations may artificially distort a public debate by inducing some who otherwise would have taken a contrary position (or chosen not to speak at all) to support the government's views.[7]
8. Three types of government media subsidies, which can be analogized to positive allocations of government advertising, have been identified: categorical, viewpoint-based, and judgmental necessity.[8]
9. A categorical decision to award advertising is a viewpoint-neutral choice to fund a particular category, subject or class of expression (such as choosing to advertise in the medium of national newspapers, provincial television, or local radio frequencies). Such a decision may be consistent with freedom of expression, based on government goals, but if such a positive allocation is made according to discriminatory criteria, it violates freedom of expression.
10. In viewpoint-based decisions, the criteria for awarding funding is based entirely on the viewpoint expressed by a particular media outlet. Clearly this is the most blatant form of a violation of freedom of expression in official publicity.
11. Judgmental necessity pertains to the need of government officials to differentiate between a variety of media sources within one medium (in which national newspaper, among a group of papers with similar distribution and reach, will they place advertisements?). For such determinations to be in keeping with freedom of expression principles, they must be based on criteria "substantially related" to the prescribed viewpoint-neutral purpose.[9] For example, if a state's goal was to promote sales of monthly passes on its city-wide public transportation system, it could legally choose to advertise only in newspapers largely distributed within that city. Newspapers from other regions that may have a very small distribution within that city would not be unfairly discriminated against by the government's choice not to advertise with them. The criteria of being a paper with a majority of your distribution within the city is substantially related to the program's viewpoint-neutral purpose of promoting use of its public transportation system, and thus, non-discriminatory.
C. Discriminatory Allocation of Official Publicity
12. There exists no inherent right to receive government advertising revenue. It is only when a state allocates advertising revenue in discriminatory ways that the fundamental right to freedom of expression is infringed. A state could deny advertising revenue to all media outlets, but it cannot deny publicity income only to specific outlets based on discriminatory criteria. Although states may make determinations to award advertising based on the percentage of the population reached by the source, frequency strength, and similar factors, determinations to award or cut off publicity based on coverage of official actions, criticism of public officials, or coverage that might hurt officials' financial contributors amount to penalizing the media for exercising the right to freedom of expression. It is possible that government advertising is so central to an outlet's operation that the denial of it will have as much adverse impact as would a fine or prison sentence. Because their hopes for advertising revenue hinge upon a favorable allocation of official publicity, media sources will be compromised and effectively forced into producing reports favorable to the ultimate publicity decision-makers.
13. Indirect obstruction through distribution of official publicity acts as a strong deterrent to freedom of expression. Although jurisprudence in this area is limited in the Inter-American System, the American Convention on Human Rights provides a legal framework against such indirect violations, establishing that discriminatory allocation of official publicity, based on the publication or broadcast of critical reports, is a violation of the guaranteed right of freedom of expression.
D. Inter-American Standards
14. The controlling legal document concerning human rights in the Americas is the American Convention on Human Rights. Concerning freedom of expression, the Convention states in Article 13(3):
The right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods or means, such as the abuse of government or private controls over newsprint, radio broadcasting frequencies, or equipment used in the dissemination of information, or by any other means tending to impede the communication and circulation of ideas and opinions.[10]
15. The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression was approved by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights as a tool for interpreting Article 13 of the American Convention. The Declaration has been influential in reflecting the emerging regional standards on this issue. It states in Principle 13:
The exercise of power and the use of public funds by the state, the granting of customs duty privileges, the arbitrary and discriminatory placement of official advertising and government loans, the concession of radio and television broadcast frequencies, among others, with the intent to put pressure on and punish or reward and provide privileges to social communicators and communications media because of the opinions they express threaten freedom of expression, and must be explicitly prohibited by law. The means of communication have the right to carry out their role in an independent manner. Direct or indirect pressures exerted upon journalists or other social communicators to stifle the dissemination of information are incompatible with freedom of expression.[11]
16. The Declaration of Chapultepec was developed by experts in freedom of expression. The Inter-American Press Association sponsored the Declaration and went to Latin American leaders asking for their support and signatures. Though not legally binding, the Declaration is a demonstration of the will and support of many leaders to upholding freedom of expression rights. It states explicitly in Principle 7 that:
Tariff and exchange policies, licenses for the importation of paper or news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio and television frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists.[12]
17. In an international recognition of the illegality of discriminatory allocation of official advertising, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the Organization of American States Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, stated in a joint declaration:
Governments and public bodies should never abuse their custody over public finances to try to influence the content of media reporting; the placement of public advertising should be based on market considerations.[13]
E. The European Experience
18. The right against arbitrary allocation of government advertising has also been recognized by the European Court of Human Rights. In the case of Vgt Verein gegen Tierfabriken v. Switzerland,[14] the company responsible for advertising on the national broadcaster had refused to broadcast a commercial which had been submitted by the applicant, an association for the protection of animals. The commercial, which intended to deter meat consumption in Switzerland, was refused for broadcast on the grounds that it was clearly political in character. The Court concluded that the restriction in question amounted to a violation by the State of Switzerland of the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention.[15] In evaluating whether the interference was “necessary in a democratic society,” the Court expressed that:
It is true that powerful financial groups can obtain competitive advantages in the area of commercial advertising and may thereby exercise pressure on, and eventually curtail the freedom of, the radio and television stations broadcasting the commercials. Such situations undermine the fundamental role of freedom of expression in a democratic society as enshrined in Article 10 of the Convention, in particular where it serves to impart information and ideas of general interest, which the public is moreover entitled to receive.[16]
19. Though the Vgt Verein gegen Tierfabriken case refers to the prohibition of private political advertising, not of government advertising, it effectively struck down a law that led to the discriminatory allocation of advertising, supporting the idea that allocation of advertising, whether done by private or government entities, may not be grounded in clearly discriminatory criteria. In examining the contested measure in the light of the prohibition of political advertising as provided in section 18(5) of the Federal Radio and Television Act, the Court addressed the issue that the law applied only to radio and television broadcasts, and not to other media such as the press:
[W]hile the domestic authorities may have had valid reasons for this differential treatment, a prohibition of political advertising which applies only to certain media, and not to others, does not appear to be of a particularly pressing nature.[17]
20. In expounding the meaning of Article 10.2 of the European Convention,[18] the European Court of Human Rights understood the requirement "prescribed by law" to prohibit insufficiently precise laws and unacceptable discretionary powers.[19]
21. Although the Court has not specifically addressed this issue in the context of government advertising, it has addressed the existence of unclear laws and overly wide discretionary powers as a violation of freedom of expression in the case of Autronic A.G. v. Switzerland.[20] In this case, the European Court questioned whether the broadcast license-granting laws of Switzerland were sufficiently precise since "they [did] not indicate exactly what criteria [were] to be used by the authorities in determining applications."[21] The Court did not decide the issue in that case, dismissing it for other reasons, but warned that such license-granting laws that did not establish clear criteria could constitute a violation of freedom of expression.
22. The decision in Herczegfalvy v. Austria[22] affirms the need of precise legislation to fulfill the "prescribed by law" requirement of Article 10 of the European Convention. In this case, the European Court did hold restrictions on the freedom of movement of psychiatric detainees to be insufficiently precise to fulfill the "prescribed by law" requirement of Article 10 (and Article 8), because they failed to specify the scope or conditions for the exercise of discretionary power. The European Court held that the lack of any indication as to the kind of restrictions permitted, their purpose, duration, and extent, and the lack of arrangements for the review of any restrictions imposed, led to the deficiency of a minimum degree of protection against arbitrariness.[23]
23. Insufficiently precise laws and unacceptable discretionary powers constitute freedom of expression violations. It is indeed when laws pertaining to allocation of official publicity are unclear or leave decisions to the discretion of public officials that there exists a legal framework contrary to freedom of expression.
F. Legal Framework in Member Countries
24. This section is intended to provide an overview of the legal provisions on the allocation of official publicity in the countries of the OAS. The laws and legal standards mentioned below were compiled through searches of the online databases of each respective State, as well as through information received from a number of different sources.[24]
25. In order to obtain a more accurate description of the legal framework on the allocation of official publicity in the countries of the Americas, in September 2003 the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression issued a questionnaire to the Permanent Representatives of the OAS Member States inquiring about the laws in effect in each state on this issue. The questionnaires set out the laws found to be relevant and in effect regarding the allocation of official publicity, and gave the opportunity for the States to confirm, deny, or update such information.[25]
26. The analysis of the information obtained by the Office of the Special Rapporteur reveals, in general, an absence of legislative provisions regarding the allocation of official publicity. This section only reports on the legal framework of the States which have adopted regulations on official publicity. In some countries, it was observed that, notwithstanding the absence of specific legislation in this regard, there exist provisions which may provide a remedy to a discriminatory allocation of official publicity.
27. The official response from Argentina to the questionnaire sent by the Special Rapporteur points out that National Law 22.285 of Broadcasting (Ley 22.285 de Radiodifusión) governs publicity rules under the competence of the Committee of Broadcasting (Comité de Radiodifusión, COMFER):
Law 22.285:
Art. 69. Publicity Contracts. Publicity to broadcast shall be contracted by the bearer of services directly with advertisers; or with publicity agencies previously registered in the Federal Broadcasting Committee acting on behalf of identified advertisers.
Art. 72. Transmissions without charge. The bearers of broadcast services shall perform transmissions without charge in the following cases:
a) That contemplated in Article 7; [referring to issues of national security]
b) Mandatory national, regional, or local broadcasts, as ordered by the Federal Broadcast Committee;
c) In the face of serious national, regional, or local emergencies;
d) By requirement of the authorities of civil defense;
e) To broadcast messages or warnings related to dangerous situations that affect the means of transportation or communication;
f) To broadcast messages of national, regional, or local interest ordered by the Federal Broadcast Committee, up to one minute and thirty seconds per hour;
g) For the broadcast of the programs foreseen in Article 20 [educational programs] required by the Minister of Culture and Education, as well as for the treatment of themes of national, regional, or local interest that the Federal Broadcast Committee authorizes, up to a maximum of seven percent (7%) of the daily broadcasts.
28. Article 12 of Decree No. 1771/91 modifies Article 72 b) of Law No., 22.285, allowing the Secretariat for Communications Media of the Presidency (Secretaría de Medios de Comunicación de la Presidencia de la Nación, SMC), in cases of urgency, to request COMFER to coordinate with the National Commission of Telecommunications (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, CNC) the use of the compulsory national broadcasting system to allow messages to reach the stations.
29. Article 31 of Law No. 25.600 on Financing of Political Parties (Ley 25.600 de Financiamiento de los Partidos Políticos) provides that the State will grant spaces in the broadcasting media to the parties or alliances that put forward official candidates.
30. Decree No. 2507 of 2002 approved the statute for the State Association Télam (Télam Sociedad del Estado) for its operation under the jurisdiction of the SMC. The association is empowered to plan and contract publicity space and produce the official publicity requested by the different sectors of the national government.
31. Decisions concerning allocation of state advertising in Argentina are most often made by the administrative heads of the various government entities requiring advertising space. Other decisions are made by the executive branches of the various provincial governments. There appear to be no official national criteria for determining allocation of advertising. Some provinces have specific legislation allowing for oversight of government decisions.
32. In Bolivia, there are few legal norms specific to advertising and there appears to be no official oversight of government advertising practices. Bolivia's only law relating to advertisements and announcements from the government is contained in an addendum to Article 43 of Law 1632, the Telecommunications Law, which states:
ADDENDUM TO ARTICLE 43, RANK OF LAW
Art. 67.- Radio stations must transmit free of charge in the following cases:
a) As stipulated in the previous article.
b) Serious national emergency, war or disruption of public order.
c) Messages or notices related to the safeguard of human lives and ships, aircraft or naval or air devices in dangerous situations.
d) Civic and literacy programs.
e) Announcements of general interest, commercial free, up to ninety seconds per hour, upon the request of the General Telecommunications Directorate.[26]
33. In December 2001, the Senate of Bolivia approved a new electoral code. Article 119 of the new code would require the media to register with the National Electoral Authority (Corte Nacional Electoral, CNE). The CNE would decide which media could publish election advertisements in the weeks prior to the voting, and thus which media would receive the large revenue such advertisements generated. The law would oblige political parties to deal only with these media or risk punishment, ranging from fines to suspension of a newspaper for a period to be decided by the CNE.[27] Media that did not charge the price set for the ads by Article 119 would also be punished. However, after extensive lobbying by journalism organizations, Congress approved a law on April 30, 2002, determining that Article 119 of the Electoral Code would not be in effect for the June 2002 general election.[28] Free press groups then sought the repeal of Article 119, so that it would not be enforced in future municipal or general elections. Such a repeal has not yet been accomplished.
34. In Canada, the only national law specifically dealing with advertising regulation concerns elections. The Broadcasting Act states:
10.(1) The [Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications] Commission may, in furtherance of its objects, make regulations
(e) respecting the proportion of time that may be devoted to the broadcasting of programs, including advertisements or announcements, of a partisan political character and the assignment of that time on an equitable basis to political parties and candidates[29]
35. Provincial laws in Canada often go further, as evidenced by this law of Ontario:
Official Notices Publication Act:
2.(1) Unless another mode of publication is authorized by law, there shall be published in The Ontario Gazette,
(a) all proclamations issued by the Lieutenant Governor;
(b) all notices, orders, regulations and other documents relating to matters within the authority of the Legislature that require publication; and
(c) all advertisements, notices and publications that are required to be given by the Crown or by any ministry of the Government of Ontario, or by any public authority, or by any officer or person. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.3, s. 2 (…)
4.(1) The Queen's Printer for Ontario may establish a schedule of rates for publishing information in The Ontario Gazette and for purchasing subscriptions to it and copies of it. 2000, c. 26, Sched. J, s. 3.[30]
36. In April 2001, the Chilean Senate approved the new Law 19733 on Freedoms of Opinion and Information and the Practice of Journalism (Ley 19733 sobre las Libertades de Opinión e Información y Ejercicio del Periodismo), known as the Press Law. The law eliminated Law 16643 on Publicity Abuses (Ley 16643 sobre Abusos de Publicidad), but does not specifically address allocation of official publicity. This Press Law explains the law on freedom of opinion and information and the regulations pertaining to the profession of journalism. The law deals with general provisions, the practice of the profession of journalism, formalities of the operation of the social communications media, violations, crimes, liability, and proceedings.
37. The Official response from the State of Colombia to the questionnaire sent by the Special Rapporteur referred to a number of laws in the country which are relevant to the allocation of official publicity.
38. Law No. 14 of 1991 establishes and regulates the functioning of the Television and broadcasting service in Colombia and establishes the National Institute of Radio and Television (Instituto Nacional de Radio y Televisión, Inravisión) and the National Television Council (Consejo Nacional de Televisión). Article 29 of Law No. 182 of 1995 establishes that:
Except for provisions in the Constitution and the law, the contents of television programming and advertising shall be freely expressed and transmitted, and are not subject to censorship or prior control. However, programming and advertising shall be classified and regulated by a section of the National Television Commission, so as to promote quality, guarantee compliance with the purposes and principles which govern television as a public service, protect the family and the more vulnerable segments of the population, particularly children and young people, assure harmonious and integral development, and promote Colombian broadcasting.[31]
39. Decree 1982 of 1974 regulates public spending by the organs in charge of administering the funds of the Treasury. The official response from Colombia also mentioned Decree No. 1737 of 1998, which governs rules of austerity and efficiency in public administration.
40. The official response from Costa Rica to the questionnaire sent by the Special Rapporteur shows that, although there are no specific laws in Costa Rica pertaining to the allocation of official publicity, there are a few norms which provide a framework for the distribution of official publicity by the government. Regarding privately owned media, the government can make allocation of publicity decisions through the procedure established by the Administrative Contracting Act (Ley de Contratación Administrativa), by means of the approval of an "Information and Publicity" budget in each Ministry. Regarding publicly owned media, the 1993 Organic Law of the National System of Radio and Cultural Television (Ley Orgánica del Sistema Nacional de Radio y Televisión Cultural) created a communications network composed of television, radio, and written media outlets, through which the State can distribute official publicity.
41. In Cuba, the role and duties of the press are spelled out in the Communist Party’s Program Platform and the resolution approved at the Party’s 1st Congress (1975) concerning mass media. Private ownership of news media is strictly prohibited under Article 53 of the National Constitution. The Constitution further stipulates that state ownership of the press and other mass communication media “ensures their exclusive use by the working people and in the interests of society.”[32] The Department of Revolutionary Orientation (DOR) under the Ideological Secretariat of the Communist Party of the State's Program Platform was created in the mid-1960s and handles propaganda and ideology for the government and designs and carries out official policy concerning the news media.[33] Due to these regulations, media are totally dependent on the state both for funding and for the right to operate.
42. In the Dominican Republic, there is no specific law regulating government allocation of advertising, but the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications is the established regulatory body that oversees telecommunications throughout the Dominican Republic and implements the General Telecommunications Law No. 153-98.[34] Under that law, the board of the Institute is charged with overseeing inappropriate activity in telecommunications, including private and government activity.
43. In Ecuador, there are no specific laws regulating government allocation of advertising. The Superintendent of Telecommunications regulates the media industries. A Special Committee was formed for oversight of all advertising in the Consumer Protection Law (Ley de Defensa del Consumidor) of 1990.[35]
44. In Haiti, there are no specific laws regulating government allocation of advertising. The Haitian Constitution provides:
Article 28.1:
Journalists shall freely exercise their profession within the framework of the law. Such exercise may not be subject to any authorization or censorship, except in the case of war.[36]
45. In Jamaica, the Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Act and the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations refer to advertising limitations in Sections 8 and 9 (i.e. alcohol advertising, etc.) but do not refer to restrictions or guidelines on government advertisements.[37]
46. The official response from the government of Mexico provides information about agreements on general norms for government spending; norms regarding government spending on publicity, official publications, and communications media; and guidelines for the orientation, planning, authorization, coordination, and supervision of media strategies, programs, and campaigns of government entities and dependencies. Additionally, information on actual federal expenditures in 2003 was provided. This information was received by the Office of the Special Rapporteur as the drafting of this report was being concluded; the Office will analyze this information more fully in the future.
47. The official response from Nicaragua to the questionnaire sent by the Special Rapporteur points out that Article 68 of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua states that:
The state shall ensure that media are not subjugated by foreign interests or any economic power monopoly. The law shall regulate this matter.
48. In Nicaragua, the Law of Government Contracting (Ley de Contrataciones del Estado) specifies in its Article 25 that the providers of the State must be registered in the Registry of Providers of the State, and must comply with legal requirements such as having fiscal solvency and a certificate of registration. The Official response from Nicaraguaspecifies that the records of government spending on advertising and allocation of publicity are of 700,000 Córdobas for the last trimester of 2003 (approximately U.S. $45,841), and that an expenditure of 3,000,000 Córdobas (approximately U.S. $196,400) is expected for 2004.
49. In Panama, there is no specific regulation on the allocation of government advertising. The Regulator of Public Services (Ente Regulador de los Servicios Públicos) is charged with directing public services of radio and television, and with making rules for publicity norms, according to Article 38 of Law 24, which regulates public services of radio and television and dictates other provisions.[38]
50. The National Constitution of Paraguay does not specifically address the issue of the allocation of official publicity. However, its Article 27 states that:
The use of the news media is of public interest; consequently, their operation may not be closed down or suspended (…) Any discriminatory practice in the provision of supplies for the press is prohibited, as is interference with radio frequencies and obstruction, by whatever means, of the free circulation, distribution and sale of newspapers, books, magazines, or other publications with responsible management or authorship.[39]
51. Further, Law 1297 of 1998 of Paraguay prohibits all government institutions, including department administrations and municipalities, from carrying out any kind of paid propaganda in domestic or foreign communications media, except when they are related to publication of notices of biddings, general edicts, promotion of campaigns of rural and sanitary information and education, programs aimed at the promotion of the folklore and the national culture, or in the case of state or joint corporations competing in the market.[40]
52. The official response from Peru to the questionnaire submitted by the Special Rapporteur indicated that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications is in charge of the design and execution of the policies of promotion and development of the radio broadcasting services. However, it is not empowered to regulate the regime of official publicity. The official response also establishes in relation to the existence of records of public spending on publicity that Law No. 27.806 on Transparency and Access to Public Information aims at achieving greater transparency in the administration of Public Finance.
53. In the United States, although there is no constitutional right of the media to receive government advertising revenues, if a publisher can show that a termination of advertising is a content-based penalty, it violates the free speecha dn press clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.[41] The relevant laws are:
44 U.S.C. § 3702 - Advertisements not to be published without written authority
Advertisements, notices, or proposals for an executive department of the Government, or for a bureau or office connected with it, may not be published in a newspaper except under written authority from the head of the department; and a bill for advertising or publication may not be paid unless there is presented with the bill a copy of the written authority.
44 U.S.C. § 3703 - Rate of payment for advertisements, notices, and proposals
Advertisements, notices, proposals for contracts, and all forms of advertising required by law for the several departments of the Government may be paid for at a price not to exceed the commercial rates charged to private individuals, with the usual discounts. But the heads of the several departments may secure lower terms at special rates when the public interest requires it. The rates shall include the furnishing of lawful evidence, under oath, of publication, to be made and furnished by the printer or publisher making publication.
Federal Acquisitions Regulations, 48 CFR 5
Subpart 5.5- Paid Advertisements
5.501 Definitions
As used in this subpart-
"Advertisement" means any single message prepared for placement in communication media, regardless of the number of placements.
"Publication" means-
(1) The placement of an advertisement in a newspaper, magazine, trade or professional journal, or any other printed medium; or (2) The broadcasting of an advertisement over radio or television.
5.502 Authority
(a) Newspapers. Authority to approve the publication of paid advertisements in newspapers is vested in the head of each agency (44 U.S.C. 3702). This approval authority may be delegated (5 U.S.C. 302 (b)). Contracting officers shall obtain written authorization in accordance with policy procedures before advertising in newspapers. (b) Other media. Unless the agency head determines otherwise, advance written authorization is not required to place advertisements in media other than newspapers.
5.503 Procedures
(a) General. (1) Orders for paid advertisements may be placed directly with the media or through an advertising agency. Contracting officers shall give small, small disadvantaged and women-owned small business concerns maximum opportunity to participate in these acquisitions. (2) The contracting officer shall use the SF 1449 for paper solicitations. The SF 1449 shall be used to make awards or place orders unless the award/order is made by using electronic commerce or by using the Governmentwide commercial purchase card for micropurchases. (b) Rates. Advertisements may be paid for at rates not over the commercial rates charged private individuals, with the usual discounts (44 U.S.C. 3703) (…).
54. In Uruguay's main laws concerning freedom in the media, there is no mention of restrictions on government advertising. However, Law 16.320 states in Article 484 that:
State advertising must take into account the inland print media and this shall be obligatory wherever this is aimed specifically at residents of a particular city, region or province in the interior where print media is published and distributed, without prejudice to placement also in a national publication regarded as appropriate.[42]
55. Venezuela has a variety of legislation concerning the media and the practice of journalism, including the Organic Law of Telecommunications of 1940, the Radiocommunications Regulations of 1980, and the Law on the Exercise of Journalism of 1994, to name a few. However, there appear to be no specific laws governing allocation of government publicity. Decree 808 of September 1985 approves the Standards for Coordination and Execution of State Publicity, which assigns the direction and coordination of government information programs to the "Central Information Office" in the President's office. This law provides that the information office should produce programs and information campaigns annually and sets down basic instructions for accounts and contracting.
G. Situations in Member Countries
56. The information provided above reflects that most OAS countries lack specific legislation on the issue of allocation of official publicity. The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is concerned that this lack of regulation may create the danger of an excessive discretionary power in decision-making bodies which could give way to discriminatory allocations of official publicity.
57. This section is concerned with the reporting of information regarding instances of alleged discrimination in the distribution of official publicity. Although few cases concerning discrimination in allocation of official advertising have made it through the various legal systems of the Americas, several situations have been denounced in which a possible discriminatory practice has taken place. A few of these instances will be mentioned here.
58. The incidences reported illustrate situations in member States in which the allocation of official publicity to media organizations has allegedly been handled in a discriminatory way. This might entail that the allocation of publicity to media sources might have been reduced as a way of punishing the manifestation of criticism towards the government, or that the allocation of publicity might have represented a reward for a positive review.
59. As there are few official resources provided by the governments of the Americasconcerning allocation of state publicity, it was necessary to compile reports of incidences of advertising cuts and alleged discrimination from non-official sources, such as watchdog groups, human rights organizations, and the media outlets themselves.
60. The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression has received information regarding an alleged instance of discriminatory allocation of official publicity in Argentina, pertaining to the judicial action raised before the Supreme Court of Argentina by Mr. Julio Rajneri, the main shareholder of the publishing firm responsible for the daily newspaper Río Negro in the Province of Neuquén, Argentina. The claimant affirms that an instance of discriminatory allocation of official advertising took place when, after the newspaper had reported on allegations of corruption in the Neuquén provincial government, the Neuquén Lottery notified Río Negro that it would no longer purchase advertising space, as it had done during the previous years.[43]
61. Another reported instance in Argentina refers to the declaration, by the Argentine National Lottery, on October 15, 2001, that it would no longer advertise on the radio program La Danza de la Fortuna. The program reports on the results of official wagers and games of chance. Prior to the advertising cut, journalist González Rivero had criticized Leandro Alciati on the air while commenting on the country's political situation. Alciati is president of the lottery organization and in charge of the allocation of advertising. Alciati denied any connection between González Rivero's comments and the withdrawal of advertising. He stated that the measure was strictly due to a normal reduction in the end-of-year advertising allocation, in addition to an almost seventy-five per cent reduction in the National Lottery's budget.[44]
63. Also in Argentina, on May 26, 2001, the Chubut Province Bank, a corporation with state-owned shares, revealed that a clause in its publicity contracts enabled it to refuse placing advertisements in media outlets that criticized the bank or published information that its authorities deemed negative. Bank Director Jorge Barcia revealed this when expressing his annoyance at radio station LU17 Golfo Nuevo, which had divulged information about alleged irregularities in the bank's administration of funds.[45]
63. In June 2001, El Liberal, a newspaper in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina that had published criticism of the Women's Branch of the Justicialista party, claimed it was discriminated against in the granting of governmental advertising in a decision that was linked to political factions associated with governor Carlos Juárez, according to several watchdog media organizations.[46]
64. El Diario, a Bolivian newspaper, reported on January 18, 2002, that the Pando Social Communications Media group denounced the Bolivian government's alleged threats to reporters that they would have to publish what the government wanted or they would be subject to a suspension of state publicity.[47]
65. In Brazil, the daily A Tarde de Bahía was allegedly the object of discrimination in the allocation of official publicity in the state of Bahía. The Rede Bahía media group sued A Tarde journalist Marconi de Souza for libel in connection with an article he wrote on October 25, 2000, which reported a claim by Salvador city officials that 80% of the city government's advertising was placed with that media group. Rede Bahía belongs to the family of Antonio Carlos Magalhães, the state's former governor and Senate speaker.[48] According to A Tarde, in 1999 the state spent about U.S. $33 million in official advertising, almost exclusively directed to Rede Bahía.[49] In Salvador, the state capital, opposition political parties denounced the alleged use of official advertising to reward media outlets belonging to the former governor's family.[50]
66. In Canada, a state where government advertising is not as imperative to independent media survival, instances of discriminatory allocation of advertising tend to be local occurrences. In March 2003, a local public school board allegedly threatened to withhold advertising from newspapers or broadcasters that the board felt had reported its affairs inaccurately.[51]
67. In Colombia, El Espectador, a Bogotá newspaper, was largely financed by the government and its other advertisers through publicity revenue. In 2001, the Mayor of Bogotá allegedly punished the paper with advertising cuts when it was critical of a costly public project.[52] The paper has since been forced to cut back on its editions and circulation.
68. During 2002 and 2003, many media outlets in El Salvador, especially television stations, have complained that official advertising often favors the pro-government media, which encourages journalists' practice of self-censorship.[53]
69. In 2001, TV Doce of El Salvador suffered cuts in government advertising, as well as advertising by important business groups. In May 2001, the station suffered losses of between U.S. $220,000 and $350,000 due to the cuts in advertising, which owners insist occurred because of its critical reports.[54] Due to its financial situation, in March 2003, TV Doce cancelled "Sin Censura" ("Uncensored") the television program that had broadcast most of the criticism directed at the government.
70. In 1998 in Guatemala, then-president Alvaro Arzú Irigoyen deprived many publications of government advertising. Guatemalan journalists complained that if they printed favorable news, advertising revenue would flow in and if they printed bad news, the money would dry up.[55] In January 1998, the government banned all advertising by state agencies in the weekly magazine Crónica and the daily newspaper El Periodico.[56] Both Crónica and El Periodico had been critical of President Arzú’s administration. The editors at Crónica claimed that private sector advertising was also seriously affected as a result of government pressure. This led, in December 1999, to the forced sale of Crónica.
71. In Haiti, there are reports by local human rights groups that radio stations allegedly censor content so as not to lose much-needed advertising funds.[57] These reports have not been confirmed or denied by the government.
72. In Honduras, situations regarding the selective allocation of official publicity have been reported. Allegedly, a number of the major media outlets in this State are owned and operated by politicians, and independent media have repeatedly complained of discrimination in the placement of official government advertising.[58]
73. It has been reported that in June, 2002, the administration of Channel 13 and Radio Reloj of Hondurasprotested that Executive Branch officials of the Government of President Ricardo Maduro "have tried to use publicity as a method of extortion against the media."[59] According to their denunciation, Government officials notified them that they had cut publicity to Channel 13 and Radio Reloj because both media criticized a secret trip taken by President Maduro to Italy.
74. Diario Tiempo of Honduras also allegedly suffered a temporary suspension of state publicity for publishing news of the President's Italytrip. The daily paper suspended the reporter who broke the story, but there still exist publicity restrictions for that paper and the official who signs the publicity contracts affirms that "there are orders from above" that they will not allocate publicity to the newspaper.[60] It is alleged by media sources that those outlets that promote the work of the Government or the Presidential and mayoral figures enjoy the largest publicity contracts.
75. Another reported case was that of the magazine Hablemos Claro, which experienced a cutting of state publicity after it published, on January 14-20, 2003, a "Special Report" stating that the First Lady of the nation had solicited the president to ask for the resignation of the Minister of Culture.[61]
76. Miguel Pastor and Oscar Kilgore, mayors of the major cities of Honduras, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, respectively, and both competing presidential candidates, had allegedly employed strategies of restricting publicity in media that criticized their efforts at infrastructure work. Pastor is accused of pressuring owners of the communication media with threats of suspending all publicity to them if they criticized a series of taxes that were recently imposed.
77. In Mexico, prior to 1996, most newspapers stayed afloat with revenue they received from government advertisements. Also, most papers published gacetillas (paid government propaganda disguised as news stories).[62] During most of the reign of the long-ruling Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), the press skewed its political coverage in exchange for subsidies, tax incentives, and government advertising.[63] In 1996, the government abandoned, officially at least, its long practice of subsidizing favorable news coverage by spending heavily on ads. Though selective allocation of government advertisement is officially no longer a regular practice, the mostly private media still largely depends on the government for advertising revenue.
78. In 2003, there were reports in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Baja California that the government had withdrawn advertising funds in response to unfavorable coverage. Governor Antonio Echevarría Dominguez, of Nayarit state, western Mexico, was accused of censoring the Radio Korita program "Consensos," which has been critical of his administration, through the discriminatory use of government advertising. On January 31, 2003, the radio station's signal was cut just as the "Consensos" program was scheduled to go on the air. Espinoza Vargas, the manager of Radio Korita, stated that he was told that cutting the signal was done under "the governor's orders" and that this was "a condition for the renewal of a year's worth of advertising."[64] Espinoza Vargas alleges that Nayarit state officials have in the past attempted to have his program taken off the air. Prior to the signal cut, Espinoza Vargas had reported on fraud in the housing authorities' administration of public markets.[65]
79. The government of the Mexican state of Baja California was accused of withholding official advertising in La Crónica newspaper because the paper had published several complaints against irregularities in public administration that involved Governor Eugenio Elordoy Walther. La Crónica's owners alleged that because of their reports on the erratic purchase of vehicles, nepotism within the Government, and salary increases for employees in recent months, the State cancelled all government advertising in the newspaper and has made access to public information difficult for journalists.[66]
80. During visits to the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Guerrero, the Special Rapporteur corroborated that official advertising was being placed in a discretional way, without clear parameters and with certain signs of arbitrariness. The Rapporteur noted this situation with regard to the newspapers El Sur of Guerrero and El Norte of Juárez, both of which are openly critical of the government. The Special Rapporteur urged all state agencies to modify these practices and to establish clear, fair, and objective criteria for determining how to distribute official advertising. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur declared that in no case may official advertising be used for the intention of harming or favoring one means of communication over another.[67]
81. In Uruguay, opposition representatives in Congress denounced irregularities in the allocation of official advertising that favored print and broadcast media that positively covered the governing Colorado party. ANTEL, the state-owned telecommunications monopoly and largest official advertiser, was the main target of the denunciations.
82. Journalists in Uruguay have consistently objected to the government’s granting the directors of state agencies and enterprises complete discretion in their use of advertising budgets. They have also called for transparency in the distribution of state advertising, and have proposed the creation of an online database with detailed information on state advertising spending.
83. After four years of a penal tribunal investigation, there have been two indictments of government officials in Uruguay for alleged illegal management of official publicity, using discriminatory criteria more than minimal technical criteria, to reward or punish media outlets. [68]
84. In Venezuela, human rights monitors have alleged that throughout 2002 the State showed favoritism with government advertising revenues.[69]
85. Venezuela´s daily La Opinión in the state of San Carlos had all state advertising withdrawn from it in May 2002. The managing editor accused the state governor, Johnny Yánes Rangel, of attempting to bankrupt the paper.[70]
H. Conclusions
87. The multitude of alleged cases is evidence of the widespread nature of alleged indirect violations of freedom of expression. These possible indirect violations are promoted by the lack of legal regulations that provide adequate remedies for the discriminatory allocation of official publicity, as these legal voids give way to excessive discretionary power on behalf of the decision-making authorities.
88. The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression urges and recommends that the OAS member States adopt laws which prevent discriminatory practices in the allocation of official publicity, as well as mechanisms for putting them into effect.
89. A legal framework establishing clear guidelines for official publicity distribution is imperative for continuing fair management of advertising revenue. In order to ensure freedom of expression in the future, states should discard insufficiently precise laws and avoid granting unacceptable discretionary powers to officials. The establishment of a mechanism for oversight of decisions would be instrumental in granting legitimacy to discretionary allocations made by officials.
90. In considering the adoption of such legislation, the States must keep in mind that transparency is vitally needed. The criteria used by government decision-makers to distribute publicity must be made public. The actual allocation of advertising and sum totals of publicity spending should also be publicized, to insure fairness and respect for freedom of expression.
91. As media sources have the courage to be vocal about discrimination in the allocation of official publicity, and as human rights organizations and domestic opposition political forces continue to bring attention to instances and regimes of discrimination, the local and international attention called to these acts will increase.
92. The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression will continue to monitor the development of these practices.
[1] This chapter was made possible through the assistance of Rachel Jensen, a second-year law student at Georgetown University, who provided the research and the preliminary drafting of this report, and of Andrea de la Fuente, a recent law graduate from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Argentina, who further assisted in the drafting of this report. Both were interns at the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression during 2003. The Office thanks them for their contributions.
[2] United Kingdom Cabinet Office, Government Printing and Advertising, available at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/central/1999/workgis/annex_a.htm.
[3] Mark G. Yudof, When Governments Speak: Toward a Theory of Government Expression and the First Amendment, 57 Tex. L. Rev. 863, 866 (1979).
[4] Marylene Smeets, Americas Overview 2001, available at: http://www.cpj.org/attacks01/pages_att01/ acrobat_att01/AmericasOverviews.pdf.
[5] World Bank Group, World Development Report 2002, 185-186.
[6] Money Talks, Martin H. Redish, NYU Press (New York 2001), 205.
[7] Id. at 207.
[10] American Convention on Human Rights, in BASIC DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM, OEA/SER.L/V/I.4 rev. 8 (May 22, 2001), 9.
[11] Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, Principle 13.
[12] Declaration of Chapultepec, adopted by the Hemisphere Conference on Free Speech, Mexico City, March 11, 1994, Principle 7.
[13] International Mechanisms for Promoting Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration, November 2001. See Annex to the Report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression 2001, OEA/Ser.L/II.114, Doc. 5 rev. 1, April 16, 2002.
[14] Eur. Ct. H.R., Case of Vgt Verein gegen Tierfabriken v. Switzerland, June 28, 2001, Application
No. 24699/94 R.
[15] Article 10: 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises. 2. The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.
[16] Case of Vgt Verein gegen Tierfabriken v. Switzerland, supra note 15, para. 73.
[17] Id. para. 74.
[18] See supra note 16.
[19] Human Rights Practice R.O. June 2000, P. 10.1031
[20] Eur. Ct. H.R., Case of Autronic A.G. v. Switzerland, May 22, 1990, Application No. 12726/87.
[22] Eur. Ct. H. R., Case of Herczegfalvy v. Austria, September 24, 1992, Application No. 10533/83, paras. 91-94.
[23] Human Rights Practice R.O. June 2000, P. 10.1031.
[24] The Special Rapporteur receives information from independent organizations working to defend and protect human rights and freedom of expression and from directly concerned independent journalists, as well as information requested by the Office of the Special Rapporteur.
[25] To the date of the approval of this report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for its inclusion in the IACHR’s Annual Report, only the States of Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and the United States, out of the total of the member States of the OAS, have submitted the information requested by the Special Rapporteur. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago replied to the letter sent by the Special Rapporteur, and expressed that the State would provide the Office with the requested information at the earliest opportunity. The State of Bahamas requested further information on the request of the Special Rapporteur. The Special Rapporteur greatly appreciates the efforts of these States in gathering the requested information, and encourages all member States of the OAS to collaborate in the preparation of future studies by this Office in order to better take advantage of the conclusions derived from them.
[26] Law 1632, Law on Telecommunications, Article 43, Addendum, from http://www.sittel.gov.bo/mlrldr.htm. Article 43 of the Telecommunications Law elevates a number of articles of Supreme Decree No. 09740 (Decreto Supremo No. 09740) to the status of law, including the quoted passage from Article 67 of that decree.
[27] Reporters without Borders, Bolivia Annual Report 2002, available at: http://www.rsf.fr/article. php3?id_article=1379&var_recherche=%22official+advertising%22+bolivia.
[28] International Press Institute, 2002 World Press Freedom Review, available at http://www.freemedia.at/wpfr/Americas/bolivia.htm.
[29] Broadcasting Act, 1991.
[30] Official Notices Publication Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.3, s. 2.
[31] Inter-American Press Association, Press Laws of Colombia, available at http://www.sipiapa.com/projects/laws-col3.cfm.
[32] Inter-American Press Association, Press Law Database, available at http://www.sipiapa.com/projects/laws-cub.cfm.
[34] Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones, Ley General de las Telecomunicaciones No. 153-98, available at http://www.indotel.org.do/site/marco_legal/ley153-98.htm.
[35] Inter-American Press Association, Press Law Database, available at http://www.sipiapa.com/projects/laws-ecu20.cfm.
[36] Haitian Constitution, Title III, Chapter II, Section C: Freedom of Expression (1987).
[37] Jamaican Broadcasting Commission, http://www.broadcastingcommission.org/broadcastinglaws/index.htm.
[38] República de Panamá, Ente Regulador de los Servicios Públicos, Ley No. 24, 30 de Junio de 1999, available at http://www.ersp.gob.pa/leyes_decretos/Ley24.asp.
[39] National Constitution of Paraguay, Article 27.
[40] Honorable Cámara de Diputados de Paraguay, http://www.camdip.gov.py.
[41] Marc A. Franklin and David A. Anderson, Mass Media Law, Foundation Press, 1995, 164.
[42] Poder Legislativo, República Oriental del Uruguay: Ley No. 16.320, Rendición de Cuentas y Balance de Ejecución Presupuestal Ejercicio, available at http://www.parlamento.gub.uy/Leyes/Ley16320.htm.
[43] Periodistas Frente a la Corrupción (PFC), Suspenden Publicidad oficial al diario Rio Negro, ALERTA-ARGENTINA, http:portal-pfc.org/perseguidos/2003/002.html, 9 de enero de 2003; Rio Negro (Argentina), La SIP ya prepara un documento de adhesion a la presentacion. El organismo continental de prensa trabaja con sus abogados. También la asociacion periodistas, www.rionegro.com.ar, 24 de enero de 2003.
[44] Asociación para la Defensa del Periodismo Independiente(PERIODISTAS), Advertising withdrawn from radio programme, 12 November 2001, available at http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/14991.
[45] Asociación para la Defensa del Periodismo Independiente(PERIODISTAS), Discriminatory administration of state publicity, May 31, 2001, available at http://www.asociacionperiodistas.org.
[46] Asociación para la Defensa del Periodismo Independiente (PERIODISTAS), Advertising withdrawn from radio programme, November 12, 2001, available at http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/14991.
[47] El Diario (Bolivia), Medios pandinos denuncian atentados y acuden a la SIP, January 18, 2002, available at http://www.portal-pfc.org/libexp/docs/2002/010.html.
[48] Reporters Without Borders (RSF), RSF calls for an inquiry into the allocation of public sector advertising in Bahia, January 31, 2001, available at http://ifex.org/en/content/view/full/12569.
[49] Claudio Abramo Weber, Programme in Comparative Media Law & Policy at Oxford University, Brazilian Media, available at http://pcmlp.socleg.ox.ac.uk/mas/reports/abramo.shtml.
[50] Reporters without Borders, Brazil Annual Report 2002, available at http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article= 1380&Valider=OK.
[51] Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2003, A Global Survey of Media Independence, Edited by Karin Deutsch Karlekar, available at http://www.freedomhouse.org/pfs2003/pfs2003.pdf.
[52]Javier Dario Restrepo, El Espectador: Agonía de un periódico, December 2001, available at http://portal-pfc.org/recursos/biblio_periodismo_archivos/el_espectador_co.htm.
[53] Freedom House, Annual Survey of Press Freedom 2002, available at http://www.freedomhouse.org/ pfs2002/pfs2002.pdf.
[54] Journalists Against Corruption (PFC), Piden investigar a presidente Flores por injerencia en medios, May 12, 2003, available at http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/49593.
[55] Marylene Smeets, Speaking Out, Speaking Out: Postwar Journalism in Guatemala and El Salvador, available at http://www.cpj.org/attacks99/americas99/americasSP.html.
[56] Article XIX, Submission on Guatemala's Second Periodic Report to the UN Human Rights Committee, available at http://www.article19.org,.
[59] Comité para la Libertad de Expresión (C-Libre), Situación de la Libertad de Expresión en Honduras, available at http://probidad.org/honduras/libexp/2003/008.html, "Situación de la Libertad de Expresión en Honduras".
[62] Joel Simon, Breaking Away: Mexico's Press Challenges the Status Quo, available at http://www.cpj.org/ attacks97/ specialreports/sr-americas.html.
[63] Marylene Smeets, Overview: The Americas, available at http://www.cpj.org/attacks00/pages_att00 /acrobat_ att00.html/ Americas_countries.pdf".
[64] Reporters without Borders, Radio Programme Discriminated Against in Allocation of Government Advertising, 5 Februrary 2003, available at http://rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=4879&var_recherche=%22advertising+revenue%22.
[66] Inter-American Press Association, October 23, 2002.
[67] See Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Press Release 89/03, available at http://www.cidh.org/Relatoria/English/PressRel03/PRelease8903.htm.
[68] Periodistas Frente a la Corrupción, Recopilaciones sobre Libertad de Expresión y de prensa en America Latina, March 27, 2003, available at http://www.portal-pfc.org/libexp/recopilaciones/2003/0327.html.
1889 F St. N.W. Washington, DC, U.S.A. 20006 / E-mail: cidhoea@oas.org / Phone: (202) 370-9000 / Fax: (202) 458-3650
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Longitude: -75.68964
Followers: None
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2019 2018 2017 2016
2016 Nest Activity Report by Delaware Osprey Watch
Adult arrival
Nest Occupied
Nest Active
First chick fledging
Egg laying
Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation
Nest failure
Clutch hatching
Reason for nest failure
2016 Nest Activity Report by Caylen
2019 Nest Activity Report by west51
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
09/02/2019 by west51
The 2 adults and 2 fledglings have not been observed at the nest for a few weeks. 7:45-8:10am.
No adults or fledglings at the nest.
No adults or fledglings observed.
Fledglings actively exercising their wings. Mother lifting herself off platform a few feet to encourage the fledglings to do the same. Mother did this over and over again. Fledglings didn't respond. 5% overcast with high visibility.
9:00-9:40am 10% overcast with high visibility. One adult and two chicks observed. Did not observe second adult bringing food.
11:40-12:15pm 100% overcast with high visibility. 2 adsults observed with 1st adult feeding the chicks and the 2nd bringing food.
Observed 10:30 - 11:00. High visibility with 0% overcast. One adult in the nest. Did not see the second adult.
9:50 - 10:20 Sky overcast was 0% with high visibility. Two adults observed. One tending the nest and the second bringing food. First adult was feeding the chick(s). Second adult watched and while the feeding activity took place. Second adult observed chasing a bird away and then returning. Second adult also briefly helped in feeding the chick(s).
9:30-10:15am. 10% overcast w/high visibility. Two adults observed. One bringing food and the other tending the nest and feeding the chicks. Did not observe chicks. Assuming their are chicks present by the activity of the adult tending the nest.
4pm-4:30pm 100% overcast w/high visibility.No activity observed.
Initial observation on 5/3/2019. Adult activity in nest. Second adult observed on tower. 60% overcast. Visibility high.
06/21/2018 by Caylen
Nest observed from 15:49 to 16:00 on 6/21/18. Overcast was 80% and visibility was high. Just like last survey, one adult was next to the nest. I could not get a glimpse of any possible nestlings. Adult stayed there for the duration of the survey.
Nest observed from 14:24 to 14:40 on 6/7/18. Overcast was 80% and visibility was high. Adult was directly next to nest, but not on it. Stayed there for duration of survey.
Nest observed from 14:27 to 14:40 on 5/24/18. Overcast was 0% and visibility was high. It appeared as though there was no adult on the nest. One adult was perched next to it. Could possibly have chicks now.
Nest observed from 14:28 to 14:41 on 5/10/18. Overcast was 50% and visibility was high. One adult was perched next to the nest, while another was on it. The perched osprey flew to a lower level of the cell tower and began preening. Both adults remained in these spots for the duration of the survey.
Nest observed from 11:00 to 11:21 on 4/26/18. Overcast was 25% and visibility was high. Both adults were present at the nest. The female was on the nest, but flew off and quickly returned to it. The male remained nearby and would fly to deter nearby vultures from approaching. Another adult osprey came near, which the male promptly gave chase to and away from the nest.
Nest observed from 14:02 to 14:40 on 4/12/18. Overcast was 75% and visibility was high. Female osprey was at the nest, calling. Male osprey came to the nest, mated with the female, and then shortly left afterward. Not long after, the male returned with what looked to be a large goldfish or koi. The female accepted the fish and started eating it. Both adults eventually flew away, with the female going into a nearby tree to continue eating.
Nest observed from 13:08 to 13:33 on 4/10/18. Overcast was 40% and visibility was high. Nest appeared more built up, but no osprey at the nest. Two osprey were on one of the other cell towers in the area, and stayed for the duration of the survey.
Nest observed from 13:36 to 13:48 on 3/30/18. Overcast was 100% and visibility was high. Two adults were at the nest, with one directly over top of the nest. Another osprey came near, but was given chase by the two at the nest. The two original adults circled around one another after the other was gone, and eventually went out of view.
Nest observed from 13:43 to 13:55 on 3/27/18. Overcast was 100% and visibility was high. No osprey at platform, but nest material is visible. Could possibly be remnants from the previous year, but could not say for certain. Several starlings were around the edge of the platform.
Nest observed from 15:40 to 15:50 on 8/17/17. Overcast was 30% and visibility was high. One juvenile at the nest, calling constantly. It flew up onto a higher point of the tower, and remained there for the duration of the survey. No others were seen nearby.
Nest observed from 14:36 to 14:55 on 8/11/17. Overcast was 75% and visibility was high. There was only one juvenile at the nest. Another osprey flew nearby and began pursuit of a red-tailed hawk. The osprey at the nest took off, but went past the treeline. The one pursuing the hawk attacked several times, driving it away. It returned to the nest and was able to identify as another juvenile. It was calling for the rest of the survey.
Nest observed from 11:48 to 12:03 on 8/5/2017. Overcast was 30% and visibility was high. One chick was feeding while another was preening. The feeding chick then took flight, mingling with another osprey in flight nearby. It appeared to be the third juvenile- they are all capable of flight now. Judging by the prowess in flight, they have probably been flying for quite some time now, at least two weeks. The two osprey flew out of sight, and the one remaining in the nest stayed there for the rest of the survey.
Nest observed from 16:05 to 16:18 on 7/23/17. Overcast was 100% and visibility was high- it had started to lightly rain. One of the chicks was continuously flapping and looked capable of flight. Could only see 2 of the chicks, but the third may have just been out of view. Both adults returned to the nest, one of which had a fish. It left the fish and flew off again, leaving the other adult with the chicks.
Nest observed from 12:38 to 12:58 on 7/8/17. Overcast was 50% and visibility was high. There are a definitive 3 chicks at the nest, all nearing 7 weeks old. An adult was also at the nest, calling continuously. The chicks were seen with pieces of food. The adult left for a brief moment, flew in a circle near the nest, and landed back at the nest. They stayed there for the duration of the survey.
Nest observed from 14:20 to 14:35 on 6/23/17. Overcast was 70% and visibility was high. The female was at the nest, and 2 chicks were visible. They appeared roughly 4-5 weeks old. Near the end of the survey, the male came with a fish to the nest.
Nest observed from 11:47 to 11:57 on 6/10/17. Overcast was 5% and visibility was high. An adult was on the nest for the duration of the survey.
Nest observed from 14:23 to 14:34 on 5/31/17. Overcast was 50% and visibility was high. There were a total of 3 adults, one appeared to be feeding chicks on the nest and two were flying around the tower close by. Judging by chest markings, they appeared to be male and female. It did not seem like an aggressive interaction, but they did eventually fly out of sight from the nest. At the end of the survey, the adult at the nest went to sit on it.
Nest observed from 15:23 to 15:38 on 5/17/17. Overcast was 0% and visibility was high. The male was on the nest, while the female circled around the area nearby for a few minutes. She came to the nest and switched incubating duties with the male. Male stayed perched next to the nest for the rest of the survey.
Nest observed from 12:55 to 13:15 on 5/3/17. Overcast was 85% and visibility was high. One adult was on the nest for the entire duration of the survey. As I was leaving, another osprey was flying overhead toward the nest.
Nest observed from 15:50 to 16:00 on 4/23/17. Overcast was 70% and visibility was high. Immediately could see the nest and that it was built up, but could not see an osprey on it until it stood up. Looks to be incubating female. No other adults seen.
Nest observed from 14:13 to 14:42 on 4/9/17. Overcast was 10% and visibility was high. One adult was managing the nest and collecting sticks for it. Only one adult was seen this whole time though.
Nest observed from 15:10 to 15:35 on 4/1/17. Overcast was 100% and visibility was high. One adult was on the cell tower below the nest, eating a fish. It then flew up to the nest platform. Another adult flew in toward the nest, but the interaction between the two seemed hostile and the adult at the nest gave chase. Both flew off out of sight at the end of the survey.
Nest observed from 16:50 to 17:00 on 3/25/17. Overcast was 100% and visibility was high. At the time there was no presence of adults. The old nest is gone, but it may have fallen/manually been removed like it had been last year at this time.
On 8/21/16, I observed this nest from 13:13 to 13:23. Overcast was at 100% and raining, but visibility was still high. There were no adults or chicks present.
On 8/11/16, I observed this nest from 15:30 to 15:40. Overcast was 25% and visibility was high. No adults were present, but both chicks were. One was at the nest while the other was on a nearby cell tower. Both stayed in these locations for the duration of the survey.
On 8/7/16, I observed this nest from 19:10 to 19:40. Overcast was 15% and visibility was high. The two fledglings were around the nest. Two adults flew near the nest and then landed in the other nearby cell tower. The fledglings were calling continuously at the adults, but they remained perched at cell tower for the rest of the survey.
On 7/25/16, I observed this nest from 16:00 to 16:13. Overcast was 95% and visibility was high. One adult was present on a nearby cell tower. At least one of the chicks was now a fledgling, as it was perched on a nearby spruce tree. The other chick was still on the nest. All three osprey stayed at these locations for the duration of the survey.
On 7/9/16, I observed this nest from 10:17 to 10:30. The sky was fully overcast but visibility was still high. There were no adults present, but I could see at least two chicks in the nest. They appeared to be around 6-7 weeks old. Although still in the nest, the chicks appeared as though they were becoming increasingly mobile.
On 6/30/16, I observed this nest from 15:18 to 15:28. Overcast was 35% and visibility was high. There was only one adult at the nest, but it was sitting over the nest as if to shield the chicks from the sun. It remained this way for the duration of the survey.
On 6/27/16, I observed this nest from 15:27 to 15:38. Overcast was 60% and visibility was high. One adult was standing over the nest feeding chicks. I know that there are at least two chicks judging by how the adult was feeding them. Another adult was flying around the area and near the nest, then flew off out of sight.
On 6/7/16, I observed this nest from 15:20 to 15:30. Overcast was 80% with high visibility, although it did begin to rain during the survey. One adult was at the nest, then sat on the nest once it began raining.
On 5/29/16, I observed this nest from 11:30 to 11:43. Sky overcast was 20% and visibility was high. Both of the adults were at the nest. The female was sitting on the nest, while the male perched next to her. They remained this way for the duration of the survey.
On 5/23/16, I observed this nest from 10:09 to 10:25. Sky overcast was 75% and visibility was high. When I arrived, an adult flew by to a nearby cell tower with a fish in tow. Another adult was at the tower already. The two seemed to be "spatting" at one another, but were not physically aggressive. The one without a fish flew back toward the nest, but the female refused to let it land on or near the nest by giving warning calls. The other adult with the fish (the male of the nest presumably) came back, gave it to the female, and stayed at the nest. The other adult left. The female stood over the nest and appeared to be picking at the fish and feeding chicks.
On 5/15/16, I observed this nest from 16:32 to 16:47. Visibility was high and overcast was 40%. I could not tell if an adult was on the nest due to the viewing angle, so I cannot confirm if an osprey was there or not. No adult came and tended to the nest while I observed either. It was a noticeably windy day though, so perhaps the adult was low to the nest if present.
On 4/30/16, I observed this nest from 16:08 to 16:19. Sky overcast was roughly 70% and visibility was high. The female was on the nest and did not move, so I am certain at this point that she is incubating. The male was not seen.
On 4/18/16, I observed this nest from 15:56 to 16:09. Sky overcast was 0% and visibility was high. Both of the adults were at the nest, with the female on the nest. An object that looked like a plastic bag was by the female. There was a Cooper's hawk calling nearby, but it did not disrupt the osprey pair. The male flew off near the end of the survey.
On 4/6/16, I observed this nest from 14:28 to 14:58. Sky overcast was roughly 5% and visibility was high. After arriving, an adult osprey arrived at the nest with a fish. Another adult was on the nest tending to it. The adult that brought the fish left very quickly, and it looked like it took a large rag-like object with it. The adult, which I identified as the female, flew to a nearby tree that has been a popular roosting spot for these osprey in the past. The male on the nest then left and came back shortly with a stick. Near the end of the survey, the female left her perch, without the object she originally had, and went into the nearby forest to bring another stick to the nest. She then stayed on the nest while the male stayed over it.
On 4/4/16, I observed this nest from 12:39 to 12:59. Overcast was 100% and visibility was high. Shortly after I arrived, an adult osprey flew up to the nest with a large stick in tow. Judging by size and breast color, I believe it was the female. After adding the stick to the nest, she stayed above the nest for the rest of the survey. I did not see another adult.
On 3/25/16, I observed this nest from 12:30 to 12:43. Overcast was 100% and there was light precipitation. The visibility was still high. There were no signs of adults.
On 3/16/16, I observed this nest from 16:00 to 16:10. It was partly cloudy, with high visibility and 75% overcast. There were no signs of adults.
On 3/9/16, I observed this nest from 16:55 to 17:10. It was a relatively clear day, with high visibility and 35% overcast. There are no signs of adults yet, and it appears that the cell tower was cleared of the old nest. Was it forcibly removed?
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Obama's speech: The Art of Hypocrisy
PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity), # 555, Sept. 30, 2011
The art of hypocrisy. Almost every statement in the passage concerning the Israeli-Palestinian issue was a lie. A blatant lie: the speaker knew it was a lie, and so did the audience. In essence, he sold the fundamental national interests of the United States of America for the chance of a second...
Protest against Israeli military attacks on the Jenin Freedom Theater
August 18, 2011, A press release from "Friends of Jenin Freedom Theatre"
HUNDREDS OF THEATER ARTISTS AND SUPPORTERS PROTEST ISRAELI MILITARY ATTACKS ON THE JENIN FREEDOM THEATRE For a full list of signatories please visit http://jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2011/08/artists-against-israels-attack-on-jenin.html#.Tk4e0sicvwQ.facebook New York, N.Y...
Israel approves the construction of 900 housing units in East Jerusalem
by PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity), # 548, Aug. 12, 2011
Israel approves the construction of 900 housing units in East Jerusalem, proving that Israel wants colonisation, not peace! On August 4th, 2011, Israel’s Ministry of the Interior approved the construction of 900 housing units near the settlement district of Har Homa in East Jerusalem....
Jerusalem: Israeli "Tolerance Museum" to be built on Muslim tombs
PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity), # 547 Aug. 5, 2011
Israel’s Ministry of the Interior has given the green light for the commencement of the construction of the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, which is to be built on the site of Muslim tombs dating back many centuries, said a spokesperson on Wednesday. "The permit given on Tuesday by the...
Theatre under occupation
From: The Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp, Occupied Palestinian Territory, 1 August, 2011
http://www.thefreedomtheatre.org/news.php?id=189 Following Wednesday 27th July attack on The Freedom Theatre[1] the detained persons, Adnan Naghnaghiye, head technician at the theatre and Bilal Saadi, chairperson of the association, were taken to the Jalame and Meggiddo high security...
Call from Gaza: Open the Rafah Crossing permanently and unconditionally!
Besieged Gaza, Occupied Palestine, 30 July 2011
Article 13 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to...
Jewish settlers are terrorising Palestinians, says Israeli general
PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity), # 546, July 29, 2011
A senior Israeli army commander has warned that unchecked "Jewish terror" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank threatens to plunge the territory into another conflict. In unusually outspoken comments, Major General Avi Mizrahi took aim at extremist Israeli settlers,...
July 8: A day of Israeli hysteria
Human rights advocates attacked by Israeli forces after detention at airport, Press release, Bethlehem and Jerusalem 9 July 2011.
Palestinians in the "Welcome to Palestine" coalition condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack by Israeli forces on dozens of detained human rights activists. One of those detained reported (before his phone was apparently removed) how 32 people were held together in one room and...
Freedom Flotilla II: No to a Kinder, Gentler Siege
By Nadia Hijab
It was never about aid. Freedom Flotilla II is, like its assaulted predecessor of a year ago, a political act. The passengers came together in shared determination to challenge Israel's five-year siege of Gaza and to exercise their right to travel through international waters to...
Open letter to Jose Manuel Barroso
Iraklion, July 10th, 2011, "Gaza Flotilla II"
President of the European Commission Dear Mr. Barroso, Squeezed between Scylla and Charybdis, the zionist state of Israel and the “democratic” Greece, our nutshell JULIANO with citizens from the European Union (Sweden, Greece and Austria) on board still tries to gain...
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Home > News > Official Announcements
New Apostolic Church acquires full membership in the CCC in Luxembourg
Members in the Council of Christian Churches in Luxembourg. Far left: Apostle Clément Haeck (photo: CCC)
Zurich. As of 2 October 2017, the New Apostolic Church in Luxembourg has been a full member in the country’s Council of Christian Churches (CCC). The unanimous resolution is the result of a year’s worth of open and trusting collaboration on a national level.
Apostle Clément Haeck from Luxembourg is delighted. For him this is the crowning achievement of a very intensive period of cooperation with the churches in the council. “We have now been fully recognised as a church. The only thing we still need is official state recognition, and we are working on that now,” he says, describing the situation. The CCC approached our Church and inquired about its status. Before that, the New Apostolic District Church had been an associate member since 2015. At that time, the Apostle received a letter from the chairman of the CCC which stated that “the presence and collaboration of the New Apostolic Church Luxembourg would be sensible and desirable in the Council of Christian Churches.” To start with we were offered guest status for a period of two years. “In autumn 2017, there was to be discussion about our respective experiences as well as any future cooperation,” the letter went on to say. Apostle Haeck went along with the idea, and approached Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider and the responsible District Apostle Bernd Koberstein in September in order to discuss the matter with them.
An important step
In an announcement to the congregations in Luxembourg, Apostle Haeck writes that it has been the endeavour of the Church leadership for some years to develop closer relationships with the other Christian churches. An important step for this was associate status in the Council of Christian Churches in Luxembourg. “It is my great pleasure to now announce to you that the Council of Christian Churches in Luxembourg adopted our Church as a full member on 2 October 2017. The vote was unanimous!” Full membership represents a “great acknowledgement for our Church and for all of us,” the Apostle goes on to emphasise. “We are very grateful for the trust that the other churches have placed in us!”
Numerous memberships
In addition to Luxembourg, the New Apostolic Church also has other national memberships in ecumenical associations in Europe—for example, in Switzerland and the Netherlands. The national churches are also active on an ecumenical level in India and Argentina. In Germany there are now numerous local associate memberships as well as three memberships in regional assemblies of the Association of Christian Churches (ACC), including the federal states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Hamburg. Discussions with the ACC are also underway on a national level.
Neuapostolische Kirche wird Gastmitglied der ACK Deutschland - 07.02.2019 10:00
Category: Europe, Germany, Swiss, France, Official Announcements, Press Release
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NACI News
A look ahead
NAC from A-Z
For short statements about various topics please see also in "NAC from A-Z".
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Monrovia High Robotics Team More Than Halfway to Funding Goal to Compete in World Championship
School Board Member Alex Zucco says that the Monrovia High robotics team, "Kings and Queens," is half way to its goal of raising the money the team needs to go to St. Louis to compete in the robotic world championships. (Actually, at this writing, the team has raised more than half, $8,020 of the $14,000 it needs.) You can contribute here: http://goo.gl/IAZUht
Minor Mud Flow Danger in Monrovia Because of Rains This Week
The City of Monrovia is warning that possible rain through Wednesday, if it becomes too heavy, "could bring the threat of minor mud and debris flows" in the area just below the Madison fire area ( http://goo.gl/qEUKJE ). Sixty percent chance of rain predicted for tonight: http://goo.gl/CoUEuv
Monrovia Police: Car Roll Over, Attempted Robbery, Shoplifting, Drugs, Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 27-30. - Brad Haugaard]
Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.
Theft from a Vehicle
On March 27 at 7:16 a.m., an officer responded to the 1100 block of East Lemon regarding a vehicle theft. The victim parked his unlocked vehicle in the driveway. When he returned to the car the following morning the car had been ransacked and items had been scattered throughout the car. Unknown if there is a loss.
Commercial Burglary -Suspect Arrested
On March 27 at 4:13 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding a burglary. Loss prevention observed a male suspect inside the store, concealing items on his person. The male suspect left the location and was followed to another business by loss prevention. The suspect entered the restroom and was approached by Monrovia Police officers. The suspect admitted taking the property and was arrested and taken into custody.
On March 27 at 6:03 p.m., a victim came into the police department to report a theft from his vehicle. The victim parked his unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of West Colorado. When he returned he noticed his sunglasses were missing and his car ransacked. The investigation is continuing.
Commercial Burglary / Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested
On March 28 at 9:03 p.m. officers responded to the 400 block of West Huntington regarding a burglary. A female suspect walked into a business with an empty backpack and selected merchandise, including a backpack. The female suspect concealed the merchandise in her backpack and in the backpack she selected. She left the location without paying for the merchandise and was stopped by loss prevention. During a search of her property a controlled substance was located. She was arrested for commercial burglary and possession of a controlled substance.
Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Suspect Arrested
On March 29 at 6:53 p.m., officers were investigating a theft in the 600 block of West Huntington when they observed a parked vehicle with what appeared to be a methamphetamine pipe and a baggie of methamphetamine displayed out in the open on the center console. The officers were able to locate the owner of the vehicle who admitted the drugs belonged to him. The suspect was arrested.
Attempt Robbery
On March 29 at 9:17 p.m., dispatch received a call of an attempt robbery in the 800 block of West Foothill. The victim was exiting his residence and approaching his vehicle in the parking lot of his apartment complex. He observed a male suspect inside his vehicle and confronted the suspect. The suspect pulled out a knife and said he would take his vehicle, but then fled on foot to an awaiting vehicle. The victim obtained a plate and officers searched the area, but could not find the suspects or the vehicle. The suspect was described as a male Hispanic in his late 30's or early 40's with a tattoo on his right eye area. The investigation is continuing.
Under of the Influence of a Controlled Substance / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Suspect Arrested
On March 29 at 9:26 p.m., dispatch received multiple 911 calls from a subject in the 500 block of East Olive saying he needed protection. A subject was located and questioned. During the questioning, the subject displayed symptoms of being under the influence of a stimulant. The subject admitted smoking methamphetamine earlier and stated he had more in his apartment. The subject gave officers consent to enter his apartment and retrieve the drugs. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol - Suspect Arrested
On March 30 at 1:45 a.m., dispatch received a call from a business in the 100 block of West Foothill of a possible drunk driver, in the drive through. Officers arrived and stopped the vehicle as it left the location. During the investigation, it was determined that the driver was under the influence and was arrested.
On March 30 at 1:59 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of South Mayflower regarding a vehicle rollover traffic collision. Further investigation revealed the driver fell asleep and crashed into a parked vehicle, causing the vehicle to rollover. The driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Property under Observation
On March 30 at 6:25 p.m., officers responded to 400 block of Stedman regarding a suspicious person loitering on the property and possible drug activity. Officers arrived and detained a subject they suspected of committing vehicle burglaries and another female that lives at the residence. Inside the open garage, officers noticed a pile off cell phones and drug paraphernalia. An officer recognized property that looked like a sunglass case that was taken in a prior vehicle burglary. Officers searched the residence for additional stolen property. Investigation is continuing.
Pastor of Monrovia's Second Baptist Celebrates 40 Years
Monrovia's Second Baptist Church in Monrovia celebrated the fortieth anniversary of its pastor, Dr. William Larue Dillard, with a banquet Saturday. http://goo.gl/4y9RuH
Quake in Monrovia
Apparently an earthquake in Monrovia. I'll update when I get more information.
Update: Centered near La Habra.
LA Times says it was a 5.3: http://goo.gl/ZmYfES
Star-News says a 3.6, and no damage reported: http://goo.gl/3Naazx
It felt like shaking then swaying to me. Not too bad.
Monrovia VFW Honors Students, Receives Fire Fighter's Donation
C/2LT Nathan Lagaspi, CDT(MS3) William Tostenson and C/SSgt Langham Robinson with Moe Stamps. Lagaspi and Robinson are with CAP Squadron 21 in El Monte. Tostenson is a student at Azusa Pacific University and a member of the Claremont McKenna ROTC detachment.
The Monrovia VFW has given awards for leadership excellence to two Civil Air Patrol cadets from the El Monte Squadron and one to an ROTC cadet from Azusa Pacific. CAP is the auxiliary of the Air Force and offers teens training in aerospace and leadership in a military frame work. Each cadet received a medal, certificate, proclamation from the City of Monrovia, and a grant from the post Memorial Scholarship & Grant Fund to support their educations.
Also, the Monrovia Fire Fighters' Association made a substantial donation (amount currently confidential) to the VFW's Memorial Scholarship & Grant Fund, allowing the post to offer larger grants and scholarships. The Fund accomplishes the organizational goal, "to preserve the memory and history of our dead." Each grant (including those given to the cadets) comes with a certificate listing every service member from the Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte area who has been killed in combat.
Lunch at Gene's Grinders
Lunch at Gene's Grinders, at Myrtle and Olive. Got the Friday Special, a large Italian sausage sandwich ($7.50) and an iced tea (huge, for $1.70). Very big. Half would have been plenty, but, well, it was good and I ate it all. I'm now officially stuffed.
The Art of Monrovia's New Train Station
Hand painted ramp tiles by Cha Rie Tang, Artist.
Art for the coming Monrovia Gold Line station is being called, "River of Time," and celebrates Monrovia's architectural heritage and natural beauty. Artist Cha-Rie Tang has combined tile, glass and natural materials, with a suggestion of water toward the station platforms by a band of field tiles glazed to suggest a stream, as well as from handmade glass bricks around a river-worn boulder that will sit at the entrance to the station. Each column base will include decorative tiles, created to celebrate the local history of Batchelder tiles. Source: http://goo.gl/Zc8w1q
Gold Line Progress in Monrovia
Canopy structure at the Monrovia Station, which will have two side platforms.
Crews are completing light rail track installation at the Myrtle Ave grade crossing in Monrovia.
Source: Gold Line Construction Authority press release
Monrovia Trader Joe's Markets Rated Best | Candle Fundraiser | Yoga at St. Luke's
~ Monrovia-based Trader Joe's comes out as top supermarket in survey. Good service, good perishables, good prices, and clean stores. http://goo.gl/LjmNoh
~ During April Monrovia's Xylem Spa (198 S. Myrtle) will donate 100 percent of the purchase price ($12) of its "Light the Way" candles to Global Greengrants Fund, a non-profit working to solve environmental problems. The scented candles are in reclaimed glass beverage bottles and the cartons contain recycled paper materials.
~ Gyl Elliott, of Gita Yoga Learning, will host yoga workshops at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave. all from 6 to 9 p.m. April 16, Potions for Powerful Healing: aromatherapy based on Indian philosophy of healing; May 14, Shakti Yoga Philosophy and Practice, to "gain physical, mental and emotional strength via movement, breath, healers and meditation;" June 18, Yoga of Breath and Focus. Breathing exercises. Bring a compact or hand mirror. $45 each workshop.
Monrovia Council: City Manager Search, Transit Village, Plastic Bag Report, Honors and Arbor Day
The Monrovia City Council will hold another closed session on March 31 at 4 p.m. about the city manager ( http://goo.gl/6w9r7a ), and again on April 1 ( http://goo.gl/0agRtq ). Comment: This search for a new city manager seems to be going on for quite a long time.
At a study session at 5 p.m. on April 1, the council will get an update and discuss the Station Square Transit Village project. http://goo.gl/NpjHaI
At the regular 7:30 p.m. meeting on April 1 (agenda: http://goo.gl/b6zDqi ), the council will:
- Hear a recommendation from the Reuseable Bag Regulation Ad Hoc Committee recommending the city prepare an ordinance for consideration.
- Introduce newly hired Director of Community Services Tina Cherry.
- Proclaim April 24, 2014, as "Arbor Day"
- Recognize Margarita Sandoval, 2014 Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills Youth of the Year and 2014 Boys and Girls Club Los Angeles County Alliance Youth of the Year; and Samantha Rodarte and Donye Neal, 2014 Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills Youth of the Year finalists.
Dinner at the VFW
Dinner at the VFW, corner of Magnolia and Chestnut. Robert Parry invited me to come to its Thursday night (5-7:30 p.m.) open-to-the-public Burger Feast. Got a $5 cheeseburger with fries (he paid) and a beer for $2.50 (I paid). It was a really good burger, a great price, and it helps support the VFW's education and veteran relief efforts.
Also, the post has Sunday breakfast brunch 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Monday tacos, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Posted by Brad at 3/27/2014 1 comment:
Monrovia's St. Baldrick's Foundation Helps Arcadia Go Bald
Arcadia's Matt Denny's restaurant and Del Sol Salon, working through Monrovia's St. Baldrick's Foundation, sponsored a head-shaving event to raise money for kids with cancer. http://goo.gl/OfGGSu
Monrovia Police: Lost Mountain Biker - and Dog - Rescued; Drunk and Mean; Hit and Run; Car Crimes
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 398 service events, During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 398 service events, resulting in 82 investigations.
March 24 at 8:42 a.m., an officer was dispatched to Duarte and Encino regarding a suspicious vehicle that had the right rear door and trunk open, and appeared ransacked. Through investigation, the officer determined that the victim had parked and secured the vehicle on the night before at about 9:00 p.m. The loss was two tennis rackets and a soccer ball from the trunk. The investigation is continuing.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered
March 24 at 10:08 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 1800 block of South Mountain on the report of a recovered vehicle. A company van was reported stolen to Monrovia Police Department on March 22. The company received a call from a resident in Rowland Heights telling him a van from their company had been parked there for several days. The company had the vehicle towed back to their business in Monrovia and called police to report the vehicle had been recovered. A carpet cleaning pump had been taken from the van. The investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft from a Vehicle
March 24 at 4:31 p.m., an officer responded to a parking lot in the 1700 block of South Mountain on the report of a theft from a vehicle. The victim parked her vehicle in the parking lot after lunch and went into work, but did not lock the vehicle. When she returned to it, she found someone had broken into her vehicle and the backseat was missing. The officer handling the investigation checked the area and found another vehicle that had also been burglarized. The investigation is continuing.
March 24 at 5:51 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of West Huntington. The victim had parked his company vehicle in a business parking lot. He locked the vehicle, but left a company laptop computer and a duffle bag containing a camera, cell phone, and tools on the front seat of the vehicle. He left the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes. When he returned to it, he found a window had been smashed and his property had been taken. The investigation is continuing.
Stolen Vehicle
March 24 at 7:00 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 900 block of West Huntington. The victim parked and secured his vehicle behind his business two days earlier and possibly left the ignition key in the center console or driver's door storage compartment. When he returned, his vehicle was missing. The vehicle is described as a Gray, 2005, Ford Excursion. The investigation is continuing.
Public Intoxication / Obstructing & Delaying a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
March 24 at 9:34 p.m., a business in the 100 block of West Foothill called police regarding a disturbing subject. An intoxicated male adult entered the store and attempted to purchase beer. The employee refused service because he seemed too intoxicated. The subject began verbally abusing the store employees and refused to leave. The officer arrived and contacted the subject, who became aggressive by getting into a fighting stance. The officer was able to quickly control the subject and arrested him without further incident. No one was injured.
Lost Mountain Biker Rescued
March 24 at 10:52 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Canyon Park regarding the report of a lost mountain biker. A 46-year-old male subject from Pomona entered the Fish Canyon area on his mountain bike at about 6:00 p.m. with his dog following him on a leash. The mountain biker was attempting to ride up the mountainous trail leading to the radio tower and became disoriented and unable to find his way back to the city limits. He rode for several hours without water and had become very thirsty. He was cold as a result of the drop in temperature and did not have warm clothing. The biker had 7% battery life on his cell phone, but was able to call his friend, a Monrovia resident, for help. The biker was able to provide the fire road number he was traveling on just before his cell phone lost complete power. The friend immediately called police to report his friend was in need of help. Monrovia dispatchers attempted to call the lost biker's cell phone but it went straight to voice mail, indicating his phone was either shut off or dead. The dispatchers conducted a search of the fire road number and discovered it to be near the Camp Trask Boy Scout Camp. All available officers were sent to the area to begin searching for the biker. Arrangements were being made for additional resources to join in the search when an officer located the biker on the main road leading to Camp Trask at approximately 11:15 p.m. The biker was thirsty and cold, but in good condition. His dog appeared fine as well.
Note: I took a wrong road down from up there and ended at a dead-end beneath a power tower. Had to push my bike a long way up a very steep road to get back to the top. Careful up there! - Brad
March 25 at 4:04 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a business in the 1600 bock of South Mountain. The victim parked and secured her vehicle in the parking lot. She went into the store for about ten minutes, and when she returned to the vehicle, it was gone. The vehicle is a white, two-door, extra cab, 1997 Nissan Frontier. The hood has grey primer spots on it and it has a black lumber rack in the bed. The investigation is continuing.
March 25 at 4:44 p.m., a theft from a vehicle in the 1600 block of South Myrtle was reported to police. The incident occurred the day prior on March 24. The victim parked his vehicle in the Park and Ride lot. While he was away, someone entered his vehicle and took several pairs of glasses, subwoofers, and a backpack. The investigation is continuing.
March 26 at 7:43 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of West Walnut. The victim parked and secured her vehicle across from her residence in the evening. She was up late and discovered the vehicle missing at 12:10 a.m. The vehicle is a white, 1997, Ford F150 truck. The investigation is continuing.
March 26 at 8:10 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of East Huntington. The victim parked his vehicle and went inside a business. When he returned, the left rear window of his vehicle was smashed. The victim's computer and other miscellaneous items that were left in the vehicle were taken. The investigation is continuing.
March 26 at 12:35 p.m., a citizen called police to report four homeless subjects hiding in a parking structure in the 100 block of West Lemon. They were in the southeast corner of the parking structure near a white BMW. Officers arrived and recognized them as local homeless subjects. One of the subjects was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe and was arrested.
March 26 at 12:54 p.m., a victim called police and reported that while he was working to the rear of a location in the 400 block of East Huntington, someone stole a pallet jack and aluminum topper for an ATM from the rental truck he was using. The investigation is continuing.
Hit & Run Traffic Collision / Vandalism
March 26 at 6:51 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Olive and Shamrock regarding a hit and run traffic collision. The officer’s investigation revealed the cause of this collision was possibly intentional and the parties possibly knew each other. Apparently, three vehicles were involved and a suspect threw a hammer at the victim's windshield. One of the suspects came to the police lobby approximately one hour after the incident in an effort to report that he was involved in a traffic collision, but he failed to provide accurate details about how the collision occurred. The investigation is continuing. At 7:14 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Lime and Heliotrope was flagged down by a victim who reported that someone had smashed the windshield of his vehicle. The victim did not have any further details to provide about how the incident occurred. There is a possibility this vandalism is related to the above hit and run traffic incident. The victim vehicle in this incident is the same vehicle used during a stabbing that occurred last week. The investigation is continuing
March 26 at 10:10 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of West Huntington. Unknown suspect(s) smashed the victim's right, rear, passenger window.The victim does not know if any of her property was taken. The incident occurred sometime between 1:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The investigation is continuing.
Monrovia Maryknoll Events: Early Days Luncheon, Pechanga Trip
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 - Sister's Day & Luncheon. A presentation of "Maryknoll Monrovia the Early Days," followed by three sisters talking about their work as a missioner. The luncheon will begin at noon. Cost is $15 for the luncheon. Please make reservations by Friday, April 4. Maryknoll Sisters, 300 Norumbega Dr., Monrovia, 358-1825.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - Maryknoll Guild Pechanga Turn-Around Trip. Start at the Maryknoll Sisters parking lot at 8:30 a.m., board a bus to the Pechanga Casino. $25 per person. Payment by April 15. Send name, address, telephone, with check payable to Maryknoll Guild to: Pattie Tellez, 175 N. Sunset Pl., Monrovia, CA 91016. Parking lot address: Maryknoll Sisters 300 Norumbega Dr., Monrovia.
Former Monrovia Mayor Honored by Gold Line Construction Authority
Tonight, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors recognizes the service and departure of its longest-serving member - former Monrovia mayor and councilmember Lara Larramendi, and welcomes its newest member - Caltrans District 7 Director Carrie Bowen.
A 30-year veteran of Caltrans and advisor on numerous transportation projects throughout California, Ms. Bowen will serve as the gubernatorial appointee, replacing Ms. Larramendi.
The board will also recognize outgoing board member Lara Larramendi for her 11 years of service on the board. Ms. Larramendi was appointed to the board in 2003 by then-Governor Gray Davis, and has served as one of the agency's strongest and most outspoken proponents ever since. Her public service history includes serving 15 years as a Monrovia city councilmember, with two of those years serving as the directly-elected mayor. Ms. Larramendi began serving on the board following completion of the initial Gold Line segment between Pasadena and Union Station, and has helped direct the agency as it has completed the planning efforts for the Foothill Gold Line, the first half of which broke ground in 2010 and is on-schedule and on-budget to be completed in September 2015.
"I must truly commend Lara for the positive legacy she is leaving behind on our board," stated Tessitor. "She has always been the first one in line to get the word out about the needs of the project, and has worked tirelessly on its behalf." Tessitor added, "We will definitely miss her ideas, enthusiasm and energy."
Following recognition of Ms. Larramendi's efforts over the last 11 years by the board at tonight's meeting, Ms. Bowen will be officially sworn in and attend her first meeting. The meeting takes place at the Construction Authority's office, 406 E. Huntington Drive, Suite 202, Monrovia; starting at 7 PM.
Monrovia High Has Only LA-Area Robotics Team to Qualify for Robotics World Championship
"Your Highness" the Monrovia High robot.
Five young women from Monrovia High School and their rhinestone-encrusted robot Five young women from Monrovia High School and their rhinestone-encrusted robot qualified to advance to the 2014 First Tech Challenge Robotics World Championships as a result of their strong performance at the West Super-Regional Robotics Tournament held near Sacramento at the former McClellan Air Force Base this past weekend, the Monrovia High School Robotics Program announced today. The Monrovia team, the only qualifier from the Los Angeles area, joins three San Diego teams and four Northern California teams to be among the 128 top teams from around the world to compete at the First Robotics World Championships to be held at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis April 23-26. A total of 24 teams advanced from the West Super-Regional including teams from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona.
These five junior class women – the “Kings and Queens” team – stand out not just for their signature costumes of purple-velvet-and gold-embroidered renaissance dresses and the purple and gold medieval royal pavilion where the team relaxes between matches. Their purple robot “Your Highness” performed flawlessly during the competition even after a failure of the robot’s transport cart sent it plunging to the floor of the arena in an unplanned four-foot “drop test.” In fact, during the crucial and difficult software-controlled “autonomous period” of the matches, Your Highness achieved a perfect record of 10 of 10 successful autonomous runs scoring an average of 56 autonomous points per match out of a possible 60.
The members of the Kings And Queens team - Amanda Sullivan, Melissa Johnson, Emma McIntosh, Jordan Nunez and Nicole Miller - designed and built their 18 by 18 inch robot from Tetrix parts, plexiglas, metal shapes and machined aluminum to compete with alliances of robots on a 12 by 12 foot field. In competitions the robots are required to perform a variety of tasks in 2-1/2 minutes including picking up 2-inch plastic cubes and depositing them into elevated goals, navigating a wooden ramp, raising a flag up a pole, and gripping a cross bar and pulling themselves up completely off the floor, all while coordinating with a partner robot and while sharing the field with an opposing team of robots intent on accomplishing the same tasks.
This marks the first trip to the world championships for Monrovia High School’s four-year-old FTC robotics program which fields four separate student robotics teams supported by company sponsors, the community, and parents, and is led by physics teacher Tom Dobson. The success of the Kings And Queens caps a strong year for Monrovia High which saw all four of the program’s teams qualify over the season to compete in the Los Angeles Regional Championship Tournament held in Monrovia in February. At the L.A. regional tournament the Kings And Queens team was awarded the Inspire Award, FTC Robotics highest award naming them the "role-model" team for their on-field success, teamwork, inspiration to others, representation of the First Robotics program to their school and community, and embodiment of "Gracious Professionalism," the core value of the FIRST program.
The Monrovia High FTC robotics after-school program is one of many opportunities at Monrovia High School supporting STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) in conjunction with Monrovia’s Math and Science Academy, and supported by the Monrovia Schools Foundation. The Monrovia High School FTC robotics program is actively seeking tax-deductible donations and company sponsorships to help cover the approximate $13,000 cost of taking the team to St. Louis in April. Donations may be made through our GoFundMe page at http://www.gofundme.com/75ehc4.
Baseball: Monrovia 3, Temple City 2 :-)
Monrovia over Temple City in baseball, 3-2. http://goo.gl/Th3Nbs
Bark for Life Monrovia This Sunday
Earlier Bark for Life Monrovia
The 5th Annual Bark For Life of Monrovia will be held this Sunday, March 30, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Library Park, Myrtle side. Proceeds will support the American Cancer Society.
More than 15 vendors will attend, including Two Dogs Petsitting with Beans The Whippet, GoodDogBeds, Unleashed by Petco, The Dog Zone, Family Dog & Cat Hospital, Dr. Domotor's Animal House Vet Hosp, Arcadia Methodist Hospital's Therapy Pet Team, Romping Dogs Dog Training, Pawmazing Photography, Pasadena Humane Society, Highlander Pet Center, and more.
The event will begin and end with a tour of Myrtle Ave. dog-friendly merchants, plus contests and games to challenge your pups and donate to ACS. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet, and be well-behaved around other dogs.
Myrtle Avenue Railroad | Monrovia High Class of 72 | Unity Center 'Fabulous 50s' Dinner
~ The Myrtle Avenue Railroad, powered by mules. A bit of history: http://goo.gl/Vyw0a0
~ Monrovia High Class of 1972 is having its 60th Birthday Bash on Sat., July 19, from 3-10 p.m., with food, music and dancing. Open to MHS alums from around 1972 who are 60ish. - Send checks ($30/person) payable to Shirley Slattery, P.O.Box 2112, Monrovia, CA 91016, or, to pay by Paypal go to www.paypal.com, click on "send money" and enter email address monrovia72@gmail.com. RSVP to monrovia72@gmail.com.
~ Foothill Unity Center's "Fabulous 50s" 15th Golden Plate Awards Dinner on April 26. Details: http://goo.gl/MKdarl
Monrovia Hires Tina Cherry as New Community Services Director
After a lengthy recruitment process, the City of Monrovia has hired a new Community Services Director: Tina Cherry, MPA. Ms. Cherry has an extensive background in the field of community services, and comes to Monrovia from the City of Chino where she served as the Department of Community Services Recreation Supervisor since May 2007.
Cherry's career focus has been on service to the community through youth and recreation programs. Her career has taken her through many cities and given her great experience, starting as a recreation leader and making her way up through the ranks of the Community Services Departments of Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Laguna Hills and Chino.
Cherry has managed before and after-school programs, seasonal camps for youth, intervention and prevention programs, city-wide special events, literacy and health initiatives, the Chino Youth Museum and the armed forces banner program. As Community Services Director for the City of Monrovia, Cherry will oversee the Recreation and Library Division.
Cherry graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton in 2003, and received her Master's in Public Administration from Cal State Northridge in 2010.
"I am honored to be part of this very strong team here in Monrovia- it seems to be a really good fit," said Cherry. Ms. Cherry began work in Monrovia on Monday, March 24, 2014. Former Community Services Director April Soash retired in November 2013.
Born in Yorba Linda, CA, she now lives in the City of Corona with her husband of nine years, Craig Cherry.
Source: City of Monrovia press release
Monrovia High Triumphs: Color Guard Undefeated; Drum Line is Finalist; Robotics Team Among Best in Country
~ This weekend, the Monrovia High Color Guard continued its undefeated season by winning first place in Division AA at both the WGASC Golden Valley Tournament on Friday and the WGASC Arcadia Tournament on Sunday. The Sunday score set a new personal best for Monrovia Color Guard and seats the team second among 92 schools as it looks for its third championship in four years.
~ Also this weekend, the Monrovia High Drum Line competed in the WGI Western Percussion Championship, where it qualified as a finalist, seating 6th out of 18, finishing 7th at finals.
~ Monrovia High's "Kings & Queens" robotics team competed at the three-day Western Super Regional Championship, where it had an 8-2 qualifying record and made it to its divisional semifinal. At the tournament the Kings & Queens competed against 72 teams from 14 states. Teams at this level represent the top 7 percent of robotics teams in the country.
Source: http://goo.gl/UbNOi8
Monrovia Police: Pit Bull Attack; Armed Play Station Robbery; Knife Fight Over Love?
Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.
On March 20 at 9:04 a.m., dispatch received a call from a business in the 1800 block of South Mountain regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim reported one of their company vans had been taken overnight. The vehicle was secured and all keys were accounted for. There were no signs of forced entry. The investigation is continuing.
Dog Incident
On March 20 at 12:29 p.m., a Code Enforcement Officer observed a pit bull attack a dog that was being walked by a couple in the 300 block of East Lemon. Code Enforcement radioed for officers to respond. Officers responded and held the dog until Pasadena Humane could respond. Pasadena Humane Animal Control Officers arrived to handle the incident.
On March 20 at 1:05 p.m., officers attempted to contact two suspicious subjects at a park in the 700 block of East Lemon. As the officers walked up to talk to the subjects, they ran and a foot pursuit ensued. During the foot pursuit, one of the subjects discarded a baggie of marijuana. A perimeter was established around the area and one of the subjects was located. The suspect who discarded the baggie was not located, but officers involved in the foot pursuit recognized the suspect. The investigation is continuing.
Shoplifting / Identity Theft / Possession of a Fictitious DMV Identification – Suspect Arrested
On March 20 at 3:18 p.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called police to report a shoplifter. Loss prevention contacted a female suspect who had concealed items on her person and left the store without paying. Officers arrived and determined the suspect was also in possession of a fake driver’s license. She did not have any other identification on her. She was arrested and taken into custody. During the booking process, an additional ID with someone else’s name was located.
On March 20 at 3:45 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 300 block of West Huntington on the report of a robbery. A male suspect walked into the store and produced a handgun. He demanded a Play Station and the cash in the register. He then ordered the employee to walk to the back of the store and he fled the location. He fled in a four-door vehicle, possibly grey. The suspect is described as a male White, 5'8", average build, 38-42 years old, green eyes, and clean shaven. He was wearing a blue hat, "security" button down shirt, grey jeans, and possibly white sneakers. The investigation is continuing.
On March 21 at 11:05 p.m., a caller reported he was the victim of a robbery in the 300 block of West Cypress and that he had been stabbed. He reported that there were three suspects. Officers arrived and upon investigation, determined that the victim was not robbed and that the victim and the suspect have a love interest in common. The victim and suspect actually stabbed each other during an altercation. Both victim and suspect received non-life-threatening stab wounds and were treated at a hospital. The two outstanding suspects have been identified and the investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol / Hit and Run Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
On March 22 at 2:10 a.m., officers responded to the 400 block of South Ivy regarding a hit and run traffic collision. A female claimed she was the victim of a hit and run. A description and the direction of travel of the suspect vehicle were relayed to field officers. A citizen volunteer happened on the vehicle at California and Hurstview and called for assistance. The female driver was stopped and detained for hit and run and drunk driving. The driver and passenger were arrested.
On March 21 at 8:01 a.m., dispatch received a call regarding a vehicle burglary in the 700 block of West Huntington. The victim parked and locked his Chevy Tahoe in the rear parking lot of a hotel. When he returned late the next morning, the doors were unlocked and the third row seat was missing. A large sum of cash was also taken from the console. The investigation is continuing.
On March 21 at 9:10 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of East Lime regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim found two suspects in her vehicle when she returned from the movies. She confronted the suspect in the driver’s seat. He gave her two purses and headphones he had taken from the vehicle. The suspects then fled. Based on the descriptions of the suspects, the officers were able to identify one of the suspects as a local homeless person. The suspect was found a short time later and confessed to being in the car, but would not identify his partner. The investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
On March 23 at 3:32 a.m., an officer was patrolling in the 1600 block of South Mountain when he observed a motorist run a red traffic light. The investigation revealed the motorist was driving while under the influence of a controlled substance and was in possession of illegal smoking paraphernalia. The motorist also had an outstanding warrant issued for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Monrovia Assemblymember's Grease Bill Approved by Committee
A bill by Monrovia's Assemblymember, Chris Holden, to combat the growing number of kitchen grease thefts, was overwhelmingly approved today in Assembly Transportation Committee.
AB 1566 beefs up requirements for licensed haulers, increasing the penalties for stealing grease and allowing law enforcement to impound vehicles for up to 15 days.
According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, a typical fast-food restaurant produces 150-250 pounds of grease a week and a fully loaded pumper truck could bring in as much as $900 at a recycling center.
AB 1566 now goes to Assembly Agriculture for consideration.
Source: Holden press release
Monrovia Easter Egg Hunt and Kids Health Event | Looking for Seniors to Honor
~ Monrovia is sponsoring an Easter egg hunt and healthy kids event on Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m. at Recreation Park ( http://goo.gl/RbzxA5 ). Registration for all egg hunts will begin at 9:45 a.m. Activities include: arts and crafts, face painting, carnival games, refreshment area, wellness activities, demonstrations, toddler activities, teen activities, musical entertainment and a visit from the "Spring Bunny" (aka Easter Bunny). For additional information, contact the Department of Community Services at 256-8246. Source: press release
~ Monrovia is still looking for nominees for its Older American of the Year Award. Details: http://goo.gl/67Lj8e
Location of Blaze Pizza
Here is where the Blaze Pizza will be located in Monrovia. In the Pavilions shopping center next to Baskin-Robbins.
Why Monrovia is Scraggly on the Bottom | Yoga Class
~ Why is the Monrovia border scraggly on the bottom (see here: http://goo.gl/0DRwYA )? Well, it all has to do with finding children for its first school. Fun details: http://goo.gl/wtKn6v
~ Yoga teacher Betsy Laban is teaching a new gentle yoga class at 10:30 a.m. Fridays in Swan Hall at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at California and Foothill. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. Drop-ins are welcome. Signup and fee information: http://goo.gl/w1YgJW
Blaze Pizza Coming to Monrovia | San Marino Over Monrovia :-(
~ A new build-your-own pizza place called Blaze Pizza coming to Monrovia. It'll be at 108 W Foothill, which I believe is in the Pavilions shopping center at Foothill and Myrtle. More about this, and Flamzz Pizza, here: http://goo.gl/KMIeeI
~ San Marino 3-2 over Monrovia in baseball. http://goo.gl/ikN7oU
Bella Sera Being Remodeled
Monrovia's Bella Sera restaurant is being remodeled. It's on Myrtle just south of the Krikorian Theater.
Monrovia School Board: Salary Increase for Employees; Fixing the Grass; Ballot Initiative
At its March 26 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/ViSKvb ), the Monrovia School Board will ...
- Release its tentative agreement with its various labor groups, which is to give them a 1.8 percent salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2013. http://goo.gl/O1wosy
- Consider renovating the fields at Clifton and Santa Fe middle schools. New grass will cost $350,000 to $400,000, plus incidental costs. http://goo.gl/vx7FF2 Comment: Yikes! That's a lot of money for grass.
- Discuss a proposed ballot initiative that would prevent the state from redirecting or reducing local property tax revenue away from public schools. http://goo.gl/faJQ9h
Lunch at Izakaya Uppo
Lunch at Izakaya Uppo, a new Japanese restaurant about three doors up from Olive on the east side of Myrtle. Got the Uppo Signature Ramen for $7.95 and an iced tea for $2.50. Plus tax and tip. That's a pork cutlet in the picture, by the way. It came with a little garden salad. Very nice for a cool day.
Salsas Taqueria Replaces S'Links
The former S'Links Gourmet Hot Dogs, at the corner of Myrtle and Olive, is now Salsas Taqueria, and it's open. S'Links is moving, but I know not where.
-Brad Haugaard
Fundraiser to Replace Equipment from Monrovia's Centre Stage | Bear Video
~ "The Lights of Broadway", a musical fundraiser to replace equipment stolen from Monrovia's Centre Stage, 7 p.m. tonight at Arcadia Christian Church, 1900 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. For information call Keely Milliken at 297-4758.
~ Another bear video. This one looks as if it was filmed on Hillcrest. http://goo.gl/oEnYsg
Monrovia Radio Shack Robbery | Baseball Loss to Rosemead :-(
~ Monrovia Radio Shack robbed. http://goo.gl/fmuUAB
~ Rosemead 4-2 over Monrovia in baseball. http://goo.gl/UBzJBW
Yappy Hour for Monrovia Dogs
Yappy Hour for dogs at The Dog Zone, 150 W Foothill (next to Pavilions) 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 21. Bring your social pup(s) for fun and snacks! Meet The Dog Zone crew, Two Dogs Petsitting, Beans The Whippet, Romping Dogs Dog Training, Pawmazing Pets Photography, get info on Bark For Life of Monrovia, etc.
Planned Apartments at Monrovia Train Station | Peach Cafe to Open for Dinners
~ Local developer Samuelson Fetter is proposing a five-story, 261-unit apartment building that will be right next to the Monrovia Gold Line station. Monrovia city staff held a preliminary review of the plan to give suggestions to the developer. http://goo.gl/VV5hnz (Photo from City of Monrovia)
~ With more nightlife, Peach Café (141 East Colorado) will begin opening for dinner. For the past eight years it has been open only for breakfast and lunch. http://goo.gl/VV5hnz
Monrovia Council to Meet About Appointment of a New City Manager
The Monrovia City Council will hold a closed session meeting March 24 at 5 p.m. regarding the appointment of a city manager. http://goo.gl/uBjbn6
Support Monrovia Boy Facing Chemotherapy
Scott Stokes posts on Facebook about Joncee Troy Lenker, a seven-year-old Monrovia boy who will have to undergo chemotherapy following cancer surgery to remove an eye ( http://goo.gl/oRVFL4 ). Stokes writes: "If you can afford it, please purchase a fundraising shirt to show your support for this amazing kid and his family." Here is the link to purchase a t-shirt: http://goo.gl/r7pwPc
Monrovia Pub Crawl to Fight Cancer
Relay For Life of Monrovia is sponsoring a pub crawl to raise money to fight cancer. http://goo.gl/BOeq98
Monrovia Police: Electricians Catch Robbery Suspect; Homeless Evicted from Roof of Church; Etc.
March 18 at 2:14 a.m., an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle traveling the wrong way down a one-way street in the 100 block of West Lime. The 19-year-old male driver was intoxicated. Field sobriety tests were conducted and he was determined to be DUI. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was later released on citation to appear in court.
March 18 at 2:26 a.m., an officer stopped a blue Jeep in the 400 block of West Colorado for failing to stop for a stop sign. He approached the male driver and smelled a strong odor of alcohol. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the male subject was determined to be DUI. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was later released on citation to appear in court.
Altered Vehicle Registration Tabs / Outstanding Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 12:55 p.m., a parking control officer working in the field saw a vehicle displaying altered registration tabs. An officer responded, confirmed the tabs were altered and stored the vehicle. On March 18, the registered owner of the vehicle came to the police department to dispute the claim. When a computer check was run on the registered owner, the registered owner was found to have an outstanding warrant and was arrested. The registered owner admitted to driving the vehicle, but did not admit to altering the tabs. The vehicle has not been registered since 2006.
Outstanding Warrant – Suspect Arrested
March 18 at 8:50 p.m., an officer saw a subject he knew had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was standing at the corner of Foothill and Sunset. A computer check revealed the subject had a $30,000 warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a charge of being under the influence of narcotics. The subject was stopped and arrested for the warrant, then taken to the Monrovia Jail, where he was booked and will be housed until his court appearance.
March 18 at 9:41 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of North Magnolia on the report of domestic violence. When they arrived, officers contacted the female victim outside the home. She said her husband had just come home intoxicated and began yelling at her. He pushed her to the ground and started punching her, causing open wound injuries. Officers contacted the male suspect, who denied hitting his wife. The paramedics examined the victim, and the male subject was arrested for domestic violence.
March 19 at 1:58 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of North Mountain. The resident left the location at 10:00 a.m. that morning, securing the property. The housekeeper arrived at 1:05 p.m. and found the master bedroom had been ransacked. The loss appears to be mainly jewelry. The suspect(s) appear to have entered the home through a rear door. The investigation is continuing.
Robbery – Suspect Arrested
March 19 at 2:30 p.m., officers responded to the report of a robbery that just occurred in the 900 block of West Huntington. The victim was having her nails done at a local salon and had hung her purse on the back of a chair where she was sitting. The suspect entered the business and asked for the manager. When the employee left to get the manager, the suspect grabbed the purse and ran out the door. An employee began to scream and an electrician working outside the business heard the screams. He tried to stop the suspect by grabbing him. The suspect struck the electrician. A second electrician working at the location jumped in to help. Together, they detained the suspect until officers arrived. The suspect was taken into custody and held for bail.
Trespassing – Suspects Arrested
March 19 at 8:56 p.m., the pastor of a church in the 100 block at California called police to report two homeless subjects, one male and one female, camping on the roof of the church. Officers arrived and successfully removed the two subjects off the roof. They removed blankets and all of their property off the roof, as well. The two were placed under private person's arrest for trespassing and taken into custody.
Monrovia Menchie's Opens Saturday | Should Fed Administer Mountains for Recreation? | Xencor Revenue | Prison for Threats
~ The frozen yogurt chain, Menchie's ( http://www.menchies.com/ ) is opening a store this Saturday, March 22, at 606 West Huntington, between Chipotle and Smashburger. "The franchise is the fastest growing frozen yogurt chain with currently 391 locations globally and 20 opened locations in the Los Angeles market."
~ Representative Judy Chu is asking for comment on her proposed legislation to create a San Gabriel National Recreation Area administered by the federal Department of Agriculture. http://goo.gl/dCL6qM
~ Monrovia's Xencor reports that "revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013 were $1.7 million, compared to $2.4 million in the same period of 2012. Revenues for the full year 2013 were $10.2 million, compared to $9.5 million in the same period of 2012." http://goo.gl/mKALWy
~ Monrovian gets three years for threatening hospitals and schools. http://goo.gl/BgN6C3
Monrovia's Seidner's Collision Center Donates Car to Needy Family
Seidner's Collision Center of Monrovia has presented a 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee, fully refurbished by Seidner's and equipped with new tires, and accompanied by a one-year State Farm insurance policy to a Foothill Unity Center client family.
The car was presented through Recycled Rides, a nationwide service project of the National Auto Body Council, which donates vehicles to families and service organizations. The program recruits insurers, paint suppliers, parts vendors and others to contribute. Recipients must have a valid driver's license; the ability to maintain the vehicle as shown by proof of income; a safe driving record; be in financial need; and must not already own a good working vehicle.
Baseball: Diamond Bar over Monrovia :-(
Diamond Bar over Monrovia 7-2 in baseball. http://goo.gl/AVKNRK
Monrovia Plastic Bag Ban Discussion Postponed | Community Garden at St. Luke
~ At tonight's City Council meeting, an item on whether to ask city staff to draw up an ordinance restricting the use of plastic grocery bags was postponed until April 1. City Clerk Alice Atkins said Councilmember Blackburn "couldn't be in attendance tonight and didn't want to miss the discussion."
~ According to a post on the Nextdoor network, St. Luke's Church on Foothill is offering some of its land for a community garden. This is in the planning stages and there will be an open meeting this Saturday at noon in the parish hall.
Vets Bill by Monrovia's Assemblymember Approved by Committee
Legislation by Monrovia's Assemblymember, Chris Holden, to give veterans a stronger voice in college leadership was approved today in the Assembly Higher Education Committee. AB 1557 has bipartisan support - 14 Democrats and Republicans co-authored the bill.
AB 1557 gives veterans permanent seats on the Board of Governors of the California Community College system by adding a student member who is a veteran or current member of the military. The bill also requires one of the existing 12 board seats to be held by a member or former member of the Armed Forces who has demonstrated expertise and leadership in the field of veterans' affairs.
"This bill is designed to give veterans a voice in college leadership," explained Assemblymember Holden. "As we wind down these wars, veterans returning to college face unique challenges and need a voice in their college leadership. If campuses are not prepared to help these soldiers transition from combat to college, we run the risk of alienating thousands of returning vets."
Thousands of veterans are expected to fill the seats at California's public colleges and universities. Already the state's community colleges lead the nation with more than 44,000 vets enrolled - the largest number since World War II.
AB 1557 is supported by American Legion - California, AMVETS - California, California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Veterans of Foreign Wars - California.
Monrovia's S'Links Hotdog Restaurant Papered Up
It appears S'Links Gourmet Hotdogs, at Myrtle and Olive, is closed. (No! See update.) The windows are all papered up. Too bad. I liked their hotdogs. But, just a few doors up Myrtle, Izakaya Uppo, a ramen and yakitori restaurant, is now open. Thanks to Doran for the tip.
UPDATE: No, S'Links is not closing, just moving. Hooray! According to the Chamber of Commerce, the owners are putting a new restaurant in this location and moving S'Links elsewhere. Thanks to Keith Johnson for the tip.
Possible Shortage of Train Cars for Expanded Gold Line
Nice track you got there, Gold Line, but where are the trains? http://goo.gl/l0MNPL
Monrovia Police: Fake Money; Stealing Cement; Etc.
Possession of Fictitious U.S. Currency / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
March 13 at 8:39 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of North Grand on the report of a suspicious white truck that had been driving up and down the street and was now stopped in the neighborhood. Officers arrived and saw three occupants in the truck, the driver walked out from a rear yard. The driver said he was in the area to purchase an engine from a friend that lived in the back house. A female passenger denied having any identification, but a consent search of the vehicle revealed her wallet containing $1,300.00 in fictitious U.S. currency. She also possessed a methamphetamine pipe. She was arrested and taken into custody. The Secret Service was contacted regarding the fictitious bills. The other occupants of the vehicle were released.
March 14 at 7:42 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1900 block of South Peck Road. The vehicle is a four-door, white, 1994 Honda Accord and was stolen sometime overnight. The investigation is continuing.
Recovered Stolen Vehicle
March 14 at 1:27 p.m., parking control ran the license plate on a vehicle parked in the 400 block of Lemon. It returned stolen out of Covina. The vehicle is a four-door, tan, 1994 Honda Accord. The investigation is continuing.
March 14 at 5:38 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 600 block of East Walnut regarding a male subject who was acting erratic. Officers arrived and located the subject in an alley by Shamrock. Their investigation revealed the subject was in possession of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe. He was arrested and taken into custody. Ex-Felon with a Gun / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspects Arrested March 14 at 10:47 p.m., dispatch received a 9-1-1 hang-up call from a residence in the 100 block of North May, with a possible dispute heard in the background. Officers arrived at the location and could hear a male and female arguing inside. When contacted, both subjects admitted to using cocaine and consented to a search of the residence. During the search, a stolen shotgun and methamphetamine was found. The male subject was determined to be an ex-felon. Both subjects were arrested.
Foot Pursuit / Possession of a Controlled Substance / Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspect Arrested
March 15 at 10:25 p.m., an officer on patrol in the area of Bradbury and Orange saw a male subject on a bicycle with a satchel over his shoulder. The subject was acting suspicious, looking at every residence as he passed. The officer attempted to contact the subject, and as he pulled up behind the bicyclist and turned on his emergency lights, the subject quickly rode away. The subject dropped his bike and the satchel, and then jumped a fence. The officer ran after the subject and was able to detain him. The subject was found to have methamphetamine, along with burglary tools in the satchel. The suspect was arrested. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
Commercial Burglary – Suspects Arrested
March 15 at 2:45 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 500 block of West Huntington regarding three shoplifting suspects in custody, one male adult and two female juveniles. The three suspects walked into the store and began selecting merchandise. They went to the women’s department, where they concealed the merchandise in a blue leather purse one of the female suspects was carrying. After all the merchandise was in the purse, the females exited the store without paying for the merchandise. All three suspects were detained by loss prevention outside the store. Officers responded to the location and arrested the three suspects.
Driving Under the Influence / Drunk in Public – Suspects Arrested
March 16 at 2:30 a.m., an officer stopped a driver in the area of Evergreen and Myrtle. After investigation, the female driver was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested. The female passenger was also intoxicated and was arrested for being drunk in public.
March 16 at 6:39 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of West Duarte Road. The neighbors called the victim because they noticed the doors at his residence were unsecured. The owner is in the process of fixing up the residence prior to moving in and the residence is vacant. It appears the suspects broke one of the garage door windows and unlatched the garage door. The suspect(s) then made entry into the residence and took tools and remodeling fixtures. The investigation is continuing.
Petty Theft From a Vehicle – Suspect Arrested
March 16 at 9:25 p.m., an officer responded to a petty theft from a vehicle at a parking lot in the 1600 block of South Mountain. A male suspect was seen removing items from the bed of a truck in the parking lot. The suspect took bags of cement and power tools. The suspect then fled in a black Chevy Camaro. At 5:10 a.m., an officer from the Arcadia Police Department stopped the vehicle and arrested the suspect for possession of stolen property.
Monrovian Connor Sams Signs Letter of Intent for Northwestern
Connor Sams of Monrovia, has signed a letter of intent to continue his soccer career at Northwestern (Iowa) beginning in the fall of 2014.
Sams, the son of Todd and Maureen, is a 5-11 defender/midfielder from Monrovia High School in California. He has earned four letters and was a part of a 18-4-5 Monrovia team that won their league championship last season. Sams finished with six assists and was named a First Team All-Rio Hondo League as a junior and was an Honorable Mention as a sophomore.
A scholar-athlete all four years at Monrovia, Sams has also been named to the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, and is a member of the California Scholarship Federation. Sams plans to major in Public Relations/Sports Management while at Northwestern.
"Connor is a smart and tough defender who can play centrally or on the outside," said head coach Dan Swier. "He has a strong soccer pedigree and will help us as we look for players who can replace the likes of Matt Dowie and Justin Lehman. Connor is a great addition to our program and our school."
Northwestern College is a NAIA school located in Orange City, Iowa.
Small Earthquake Felt in Monrovia
If you felt your house jiggle this morning, that was a 4.4 quake. (I didn't even wake up but my wife felt it and several people on Twitter confirmed feeling it.) http://goo.gl/GX56NU
Monrovia Gets an 'A-' for Historic Preservation
Los Angeles Conservancy gives Monrovia an "A-" grade for historic preservation. http://goo.gl/1lQbkt
Monrovia Deer Herd
I saw this herd of deer in North Monrovia today, on Canyon Boulevard. I think there were eight.
Monrovia Healing Connections Promoting Suicide Prevention
March4Balance task force members hand out materials on suicide awareness.
Monrovia Healing Connections, a task force of community members, city officials, students and Monrovia Unified School District staff, is presenting March4Balance, a series of community outreach and educational events to raise awareness of suicide prevention and related mental health issues.
Through March 23, task force members are visiting service clubs, teen commissions, churches, and other community-based gatherings to give a short presentation on suicide awareness, talk about what is being done in Monrovia to aid and support those dealing with emotional and psychological issues, and provide a brochure listing tools and resources
"Over the past four years, we have lost five Monrovians under the age of 24 to suicide, " says Ulises Gutierrez, March4Balance campaign coordinator. "We can't all be mental health professionals, but all of us should learn how to respond when someone needs help. Our goal is to get all community members trained on how to recognize and respond to people who are suffering and in danger of harming themselves."
The campaign will end on Tuesday, March 25, with a 5:30 p.m. with a community rally in Monrovia Library Park. We invite our local community to join us. To join the effort or book a presentation, contact Gutierrez, ugutierrez1@yahoo.com.
Monrovia Boys & Girls Clubs Gets Donation from Toyota
Gary Botka (Toyota Financial Services- Auction Remarketing Manager); Tanisha Thompson (TFS Community Ambassador); Emily Samayoa; Boys & Girls Club members.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Foothills has received a $12,857 donation from Toyota Financial Services (TFS), in partnership with four auto remarketing firms, ADESA, Manheim, DAA Northwest, and Norwalk Auto Auctions. This is part of a larger contribution of $500,000 from TFS to Boys & Girls Clubs of America that will be divided equally among 35 clubs across the country running the Diplomas to Degrees (D2D) college readiness program.
Launched in 2012, D2D provides tools, resources, and training for thousands of teens to help transition from high school to college.
“Our partnership with Toyota allows us to continue combatting the high school dropout crisis and prepare our teens for successful futures in college,” said Executive Director, John Wilson. He added that Toyota employees also volunteer as mentors and help with fundraising.
Lunch at Café X2O
Lunch at Café X2O. What does X2O mean? Two kisses and a hug. This is the former Mediterranean Grill on Foothill, and it is still Mediterranean food but the decor is more hip. Got the chicken kebab ($10) and a beer ($5). Plus tax and tip. Food was tasty and very pleasant sitting on the semi-outdoor patio on a nice day.
Get Trained for an Emergency | Tzu Chi Anniversary
~ If you would like to be trained in emergency response, the City of Monrovia suggesting this program, put on by LA County Fire Department, tomorrow in La Canada. Details: http://goo.gl/14Utf6
~ Tzu Chi Academy of Los Angeles will hold a 20th anniversary celebration carnival on March 16, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Monrovia's Clifton Middle School. http://goo.gl/Rs99st
Opera of Zombies, Sorcery and Enchantment at Monrovia's St. Luke Church
The LA-area group, Opera Animata, will present its inaugural performance of an extra-creepy version of Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas on Saturday, March 22, 8 p.m., at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Ave., in Monrovia. Free, but a $10 donation is suggested. A reception will follow the performance.
The 1688 Baroque Dido and Aeneas, Purcell's first opera and one of his foremost theatrical works, has always had a hefty helping of sorcery, elves and enchantment. But fearing it might be too mild for modern-day audiences, Opera Animata has added zombies.
The roles of Dido and Aeneas will be sung by Trisha Rivera and Joel Castro. Production director Jenny Ohrstrom will portray Belinda. Other singers include Alyssa Brode, Sarah Reynolds, Kari Burgess, Jennifer White and Steve Nolen. MacKenzie Reed is keyboardist, and LeVanna Atkinson-Williams is Stage Manager.
Monrovia Bear Video
Another Monrovia bear video. This one in a trashcan. http://goo.gl/8WLKkG
Monrovia Planning Commission Okays Vehicle Storage Lot for South End of Town
The Monrovia City Planning Commission has approved the use of a property at 3331 Peck Road, at the very south tip of Monrovia, for vehicle storage for "Jorge's Get Around Transport," a private transportation service. http://goo.gl/V5XfrU
Monrovia City Council to Consider Plastic Bags, Fourth of July, Police Vehicle
At its Tuesday, March 18 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/WH1ZSy ), the Monrovia City Council will ...
~ Consider restricting single-use plastic bags. More here: ( http://goo.gl/YQgJH9 )
~ Consider contracting with Pyro Spectaculars, Inc., for $20,500.00 to produce the 2014 Fourth of July Fireworks Show.
~ Consider buying a "Ford Police Interceptor Utility Replacement Vehicle" from Wondries Fleet Group for $29,323.21.
Monrovia Council to Consider Plastic Bag Restrictions
A city-appointed "Reusable Bag Regulation Ad Hoc Committee" is recommending to the City Council that Monrovia follow the lead of Pasadena and other cities by restricting the use of single-use plastic bags. The council will consider a ban at its March 18 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/WH1ZSy).
The restrictions "would affect approximately 34 Monrovia retailers: 8 grocery stores, 3 liquor stores, 3 drug stores, 1 drive-in dairy, 6 gas stations with foodmarts, and 13 miscellaneous food stores," according to the staff report.
Source: http://goo.gl/r4rWV5
Opinion: I have already written of my objections to this type of ban here (http://goo.gl/DdX3sx), but I would like to add some points.
1) Some people say that even supermarkets approve of these bans. Of course! They get to charge extra whenever someone forgets to bring in a reusable bag, and at the same time they can say, "We understand your frustration entirely, but the city is forcing us to do this."
2) In response to objections that multiple-use bags can transmit disease (meat juice leaks out and contaminates the bag), some ban proponents have said, "Well, wash them." But this means using scarce water, and if this is a trivial environmental concern, then single-use plastic bags are even more so.
3) I don't think there actually are any "single-use" bags. People use them for dozens of purposes after they've brought in their groceries, from sharing vegetables with a friend to picking up dog poop.
4) How is it fair to prevent food stores from using these bags but it is okay to let newspapers be delivered in precisely this kind of bag every morning?
Grow Food With Less Water | Fundraiser for Monrovia Y
~ Learn to grow food with less water. Frank McDonough of the LA Arboretum teaches how. Thursday, March 20, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the Library Community Room. Sign up here: http://goo.gl/kCBJU1
~ Totally 80s fundraiser for Monrovia's Santa Anita Family YMCA, Saturday, March 22, 6-11 p.m. $50 per person. Dress in 80s attire. Buffet dinner, trivia games and more.
Monrovia Police: Bath Salts and Ice Cream; Assault With Paint Can Opener; Fake Firearm; Arrest in Machete Robbery
Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 1:51 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of South Violet called police and reported a suspect inside a neighbor's house. The suspect was seen leaving the residence holding a tub of ice cream, which he was eating with a spoon. The suspect was reportedly going door-to-door, trying doorknobs to see if he could gain entrance. Officers responded along with the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter, which helped direct officers to the suspect. The suspect had entered several homes ending up at a residence in the 400 block of South Sunset. While officers were checking the rear of the location, the suspect exited the home but would not comply with the officer’s commands. The suspect appeared to be under the influence and took aggressive steps toward the officers. The officers hit the suspect with a beanbag round in an attempt to get him to comply, and the suspect fled back into the residence. Containment of the area was established and Monrovia High School was placed on lockdown by the district as the residence backs up to the school. After a 45 minute standoff, the suspect eventually exited the residence and was taken into custody. He was evaluated by paramedics and taken to a hospital for clearance. The suspect told officers he was under the influence of bath salts. He was later released, brought to Monrovia Police Department for booking, and then taken Los Angeles County Jail for housing.
Burglary / Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Vandalism – Suspect Arrested
March 10 at 3:45 p.m., police responded to a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain. A subject was seen entering the men’s restroom with a can of computer dust cleaner. A loss prevention officer walked in and saw the subject was inhaling the substance. Loss Prevention officers followed the subject as he exited the store. As the suspect exited the store, he noticed loss prevention following him. Before they could detain him, he smashed a passing vehicle's window and then pulled out a paint can opener and threatened to stab the loss prevention officers, who then grabbed acrowbar to protect themselves. They tried to stop the subject, but he fled the location. He was stopped by the responding officers a block away and taken into custody.
March 11 at 7:40 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Seymour Place reported a vehicle burglary. Unknown suspect(s) smashed a window on the vehicle and stole items from inside. The investigation is continuing.
March 11 at 10:14 a.m., a victim came into the police department to report a vehicle burglary. The victim believes the burglary occurred the day prior while he was parked in a business parking lot in the 500 block of West Huntington. The victim parked his vehicle in the lot and went into a restaurant to eat. He believes unknown suspect(s) went into the vehicle, opened the trunk of the vehicle and his tools from the trunk. The victim does not remember if he locked the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
March 11 at 2:50 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the police department lobby on the report of a vehicle burglary. The victim parked her vehicle at her residence in the 200 block of East Lemon. She reported that someone entered her vehicle and took her purse, which she had left on the floorboard of the vehicle under a sweatshirt. She found her purse in the trashcan behind her home. The purse had been emptied out on the ground by the trashcan and her identification was missing from the purse.
Theft from an Unlocked Vehicle
March 11 at 4:15 p.m., a resident from the 100 block of North May Avenue reported a theft from his vehicle. Unknown suspect(s) entered the unlocked vehicle overnight and took the victim’s wallet, which he had left inside.
March 11 at 5:00 p.m., loss prevention from a business in the 500 block of West Huntington phoned police to report a female suspect inside the store, concealing items into her purse and on her person. She emptied the contents of her purse before leaving, but fled the store with the items concealed on her person. She was detained outside the store by responding officers and arrested for burglary.
Brandishing a Replica Firearm – Suspect Arrested
March 12 at 1:00 a.m., security from a bar in the 300 block of South Myrtle called police to report that a 21-year-old male subject had brandished a black handgun at them and yelled at them for no apparent reason. The suspect was last seen entering a bar in the 400 block of South Myrtle. Officers arrived at the location, surrounded the bar and located the suspect in the rear alley. He appeared to drop something in the shadows of the alley when officers told him to stop. The officers detained him and recovered the gun on the ground next to him. It was a black, metal, Airsoft pellet gun, which had the red tip removed. After the suspect was positively identified by the victim, he was arrested for brandishing a replica firearm.
Criminal Threats / Obstructing or Resisting Officers with Violence – Suspect Arrested
March 12 at 10:36 p.m., officers responded to an apartment in the 800 block of West Walnut regarding a 16-year-old male juvenile who had been making threats to kill his family members, as well as punching holes in his bedroom wall. When officers arrived and attempted to speak with the juvenile, he yelled obscenities at them and became physically violent toward them. A struggle ensued during the attempt to arrest the juvenile for criminal threats, but the officers were able to detain the juvenile and took him into custody. Both of the officers sustained injuries during the altercation due to the juvenile flailing around so violently. The juvenile was arrested and taken to Los Angeles County Juvenile Hall, where he will be held until his appearance. During the altercation with the 16-year-old male, one of his sisters outside of the room had to be taken into custody to keep her from entering the room. She refused to cooperate with officers and began yelling obscenities at assisting officers.
Wanted Persons Arrest for Robbery
March 13 at 12:59 a.m., sheriff's deputies stopped a suspicious male subject at Buena Vista and Central. A computer check revealed he was wanted by the Monrovia Police Department for robbery. Monrovia officers responded and took custody of the suspect. The suspect was wanted for a robbery that occurred at a park in the 800 block of East Olive on November 10, 2013. Several suspects had approached the victims at the park. One of the suspects threatened the victim’s with a machete and they took a computer and one of the victim’s wallets and fled the area.
Monrovia's St. Luke Church Broken Into
St. Luke Church, on Foothill, reports that it has been broken into. Here is its Facebook report:
"So our sacristy was broken into, and we have had transients and drug dealers hiding out, shooting up, toking, smoking and sleeping in our outdoor stairwell. Sadly, time to spend more oney on gates, lighting and security. I guess it is part of the mission of the church to make our neighbors as well as parishioners feel safe and secure."
Monrovian Named 'Woman of the Year'
Judy Cooperman, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and Monrovian Joan Schmidt Clayton
At the Los Angeles County Commission for Women's annual "Woman of the Year" luncheon, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich honored Monrovian Joan Schmidt Clayton and Judy Cooperman, who epitomize the theme: "Educating, Motivating, and Inspiring Women."
A longtime resident of Monrovia, Joan Schmidt Clayton graduated from Mt. St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York and was an educator and influential member of the Monrovia/Arcadia/Duarte Town Council for many years.
She is also a longtime journalist, having written for several papers including the Gem City News, Monrovia Arcadia Weekly, San Gabriel Examiner; and most recently the Mountain View News where she continues to contribute regularly. She has been honored with the State Assembly District Woman of the Year award and the Duarte Community Service Award.
Judy Cooperberg is a longtime Antelope Valley resident, Supervisor Antonovich's appointee to the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission and Executive Director of Antelope Valley Services for Mental Health.
Monrovia Library Playground Closed Thursday | Care Cafe, for Seniors
~ The City of Monrovia announces that Library Park playground will be closed tomorrow, March 13 for maintenance, but will be back open on Friday.
~ Monrovia Providers Group invites local homebound seniors and their caregivers to a morning of fun and relaxation at Care Cafe on Thursday, March 20. Details: http://goo.gl/GYLloz
Monrovia Police Scam Alert - Business Utilities Shut-Off Threat
The Monrovia Police Department wants to alert the public to a scam that has been occurring in the area targeting businesses.
The suspects in this scam call the business claiming to be in billing or collections for Southern California Edison (SCE) and/or Verizon. The caller tells the business their services are going to be shut off within 45 minutes to an hour, and a crew has already been dispatched to cut off the service unless a same-day payment is made immediately. They claim their records show the business is late on their payment and the service to the business will be affected within the hour.
The caller then requests the payment be made by a prepaid VISA or Money Pak Card and then tells the business where they are available. The suspects sound legitimate and are targeting businesses, as businesses typically cannot afford to be without phones or power over the weekend.
It is NOT normal SCE or Verizon protocol to shut off service on the weekends.
The Monrovia Police Department is asking the public to spread awareness to this scam in hopes of preventing this crime from happening and to help keep Monrovia businesses from becoming the victim. Please be aware that utility companies do not work this way and always call the company to verify any information. If you feel something is suspicious, you can always call the Monrovia Police Department at (626) 256-8000.
Source: Monrovia Police press release
Still No Trader Joe's in Portland | Schurr Over Monrovia :-(
~ Some folks in Portland, Oregon, are trying to get Monrovia-based Trader Joe's to reconsider its decision not to open a market there, caused by complaints that it would "gentrify" the neighborhood. TJ's says its statement [saying it won't open there] "hasn't changed." http://goo.gl/blvv2e
~ Schurr over Monrovia in softball, 7-6. http://goo.gl/nPv4YV
Car Wash for Clifton Band and Spirit Marchers
Saturday, March 15, Clifton Middle School's Band and Spirit Marchers are having a Car Wash/Bake Sale at Walgreen's on Foothill Blvd. from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
National Weather Service Says Fire Danger in Monrovia Area Hills
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag alert for the San Gabriel Valley for tomorrow (Wednesday) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. because of gusty winds and low relative humidity. I.e. fire danger. http://goo.gl/YL7LLV
Support Your Teen at Monrovia High | Giving Hands Needs Volunteers
~ Support Your Teen Night at Monrovia High. Learn about challenges that teens face and resources to help them thrive. http://goo.gl/yT0Y2B
~ Monrovia's Giving Hands Thrift Store, at 925 W. Foothill, is looking for volunteers, men and women 18 or older, to join its street team in staffing informational booths around town. Flexible hours. Contact Arin at 213-248-8186. http://www.givinghandssocal.org
Monrovia Police Arrest Man in Bath Salts and Ice Cream Caper
A burglary suspect under arrest by Monrovia Police was allegedly under the influence of bath salts and had a taste for ice cream. http://goo.gl/HsLAUC
Wildcat Color Guard Takes First Place | Be On a City Board
~ The Monrovia High Marching Wildcat Color Guard hosted 70 Southern California color guards this weekend in the WGASC LA/Ventura Invitational, and took first place in regional division AA. http://goo.gl/HNlJPZ
~ Monrovia is accepting applications to fill positions on the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Community Services Commission, Library Board and Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board. Details: http://goo.gl/e7YhnV
Monrovia VFW Hosting Seminar for Vets
VFW Post 2070 will host a seminar and Q&A session with a representative of the Veterans Administration at the Post Hall, 825 S. Magnolia, in Monrovia, on Thursday, March 27 from 5:30-7:30PM.
Topics to be covered include all aspects of veterans benefits, including education, healthcare, housing and disability, among others.
All veterans and/or their families in the San Gabriel Valley are invited to attend. The Post equally encourages all current and former military personnel from all eras of service, from World War II to present day, whether the veteran served in combat or not. Refreshments will be served, and the event is scheduled concurrent to the Post's weekly burger feast, so dinner will be available. Families are welcome to attend, especially if seeking help for a veteran who resists assistance.
For more information, contact Post 2070 Service Officer Robert Parry at (626) 698-0878 or rcjparry@yahoo.com
Monrovia Police: Gang Stabbing, Vehicle Burglary
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for March 6-9. - Brad Haugaard]
Gang-Related Stabbing
March 6 at 6:25 p.m., Monrovia Police Department received a call reporting a possible victim of a stabbing in the area of Magnolia and Montana. Officers were dispatched to the area to search for the victim. A 19-year-old, male Black victim was found in the 1300 block of South Magnolia with two, non-life-threatening, stab wounds to the chest. The victim told officers he had exited the bus at Magnolia and Huntington and started walking south on Magnolia on the west side of the street. The victim reported that he was approached by two male Hispanic suspects, approximately 19 years old. One of the suspects yelled out a gang slur and then stabbed the victim twice in the chest. The suspects then ran north on Magnolia towards Huntington. The victim flagged down pedestrians and told them he had been stabbed. Additional officers and Special Enforcement Team members searched the area for the suspects, but they were not located. The investigation is continuing.
March 7 at 4:45 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of West Huntington regarding the report of a vehicle burglary. Unknown suspect(s) broke out the windows of two parked cars belonging to patrons of a hotel. The suspect(s) removed personal property from the vehicles. The investigation is continuing.
Monrovia High Locked Down While Cops Search for Burglar
Monrovia High is on lockdown as police search for a nearby burglary suspect. Apparently police have now taken the suspect into custody. From Twitter postings.
Monrovia Assemblyman Advocates Replacing Current Massage Parlor Law
Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, writes that the state should consider allowing a state law that regulates the massage industry to expire and "replace it with something that will allow our communities to regain control over businesses who continually flout the law."
He said that, "While there are many legitimate massage operations, sex trafficking and prostitution have become big business in California with prostitutes as young as 12 or 13 working in illicit massage parlors."
Monrovia Assemblyman Holden Authors Bill to Fight Truancy
Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, writes that he is "proud to author a bill (AB 1672) that will help more students stay in the classroom and out of the courtroom."
"If schools aren't tracking what students are missing you won't be able to effectively fix the problem. Second graders are missing school and arriving late for very different reasons than 11th graders. Requiring County Offices of Education to forward the complete reports to the Dept. of Education will allow them to identify trends and find best practices to address this crisis.
"AB 1672 requires local Student Attendance Review Boards (SARB) to report information on student enrollment, absence and truancy rates, referrals to the district attorney and intervention outcomes. Current SARB reports provide minimal information about intervention outcomes, so it is difficult to get the full picture."
Text of law with the additional things schools would need to report: http://goo.gl/DBU4Ku
Comment: I'm kind of torn on this. It seems it might be a good thing if additional information can help reduce truancy, but it bothers me that this is yet another example of the state placing more and more requirements on local school districts, as if they don't have enough to do already. UPDATE: See knowledgeable response by "Alex" in comments.
2014 Monrovia Older American of the Year Award
The City of Monrovia, Department of Community Services, is accepting nominations for the 2014 Older American of the Year Award. This award is presented to a Monrovian 60 years of age or older, working or retired, and still actively involved in volunteer service in Monrovia. The purpose of this award is to honor and encourage older individuals to remain active in the community.
Nomination applications are now available [ here: http://goo.gl/E7J6pw ] and must be returned by Monday, March 31, to the Department of Community Services; 119 West Palm Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016 - Attention: Rebecca Romero. A committee will review the applications and select an award recipient by Monday, April 7.
Individuals who submit nominations must provide their name, address and phone number for Staff to contact them if further information is necessary. For additional information, please contact the Department of Community Services at (626) 256-8246.
The City of Monrovia will recognize the Older American Award recipient at the following events:
- Senior Recognition Luncheon, Thursday, April 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 West Palm.
- The 49th Annual Older Americans Recognition Day Awards on a date to be decided at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Music Center Grand Hall in Los Angeles.
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Grow Food With Less Water | Fundraiser for Monrovi...
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Lunch at Flamzz Pizza Restaurant
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Monrovia Wins Big Over Alta Loma at First Home Game
Monrovia football debuted its refurbished field at its first home game of the season with a decisive 34-7 win over Alta Loma High School of Rancho Cucamonga. https://shrtm.nu/S6Wm
New Monrovia City Manager? South-Side Entry Point to Train Station; Etc.
At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/PxkNMU) the Monrovia City Council will consider ...
~ Maybe, maybe ... a new city manager to replace Oliver Chi? It is not certain but the council will meet Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 4 p.m. in closed session. Topic: "Public Employee Appointment Pursuant to Government Code GC 54957: City Manager". https://is.gd/UBXKte
~ Build a south-side entryway to the train station. This would involve buying a strip of property (enough for a walkway) on the north side of the recycling facility on Duarte Road just south of the train station to build an access way so people can get to the tracks from the south side, rather than just the north side. The little stub of Peck Road above Duarte Road would be the south-side drop-off area. https://is.gd/ikcETF
~ Creating a five-member Board of Appeals to consider appeals to staff building code decisions. The board would be comprised of three Planning Commissioners and two Historic Preservation Commissioners. https://is.gd/14vFIQ
~ Designating the George H. Anderson House at 215 E. Lime Ave. as an historic landmark. The house is the home of the Monrovia Historical Society. https://is.gd/xQf2AP
Maryknoll Family Fun and Craft Fair
Family Fun and Craft Fair at Maryknoll Sisters, 300 Norumbega Drive, Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-5 p.m.. Raffle, first prize $1,000; quilt raffle, In-N-Out Burgers; children's fun zone; handmade items and plants. Call 358-1825 for information and tickets.
Lunch at Sunday’s Old Town Bistro
Lunch at Sunday’s Old Town Bistro, on the east side of Myrtle about a half block north of Colorado. Even though it was lunch I ordered a California Omelet, for $13.99 and an iced tea for $2.75. Quick and pleasant service, and decent food.
Monrovia Beer, Wine and Music Fest - September 14
Superintendent Thorossian's August Update
At Monrovia Unified, the success of our scholars is at the heart of everything we do. We are underway to a promising 2019-20 school year and are excited to see what accomplishments our students will achieve this academic year.
This month, our elementary schools held TK/K Meet and Greets, with parents and students visiting classrooms and preparing for the new school year.
On the first day of school, parents joined our elementary students in classrooms as they got acclimated and greeted their friends and teachers. At the middle schools and high school, orientations took place for each school’s incoming class, and students got to know their new campus during tours.
We also launched our Back to School nights. It has been exciting to visit our schools and hear about the new activities that will occur throughout the school year.
Our Spanish Dual-Language Immersion TK/K students at Wild Rose School of Creative Arts are fully engaged in the new curriculum, excitedly immersing themselves in the new language.
Finally, Monrovia Unified’s Board of Education is celebrating Monrovia High School’s Wildcat Stadium Grand Reopening with an event at 6:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, right before the Wildcats’ first home football game of the year!
Monrovia Unified’s mission is to provide world-class schools for world-class students, and we invite our community to learn more about our extraordinary programs from the Board of Education during our State of the Schools Address on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Monrovia High School’s Performing Arts Center, 845 W. Colorado Blvd., Monrovia.
Source: Monrovia Schools press release
Monrovia Police: Car Window Smashing; Almost Shoplifting; Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 22-28. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 468 service events, resulting in 104 investigations.
August 22 at 7:06 a.m., a resident in the 900 block of S. Fifth called to report his vehicle had been burglarized. He parked his vehicle in the parking lot overnight. When he returned to his vehicle in the morning, he discovered the rear window had been smashed and his laptop and an empty toolbox had been taken. Investigation continuing.
August 22 at 7:49 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 700 block of E. Huntington. While the victim was inside a business, someone shattered one of his vehicle windows and stole his dashboard camera. Investigation continuing.
Warrant / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
August 22 at 8:48 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 400 block of S. Myrtle when he saw a bicyclist commit a vehicle code violation. The bicyclist was stopped and a computer check of the subject revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and found to also be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe, which was added to his charges.
August 23 at 12:06 p.m., a motorist was traveling east on Maple and failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Magnolia. He collided into another motorist, who was traveling south on Magnolia. The involved drivers both complained of pain. The driver at fault was issued a citation.
August 23 at 1:15 p.m., a female subject entered a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain and selected merchandise. She left the store without paying for the merchandise and fled the parking lot in a waiting vehicle. Investigation continuing.
August 23 at 3:32 p.m., a motorist was traveling at a slow rate of speed near the intersection of Duarte and Sixth. She took her attention off the road and rear-ended the vehicle in front of her. Both drivers complained of pain. The driver at fault was issued a citation.
Warrants – Suspect Arrested
August 23 at 10:14 p.m., security for a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain called police to report a shoplifting incident. A male subject selected merchandise from inside the business and was about to leave without paying, but then put down the merchandise and left. Security believed the subject still had some merchandise on his person when he left. Officers arrived and stopped the subject outside the store and determined he did not have any merchandise in his possession, but a computer check revealed he had several outstanding warrants for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.
August 23 at 10:17 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Linwood arrived home and found someone had thrown a rock through the front window of his apartment. The suspect is unknown at this time. This investigation is continuing.
August 24 at 7:00 p.m., a resident of an apartment complex in 100 block of W. Lemon called police to report a suspicious male subject walking around the complex. Officers responded and located the subject, who did not live there. He was found to be in possession of a pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine. He was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and taken into custody.
Violation of Domestic Violence Restraining Order – Suspect Arrested
August 24 at 10:07 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of S. Primrose reported hearing a female yelling at someone outside his house. Officers responded and located the female, who was yelling at her boyfriend. A computer check revealed the boyfriend had a domestic violence restraining order to stay away from the female. He was arrested and taken into custody for violating the court order.
August 24 at 11:45 p.m., an officer was patrolling the 100 block of W. Foothill when he saw a motorist weaving in the traffic lane and changing lanes unsafely. He stopped the vehicle and found the driver to be heavily intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.
No-Bail Drug Warrant – Suspect Arrested
August 25 at 12:56 a.m., a resident called police to report loud yelling going on at his neighbor's home in the 1300 block of south Alta Vista. Officers responded and found the family that lives in the apartment were yelling at one another. The subject causing the argument was found to have a no-bail warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.
August 25 at 2:10 a.m., a guest staying at a hotel in the 900 block of S. Fifth reported her silver Mercedes was stolen from the hotel parking lot. The vehicle was entered into the law enforcement stolen vehicle system. This investigation is continuing.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
August 25 at 4:13 a.m., officers were on patrol in the area of Live Oak and Myrtle when they saw a suspicious male subject. He was contacted and found to be in possession of a glass pipe that had been used to smoke methamphetamine. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Vehicle Tampering
August 25 at 8:51 a.m., a resident in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle saw a subject inside their vehicle. The resident called the police and the subject fled on foot. Officers arrived at the location, but were unable to locate the suspect. Items were removed from the glovebox, but were not taken. Investigation continuing.
Arson – Suspect Arrested
August 25 at 1:15 p.m., a caller reported a small brush fire on the property of a business in the 700 block of W. Huntington. Officers arrived and found the fire had been extinguished by a witness with a fire extinguisher. The investigation revealed a known subject had lit something on fire adjacent to the bush, which then caught the bush on fire. The suspect left the area prior to police discovering how the fire was started. The suspect was not located and was entered into the law enforcement system as wanted for arson. The next day, August 26 at 8:31 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 700 block of W. Huntington when he saw the suspect wanted for the arson. The officer detained the suspect, confirmed his identity and arrested him for arson incident.
Petty Theft From a Vehicle / Fraud
August 26 at 7:19 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of W. Duarte called police to report a theft from her vehicle. She parked her vehicle in her assigned parking stall, but did not lock her vehicle. Someone entered the vehicle and ransacked the interior. A debit card was taken and later used fraudulently at a local business. Investigation continuing.
Welfare Check / Medical Assist
August 26 at 11:01 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of Ranchito regarding a welfare check of an elderly female that had not been seen in several days. The officers learned the elderly female was typically seen on a daily basis and it was very unusual not to see her. Officers were able to make entry into the home and found the elderly lady on the ground in need of medical attention. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Petty Theft From a Vehicle
August 26 at 2:05 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of W. Olive called police to report a theft from his vehicle. The victim parked his vehicle in his assigned parking stall with the windows a portion of the way down. Sometime during the day, a suspect made entry into his vehicle and took items. Investigation continuing.
Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
August 27 at 8:44 p.m., an employee from a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill called police to report a male suspect had entered the store, concealed merchandise and fled without paying for the items. Officers arrived and located the suspect. He was arrested for the theft.
August 28 at 3:26 a.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Primrose and Huntington when he saw a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road with the vehicle running. He stopped and checked on the driver, who appeared to be intoxicated. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.
August 28 at 9:16 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Cherry called police to report his vehicle had been stolen. The vehicle had been parked in his driveway. The vehicle is a 2001 Chevy Astro van. This investigation is continuing.
Police vs. City Staff Basketball Game this Saturday
Combat Wounded to Get Special Parking Spots; Tree Lighting to Merge With Thanksgiving Celebration; Lyft for Disabled; Etc.
In his latest report (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports:
~ In the next week or two wounded veterans will get up to four parking spaces in Old Town. The parking spaces will be painted purple and have signs indicating they are for wounded veterans. One of the proposed parking spaces will be on Palm (between the Community Center and the Library), one on Lime (between the Library and the Lime Parking Lot), one in front of City Hall, and one somewhere in the 400 block of Myrtle Avenue.
~ The Christmas tree lighting and Christmas parade will be split into two events. The tree lighting will be during a Thanksgiving event on Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Library Park. As usual, the parade will be on the first Thursday in December, Dec. 5 this year. The Thanksgiving event, or, more correctly, the "Thankful and Grateful Holiday Gathering," is "designed to show our gratitude to all who make Monrovia special." At the Thanksgiving event there will be live entertainment, community booths, a petting zoo, story times, crafts, a canned food drive, hay rides, and a community art project.
~ Disabled Monrovians will soon be able to call for transportation using the same app Lyft riders use. Lyft has made improvements to its system that will allow it to dispatch vehicles from Empire Transportation, which provides transportation for the disabled. A beta-test of the new system should occur "within the next month or two."
~ More than 2,700 people participated in the library's Summer Reading Program. They logged 53,359 days of reading over eight weeks.
~ Disabled Monrovians who find it difficult to find convenient off-street parking near their homes may now apply for Residential On-Street Accessible Parking. "The approved space will not be exclusive to the applicant and any other persons or vehicles with a valid Disabled Person Parking Placard or Disabled Person License Plate may park in this designated space." But you still gotta move your car for street sweeping and such. Application: https://is.gd/hDpNiP
~ If you check out a lot of library books at a time, you can now check out a basket to carry them in. The book baskets check out for three weeks and automatically renew up to two times. For questions, call the Library at 256-8274.
~ The city is accepting applications for the Youth Commission, for teens grades 6-12. Details https://is.gd/tBXmhI
Vamp: Looking for a Partner in Crime
This tiny little black kitten was found as a stray in Alhambra when he was around one-month old! The big world must have been pretty scary, but he did have a friend, Gremlin (A480338), to keep him company. Since Gremlin found a home, 2-month-old Vamp (A480336) has made it his mission to take on the world, this time with a human by his side. He’s currently looking for his partner in crime while at our adoption partner, Pet Food Express in Pasadena. Visit him there to start the adventure!
The adoption fee for cats is $90. All cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before being adopted.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.
View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
Slow-Moving Bear Above Monrovia
Today a friend and I were riding our bikes down the fire road from White Saddle, above Monrovia, when we encountered a slow-moving bear walking the same direction we were going.
He (or she) was not at all impressed by us, unlike other bears I’ve encountered, who scoot off the road as soon as they see me.
He just casually lumbered down the road ahead of us, stopping occasionally to scratch himself, rub his back and scratch his claws on an old telephone pole, nose around under a log, and nibble on some weeds.
Slowed us down for about 10 minutes.
Isn’t holding up traffic a ticketable offense? Where’s a cop when you need one?
And, no, I don’t need to be tolerant because we humans are encroaching on the bears’ territory. We were here first. Our bears were imported from Yellowstone, so I still think he deserves a ticket!
Monrovia Over West Covina
Monrovia won over West Covina Friday night, 28-14. https://is.gd/IBILxc
Monrovia High Wildcat Stadium Reopening
Fundraiser for Santa Fe Science Magnet School
Monrovia School Board to Consider Dual Enrollment Program with Citrus
At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/2sSJrh) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...
~ Consider a College and Career Access Pathways partnership agreement with Citrus College. The idea is to offer or expand "dual enrollment opportunities for high school students who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education, with the goal of developing seamless pathways from high school to community college for career technical education or preparation for transfer, improving high school graduation rates, or helping high school pupils achieve college and career readiness." https://is.gd/mw3ExW
~ Get a summary of the 2019-20 Annual Statements: https://is.gd/jKpZiB
Dinner at Jim’s Burgers
Dinner at Jim’s Burgers, at Sixth and Duarte Road. Got the Greek Salad for $8.95 and a small iced tea for 90 cents. Service is very fast and the food was good.
Monrovia Landing Sold for $30.5 Million
Monrovia Landing - the shopping center with Aldi and TJ Maxx/Home Goods - has been sold for $30.5 million, according to commercial real estate services and investment firm, CBRE.
CBRE Vice Chairman Philip D. Voorhees announced today that the National Retail Partners-West (NRP-West), along with Alex Kozakov and Patrick Wade from CBRE Los Angeles, completed the sale of Monrovia Landing in Monrovia, Calif., a grocery-anchored asset, 100%-leased to high-performing, national credit tenants Aldi, TJ Maxx/Home Goods, ULTA Beauty and O'Reilly among others.
CBRE retail experts Patrick Wade, Alex Kozakov, Sean Heitzler, Jimmy Slusher and Philip Voorhees represented the seller, a partnership between Telos Capital, a Pasadena-based private real estate investment firm, and Warner Pacific Properties, a real estate development firm. The buyer [unnamed in press release. Brad], based out of Los Angeles and represented by Marcus & Millichap (Sheila Alimadadian), purchased the asset as a 1031 exchange from a prior sale.
Monrovia Police Blood Drive Sept. 4
Monrovia Police: Pants-less Drunk Arrested; Hubcaps Stolen; Smoking Marijuana Farm; Lottery Tickets Stolen; Etc.
August 15 at 4:13 p.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Pomona and Myrtle, and one of the drivers was complaining of pain. Officers responded along with paramedics from the Monrovia Fire Department. The subject who complained of pain was medically treated. The driver found at fault for the collision was issued a citation for the vehicle code violation.
August 15 at 7:30 p.m., loss prevention officers from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington stopped a male suspect who took items from the store without paying. The suspect returned the items and ran from the store. Officers responded and found the suspect hiding in a nearby business. He was positively identified by the loss prevention officers and was arrested for the theft.
Warrant – Suspect Arrested
August 15 at 9:13 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 100 block of W. Foothill when they observed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation. A traffic stop was conducted and the investigation revealed the driver had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.
Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
August 16 at 3:46 a.m., a caller reported a male subject looking into vehicles in the 1300 block of S. Mayflower. Officers arrived and found the subject on top of a vehicle, and he had taken off his pants. He was found to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety. The subject was arrested and held for a sobering period.
August 16 at 6:46 a.m., a resident in 300 block of W. Lemon called to report someone had stolen the hubcaps off her car, which was parked on the street overnight. Officers arrived and discovered two other vehicles in the 300 and 800 blocks of E. Lemon had also had hubcaps stolen sometime during the same night. This investigation is continuing.
Fire / Drug Activity
August 16 at 4:42 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of W. Duarte reported a home in the neighborhood had smoke coming from the roof, the fire sprinklers were on, and the fire alarm was sounding. Officers responded along with the Monrovia Fire Department. Upon entering the house, they discovered it was full of marijuana plants and unknown chemicals. The smoke was coming from overloaded electrical wires. Detectives, HazMat, and a building inspector responded. No one was found inside the home. This investigation is continuing.
August 16 at 7:11 p.m., a caller reported that while he was away on vacation, someone stole the tailgate from his truck. The truck was parked in the 400 block of E. Walnut. This investigation is continuing.
Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 16 at 10:09 p.m., officers responded to a traffic collision involving a vehicle and motorcycle near the intersection of Shamrock and Central. The driver of the vehicle was determined to be at fault for the collision and she displayed signs of being under the influence. The motorcyclist was treated by paramedics from the Monrovia Fire Department and was transported to a hospital for his injuries. An investigation was conducted, and the driver was found to be too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle. She was arrested for DUI and held for a sobering period.
August 17 at 8:21 a.m., the owner of a business in the 400 block of E. Duarte reported a burglary that occurred sometime overnight. They arrived to work and found someone had used bolt cutters to cut through the front security gate. The suspect shattered the front window to gain entry and stole California Lottery ticket scratchers. This investigation is continuing.
August 17 at 12:40 p.m., a caller reported a male subject on the roof of a building in the 200 block of W. Pomona. When officers arrived, he was off the roof and exiting the property. The officers contacted the subject, and he was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken into custody.
August 17 at 6:44 p.m., a resident in the 400 block of W. Lemon called police to report the theft of her hubcaps stolen from her vehicle. This investigation is continuing.
Grand Theft Auto / Resisting Arrest
August 18 at 1:04 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 800 block of W. Chestnut when he saw two subjects occupying a suspicious vehicle. The officer was notified the vehicle had been reported stolen. As the officer was exiting his patrol unit, the driver of the vehicle accelerated down the street and out of sight. Additional officers arrived and a search of the area was conducted, but the suspects were not located. The vehicle was later recovered, unoccupied, near Parker and Mayflower. This investigation is ongoing.
August 18 at 7:09 a.m., a female subject reported her vehicle had been broken into overnight while parked in the 200 block of Oaks. Officers arrived and conducted an investigation. The rear window had been damaged and items were taken out of the rear compartment. This investigation is continuing.
August 18 at 7:14 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of W. Foothill. The victim reported her vehicle had been broken into and the driver-side, rear window was smashed by an unknown object. Several items were missing from the center console. This investigation is continuing.
Drunk in Public / Battery – Suspect Arrested
August 18 at 10:06 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of W. Foothill regarding a disturbing male subject starting fights with people. Officers made contact with the subject and other involved parties. The investigation revealed the subject was involved in a physical fight with an individual inside a business. The subject was found to be too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Battery – Suspect Arrested
August 19 at 6:47 a.m., a female subject called police to report her neighbors were involved in a physical altercation in the 200 block of E. Maple and requested police. Officers arrived and the investigation revealed the argument initiated over a parking space. Both parties advised they did not desire prosecution against each other and the officers left the location. A short while later, additional calls were received reporting the subjects were fighting again. Officers arrived and one of the parties now desired prosecution. A citizen’s arrest was made and one of the subjects was arrested and taken into custody for battery.
August 19 at 9:41 a.m., a robbery was reported at a business in the 900 block of E. Huntington. The suspects were described as three male African Americans wearing ski masks. Two of the three were carrying firearms. They left the location in a silver Toyota Corolla after stealing store merchandise, as well as a customer’s purse. Officers responded to the location, but were not able to find the suspects or the suspect vehicle. This investigation is continuing.
August 19 at 2:13 p.m., a resident in the 500 block of N. Alta Vista called police to report their home had been broken into while they were away at lunch. Officers responded and found various items were stolen from the master bedroom. This investigation is continuing.
August 19 at 7:12 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 400 block of E. Duarte when then observed a subject walking with an open beer. They made contact with the subject who displayed obvious signs of intoxication. An investigation revealed the subject was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for a sobering period.
August 20 at 7:38 a.m., a caller said that a business in the 1600 block of S. Magnolia was broken into during the night hours. This investigation is continuing.
August 20 at 8:53 a.m., officers saw a suspicious vehicle in the 700 block of E. Huntington occupied by three subjects. They made contact with the subjects and one of them had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrant and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.
Prowling – Suspect Arrested
August 20 at 12:22 p.m., a victim called saying there was a female at her residence in the 700 block of Crescent who tried to open her back door. She then walked to another residence and tried to open that door as well. Officers arrived and detained the subject. A citizen’s arrest was made, and she was transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.
August 20 at 1:01 p.m., loss prevention officers from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called to report a male and female Hispanic had left with unpaid merchandise. They then left the location in a silver Honda Accord. Officers arrived, but were not able to locate the subjects. This investigation is continuing.
August 20 at 2:04 p.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a theft. A male Hispanic had taken unpaid merchandise from a business and left the location in a dark colored minivan. An area check was made, but officers could not locate the vehicle. This investigation is continuing.
Prowling
August 20 at 6:51 p.m., a resident in the 100 block of E. El Norte advised he saw a female subject checking the door handle to his home via his surveillance camera. Officers arrived and recognized the female subject from past encounters. A report was taken and was forwarded to the District Attorney’s officer for filing consideration.
August 20 at 9:01 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist for a vehicle code violation near the intersection of Myrtle and Longden. An investigation revealed the subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested per the authority of the warrant and transported to the Monrovia PD Jail for booking.
August 20 at 9:21 p.m., a female subject called police to report her boyfriend had pushed and spat on her while she was a passenger in a vehicle near the intersection of Myrtle and Maple. Officers responded to the area and found the boyfriend in his vehicle. Further investigation revealed he had also threatened the female that he would kill her and her family. The boyfriend was arrested and taken into custody for domestic violence.
August 21 at 9:10 a.m., a fight was reported at a residence in the 800 block of E. Lemon and officers were requested to respond. Officers arrived and found a male at the location who had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Newcomers Group Invites Local Women
Newcomers and Friends of San Gabriel Valley, a social club, invites local women to attend their next general meeting.
On Sept. 4, at 10 a.m., Newcomers and Friends of SGV's "meet-and-greet" coffee will be held in Jordan Hall at Church of the Good Shepherd, 400 West Duarte Road, in Arcadia. Free tickets here: https://is.gd/wtKH5C
This general meeting is a great way to meet the members of Newcomers and Friends and learn about the club's activities.
Newcomers and Friends' mostly-daytime, weekday activities include a Book Club, Bridge, Crafters, Day Trips, Games (Bunco, Rummikub, etc.), Golf, Hiking, Happy Hour, Lunch Bunch, Mah Jongg, Movies, Pinochle, and Wine Tasting.
Newcomers and Friends is a friendly, caring group of women of diverse ages. This group currently has 136 members of various backgrounds and has existed since 1965. You can choose to be as actively involved as you like, based on your time and interests.
For more about Newcomers and Friends of San Gabriel Valley, email at sgvnewcomers@gmail.com or visit online at www.sgvnewcomers.com
Opening on Monrovia Planning Commission; Return of the Soap Box Derby; Composting; Etc.
~ If you'd like to be on the Monrovia Planning Commission, now may be your opportunity. Planning Commissioner Coulter Winn recently announced he will resign to resume his professional architectural career with Disney. If you are interested you will need to submit an application by 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26. For questions, contact the City Clerk's Office at 932-5505. More detail: https://is.gd/4LFlev
~ The popular soap box derby is returning to Monrovia to raise funds for Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills. The event will take place in Old Town Monrovia on Sept. 7, and is sponsored by Monrovia Old Town Derby, LLC. Details here: http://monroviaoldtownderby.com/
~ A free composting workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, 9 to 11 a.m. at Mountainside Communion Church (Magnolia and Colorado). Topics: What you can and can't compost, different types of compost methods, and all about the community compost program.
~ Last week Congresswoman Napolitano visited Oak Crest Institute of Science to congratulate the team on their recent grant award of $748,000 for the i6 Challenge program, under the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Regional Innovation Strategies Program.
~ The curb and gutter, sidewalk access ramps, and the sidewalk itself have been replaced in front of Monrovia High. The city plans to coordinate with the school district on landscape improvements to the school. Chi writes, "We are committed to our policy of 2-for-1 replacement of all trees that we remove."
Monrovia Women Welcome at Arcadia Woman's Club
Despite being named the "Arcadia" Woman's Club, it is open to Monrovia women as well (Monrovia's Woman's Club is a thing of the past). I checked, so ...
Are you interested in meeting new people, making new friends, and helping good causes? Do you want to make a difference in the community and enjoy networking? Arcadia Woman's Club is a local philanthropic service organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life.
On Sept. 4, from 11:00 to 1:00, Arcadia Woman's Club will have an Open House. This "meet-and-greet" will be held in their Historic Clubhouse, 324 S. First Ave., in Arcadia.
The Open House is a great way to meet the members of Arcadia Woman's Club and learn about the club's wide variety of service and fun activities. Arcadia Woman's Club members volunteer their time to improve the community while making new friends, learning new skills, and having fun.
Anyone interested in joining is welcome to attend. You can bring a friend along or just come and meet your future friends.
Arcadia Woman's Club is a friendly, caring group of women of diverse ages. You can choose to be as actively involved as you like, based on your time and interests.
This club has existed since 1914. There are monthly lunch meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, from October to June, with interesting speakers on varied topics, so you can hear about the club's activities and events, including fundraisers and community service projects.
By the way, the clubhouse is also available for event rentals. In fact, weddings have taken place in the lovely courtyard as well as receptions, anniversaries, and baby showers have been held in the large ballroom.
Arcadia Woman's Club hopes you can come and meet us and see our special Clubhouse.
To learn more about Arcadia Woman's Club, contact them via email at info@arcadiawomansclub.org or visit them online at www.arcadiawomansclub.org and www.facebook.com/arcadiawomansclub.org
Source: Arcadia Woman's Club press release
Box Jewelry Sign Gets Fresh Paint
(Thanks to Kelly Moran for photo!)
Monrovia Men Arrested In Connection With Shooting Death in Pasadena
Two Monrovia men, Lamarr Marquise McDaniels, 24, and Trevor James Dorman, 19, have been arrested in connection with the Aug. 9 shooting death of 24-year-old Anthony Michael Tafoya Ortiz in Pasadena. https://is.gd/UiUOI0
Lunch at Gene’s Grinders
Lunch at Gene’s Grinders, at the southeast corner of Myrtle and Olive. Got the small combination cold grinder for $7 and an iced tea for $2. Nice.
'We Will Rock You' at Monrovia High Wildcat Theater in October, November
The play, "We Will Rock You," is coming to the the Monrovia High Wildcat Theater October 25 and 26, and November 1 and 2, 7-9 p.m. The play features more than 20 hit Queen songs including "Another One Bites the Dust," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You," "We Are the Champions." The story follows two revolutionaries as they try to save rock 'n' roll in a post-apocalyptic world. A fist-pumping, foot-stomping, musical anthem to freedom.
Monrovia Police: Tailgate Stolen from Truck; Lying Drunk in Middle of Road; Women Arrested in Domestic Violence Incidents; Firearm Taken from Unlocked Car; Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 8-14. - Brad Haugaard]
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
August 8 at 11:13 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle when they observed two subjects loitering in Station Square Park after closing hours. They contacted the subjects, and the investigation revealed they were both parolees and both were found to be in possession of controlled substances. Both subjects were arrested.
August 9 at 7:26 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of Duarte and Mayflower regarding two vehicles that collided. One driver complained of neck pain and was treated by paramedics from the Monrovia Fire Department. The driver at fault was issued a citation for a vehicle code violation.
August 9 at 8:04 a.m., three vehicles were involved in a collision at the intersection of California and Huntington. Officers arrived and completed a traffic collision investigation. One subject complained of pain and was treated by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics. The party at fault was cited for a vehicle code violation.
Public Intoxication / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
August 9 at 8:17 p.m., officers patrolling on bicycles saw a subject loitering in the 100 block of W. Palm. They made contact with him and found he was extremely intoxicated. A computer check revealed he also had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
August 9 at 11:25 p.m., officers responded to a traffic collision in the 500 block of Scenic. A caller reported a vehicle had crashed into a parked car and then drove around the corner and parked in the middle of the street. Officers arrived and found the driver attempting to notify the owner of the parked car about the accident. He appeared intoxicated and, after a DUI investigation was conducted, was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Wanted Person – Suspect Arrested
August 10 at 2:50 a.m., officers were on patrol near the 100 block of Duarte and saw a female loitering near the doors of a closed business. They stopped to see if she needed any help. An investigation revealed she was wanted by the Monrovia Police Department for burglary. She was arrested for the want and taken into custody.
August 10 at 11:37 a.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Colorado and Primrose. Officers and paramedics from the Monrovia Fire Department responded and found a passenger had a cut on their forehead. The passenger was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor visible injuries and complaint of pain. The driver found at fault was issued a traffic citation for the violation.
August 10 at 12:15 p.m., a caller reported two motorists had just collided into one another in the intersection of Primrose and Oaks. One of the drivers was complaining of pain from her seatbelt and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The driver who was found to have caused the collision was issued a citation for the vehicle code violation.
August 10 at 1:53 p.m., a resident in the 1200 block of S. Primrose walked outside his home and discovered someone had stolen the tailgate off his truck sometime overnight. This investigation is continuing.
August 10 at 7:30 p.m., a resident reported the tailgate off his truck had been stolen sometime overnight. The vehicle was parked in the 500 block of E. Walnut. This investigation is continuing.
Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
August 10 at 10:26 p.m., an officer was flagged down by a citizen regarding a male subject lying in the middle of the street near the intersection of Foothill and Magnolia. The subject was located and found to be intoxicated, and unable to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
August 10 at 11:47 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of W. Foothill regarding a family disturbance. The investigation revealed a male subject went to his ex-girlfriend’s house and got into an argument with her. He pushed her to the ground and then broke the back window of her vehicle. Officers checked the area, but did not locate the suspect. This investigation is continuing.
August 10 at 11:51 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of Kirkwood. A male subject was in front of the residence and appeared to be intoxicated. He identified himself, and a computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken into custody.
August 11 at 1:07 a.m., police dispatch was contacted by Arcadia Methodist Hospital regarding a patient with an injury to her finger, who was possibly involved in a domestic dispute. Officers responded and conducted an investigation. Both the female and her husband were interviewed, and officers determined the female subject was the primary aggressor in the incident. After she was released from the hospital, she was arrested and taken into custody.
August 11 at 2:47 a.m., an officer was on patrol near the intersection of Duarte and Magnolia when he saw a male subject lying on the curb. The officer made contact with the subject to see if he needed assistance and found him to be intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
August 11 at 2:51 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 200 block of E. Pomona and saw a subject slumped over on the sidewalk. The officer stopped to check on the subject and found him to be intoxicated and unable to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
Theft of a Firearm From a Vehicle
August 11 at 8:22 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of W. Pomona regarding a theft of a firearm. A security guard left his loaded firearm in the unlocked glovebox of his vehicle. He said the windows were down and the doors to the vehicle were unlocked. He was on patrol in the area throughout the night and noticed the firearm and his backpack were missing later in the morning. This investigation is continuing.
August 11 at 10:34 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist for a vehicle code violation in the 700 block of W. Huntington. Further investigation revealed the bicyclist was in possession of a controlled substance. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.
August 11 at 11:07 p.m., officers responded to a traffic collision in the 800 block of W. Foothill. A vehicle struck a parked car and the driver was displaying symptoms of being intoxicated. Officers conducted a DUI investigation and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence. She was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.
August 12 at 1:59 a.m., officers responded to the 700 block of W. Huntington regarding a subject loitering in the area. They made contact with him and a computer check revealed he had a warrant for his arrest. The subject was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
August 12 at 7:28 a.m., loss prevention officers from a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain saw a male subject exit the store without paying for merchandise. Officers responded to the area and located the subject near the business. He was arrested and released on a citation to appear in court on the theft charges.
August 12 at 9:06 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of W. Walnut regarding a vehicle burglary. The investigation revealed the suspect used a device that clones vehicle key fobs to enter several vehicles in the area. This investigation is continuing.
Public Assist
August 12 at 9:53 p.m., officers assisted the Monrovia Fire Department and the Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department air unit in locating a lost hiker who had wandered 1.5 miles off trail in Canyon Park. The subject was in contact with a friend on his cell phone and was eventually located and evacuated.
August 13 at 12:38 a.m., officers were on patrol near the intersection of Myrtle and Cypress when they saw a subject they recognized from previous encounters. A computer check showed the subject had a felony warrant from the Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department. Officers contacted the subject and arrested him for the warrant. The subject was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.
August 14 at 2:50 a.m., officers were on patrol near the intersection of Kardashian and Goldring, where they saw a subject loitering near a closed business. They made contact with the subject and further investigation revealed he was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was arrested and released on a citation to appear in court on the charges.
August 14 at 6:46 a.m., a resident reported his vehicle had been damaged overnight while parked in the 200 block of E. Palm. Officers responded, and found the victim’s windshield on his vehicle had been broken. This investigation is continuing.
August 14 at 6:55 a.m., a driver was exiting a parking structure in the 200 block of W. Pomona and collided with another vehicle traveling on the street. Officers responded to the location. One of the passengers complained of pain and was treated by paramedics from the Monrovia Fire Department.
August 14 at 7:53 a.m., a caller reported his wife had hit him at their residence in the 800 block of W. Duarte. Officers arrived and the wife admitted to hitting her husband. The caller then told officers he did not desire any prosecution against his wife. The wife was arrested and taken into custody for domestic violence.
August 14 at 11:24 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 700 block of W. Chestnut. The keys had been left inside the vehicle, and the vehicle was taken sometime during the night. Later that day, the vehicle was recovered by Pasadena Police Department. This investigation is continuing.
Labels: police
Foothill Unity Center's Van Stolen
Foothill Unity Center's 14-foot truck has been stolen from its parking lot. The truck was used to pick-up food donations from across the San Gabriel Valley. Call the Monrovia Police Department if you have any information that may be of help. https://is.gd/XfGb1c
UPDATE: Recovered! Unity Center reports that it “was recovered today thanks to the great work from the Monrovia and Pasadena Police departments. We are so grateful to have our truck back as it is a critical component to the daily operations of our programs to serve the San Gabriel Valley community.”
Monrovia Schools Orientation Day
Monrovia Unified School District students bid farewell to summer and hello to a new school year today (Aug. 14), as they participated in orientations, toured campuses, and picked up class schedules, and committed to a successful 2019-20 academic year.
At the elementary level, parents accompanied students as they got acclimatized to their classrooms and greeted friends and teachers. Students took photos with teachers, principals, and friends before kicking off the first day of school.
Monrovia's Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School and Clifton Middle School held orientations for incoming sixth-graders, who toured their new campus and picked up class schedules. Students learned about school culture and discussed the new responsibilities that come with being a middle school student.
Monrovia High School held a special orientation for its incoming freshman class. Students were greeted with a high-five line of administrators, teachers, and staff. The Class of 2023 participated in orientation and pledged to their success in 2023 by signing gowns that will hang in the foyer for the entire academic year - a reminder every time students walk by.
Monrovia Unified offers a slate of innovative instructional and enrichment programs, including coding, dual-language immersion, robotics, music, theater and arts - giving all students an opportunity to explore new interests and develop new skills.
"Our entire team of dedicated professionals in the Monrovia Unified School District looks forward to working with our students and exploring new tools for their continued success," Superintendent Katherine Thorossian said. "While I know that this school year will be replete with rigorous instruction and personal support, I am equally confident it will be a time to create memories."
$10,000 Reward for Witnesses of Alleged Amanda Custer Kidnapping
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is offering a $10,000 reward to encourage any witnesses to come forward regarding the alleged assault and abduction of Monrovian Amanda Kathleen Custer, a 31-year-old single mom of an 8-year-old son. https://is.gd/NeJxY9
Monrovia High Football Schedule
Here's the Monrovia varsity football schedule. First up is an away game at Northview, in Covina, on August 16 at 7 p.m.
Schedule: https://is.gd/2tC7rp
Boba Shop Coming to Old Town; Red Cross Blood Drive; Street Digging; Oak Crest Wins Award
~ Old Town is getting a T-Pumps, a trendy tea and boba shop with several locations in Northern California and one in Pasadena. The store will be at 510 S. Myrtle Ave., where the old Family Affair Music shop used to be located. Here's the company's website: https://www.tpumps.com/
~ The Monrovia Police Officers' Association will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in the Library's Community Center. Schedule an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code "MONROVIA." Your donation directly supports trauma victims.
~ Construction crews and inspectors from Southern California Edison are continuing an electrical system improvement/relocation project along Walnut Avenue, between Myrtle and Primrose. There'll be a lot of digging, intermittent road closures and the reduction of traffic to westbound vehicles. Please avoid the area for the next couple of weeks,
~ Monrovia's Oak Crest Institute of Science has been chosen by the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership to receive its "Success Within Workforce Development" award, which will be presented at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 21, during the Partnership's annual gala.
Pepper - If You Like Dog Kisses and Squirrel Watching
A mellow six-year old dog, Pepper (A448661) is an affectionate lap dog. He enjoys meeting new people and will roll on his back for belly rubs once he has said hello. His favorite activity is climbing in your lap to give kisses. Pepper does enjoy walks in the park and watching the squirrels. After a little stroll, he loves nothing more than rolling in the grass and getting belly rubs. Pepper knows some commands like sit, shake and down and is working with our volunteers on learning more. If you are looking for a calm dog who likes to stroll through the park and then go home to cuddle on the couch then Pepper might be the dog for you. Stop by to meet Pepper and learn more about this affectionate dog.
The adoption fee for dogs is $140. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home.
Fire Department Helps Rescue Hiker Monday Night
Monrovia Fire Department reports that late last night (Monday) Monrovia Fire Department helped rescue a hiker who had become lost well off of the trail in Monrovia Canyon Park. With the assistance of helicopters from LA County Fire, Pasadena PD and LA County Sheriff's Department the lost hiker was located and rescued.
World Whistling Competition Organized By Monrovia's 'Whistling Diva'
Monrovian Carole Anne Kaufman, "The Whistling Diva," is organizing The Masters of Musical Whistling International Competition and Festival, coming to the Pasadena Convention Center on Aug. 23 and 24.
More than 60 whistlers from 10 countries will compete for the title of World Champion. The biennial event - the only one of its kind in the United States - attracts professional whistlers and undiscovered talent from all over the world.
Kaufman, a two-time world champion musical whistler, founded the festival in 2015 to establish a meeting place for the global whistling community and promoting musical whistling as fine art.
For event tickets and more information, please visit www.mastersofwhistling.com or whistlers.eventbrite.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastersofwhistling/.
Monrovian Thanks Neighbors for Saving Her Life
Monrovian Jenny Polizzi posted on the social media site, Nextdoor, that her neighbors saved her life. She writes ...
"I had a stroke as the result of a fall two weeks ago on Monday July 29th around 10 am. I am home recovering now. It was a miracle that I was in the exact right place at the exact right time. That our neighbors were out for a walk. That someone on the ambulance decided to take me Huntington Hospital.
"I owe my life to 2 neighbors, a woman and a man around 10am on N Myrtle. I was out walking my 2 dogs Jack and Flora. They passed us and we said hi. I think I saw a young man with a dog. Next thing I remember I was lying on my back on the sidewalk bleeding. I heard someone say 911. I saw the woman talking to me but I didn't understand what you were saying. I had my Apple watch on and was able to tell Siri call my daughter and then she was there. I don't really remember much. I am forever grateful to you both. So are my daughters, son and my grandchildren. You saved my life.
I do remember that when I was in the ambulance that I was talking but they didn't understand what I was saying. They called a Stroke Code at the Huntington trauma center. They gave me 'the shot' TPA. It immediately broke up the clot and almost entirely reversed the stroke. There is only a 2-3 hour Golden hours that you can get the shot to stop a stroke.
"I am forever grateful to you both. So are my daughters, son and my grandchildren. You saved my life."
A/C Work at Clifton, Plymouth; Repave Parking Lot Next to Monrovia High
At its next meeting (https://is.gd/lRcWhz) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider ...
~ Having work done on the air conditioning systems at Clifton and Plymouth schools (and gas lines at Plymouth) for about $71,000.
~ Repave the parking lot on 124 S. Madison Avenue, next to Monrovia High for $104,900.
Labels: school
Where in Monrovia?
How expert are you on Monrovia. What is this flag and where does it fly in Monrovia?
Lunch at Monrovia Pizza
Lunch at Monrovia Pizza Company, at the corner of Mayflower and Duarte Road. Got the one-slice pizza lunch special (choice of cheese or pepperoni) with drink for $3.01. Wow! Great price, a nice-size piece of pizza and tasty.
Fine For False Alarms Up to $400
Monrovia Police officers respond to nearly 2,000 false alarms each year. The response to false alarms unnecessarily pulls the responding officers from other endeavors, decreasing the effectiveness of their patrol duties and increasing response times to other calls for service.
Once officers arrive, if there are no signs of forced entry or tampering, Monrovia Police Officers will leave the homeowner a “False Alarm Notice,” informing the home or business owner the police were called to their address regarding an alarm activation.
Monrovia Municipal Code Ordinance 9.47 was established in the best interest of public safety, public welfare, and convenience of the City, as well as fairness to its citizens. The City requires those persons generating an unusual number of false alarms to be deterred from allowing their alarm systems to generate false alarms, which contributes to the City’s expense for responding to those false alarms. The City allows no more than three false alarm responses free of charge in a 12-month period.
Monrovia Municipal Code Ordinance 9.47.050 establishes a service charge to be billed to and paid by the alarm user of a particular alarm system for the following false alarms:
• 4th False Alarm - $200.00
• Subsequent False Alarms - $400.00
This fee is established by resolution for excessive alarm response. Alarms caused by criminal activity, earthquake, weather or conditions beyond the control of the owner would not be considered false.
It is in your best interest to ensure your alarm system is in proper working order and a valid alarm permit is on file with the City of Monrovia.
Monrovia Police: Lots of Cars Looted; Phone Thieves Escape in Lexus; Copper Wire Theft; Bomb Threat Scam; Etc.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 1-7. - Brad Haugaard]
Petty Theft From Vehicle
August 1 at 3:09 p.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Berry walked outside her home and discovered someone had entered and ransacked her vehicle. The vehicle had been left unlocked and miscellaneous items were taken. This investigation is continuing.
August 1 at 3:30 p.m., a petty theft incident was reported at a business parking lot in the 1600 block of S. Mountain. When the victim finished shopping and returned to his vehicle, he found it had been ransacked. He could not remember if he locked his vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry and miscellaneous items had been taken. This investigation is continuing.
August 1 at 5:58 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of W. Walnut called to report his motorcycle had been stolen from the alley sometime in the last two days. The investigation is continuing.
August 2 at 12:21 a.m., officers were on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Longden when they witnessed a vehicle drive over the center divider, and then continued on at a high rate of speed. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was displaying signs of being under the influence of alcohol. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was arrested for DUI.
Grand Theft Auto – Vehicle Located
August 2 at 8:17 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of Canyon Crest walked outside his home and discovered someone had stolen his vehicle sometime during the night. His vehicle had been parked on the street in front of his house. Officers arrived and had the vehicle entered into the DMV stolen vehicle system. Shortly thereafter, it was located unoccupied by the Pasadena Police Department and returned to the owner.
August 2 at 1:53 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Canyon Crest walked outside her home and found someone had entered her car sometime overnight and ransacked her vehicle, but she did not notice anything missing. She had left her vehicle unlocked. This investigation is continuing.
Vandalism Incidents
August 2 at 9:05 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of W. Colorado called to report someone threw a rock through her apartment window and shattered it. No witnesses were located. Investigation continuing. At 10:02 p.m. that same day, a resident in the 200 block of Linwood called to report that someone threw a rock through his apartment window and shattered it. No witnesses were located. Investigation continuing.
August 3 at 12:39 p.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 700 block of W. Huntington. While the victim was shopping in the store, an unknown suspect took her wallet and cellphone from her purse. The wallet contained cash and credit cards. This investigation is continuing.
August 3 at 10:09 p.m., an employee from a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called to report he had detained a shoplifter and requested a private person’s arrest. Officers responded and conducted an investigation. The private persons arrest was accepted and the subject was taken into custody for shoplifting.
August 3 at 11:55 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the area of Foothill and Mayflower regarding an intoxicated person causing a disturbance in the area. The subject was located and detained. He was found to be too intoxicated to care for himself and was arrested for being drunk in public. He was held for a sobering period.
August 4 at 3:57 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of S. Myrtle regarding an intoxicated person in the area. The subject was located and detained. It was determined the subject was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.
August 4 at 3:37 p.m., a grand theft was reported at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. An employee called to report four male Black subjects wearing hooded sweatshirts entered the location and separated upon entry. They each approached display stands, cut the security cables and fled with multiple phones. They were last seen heading south on Monterey in a silver, 2000's, Lexis sedan. Officers responded but were not able to locate the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
August 5 at 12:56 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 500 block of Norumbega when he saw a motorist commit a driving violation. He stopped the vehicle and discovered the driver had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody.
August 5 at 11:20 a.m., a traffic collision was reported at the intersection of Duarte and Mayflower. One of the drivers failed to yield the right of way to the other vehicle, causing the collision. One of the drivers complained of back pain, but refused medical treatment.
August 5 at 11:33 a.m., a commercial burglary was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Chestnut. The business is under construction and over the weekend, unknown suspects forced entry into the building and stole tools, equipment and copper wire. The investigation is continuing.
August 5 at 12:34 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of N. Canyon called police to report her vehicle had been burglarized. The victim parked her vehicle in the street in front of her residence. When she returned to her vehicle, she found a window had been smashed and her purse, which she had left in the vehicle, had been stolen. There is no suspect information at this time. Investigation continuing.
False Bomb Threat
August 6 at 4:32 p.m., an employee from a business in the 900 block of S. Mountain called to report he received an email regarding a bomb threat to the business if Bitcoin was not exchanged. The investigation revealed the email was a scam. This investigation is continuing.
August 6 at 7:16 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Foothill and Melrose regarding a group of subjects drinking beer on the corner. Officers arrived and detained several subjects matching the description. A computer check revealed one of the subjects had an outstanding warrant, and he was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.
Threatening / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
August 7 at 8:45 a.m., two separate subjects called police to report a male subject had threatened them at a business in the 100 block of W. Duarte. The suspect frequents the business. The victims reported he threatened their lives and they were fearful of him. Officers conducted an investigation and identified the suspect, who also had a warrant for his arrest. He was located and arrested later in the day without incident.
August 7 at 8:47 a.m., a resident in the 300 block of S. Mountain reported the tailgate to his Toyota Tacoma was stolen sometime during the night. This investigation is continuing.
August 7 at 10:56 a.m., officers on patrol in the 600 block of E. Greystone saw a vehicle parked in violation of a vehicle code. Officers attempted to contact the registered owner to have her move her vehicle and discovered she had multiple warrants for her arrest. She was arrested for the warrants.
August 7 at 12:35 p.m., a theft incident was reported in the 200 block of W. Maple. The victim reported his catalytic converter was stolen from parked vehicle. This investigation is continuing.
August 7 at 7:59 p.m., a female subject called police to report her vehicle had been ransacked and her purse, which she left in the vehicle, had been stolen. The victim parked her vehicle in the 700 block of S. Shamrock. She had left the vehicle unlocked. This investigation is continuing.
Theft – Suspect Arrested
August 7 at 11:45 p.m., officers responded to the 3000 block of S. Peck regarding a subject possibly stealing automotive parts. After a search of the area, officers located the subject, who was found to be in possession of stolen property. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.
MAP Leadership for Youth - Learn to Lead
Learn to Lead - MAP Adult Leadership Academy
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Monrovia's SiLC Technologies Appoints Former Texas Instruments Director as VP of Business Development
Monrovia's SiLC Technologies, Inc. has appointed former Texas Instruments director, Ralf J. Muenster, as VP of business development and marketing to support SiLC's expanding customer base and LiDAR solution integration.
LiDAR, according to Wikipedia, is "a surveying method that measures distance to a target by illuminating the target with laser light and measuring the reflected light with a sensor." It's useful for autonomous vehicles, biometrics (face and fingerprint recognition, for instance), and robotics. SiLC has squeezed this technology onto a chip.
Muenster will lead SiLC's expansion into Silicon Valley.
Prior to joining SiLC, Muenster was the director of Texas Instruments' CTO office where he was responsible for identifying and developing impactful new growth vectors and strategic technology partnerships for the company. Muenster has held various executive roles in the semiconductor industry, including serving as an intrapreneur and business executive at National Semiconductor, Micrel and AMD, where he was heading the automotive market segment. Muenster holds a master's degree in physics from the Technical University in Munich and is a multiple U.S. patent holder.
Muenster said, "FMCW LiDAR will change the future of autonomous driving, and SiLC is the company best positioned to lead that transition, with its highly integrated FMCW LiDAR solutions and 4D Vision Sensors. I look forward to working with such an experienced team of innovators and silicon photonics specialists as we bring the safest and most cost-effective LiDAR to market."
https://is.gd/NtHfAO
National Night Out - Cops and Music
National Night Out in Library Park now. Cops, music and food.
Monrovia's Xencor Loses Less Money Than Anticipated - Stock Moves Up
Monrovia's biotech firm, Xencor, which is developing antibodies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, reported a second quarter loss of $16 million, or $0.30 per share, but its stock closed higher because the loss was less than anticipated. https://is.gd/21wyA6
More Camphor Trees Around Monrovia High Coming Down; City Manager Transition Plans; Leadership Training; Wine of Month Club; Wall-E
~ Not only have the camphor trees along Colorado in front of Monrovia High been removed, but also the city is also planning to remove the camphor trees located on Madison, between Colorado Boulevard to the south and the high school tennis courts to the north. Why? Because they are an "invasive, inappropriate parkway tree option that damages sidewalk infrastructure, but further, the ones located on Magnolia Avenue are diseased."
~ The City Council will meet in closed session tonight, Aug. 6, to discuss city manager transition plans, as City Manager Oliver Chi has accepted a position as city manager in Huntington Beach. Chi writes: "I just don't have words to describe how much being part of Monrovia has meant to me, and while I am excited about the new opportunity, I've been struggling with the thought of not being part of the Monrovia organization. Many thanks to everyone for supporting the city's efforts to make our community as premier as it can be."
~ Monrovia Area Partnership will hold youth and adult leadership academies this fall. MAP hosts events to train and connect community members to improve Monrovia. Adult Leadership Academy trains residents to recognize and utilize city resources; provide leadership skills; and encourages adults to become engaged in the community. It meets Thursdays, Sept. 12 - Oct. 24, 7 to 9 p.m., in the Library Community Room. Sign up here: https://is.gd/zLVnVr. Youth Leadership Academy is similar but designed for middle and high school aged youth. It meets Wednesdays, Sept. 11 - Oct. 23, 3-5 p.m., in the Library Community Room. Sign up here: https://is.gd/VTMV8w
~ Monrovia-based Wine of the Month Club is ranked second in an online vote being coordinated by USA Today. If you'd like to help vote it up to first place, you can vote here: https://is.gd/9YlAsD
~ Last outdoor movie of the summer, Wall-E, on Aug. 10 at dusk in Library Park. Bring lawn chair, blankets, and snacks.
For Milo It's Play, Play, Play!
Work hard, and play hard - that's what I always say! My name's Milo (A477088), and I love, love, love to play! Whether I'm chasing after a tennis ball you've thrown me, or going for a run outside, I love the high-energy, fast-paced lifestyle! But I'm more than just the life of the party. I don't want to brag, but I also have my blue ribbon. That means I know sit, down, AND stay! I'm basically the whole package! And I haven't even mentioned my lovable face. If you've been wanting a dog who's the trifecta of beauty, brains, and boundless energy, then come say hi!
Financial Peace University at Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel Monrovia, 1307 S Myrtle Ave, is offering Financial Peace University beginning Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. This nine-lesson course, ending Nov. 12, uses biblical wisdom and common sense to help you tackle budgeting, pay off debt, and make your money work for you. FPU includes a member workbook and a year of free online resources through Financial Peace Membership The cost is $109. You may register and pay for the materials at: https://www.fpu.com/1096625.
Free Earthquake Seminar Coming Up - RSVP Necessary
Monrovia Historic Preservation Group and the Monrovia Fire Department will host a free workshop on earthquake preparedness on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Community Room of the Monrovia Public Library. The keynote speaker with be Margaret Vinci from Cal Tech. Light refreshments will be served. You must RSVP (https://is.gd/6LBRgw) as seating is limited.
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Monrovia School Board to Consider Dual Enrollment ...
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Opening on Monrovia Planning Commission; Return of...
Monrovia Men Arrested In Connection With Shooting ...
'We Will Rock You' at Monrovia High Wildcat Theate...
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$10,000 Reward for Witnesses of Alleged Amanda Cus...
Boba Shop Coming to Old Town; Red Cross Blood Driv...
Pepper - If You Like Dog Kisses and Squirrel Watch...
World Whistling Competition Organized By Monrovia'...
A/C Work at Clifton, Plymouth; Repave Parking Lot ...
Monrovia Police: Lots of Cars Looted; Phone Thieve...
Monrovia's SiLC Technologies Appoints Former Texas...
Monrovia's Xencor Loses Less Money Than Anticipate...
More Camphor Trees Around Monrovia High Coming Dow...
Free Earthquake Seminar Coming Up - RSVP Necessary...
Monrovia City Manager Heading to Huntington Beach
Search for Amanda Custer Expands to Mountain Commu...
Lunch at Sena
LaJoya McCoy Murder to be on TV Program 'Fatal Att...
Monrovia Police: Kidnapping; Man Wounded in Shooti...
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New research about pine martens gives hope for this endangered species
Researchers from Queen’s have discovered that pine martens (Martes martes) are more opportunistic and adaptable, in terms of their diet, than previously thought.
The findings, published earlier this year in the European Journal of Wildlife Research, present a hopeful outlook for this endangered species, as its adaptability might be key to its future success providing continued legal protection, and provision of suitable habitat.
The results of this research, funded by wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), show that despite their diets differing in each location, the eating habits of pine martens remained the same: they focused on a few staple food items and supplemented these throughout the year with seasonally available treats. The seasonal fluctuations in their diet was already documented, but the fact that every population across the range followed the same pattern, was not.
Joshua Twining, PhD Student from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, who led the project, explains: “The results are quite fascinating; it’s clear that pine martens are not only true opportunistic omnivores, but they’re also highly adaptable, and unlike many other species, they can switch their diet depending on what’s available around them at any given time.”
Surveys were conducted across the pine martens’ range in Northern Ireland, in a variety of habitats including semi natural broadleaf woodlands and coniferous plantations, as well as mixed habitats. Pine marten scats (droppings) were collected from different locations within their range on a monthly basis, to give a detailed picture of exactly what pine martens were eating.
Pine martens evidently have a sweet tooth, as the most commonly consumed food was fruit, with rowan, blackberries and bilberries all on the menu. These were consumed in abundance when available in late summer/autumn. Pine martens also appeared to target songbirds, shrews, grey squirrels and rabbits during each species’ specific breeding season, when they were at their most numerous and vulnerable. Whereas mice and insects – beetles, slugs, snails and earthworms – were eaten throughout the year and were staple foods, which pine martens supplemented with other food sources when available.
Rare and elusive, this enigmatic and magnificent member of the mustelid family are a native species to the British Isles and were once one of the most abundant predators in the country. Now, there are only an estimated 3,043 in Ireland and 8,900 in Great Britain, with approximately only 100 thought to be living in England.
Nida Al-Fulaij, Grants Manager at PTES, says: “European pine martens are on the long road to recovery, and although they’re starting to recover in some areas, they still have a long way to go and remain one of the most threatened species in Britain. Less than 0.1% of Ireland and 2.4% of the U.K is made up of ancient woodland, so in order to help bring them back, we need to continue to conserve and manage our woodlands to ensure they provide suitable habitats for pine martens, as well as ensuring their legal protection is maintained. If these two aspects are continued, the newfound adaptability of their diet will enable them to survive.”
Nida continues: “Pine martens are an extremely important part of the ecosystem. Not only do they disperse seeds throughout the environments they live in, but they can also lower disease prevalence through removing carrion, as well as potentially playing a role in managing invasive species such as grey squirrels which in turn helps to bring back native species, such as red squirrels. Joshua’s work is a hugely positive step forward in helping us to understand pine martens, which hopefully will aid their recovery long term, too.”
To date PTES has awarded £6.5 million to research and conservation around the world and has funded 102 internships since 2002. The charity’s intern alumni includes conservationists working for wildlife NGOs, ecological consultancies, government agencies and universities, of which Joshua is one. Previous interns have developed software to identify different animals moving through wildlife mitigation tunnels, produced parkland management guidelines for rare invertebrate species and worked on DNA extraction and identification to help stop the trade in endangered wildlife.
Joshua concludes: “The gradual recovery of pine martens should be welcomed and cherished, as this wonderful and elusive mammal not only adds a little magic back into the wilds of Britain & Ireland, but as a small predator it’s key to returning our native ecosystems back to their natural order.”
Media enquiries to comms.officer@qub.ac.uk or tel: 028 9097 5292.
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Department of Planning, Community & Economic Development
Division of Community Services
A GUIDELINE TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR BUILDING ON THE QUINAULT INDIAN RESERVATION
The Quinault Indian Reservation
The Quinault Indian Nation is a sovereign nation with the inherent right to govern itself and deal with other nations and tribes on a government to government basis. Bylaws established in 1922 and a constitution approved in 1975 form the foundations of the modern day Quinault government. Our General Council meets annually the last Saturday in March to hold elections and discuss issues relevant to tribal operations. The Quinault Business Committee consists of four Executive Officers and seven Councilmen is entrusted with the business and legislative affairs of the Quinault Indian Nation throughout the year.
The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 encouraged tribes to take over program administration on their reservations. The Self-Governance Act of 1988 implemented self-rule in Indian Affairs. The law was amended in 1991 and authorized planning activities in the Indian Health Service. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 promoted tribal economic development and self-governance via gaming; created tribal-state compacts. The Centennial Accord of 1989 committed Washington State and the Tribes to government to government collaboration. The Millennial Agreement of 1999 reaffirmed the Centennial Accord.
The Quinault Indian Nation is the federally recognized government of the Quinault Indian Reservation. The Quinault Indian Nation has civil regulatory authority over the lands within the boundaries of the Quinault Reservation. The Quinault Nation's land use, zoning, sanitation and building regulations apply to all Reservation landowners and are based on federal law and the International Building Codes. Although there are some differences between the Quinault Indian Nation's regulations and the Counties' regulations, those differences relate to the unique character of the Quinault Indian Reservation.
The Quinault Indian Nation and its staff are committed to assisting all Reservation landowners in a prompt and courteous manner. All Reservation landowners are encouraged to contact the Quinault Indian Nation's Department of Community Development and Planning with any questions or concerns they may have.
Reservation Beach Lands
The Quinault Indian Nation owns all beach lands on the Quinault Indian Reservation. The beach lands extend up to the ordinary high water mark of the Pacific Ocean. The Reservation beach lands have been closed to the general public since 1969, meaning that any person that is not enrolled in the Quinault Nation, is not allowed on the beach, without explicit permission from the Quinault Nation or being accompanied by an enrolled Quinault Nation member
All lands on the Quinault Indian Reservation are zoned by the Quinault Nation in one of the following zones: residential, commercial, industrial, industrial buffer, forestry, forestry buffer, and wilderness. Within each zone, separate standards and regulations apply. Title 48 is the Quinault Indian Nation Title governing zoning and its administration/enforcement. Please contact the department regarding specific questions about each zone.
Contact our department:
807 5th Avenue, Suite 3
Taholah, WA 98587
Telephone: (360) 276-8211 / Fax: (360) 276-0076
Email: michael.cardwell@quinault.org
Department Manager: Charles Warsinske, RLA ext. 6821
Senior Planner: Kelsey Moldenke, AICP ext. 6821
Land Use Planner: Michael Cardwell, AICP ext. 6824
Administrative Assistant: Aubry Della 6825
Building Inspector: Brenda Rhoades ext. 1040
Taholah, Wa. 98587
D ALLWEBMENUS CODE FOR menubar ******** -->
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Rawle Results
Brian Lowenberg
< Back to Attorney Search
blowenberg@rawle.com
Brian Lowenberg is Of Counsel to the Firm in the Philadelphia office of Rawle & Henderson LLP. He concentrates his law practice on product liability and premises liability, including the defense of property owners, employers, and manufacturers, and he works closely with insurers on such cases as well as manufacturers on mass and toxic torts including industrial chemicals, asbestos, benzene, talcum powder, cosmetics, MTBE, and natural resource damages (NRD) brought by states against petrochemical companies. Brian was lead counsel for a large international food-and-beverage company with facilities in Pennsylvania, and Brian continues to represent clients in the areas of catastrophic loss (including loss of life or limb), insurance coverage, commercial transactions, enforcement of arbitration clauses, and the defense of consumer fraud claims on behalf of national digital and print media companies. Brian also assists corporations in the briefing of special appellate matters and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Brian earned his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2004. While attending law school, he was the Casenotes and Comments Editor of the Houston Journal of International Law. He served as a justice on the University Honor Court and taught at the law school’s Legal Research and Writing Clinic. During his first year of law school, Brian won the Paust Excellence in Writing Award and was published in the Defense Counsel Journal in April 2003. He studied international law and corporate governance at the Université de Genève in the Summer of 2002 as part of Duke University’s International Law program and was later published on the subject of international law in 2013. He interned for the Honorable Marcia A. Crone in the Southern District of Texas and was also an intern for the United States Senate dealing in legislative and legal affairs, which included projects with the Office of Senate Legal Counsel.
Brian earned his B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, in 2001. He was on the Dean's List and was a member of the Lacrosse Team. He was a member of the Student Court and the University (appellate) Court. He also served as a volunteer at the Bexar County Battered Women’s Shelter.
Brian is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, including related federal districts, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2005, Brian was appointed by the President of the State Bar of Texas to serve on the State of Texas Pattern Jury Charge Committee and he was the principal author of the state-wide uniform jury instructions related to trespass, nuisance, loss-of-use, and the diminution of property value. In 2010, he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s In-House Counsel Committee and often speaks at the Business Law Institute in Philadelphia, PA. He is a certified arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau. In 2018, he was appointed as a delegate to the French American Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to joining Rawle & Henderson LLP, Brian was an attorney in the Philadelphia office of a large corporate defense law firm.
Environmental, Toxic and Mass Torts
Catastrophic Loss
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 2004
Casenotes and Comments Editor, Houston Journal of International Law
University Honor Court
Paust Excellence in Writing Award
Trinity University, B.A., Political Science and Sociology, 2001
Lacrosse Team
Member, Student Court and University Court
Volunteer, Bexar County Battered Women's Shelter
Seminars, Speeches & Publications
The Legal Intelligencer, August 7, 2018: Brian Lowenberg joins Rawle & Henderson as Of Counsel
Brian Lowenberg joins Philadelphia office of Rawle & Henderson LLP as Of Counsel
Attorney Advertising. This Web site may be considered advertising under the rules of some states. Prior results described on this site cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter that we or any lawyer may be retained to handle.
© Copyright 2014 Rawle & Henderson, LLP. All rights reserved.
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Home » Rolex » Reasons for Rolex Submariner’s Success
Reasons for Rolex Submariner’s Success
Since its introduction in 1954, the fake rolex Submariner has been one of the most famous replica watches in the world. The journey, which spanned more than 60 years, has transformed it from the last word of a professional diver’s must-have kit into the ultimate symbol of muscular elegance and understatement luxury.
To be considered a classic, it has to tick several boxes. It must capture the imagination, it must have a simple and timeless aesthetic — but most importantly, it must work — and keep working. Rolex’s manufacturing quality is unparalleled and their watch is one of the most reliable mechanical timepieces ever made.
When Rolex was first designed, it was supposed to be a diver’s watch. Rolex’s director at the time, Rene-Paul Jeanneret, a keen amateur diver, tested his new “tool sheet” with the help of legendary underwater pioneer Jacques Cousteau. The great water explorer, who wore an early Submariner throughout his oscar-winning film “The Silent World,” forever cemented the watch’s place in The World of underwater exploration.
Today’s Submariner are even stronger than when they were first built. The waterproof rating has been increased to 300 meters, and the internal movement is now equipped with Rolex’s blue parachute springs, which makes the iconic rolex replica diving watch more resistant to shock and temperature fluctuations. The modern Submariner watch is made of 904L stainless steel, while most other brands use 316L steel. Amazingly strong and corrosion resistant, 904L steel is normally used only in aerospace and chemical engineering sectors.
Between the indestructible movement and the most reliable cases in the replica watch industry, the iconic Rolex Submariner is a watch made for you to go through the toughest and most extreme conditions. Another characteristic of almost all classical designs is a degree of innovation. While the Submariner’s exterior design doesn’t change much over its 60-year history, Rolex’s classic diving watch adds some groundbreaking improvements over its lifetime.
The 3135 gemstone calibre was installed in 1988 and still works with modern Submariner watches. A highly accurate and durable movement, the cal. 3135 is a guarantee of the ultra-tough and iconic Rolex submarine diving watch. Given the Submariner’s current depth rating, Rolex has also upgraded the luminous materials used on the dial and hands. In the late 1990s, older radioactive tritium was replaced by a photoluminescent compound, ending the lume problem on Submariner because its half-life was over.
September 16, 2019 toper Rolex
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Copyright © 2020 Rolex Replica Watches, Best Swiss Fake Watches For Sale At Lowest Price
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Everglades Challenge 2015
My brother Harry called me yesterday morning from his car on the way to St. Petersburg for the Everglades Challenge. We hadn't really spoken much lately, but that's normal. He said he'd been really busy at work and hadn't had time to get ready. He piled everything in the car planning to sort it into the proper bags when he got there. Then he stopped at Trader Joe's and bought a lot of trail mix.
David Byrne immediately started singing in my head, "he's living off nuts and berries." I'm almost sure that's a Talking Heads lyric from Animals, but for years I used to sing to myself "I love the clouds!" when I saw a pretty sky believing it was from a U2 song, but when I tried to find it -- 3:08 into Electric Co. from Under a Blood Red Sky -- I realized he's really singing "I love the crowds." Really not the same thing at all.
I got this picture when he arrived at Fort DeSoto Park for inspection and the Captain's Meeting. He called me after and said it was a very long meeting. He still wasn't ready. He didn't have time to take many pictures on the beach.
All the boats on the beach
Meade Gougeon's boat Voyageur
This morning the race started at 7:00. I got the SPOT update that said Harry was on the beach. But then nothing happened. About 8:00 I got a call that he was being leisurely, he would leave in about 20 minutes. When the SPOT started updating it looked like this.
By the time he turned around at waypoint9 I'd already read Mistermoon's report on the forum that Tampa Bay was "washing machine." According to VHF radio the Coast Guard had to rescue a catamaran, a sailboat, and a kayak. I figured something broke on N8R or Harry just said, "To hell with this! I'm going home!" I also judged by the reported conditions and his rather deliberate path back to shore that he was not under sail. I didn't expect him to be able to use the phone as he clearly had his hands full of paddle. It didn't occur to me to be worried that his life was in danger. I guess that's what makes me a good shore contact. I was tense enough wondering what broke and how hard it must be to paddle in such a miserable chop.
When he was to about waypoint 21 above I got a phone call from Race Control telling me to inform my challenger to get off the water instanter. The Coast Guard announced a mandatory weather hold. The Everglades Challenge was cancelled. Pending Chief talking them out of it. I told him, "Going by the SPOT track JibeTurkey has already turned around and is heading back to the start. He should be there in just a minute. I'll tell him the news."
Then I started looking for information on the Coast Guard tizzy. The weather reports looked benign. But that's because it's hard to get weather for boats on the Wunderground app. I saw that the sky was pretty clear, the temperature about 19°C, wind about 22 km/h. Which is sort of a lot. But they don't put the sea height in the forecast.
I found the actual Coast Guard announcement. They'd already rescued 11 people and their resources were stretched thin. They were going to terminate the event at the first checkpoint.
"There has (sic) been reports of people with various stages of hyperthermia (sic) and the weather on scene continues to deteriorate to 4-foot seas and 20-knot winds."
About that time I got the OK message from Harry's SPOT transmitter. He was on shore. I texted him the news about the cancellation. Then he sent me these pictures.
Looks OK from here.
Ouch. Poor rudder. He just made that too.
When I talked to Harry on the phone I read him the Coast Guard statement. He said, "The only person out there with hyperthermia is probably me, paddling back against the wind. They must mean hypothermia." Yeah, I think they do.
"It isn't cold today," he said, "But there may have been some people who weren't dressed properly. Eleven rescues is bad. Chief is going to be livid that those people got into a situation they couldn't handle."
He wondered if he should drive back to Jupiter, get his old rudder, and come back. He figured even if the Coast Guard "cancelled" the event they couldn't stop people from sailing around with their friends.
Last I heard he was making plans. If he turns the SPOT transmitter back on I guess I'll keep tracking him! Otherwise, the Everglades Challenge is over.
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A ball is used to provoke SCP-856 to appear.
Special Containment Procedures: The affected length of the █████████ River is bounded with four kilometers of chain link fencing, three meters in height and topped with razor-wire. The fence lines both banks and connects across the river at both ends of the containment area. Signs are posted every fifty meters in Arabic and English, warning of a chemical spill contaminating the river. Two armed guards are sent twice daily to patrol both banks of the containment area in a standard Foundation off-road vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a .50 caliber rear-mounted machine gun for use in the event of a containment breach.
Should a civilian(s) accidentally come into contact with SCP-856, they are to be treated with a Class-B Amnestic (if still alive) and transported immediately to the hospital in Rumbek. Medical staff are to be told the victim suffered from an unknown animal attack. The use of force is acceptable if a civilian(s) deliberately attempts to come into contact with SCP-856.
Description: SCP-856 is an entity residing in a four kilometer length of the █████████ River in southern Sudan. If a human being comes into contact with the water, SCP-856 appears virtually instantaneously and attempts to attack them.
SCP-856 appears to be leonine in nature. Estimations put the entity at approximately the size of an adult male lion (Panthera leo). SCP-856 seems by all evidence to be bound to the river, as it has rarely been witnessed extending itself out of the water or beyond the banks by more than 1.5 meters (Note: see Incident Log).
Attacks come variably upon bodily contact with the river. In the majority of cases, SCP-856 appears within several seconds. However, in certain instances, the entity has appeared to time its attacks for maximum efficiency. If multiple parties come into contact with the water, SCP-856 will jump between individuals in fractions of a second, entirely regardless of distance. The entity’s ability of instantaneous movement does not apply to water up- or down-river of the containment area, or water physically detached from the confines of the river itself. Despite the abnormal capacity for movement exhibited by SCP-856, its attacks are of normal velocity and can be avoided with sufficient alertness.
Factors that incite attacks appear to be variable. No amount of protective clothing appears to prevent SCP-856 from sensing the contact of humans with the river. Objects placed in contact with the water by human beings have likewise provoked attacks, save for certain instances conducted with extreme care. Fauna in contact with the river generally do not incite attacks from SCP-856.
SCP-856 causes deep incisions and lacerations consistent with leonine teeth and claws. Wounds are fatal in 50-60% of cases, and generally come to the throat, face, or upper torso.
SCP-856 by all accounts ceases to exist when not attacking. Extensive photography, satellite surveillance, and sonar sounding have failed to observe the presence of SCP-856 in the absence of a provoking party.
Historical note:
Foundation control over SCP-856 and the four kilometer section of the █████████ River was minimal between the discovery of the site in 1956 and the Sudanese ceasefire of 1995. At that point, greater numbers of personnel could safely enter the area and current containment procedures were put into effect.
Prior to 1995, a small village of several hundred people, called ███, was situated on the eastern bank of the █████████ River within the region containing SCP-856. The inhabitants of the village were inexplicably able to draw water from and wash in the river without inciting attacks. Interviews revealed that the villagers believed the entity was a protective spirit, and ritualistically left it offerings of livestock. In 1995, a joint effort between Foundation forces and UN peacekeeping troops re-situated the village 9 km downriver with a minimal loss of civilian life.
Relevant Incident Logs:
Incident 856-A
Date: ██/██/1956
Events: A troop of twenty-one Anya-Nya guerrillas attempted to ford the river from the west bank, apparently with intent to attack ███ Village. Eyewitnesses claim that when the party was approximately halfway across the river, SCP-856 sprang upon them from down-stream. Three of the soldiers were killed and several more were injured within thirty seconds. Wounds inflicted on SCP-856 by gunfire appeared to harm it without consequence ("It bled but never stopped"). The remaining men fled from the area.
Notes: Reports of this incident led to the first investigation of SCP-856 by the Foundation, and the establishment of rudimentary containment procedures.
Incident 856-B
Events: A surveying motorboat drifted within the section of the river containing SCP-856, resulting in the deaths of two junior researchers. The first was killed by a laceration to the throat, and the second expired later due to blood-loss from a severed limb. The researchers were members of a three-week task force sent to gain further information on SCP-856 through observation and experimentation.
Notes: Following this incident, extant containment procedures for SCP-856 were intensified.
Incident 856-E
Events: A team of five engineers were attacked while attempting to lay a temporary bridge over the section of river containing SCP-856. One suffered fatal injuries.
Notes: Security footage confirms that at no time did any personnel or bridge component come into contact with the water. It appears that under certain circumstances, SCP-856 is able to leave the confines of the river.
Incident 856-F
Events: Due to a particularly bad drought, a section of the █████████ River, including the containment area for SCP-856, dried up for a period of 42 hours. At 08:30 in the nearby city of [DATA EXPUNGED]. All three entities were finally pushed back by Foundation forces at 13:50. Total deaths numbered 22 civilian, 9 local law enforcement, 1 Foundation personnel.
Notes: This incident has called into question Foundation understanding of the exact composition of SCP-856. It has been ascertained from this incident that with significant firepower, SCP-856 can be restrained for a short period of time. Requests have been filed for measures to prevent further incidents of this type.
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Fight Corruption Now
Fight Corruption NOW Before It Is Too Late
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The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege [Book Review]
Based on twenty-seven years of original archival research, including the discovery of previously unknown documents, this day-by-day narrative of the hysteria that swept through Salem Village in 1692 and 1693 reveals new connections behind the events, and shows how rapidly a community can descend into madness.
Marilynne Roach opens her work with chapters on the history of the Puritan colonies of New England, and explains how these people regarded the metaphysical and the supernatural.
It is crucial to recall that during the years 1692-97, there were numerous political issues. The Puritans distanced themselves from England, not yet having recognition as a “church” forming their own society away from Britain, the war with France was occurring that included the aid of the Indigenous, later left to survive and/or die when the war ended and after that, the Treaty of Ryswick obliged King Louis to finally acknowledge England’s Protestant succession.
The Puritans, who left England due to "religious persecution", feared their religion was under attack again and worried they were losing control of their colony. The political instability and threat to their religion created a feeling of uneasiness and discontent in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
During these years, this small village started an anxiety ridden hysterical hunt after mostly women, and several men, based upon their dealings with the “devil” claiming innocent people were “witches” responsible for the antics of villagers coerced by their minister, Parris and other villagers.
Since the “accused witches” were considered dangerous prisoners, they were kept in a dungeon chained to the walls because jail officials believed this would prevent their spirits from fleeing jail and tormenting their victims.
English law at the time dictated that anyone who refused to enter a plea could be tortured in an attempt to force a plea out of them. This legal tactic was known as “peine forte et dure” which means “strong and harsh punishment.”
The torture consisted of laying the prisoner on the ground, naked, with a board placed on top of him. Heavy stones were loaded onto the board and the weight was gradually increased until the person either entered a plea or died.
Many modern theories suggest the accusers, starting with the young girls [who were apparently being attacked by “witches” and partly responsible for the witch hunts, along with adults that coerced, threatened and beat others into believing this rubbish] were suffering from epilepsy, boredom, child abuse, and/or mental illness.
This book is fantastic if one seeks a day to day account of what life was like during this time. It is not a book to be picked up and simply read, rather, studied. The author, Roach, is a historian and this book is an exemplary example of her work. This is THE “go to” book on all you ever need to know about the Salem Witch Trials.
The interesting aspects of this era and village is that divinatory methods, herbal healing, healers, folk medicine and “psychic” abilities and practices were commonplace. That alone is proof enough that mass hysteria and mental illness were responsible for the trials and deaths.
This historical account blatantly shows that this village and the people living in it, were beyond naive and filled with fear, hence, the horrid slaughter of innocent people based upon collective fear, judgment and the absolute insane mindsets of people where common sense, sense of self and self respect was never present.
Everyday illnesses, deaths, random occurrences, noises, visions, marks on the body like moles, were all blamed on “witchcraft” and in todays world, the things that occurred are able to be explained medically, scientifically and spiritually.
This account has taught me that most, if not all of the people living in this village were beyond mentally deranged. Instead of needing a “religious” leader and community, perhaps psychiatrists, psychotherapists and trained mental health professionals would have recognized mass hysteria and prevented the sweeping fear that overtook Salem Village.
Sadly, the accused had their land, livestock and all possessions taken from them. It points to a larger motive, not just fear and control, but land grabbing and greed.
As for why these victims were targeted in the first place, historians have noted that many of the accused were wealthy and held different religious beliefs than their accusers.
This, coupled with the fact that the accused also had their estates confiscated if they were convicted has led many historians to believe that religious feuds and property disputes played a big part in the witch trials.
To date, 120 people [88 women, 32 men] were suspected of “witchcraft” between 1638-91, most on trial repeatedly concluding in 121 trials involving 85 women and 36 men. 38 cases were slander suits brought against accusers.
Of the 83 witch trials, not the slander trials, which includes “spotty” record keeping, there were roughly 11-17 executions [all women, two men] occurring in Connecticut and Massachusetts, where the majority of the English population lived.
Others who were not hanged, but tortured to death, including suspected animals, evaded punishment, escaped jail, found not guilty, were pardoned, or died while jailed, added to the above numbers.
There was never “burning at the stake” as most people assume.
In 1703, families, 21 people, of the accused and murdered started legal petitions to the General Courts. The Courts found all evidence against the murdered and accused to be weak and insufficient.
It was not until 1712 that the names of the executed and accused were cleared and their families given reparation based on testimony from living accusers and the financial gains of Reverend Parris, now made public. The Courts decided that “original charges came from people influenced by evil spirits then, and [some of them] “of profligate and vicious” lives now.
Legally, it was not until 2001, that the state of Massachusetts amended a 1957 "apology" in addition to the initial 1712 reparations, and legally cleared the names of the remaining unnamed victims.
The true evil existed only within the people that lied, allowing the innocent to be brutally killed. True evil exists only within those that lead the naive into the dark.
You can find this book at your local library or HERE
Race, Ethnicity, Social Justice and The Blue Eyes/...
The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian...
The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of ...
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Countries ranked in terms of climate change risk. - 31 Dec 2010
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Maplecroft, a global risks advisory firm based in the UK, recently released a Climate Change Vulnerability Index ２０１１, evaluating １7０ countries as a tool for companies to be able to assess economic risk due to global warming.
The countries deemed to have the highest vulnerability in the next ３０ years were
Bangladesh, followed by India, Madagascar, Nepal, Mozambique, the Philippines, Haiti, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Myanmar. To arrive at their rankings, the analysts included such factors as poverty levels, exposure to climate-related events, ability to respond to such disasters, and reliance on agricultural land that could be prone to droughts and flooding.
Nirmal Hari Rajbhandari - Director General, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal (M): The extreme weather events are increasing. The pattern of monsoons is also changing. The number of glacier lakes are increasing. And the glacier is retreating. So it has a lot of negative impacts on water resources, in agriculture, and in different fields.
VOICE: The next category of “high risk” nations included China, Brazil, and Japan, while Russia, the US, Germany, France, and the UK were rated as “medium risk” countries. The report also pointed out that countries considered to have the most potential for future expansion are also among the most threatened in terms of the safety of their populations, ecosystems, and business environments. These include the Philippines, Âu Lạc (Vietnam) and Pakistan.
Dr. M. Mohsin Iqbal - Head of Agriculture Section, Global Change Impact Studies Centre, Pakistan (M): I come from Pakistan, where we had the worst floods in history. In the history of Pakistan, we did not have so much floods. They devastated infrastructure, buildings, rails, roads, and they incurred a heavy loss to the economy of Pakistan.
Nirmal Hari Rajbhandari - Director General, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal (M): Global warming is the main cause. Livestock is also one of the main causes, because the methane is also one of the greenhouse gases which is immediate from these livestock activities.
VOICE: Our thanks Maplecroft, for alerting us to the impacts of climate change that are affecting countries throughout the international community. May your report prompt actions to protect the future of all world citizens especially through the rapidly mitigating plant-based diet.
During an October ２００9 videoconference in Formosa (Taiwan), Supreme Master Ching Hai made an urgent plea to address the main cause of climate change and avoid further global devastation.
If we really want to get to the bottom line to find the most effective solution to climate change, we absolutely cannot go on ignoring the most urgent, serious cause - that is the animal consumption and the like - because it is heating up our Earth at a dangerous speed, causing catastrophic disasters everywhere.
Losing loved ones, losing homes, losing lives, losing hopes. Right now as we are speaking, Bangladesh is only half the size of what it used to be decades ago. The list never ends if we continue to partake in this killing phenomena, massacring tragedy called “animal industry.” We can replace this with hundreds more varieties of nutritious, healthy life-saving food substances.
Please help us to inform people before it's too late.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/356041,india-and-bangladesh-extreme-risk-from-climate-change.html
http://www.maplecroft.com/about/news/ccvi.html
::: SOS Global Warming :::
SOLUTIONS for the PLANET from Supreme Master Ching Hai
Save Our Planet - The Latest News on Climate Change
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About the Skeptical Juror
The Skeptical Juror Archive
I Oppose the Impending Execution of Rodrigo Hernan...
I Oppose the Impending Execution of Rodrigo Hernandez
Rodrigo Hernandez sits on death row awaiting execution by the people of Texas. Unlike most other death penalty cases, most of the appellate decisions regarding his case are not available on Google Scholar. I will therefore construct a summary of his case from bits and pieces. I begin with the standard media advisory from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
The record reflects that in the early morning hours of February 18, 1994, victim Susan Verstegen was re-stocking snack products at a San Antonio grocery store from the storage bin in back of the store. While working at the storage bin, Verstegen was attacked, sexually assaulted, and strangled by Hernandez. The offense remained unsolved until 2002 when the results of DNA testing of evidence that had been collected from the crime scene, and that had been entered into a national database, matched the results of DNA testing on a sample that had been collected from Hernandez by the State of Michigan and entered into the same national database. After the reported match, another sample from Hernandez was tested, and the DNA pattern was found to match the DNA pattern from the sample collected from the crime scene. Hernandez’s written statement, which detailed his actions in attacking, sexually assaulting and killing Verstegen, was also introduced into evidence.
Though not mentioned in the advisory, it seems as if DNA has linked Hernandez to another murder. From mlive.com:
GRAND RAPIDS -- When Rodrigo Hernandez was about to be sentenced to prison in 1998 for severely beating a Grand Rapids man, he asked a judge for mercy because he had become a reformed "family man."
"I have been living an honest life and staying out of trouble," he wrote in a letter. "I consider myself a family man. So I appreciate it if you would give me one more chance to be able to continue my life with my family, better my life and help the community."
What Hernandez failed to tell the judge, police now say, is that he committed two as-then unsolved rapes and murders: the 1991 brutal beating, rape and shooting of 77-year-old homeless woman Muriel Stoepker in Grand Rapids and the 1994 killing of a 38-year-old San Antonio woman.
Stoepker was known as Mary or the "bag lady" in downtown Grand Rapids because she carried her belongings in plastic bags.
Evolving DNA evidence helped police link Hernandez to both crimes, the latest revelation coming Thursday as police announced they believe he was responsible for killing Stoepker.
Hernandez, 37, has been on death row in Texas for six years, with his DNA part of a national database since Michigan prison officials took a mouth swab upon his 2002 parole for the 1998 assault. He was arrested six months later in Grand Rapids for the DNA match to the Texas homicide.
Stoepker's case took longer, police say, because the semen sample was too small at the time to make a good profile.
This year, the Kent County Metro Cold Case Team decided to resubmit the sample from her case, knowing the standards had changed.
"Before it would have taken something the size of a bottle cap," said state police Detective Sally Wolter. "Today, it's the size of a pin head."
Police have looked at whether Hernandez might be responsible for other unsolved murders in the Grand Rapids area from the 1990s, but they have no further DNA evidence to link him to any other crimes. And Hernandez is not cooperating.
Cold case team detectives recently visited him in prison but could not get him to speak about Stoepker or anyone else.
I now include a segment from a post by Mike Farrell. Recall that Farrell played B. J. Hunnicutt on Mash. He is now an ardent death-penalty abolitionist. [Errata: My bad. The post was by a different Mike Farrell who is also an ardent abolitionist. See the comments.]
Hernandez was convicted in 2004 of the 1994 kidnap, rape and murder of Susan Verstegen, an act following which he attempted to conceal the victims body in a 50 gallon drum.
Unfortunately during the original investigation a lack of evidence meant that the case went cold, remaining in limbo for 8 years. However when Hernandez was later imprisoned in Michigan for an unconnected offence, and on release in 2002 legally compelled to give a DNA sample for the national DNA database, his sample was matched with unidentified DNA samples recovered from the Verstegen case also on the database. Hernandez was then arrested and charged with murder.
On questioning he gave a detailed confession to the murder claiming to have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. He was subsequently found guilty on trial in Bexar County, Texas, and sentenced to death in April 2004, allegedly showing no remorse. He has been on death row since.
In light of the confession, DNA and the absence of any evidence that the trial was flawed, there is nothing suggesting the conviction was unsafe, and it is therefore not in question, Hernandez deserves to be punished. Only the capital sentence is in question here.
Despite the seemingly overwhelming evidence against him, Hernandez refuses to confess to the murder of Susan Verstegen. I don't know whether or not he affirmatively maintains his innocence.
I've found no one who seems bothered by the quality of either the DNA evidence or the confession. Even Mike Ferrell writes "there is nothing suggesting the conviction was unsafe." I guess I might be the first to suggest otherwise
I cannot actually object to the DNA evidence any more than I can accept it without question. While we are told Hernandez is linked to the Verstegen murder by his DNA, we are given no other details. Apparently the simple mention of DNA is sufficient proof for most readers.
I can and do object, however, to the confession evidence. Regarding that confession, I found the following from a U.S. Fifth Circuit decision.
The state trial court held an evidentiary hearing to determine whether Hernandez's written confession should be suppressed. The two officers who interviewed Hernandez testified that after he was given his Miranda warnings, he confessed to his involvement in Verstegen's death, claiming that he had raped her but had not intended to kill her. The officers also said that although Hernandez agreed to give a written statement, he asked one of them to write it for him because his hands were shaking too much. According to the detective who took the statement, Hernandez read it before initialing each page and signing the last page. Hernandez's attorney argued that the confession should be suppressed because it did not comply with Michigan law. The state trial court concluded that Texas and not Michigan law applied and that under Texas law the confession was proper, so it was admissible.
Hernandez now asserts that it was unreasonable error for his attorney not to put him on the stand to testify during the hearing. Hernandez contends that he would have testified that he had signed a blank form and that his initials were forged. The lawyer testified during the state habeas proceeding, however, that Hernandez was extremely nervous and had an extensive criminal record, so his credibility likely could be impeached. It would have been Hernandez's word against that of two officers. The attorney did suggest at the proceeding that the confession may have been forged, but he chose to raise that argument during cross-examination of the officers.
I'll concede immediately that Hernandez's claim he signed a blank sheet of paper sounds bogus. I note, however, that it sounds less bogus than the claim of Texas death row inmate Cesar Fierro. Fierro, you may recall, claimed he signed a confession only after Mexican police, who were cooperating with the El Paso police, arrested his parents and threatened to torture them with a cattle prod.
In the more bogus case, the Fierro case, it turns out Fierro was telling the truth. Even the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals finally accepted his claim as true and accepted that the police had perjured themselves to help secure the conviction. Fierro remains on death row, however, because the TCCA declared the extorted confession and subsequent perjury to be "harmless."
Johnny Frank Garrett provides another sad example. He was probably innocent but certainly executed. He too was convicted based in part on a confession he claimed he never made. From the most popular post I have written for this blog, Actual Innocence: Johnny Frank Garrett and Bubbles the Clairvoyant:
Garrett confessed, at least according to the police, without being recorded, after asking for an attorney, but then refused to sign the confession they had typed up, and denied making the confession.
The problem in these cases, and in innumerable other cases, is that the police failed to properly secure the confession evidence by recording the interview / interrogation. It is unconscionable that police continue to conduct interviews and interrogations without recording them. The DNA equivalent would be to have the police merely assert that the DNA matched rather than taking the bother to document and preserve the test results.
The Fierro case (and possibly the Garrett case) proves that some police will go to extremes to extract a confession if unmonitored. They will be undaunted by any thought that their victim will claim coercion or falsification. Even the Fifth District Court laughed off such a concern. They noted that had Hernandez decided to testify, "his credibility likely could be impeached. It would have been Hernandez's word against that of two officers."
The appellate courts are party to coerced and falsified confessions because they don't insist that the interview evidence be preserved, because they automatically believe the police rather than the defendant, and because they declare even proven cases of coerced confessions to be "harmless."
While I suspect that Rodrigo Hernandez is factually guilty of murder, I nonetheless oppose his execution. Given the egregious police behavior regarding the confession, I refuse to stand mute.
Addendum: This story becomes even more troubling. See my follow-on post The Execution of Rodrigo Hernandez.
Labels: Rodrigo Hernandez
Mike farrell said...
Very interesting post, I think we can certainly agree that the sentence is abhorent and should be abolished not just for hernandez but for all.
Thanks for quoting from my blog, just thought I would confirm (though I suspect you know) I am not the Mike Farrell from M*A*S*H but Mike Farrell a law graduate from the UK.
Alice in [a not so] Wonder[ful] Land said...
Thought provoking. State sanctioned murder should always be opposed and I add my voice to yours.
tsj said...
Mike "Not from Mash" Farrell,
My apology. I did indeed think you were the actor. The actor, as you know, is also a death penalty abolitionist. Hence my confusion.
Had I bothered to look at the upper right corner of your blog, I would have noticed your picture with your name nearby, but mea culpa.
I'll correct my post accordingly. I was unfamiliar with your blog (LawBlogOne) previously, but I'll now be checking in on occasion.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Killer-sticks-to-story-as-execution-looms-2673486.php
Minutes before Rodrigo Hernandez, 38, was executed for the 1994 rape and murder of a single mother in San Antonio, he reportedly confessed to that killing and the 1991 slaying of a homeless woman in Grand Rapids, Mich., to a Texas Ranger, Michigan authorities said.
He agreed to talk to a Texas Ranger assigned to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Huntsville unit as the state prepared to lethally inject him Thursday evening, according to a Kent County, Mich., news release.
Hernandez was executed for raping and strangling Susan Verstegen, 38, but while he was on death row, authorities in 2009 determined his DNA matched evidence from the 1991 shooting death of Muriel Stoepker in Michigan.
Hernandez had retracted a confession he signed in 2002 in the Verstegen case and up until Thursday had denied killing either woman. He told a San Antonio Express-News reporter weeks before his execution date that he'd had sex with Verstegen the night of her death but claimed someone else killed her, although detectives had matched his DNA to evidence from the scene of the slaying.
Just before his execution, though, Hernandez “admitted to his involvement in the 1994 homicide of Susan Verstegen in San Antonio,” the Kent County news release states.
Stoepker, 77, was shot to death in a parking garage at Grand Rapids Community College.
In a recent letter to an Express-News reporter, Hernandez wrote that he'd paid Stoepker for a sexual favor that night but maintained he did not kill her. That story also changed as his execution drew near.
“Hernandez admitted he shot and killed Muriel Stoepker after he paid her for a sexual favor,” the Kent County news release states. “Hernandez claimed the gun he had in his possession went off accidentally.”
The Texas Rangers would not confirm the death-row confession Monday, but a Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman said Hernandez did speak to a Ranger before the execution.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/At-death-s-door-condemned-man-confessed-to-2-2843120.php#ixzz1pUSZ8Tfw
I address that second unrecorded confession in a follow-on post.
Read more, as you say: http://www.skepticaljuror.com/2012/01/execution-of-rodrigo-hernandez.html
Here is the recorded confession you asked for. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/11th-hour-admission-of-2-killings-3203939.php#ixzz1m0E46vRm
Thank you for the link. I'll post about this in a week or so.
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ECONOMICS FOR JUDGES
Industrial Relations Commission of NSW annual conference
I want today to give you a crash course on the strengths and weaknesses of economics, with special reference to the labour market. It occurs to me that, because of the specialised nature of your work, most of you probably already know a fair about the topic. If so, I hope you’ll find what I say reinforcing rather than boring. Let me start by saying that I don’t see myself as an economist, but rather as a journalist who writes about economics. This allows me to act as a kind of interpreter and go-between, standing between the economists and the public. I see my role as providing my readers with a critique of economics and economists, much as our theatre critics provide our readers with a critique of the latest plays. My goal is to explain and demystify economics, advising my readers on when they ought to accept the advice of economists and when they shouldn’t.
The subject matter of economics
Economics is the study of how market economies organise the production and consumption of goods and services. In other words, it deals with a very important aspect of life - all of us are consumers and most of us are producers - but only one aspect. It’s preoccupied with the practical, material aspect of life, so that if you get too preoccupied by economics - as many business people, politicians, economists and economic rationalists do - you risk neglecting or devaluing the non-material aspects of life, such as the social, the artistic and the spiritual.
Macro-economics is concerned with seeking to manage or guide the overall, national economy as it moves through the ups and downs of the business cycle. The managers of the economy use various instruments to stabilise demand, holding it back when the economy is growing strongly and threatening to worsen inflation, but boosting demand when the economy’s growth is weak and unemployment is high or rising. The object of demand management is simply to reduce the amplitude of the cycle, pulling down the peaks and filling in the troughs, thereby keeping both inflation and unemployment low. Historically, the main instrument used to manage demand was the budget (known as fiscal policy). But for the past 20 years or so the dominant instrument has been the manipulation of interest rates by the now-independent Reserve Bank (known as monetary policy). The Reserve raises interest rates when it wants to discourage borrowing and spending and thus inhibit inflation pressure; it lowers rates when it wants to encourage borrowing and spending and thus hasten growth and job creation.
A primer on microeconomics
But that’s as much as I want to say about macro. Micro-economics is trickier, more interesting, more germane to our purpose and more controversial. Micro is the study of individual consumers, workers and firms using markets to produce and consume goods and services. At the heart of microeconomics is what’s called the ‘neo-classical model’ in which price is set by the interaction - and intersection - of demand on the one side and supply on the other. So conventional microeconomics is preoccupied with price; it strips away other commercial considerations so it can get to what economists regard as the heart of the matter, price. If economists wore tee-shirts, what they’d say is: Prices Make The World Go Round.
It’s the ‘price mechanism’ that economists see as bringing supply and demand - and hence markets - into equilibrium, or balance. Movements in relative prices - that is, the price of one good relative to other goods - are seen as conveying ‘signals’ to both buyers and sellers, consumers and producers. A rise in price says to producers, produce more - it’s now more profitable to be selling these things, so get cracking and make more of them. A rise in price says to consumers, buy less - look for cheaper substitutes or be more economical in your use of this stuff. Now, if a rise in price calls forth an increase in supply on the one hand, but a decrease in demand on the other, what happens? The price falls back and supply and demand settle at a new equilibrium point. Similarly, a fall in relative prices will send the opposite signals to buyers and sellers, calling forth a reduction in supply and an increase in demand which raises the price and establishes a new equilibrium. Here you see the rationale for the cry of laissez faire - the market is assumed to be a self-righting system, provided you leave it alone to do its own thing.
Another definition of economics is that it’s the study of ‘the economic problem’, which is the problem of scarcity. Scarcity arises because our resources - of land, labour and capital - are finite, whereas our wants are infinite. Scarcity in this context doesn’t mean as scarce as hen’s teeth, merely that things aren’t free - they can be acquired only at a price. Economists believe the right price for something is the price that reflects the degree of scarcity (ie the cost) of the resources embodied in it. Prices are too high when they exceed the item’s scarcity value; prices are too low when they understate the item’s scarcity value.
So microeconomics is about economists seeking to help the community grapple with its abiding material problem, the problem of scarcity, which causes many of our wants go unsatisfied. Economists’ contribution is to help the community use its finite resources in ways that allow it to satisfy the optimum quantity of wants - that is, not the maximum number of wants but the combination of wants the community most highly values. In other words, microeconomics is about helping the community get a quart out of a pint pot, get more bang for its buck. This explains the microeconomists’ preoccupation with efficiency - getting the most bang for your buck - and its close relative, improved productivity. But ‘efficiency’ is a word to which economists attach their own meanings. At one level, what economists call ‘technical efficiency’ (or sometimes productive efficiency) is about being economical in the use of resources, eliminating waste, finding better ways to do things. That’s pretty much the common meaning of efficiency. But economists are more interested in what they call ‘allocative efficiency’ - which is about making sure the community’s resources are allocated to producing that combination of goods and services that it most highly values. The market could throw up lots of different combinations, but economists want to help us strive for the combination we most highly value. While we’re at it, let me just define productivity - it’s not production, its production relative to the resources used to produce it, or output per unit of input. The most common measure of productivity is the productivity of labour - output per worker, or per hour worked.
But economists aren’t engineers or management consultants or even business people. So how do they think they can contribute to making factories more efficient or improving the overall allocation of resources? They don’t profess to know much about the detail of any of these things. But they don’t think they need to because what they understand is the power of market forces, and it’s market forces that - if you stand out of the way - will bring about improvements in technical efficiency and allocative efficiency. Firms seek continually to improve their technical efficiency because of their assumed desire to maximise their profits. Consumers, in their efforts to maximise their utility (satisfaction), unconsciously seek to maximise allocative efficiency. And firms co-operate in this, giving consumers exactly what the consumers want because that’s the way firms maximise their profits.
How do consumers and firms decide what to do? By reacting to prices and changes in prices. Prices (and remember that interest rates and wages are prices) act as incentives, and yet another definition of economics is that it’s the study of incentives. If a market isn’t as efficient as it could be, the reason is likely to be that the incentives it faces have been distorted in some way, probably by misguided government intervention. So you should reform intervention in the market (deregulate), which will increase the competitive pressure on firms in the market. Increased competition will increase the pressure on firms to improve their technical efficiency - raise their productivity - but will also oblige those firms to pass the benefits of their higher productivity on to their customers in the form of improved service or lower prices. The lower and less distorted prices - prices that more accurately reflect scarcity value - will lead to greater allocative efficiency. As I’m sure you’ve realised, what I’ve been outlining is the rationale for micro-economic reform, the goal of which is simply to use improved technical and allocative efficiency and higher productivity to increase our material living standards.
Economic rationalism
Mention of microeconomic reform brings me to explaining the difference between economists and economic rationalists. Not all economists are economic rationalists and not all economic rationalists are economists. Economic rationalists are people who take a fundamentalist attitude towards the neo-classical model that’s at the heart of conventional microeconomics. They have a simple, almost religious faith in the efficacy and applicability of the model. Most government, business and media economists and many academic economists would be happy to wear the economic rationalist label, but many academic economists wouldn’t. The latter are far too conscious of instances of ‘market failure’ and other limitations of the simple neo-classical model, whereas economic rationalists tend to think problems of market failure aren’t a big deal. The non-economists who are economic rationalists - such as the former Liberal backbencher John Hyde and the chairman of the ACCC, Graeme Samuel - tend to be libertarians and great believers in individualism, who are attracted to the certainty, logicality and simplicity of the model. It offers a simple, obvious (though not necessarily easy) answer to every problem - which is the attraction of all forms of fundamentalism.
In my experience, those mainly academic economists who specialise in the study of particular markets - such as health economists and labour economists - tend to be much more conscious of the relevance of instances of market failure to that market, whereas general economists are happy to run any particular market through their pocket neo-classical model without worrying too much about the peculiarities of that market.
This may be the place for me to observe that, in my experience, labour economists (and the related discipline of industrial relations specialists) tend to be highly factionalised. Most tend to be openly sympathetic to the union cause, though you can always find a few who defend the employer interests. I regret that it’s so hard to find knowledgeable labour economists who try to call it down the middle.
The strengths of economics
Having given you a very basic explanation of what economics and economists are on about, let me move to the critique. The first thing to say is that there’s a lot of truth and power to demand-and-supply analysis. Market forces are powerful. People do change their behaviour in response to price signals. You do see people driving the long way to avoid paying a toll, driving round to find the cheapest service station, queuing and pushing and shoving to get the best bargains at the Boxing Day sales. You do see black markets emerging where governments attempt to hold prices below the market-clearing level. You do see rent control leading to an inadequate supply of rental accommodation.
One of the useful roles economists play is to remind us of the importance of opportunity cost. Because resources are finite and can be used only once, if you use them to acquire item A, you can’t use them to acquire items B to Z. The opportunity cost of an action is the cost of the next most desirable action you must give up. It’s a pathetically simple concept, but it’s surprising how often we forget it, so economists do well when they continuously remind us to be sure we really want the things we say we want because, in choosing them, we’re giving up other things.
A related benefit of the economic way of thinking is that it encourages us to continually ask the follow-up question: but then what happens? People are always coming to wrong conclusions on economic questions because they look only at direct, first-round effects, failing to trace through the second, subsequent or indirect effects. For instance, non-economists often conclude that computerisation destroys jobs in the industry in which it’s applied. They don’t go on to ask the question: but then what happens? What happens is that the productivity of the firm’s labour improves - it can now produce more output per worker, which constitutes an increase in real income. Some of that increase may be passed on to the firm’s remaining workers in higher wages, some may be passed on to customers in lower prices (or prices that are ‘lower than they otherwise would be’) and some may be retained by the firm’s owners. The point is that, wherever the income ends up, it will be spent, and when it’s spent it will create jobs. This why economist say that new technology doesn’t destroy jobs it ‘displaces’ them, moving them from the original industry to industries elsewhere in the economy.
Now, you may say, but what if the jobs lost are for middle-aged blue-collar males in manufacturing, whereas the jobs created are more suited to white-collar women working in the service industries? Good question. I think this happened a lot as computerisation worked its way through manufacturing in the 1970s and 80s. Sometimes the problems of the individual tend to be overlooked as economists focus on generalised answers. Some would say we should have done more to help these men retrain to make them suitable for other jobs, but a hard-line economic rationalist would claim that these men would have found jobs had it been possible for the price of their labour to fall to a level low enough to reflect its now reduced value, thereby making that labour attractive to some employer.
One way to test an economic argument you’re being given is to ask whether it’s approaching the issue from the demand side or the supply side. An argument isn’t fully persuasive unless it takes account of both sides. For instance, it’s not enough to say that part-time jobs have become more prevalent over the past 30 years because it’s more efficient for a firm to employ two or three workers for a few hours on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings, rather than one worker for 40 hours a week. This is undoubtedly true and it’s a good example of the kind of things employers do to keep the productivity of labour steadily increasing from year to year. But, in the context of the labour market, it’s a demand-side explanation; it focuses on what suits the buyers of labour, employers. It’s not fully convincing until you can find a story that explains the growth in part-time work from the viewpoint of the suppliers of labour, the workers. But you can find such a story, of course: it’s not hard to believe there’s been a growth in the number of married women and full-time students who’ve been happy to take up part-time rather than full-time jobs.
The role of models
Even so, the neo-classical model often oversimplifies things and leads to mistaken analysis and wrong predictions. Just like model trains or model planes, economic models consciously simplify complex reality. They’d be of no use if they didn’t. The idea is to include and highlight the key factors and get rid of the unimportant issues that merely cloud the workings, thereby capturing the essence of what causes what. The question to ask of a model is not whether it’s left things out, but whether what it’s left out is important. And the test of that is how good it is at predicting how people (‘economic agents’) will behave in given circumstances. I believe that, in many circumstances, the standard model’s prediction record is poor.
The weaknesses of the model can be seen by looking at the assumptions on which it’s built. It’s important to understand that formal economic reasoning, which is often done mathematically, is rigorously logical - given the assumptions on which it’s based. So if you don’t like the conclusions of economics, the thing to examine is the assumptions on which the reasoning is based.
The weaknesses of economics
To me, conventional economics’ greatest weakness is its assumption that agents are ‘rational’ - that is, that we always act with carefully calculated self-interest. We know from much psychological research - not to mention common observation - that people are instinctive rather than rational. They frequently make decisions contrary to the model’s predictions, they have trouble predicting their own utility, make logically inconsistent decisions, have trouble making themselves do what they know is in their longer-term best interests, are moved by altruism and perceptions of fairness and much, much more. One of the most effective criticisms of economic analysis is: I don’t believe real people behave that way. How do you, the economist, know they do? Honest answer: we don’t know it, we just assume it.
One major weakness of the model that economists readily acknowledge (but don’t necessarily take sufficiently seriously) is its inability to take account of factors than aren’t reflected in prices. Any costs or benefits that aren’t reflected in market prices are known as ‘externalities’. When I run a factory that emits pollution into the atmosphere or the river this imposes a cost (a ‘negative externality’) on the rest of the community that isn’t reflected in the actual costs I incur and pass on to customers in my prices. When, in the good old days, statutory authorities trained far more apprentices than they needed, knowing they’d be poached by the surrounding private employers, they were generating a benefit (a ‘positive externality’) those firms didn’t have to pay for and for which the statutory authorities received no recompense. The existence of externalities - positive or negative - constitutes an instance of ‘market failure’. That is, the market and its price mechanism can’t be relied on to deliver the favourable outcomes the standard model promises. The solution is to find ways to ‘internalise’ the externalities to the costs and benefits faced by firms and consumers - to get them reflected in prices - so the price mechanism can deal with them. This is done by devices such as pollution taxes, tradable permit schemes and government subsidies.
There are various other classes of market failure apart from externalities, but I tend to think of them in terms of ‘model blindness’. Economists suffer the same problem as every other profession: what I call model-blindness - a tendency to view the world and to analyse problems exclusively through the prism of their model. To focus on those variables their model focuses on and a tendency to ignore all those factors from which their model abstracts. This is a simple error, but it’s amazing how often it’s made.
The community is preoccupied with perceptions of fairness, whereas standard microeconomic analysis ignores equity considerations. When you press them, economists will tell you they have nothing to say on the fairness and redistributive effects of their policy prescriptions because this involves value judgments that are beyond their area of competence. Yet it’s remarkable how often economic rationalists in particular will press policies on the community without bothering to warn people that, in reaching those policy prescriptions, they have taken no account of equity issues. This is unprofessional behaviour.
The neoclassical model focuses on one often very important factor – price – while ignoring a lot of other potentially important factors. It assumes that buyers and sellers have complete knowledge – about the qualities of the product being exchanged and about all the prices being charged by other sellers. In reality, sellers usually know far more about these things than buyers do, giving them a significant advantage. This ‘information asymmetry’ explains a lot of problems and market failure. It’s what allows doctors to over-service their patients and allows the CEOs of public companies to enjoy salary packages many times greater than the value of their contribution to the firm.
The conventional model assumes away the importance of institutions – including laws and social norms of behaviour – that are critical to the efficient functioning of markets. It’s only recently, for instance, that model-blinded economists have realised the valuable role that ‘trust’ and other aspects of social capital play in lubricating a market economy. But other important institutions include the well-enforced law of contract, bankruptcy law, accounting standards and trustworthy auditors. Economists’ failure to understand this simple truth – because it’s not part of the model – led to them having a hand in some terrible disasters in recent times, such as the Asian crisis (where developing countries with utterly inadequate commercial infrastructure were urged to open their financial markets to hugely destabilising ‘hot money’ flows of foreign capital) and the badly botched transition to capitalism of Russia and other formerly planned economies.
Problems with the simple model of the labour market
These are general problems with economists’ use and abuse of their model, but let’s cut to the chase and focus on problems with the use of the conventional model to analyse issues in one particular market, the market for labour, in which workers are the suppliers and firms the demanders. General economists have a tendency to analyse the labour market as though it’s just another market, but there’s an obvious and most important respect in which the labour market differs from other markets. In every other market you’re dealing with the buying and selling of inanimate objects, whereas in the labour market the thing being bought and sold can’t be separated from the seller - that is, whether you like it or not, the unit of labour you buy comes with a live human being attached. That human may be agreeable or disagreeable, cooperative or uncooperative, hard working or lazy, capable or incapable. The fact that labour comes with humans attached cannot fail to affect the behaviour of both the buyer and the seller, something the model makes no allowance for. The role of humans is a strong argument against analysing the labour market in a way that totally ignores considerations of fairness. Another consequence is that the cost of labour to the employer is the income of the employee (ignoring the role of labour ‘on-costs’ such as payroll tax, workers compensation premiums etc). The attachment of humans to labour also invalidates the usual assumption that the items being bought and sold are homogenous. Two carpenters with identical qualifications and experience may be quite different as employees.
The standard model of the labour market assumes that, ceteris paribus, the higher the price of something, the less of it people will buy. This is the rationale for economists’ opposition to minimum wage rates. Set the minimum wage at a level higher than the rate the market would determine - that is, set the rate at a level that’s ‘binding’ - and the result is the market doesn’t ‘clear’. Some people remain unemployed. There is truth to this simple argument, but it ignores a complication: by how much would wages have to fall to achieve the elimination of unemployment? In other words, to what extent would people already employed under a binding minimum wage have to suffer a loss of income to achieve jobs for those at present unemployed? Would a small fall in the rate bring about a large increase in demand or would it take a large fall to bring about a small increase in the quantity demanded? In the jargon, is the demand for labour relative to its price elastic (sensitive to changes) or inelastic? This is the question on which economists need to be pressed. They will come armed with empirical estimates of the price elasticity, but how much faith you should have in those estimates is another matter. They’re pretty safe to have picked estimates that suit their case and to have ignored estimates that didn’t.
The basic model of the labour market assumes that the suppliers of labour face a simple choice: supply an hour of work and earn income or choose an hour of ‘leisure’ (which just means non-work) and enjoy yourself. The bit the model gets right is that leisure yields utility (satisfaction) - though this is something business people and economists often fail to acknowledge in their rhetoric. However, what the model gets wrong is its assumption that work yields disutility - that the only reason people work is for the money, the spending of which yields utility. In real life, most of us derive considerable utility from our work; much of our very identity comes from our work. This flaw in the model prompts economists to underestimate the importance of job satisfaction, job enrichment and job security. They underestimate the personal pain of unemployment - pain greater than can be explained by the loss of income involved - partly because of the hidden assumption of their model that the unemployed are to be envied for all their leisure time. (Another reason is the neo-classical model’s assumption that the macro economy is in a permanent state of full employment, so no one stays jobless for long.)
A related problem - which should really come under the heading of model-blindness - arises from the fact that the model takes account of only those factors that can be readily expressed in monetary terms. This leads to the sloppy assumption that the only incentives that matter are monetary. In truth, the working world abounds in non-monetary incentives: the satisfaction of a job well done, loyalty to employers and a desire for the boss’s approval, not to mention the pursuit of power and status.
An implicit assumption of the model that’s highly relevant to Work Choices, but which many economists conveniently forget, is that the parties to a transaction have roughly equal bargaining power. Where the parties’ bargaining power is highly unequal you won’t necessarily get the mutually beneficial outcomes the model promises. Certainly, the gains aren’t likely to be evenly distributed. This is the economic rationale for economists’ long-standing acceptance of the legitimacy of collective bargaining. The fact that so many economic rationalists are supportive of the push for individual contracts makes me suspect their analysis has been clouded by partisanship.
Work Choices has made me increasingly conscious of another of the model’s weaknesses: its neglect of what you might call ‘social externalities’. I’m disturbed by the attack on - the demonisation of - penalty rates for work at unsociable hours and the scope for partially cashing out holiday pay. My worry is not so much that the compensation for the loss of these benefits may be inadequate, but that these penalties performed an important social function. Combined with the deregulation of shopping hours, the attack on penalty rates is bringing about the steady demise of the weekend. Why is this a good idea? Although all of us like being free to shop or visit places of entertainment on the weekend, the trend to working at unsociable hours must be harmful to family life - something of great utility to all of us.
There’s no denying that, if increasing productivity and our material standard of living were our sole objective, keeping our shops, offices and factories operating for as close to 24/7 as possible would help us achieve it. But who in their right mind would have such an unbalanced approach to life? Workaholic businessmen and economists blinded by their model to the importance of social externalities.
Labour market reform
I have no doubt that our move from the centralised wage-fixing system to bargaining at the enterprise level - the end of flow-ons and one-size-fits-all national wage increases and the downplaying of comparative wage justice - has played a major part in the economy’s improved performance: the return to low inflation, the record-length 16-year expansion phase that has allowed so much progress to be made in reducing unemployment and the fact that our biggest commodities boom in 50 years has so far led to no wage breakout.
But I think this has more to do with the decentralisation of wage-fixing than the deregulation of it. It’s far too soon for Work Choices to have played a significant part in these outcomes - with the possible exception of the remarkably low wage increases being recorded in retail and hospitality. The productivity of labour grew extraordinarily strongly in the second half of the 90s and this helps explain the quite strong growth in real wages during the Howard Government’s term, notwithstanding the maintenance of low inflation.
When it suits them, the economic rationalists like to attribute all the credit for our improved productivity performance to the reform of the labour market. They can’t prove this, of course, and at other times they’re inclined to give the credit to all the other reform we’ve seen in the financial system and the markets for particular products: the floating of the dollar, the deregulation of the banks and countless other industries, privatisation, the virtual ending of protection, the reform of monopoly public utilities, tax reform and so forth.
My guess is that more of the credit should go to product market reform. The intensity of competitive pressure - both domestically and from imports - in so many markets has reduced the market power of firms, ended the sweetheart deal and put a lot of pressure on managers to improve the performance of their firms. They, in turn, have passed the pressure on to their workers, exhibiting a toughness, even callousness that wasn’t there to nearly the same extent in the good old days. Having said that, the move to enterprise bargaining has undoubtedly made it easier for managers to drive a harder bargain with their employees.
Economists specialise in studying the material aspect of our lives and how we can improve it. They are knowledgeable and their advice is effective. As we have proved for ourselves over the past 20 years, following that advice will make the community more prosperous. But while the material aspect of our lives is important, it’s not all important. Sensible people seek to balance affluence against other considerations - fairness and the social, artistic and spiritual dimensions of our lives. The trouble with economists is that their advice is narrow - sometimes narrower than they’re aware of and often more narrow than their hearers realise. Sensible communities don’t allow economists to advise on areas outside their field of competence and balance the advice of economists against the advice of experts in the other important aspects of life.
Labels: economic theory, SPEECHES
MICROECONOMIC REFORM
The rationale for microeconomic reform
The fundamental objective of microeconomic reform is to improve the economy’s technical, allocative and dynamic efficiency and thereby raise our material standard of living. In distinction to conventional macro management – which focuses on stabilising demand over the short term – microeconomic policy focuses on improving the supply (production) side of the economy over the medium to longer term.
The mechanism for micro reform
The basic mechanism of microeconomic reform is to reduce government intervention in product and factor markets (the capital or financial market and the labour market) in ways designed to increase the degree of competition in those markets. Increased competition in markets should increase the pressure on firms both to raise their technical efficiency and to pass the fruits of that higher productivity on to their customers in the form of better service or lower prices. Combined with prices that better reflect the true ‘resource costs’ of producing goods and services, this should improve the efficiency of the allocation of resources within the economy, thereby causing a higher trend rate of economic growth and thus higher material living standards.
Dynamic efficiency
Dynamic efficiency refers to the economy’s ability to adjust over time in response to changing circumstances. A dynamic economy is adaptable, responsive and flexible. It is able to cope with external or domestic economic shocks to supply or demand without generating either too much inflation or too much unemployment. Our economy’s ability to sail through the Asian crisis of 1997-98 – assisted greatly by the dollar’s depreciation when demand for our exports fell off – convinced many economists that micro reform had made our economy a lot more flexible than it had been.
And, as part of this, our lasting return to low inflation has shown the economy to be much less ‘inflation-prone’ than it had been. Intensified competition in so many markets has greatly reduced the scope for firms to exercise pricing power, for importers to pass on imported inflation and for unions to negotiate excessive, ‘sweetheart’ wage deals. In short, we now have much less problem with ‘cost-push’ inflation. Another part of this is that the move to enterprise bargaining and away from centralised wage fixing has greatly reduced the scope for big pay rises in one area to ‘flow on’ to workers in other areas. This would have helped to lower our NAIRU – the ‘non-accelerating-inflation’ rate of unemployment - thereby permitting the unemployment rate to go lower without igniting wage-inflation problems.
The economy’s greater dynamism and ability ‘roll with the punches’, this has made it less unstable and thus made the macro managers’ job of stabilising the economy as it moves through the business cycle a lot easier – a major, but largely unexpected benefit from micro reform.
Key microeconomic reforms
We can list eight key areas of micro reform over the past two decades:
1. Capital markets. The Australian dollar was floated in December 1983 and controls over foreign exchange removed. Bank interest rates were deregulated and foreign banks licensed to operate in Australia.
2. Trade reforms. Import quotas – mainly for motor vehicles and textiles, clothing at footwear – were removed in the late 1980s and tariff protection for manufacturing and agriculture phased down. The effective rate of assistance to manufacturing fell from around 35 per cent in the early 1970s to 5 per cent by 2000.
3. Infrastructure services. Airlines, coastal shipping, telecommunications and the waterfront were partially deregulated. Government utilities – including railways, ports, electricity and water – were made more efficient and less overstaffed. Many were commercialised and corporatised; some were privatised. Government-owned banks, insurance companies, airlines and a telephone company were privatised.
4. Industry deregulation. Many industries – including stock broking, petrol distribution, eggs, bread and dairy – have been deregulated, as have shopping hours.
5. Government services. Many reforms have been introduced, including competitive tendering and contracting out, performance-based funding, the formal definition and costing of ‘community service obligations’ and user-pays pricing.
6. Labour market. The prices and incomes Accord, operating from 1983 to 1996, restructured and simplified awards and shifted from centralised wage fixing to enterprise bargaining. The Howard Government’s Workplace Relations Act of 1996 further reduced the scope of awards and introduced a formal system of individual employment contracts known as Australian Workplace Agreements. Work Choices seeks to discourage collective bargaining and unionism.
7. Taxation reform. Capital gains tax, fringe benefits tax and the dividend imputation system were introduced in 1985 and 1987, along with large cuts in income tax rates. The goods and services tax was introduced in 2000, replacing the narrow wholesale sales tax and a range of state stamp duties. The company tax rate was cut to 30 per cent.
8. National competition policy. An agreement between Paul Keating and the state premiers in 1995 had four main elements: extension of the Trade Practices Act to government businesses and the professions; reforms to public monopolies; introduction of a regime to provide other firms with access on reasonable terms to privately owned monopoly infrastructure services; and introduction of a program to review all federal and state legislation restricting competition. National competition policy has now been replaced by the National Reform Agenda.
Evidence of the benefits of micro reform
During the five years to 1998-99, labour productivity grew at the highest rate for at least 30 years. The improvement in the average productivity growth rate over this five-year period (of about 1 percentage point) provided the equivalent of an additional $7000 to the average Australian household.
This remarkably strong performance is widely attributed to the delayed effects of micro reform. In the years since then, however, our productivity performance has fallen back to normal levels. This may be because of the fall-off in further reform under the Howard Government. The poorer performance in very recent years is thought to be due partly to the surge in mining investment associated with the resources boom which, while the new production capacity is still coming on line, means the mines are employing more workers without any increase in output. This should be just a temporary factor, of course.
Labels: microeconomic reform, productivity, SPEECHES
WHAT’S WRONG WITH STANDARD ECONOMICS
Talk to Sydney University Economics Society
I want to start by saying that, in a minor way, The Sydney Morning Herald is an employer of economics graduates from Sydney University. We hire about one every two years. Over the years we’ve hired Steve Burrell, Stephen Ellis (now a columnist from America in the Business Australian), Tom Allard, Jessica Irvine and Jake Saulwick. We’ll have another one coming on board next year. (I wish I’d hired another name you may recognise, Stephen Long of the ABC.)
The thing to note is that everyone on that list is a product of Political Economy, not the mainstream economics course. So I have pretty well-formed views about Sydney University graduates as potential employees. Why do I hire out of PE? I like PE students because PE is an essay-based course (and economic journalists have to be able to explain economics in words, not diagrams or equations), because PE students have a demonstrated interest in politics (and I regard economic journalism as a branch of political journalism) and because PE seems to attract a disproportionate share of very bright students (and I try to hire only people who are exceptionally bright).
In passing I should tell you that I don’t select trainees on the basis of the marks they got. I’m more interested in their extra-curricular activities - whether they were on the SRC, got involved in running clubs and societies, whether they wrote for Honi or the Union Record - because what I’m really looking for is people with a burning desire to be a journalist, people who’ll throw themselves into it, people who are ‘hungry’ to succeed.
I should tell you that I’m very happy with the people I recruit from PE, which is why I keep going back. In recent years, however, I’ve encountered one problem: most PE graduates haven’t actually done any courses in standard, neoclassical economics. It’s amazing, but true. This is a significant weakness and I usually have to insist that the people I hire go back and do some standard economics by distance education. I don’t think the people running PE are doing their students any favours churning out supposed economists who know less about conventional economics than someone who’d done economics at high school.
What I say to my PE graduates is that I don’t require them to believe the neoclassical model - as we’ll see, I have a lot of doubts about it myself - but I do require them to know it inside out. Why? Because the neoclassical model is the language of the public debate about economics in this country and every other country. If you don’t speak the language, you don’t participate or even understand the argument. You’re certainly in no position to convince the participants in the debate they’re barking up the wrong tree.
Of course, some of the conventional economics graduates who are whizzes at the maths aren’t good at speaking the language, either. But while I’m offering a critique of PE, let me be equally frank about the conventional course. I think its great weakness is the opposite of PE’s - it’s so busy teaching the intricacies of the neoclassical model that it doesn’t find time to give students an adequate understanding of the significant limitations of the model and the alternatives to it. To teach the model without adequately explaining its limitations is, to me, professional negligence. So there’s nothing wrong with economics at Sydney Uni that couldn’t be fixed by rolling the rival courses together - by making sure each side gets a fair dose of what the other side is teaching.
I also suspect the conventional course would be better if it devoted less time to exploring the model’s limiting cases and more to giving students practice at applying the model to specific problems. That is, after all, what economic practitioners do: apply the theory they learnt at uni to the real-world policy problems they are grappling with. But don’t get the idea from this I’m critical of the emphasis on theory in university economics courses. I’m not - not a bit. Universities should be all about theory. Theory is their comparative advantage. It’s the only thing they’re good at and they should stick to it. They shouldn’t worry about teaching vocational skills because it’s hard to learn vocational skills at uni and surprisingly easy to learn them on the job - when you get a job. It’s because economic practitioners spend their professional lives applying the theory they learnt at uni - because pretty much all the theory they know is the theory they learnt at uni - that unis should concentrate on giving their students the best understanding of theory possible. And students should concentrate on tanking up with theory while they’ve got the chance and not worry that it’s all too theoretical. The practice will come later. And when you’ve had a bit of practice you’ll realise that the theory was more useful than you thought when you were learning it.
That’s probably the most useful thing I could say to many of you: don’t sit around telling yourself how useless and unrealistic all the theory is they’re trying to make you learn. You haven’t actually had enough experience to have an informed view of what theory’s useful and what isn’t. So take your lecturers on trust: accept that if they think it’s worth teaching it must be worth learning. If my experience is any guide, when you are experienced enough to judge you’ll realise most of what they taught you was worth learning.
Of course, decent teaching of theory gives plenty of attention to teaching the limitations of the theory. So now that I turn to my topic of what’s wrong with standard theory please don’t think I’m saying economics is rubbish and you’re wasting your time with it. I’m not saying that and I don’t believe that. I could give you a speech on what’s right and useful about the neoclassical model - and if I had time I would - but instead I want to talk about the limitations of the model because that’s where I suspect the conventional course is weakest. Everything in life has strengths and weaknesses and neoclassical economics is no exception.
Perhaps before I launch in I should explain that my view of my role as an economic commentator has changed over the years. For a long time I saw myself as a sort of missionary for economics, explaining the economic way of thinking and trying to persuade people to accept the economic rationalists’ policy prescription. But that was before I’d thought more and read more about the limitations of standard economics. So now I see my role as someone paid to provide the Herald’s readers with a critique of economics and economists, just as theatre critics provide our readers with a critique of the latest plays. Economists are so influential in the debate about public policy - and they act so certain that they’re the bearers of God’s Infallible Truth - that our readers often need reminding of their blind spots and the narrowness of their advice. Of course, putting economists back in their box when I consider they’ve overstepped their area of competence doesn’t stop me still devoting a lot of time to explaining economic concepts and the motivation behind government policy positions.
I suspect the biggest problem with economics is that it split off from the rest of science - the natural sciences and the social sciences - over 100 years ago, so that while there have been many major advances in those sciences since then, economics has been in its own, self-contained world and has carried on down its own path oblivious to those advances.
In Eric Beinhocker’s recent book, The Origin of Wealth, he argues that, thanks to the work of Leon Walras and others in the 19th century, the primary inspiration for neoclassical economics was physics, particularly the physics of motion and energy. Walras introduced differential calculus to economics and the organising paradigm that the economy is an equilibrating system. But Beinhocker says economics took its inspiration from physics at a time when physicists had discovered the first law of thermodynamics, but not yet discovered the second law. As a result, economics is based on terribly out-of-date physics. It’s now clear to physicists - but not economists - that the economy isn’t a closed, equilibrating system at all, but rather an open, disequilibrium, complex adaptive system.
To quote Beinhocker, ‘when Walras imported the concept of equilibrium from physics into economics, he gained mathematical precision and scientific predictability. But he paid a high price for that gain - realism. The mathematics of equilibrium required Walras and later economists to make a set of highly restrictive assumptions that have increasingly detached theoretical economics from the real world. Traditional economics has what computer programmers call a “garbage in, garbage out” problem. If you feed a computer bad inputs, it will with absolute precision and flawless logic grind out bad outputs. Likewise, most traditional economic models begin with unrealistic assumptions and then, with mathematical inevitability, work their way to equally unrealistic conclusions. … This is why there is little empirical support for many core ideas of traditional economics, and in some cases empirical evidence directly contradicts the theory’s predictions.’
The point here is not that conventional economics is too mathematical, but that it’s not using the right maths. The right maths would, no doubt, be a lot trickier and permit a lot less precise conclusions. But I don’t want to be drawn any further on this point because, though I’ve been happy to quote Beinhocker, I don’t profess to know anything much about physics and maths.
I’m a lot more confident in pointing to another area of science where, more than 100 years ago, economics split off on its own track, so that it’s now largely oblivious to subsequent advances. That science is psychology. It was quite primitive 100 years ago, but since then has made considerable gains in understanding the drivers of human behaviour. It’s quite understandable that, with psychology being then as primitive as it was, economics built itself on the assumption that economic agents behaved rationally in all things. It was very much a product of the thinking of the Enlightenment.
But psychology’s challenge to microeconomic theory strikes at that central assumption of Homo economicus. Economic man is assumed to be rational and self-interested. He or she always carefully evaluates all the options before making any decision, and always with the object of maximising his or her personal ‘utility’ or satisfaction. But cognitive psychologists have demonstrated that humans simply lack the neural processing power to make the carefully calculated decisions economists assume. People are not rational, they are intuitive. And altruism is often an important consideration in their decision-making. People can’t chose correctly between three options where the best option is not immediately apparent. Rather than carefully thinking through the pros and cons of every decision, people tend to rely on mental shortcuts (‘heuristics’) which often serve them well enough, but also lead them into systematic biases. People are often slow to learn from their mistakes. They are frequently capable of reacting differently to choices that are essentially the same, just because the choices have been ‘framed’ (packaged) differently. This means that, rather than being coldly rational, people’s decisions are often influenced by emotional considerations.
All this means that Homo sapiens differs from Homo economicus in many important respects. He doesn’t conform to economists’ assumption of fungibility (one dollar is indistinguishable from another), he is often not bothered by opportunity cost and thus has a strong bias in favour of the status quo. He doesn’t ignore sunk costs as he’s supposed to and often can’t order his preferences consistently. He is not averse to risks so much as averse to losses and he focuses more on changes in his wealth than on its absolute level.
Unlike Homo economicus, Homo sapiens cares deeply about fairness. Experiments show people will walk away from deals they consider treat them unfairly, even though those deals would leave them better off. People are prepared to pay a price to punish others they consider to have been behaving badly towards the group. Often people are concerned about ‘procedural fairness’ – how things are done, not just how they end up.
I believe this has powerful implications for the aspect of the neoclassical model that economic rationalists (particularly right-wing rationalists) find so attractive: its elevation and celebration of individualism. The individual should be free to choose, and governments should be most circumspect in how they constrain individuals’ freedom, including by taxing them to pay for the public provision of services and to redistribute income. This elevation of the individual and, by implication, denigration of a more communitarian approach, turns out to rest heavily on the assumption that individuals are rational. If individuals are rational decision-makers then it follows, as the rationalists keep asserting, that governments can never know what is good for you better than you know yourself. Governments should therefore tax individuals as little as possible, and maximise the private provision of such things as education and health care. If individuals are not particularly rational in their decision-making, however, then there may well be a case for government paternalism in certain circumstances.
Another aspect of the non-rationality of economic agents is the way, contrary to the assumptions of the model, they aren’t rugged individualists but are heavily influenced by the behaviour of people around them. My tastes and preferences aren’t fixed, but are highly variable, influenced by what others are doing and what happens to be fashionable. I care deeply about winning the approval of others and have a great desire to fit in. At the same time I’m preoccupied with my social status. I want by my conspicuous consumption to not just keep up with the Jones but to overtake them, demonstrating my superior social standing. As my real income rises over time, more and more of it will be devoted to the purchase of positional goods. This is a particular challenge to conventional economics because, while it’s very skilled at raising the material living standards of the community generally, it’s simply powerless to do what most people would wish it to: raise their relative income. Obviously, anything it does to raise the relative income of some people will lower the relative income of just as many. Another aspect of the fact that humans are group animals is the herd behaviour investors so frequently exhibit in markets for financial assets, contrary to the contentions of the efficient market hypothesis.
Thanks to relatively recent advances in neuroscience, we now know a lot more about how our lack of rationality is a function of the way our brains have evolved. It turns out that the primitive, more instinctive, emotional part of our brain often overrides - or beats to the punch - the more recent, more logical part of our brain. This leads to a strange dualism in our minds: we’re often motivated to do things by considerations the more intellectual part of our brain knows to be silly.
It’s as though we have two selves, an unconscious self that’s emotional and short-sighted and a conscious self that’s reasoning and far sighted. We have trouble controlling ourselves in circumstances where the benefits are immediate and certain, whereas the costs are longer-term and uncertain. When you come home tired from work, for instance, the benefits of slumping in front of the telly are immediate, whereas the costs - feeling tired the next day; looking back on your life and realising you could have done a lot better if you’d got off your backside and played a bit of sport or studied harder for exams - are prospective and uncertain. Similarly, the reward from eating food is instant, whereas the costs of overeating are uncertain and far off in the future - being regarded as physically unattractive, becoming obese, becoming a diabetic, dying younger etc. As everyone knows who’s tried to diet, give up smoking, control their drinking, gambling or even speeding, save or get on top of their credit card debt, it’s very hard achieve the self-control our conscious, future selves want us to achieve. Problems of self-control are ubiquitous to modern life, but standard economics is oblivious to their existence.
Before we pass on I should acknowledge that the relatively recent school of economic thought known as behavioural economics is fully aware of the way the assumptions of standard economics fly in the face of advances in psychology and is seeking ways for more realistic assumptions about human behaviour to be incorporated into the equations of the standard model. I suspect, however, it won’t be easy.
Moving to a more mundane level, economists suffer the same problem as every other profession: what I call model-blindness - a tendency to view the world and to analyse problems exclusively through the prism of their model. To focus on those variables their model focuses on and a tendency to ignore all those factors from which their model abstracts. This is a simple error, but it’s amazing how often it’s made. It occurs partly because there is so little engagement between economists and people from other disciplines - so that economists rarely get a chance to see themselves as others see them - and partly because the teachers of economics devote so little attention to ensuring their students fully appreciate the limitations of the model.
As we’ve seen, the community is preoccupied with perceptions of fairness, whereas standard microeconomic analysis ignores equity considerations. When you press them, economists will tell you they have nothing to say on the fairness of their policy prescriptions because this involves value judgments that are beyond their area of competence. Yet it’s remarkable how often economic rationalists in particular will press policies on the community without bothering to warn people that, in reaching those policy prescriptions, they have taken no account of equity issues. This is unprofessional behaviour.
The neoclassical model focuses on one often very important factor – price – while ignoring a lot of other potentially important factors. It assumes that buyers and sellers have roughly equal bargaining power – which is often not the case. We’re hearing more about this lately as farmers and other small businesses complain about being squeezed by big business, such as the two supermarket chains. It’s been remarkable to see the Howard Government running advertisements to remind small businesses of the changes to the Trade Practices Act that now permit them to bargain collectively with big business, while at the same time using Work Choices to discourage collective bargaining between individual workers and their employers.
Another assumption of the conventional model is that both buyers and sellers have complete knowledge – about the qualities of the product being exchanged and about all the prices being charged by other sellers. In reality, sellers usually know far more about these things than buyers do, giving them a significant advantage. This ‘information asymmetry’ explains a lot of the problems and ‘market failure’ in markets. It’s what allows doctors to over-service their patients and allows the CEOs of public companies to enjoy salary packages many times greater than the value of their contribution to the firm.
Yet another major weakness of the model is its failure to take account of social externalities. The deregulation of shopping hours, combined with the attack on weekend penalty rates, is fast bringing about the demise of the weekend without the community ever consciously deciding this would be a good thing. Similarly, I believe Work Choices’ attack on overtime, weekend and public holiday penalty rates and provisions for the partial cashing out of holiday pay could be damaging to family life.
Then there’s the sloppy thinking that goes from the fact that economics is capable of dealing only with monetary incentives to the implicit assumption that only monetary incentives matter. This is classic model-blindness. Clearly, the real world abounds in important non-monetary incentives, including the intrinsic enjoyment of work and pursuit of job satisfaction, and the pursuit of power and status. Ignore these factors and you get wrong answers.
But perhaps the thing that worries me most about standard economics is the way its adoption of the assumption of ‘revealed preference’ - that what people do is a reliable guide to what they want - in the 1930s allowed the goal of economic efficiency to be changed from maximising utility to maximising consumption. Clearly, much utility exists outside consumption - including utility derived from job satisfaction, job security and family life. I fear this derailing of the goals of economics has turned economics into the ideology of materialism and economists into the high priests in the temple of mammon.
This at last brings me to my ostensible reason for being here, to publicise my new book, Gittinomics. What is Gittinomics - what’s my special twist on the subject? Well, most of what I’ve said today isn’t in the book. The book is a kind of exposition of how the micro economy works, but from the perspective of the ordinary person. I call it home economics. My emphasis is on understanding the system to make sure you’re a master of the market system, not a victim. Making it work for you, not you for it. To that end, the first thing to understand is the need to keep economics in perspective and economists in their place.
Labels: behavioural economics, economic theory, happiness, SPEECHES
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dryrunguy
, 01-24-2011 at 02:46 PM (2166 Views)
A week ago Wednesday night, 3-year-old Alexyander (Yandel) Rivera Irizarry of Penuelas, Puerto Rico, was passing a quiet evening at home with his parents. He asked them if he could go visit his grandmother, who lived upstairs. His parents said yes.
He went upstairs and spent some time talking and playing with his grandmother. Then he said he was going back downstairs.
But he didn't.
A few minutes later, his mother went upstairs to get Yandel and prepare him for bed. She asked her mother-in-law where Yandel was. Shocked by the question, his grandmother said he had gone back downstairs.
And the panic set in.
As Yandel's parents and grandparents went outside, frantically screaming his name, the neighbor heard the commotion and joined in the search. His first clue to Yandel's location was the clothes of a small child draped neatly over a large rock by the river. He crossed the bridge and went down to the river. At which point he was horrified to find a child floating in the river.
Yandel had played naked in the river many times, but always with supervision. Just barely 3 years old, he simply didn't know this wasn't something he could do by himself.
I got the call in the middle of the night Thursday morning that little Yandel was no longer with us. I have never been more crushed in my life.
For many years now, I have been close to Yandel's parents, Yami and Alex--and his maternal grandparents and the rest of their family. Several years ago, they honored me by requesting that I give the toast at their wedding. A few years after that, Yami's sister asked that I serve as the padrino at her wedding. The family Irizarry is like my own family, a family I do not share by blood, but instead by love, laughter, food, and the deepest sense of caring.
During the course of my 41 years, there have been many times when I felt like I was in the wrong place, that something felt wrong, that I was in the midst of something terrible.
But all of those experiences, all of those fleeting moments, pale in comparison to attending the funeral of a 3-year-old child. You can't help but ask... why? Why did this happen?
It hurts even more when you see a mother blaming herself and a grandmother blaming herself. You know they are innocent, and you want to scream it at their faces as they grieve. But you can't. Because you understand at least a small portion of what they're feeling. And know that, under similar circumstances, you would feel the same unbearable guilt. You don't know what to say. There's nothing you can say. Because none of it makes any sense.
Everything is just... wrong. So wrong.
Yet, Yandel's funeral processional was one of the most moving and powerful experiences I've ever had. Police estimated that 1500 people participated in the processional from the funeral home to the cemetery. Children in the processional had been given balloons to carry, and most of the balloons had messages written on them. "We'll remember you always, Yandel." "Rest in peace, Yandel." At the cemetery, the priest spoke about the family's pain, the inability to understand how or why these types of things happen. But that, in God, we can find peace. We may not find understanding, but we can find peace and comfort.
After the priest spoke, they played Yandel's favorite song. It was at this point that the children were asked to release their balloons. A man I did not know but happened to be in front of me at the graveside had a box of three white doves that were released at the same time as the balloons. Upon release, these beautiful creatures flew into different directions but found each other once again around a group of balloons in the sky. And then they flew off together.
The three of them.
It was so beautiful. But as I type, I weep. Because it still just feels so wront. So f***ing wrong.
In spite of referring to myself as the eternal pessimist, I actually try to find lessons learned in horrible experiences.
Which is what I really wanted to share with you all, though I've taken a long route toward getting there. And for that I apologize. But I want to encourage every member of our TAT family to hold those whom you love so very close to you. Love deeply and without condition, as a child does. Let others love you with full measure. Forget the small stuff; it doesn't matter. Give hugs and kisses freely, and mean every ounce you put into them. Cherish every moment you have with those you love, and never, EVER, let it become mundane.
If there's anything I've learned in the past 10 days, it's that we can never, EVER, take anyone or anything for granted. For life is a collection of moments. Moments that bring us joy. Moments that bring us satisfaction and peace.
And moments where everything can suddenly and tragically change.
Thanks for listening. And for those of you who practice prayer, please keep Yandel's family in your thoughts. They will appreciate that.
ponchi101 - 01-24-2011 03:42 PM
I will try to follow your advice, Dry.
A beautiful piece you have written. I hope you will feel better when the time is suitable.
Updated 01-24-2011 at 04:08 PM by ponchi101
shtexas - 01-25-2011 11:15 PM
atlpam - 01-26-2011 09:17 AM
I have unfortunately attended 2 funerals for children in my life; there is nothing so heartbreaking. Thanks for a well-needed reminder that we should live life fully with those we love. My thoughts are with you and Yandel's family.
Four out of Five... Why Was I the Lucky One?
by Vlad
I failed
I'm Not a Kid Anymore
by atlpam
Meet Debbie Downer
balletklutz,
Irena2,
Kirkus,
Miles,
mysterX,
Ribbons,
sblanc,
shtexas,
sluggo-13,
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Perspectives on the City
The Mordecai Richler Monument to Municipal Illogic {Part Deux!}
September 4, 2015 Taylor C. Noakes
Not only does it have nothing to do with Richler, it’s not actually a gazebo.
The renovation of the Pavilion Mordecai-Richler, as it may one day be known, is now estimated to cost $535,000.
In April of 2014, costs were estimated at about $370,000.
This week, Mayor Denis Coderre asked the executive council to green-light the budget increase. He justified his request by indicating previously unforeseen issues relating to the removal of lead paint in the original structure, in addition to problems with the roof and foundation, necessitate the cost increase.
In the spring of 2014, the city paid Beaupré-Michaud over $57,000 for an architectural study and proposal for the pavilion, which Mayor Coderre has repeatedly vowed to complete. His determination stems from a desire both to acknowledge a great local talent inasmuch as to demonstrate he can accomplish what his predecessors failed to do (a common theme throughout the Coderre Administration up to this point).
Over the past few weeks Coderre has relied heavily on his determination to complete the project as the underlying justification for cost increases and delays. In sum, he’s indicated that the project will be completed regardless of the final cost simply by virtue of the fact that it must ‘have a certain dignity’ in light of the structure being named after the late author and public intellectual.
On August 26th Coderre indicated the project would be completed ‘by next month’.
I reached out to Coderre’s press attaché to find out why the city considers this a heritage site, how much had already been spent on the project, whether there was a public budget available, when the city became aware of the lead paint issue and whether an environmental assessment had been completed.
So far no reply. This is to be expected of course, as I’m certain the mayor is inundated with calls and emails from concerned citizens inasmuch as the media.
A quick side-story to illustrate the speed and efficiency of municipal government communications: a couple of weeks ago I was doing research on a story that ultimately went nowhere concerning the use of leaf-blowers. My question was simple: does the city have any bylaws concerning the operation of leaf-blowers? I contacted the Cote-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grace borough office and an administrative assistant (a self-described ‘temp’) told me he didn’t know but would look into it. I then contacted CDN-NDG city councillor Magda Pompeanu and left a voicemail, following that up with an email, asking the same yes/no question (Pompeanu represents the district from which the initial complaint stemmed). After several hours an individual claiming to be the borough manager contacted me and told me he was looking into the matter, and would get me an answer as soon as possible. I pressed him: it’s a yes or no question after all. He said he wanted ‘to be certain he got me the correct information.’
I then reached out to recently re-minted NDG city councillor Peter McQueen, who represents my district. He was quick to get back to me, 15-20 minutes tops, and said that he was pretty sure there were none on the books but that there would be rules concerning use of landscaping equipment during normal business hours and acceptable decibel levels. Pompeanu got back to me about a week later, confirming what McQueen had said.
As far as I’m concerned the administrative assistant should have a working knowledge of the borough’s basic bylaws. It shouldn’t take two city councillors and a borough manager to get an answer to a yes or no question, but I digress.
Back to the Mordecai Richler pavilion.
Since Coderre’s August 26th announcement he’d complete the pavilion come hell or high water, I started looking into the structure’s history. While I’m generally in favour of acknowledging great Montrealers and preserving our architectural heritage, I wanted to know what precisely made this edifice worth protecting. Heritage preservation isn’t simply about preventing the demolition of old buildings, as if it were it would be very, very difficult to build anything new in our city. We have many old buildings in our city, but not all of them can be considered heritage structures.
So what makes this one so significant the city is ready to spend over half a million dollars of public money in renovating it?
Two things I discovered: first, it’s not a gazebo. Second, it has basically nothing to do with Mordecai Richler.
I had hunches on both these points, but didn’t know with certainty until after speaking with Plateau Mont-Royal city councillor Alex Norris and Dinu Bumbaru of Heritage Montreal. I should point out that the Mordecai Richler pavilion doesn’t lie in Norris’ district, as Mount Royal Park is part of Ville-Marie and not the Plateau Mont-Royal borough. That said, he’s been a vocal critic of the way the project has been administered for several years, and was quick to get back to me. The city still hasn’t.
As to the pavilion’s connection to Mordecai Richler, both said that, though they weren’t certain there was any direct connection between the structure and any of Richler’s written work, the author grew up in the area and both were certain that the author would’ve been familiar with it, though neither knew if he had ever spent any time there.
The decision to name the structure after Richler came in 2011, about a decade after Richler passed. At the time the idea was that the dilapidated structure near the firefighters’ headquarters in Fletcher’s Field would be renovated and re-developed into a pavilion, obviously intended to encourage tranquil introspection as well as providing a vantage point from which unemployed philosophy grads could whittle away the hours with long pensive gazes…
And then nothing happened. The renovation project got about as far as removing what was left of the floorboards and putting up a sign that said the structure was off limits. Before that, as far as I can recall the structure was shabby looking, graffiti covered and more often than not used as a makeshift homeless shelter. Removing the floorboards took care of the latter problem and made the others worse.
Last spring Mayor Coderre decided the city had gone long enough without properly honouring the late author, and so in cooperation with the Plateau Mont-Royal borough administration renamed the Mile-End library after him in a feat of irony so absurdly perfect Richler would’ve had a hard time coming up with it himself. A primarily francophone library in a formerly abandoned Anglican church located in a neighbourhood closely associated with the city’s Hassidic community and administered by soft-nationalists who in 2014 recognized American-born, Mexican-raised Lhasa de Sela with her own park, rebutting an attempt by Snowdon city councillor Marvin Rotrand to do the same for the Montreal born and raised Richler. Plateau Mont-Royal officials at the time argued they didn’t want to ‘sacrifice the cultural heritage’ of the neighbourhood…
I’m quite certain Mr. Richler would have found that to be hilarious in and of itself.
The initial plan to name a street or park after Richler in time for the tenth anniversary of his death fell through, but not before former mayor Gerald Tremblay decided to name the dilapidated gazebo on Mount Royal after Richler.
I’d ask Gerry what his thoughts were at the time, but I have a feeling he has bigger issues to deal with.
Oh yeah, one other thing. It’s not a gazebo.
And here’s where things get interesting, because it’s actually a bandstand with its own interesting history, one city officials don’t seem to know anything about.
Dinu Bumbaru of Heritage Montreal provided me with the basics about the structure and explained why, in his view at least, it is a heritage structure.
In sum Mr. Bumbaru explained that the bandstand’s history can be traced back to a prominent and immensely powerful lawyer by the name of Charles Sandwith Campbell, whose estate bequeathed one million dollars to the city in 1923 (about $14 million in current dollars) for the construction of parks and playgrounds “in congested parts of the City of Montreal (…) for young children not too far from their parents abodes” and to finance a summer concert series “to encourage the playing on summer evenings of bands of music in the public places handy to the congested parts of the city” (for clarification, quotes attributed to Campbell’s will, and not Mr. Bumbaru).
Though several ‘Campbell Parks’ were built, only one still bears his name. The concert series continues (here’s a link to the summer 2015 line-up), though of the multiple bandstands built to facilitate the concerts, only the one to be re-named after Mordecai Richler remains (similar bandstands were once located in LaFontaine Park and in Place du Canada).
The bandstand does have a long history in terms of public culture, serving as a location for public concerts and as a meeting place for special processions (such as the inauguration of the Mount Royal Cross in 1924 or the city’s 300th anniversary in 1942), and in the case of the former, the location of the bandstand was chosen because concerts were already being given in the area.
In other words, the cultural heritage here is principally of public concerts, and the bandstand was designed with acoustics in mind.
A final irony I suppose…
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Space Category Archive
Sending People and Animals into Space
4th December 2014 3 Replies Jonny Hankins
I watched NASA TV all afternoon today. I wanted to see the launch of the new US Space Agency flagship Orion, but unfortunately technical issues led to it being postponed. They will (and I will) try again tomorrow.
Space Difficulties
This is an interesting launch for one major reason, it is the first test flight of a capsule that will carry people, possibly to Mars, but certainly into outer space. The test is going to send it way out beyond the orbiting space station (3600 miles), into an area that is much more inhospitable.
One issue that is different at that kind of distance is radiation. The radiation level is high, high enough to effect machines let alone humans, and so the test will measure how much the engineers have managed to insulate the capsule from this problem. Incidentally this problem is often cited as evidence that the US moon landings were faked, with critics saying that the astronauts would not have survived the radiation levels if they had actually gone there. But that is another post!
Another thing to be tested is its capacity to withstand the temperatures of re-entry in to the atmosphere. You might recall one of the Space Shuttle missions ending in disaster as it burnt up on re-entry due to faulty tiles on the underbelly.
Now I would like to see a rocket launch, but it is a completely different thing to see one with a capsule carrying people attached. I remember the golden days of space travel, when it was only animals that had the chance of orbit. (I don’t really remember them).
Animals or People?
It is after all a dangerous game going into space. This Wikipedia article lists all of the deaths involving space travel, both on the ground and in the air. 19 people have died during space flight, but another 11 have died in training, and if we think that only 533 people have been into space then the fatality rate is high.
So will they send animals in the capsule to test it out again? I doubt it, but alongside the 500 odd people in space we should not forget our animal friend heroes, some of whom gave their lives for this great mission.
Fruitflies, a pest sometimes and national heroes on other days. Fruitflies were after all the first animals sent into space, way back in 1947. In 1949 they sent a resus monkey up called Albert 2, although he died on re-entry. They did have some sensor data however so it ewas not all in vain. They are little remembered though, unlike Laika the dog. Laika was rescued from the streets of Moscow, trained, and sent on a one way mission into space. It is not known how long she lived, the capsule burned up on re-entry, and I am not sure why she was sent, but a heroic end to a flea ridden mut it was in November 1957. There she is in the photo above.
2 dogs did however make it back in one piece after a quick orbit. In 1960 Belka and Strelka made it back home, and I am sure received the welcome they deserved.
Then there was Ham, a chimpanzee. He was trained to interact with the vessel, pulling levers and feeding himself. He became a celebrity upon his return and there is even a documentary film available about his and his friends’ pioneering lives.
If you would like to know more about animals in space (I bet you can’t wait) check out this link.
I am looking forward to a launch tomorrow, with or without animal passengers.
On a final note follow this link to see a photo reportage about abandoned NASA facilities. The places that launched some of these great missions are now in ruins. Makes you think!
Speed in space
24th November 2014 3 Replies Christopher Roberts
One of the many problems with space travel is how we measure speed.
Speed is relative – as this very good Ted video shows.
Speeding Up
One of the problems facing human space travel isn’t travelling fast, it’s getting to that speed. The g-force excreted on the body whilst accelerating poses major health issues. So even thought we may be able to invent ways of travelling faster, unless we can control the g-force, its pointless going faster, as if we get to a fast speed too quick (accelerate too fast) the people travelling at that speed will die.
If you are driving a fast car and you very quickly put it into a lower gear and put the accelerator to the floor, you feel yourself fly into the back of your seat. If you are travelling at 60mph your body feels fine, as it does at 0mph, however in the few seconds it takes to get you there, you are subject to huge g-force’s.
Travelling from 0-60mph in 30 seconds puts the body under a lot less stress than if you do it in 3 seconds. It’s the same with space travel, the body can cope with moving reasonably quickly, however it cannot cope with getting there too fast.
F1 Example
Kimi Raikkonen’s 47G crash at Silverstone 2014
Those who enjoy F1 may remember Kimi Raikkonen’s horrific 150mph crash at Silverstone this year. For a matter of seconds the Fin had 47 Gs of force excreted upon him. For an F1 driver, 150mph is not an unusual speed, however spinning at that speed and coming to a sudden stop caused the dramatic force that Raikkonen endured. Had Raikkonen been spinning with 47 Gs of force for over a minute, the likelihood is he would have died, however because it was only for a short period of time, he was able to race again two weeks later, having sustained no lasting injuries.
Unlike us, robots can be built to sustain such forces, which is one of the reasons why missions like Rosetta and Voyager can see probes sent huge distances in (relatively) small periods of time.
Lets hope in the near future someone discovers a way to keep g-forces at bay, to enable us to travel further into space, faster!
The ISS
18th November 2014 Leave a reply Christopher Roberts
The International Space Station is amazing. Humanity has a permanently manned space station.
You may think I’m saying that in every article of this series, and I probably am. But that’s because space and our accomplishments are quite frankly brilliant!
The International Space Station (or ISS) is not the first manned space station. The Russian space station Mir is widely considered the first successful long-term space station. Before the launch of the ISS, Mir was the largest satellite in orbit, and until 2010 when its record was surpassed by the ISS, Mir housed the longest continuous human presence in space; an impressive 10 years.
The Russians were leaders in space station technology, and without their expertise, I would argue the ISS would not be here today.
A Joint Venture
The ISS is a joint space venture between Russia, the United States, the European Space Agency (the people who put Philae on a comet) Japan, Canada and Brazil.
The station was initially launched in in 1998 and has been continually manned since November 2000. Currently the station’s future is confirmed until 2020. It’s long-term future is to be determined by the relations between its key partners, the US and Russia.
The ISS is constantly being improved and upgraded, and is still being built. Amongst their most recent upgrades, includes the installation of a 3D printer. All the add-ons and upgrades are making the station heavier and heavier, and it now weighs more than 400 tonnes! But don’t worry, it isn’t going to fall from the sky any time soon.
The ISS can be seen from Earth, and if you have a pretty jazzy telescope, then you can view it in pretty remarkable detail. If you want to give it a go, check out NASA’s ISS spotters guide.
The ISS as photographed through a telescope on Earth.
You can also track the ISS, and see exactly where above the Earth it is in real time. Check out this site which has a live view of what part of the planet the station is over. You may be surprised just how quickly it is moving!
After the Thursday post last week and yesterdays site issues, I’m hoping that next Monday’s post will go without a hitch! See you then.
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Catching Up with the Vikings
by Skol Girl
It is always a challenge to get caught up after a vacation. When the vacation you’re catching up from isn’t yours, it’s also a surprise.
My sister swept into town, her husband and her baby in tow, and I wasn’t able to find the time to even skim the sports page until they left. Which was tough because plenty of interesting things happened in the wide world of Vikings football while I was distracted by the cuteness of my teething eight-month-old niece.
As far as I can tell, this is what I missed. Percy Harvin spent a night in the hospital for observation after collapsing on the practice field because of migraine complications—he was released the next day. The Vikings lost to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Sidney Rice went to Vail, Colorado for hip surgery. Javon Walker, who once elicited criticism from Brett Favre for contract antics back when they were teammates together in Green Bay, signed with the Vikings to help shore up the depleted receiving corps. The Vikings completed a rare player-for-player trade with the Miami Dolphins, exchanging corner back Benny Sapp for wide receiver Greg Camarillo. Former member of the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff, Pete Carroll came to town with the Seattle Seahawks to face the Vikings on Saturday night—the Vikings won, but their performance was a mixed bag.
Actually, I did manage to see both the 49ers game and the Seahawks game, but I’m kind of writing off the 49ers game because I was distracted. My niece was watching the game with me and Rookie was a cute, non-sleeping, handful in her Vikings onesie. So I’ll just speak to the game against the Seahawks which I watched without Rookie.
Saturday night reminded me of a Clint Eastwood movie, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Really, there was a little bit of everything.
I’m more of a bad news first kind of person, so that’s where I’ll start. The Vikings offensive line needs to gel, protect the quarterback, and give the running game a fighting chance. Certainly, they are affected by not having John Sullivan in at center and having a rookie on the line too, but in the meantime, the quarterbacks are suffering. There were some plays Saturday night where, I don’t know if there was a miscue or what, but Seahawks defenders barreled through the line untouched and flattened Brett Favre. To make matters worse, one of the times he was being flattened Favre fumbled the ball.
For his part, Favre was mostly what you would expect. He some showed signs of fatigue and rust, but it was liberally sprinkled with accurate missiles spread out to nine different targets. Perhaps the most shocking reception was Farve’s first pass over the middle to Percy Harvin. I didn’t even realize that Harvin was going to play because he hasn’t been able to participate much in practice. While Favre did throw two picks, one of them wasn’t his fault—Bernard Berrian couldn’t quite hang on to it and the Seahawks defense snagged it on the bobble.
But now, onto better things.
I’m just going to highlight a few things, but there were lots of good things peppered into an up-and-down game.
Greg Camarillo pulled in passes with his sure hands showing Vikings fans why the team traded Benny Sapp to get him from Miami. Camarillo may not have breakaway speed, which was a liability when the Seahawks defender got two yards ahead of him and intercepted Brett Favre’s pass, but Camarillo’s fantastic sticky fingers could still make him a favorite target for Brett Favre. Some of the local journalists have sneered a bit that he isn’t particularly explosive or dynamic, but I think with Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin (when available), and Bernard Berrian (when he’s on the same page as Favre) not every player on the offense needs to be exciting and dynamic—some of them can just get the job done.
Despite being treated a bit like a redheaded stepchild, Sage Rosenfels marched the Vikings downfield and distinguished himself as the only Vikings quarterback to pass for a touchdown during Saturday’s game. He connected with newcomer Javon Walker in the end zone. Walker was in thick coverage but fought to come up with the ball. With the latest talk being that Tavaris Jackson is going to be the second quarterback on the depth chart, I hope that other teams recognize Rosenfels abilities and give him a chance to do more than fondle a clipboard on the sidelines this season.
And on defense, young Chris Cook is making a strong bid to be a starter in the September 9 game at New Orleans. With his height and his speed Cook was a desirable pick, but the coaches have said how much they like his sheer drive to learn everything they have to teach. Buzz-worthy through training camp, Cook was in on several great stops Saturday night. He’s got confidence, ability, and drive—and Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen are going to have to work hard on Thursday night if they want to win the starting job away from him.
On special teams Darius Reynaud had a fantastic game. His kick return from around the Vikings 4-yardline up to the Seahawks’ 22-yardline was a thing of beauty. If he can keep making plays like that, you have to believe he has a future with the Vikings.
It is going to be interesting to see how many starters the coaches decide to play on Thursday. Will we get a repeat of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, or will we see a more cohesive team? Guess we won’t know until Thursday. Is anyone else getting twitching about September 9?
This piece is also posted at www.dailynorseman.com under the name Skol Girl and at http://chinspeaks.wordpress.com under my alter ego P.M.Chin.
Labels: Skol Girl
Alex September 7, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Shiancoe and Berrian are going to be on NBC's Minute to Win It tonight and tomorrow night at 8/7c check it out!!
http://www.nbc.com/minute-to-win-it/video/nfl-in-the-circle/1246924/
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STRONG FIRED BY USF
December 1, 2019 3:18 pm by Brian Hattab, Sports Editor
Following a 4-8 season, which culminated in a 34-7 embarrassment in the War on I-4 against UCF, USF has dismissed head coach Charlie Strong after three seasons.
“I would like to thank Coach Strong and his staff for their hard work and contributions to our program,” Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said in a statement. “I have tremendous respect for Coach Strong and his dedication to recruiting and developing young men of talent and character and leading them with integrity. He has represented USF with dignity and class and we wish Coach and his family the very best.”
A national search for a replacement for Strong will begin immediately. In the meantime, Josh Newberg of 247Sports reported defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary has been named interim coach, primary for recruiting purposes.
Strong’s buyout terms weren’t immediately known. His standard state employee contract calls for 20 weeks of base pay, but, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times last year, Strong also has a buyout agreement with the USF Foundation. USF Foundation records, as a direct-support organization, are confidential and not subject to Florida’s broad public records laws.
However, Spectrum Sports’ Chris Torello reported that Strong will be paid $5.2 million over the next two years as part of the buyout.
“I fully support the decision to reorient our football program in a new direction,” USF President Steven Currall said in a statement. “We are committed to excellence across all aspects of the university, including USF Athletics. I am confident that our search will result in a new head coach who will lead our student-athletes to great achievements on and off the field.”
Hired in December 2016 to replace Willie Taggart, who left to take the head coaching position at Oregon, Strong went 21-16 as coach of the Bulls, though just 11-13 in AAC play.
Strong’s tenure at USF started out well enough — the Bulls jumped out to a 17-2 start through his first 19 games in Tampa.
Ultimately, though, the era was marked by underperformances.
Picked to finish first in the AAC and go to a New Year’s Six bowl during the 2017 season, USF finished 10-2, falling to Houston and UCF in the regular season.
The Bulls defeated Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl thanks to a last-second touchdown pass from Quinton Flowers, but the ending to Strong’s first season was far from what experts predicted. Additional salt was poured in the wound when UCF emerged as the Group of Five’s representative in a New Year’s Six bowl game.
But 2018 is when the bottom fell out for Strong and USF.
The Bulls jumped out to a 7-0 record — though the seven wins weren’t the most convincing. USF needed a last second field goal to defeat Tulsa (3-9 in 2018), a fourth-quarter comeback against Illinois (4-8 in 2018) and an onside kick recovery to seal the win against UConn (1-11 in 2018).
Then the bottom truly fell out.
USF lost its next six straight games, including a 38-20 loss to Marshall in the Gasparilla Bowl, becoming the first team in FBS history to end a season 7-6 after starting 7-0.
Changes were made after the 2018 collapse. Eleven players were dismissed and four assistant coaches did not return — including much maligned offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert, who left to take the head coaching position at McNeese State.
Gilbert was replaced by Kerwin Bell, the former head coach of Division II Valdosta State that set multiple offensive records on its way to an undefeated, national championship season in 2018.
Most importantly, the overall attitude of the program seemed to change. Players seemed to be having fun at practice during media viewing windows during the preseason — a stark contrast to the number of fights that broke out during similar periods in 2018.
Still, the losing continued.
The Bulls were badgered by Wisconsin in 2019’s opener and trampled by SMU in Week 4. Mental mistakes arguably cost them the game against Georgia Tech in Week 2.
USF ultimately lost 14 of its last 18 games under Strong and went 3-14 against teams that finished with a winning record.
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Week Four of Our Humanity Challenged: Communism
A single note of music could contain a greater intensity of feeling than pages of writing but it does not by itself excite in us the more terrible emotions of horror, rage etc.
—The Descent of Man
Revolutions are produced by men of action, one-sided fanatics, geniuses of self-limitation. In a few hours or days they overturn the old order. The upheavals last for weeks, for years at the most, and then for decades, for centuries, people bow down to the spirit of limitation that led to the upheavals as to something sacred.
We resembled the great Inquisitors in that we persecuted the seeds of evil not only in man’s deeds, but in their thoughts. We admitted no private sphere, not even inside a man’s skull.
—Darkness at Noon
Link on the power of poetry
The following is a selection from an early blog on this webpage. This material did not make it into That Line of Darkness: The Gothic from Lenin to bin Laden (Encompass Editions, 2013) for reasons of space.
The gifted and enormously resilient Anna Akhmatova felt the need to continue the tradition of earlier poets and assume a moral responsibility to be the voice of memory by bearing witness to these ghastly times. Between 1935 and 1940, although she dared not speak it aloud because she was under conspicuous surveillance by the NKVD, who clearly intended to intimidate her, Akhmatova ended her silence by sculpting in words a memorial to the victims of the Stalinist terror, Requiem (not published in Russia during her lifetime) that expressed with searing emotional clarity what others could only feel. It was written on scraps of paper, a fragment read silently by a friend who committed it to memory and burned the paper. Grounded in personal experience, she stood in a prison queue with a food parcel for her son, after he (who was arrested repeatedly), and her lover were arrested within a couple of weeks of each other primarily as hostages to ensure her compliance. Standing in that line with women also desperate for news of their loved ones, Requiem is a testament to their suffering and by extension the anguish of a whole people. As her preface makes clear, she would connect her personal experience with all those other women:
In the terrible years of the Yezhov terror, I spent seventeen months in the prison lines of Leningrad. Once, someone ‘recognized’ me. Then a woman with bluish lips standing behind me, who, of course, had never heard me called by name before, woke up from the stupor to which everyone had succumbed and whispered in my ear [everyone spoke in whispers there]:
‘Can you describe this?’ And I answered: ‘Yes, I can.’ Then something that looked like a
smile passed over what had once been her face.
With a piercing honesty that cuts through the miasmic fog of lies and fantasy, Akhmatova captures the intense pain of these women left behind, the fabric of their lives dissolved in grief, loneliness and despair:
And like a useless appendage, Leningrad
Swung from its prisons.
And when, senseless from torment,
Regiments of convicts marched,
And the short songs of farewell
Were sung by locomotive whistles.
The stars of death stood above us
And innocent Rus writhed
Under bloody boots
And under the tires of the Black Marias.
They led you away at dawn,
I followed you, like a mourner,
In the dark front room the children were crying,
By the icon shelf the candle was dying.
On your lips was the icon’s chill.
The deathly sweat on your brow …
Unforgettable!
The prose introduction and fifteen verses of the Requiem comprise a terrible mosaic of daily life in terror-stricken Leningrad of arbitrary malevolence characterized by arrests, pleas for mercy and endless lines by the prison wall awaiting news of the loved one. Leningrad becomes a city of the dead, where the briefest farewell is permitted to the prisoners who will be herded by train into exile and the purgatory of the camps. The ancient land of Rus writhe under the boots of the modern police state as vans, the infamous “black Marias” or “black crows,” camouflaged as ordinary delivery trucks, transport the prisoners away to the trains or dark forests where sometimes they dig their own graves. The secrecy of many executions is shrouded in the sentence “ten years hard labour without the right of correspondence” that cruelly leaves survivors with the false hope that they will one day see their loved ones. Her poem powerfully counterpoises the state’s casual indifference to the victims’ life and death with the deep love of the grieving family members left behind.
Former house of Anna Akhmatova
Akhmatova believed that the responsibility of the poet was to commemorate for future generations the fear and deprivation of her times regardless of the risks. She took upon herself the burden of not forgetting or allowing history to forget the “hangman’s” terror. Despite being a symbol of resistance during the siege of Leningrad and offering Russian people hope with her poem, “Courage,” she was denounced as “half nun and half harlot” in the late 1940s. Yet her creative impulse never tamped but expressed an authenticity, that countless thousands perhaps millions experienced, that no authority, however oppressive, could erase.
Until Gorbachev permitted glasnost and the filling in of the "blank spots," Soviet leaders—Khrushchev’s brief interlude during the early 1960s aside—have made it a priority to rewrite history and expunge from public consciousness the flogging, the execution pits and bestiality of the camps, and the emotions they generated. Against these odds, her tableau was no mean accomplishment. When she died in 1966, thousands remembered the woman whose mission in the words of Lev Kopelev was to “preserve Russian speech and keep it ‘pure’ and ‘free.’” Her voice was a beacon of truth at a time when everywhere else there were lies, silence and amnesia. Whether her poetry will find new readers in the commercial noise of the current ‘managed democracy’ may present a more formidable obstacle than the opprobrium and intimidation she experienced at the behest of a tyrannical police state.
Museum of Anna Akhmatova
Relevant films:
Stalin film portrays the political career and personal life of the former leader of the Soviet Union, Georgian-born Ioseb Jughashvili, who later adopted the name Joseph Stalin demonstrating his rule and how he was able to bring the Soviet Union to a place of great power on the world stage, but at a consequence: in this case, the destruction of his family as well as the mass murder of millions of his own Revolutionary partners. The focus is on the behaviour of Stalin and the after effects. The story is as narrated by Stalin's daughter, who defected to the United States in 1967.
Within the Whirlwind is based on the two-volume memoir of Evgenia Ginzburg, a literature professor, who was sentenced to ten years hard labor in a Gulag in Siberia during the Stalinist terror. Without her love of poetry and meeting a camp doctor, she would have lost the will to live. Her memoir is a testament of the tenacity of the human spirit. The film has some strong moments, but the books are superior.
The 1994 film Burnt by the Sun poignantly captures how in the course of a single day in 1936 a retired army officer and apparently a close friend of Stalin could morph from Revolutionary hero to an enemy of the people.. In an atmosphere infused with a seductive Chekhovian elegance that is filmed with a sun-dappled glow, he basks with his family in his idyllic summer dacha, an unquestioning believer in the benevolence of Stalin’s paternal rule. But when he uses his influence to stop army tanks from rolling over his neighbour’s wheat fields, he is soon brutally disabused of any illusions that he once harboured about the beneficence of living in a Stalinist society.
A dedicated young German boy pulls off an elaborate scheme to keep his mother in good health in this comedy drama from director Wolfgang Becker. Suffering a heart attack and falling into a coma after seeing her son arrested during a protest, Alex's socialist mother, Christiane remains comatose through the fall of the Berlin wall and the German Democratic Republic. Knowing that the slightest shock could prove fatal upon his mother's awakening, Alex strives to keep the fall of the GDR a secret for as long as possible. Keeping their apartment firmly rooted in the past, Alex's scheme works for a while, but it's not long before his mother is feeling better and ready to get up and around again.
Der Tunnel is based on a true story a group of East Berliners escaping to the West. Harry Melchior was a champion East German swimmer at odds with the system under which he has already been imprisoned. On his own escape, he is determined the arrange the escape to the West of his sister and her family. The idea of the tunnel is born, but the project does not run smoothly. The participants struggle not only with the massive logistics of their task, but betrayal from friends in the East. And always the East German Stasis are close to discovering the plot.
The Way Back is a compelling epic story of survival, solidarity and indomitable human will. Shot in Bulgaria, Morocco and India, the film documents how prisoners of a Soviet Union labor camp flee their Siberian Gulag and begin a treacherous journey across thousands of miles of hostile terrain. The film is inspired by the acclaimed book The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom, as well as first-person accounts and anecdotes, as told to and researched by director Peter Weir and executive producer Keith Clarke.
The day after the funeral of Varlam Aravidze, the mayor of a small Georgian town, his corpse turns up in his son's garden and is secretly reburied. But the corpse keeps returning, and the police eventually capture a local woman, who is accused of digging it up. She says that Varlam should never be laid to rest because he was responsible for a Stalin-like reign of terror that led to the disappearance of many of her friends. Although the film may appear to be slowing moving for North American reviewers, it is worth your patience as there are some very powerful surrealistic images that convey the horror of Stalinism. Also worth noting is how the son of Varlam justifies his father's activities while the grandson is furious.
Children of the Revolution is an Australian film set in two time periods, the 1950s and 1990s, and goes back and forth between them. In the 1990s, Australian politician Joe Welch is having some serious difficulties that are expressed through a series of interviews with important political commentators. Joe blames his mother, Joan Fraser, for his problems. This claim seems ridiculous until we flash back to the 1950s and discover that Joan, an ardent communist, had a very brief fling with Joseph Stalin that Joe Welch could be Stalin's love-child. Welch was brought up accompanying his mother on her political rounds, and acquired a fondness for jack-booted women—something which haunts him in his adult life. The film is significant in that it vividly captures the zeal and the naivety of a Western fellow traveler who became enthralled by the promise of a radiant future in the Soviet Union. It also illustrates how environmental and hereditary influences can shape an individual's character structure.
In The Lives of Others, a true believer who has devoted his life to ferreting out "dangerous" characters is thrown into a quandary when he investigates a man who poses no threat. It's 1984, and Capt. Gerd Wiesler is an agent of the Stasi, the East German Secret Police. Weisler carefully and dispassionately investigates people who might be deemed some sort of threat to the state. Shortly after Weisler's former classmate, Lt. Col. Grubitz, invites him to a theatrical piece by celebrated East German playwright Georg Dreyman, Minister Bruno Hempf informs Weisler that he suspects Dreyman of political dissidence, and wonders if this renowned patriot is all that he seems to be. As it turns out, Hempf has something of an ulterior motive for trying to pin something on Dreyman: a deep-seated infatuation with Christa-Maria Sieland, Dreyman's girlfriend. Nevertheless, Grubitz, who is anxious to further his career, appoints Weisler to spy on the gentleman with his help. Weisler plants listening devices in Dreyman's apartment and begins shadowing the writer. As Weisler monitors Dreyman's daily life, however (from a secret surveillance station in the gentleman's attic), he discovers the writer is one of the few East Germans who genuinely believes in his leaders. This changes over time, however, as Dreyman discovers that Christa-Maria is being blackmailed into a sexual relationship with Hempf, and one of Dreyman's friends, stage director Albert Jerska, is driven to suicide after himself being blackballed by the government. Dreyman's loyalty thus shifts away from the East German government, and he anonymously posts an anti-establishment piece in a major newspaper which rouses the fury of government officials. Meanwhile, Weisler becomes deeply emotionally drawn into the lives of Dreyman and Sieland, and becomes something of an anti-establishment figure himself, embracing freedom of thought and expression. One of the most powerful scenes is watching Weisler listening to Dreyman playing a moving piano piece after hearing about his friend’s suicide. The film raises the interesting question as to whether art can change people.
Most people don’t think about singing when they think about revolution. But song was the weapon of choice when Estonians sought to free themselves from decades of Soviet occupation. The Singing Revolution is an inspiring account of one nation’s dramatic rebirth. It is the story of humankind’s irrepressible drive for freedom and self-determination.
"Imagine the scene in Casablanca in which the French patrons sing La Marseillaise in defiance of the Germans, then multiply its power by a factor of thousands, and you've only begun to imagine the force of The Singing Revolution."
Matt Zoller Seitz in The New York Times
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RAM fra Novecento e Metafisica. La Natura ricreata
(Ruggero Alfredo Michahelles Firenze 1898-1976)
FRASCIONE ART GALLERY
September 19-December 07, 2019
RAM fra Novecento e Metafisica.
La Natura ricreata.
Edited by Susanna Ragionieri
Translation by Riccardo Michahelles
Multifaceted figure of active artist as painter, sculptor, illustrator, graphic designer and engraver, with interests in the world of theatrical set design, fashion, architecture, RAM, acronym for Roger Alfred Michahelles (Florence, 1898 – 1976), it represents to the full the prototype of cosmopolitan intellectual, “to which Art – as Raphael Franchi wrote back in 1926 – succeeds positively and precise, while changing inspiration and form”. In the abstract, synthetic and consciously decorative tension of his works as in the adoption of different languages, always aimed at the search for a beauty capable of becoming an interpreter of his time, it is to be recognized a voice among the most significant and profound of that spirit of modernity that characterizes and crosses the entire first part of the Twentieth century, defining its complex and sometimes controversial atmosphere.
The exhibition examines for the first time the entire arc of the artist’s activity, with a selection of paintings, sculptures and advertising sketches ranging from the early 1920s to the second half of the 1960s.
Born into a wealthy Swiss-Anglo-American family that moved to Florence since the mid-Nineteenth century on the initiative of the famous neoclassical sculptor Hiram Powers, RAM grows up in an international environment and naturally open to art, practiced primarily by the brilliant older brother Ernesto, aka Thayaht. His beginnings saw him as a cartoonist and creator, in 1920, of the advertising campaign Tuttintuta for the launch of the revolutionary dress designed by his brother; then set designer, author, still at the side of his brother, of synthetic and monumental sketches at Gordon Craig for Aida, awarded in 1924; Finally, a billboard is a signwith in the refined language of déco, as it appears in the Marzocco of E.A.T. of 1925, commissioned as part of a campaign to enhance the image of Florence.
The long periods he lived in Paris attending the ateliers of Alexandre Jacovleff, Maurice Denis, Othon Friesz, in the meantime, become familiar with the results of a nonchalant international language; of that climate, RAM seems rather inclined to grasp, as already Picasso, the lesson of the stylishness of Ingres that, combined with the reflections “between Flemish and Caravaggesco” of The Italian works studied in museums, is the basis of intense paintings such as Yellow turban or Portrait of a model from the precious floral slate, presented in the first Florentine solo show in 1928.
In these years, however, there are two elements that play a decisive role in the construction of the mature language of the artist: on the one hand the intensification of graphic activity, with parallel collaborations to the two important monthly Milanese newspapers – “La Rivista illustrata del Popolo d’Italia” and “Natura” (for which he will design between 1927 and 1942 an average of three covers a year)-, on the other, a renewed commitment to sculpture, which leads him in short to the rough and compact forms of Primitive maiden, close to the plastic of Libero Andreotti, to the cosmic aspiration of Mother Nature and above all to the rhythmic energy of 4 H.P. X 1931 (Quadriga), praised by Marinetti and presented in the main exhibitions of Futurism. These elements act as effective deterrents against the looming danger of the museum, opening the artist to new problems. These include the relationship with architecture, which, fed on rationalist ideas, as well as being part of a series of visionary projects such as the Monumento al Marinaio of Brindisi, the Nuovo fabbricato viaggiatori of the railway station of Florence (in collaboration with the architects Bianchini and Fagnoni), the Livorno Stadium, or in the Brevetto per “Casolaria” – Casa razionale estensibile (written together with Thayaht), will create a real turning point in his pictorial research, characterized throughout the 1930s, by a particular and personal “neo-metaphysical” experience, in which tangenzeties and develop kinship with the “Italiens de Paris” active in the French capital: Magnelli, Tozzi, Paresce and especially De Chirico.
From the new decade, in the works of RAM, a particular process begins that, permanently stripping the image of any anecdotal residue, transforms its compositional and spatial structure making it allusive through the symbolic use of architecture , as is the case in Severini or Tozzi, elevating the figures, like Campigli, to the rank of unmoving terracotta statues, while the color lights up with an internal and clear light, as happens in the contemporary works of Magnelli, and a suspended echo of solitude and expectation remains to hover with a subtle reference to de Chirico. L’Ile de Cythère, The newlyweds, Promenade en auto, Le retour, exhibited in Paris in the personal at the gallery “Le Niveau” in November 1936, or the glassed-in terracotta sculpture The builder, demonstrate the state of grace achieved in this new season. De Chirico himself, who will write a short presentation text for the catalogue, recognizes the artist’s ability to give poetic form to the unfathomable mystery of metaphysical reality.
The theme of “nature recreated” through the investigation of a pure and transcendent beauty, in search of that “living thrill” that for RAM ensures the irreplaceable legitimacy of painting even against then-rising means such as photography (which also he himself uses and manipulates in his updated photo-collages), remains the basis of a series of portraits that reach the forties and will be strengthened even in the following decade, when the chasms opened from the rubble of the Second World War will make this kind of research more difficult by condemning it to an event which often results in the most complete isolation.
Now, in the middle of the post-war period, the cycle of acrobats and jumpers is born that goes to dialogue with the distant roots of the Blue and Pink period by Picasso, in subtle controversy with the break-in on the Italian scene of the Picassian post-cubism of Guernica. Once again the artist starts from the reality and the now mythical memory of when boy, in Maremma, followed “families of jumpers with their furniture houses: tents, theaters, carriages, horses, shimmering and discolored costumes without era, caps and frills, but rich in life.” After all, it seems to suggest in the deep glances of the figures who call into question the viewer with a neo-realist film intensity, “we are all jumpers, we all have a double face, a mask that disguises or hides us from others”.
During the 1950s, if this dramatic atmosphere gradually subsides, the complex artistic parable of RAM nevertheless reserves an unexpected outcome: we could call it a further decisive turn-off -almost a take-off – towards the abstract world of forms, as had happened to old Matisse. This opens the last period of the naked fragment and illumination – real haiku paintings – that dot the Sixties: a pure and free play of rhythms color and light made on the edge of the absolute.
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The Champs Voice
The Champ's Voice
Ask The Champ
Midlands North West
The media have described some runners in the European elections as alternative candidates, mostly not warranting air time or press coverage. These candidates are not alternatives, as the media impose, they are legitimate options who are representative of the desire for change in this country. Over the next three days I'm going to post some quick reviews of the European candidates who could make a difference.
Presently the state is run and controlled by two parties, both of whom have caused the Irish people endless grief for decades. Generation after generation our people have suffered, afraid to hope for something better in case we're branded traitors or radicals.
Of course we also have the vanquished Labour party who supported the austerity government. They lost the support of the people after party elites compromised the parties core principles by supporting a capitalist regime that only benefits the wealthy.
For this reason I'm not covering candidates from three parties who already have established roots and friends in the media. I also won't be covering pro life lefties who are anti immigration or confused Irexit wannabes who forget which country they live in, and for some what planet they live on.
So I begin with the Midlands North West constituency:
Luke Flanagan smashed onto the Irish political scene standing up for farmers, a job the establishment was meant to do as part of bread and butter politics. Luke has been branded Ming Flanagan for his caricature likeness to Ming the Merciless. Potentially one of the hippiest candidates in Europe, Luke topped the poll last time out in one of the most western and conservative outposts in Europe. In most countries this would be a landmark victory, reason for celebration, and courted by the press, but not in Ireland. Luke Flanagan has for most part engaged with the people he represents in person or through social media. He has reintroduced many to politics and European politics and has done so through his own channels.
Saoirse McHugh is running for the Green Party and has potential to be Ireland's AOC representing a younger generation who want to get serious about climate action. SMH is a feisty Achill Island native with all the passion and desire to represent a generation who demand real change. If you want something totally different you got to vote for someone totally new and theirs no one more on brand for change than Saoirse.
Matt Carthy currently sits as a Sinn Féin MEP but can't make up his mind about whether he's in this race or if he'll stand as a candidate for the Dail in the next election. I wish him the best of luck as a TD, perhaps that's what his party demands, but just as in sports mistakes get punished, and at the very top level they deserve to be punished. If Matt can't commit to the term he shouldn't be in the race, his presence divides the vote and reduces the opportunity to deliver a revolution in Irish politics. However the Sinn Fein faithful are likely to vote him through and he's worthy of a number two vote on the ballot paper.
Cyril Brennan might yet become the voice of the left in the West, although you might not have seen him on TV as he represents Solidarity/People Before Profit. That said there isn't a single issue Cyril isn't outspoken on and he'd liven up any old RTE debate should they care to leave the left speak. Cyril is also running in the local elections for Donegal County Council where he's more likely to cut the mustard and build a stronger profile.
Olive O’Connor is a woman on a mission, driven by personal circumstances she has become a health care advocate who wants to bring greater attention to the failings of the Irish health system, with the hope of getting enough support to fix those issues. It's worth your time listening out for Olive, whether this becomes a platform to the political arena for her or an opportunity to rally support for her cause, she's fighting for all of us.
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Published On: Wed, Feb 10th, 2016
Art & Theater / Hometown News / Music | By Brandon Jones
Josh Groban entertains with ‘personal’ ‘Stages’ concert
Award-winning Josh Groban brought his “Stages” show to the big screen as Fathom Events partnered with the Grammy Award nominated singer to bring his “Stages” concert to theaters for a one-night event.
Groban delivered a busy night of timeless classics with a personal story or introduction as the show progressed. Groban amazes and entertains with his renditions of “All I Ask of You” (The Phantom of the Opera), “Anthem” (Chess), “Bring Him Home” (Les Misérables), “Pure Imagination” (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (The Wizard of Oz) among many others.
Josh Groban photo/ James Dimmock, courtesy of Fathom Events
From his early days, paying tribute to mentors and milestones throughout his life, Groban revealed a deeper appeal that his fans connect to and Kelly Clarkson joined Groban for a number which drew an amazing response.
Groban, now 34, has released seven studio albums and did an amazing job bringing the GRAMMY-nominated album to life.
“Theater and musical theater have always been in my heart,” Groban said. “These are songs I’ve wanted to sing since I was in high school.”
Stages showcased Groban’s amazing voice, but presentation was plagued with bizarre camera angles and transitions. Anytime the visuals distract from the show it’s a big problem worth noting. The close of Stages seemed awkward and the high note came a couple of songs earlier, making the final ten to twenty minutes extremely tedious and challenging for the casual fan.
Josh Groban will hit the road this summer in support of his massively successful album Stages. JOSH GROBAN: ON STAGE, produced by Live Nation, kicks off on July 15, 2016 in New Orleans, LA and will hit more than 20 cities around the country. Sarah McLachlan will join Josh Groban as a special guest on select dates during the tour. For complete tour, ticket, and VIP package information visit LiveNation.com.
Fans can find tons of other events by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 400 movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network.
For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
Overall Stages receives 3 out of 5 stars
photo/ James Dimmock
ArtBroadwayBroadway showCaliforniaCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryChessFathom EventsGrammy AwardJosh GrobanKelly ClarksonLes MiserablesLos AngelesLouisianamusicMusic newsNew OrleansPhantom of the OperaStagesThe Wizard of OzTheaterWizard of Oz
Fallacy of Census Job Creation
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The Anglican Evangelical Doctrine of Infant Baptism
by John Stott and J. Alec Motyer
Why publish together these two papers on the Anglican Evangelical doctrine of infant baptism? First, there is still relatively little written from an Anglican Evangelical viewpoint on the subject of infant (or paedo) baptism. We remain grateful to Michael Green for a helpful chapter on the subject in his little book, Baptism: It’s Purpose, Practice and Power (first published in 1987), yet it is a pity not to see this joined on the bookshelves by many other volumes from evangelicals on this controversial and sometimes perplexing subject. Baptism is of course one of those subjects on which we have obvious differences with many of our closest friends and gospel partners in non-Anglican evangelical churches. So perhaps a certain reticence to discuss this potentially divisive ‘distinctive’ is therefore understandable. Yet secondary issues are not unimportant issues, and with care it should be possible robustly to expound a view on such matters while graciously maintaining fellowship with brothers and sisters who read the Scriptures differently at this point.
Second, there is some confusion regarding baptism in a number of our churches at present, with many lapsing into a kind of default anti-paedobaptism (sometimes misleadingly called credobaptism, as if Anglicans did not also baptize adult converts!). This mystification in the pews may be due partly to the absence of seemingly trustworthy material on the subject. There are many Presbyterian works of great value, clarity, and erudition, but less from a distinctively Anglican perspective that is dependable. Our modern liturgies are often deliberately ambiguous and usually left unexplained, while few expository preachers would pause in a standard Sunday sermon to unpack the implications of their text for the doctrine of infant baptism. It is to be feared, therefore, that congregations are not often exposed to the biblical and theological reasoning behind the practice, which leaves them only with superstitious or erroneous explanations from less reliable sources that can quickly be dismissed by the biblically literate. It may also be that uncertainty in the pews is due to uncertainty in the pastor’s study.
In the light of these two considerations then, to continue publishing solid teaching in this area is vital for thinking laypeople, ministers, and especially ordinands, some of whom will not have come to settled convictions regarding the propriety of baptizing infants prior to being accepted for training.
Furthermore, there are movements within Reformed and conservative evangelicalism at present, with support from certain circles in the United States, which are strongly and passionately paedobaptist but which also defend some less mainstream evangelical views. ‘Federal Vision’ theology, for example, has proved to be somewhat divisive and controversial in some quarters, as has the so-called ‘New Perspective’. Yet it would be a mistake to so associate a belief in infant baptism with the Federal Vision that holding to the former was thought to implicate every paedobaptist in the perceived peculiarities of the latter (be it post-millennialism, preterism, or paedocommunion). Some critics can see a Romanizing ‘high church’ drift or an American home-schooling conspiracy behind everyone who holds convictions regarding infant baptism (even just standard Anglican convictions)!
It is refreshing then, in such a context, to read again the following papers by two fine scholar-pastors of unimpeachably evangelical credentials. John R. W. Stott CBE is Rector Emeritus of All Souls, Langham Place in London and over the last 60 years has been one of the most influential leaders of evangelicalism worldwide. J. Alec Motyer is the former Principal of Trinity College, Bristol, and was for many years incumbent of St. Luke’s, West Hampstead and later minister of Christ Church, Westbourne. Both have been awarded a Lambeth D.D. for their scholarly contributions to the church and are respectively the New Testament and Old Testament Editors of the widely-acclaimed Bible Speaks Today series of evangelical commentaries. Their reputations were not gained by importing the traditional frameworks of systematic categories onto Scripture but through rigorous devotion to the hard work of exegesis in the context of the whole Bible, which is the hallmark of all truly evangelical hermeneutics.
In what follows, Drs. Stott and Motyer defend biblically the doctrine of infant baptism and its proper evangelical practice within the Church of England. Since these papers were originally written well before any current furore they demonstrate effectively that covenantal infant baptism is a reliably evangelical and Anglican view to hold, and has been for quite some time. Whilst they may not answer directly more recent arguments that have been brought against infant baptism, they certainly do set out (in a characteristically lucid fashion) the broad parameters of the traditional Anglican Evangelical approach. There may be other approaches to defending the truth of infant baptism, and alternative ways of understanding the texts which still reach the same ultimate conclusions. More recent discussions may at times provide more compelling syntheses. But Stott and Motyer speak to reassure a new generation of Anglican Evangelical paedobaptists that theirs is no new or peculiar doctrine, and to persuade those who may not have fully appreciated the Reformed heritage we in the Church of England enjoy.
I am grateful to the authors for their kind permission to reproduce these articles which were both originally published elsewhere. I have indulged in only light editing of the text for the sake of readability (e.g. removing capital letters from pronouns referring to God), and in Dr. Motyer’s chapter I have substituted the English Standard Version for the original Authorised Version in quotations from the Bible. I am delighted to commend these expositions to a new and wider audience,conscious of these wise and inspiring words from the great Anglican Evangelical, J. C. Ryle:
"The subject of infant baptism is undoubtedly a delicate and difficult one. Holy and praying men are unable to see alike upon it. Although they read the same Bible, and profess to be led by the same Spirit, they arrive at different conclusions about this sacrament. The great majority of Christians hold, that infant baptism is Scriptural and right. A comparatively small section of the Protestant Church, but one containing many eminent saints among its members, regards infant baptism as unscriptural and wrong... But the difference now referred to, must not make members of the Church of England shrink from holding decided opinions on the subject. That church has declared plainly in its Articles that 'the baptism of young children is in any wise to be retained, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.' To this opinion we need not be afraid to adhere" (J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Mark (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1985), page 204).
May this small book go some way towards helping us as Anglican Evangelicals to recover that same gracious yet unashamed confidence.
The book can be ordered by clicking here.
The internet home of Lee, Kerry, Joshua, and Cara Gatiss
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We are engineers
Apps + digital tools
An engineer’s dream job, in Maidenhead
Taking a building back to first principles and planning an efficient structural scheme is bound to be fun for engineers. A new commercial building planned for the centre of Maidenhead brought just such a chance our way.
Building C in the first phase of HUB’s new development, The Landing, was almost ready to go on site earlier this year when Whitby Wood was brought on board to re-think the design, using the building footprint and envelope developed by architect Studio Egret West. Initially we were asked to work independently of the wider design team to make the building as structurally efficient as possible while providing the best possible lettable office space.
The irregular seven-storey building is proposed for a corner site, with a double-height colonnade running down one frontage. Retail units occupy the ground level. The top level is an open terrace, and the facade is set back at levels 3, 6 and 7. The original proposal used a concrete frame with 14 internal columns around a circulation core. We opened up the floor plates, changing the frame to steel and floors to concrete over metal decking, and altered the grids to provide clear 9m bays around the entire facade — ideal for office use. In doing so, we managed to eliminate all transfers and reduce the number of internal columns to five. A vibration analysis was carried out to ensure that the floors are not too ‘lively’.
Once the revised structural solution was ready, we worked closely with Studio Egret West to co-ordinate the architectural intentions with the new frame. The facades include extensive glazing and panels of terracotta tiles.
Associate Director Chris Murray: “Thank you to HUB for giving us a dream job. It’s not often that engineers get the chance to re-look at a building from first principles at such a late stage. In this case we have been able to balance the maximising of the lettable space with an optimal office-user environment, plus an efficient structural solution — all within an architect-designed envelope.”
rendering: Studio Egret West
we are engineers news index
Packing 16 buildings into the top five
AJ selects Greenwich Peninsula Design District in its top five UK buildings to watch out for in 2020
http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NEWS_AJ-GPDD_340x180.jpg 180 340 Jane Joyce http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/whitbywood_LOGO_03_340x156.jpg Jane Joyce2020-01-09 16:37:092020-01-09 17:21:10Packing 16 buildings into the top five
Bristol office takes off!
Our Bristol office opens, and we are appointed on a commercial redevelopment project in the city.
http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NEWS_bristolOffice_340x180.jpg 180 340 Jane Joyce http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/whitbywood_LOGO_03_340x156.jpg Jane Joyce2019-12-19 05:18:292019-12-19 05:21:33Bristol office takes off!
Tolworth Tower project gains planning consent
Current project, News, Scott Lewis
First phase: tower refurbishment and adaptation, retaining the distinctive concrete frame
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Special projects: wall-mounted sculpture for Pocket Living
Advice on structure and installation for competition-winning sculpture
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Realising you're contributing to society
Senior engineer April Shackley features in an FT article focused on women in engineering
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Boiler House praised by BCIA judges
The Boiler House project was shortlisted for the 2019 BCIA Housing Project of the Year
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Engineering art at Tate Modern
The latest Turbine Hall commission is unveiled — Fons Americanus by Kara Walker, engineered by Whitby Wood
http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NEWS_KaraWalkerTate_340x180.jpg 180 340 Jane Joyce http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/whitbywood_LOGO_03_340x156.jpg Jane Joyce2019-10-02 15:00:532019-12-19 05:25:12Engineering art at Tate Modern
Pictorial : Greenwich Peninsula Design District
On site in Greenwich — latest images
http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NEWS_GPDD_340x180.jpg 180 340 Jane Joyce http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/whitbywood_LOGO_03_340x156.jpg Jane Joyce2019-09-30 05:02:042019-12-19 05:25:55Pictorial : Greenwich Peninsula Design District
Chesterfield House tops out
HUB’s residential development in London’s Wembley topped out this week
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Masonry in the modern day : Oslo presentation
Anton Sawicki makes an industry presentation on his experience with Tate Modern extension and Oslo Museum masonry facades
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WWP welcomes Vinay Matkar
Welcome to Vinay Matkar, who joins Whitby Wood Pritamadasani as an associate director
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Anton Sawicki and Chris Bell widen our capabilities
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Anton Sawicki and Chris Bell — and the launch of our office in Brighton
http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NEWS_brightonTeam_340x180.jpg 180 340 Jane Joyce http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/whitbywood_LOGO_03_340x156.jpg Jane Joyce2019-09-03 11:35:142019-09-03 12:07:59Anton Sawicki and Chris Bell widen our capabilities
Whitby Wood shortlisted for CN Talent Award
Construction News Talent Awards 2019, category: Best Company to Work For (up to 300 people)
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Appointing and promoting: celebrating great people
We are celebrating a new appointment and six promotions
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Elena Bonezzi : she certainly can engineer
Chair of the cross-institutional committee She Can Engineer, Elena Bonezzi, has a message for us all ...
http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/NEWS_elenaB_340x180.jpg 181 340 Jane Joyce http://www.whitbywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/whitbywood_LOGO_03_340x156.jpg Jane Joyce2019-06-28 10:17:082019-06-28 15:58:18Elena Bonezzi : she certainly can engineer
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Roman Republic Vs Roman Empire
It was known as the empire without boundaries, and was one of the largest empires ever. The Galactic Republic may be Plato's Republic in space, but for an actual historical and more direct narrative model, all roads lead to Rome - the narrative of Star Wars is essentially that of the rise of the Roman Empire from the Roman Republic. 1 day ago · The Eastern Roman Empire was a multicultural empire that adopted the Greek language since it was widely spoken in the area owned by it. The Roman Republic lasted from 509 BCE to 27 BCE. they were allowed to place their names on the coins, although some anonymous issues were struck as late as the early first century BC. It maintained order, enforced the laws for the Romans as well as non-Romans, and defended the frontiers The well run Roman army helped to maintain peace. The Roman Empire The Romans found that their system of divided government, with power split up among the consuls and other government officials, was at times unwieldy. Decline of Empire 28. rekindle an understanding of the Roman past while resurrecting the best of ancient Roman culture for life in the present-day. Collectible Entertainment Winter is Coming - Get. So it was an empire. A period of unrest and civil wars. ) Give students the following facts about the Roman Republic:. The Roman Empire military, characterized by armored infantry, was considered to be the most crucial fighting machine during that period, and it acted as a catalyst to extend Roman dominance, culture, and civilization across the globe. As you read, underline the similarities between the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. In this instance, I want the students to do an activity that will really impact…. From the early days of the Republic the Roman army had supplemented its strength with auxiliary (literally 'help') troops. Rome = small city Slowly expands. World History Worksheet: Roman Republic Write the word or phrase next to its definition Patricians Republic Etruscan Forum Hannibal Fabius Maximus Plebeians Carthage Cannae Romulus Remus Alps Maniples Legion Centurion _____ 1. Nice quality antoninianus of Victorinus (268-270 AD), INVICTVS, Cologne mint, Gallo-Roman Empire Click here to see a larger image (1) IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / INVICTVS, Sol advancing left, hand raised, holding whip, * in the left field. Would you rather live during the Roman Republic or the Empire?. The Roman Army in the Late Republic and Early Empire. In particular, they've pointed to both governments' systems of checks and balances and elections of representatives. During this time there was no single leader of Rome. Rome remained in theory a republic but emperors gradually destroyed all republican values. The following web pages were created for a course I taught on Ancient Rome in Film, Fiction, and Fact. To walk around the. Roman Empire-The Roman government starting in 27BC when Octavian Casesar "saved" the Republic and was given the title "Augustus" or venerable, essentially making him a king. Fierce and proud warriors, the Celts gradually succumbed to the Romans’ superior organizational skills and single-minded will to expand their empire. But Rome might have never learned the lessons of toughness that made it so. * A Roman woman always belonged to her father's family, even after marriage. com - id: 565a2-MjEyM. In the plural, the legions, it may mean the entire Roman army. The social division in Roman Republic society was on the basis of money, power and authority. In Rome the people that run Rome are called consuls and there are 2. The Roman Empire was mainly a military power, meaning that its strength nationally was war power. Because the plebians were treated so badly, I would rather be in the Roman Empire because the plebians gained more rights and weren't treated as bad. The Roman Empire. Ask the class to describe the republic, using what they learned in the video. The Punic wars were a series of wars between the Roman Republic and the city-state of Carthage located in North Africa. This was a form of government that allowed for people to elect officials. Crime and Justice. Aqueducts in the Roman Empire. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation. Rome rose to become the greatest military force in the history of the West only to parish by the sword. Times of Antony and Octavius ROMAN EMPIRE 23. Rome was an empire long before it was imperial. Roman statesman who established the Roman Empire and became emperor in 27 BC; defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC at Actium (63 BC - AD 14) Identify the ideas and impact of important individuals, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and describe the diffusion of Greek culture by Aristotleâ s pupil Alexander the Great and the impact. Complete the activities below to find out why they were fought, learn about key events and people from the event and how the wars impacted both civilizations and history. Originally, the only true way for one to work his way up a political ladder in Rome was by previous family connections, and how influential. THE ROMAN REPUBLIC In many ways, the Roman Republic was very similar to the way in which the United States government is organized today. The difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire was primarily one of a patina of democracy versus outright dictatorship. Your class can follow along with this PowerPoint to learn about all the triumphs and defeats that led to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. In both Rome and Egypt, religion was. The empire in the East—often known as the Byzantine Empire, but referred to in its time as the Roman Empire or by various other names—had a different fate. For the Roman Republic it meant the end of the Roman Monarchy. One of the advantages was the. ) Late Republic (Class Notes). In the first century BC, Rome was a republic. - Julius Caesar put an end to the corrupt Roman Republic, and helped form the Roman Empire. The Roman Republic For 500 years Ancient Rome was governed by the Roman Republic. During the late Republic and the Empire until AD 212, the three-part name was a sign of Roman citizenship. Home Rome and America - Comparing to the Ancient Roman Empire , May 25, 2009 October 7, 2014 Kerby Anderson looks at the comparisons between modern America and ancient Rome, i. He felt that the increased luxury that came about due to the fact that indeed the gladiators were firstly seen as representatives of a show, of a spectacle. Identify significant developments in Roman law. Will include a 20" gold-tone snake chain. The Roman Empire had a class structure based on wealth, birth, and citizenship. They had conquered and defeated many territories in Africa and various parts of Europe. Stanford News Service about the bridge between the Roman republic and America. Written by Craig. Roman assemblies were called to vote after notice of issues had been publicized. It was roughly equivalent to the modern word division. After a protracted civil war, Octavian became the first "Imperator Caesar," or Roman emperor. Women were also not allowed to vote in elections. That could not be transferred to other parts of the world. Christianity and Roman Empire Timeline circa 30 AD 30-290 AD circa 300 AD 313 AD 325 AD 380 AD 476 AD Jesus and Birth of Christianity Christianity spreads throughout Roman Empire as missionaries travel the trade routes around Mediterranean Sea. The vast territories under the control of Rome was together the Roman Empire. Rome as a World Power 19. Wealth was pouring in from all sides. Originally, the only true way for one to work his way up a political ladder in Rome was by previous family connections, and how influential. Historically, the Roman Empire was the dominant power in Europe in the first few centuries AD. The first Germans entered the Roman Empire in AD 166. Ancient Romans. These started as Etruscan funeral practices, they were between the slaves of a dead nobleman were called. What the Romans can teach us on immigration and integration had been extended to large parts of the Mediterranean population and could be acquired by people anywhere in the Roman empire. 0-200), also known as the Pax Romana ("Roman Peace"), was the most prosperous and stable age of Roman history. The Romans were plunderers of others resources, more than they were wealth creators. The Ludi Romani were held in honor of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. This was the period of the Roman Republic, when elected officers controlled the government advised by the Senate and other Assemblies. Wealth was pouring in from all sides. Not many people are aware of the fact that Rome was first a republic before getting converted into an empire. Throughout much of European history, the Roman Empire has been held up as an example of what could be achieved – a nation that was powerful in war, well governed and a society that produced great art and literature. The Latin, Gauls and Etruscan were considered as the major enemies of Roman Republic. Crime and Justice. The Greeks developed their society by city-states with each city-state having its own. The Roman Republic was what made Rome great. The new era in Roman history, known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace), also changed the nature of the Roman-Parthian relation. It became a criminal offense in AD 24 to adopt the tria nomina if a man was not a citizen; it was treated as a type of forgery. During the rule of the Empire between 100 BC and 400 AD, Rome was the biggest and most powerful city in the world. The empire was the third stage of Ancient Rome. back to English 704 syllabus back to English 891TT syllabus Timeline of Greek & Roman Antiquity By David Fleming (all dates BCE, "Before the Common Era," unless otherwise noted). The period following the Roman Republic is identified as Imperial Rome as the city government a series of successive emperors from different dynasties. colosseum: a large amphitheater where gladiator contests were held. Essential Understandings. Caesar's murder on the Ides of March was followed by a revolt that destroyed, once and for all, the power of the ruling classes. 'Marius was elected consul six years in a row, even though under. He defied them and became the absolute ruler of Rome,. Crime and Justice. Geography, Natural Resources, Maps. It survived for almost a millennium after the fall of its Western counterpart and became the most stable Christian realm during the Middle Ages. It is hard to imagine that five hundred years before Christ Rome was a well developed civilization with a republic in place. They asked for permission to settle, but this was refused and the Roman army were able to push them back. The best prices for denarius authentic. Unlike general histories, which will try to describe and explain every little detail, Tom Holland succinctly brings together a grand narrative that weaves together the most important characters and events into a rich tapestry. The Roman Empire has consequently become the quintessential empire for purposes of comparative study of interstate predominance. As someone who's only taken a semester on undergraduate history on the Roman world, my opinions aren't incredibly meaningful, but The first thing I'd like to correct is that the Roman Senate was NOT the body responsible for creating laws in th. After a protracted civil war, Octavian became the first “Imperator Caesar,” or Roman emperor. Rome rose to become the greatest military force in the history of the West only to parish by the sword. Actually, the US today resembles more the declining Roman Republic rather than the later Roman Empire. Republic vs Empire. - The Roman army would eventually grow to become one of the greatest forces to ever walk the Earth. To do this, they created another new office, the censorship (B. until the first century B. The main lesson reviews Rome's transition from republic to empire and contains a class time-line assignment, vocabulary list, extension activities, and notes. Everyone else was considered a plebeian. Roman Bathhouses (Grades 3-5) Rugged Roman Architecture (Grades 4-6) The Roman Republic (Grades 6-8) Who Did What in the Roman Republic (Grades 7-9) The Romans in Britain: Hadrian's Wall (Grades 7-9) The Break-up of the Roman Empire (Grades 9-11) Greek and Roman Copycats (Grades 9-12) Abacuses and Aqueducts - Roman Mathematics (Grades 9-12). Jesus Christ was executed by Roman authorities in Jerusalem, a city in a Roman province. You are engaged to establish a new republic where people will live freely and expand it to all Italy. and the Roman Empire Is our republic coming to an unceremonious end? History may not be on America's side. UNIT III STUDY GUIDE From the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire Learning Objectives Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 1. REPUBLIC VS EMPIRE - 10 WAYS STAR WARS IS MILLENNIA OLDER THAN YOU THINK: (2) STAR WARS IS THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN SPACE. Greek + hellenistic + roman cultures merged together this creates classical civilization Rome adapted Greek and hellenistic models to create art and literature that conveyed roman ideals of strength, performance, and solidity. A timeline of the Roman Republic. Early Roman Republic art (500-200 B. Little more than a hundred years later it was governed by an emperor. As the first Roman emperor (though he never claimed the title for himself), Augustus led Rome's transformation from republic to empire during the tumultuous Shows This Day In History. Initially the baths were viewed as a luxury, but by the Late Republic going to the public baths regularly was regarded as a necessity. There is a big difference between modern 'Macedonians' - citizents of the state FYROM- who are Slavs and. Roman Empire. The Roman Republic struggled for a time in civil war when Octavian (later called Augustus) took the throne. Personal Virtues These are the qualities of life to which every citizen should aspire. 36 Comments. The patricians were the wealthy upper class people. Russell Brand & Neil deGrasse Tyson Breakdown The Physical Realm VS The Spiritual Realm - Duration: Of A 10-Year-Old In Roman Britain - Hands On History - BBC The Roman Republic. The Roman Republic and Empire The Roman republic (Latin: Res republica Romana) was the period of ancient Roman civilization beginning with the overthrow of the Roman kingdom, traditionally dated to 509 BC, and lasted over 450 years, ending in 29 BC with the establishment of the Roman empire. Communism And Nationalism: Karl Marx Versus Friedrich List By Roman Szporluk. Unit 5 – Ancient Rome This unit discusses early Roman influences, the rise of the Roman Republic, the Punic Wars, citizenship in Rome, the rise and fall of Caesar, the rise of the Roman Empire, Rome’s Pax Romana, daily life in Rome, contributions of Ancient Rome, the birth of Christianity, Christian Apostles and churches, and the fall of Rome. The ancient Macedonians were Greeks. Praetors, judges, right hand to the consul. 1000 CE, Europe. ) and was subsequently murdered, the Roman Republic had entered a state of rapid decline. The Roman Republic Beginnings. History >> Ancient Rome. The most classic example of republic and empire is that of Roman republic and Roman Empire while there have been innumerable empires in world history with British Empire being the most influential in reach and spread. The Etruscans. Martin’s creation of Valyria parallels a significant component of the Roman empire. The 31+ best 'Lv Roman Numerals' images and discussions of November 2019. What was the most important effect the killing of the Gracchus brothers had on Roman politics? Definition Romans saw that violence could be used as a political weapon. Identify significant developments in Roman law. If we know something about the fall of the Roman Republic, we know vaguely about Julius Caesar, about how he was a popular general who used his support within the military to effect a coup. Diocletian, military commander, divided the empire; ruled jointly with Maximian and Constantius I 284-305) Maximian, appointed joint emperor by Diocletian (286-305) Constantius I, joint emperor and successor of Diocletian (305-306) Galerius, joint emperor with Constantius I (305-310) Maximin, nephew of Galerius (308-313). Even the Roman Empire, a society built on conquest and slave labor, had a more equitable income distribution. Thread Status: Not open for further replies. Roman Republic, (509-27 bce), the ancient state centred on the city of Rome that began in 509 bce, when the Romans replaced their monarchy with elected magistrates, and lasted until 27 bce, when the Roman Empire was established. Republic vs Empire. Complete the activities below to find out why they were fought, learn about key events and people from the event and how the wars impacted both civilizations and history. Law allowing anyone plotting to be king to be killed on the spot. What is the difference between greek polis and roman empire? Answer. Not many people are aware of the fact that Rome was first a republic before getting converted into an empire. The Greeks developed their society by city-states with each city-state having its own. While the Ottoman Empire, which was established by Osman 1, was a world power from 1299AD and 1923AD, the Roman Empire, whose first emperor was Augustus, dominated the world from 27BC to 476AD. NB: Over the centuries, the Roman army changed and developed, and conditions often differed somewhat depending on the provinces where the troops were fighting and stationed. due to the fact that a member of the royal family had raped the wife of a nobleman. Jesus Christ was born in Palestine, then part of the Roman Empire. This is an extract of our The Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Roman Republican System document, which we sell as part of our Roman History; the Roman Republic from 146 BC to 46 BC Notes collection written by the top tier of University Of Oxford students. Rome itself was sacked by the Visigoths in 410AD. The Punic wars were a series of wars between the Roman Republic and the city-state of Carthage located in North Africa. To walk around the. The Western Half of the Empire Weakens. The Roman Empire: Augustus and the Principate Period Officially, after the battle of Actium in 31 BC, Octavius (Augustus from here on) was the sole ruler of Rome. The Roman Republic is dedicated toward living the virtues and making them once again central to ones personal identity as a Roman living in the modern era. In the beginning the Roman empire was an autocracy, headed by. Patricians were the wealthy land owners and upper class of Ancient Rome. Less than 20 years later, the Roman Republic officially ended and transitioned into the Roman Empire. * The most basic legal distinction for Roman women (and men) was free vs. In 509 (or so), the Romans expelled their Etruscan kings and established the Roman Republic. Many even blame the initiation of Christianity for the decline. The period of Rome's rapid imperial expansion occurred during the Republic (509 - 27 BC); ironically, slower expansion marked the period of the Empire (after 27 BC). Roman Empire Timeline Timeline Description: The Roman Empire was one of the greatest civilizations in history. - The Roman Republic by Michael Crawford The author Michael Crawford wrote the book The Roman Republic to offer an interpretation about the Roman Empire. Rome's next government served as a representative democracy in the form of a republic. Introduction. Was overthrown by barbarians after 5 emperors ruled it. The civilization was centred on the city of the Rome and expanded amorously to become one of the largest empires. The Roman people wanted to be like the Greek people. The patrician class consisted of nobles and wealthiest land owners. The Legions that poured from Rome to conquer the Mediterranean world held this weapon in their hand. The following information is intended to give a generic picture of military organization, armor, weaponry, etc. In America, slavery was introduced shortly after the arrival of the colonists. This video was sponsored by the Great Courses Plus. during the republic, the government was a republic with a senate. During the empire, the duty of the government was simple - to maintain peace and order, the Pax Romana or Roman Peace. The Roman Empire. In fact Rome's area was so large it was split into western and eastern empires with separate government and emperor for each territory. What is the difference between greek polis and roman empire? Answer. ; and (3) the Roman Empire, which sought to bring peace and order to the faltering Republic in 27 B. Roman revolution. He felt that the increased luxury that came about due to the fact that indeed the gladiators were firstly seen as representatives of a show, of a spectacle. The major factor in Roman Republic social hierarchy always remained the wealth that distinguishes the people of Roman Republic in various classes. * Roman women could inherit property, have independent wealth, initiate a divorce, and leave a. WEST History: Roman Republic and Empire - Chapter Summary. So to summarize: a republic is a form of government where the power a) rests with the people, b) is exercised through representative government, and c) has an elected head of state. Hal ini mungkin tampak paradoks bagi beberapa orang sebagai republik adalah proses yang biasanya dimulai dari otokrasi. Example of: republic. Rome as a Kingdom. It was also the source of the empire’s economic and political strength , ensuring domestic peace so that trade could flourish. Roman Empire-The Roman government starting in 27BC when Octavian Casesar "saved" the Republic and was given the title "Augustus" or venerable, essentially making him a king. Roman Republic, (509–27 bce), the ancient state centred on the city of Rome that began in 509 bce, when the Romans replaced their monarchy with elected magistrates, and lasted until 27 bce, when the Roman Empire was established. The first Germans entered the Roman Empire in AD 166. Was overthrown by barbarians after 5 emperors ruled it. Women in the Roman Empire Rome was very much a male dominated society; so much so that in the Roman Republic a man could legally kill his wife or daughter if they questioned his authority. Chad Roman Empire - #189261113 added by crazybomber at Italy. The Roman Republic ended in war. The Roman empire has acquired a new maturity. A legion was about 5,000 men in several cohorts of heavy infantry (legionaries). !Roman!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! Empire”!! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Compare!and!Contrast)!. 1976 Roman For Sale. Destroyed Alexandria. Roman social and political structures. But Rome might have never learned the lessons of toughness that made it so. The Etruscans. The fabulous history of the city of Rome, the Roman Republic and the Empire remain sources of amazement and wonderment even today. Queen Cleopatra of Egypt and How She Affected the Roman Empire Cleopatra Thea Philopator, or Cleopatra VII, was a remarkable and talented ruler who inherited a weak position and never managed to improve it significantly. Rome remained in theory a republic but emperors gradually destroyed all republican values. In both Rome and Egypt, religion was. I have randomly drawn the set up -- @Nelson1812 's provinces are the RED legions, mine are the BLUE. forum: a large, open square. Roman empireDifferencesOutcomeEnded in anarchy and complete chaos all around. The Empire was run by a Emperor. But the evolution of Roman law is evolutional process, which is the evolutional history during Roman republic time. Early Roman history and Roman mythology are so intertwined that it is impossible to separate the two. when Tarquinius Superbus was forced out of Rome (ie. "In Law and the Rural Economy, Kehoe brings to life the workings of the ancient economy and the Roman legal system. I'm not an expert in Chinese history, so I have no knowledge of their capabilities but the roman empire at its peak could field 500,000 legionaires and as many auxiliaries as legionaires. Rome rose to become the greatest military force in the history of the West only to parish by the sword. Wealthy Roman homes The ancient Roman houses of wealthy Romans were called ‘Domus’ and were found in almost all the major cities throughout the empire. Long before Julius Caesar became dictator (from 47-44 B. Women in the Roman Empire Rome was very much a male dominated society; so much so that in the Roman Republic a man could legally kill his wife or daughter if they questioned his authority. This paper, however, seeks to demonstrate this dependence, during the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire, through detailed examples of slave. Flavian Emperors 26. Ancient Romans. The new era in Roman history, known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace), also changed the nature of the Roman-Parthian relation. Nice quality antoninianus of Victorinus (268-270 AD), INVICTVS, Cologne mint, Gallo-Roman Empire Click here to see a larger image (1) IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / INVICTVS, Sol advancing left, hand raised, holding whip, * in the left field. Legend has it that Rome was founded in 753 B. The Etruscans. A brief treatment of the Roman Republic follows. After a protracted civil war, Octavian became the first "Imperator Caesar," or Roman emperor. Christianity and Roman Empire Timeline circa 30 AD 30-290 AD circa 300 AD 313 AD 325 AD 380 AD 476 AD Jesus and Birth of Christianity Christianity spreads throughout Roman Empire as missionaries travel the trade routes around Mediterranean Sea. Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar turned the Roman Republic into the powerful Roman Empire. Rome as an Empire. Roman social and political structures. Less than 20 years later, the Roman Republic officially ended and transitioned into the Roman Empire. To the west of the empire, the Roman Republic was busy fighting the Samnites, mountain folks in central Italy. Would you rather live during the Roman Republic or the Empire?. After 146 B. Roman Empire Timeline Timeline Description: The Roman Empire was one of the greatest civilizations in history. Caesar's murder on the Ides of March was followed by a revolt that destroyed, once and for all, the power of the ruling classes. Roman Empire. As one of the Roman favorite lifestyles, bath has a profound effect on the society, economics, and culture of the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. Women were also kept out of positions of power. , and which lasted until its western lands began to fall to Germanic invaders from the north in the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries C. On top of this, until well into the Empire there was a practical Freedom of Religion within the expanse of Roman lands. The Roman Empire became permanently divided into the Western and Eastern Empires. The Roman Empire, founded in 27 B. Will include a 20" gold-tone snake chain. It was the Empire of East Rome, set up by Roman leaders after the Jews had destroyed Rome. Now Trajan is able to spend the first year of his rule on a tour of inspection of the Roman legions on the Rhine and the Danube. Roman Technology Carthage’s allies proved to be an inept ruler. Roman imperium: some texts. of a successful republic and empire, with. The Empire lasted 500 years, and the republic only lasted 200 years. The Roman senators were justified in murdering Julius Caesar. Patricians held all political power in 509 B. n the ancient Roman state from 509 BC until Augustus assumed power in 27 BC; was governed by an elected Senate but dissatisfaction with the Senate led to civil wars that culminated in a brief dictatorship by Julius Caesar. In places where the Roman Empire of the time overlapped with Alexander's Empire, such as Greece and Asia Minor, Alexander's Empire replaces it, so the Romans lose their eastern territories but retain dominance in the west. Under the Republic, Rome was governed by a Senate, its. In the Republic,political power was in the hands of the Senate,mostly composed of the Roman aristocracy. Your class can follow along with this PowerPoint to learn about all the triumphs and defeats that led to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. 'Marius was elected consul six years in a row, even though under. Just like the U. At its height the Roman Empire covered over two million square miles, about one fourth of the current United States. Indeed much of the key expansion of the Roman Empire occurred while it was still a Republic. The 31+ best 'Lv Roman Numerals' images and discussions of November 2019. The Roman law, military organization, trade, and transportation helped to hold the empire together The government was the strongest tie holding the peace. In the beginning the Roman empire was an autocracy, headed by. The Romans won a series of battles and were virtually undefeated under the leadership of Pompey. The emperor did not have unlimited power because there were other important figures in the Roman government. The Roman Empire would reach its greatest extent in 116 ad under the Emperor Trajan. He was never referred to as "king", however; the Romans were not fond of this word. World History Worksheet: Roman Republic Write the word or phrase next to its definition Patricians Republic Etruscan Forum Hannibal Fabius Maximus Plebeians Carthage Cannae Romulus Remus Alps Maniples Legion Centurion _____ 1. Beginning in 509 BCE with the fall of the Roman Kingdom and lasting until 27 BCE when Augustus established the Roman Empire. Virgin Italian Republic Vs. Although the qualities regarded as virtuous in. !6!Writing!Assignment!! ! ! ! ! ! ! “Roman!Republic!vs. I would rather be in the Roman Empire because if I was in the Republic, then plebians wouldn't have many rights and I would most likely be a plebian then a patrician. the republic; and the emperors, for the most part, were. The Etruscans. Stanford scholar links Rome and America in Philadelphia exhibition. The Roman Principate (27 BC - 284 AD) The first period of the Roman Empire is called the Roman Principate. Discussion in 'Current Events' started by TheMaster52, Oct 19, 2003. What the Romans can teach us on immigration and integration had been extended to large parts of the Mediterranean population and could be acquired by people anywhere in the Roman empire. Rome rose to become the greatest military force in the history of the West only to parish by the sword. ) and was subsequently murdered, the Roman Republic had entered a state of rapid decline. The obvious paradox of a nation living in a democracy with the ideals life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness stands in stark contrast to how the rest of the world views the United States as a nation forcing its way of life as a master on the rest of the world. Roman Republic vs. “I am a true Roman Emperor; I am of the best race of the Caesars – those who are founders. This was done to educate the reader about how Rome gained its greatness and became the military and cultural center of the world at that time. On top of this, until well into the Empire there was a practical Freedom of Religion within the expanse of Roman lands. Jesus Christ was executed by Roman authorities in Jerusalem, a city in a Roman province. After a lengthy series of struggles, this supremacy became a fact in 393, when the Romans finally subdued the Volsci and Aequi. Before the Punic Wars started, a new oligarchy was formed when the tribunes went over to the side of the Senate. The Etruscans. The Byzantine Empire survived the fall of the Roman Empire and lasted for another 10 centuries, until Constantinople (Istanbul) was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 A. The Roman Republic (Latin: Rēs pūblica Rōmāna, Classical Latin: [ˈreːs ˈpuːblɪka roːˈmaːna]) was the era of classical Roman civilization beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom, traditionally dated to 509 BC, and ending in 27 BC with the establishment of the Roman Empire. The restoration of the ancient Roman Republic, with citizens throughout the world. The Roman Republic lasted for 482 years (510 BC -23 BC) until a series of civil wars caused its insurrection into the Roman Empire with a Principate form of government. The Roman empire, at the peak of its power, stretched from England in the north to Egypt in the south. World History Worksheet: Roman Republic Write the word or phrase next to its definition Patricians Republic Etruscan Forum Hannibal Fabius Maximus Plebeians Carthage Cannae Romulus Remus Alps Maniples Legion Centurion _____ 1. Times of Pompey and Caesar 22. Little more than a hundred years later it was governed by an emperor. The two main social classes in the early Roman Republic were the patricians and the plebeians, plebs for short. Was Claudius an effective Roman Emperor?. The first Roman province, Sicily, was conquered after the First Punic War (241 BCE), and the Senate decided that it had to be ruled by a praetor. Many references have been made in comparing the United States to the ancient Roman Empire in its years of decline and eventual collapse. The main lesson reviews Rome's transition from republic to empire and contains a class time-line assignment, vocabulary list, extension activities, and notes. The Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire and even of the Roman Republic. ROMAN REPUBLIC ROMAN EMPIRE. Republic Fails. Roman institutions underwent considerable changes throughout the Republic to adapt to the difficulties it faced, such as the creation of promagistracies to rule its conquered provinces, or the composition of the senate. Greek + hellenistic + roman cultures merged together this creates classical civilization Rome adapted Greek and hellenistic models to create art and literature that conveyed roman ideals of strength, performance, and solidity. So it was an empire. They traded Roman wine and olive oil for a variety of foods, raw materials, and manufactured goods from other lands. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC. - The Roman Republic by Michael Crawford The author Michael Crawford wrote the book The Roman Republic to offer an interpretation about the Roman Empire. Hannibal, a general from Carthage, crossed the Alps with a herd of elephants and nearly captured Rome. Discuss and define the struggle for order and the tension between social groups in the Roman Republic. The Roman Empire became permanently divided into the Western and Eastern Empires. Meanwhile, life for the average Roman seemed to be getting worse.
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Anti-Wall Street protesters arrested in New York
At least 80 people have been arrested during an anti-Wall Street march in New York’s financial district.
Several hundred people took part in Saturday’s march, which was intended to draw attention to “corporate greed and corrupt politics” in the US.
Participants carried banners supporting a range of other issues, including healthcare reform, an end to US wars and the scrapping of the death penalty.
The march came after a week of protests by the Occupy Wall Street campaign.
The loosely organised group says it is defending 99% of the US population against the wealthiest 1%, and had called for 20,000 people to “flood into lower Manhattan” on 17 September and remain there for “a few months”.
Protesters, who are mostly young, initially numbered some 1,500 but their numbers had fallen to about 200 by Saturday’s march.
There was a heavy security presence in the district, with police deploying nets to block off major roads including Fifth Avenue and to protect the New York Stock Exchange.
One protester, 21-year-old Ryan Reed, said he joined in “because what I see – and what I feel most people in this country see – is an economy and a system that’s collapsing”.
“The enemy is the big business leaders of Wall Street, the big oil company leaders, the coal company leaders, the big military industrial leaders.”
A number of placards also called for “justice for Troy Davies”, the US man executed in Georgia last week amid widespread criticism.
Police said most of Saturday’s arrests were for disorderly conduct and blocking traffic, but one person was charged with assaulting a police officer. One officer also suffered a shoulder injury, said police.
They have not commented on protest organisers’ comments that there had been an “unprecedented level of police aggression” on display.
A statement on the Occupy Wall Street website said the protesters have “an interest in returning the US back into the hands of its individual citizens”.
“Our nation, our species and our world are in crisis. The US has an important role to play in the solution, but we can no longer afford to let corporate greed and corrupt politics set the policies if our nation.” …
// oAnth:
this entry is part of the Occupy Wall Street compilation 2011-09, here.
Tags: tag_blog tag_acti protests Proteste tag_gov arrests Verhaftungen USA tag_econ financial crisis Finanzkrise tag_internat 20110926 2011Sep compil_occWStr201109
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November Book Review: Rhik Samadder’s remarkable memoir
Rhik Samadder has written a remarkable book. What a lavishly talented writer he is, packing more hilarity and insight into a few sentences than many authors manage in an entire book. Those who are familiar with his journalism, and particularly his Guardian column reviewing kitchen gadgets, will know he has a talent for turning base metal into gold. We mistakenly assumed this was a fluke, a happy accident, that he should be so entertaining about such an unpromising subject. The reason that his piece on a device for cooking eggs went viral, however is that he is an astonishingly original writer, no matter what the topic. And we should all be grateful that he has now turned his attention to the serious matter of mental health.
It doesn’t seem quite right that a book so moving should also be so funny at the same time but this is the case with his memoir I Never Said I Loved You. Discussing it in evangelical tones with a similarly memoir-obsessed friend, she pointed out how rare it is for someone to write about their own life with the detachment to make it amusing, but also the closeness to make it affecting.
He describes how, on his 30th birthday in a sex hotel in Bangkok with his mother (you really will have to read it to get your head round this) he finally asked her about her family but because he didn’t like talking, he had a tendency to do it in bursts and go “on conversational raids”, conjuring up images of him in a burglar’s outfit, asking about his grandmother’s history of mental illness.
Throughout the book, he includes letters written to significant people in his life, beginning with his late father. Later, he says “My father and I didn’t talk, and that’s a familiar story. What is this gift men pass on to each other?” He raises serious questions about the semi-dysfunctional relationships between men but there is also a great deal of affection in his portrait of his father, not least the image of him on a cross trainer at the gym wearing a Panama hat, “the most Indiana Jones thing that has ever happened in Lewisham.”
Samadder also manages somehow, impossibly, to write a genuinely tender letter to a woman he has a one night stand with, demonstrating a concern for her far beyond the night they spend together.
He writes about the ways in which memory tries to bypass trauma and how he has attempted to address this in his own life. Whilst he may mock himself as a “cut-price Camus L’etranger”, his pain is heart-breaking and – as he quietly reflects –“if you carry no safety within you, then you are never really safe.”
He also writes about his adventures with the opposite sex with self-deprecating wit “Not to brag, but I’d lost my virginity to a girl who afterwards realised she was a lesbian, and wanted nothing more to do with men for the rest of her natural life.”
It can feel indecent, laughing so much whilst reading a memoir about depression but humour is Samadder’s Trojan horse and the means by which he smuggles in a genuinely hopeful message which many readers should find resonant. It is his eye for the absurd which saves him and which makes the book such a joy. Buy it for the men in your life for Christmas, like we plan to do, but make sure you also read it yourself – for the sheer life-enhancing pleasure of it.
What did you think? Leave your comments below, and find our December Book Club here.
Rhik Samadder, I never said I loved you
www.amazon.co.uk
Book Club, I Never Said I Loved You, memoir, Rhik Samadder
— Alex Peake-Tomkinson
WHAT'S NEW Eurostar Snap: Paris for £25 each way
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Books, Talks & Mags, CULTURE, WHAT'S NEW
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Driver cited after boy, 2, fatally struck in Jefferson Park
By Jessica D'Onofrio and Rob Elgas
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A driver was cited Monday after a 2-year-old boy was fatally struck over the weekend in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood, police said.
The boy was identified to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as Noah Katz.
Katz was crossing the street with his mom in the 4700-block of North Central Avenue at about 4:11 p.m. Sunday when a driver traveling west on Giddings Road turned south onto Central Avenue and hit him, police said.
The driver was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to reduce speed and failure to yield to a pedestrian, police said.
Neighbors said the van dragged the boy several feet before coming to a stop and that another driver had to get out of their car to force the van to stay.
"A gentleman who was a witness was standing by my house. He said that he saw the guy coming up this way and turning left and he dragged the little boy a little bit and he seemed like he was taking off. He stopped and got out of his car and yelled, 'You need to stop,'" said Sharon Sands, a neighbor.
A nurse who happened to be nearby ran to help the boy and perform CPR. He was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead. His 39-year-old mother suffered minor injuries.
One man, a father of two, who witnessed the incident said he is moving out of the neighborhood. He said what he witnessed was too much and won't walk with his boys there anymore.
Traffic on Central is constant and, residents say, fast. One resident said they had seen people driving around 50 mph on that street. Residents have pushed for safer places for people to cross, and 45th Ward Alderman John Arena's office confirmed money has been approved for the work, but the city hasn't started yet.
"Well, it's frustrating. This has been going on for years. I grew up on this block, it's the same house since I was 5," said Warren Huck.
Arena's office said roughly $80,000 will fund the addition of pedestrian bump outs. The Chicago Department of Transportation will complete the project, but an exact completion date is still unknown. Arena's office is optimistic, targeting Spring 2017.
Several pedestrian bump outs are installed along Lawrence Avenue in the 47th Ward. Traffic experts say they slow down traffic and make pedestrians more visible to drivers.
Bump outs are green-lighted for Central Avenue just half a block from where Noah was killed.
jefferson parkpedestrian struckcrash
Police: Boy, 2, fatally struck by vehicle in Jefferson Park
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AIA New Jersey Black History Showcase: Meet Taylor Everett, Associate AIA
AIA New Jersey Black History Showcase: Meet Taylor Everett, Associate AIA Eighteen months ago, I graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and I am currently working on a Master’s in Civil Engineering, with a concentration in Construction Management. While finishing my bachelor’s, NJIT’s Career Fair helped me to Read More
Richard Bettini, Associate AIA, Recognized as AIA New Jersey Resident of the Year
Richard Bettini, Associate AIA, Recognized as AIA New Jersey Resident of the Year Richard began his architectural career after graduating from Pratt Institute with a Master’s Degree in Architectural Design. Immediately after graduation he started working for a large firm in Texas and was assigned to a special design team. Richard would help clients Read More
Report on the Michael Graves College, Robert Busch School of Design & School of Public Architecture at Kean University
Data provided by Dean David Mohney, FAIA through college liaison, Seth Leeb, AIA The second year of the School of Architecture wrapped up last month with final studio reviews. The student body consists of 52 architecture students with 36 more expected to enter in the fall. Applications to the program are up 250% compared to last year, Read More
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Δήμος Αγίας Νάπας
21 items in collection
Ayia Napa Municipal Museum
The THALASSA Municipal Museum has the sea as a subject-matter. It is the first museum of its kind across the Mediterranean region with main principle to present to the audiences, the local and foreign visitors, the impact and the significance of the sea upon the history of the island. The exhibits of the museum cover a chronological span, from pale ontological to prehistoric periods until present times.
The museum is a three store building made by marble, onyx, wood, metal and offers unique experiences appealing to all our senses with its ‘bird eye view’. It incorporates seven sections and the exhibits are presented with four different methods: in underground showcases, where the visitors are able to walk and view the objects from the top or in modern showcases. Other exhibits are freely placed in the museum whereas other the rest are hanging from the roof. All exhibits are spotlighted by fibre optics.
At the first level the visitor gets informed from a large audiovisual panel, on the history of Cyprus. The film shows all the historical periods of the island throughout the centuries. At the second and third sections Cypriot antiquities, which cover 8000 years from the Neolithic period to the Venetian rule (6000 B.C. to 1570 A.D.) are presented. Among the most important exhibits are a composite vase with vertical handle of red polished ware of the Early Bronze Age III (2100-1900 B.C.), a spectacular clay model of a ship with sailors and captain of the Cypro-Archaic II period (600- 480 B.C.) and four red figured plates decorated with fish of the Classical (475-325 B.C.) and Hellenistic periods (325-30 B.C.). The replica of a Mesolithic (9200 B.C.) papyrus vessel (experimental Marine Archaeology) and a true traditional Cypriot boatof 19th century, known as Passara, are also exhibited at the second level.
The main exhibit at the fourth section and of the museum itself is the ‘Kyrenia II’ vessel. A life size exact replica of the ancient ship of Kyrenia of the Classical period (400 B.C.), which was built in 1985 for scientific experimental purposes by the Hellenic Institute for the Preservation of Nautical Tradition of Athens. The ‘Kyrenia II’ was exhibited in several cities in Greece and worldwide like in New York, Japan’s Nara, Sevilla and Hamburg. At the same level and while the visitor walks on a glass floor where a reconstruction of the old shipwreck is displayed, it is shown a documentary film about the excavations of the ancient ship and the preservation of it, which took place in the now occupied castle of Kyrenia.
The fifth section hosts pale-ontological exhibits of the Tornaritis-Pierides Marine Life Foundation, which include fossilised fishes, shells, corals, ammonites, trilobites and rudists of the late Cretaceous period (130 to 65 million years).
The Marine Life section is located in a semi-basement level. It shows the marine fauna of the Mediterranean, helping the study and research of this geographical part’s Natural History, but it also stresses the importance and necessity of preserving the marine environment. The exhibits include marine organism such as shells, barnacles, corals, sea-urchins, starfish, crabs, lobsters, sponges, sea fans, marine plants and others found in various parts of the island. Moreover it has stuffed fish, mammals, sea turtles of the Cypriot and Greek seas, and an important collection of sea and lake birds in their natural habitat. It must be pointed out that all exhibits were collected after their natural death. It is imperative to mention that not a single specimen was removed alive from own its environment.
At the seventh section the visitor could admire unique Cypriot geological and paleontological exhibits. In addition, to the authentic bones and skulls of endemic pygmy hippopotamus and elephants of Cyprus (phanourios minor), audiences can be seen other fossilized exhibits such as sea-urchin and corals five millions years old, as well as pyrites, gypsum and others.
An attractively designed cafeteria, a gift shop, an open air amphitheatre and a multipurpose hall for periodic shows, lectures, seminars, and workshops supplement this contemporary Municipal museum complex.
Collector(s)
Στη συγκέντρωση του υλικού και την τεκμηρίωσή του συνέβαλε ο κ. Φώτος Κίκιλλος
THALASSA Ayia Napa Municipal Museum
Kyrenia II
Stuffed sea turtles
Port of Ayia Napa
Coast of Ayia Napa
Monastery of Ayia Napa
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О ЖЖПМП
Coalition Condemns Arrest of WHRDs in Cairo
The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC) condemns the arrest of seven women human rights defenders in Cairo on 21st June 2014.
Yara Sallam, Sanaa Seif, Hanan Mustafa Mohamed, Salwa Mihriz, Samar Ibrahim, Nahid Sherif (known as Nahid Bebo), Fikreya Mohamed, and 15 other activists were arrested by the Egyptian authorities while participating in a peaceful demonstration calling for the repeal of Egypt’s army-backed Protest and Public Assembly Law. Law 107 of 2013 essentially grants security officials and authority figures the discretion to ban any protest without justifying the grounds for banning them. It also allows police officers to forcibly disperse any protest, and sets heavy prison sentences for peaceful protest and expression.
Send your support to Yara Sallam and other human rights defenders imprisoned in Egypt
New President, Old Pattern of Sexual Violence in Egypt
On June 3, the day that the Elections Commission announced the victory of ‘Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt’s presidential race, television announcer Radwa Ruhayyim covered the festivities in Tahrir Square. Surrounded by ululating revelers, she noted that, amidst the celebrations, several women had been assaulted. [1] Live coverage of the June 8 inauguration festivities also included references to assaults that day. Tragically, the story of mass sexual assaults at large political gatherings is nothing new. Between November 2012 and August 2013, over 200 women were assaulted at political events including celebrations of the second anniversary of the January 25 uprising against Husni Mubarak and protests against President Muhammad Mursi in 2012 and 2013. The women were surrounded by large groups of men who tore their clothes, groped their bodies and penetrated them with their fingers or, in some cases, with bladed instruments. Some women were so badly injured that their hymens were torn and their reproductive organs permanently damaged.
المبادرة المصرية تعرب عن صدمتها ازاء استمرار احتجاز يارا سلام و ٢٢ أخرين
أعربت المبادرة المصرية للحقوق الشخصية اليوم عن صدمتها إزاء قرار محكمة جنح مصر الجديدة باستمرار حبس يارا سلام، مسؤول ملف العدالة الانتقالية بالمبادرة المصرية و22 آخرين في القضية المرتبطة بمظاهرة سلمية خرجت يوم السبت الماضي 21 يونيو في حي مصر الجديدة وتعرضت للتفريق على يد قوات شرطة ساعدها أشخاص يرتدون ملابس مدنية.
Reclaiming the Streets for Women’s Dignity: Effective Initiatives in the Struggle against Gender-Based Violence in between Egypt’s Two Revolutions
To read the paper in full, please download the pdf
This paper is about the struggle to combat gender-based violence in public space in Egypt through the sustained collective action of vigilante groups who organically formed to respond to the increasing encroachment on women in public space from 2011 onwards. The study examines the emergence of a distinct form of collective action (informal youth-led activism aimed at addressing sexual violence in public space) at a very distinct historical juncture in the country’s history: the phase after the ousting of President Mubarak in February 2011 through what became known as the 25th of January Revolution and up to the ousting of President Morsi in what became controversially known as the 30th of June Revolution of 2013.
The Politics of Mobilising for Gender Justice in Egypt from Mubarak to Morsi and Beyond
To read the full paper, please download the pdf.
This paper examines the nature of the political struggle over the status, role and identity of women in Egypt in between the two revolutions (January 2011 and June 2013). It presents a situational analysis of the various actors, relations and agendas that have both informed the backlash against women’s rights and the mass movements of resistance. It acknowledges that while women’s rights have historically suffered as a consequence of a hostile political will of the ruling authority and parts of political and civil society that are inimical to expanding women’s rights (and sometimes mobilise around revoking what already exists), women’s rights faced new threats after January 2011 because of the political settlement between the Supreme Council for Armed Forces and the Muslim Brotherhood. The threats to women’s rights worsened under President Morsi’s regime and while they were not the prime reason why women mobilised in the largest numbers ever to oust the president in June 2013, encroachments on their freedoms was a catalysing factor.
Child marriage remains common, despite legal ban
After Egypt increased the legal age for marriage to 18 years in 2008, policy makers expected to see a decline in the number of early marriages. But, according to new research presented at a seminar at The American University of Cairo this week, the country must overcome significant economic, social, and cultural barriers before child marriage becomes a thing of the past.
Letter to Obama Administration on Egyptian State Violations of Human Rights
In an unprecedented statement, over forty senior academics including more than a dozen former presidents of the most important professional association for scholars of the Arab and larger Muslim world, the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), have signed a letter to US President Obama and Secretary State John Kerry calling for the Administration to demand the immediate release of blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah and other political detainees in Egypt, for Egyptian officials to suspend the protest law of 2013 and end the repression of free speech rights guaranteed by the Egyptian Constitution and international law, and end the regime of violence, including torture and extra judicial execution, that still governs Egypt after the electoral victory of Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as President. Even as Iraq is engulfed by violence and Syria continues its brutal civil war, these scholars and officials, with literally centuries of experience in Egypt and the broader region between them, warn that growing political violence in Egypt epitomized by the recent reimprisonment of Alaa Abdel Fattah and ongoing rights abuses, risks permanently destabilizing Egypt, and with it, the region more broadly. They call upon the Obama administration to suspend non-humanitarian military, security, political, and economic cooperation with Egypt until the government heeds these demands.
URGENT: Join the international campaign against Egypt’s repressive protest law!
Via Egypt Solidarity
Join the international campaign against Egypt’s repressive protest law and to free the thousands of detainees seized by the military regime.
Egypt: #noprotestlaw campaign abridged toolkit
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Tel Sono, A Japanese Reformer, Part 1
"I am a little Japanese woman."
(From her Autobiography).
My ancestors were of high descent, and very wealthy. Moan Waka Sono, my grandfather, who lived in Nagoya, was a philosopher. When over fifty years old he came to believe in a God in heaven, and built a room for prayer. There he always prayed, looking toward heaven and ringing a bell which he held in his right hand. Sometimes he would sit down in the room and remain engaged in prayer for hours, not moving nor taking any nourishment.
He began to give all his wealth to the destitute, and soon became very poor; but he did not care about his poverty, and always said, "Human wealth is unprofitable. I cannot carry it away when I die."
His eldest daughter, my aunt, a very fine poetess, was fond of travel. Once when travelling alone, as was her custom, she was met in a mountain-pass by a thief. As a part of every woman's education in Japan is skill in combat, my aunt was ready to defend herself. When he made the attempt to rob her she adroitly pushed him down and held him while she reproved him for his evil deeds, explaining to him the right and wrong paths. "I will send you to judgment if you do not repent and stop this wicked business." she said. "I will go to right work now," he said. "I have been doing this work only a few months, but, after what you have said, can do it no longer." Then he wished her to spend the night with him. She accepted the invitation, received good care from himself and wife, and was brought on her journey the following day by them.
When grandfather became very old she took him to her home and nursed him. One snowy winter afternoon he lay down after dinner to rest, saying in verse: "He has kept my life for over eighty years. Now may I rest in happiness!" Soon he fell asleep, never to awaken.
He had four children-three sons and one daughter. The daughter, I have said, was a poetess, the first-born son the doctor of a prince, the second a teacher of war-tactics, and the youngest, my father, a philosopher and doctor. He first studied philosophy and travelled through the country. Once he sojourned in a place where the minister had a very fine old picture on which he had always wanted a poem written, but could find no person able to write it. My father wrote the desired poem, with which the people and minister were so pleased they wished him to stay a while and teach for them. They built him a house and gave him kind attention. He gathered many scholars about him, and remained there three years. The people wanted him to marry and make his home among them. Accordingly, arrangements were made, and he married the daughter of a village governor. Shortly after the marriage he took her to the home of his sister, leaving her there to study, as she was not an educated woman, while he went away to study medicine.
After he was graduated they went to the city of Tokio, where he began his practice of medicine. Many kings called him to serve them, but he loved freedom and would never go. His old scholars also called him to return to them. Shortly after my birth my parents returned to Ebalaki, where they remained.
I was the second eldest of four children. One brother was a doctor, and my sister was a teacher in a public school for women. This school was established by her, and was the first school for women in my native place.
My good father never worshipped idols, neither would he allow me to do so, but counselled me when a little girl to minister to the needs of the destitute whenever an opportunity presented itself, resting assured that a our life and kind deeds would be rewarded. His advice I have never forgotten, and have ever tried to live in accord with it, gladly sharing whatever I had with those not so favoured. Near my home lived a poor widow who loved me very much. One evening I saw that the back of her dress was badly torn, and I said, "O bayah" (a word used addressing middle-aged or old women of the lower class), "your dress is torn behind." "Yes, ojosama" (miss), she said, "will you give some clothes to bayah?" I said I would, and running home quickly, I got a summer gown of my father's-a garment worn by both men and women-and gave it to her. The next morning she came to thank my mother for the garment. My mother looked first at one, then at the other, and for some little time could not speak for laughing; but finally she said it was all right.
Sometimes she scolded me for doing those things, but my father always said, "She is doing a good work. Do not be angry with her." Indeed, I gave my mother much trouble by any generosity, for when she had the dinner ready I many times would carry it out the back door and give it to the poor. My clothing also I frequently gave away. One winter afternoon-for we have our cold seasons in Japan-I took two little girls to a Buddhist garden. They were very scantlily clothed, and shivered in the cold north wind. My heart was moved with compassion, and, going with them behind the hedge, I took off two of my warm garments and gave one to each.
When thirteen years of age I began the study of Japanese poetry with my father. The poems made me think and wonder, while many questions arose in my mind. My father understood me better than any one else, and to him I went witih my questions. "Father," I said, "who is the true God, and where is he?"
"I do not know, my child, but think he is somewhere in the sky."
"Who made the earth, the people, the animals, and all other things?" I questioned.
"It may be the works of God," he answered, "because human power is not sufficient."
From the time I always thought there was one true God who dwelt in the sky, though for my thoughts I had no other evidence than the feeling that there must be some power in the universe greater and higher than mere human power.
That same year an incidennt occurred that showed my very plainly the utter folly of idol-worship. While walking to school one morning with a friend-a girl several years older than myself; she told me about an altar which her father had erected to a very popular god. She said all her friends and neighbours came together every night to worship him, and asked me to meet them with my mother. In answer to my question regarding what kind of a god he was, she said his name was Otamasama, and that he was very mighty and strong; in fact, that he was the most high God. I said, "O no! he is an idol, and my mother and I will never worship idols." "I think he will kill you because you speak against him," she exclaimed loudly. "Very well," I said, "if he is the true God I hope he will kill me, because I have always searched for him and shall be glad to know him. However, I do not believe this idol can kill me." She said he certainly would kill me because I doubted his being God. "Will you promise me one thing?" I said. "You have asked your god to kill me, and if he does not do it will you apologise for your hatred and angry words?" She thought a little while, then said she would.
As we neared home I charged her not to forget her promise, for I could see by her anxious face that she was greatly troubled. In the evening my most intimate friend told me that Tesa was going to have a meeting at her house, and was going to ask her god to kill me that very night. I told her not to let that trouble her, for I was certain her god was only an idol, but that I would go over and see her pray to him. Then, throwing my apron over my head, I hurried to her home. I could not open the gate, so crawled through a hole in the hedge and crept up to the parlour window. In Japan the custom is to have the parlour open on the lawn at the rear of the house. Windows made of fine heavy paper reach to the ground. No curtains are used, and the outside shutters are not closed until bedtime. In this large room or parlour was erected the altar. I was partly screened from view by the surrounding trees and shrubbery, and, tearing a small hole in the paper window, witnessed unobserved the ceremonies carried on inside.
There were about fifty people kneeling around the altar, on which was placed a paper image. Some clasped their hands and looked up at the image; some bowed before it until their faces almost touched the floor, and some had tinsel balls strung together like a necklace, which they rubbed between the palms of their hands, making a jingling sound, while all gave vent to exclamations of praise and adoration. Their faces were bathed in perspiration from their intense earnestness in calling for the spirit to come and enter that paper idol.
Before the altar stood a large iron pan in which a slow fire was kept burning, filling the room with smoke. I watched just as earnestly as they prayed, wondering what a spirit could be like. Then one of their number bowed very low, directly in front of the altar, and made a long prayer, in which he besought the spirit to come and take possession of him.
After a long time he shook the image, causing the paper ribbons to make a rustling noise-an indication to the people that his prayer was not being answered. "I feel very strange to-night," he said. "Why does not the spirit come? I think there must be some unbelievers here." He looked over the company, but found only his members there; then he opened the window and saw me sitting behind a small evergreen tree at the corner under the window. "A little unbelieving girl has confused our prayers to-night!" he exclaimed. Tesa's father came out to where I was, and, on recognising me, said to the prophet, "This little girl is the daughter of Dr. Tesai Sono. She and my daughter are school-mates." Then the prophet told him to drive me away quickly.
He wanted to do as he was bidden, so opened the gate and told me to go right home. "No," I said, "I will not go until your daughter acknowledges to me that her god is an idol. She promised me this morning that she would do that if he did not kill me to-night." Her father called to her and told her to come out, but she refused because she was afraid.
Her mother came and begged me to obey her and go home, saying she would make acknowledgment in her daughter's stead and would give me fruit and cake besides. That satisfied me, for I felt that I had come off victorious.
I said, "I will excuse her for your sake." It was then about ten o'clock, and I ran home with my apron full of cake and fruit, but said nothing to my parents about where I had been.
When I was fourteen years old my father fell sick, and the doctors said that he could not live more than two or three days. This made my mother, sister, and brothers so sad that I could not stay with them in the house. I determinded to pray to the true God for my father's life, so, taking my best friend, Otama, with me into a secluded place in the garden near a well, I told her what I intended to do, and asked her to help me.
She listened earnestly while I talked, peering into my face too astonished to make any reply. At last she said, "Are you crazy to--night?" "No, I am not crazy. My mother, sister, and brothers are very sorrowful, and my own heart is almost broken; therefore I have decided to offer my own life as a sacrifice for my father's."
At this point she threw her arms around me, and after we had wept for some time in each other's embrace she said: "I will do as you wish, but if you die I want to die with you."
The ceremonies connected with prayer for the life of a friend were very solemn and awful, involving the sacrifice of the suppliant's life for that of the sick person, if necessaary. First, the hair was cut off and offered as a sacrifice-the most precious which could be offered; then the body was stripped, and cold water poured over it to purify and make prayer acceptable.
Taking a razor, I cut off my hair close to the scalp and hung it up under a tree. Next I took off all my clothing, and throwing it down on the grass, seated myself on a board by the well. Otama then poured three bucketsful of water on my head, causing it to run down over my entire body. I shook so with the cold, both from the water and the north wind that was blowing, that I could not utter one word of prayer at first; but after a while I did not feel the cold quite so much, and looking up toward the sky began to pray thus: "O true God! If you stay somewhere in the sky, please hear my voice! Please let me die for my father, for if he dies my mother will die also. Save the lives of my father and mother, I pray, O God, and I will sacrifice to you not only my hair, but my soul and body. If you do not spare my father's life I hope you will kill me just now! O, is there no true God in the world? I am so hungry to hear God's voice! O, please speak to me and save my father's life?"
After Otama had poured the water on my head she sat down on the grass behind me and listened to my prayer. Just as I was uttering the last sentence she cried with a loud voice. This attracted my grandmother's attention, and, taking a lighted candle in her hand, she with my nurse hurried into the garden. When they discovered us they were greatly shocked at my condition. My nurse caught up my clothing, and wrapping it around my naked body, carried me to the house and put me down by the fire, while my grandmother and friend followed us.
Grandmother looked into my face, put her hand on my head, and whispered something to my nurse; then both cried for a long time.
It was about eleven o'clock when nurse took me to bed, my friend staying to sleep with me. Not being able to sleep, I got up about midnight and went softly through the hall to my father's sick-room. Listening carefully at the door, I heard some one laugh. "That is my mother's voice," I said. "I believe God has heard my prayer and made my father better, or mother would not be laughing." Just then mother came out and saw me standing by the door. She looked into my face and said: "My dear, father is a little better; you did him good. Now run right to bed, and get a good sleep; then you may get up early and come to see him."
I obeyed, and slept soundly all the rest of the night. Rising early, I went to my father's room and looked anxiously into his face to see how he was. "My dear," he said, speaking slowly and in a very weak voice: "I am much better this morning, and think I will soon be well; you need not feel troubled about me any more. I hope that you will go to school to-day and have good lessons."
I ran away by myself and cried for joy. "Surely there is a true God somewhere," I said, and prayed again: "O, true God, I thank you very much for saving my father's life. Now I wish you would please keep him alive many years, and take my life any time instead." Then I went to school and played with the children.
My mind was perfectly at rest about my father from that time, and by Christmas, two months later, he was entirely well.
(Printed in the Parents'Review with the kind permission of Madame Tel Sono, in the hope of interesting many in her noble educational work.)
Tel Sono, A Japanese Reformer.
The Parents Review Vol IV 1893/4 p176-185
At the age of nineteen my parents betrothed me to an officer of the king's treasure, to whom I was soon married. He took me to his home, where his parents and two sisters-in-law also lived. The following year (1866) there arose a rebellion that caused much excitement for a time, but was soon quelled. I had been spending the night with my mother, and very early in the morning we were awakened by the firing of guns in rapid succession. Mother's maid came running into the room and told us to get up at once, that the rebels were fighting in our town, Manaba. Rising quickly, I looked toward my husband's home and saw that it was completely enveloped in smoke and fire. "I must go right home!" I exclaimed. Mother remonstrated with me, and said, "You cannot go, child, for you might have to pass right through the blazing fire and be burned to death."
But I scarcely knew what she was saying; and, dressing hurriedly, I hastened home. My husband and father-in-law being officers of the king's court were of course on duty, and I found my mother and sisters-in-law with their treasures tied up and just ready to escape from the house. "Mother, I think you had better wait a while," I said, "because when father wants more arms he will send a messenger for them, and if we leave who will give them to him? Our goods will be stolen if we leave the house; besides, the fighting will probably stop soon, and if it does not the king will have us taken to his fort." "But my mother-in-law said she could not wait so long for deliverance, and that she was going to look after her own life and the lives of her daughters. "If you want to stay alone and watch the house you may do so," she said.
After they had gone I washed my face, changed my dress, took one of my husband's swords, and seated myself on the front doorstep to watch the battle.
The enemies were soon scattered, and by evening our town was in peace and quiet. When peace was restored, those who had fled from their homes in fear crept quietly back like so many spiders, carrying their bundles with them.
My husband was called to Tokio on matters of business occasioned by the rebellion, and was detained there a year. On his return I noticed that he had begun to drink wine. Many times I begged him to stop, but he would not listen to me. In my country the Enarimasure, or Fox holiday, is celebrated the second day of February. Small temples are built in the yard of each king, and sumptuous feasts are spread for the officers and their guests. On one such occasion my husband spent all day feasting and playing with his friends, and came home at seven o'clock in the evening very drunk and wanted me to drink wine with him. "No," I said, "I will never give you wine to drink in my house." He left the room, but soon came back bringing a bottle of wine, and commanded me to make a wine feast for him. This I refused to do, and took the glass from his hand, out of which he was about to drink. At this he became very angry and struck me. Then I concluded that it would be better for me to go back to my father's house, and to do so at once, while my husband was rich. Should I wait until he became poor, he would say that I left him because of his poverty and would hate me. Accordingly, I took my little daughter, then three years old, and returned to my home, May 2, 1871. My grandmother had died the year before, and in her house, which was in the same yard as my father's, I lived with one servant. There I established a free school for the poor and taught it for three years.
My father and I resumed our study together, and in addition to other studies we read books of law.
My daughter's future, and how to provide for it, was a great question in my mind. She must be educated, and I wondered what I, a woman, could do to earn money sufficient. At last I decided to be a lawyer. Closing my school, and leaving my daughter with my mother, I went to Tokio to pursue my studies.
For three months I held the position of secretary of judgment, and then began the practice of law.
There is in my country no tradition of a woman lawyer, and up to the present time I have been the only one.
Many people came to see me every day as I went to court, and when I passed through the yard the people on both sides of judicial and assize courts would stand up to gaze at me. They thought it very wonderful and strange for a woman to be a lawyer.
That year much that was new from America and other countries was introduced into Japan, among which was the telegraph, steam--carriages, electric light, and photography.
At this time two poets who lived in the city of Tokio, N. Ohash and S. Keta, wrote one hundred poems about the wonderful things Japan now possessed. One poem was about the woman lawyer, and thus, when the book, Tokishensh, was published, my name became known throughout Japan.
For twelve years I followed the practice of law, and my career was recognised by all as most successful. In this profession the low position of woman was brought more clearly than ever before my mind, and in my heart there burned a desire to elevate her by giving her an education.
My wisest course to accomplish this object seemed to be to visit America and learn the customs of a people where woman stood on a level with man. But no opportunity for me to leave my business presented itself. One day a poor woman who had been ensared by a wicked man, and led to make a great mistake through her ignorance, was tried and condemned.
How my heart burned! I grew impatient of delay. Soon I would be too old to do the work now within my power. To America I must go, and that at once. Four days after the decision against the poor ignorant woman, and my decision following that, I set sail for America. But before describing my life in America I will relate a few incidents descriptive of my benevolent work during the twelve years in Tokio.
As the buildings in my country are mostly of wood, fires often break out, and, sweeping along with terrible force, destroy whole bloocks. Such a fire raged through the streets of the poor one winter night, the loud ringing of fire-bells awakening me about eleven o'clock. The river which ran through the street was frozen over so that water enough to put out the flames could not be obtained, and when morning dawned the homes of almost three hundred poor families had been burned to the ground. At an early hour I opened a store to feed these homeless ones. To each person I gave fifteen pounds of rice, and to the children candy and crackers. For two weeks I carried on this benevolent work, and about three months after received a letter from the Emperor in acknowledgment of my work.
At another time a fire broke out about a mile from my house and quite near many buildings which I was just having put up. The night was calm at first, but suddenly a strong west wind rose, driving the flames with fierce rapidity until my new buildings were reached and then my home. Thirty-six strong men came to the rescue, carrying out all my household goods, but being quite unable to save the buildings. All the night they guarded my goods, while I went to a quiet place to rest. The following morning I took them with me to a great restaurant, gave them a good dinner, and offered money to each. The money they would not accept, saying it was their duty to help in time of fire.
"We have often helped others," they said, "but never had such a feast after our work, and we certainly never saw any one with such a pleasant face after being burned out. You have ever been ready to help us, and we are glad to do this for you."
Then one of them told about my gardener, who is seemed would not leave my home to save his own, saying if his was destroyed he could bring his family and live with me. I told them that I understood all their kindness and appreciated it, but could not rest without paying them for their services, and that the very experience through which I had just passed would enable me to make more money in my business. At this they gladly received the money. Then they took me back to my home, and standing in rank before the door sang a happy song.
Through the kindness of friends a new home was quickly built for me. My loss through this fire was very great.
The third year of my business life my father came to visit me. "I have come to bid you good-bye," he said, "for I have a sickness with which I must soon die."
He brought a letter from my mother in which she charged me to comfort him and give him good care, for he would probably die that year. After three months he returned home, and soon became very sick. When I went home to nurse him he said, "You must not trouble. The end of my life is come, and such is the will of heaven." He had been accustomed to say, when he saw wicked persons come into danger and distress, "It is the judgment of heaven."
A month later, on the evening of October 3, 1876, he told us, "I shall die about four o'clock in the morning." Then he dictated a short peom, which my sister wrote:
"He in whose hand my breath has been held now opens his hand, And my soul goes away."
At the hour named he passed away.
As in childhood I had loved to help the needy, so in womanhood, with increased opportunities, this work was one of my chief delights.
Every year on Christmas Eve I invited to my home the women and men who worked for me. To each one I lent money that they might prepare for the New Year, and cancelled the old year's debt, telling them they must work well the next year. On the New Year, January 7, I invited all the poor in the neighbourhood, with my working-people, to a soup dinner.
Each at my request brought a handful of something to put in the soup, which was being prepared in a large iron kettle. They all gathered around me when it was done, while I tasted to find how good the soup was and who had brought in the best thing for it, giving credit to each one for good taste. When the dinner had been eaten I gave parcels of clothing, comforters, towels, stockings, aprons, cakes, candies, and other things to the poor, and to my rich friends who came to see the condition of the poor I gave boxes tied with bright ribbons, which they were not to open until they went home. In these boxes were baked potatoes, turnips, and onions. Early the next morning the poor would return to thank me, and my friends to laugh over the funny contents of their boxes. I remember now with pleasure these New Year days and the glad faces of my people on such occasions.
One morning, not long after the New Year, my handmaid came to my sitting-room to tell me the gardener was crying in the back kitchen. I bade her call him in, and inquired concerning his trouble. He said his mother had died the night before, and that he had no money to bury her. "I cannot ask you for money," he said, "for you are always doing so much for us." However, I gave him the needed money for the funeral expenses. To the poor sick I used to send my doctor, also money and food, and many times paid their funeral expenses.
In December 1879, a young man came to me with the following sad story:
"Two weeks ago a gentleman came to the clothing store where I worked and said that his family wanted some clothes for the New Year. He chose high-priced goods, and at his request I carried them to the house that his family might see them. Then he asked me to leave them all night until his mother came home, as they wanted to ask her opinion about what was best to buy. After some consideration I decided to leave them, as the home was not a poor one, and I thought he probably was an officer of the law. But I could not sleep that night, because in leaving the goods I had broken the law of the store, and I felt that I had done wrong. Early next morning I went to the house, but it was shut up and no person answered my knock. My heart beat like dashing waves or the quick ringing of bells. All day I watched, and in the evening saw the family return. I went to the man and asked him for the goods. He said a person whom he owed had taken them away in payment of his debt. He was sorry, he said, but the only thing he could do was to give me three dollars every month until the price was paid. After that he would have nothing more to say to me. My master has said that I must pay for the goods if I do not bring them back to the store. He will not forgive me, because he says others will do the same by-and-by. I have no money to pay, and am a stranger, having come from the far north country. Will you not speak for me and get back the goods that I may return to my work?"
I felt very sorry for him, and went as he requested to the man who had stolen the goods. The cause of his committing the evil deed was easily explained. He had been rich; then, on account of poor eyesight, his business had failed, but being proud he wished to keep up a good appearance. I told him judgment would come upon him for his wickedness, his deceit, and theft. He was greatly ashamed and afraid, knowing what I had said was true. When I had finished talking he bowed down until his face almost touched the floor, saying, with tears:
"Will you not save us with your great virtue? I committed this iniquity because we have become poor on account of my failing eyesight. If you make this public I shall be sent to prison as you have said, and my dear mother, wife, and child will die with hunger. Please save my family."
His wife, who sat beside him, cried so loudly that his mother's attention was arrested, and she came downstairs. His daughter also came in, and, though she did not know what was the trouble, stood by her father weeping. He said to her: "Dear, your father has committed a great sin, and this lady can send him to prison. What will you do if I go to prison? You will die of hunger, and so will your mother and grandmother. Ask this lady to forgive my sin for the sake of our family."
Then the child, who was about ten years old, and the grandmother of seventy, and the wife, all came to my side and worshipped me, their tears falling like rain. I felt most sorry for the grandmother and child, who had not known of the wrong that had been done, especially for the poor grandmother. Her face was thin, her hair white, and she looked ready to die. My heart began to move with compassion for them. I asked the man what restitution he could make. He said he received thirty dollars from the Emperor every month, and could pay ten out of that money until the eighty for which he had sold the goods was refunded. Taking him with me, I went to the man who bought the goods, and told him the circumstances. He was greatly troubled about having stolen property, and on my paying him eighty dollars collected the goods and sent them home with me. I put them into the hands of the young man who, with a grateful heart, took them back to the store. I accompanied him and excused him to his master, who allowed him to come back to his work. The debtor promised to pay me ten dollars every month, and thus the matter was settled.
Three years later I read in a newspaper the sad condition of a poor woman, who lived in a wretched street, with a blind, sick husband, and two children, one a baby. The paper said the children were crying of hunger, all were like skeletons, and the mother was almost crazy with grief. I at once went to see if what I had read was true, taking some food in my buggy to give them if they were in need. I reached the place only to find their condition worse than had been described. The man was lying on the floor covered with a thin comforter, and the children on a large piece of thick paper covered with an old sheet. They were dressed in summer clothes, the bones stood out on their faces, and they were in such a weak condition they could not move. The first thing I did was to give them the food which I had brought. The woman acted very strangely from the first; her face turned red when she saw me, and she did not seem to receive very willingly what I gave her. She said to her husband, "Miss Tel Sono has called, and she has brought many things for us; she has also given me much money."
"Who did you say had visited us?" he said, starting up. "What shall I do? Please cover my face."
Then he assumed a worshipful attitude toward me, as did also his wife, their tears falling fast. A long while I stood in the kitchen wodering who they were. At last I remembered this was the man who had stolen the goods, and I then understood their strange manner. He had not kept his promise in regard to paying me, and after sending twenty dollars had moved away and I had heard nothing from him.
I told them not to trouble about that, the matter had quite passed from my mind, and that I then forgave them. "You are in trouble now," I said, "therefore I will think of you as my new friends, and do what I can to help you."
I sent them warm clothes, and my doctor attended the sick man. A month later he died, and was buried at my expense. Seven days after the funeral I sent the family to their relatives in the north.
As I look back now I understand that it was God who visited this man in judgment for his sin. I forgave him, but he could not escape the justice of God.
Very early one October morning a poor woman came to see me. My maid told her she had better come later, as her mistress had not yet risen. She would not move from the front step, however, but pleaded that she might see me, saying I could save her life. When the maid told me what the woman said I had her called in. She was about forty years of age, and wore a summer dress though the day was cold. In answer to my questions, she told me the following story: "Four months ago my husband and I came from the south country to the city of Tokio that he might be convenient to his business. We brought our clothes and other personal belongings, but sold our house and household furniture, and since being here have boarded.
"At first my husband returned from business every day, then he did not come home so often. Three weeks ago he returned and said: 'My business has failed and my money is all lost. I need money to-night to begin business again. Will you lend me your possessions? I will give them back to you within a week with a reward.' I did as he asked, giving him both my money and valuables. Every day since I have looked for him, but in vain.
"Soon after his disappearance I began to receive letters from those whom he owed, and creditors began to call on me. This was the first that I knew of his having contracted a large debt and the knowledge occasioned me much sadness. I searched in his business places for some trace of him, but could find none. A week ago my landlord said he could not keep me any longer unless I paid my board. On my promising to give him some money soon he allowed me to stay a little while longer.
"I determined to seek help from a rich aunt whom I had not visited for ten years on account of having angered her by a mistake I made, hoping she would forgive the past. When I told her of my trouble, and asked her to lend me some money, she coldly said she could lend me no money unless I mortgaged something. I had nothing to mortgage except the clothing I wore, but my need was great; so taking off some of my garments I gave them to her in exchange for a small sum of money.
"With this I paid my board, then searched again for my husband. This morning the landlord said he could keep me no longer. 'I feel very sorry for you,' he said, 'for I do not believe that you will find your husband.' Then he told me of you, whom he knew to be a kind, brave woman, and said he believed you would help me. That is why I am come to you."
While considering her case, the words of a wise man came to my mind: "If a bird escape from one hunter's hand and seek refuge in the hand of another hunter, the latter would not take her life." Then I decided that as the poor woman had come to me for help I could not turn her away. "You may come and live with me," I said, "and I will help you." At this she wept for joy.
Taking her with me, I went to her landlord, paid the remainder of her debt for board, and had her bring what few things she owned to my home. Then I went and spoke to her aunt about the wrong she had done in taking the clothes her niece was wearing. She was greatly ashamed, and gave back the clothes, but would not keep her niece, saying I was free to do for her as I wished.
For a year and a half I kept the woman in my home, to the great anxiety of my friends, who feared she would rob me. I told them they need not trouble; she was only a poor woman, and not able to carry away my goods. When I gave her anything the same as my family had, she would begin to weep. This I thought very strange, but was made to understand it when I, too, became a stranger in a strange land. Often the kind words spoken to me when lonely and sad have received no other answer than a flood of tears.
(Printed in the Parents' Review with the kind permission of Madame Tel Sono, in the hope of interesting many in her noble educational work.)
Tel Sono, A Japanese Reformer
(From her Autobiography)
The Parents Review Volume IV 1893/4 pgs 296-299
It was the 19th day of December, 1885, that I set sail for America, arriving in San Francisco the 7th of January, 1886.
Before leaving my country, I wrote the following poem:
"My dear native land, my heart will never change its purpose, my duty to you will never be forgotten. If my purpose cannot be perfected I will never return to you, but will die in the strange country, and there my body will turn to dust."
To all who had hired money of me I gave back the notes which I held against them, valued at over one thousand dollars.
Three months after my arrival in San Francisco the Bank of Japan, in which my money was desposited, failed. When I heard of that I concluded it would not have been right for me to use this money, which had been obtained in the business of law, because in making one person happy I had made another sad, in making one love me I had made another hate me, and that surely could not be right.
Now, I said, is my opportunity to gain a varied experience. I determined to do housework, not only to earn my living and make money for my future work, but also to see how different people lived. I hired a room in a colored family, and began to look about for employment. Not knowing any thing of the English language, my situation was rather a difficult and painful one.
One morning a gentleman came to the Japanese Mission and wanted a boy or girl to do house-work and cooking. No one was willing to go because it was so far from San Francisco and on a farm, but I wanted to see how American farmers lived and said I would go. He asked me if I could cook and do housework. As I could not speak English, a friend answered for me and said I could do any work.
Then he engaged me, and we took the train to his home. His wife was waiting for us at the station with the buggy.
The family numbered six, the gentleman and his wife, their daughter, two hired men, and myself. The house was large, containing fourteen rooms, surrounded by a beautiful yard, in which were many flowers. The gentleman was a Mexican, and his wife a very proud German woman. She was angry because I could not speak English, and knew so little about housework, as it gave her trouble to teach me; and she would scold her husband for engaging me. Every morning, to atone for his mistake, he would get up early and teach me how to cook the breakfast. His wife taught me at dinner-time, and in about ten days I could do the work. One morning I made the biscuits without any baking-powder, so the next time she had her daughter make them for me to bake; but I did not know how long to let them stay in the oven. At dinner-time, after ringing the first bell, I looked at them and saw they were all black. I felt so ashamed and troubled that I hid them under the wood in the kindling box. She called me to bring in the biscuits, but I could not; so she came into the kitchen, and, not finding them, asked me where they were. I said, "Please excuse me! Please excuse me." I was very much afraid, because when angry she would slap her daughter, so I ran and hid in the closet. A long time after I told her about it and she laughed very much, as she had then learned to love me.
I had to work very hard from morning until night, and, as I had no time to study, decided to hide every day for twenty minutes and read my books. Often I studied until twelve o'clock at night, and in that way succeeded in translating the Third and Fourth Readers. Not being accustomed to work, it caused my hands to become sore and my limbs to swell so that I had to lie down to study at night. When my friends saw the books I translated they were surprised and very much pleased.
I asked Mr. Meyama, my pastor, to find me a room for which I would have to pay little or nothing. He answered laughingly that he could not unless I were willing to stay down cellar in the darkness. I said I would try it, so he went with me to see a room under the Chinese Mission. It had no windows, but a little light came from a hole through which I could see the feet of the people as they passed by on the street. As I had no money to pay rent I decided to stay there.
Mr. Meyama swept and washed the floor, then brought a candle and lamp, an old bedstead, and a sheet from the mission. He told me to sew the sheet up leaving one end open. When I had done so he took it away, and after a while returned carrying what I thought was a large white post. He put it on the bedstead and said it was my bed. "Am I to sleep on a big post?" I asked. It would become very comfortable, he said, after I had slept on it a week. When he had gone away I examined my strange looking bed and found it was made of many white sticks. I did not believe I could sleep on it, and, going to Mr. Meyama, told him I thought he had played a joke on me. He said, "O no, indeed! That is truly a bed, a chip bed, as we call it in this country."
To convince me he showed me the young men's beds in the mission, and said they were just like mine at first. I returned to my cellar still greatly troubled at the thought of sleeping on such a queer thing. I went to school that night as usual, but on my return could not study for wondering where I should sleep. I tried to make the bed smooth and even by knocking it with my hands, but my attempts were vain. Then I tried another experiment, which seemed more successful, and went to bed only to fall out while asleep. This frightened me; but I determined to try it once again, and, taking the ropes from my trunk, tied the bed to the bedstead, and lay down this time to sleep till morning. During the days that followed I was very homesick, and every night dreamed of my native land. When I had time I would go to the top of a hill, and, sitting down on the grass, look out over the sea towards my home and say:
"Ah, poor dismal heart!
In a strange land art thou,
Alone and friendless!
Thou has no one to comfort thee,
No one to listen to the tale of thy woe.
The great deep lies between thee and home,
The clouds hang a veil before thine eyes;
And in vain thou cryest
For native land and mother!"
I was indeed sad! The light of God's truth had not yet shone into my heart, my present position was very low, and the future was full of darkness in respect to the accomplishment of my work.
A Christian lady, Mrs. E. P. Keeney, who lived in the city of San Francisco, hearing of my wretched condition, took me to her home and showed me great kindness.
She taught me so that in three months I could read through the First and Second Readers. Then she went away and I returned to the cellar. During the day I worked at different places and at night attended school. On account of the dampness of the cellar I could not sit with my feet on the floor, so always sat on the bed to study, my little candle burning beside me. The bed, by the way, had become very comfortable, so that I used to say when coming in tired, "Dear bed, I love you better than the one at home!"
One midnight I was awakened by a great noise. Some colored men were quarrelling and fighting. I was greatly afraid, for I thought that they might come into my room, because they had already kicked to pieces two doors in the next room. I felt very lonely and prayed, "O, true God, come and save me! I am very much afraid of that noise. Help, I pray, lest they come and kill me!"
I believed God would make peace between them for me and, at once I ceased to fear. From that time I began to pray again to the "true God." I attended every meeting of the Japanese Mission, and tried to find Him, but could not. Still I continued to pray alone in my cellar, and always felt happy after prayer.
362-371, Tel Sono, A Japanese Reformer
Shortly after the incident before mentioned I left the cellar to work for a kind Christian lady, but in six weeks she was called to Ohio. Then Mrs. K. Waterman, a lady living near, said she would send me to school if I would come to her and wait on her daughter. She made this kind offer because she was in sympathy with my plans. Thus through her my way to gain an English education was opened.
For three days I attended the public school, and each day was questioned by the principal regarding my native country, my name, and age. "Are you sixteen or seventeen years old?" he said. For a long while I stood without making any reply, fearing to say that I was almost forty years old, lest he would not allow me to come to school.
He did not know what was going on in my heart, and explained again in very plain words his question. I could no longer be silent, so I said "I am twenty-four years old." He looked surprised. "What? twenty-four years old! Are you sure?" That night Mrs. Waterman received a letter saying I could not attend the school. I wept bitterly over the letter, refusing to leave my room or eat, so completely discouraged was I; but Mrs. Waterman soon comforted me by saying she would send me to her daughter's school, which she immediately did. In June, 1888, Mrs. Waterman's daughter died, and thus I had no work to do. Though she did not say for me to go away, I decided to seek employment and a home elsewhere. This time I went to work for a music-teacher. The family was very late in rising, thus keeping me late with my work. In order to reach school in time I would have to run to catch the train; but the conductor was kind, and used to wait when he saw me coming.
Wishing to know how to make American dresses I next went to live with a dress-maker. One afternoon, while there, I was mending stockings in the sitting-room when some ladies came in. They asked me why I was darning so many stockings. "Because I wear out a pair almost every day," I said. Then they wanted to know what number shoes I wore. I said I did not know, but that Japanese women's feet were very large. Two of the ladies took off their shoes and tried them on my feet and found them quite large enough. "You should wear shoes No. 4 1/2 instead of No. 7," they said, laughing; "then your stockings would not wear out so quickly." After they had gone I went out and bought a pair of boots the proper size. I laughed very heartily after when I thought of how funny No. 7 shoes must have looked with the short skirts I then wore. I had not thought of my shoes being too large. I had only known that with every step they slipped up and down and that my feet felt very heavy. So anxious was I to study that my appearance received but little thought.
One afternoon, while waiting for the train to go over to the school, I went into a fruit-store to buy some bananas. As I was going out some one called after me, "You want cracker? You want cracker?" I thought it was the storekeeper, and said, "No, thank you." Twice again the question was asked. I answered in a little louder tone, for I did not like to be asked so often, "Oh no: I do not want any!" Then I noticed that those about me were laughing, and I looked around to find a parrot had been talking to me. I felt so ashamed that I hurried home without waiting for the train.
At this time my kind teacher, Mrs. Reid, said to me, "I have been thinking about you, and how very hard it is for you to meet the school expenses and your car-fare over here. If you are willing to teach drawing to the kindergarten children one hour every day you need not pay any thing for instruction."
This kind offer I gladly accepted.
I once went to an employment-office in San Francisco in search of work. The woman in charge said that she had a very hard place, where the lady could not keep a girl one week. I said I would like to try it. There were five children in the family, the father and mother, and an upstairs girl.
One of my first orders was that I must not use over three shovels of coal at once, and that whenever I had any time I must chop coal and wood. Every night the lady gave me three cupfuls of oatmeal for breakfast, and that was all the breakfast they had. Very often I had not enough hot water because of not being allowed to keep much fire. She would come in very often to look at the stove and to see if I had used much coal, and the dampers were kept tied with wire so that they could not be opened to make the fire burn brightly. She and her husband drank coffee in the morning but we were not allowed any; and if we wished tea she would put about ten or twelve leaves in our cups.
From five o'clock in the morning to ten o'clock at night I worked hard. For the up-stairs girl, who was about eighteen years old, I felt very sorry, because she had not enough to eat. As she took care of the children she had her meals with the family, and was too much afraid of her mistress to eat much. She asked me to give her a piece of bread every evening. My only opportunity to get it was when taking off the dishes, as the lady kept the keys of the pantry. So I would slip a piece into my pocket and afterward put it under the girl's pillow. She was very grateful for the bread, and said she could not stay long if I went away, because she had not strength to work so hard without more food.
One morning after I had baked as usual I left the bread and fresh biscuits on the table and went to my ironing in the washing-room. Soon the lady called me, and with an angry face said, "Did you eat five of those biscuits?" I said I had not been in the kitched since having baked them. Then she called the up-stairs girl and asked her, but she said she knew nothing of them. And then she collected all the children before the table, the oldest one being eighteen years of age, and examined each one. They all said they had not taken the biscuits, though I thought they very likely had eaten them, because they were always hungry. Then she said she believed the milkman had stolen them when he brought the milk into the kitchen. The next time baking was done she commanded that the bread be left upon the same table, and that I watch from some hiding place when the milkman came in. "Wait until he gets out of the kitchen," she said, "then call after him 'to give back those biscuits.' If he refuses, examine his pockets." Later she came in and wanted to know how he stole the biscuits and whether he gave them back or not; but I told her he did not take them and that he said he never stole her biscuits.
One Saturday I swept four bedrooms and put the children's large play- room in order between doing the cooking; but she said I did not do enough work for the money I received. I said, "Very well, you may get some one else to do your work. I cannot work any more than I am doing." About ten o'clock at night, a few days later, she said for me to begin ironing because the next day would be very busy. "No," I said, "I cannot work after ten o'clock." "You must obey me," she exclaimed. "If you wish I will go away at once, but I cannot obey such an unjust command." "If you do go away now I will not pay you for your past work." "Very well, I will never sacrifice my health for money. However, I will make public your conduct for the benefit of others." I began to pack my things to go away at once, but her husband asked me to stay two days and promised he would pay me honestly. The children also begged me to stay and excuse their mother.
The last morning I rose early, did all the morning work, and baked so that there would be enough bread to eat for a week after I had gone. "Why did you bake bread?" the lady said, coming into the kitchen. "I do not want it, and you must pay me for it." I said I was very sorry, but would pay her seventy cents for the seven loaves. "You must pay one dollar for the time you spent," she said. I did so, and then I said, "I hope you will go to church now and get your heart in a better condition." A boy came from the Japanese Mission to help me carry my things. He looked on surprised when he saw me tying up the bread, and the lady watched my movements very closely. "You need not trouble about the bread," I said, "because it is mine." "Where are you going to take it?" she questioned. "To my pastor and friends. And now I want to thank you very much for the experience I have had with you. It has been good for me."
On my way to the mission I bought some tea and a half-roll of butter. After I made the tea we sat down to enjoy the bread. "You must eat with a relish," I said, "for this is very dear bread." Then I told them all about what had happened, and we had a merry time together.
As I went into these different homes, sixteen in all, I went with the purpose to learn all possible. One thing could not fail to impress me, and that was the difference between those homes where God was honored and where He was not.
After many talks with my pastor and kind Christian ladies, and after studying the Bible diligently, I came to know Christ as my Savior. God spoke to me, and I knew Him to be the true God for whom I had searched so many years. I was very happy, and wanted to be baptized soon, and yet I wanted to do something for my Saviour before I was baptized. It was just at this time that my mother died in Japan, her last words being, "My work is not perfected, for I am only sixty years old; but I must die."
After studying three years in the private school I was graduated, 1889, and returned to San Francisco to do hard work again that I might earn money enough to attend some training-school for Christian workers.
On my return the sad and destitute condition of many of my country sisters appealed to my heart. I determined to help them in some way, and in January organized a benevolent society, its object being to help the poor and fallen among the Japanese women, to give food and care to the sick, to provide a way for children to be attended to while their mothers worked, and to lead the wicked into the path of righteousness. I put into this society all the money I had saved for my future work, and secured over one hundred members for it. Shortly after the organizing of this society a poor Japanese woman who had been carrying on an evil work died. As she had no relations in this country the people among whom she lived took care of her while she was sick, but they had no place to bury her. Two men came to my office and wished me to speak to my pastor about allowing them to bury this woman in the Japanese Mission burial-grounds. I did so, and told him that I thought this a good opportunity to put into operation my plan of doing benevolent work among these most degraded and sunken people. He gladly granted their request, and then they asked him to conduct the funeral servcice and invited me to accompany him. We went to the undertaker's house, where the corpse was, and where was gathered quite a company of men and women. I looked carefully into their condition, and when the service was over asked the manager to give me time to speak. Standing up, I said: "I am very glad to meet you, my dear country sisters. Will you not all stand and look once more into the dead face of this our sister? What do you think about her face? Is it not sorrowful and thin? I can almost see her sorrow-stricken heart when her life went out. Perhaps she had been homesick and wished to see her parents and sisters and brothers, and died saying, 'I hope to see once more my dear native place and my mother and father.' Some ancient person has said, 'When a person dies his last words are good.' When people are in good health, eat nice food, wear beautiful clothes, and are engaged in unclean business, they never remember their native land, but selfishly go on getting more and more, and wanting still more and more. They never turn to see their own hearts covered up with wickedness, and do not prepare for death, although this is not our eternal home. When we die we must go back to the eternal home of our heavenly Father. This sister's mother, father, and relations are waiting for her, and saying proudly to their friends every day: 'My daughter went to America, where she is getting a good education.' They do not know the sad condition in which she is; they never think of evil. Then, sisters, what do you think will happen when this sad message reaches her parents? The poor mother will perhaps die with a broken heart. Sisters, you have parents. Do not forget them, do not forget your loved native land. Pass not through the narrow and unclean streets, but walk in the right, large road." The women sobbed aloud and the men hung their heads. When I saw how they felt I said: "I trust that you are not engaged in wicked business, but if you find among your friends any one who does work that is not right please ask her to stop; and if you find those who are poor or in any trouble come and tell me, that I may help them. I have established a society for those who need help, and have a room all ready for them; therefore please come to me at any time." Then we went to the burial-ground, returning to the mission about eight o'clock in the evening. That night all my Japanese Christian friends met me in the pastor's sitting room, and he told them about what I had said. "Your words were very good," he said, turning to me. "Everybody has been afraid to speak against these wicked people, but you were not afraid."
It is the custom in Japan, when a person has been dead seven days for the family to make a feast, and invite all who attended the funeral. These people observed this custom, and invited me to the house of the chief man, who had had charge of the woman's funeral. My friends feared to have me go; but I said I believed the people trusted me and would do me no harm, and accordingly went with the guide who was sent for me. On reaching the place I was seated in a pleasant room and served with a nice dinner. When through my dinner they asked me to speak, which I gladly did. At eleven o'clock I went back to the mission, accompanied by one of the men. Three women had asked to become members of my society, and some of the men had said: "I will stop gambling and drinking wine; therefore please put my name among your society members." About ten days after the chief man brought me five dollars. "We collected fifty-four dollars from among our company for the funeral," he said. "After expenses were paid ten dollars remained, and I wish to give half to the Japanese Mission and half to your society if you will please receive this small gift." I did so, and he went away with a glad heart.
Nearly every day I was visited by these people, many becoming members of the society and attending the Sunday services at the mission. Thus was begun Christian work among fallen men and women. Every day I visited them, explained the Bible, and pleaded with them to do right. My friends begged me to stop for they feared I would suffer harm; but I did not fear. I knew my God was always with me.
The work of the society is still carried on by Mrs. M. E. Harris, who is president. Many poor children are kept there, and when women and girls get out of work they stay there and take care of the children till they find a good place; then others come to take their place. Thus the work goes on, constantly changing and growing.
One afternoon a Japanese young man came to my office and asked if I would listen to his story. On my answering that I would be pleased to do so, he related the following: "I came to San Francisco one- and-a-half years ago, accompanied by about twenty-five Japanese. One of the number had been a Christian many years, and he preached to us every day on the voyage. His preaching made us feel very happy; it comforted our hearts and made us forget our loneliness. Soon after we arrived here three of us believed on Christ, whom we had heard of during the voyage through this man's preaching, and we went to work to earn money for our education. Not long after we heard that our preacher had begun to drink and play cards. This made us feel very sad, and we begged him to stop, but he would not listen to our words. Then we determined on asking you to speak to him, and it is for that purpose that I come to you to-day." I said I feared he would not listen to me, as I was only a poor woman, but that I would try what I could do. That evening the young man accompanied me to the house of his friend and said to him, "Miss Sono wants to speak to you." "Well," he answered, his thick voice and red face betokening the drunkard. He looked intently at me for a long while, then remembered that he had heard me speak at the poor woman's funeral. I talked with him a long while, but apparently with no good result, for he said, "Wine is a very good thing. I love it very much. Indeed, I must love it, because when I have trouble or am sad I can at once become happy by taking the dear wine. It makes me forget my poverty." I waited until he became more sober, then asked him if his parents were living. He said his mother, seventy years old, was living, and that she had no other children. Then I said, the tears running down my cheeks all the time I talked, "Who is taking care of her now? It is your duty to care for her. She had loved you very deeply, more deeply that you can love her. You ought not to come so far away while she is living. She is thinking of you every day, and waiting for you to return, for she longs to see your face before she dies. She is old and soon must die. Can you do her any good after she dies?" His face was downcast while I talked; then he said, "I thank you very much for your kindness to me. I will think seriously about what you have said. It is very late now, and you had better go back." When I reached the mission with my guide it was almost twelve o'clock. From that time the man began to attend regularly the Sunday meeting, and during the week to talk with many of his friends. The young man afterward thanked me for having spoken to his friend, and causing him to stop the use of wine. When I left San Francisco the reformed man met me at the station to say good-bye. My last words to him were, "Please do not forget your mother, but go back while she lives."
My plan for the future is to establish a free Christian school in my native place, where there are no Christians, no churches, no missionary schools. Already the voices from over the ocean are calling, "Come back quickly! Come and lead us into a better and a happier life."
I long to return that I may live and work and die for my heathen sisters. God has led me to America, he has blessed me with his own salvation, has provided for the needs of my body and soul; and now he bids me go back to the home-land and there make known his law.
We have had the great pleasure of a visit from Madam Tel Sono, at Ambleside, and have found the presence of this highly cultivated heroic, Christian Japanese lady, very inspiring and helpful. We were all deeply impressed with her fitness for the great work she has in progress. Sympathy, tack, tenderness, administrative power, and practical mastery of detail, combined with her extraordinary experience, should make this interesting Japanese lady--such another educational reformer in Japan as we in England have in Miss Clough, Miss Beale, Miss Shirreff, Miss Buss--indeed Madam Tel Sono's is far the greater work; for Christian education among the oppressed women in Japan, should produce a social revolution of a nature, which we at home can hardly realize. The feature of the movement which interests us (in Ambleside) most deeply is the training department for governesses, high class girls trained to teach in high class families, on the lines of the House of Education. As she says "the missionary cannot reach the highest class;" but, as a woman of that class she hopes first through the children, and then through the mothers to introduce christianity to the more thoughtful and cultivated among her countrymen. As she herself said, Japanese hold the teachers of their children in very great respect, and when the children ask them questions they say "go to your teacher and she will explain it to you." The emperor's edict has made it possible for any who wish it to become Christians, and therefore Madam Tel Sono says there will be no bar to the employment of Christian Japanese women. The high class Japanese are very anxious to get western civilization taught to their children, this she is quite capable of imparting to her students, and she hopes by her experience to gain many Japanese women to her side. Her aims and efforts are known already in her country, and she is earnestly looked out for by many friends.
She is collecting in England and America a building fund (including site) of £1,200. All but £200 of this has been obtained by her indomitable perseverance. She is also asking for annual subscriptions, to support 25 half scholarships at £6 each, for the training of governesses who cannot meet the whole cost of their maintenance (£12 per annum). The fact that she has been able to enlist foreign sympathy and help for her undertaking, adds enormously to her already great prestige among her countrymen. And we may look forward with confidence to a great christian educational work for the elevation of the women, in a country in which many of us are deeply interested. We earnestly hope that the readers of the Parents' Review will support Madam Tel Sono.
All business letters to her should be addressed to the Japanese Consulate, 4 Bishopsgate Street, E.C., or to the Japanese Ambassador, 8, Sussex Place, Hyde Park, W., to whom all subscriptions should be sent; or to the Editor of the Parents' Review, who will gladly forward them.
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Vicky Emerson | Annie Fitzgerald (Singer Songwriter) $10
Saturday, November 9, 2019 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
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Swing Brunch with Patty & the Buttons (Free) »
Singer/songwriter, Vicky Emerson, has been heralded by the Minneapolis Star Tribune for her gorgeous, dusky voice and songwriting chops on previous releases but her new album, Steady Heart, which she self-produced, firmly establishes her as an essential, strong female voice in Americana music. Steady Heart, has received critical acclaim, helping her to rise to #4 on the European Americana Charts, #52 on the US Americana Album Chart and #34 on the Americana Singles Chart with her hit, “The Reckoning.” No Depression raved that she is “…one of the pre-eminent independent singer/songwriters working in Americana. Her lyrical acumen is readily apparent for any listener, those unfamiliar with her work and longtime fans alike, but the lean economy of her poetic musings separates her work from performers who might otherwise overdo their desired effect on the audience.” Vicky is based in Minneapolis, continues to tour on a national basis and has opened for Amanda Shires, Gregory Alan Isokav, Malcomb Holcombe and Brent Cobb.
Vicky Emerson Official Website
Annie Fitzgerald’s music has been described as “a blend of Tori Amos’ intellectual appeal, Sarah McLachlan’s mystical charm and Edie Brickell’s baroque spirit” (Jamsphere). Honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame as an artist to watch, Fitzgerald released her second album You & Me & the Sun on June 1st, 2018. Produced by Danny O’Brien (The Farewell Circuit, Dem Yuut), the album finds Fitzgerald joining gifted Minneapolis musicians and shaping a textured folk-pop sound mixed with the raw vitality of rock-and-roll. Since her first release In Good Time, Fitzgerald spent time a part of the NYC Indie scene, started a family, and welcomed a move back to her home state of MN and a newfound sense of space to create. You & Me & the Sun explores connection, vulnerability, love, and sparks in the span of time navigating the balance between motherhood & her life as a songwriter.
Annie Fitzgerald Official Website
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Suzette Belliveau is a Halifax based reporter with CTV Atlantic.
Suzette grew up in the Acadian community of Amirault's Hill, in Yarmouth County, N.S. and is fluent in both French and English.
She attended Ecole Secondaire de Pars-en-Bas – part of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, which is the Francophone school board for Nova Scotia.
In 2011, Suzette graduated from Saint Mary's University with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in religious studies and then earned a Bachelor of Journalism from University Of Kings College.
Suzette interned with CTV Atlantic in April of 2012 and stayed on as an autocue operator, production assistant, reporter, and field producer. She was hired as a full-time reporter in March of 2016.
When she’s not at work, Suzette loves to travel and spend time with friends and can often be found cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays.
Suzette is also an avid country music fan. She loves to sing and was even part of a classic country band before moving to Halifax.
suzette.belliveau@bellmedia.ca
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Ekstrom Collection: Diaghilev and Stravinsky FoundationTelegramsTelegrams: Diaghilev and members of the Ballets RussesTelegramsCopy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel
Bookmark:https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb71-thm/7/thm/7/2/1/3/35
V&A Theatre and Performance Collections
GB 71 THM/7/2/1/3/35
Ekstrom Collection: Diaghilev and Stravinsky FoundationTHM/7
CorrespondenceTHM/7/1
TelegramsTHM/7/2
Telegrams: Diaghilev and members of the Ballets RussesTHM/7/2/1
TelegramsTHM/7/2/1/1
Telegram from [ Paul Koribut-Kubatovich ] to Serge Diaghilev relating to the luggage for the performance of Le TricorneTHM/7/2/1/3/1
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge Diaghilev relating to Albert WolffTHM/7/2/1/3/2
Telegram from Gabriel Astruc to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/3
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Gabriel AstrucTHM/7/2/1/3/4
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Eric Wollheim, theatrical agentTHM/7/2/1/3/5
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/6
Telegram from Francis Poulenc to Serge Diaghilev relating to Les Biches and Le train bleuTHM/7/2/1/3/7
Telegram from Gabriel Astruc to Serge Diaghilev relating to costumesTHM/7/2/1/3/8
Telegram from [ Pedro Pruna ] to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/9
Telegram from [ Paul Koribut-Kubatovich ] to Serge Diaghilev relating to Pedro PrunaTHM/7/2/1/3/10
Telegram from Grace Cornell to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/11
Telegram from D'Oyly Carte to Serge Diaghilev concerning room reservationsTHM/7/2/1/3/12
Telegram from Eric Wollheim, theatrical agent, to Serge Diaghilev concerning the contract with Sir Oswald StollTHM/7/2/1/3/13
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter NouvelTHM/7/2/1/3/14
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Boyer concerning financial mattersTHM/7/2/1/3/15
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Eric Wollheim, theatrical agentTHM/7/2/1/3/16
Telegram from Serge Grigoriev to Serge Diaghilev concerning the arrival of Serge LapitskyTHM/7/2/1/3/17
Unfinished copy telegram, probably from Serge Diaghilev, to Boris KochnoTHM/7/2/1/3/18
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Eric Wollheim concerning changes to the programmeTHM/7/2/1/3/19
Telegram from Prince Aleksandr Konstantinovitch Schervashidzde to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/20
Telegram from [ Paul Koribut-Kubatovich ] to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/21
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev in London wishing him wellTHM/7/2/1/3/22
Telegram from Philip John Sampay Richardson to Serge Diaghilev wishing him luckTHM/7/2/1/3/23
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev wishing him success for the first performance of the season in LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/24
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev relating to cabin reservations for voyage from DoverTHM/7/2/1/3/25
Telegram to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/26
Telegram from Eric Wollheim, theatrical agent to Serge Diaghilev relating to the booking of the Coliseum, LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/28
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/31
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge Diaghilev concerning problems with transportationTHM/7/2/1/3/32
Telegram from Pedro Pruna to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/33
Copy telegram from Boris Kochno to Walter NouvelTHM/7/2/1/3/34
Telegram from Boris Kochno to Walter Nouvel concerning proposal of the Stoll officesTHM/7/2/1/3/37
Telegram from Paul [Koribut-Kubatovich?] to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/38
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Serge Grigoriev concerning filming programmeTHM/7/2/1/3/39
Telegram from Eric Wollheim to Serge Diaghilev relating to Lord RothermereTHM/7/2/1/3/40
Copy telegram from Boris Kochno to Léonide Massine informing him of the success of Les MatelotsTHM/7/2/1/3/41
Telegram from [....] Blunt to Serge Diaghilev asking permission for loan of a dancer to appear at the Chelsea Arts ClubTHM/7/2/1/3/42
Telegram from Alexandrina Troussevitch to Serge Diaghilev concerning the piano for Les MatelotsTHM/7/2/1/3/43
Telegram from Alexandrina [Troussevitch] to Boris Kochno relating to the piano for Les MatelotsTHM/7/2/1/3/44
Telegram from Boris Kochno to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/45
Telegram from [Signorini] to Serge Diaghilev relating to Randolfo BarocchiTHM/7/2/1/3/47
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge Diaghilev relating to visa for Serge LifarTHM/7/2/1/3/48
Telegram from Pioche to Serge Diaghilev relating to [Gulbenkian]THM/7/2/1/3/50
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Vittorio Rieti, composerTHM/7/2/1/3/51
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Enrico CecchettiTHM/7/2/1/3/52
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Randolfo Barocchi concerning visas for himself, Boris Kochno, and Serge LifarTHM/7/2/1/3/53
Telegram from Georges Auric to Serge Diaghilev relating to Les MatelotsTHM/7/2/1/3/55
Telegram from [Wasia] to Serge LifarTHM/7/2/1/3/56
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge Diaghilev relating to arrival in RomeTHM/7/2/1/3/57
Telegram from [Bolla] to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/58
Telegram from Kieti [possibly Vittorio Rieti ] to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/59
Telegram from George Balanchine to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/60
Telegram from [Indelicato] to Serge Diaghilev concerning Casali's offerTHM/7/2/1/3/61
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev confirming reservations at the Excelsior, NaplesTHM/7/2/1/3/62
Telegram from Eric Wollheim, theatrical agent to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/63
Telegram from Dima [possibly Vladimir Dukelsky ] to Serge Diaghilev concerning a visa for LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/64
Telegram from [Ferrone] to Serge Diaghilev concerning Casali's offerTHM/7/2/1/3/65
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to George Balanchine concerning engaging artists and arranging their visasTHM/7/2/1/3/69
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Ferrone concerning conditions of the company's engagement in BarcelonaTHM/7/2/1/3/70
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Vladimir Dukelsky concerning visaTHM/7/2/1/3/71
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to George Balanchine relating to the engagement of dancersTHM/7/2/1/3/72
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Serge Grigoriev concerning engagement of dancersTHM/7/2/1/3/73
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev concerning booking of a theatre [in Torino ]THM/7/2/1/3/74
Telegram from Ferrone to Serge Diaghilev concerning Casali's offer of engagementTHM/7/2/1/3/76
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev relating to payment for the season at the Casino, Monte CarloTHM/7/2/1/3/77
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel concerning the engagement of André Cooper and the proposed programme [for Spain ]THM/7/2/1/3/78
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev relating to the engagement of André Cooper and proposed season in GermanyTHM/7/2/1/3/80
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel concerning the possibility of a season at the Alhambra, LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/81
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge Diaghilev concerning the programmeTHM/7/2/1/3/82
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev, to Walter NouvelTHM/7/2/1/3/84
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel relating to administrative mattersTHM/7/2/1/3/85
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel relating to administrative mattersTHM/7/2/1/3/86
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to George BalanchineTHM/7/2/1/3/88
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to George BalanchineTHM/7/2/1/3/89
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to FerroneTHM/7/2/1/3/90
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to [ Bolla ]THM/7/2/1/3/91
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel relating to Louis MassonTHM/7/2/1/3/93
Telegram from Misia Sert to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/94
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Eric Wollheim, theatrical agentTHM/7/2/1/3/96
Telegram from Ferrone to Serge Diaghilev [relating to performances at the festival in Milan in October]THM/7/2/1/3/97
Telegram from Serge Grigoriev to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/98
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge Diaghilev concerning tickets and visas for LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/99
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter NouvelTHM/7/2/1/3/100
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to George Balanchine [relating to Mikhailov ]THM/7/2/1/3/101
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Eric Wollheim, theatrical agent relating to the movements of the companyTHM/7/2/1/3/102
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel concerning financial and administrative mattersTHM/7/2/1/3/103
Draft telegrams from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel concerning arrangements for the season in GermanyTHM/7/2/1/3/104
Telegram from Serge Prokofiev, composer, to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/105
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev in Paris relating to performances at the Coliseum, LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/106
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Utrillio, artist, concerning costumesTHM/7/2/1/3/107
Draft telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Eric Wollheim, theatrical agent relating to engagement at the Coliseum, LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/108
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev from Berlin relating to number of musicians neededTHM/7/2/1/3/109
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev from Berlin concerning number of musicians neededTHM/7/2/1/3/110
Telegram from [Andre] Cooper to Serge Diaghilev informing him that he is unable to come to LondonTHM/7/2/1/3/111
Telegram to Serge Diaghilev concerning the season in BerlinTHM/7/2/1/3/112
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to [Cottenet], New York enquiring about Harry Block and Max EndicoffTHM/7/2/1/3/113
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to [ Universal Edition ] relating to the performances of Barabau in GermanyTHM/7/2/1/3/114
Telegram from Walter Nouvel to Serge DiaghilevTHM/7/2/1/3/115
Copy telegram from Serge Diaghilev to Walter Nouvel concerning his arrival in BerlinTHM/7/2/1/3/116
Telegrams: undated and miscellaneousTHM/7/2/1/6
Igor Stravinsky telegramsTHM/7/2/2
ContractsTHM/7/3
Financial recordsTHM/7/4
ProgrammesTHM/7/5
Ekstrom Collection: Press cuttingsTHM/7/6
Ekstrom Collection: Exhibition cataloguesTHM/7/7
MiscellaneousTHM/7/8
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NYC launches new website outlining timeline and process for the BQX streetcar
By Drew Zeiba • January 14, 2020
The BQX streetcar would connect Red Hook, Brooklyn, to Astoria, Queens, along an above-ground waterfront pathway. (NYCEDC and NYCDOT)
After much uncertainty and relative quiet, an updated timeline has been announced for the Brooklyn-Queens Connector (BQX streetcar) that would connect 11 miles of Brooklyn and Queens. The City’s Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Transportation have launched a new website detailing the proposed streetcar, along with previously released and new reports, which would run from Red Hook to Astoria and connect 13 subway lines and 30 bus routes.
The BQX team proposes having at least five community board presentations and a minimum of five workshops this winter, and intend to collect public opinion on the $2.7 billion project via the new website and engage in on-the-ground outreach. There will be public hearings and the collection of comments in May and June, followed by a draft environmental impact statement in the spring of next year, with the final version to be released in fall of 2021 following public comment. Alternative options to the light rail line will reportedly be considered (the website gives the example of a dedicated bus lane). Currently, the city aims to open the line in 2029.
If all goes according to plan, the city will then seek federal funding (as much as $1 billion according to previous reports) and undertake a land-use review, get the necessary approvals, and select designers, contractors, and companies to run the BQX. Funding has been a major hurdle for the streetcar. The federal government has certainly not been generous with infrastructure projects as of late, especially in areas the current administration sees as opposed to it. While it was suggested that Amazon (which was going to receive nearly $3 billion in subsidies, tax breaks, and incentives) might have footed part of the bill when they had planned to build their HQ2 in Long Island City, that option is obviously off the table. Many City Council members have questioned the price tag relative to the streetcar’s projected ridership and the desperate need for upgrades to transit options elsewhere. Mayor Bill de Blasio continues to advocate for the project, however.
Brooklyn Brooklyn-Queens Connector (BQX) Infrastructure Queens
January 10, 2020 New York's original offer for Amazon HQ2 included an extra $800 million
January 6, 2020 Chicago's Lakeview Low-Line makes infrastructure pop
November 19, 2019 China’s Belt and Road Initiative is tying the world together—but what's the end game?
November 5, 2019 South Brooklyn's Metabolist-inspired green tower rejected over parking concerns
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From Ferguson to New York to Germany, Lisa has been leading trainings and helping mobilize clergy and community leaders around shared values for the common good, with a focus on racial justice. Prior to joining Sojourners, Lisa was the founding executive director of New York Faith & Justice — an organization at the hub of a new ecumenical movement to end poverty in New York City. In that capacity, she helped establish Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice, a citywide collaborative effort of faith leaders committed to leveraging the power of their constituencies and their moral authority in partnership with communities bearing the weight of environmental injustice. She also organized faith leaders to speak out for immigration reform and organized the South Bronx Conversations for Change, a dialogue-to-change project between police and the community.
Harper’s faith-rooted approach to advocacy and organizing has activated people across the U.S. and around the world to address structural and political injustice as an outward demonstration of their personal faith. Harper was recognized in 2015 as one of “50 Powerful Women Religious Leaders to Celebrate on International Women’s Day” by the Huffington Post. She earned her master’s in human rights from Columbia University in New York City and is currently in the process of ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Recent media highlights:
The Huffington Post, After Trump’s Win, White Evangelical Christians Face A Reckoning
The Christian Post, The Day I Was Transformed on Immigration Issues
Deseret News, News Did Trump just lose the evangelical vote?
Tweets by lisasharper
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October 9, 2015 October 9, 2015 mrfelixpalmerreview, ticket to ride
Ticket to Ride is a pretty nifty boardgame. You start out with a blank board of Europe, and slowly but surely, you start to populate it with a colourful mess of trains. The game gets exponentially better the more people you have playing. A 2 player game feels like a lackadaisical skip through the woods, whereas a full 5 player game feels like Tokyo in rush hour. The main pressure of this game, the reason you play this game on the edge of your seat, is space- or a lack of it.
At the start of the game you chose routes that you want to complete. Want to go for a short jaunt from Paris to Madrid? That’s an easy 5 points. Want to chain together train routes to go from the cold depths of Russia to the sunny shores of Spain? That’s a brutally hard 20 points to pick up. You also get points for how long each link in that chain is- so while long routes may take a significant amount of time to complete, it also rewards you with points for making the long journey. In the end there is a sort-of-balance between the players who complete a lot of short trips and complete a large amount of tickets, and the players who do single ticket, taking the long routes.
The major pressure and the dramatic crux of the game is space. Two or more players might NEED that route from Danzig to Frankfurt to make their tickets work, and the first person who has the hand to make that route will take it. This will annoy your friends in two ways; 1) You’ve just screwed their ticket up, and 2) they will have to compete for the next best route and then someone will be screwed over again. Managing to snag the ideal routes for your tickets is the name of the game (note that the ideal route is not necessarily the most efficient route).
This game is remarkably easy to teach and easy to learn. It’s another great gate-way game that shows people that board gaming isn’t just snakes and ladders, Risk and Monopoly. It has very clear objectives, and seeing the game board fill up with hundreds of miniature trains is just a fantastic experience. The theme of the game helps make it easy to grasp- make a continuous train lines from here to there to satisfy your tickets. The game is also quite repayable- with 46 different tickets leading you you in all different directions from all over Europe. This is a game where different strategies lead to similar rewards, allowing you to explore playing in different ways. You’ll easily get value out of this box.
Speaking of the box, I have to say that Ticket to Ride- at least the european version- has an incredibly lovely board and pieces. The edition I have is incredible well put together. The trains are colourful, the board is huge, and I can guarantee that after playing a few times, your european geography will improve.
However the game isn’t perfect. The major gripe about Ticket to Ride is the fact that your decision making throughout the game doesn’t feel like it has a lot of weight to it. If you’re a seasoned veteran of the game, you’ll start to see and predict where the chokepoints are in the map and snap them up quickly. There is also the fact that tickets are hidden from other players, and therefore trying to disrupt them require pretty intimate knowledge of the ticket cards (‘was there a ticket from Paris to Budapest or Paris to Sarajevo’ you’ll find yourself wondering after a time). This makes playing Ticket to Ride a strangely solitary experience. Apart from a few seemingly random moments of ‘Oh my god why did you take that card/path’, there is very little interaction with other players.
That isn’t to say that Ticket to Ride is a bad game- it’s a great game, but a pretty general game. If you are looking for a more strategical game than Ticket to Ride there are a tonne of options. If you want to talk to your friends while you play there are more social games out there as well. Ticket to Ride falls in the middle of the two- a somewhat strategical game in which you may or may not cause some social conflict. It’s a great way to settle a group into thinking about boardgames before you hit them with a much longer, meatier game.
If you love Ticket to Ride already, it’s probably worth checking out their expansions. They are essentially news maps to master, often with new scoring mechanics to make the game fresh again.
If you want a 40-minute or so game, with simple but solid mechanics, Ticket to Ride shines. You can pick it up for around $90. The European version adds a few rules and a bit of depth to the American version, so I’d personally go for that one.
← Opinion: Monopoly has held back boardgaming
Review: Tokaido →
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One of the things I love most about the Barcelona tech scene is that there’s something significant going on in every nook and cranny. Take this tiny office tucked away on the top floor of an old office building on one of Barcelona’s busiest avenues. It’s filled to the brim with thirty-some software engineers keeping their noses to the grindstone all day, working on building the best app in one of the most competitive markets today: ride-hailing. But wait, isn’t mytaxi from Germany? What are they doing in Barcelona? To find out how they got here and what they’re up to, we sat down with Nicolas Gonzalez, Engineering Team Lead and Marc Saborit, IT Recruiter at mytaxi, who shared with Barcelona Startup News the behind-the-scenes of the popular taxi-booking app. Here’s how they’re growing their presence in Barcelona, moving to a new office that’s ten times the size as the current one, and what technologies they use to accomplish their goals.
Could you let us in on what led to the decision of starting to grow your team here in Barcelona, and where you are in the process?
Nicolas: The history of the tech hub here in Barcelona changed radically just a few weeks after we started on 1 August, 2017. Suddenly, a decision was made that instead of a small office of around two teams, we need to grow to a hundred people. The reason is that we’re in a market which is moving extremely fast, and we’re competing with giants. Although mytaxi uses a different business model and only partners with licensed taxi drivers, we are competing with Uber, Lyft or for example Cabify here in Spain in the field of future urban mobility.
The biggest companies in the industry have several thousand IT people – which is by no means a guarantee that they’ll come out with the best possible product, but it does help. So when the decision was made to grow the tech hub in Barcelona, it was partly because we wanted to somehow compete with those companies, and also because we noticed that we were able to hire a lot of good candidates here. The current plan is to grow to double our IT people in mytaxi, distributed over Hamburg, Barcelona and Berlin. The Hamburg office is responsible for everything related to the passenger world, while here in Barcelona we’re building the driver’s app, and Berlin is focused on data science.
Marc: When we decided to set up our second tech hub out of our headquarters in Hamburg, several cities were on our mind and each of them had their own potential. However, Barcelona was finally the chosen one due to its strong startup ecosystem and environment which will keep growing for the next few years.
A key factor in choosing Barcelona for our tech hub was that it is a really attractive city to live in. It is quite difficult to beat the sunshine, the food, the beach and our lifestyle… As a result, many software development professionals see Barcelona as one of the coolest cities in Europe to build their lives and careers which makes it easier for us to find the talent that we need, although it is not easy at all!
“We’re in a market which is moving extremely fast, and we’re competing with giants.”
How long does it take to onboard the new people? What would I be doing for the first few weeks if you hired me?
Nicolas: The onboarding process is different for each person joining us and it takes a long time, so overall, we don’t expect anyone to do anything productive for the first month. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t have the chance to do so! It also doesn’t mean that you’ll be surfing the web. When you’re joining us, you have a fixed agenda, at least for the first few days. The Product Owner walks you through the basics of the app that you’re going to be working on, then you shadow someone for a while, you make changes to the remote repository, and so on. The point is that you start learning from day one. We’re building teams from scratch, which is a lot different than trying to fill in just one or two positions within an existing team.
We also have an international onboarding day every month at the Hamburg HQ. Every single new person that joins mytaxi goes to Hamburg for at least two days, where we explain the values that we live by, and walk them through the products that we have. They can ask questions from anyone in the management, the CTO, the CFO, whoever, and we also have a one-hour scrum training. We send people over to Hamburg with a very specific purpose: to absorb the culture, the practices that we have in place, to see how we work on urgent issues.
Marc: One thing to keep in mind is that the taxi industry is a very specific one and we work very hard to make sure we understand and respond to its needs. As mytaxi our goal is to make both the passengers’ and taxis drivers’ lives easier. That’s why we work very closely with taxi drivers to listen to their suggestions and adapt our products to their needs; and this is something that all our employees are conscious of.
Marc Saborit and Nicolas Gonzalez, mytaxi
Tell us about the tech stack. What technologies are you using?
Nicolas: Let’s start with mobile. First of all, we believe in native applications. For iOs, at least 80% of the codebase is written in Objective-C, but we’ve started doing every single thing that we do in Swift. Is there a plan to migrate Objective-C to Swift? Yes. Are we going to be doing some sort of massive rewrite from day one right now? No, because we must be commercial, which is one of our values. But we are heading towards that direction.
For Android, we use Java, and there’s a higher percentage of Kotlin than Swift for iOs. We are using the same approach: we’re taking some stuff onto Kotlin, but there’s a long way to go.
As for the frontend, we use lots of different things. Overall, our legacy is angular, and we’re taking everything onto React. That’s why we’re looking for React developers. If you’re a React developer and you know a lot about Angular, that’s very much appreciated. If not, you’ll end up learning something, because you will have to maintain something written in Angular. But every single new thing, we do in React.
And lastly, the backend part. It’s 99% Java using Spring Boot, Spring Cloud and all the trimmings, running on AWS.
Do team members have the opportunities to pick the technology they use?
Nicolas: In the driver app, we have 120-130 different microservices. Every single developer gets to choose, with caveats, how to do the all new microservices. Are we married to Java? No. If you find a reason to write something in Scala, why not? But you must have a well justified reason for doing that, it can’t just be up to your taste. You also need to take into consideration that you’re going to be the one who has to keep maintaining, supporting, monitoring that piece of code. You can use all the cool techie stuff as long as you have a reason for it.
“The taxi industry is a very specific one and we work very hard to make sure we understand and respond to its needs.”
mytaxi has acquired and merged with several rival companies like Hailo, taxibeat and Clever Taxi. What kind of challenges did this mean in terms of technology and integration?
Nicolas: The big UK firm Hailo was the first one that mytaxi merged with. We spent 6-7 months integrating it into mytaxi, and we learned a lot of lessons. First of all, that we could do it. Second of all, that we had to pay a high price for it, as it occupied a large share of our development resources for a long time.
Since then, mytaxi acquired two more companies, and none of them have been integrated. Will we ever do it? Maybe, maybe not. The good thing is that all of them follow a microservices architecture. All companies have their own CTOs, they work in a separate but synchronized way. Right now, what we need to do is process all the data that we have from all of these companies, understand it and have the intelligence to make predictions for each company. I don’t see why we should be integrating them right now, but maybe in three weeks I’ll say something different. That’s how the market works.
What learning opportunities do developers have once they join you?
Marc: We recently launched the mytaxi mytraining program. Every single employee can propose a training program in their area of expertise, and anyone in the company who is interested can attend, either via a Zoom call or in person. These are internal trainings in groups of 10-20 people. They can be about anything from web development to leadership, motivation and coaching skills, agile or recruiting. We also have a budget for people if they want to attend a conference or an event that is relevant to their daily jobs.
Nicolas: Roughly speaking, you can go to any European conference at least once a year. Also, if you’re interested in doing a course, you need to come up with an idea yourself. You tell us what you want to learn.
Marc: We also have language lessons: English and the local language in every location. We’re a very international team and the language that we use in the office on a day-to-day basis is English, in Barcelona as well as in Hamburg.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the (tiny) room. What are you going to do about the space? This office has amazing views but there’s no way you can fit another developer in here.
Nicolas: We will be moving to El Triangle on Plaza Catalunya very soon. We’re going from 150 square meters to a massive space of 1400 square meters, which proves that the intentions of mytaxi to settle down here and scale the team are very serious. The driver management team, also based in Barcelona, is going to be joining us there.
“I can honestly say that I’m living by the values of the company.”
Finally, what’s the best thing about working here according to you personally?
Marc: For me, it’s the culture that we have. Nico is the boss here, and you see how easygoing he is. Everyone is really friendly and approachable. This is one of the greatest perks.
Another thing is that we want to hire the right people, but we also want to make sure that our project is the right one for the people we hire. We spend a lot of time in the office. If you’re just here for the sake of a job, or for the money, it’s just not worth it. We want you to enjoy the project, enjoy the technologies you use, enjoy your life here. Even though we’re working, we’re still having fun. That’s our mentality.
Nicolas: For me it’s that I can honestly say that I’m living by the values of the company. In most companies values are just something that you write on a wall. Here, we really live our values, and it’s something that we take very seriously and continuously work on.
I agree with Marc that the culture and the environment are superb. You don’t need to ask for permission to do anything. There are no committees, no approvals. We hire you so you tell us how to proceed.
We are also a blame-free company. We do not point fingers and we do not put the blame on anyone. We expect you to fail. I share my fuckups with the rest of the tribe all the time. So people know that they’re allowed to make mistakes.
Finally, one of the best things is the recruitment process itself. We give the opportunity to the team to decide who we hire. The last step of the interview is always about inviting the candidate for a lunch, a beer or a coffee, so they can spend time with the people that they’ll be working with. Then the team votes, and they decide if we hire you. If there’s one thumbs down, we will not make you an offer.
Marc: Some people vote on candidates the first day that they’re working here! For most people, this is completely new. It’s the first time that they have the responsibility to decide someone’s future.
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Political author Gearoid O Colmain discusses the Paris attacks with RT International
RTQuestionMore
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Deception, Militarism, Video, War Crimes | European Union, France, ISIS, Syria | 2 Comments
Pentagon report predicted West’s support for Islamist rebels would create ISIS
Anti-ISIS coalition knowingly sponsored violent extremists to ‘isolate’ Assad, rollback ‘Shia expansion’
By Dr Nafeez Ahmed | Insurge Intelligence | May 22, 2015
A declassified secret US government document obtained by the conservative public interest law firm, Judicial Watch, shows that Western governments deliberately allied with al-Qaeda and other Islamist extremist groups to topple Syrian dictator Bashir al-Assad.
The document reveals that in coordination with the Gulf states and Turkey, the West intentionally sponsored violent Islamist groups to destabilize Assad, and that these “supporting powers” desired the emergence of a “Salafist Principality” in Syria to “isolate the Syrian regime.”
According to the newly declassified US document, the Pentagon foresaw the likely rise of the ‘Islamic State’ as a direct consequence of this strategy, and warned that it could destabilize Iraq. Despite anticipating that Western, Gulf state and Turkish support for the “Syrian opposition” — which included al-Qaeda in Iraq — could lead to the emergence of an ‘Islamic State’ in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the document provides no indication of any decision to reverse the policy of support to the Syrian rebels. On the contrary, the emergence of an al-Qaeda affiliated “Salafist Principality” as a result is described as a strategic opportunity to isolate Assad.
The revelations contradict the official line of Western governments on their policies in Syria, and raise disturbing questions about secret Western support for violent extremists abroad, while using the burgeoning threat of terror to justify excessive mass surveillance and crackdowns on civil liberties at home.
Among the batch of documents obtained by Judicial Watch through a federal lawsuit, released earlier this week, is a US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) document then classified as “secret,” dated 12th August 2012.
The DIA provides military intelligence in support of planners, policymakers and operations for the US Department of Defense and intelligence community.
So far, media reporting has focused on the evidence that the Obama administration knew of arms supplies from a Libyan terrorist stronghold to rebels in Syria.
Some outlets have reported the US intelligence community’s internal prediction of the rise of ISIS. Yet none have accurately acknowledged the disturbing details exposing how the West knowingly fostered a sectarian, al-Qaeda-driven rebellion in Syria.
Charles Shoebridge, a former British Army and Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism intelligence officer, said:
“Given the political leanings of the organisation that obtained these documents, it’s unsurprising that the main emphasis given to them thus far has been an attempt to embarrass Hilary Clinton regarding what was known about the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi in 2012. However, the documents also contain far less publicized revelations that raise vitally important questions of the West’s governments and media in their support of Syria’s rebellion.”
The West’s Islamists
The newly declassified DIA document from 2012 confirms that the main component of the anti-Assad rebel forces by this time comprised Islamist insurgents affiliated to groups that would lead to the emergence of ISIS. Despite this, these groups were to continue receiving support from Western militaries and their regional allies.
Noting that “the Salafist [sic], the Muslim Brotherhood, and AQI [al-Qaeda in Iraq] are the major forces driving the insurgency in Syria,” the document states that “the West, Gulf countries, and Turkey support the opposition,” while Russia, China and Iran “support the [Assad] regime.”
The 7-page DIA document states that al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), the precursor to the ‘Islamic State in Iraq,’ (ISI) which became the ‘Islamic State in Iraq and Syria,’ “supported the Syrian opposition from the beginning, both ideologically and through the media.”
The formerly secret Pentagon report notes that the “rise of the insurgency in Syria” has increasingly taken a “sectarian direction,” attracting diverse support from Sunni “religious and tribal powers” across the region.
In a section titled ‘The Future Assumptions of the Crisis,’ the DIA report predicts that while Assad’s regime will survive, retaining control over Syrian territory, the crisis will continue to escalate “into proxy war.”
The document also recommends the creation of “safe havens under international sheltering, similar to what transpired in Libya when Benghazi was chosen as the command centre for the temporary government.”
In Libya, anti-Gaddafi rebels, most of whom were al-Qaeda affiliated militias, were protected by NATO ‘safe havens’ (aka ‘no fly zones’).
‘Supporting powers want’ ISIS entity
In a strikingly prescient prediction, the Pentagon document explicitly forecasts the probable declaration of “an Islamic State through its union with other terrorist organizations in Iraq and Syria.”
Nevertheless, “Western countries, the Gulf states and Turkey are supporting these efforts” by Syrian “opposition forces” fighting to “control the eastern areas (Hasaka and Der Zor), adjacent to Western Iraqi provinces (Mosul and Anbar)”:
“… there is the possibility of establishing a declared or undeclared Salafist Principality in eastern Syria (Hasaka and Der Zor), and this is exactly what the supporting powers to the opposition want, in order to isolate the Syrian regime, which is considered the strategic depth of the Shia expansion (Iraq and Iran).”
The secret Pentagon document thus provides extraordinary confirmation that the US-led coalition currently fighting ISIS, had three years ago welcomed the emergence of an extremist “Salafist Principality” in the region as a way to undermine Assad, and block off the strategic expansion of Iran. Crucially, Iraq is labeled as an integral part of this “Shia expansion.”
The establishment of such a “Salafist Principality” in eastern Syria, the DIA document asserts, is “exactly” what the “supporting powers to the [Syrian] opposition want.” Earlier on, the document repeatedly describes those “supporting powers” as “the West, Gulf countries, and Turkey.”
Further on, the document reveals that Pentagon analysts were acutely aware of the dire risks of this strategy, yet ploughed ahead anyway.
The establishment of such a “Salafist Principality” in eastern Syria, it says, would create “the ideal atmosphere for AQI to return to its old pockets in Mosul and Ramadi.” Last summer, ISIS conquered Mosul in Iraq, and just this month has also taken control of Ramadi.
Such a quasi-state entity will provide:
“… a renewed momentum under the presumption of unifying the jihad among Sunni Iraq and Syria, and the rest of the Sunnis in the Arab world against what it considers one enemy. ISI could also declare an Islamic State through its union with other terrorist organizations in Iraq and Syria, which will create grave danger in regards to unifying Iraq and the protection of territory.”
The 2012 DIA document is an Intelligence Information Report (IIR), not a “finally evaluated intelligence” assessment, but its contents are vetted before distribution. The report was circulated throughout the US intelligence community, including to the State Department, Central Command, the Department of Homeland Security, the CIA, FBI, among other agencies.
In response to my questions about the strategy, the British government simply denied the Pentagon report’s startling revelations of deliberate Western sponsorship of violent extremists in Syria. A British Foreign Office spokesperson said:
“AQ and ISIL are proscribed terrorist organisations. The UK opposes all forms of terrorism. AQ, ISIL, and their affiliates pose a direct threat to the UK’s national security. We are part of a military and political coalition to defeat ISIL in Iraq and Syria, and are working with international partners to counter the threat from AQ and other terrorist groups in that region. In Syria we have always supported those moderate opposition groups who oppose the tyranny of Assad and the brutality of the extremists.”
The DIA did not respond to request for comment.
Strategic asset for regime-change
Security analyst Shoebridge, however, who has tracked Western support for Islamist terrorists in Syria since the beginning of the war, pointed out that the secret Pentagon intelligence report exposes fatal contradictions at the heart of official pronunciations:
“Throughout the early years of the Syria crisis, the US and UK governments, and almost universally the West’s mainstream media, promoted Syria’s rebels as moderate, liberal, secular, democratic, and therefore deserving of the West’s support. Given that these documents wholly undermine this assessment, it’s significant that the West’s media has now, despite their immense significance, almost entirely ignored them.”
According to Brad Hoff, a former US Marine who served during the early years of the Iraq War and as a 9/11 first responder at the Marine Corps Headquarters Battalion in Quantico from 2000 to 2004, the just released Pentagon report for the first time provides stunning affirmation that:
“US intelligence predicted the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), but instead of clearly delineating the group as an enemy, the report envisions the terror group as a US strategic asset.”
Hoff, who broke the story via Levant Report — an online publication run by Texas-based educators who have direct experience of the Middle East — points out that the DIA document “matter-of-factly” states that the rise of such an extremist Salafist political entity in the region offers a “tool for regime change in Syria.”
The DIA intelligence report shows, he wrote, that the rise of ISIS only became possible in the context of the Syrian insurgency — “there is no mention of US troop withdrawal from Iraq as a catalyst for Islamic State’s rise, which is the contention of innumerable politicians and pundits.” The report demonstrates that:
“The establishment of a ‘Salafist Principality’ in Eastern Syria is ‘exactly’ what the external powers supporting the opposition want (identified as ‘the West, Gulf Countries, and Turkey’) in order to weaken the Assad government.”
The rise of a Salafist quasi-state entity that might expand into Iraq, and fracture that country, was therefore clearly foreseen by US intelligence as likely — but nevertheless strategically useful — blowback from the West’s commitment to “isolating Syria.”
Critics of the US-led strategy in the region have repeatedly raised questions about the role of coalition allies in intentionally providing extensive support to Islamist terrorist groups in the drive to destabilize the Assad regime in Syria.
The conventional wisdom is that the US government did not retain sufficient oversight on the funding to anti-Assad rebel groups, which was supposed to be monitored and vetted to ensure that only ‘moderate’ groups were supported.
However, the newly declassified Pentagon report proves unambiguously that years before ISIS launched its concerted offensive against Iraq, the US intelligence community was fully aware that Islamist militants constituted the core of Syria’s sectarian insurgency.
Despite that, the Pentagon continued to support the Islamist insurgency, even while anticipating the probability that doing so would establish an extremist Salafi stronghold in Syria and Iraq.
As Shoebridge told me, “The documents show that not only did the US government at the latest by August 2012 know the true extremist nature and likely outcome of Syria’s rebellion” — namely, the emergence of ISIS — “but that this was considered an advantage for US foreign policy. This also suggests a decision to spend years in an effort to deliberately mislead the West’s public, via a compliant media, into believing that Syria’s rebellion was overwhelmingly ‘moderate.’”
Annie Machon, a former MI5 intelligence officer who blew the whistle in the 1990s on MI6 funding of al-Qaeda to assassinate Libya’s former leader Colonel Gaddafi, similarly said of the revelations:
“This is no surprise to me. Within individual countries there are always multiple intelligence agencies with competing agendas.”
She explained that MI6’s Libya operation in 1996, which resulted in the deaths of innocent people, “happened at precisely the time when MI5 was setting up a new section to investigate al-Qaeda.”
This strategy was repeated on a grand scale in the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya, said Machon, where the CIA and MI6 were:
“… supporting the very same Libyan groups, resulting in a failed state, mass murder, displacement and anarchy. So the idea that elements of the American military-security complex have enabled the development of ISIS after their failed attempt to get NATO to once again ‘intervene’ is part of an established pattern. And they remain indifferent to the sheer scale of human suffering that is unleashed as a result of such game-playing.”
Several US government officials have conceded that their closest allies in the anti-ISIS coalition were funding violent extremist Islamist groups that became integral to ISIS.
US Vice President Joe Biden, for instance, admitted last year that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey had funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to Islamist rebels in Syria that metamorphosed into ISIS.
But he did not admit what this internal Pentagon document demonstrates — that the entire covert strategy was sanctioned and supervised by the US, Britain, France, Israel and other Western powers.
The strategy appears to fit a policy scenario identified by a recent US Army-commissioned RAND Corp report.
The report, published four years before the DIA document, called for the US “to capitalise on the Shia-Sunni conflict by taking the side of the conservative Sunni regimes in a decisive fashion and working with them against all Shiite empowerment movements in the Muslim world.”
The US would need to contain “Iranian power and influence” in the Gulf by “shoring up the traditional Sunni regimes in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan.” Simultaneously, the US must maintain “a strong strategic relationship with the Iraqi Shiite government” despite its Iran alliance.
The RAND report confirmed that the “divide and rule” strategy was already being deployed “to create divisions in the jihadist camp. Today in Iraq such a strategy is being used at the tactical level.”
The report observed that the US was forming “temporary alliances” with al-Qaeda affiliated “nationalist insurgent groups” that have fought the US for four years in the form of “weapons and cash.” Although these nationalists “have cooperated with al-Qaeda against US forces,” they are now being supported to exploit “the common threat that al-Qaeda now poses to both parties.”
The 2012 DIA document, however, further shows that while sponsoring purportedly former al-Qaeda insurgents in Iraq to counter al-Qaeda, Western governments were simultaneously arming al-Qaeda insurgents in Syria.
The revelation from an internal US intelligence document that the very US-led coalition supposedly fighting ‘Islamic State’ today, knowingly created ISIS in the first place, raises troubling questions about recent government efforts to justify the expansion of state anti-terror powers.
In the wake of the rise of ISIS, intrusive new measures to combat extremism including mass surveillance, the Orwellian ‘prevent duty’ and even plans to enable government censorship of broadcasters, are being pursued on both sides of the Atlantic, much of which disproportionately targets activists, journalists and ethnic minorities, especially Muslims.
Yet the new Pentagon report reveals that, contrary to Western government claims, the primary cause of the threat comes from their own deeply misguided policies of secretly sponsoring Islamist terrorism for dubious geopolitical purposes.
Dr Nafeez Ahmed is an investigative journalist, bestselling author and international security scholar.
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Deception, War Crimes | al-Qaeda, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, France, Iraq, ISIS, Israel, Libya, Middle East, Syria, UK, United States, Zionism | 1 Comment
Turkey kills missile system deal with China manufacturer
Press TV – November 15, 2015
Turkey has rescinded a contract with a state-owned Chinese manufacturer that would have seen the company build Ankara its first long-range missile defense system.
“The deal was cancelled,” an official from Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s office told AFP.
The USD-3.4-billion (EUR-3-billion) contract was clinched with China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC) following talks with the firm in 2013.
The deal originally raised eyebrows among other NATO members, which complained that the defense apparatus would lack the qualities enabling it to work in tandem with other such systems in the Western military alliance.
Turkey has US-manufactured Patriot missiles stationed along its border with Syria.
The Chinese company has been placed under sanctions by Washington allegedly for selling items that are banned under US law to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The Turkish official, whose name was not mentioned in the report, said, “One of the main reasons is that we will launch our own national missile project.”
Prior to the cancellation of the deal, however, Turkish Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz had emphasized that Ankara’s decision to opt for a Chinese-built system and avoid integration with the existing NATO defense infrastructure was in line with the country’s national defense interests.
Experts had also argued that choosing a Chinese partner would ultimately enable Turkey to own both the system and the technology.
French-Italian consortium Eurosam and US-listed Raytheon Co have also submitted offers to help build the Turkey Long Range Air and Missile Defense System (T-LORAMIDS).
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Militarism | China, NATO, Turkey, United States | 1 Comment
Veteran Meteorologist Says John Kerry’s Claim Climate-Change Drought Is Causing Refugees Is Completely False
By P Gosselin | November 15, 2015
Veteran meteorologist Joe Bastardi at his latest Weatherbell Analytics Saturday Summary explains why US Secretary of State John Kerry’s claim that the refugee crisis is caused by climate-change-driven drought is total nonsense and is easily disproved.
Secretary Kerry would like to have the public believe that the refugee crisis from Syria and Africa is due to man-made climate drought in the region – and not his abject foreign policy debacle.
Chart shows Nigeria has been too wet. Source Weatherbell.
At the 2:34 mark Joe shows a precipitation chart for western Africa which clearly depicts how rainfall has in fact been above average over the past 15 years, and thus drought cannot be cited as a reason for the Boko Haram terror group. Bastardi says:
There’s no drought here. And so you cannot blame drought in Nigeria for the rise of Boko Haram.”
The above chart’s blue shows that it’s been too wet in Nigeria, and not too dry. Indeed there are number of scientific papers showing that the Sahara region has been getting greener over the past 30 years.
In the Middle East Bastardi shows that the drought has hit part of Turkey, but that most of Syria has had normal precipitation, and explains that “drought” is the normal climate condition there. At the 4:20 mark the Weatherbell meteorologist puts up a precipitation chart for the Middle East for the last five years:
The chart above shows more wet (blue) than dry (yellow/green) with Syria being completely normal. Joe shakes his head at how anyone could even make the claim that Kerry does:
What’s really interesting about all this is, this is just so easy to disprove. […] So I don’t understand why that was said.”
Most readers here do understand why. The falsehood was said because US foreign policy has been a total catastrophe in that region, and now Kerry is desperate for any excuse. And he couldn’t have picked a lamer one. In real life any company or employee blaming poor performance on climate change would be immediately shown the door. This is a blatant unwillingness to accept any responsibility.
The nonsense of climate change leading to terrorism excuse is so clear on so many fronts that it’s a wonder than anyone with even a few points of IQ would take it seriously.
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Deception, Science and Pseudo-Science | Africa, John Kerry, Middle East, Syria | Leave a comment
Riyadh to support militants if Assad remains in power: Saudi FM
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir says his country will continue supporting the Takfiri militant groups operating to topple the Damascus government as long as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in power.
Speaking on the sidelines of the international peace talks on the Syria crisis in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, Jubeir said the Riyadh regime only backs a political process that envisages President Assad’s removal from power.
“We will support the political process that will result in him (Assad) leaving or we will continue to support” Syria’s foreign-backed opposition in order to topple the Syrian leader “by force,” said the top Saudi diplomat.
The fresh round of talks on the Syria crisis opened in Vienna on Friday and ended on Saturday. Senior representatives from 17 countries, the United Nations, European Union as well as the Arab League were in attendance.
According to an official statement issued at the end of the meeting, the world diplomats seeking to find a solution to the Syria crisis would meet again in “approximately one month” to review progress towards a ceasefire and the start of a political process in the crisis-hit country.
The participants also agreed on a set calendar for a transition government in Syria within six months and elections in 18 months.
The parties to the international peace talks in Syria remain at loggerheads over the role that Assad would play in Syria’s political process.
While some countries, including the US and its allies, press for the removal of Assad as part of a solution to the Syrian crisis, others, notably Iran and Russia, say only the Syrian nation can decide over the matter.
Saudi Arabia has long been among the major supporters of the terror groups operating against the Syrian government since March 2011. The violence fueled by the foreign-backed Takfiris has so far claimed over 250,000 lives.
The previous round of talks on the crisis in Syria was held in the Austrian capital on October 30. At the end of the day-long talks, the participants agreed on respecting Syria’s national unity and sovereignty as well as uprooting terrorism in the violence-plagued Arab country.
Jubeir had repeated the same comments ahead of the October 30 round of Vienna talks, saying Riyadh sees no role for Assad in Syria’s political future.
However, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi lashed out at the Saudi official for his statements, saying Riyadh is not qualified to participate in efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria as the kingdom is shedding the blood of people elsewhere.
Jubeir “who has no clue how diplomacy and politics work, should keep his mouth closed and keep his country out of a matter that is none of its business,” Zoubi added.
Europe sees Vienna talks positive
European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has described as “very good” the latest round of international talks on the Syrian conflict in Vienna.
“The process can definitively start” toward reaching a settlement for the nearly five-year conflict in Syria, Mogherini told journalists at the end of the day-long talks held in the Austrian capital on Saturday.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said the Vienna meeting had resulted in an agreement to convene meetings between the opposition and the incumbent Damascus government, and enforce a ceasefire by January 1.
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Militarism, War Crimes | European Union, Saudi Arabia, Syria | 1 Comment
Paris was tragic, yet global terrorism from the USA mass-murder machine is ignored
Truth News Media | November 14, 2015
The recent events in Paris were undoubtedly horrific, and our thoughts are with those affected by these atrocious acts. The victims and their families, innocent people who did not volunteer to fight in any war, these defenseless civilians were attacked in the most heinous way possible.
And while the world’s media turns its gaze to Paris, there is another act of terrorism happening every day that the corporate media chooses to ignore.
It seems the main export of the USA and UK is terrorism, but sugar coated and wrapped in the PR-friendly guise of ‘promoting democracy’ and ‘protecting our freedoms’, making the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians easier to swallow, or more frequently, completely ignore.
Perhaps ironically then, is the fact that these acts are of course illegal and a violation of international law, and the sad truth is that these rouge nations, the USA and UK themselves are the biggest threats to freedom and democracy. We are witnessing doublespeak in action.
To date, the USA has been responsible for the deaths of at least 20 million people since the end of World War II, in 37 nations. A report by James A. Lucas of Counter Currents explains:
This study reveals that U.S. military forces were directly responsible for about 10 to 15 million deaths during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and the two Iraq Wars. The Korean War also includes Chinese deaths while the Vietnam War also includes fatalities in Cambodia and Laos.
The American public probably is not aware of these numbers and knows even less about the proxy wars for which the United States is also responsible. In the latter wars there were between nine and 14 million deaths in Afghanistan, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor, Guatemala, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sudan.
These figures do not include the full figures of more recent violations, such as drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan.
Statistics obtained by the Bureau Investigates reveal that approximately 2,464 – 7,177 people have been murdered in these nations. It is also estimated that 90% of those killed in these attacks are innocent civilians.
Make no mistake, each one of these 500-plus drone strikes is nothing less than a tax-payer funded terrorist attack.
At the time of publication, there are also a high number of deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of the illegal invasions, which has cost in excess of a staggering $1,500,000,000,000.
1,455,590 Iraqis have been murdered to date, and at least 91,000 Afghans.
This means nothing to the corporations who profit from global terrorism.
While the little amount of corporate media coverage that is devoted to exposing profiteering remains largely focused on oil firms, there are trillions of dollars being made in the supply of arms.
Companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and BAE Systems as well as many others – often with government connections, are raking in billions of dollars from government contracts.
For example, Lockheed Martin received $36 billion in contracts in a single year.
So while my heart goes out to the victims and families of those affected by the despicable acts carried out in Paris, should we not also turn our outrage and contempt for these cowardly acts towards our own governments – who not only obliterate innocent lives on a daily basis, but actually allow profiteering from mass-murder, resulting in a never-ending cycle of destruction that we’re funding with our taxes.
The ending of terrorism begins with us.
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Militarism, Timeless or most popular, War Crimes | Afghanistan, BAE Systems, Boeing, Human rights, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Lockheed Martin, Pakistan, Somalia, UK, United States, Vietnam, Yemen | 1 Comment
Netanyahu faces arrest in Spain over 2010 flotilla raid
Press TV | November 15, 2015
A judge in Spain has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and seven other former and current Israeli officials over a 2010 fatal raid by the Tel Aviv regime forces on a Gaza-bound aid ship.
According to reports by Spanish media, the group could be arrested if they set foot on Spanish soil, the Jerusalem Post reported on Saturday.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attacked the Turkish-flagged MV Mavi Marmara that was part of the Freedom Flotilla in the high seas in the Mediterranean Sea, killing nine Turkish citizens and injuring about 50 other people who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy. A 10th died after four years in a coma.
A UN panel that reviewed the case later denounced the Israeli attack on the vessel as “excessive and unreasonable.”
Former Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, Minister of Military Affairs Moshe Ya’alon and Ehud Barak, the former minister of military affairs, former interior minister, Eli Yishai, and former minister of intelligence, Dan Meridor, are among those implicated in the case.
Together with Netanyahu, the officials form the so-called Forum of Seven, which is an ad-hoc committee of ministers that made important decisions on security issues.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, has denounced the judge’s order, with its spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon saying, “We consider it to be a provocation. We are working with the Spanish authorities to get it canceled. We hope it will be over soon.”
Last month, the family of one of the victims of the raid, who is an American-Turkish citizen, filed a lawsuit against Barak for the raid.
The flotilla was attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, carrying aid to the Palestinians in the impoverished enclave.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, which has caused a decline in the standards of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.
The attack sparked international outcry and plunged relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara into an all-time low at the time.
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Illegal Occupation, Subjugation - Torture | Avigdor Lieberman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Dan Meridor, Ehud Barak, Eli Yishai, Human rights, Israel, Mavi Marmara, Moshe Ya'alon | 1 Comment
The Extraordinary Trial of Arthur Topham: Part 2
By Eve Mykytyn | Dissident Voice | November 14, 2015
Read Part 1.
On November 12th the jury found Mr. Topham guilty of ‘inciting hate.’ This leads to a few questions.
First, the jury found Mr. Topham guilty on Count 1 but not guilty on Count 2. Ordinarily, this is a result we are comfortable with since the state (the Crown) may have proved ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ that a defendant committed an assault but not have shown sufficient evidence of battery. Mr. Topham’s case is different. He was charged with two virtually identical counts, both relating to his website but covering different periods of time, that is, count 1 was for the period from April 28, 2011 to May 4, 2012, and count 2 was for January 29, 2013 to December 11, 2013.
If Mr. Topham intended to incite hate, would he really have changed his mind in the brief period between counts 1 and 2? We will never know what the jury relied upon; in yet another abrogation of free speech, the jury was threatened that if they spoke to anyone about their deliberations, they would be committing a criminal offense. How is the public supposed to understand the mysterious machinations of the term ‘hate’ without knowing what caused a jury to convict a fellow citizen of such a crime?
Hate is a crime the essential elements of which have been left undefined. As a writer, one must not only discern from the miasma what constitutes ‘hate’ but also guess what elements a jury will find persuasive. If one of the main goals of the criminal law is to prevent certain behavior then clarity of what such behavior is, is essential. What can Canadians say? May they say they disagree strongly with a particular group? What evidence can one print in support of their disagreement? Surely, it is not the defendant’s responsibility that a particular political group is also associated with an ethnic identity and a religion. The Crown, by controlling website content through its ‘hate’ law, is controlling not only what Canadians may say but also what Canadians may read. Mr. Topham’s is not the only blog to criticize Israel and Zionism. Should Canadians then read political criticism only from other countries? Very troubling.
Second, the crown had almost 2 years to prepare its case. Its evidence was contained in 4 binders. Many of the pages were illegible and the Crown itself seemed to have extraordinary difficulties in citing to its own arguments. The defense quite properly objected. The Crown wanted to provide clear copies of the illegible pages in yet another binder cross referenced to the originals. The trial could have been an exercise in maze solving. Judge Butler ruled that the Crown had to provide legible copies. This seemed to present a large obstacle and endless court time was wasted in discussions of printing costs, etc. As a foreign observer it seemed ironic that the crown spent $190 an hour on its expert witness, who as an earlier independent complainant against Mr. Topham might have been willing to accept less, and I don’t know how much money on ‘security’ but had so much trouble producing legible copies.
I belabor this point because it is very odd for the prosecution to allow its evidence to be blurry. I would expect in proving an elusive crime like ‘hate’ they would want their evidence to be as clear and convincing as possible. Was the intent to confuse the jury? Was the Crown merely incompetent? This is not impossible. The judge spent much time instructing the crown’s representative, Ms. Johnston, on procedural issues. This gave me the impression (and perhaps the jurors as well?) that the judge was helping and thus favoring the prosecution. Surely this was unintentional on Judge Butler’s part.
Third, and this relates to point two, the jury was given 62 pages of ‘charges’ (or what Americans call jury instructions). Even if all twelve jurors, ordinary men and women, are speed readers, how are they to read and evaluate 62 pages of instructions and then apply them to four binders? The plethora of material leads me to suspect that the jury was not intended to read the material at all. This would tend the jury toward a guilty verdict.
There is not a sinister act by the jury. They were asked to sit through weeks of testimony about Jewish politics, history, religion, and identity. Jury selection would have excluded anyone who was actually interested in such topics. They were handed stacks of paper. Faced with these circumstances, they presumably decided that the Crown and the judge worked for their province and had British Columbia’s best interests at heart. It is actually a testimony to the weakness of the Crown’s case that Mr. Topham was found not guilty at all.
The battle is not over. Following the verdict, both sides indicated that they intended to appeal. (Here Canada differs from the United States where prosecutors can appeal only under very limited circumstances). The Crown asked that Mr. Topham’s bail restrictions be changed and that his website be taken down. Judge Butler did not decide these issues because first, as the defense pointed out, these requests were improperly made. Mr. Topham intends to present a Charter (constitutional) argument that the judge had stayed at the beginning of the trial so that the ‘facts’ of the case could be more fully developed at trial.
Eve Mykytyn graduated from Boston University School of Law and was admitted to bar of the state of New York.
November 15, 2015 Posted by aletho | Civil Liberties, Full Spectrum Dominance | Arthur Topham, Canada, Human rights, Zionism | Leave a comment
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1956: Tea and Sympathy
In 1956, the racier sections of the Australian press were preoccupied with the decision of theatre companies in Melbourne and Sydney to stage productions of Tea and Sympathy. Truth trumpeted the ‘She-Male Play’, the ‘Queer Brew’, the ‘Sordid Sex Play’, deploring its immorality and its shocking themes.
And the nature of these themes? Tea and Sympathy tells the story of Tom Lee, a sensitive young man, suspected by his schoolmates of being a homosexual, because he prefers Bach to sport, and spends his time in the company of an older woman.
The play was quite explicit in its treatment of homosexuality. Tom is caught swimming with a teacher, also thought to be ‘that way’. And there is something distinctly suss about the school housemaster, who is his chief tormentor – presented as being altogether too hostile, for the standard Freudian reasons. Most of this disappeared in the film (which arrived in Australia in 1957).
In the end, Laura, the housemaster’s wife, decides to fuck Tom, to prove to him that he is perfectly normal. The play ends with Laura unbuttoning her blouse and the line: “Years from now, when you talk about this – and you will … be kind’.
There is no question of this being a gay-friendly play. The whole point is that Tom is being unjustly maligned. And yet, it nonetheless spoke to many camp men, whose lives were as damaged as Tom’s, but with none of the relief of their being really heterosexual.
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All posts for the day November 10th, 2014
Exodus 20 – The Ten Commandments
Posted by Eldon J. Brown on November 10, 2014
Posted in: Christianity. Leave a comment
The Ten
I am the LORD thy God
Thou shalt have no other gods
No graven images or likenesses
Not take the LORD‘s name in vain
Remember the sabbath day
Honour thy father and thy mother
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness
Ritual Decalogue
Catholic doctrine view
Exodus 20 King James Version (KJV)
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
This 1768 parchment (612×502 mm) by Jekuthiel Sofer emulated the 1675 Ten Commandments at the Amsterdam Esnoga synagogue.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
“Thou Shalt not kill” contextually translates as, “thou shalt not murder” or, “Rasah”
To murder is to “lay in wait” or to kill with evil intent, the opposite of “self defense”
The Old Testament. Although the Israelites did not have a term that precisely fits our present-day idea of murder, they differentiated among killing, manslaughter, and murder in their legal terminology.
The Term for Murder in the Sixth Commandment. The sixth commandment (“you shall not murder” Exod 20:13 ; Deut 5:17 ) has been misunderstood because of an ambiguity in terminology. The Hebrew word that was used in this case for “kill” (or murder) was the somewhat rare term rasah [j;x’r] (derivatives can be found with the meaning of shatter [ Psalm 42:11 ] or slaughter [ Eze 21:27 ]). Although its exact meaning has defied explanation, in other contexts it could refer to killing that was inherently evil ( Judges 20:4 ; Job 24:14 ; Psalm 94:6 ; Isa 1:21 ; Hosea 6:9 ). It was also listed in abuses of the covenant community ( Jer 7:9 ; Hosea 4:2 ) and in lists of curses ( Deut 27:24-25 ). Jezebel committed murder (rasah [j;x’r]) against the prophets ( 1 Kings 18:13 ), as did Ahab against Naboth ( 1 Kings 21:19 ) and Simeon and Levi against the Shechemites ( Gen 34:26 ). However, the same term could also have applied to unintentional manslaughter ( Deut 4:41 ; 19:3-6 ; Joshua 20:3 ), blood vengeance ( Numbers 35:27 Numbers 35:30 ), the legal execution of a criminal ( Num 35:30 ), attempted assassination ( 2 Kings 6:32 ), and on one occasion it was used for the figurative killing of humans by animals ( Prov 22:13 ).
Discernment in Homicide Cases. The death penalty was posed for one who killed with premeditation, but not for accidental manslaughter ( Exod 21:12-13 ; Lev 24:17 ; Deut 27:24 ). In fact, premeditated murder did not require a trial ( Exod 21:14 ; Num 35:19 ; Deut 19:11-13 ). Thus, the Old Testament saw a fundamental difference between the two types of homicide ( Deut 19:1-13 ; Joshua 20:1-7 ), providing two levels of meaning for rasah [j;x’r]. One who killed out of enmity was not allowed sanctuary in the city of refuge. The victim’s clan could demand that the killer be delivered up to the blood avenger ( 2 Sam 14:7-11 ), who presented the evidence against the individual. Guilt was determined either by the intention of the killer or by the type of object used in the apparent manslaughter ( Num 35:16-21 ; some iron, stone, or wooden objects were considered likely to cause death ). However, there had to be at least two witnesses to convict a murderer ( Num 35:30 ; Deut 17:6 ; 19:15 ; 1 Sam 21:4 ). The blood avenger, who was responsible for the execution, was not allowed to pity the murderer or else the land would be defiled ( Num 35:34 ; David put himself in the hands of God because of this 2 Sam 12:13 ). No ransom was allowed since this would have signified consent with the crime, undermining the value of human life and breaking the covenant with God. There was also no substitutionary punishment ( Deut 24:16 ; although Saul’s sons were demanded as ransom after his own death because he had murdered the Gibeonites 2 Sam 21:1-9 ).
The Meaning of Rasah. Rasah probably had a specialized meaning, possibly in connection with the killing (whether premeditated or accidental) of anyone in the covenant community, especially that which brought illegal violence. The sixth commandment therefore protected the individual Israelite within the community from any danger. Only God had the right to terminate life; murder was an abrogation of his power that ignored humanity’s created nature and value in the sight of God. God had to be propitiated since the covenant relationship had been broken ( Num 35:33 ). Murder deprived God of his property (the blood of the victim Leviticus 17:11 Leviticus 17:14 ), which apparently passed to the control of the murderer ( 2 Sam 4:11 ). Thus, the murderer’s life was ransomed. Underlying this was the dictum in Genesis 9:6 concerning the sanctity of life. The murderer had to receive a penalty consistent with this law (lex talionis) to purge the evil from their midst ( Gen 4:10-11 ; Deut 21:8 ) and to deter others ( Deut 13:11 ; 17:13 ; 19:20 ; 21:21 ). Rasah did not cover the subject of killing in war or capital punishment, which were done only at the command of God; thus, they were not in the same category as murder.
Other Terms for Murder. The most common Hebrew word for killing (harag [g;r’h]) could also be used for murder. Pharaoh viewed Moses’ killing of an Egyptian as a crime ( Exod 2:14-15 ). Joab’s spilling of the blood of Abner was condemned ( 2 Sam 3:30 ; 1 Kings 2:5 ). David was responsible for the death of Uriah, although he did not physically kill him ( 2 Sam 12:9 ). Judicial murder was also condemned ( Exod 23:7 ; Psalm 10:8 ; 94:6 ). Harag [g;r’h] was the term used for Cain’s crime against Abel ( Gen 4:8 ), and for the murderers of Ishbosheth ( 2 Sam 4:11-12 ). Striking a parent (possibly with the intent to murder Exod 21:15 ), inducing death by miscarriage ( Exod 21:22-23 ), and sacrificing children to a foreign god ( Lev 20:2-3 ) were apparently considered murder and were capital crimes. If a man beat a slave to death, he was probably punished (or better avenged) by being put to death by the covenant community ( Exod 21:20 ). There was no legislation outlawing suicide, as it must have been very rare. Those who committed suicide in Scripture had been placed in a situation of certain death ( Judges 9:54 ; 16:30 ; 1 Sam 31:4 ; 2 Sam 17:23 ; 1 Kings 16:18 ).
Unsolved Murder. A strange ceremony was performed when the murderer (or manslayer) was not known ( Deut 21:1-9 ). Since there were religious implications (murder was a crime against God), the matter could not be left alone; the guilt had to be atoned for. The elders of the closest city were obliged to take responsibility for the act and instigated a procedure to remove the guilt. They took a heifer and broke its neck. They then washed their hands over the dead creature, symbolizing their accepting the burden for it, but not the guilt. They then declared that they were not eyewitnesses, and prayed for the innocence of the entire community. There was no compensation for the family of the victim.
The New Testament. Although the New Testament writers lived in a different legal environment, they were consistent in their view of murder with their Old Testament counterparts. Jesus interpreted the sixth commandment differently than the contemporary Jewish scholars (who had a narrowly literal view), and agreed with the spirit of the Old Testament law on homicide ( Matt 5:21-22 ). He pointed out a spiritual cause for murder; its root was internal anger. One was not righteous by simply refraining from homicide; an angry person was also subject to judgment. He thus contended that hating one’s brother was in the sphere of the command against murder, as it was part of a process leading to a potential murderous act (cf. Lev 19:17-18 ). Jesus’ words were in effect a full summary of the murder law (cf. Exod 21:12 ; Deut 17:8 ). The intention as well as the act came under God’s judgment. He condemned the evil disposition of the heart that lay at the root of the transgression. The beginning of the outward act of murder was sinful anger or hatred, an attitude that was a sin against the sixth commandment. James added that the cause of murder was a consequence of frustrated desire ( 4:2 ; cf. 1 Kings 21 ).
Humans were given the right to exact the death penalty for murder ( John 19:10-11 ; Rom 13:1-4 ). The murderer’s children were not guilty unless they had willingly participated in the crime ( Matt 23:34-36 ; 27:25 ). A whole nation could be guilty of murder ( Matt 27:25 ; Acts 2:23 Acts 2:36 ; 3:15 ; 5:28 ; 7:52 ). Satan was considered the original murderer ( John 8:44 ). Murderers had no place in God’s kingdom ( Gal 5:20 ; Rev 21:8 ).
The death of Christ was the supreme example of murder in the Scriptures ( Matt 27:20 ; Mark 13:12 ; 14:55 ). His murder was predicted in the Passion narratives ( Mark 8:31 ; 9:31 ; 10:34 ). The Jews sought to murder him ( John 7:1 John 7:19 ; 11:53 ). His violent death was recounted by Peter ( Acts 5:30 ) and Paul ( Acts 26:21 ; Eph 2:16 Christ was murdered in hostility ). Christ was symbolized as the slaughtered Lamb, signifying his humble obedience and innocence ( Rev 5:6-12 ; 13:8 ). Slain martyrs were likewise labeled ( Rev 6:9 ).
Mark W. Chavalas
See also Kill, Killing; Ten Commandments; War, Holy War
Bibliography. H. Boecker, Law and the Administration of Justice in the Old Testament; E. Nielsen, The Ten Commandments in New Perspective; A Phillips, Ancient Israel’s Criminal Law: A New Approach to the Decalogue; idem, Journal of Jewish Studies28 (1977): 105-26; J. Stamm and M. Andrew, The Ten Commandments in Recent Research; R. Westbrook, Studies in Biblical and Cuneiform Law.
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Edited by Walter A. Elwell
Copyright © 1996 by Walter A. Elwell. Published by Baker Books, a division of
Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan USA.
For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement.
Merry Christmas: UN Declares Arms Trade Treaty to Go Into Effect Dec. 24
Posted in: Christianity, Government Tyranny. Tagged: Arms Trade Treaty, Jesus Christ King James Version, United Nations, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Leave a comment
Luke 22:35-36 King James Version (KJV)
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
On its official website, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (yes, that’s really a thing and yes, it is housed right here in the United States) announced that the UN’s Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) “will enter into force on 24 December 2014.”
Click for a message from the John Birch Society.
It is ironical that on the day before the world’s 2.18 billion Christians commemorate the coming of Jesus Christ to the Earth, the United Nations will officially put into motion a plan to deny them of a right given to them by the very God whose birth they celebrate.
For those unfamiliar with the text of the UN’s Arms Trade Treaty, here’s a brief sketch of the most noxious provisions:
• Article 2 of the treaty defines the scope of the treaty’s prohibitions. The right to own, buy, sell, trade, or transfer all means of armed resistance, including handguns, is denied to civilians by this section of the Arms Trade Treaty.
• Article 3 places the “ammunition/munitions fired, launched or delivered by the conventional arms covered under Article 2” within the scope of the treaty’s prohibitions, as well.
• Article 4 rounds out the regulations, also placing all “parts and components” of weapons within the scheme.
• Perhaps the most immediate threat to the rights of gun owners in the Arms Trade Treaty is found in Article 5. Under the title of “General Implementation,” Article 5 mandates that all countries participating in the treaty “shall establish and maintain a national control system, including a national control list.” This list should “apply the provisions of this Treaty to the broadest range of conventional arms.”
• Article 12 adds to the record-keeping requirement, mandating that the list include “the quantity, value, model/type, authorized international transfers of conventional arms,” as well as the identity of the “end users” of these items.
• Finally, the agreement demands that national governments take “appropriate measures” to enforce the terms of the treaty, including civilian disarmament. If these countries can’t get this done on their own, however, Article 16 provides for UN assistance, specifically including help with the enforcement of “stockpile management, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.” In fact, a “voluntary trust fund” will be established to assist those countries that need help from UN peacekeepers or other regional forces to disarm their citizens.
Arguably, the Arms Trade Treaty would become the law of the United States if the Senate were to ratify the treaty.
While that is the process that the Constitution establishes for the implementation of treaties, fundamental principles of construction and constitutional law dictate that no treaty that violates the Constitution can become the supreme law of the land. In the case of the UN’s Arms Trade Treaty, there is no doubt that regardless of presidential signatures or congressional consent, this treaty cannot pass constitutional muster and therefore will never be the valid law of the land.
Unless, of course, Americans once again acquiesce to President Obama’s assumption of illegal authority and relinquish their rights and weapons regardless of the reasons they should not do so.
There is a higher authority, however, who never asked his followers to surrender their weapons and leave themselves defenseless in the war against tyranny.
While the president declares that greater federal restriction on the right to own, transfer, buy, and sell guns and ammunition is necessary in order to “heal our troubled minds,” Christians believe that there is only one place to turn for such relief: the Great Physician.
Christians, moreover, believe they not only have the right to keep and bear arms, but have the obligation to do so in the fight to protect freedom. The idea that God has commanded his children to own weapons and to be ready to wield them in defense of liberty might sound odd to many, but the scriptures provide ample evidence of this divine injunction.
In Luke 22:35-36, to cite one example, Jesus commanded his followers to purchase a sword in defiance of Roman law. Within the boundaries of the world under the control of the Roman emperor, to carry such a weapon was a crime punishable by death.
Why, then, would Jesus, the Prince of Peace, command his followers to break the law of the world’s most powerful empire — with legions of armed enforcers around every corner — if the benefit of keeping that commandment did not outweigh the potential harm?
Furthermore, if Jesus was the pacifist so many modern gun-rights deniers portray him as, why is there not a single syllable in the scriptures forbidding disciples from keeping and bearing arms?
If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why would he instruct early Christians to arms themselves, but insist that modern disciples be left defenseless? And, what of Paul’s pronouncement that “if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8)?
If God preferred that his children refrain from buying, selling, owning, or transferring weapons, why is there not one verse in the entire canon of Christian scripture setting out such counsel?
Where has the Christian adherence to and understanding of this principle gone?
Perhaps it has slipped into oblivion, much like the related precept of being steadfastly dedicated to obeying the world of God in defiance of immoral government edicts.
Perhaps there are “evil men and seducers” who are “without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.” (2 Timothy 3: 3, 13) who intend to enslave mankind and who understand that a disarmed populace is a slave populace.
Turning to the wisdom and warnings of the Holy Bible, Christians can find the “instruction in righteousness” that they believe lead them to “all good works.” (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)
All Americans, regardless of religion, must recognize that God gave us the freedoms we enjoy and with that gift comes the obligation of protecting ourselves and our loved ones. We must be armed, not for the purpose of private vengeance, but to remain ready to defend the liberty that is our inheritance.
The next meeting of the states that are parties to the Arms Trade Treaty — including the United States — is scheduled for November 27-28 in Berlin, Germany. There is time, then, to convince our elected leaders to refuse to sacrifice our freedom to keep and bear arms on the altar of one-world government.
“Crimes” are being staged at locations I have been to in my Mom’s car… They watch you 24-7 to set you up
Posted in: Activism & Politics, Police & Law Enforcement. Tagged: COINTELPRO Gang Stalked, East German Secret Police, Edward Snowden, federal crimes, Gang Stalking, Harvey A. Silverglate. Leave a comment
Read the book “Three Felonies A Day” by and then do a little research on the now disbanded East German Secret Police formerly known as “The Stasi” and you will better understand what I am about to tell you.
I am being followed around everywhere I go (COINTELPRO Gang Stalked) by entities that I don’t know. Why would they be interested in me you ask? My best guess would be that it is because I am an Activist (The All Star Activist) and have stood up to the wrongdoings of both private industry, non-profits and Politicians alike. That does not explain everything however, it is still a very valid and accurate answer. A broader answer would be that they are watching and manipulating all of us, Edward Snowden among others have proven that.
In short, I keep seeing places that I have been to, the exact locations in fact, on local broadcast television news. This has happened twice now within the space of a year. At first I thought it was just a fluke that when I turned on the TV news only to see a story of some huge, horrific criminal incident that took place right at the exact spot where my Mom and I had just parked our car. The first time it happened I said to Ma, “Ma, look! We were just at that place yesterday! We were parked right at that exact spot!”
Because I am being stalked by just about every government entity known to man (the definition of Gang Stalking), I of course have my radar up constantly. It took a while for me to figure out since, I am just an ordinary guy just trying to live in a world full of corruption and evil, and I speak out about it from time to time. So when I see this extremely weird “coincidence” on the TV news I start wondering. My first thought was “No, that can’t be possible. What kind of crazy shit is that and who would authorize such an operation. More importantly why??”
This simple answer is that I have pissed off some very powerful people who have unlimited resources and no accountability.
Three Felonies A Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent. Click image to be taken to Amazon.com
The average professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she has likely committed several federal crimes that day. Why? The answer lies in the very nature of modern federal criminal laws, which have exploded in number but also become impossibly broad and vague.
In Three Felonies a Day, Harvey A. Silverglate reveals how federal criminal laws have become dangerously disconnected from the English common law tradition and how prosecutors can pin arguable federal crimes on any one of us, for even the most seemingly innocuous behavior.
The volume of federal crimes in recent decades has increased well beyond the statute books and into the morass of the Code of Federal Regulations, handing federal prosecutors an additional trove of vague and exceedingly complex and technical prohibitions to stick on their hapless targets.
The dangers spelled out in Three Felonies a Day do not apply solely to “white collar criminals,” state and local politicians, and professionals. No social class or profession is safe from this troubling form of social control by the executive branch, and nothing less than the integrity of our constitutional democracy hangs in the balance.
We’ve seen it recently (and I’ve posted on it) with the California Highway Patrol. These people ARE above the law usually (law enforcement/corporations) and do whatever they want with both “Black Budgets” and your tax dollars. We’ve seen it with the IRS and the targeting of Tea Party groups to deny them non-profit status, then destroy email evidence of their crimes. We’ve seen it with former Attorney General Eric Holder and the “Fast & Furious” operation that gave US purchased assault weapons to the Mexican Drug Cartels. Most importantly, we’ve been told by Edward Snowden that both the American People and people the world over are nothing more than pawns to be spied upon, manipulated and sold out by our own “Intelligence” agencies.
We live in a prison that you can’t escape where the “Overseer’s” are watching everything we do and listening to everything we say. This type of a prison is known as a “Panopticon“.
Now, here we go again. I have just seen the second (possibly third) instance where a “crime” has occurred at some location that I stopped at in San Francisco, while driving with my mom.
The TV news has this story splashed all over the place in big headlines, with “in-depth” reporting. A group of volunteers has been assembled to spread the word about this “tragedy” and bring it to a quick resolution. I don’t believe that any of it is real (save for the clueless and distraught victims, I feel sorry for them). It has all the hallmarks of a Gang Stalking “False Flag” (staged event meant to justify actions that would otherwise be unjustifiable).
The first time I saw this type of operation it had to do with terrorism. The second time it had to do with a missing person. This time, it’s a missing person again.
Let me just say now that I think that all of this stuff is absolutely HORRIBLE. If it’s real, it’s horrible. If it’s fake, its horrible. Either way, real or fake, it has horrible implications for the condition of our society. The mother’s pain when she was crying and pleading on TV looked pretty damn horrible to me. I thought to myself, “Does this poor lady realize that this is all staged? Do any of the friends know? Are they all just pawns being used as convincing props in this sick ass play??”
As far as the particular case in question goes, I don’t know. I tend to think that their distress is real and I hate that, it means innocents are being harmed. That is what makes me so mad, these evil Gang Stalkers (law enforcement/CIA) do this crap and hurt decent people in the process. They don’t care, all they care about is vengeance, control and money.
Read “Three Felonies A Day” and do just a little research on “The Stasi” and how they controlled people in the former Communist East Germany. Hell, just Internet search Gang Stalking and illegal surveillance for that matter, then you will understand. You will understand how they control almost every aspect of our lives.
That’s the problem with eyes watching you everywhere you go, ears listening to everything you say, it makes setting you up by a criminal organization easy. They just go behind you and make a mess, then try to blame you for it. You should really ask yourself, why?
I think they are doing this to me so that they can justify keeping me under constant surveillance. All the FBI has to do is produce an image or video of my Mom’s car stopping at the location where they staged their fake “crime” to a judge. That judge is then going to give them any warrant they want to do anything they want to me, all under the ruse of an “investigation”. Yeah, right. More like collect false evidence, stage a “crime” and then plant the false evidence at the scene of their fake “crime”. They have already broken into my room, sawed off the locks and burglarized, maybe even planted false evidence. Who knows? I don’t have absolute control of it anymore.
Hey, didn’t they do that to OJ the first time?
Didn’t they just do that with another activist in Oakland, Ca. named Stephen Peterson
Charges Against Arson Suspect Dropped
A string of seven separate fires early in the morning on Sept. 28 caused $3 million in damage.
This is animal rights activist Stephen Peterson who just happned to be caught walking on camera in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Law enforcement probably used a snitch or paid informant to set the fires Mr. Peterson was accused of setting, right after he had been caught on camera at that location. You can believe that as an animal rights activist, he is on a “Domestic Terrorist” watch list and followed everywhere he goes. This is the type of guy Edward Snowden was talking about, as am I.
By Bea Karnes (Patch Staff)
Updated October 31, 2014 at 6:11 pm
Prosecutors dropped three felony charges of arson today against one of the two men accused of setting off a string of fires in Alameda in September.
Stephen Peterson, 27, walked out of the Alameda County Superior Court scot-free, according to Alameda County District Attorney spokeswoman Teresa Drenick.
Friends of the animal rights activist and musician had expressed disbelief at the accusations against him, saying he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What’s Wrong With Public Video Surveillance?
The Four Problems With Public Video Surveillance
Your support helps the ACLU defend privacy rights and a broad range of civil liberties.
Video cameras, or closed-circuit television (CCTV), are becoming a more and more widespread feature of American life. Fears of terrorism and the availability of ever-cheaper cameras have accelerated the trend even more. The use of sophisticated systems by police and other public security officials is particularly troubling in a democratic society. In lower Manhattan, for example, the police are planning to set up a centralized surveillance center where officers can view thousands of video cameras around the downtown – and police-operated cameras have proliferated in many other cities across America in just the past several years.
Although the ACLU has no objection to cameras at specific, high-profile public places that are potential terrorist targets, such as the U.S. Capitol, the impulse to blanket our public spaces and streets with video surveillance is a bad idea. Here are four reasons why:
1. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE
The implicit justification for the recent push to increase video surveillance is the threat of terrorist attacks. But suicide attackers are clearly not deterred by video cameras – and may even be attracted to the television coverage cameras can ensure – and the expense of an extensive video surveillance system such as Britain’s – which sucks up approximately 20 percent of that nation’s criminal justice budget – far exceeds the limited benefits that the system may provide in investigating attacks or attempted attacks after the fact (see fact sheet on Surveillance Cameras and the Attempted London Attacks).
The real reason cameras are usually deployed is to reduce much pettier crimes. But it has not even been demonstrated that they can do that. In Britain, where cameras have been extensively deployed in public places, sociologists studying the issue have found that they have not reduced crime. “Once the crime and offence figures were adjusted to take account of the general downward trend in crimes and offences,” criminologists found in one study, “reductions were noted in certain categories but there was no evidence to suggest that the cameras had reduced crime overall in the city centre.” A 2005 study for the British Home Office also found that cameras did not cut crime or the fear of crime (as had a 2002 study, also for the British government).
In addition, U.S. government experts on security technology, noting that “monitoring video screens is both boring and mesmerizing,” have found in experiments that “after only 20 minutes of watching and evaluating monitor screens, the attention of most individuals has degenerated to well below acceptable levels.”
2. CCTV IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ABUSE
One problem with creating such a powerful surveillance system is that experience tells us it will inevitably be abused. There are five ways that surveillance-camera systems are likely to be misused:
Criminal abuse
Surveillance systems present law enforcement “bad apples” with a tempting opportunity for criminal misuse. In 1997, for example, a top-ranking police official in Washington, DC was caught using police databases to gather information on patrons of a gay club. By looking up the license plate numbers of cars parked at the club and researching the backgrounds of the vehicles’ owners, he tried to blackmail patrons who were married. Imagine what someone like that could do with a citywide spy-camera system.
Sometimes, bad policies are set at the top, and an entire law enforcement agency is turned toward abusive ends. That is especially prone to happen in periods of social turmoil and intense conflict over government policies. During the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War, for example, the FBI – as well as many individual police departments around the nation – conducted illegal operations to spy upon and harass political activists who were challenging racial segregation and the Vietnam War. This concern is especially justified since we are in some respects enduring a similar period of conflict today.
Abuse for personal purposes
Powerful surveillance tools also create temptations to abuse them for personal purposes. An investigation by the Detroit Free Press, for example, showed that a database available to Michigan law enforcement was used by officers to help their friends or themselves stalk women, threaten motorists after traffic altercations, and track estranged spouses.
Discriminatory targeting
Video camera systems are operated by humans who bring to the job all their existing prejudices and biases. In Great Britain, camera operators have been found to focus disproportionately on people of color. According to a sociological study of how the systems were operated, “Black people were between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half times more likely to be surveilled than one would expect from their presence in the population.”
Experts studying how the camera systems in Britain are operated have also found that the mostly male (and probably bored) operators frequently use the cameras to voyeuristically spy on women. Fully one in 10 women were targeted for entirely voyeuristic reasons, the researchers found. Many incidents have been reported in the United States. In one, New York City police in a helicopter supposedly monitoring the crowds at the 2004 Republican Convention trained an infrared video camera on an amorous couple enjoying the nighttime “privacy” of their rooftop balcony.
3. THE LACK OF LIMITS OR CONTROLS ON CAMERAS USE
Advanced surveillance systems such as CCTV need to be subject to checks and balances. Because the technology has evolved so quickly, however, checks and balances to prevent the kinds of abuses outlined above don’t exist. Two elements in particular are missing:
A consensus on limits for the capability of public CCTV systems.
Unfortunately, history has shown that surveillance technologies put in place for one purpose inevitably expand into other uses. And with video technology likely to continue advancing, the lack of any clear boundaries for what CCTV systems should be able to do poses a significant danger.
In just the past several years, many cities, including Washington, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, have for the first time installed significant numbers of police-operated cameras trainined on public spaces. And once these surveillance facilities are put in place, police departments will be in a position to increase the quality of its technology and the number of its cameras – and will inevitably be tempted or pressured to do so. Do we want the authorities installing high-resolution cameras that can read a pamphlet from a mile away? Cameras equipped to detect wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, allowing night vision or see-through vision? Cameras equipped with facial recognition, like those that have been installed in airports and even on the streets of Tampa, Florida? Cameras augmented with other forms of artificial intelligence, such as those deployed in Chicago?
As long as there is no clear consensus about where we draw the line on surveillance to protect American values, public CCTV is in danger of evolving into a surveillance monster.
Legally enforceable rules for the operation of such systems.
A societal consensus about how cameras should be used is important, but in the end we are a nation of laws and rights that have their root in law. While the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution offers some protection against video searches conducted by the police, there are currently no general, legally enforceable rules to limit privacy invasions and protect against abuse of CCTV systems. Rules are needed to establish a clear public understanding of such issues as whether video signals are recorded, under what conditions, and how long are they retained; what the criteria are for access to archived video by other government agencies, or by the public; how the rules would be verified and enforced; and what punishments would apply to violators.
There have long been well-established rules governing the audio recording of individuals without their consent (there is a reason surveillance cameras never have microphones). It makes no sense that we don’t have equivalent laws for video recording.
4. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON PUBLIC LIFE
The growing presence of public cameras will bring subtle but profound changes to the character of our public spaces. When citizens are being watched by the authorities – or aware they might be watched at any time – they are more self-conscious and less free-wheeling. As syndicated columnist Jacob Sullum has pointed out, “knowing that you are being watched by armed government agents tends to put a damper on things. You don’t want to offend them or otherwise call attention to yourself.” Eventually, he warns, “people may learn to be careful about the books and periodicals they read in public, avoiding titles that might alarm unseen observers. They may also put more thought into how they dress, lest they look like terrorists, gang members, druggies or hookers.” Indeed, the studies of cameras in Britain found that people deemed to be “out of time and place” with the surroundings were subjected to prolonged surveillance.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A LACK OF PROPORTION BETWEEN BENEFITS AND RISKS
Like any intrusive technology, the benefits of deploying public video cameras must be balanced against the costs and dangers. This technology (a) has the potential change the core experience of going out in public in America because of its chilling effect on citizens, (b) carries very real dangers of abuse and “mission creep,” and (c) would not significantly protect us against terrorism. Given that, its benefits – preventing at most a few street crimes, and probably none – are disproportionately small.
Full article in .pdf
rom the Fourth Amendment to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, and from the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to films like Minority Report and The Lives of Others, our law and culture are full of warnings about state scrutiny of our lives. These warnings are commonplace, but they are rarely very specific. Other than the vague threat of an Orwellian dystopia, as a society we don’t really know why surveillance is bad and why we should be wary of it. To the extent that the answer has something to do with “privacy,” we lack an understanding of what “privacy” means in this context and why it matters. We’ve been able to live with this state of affairs largely because the threat of constant surveillance has been relegated to the realms of science fiction and failed totalitarian states.
But these warnings are no longer science fiction. The digital technologies that have revolutionized our daily lives have also created minutely detailed records of those lives. In an age of terror, our government has shown a keen willingness to acquire this data and use it for unknown purposes. We know that governments have been buying and borrowing private-sector databases, and we recently learned that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been building a massive data and supercomputing center in Utah, apparently with the goal of intercepting and storing much of the world’s Internet communications for decryption and analysis.
Although we have laws that protect us against government surveillance, secret government programs cannot be challenged until they are discovered. And even when they are, our law of surveillance provides only minimal protections. Courts frequently dismiss challenges to such programs for lack of standing, under the theory that mere surveillance creates no harms. The Supreme Court recently reversed the only major case to hold to the contrary, in Clapper v. Amnesty International USA, finding that the respondents’ claim that their communications were likely being monitored was “too speculative.”
But the important point is that our society lacks an understanding of why (and when) government surveillance is harmful. Existing attempts to identify the dangers of surveillance are often unconvincing, and they generally fail to speak in terms that are likely to influence the law. In this Article, I try to explain the harms of government surveillance. Drawing on law, history, literature, and the work of scholars in the emerging interdisciplinary field of “surveillance studies,” I offer an account of what those harms are and why they matter. I will move beyond the vagueness of current theories of surveillance to articulate a more coherent understanding and a more workable approach.
At the level of theory, I will explain why and when surveillance is particularly dangerous and when it is not. First, surveillance is harmful because it can chill the exercise of our civil liberties. With respect to civil liberties, consider surveillance of people when they are thinking, reading, and communicating with others in order to make up their minds about political and social issues. Such intellectual surveillance is especially dangerous because it can cause people not to experiment with new, controversial, or deviant ideas. To protect our intellectual freedom to think without state over-sight or interference, we need what I have elsewhere called “intellectual privacy.” A second special harm that surveillance poses is its effect on the power dynamic between the watcher and the watched. This disparity creates the risk of a variety of harms, such as discrimination, coercion, and the threat of selective enforcement, where critics of the government can be prosecuted or blackmailed for wrongdoing unrelated to the purpose of the surveillance.
At a practical level, I propose a set of four principles that should guide the future development of surveillance law, allowing for a more appropriate balance between the costs and benefits of government surveillance. First, we must recognize that surveillance transcends the public/private divide. Public and private surveillance are simply related parts of the same problem, rather than wholly discrete. Even if we are ultimately more concerned with government surveillance, any solution must grapple with the complex relationships between government and corporate watchers. Second, we must recognize that secret surveillance is illegitimate and prohibit the creation of any domestic-surveillance programs whose existence is secret. Third, we should recognize that total surveillance is illegitimate and reject the idea that it is acceptable for the government to record all Internet activity without authorization. Government surveillance of the Internet is a power with the potential for massive abuse. Like its precursor of telephone wiretapping, it must be subjected to meaningful judicial process before it is authorized. We should carefully scrutinize any surveillance that threatens our intellectual privacy. Fourth, we must recognize that surveillance is harmful. Surveillance menaces intellectual privacy and increases the risk of blackmail, coercion, and discrimination; accordingly, we must recognize surveillance as a harm in constitutional standing doctrine. Explaining the harms of surveillance in a doctrinally sensitive way is essential if we want to avoid sacrificing our vital civil liberties.
I develop this argument in four steps. In Part I, I show the scope of the problem of modern “surveillance societies,” in which individuals are increasingly monitored by an overlapping and entangled assemblage of government and corporate watchers. I then develop an account of why this kind of watching is problematic. Part II shows how surveillance menaces our intellectual privacy and threatens the development of individual beliefs in ways that are inconsistent with the basic commitments of democratic societies. Part III explores how surveillance distorts the power relationships between the watcher and the watched, enhancing the watcher’s ability to blackmail, coerce, and discriminate against the people under its scrutiny. Part IV explores the four principles that I argue should guide the development of surveillance law, to protect us from the substantial harms of surveillance.
Google Maps Has Been Tracking Your Every Move, And There’s A Website To Prove It
Google is tracking wherever your smartphone goes, and putting a neat red dot on a map to mark the occasion
by ELIZABETH FLUX | JUNKEE.COM | AUGUST 17, 2014
Remember that scene in Minority Report, where Tom Cruise is on the run from the law, but is unable to avoid detection because everywhere he goes there are constant retina scans feeding his location back to a central database? That’s tomorrow. Today, Google is tracking wherever your smartphone goes, and putting a neat red dot on a map to mark the occasion.
You can find that map here. All you need to do is log in with the same account you use on your phone, and the record of everywhere you’ve been for the last day to month will erupt across your screen like chicken pox.
We all know that no matter what ‘privacy’ settings you may try and implement, our information is all being collected and stored somewhere. That knowledge sits in the back of our minds, and is easy to drown out by shoving in some headphones and watching Adventure Time on repeat until everything stops being 1984. But it’s a sharp jolt back to reality when you see a two dimensional image marking your daily commute with occasional detours to the cinema or a friend’s house.
Looking at mine, I realised that a) I live my life in a very small radius, and b) there are places on my map that I don’t remember going. One of them I’ve apparently visited three times on different days. Once whilst “Biking” and twice while “Stationary”. All at times I wouldn’t usually be awake. I’m not sure what’s happening on Wood Street in North Melbourne, or why my phone apparently travels there without me, but I’m not going to rule out secret alien conspiracies.
This never happened. UNLESS IT DID.
Apparently this record only happens if you have ‘location services’ switched on in your phone; if you do and you’re finding you have no data, then it means that either you don’t exist or you’ve beaten the system. If it’s the latter, please teach me your ways; I know for a fact that I switched my phone’s location detection off, but apparently it somehow got switched back on.
All Star Activist here… This is ONE of the solutions that Elizabeth was asking to be informed of. These pouches are known as “Faraday Cages” and block radio signals. You can even make them yourself although, it’s a lot of trouble. Just easier to buy one. I advocate their use heartily since I have had government agents follow me and commit crimes in the places I had been to in order to set me up for the blame. GET THIS TO PROTECT YOURSELF!
Oh well. Perhaps this month I’ll take some inspiration from the runner who used Nike+ draw dicks – except this time when the dots are joined, they’ll just form a huge, unblinking eye. With occasional side trips to Wood Street.
Elizabeth is the editor of Voiceworks, and has been published in Film Ink, Metro, The Punch, and Lip Magazine. She tweets terrible puns @ElizabethFlux.
BlockitPocket on Youtube
Cell phones can operate with as little as 1-millionth of a normal signal! A minimum of 80 dB attenuation (blocking) material is required to achieve blocking, as well as a complete (no leak) seal. The Block-it Pocket works by incorporating pure silver onto a high quality nylon ripstop fabric equaling 100+ dB attenuation. Which is then hand sewn into the inner pocket, extending beyond the cover to create a complete faraday enclosure. This is how the Block-it Pocket works!
Our entire product line incorporates this technology
to maximize the protection each product is intended to provide. Extensive testing has proven that Block-it Pocket products work!
Many people also do not know that virtually all new devices can be accessed remotely, even with the device powered off and the battery removed! It’s true! Just read this article we found recently to illustrate the remote, illegal accessing of wireless devices.
Block-It Pocket
A Simple But Effective Demonstration.
Block-It Talk-It
Demonstrates The “Deflective” Properties.
Provides shielding from: Microwaves, RFs, EMFs, E-Fields and more.
You will not receive calls, texts or email while storing in the pocket but all of your messages will be waiting for you when you need them.
While we cannot guarantee 100% shielding/blocking 100% of the time due to potential damage or misuse, we have had 100% success in all controlled tests! The Block-it Pocket Works!
Simply make sure the clasp is securely fastened for complete signal blocking. That’s it!
Eliminates outside entities from tracking or hacking you!
Avoid annoying phone calls or texts at just the wrong moment!
No more damaging radiation while carrying your device!
Provides Protection From EMPs!
Protects RFID Passports, Credit Cards and Transponders!
Water Resistant!
Machine Washable – gentle.
We are proud of the products we’ve developed and we know you will be satisfied too.
If you are not completely satisfied with the quality and performance of any Block-it Pocket product, simply return it within 30 days for a full refund.
Even Powering Down A Cell Phone Can’t Keep The NSA From Tracking Its Location
from the making-a-strong-case-for-Snowden’s-fridge-logic dept
We know how much information the NSA can grab in terms of cell phone usage — namely, calls made and received and length of conversations, along with phone and phone card metadata like IMSI and IMEI numbers. It can even grab location data, although for some reason, it claims it never does. (No matter, plenty of law enforcement agencies like gathering location data, so it’s not like that information is going to waste [bleak approximation of laughter]).
According to Ryan Gallagher at Slate, the NSA, along with other agencies, are able to something most would feel to be improbable, if not impossible: track the location of cell phones even if they’re turned off.
On Monday, the Washington Post published a story focusing on how massively the NSA has grown since the 9/11 attacks. Buried within it, there was a small but striking detail: By September 2004, the NSA had developed a technique that was dubbed “The Find” by special operations officers. The technique, the Post reports, was used in Iraq and “enabled the agency to find cellphones even when they were turned off.” This helped identify “thousands of new targets, including members of a burgeoning al-Qaeda-sponsored insurgency in Iraq,” according to members of the special operations unit interviewed by the Post.
Normally, turning a cell phone off cuts the connection to towers, effectively taking it off the grid and making it only traceable to the last point it was connected. The Post article doesn’t explain exactly how the NSA accomplishes it, but other incidents over the past half-decade offer a few indications of how this might be done.
In 2006, it was reported that the FBI had deployed spyware to infect suspects’ mobile phones and record data even when they were turned off… In 2009, thousands of BlackBerry users in the United Arab Emirates were targeted with spyware that was disguised as a legitimate update. The update drained users’ batteries and was eventually exposed by researchers, who identified that it had apparently been designed by U.S. firm SS8, which sells “lawful interception” tools to help governments conduct surveillance of communications.
The FBI’s use, in which cell phones’ microphones were remotely activated to record conversations (even with the phones turned off), probably had some bearing on Snowden’s request that journalists power down their phones andplace them in the fridge.
According to Gallagher, the NSA may be using mass updates to infect phones of targets overseas (and presumably, any “non-targets” applying the same faux update). This would be difficult, but not impossible, and considering what we’ve learned about the NSA’s far-reaching surveillance net, certainly not implausible. A couple of details in support of that theory:
First, two telcos that provide service to millions of cell phone users are known to be overly cooperative with intelligence agencies. You may recall the fact that Verizon and AT&T notably did not sign the collective letter asking the government to allow affected companies to release information on government requests for data. Given this background, it’s not unimaginable that Verizon and AT&T would accommodate the NSA (and FBI) if it wished to use their update systems to push these trojans.
Add to this the fact that Microsoft and others have allowed intelligence agencies early access to security flaws, allowing them to exploit these for a certain length of time before informing the public and patching the holes. Add these two together and you’ve got the means and the opportunity to serve snooping malware to millions of unsuspecting cell phone users.
Sparing usage, properly targeted isn’t really an issue. But if updates containing spyware have been pushed to the thousands of non-targeted individuals just to ensure the targets are included, it becomes more problematic, and the track record of the two agencies who have used this technology is far from pristine.
If you liked this post, you may also be interested in…
From The Unsealed ‘Jewel v. NSA’ Transcript: The DOJ Has Nothing But Contempt For American Citizens
Ron Wyden: It’s Time To Kill The Third Party Doctrine And Go Back To Respecting Privacy
Hypocrisy In Action: Stingray Maker, Who Relies On Secret No Bid Contracts, Whines About Motorola Getting A No Bid Contract
Newly Released Documents Show NSA Abused Its Discontinued Internet Metadata Program Just Like It Abused Everything Else
Snowden: NSA Was Building ‘Automated’ System To Hit Back At Perceived Cyberattacks
Reader Comments For TechDirt Article Above (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
Another excellent book, click to go to Amazon.com
http://www.threefeloniesaday.com/Youtoo/tabid/86/Default.aspx
http://patch.com/california/alameda/charges-against-arson-suspect-dropped-0
https://www.facebook.com/freestephenpetersen
http://harvardlawreview.org/2013/05/the-dangers-of-surveillance/
http://harvardlawreview.org/2013/06/addressing-the-harm-of-total-surveillance-a-reply-to-professor-neil-richards/
https://www.aclu.org/secure/help-protect-the-next-aaron-swartz?Ms=web_ac_130306_aaronslaw
https://www.aclu.org/donate/join-renew-give?ms=web_interior_inline
https://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/whats-wrong-public-video-surveillance
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Drinking Alcohol Has No Significant Influence on ALS Risk, European Study Finds
by Ana Pena, PhD
Drinking alcohol seems to have no influence on the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a large population-based European study suggests.
The study, “Association between alcohol exposure and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Euro-MOTOR study,” was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
While about 10 percent of ALS cases are familial (caused by genetic mutations that are inherited), the vast majority of ALS is considered sporadic and of unknown cause.
Among the several environmental factors investigated, only smoking has shown the potential to increase the risk for ALS.
Other studies have tried to figure out if there is a link between drinking alcohol and ALS development, but so far the findings have been inconsistent.
Some reports revealed no significant association between the two. More recently, however, Dutch and Swedish studies suggest that alcohol intake may exert a protective role against ALS, decreasing the disease risk.
To shed light on this matter, researchers set up a large multi-center, population-based, case-control study.
The study, called Euro-MOTOR, enrolled 1,557 patients with ALS and 2,922 controls recruited in three European countries — the Netherlands, Ireland, and Italy.
Participants were asked to complete a survey that collected information about their lifestyle, education, physical activity, health condition, smoking and alcohol drinking habits. Clinical data related to ALS was collected from patient medical records.
From all beverages, exposure to red wine was analyzed in more detail. Red wine is rich in antioxidants and these molecules are supposed to block death of nerve cells induced by glutamate, one of the proposed causes of ALS.
Exposure to alcohol was assessed just until the three years before the date of the survey, to avoid interference of recent or present drinking habits.
Researchers detected significant differences in cumulative exposure to alcohol between cases and controls. Specifically, patients drank more in Apulia, a region in the south of Italy, and less in the Netherlands, compared with controls.
But overall, intake of alcoholic drinks in general, or red wine in particular, was not significantly associated with risk of ALS.
A categorized analysis by patient groups, showed that only patients from Apulia and the Netherlands displayed a significant association, but again, with opposite trends.
Alcohol consumption was associated with more than double the risk in the region of Apulia, while among Dutch alcohol consumers the ALS risk was reduced by one third.
Comparing current and former drinkers with those who never drink, former drinkers were at higher risk while current alcohol consumers were less likely to have ALS — but in the Dutch group only.
Red wine consumption followed a similar trend with former drinkers nearly doubling ALS risk.
Cumulative exposure to alcoholic beverages, either general drinks or red wine, were not significantly linked with ALS risk.
“Overall, intake of alcohol was not significantly associated with ALS, although a decreased risk of developing ALS for current drinkers (significant only in The Netherlands) and an increased risk for former drinkers was detected,” the researchers wrote, adding that these findings are in agreement with other American and Japanese case-control studies.
The link between alcohol and ALS requires “a thorough exploration, using different approaches and methods, and taking into account different alcohol intake patterns and the type of alcoholic beverages.” the researchers advised.
“Further investigations are needed to better determine the role of alcohol in developing ALS,” they said.
Ana Pena, PhD
Ana is a molecular biologist enthusiastic about innovation and communication. In her role as a science writer she wishes to bring the advances in medical science and technology closer to the public, particularly to those most in need of them. Ana holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, where she focused her research on molecular biology, epigenetics and infectious diseases.
Tagged alcohol, ALS risk, drinking, Euro-MOTOR, Europe, population-based study, risk factor.
Previous: Optimized Bi-PAP Protocol Improves ALS Patients’ Survival, Study Suggests
Next:Let’s Get Physical: The ALS Exercise Debate
If alcohol consumption led to increases in ALS diagnoses there would be millions and millions of pALS all over the world.
Rick will confirm that Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding.
No real harm came of that.
OK- So Falling Over Juice is not a problem- here is a problem compound:
In a historic first, a California Jury is now deliberating whether Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer gave a school groundskeeper terminal cancer, after lawyers for both sides delivered their closing arguments on Tuesday.
Groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson is one of more than 5,000 plaintiffs across the United States who claim Monsanto’s glyphosate-containing herbicides, including the widely-used Roundup, cause cancer. His case, the first to go to trial, began in San Francisco’s Superior Court of California four weeks ago. -Reuters
On Tuesday, Johnson’s attorney Brent Wisner urged jurors to hold Monsanto liable and slap them with a verdict that would “actually change the world” – after arguing that Monsanto knew about glyphosate’s risks of cancer, but decided to ignore and bury the information.
(Phosphates also linked to ALS)
Hinrich Wrage says:
Roundup is not Phosphate, so whats the point?
Meta-Study: Five articles including one cohort study and seven case-control studies and a total of 431,943 participants were identified. The odds ratio for the association between alcohol consumption and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was 0.57 (95 % confidence interval 0.51-0.64).
43% reduced risk in the US!!!
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Oliveira, C. A. B., Silva, J. V. F., Bianchi, N. A., Campos, C. I., Oliveira, K. A., Galdino, D. S., Bertolini, M. S., Morais, C. A. G., de Souza, A. J. D., and Molina, J. C. (2020). "Influence of Indian cedar particle pretreatments on cement-wood composite properties," BioRes. 15(1), 1656-1664. Rahman, M. R., Hamdan, S., Baini, R. B., Bakri, M. K. B., Adamu, M., Nyuk Khui, P. L., Kakar, A., and Sanaullah, K. (2020). "Chemically treated Borneo sago (Metroxylon sagu) starch reinforced poly lactic acid bio-composites," BioRes. 15(1), 1641-1655.
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The lowdown on #crosslaminatedtimber from @NCStateCNR's Dr. Stephen Kelly. Is it the key to the future of #sustainable #construction? Read more below: ow.ly/4bz550y0ZlK #BioResJournal #sustainability #wood #timber #NCState #environment
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January 19, 2019 by ayvaunnpenn
FIRST BLACK COUPLE TO DANCE LEAD ROLES FOR THE AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE – MISTY COPELAND AND CALVIN ROYAL III
“In 2015, Misty Copeland made history twice when she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and along with Brooklyn Mack, the first Black couple to play the lead roles in a full-length production of ‘Swan Lake’ at the Washington Ballet.
‘Beyond my personal goals as a ballerina, I want to celebrate, elevate and give opportunities to talented Black and brown dancers to share the stage with me while I have the power and presence that I do,’ Copeland told the Los Angeles Times in an email. ‘And to build a structure which can continue to exist beyond me.’
With that goal in mind, Copeland is set to break another barrier at the American Ballet Theatre when she and Calvin Royal III make their debuts as Pierrette and Pierrot in ‘Harlequinade’ at Segerstrom Hall on Friday. Taking on the ballet’s secondary leads to the main character, it will mark the first time in the company’s history that an African American man and woman will dance a lead couple’s roles.
Royal, who joined ABT in 2010 and was later promoted to soloist in 2017, said of the feat: ‘To finally be able to take the stage, two leading dancers in a production with ABT, I see it as such a huge step forward in terms of visibility.'” ….Click here to continue reading.
Article courtesy of Because of Them We Can
Previous The Story of The Temptations is Coming to Broadway in the Musical AIN’T TOO PROUD
Next Meet Broadway Choreographer Camille A. Brown
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Marriages and civil partnerships approved premises licence
Premises are licensed in accordance with the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005 (as amended by Regulations 2011). Licences are issued in accordance with guidelines issued by the General Register Office and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.
Requirements for approval
The premises must be a seemly and dignified venue for the proceedings
The premises must be regularly available to the public for the solemnization of marriages or the formation of civil partnerships.
The premises must meet the required fire precautions and other health and safety provisions
The premises must not be of a religious nature
The room or rooms that are approved must be identifiable as a distinct part of the premises.
The terms and conditions for granting a licence are that:
The holder of the approval must ensure that there is at all times an individual with responsibility for ensuring compliance with the licence conditions.
The responsible person or, in his/her absence, an appropriately qualified deputy, shall be available on the premises for a minimum of one hour prior to each ceremony and throughout each ceremony.
The holder must notify the Local Authority:
Of his/her name and address immediately upon becoming the holder of an approval.
Of the name, address and qualification of the responsible person immediately upon the appointment of a new responsible person.
The holder must also notify the Local Authority immediately of any change to any of the following:
The layout of the premises, as shown in the plan submitted with the approved application, or in the use of the premises.
The name or full postal address of the approved premises.
The description of the room or rooms in which ceremonies are to be undertaken.
The name or address of the holder of the approval.
The name, address or qualification of the responsible person.
The approved premises must be available at all reasonable times for inspection by the Local Authority.
A suitable notice stating that the premises have been approved as a venue for marriage in pursuance of Section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949 and for the formation of civil partnerships under section 6(3A)(a) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and identifying and giving directions to the room in which a ceremony is to take place must be displayed at each public entrance to the premises for one hour prior to the ceremony and throughout the ceremony.
No food or drink may be sold or consumed in the room in which a marriage or civil partnership ceremony takes place for one hour prior to that ceremony or during that ceremony.
All ceremonies must take place in a room which was identified as one to be used as such on the plan submitted with the approved application.
The room in which a ceremony takes place must be separate from any other activity on the premises at the time of the ceremony.
The arrangements for and content of each ceremony must meet with the prior approval of the Superintendent Registrar of the district or the registration authority of the area in which the approved premises are situated.
Any ceremonies conducted on approved premises shall not be religious in nature. In particular the ceremony shall not:
Include extracts from an authorised religious marriage service or from sacred religious texts.
Be led by a minister of religion or other religious leader.
Involve a religious ritual or series of rituals.
Include hymns or other religious chants.
Include any form of worship.
The ceremony may include readings, songs or music that contain incidental reference to a god or deity in an essentially non-religious context. For this purpose any material used by way of introduction to, in any interval between parts of, or by way of conclusion to the ceremony shall be treated as forming part of the ceremony.
Public access to any ceremony in approved premises must be permitted without charge.
Any reference to the approval of premises on any sign or notice, or on any stationery or publication, or within any advertisement may state that the premises have been approved by the council as a venue for marriage in pursuance of Section 26(1)(bb) of the 1949 Marriage Act and the registration of civil partnerships under section 6(3A) (a) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 but shall not state or imply any recommendation of the premises or its facilities by the council, the Registrar General or any of the officers or employees of either of them.
If a change of name to the approved premises occurs after the issue of the certificate for marriage or the civil partnership document but before the ceremony, the former name of the approved premises as recorded in the certificate for marriage or the civil partnership document shall remain valid for its duration for the purpose of the ceremony.
Standard conditions of approval
There must be adequate access to the marriage/civil partnership room for disabled persons.
A separate private room must be available to enable registration staff to question the parties to the marriage/civil partnership confidentially prior to the marriage ceremony/civil partnership registration.
Toilet facilities commensurate with the capacity of the marriage/civil partnership room must be available.
The seating and seating capacity of the marriage/civil partnership room must comply with any requirements of the Council.
Reserved car parking must be made available at the premises for the Superintendent Registrar/Civil Partnership Registrar, Additional Registrar and a car being used by the couple.
Any voice amplification system or system for the playing of recorded music shall be under the control of registration staff during the course of wedding ceremonies/civil partnership registrations.
The Council may from time to time impose conditions as to fire prevention, means of escape in case of fire, and general health and safety, which shall form part of these general conditions.
Adequate furniture and lighting shall be available to the satisfaction of the Council in all parts of the premises to be used in connection with wedding ceremonies/civil partnership registrations.
A free telephone should be available to enable registration staff to make official calls.
Neither registration staff nor the Council shall have any responsibility whatsoever with regard to any contravention of the right of copyright or performance in respect of readings or music used at marriage ceremonies/civil partnership registrations.
During the marriage ceremony/civil partnership registration the maximum number of people permitted in the room is not exceeded.
Renewal, revocation or review of licence
The holder may apply for the renewal of an approval when the current approval has not more than 12 months before it is due to expire. An application for renewal made in this period will extend the current approval until the application has been finally dealt with. A renewal will run from the expiry date of the current approval.
The Local Authority may revoke an approval if it is satisfied, after considering any representations from the holder, that the use or structure of the premises has changed so that any of the standard or local requirements cannot be met or the holder has failed to comply with one or more of the standard or local conditions attached to the approval.
The Registrar General may direct the Local Authority to revoke an approval if, in his opinion and after considering any representations from the holder, there have been breaches of the law relating to marriage or Civil Partnership registrations on the approved premises.
When an approval has been revoked the regulations require the former holder to notify any couples who had arranged a ceremony on the premises.
An applicant may seek a review by the Local Authority of its decision to refuse to grant an approval, to attach local conditions, to refuse to renew an approval or to revoke an approval.
The review must be carried out by a different officer, committee or sub-committee than that which made the decision which is being appealed against. The review panel may confirm the decision, rescind it or vary it with the imposition of fresh or further conditions.
The Local Authority may charge an additional fee for a review of its decision to refuse to grant an approval, to attach local conditions or to refuse to renew an approval.
A direction by the Registrar General to revoke an approval is not subject to review by the Local Authority.
Details of approved premises will be held for public inspection by the Local Authority. These details will be copied to the Superintendent Registrar of the district in which the premises are situated and to the Registrar General who will periodically circulate the details to all superintendent registrars.
Procedure for approval
Complete an application form and submit the required fee to the local authority on the GOV.UK website.
A mutually convenient date will then be made for the premises to be inspected to ensure compliance with fire, other health and safety issues and building regulations
A public notice will be displayed on the local authority website for a period of 21 days to allow public consultation on the application.
On receipt of no objections and satisfactory reports the licence will then be issued within a timescale of 12 weeks.
Approved marriage licence register
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Watch the event live from New York! The rumour mill has been churning and today all will be revealed. Yes, it’s time for this year’s second Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event. Hold onto your seats because exciting announcements...
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This is NOT an April Fool’s Day joke! It’s 1st April which means that every news outlet and commercial company known to man has a prank planned. Sigh! If you’re sick and tired of all the fakery today, there’s one...
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← BDWPS Podcast: Episode #23
BDWPS Podcast #24 →
Before I get into all the fun that is South By Southwest, I wanted to first take a moment to express my sympathy for those who were injured and lost their lives during Wednesday night’s festivities. My two friends actually witnessed the horrific event, and if I hadn’t gone for a quick restroom break before leaving Cheer Up Charlie’s, we could have been out there when the drunken asshole selfishly plowed through a barricaded street. I’m not sure if the media conveyed the amazing speed and efficiency executed by the medics, volunteers, and police that evening. By the time I emerged to meet up with my friends, only minutes after the atrocity, all 25 of the victims were already receiving assistance, often from groups of three to five people, administering CPR and helping to bandage wounds.
With SXSW growing more and more each year, the streets feel more chaotic and dangerous than ever, but the quickness and professionalism displayed by everyone that night assured me that both SXSW and the city of Austin are prepared for literally anything. While this event certainly put a damper on the week, there were still a lot of highlights to look back on. Here are some of the best and worst moments from the week…
BEST SOLO ARTIST – Kurt Vile
My friends and I were at Cheer Up Charlie’s that night to catch Cloud Nothings and Kurt Vile play back-to-back. After Cloud Nothings put on a high-energy performance, I tentatively waited for Vile to take the stage. I’d seen him perform two times prior, yet both experiences were a bit disappointing. Not that I don’t enjoy Vile’s music; in fact, I named Smoke Ring For My Halo the top album of 2011. In past appearances he played with his band The Violators, and as a result, the performance took on a much more jam band appeal than featured on his albums. I never quite enjoyed it because my favorite Vile moments always tend to be the softer, more intimate tracks.
Much to my surprise, Vile took to the stage this year alone with only an acoustic guitar to hide behind. He sat on a stool, hunched over his instrument and commenced going through all of my favorite Vile songs. Without the band up there, he seemed exposed and uncomfortable, yet he’d occasionally joke with the crowd before moving into another classic. His honest, raw performance solidified my belief that Kurt Vile is my hero.
BEST SHOWCASE – Vice Records
For the second year straight, my best showcase experience came at the hands of Vice Records. Last year, it was an all hip-hop escapade, but this year they went with a more garage rock/punk line-up featuring Team Spirit, OFF!, and The Black Lips. We arrived in time to catch the second half of Team Spirit’s performance, a band I’d never heard before. They started the set off with a jangly, fun mix of old school rock n’ roll. Vice ensured that the fun kept going throughout the evening, offering free vodka drinks (I don’t remember the brand, but it looked fancy). It’s rare for a showcase to provide free drinks, so it was a nice cherry on top after two days of high-priced food and beverages.
OFF! did what OFF! does best – put on a damn good show. I’ve now seen them perform five times (two this year at SXSW) and they never disappoint. Sure, singer Keith Morris’s between song rants are a bit zany and weird (you want to put a dome over Austin and nuke Texas?!), but the band’s brand of high-speed, hardcore punk quickly washes away any of the nonsense he spews. Unlike OFF!, my past experiences of seeing The Black Lips have not been as fruitful. Not that they’ve been bad; they just never lived up to the energy I’ve found on their lo-fi albums. The mix of rushing adrenaline from the OFF! show and free-flowing vodka must have made for the perfect storm last Thursday because Black Lips ended the night like every night at SXSW should end. I found myself dancing like a fool as the band moved from one memorable, upbeat song to another. Vice sure knows how to concoct the perfect party atmosphere for SXSW.
A nice Lou Reed cover:
WORST VENUE- TenOak
Now imagine this entrance completely hidden by a huge line.
During any other week, I bet TenOak is a pretty cool place. It claims to have the biggest variety of bourbon in Texas and has classy décor. But on Friday night when we arrived to TenOak to see the Lawrence, Kansas band Hospital Ships, there was nothing “cool” about it.
First off, we couldn’t even figure out how to enter the place. The lines that obscured the front of the building didn’t help, but when you looked inside the open-faced windows, there were no bands to be found. When we finally did maneuver our way through the entrance, we discovered blaring hip-hop music and patrons that looked nothing like the SXSW attendees we’d grown accustomed to. We squeezed our way around dancing college students (okay, they were grinding) and were finally directed to the back where the bands were playing. When we arrived, we couldn’t quite figure out where the stage was at. There seemed to be a kit set up in the corner, but right in front of it was a pile of gear, obscuring the view. This would end up being the stage, and said gear was never cleared from the front of the stage. At one point, the drummer for the next band began setting up his gear, right at the foot of the stage. The entire set-up was pretty surreal. As if this horror show of a set-up wasn’t bad enough, whenever the band had a softer moment in a song, the blaring hip-hop would come bleeding in, destroying the deepest moments of the performance. Hospital Ships plowed through this disaster of a venue and was still able to put on a pretty impressive set. I can’t wait to see them again at a real venue.
This was literally our view of the stage…it’s that thing behind the guy setting up his drum kit.
BEST DAY PARTY- Brooklyn Vegan
I should call this “BEST DAY PARTIES” because Brooklyn Vegan hosted a show at Red7 everyday. We ended up at their party two days in a row, and both experiences provided some of the best discoveries all week. Bands I’d never heard of like Upset, The Entrance Band, Nothing, and The Blind Shake had never passed under my radar, and their performances all had me nodding my head to the beat. One of the best moments at SXSW is when you stumble upon an amazing band you’d never heard before, and Brooklyn Vegan had me experiencing that feeling of discovery over and over again.
Brooklyn Vegan wisely sprinkled these bands between other established acts like Mutual Benefit, OFF!, Trash Talk, and Cate Le Bon, making for two days of jam-packed musical bliss. Each day also featured a grab bag of goodies: free earplugs, free shades, free Jamison, free Shiner Bock, free popcorn, and even free Frito Pie. While many of the bands took a moment to complain about the brutal comment section on the website Brooklyn Vegan, the event was a much more positive experience.
Mutual Benefits
BEST DISCOVERY- The Blind Shake
Probably my favorite band discovered at a Brooklyn Vegan show was Minneapolis post-punk band, The Blind Shake. The band took to the stage wearing matching (or at least similar) black jackets, shaved heads, and an all-business attitude. From what I’ve read since, they’ve been together for several years (two of the trio are brothers), and that experience showed on the stage as they energetically ripped through one angular riff after another, the two guitar assault conjuring up memories of Andy Gill’s metallic tinged sound. As I watched them bounce around the stage, performing instantly memorable punk melodies, I kept thinking, “If I had a label, this would be the first band I’d sign.” Come to find out, John Dwyer’s Castleface Records recently signed them; I’d like to believe that this mean’s Dwyer and I think alike. A man can dream.
BEST ARTIST- Cate Le Bon
Back in December, I made a HUGE mistake. Let me explain. In preparation for my year-end list, I tried to make a last-minute listen through anything and everything that had failed to reach my ear waves up to that point. One of these artists was Cate Le Bon. In November, I’d given her album Mug Museum a sample listen on iTunes and jotted her name down as something I probably needed to check out. With the end of year list looming, I finally purchased her album and discovered the spectacular album that I had been missing out on. She ended up making my year-end list (number 23), but the low number was due simply to not being familiar with the album enough to deem it too high. Mistake.
Mug Museum is an incredible album of infectious melodies and joyful guitar licks. Her performance only solidified my feeling of failure with Cate and her highly talented band putting on what I would deem the best show I saw all week. She stood at her mike with confidence and grace, singing with that haunting voice reminiscent of Nico, all the while her fingers working tirelessly up and down her fret board, cascading melodies washing over the crowd endlessly. It wasn’t only Cate working her magic. The positive energy oozed from the ever-present bassist Sweet Babboo (that’s what it says his name is on Wikipedia; I’m not making this up!), and Guitarist/keyboardist H. Hawkline multi-tasked, moving from one instrument to the next, all the while singing in a falsetto that created the perfect back-drop for Cate’s unique voice. I was tempted to name Cate my favorite solo artist of the week, but her band really took her performance to another level. Hopefully she’ll release another album soon so I can pay it the respect that I failed to with Mug Museum.
WORST BAND – Emily’s Army
He’s so dreamy!
It wouldn’t be a complete SXSW without a few bad bands in the mix, and Emily’s Army takes the cake. It wasn’t so much that they were talentless, it was just that they stunk of affectation. This group of teenagers (think One Direction with spiked hair) came out onto the stage wearing matching outfits comprised of dress shirts, ties, and board shorts. It was the most blatant display of “business up front and party in the back” since Billy Ray Cyrus’s days of “Achey Breaky Heart.” Their songs were just as manufactured, a congealed mush of saccharine pop-punk. They are groomed for mainstream success with young teenage girls, and I wouldn’t be surprised if their drivel ends up making it big soon. You may be wondering why I wasthere in the first place? Answer: free beer. Unfortunately, not even guzzling three free beers in 30 minutes could make their performance tolerable.
BEST METAL BAND- Power Trip
I listened to Power Trip’s 2013 album Manifest Decimation earlier this year, and I didn’t think much of it. I would learn this year at SXSW that in order to truly appreciate this band, you have to see them live. At that point on Friday afternoon, we were pretty drained, sitting on the leather couches in the back corner of the Empire Control Room. My friend Sewer and I were staring listlessly at the floor when Power Trip played their opening riff. Both our heads shot up and looked at each other – they had played a Slayer riff! Like two snakes in a basket, Power Trip’s music made us both mindlessly rise to our feet and approach the stage. The quick nod to Slayer served as the perfect introduction to the band as they blasted through a set of scorching hot thrash metal, hardcore de jour. Frontman Riley Gale served as the resident mad man, wailing out from what sounded like the pits of hell as the pounding drums drove the rest of the band into a frenzy. By the end of their set, there was a stiff neck in the house.
WORST SXSW TREND – Celebrities
In closing, I’d like to discuss a discouraging trend that I’ve seen in the past few years at SXSW, but never worse than this year – the influx of celebrities. When I first started attending SXSW 11 years ago, there weren’t any big names to be found. It was a festival for up-and-coming indie bands and all of the shows held that same DIY spirit. This year though, the celebrity influence became worse than ever. Since returning from Austin last week, I’ve had a handful of people ask me questions like: “Did you get to see Lady Gaga perform?” “Did you go to any of Jimmy Kimmel’s live tapings?” “Please tell me you got to see (insert bands like: Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, and Keith Urban)?” I’d keep my composure and simply answer “No.”
I’ve witnessed this one time lo-key festival become a corporate destination, partly as a result of the addition of both the Interactive and Movie festivals the week earlier. Now the streets of Austin are more packed then ever, the majority of the folks roaming around not even attending the shows, rather people watching in hopes of a chance run-in with Ryan Gosling, Ethan Hawke, or Kanye West. One of my friends said he wouldn’t come again due to the skyrocketing prices and the zombie-like crowd of people searching for movie stars to fawn over. Despite my gut feeling, I still hold on firmly to my allegiance to SXSW. Maybe it’s getting more media coverage and maybe there are more people cramming onto 6th street, but I’m still seeing great performances and discovering promising young acts. From now on when I’m asked if I saw Lady GaGa, I’m simply going to respond gleefully, “No, but I did get to see Diarrhea Planet perform!” That should shut them up.
Diarrhea Planet > Lady GaGa
Tagged as 2014, black lips, cate le bon, diarrhea planet, emily's army, hospital ships, kurt vile, merge records, mutual benefit, nothing, off!, power trip, South by Southwest, sxsw, team spirit, tenoak, the blind shake, the entrance band, torres, upset, vice records
4 responses to “SXSW 2014”
herr dennehy
thanks for sharing this with us. i couldn’t make it to SXSW, but at least i got a valuable commentary here.:( thanks.
I won’t be going again, like you said. It’s just pure craziness down there, and they seem to cater to the elitists. Really, what the hell did our wristbands do this year (or last year, for that matter)?
While I agree I’ve had a blast each time I’ve attended, it seems to be becoming more and more of a headache and bank account drain. The corporate takeover is ruining the experience.
honkytonkstepchild
Hello! Since Sxsw is too blown up at this point, any idea where the next best music fest is?
I’m looking into the CMJ Fest in New York. I think it’s very similar to SXSW.
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This Week in the Archive: That’s What You Think
Irina Rogova Uncategorized May 27, 2019 May 17, 2019 Destiny Riley, Race & Racism Project Independent Study, This Week in the Archive
by Destiny Riley
Destiny Riley is a Class of 2019 graduate from Maumelle, Arkansas, majoring in Rhetoric & Communication Studies and double minoring in Sociology and American Studies. Destiny first contributed to the Race & Racism at UR Project during an independent study course in the Spring of 2017, and then joined the team again via Digital Memory & the Archive, a course offered in Fall 2017. This post was written as part of a Spring 2019 independent study with the Race & Racism Project.
From the late 1980s to the late 2000s, the Collegian published a feature series titled “That’s What You Think.” The series, consisting of the responses from five people to a posed question also included a picture of each respondent most of the time. The respondents ranged from students to professors. While many of the questions prompted lighthearted responses, such as ones discussing Vanilla Ice, others prompted much more complex, and often problematic, responses. These features provided insight into people’s thinking throughout various years and decades. Not only did the features shed light on the University community’s critiques of the University, but also illuminated people’s problematic views on topics such as homosexuality and gender stereotypes. One of the articles that caught my attention in this series posed the following question: What do you think about race relations at UR?
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the topic of race relations was quite common in the University’s student newspaper. Though this February 1989 “That’s What You Think” feature’s responses were few in number, there was a wide range of opinions presented in response to this question. Some students believed that the University did not have any issues with race relations. A Richmond College students responded to the question by saying “Except for a few incidents, the race issue has appeared to be a fairly stable one.” This certainly causes one to wonder, what were these incidents? Was this student hesitant to discuss them? Did he simply assume everyone would know of the incidents he was referring to? Was he attempting to keep his answer as short as possible? Because of the brevity of the answers, it is hard to tell. However, it certainly is interesting to think about, and possibly find out, what incidents he was referring to.
While some students believed that the University did not have any issues with race relations, others believed that there was a definite need for a push for interracial interactions. Two Westhampton College students noted the separation of races stating that “Perhaps if we made an effort not to separate ourselves we’d realize how much each race has to offer the other” as well as “People lend to stick together with their own races a lot.” Both of these responses suggest the lack of interaction between students of various races at the University in the late 1980s. Considering this article was published a little more than twenty years after Barry Greene made history as the first Black residential student at the University of Richmond, it is probably not shocking to most people that the various races of the student body were not actively interacting with each other in 1989. However, this mention of the separation of races is interesting to think about in the context of racial interactions at the University today, as there has been controversy surrounding the lack of race and class interactions amongst students.
Last year, the University was ranked #9 on The Princeton Review’s list of 20 “Colleges with Little Race/Class Interaction.” The list was based on “how strongly students agree that different types of students interact frequently and easily at their schools.” What does this say about the University and its progress in the realm of relations over the past 20 years? In 1989, students were criticizing the lack of racial interactions, as different racial groups kept to themselves. Clearly, with the publication of the Princeton Review list, the University is still struggling with this problem. It makes one wonder, what is the reason for the lack of racial interaction amongst University of Richmond students today? For students of color, this separation could possibly exist because the University’s social scene and academic spaces do not always feel the most welcoming. While the University continues to celebrate its alleged diversity “progress,” students of color on this campus continue to face subtle and blatant, racist and uncomfortable experiences, often times at the hands of white students. The University’s public celebration of these “diversity” milestones and initiatives and the outright lack of recognition of these racist interactions, as well as the lack of racial interactions overall, is very telling. In 1989 these problems of little to no racial interactions and racial “incidents” existed, and clearly still exist today. When will the University address and approach these issues with the same zeal as it celebrates the seeming progression of racial diversity amongst incoming classes?
To truly make this campus a space for students of various racial backgrounds to live and thrive collectively, the University must not only address the present state of racial relations, but also the past that led us here.
← Enduring Value
These stories tell me who I am →
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Cagibi
/kä'jēbē/ ▸n. a literary space.
Macaron Prize 2020
Cagibi Express
Book Passage
Cagibi 2019: The Print Issue
Pre-order 2020
Christopher X. Shade April 14, 2018 Essays
Friends of Mr Mu
Daisy, Folly, and Tom
As a man leaves an old garment and puts on one that is new, the Spirit leaves his mortal body and then puts on one that is new.
—The Bhagavad Gita 2:22 (trans. Juan Mascaró)
The end was more of a surprise than expected, which sounds a little bit like something fun, but it wasn’t at all. This end was the curtain call on the final act of the life of our beloved cat, Mr Mu.
We had thought about how it might be and some sort of slow decline seemed most likely. A continuation of the decline which had begun years before, with his failing body becoming less and less competent at keeping itself going, until some point would be reached where control over a basic function had been lost and we would consult the experts and they would tell us that there was no coming back from this.
He had come back so many times. The odds showed one outcome. Indications would worsen, yet he would resist. We were told about how his life would change and what we would have to do for him, and yet it seemed as if not much had changed. He refused to be sick. His body was dying but his attitude was bloody-minded. There was still so much living to do that he would not be an invalid.
But in the end, it wasn’t as we had thought. The end came quickly and perversely caught us unready. On a day when he had demanded his morning coffee—as an elderly cat, he was given whatever he wanted—and eaten a small amount of leftover Christmas smoked salmon at lunchtime, he was given his crushed up tablets in his dinner but didn’t have an appetite and walked away. From the next room we heard him making the noise of a cat about to vomit—and it had started: the beginning of the end.
It wasn’t vomiting. He was having trouble breathing and was frothing at the mouth. Soon he was having trouble sitting or standing up and was in obvious distress.
Laetitia drove and I sat in the passenger seat and put my fingers through the plastic bars of his cat cage. This used to calm him—he might brush my fingers with his whiskers or scratch his gums on my nails or just bump my hand with his forehead and thereby claim it as his own. But he was past calming. It was dark and he couldn’t be seen very well in his box on the back seat, and all I could hear was his occasional breathing, laboured and uncomfortable.
The vet at the emergency veterinary hospital described his condition as “critical.” We knew that the situation was very serious indeed, and we knew what the implications were when your 21-year-old cat is having severe trouble breathing, but to hear the expert describing it like this made it real, immediate. The young man outlined the options, which were essentially to do some tests on Mr Mu, keep him at the hospital, make an assessment based on the results, and the other option was to euthanize. This clinical way of putting it seemed even more stark.
It wasn’t that we were unaware of the situation. We were the ones who knew best of all that the poor little bloke was taking medication for a thyroid condition, a heart condition, and blood pressure problems.
We asked for some time to think. It was a busy vet hospital, with animals coming in all the time. It seemed better to let the vet see someone else. Plus we wanted to talk about this outside. We talked in the dark. Although there were other things we could do, the only thing we should do was clear. The turn that poor Mu had taken was so severe, his effort to keep going so great, that to do anything else seemed merely to delay the inevitable.
And so we went back in and waited and spoke to the vet, and even then were looking for some way out, but we said what we thought should happen and he took our advice. We sat outside while they prepared our poor boy. Other owners were concerned about their pets, who were off their food or had injured themselves over the holiday period, and we wished we could be in their position. All these owners were better off, for they would be bringing their friend home. And then we went in again and the vet asked if we were ready and they brought him out—our beautiful little man, looking a bit thin, but still ever so handsome, and breathing better as a result of the oxygen he had been treated with. He knew us and we hugged him and in the end it was all over too quickly.
It was certainly humane and clinical and the last moments were comfortable and he knew how much we loved him right then, how much we had always loved him and how much he would always be loved. He went limp with the first injection, an extreme sedative, and his relaxed tongue stuck out a little, and then the second injection came, an overdose of anaesthetic, and he breathed his last.
Laetitia left the room while I discussed the arrangements for his remains, patting him, my mate, a mate I thought I would never have, but would have done anything to get back, and the vet took out the catheter from Mu’s arm and still I patted him. And I couldn’t believe he was dead.
The beginning of my friendship with Mr Mu was not auspicious. When I first got to know Laetitia she lived in the country in a small house with two insane puppies—one big and one small, one black and one white—and a middle-aged cat who made a quick assessment of me and decided that he did not like what he saw.
It is difficult to explain the campaign of psychological operations he used on me in those early days. In the periods we spent alone he would attempt to steal my lunch, and when I moved him to somewhere else, he would knock over a bin in the kitchen, and when I moved him away from that he would threaten to knock valuable items off a shelf, and when I moved him away from that danger then the lunch stealing would start again. It was as if that small house was some kind of experimental space monitored by scientists who were studying my reactions—as if the cat was part of the experiment. This cat, Mr Mu, was always looking for ways to torture me.
On one occasion he got out, and went walking across paddocks on the property and ended up on the other side of an enclosure with a horse in it. Only minutes earlier I had thought him missing: gone, murdered by one of the deadly dangers in the Australian bush. So it was a relief to see him on the other side of the enclosure, even though he was taunting me.
Needless to say that when Letitia, my then girlfriend, was around, the cat behaved much more equably. He affected to hardly notice me.
And that was the way it went for a while. The two humans got closer, one moved to Sydney to be with the other and the cat was indifferent to the interloper.
Things started to change when Laetitia had a funeral to attend interstate, and I was not yet living with her, and I went to her place to feed the pets. I went inside and sat down, and this cat who had not seen anyone for a day or two ran at me—I thought he was running at me—but he was really running to me, and he jumped up and sat on my lap for an extended period. I was the next best thing to the person he really wanted to see. I can’t recall whether he purred. This sitting on the lap was a first and I remember wondering what you were supposed to do, when of course the answer is to sit there until the cat is finished. I would get a lot of practice at doing just that.
They know what they’re doing. It’s a lesson you soon learn. Mr Mu undoubtedly found me a useful helper—one might say servant—and personal convenience played an important role in our developing friendship. We weren’t there yet, but we were getting closer. In the mornings when Laetitia and I left for work Mu could use a partly opened window to go on his rounds of the district. The details of this daily journey were a mystery to us.
Of far greater consequence than laps and pats to a middle-aged gent was that I started feeding the pets, and this made me an acquaintance worth having. By this time Laetitia and I lived together and soon we moved house to somewhere dilapidated but charming as opposed to merely dilapidated. In the new house there were more entrances and exits and the two of us became really quite intimate when he realised that if he knocked at the front door I would open it, meaning he would be let in at any time of the night and would not need to climb through a side window. When he realised there was something in it for him he was even more interested in being friends.
He also realised that I could be trusted. I wasn’t a threat to his human mother, and in fact seemed to be good for her, on balance. And I knew how to do other things: I could correctly pick up and hold and correctly pat and stroke a cat. I had gained the confidence previously lacking.
We developed the concept of Man Time. When I came home from work, Mr Mu wanted to spend time with me. A thorough kind of bonding was required, so I would take him outside with me while I watered the potted plants on the verandah. It was Man Time because we were two chaps, and the dogs and Laetitia were all ladies, so it was an opportunity to get away from the female atmosphere inside the house. As I went about my work, I would hear people stop on the street to talk to him as he stretched in the late afternoon sun and exposed his tummy for patting. But he also wanted to impress me by demonstrating his athleticism—in this case climbing the big tree in the front yard, to show that he still could, and could do it with flair, and from there to walk, via a long branch, onto the roof, where he would sit and meow to me at ground level.
I would need to rescue a cat who was perfectly capable of getting down from the place he had climbed to, a number of times each week. So, I would get up on a step ladder and he would allow me to take him in my arms and bring him back down. Of course, he was being manipulative. The knocking at all hours was manipulative too, and Laetitia chided me for indulging him. But it felt good to be spending time with him, like this, alone, doing our things.
That’s what I had learned most of all: cats get their way. He wanted me to become his mate and I did.
He was also swaggering into sedate older middle age and even old age and managed to do aging, as he did everything else, with a certain panache. He was like a film star from the Golden Years of Hollywood who always looked perfect: precisely waxed moustache, hair in place, clothes looking like they had been hand made by a personal tailor. He slowed down a bit, but that was to be expected in a domestic feline approaching the middle of his second decade.
And then he got sick. To say this was an alarming development would not do justice to the fears we held for his health and for his immediate future. Suddenly Mr Mu had no energy. He didn’t want to move, was uninterested in food. We took him outside for some sun, to see if this might revive him, but he just wanted to lie, in an abject, sickly posture, on the bed. I can remember well desperately hoping that he wouldn’t die in the night in this condition, going to sleep with Mu on the bed with us, fearing the worst and telling myself that he had a chance to pull through.
It was a thyroid problem, the vet said. Quite common. Take the medication.
His thyroid gland had been overactive, hence the manic need to do everything and be everywhere and demanding to be let in all the time, the sleeping less and being generally a bit shirty. Although I have to admit that his shirty was still very charming, and I never grew tired of hearing his demanding meow. There was love in this meow, just a little less than there was in the affectionate one.
But he had been so slow. That was the problem: either too fast or too slow. And the problem could not be cured, just treated. The drugs were designed to regulate the production of the chemical in the thyroid gland.
And we went on as we had in the past. Now there were regular visits at the vet, and blood tests to measure his levels of thyroid chemical. He didn’t behave well at the vet. As a younger cat the vet had been something he chose not to concern himself about, but when older he decided he hated it and would behave poorly. In response, Mu was given an anaesthetic to make him unconscious while blood was taken, and he would come around very quickly afterwards in a procedure which lasted only a few minutes. This meant that he wasn’t able to eat for hours before a visit, as food in the stomach can be regurgitated when the anaesthetic is administered and the animal can choke. It was a complication. And there were to be more of those.
We read about thyroid troubles and discovered that cats with these problems don’t live longer than a couple of years. We also discovered that kidney damage from the medication would ensue and that if the animal should start to drink more than usual that was a bad sign, indicating the beginning of the end. And so we looked for this and other things. We worried and he didn’t and we got used to the new reality. It meant regular tablets, fed at the beginning of a meal.
Around this time we also realised that the thyroid medication, the same as medication taken by humans, was far more expensive when purchased from a vet than from a pharmacy. And for this reason Mr Mu became a client at a pharmacy or two, which seemed to suit him just right. He was always more than a cat and this seemed to prove it.
But we had to be careful. Doses changed and this meant cutting up tablets into different sizes and monitoring how much we had left. He ate his first course, the medication, with a small amount of the main dish. There had been experiments with using fresh mince as a treat to serve the tablets, but he went off this. Careful meant watching his weight, watching how much water he drank, and knowing something about his toilet results. Hard or soft faeces could both be problematic. He might need more Metamucil—yes, he took that too. It was not a good thing at all if blood were present in his faeces. On more than one occasion Laetitia and I stood in the laundry, where the litter tray was, holding a cat poo in a length of toilet paper, while we both examined it before declaring that it seemed pretty good actually.
So Mu’s care had become an increasingly large part of both of our lives. He seemed unconcerned by the situation, unless he was a very good actor, which could well have been the case, for he was good with people and people loved him. He always knew what to do to make people fall for him.
In the years before I had known him he had met many people and charmed every one of them. For an animal with the capacity to get the shits he was also effortlessly gracious. With all the friends coming and going in the flat Laetitia lived in when he was a kitten and she was a student, and all the other places he lived, he had met a wide variety of people and lived in a variety of places and done a huge range of things. He had been both an inside and an outside cat. He became smitten with Laetitia’s best friend, and she remained his special sweetheart from then on, but he also killed a number of wild animals and vermin and was known to hold his own in fights with other cats in alleys and driveways after dark.
If all those things sound a bit contradictory, then he was no more contradictory than the average person—and that is the point: he was no mere pet. He had a fully rounded personality.
We used to make little deals with whoever was listening, in the hope that Mu would live to the next Christmas or next winter (he loved winter and became more cuddly when it was cold). Without discussing it, we both crossed our fingers and hoped he would be there on our wedding day. And he was. And if we could have included him in the ceremony we would have. We considered taking him with us on our wedding night. He was still alive for our second wedding anniversary.
This sort of thinking, heightened around the times of blood tests and vet visits, was a strain. The effort and the worry all took their toll on us, although we didn’t know how much at the time. There were reversals in his health, and at these moments it seemed like the end could be near, but there was constant low level concern for him for years. Towards the end he was visiting the vet so often that he calmed down enough for them to stop using the cat bag on him. A cat bag is used to bring the animal’s dangerous claws under control. He didn’t need it any more. He liked the vet now, and the staff liked him. For his last Christmas he exchanged Christmas cards with the vet surgery staff—both cards prepared unknown to each other—and this seemed right.
It was remarkable that he made it to that Christmas, in many ways. In September he became very ill and when taken to the vet they told us that the long term effects of his thyroid medication had damaged his vision. The optic nerve can become disconnected from the eye and therefore the animal loses their sight. It’s as simple as that, a known problem, and it was quite a shock to be told that Mr Mu was now blind.
I distinctly recall leaving him one morning as Laetitia and I departed for work, crouched in front of a food bowl, where he had been positioned by us, with little pathways created by laying towels down, to his toilet, his food, his water, and so on, and I thought, “You poor little bastard.” For a resourceful, independent chap who simply refused to let things get the better of him, he had been hit very hard by this reversal. It was a sad and rather pathetic figure crouching there. Previously the idea of a blind cat hadn’t seemed such a bad fate. Now that it had happened it was devastating. You walked into the room and he wouldn’t look up from where he was. He started sleeping in new places, on the ground, even with our bigger dog, as that was not a dangerous place to fall from. He bumped into furniture and took a while to learn where all the table and chair legs were.
One weekend Laetitia and I stood in a well-lighted spot and wondered if he could see us. It seemed like he could, but that was ridiculous. We were content to know that he hadn’t lost all his sight. It wasn’t just that he learned where things were. And he seemed more aware of what was going on. And his vision was even better. And without really noticing, he could actually see. Our cat, who had been declared blind, was able to see.
Later in the year, having conquered blindness, he contracted some sort of bronchial complaint. His breathing was affected and it sounded terrible when he purred, which seemed a particularly cruel punishment: he couldn’t help doing that if you patted him, so he would get off if you put him on your lap.
For these medical problems there was more medication. Now there was heart medication and blood pressure medication (which caused the optic nerve problem), antibiotics for the fluid on his lungs, and balancing dosages for all of these became tricky, as they counteracted each other. By this time the illnesses were being managed, rather than any attempt to really treat them, let alone fix them. The time for all that was long gone.
Yet still he improved or found a way to cope—whatever it was that he had done in the past, he did it again. He lived years longer than a thyroid cat is supposed to live. He was like a boxer who keeps getting hit but refuses to give in.
And it was in this form, quite well, despite everything—years of deterioration, age, recent illness—that Mr Mu enjoyed another Christmas with us. This time he allowed himself to be photographed with a festive hat on. And for these reasons, and many more, it was both a shock and somehow inevitable when he had that strange, diabolical reaction after eating his dinner on January 2.
Mr Mu’s last Christmas
We brought Mr Mu’s cat cage back, empty, and walked into a darkened house without needing to check where he was, to make sure he was alright. In the kitchen there was, still in the frying pan, the dinner Laetitia had been preparing for us when we were called away.
The dogs were brought in and we patted them and talked and I drank too much rum and whiskey and other things. It was right to go through what we had seen and what had happened and just to talk about him. In the car on the way back it had been more hysterical. At times safety demanded Laetitia pull over when reason gave way to boiling emotion. We both sat there with tear-filled eyes, watching the streaky street lights pass by as we made our slow way home.
We talked until late, honouring Mr Mu by sharing memories of him. We also spoke of the future and of many things we hadn’t been able to speak about for months or even years. Both of us admitted to being fearful: fearful for him, fearful for how we would cope on the inevitable day—and we admitted that we regularly imagined walking into the house and discovering him dead. Thus the first greeting was always warm but a little fraught.
Eventually we went to bed. I was not awakened during the night, instead I woke up, somewhat the worse for wear, when my body decided it was time. The first sound I heard when I was almost out of bed was Mr Mu’s meow. There would be many such phantom sightings and auditory tricks as the brain tried to make sense of a regular fixture being no longer present in the house.
I got up quietly and let Laetitia sleep. I wanted to read something, to take my mind off the thoughts which wouldn’t leave, but that was no good. I called my parents, two of Mu’s long list of friends, and broke down as I told them what had happened on the previous night.
It seemed important to do something, to get out of the house. Exercise and fresh air and a change of scene should help, so I suggested we go shopping at one of the ethnically diverse suburbs not far from our house, and Laetitia agreed to my suggestion as she was simply unable to think properly for herself and knew that the alternative was to sit on the couch, in the dark, and cry. And so we wandered around, looking in windows where they will hand make a sari for you or sell you the serving dishes you find at Indian restaurants, and we bought a range of South Asian spices and a Chinese lantern lamp shade.
After we returned, we decided that we should do something else, and so we took the dogs for a walk at the big local park. Now our dogs are two middle-aged ladies, who really like a walk but prefer their activity in small doses, and so they seemed a bit confused when we took them out for hours. Near the end, we sat under a tree, and the dogs told us that they would like to go home now, please. As we walked we talked again. You could say it was cathartic. You could say we shared. It was simply being together and reminding ourselves of the good things we had, including so many wonderful memories, and talking about the future. Talk of the future had always had Mu in it somewhere, and so we had to force ourselves to talk like this, but it did us good.
We talked about the house we would live in if we could live in any house and the things we would do to occupy our time there—making olive oil, keeping bees—and the rooms and the pets in those rooms and how happy we would be, and how happy we were, despite it all.
The next day we went for a very long walk again. The dogs got very good exercise for a few days. Waiting for us when we came back home was a beautiful orchid, sent by a friend in sympathy, and when we read the card we both burst into tears. This orchid is still with us, part of the collection Laetitia carefully tends. It is known as Mu’s Orchid.
An unspoken decision had been arrived at that Christmas was over when we got back from the vet and so we took down all the decorations, which are voluminous at our place, and we worked as such a good, tight harmonious team that we surprised ourselves. One of the things we discussed was to use this awful event as an excuse to put things into some sort of perspective. The death of a loved one is important—arguing over the way tinsel is packed away is not.
At the end of the first week there was a small party at our place. A gathering of a few old friends, which we catered for on a grand scale, with good food and quantities of drink which some of us succumbed to. Until this point Laetitia and I had hardly eaten and now some of us drank too much.
A few days later I wrote about Mu in my blog, aware that perhaps this was the author’s cold-blooded recognition that he had found “material” and wished to exploit it, but also, more importantly, aware that this is what we do—we write—we attempt to make sense of a tragedy by writing about it. The blog post finished like this:
Most pet owners think their animal is beautiful and intelligent and charming, but this cat was all of those three things and so many more. His personality was too big for a mere pet, and now it is hard to fathom that he is gone. It simply doesn’t make sense. But gone he is and the world seems to turn more slowly as a result. Our souls are bruised and our bodies weak with the strain of grief.
We will move on, somehow, in time: learn to cope, to fake it at first, and then to properly collect our emotions. But we will never forget our little friend. Before Mr Mu I thought I didn’t like cats. His example showed me I was wrong, and how wrong I was. He wasn’t just a cat though. He was far more than that and words are insufficient to do him justice.
We did move on. It was difficult. At first the tears came quickly at the mere mention of his name, and it was necessary to use his name to tell people the news.
With time it became easier to speak about him and even an enjoyable thing to reminisce. There were so many good things, fun things, happy times.
Our smaller dog needed some surgery and as the vet removed her stitches he asked how we were coping with the loss of Mr Mu and we said things were much better, and he asked how the dogs were coping and we said it was strange. They seemed sad somehow, like they missed him, and the smaller dog Lily would respond with a strange faraway look if you said the cat’s name. It was as if they sympathised. The vet said, “For them it’s a bit like the King is dead. Things are different but life goes on much the same as it did.”
But emotions could still sneak up and engulf you without much warning. Feelings were complex, but we were coping. I felt like I was coping better than Laetitia. She could still be overcome. She would still say “I miss Mu” without preamble or warning and we would embrace. I missed him too, but was perhaps more able to compartmentalise those feelings.
It was something of a surprise that Laetitia suggested new feline company entering our lives and that she brought it up more and more until it became a serious topic. The idea she had was to start again, and that meant kittens. The second, related, idea was to get two of them. A pair of kittens would enjoy each other’s company, play together—useful when their busy humans are working—and also feel our absence less than one lonely little cat might.
This seemed a leap. From one old, sick cat, to no cat, to two very young cats was a series of big changes, but the arguments made sense. Soon it wasn’t an abstract topic any more. There is a “kitten season”—they tend to be conceived from the onset of spring until the end of the warmer months, and that means that you can’t get a kitten all year round. They are only around from late summer until autumn and if you don’t get one then you must wait until the end of the year. So we had to start looking now if we were interested.
It was strange. I actually wasn’t sure if I was ready for new feline company. While I might have found a better way to cope with the loss of Mr Mu, it didn’t seem like I was actually over it yet (and, of course, you never really get over something like this); and although Laetitia seemed to still be finding a way to cope with his death she was ready to move on.
A cat up the street who would look rather disdainfully from its driveway at Laetitia as she walked home from work began to actually communicate when she was spoken to. One afternoon I happened to be there too, and the cat sidled up to us and allowed herself to be patted through the bars of the gate before lying on the ground, on the footpath in front of us, and exposing her tummy to us and to the sun. This sort of thing showed us that you can miss a cat, tragically taken from you, but you can also miss the company of felines. The cat’s human emerged, a lovely woman who politely hid any alarm she might have experienced when she noted two adults at the brow of her driveway taking a suspiciously long time to pat her pet, and she spoke to us and we told her that her cat was very sweet.
And Laetitia had already begun to say that she felt as if Mu would send us another cat. It became a sort of running gag that if one of us was leaving the house Laetitia would say to watch out for kittens, homeless, stranded, in need of being brought home to two humans who liked animals very much and provided shelter and love and warmth and pats in whatever quantities were requested. We had also started warning each other to watch out for abandoned kittens, in a basket on the doorstep, as if such things were likely.
All of these things made a new feline pet seem inevitable. The signs were there. However, serious discussion was needed.
We talked and it became clear I understood very little about cats. I had never taken the trouble to learn what the pattern on Mu’s coat was called and to understand that the coat design is used to describe the type of cat, unless you are talking about a pure bred example (Persian, Russian Blue, Burmese). Mu was a tabby, which is the striped design, usually quite wide stripes which start at the spine and run down the ribcage either in swirls or in straightish lines (a mackerel tabby). You need to discuss these things when you’re considering a new cat as you need to know what you’re looking for.
There are also cat prejudices, which I also found new and strange. A lot of people don’t like ginger cats and Laetitia is one of them. I said something about just finding a cat with the right personality who looks good and this didn’t seem to be correct either. Should we get a cat who looked too much like Mu? Would that be weird and somehow dishonour him at the same time? He was a beautiful animal and I didn’t want to be too prescriptive.
And so we went off on a cat mission, looking for two youths with a confident personality and short hair. Laetitia’s allergies flare up too much if the hair is too long. A similar look to Mr Mu wasn’t ruled out.
At first we went to an animal shelter, which was about to close for the day, and were told that most of their kittens were at the homes of foster carers who could just be called and we could go over and look at the animal in their home. This seemed a good system for the welfare of the kitten but a pretty inefficient system for the purchase of a new pet. The volunteers who ran the shelter were doing an admirable job and meant well but when one woman told us that most domestic cats had short hair and that we couldn’t be told anything about a kitten at a fosterer’s house before we went and found out for ourselves it was clear that this wasn’t the best place to buy a kitten. We moved on to Plan B.
Plan B was the RSPCA centre in Yagoona, western Sydney. This was the place where my family had got Bob the dog when I was just a very little boy. I hadn’t quite started school when we got Bob, so I didn’t remember how you bought an animal from there. The vets at the Yagoona centre had also treated our second dog, also long-lived, Bob’s successor Alfie. When cancer finally got the better of him the whole family brought Alfie to Yagoona to be put down. I was thirty and the memory was indelible.
Laetitia and I walked around and looked at the younger cats and made a mental note of the ones which appealed to us. There were kittens called “achew kittens,” which carry the feline flu. It doesn’t bother them and they are perfectly healthy, but unvaccinated cats can become quite sick if they come into contact with a flu cat. Flu cats are also cheaper. You need to wash your hands from a pump dispenser of foam on the wall when you walk between different parts of the kittery, as the RSPCA does not want to spread the virus.
We narrowed it down and took photos on Laetitia’s phone and took a number at the front desk, so that we might be shown around by a staff member.
She was a lovely woman who revealed that her cat had died eighteen months before and she couldn’t bring herself to get another one yet, despite working with them every day. She told us that she had been in a pub with friends and a song came on and it was necessary to hide her tears as it had been “their song”—hers and her cat’s. She didn’t need to explain this to us. We knew what she meant.
She showed us more cats than we had asked to see. We patted them and they assessed us. Some were too boisterous, some too timid, and there was a pair which was just right. One was a tabby, who looked quite a lot like Mr Mu, and the other a torti. A torti meant that its colouring resembled a tortoise shell. The torti was mostly black on one side and had a lot of ginger on the other side and looked as if she had been dipped in black paint over her white and ginger areas. This pair, “bonded” as they say, meaning they eat and sleep and generally function as a unit, were very calm. In fact they were almost too laid back—a brother with more curiosity but still a very relaxed demeanour and a sister with a reticence to be too demonstrative yet absolutely no fear. Laetitia revealed later that she had given the girl a silent ultimatum to show some interest and then when the cat stretched out her paw, Laetitia thought we could probably make it work with these two.
The RSPCA woman was careful not to put any pressure on us, and that meant that she wouldn’t say which ones suited us best. But I suspected that she wanted us to have these two, and she said as much after we decided to take them. She realised that they had a very special shared outlook and thought they would suit us very well indeed. She was happy we made the choice and said, “You’ve warmed my heart.”
As we drove we could hear soft meowing from the back seat, high-pitched and innocent. Our new pets were in the cat cage, Mr Mu’s cage, curious about all they could see and smell and hear. They were coming home.
The twins, as we would come to refer to them, were still without names when we set out for work together early on Tuesday morning. They had been living with us since Saturday afternoon.
Since they were a duo it seemed right to name them after a real or fictional double act. A number of pairings were considered, including Sid and Nancy and Boris and Natasha and George and Martha and Donald and Melania, but we still hadn’t settled on names.
It was a cool morning and rainy. It had rained for weeks, with a handful of very short breaks of fine weather for no more than a day, and then more rain—persistent and soaking.
Laetitia saw him: huddled next to the stout fence of a private school we walk past on the way to the train station was a little kitten, much smaller than the two who were back at home, ten minutes’ walk away, cold, shivering, tiny and wet through.
It all happened very quickly. We took the tiny creature back to our place and fed him something. He was hungry and ate with enthusiasm as Laetitia held him to her chest. Then we were at the vet. We had driven and I had held him in blanket to keep him warm and stop him from crawling away. At the vet they said that there had been no communication from an owner missing a very small kitten and they also said that there was no computer chip in his ear and that this basically meant that he was ours.
We left him at the vet, for them to examine and clean him up and check for any medical problems, and we caught the train from the nearby station, unconcerned that we were both quite late for work by now and worried only by what name we might give him.
He stayed at the vet for a few days. Laetitia visited after work on the first day and received updates about his health. He was a beautiful little ginger kitten with otherworldly blue eyes and you could easily fit him on the palm of your hand. The idea of Mr Mu sending him to us came up frequently:
“Sending us a long-haired ginger sounds like the sort of thing he would so, doesn’t it?”
“Well, he did have an unusual sense of humour.”
The ginger kitten, Jay
We visited him on other days and although he had seemed to be a bit down and lacking interest in his surroundings on one evening, when we visited on Friday he seemed much more perky. The vet suggested we take him home for the weekend and the nurses seemed keen about this too. They said he needed encouragement to eat like he really should be eating and told us that chicken from the local charcoal chicken shop had got him interested.
On the street he attracted attention from children, who suggested names for him, and adults who said he was adorable. When Laetitia came out of a shop I was surrounded by a small audience of enchanted women making comments and telling me about their own pets.
At home though, he took a turn for the worse. He wouldn’t eat and it seemed impossible to keep him warm enough. He wouldn’t even hold his own head up. Eventually he ate something, late at night, but his appetite was still lacking the next day as we tried to feed him with a syringe. We left him to sleep, having fussed over him for hours, and hoped that might energise him a bit, which seemed about right, as he ate again, seemingly greedily, until we realised that there was something wrong, and he would swallow no more from the syringe.
He died in Laetitia’s arms on the step from the lounge room to the back of the house, the same step where she had excitedly run into me on the morning of our wedding day and accidentally splashed champagne down my front.
It was truly appalling, one of the worst things I have seen, a thing that just seemed impossible, and haunts me still. Neither of us shall ever get over it, I think.
His last few hours were as comfortable as we could make him and it was a curiously tender thing that the male twin had treated him with such affection on the previous night, cuddling up to him as he lay on one of our laps, purring and sharing what feline love he had to share.
I suggested that we put him in our front room. “He’ll be cold,” said Laetitia, so we wrapped his little body in a scarf before we placed him in a box and put him in the room.
The vet had told us of a condition where experts talk about a kitten fading. “It seems some kittens were just not meant for this world,” he said. They don’t eat and seem to have decided that death is inevitable. In these cases, which are more common than you’d think, there is nothing medically wrong with the animal. They just die.
Of course, in the vet surgery we didn’t think it would actually happen. Not to us. We had kept a geriatric cat alive for years after he really should have passed away—the vet said we had as good a chance of turning this kitten around as anyone would. So he was really telling us that what happened was something that might happen, but it felt like the nastiest possible surprise, and these events are still almost too painful to relate.
On the Monday morning we returned to the vet surgery with the kitten they had last seen on Friday in a shoebox inside the cage they had lent us. It felt like a failure on top of all the still raw sadness and grief.
A few days later we brought back the ashes of the ginger kitten in an elegant little pewter box from the vet surgery. Next to the urn with Mr Mu’s ashes was the right place for it and we both stood there and wept and embraced and Laetitia said she could see Mu and the ginger kitten sitting on the table their vessels were on, Mu older and bigger, giving the younger animal a fatherly lick on the head, and this was more of a comfort than I can say.
On the box was written Jay. The name was taken from The Great Gatsby, as the names of the twins had been. We called them Tom and Daisy, and they were in excellent health, and had adapted to life with us almost completely in what had been merely two weeks.
The only thing to do was to get on with it, again. For some time the companionship of Tom and Daisy, amusing though they were, did not compensate for what we had seen and the turmoil which refused to subside. This was a failing of ours, for which we scolded ourselves. In truth, the cats adapted to us even as we felt like they were barely even present in the house and we came to realise that they were indeed almost perfect. They were healthy and intelligent and cheeky without being too reckless or destructive. They gave us an emotional crutch which it took some time to realise had been offered.
Even as we came to understand all that, Laetitia still said: “It’s like there were supposed to be three. And now we’re one short.”
Privately I hoped she would stop talking like that. We had our kittens, and two would be a handful. And where would another one come from? It wasn’t as if one could just find us.
Until one dark autumn afternoon a man came to the door and said, “Hello, I’m a friend of Mr Mu’s.” He went on to tell us that he lived up the street, one of many neighbours we did not know, and had heard about Mu’s death some months before, and wondered if we would be interested in taking in a kitten he had found just days earlier near a building site. The kitten was from a family of strays and its mum had been run over and now it needed a home. The neighbour’s mature cat would not agree to live with it, he said.
And so we walked up the street a couple of doors and met a tiny little thing, a bundle of grey and black and white, but also brown, with a ginger spot on its forehead. It was on a double bed and purred when Laetitia patted it and we decided that yes, we would take it home and two would indeed become three.
The vet told us the next day that it was a she and we decided to call her Folly, the name of one of the two named pets in Jane Austen, because it was folly to take her on. And because the whole thing, with the proliferation of animals at our place was all getting a bit silly now. It only occurred to us later on that Daisy Buchanan says about her little daughter in The Great Gatsby: “I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
Folly has needed more training than the others in a few areas, lacking a mum to teach her, but she has learned from her brother and sister, and they do indeed think of themselves, their group, as a family. They eat without competition and groom each other. Folly may be stripey and she may be spotty—it’s hard to tell—she may be a bit tabby and was described on her forms as a grey torti, but it doesn’t much matter. What matters is wrestling and climbing curtains and sleeping together, all curled up in a ball.
Three kittens all purring at the same time is a truly magical noise. It feels complete now, feels right. The kittens have told us that and we believe them.
There is a box with some of Mr Mu’s things: a pill cutter, his collar, the glass he drank from sometimes in preference to the shared water bowl. Items relating to Jay are in there too: a feeding syringe and notes made after discussions with the vet nurses about his progress.
When I go into the room where the urn and the pewter box sit on the small table, I silently say hello to Jay and to Mu. On the other side of the door there will often be a kitten or two, waiting for me, ready to play the next game.
Folly, Tom, and Daisy
Philip Keenan is a writer based in Sydney, Australia, with an interest in the strangeness of familiar things. He has been published by Tincture Journal and Going Down Swinging online, has a blog called Johan Turdenmeier’s Miscellany, and is on Twitter @Turdenmeier.
Cagibi Issue 2
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Facing an Unpleasant Reality
By Matt Heemstra
In Action, Leaders
Facing an Unpleasant Reality2019-03-042019-02-28https://cainellsworth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cain-ellsworth-logo-bn.pngCain Ellsworth and Company, LLPhttps://cainellsworth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/road-through-the-woods.jpg200px200px
“You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” – Jim Rohn
I’ve experienced a recurring theme lately, and it’s not a positive one. I work with a lot of great leaders who also happen to be great people. They work hard, and most of them have contributed an incredible amount of value to the organizations they lead.
Now a number of those individuals are approaching the end of their careers, and they’re having a difficult time thinking about the long term best interests of the business when their own careers are very short term. For these people, it’s becoming more and more about them and less and less about what’s good for the business. The value they’re bringing decreases every year as their careers wind down.
But just because you’ve worked somewhere for thirty years doesn’t mean you get to spend the last ten coasting through your day and taking home a big check. Most businesses can’t afford to pay somebody a big salary to do nothing. Unfortunately, too many businesses are doing just that.
Recently a business leader explained that “I’ve worked so hard for such a long time & I just don’t feel like I have the energy to do that anymore.” Great. No problem. Then don’t work as hard. But don’t try to tell everybody that you deserve to get paid as though you are still working that hard. Your salary is based on the value you’re bringing today – not the value you brought fifteen years ago.
You might be telling yourself that this doesn’t apply to you. You’re either not at that stage in your career, or if you are, you’re certainly not stealing from the company by getting paid to do nothing. Fine. Ask yourself these questions anyway: What do I do that really brings value to this organization? How much of that am I doing? What am I actually spending my time doing on a daily basis? Are those things valuable? If an employee was doing what I’m doing, how much would we pay them? Would they even be allowed to stay here?
I spoke with a CEO recently who explained to me what he does every day. It sounded like stuff you could have an intern do. Ask yourself honestly if you’re still bringing that high level of value that you’re being paid for. Better yet, find some peers or advisors or somebody who’s honest who will tell you what they see. Too many experienced leaders live in a bubble of their own ego and can’t see when they’ve become dead weight. Don’t be that person.
Matt Heemstra
As Director of Growth & Profit Solutions, his focus has shifted to supporting business leaders as they implement change in their organizations. Using his unique gifts and talents, Matt helps leaders assess where they are now, where they want to be in the future, and how they can get there.
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Oracle Construction and Engineering Blog
Buildings and Facilities
Oracle Trailblazers
Product Evolution
Public Infrastructure
Insights and best practices for construction management technology and project delivery
Innovation Innovation
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The AEC Revolution and Navigating Cultural Change in Public Service
Corie Cheeseman
For our latest "Trailblazers" profile, we spoke with Tim Mumford, project manager of Office of Projects Victoria. Mumford discusses the state of innovation in the industry, or the "AEC revolution" as he calls it, as well as how companies must encourage executive sponsorship to increase innovation and accountability in organizations.
Mumford speaks with Dr. Burcin Kaplanoglu, executive director, innovation officer at Oracle Construction and Engineering.
BK: What is your current role, and how has your career evolved since you started in the industry?
TM: I work as head of digital and innovation at Office of Projects Victoria. This is a state government role, so I work alongside the government within the public service and report to the Chief Engineer of Victoria. We have a purview over what engineers do in the states as well as the major infrastructure projects being led by the state.
Investing $100 billion (AUD) on infrastructure projects
The Chief Engineer and I were hired by the State to assist with technical decision-making. This is a new area for engineers and governments to work together. The chief engineer and I provided fundamental, technical, and pragmatic advice based on engineering and project management principles and a ‘bottoms up’ approach to infrastructure.
The Victorian state government is spending over $100 billion (AUD) on infrastructure projects for the foreseeable future. There's a real interest to do things correctly because there's a lot of skin in the game.
When I first joined, we conducted quite a few interviews like this one. The thing that routinely came up was the fact that the AEC industry is highly fragmented and, in general, a bit of a laggard in terms of innovation.
A recent McKinsey report highlighted that the construction industry is decades behind every other industry, including agriculture. That was quite a revelation.
A cultural change in public service
In the last two years, I've seen a cultural change—particularly in public service—about doing things more efficiently, finding new ways of working, and understanding what other industries, including manufacturing and industrial clients, do in terms of project management, contracting, and digital innovation.
The conversations are more intelligent than they were a year or two years ago. In the next two years, I predict there will be a big change in the way things work in the AEC community.
One of the challenges is that change on a day-to-day basis is hard to perceive. That said, when you see progress from a few years ago, we’ve come a long way. If you play that forward, in another two years, progress will be exponential.
The conversations become more intelligent and the expectations on individuals, systems, and processes become greater. I'm excited by where we are now—including where we should be in two years—and the shape and tangent of that direction.
BK: What does your view of the state of innovation in the industry generally?
TM: We have a long way to go, but progress is rapidly increasing. I look at technologies and systems like concrete extruders, brick laying machines, AI, iterative design, and manufacturing in prefab and think: “Wow! This is the beginning of Design for Manufacture and Assembly." An AEC revolution is rapidly dawning on the industry.
High insolvency rates in construction
In Australia, construction companies’ insolvency rates are quite high. I don’t think we’re alone here. Insolvency is a global phenomenon that’s underpinned by the challenges in construction cash flow.
Many more conversations with insurers and investors must happen concerning risk, assurance, quality, and delivery. These parties need confidence that the industry knows what they're doing, that this is the right project for them to do, and that they can make margins. These questions are forcing us all to have a good hard look at ourselves rather than pointing fingers at one another. It boils down to a perception of risk and who owns that risk.
BK: What are the biggest challenges you see for innovation?
TM: People; not technology. The technology is mature. It's bringing people on for the journey. And the executive sponsorship is undoubtedly the biggest challenge to the journey
If there was a silver bullet, we would have done it by now. But empowering people and having an executive sponsor on the executive leadership team—or even the board—to be accountable is ever so important. They must take ownership of the change management exercise.
On every board meeting, the change management exercise should be a standing agenda item. Someone should be answering what they’re doing, what's the progress, how this will transform a company in the next two years, as well as the short and long-term goals. Executive promotion to ‘try and fail’ is also an important part.
The second part is empowering individuals who make decisions to seek opportunities for improvements. For example, one of our tier two constructors highlighted how they’d often get secure PDFs as part of the tender documentation projects. The PDFs were always labeled as “for information only"; it was never for reliance.
Unfortunately, that owner-led process costs tens of thousands of dollars for every single tenderer to convert that information into meaningful formats. It’s a wasteful and costly process.
"The most important thing here is a conversation. People should be empowered to talk to one another and say 'Hey, this is silly and inefficient. I want to understand why you do it like this.'"
-Tim Mumford, Senior Project Manager, Office of Projects Victoria
In truth, if it’s just the way it’s always been done. then it’s time to change. The AEC change will be driven by these individual and meaningful conversations.
It’s empowering people to have those intelligent conversations because this is not about a competitive advantage. This is about uplifting the maturity of our industry in general. The cost of our choices is ultimately something that we should be acutely aware of and empowered to change. That’s the big opportunity.
Minimizing wasteful processes
These opportunities are sort of like a thousand paper cuts: If you’re filling out a payment slip to a sub-contractor and you type their business or tax number 40 times, that’s an awfully wasteful process.
A prime example of this is sub-contractors taking drawings and pricing them. Right now, many MEP contractors will visually count items of designer drawings: 20 valves here, 60 fire valves, etc.
The time devoted to this activity is ridiculous, but the risk of getting that count wrong is very high. This can—and does—erode project outcomes. I’m inspired by a small company here in Victoria (M2Count) that bridges this very issue. The program takes your drawings and gives you an accurate count based off engineering drawings and schematics.
"The technology is just a tool. You don't define a tradesperson by their tools; you define them by their skill and their ability to deliver a predictable outcome for an effective and efficient price."
If we all think about our workflows and what we do that’s repeatable and can be improved, the sum of those parts can make a greater difference than just rolling out one big system.
Read our eBook: "Innovation in Construction: Perspectives from AEC Innovation Leaders"
Explore how you can deliver project success with Oracle Construction and Engineering.
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Clayco
Lendlease
Rhumbix
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'Babette's Feast' a tapestry of Eucharistic meaning
Byline info is not available
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 9:18 AM
Q — What is your take on the film ‘Babette’s Feast’?
A — The 1987 movie, based on Isak Dinesen’s short story, follows two sisters, Martina and Philippa. They are daughters of the founder of a small ascetic sect, other-worldly and life-denying, living in a village in a Norwegian fjord in the latter half of the 19th century. Both sisters have embraced their father’s austere form of Christianity.
When he dies, the two sisters carry on their father’s work and memory, presiding as best they can over his diminishing community. The sisters’ lives change when a stranger named Babette comes to be their servant at no cost. In reality Babette has been a gourmet chef in Paris, now a refugee from civil war in France in 1871. The father’s small congregation is getting older, and they are quarreling among themselves over old but remembered strife, division and sin.
Martina and Philippa, hoping to heal the community’s divisions, invite the community to a commemorative meal on the occasion of the pastor-father’s centenary of birth. It will be a festive but still austere meal until Babette wins a French lottery and with her winnings makes turtle soup, quail, fresh fruit and cheeses, a copious supply of champagne and other wines. The feast is Eucharistic through and through, a kind of reenactment of the Last Supper, and an anticipation of heaven understood as a banquet. There are 12 guests at the meal, excluding Babette who is working in the kitchen. The symbolic parallel with the Twelve at the Last Supper leaps immediately to mind, and Babette, the servant, is an image of the servant-Christ. The participants at the meal begin to recognize the abundance of God’s gifts, freely given, including the delights of the senses. The meal also enables them to reach out in forgiveness to one another, and to live more joyously together. Healing begins in this hurting community.
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This film seems to be a Protestant sharing of the "Real Presence," conceding nothing while admitting the simple miracle of life and the joy of celebrating in communion. This comment has been hidden due to low approval.
Rolando Rodriguez
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Nude Camping
By Crystal Schwanke
Nude camping, also known as naturist camping, may conjure up ideas of pain, itching, and a few jokes if you're not familiar with how it works or nudist-friendly campsites. Camping in the buff can be an interesting experience, though, so it's worth checking out if you've got the itch to do something most of us would probably consider on the wild side of life. Whether you want to do it to try something new, even out your tan lines, or just get back to nature, we're here to help you get started.
Where to Go for Nude Camping
Obviously, not every campground is going to be willing to host a nude camping group. You'll have to do a little bit of research first to find out which places you'll be welcome at-sans clothes. Here are a few places to begin:
Goodland Nudist Country Club in Hackettstown, NJ has camping, swimming pools, volleyball, billiards, picnic areas, cabins, ping pong, and more. It's like a laidback, regular country club, but not everyone wears clothes (clothing is optional except at the pool, and the staff is fully clothed). If you get tired of roughing it at the campsite, you can just stroll over to the pools. You can visit without membership for up to three visits to get a feel for whether the environment's right for you. Prices range from $25/day to $45/day (including hookups). You can pay $1200 for a seasonal trailer site, too.
Cypress Cove Nudist Resort in central Florida is fairly modern. You won't necessarily feel like you're "roughing it" which is a good thing for those new to camping! For a list of fees, check this site.
Bell Acres is a hidden jewel among everyday life. The Atlanta Dragway and several big stores like Wal-Mart surround it. You'll definitely get your daily exercise in, considering how hilly the terrain is.
5 Best Oregon Coast Camping Sites
Nudist Campsites
Naturism Camping
To find a campsite suitable for your own adventures in nude camping, check out the American Association for Nude Recreation website. Hot spots are listed by location. You can also join a club if you're feeling up to it and nude camping's something you've done before.
How to Enjoy the Experience
If you think about the bug bites, the scratchy plants, other people's eyes, and the burning sun in too much detail, it could be enough to send you running for the hills before you even start your nude camping experience. There are ways around the discomforts of being nude in a world where clothes prevail. One of those is to find a resort-like area like the Goodland Nudist Country Club where it's the norm to be naked, and the amenities are set up with bare skin in mind.
Packing's easier, that's for sure. You'll need fewer clothes if you're going camping in the nude. Take some just in case you need to run to a store for something, but you won't need nearly as many as you would for a traditional excursion. You'll want to bring your own bottled water unless you want to have to boil water from the rivers, streams, or lakes nearby. Another thing you'll want to bring is your own food; don't count on catching your own all the time like they do in movies. For ease, take things you don't have to cook.
Don't forget your tent, bags in which to comfortably carry food and other items, and maybe even your own chemical toilet, depending on what's available where you're staying.
A few other things:
Matches/lighter
Light seating (chairs or stools)
If you don't want to be seen, find a secluded spot. That means don't camp right on the river because people will be making that trek frequently and will stumble across your campsite.
If you can, camp during the week. Fewer people will have time off from work and you'll be less likely to be bothered.
Say someone does set up a campsite close to yours. Don't necessarily consider your trip ruined and rush to put on clothing. You may not offend the person. If you do, keep in mind, you had your tent set up there first.
If you're going to be in the forest, skip hunting season. You don't want to get shot by accident on vacation. You could be mistaken for an animal. Put up a warning sign that says, "Nudist Area Ahead" or something to that effect. Make sure it's visible before you are, so that passersby can make the choice whether to seek you out for a chat or walk by without being exposed.
Lee Baxandall's World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts will spin you up on the places to go when you want to go naked.
Camping Information
For tips and suggetions to help you enjoy your camping trip, see these informative slideshows:
Hiking Camping Tips
Tips for Starting a Campfire
Easy Camping Meals
How to Clean Mold Out of a Pop Up Camper By Kimberly Sharpe
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